11 Apr 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

133 killed in Al-Qaeda violence in Yemen

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‘Silly’ grill of information minister ends in a whimper Ex-PM to appear before tribunal • Govt denies envoy to UK has quit

Max 33º Min 23º High Tide 03:27 & 14:32 Low Tide 08:25 & 21:25

By B Izzak conspiracy theories

A course in diplomacy

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

T

he word grill has been spoilt for me. I do not want to hear any more about grilling. Khalas!

Bas! Enough is enough! I’ve even begun hating to order grilled food. For the past few years, the usage of the word grill in Kuwait could enter the Guinness Book of World Records. Somebody should really make serious statistics about how many times this word has been used in the public space and especially by the parliamentarians. You won’t believe it. Day and night, these parliamentarians are threatening to grill this and that minister.

Even when they meet in diwaniyas (a social place for gathering) they back each other on how to grill, when to grill and threaten to grill. They even ask each other in the diwaniyas not to grill this or that minister. They ask each other to postpone grillings. Worst of all, the media carries their words, threats and offensive language. To me it looks like these honorable gentlemen are like old cowboys in a Western. They enjoy seeing their slogans repeated. They feel they are heroes. They feel like they are in a battlefield like the old-time warriors. They show off that if someone doesn’t do as they please, he will face a grilling.

Such kind of threatening language does not rhyme with democracy and parliament work. Why is parliament there? Maybe they think if they don’t grill, they are not doing their job. So each of them ensures that on his list there are a couple of grilling suggestions during a session. Otherwise they think nobody would notice them because they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. There is a misconception in the head of our MPs on how to be a parliamentarian. Guys, it is not all about grilling. There is the word criticize, plan, debate, advise, etc.

If I was in the government’s place, I would suggest sending these parliamentarians on a tour to observe how work is done in other parliaments in the world and how debates and challenges are made. Let them sit in the House of Commons, in the Congress or in a parliament in any advanced country for two months. Let them take a refresher course on politics and how to handle it. Let them remember that they are politicians and not war heroes in their attitudes and the language they use.

They should understand that they are simply politicians elected by the nation to serve the nation. Forget tribes, sects, Sunni, Shiite etc. You are a citizen chosen by the nation to serve our interest and to look after the interest of our country. That’s it. Thank you very much.

KUWAIT: MP Hussein Al-Qallaf (left) and Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah (right) gesture at the National Assembly during the debate of a grilling submitted by Qallaf against Sheikh Mohammad over alleged administrative violations. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: As expected, the grilling of Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah ended yesterday without submitting a no-confidence motion but not without “sporadic” exchanges between MPs from the majority and the minority blocs. MP Hussein Al-Qallaf who filed the request to grill the minister two weeks ago strongly lashed out at the minister during the debate which lasted for hardly four hours and was described by some MPs as “silly and weak”.

In another development, outspoken opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak said yesterday that former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will be summoned by a special tribunal for the trial of ministers and former ministers over the foreign transfers scandal. The tribunal had earlier established that a complaint filed by a lawyer was serious enough to initiate an investigation into the alleged scandal.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry denied yesterday reports about the resignation of Kuwait’s Ambassador to the UK Khaled Abdulaziz Al-Duwaisan. Duwaisan “is still in office,” a ministry source said. But the ambassador has reached the retirement age, the source explained, so the ministry was about to seal a special contract with him to enable him continue his duties. He added the move was irrelevant to investigations currently underway in the National Assembly over the foreign transfers scandal.

Earlier, the grilling debate became tense at times when MPs from the “majority” bloc and the minority who backed the grilling entered into strong verbal exchanges Continued on Page 13

Syria ignores deadline, hits protest hubs DAMASCUS: Syrian forces yesterday pounded protest hubs in apparent breach of a ceasefire deal brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, who appealed for his plan to be implemented without preconditions. Syria said it was abiding by the plan, but Annan accused Damascus of pulling troops from some areas and moving them to others, and the rebel Free Syrian Army warned it would resume attacks if the government offensive does not stop. Washington said it hoped the UN Security Council would consider action if Annan concludes that

BILAD AL-QADEEM, Bahrain: Bahraini anti-government protesters march towards the nearby US Embassy on the edge of the capital Manama yesterday. — AP

Danish PM says Khawaja condition very critical Bahrain slams F1 ‘scaremongering’ COPENHAGEN: A jailed activist who has been on hunger strike in a Bahrain prison for the last two months is now in a very critical condition, Denmark’s prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said yesterday. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a Shiite with dual Danish and Bahraini nationality, was sentenced with other opposition activists to life in jail over an alleged plot to topple the Sunni monarchy during a month-long protest a year ago.

“Denmark demands that Danish-Bahraini citizen and human rights activist Khawaja be freed,” Thorning-Schmidt told a press conference. “According to our information, Khawaja’s condition is very critical,” she added.

Khawaja’s lawyer Mohammed al-Jeshi told AFP on Monday that Khawaja was feared to have died, after Bahraini authorities turned down repeated requests to contact him. The last time he contacted Khawaja was on Saturday, a day after he was moved from the interior ministry hospital into a military hospital in Manama, he said. Reacting to his statement, Bahrain’s interior ministry said later Monday that Khawaja was in “good health”.

State news agency BNA again said yesterday Khawaja is in “good condition”, but added his life could be at risk if he keeps refusing food and medication.

Continued on Page 13

Damascus broke its commitments.

The violence drew sharp condemnation from France and Britain, with even Russia urging its ally to act more decisively to implement the truce. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Damascus begun carrying out the Annan deal by pulling some troops out of certain provinces. But Annan, visiting Syrian refugees in Turkey, mocked Damascus’ commitment to the plan. “The Syrian military is withdrawing from some areas but moving to others not previously Continued on Page 13

Tehran busts Israel linked ‘terror’ ring TEHRAN: Iran’s intelligence ministry said it has broken an Israeli-linked “terror and sabotage” network which had its headquarters in an unspecified nearby country, media reports said yesterday. “One of the Zionist regime’s biggest terror and sabotage networks and some of its agents have been identified. A group of criminal terrorists and mercenaries cooperating with them has been arrested,” the ministry said in a statement picked up by the Iranian outlets. “A number of the operatives were arrested as they were preparing to carry out a terrorist operation,” it said.

“Heavy bombs,” machineguns, pistols, silencers, military communications gear and “other terrorist equipment”

were seized in operations “in border and central provinces” inside Iran, the ministry said without being specific.

The operations led to “identifying the Zionists’ regional headquarters in one of the regional countries,” it said, without naming the country concerned.

Iran from time to time announces the arrest of suspects alleged to be working for US, British or Israeli espionage services. It rarely provides any evidence to substantiate such claims.

In recent months, Tehran has accused Israel and the United States of recruiting Sunni rebels in its southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan to carry out sabotage or reconnaissance missions.

Continued on Page 13

in the

news

Kuwait-born ‘Al-Qaeda’ militant arrested in Iraq BASRA: Iraqi forces have arrested 11 alleged Al-Qaeda members said to be responsible for attacks in the southern province of Basra that killed dozens of people, a top police officer said yesterday. “Eleven criminals from Al-Qaeda have been arrested, including a Pakistani man who was born in Kuwait, who are responsible for recent explosions in Basra,” Major General Faisal Al-Ebadi, police chief of Basra, told a news conference. A video played during the news conference showed alleged confessions of the detainees, in which they said they were responsible for attacks, including one on Jan 14 against Shiite pilgrims that left 53 people dead. A Pakistani born in Kuwait named Mahmud Mohammed Abdullah was also among the detainees. In the tape, he admitted to involvement in an attack on a Shiite place of worship and two attacks in markets in Basra, and to placing explosives targetting Shiite pilgrims.

Operations at airport, port hit by dust storm KUWAIT: Kuwait’s main oil export port stopped allowing tankers to dock in a thick dust storm yesterday, but those already loading at the terminal will be allowed to leave, a Kuwait Oil Tanker Co spokesman said. ‘As of 2 am there are no new berthing operations. But whatever vessels that are already berthed have been loading,’ the spokesman said. ‘Once they complete loading they can sail out. New vessels that are arriving will have to wait.’ Traffic at the nearby commercial port of Shuwaikh was also disrupted. Visibility in Kuwait fell to around 500 m in the city centre due to the dust storm.

Manager of Operations at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Essam Al-Zamil said some incoming Kuwait Airways flights were diverted to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Flydubai’s flights changed their course to Saudi Arabia as well, while Emirates’ flights did not make it to the country and decided to go back to Dubai.

KSE to launch Nasdaq backed trading system

Santorum quits GOP race, handing Romney crown

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s bourse will launch a new trading system on May 13, backed by The Nasdaq OMX Group Inc, to help trading of financial instruments such as derivatives and Islamic bonds, it said yesterday. The new “X-stream” trading system costs 18.3 million dinars ($65.6 million) and will help modernise the exchange which is planning an initial public offering, officials said. “This will make the stock exchange more flexible,” Kuwait bourse’s President Faleh Al-Roqobah told a news conference. Officials said the new platform would enable the trade of products such as international futures, options, exchange-traded funds, fixed income and sukuk, perhaps as early as next year for some of them. It will also allow trades of as little as one share at a time, the exchange said in a statement. Kuwait’s stock market suffered heavy losses during the global financial crisis. The country’s new markets watchdog, Capital Markets Authority (CMA), ordered several, mainly financial, companies to delist recently after they failed to report earnings on time.

WASHINGTON: Mitt Romney yesterday effectively won the Republican Party crown to challenge President Barack Obama in November elections, as chief rival Rick Santorum dropped his longshot White House bid. “This presidential race is over for me,” Santorum told reporters in Gettysburg, in his home state of Pennsylvania. Over Rick Santorum the Easter weekend, the former Pennsylvania senator halted campaigning for four days after his youngest daughter, Bella, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, was hospitalized again. Romney swiftly congratulated Santorum for being “an able and worthy competitor” and for the campaign he had run.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

LOCAL

Amir receives credentials of new ambassadors

Jordanian ambassador Mohammad Salam Al-Kayid KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah received yesterday morning, in a ceremony at Bayan Palace, copies of the credentials of newly accredited ambassadors to the State of Kuwait.

His Highness received the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of Libya, Mohammad Salem Emaish, Ambassador of China, Cui Jianchun, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Thailand, Surasak Chuasukonthip, Ambassador of Bhutan, Dasho Tashi Phuntsog, and Ambassador of Jordan, Mohammad Salam Al-Kayid.

The Amir received the diplomats in the presence of the Deputy Prime

Minister and Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Amiri Diwan Advisor, Mohammad Dhaifallah Sharar, Amiri Diwan Undersecretary, Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Shatti, Director of His Highness the Amir ’s Office, Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, and Amiri Diwan Advisor, Mohammad Abdullah Aboul Hassan.

Also present were Head of Amiri Protocol, Sheikh Khalid Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Foreign Ministry Protocol Director, Ambassador Dhari Ajran Al-Ajran, and head of the Amiri Guard Authority, Major General Tala Mohammad Al-Musallam. —KUNA

Libyan ambassador Mohammad Salem Emaish

Chinese ambassador Cui Jianchun

Thai ambassador Surasak Chuasukonthip

Bhutanese ambassador Dasho Tashi Phuntsog

Al-Bathali Kubbar statements face angry public reactions KUWAIT: MP Mohammed Al-Sager, Chairman of the parliamentar y Foreign Affairs Committee, stressed Mubarak Al-Bathali, a clergyman and Islamic activist, is not the ‘interior ministry’ to threaten visitors to Kubbar Island if they commit any ‘vice’ there.

Speaking to reporters in response to Al-Bathali’s threats, AlSager said that not all people are evil or corrupt.

“Personal freedom is fully guaranteed by law and the Constitution’,

said MP Shayea Al-Shayea. He said that while MPs are keen on observing Islamic jurisprudence, it has to be done constitutionally through the right channels and authorities, be them whichever ministry.

MP Adnan Al-Mutawwa called to stop Al-Bathali and warned that leniency with such statements would generate more ‘Bathalis’. He also said that tending to solve one’s own concerns and disputes by one’s own hands only reflects how law enforcement and justice are slug-

gish in Kuwait. ‘Bathali should be stopped and ignored so as not to make a big deal out of his remarks’, he added urging Al-Bathali not to watch people, as the law punishes whoever does so before punishing the wrongdoers themselves.

Shaikha Al-Nisf, Chairlady of the Women Cultural Society, expressed the same concerns saying that AlBathali’s threats to ‘purge’ Kubbar Island himself must be completely rejected as freedoms are constitutionally guaranteed. —Al-Jarida

Al-Mulaifi sentence spurs debate on social media, internet crimes Govt urged to clarify limit of rights

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The news that Kuwaiti writer Mohammed Al-Mulaifi was sentenced to seven-years of imprisonment, after a criminal court found him guilty and liable for slander/defamation, received mixed reactions from public figures and legal experts. Some observers opined that a seven-year sentence was just too harsh for a crime that was a bit vague, considering the comments were posted on Twitter, a social networking site. “How can you charge and punish someone who is just expressing his views? It is against the freedom of expression cited in our (Kuwaiti) Constitution,” a female Kuwaiti observer said.

Attorney Labeed Abdal, an international lawyer and arbitrator, called on the Kuwaiti Government to clarify the limit of the rights and freedom of expression.

“Interpretation must be thoroughly studied and properly identified. In his case, they are mixing it with personality and politics. Also, punishment must be adjusted to the crime committed.”

Adbal asserted that a crime committed through a social networking site has not been clarified yet. “Kuwait should and must introduce new legislation and clarify the punishments for internet crimes.”

Al-Mulaifi was sentenced to seven years in prison along with hard labor, a KD50 fine and to pay temporary compensation of KD5,001. Al-Mulaifi was charged after posting false information about the internal situation in Kuwait, and publishing writings which hint that Kuwait society suffers from sectarian struggles and conflicts.

He accused a certain group of being disloyal to Kuwait but loyal to another country, based on their religious belief. He posted online statements which contained insults that

undermine the Shiite faith. He was also charged with defaming MP Ahmed Lari, accusing him of being of non-Kuwaiti origin, and slandering the Shiite Imam Al-Mahdi.

The public prosecution department pointed out that his action undermines the status of state and can hurt national security and its interests.

“The crime, if it was a crime, cannot be meted out with the harsh punishment of seven years. I remember Ahmad Al-Baghdadi, who wrote an article which insulted one of the prophets, only got a one month sentence. Seven years is jail overkill. It’s not fair,” another Kuwaiti observer said. Lawyer Osama Ameen believes the offense was committed, although he has a chance to appeal. “ The crime...is a crime which was committed under the law. We have an existing law against slander and defamation in Kuwait. He accused and hurt someone and even the state, so the legal and existing law applies here. He cannot use the excuse that it was committed in a new form of social media; although admittedly we have no law to punish offenders using social networking media. But again, the crime was committed in the public eye. His comments were read by many people,” he said.

Although Ameen admitted that he did not read the article, and he has not read the verdict, he again insisted that slander and defamation is inscribed in the law.

“The old law is applied even to an offense committed through social media, since the result of defamation and slander is the same as in other forms of media.”

In a news report published in Annahar newspaper, a number of politicians expressed satisfaction with the verdic t issued against

the Kuwaiti writer.

“Kuwait’s judiciary system is very honest and is considered a ‘safety valve’ safeguarding the whole society”, they stressed, underlining that sending someone to prison was far better than allowing sectarian tumult to spread in Kuwait and tear it apart.

Former minister Abdul Hadi AlSaleh was quoted as saying that all official and public bodies have great trust in the honesty and integrity of Kuwait’s judiciary system.

“This sentence is very important and sends a message that there will be no tolerance in matters that might start sectarian tumult’, he said expressing amazement at Muslim scholars who kept silent on such critical issues as blaspheming the holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), insulting or slandering the mothers of believers, or Imam Al-Mahdi. “This verdict is but a worldly penalty, still to be followed by a heavenly one in the hereafter”, he warned.

Abdul Wahed Al-Khalfan, political activist, said such a sentence is a moral lesson to everybody, especially those who dare slander others’ beliefs.

“Al-Mulaifi slandered the doctrine of one third of Kuwaitis,” he stated in the newspaper.

Mansour Al-Muhareb, political activist, said Kuwaitis have complete trust in the judiciary system and that this seven-year prison term verdict will deter people he described as “those trying to drag the whole country into adverse sectarian tumult.”

Dr. Abdulla Al-Ghanim, Kuwait University political sciences professor, said the case is not about an individual. “It is all about law enforcement against those slandering any sect or tribe within the Kuwaiti community, or those slandering or blaspheming religious principles or the Prophet (PBUH),” he concluded.

Wataniya Telecom launches offers at University campuses KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom continues to launch new offers and exclusive products in an effort to provide its customers with the most distinguished telecom experience. The latest Wataniya offers are exclusively tailored to meet the unique preferences of everyone between 16 29 years of age. These new offers are available for postpaid and prepaid subscribers at University Campuses across Kuwait.

Wink is a special plan which was designed keeping the preferences of the youth in mind. It offers 50% discount on all SMS sent to Wataniya numbers along with 50% off on four favorite Wataniya numbers. To top it all Wink subscribers can enjoy discounts and exclusive benefits at their favorite hangouts and shops.

With the new offer postpaid and prepaid customers will also receive the following benefits: Free Gold (for postpaid) or free Silver number (for prepaid), three months of free subscription to Backstage to download unlimited English, Arabic and

Asian music and 300 bonus points upon enrolment to the Wataniya Rewards Program. In addition to this, customers will get a gift bag with exciting giveaways.

But that’s not all; customers who subscribe to Wink postpaid can also get the latest smartphones such as BlackBerrys, iPhones and Androids (a choice of over 15 models) for an affordable monthly installment.

Those who like gaming and surfing can join the Wnet offer and get the latest iPads, Wnet devices and PS3 for a discounted price and on monthly installments along with high-speed internet.

Commenting on the special campaign, Abdolaziz Al Balool, Public Relations Director of Wataniya Telecom said: “Wataniya has always paid attention to the needs and preferences of the youth, especially university students. This is why we have developed and customized packages that suit their telecom needs.” Wataniya’s new Wink campaign will last until April 19.

Abdolaziz AlBalool

Al Balool concluded: “Following the success of Wataniya’s promotions especially the recent ones (Special discounts and installment offer on Wnet, PS3, iPad and iPod offers), Wink ’s latest campaign comes as an added value to meet the needs of the youth segment in the Kuwaiti market.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

local

Four member gang in police custody

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A gang comprising a Syrian, two Iranians and a bedoon, was arrested in connection with closely following bank customers and stealing money from their cars. The suspects confessed to stealing large amounts of money, but the booty could not be recovered.

Libel case verdicts The Civil Court issued a verdict ordering that a compensation amounting to KD 5,001 be paid to former Information Ministry Undersecretary Faisal Al-Malek. He had filed a lawsuit against Ahmad Al-Fadhly, Talal and Fajr Al-Saeed, MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan.

He claimed that the men insulted him during a TV program broadcasted on Scope satellite TV channel on April 19.

The Criminal Court decided to review the complaint filed by Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim on April 15. Sheikh Hamad filed a civil complaint against Talal Al-Saeed who used to host the ‘Good and Bad’ program on Scope TV. Al-Saaed was accused of insulting the minister and

misquoting him. Sheikh Hamad also filed four lawsuits with the Kuwait Prosecutor General through his lawyer Mushari Al-Osaimi, also against former MP Saadoun Hammad, Sheikh Sabah Al-Mohammad as Editor-in-Chief of AlShahed newspaper, Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al-Khalifa, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Watan newspaper, and Talal Al-Saeed for accusing him of bribing MP Musallam Al-Barrak with a cheque worth 200 million Qatari riyals.

Doha Bank denied the existence of a 200 million Qatari Riyals cheque that was transferred to a person named Musallam by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim.

Car accidents A Sri Lankan fractured his right arm and ribs in a car accident that took place in Rawdatain. The 32-year-old was admitted to Jahra Hospital.

A 22-year-old citizen suffered a bruised forehead and fractured his right arm in a car accident that took place in Fahaheel near industrial area bridge. He was admitted to Adan Hospital.

Marriage restrains young citizens’ freedom KUWAIT: At least 30.7 percent Kuwaiti families have at least one unmarried male member over the age of thirty, while only 19.4 percent families have unmarried female members belonging to same age group. This was disclosed in a field study carried out by three experts as per Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ request.

The study attempts to identify the reasons behind delayed marriages among Kuwaiti youth. A survey covering 449 single male citizens aged between 20 and 27 have indicated that 37.3 percent believe that marriage restricts their freedom, and prefer to wait before taking a step. On the other hand, only 9.4 percent of 587 women surveyed cited the same reason.

The survey also indicates that pursuing higher studies delay marriage for 31.2 percent men and 19.9 percent women surveyed, while 18.8 percent men and eight percent women said that “unwillingness to bear responsibilities” drives them to delay marriage.

Most citizens surveyed believe that the age group between 25 and 30 is best suited for marriage. The study also identified “luxurious and wealthy lifestyles” as reasons that also encourage Kuwaiti youth to postpone marriage plans. It also recommends that the MAIA organize programs to spread awareness among young citizens about the importance of marriage, and attempt to eliminate some misconceptions they have about marital life.

Vast hospital construction plan ‘disastrous’ for Kuwait: Insider Focus should be on prevention, not treatment

By Lisa Conrad KUWAIT: The vast expansion of medical services in Kuwait is well on its way, Husam Al-Tahous, Assistant Undersecretary of construction projects, said earlier this week. The project, which involves the construction of five new hospitals, will provide Kuwait with thousands of hospital beds and has received considerable praise. “I think it’s wonderful to see some change and real effort to improve things,” said Sherifa, a mother of two. She added, “It’s great to see attention being paid to the needs of citizens and residents in Kuwait. The healthcare sector is certainly the most important sector to invest in.”

However, a senior doctor working here in Kuwait disputed the need for the expansion: “What’s happening now is a response to public demand, but the public don’t understand that the issue is the improper utilization of beds. It doesn’t mean we need more beds.” According to the insider, while an appreciation of public demand may be noble, creating more beds is not the way forward. “The concept of prevention is much more effective. The government should encourage eating well, exercising, wearing seatbelts and implement harsher punishments for reckless driving and speeding.”

The move, the insider noted, will reap severe consequences for the country: “In my opinion, this is a disaster. We’re creating thousands of beds, which will require thousands of workers.

These workers will come with their families, so traffic will increase, schools will be overcrowded, and pollution will increase.” The insider added that the impact of the expansions has not been properly considered, further noting that such moves have not been successful elsewhere.

“What Great Britain did 40 years ago, we’re doing now. They are rectifying their mistake but we’re about to walk into it - regardless of the lessons others have learnt.” Recruiting thousands of staff needed, he added, will also be problematic, “We already have trouble recruiting enough staff for the current number of beds; how will they cope later?”

According to the insider, the project will merely propel Kuwait into a cycle already experienced, and remedied, by other countries. “Many countries have been in the same position and realized that expansion is not the answer. If you look at the West, they also went through a phase when they thought that expansion of services was the way forward.” The insider added, “After a while, they realized that the economy was not equipped to handle such an increase, and they realized that there are other ways, such as prevention. They saw that it’s better to prevent dis-

eases than to just provide treatment.”

As well as encouraging prevention, the insider noted the success of alternative plans. “Many countries realized that a shift in focus from hospital-based management to home-based management would improve the situation.” He added, “They realized that they could create more beds by properly utilizing the existing beds. For example creating systems and services that allow patients to sleep at home and reduce their stay in hospital.” Preparation, he insisted,

be managed at home.” The division of services, the insider noted, reduced waiting time considerably, “Instead of waiting for a bed or waiting in a queue at the hospital for a prescription, patients were assisted at home and allowed to collect prescriptions at local pharmacies.”

The restructuring of the healthcare system is key, the insider noted. The current use of paper files and forms is creating unnecessary layers of bureaucracy which, the insider added, is detrimental on multiple levels. “ The amount of

KUWAIT: A file photo shows the plan of Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital when the hospital is completed. The image is used for illustrative purposes only. ensured that the plans were successful.

“Hospitals in the UK, for example, devised a system whereby patients could be admitted to the hospital on the same day of their surgery, instead of two days in advance. The patient would be given the appropriate medication and advice and would arrive prepared, which freed up two days of bed space for someone else to use.”

The decentralization of services also proved successful, according to the insider: “Decentralizing services, but maintaining the same level of service is great. The UK investigated problems that keep patients at the hospital instead of going home, such as medical awareness and pain management.” The insider added, “They found that by showing patients that healing at home is better, stays in hospital could be reduced. They provided medical assistance at the patient’s home, and found ways for pain to

paperwork is ridiculous, as is the amount of time spent dealing with it. There’s a shortage of papers and files at some hospitals, so we buy more and then we burn it. It wastes time, wastes manpower and impacts negatively on the environment.” The utilization of electronic systems is vital, the insider added, noting that it would cut costs and eradicate the negative consequences of relying on paper files and documents.

The insider warned that the planned expansions are taking Kuwait a step in the wrong direction. “Expansion is not the answer; the utilization of existing beds is. Health planners need to be brought in to identify where the real need is, or else Kuwait will suffer many negative consequences.” The insider added, “An expansion of beds only makes sense when there is a new service that needs its own space and facilities. If the plans go through, I really don’t know how Kuwait will cope.”

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

LOCAL

In my view

kuwait digest

Keep an eye on legislation

Different doesn’t mean wrong

By Mohammad Al-Sabti

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

nce you log in to your Twitter account, a timeline appears on your screen showing a chronological order for tweets shared by friends and other Twitter users you follow. What is listed in this timeline differs from one account to the other, depending on the type of information shared by the people every user follows.

Two users might share certain similarities in their respective timelines, and that basically when they follow a number of common accounts. Yet, every person on Twitter has a timeline with distinctive features that make them ‘unique’ in quality and shape.

A Twitter user’s timeline usually reflects the way their perception of life is. For example, a timeline containing much bad news and tweets discussing cynical or disturbing subjects are usually owned by pessimistic users. People with more optimistic views would have a timeline featuring more joyful and motivating discussions.

As such, the public’s point of view on social networking websites vary from one person to another.

For example, some users believe that Twitter offers a great opportunity for social communication, while others consider it a tool that can leave destructive effects on society if misused.

Each opinion is shaped based on what users read of tweets made by the people they personally chose to follow.

A Twitter timeline is a window viewing a person’s perspective of life. It is a reflection of a person’s ideology. As timelines differ from one Twitter account to another, so do people’s ideologies practiced in all aspects of their life.

Twitter offers you a window to look at the world the way you like to see it, which differs partially or completely from one person to another. This is the same way that people’s ideologies are expressed in all other aspects of life. It is normal for people to have different views, which can sometimes lead to disputes when different parties fail to understand the other’s point of view.

These differences aren’t supposed to be taken as distinctive features by which a party can claim they are on the right side while others are not.

Can someone claim that their Twitter timeline is the best while all other timelines are inferior to theirs? I think it’s not hard to tolerate all different points of view, the same way each of us appreciates the differences between our Twitter timelines. — Al-Rai

An MP threatens Iran, another one threatens Bahrain, six MPs are threatening the Syrian regime, one MP wants to demolish churches and one MP calls for jihad, another MP threatens the Government because of a student party, and yet one more MP wants to monitor Hussainiyas.

All of these things, as per my understanding, have nothing to do with legislation and supervision which are the only two political wings for the National Assembly as a legislative authority.

O

kuwait digest

Kuwait’s dark future

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

I

f you were among those who demanded freedom and an elected prime minister while staging anti-government demonstrations at Irada Square, I would like to ask you a series of questions, starting with this: Are you satisfied with the results achieved from the public campaigns you have taken part in?

After persistent pressure to demand a Cabinet change in both members and approach, are you okay now with a Cabinet that only has a different prime minister but shares a similar lineup and approach with that of its predecessor?

Was the elimination of Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah and female lawmakers the highest point of your political ambition?

Did you spend hours at the Irada Square so that churches can no longer allowed to be built in Kuwait? Do you really support calls to restrict people’s freedom of religious practice? Did you impose governmental monitoring on Hussaniyas (Shiite religious center) to interfere into the beliefs of citizens who do not share the same beliefs as yours?

After persistent pressure to demand a Cabinet change in both members and approach, are you okay now with a Cabinet that only has a different prime minister but shares a similar lineup and approach with that of its predecessor? Was the elimination of Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlSabah and female lawmakers the highest point of your political ambition? Were all these months of demonstration and public pressure aimed at replacing Saleh Al-Mulla and Aseel Al-Awadhi with Mohammad Al-Juwaihel and Nabeel Al-Fadhl respectively? Were they aimed at instilling a ‘culture of force’ instead of enforcing law and equal opportunities for dialogue?

Besides a few things that changed, nothing has so far been achieved with young citizens’ activity in Iradah Square. On the other hand, the future appears darker, with efforts likely to be exerted to enforce more restrictions on freedom of expression, spending even more financial surplus.

Awaiting us are days where newspapers and media outlets are forced to follow the ideology of true leaders of the Iradah Square demonstrators.

The oppression awaits any ideology that does not fall in line with the Parliament’s majority.

I can only see bitter days ahead in which not only young people would be victims, but also future generations when their safety and security are violated by the same people who violated the law yesterday. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Unprecedented looseness!

By Waleed Jassim Al-Jassim

B

oth bravery and recklessness involve practices that would easily get the doer into definite trouble and remarkable dangers. So, those who do not like getting into trouble or dangers avoid the adventure and thus cannot be described as brave or reckless.

Some of our youths and MPs are actually practicing such ‘bravery’ while, at the same time, they are reluctant to bear any of the possible dangerous consequences that might result from such practices. That’s why they have been avoiding confrontation with the consequences of their own doing.

Just recently, MP Faisal Al-Mislem and his fellowlawmakers spoke eloquently about their acceptance to lift their parliamentary immunity so that they can be subjected to investigation concerning the storming of Parliament. It is very nice that Al-Mislem stressed his confidence in the honesty of the judiciary system. He reminds us of his words when he said that God is the best savior, when he went to court in the famous cheque case.

What we actually need from the distinguished MP and other involved MPs is a promise not to evoke public opinion, mobilize rallies or organize sit-ins if the related court orders contradict their wishes or expectations. They must trust the judiciary’s justice and respect its verdicts, to which everybody should abide by and be subject to equally. They should all contest whatever verdicts through the proper legal channels in various kinds of courts.

Kuwait has been witnessing unprecedented looseness over the past few years. This was mainly led by lawmakers, after the gap between them and the Government became too wide to bridge when the Cabinet of former PM Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohamed went too far. Their way blocked all possible channels of cooperation and made such looseness temporarily acceptable, but only by those particular parties and no others!

However, now, since Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed

and his whole Cabinet are out of office and the former Parliament, that included some bribed MPs, was dissolved and new elections brought a new one to office, lawmakers are obliged to reason up. They must contribute to create stability by regaining the sovereignty of the law to the country and some peace and quiet to the souls of citizens. And, beware everybody.........you’d all lose if Kuwait lost security and stability! — Al-Watan

What we actually need from the distinguished MP and other involved MPs is a promise not to evoke public opinion, mobilize rallies or organize sit-ins if the related court orders contradict their wishes or expectations.

They must trust the judiciary’s justice and respect its verdicts, to which everybody should abide by and be subject to equally. They should all contest whatever verdicts through the proper legal channels in various kinds of courts.

We are the ones who elected you and we donít want you to make maintenance to the houses of neighbors through interboundary declarations, or even those which are not logical. We want you first to maintain our house. It is very hard to believe a person who criticizes corruption while corruption eats and drinks and sleeps on our streets.

Remedy our house first.

Everything mentioned above, from the MPs demands and declarations, have nothing to do with legislation or supervision, and I mean supervision in the political meaning, which is precisely described as the duty of the National Assembly. All of the above demands are political showing off or media showing off.

I expected this council to at least appear to be true under the homogenous majority, and keep an eye on legislation and real supervision. But amidst those declaration and demands, which have nothing to do with legislation or supervision, it seems that majority weight has become a burden to itself.

Especially as the majority of the above unconstitutional declarations “if I may call them that” have been made by members of the majority. And of course the minority MPs and those who claim independence from both groups, they too entered into the auction of declarations, which is not Constitutional.

We are the ones who elected you and we don’t want you to make maintenance to the houses of neighbors through inter-boundary declarations, or even those which are not logical. We want you first to maintain our house.

It is very hard to believe a person who criticizes corruption, regardless of the kind of corruption in another state, while corruption eats and drinks and sleeps on our streets. Remedy our house first, thereafter, if you wish to declare jihad on mars, we will support you.

You are looking for a piece of sand in the eye of a neighbor and you forget the stones which almost close your eyes. Either you are a liar or you are not aware of the nature of your role as a members of Kuwait National Assembly.

Note: The best dreams are the ones that can’t be achieved. — Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest kuwait digest

Middle East scarecrows!

Interior Ministry’s woes

By Yousef Abdullah Al-Enizi

T

he Middle East has always been strategically and geographically significant, particularly after the discovery of oil which turned it into the world’s energy reservoir and, thus, advanced countries have been keen to control and include it in areas subject to their rule and authority.

In order for regional countries to be in constant need of the super powers, the latter has always created special ‘Scarecrows’ to keep them on their toes.

In the beginning of the 1950s, the state of Israel was established to act as the first scarecrow to regional countries, who all started what is known as the ‘armament race’ to build their own arsenals.

This kept weapon manufacturers in the US, Europe and the Soviet Union busy in profitable business.

Weapons flowed in and these countries became involved in more offensives.

However, during the stalemate phase regionally known as the ‘no war, no peace’ era, another scarecrow was directed to the GCC states. After the ‘Nationalistic Trend’ was established by the late Egyptian president, Nasser, its domination led the GCC states to race to purchase more weapons and get protection from the West.

This trend was terminated by the defeat of all the Arab armies in 1967, when Israel destroyed them all and occupied territories that are larger than its total area. This era ended with Nasser’s death.

Another scarecrow was used in the form of Saddam Hussein, who thought highly of himself and believed he was Nasser ’s rightful heir.

However, Hussein was occupied by violence, killing and ‘liberating’ Iraq from the Iraqis themselves by killing and torturing them. He waged war against the Kurds in the North, then against Iran, and then he headed south to ‘liberate’ Kuwait from Kuwaitis - pending his holy war to liberate Jerusalem!

He squandered millions of his people’s wealth on weapons. He also built the ‘Athar’ nuclear reactor, that was destroyed by Israel on June 7, 1981

when three Israeli F16s flew from a Sinai airbase at below-radar levels, penetrated the air space of some Arab countries and dropped 16 bombs that turned the nuclear reactor to ashes in two minutes without any media fuss or daily threats. To everybody’s amazement, the decision was quietly made and carried out. Later, when Saddam invaded Kuwait, he met his end as a scarecrow when he was toppled in 2003.

He has been substituted by a new scarecrow known as ‘Iran’s nuclear program’ which started in 1950s during the days of the Shah when, ironically, the US gave him a 5 megawatt nuclear reactor as a gift to be supervised by Tehran’s Nuclear Research Center.

The US even built Iran seven more reactors for supposedly peaceful uses. Iran then cooperated with Europe, India and Russia to expand their nuclear program to include many sites such as Sagen Deh mine, the Arkan Factory, Isfahan, Bu Shahar and Arak reactors.

The question is: if it was the US and the West who built Iran’s nuclear program in the first place, will they now also destroy it?

Why, then, did they build it in the first place?! Is the real reason behind intensifying such threats to increase the GCC states’ fear?

On the other hand, I remember heading Kuwait’s delegation to the Organization For the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) conference in Lahaye, Holland. There I met an Iranian diplomat who was a friend of mine and originally worked as a university professor.

“Will the US and Israel actually strike Iran’s nuclear program?” I asked him only. “Do you think they will?” he replied. The answer is still open.

Finally, the most recent scarecrows are the new regimes and parties being currently formed within some of the ‘Arab Spring’ countries and whether they will compete with existing ones. My biggest fear is that we might be on the verge of a humongous tumult, an era during which our traditional ‘swords and daggers’ will do us no use! —Al-Jarida

By Dr Terki Al-Azmi

A

ddressing the media recently, MP Dr Obaid Al-Wasmi declared that Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud AlSabah is incapable of making decisions to wield control over his ministry and should step down.

Personally, I hope that Al-Wasmi and his colleagues would use a less aggressive tone while addressing ministers through public statements over the issue of mismanagement. Instead, MPs have constitutional tools they can freely utilize to hold a minister accountable for committing a malpractice.

Instead of publically demanding that a minister step down, the Constitution allows an MP to file an interpellation motion followed by requesting to hold a vote of no confidence motion against the minister.

While the practice of issuing threats through the press or social networking websites are common, I specifically chose to mention Al-Wasmi’s example because I noticed that he is more prone to making rash statements.

Regarding Al-Wasmi’s claims, I don’t think it’s a secret that the Ministry of Interior is suffering from internal problems. The best way to identify and resolve them, however, needs coordinated efforts from lawmakers who need to avoid focusing their attention on the minister’s decisionmaking process.

I believe that decisions taken by the Ministry can be influenced by external parties. I’d like to remind readers here about a statement by a previous ministry who admitted to being controlled by outsiders. There are many evidences to support this claim, which can be seen in the way the Ministry uses different approaches in handling different cases.

Tackling this issue is not impossible. MPs can achieve victory in their quest to reveal the truth if they can coordinate properly. — Al-Rai

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

local

Dental-care in private clinics gives people a reason to smile

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Any form of dental treatment is painful but does it have to hurt the wallet as well?

The Kuwaiti government doesn’t think so. Dental-care is absolutely free for citizens in the public sector, but there’s a slight catch; the waiting period can extend to three or four months which makes people eye quicker relief at private clinics or hospitals.

Sleman, a 28-year-old Kuwaiti preferred to go a private dental clinic rather than wait it out. “I know that some dental services are expensive in the private sector, but it’s a matter of health. I know some friends who have been waiting for an appointment for tooth implants for more than two months which is ridiculous!” he told the Kuwait Times.

Awareness from a young age may go a long way to help prevent further complications. Dr. Sabiha Al-Mutawa, Director of the Dental Healthcare of the Ministry of Health said that the dental awareness programs held in schools have a positive effect on students when they grow older.

“The statistics proved that many dental problems have decreased or even disappeared in the younger generations after increasing and improving the awareness programs. I noticed that the parents are aware and know that removing teeth during childhood will require braces in the future,” she said.

“Before 1990, this dental awareness program was only applied in the Asima governorate educational area. Later in the nineties, this program spread to the other governorates and special clinics. All schools with more than 500 students have a dental clinic. The Ministry also distributed consent forms for all students, so the parents will approve

she stated.

“I paid KD 25 for 18 months worth of whitening, which includes nine treatments - three of which I use each time. I wouldn’t pay the higher prices, because it’s the exact same thing. The only difference is the “prestige” of going to an expensive clinic, which I don’t care about,” she said.

Compared to other countries, the dental care in Kuwait is still much cheaper. “In the UK, dental treatment in general is extremely expensive. There are sometimes specific offers for cosmetic treatments, but things like crowns are incredibly high priced, even if you’re on the NHS (National Health Service). When I lived there, the quote I got for a basic crown was around KD 300. I went to Lebanon and got a premium crown fitted for KD 30,” said 30year-old Natalie.

“The UK is under severe strain to provide dental treatment on the National Health Service, which I think makes the quality of treatments much lower. My childhood dentist once fitted a filling too deep into my tooth and I got a ‘tattoo’ on my gum as a result. I’ve not had dental treatment in Kuwait as I heard it’s expensive. I think Lebanon is much cheaper for dental treatment than Kuwait KUWAIT: In this file photo a patient is receiving treatment in a den- and the quality is known to be tal clinic in Kuwait. The image is used for illustrative purposes very high. Plus, word-of-mouth is a reliable indicator of quality, only. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat which also means that the dentists lighted Bader Al-Eisa, Marketing because you’re in control. I was make sure they do a great job worried about the clinics being every time” she said. In Canada, and PR Manager at Asnan Clinic.

Some people have chosen to too harsh or severe, which can the price is cheaper according to do some dental procedures at damage the teeth and gums. Suzan. “All dental services are freehome. Jolly, a 23-year-old, tried Plus, it’s hard to report poor treat- of-charge for those who are under the home teeth whitening ment in clinics here so there is lit- 16 years of age. In general, the method and was satisfied with tle consequence for the clinic if prices are reasonable, and cheaper the results. “I chose to whiten my they damage your teeth, which than Kuwait. There is also a lot teeth when I saw how common it worried me. I was very happy more emphasis on dental hygiene is in Kuwait. I did want my teeth with the results: my teeth are in Canada and I know that they whiter, but I didn’t want the considerably whiter but they still put fluoride in water, which means bright, unnaturally white veneers. look natural and not overdone,” less tooth decay,” she explained. a complete dental plan for the school period,” said Dr. AlMutawa.

Prices differ from private clinic to clinic and they may also use different materials. “At our clinic we provide all dental services for kids and adults. We offer Lumineer (Hollywood Smile) and veneer. We do teeth implants by using titanium screws that are gum-friendly. We also offer scaling and fluoride and for the whitening, we have two methods: home bleaching and laser bleaching with Zoom 3. We have Kuwaiti doctors who have graduated from the US and we are also set to open the biggest dental tower in the Middle East soon,” high-

They are very popular here, but I feel that it’s a bit too much. I think it’s great that people are taking care of their appearance, but I don’t like extremes,” she said.

“I got a home whitening kit for my teeth, because it’s faster and easier than having to go to the dentist. My moulds were taken and I did the rest myself at home for an hour a day, for three days. I also avoid dental clinics because they ’re extremely expensive.

When something is popular here, it becomes extremely expensive and I don’t think it’s worth the money.”, she added.

Jolly was also not sure about the quality of the clinics here. “I think home whitening is good

Ambassadors probed in cash transfer case KUWAIT: Three Kuwaiti ambassadors attended Monday’s session, held by a parliamentary committee investigating alleged money transfers made by the former prime minister, but declined to divulge details about beneficiaries.

According to sources, the ambassadors who represent Kuwait in London, New York and Geneva separately explained the mechanism by which their respective embassies spend cash received from the Foreign Ministry. The ambassadors reportedly stated that they were merely “following orders,” and that they cannot take actions regarding transfers made from the Foreign Ministry unless explicitly instructed by the Ministry.

The panel will summon the ambassadors for further investigations “after committee members felt that their answers were incomplete,” said sources who spoke to Al-Qabas on condition of anonymity. The case, exposed by oppositionist MP Musallam Al-Barrak last September, accuses former premier Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah of transferring millions of dinars from public funds to private foreign bank accounts.

Meanwhile, a source indicated that one of the ambassadors was “falsely accused of committing a financial crime and threatened with imprisonment” while making his testimony.

“The ambassador had to remind the committee that he was summoned as a witness, not a suspect when accused of misusing public funds,” said the source who preferred to keep his identity anonymous.

Separately, the Parliament’s financial committee agreed during Monday’s meeting to increase the pension paid to retirees by KD 100, said rapporteur Ahmad Lari. This increase would be part of a pay raise made to public sector employees as proposed by the government. Meanwhile, MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Head of the financial committee said that a study jointly prepared with the legislative committee for public sector demands will be prepared before the three-month deadline issued late last month, reported Al-Qabas.

On Monday, a team from the Islamic Constitutional Movement met with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to talk about the latest developments in the local, regional and international

News

in brief

Media City to be built in Shidadiya KUWAIT: The government has authorized the Investment Authority and the Ministry of Information to execute the new Media City Company project to help develop media services in Kuwait. High-ranking ministerial sources said that the Cabinet has asked both bodies to coordinate with Kuwait Municipality to build the project in Shidadiya at a plot that covers one million square meters. Furthermore, sources highlighted that the Finance Ministry has requested the investment authority to update it with the project’s feasibility study within a week.

New marriage loans soon KUWAIT: Salah Al-Mudhaf, Manager at Credit and Savings Bank said that paper work needed to implement the new marriage loan of KD 6,000 was almost complete and that applicants can start applying next Sunday. Notably, the former state-funded marriage loan was only KD 4,000 and the increment was approved by the bank’s board last November.

Smuggling attempt thwarted KUWAIT: Central Jail security thwarted a suspect’s attempt to smuggle 77 SIM cards for inmates recently.

According to a security source, an Egyptian surveillance camera technician was busted with possession of the contraband. He was taken to the Public Prosecution after being held briefly at the Sulaibiya police station.

Um Al-Haiman project inaugurated KUWAIT: Jassem Al-Bader, Chairman and General Director of Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources said that the second phase of Um Al-Haiman environmental project has been inaugurated. The projects include a number of agricultural and construction works as well. Planting and irrigation for 12,000 trees in addition to 3,000 date trees and 75,000 small desert trees will take place.

scenes. ICM Secretary General Nasser AlSanea told Al-Rai that the meeting was convened as per the ICM’s request “to communicate with HH the Amir who is experienced and can provide good assessment of the present situations.”

In another development, several MPs commented on recent news reports about the arrest of two suspects involved in a major gold theft, especially regarding reports that other suspects escaped the country with the booty.

“Security and customs officers did not act proactively to prevent smuggling,” said MP Osama Al-Munawer. He rejected the suggestion that police aided smuggling. Meanwhile, MP Mohammad Al-Dallal announced that he will soon query the relevant minister. In the meantime, senior security officials told Al-Rai that the suspects who fled the country did not carry any of the stolen gold with them.

The insiders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also revealed that one of the detainees confessed to robbing a jewelry shop in Kuwait a couple of years ago, after which they left the country, reported Al-Rai.

KUWAIT: Mexican Ambassador to Kuwait Luis Alberto Barrero Stahl paid a visit to Kuwait Times over the weekend and discussed issues of mutual interest with Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan.

Only 10% of smuggled drugs detected KUWAIT: Only ten percent of drugs smuggled into Kuwait end up detected by police each year, according to official estimates revealed by security sources quoted in a recent news report.

Drug Control General Directorate statistics indicate that at least 430 kilograms of hashish, 1,006,000 drug pills, five kilograms of heroin and ten kilograms of opium were seized in operations throughout 2011.

Yet insiders who spoke anonymously proclaimed that these huge numbers form just a small part of the amount actually entering Kuwait. They attribute the problem to “security breaches” at seaports, land border checkpoints and Kuwait International Airport.

Although 1,361 people were arrested in Kuwait last year on drug-related charges including trafficking, smuggling and abuse, many of the suspects were found not guilty during trial due to improper arrest and detention procedures. These included arrests without a warrant from the Public Prosecution Department.

Drug overdose was pronounced as the cause of death in 60 fatalities reported in Kuwait last year, according to the statistics. “The activity with drugs in Kuwait indicates that dealers intend to use the country as a market to trade and store several kinds of drugs while also exporting them to nearby countries”, one source said.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

local

Woman held for robbing neighbors in Farwaniya 10-month-old baby abandoned

KUWAIT: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching (CCET) and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to encourage mutual cooperation by sharing expertise in scientific research and Information Technology to help individuals with learning difficulties. Abdul Mohsen Abdullah AlSharhan, Chairman of CCET signed the MoU with General Director of KISR Dr Naji Al-Mutairi. The CCET will develop scientific cooperation with KISR in the field of computer programming to help students. KISR will provide CCET with the latest developments in the field of learning disabilities to develop mutual partnership.

Iraq must honor obligations towards Kuwait: UN chief BAGHDAD: Iraq should honor, as soon as possible, its international obligations towards Kuwait which fall within Chapter VII of the UN Char ter, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday.

He asserted that the United Nations is committed to offering assistance to help Iraq meet its obligations towards Kuwait, and that his special representative in Baghdad is ready to help both Baghdad and Kuwait reach common grounds over all outstanding issues.

“I feel optimistic because Iraq and Kuwait are still committed to the normalization of relations and to solving all outstanding issues,” Ki-moon said in a report distributed by the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). The report was issued in compliance with UN resolution 2001 of 2011.

Ki-moon welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki’s recent visit to Kuwait, during which both sides discussed how Iraq should honor its remaining obligations towards Kuwait,

like maintaining border signs, returning national archives and identifying the whereabouts of missing Kuwaitis.

The meeting of the Kuwait-Iraq committee this month was “an important opportunity” to address all sticky issues and to ensure appropriate implementation of the agreements, Ki-moon said.

“Iraq’s decisive steps to honor all remaining obligations in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions are necessary to guarantee the return of Iraq” to the international fold, said Kimoon.

Ki-moon’s representative in Baghdad, Martin Kobler, is ready to help Iraq and Kuwait reach a compromise in their thorny matters, he added.

Despite Al-Maliki’s positive visit to Kuwait, Iraq “still needs to implement, as soon as possible, what has been waiting for decades to be implemented towards Kuwait in line with Chapter VII, and these obligations include UNSC resolutions related to the maintenance of IraqKuwait border signs.”—KUNA

KUWAIT: An Arab woman was arrested in Farwaniya after investigations revealed she was responsible for several house robberies reported at her building. Investigations were on for days after a number of residents reported that jewelry and cash were stolen from their apartments by a thief who managed to get inside without breaking the front door lock. Probe soon led to a female resident who according to the complainants made sure to visit her neighbors after she rented an apartment in the building a few months ago. When summoned for investigations, the suspect eventually confessed that she was responsible for the thefts. She explained that she was able to enter the apartments using keys she would steal during her first visit. Police also learned that the suspect made sure to console her neighbors following the thefts to drive away all suspicions. She remains in custody pending legal procedures.

Serviceman vs. Policeman A military man was arrested after he initiated a fight with a police officer in Salwa recently. According to a security source, the attacker confronted the policeman after the latter looked at him in a way the military man deemed offensive. He reportedly attacked the

officer with pepper spray before the two fought. The fight was broken up by police who arrived minutes after multiple emergency calls were made. The two were taken to the area’s police station where the military man was charged with battery and use of a banned substance.

Returning deportee A man was arrested in Farwaniya after investigations revealed that he managed to re-enter Kuwait in 2009 after being deported three years ago. Search for the Pakistani man was underway after police received information about the case. Following his arrest, the man admitted using a forged passport to bypass his banishment and re-enter the country. He is currently in custody pending deportation procedures.

Infant abandoned Search is currently ongoing for two Asian women who left an infant at a photography shop in Farwaniya and escaped. The 10month-old baby was reportedly carried by one of the women who stayed for a while at the shop before exiting. Workers noticed that the child was left behind moments after the women went out. They tried to catch them

but they were quick to catch a taxi and drive away. The workers then called the police who arrived and took care of the child.

Investigations on Investigations are currently ongoing to determine the cause of death of a senior citizen whose body was recently found at his house in Nugra. Criminal investigators reportedly noticed burn marks on the lower body of the 75-year-old victim, and found an electric heater nearby. The case was classified as homicide as police suspect that foul play is involved.

Man charges uncles Sulaibikhat police are looking into a case in which a man claims that two of his uncles attempted to kill him over a financial dispute.

In his statement, the complainant explained that an altercation happened with his uncles when they were discussing the distribution of his deceased father’s inheritance. According to his statement, the man says that his uncle tied him up and drove to a remote location where they attempted to kill him before he could escape. Police are still trying to confirm the complainant’s story.

— Al-Rai, Al-Watan, Al-Anbaa

NBK offers ‘Travel Safe’ insurance KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) is offering its customers ‘Travel Safe’ insurance package in cooperation with Al Ahleia Insurance Company.

NBK travel insurance includes accidental death and disability, accident and sickness medical expenses (in- and out- patient), dental expenses, flight and luggage delay, insurance certificate for Schengen visa, medical prescriptions and personal liability.

Ahmad Al-Khader

“NBK’s Travel Safe addresses a wide array of travelers’ needs providing policyholders increased coverage at highly competitive rates through its alliance with Al Ahleia Insurance Co. NBK customers can apply for and obtain their policy instantly at any of NBK’s branches in Kuwait. In addition, policyholders can receive the required insurance certificate for their Schengen visa from Al Ahleia Insurance Co. virtually hassle free when presenting their NBK Travel Safe policy,” stated NBK Assistant General Manager, Consumer Banking Group, Ahmad Al-Khader.

“The coming months are peak travel times. In their excitement to travel, people often forget the importance of getting travel insurance to guard against an unexpected injury or illness or even a delayed flight or lost luggage, all of which can be an unpleasant and expensive experience,” added Al-Khader.

NBK highlights the importance of ensuring that customers check their passports and required travel documents are in order before embarking on their holidays. NBK travel insurance is received instantly by visiting the nearest NBK branch. For more information, log onto www.nbk.com or contact Hala Watani on 1801801.

EQUATE hosts annual local customers event KUWAIT: EQUATE Petrochemical Company said that its annual sales to local Kuwaiti plastic manufacturers have increased by over 300 percent during 1998 to 2011.

During EQUATE’s Annual Local Customers Gathering, EQUATE President & CEO Mohammad Husain said “Local customers have EQUATE’s unwavering commitment and dedication to ensure the success of their endeavours to reflect EQUATE’s tagline of ‘Partners in Success’”.

Husain noted “The plastic conversion industry is projected to have great prospects if it is positioned properly within the value-chain and optimized its operations to be more export oriented.”

Polyethylene Business Director Muayad Al-Faresi said, “Throughout 1998 to 2011, the volume of local sales has increased from 11,000 Metric Tons Annually (MTA) to over 40,000 MTA in 2011 with a value of over $30 million,” lauding the overall cooperation and business growth with local customers.

Al-Faresi said, “As you play a critical role in Kuwait’s overall sustainability and industrial growth, EQUATE has special interest in local customers by extending all necessary support to ensure the development of Kuwaiti downstream

industries for an even brighter future and sustainable growth.” As part of the event, EQUATE presented attendees with a market overview of the petrochemical industry’s trends and developments. Hosting over 30 local customers, the gathering was also attended by senior members of EQUATE management.

LUXOR: Ambassador Dr Rashid Al-Hamad, Luxor Governor Dr Izzet Saad and other officials at the ceremony in Al-Qurnah.

Corner stone for Kuwaiti funded venture laid in Luxor LUXOR: Kuwaiti ambassador in Cairo Dr Rashid Al-Hamad and Luxor Governor Dr Izzet Saad laid the corner stone for a planned medical center in the town of Al- Qurnah in the province, named after the eminent Kuwaiti philanthropist, Abdullah Abdul-Latif AlOthman.

Dr Al-Hamad, in a statement he made at the ceremony for laying the foundation stone, said this project was launched, as part of a program, prepared by

the Kuwaiti bureau for charitable ventures in Cairo-including several philanthropic projects launched in the countr y this year.

It is the latest of a chain of Kuwaiti ventures that have been executed in several villages and towns in the Egyptian provinces, amounting to 430 — launched over the past years.

The Kuwaiti charitable activities are, partially, intended to demonstrate the Gulf state appreciation for the pioneering

role of the nation on the Arab and Islamic arenas, and affirm the solid and distinctive ties bounding the brotherly peoples of the two countries, the diplomat said.

For his par t, Adnan AlOthman, son of the late AbdulLatif Al-Othman, said the new project would be followed with other charitable ventures, to be organized by Al-Othman Charity Association in Egypt.

The venture, projected to cost a total of $one million, will

include specialized clinics and a dialysis ward of eight units.

Al-Othman association is due to sponsor several other identical projects in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Morocco and Yemen, he said, indicating that these ventures would be, mostly, in the health sector.

The late Al-Othman senior was a well-known supporter of Egypt. He was honored by the late president, Jamal AbdulNasser, with the first- degree state medal of honor. —KUNA

Kuwait praises Saudi services offered to pilgrims JEDDAH: Kuwait’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs’ Undersecretary Adel Al-Falah praised yesterday, efforts exerted

by Saudi government to serve pilgrims this year, doing their best for the success of the Hajj season.

He met with Hatem bin Hasan Qadhi Undersecretary of Hajj Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of

Hajj, discussing preparations made to embark on a pilgrimage this year, and the facilities offered to pilgrims.

Qadhi hailed the organized measures taken by the Kuwaiti Hajj mission, and affiliated missions, in addition to abiding by instructions and cooperation with Saudi-specialized bodies.

Saudi authorities stressed on the importance of seeking permission to perform the pilgrimage rituals, Al-Falah said.

This permission cannot be duplicated, while the Saudi authorities have accorded strict punishment pilgrims who violate the rules, with the possibility of imposing a tenfold increase in

fines. Al-Falah later met the chairman of Faisal Nouh, Arab Pilgrims Guides Foundation to discuss Hajj season preparations. He emphasized importance of coordinating with the Saudi authorities for spreading awareness between pilgrims on safety measures, health tips, besides other matters.— KUNA

Kuwait, Vietnam discuss boosting relations

KUWAIT: Mohammad Husain addressing the meeting.

KUALA LUMPUR: Omar Suleiman Al-Qenai, Kuwaiti Consul General in Vietnam, held talks in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday with Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the People’s Committee of the City, on enhancing cooperation between the two states.

The meeting was intended to boost relations with top officials in Ho Chi Minh City, Al-Qenai said. Al-Qenai expressed satisfaction at serving in Ho Chi Min city, which has witnessed growth and advancement in the fields of economy and investment.

He also affirmed strengthening bilateral relations with Vietnam, and particularly in all areas in Ho Chi Minh city, such as economic, trade and investment. The Chairman of the People’s Committee asserted his support to ease the work of the Kuwaiti consul. — KUNA

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

Flights rerouted as N Korea readies rocket

Latin America bleeds from drug curse Page 10

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Clashes leave 133 dead in Yemen Yemeni troops, Qaeda battle in restive south ADEN: At least 133 people were killed in 48 hours of clashes pitting Yemeni soldiers backed by tribesmen against Al-Qaeda militants, officials said yesterday, as the extremists vowed to retake a strategic town. At least 124 people were killed in battles in the southern town of Loder in Abyan province, sparked when militants linked to Al-Qaeda raided an army barracks there on Monday. “One hundred and twenty-four people were killed in two days” of clashes around the city of Loder which is besieged by Al-Qaeda, said a military official.

The toll, which was confirmed by tribal sources, comprised 102 Al-Qaeda militants-among them 12 Somalis and many Saudis — 14 soldiers, and eight tribesmen fighting alongside the army. Twenty-eight of the militants and two armed civilians were killed yesterday, while the rest died on Monday. A government official in Loder said yesterday that Al-Qaeda militants have surrounded the area in preparation for the complete takeover of the town. “Al Qaeda has distributed statements throughout the town saying that it is determined to take control of Loder,” said the official who requested anonymity.

Loder is located some 150 kilometers northeast of Zinjibar, the Abyan provincial

capital which the Al-Qaeda-linked selfproclaimed Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law) militants overran in May last year. AlQaeda briefly seized Loder in August 2010 before being driven out by the army. A tribal source had said that the militants wanted to retake it because of its strategic location between Shabwa, Bayda and Lahij provinces where Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is also active.

Monday’s attack followed a series of air strikes that killed 24 suspected Al-Qaeda militants in their southern and eastern strongholds.

In a fresh Al-Qaeda assault yesterday, the militants killed nine soldiers in an attack on a makeshift military post on a desert road in the country’s mostly lawless eastern provinces, a security official said.

“Al-Qaeda militants attacked a military position on the road between Hadramawt and Marib province,” the official said requesting anonymity, adding that “nine soldiers were killed” in the assault. He said at least eight other soldiers were wounded. Al-Qaeda gunmen attacked the soldiers just after dawn with “automatic weapons,” the official added. The United States considers the Yemen-based AQAP to be the most deadly and active branch of the global terror network.—AFP

UAE detains 6 Islamists DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates yesterday detained six Islamists whose citizenship had been revoked for alleged links to groups that fund terrorists, their lawyer said. The six men “were summoned by the interior ministry and told that they have two weeks to get new nationality and legalize” their presence in the country, Mohammed Al-Roken said. “They refused because this would be an impossible task and because they will always consider themselves UAE nationals,” Roken added.

The lawyer said the men were currently being held in Shahama prison, near the capital Abu Dhabi. An immigration official quoted in Al-Khaleej newspaper said that the six were put in custody because they had “refused to legalize their status.”

Colonel Ahmed Al-Khader told the daily they had violated UAE law by failing to sign a document pledging to acquire new citizenship within a government-set time frame of two weeks. The UAE revoked the Islamists’ citizenship in December last year for allegedly threatening the Gulf state’s security and safety, a rare move for the emirate.

At the time, the UAE said the six naturalized citizens were being stripped of their nationality because they “had perpetrated... acts threatening the national security of the UAE through their connection with suspicious regional and international organizations and personalities.” They said some of the organizations were linked to entities mentioned in UN lists to combat terrorist

financing. The six had originally carried the nationalities of other countries and were naturalized between 1976 and 1986. All of them have identified themselves as members of the UAE’s Reform and Social Guidance Association, which is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Some claimed to have signed a petition calling for political reforms which was launched by UAE intellectuals and activists in March 2011. The UAE, a federation of seven emirates led by oil-rich Abu Dhabi, has not seen any popular protests calling for reform like those that have swept other Arab countries, including nearby Bahrain and Oman. The government however has increased its clampdown on voices of dissent and calls for democratic reform. Earlier this month, Reporters Without Borders condemned the UAE for the “arrests and trials” of online activists, saying the government was “cracking down harder on bloggers... who criticize the regime.”

Their condemnation came after the authorities shut down the offices of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Abu Dhabi and the US National Democratic Institute in Dubai in late March. The government said the two organizations were closed “because they violated license regulations.” Human Rights Watch accused the government of shutting them down because of their “pro-democracy mandate,” saying that the closures were “part of a larger campaign against those demanding democratic change within the UAE.”— AFP

News

in brief Toddler survives eight-storey fall

SOFIA: A three-year-old girl survived an eight-storey fall from an apartment building in Bulgaria without major injuries, hospital officials said yesterday. The Roma girl, named in the press as Poli Filipova, was chasing a ball when she fell from the eighth-floor terrace in the southern town of Pazardzhik. “It is a miracle. The toddler tumbled down from balcony to balcony to finally end on soft soil. She only had a scratch on the head,” local hospital chief nurse Elena Sluncheva said. The girl was held in hospital for surveillance and would return to her family later, the official said. Only last week a 20-year-old woman sustained serious spinal injuries when she tripped while washing windows and fell from the third floor of the same building, Sluncheva said.

Britain can extradite radical cleric to US STRASBOURG: Britain can extradite jailed radical Muslim preacher Abu Hamza and five other alleged terrorists to the United States, the European Court of Human Rights ruled yesterday. The court found “there would be no violation of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights” if the six were extradited, but allowed a three-month stay for an appeal. The defendants had complained that conditions at the ADX supermax prison in Florence, Colorado and possible multiple life sentences they face would be grossly

disproportionate and amount to inhuman or degrading treatment. The court said in its ruling that Mustafa Kamal Mustafa, as Abu Hamza is also known, and the five othersBabar Ahmad, Haroon Rashid Aswat, Syed Tahla Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled Al-Fawwaz-could be extradited. It held that “conditions at ADX would not amount to illtreatment”.

Anti-immigrant website BRUSSELS: A Flemish far-right party launched a website yesterday inviting people to report crimes committed by illegal immigrants, mirroring a controversial initiative in the Netherlands. The website created

by Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) allows people to file anonymous tip-offs of social security fraud, work on the black market and more serious crimes, a move antiracism activists compared to Nazi tactics.

Vlaams Belang leader Filip Dewinter said the website was needed because of the presence of “tens of thousands of illegal immigrants” in Belgian cities and the problems stemming from them. The acts reported to the website, http://meldpuntillegaliteit.be, will be transferred to the police, said De Winter, whose Flemish nationalist party regularly courts controversy with its anti-Islam and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Jozef De Witte, director of the Centre for Equality and Struggle Against Racism, told Radio 1 that the website is reminiscent of measures taken by the Nazis in the 1930s or the East German secret police during the Cold War.

SANAA: Yemeni gunmen oversee the dismantling of barricades erected during recent tribal clashes in Sanaa.— AFP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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

Iraqis still wait for realization of 2003 dreams BAGHDAD: Iraqis thought a better life was at hand when Saddam Hussein’s regime fell in April 2003, but after nine years of violence and suffering, many are still waiting for their dreams to be realized. Iraq still faces major shortages in basic services such as electricity and water, the UN says some 1.3 million Iraqis are internally displaced, and though violence is down from its peak in 2006-2007, attacks remain common.

On April 9, 2003, US forces used an armored vehicle to pull down a giant statue of Saddam in Al-Fardos Square in central Baghdad-an image shown around the world that became a symbol of the end of the dictator ’s regime.

Today, only a metal support bar and a portion of one of the statue’s legs, to which a dirty, fluttering Iraqi flag is tied, are visible atop a cylindrical base in the square.

The statue’s base is plastered with posters, including one celebrating the US military’s withdrawal from Iraq at the end of last year that features a picture of anti-US Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr, whose family opposed Saddam and who commanded a militia that battled US forces. “April 9 was a historic day for

Iraqis,” said Hilal Sultan, a 54-year-old who changes money and sells mobile phone cards at a small stand in Al-Fardos

how some Iraqis in the square broke into applause while others hit the statue of Saddam with shoes and others cried.

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi worker fixes a switch linked to a generator which provides electricity to a residential neighborhood in Baghdad during power cuts yesterday. — AFP Square, who said he witnessed Saddam’s statue being toppled. “The people celebrated because we all believed the regime would change and there would be freedoms” he said. Sultan recalled

“There were no freedoms under the former regime,” Sultan said, noting that religious pilgrimages to Shiite holy places that were prohibited under Saddam were allowed after his fall. The fall of

Saddam, however, had its downsides.

Violence that tore through Iraq as the US battled insurgents, bomb attacks left huge numbers of civilians dead and the country descended into a bloody sectarian war. “For nine years, we have been watching the killings and explosions,” Sultan said. He also complained about sporadic electricity and water shortages in the Sadr City area of Baghdad, where he lives. But ultimately “April 9 represents happiness for Iraqis,” said Sultan. “Things are getting better.” “We felt the situation had changed and hoped it would be better; we felt more free,” Bassam Hanna, a 35-year-old who works in a shop near Al-Fardos Square, said of April 9. “It was like a rebirth, and we were celebrating.” Hanna, who said he was also in the square when the statue was toppled, referred to deficiencies in services, but said the situation in Iraq was generally better than it was before.

But Hanna, a Christian, also hinted at the sectarian conflict that gripped the countr y and drove many Iraqi Christians abroad. He said his wish is that “no one differentiates between Christians and Muslims, and between

Sunnis and Shiites. We are Iraqi; the Christian has a church and the Muslim has a mosque -we are one.” Umm Mohammed, a cleaner at a bank, also believed nine years ago that life was changing for the best in Iraq. “We said that from now on life will be good,” said the 50-year-old. “But we have not seen anything. They (politicians) are working for their own interests. We aren’t happy, and nothing is accomplished,” she complained.

Salam Hajji Sabhan, 44, recalls watching television coverage with his family of the fall of Saddam’s regime in Canada, where he moved in 1996. “We were dancing. We were happy... and dreaming of a very nice future for our children and our country,” he said during a recent visit to Baghdad. But that hope was not realized, and overthrowing Saddam was in hindsight a “big mistake,” said Sabhan. “Saddam... was better than this government,” said the former Iraqi police officer who is now studying for a master’s degree in criminal justice. “Saddam was the biggest dictator, he was (a) very bad man. But it is not better now. There is no country, no security, no nothing.” he said.—AFP

Malaysia to ease grip with new security law

Egypt court blocks creation of constitutional assembly

Govt to end indefinite detention

Liberals, Christians demand more representation

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will no longer allow indefinite detention without trial or detain people for their political beliefs under a new law presented in parliament yesterday. The legislation would take the place of the Internal Security Act (ISA), which was used to detain a range of people including terror suspects and dissidents for extended periods and was heavily criticized by rights groups. Prime Minister Najib Razak announced in September he would scrap the colonial-era ISA in a drive to improve civil liberties in a country long known for authoritarian rule.

Najib has been courting voters ahead of polls expected to be called soon and which will likely be a tight battle against a resurgent opposition, which claims the government’s reform promises are insincere. Najib said in a statement that the new law was a “careful balancing act... to protect national security and combat terrorism at the same time as introducing new safeguards for civil liberties”. “This is a historic day for Malaysia and another major step forward on the road to reform,” he said. Under the new Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, police can detain those deemed a security threat for a maximum of 28 days, after which they must be released or charged, according to a copy of the law seen by AFP. It also singles out offenders such as document forgers and those who “excite disaffection” toward the countr y ’s monarchy as being subject to the same stipulations. It says the law cannot be used to punish people solely for their political beliefs or activities and guarantees detainees access to a legal counsel after 48 hours. The new law states, how-

ever, that if a person is acquitted by a trial court, the public prosecutor can apply for the person to remain in prison until “all appeals are disposed of”. It also allows for wiretapping and electronic monitoring of suspects. The law is expected to be approved after a debate in parliament next week, owing to the majority held by Najib’s Barisan Nasional coalition government.

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, chairman of activist group Movement to Abolish the ISA, criticized the new legislation for still allowing “arbitrary” detentions of those considered security threats. “It appears to be another ISA... If a person is being detained for a security offence, whose definition (of security offence) is that?” he said. “Twenty-eight days is excessive.

It is still a form of detention without trial. It is unacceptable,” he said. Syed Ibrahim said his group estimated about 30 people are currently held under the ISA. Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein declined to comment yesterday on whether they would be released or charged.

Opposition politicians and activists also complain that other laws such as a sedition law have been used recently against government critics and remain on the books. Critics have slammed Najib’s reform pledges as ploys to garner voter support after Barisan Nasional suffered its worst performance ever at the last polls in 2008 amid corruption, high-handedness and other complaints.

In November, the government introduced a new assembly law that bans street protest marches, which rights groups have said showed Najib was not totally committed to lifting the shackles on free expression.— AFP

CAIRO: An Egyptian court yesterday halted a move to create a new constitutional assembly pending a ruling on its legality, challenging the legitimacy of a body spurned by liberal and Christian groups because of its domination by Islamists. The injunction slapped on the decision by parliament could delay the introduction of a constitution needed urgently to clarify the powers of Egypt’s new head of state, due to take over from ruling generals by mid-year.

The government and parliament had argued that the court had no authority over the move to form the constituent assembly.

But Judge Ali Fekri said the court “rejected the argument that the court is not specialized and decided to halt the decision” that formed the assembly. He passed on the case’s documents to a judicial panel for a review. This case is one of several lawsuits that had demanded the dissolution of the assembly because it did not represent the diversity of Egyptian society.

Lawyer Khaled Abo Bakr said the court’s capacity to review the case rested on whether parliament’s step to form the assembly was legally seen as an administrative decision. “This means the assembly’s activities are frozen; it is suspended until further notice, until the judicial panel convenes,” he said. Selected by parliament, the 100-member constitutional assembly is composed mostly of Islamists, who won the majority of

CAIRO: Egyptian Salafist presidential candidate Hazem Abu Ismail (center) is flanked by security guards as hundreds of supporters approach him during a rally outside the State Council court in Cairo yesterday. — AFP seats in Egypt’s first free parliamentary vote in decades. Only a handful of seats were reserved for youth groups, women and for Christian Copts, who said they plan to boycott the assembly, following the example of liberal groups and the country’s highest Sunni Islamic institution Al-Azhar, who all withdrew from the assembly. The case was brought by

be finished by early afternoon and his grandmother could be on her way South.

Several Sudanese policemen calmly held back the crowd, sweat beading on their heads, as people entered and left one at a time. “We are foreigners,” said a preacher sitting on a shady curb across from the embassy.

He said he had come to get a South Sudanese identity card, which he would then use to register his presence with the Sudanese authorities. Those remaining in the north need South Sudanese documents in order to formalize their presence in the north. For the preacher, that is just a temporary measure until he can go South.

After 25 years in Sudan, he said he does not wish to stay anymore. “No, no, no,” he said.

Some who can afford it have already gone to South Sudan for passports and returned, while others are now turning to the embassy for their documents.

Two students, Nguen Nyuong, 25, and Peter Nger, 28, said they did not have the money, almost 300 pounds ($60), to afford the new South Sudanese passports that they needed. “This is a must, because you are a foreigner,” Nger said. Money, rather than documentation, was foremost in the mind of William Makuei Deng, 46. He carried a letter to the United Nations refugee agency, saying he had been fired without pay from his job as a union leader at a sugar factor y prior to independence.

Deng, his wife and eight children are living on the street at a local market, along with 50 other families, he said. The letter said he had no money to take his family South, “and that is why I am seeking financial assistance.” He hoped the embassy could help. “I want to tell what has happened to me,” Deng said.— AFP

cratic president, Hosni Mubarak, who was forced out by a popular uprising. The new document is expected to include more freedoms and define rules for the authorities including setting out the terms of presidential power. It could also decide which institution of state will effectively rule the Arab world’s most populous country.— Reuters

G8 FMs to tackle Iran, Syria and North Korea

South Sudan ‘foreigners’ seek exit from Khartoum KHARTOUM: Suddenly foreigners in a land that had been their own, the sweating South Sudanese crowded against the gates of their new embassy yesterday, hoping to squeeze inside for the papers to send them home. Many like John Henry, 37, clutched yellow airline tickets from Marsland Aviation, but since Monday a ticket is no longer enough to get from Khartoum to Juba, the capital of South Sudan which became independent last July after Africa’s longest civil war. “I’m supposed to take off on Thursday,” but whether that will be possible remained unclear, he said.

Airlines cancelled flights from Sudan to the South starting on Monday, travelers said, after new rules treating the route as international took effect. The ending of domestic services to South Sudan came the day after a deadline for an estimated half a million ethnic Southerners to return South or formalize their status in the north.

Sudan’s Aviation Authority said passengers heading to South Sudan must now have visas. “Khartoum said, if you go to the airport, present your visa,” said Henry, an ethnic Southerner who spent years working with Sudan’s immigration police. Like other Southerners who belonged to Khartoum’s civil service, he lost his job before the South’s independence last July.

He said he is owed thousands of pounds (dollars) in severance pay but is not waiting any longer. “I’m going to my country,” he said. “I’m not welcome here anymore.”

Emmanuel Waani, 32, said he had come to help his grandmother who stood about eighth from the front in an orderly line of women. To their left, a crowd of men pushed against the gate, beneath the South Sudanese flag. “She needs a visa,” Waani said, expecting the process would

lawyers and activists complaining that the body appointed by the Islamist-led parliament to write the constitution laying out the framework of laws and state institutions fails to reflect the diversity of Egyptian society. The current constitution was suspended by the army rulers in February last year, shortly after they took power from Egypt’s long-serving auto-

KHARTOUM: People line up outside the embassy of the newly-independent South Sudan, in Khartoum yesterday, two days after a deadline expired for an estimated half a million ethnic Southerners to return South or formalize their status in the north. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Foreign ministers of the Group of Eight (G8) major economies will meet this week in Washington to tackle pressing regional and global security issues like Syria, Iran and North Korea. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s expected talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the margins of the G8 meetings today and tomorrow could prove especially important as Russia plays a key role on all three issues. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland did not confirm the meeting with Lavrov, but said Clinton would have four bilateral ministerial meetings during the G8 talks as the violence in Syria continued unabated.

“I’m sure that Syria will be a subject of discussion here too,” Nuland said after she and other US officials said they saw no signs that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad will implement a UN-brokered ceasefire he has agreed to. The Group of Eight comprises not just the United States and Russia but also Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Like the other G8 capitals, Moscow has backed the ceasefire plan presented by Annan, the United Nations and Arab League envoy, but it puts far more weight on the Syrian opposition to stop the violence and has vetoed UN resolutions condemning Assad.

Syria is a traditional Russian military ally.

Under the peace plan, Syria’s armed forces are supposed to withdraw from protest centers yesterday, with a complete end to fighting set for 48 hours later. But the truce appeared in jeopardy after Damascus said Sunday it would only meet its side of the bargain if rebels first handed over written guarantees to stop fighting, a demand rejected by rebel army chief Colonel Riyadh Al-Asaad. With events building to a climax, “Syria is going to take up a lot of air time,”

particularly in the bilateral meetings, according to Bruce Jones, a Brookings Institution analyst.

State Department officials also told reporters that Iran’s nuclear ambitions will come up. The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are to meet with Iran in Istanbul on April 14, after Clinton recently warned the window for ending the atomic showdown peacefully will “not remain open forever.” The first such global talks for more than a year are set against the backdrop of Iran’s failure to allay Western suspicions that its uranium enrichment program masks a drive to build atomic weapons.

Tehran insists its program is entirely peaceful. The G8 foreign ministers will also tackle concerns over North Korea’s planned launch of a rocket which Pyongyang says is aimed at putting a satellite into orbit but much of the rest of the world fears is a disguised missile test. The launch is expected between April 12-16. G8 members the United States, Russia and Japan take part in the troubled six-party nuclear disarmament talks which also involve South Korea, North Korea and China. The planned rocket launch has undercut a recent deal in which North Korea agreed to a partial suspension of its nuclear activities in return for massive food aid.

In Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said he would press for the G8 foreign ministers to speak out on North Korea. “This meeting will take place right before or during the period of the missile launch announced by North Korea. I would like to cooperate closely with each G8 country to demonstrate the strong resolve of the G8 toward urging North Korea to exercise self-restraint,” Gemba told reporters. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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

Malian military junta rejects foreign forces National Assembly president to be sworn in as president BAMAKO: The head of Mali’s military junta made it clear yesterday that he would have a powerful say over how the country is run in the weeks ahead, and does not want foreign forces helping reclaim the country’s north from rebels who declared independence. In televised comments, Capt Amadou Sanogo said he is asking Mali’s partners for equipment and logistical help. The West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has been preparing a force of up to 3,000 soldiers to be deployed in Mali to help win back the regions under rebel control.

The comments come just days after Sanogo signed an agreement with ECOWAS that is supposed to return Mali to constitutional rule, and a new civilian president is due to be sworn in this week. Sanogo, though, said Monday that he would decide with ECOWAS how the country would be run after the 40 days usually set out in the country’s constitution for a transition of power. “It was very clear in the framework agreement that after 40 days we would sit down with ECOWAS to decide on another team to lead the transition,” Sanogo said.

Under Mali’s constitution, it is the president of the national assembly who takes over for a maximum period of 40 days until elections can be organized after the presidency becomes vacant. However, the agreement signed on Friday said that the 40-day limit would be impossible to stick to given the country’s political crisis. Tuareg rebels now control the northern half of Mali, and one fac-

tion of the rebels declared the zone independent last week. Mali’s ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure officially resigned on Sunday after spending more than more than two weeks in hiding after the presidential palace was attacked by soldiers on March 21.

He had been due to stand down soon anyway because he was reaching the end of his two-term maximum. The president of Mali’s national assembly, Dioncounda Traore, is due to be sworn in as president today, according to his chief of staff, Issa Togo. “Is it ideal to have to broker a deal where the president steps down and you have to have a interim president until elections? Of course it’s not ideal. But it does mark a very important restoration of civilian rule, without which we didn’t think Mali was going to be able to move forward,” US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Monday.

Soldiers at the military base that has served as the de facto seat of Mali’s government since the coup have said privately that they were not happy with their leader’s decision to bow to pressure and hand back power to civilians.

And throughout the city, soldiers still control strategic points, including a checkpoint at the airport and several checkpoints outside the state television station. The coup began when the soldiers grabbed control of the state broadcaster, using it to disseminate their message. Another complicating factor is that the head of the national assembly, Dioncounda Traore, who is now supposed to become inter-

im leader, is considered a divisive figure. It’s unclear if he has the backing to hold the country together during a tough transition, leading to new elections.

The soldiers who grabbed power claimed they did so because of President Toure’s mishandling of a rebellion in the north, which began in January. Toure’s popularity took a nosedive because of his lack of assertiveness in the face of the mounting attacks, which inflicted large casualties on Mali’s ill-equipped army. After Toure was forced from power, the Tuareg rebels succeeded in taking the three largest towns in the north. Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu all fell last weekend. The UN Security Council said in a statement late Monday that the country’s “sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity” must be upheld.

Security Council members “demand an immediate cessation of hostilities in the north of Mali by rebel groups and acknowledge the efforts of ECOWAS to explore options to restore peace and security in Mali,” the statement said. The loss of the northern half of the country, an area larger than France, has plunged Mali into crisis.

The fighters are divided between a secular group and an Islamist faction that wants to impose Shariah law in Mali’s moderate north.

It’s unclear which of the factions has the upper hand, though increasingly it appears that Ansar Dine, the Islamist group, has greater sway, including in Timbuktu, where they control the city, whereas the secular group is relegated to the airport. — AP

Militant Irish nationalists renew threats, 6 arrested BELFAST: Police in Northern Ireland arrested six men in Londonderry after a group of Irish militant nationalists threatened renewed armed attacks on law enforcement during a ceremony attended by hundreds at a city graveyard.

A man wearing a balaclava said Oglaigh na hEireann, also known as the Real IRA, would “continue to attack Crown Force personnel, their installations, as

well as British interests and infrastructure,” in footage broadcast by television station UTV. Around 300 nationalists attended the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule. A number of supporters applauded the speech. A 1998 peace agreement largely ended over three decades of violence between Catholic Irish nationalists, who wanted a united

Ireland, and predominantly Protestant Loyalists who wanted the province to remain British.

But dissident Irish nationalists, including the Real IRA, opposed to the deal and seeking a united Ireland fight on with sporadic gun and bomb attacks which have intensified in the past couple of years.

The Real IRA is an offshoot of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, which was disbanded after

the 1998 peace deal. The Police Ser vice of Northern Ireland watched the ceremony from a helicopter which hovered above and officers waited until after the crowd had dispersed to arrest the men. Police on Friday said a “significant” bomb was found near the main Dublin-to-Belfast motorway and that investigators believed the attack may have been carried out by dissident Irish nationalists. — Reuters

Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik

Norway gunman ‘sane’ OSLO: Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in Norway last July, was not psychotic at the time of the twin attacks and can thus be held criminally responsible, a new psychiatric probe concluded yesterday. The report, which was released only six days before Breivik is due to go on trial, will reopen the debate on whether the self-confessed killer can be sent to prison or instead be held in a secure psychiatric unit.

“The experts’ main conclusion is that the accused, Anders Behring Breivik, is not considered to have been psychotic at the time of the actions on July 22, 2011,” the Oslo district court said in a statement. “That means that he is considered criminally responsible at the time of the crime.” The new evaluation counters the findings of an initial probe that found the 33-year-old right-wing extremist was suffering from “paranoid schizophrenia,” which meant he would most likely be sentenced to psychiatric care instead of prison.

On July 22, Breivik first set off a car bomb outside government buildings in Oslo, killing eight people. He then travelled to the small island of Utoeya northwest of the capital where, dressed as a police officer, he then spent more than an hour methodically shooting and killing another 69 people. Most of the victims on Utoeya were teenagers attending a summer camp hosted by the ruling Labor Party’s youth organization.

“There is a high risk of repeated violent actions,” experts Agnar Aspaas and Terje Toerrissen said in the court statement.

Toerrissen told reporters gathered at the Oslo court that the pair had had “as much, if not more material” as their colleagues who had reached the opposite conclusion about Breivik’s mental state.

“We are as sure (of our conclusion) as it is possible to be,” he added. Their lengthy report is based on 11 interviews with the accused, three weeks of permanent observation and the police interrogation transcripts. The conclusions of the second psychiatric evaluation, which was ordered by an Oslo court amid an outcry over the initial exam findings, were published less than a week before the April 16 start date of Breivik’s trial.

In the end however, it will be up to the Oslo court judges to determine his mental state when they publish their verdict around mid-July, thus deciding whether he will be locked up in a closed psychiatric ward, possibly for life, or sent to prison. Norway has a maximum limit of 21 years behind bars, but Breivik could still face life in prison due to a special provision that allows for extensions of his term for as long as he is considered a danger to society.

Ironically, the new expert conclusion should be welcomed by his defense, which upon his request aims to prove he is sane and criminally responsible.

Breivik, who has said being sent to a psychiatric ward would be “worse than death”, wants to be declared sane, according to his lawyers, so as not to damage the political message presented in his 1,500-page manifesto published online shortly before the attacks. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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

Latin America bleeds from drug curse SAN PEDRO SULA: Here in the most violent city in the world’s deadliest country, gangs settle scores with grenades and AK-47s, hitmen strike in broad daylight and police demand extortion payments. A homicide is reported every 74 minutes in Honduras, which has a population of eight million, and experts directly link the violence and corruption plaguing both the country and the region to drug trafficking. Ninety percent of the cocaine sold in the United States passes through Central America, either en route to the US-Mexico border or destined to be smuggled by sea, according to US figures.

US General Douglas Fraser, head of the US Southern Command, however has said that only a third of the drugs that reach Central America and Mexico are stopped before entering the United States. Leaders from the Americas-who will head to Colombia for a regional summit this weekendare well aware of the drug violence that has become endemic, and are searching for new ways to control the scourge. Cocaine, the illegal narcotic extracted from coca-native to South America-leaves a trail of destruction across the region.

Honduras has a homicide rate of 86 per 100,000 people, according to a United Nations study, and San Pedro Sula-located near the Atlantic coast and close to the border with Guatemala-lies on a key drug trafficking route. Security forces in Honduras,

as in most of Latin America, are outmanned and outgunned by drug gangs, who move their shipments on private airplanes, speed boats, and even submersibles known as “narcosubs.” Honduras is not alone: in tiny El Salvador, there are 66 homicides per 100,000 residents, and in Guatemala, the rate is 41.4 per 100,000.

Some regional leaders are advocating the decriminalization of drugs to dampen the violence. In February, Guatemalan President Otto Perez said that Central American leaders should forge a common policy on the issue.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, a key regional US ally, said he would consider decriminalization if there were a broad consensus. The US government however opposes such a move, and recently sent Vice President Joe Biden to Central America to talk leaders out of the idea.

Washington has long funded antinarcotics operations in Latin America, most notably through the Plan Colombia-more than $6 billion since 2000 - and the $1.6 billion Merida Initiative, signed in 2008, which covers Mexico and Central America.

Washington points to successes in the war on drugs, including the destruction of Colombia’s powerful Medellin and Cali cartels. But those relative victories did not stop the flow of drugs.

Today in Cali, small and mid-sized drug gangs thrive, and in the nearby Cauca valley, leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary fighters and criminal

Florida shooter starts fund-raising website FLORIDA: From hiding, George Zimmerman has created a website to raise money for his legal defense and living expenses while he awaits a special prosecutor’s decision whether to charge him in the shooting death of unarmed black Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. One of Zimmerman’s lawyers, Craig Sonner, confirmed on Monday the site was legitimately Zimmerman’s.

“He is operating this on his own,” Sonner said. “I can confirm this is his site.” The website, called therealgeorgezimmerman.com, offers one of the first publicly available comments from Zimmerman since the neighborhood watch volunteer shot Martin on Feb 26 in what he said was selfdefense. He went into hiding shortly after the shooting, which generated nationwide controversy after police declined to arrest him. A special prosecutor is weighing whether to seek criminal charges. “On Sunday February 26th, I was involved in a life altering event which led me to become the subject of intense media coverage,” Zimmerman says on the home page.

“As a result of the incident and subse-

quent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life.” The case led to protests across the country demanding that Zimmerman be arrested.

Critics have complained that Zimmerman, 28, who is white and Hispanic, thought Martin, 17, suspicious because he was black and began following him.

Zimmerman told police that Martin attacked him and he shot the teenager in self defense. Zimmerman’s brother and father have said in television interviews that he feared for his life.

Zimmerman said on his website he could not attest to other efforts purporting to raise funds on his behalf and said he has not received any money. He promised to “maintain accountability” for any money received.

Martin’s family has established the Justice for Trayvon Martin Foundation which is raising money “to support awareness of civil rights, social justice and the quality of life for young black men,” according to a website that said it has collected nearly $21,000 as of Monday afternoon. — Reuters

Santorum hitting campaign trail again despite pressures WASHINGTON: Defying personal and professional pressures, Rick Santorum is returning to the US presidential campaign trail in his uphill battle against presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney. After a five-day break to celebrate Easter, help care for his sick daughter and thrash out strategy, Santorum kicks off the fight for his home state, Pennsylvania, in earnest yesterday. He needs to win the state by a decent margin to stay in the race against Romney, whose allies have already begun negative TV attacks against the conservative former senator.

Santorum held a rally in Bedford yesterday and then addresses his alma mater Penn State Dickinson School of Law, dampening talk he is near to quitting the race. “Clearly, once we get campaigning, then that will certainly quiet any talk of us doing anything other than moving full-speed ahead,” campaign spokeswoman Alice Stewart said.

Speculation that Santorum could be headed for the exit increased last Thursday when he held a strategy meeting with conservative leaders. Then his 3year-old daughter, Bella, who suffers from a serious genetic disorder, was hospitalized on the weekend. She was likely to be released on Monday.

A loss in Pennsylvania in the April 24 primary would be seen as hammering the final nail into the coffin of Santorum’s campaign and unofficially crown Romney as the Republican who will face President Barack Obama in November’s election. While Romney’s campaign suspended advertising on Monday out of deference to Santorum’s ill daughter, the front-runner’s Super PAC, Restore Our Future, made no such gesture, staying on the air with $480,000 in time already bought. Neither Santorum nor the Super PAC that supports him has started spending money on advertising in Pennsylvania, but spokeswoman Stewart insisted the campaign had the money to spend time on the air.

SANTORUM SPENDING “We have a plan in place. When the time is right for us, we’ll go up,” Stewart said. “Like every other state, there’s no way we can compete with the financial advantage the Romney campaign has.”

As well as enjoying a clear lead in fundraising, Romney is well ahead in the race to reach the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination at the Republican convention in August.

“It’s kinda hard for anyone to get the delegates to pass me at this stage, so it looks pretty good,” Romney said on Mike Huckabee’s radio show. Romney also led in one poll in Pennsylvania last week, but that has not been enough to convince Santorum to leave the race. “There’s no good reason to get out” unless the polls continue to slide in Romney’s direction, said Republican strategist Rich Galen.

Santorum is considered to have his eye on another presidential run in 2016 and may not want to upset the party by staying in too long this time around and hindering Romney’s ability to campaign against Obama. — Reuters

HOLLIDAYSBURG: Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum hugs supporters in front of the Blair County Courthouse during a campaign rally in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. — AFP

gangs are all involved in the drugs trade.

Experts say the demise of the Colombian cartels only led to the growth of the Mexican syndicates.

“Now the Mexicans have the key to passage to the United States and set the price on cocaine,” said Colombian Alfredo Rangel, who heads a think-

those people were killed in turf wars among the competing cartels.

There have been important victories in Mexico, including high-level arrests and the crippling of the oncepower ful Tijuana drug cartel. But Mexico’s other cartels appear as strong as ever-so much so that the Zetas, founded by ex-anti-drug commandos,

VALLE DEL CAUCA: A boy stares at the body of an unidentified man found in the Cauca river in Cali, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia. — AFP tank focusing on democracy and security. “The violence is over the division of fewer resources.” In Mexico, more than 50,000 people have been killed since President Felipe Calderon launched a US-supported crackdown on drug trafficking in 2006. Most of

have formed alliances with Central American drug gangs like the Mara Salvatrucha, which extends its reach into Los Angeles and other major US cities. Even more worrying is the fact that regional drug cartels, who sometimes pay their workers with cocaine,

have broadened their market beyond the United States and Europe and are creating a whole new generation of addicts in Latin America.

In Brazil, which recently passed Britain to become the world’s sixth biggest economy, poor youths addicted to crack cocaine fight for their fix in squalid shanty towns across the country. In the northeastern city of Maceio, where tourists enjoy the beaches largely undisturbed, drug addicts in the city’s shanty towns-known here as favelas-are killing each other at an alarming rate. While the homicide rate in Brazil is 26.2 per 100,000, in Maceio, it is 109.9 per 100,000. “In seven years I lost five sons, killed by their own friends,” said Severino Lopez, a 59year-old candy vendor. “They bought drugs, did not pay their debts and died. The youngest was 18 and the oldest was 23.”

“Cocaine consumption has generalized across nearly all of Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Francisco Cumsille, who works in an Organization of American States office that monitors drug abuse. “This is not a drug that is exported only to the north.” According to the group, half of the world’s cocaine consumers live in the Western Hemisphere. Surprisingly, drugs play only a small role in Venezuela, another Latin American country with a soaring homicide rate (67 per 100,000 residents). Most of those murders are linked to common crime and revenge attacks. — AFP

Kidnapped diplomat freed in Venezuela Latest victim of attacks on foreign diplomats became politicized. Some Chavez supporters suggest the violence against diplomats may be an opposition plot to discredit the government and tarnish the achievements of his self-styled revolution. Diosdado Cabello, the National Assembly boss and a staunch ally of the president, said he hoped the recent attacks were just a coincidence and nothing more sinister,

CARACAS: A Costa Rican kidnapped during the weekend in the latest attack on foreign diplomats in Venezuela has been freed and is in good health, the government said yesterday. “Thanks to police investigation and pressure, we achieved the liberation of the Costa Rican diplomat,” Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami said on Twitter. He promised full details of the operation later in the day.

Guillermo Cholele, a trade attache at the Costa Rican Embassy in Caracas, was seized on Sunday night as he returned to his home in La Urbina, a middle-class neighborhood in the eastern part of the capital. “He is in good physical state, under police protection en route to meet up with his family,” El Aissami said.

Various diplomats stationed in Venezuela have been victims of robberies and “express” kidnappings - usually short abductions motivated by money - in recent months. One consul’s daughter was shot dead at a police roadblock. Local media said Cholele was 55 and had lived in Venezuela with his wife and two children for the past six years. His abductors had demanded a ransom, according to Costa Rica, but it was unclear if anything was paid.

Murders, armed robberies and abductions are rife in Venezuela, which has huge oil wealth alongside deep poverty. Mexico’s ambassador and his wife were briefly kidnapped in January and last year a consul from Chile was shot and beaten in Caracas during an abduction that lasted several hours.

November. He was held in the mountains for two days before being rescued by security forces.

The country’s opposition, which hopes to topple President Hugo Chavez in the Oct 7 election and end his 13 years in power, says his government only shows any urgency in its fight against crime when foreign or high-pro-

POLITICIZED CRIME A diplomat from Belarus also was kidnapped last year. Last month, the teenage daughter of a Chilean diplomat was shot dead by police after the car she was in failed to stop at a roadblock in the western city of Maracaibo. Venezuelan’s favorite sport has also been hit. US Major League Baseball player Wilson Ramos of the Washington Nationals was kidnapped while visiting his parents last

CARACAS: Residents of a building wait outside it as police officers look for the abductors of Costa Rican diplomat Guillermo Cholele in Caracas. — AP file victims are involved. Seeking to counter while pro-Chavez talk show host Mario Silva that impression, Chavez’s socialist administra- said the opposition was following the violent tion launched two new organizations to com- playbook of a brief coup against Chavez a bat criminality just last week. While voters decade ago. “What better way to show the appear not to hold the president personally international community that Venezuela doesresponsible for one of the world’s highest n’t even have the capacity to protect diplocrime rates, his government is under growing mats?” Silva said on Monday night. “They’re folpressure - and the latest incident quickly lowing the exact same script.” — Reuters

Oklahoma weighs ‘personhood’ law OKLAHOMA: A proposed law in Oklahoma that would grant embryos full rights as people from the moment of conception may represent the next big challenge to the constitutional right to abortion in the United States.

Oklahoma’s Personhood Act passed the state Senate in February and is expected to be approved by the Republican-controlled House within weeks. The state’s Republican governor, Mary Fallin, is an abortion opponent and is expected to sign the bill if it passes.

If an embryo has full legal rights, abortion would represent murder. While the bill does not expressly prohibit abortion, abortion-rights advocates say there’s nothing to stop hospital administrators or local law enforcement agencies from restricting or criminalizing abortions under the law.

The bill does not carve out exceptions for rape or incest. Missouri is the only state so far with such a “personhood” law on its books establishing legal rights for embryos, though similar initiatives have been proposed in a

handful of states.

These include last fall’s failed attempt in Mississippi to enact a personhood amendment to the state constitution and a similar proposal in Virginia that was put on hold by the legislature until next year. But Oklahoma’s bill seeks to go farther than Missouri’s in challenging the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade that legalized abortion by not including language acknowledging that it defers to the court and Constitution.

Like other personhood measures, the Oklahoma bill has been controversial within the anti-abortion camp. The initiatives are designed to provoke legal challenges from abortion-rights supporters, with the ultimate goal of giving the Supreme Court a vehicle to overturn Roe v Wade, according to Keith Mason, a leader of the movement. The personhood approach has the backing of such abortion opponents as Republican presidential candidates Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, and it has been an issue in the Republican presidential pri-

mary to select a candidate to run against President Barack Obama in the Nov. 6 election.

Several Republican candidates, including Gingrich and Santorum, signed a pledge written by Personhood USA, the Coloradobased grassroots group behind the failed Mississippi personhood amendment. Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney, who believes abortion should be illegal, has not signed the pledge, which proclaims support for the “unalienable right to life of all human beings as persons at every stage of development” and vows to advance laws and judicial appointments that support those beliefs.

DILEMMAS FOR BOTH SIDES But Oklahoma’s measure has been criticized by some anti-abortion leaders, who fear the strategy could backfire by provoking the Supreme Court to strike it down.

The measure also poses a quandary for the abortion-rights side. If it chooses not to challenge personhood initiatives, even the symbolic ones, that plays into the

anti-abortion strategy of chipping away at Roe. However, if abortionrights advocates challenge such laws, they run the risk of handing the Supreme Court an opportunity to definitively repudiate Roe. With four liberal and four conservative justices on the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy is considered the pivotal fifth vote on abortion, having gone both ways on the issue. The wording of the Oklahoma measure appears to have been guided by the more aggressive anti-abortion strategy.

The bill mimics almost verbatim legislation enacted in Missouri in 1986. Like the Missouri law, the Oklahoma bill requires the state to give unborn children the same rights and privileges available to other citizens from the “moment of conception until birth.” But there is a crucial difference. While the Missouri statute explicitly recognized that the rights of unborn children are “subject to the Constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States Supreme Court,” Oklahoma makes no such acknowledgement. — Reuters

12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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

Australia-bound asylum seekers end standoff

MERAK: Asylum seekers shouting ‘we want to die’ beat their heads with iron covers, seen in the middle, as they are evacuated by Indonesian authorities from a tanker in Merak port yesterday. —AFP

MERAK: Around 120 Australia-bound asylum-seekers yesterday left the tanker that rescued them at sea, after a two-day standoff with Indonesian authorities. The ship sailing from Australia to Singapore picked up the asylum seekers, all males and mostly Afghans and some Iranians, in Indonesian waters on Sunday. Most left voluntarily but some were dragged off by Indonesian authorities after a dramatic scene on deck when two refugees began shouting: “We want to die, we want to die,” an AFP correspondent said.

The pair began to bleed after repeatedly beating their heads with metal objects. “We have evacuated all of the asylum seekers and they are now being taken to the Feri Merak hotel,” near the western Java port of Merak where the ship is docked, said immigration spokesman Maryoto Sumadi. The asylum seekers were driven away on two buses, including the bleeding pair who were not seriously hurt. Earlier yesterday, the refugees had said they would not disembark until Indonesia agreed to provide a

vessel to allow them to continue to Australia, Indonesian officials said.

A few hours before they disembarked, an Afghan speaking on behalf of the group had said they wanted certain reassurances before agreeing to leave. “We will get off the boat only if they promise that no one will be put into detention centers and no one will go to jail,” said the man, who identified himself only as Atiqullah. “I have been sent by the others on the boat to convey this message,” he told reporters in English, before returning to the ship. Sumadi said that those without proper documents would be sent to detention centers. “We will check which asylum seekers have legal documents identifying them as refugees and which do not. Those without the papers will be sent to detention centers,” he said.

The Singapore-flagged MT Hermia rescued the asylum seekers from a sinking wooden vessel in the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra islands, and took them to Merak. Some of the men cried and screamed hysterically Monday as Indonesian police

Flights rerouted as DPRK readies rocket Beware of falling debris, shipping warned TOKYO: Asian airlines said they will divert planes from the intended flight path of North Korea’s rocket as shipping in the area was warned yesterday to beware of falling debris. Japan’s two largest carriers, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Air ways said they will alter the route of flights between Tokyo and Southeast Asian cities including Manila, Jak ar ta and Singapore during the planned rocket launch window. Philippine Airlines said it “plans to reroute some of its flights in view of the possible effects on a portion of Philippine territory of the satellite launch of North Korea within the month.”

The moves came as Philippine air control authorities declared a no fly zone in airspace where North Korea’s rocket was projected to pass, a Japanese transport ministry official said. “ The Japanese side are also preparing to issue a ‘notice to airmen’ that warns them not to enter a no fly zone set by the Philippine authorities,” he said.

“These no fly zone-related notices should apply to all international carriers,” he added. The re-routing comes as North Korea ramps up its preparations for what it says is a peaceful satellite launch, but what Japan and its Western allies

claim is a disguised missile test.

Pyongyang insists the launch, which is planned for some time between April 12 and 16 to mark the centenary of the birth of late founding president Kim Il-Sung, is its right. But countries around the globe have condemned the plan, which they say will contravene UN resolutions. South Korea has vowed to shoot down the rocket if it strays into its territory. Japan has said it may do likewise. The South’s military plans to deploy destroyers armed with missiles to the Yellow Sea to track the rocket.

The transport ministry in Seoul said it would provide up-to-date information to shipping on the rocket launch.

All 15 maritime traffic control centers will be placed on alert from today, issuing navigation warnings every two hours to protec t vessels operating in the Yellow Sea, it said. The first stage of the rocket is expected to fall in waters 170 kilometers west of Gunsan in the southwest of South Korea, it said. Japan’s coast guard yesterday began issuing warnings to ships in the area to be on the lookout for falling debris from the rocket.

“We are announcing by radio the expected time and places where falling objec ts could

appear,” coast guard spokesman Yoshiyuki Terakado said. Coast guard officials will issue the warning every day in Japanese and English until the launch is confirmed, he said. In the Philippines, commercial fishing vessels have been told to remain in port during the launch window. Office of Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos said evacuation plans had also been put in place in case debris fell on the Philippines’ island of Luzon.

“Our concern is that in a worst case scenario the trajectory (of the rocket) deviates by even a few degrees, it could jettison its booster over mainland Luzon and there could be a lot of people affected,” he said. The Philippine navy has deployed ships northeast of Luzon. Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said: “I don’t think there is anyone who can exac tly say where the rocket (debris) will land, so we are working in the context of estimates.

Our naval forces have already been given heads up to be on alert.” “As we speak now, plans are being put in place relative to contingencies that could happen.

The ships are going to be there in case there is a need for assistance just in case vessels get hit,” he said. —AFP

Security forces worry over fratricidal brothers-in-arms KABUL: While NATO soldiers worry whether an Afghan partner might turn from an ally to a lethal foe, Afghan soldier Sayed Rahim says he’s afraid his own comrades at a small outpost in eastern Paktika province will kill him. “There are some soldiers who have Taleban war songs on their cellphones,” Rahim said. “Do we do our duty, or should we watch out for these guys who will kill us one day?” While successive attacks by rogue Afghan security forces against NATO allies worry Western commanders, less-known incidents of Afghan-on-Afghan violence within the security forces point to Taleban infiltration nearer to home. More than a decade since coalition forces toppled the Taleban, NATO forces and the Western-backed government are scrambling to build up local security forces ahead of the withdrawal of most foreign combat troops by the end of 2014. The surge in attacks by lone Afghan security force members on NATO troops has raised concern over the ability of Afghan soldiers and police to take primary responsibility against the tenacious insurgency in the two-and-ahalf years still left. Insider attacks have killed 17 NATO soldiers this year, forcing the coalition to take new steps to safeguard troops working with Afghans, including “guardian angel” protectors. Personal grievances, battle stress, and domestic problems are behind more attacks

HERAT: An Afghan policeman stands in front of dead bodies at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Herat province yesterday. —AFP

than Taleban sympathies, according to NATO forces, who put the number of incidents by Islamic militant infiltrators this year in single digits. The NATO coalition says a similar number of Afghan troops and police have died at the hands of their own compatriots. “I can’t really sleep. Soldiers don’t trust one another very much.

When I go to sleep I fear someone will shoot me dead,” said Rahmatullah, a comrade of Rahim’s near the Pakistan border, through which insurgents cross with reinforcements and material. “We are also very fearful of food and night guards but what can we do? We are soldiers and have to do the job,” the 24-year-old said in a province where an Afghan policeman this month drugged nine colleagues and shot them dead as they slept.

EXTREME ATTEMPT TO INFILTRATE In a country with myriad ethnic and political divisions, many Afghan officials have turned to close relatives or tribesmen to protect them as infiltration worries mount. “They feel safer with their relatives or tribesmen around them for security, not with strange faces. But we make sure to properly train them,” one security source said, declining to be named because of security sensitivities. “The officials believe their own men won’t target them. It’s their choice.”

But even shielding by close family or ethnic allies does not always keep them safe. In July last year, Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s younger half-brother, one of the most powerful men in southern Afghanistan, was killed at home by a highly-trusted bodyguard. The highly-contested and divided political loyalties within one of the world’s poorest countries are set to intensify as national elections near in 2014 with no clear successor for Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from another term. Add the withdrawal of foreign troops the same year and the volatile country could slide into another cycle of bloodletting. Key to avoiding more bloodshed will be the transition from coalition forces to Afghan security personnel who NATO hopes will be ready to wrest control over regions of the country where major insurgent groups continue to wage attacks. But the large size of the Afghan army and police, now at about 250,000, makes it difficult to stop infiltration. Afghan counter-intelligence agents are being placed into police and army units while there are more regular checks of biometric data taken on all Afghan security personnel against that of Taleban militants or supporters. —Reuters

and immigration officials boarded the tanker and tried to pull some off the vessel. Some said they would refuse to disembark unless they were granted asylum in Australia. In 2009, more than 200 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers refused to get off a boat docked at Merak in a six-month standoff with Indonesian authorities, demanding to go to Australia.

They were not granted asylum, while around 80 other Sri Lankans rescued at the same time by an Australian customs vessel were granted a special resettlement deal by the Australian government. In December, a boat carrying around 250 mostly Afghan and Iranian asylum seekers sank in Indonesian waters en route to Australia’s Christmas Island, with only 47 surviving.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention and often jails asylum seekers awaiting refugee status. Asylum seekers are a hot political issue in Australia and dominated national elections in 2010 due to a record number of boat arrivals from Asia.—AFP

News

in brief

House fire kills 7 MEDAN: An Indonesian family of six and their Taiwanese guest burned to death in a house fire on the island of Sumatra yesterday, a police spokesman said. “The fire started early in the morning when the family was sleeping, killing three children and four adults, including a Taiwanese woman,” Heru Raden Prakoso said. He said one of the victims of the fire, which occurred in the city of Medan, was a family elder and the foreigner was a visiting guest. Only the maid escaped the blaze. She was being treated in hospital for burns, said Prakoso from the provincial police. He said the fire in the two-story building began on the bottom floor, where the homeowner held a shop selling electrical equipment. “The victims’ bodies were completely charred,” Prakoso said, adding that the cause of the blaze was being investigated.

Rights lawyer jailed BEIJING: A Chinese court sentenced a disabled lawyer renowned for defending people evicted from their homes to two years and eight months in prison yesterday for causing a disturbance and fraud, Beijing’s latest use of a controversial law to stifle dissent. The lawyer, Ni Yulan, and her husband, Dong Jiqin, were detained in April 2011 and later convicted of the charges. Rights activists contend the charges were trumped up in an effort to silence the couple. Dong was given two years in prison, also for “causing a disturbance”, a court official told reporters at the courthouse in a western suburb of Beijing. Ni’s imprisonment is the latest signal of the ruling Communist Party’s determination to stifle China’s civil rights movement, which is reeling from the jailing of several dissidents in recent months. The party is especially wary of political challenges ahead of a leadership succession later this year. Ni has been an outspoken advocate for Chinese residents forced from their homes to make way for development, often for what residents say is grossly inadequate compensation.

TOKYO: A Japan Airlines aircraft (top) and an All Nippon Airways aircraft arrive at Tokyo International Airport in Haneda in Tokyo. Some Asian airlines, including Philippine Airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, plan to change flight paths for several routes to avoid a rocket North Korea is expected to launch between April 12 and April 16. —AP

150,000 languish in North Korean gulag WASHINGTON: More than 150,000 North Koreans are incarcerated in a Soviet-style, hidden gulag despite the communist government’s denial it holds political prisoners, a human rights group reported yesterday.

The US-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea said it based its report on interviews with 60 former prisoners and guards. It includes satellite images of what are described as prison labor camps and penitentiaries.

The repor t documents the alleged incarceration of entire families, including children and grandparents for the “political crimes” of other family members, and infanticide and forced abortions of female prisoners who illegally crossed into China and got pregnant by men there, and were then forcibly repatriated to North Korea. The committee, a private, US-based group, is holding a conference yesterday in Washington, timed for Pyongyang’s celebrations to mark the centennial of the repressive nation’s founder.

The US envoy on North Korean human rights, Robert King, is due to address the conference, which takes place as the international spotlight shines on the North over its plans to launch a long-range rocket and, according to South Korean intelligence, a third nuclear weapons test.

“It is not just nuclear weapons that have to be dismantled,” said Roberta Cohen, chairwoman of the committee’s board of directors, “but an entire system of political repression.”

The report says the camp system was initially modeled in the 1950s on the Soviet gulag to punish “wrong thinkers” and those belong-

ing to the “wrong political class” or religious persuasion. It cites estimates from Nor th Korean state security agenc y officials who defected to South Korea that the camp system holds between 150,000 and 200,000 people out of a total population of around 24 million. It urges North Korea to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross access, and to dismantle the camps.

The 200-page report described different kinds of detention facilities, including penal labor colonies where it says political detainees are imprisoned without judicial process for mostly lifetime sentences in mining, logging or agricultural enterprises. The labor colonies are enclosed behind barbed wire and electrified fences, mainly in the north and north central mountains of the countr y, the repor t says, alleging high rates of death in detention due to systemic mistreatment, torture, execution and malnutrition.

The report says former prisoners were able to identify their former barrack and houses, work sites, execution grounds and other landmarks in the camps via imagery available through Google Earth. The committee says the report’s findings contradict a December 2009 statement by North Korea to the United Nations Human Rights Council that the political prisoner camps do not exist.

Greg Scarlatoiu, the committee’s executive director, said more than 30,000 North Korean defectors have now fled the country, up from just 3,000 a decade ago, so Pyongyang cannot hide the harsh reality of its political prison camps.—AP

Suicide attacks kill 15 HERAT: At least 15 people were killed and 33 wounded in two suicide attacks targeting police and government offices in Afghanistan just hours apart yesterday, officials said. Eleven people died and 28 were wounded when two suicide attackers rammed a car bomb into a government compound near the western city of Herat, the interior ministry said. Provincial police chief Sayed Agha Saqeb told reporters that the bombers were being pursued by police when they detonated the vehicle at the entrance to the Guzara district compound along the road from the airport to the city. “The car was under our surveillance. It was ordered twice to stop but they didn’t stop,” said the police chief. “There were two individuals in the car, one was wearing a burqa. One of the bombers is totally shattered and the other person’s body is still there with his (suicide) vest still unexploded.”

‘Land grab’ rules tightened BEIJING: China has tightened regulations governing forced land expropriations in a bid to put a lid on what has become an explosive social issue and one of the country’s biggest sources of unrest. Authorities have for years tried to address the issue of government-backed “land grabs”, which regularly trigger protests as residents complain of poor compensation for homes that have been demolished to make way for new buildings.

In January 2011, new rules were issued stipulating among other things that violence cannot be used to force homeowners to leave and that compensation must not be lower than the market price, but these regulations are often flouted. The Supreme People’s Court on Monday clarified and tightened these rules in a bid to “protect the public interest and guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of expropriated home owners.”

Under the tightened rules, government authorities that want to expropriate land but cannot reach an agreement with residents and apply to a local court for approval, must provide additional documents to prove their case.

India takes US visa fee hike to WTO NEW DELHI: India is challenging the United States at the World Trade Organization over increased visa fees for skilled workers that have hit the country’s flagship outsourcing firms, an official said yesterday. “We are pursuing this at the consultation level. It is our hope we reach an amicable conclusion,” a senior commerce department official in New Delhi said, asking not to be named. India has sought consultations with Washington, which is the first step in the World Trade Organization’s complaints process, he said. Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma discussed the visa issue with his US counterpart John Bryson when he visited New Delhi last month, the official added. More than half of the world’s top 500 companies outsource work to India which has become the world’s back office where Western firms have set up call centers, and number-crunching and software development outlets to cut costs.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

NEWS

Ukrainians dressed as cartoon characters roam around in search for clients to pose with for photos to earn extra money near an inflatable lotus installed by Korean artist Choi Jeong-Hwain at Independence Square in Kiev yesterday. Kiev is one of Ukraine’s four cities which, together with Poland, will co-host the Euro 2012 football tournament. — AP

Danish PM says Khawaja condition very...

Continued from Page 1 A Danish foreign ministry spokesman said Khawaja was alive on Monday according to “credible independent sources” who saw him that day. Danish ambassador to Bahrain Christian Koenigsfeldt was not allowed to see the prisoner on Sunday or Monday, as he has done daily, the spokesman told AFP. Denmark has asked Bahrain to send Khawaja to the Scandinavian country but Bahrain’s official news agency BNA reported on Sunday that Manama has rejected the request.

Amnesty International also called on Bahrain in a statement yesterday to “immediately and unconditionally release” Khawaja, whose “health is rapidly deteriorating as he passes his 60th day of hunger strike”. “At the very least, the authorities must immediately allow Abdulhadi AlKhawaja’s family and lawyer to visit him,” the London-based rights watchdog said.

Meanwhile, Bahrain lashed out yesterday at foreign countries, asking them to stay out of its “internal affairs”. The interior ministry said it “deplores the statements of some countries” on the health of Khawaja “due to inaccurate and misleading information, which is likely to cause chaos.”

Bahrain “calls on all states to respect its sovereignty and not interfere in its internal affairs” the ministry said. “No state has the right to demand the release” of a citizen or a resident of Bahrain condemned by the “honest and independent” judiciary of the country.

Bahraini authorities also arrested four people yesterday in a dawn raid on a Shiite village, the opposition said, after seven policemen were wounded there in what officials claimed was a “terrorist attack”. Al-Wefaq, the main opposition bloc, said that security forces arrested four people in the village of Akr, south of Manama, and “brutally” beat up relatives of those wanted by authorities in a crackdown which also left several wounded. The arrests came hours after BNA quoted public security chief, General Tareq AlHassan, as saying that an improvised bomb exploded late Monday near a police checkpoint at the entrance to Akr “wounding seven policemen, three of them critically.”

Hassan added that the initial investigation “revealed that the explosion was caused by a pipe bomb attached to a container full of gasoline”.

In a late Monday statement, Al-Wefaq said that it was closely “following the developments in Akr... but we have no independent information” about the incident, adding that the village was “entirely surrounded by security forces who are imposing collective punishment”. “We have received calls for help from village residents,” it said, adding that security forces are “using pellet guns” against the villagers.

Separately, Bahrain Grand Prix organisers summoned support for their troubled Formula One race yesterday and said a campaign for it to be cancelled was being driven by “armchair observers” and “extremist groups”. The Bahrain International Circuit produced witness statements from foreign observers, including two members of the Lotus team, and the British ambassador to the Gulf kingdom in defence of the April 22 race. It said a briefing by the Lotus representatives had been sent to all 12 team principals on April 5 and ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, where a final decision is expected.

Bahrain is due to follow on immediately after China.

There have been increasingly vocal calls for it to be cancelled however, with one unnamed team principal telling Britain’s Guardian newspaper that all the teams were hoping the governing FIA would call off the race. “Yes, there is a need to keep the circuit and the teams secure and they are doing this and they feel very comfortable about the arrangements,” the Lotus report said in excerpts reproduced in the Bahrain circuit statement.

“If there is going to be protestation then it will be confined to peaceful protests - you will maybe see some banners being waved and maybe some tyres on fire but that is all they expect. We came away from Bahrain feeling a lot more confident that everything is in hand,” it added. “If it wasn’t for a few more police you wouldn’t know any difference from last year we were there.” Last year’s race had to be cancelled due to the unrest after an initial postponement and the last race there was in 2010. The circuit statement also quoted John Yates, a former assistant commissioner in the London Metropolitan police who now advises Bahrain’s Interior Ministry, as saying policing would be low-key and discreet. “There is nothing that in any way warrants for the race to be postponed,” he added.

Circuit chairman Zayed Al-Zayani said in a statement that “armchair observers” had been driving the debate at the expense of neutral parties “who have taken the trouble to investigate the situation at first hand. “This, combined with the scaremongering tactics of certain small extremist groups on social networking sites, has created huge misconceptions about the current situation,” he added. He urged all stakeholders in the sport to “listen to those with an informed, educated view of the situation and to form their view on the facts of the situation as presented by neutral first-hand observers.”

The governing International Automobile Federation has said it is in daily contact with foreign embassies and authorities in Bahrain while F1’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone is eager for the race to go ahead. Zayani said last month that the race contributes $220 million directly to the local economy and $400-500 million indirectly. — Agencies

‘Silly’ grill of information minister ends...

Continued from Page 1 over a variety of issues. The strongest duel took place just at the start of the debate when Qallaf began showing a footage of an interview with the tribal chief of AlAwazem bedouin tribe Falah bin Jame to strong objections by MPs from the tribe. The exchanges went out of control and forced Apeaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun to adjourn the session temporarily.

Qallaf grilled the minister over two major issues - unfair implementation of the press and audiovisual laws and failure to take action on a report that a local newspaper was implicated in money laundering operations. The lawmaker said that the minister referred local television station SCOPE to the public prosecution not on the basis of the law but in order to appease the majority bloc so he will not be grilled by them. SCOPE was referred to the public prosecution last month after airing an interview with Qallaf during which he reportedly criticized the AlAwazem tribal chief.

Qallaf said SCOPE did not violate the law and that other stations and newspapers committed more serious violations and were not referred. He also claimed that the minister had referred the pro-Shiite daily Al-Dar on the same political basis for writing a normal article that did not violate the law. Al-Dar was handed a three-month suspension by the criminal court over a controversial article in January.

The minister refuted Qallaf’s allegations, insisting that SCOPE was referred to the public prosecution because it violated the law and vowed that he will not hesitate to refer any other station to court if they commit a similar violation. The minister said that since the implementation of the press and publication and audiovisual laws several years ago, newspapers and TV stations were referred to court on 426 occasions for a variety of violations. He said that since he was appointed minister on Feb 14, he has referred nine different media outlets to court for committing violations and that he was prepared to refer any other media if they violate the law.

Regarding Al-Dar newspaper, the minister said that it was referred to court on Feb 1, two weeks before he was appointed in the post and the action was taken by the former minister. Al-Dar was suspended by the court. With regards to money-laundering allegations, Qallaf claimed that Alam Al-Youm newspaper and Al-Youm television station, both of which belong to one establishment, have been implicated in money laundering operations of millions of dollars. Qallaf alleged that the establishment received the money from a foreign country to stir problems in Kuwait, hinting at the Gulf state of Qatar without naming it. He said that the minister did not take any action regarding the serious reports.

The minister denied the allegation saying that ministryappointed accountants have not found any evidence that any of the local media outlets have been involved in any way in money laundering operations. Sheikh Mohammad also insisted that the grilling involves at least five violations of the constitution and that the griller failed to provide necessary illustrations he had officially demanded ahead of the debate. The minister strongly criticized Qallaf on the grilling, saying it was “personally motivated” and at one stage accused the lawmaker that the grilling was prepared for him.

Meanwhile, Barrak said he was interrogated late Monday for four hours by the special tribunal over information he has about the foreign transfers scandal which he was the first to break in September. The lawmaker said he told the tribunal that the total amount of the transfers was about KD 77 million. He denied allegations by the former prime minister that the transfers were made based on official decisions by the Cabinet for official commitments of Kuwait and that the former premier had nothing to do with it personally. But Barrak said that the transfers were made on verbal instructions by the former prime minister and denied the claim that it was for official commitments because former acting foreign minister Ali Al-Rashed had claimed that the former premier returned the money to the public treasury.

Tehran busts Israel linked ‘terror’ ring Continued from Page 1 Relations between Iran and its northern neighbour Azerbaijan have also become strained, with each accusing the other of preparing “terrorist” actions. For example, last month Azerbaijan’s national security ministry said 22 Azerbaijani citizens had been arrested on suspicion of cooperating with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards “to commit terrorist acts against the US, Israeli and other Western states’ embassies and the embassies’ employees”. Tehran is also unhappy over Baku’s ties to Israel, and its purchase of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Israeli military weapons and equipment. Additionally, Iran is bordered

by Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which have a US military presence.

Separately, Iran’s English-language state television reported yesterday Iran has cut oil exports to Spain and may halt sales to Germany and Italy, in an apparent move to strengthen its position ahead of crucial talks with world powers later this week. Iran has played a tit-for-tat game over crude shipments since the European Union agreed in January that it would stop all Iranian oil imports as of July. EU states have since scrambled to find alternative supplies before that deadline, with Iran threatening to cut exports before then. “Tehran has cut oil supply to Spain after stopping crude export to Greece as part of its counter-sanctions,” Press TV said, citing unidentified sources, adding that a similar move was being considered for Germany and Italy.

Industry sources say Spain and Greece have already cut imports substantially in anticipation of the embargo and because of increasing difficulties in paying Iran after tough new sanctions were imposed on its banking sector.

The EU had been the second biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China and its embargo is a direct strike on the OPEC member’s biggest source of export income. The sanctions are designed to force Iran to stop some of the atomic work that the EU and the United States suspect is part of a nuclear weapons program, a charge Tehran denies.

Talks between Iran and six world powers aimed at easing the nuclear stand-off are set to resume in Istanbul on Saturday, more than a year after previous negotiations

failed. In a sign Tehran was pressuring other important EU customers, the semi-official Mehr news agency said the National Iranian Oil Company had been in contact with Italian buyers about signing long-term oil contacts in recent days. “It has been said that if Italian oil refineries do not agree to sign long-term contracts, oil sales to this European country will be stopped,” Mehr reported. The reports followed confirmation from Iranian Foreign Minister Rostam Qasemi that oil sales to Greece had stopped.

With fresh talks in sight, Iran has said it has no interest in reviving a nuclear fuel swap that formed the basis of a previous deal that was never implemented and, earlier yesterday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran could withstand a total embargo on its oil sales for several years. “We must say to them (the West) that we have that much (money) saved that even if we did not sell oil for two to three years, the country would manage easily,” the semi-official Fars news agency quoted him as saying.

But Foreign M inistr y spokesman R amin Mehmanparast, speaking to reporters in Bosnia, took a softer tone and played down reports of a cut in supplies. “Our country has decided to revise its relations with France and Great Britain when it comes to oil exports,” Mehmanparast said when asked about the reported oil export cuts to Spain and plans for Germany and Italy. “As for other countries, there are still no such decisions,” he said.

The International Energy Agency, the energy adviser to industrialised nations, has said the sanctions against Iran could reduce its oil exports by as much as 1 million barrels per day, or 40 percent, from the middle of the year. In addition to the European embargo, Iran faces cuts in orders from its biggest customers in Asia after concerted diplomatic pressure from the United States.

Analysts say such a large dent in revenues would be painful for the Islamic Republic which is experiencing rising inflation, already well above 20 percent, and a devalued currency. But since the European embargo was announced the price of Brent crude has increased by around $12 a barrel, giving Tehran more flexibility to discount shipments. — Agencies

Syria ignores deadline, hits protest hubs Continued from Page 1 targeted,” he said. “I again appeal to the Syrian government and the Syrian parties to cease violence in accordance (with) the plan,” he told reporters. “I believe there should be no preconditions for stopping violence.”

The Annan plan has been under a cloud since Sunday, when Damascus said it would keep its side of the bargain only if rebels gave guarantees they would also stop fighting, a condition rejected out of hand. At least 31 people died across Syria yesterday, including six soldiers in the northeastern province of Hassakeh, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad also shot four people in the village of Kfar Zeita in the central Hama province, but it was unclear if they were rebels or civilians. Clashes also rocked the district of Mzeyreeb in the southern province of Daraa, where the dissent movement launched a year ago. The Local Coordination Committees, one of the main opposition groups inside Syria, said “large military reinforcements” had arrived overnight on the eastern outskirts of Rastan in central Homs province. The report could not be verified because of curbs on media activity.

Under the Annan deal, Syria was supposed to withdraw its forces from population centres yesterday ahead of a complete ceasefire tomorrow. Activists say Syria has intensified its crackdown since the weekend when around 180 people were killed. On Monday, 105 died in one of the bloodiest days since mid-March last year. Free Syrian Army spokesman Colonel Kassem Saadeddine warned that rebel forces would resume attacks on regular forces if they do not withdraw. “If (the regime) does not stop shelling and not withdraw tanks, we will intensify our military operations and launch attacks,” he told AFP. The head of the opposition Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, warned that his group, “as the legitimate representative of the people, will not allow the regime to use the (UN) plan as a licence to kill”. But Muallem insisted Damascus had begun implementing the Annan plan. “We have already withdrawn military units from different Syrian provinces,” he told a Moscow news conference after talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov said Syria should be more decisive in fulfilling the Annan plan, which most

notably calls on Syria to pull troops and weaponry out of cities hit by protests. “We believe their actions could have been more active, more decisive when it comes to the implementation of the plan,” he said.

Lavrov later spoke with Annan by phone, telling him to put more pressure on the rebels to cooperate with his initiative. He told Annan “the Syrian opposition and states that support it must take urgent measures to ensure a sustainable ceasefire,” and urged him “to step up his work with them along these lines,” the foreign ministry said. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Washington had so far only seen evidence of further “brutality and aggression” from Assad’s forces. “We would certainly hope the UN Security Council would evaluate the situation in Syria if in fact Mr Annan finds that the Assad regime has not abided by its own commitments to begin withdrawal by today,” Carney said.

Germany’s UN ambassador, Peter Wittig, said Syria has not complied with the plan and that international measures must be studied. Assad “has not complied with the Annan plan; instead he has scaled up violence and human rights violations,” Wittig said. There was equally tough language from London and Paris. “There is no evidence so far that the Assad regime has any intention of adhering to any agreement it makes,” Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague said. Syrian forces “have ruthlessly subjected whole communities to an inhumane campaign of shelling, forced expulsions and executions. “All those with influence over the Syrian leadership, including Russia, have a duty to back efforts to stop the violence and to isolate a regime which is as doomed as it is dangerous to the Syrian people,” he added.

French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero called Muallem’s assertion that Syria pulled troops out of some areas “a new expression of a flagrant and unacceptable lie”. Damascus was also rebuked for violence that spilled over into its neighbours on Monday, killing a Lebanese TV cameraman inside Lebanon and wounding four people in a Turkish camp for Syrian refugees.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Syria of a “clear violation” of common frontiers, while Lebanon demanded an investigation. The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed since anti-regime protests broke out in March 2011.

Monitors put the number at more than 10,000. — AFP

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

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Issues

New rules Balkanising euro zone

By Marc Jones and Eva Kuehnen he ECB’s decision to give the euro zone’s national central banks the power to ban certain types of collateral being used by banks to get loans has ignited fears that the bloc’s one-size-fits-all monetary policy is splintering into a two-tier system. While the national central banks that sit under the ECB’s wing have always had some freedom over what their commercial banks can use as collateral, two sets of new powers introduced over the last few months have given them a broader licence to hand pick exactly what they accept or reject.

At the same time, the central banks are also being told that they alone will have to handle any losses that arise from the changes rather than being covered by the euro zone’s usual loss-sharing scheme. This threatens to create a split system, a Balkanisation in which core euro zone central banks such as those in Germany, Austria, Finland and the Netherlands do not accept as low a quality asset as their peers in the euro zone’s debt-strained periphery might do.

Economists say that as governments underwrite their central banks, the recent moves could have dangerous knock-on effects. As well as raising the chance that multinational banks may shop around central banks for the best deal on their collateral, the changes could funnel poorer-quality assets into the central banks of countries already struggling against the debt crisis. “Any losses on loans backed by bank bonds guaranteed by euro area governments currently under EU/IMF programmes will no longer necessarily be shared among euro area central banks and instead fall on those central banks still willing to accept them as collateral,” said Tobias Moerschen, vice president and senior research analyst at Moody’s.

An example might be that if a Greek bank collapsed and the collateralised loans were not paid, the central Bank of Greece would be left with the losses rather than as previously, sharing them with the 16 other euro zone banks. The first change was made at the end of last year when the ECB gave national central banks the option to take more ‘credit claims’ - loans made to companies or households - and gave them the power to tailor the conditions to suit their own banks. By February, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Portugal and Austria had all taken up this option to loosen collateral requirements.

These changes were worth around 200 billion euros combined, of which 50 billion euros have been used, helping demand for the ECB’s 3-year low-interest loan programmes top the 1 trillion euro mark. But even among that group of central banks the terms differed. In Italy you could use loans with a default probability of 1 percent but in Cyprus it could be 1.5 percent. ECB policymakers argue it ensures banks across the euro zone are not prevented from borrowing from the ECB due to a lack of collateral, something which could distort their policies.

But commercial bankers at a regular gathering with ECB top money market experts said the move put banks in non-participating countries at a disadvantage. “The participation of only seven (national central banks) in the recent collateral expansion raises a question of level playing field,” minutes of the meeting showed. Citi economist Willem Buiter agrees and has gone as far as to warn that the move marks a switch from a single monetary policy to a post Soviet Union-style, multi-speed system. After the breakup, many former Soviet republics continued to use the rouble but monetary policies went their own way. “The euro zone is not the rouble zone yet, but it is at risk,” Buiter said. “Ultimately, a fracturing of the monetary union into multiple independent national monetary regimes (is possible).”

The divide was widened further in March when the ECB gave national central banks the right to ban banks from using bonds backed by governments that have been bailed out by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Germany and Austria have been quick to impose the ban and others may feel they have to follow suit if they don’t want to be lumbered with outcast assets others don’t want. ECB President Mario Draghi said last week the move was designed to stop banks using the bonds to borrow outside the countries in which they were created and that the amounts involved added up to “peanuts”. Nevertheless, ECB watchers say the move is another symbolic step towards a two-tier policy. “What this shows is that some central banks have reservations and they are signalling this (the loosening of the collateral rules) is going too far and we don’t want to be part of this anymore,” said Goldman Sachs economist Dirk Schumacher. — Reuters

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Libya violence puts poll timing at risk

By Dominique Soguel iolence in Libya risks escalating and could even derail elections if the interim government fails to impose its authority by disarming militias and strengthening the judiciary, analysts say. In the southern desert cities of Sabha and Kufra, clashes pitting Arabs against non-Arab tribesmen have cost more than 250 lives since February, according to an AFP tally based on official estimates. Inter-communal fighting in Libya’s west last week left at least 20 people dead and hundreds wounded before the government secured a ceasefire with the help of the nascent army and revolutionary brigades.

The unrest coupled with calls for autonomy in the east has raised concerns over the ruling National Transitional Council’s grip on power in the country where decades of dictatorship left an institutional void. It has also put into question the NTC’s ability to conduct elections for a constituent assembly which are scheduled for June. “Clashes will escalate and may well become more frequent simply because there is no effective central authority,” predicts George Joffe, co-editor of The Journal of North African Studies.

There are many possible triggers: ambitions for autonomy in the east, resentment against individuals or groups which allegedly collaborated with the former regime, racial tensions, and the desire to hang on to power, Joffe said. Tribal clashes, he told AFP, “could easily derail Libya’s transition to democracy simply by preventing the organisation of an effective poll.”

Peter Cole of the International Crisis Group stresses that while the root cause of the violence is not always

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tribal in nature, communal and tribal loyalties come into play when grievances do arise. “These communal conflicts risk growing in scale and frequency if the government does not put a justice system in place,” he said, because people tend to take matters into their own hands to defend or punish a community. “The country is not at a tipping point, but it is vulnerable,” he said. Returning from Sabha, Cole said reconciliation councils and tribal leaders in the city were at a “breaking point” trying to prevent individual squabbles from becoming all-out conflicts.

“Without a justice system to refer cases to, they can only do so much.”

Fred Abrahams, special adviser to Human Rights Watch in Libya, says the interim government needs “to take reconstruction of the judicial system much more seriously” and demobilise militias, who hold “roughly 8,000 detainees”. It is no surprise, Abrahams added, that tribes and militias are stepping up to fill the power vacuum and no coincidence that the latest rounds of fighting were concentrated in border areas. “The struggles are mostly about business and the control of smuggling routes,” where a lot of money is up for grabs and where disputes are fraught with danger due to the proliferation of weapons after Gaddafi’s fall, he said. The response time of the government had improved since the first serious outbreak of violence in Kufra late February, Abrahams noted.

Analysts agree the disarming of militias, who control several strategic sites and provide services as diverse as traffic control to border patrols, is key to a smooth transition. But the NTC has proved powerless on this point.

Joffe said the ruling Council, handicapped by internal

power struggles and lacking resources and authority beyond the east where it was conceived, has proved to be a “paper tiger” politically. “If local militia leaders decided that they wish to intervene to determine the outcome of any poll, there is no power or authority that can prevent them from doing so,” Joffe said, adding the army lacks clout and manpower. “(Some militias) are transmuting into political parties and see their armed strength as an extension of political power,” he said.

A handful of commanders of rebel units in the 2011 conflict, including Abdelhakim Belhaj who now heads the Tripoli military council and recently formed a political party, have made no secret of their aspirations.”Militias and local citizen groups constitute the primary barrier to stability, reconstruction and a democratic transition,” said Jason Pack, a researcher at Cambridge University and president of Libya-Analysis.com. Libya’s interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil warned last week that he would resign if the June vote was pushed back. But Pack said the polls are likely be postponed - not because Libya is not ready or able to hold them on time, but because the NTC is failing to make the “difficult decisions needed to carry them out” on schedule. He warned that postponing the elections could send a “very bad signal” to Libyans, the international community and the investors who can make or break the country’s economic recovery. David Mack, a former US envoy to Libya and a scholar at the Middle East Institute, acknowledged there could be delays but credited the NTC with paving the way for an elected government against incredible odds. “Fortunately, I think there is wide, popular backing for the (electoral) process. Libyans will get there, eventually,” he said. — AFP

Ennahda squeezed between Salafists, liberals

By David Rosenberg unisia’s Ennahda Party’s strategy of bringing a moderate sort of Islam to the country is earning it enemies on both sides of the political spectrum, with conservative Salafists pressing hard for more religious strictures and liberals fearful of a return to repression. The tensions are felt everywhere, from the halls of parliament, to university campuses and courtrooms, but Habib Bourguiba Avenue - the main thoroughfare in the capital of Tunis has become the principal battlefield for the two sides.

On Monday, police fought some 2,000 protesters marking the 1938 suppression of pro-independence demonstrators by French colonial troops. They were met by security officers armed with teargas and truncheons. Witnesses say that bystanders out strolling for the Martyrs Day holiday were swept up in the violence. At the end of March the government banned demonstrators on the boulevard after rival groups of liberal artists and ultra-conservative Islamists engaged in violent clashes. Critics say the order, blocking rallies at a place loaded with the same kind of revolutionary symbolism Cairo’s Tahrir Square, was tantamount to an invitation for violence protests.

“People have many grievances against at the government,” Sadok Belaid, who teaches at the University of Tunis, told The Media Line. “It’s afraid that these demonstrations will concentrate all the anger of the people on its bad performance on the political, economic and social levels, the reaction and the counter-reaction will accumulate.”

Ennhada’s troubles could serve as a lesson for Egypt, where another Islamist movement labeled “moderate” by many, the Muslim Brotherhood, is facing similar pressures. Voters in both countries have awarded big majorities in post-revolution elections to Muslim parties, but a secular, liberal minority worries that the revolutions they led are being stolen from them and that the Islamist leadership will clamp down on their new freedoms.

The police crackdown on Monday inspired the demonstrators on Habib Bourguiba Avenue to compare the new

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government to the toppled regime of Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali and his once powerful in-laws, the Trabelsi family. “The people are sick of the new Trabelsis,” protesters chanted.

Amna Guellali, a researcher based in Tunisia for Human Rights Watch, sympathizes with that point of view. “We see the same pattern of repression that we used to see under the Ben Ali regime. For me, that underscores the lack of social over-

intact the first article of the 1959 constitution that separates religion and state. It has also promised not to ban alcohol or impose the veil.

But conservative Muslims are not giving up. They often take to the streets with demands for such things as the imposition of Islamic (sharia) law and some activists have taken to freelance enforcement. A television station is being sued for violating “sacred values” and “disturbing public

Protesters gesture in front of security forces on April 9, 2012 in Tunis. —AFP haul, to structurally change the security,” she told The Media Line.

Ben-Ali was unpopular with his people, but scored points with liberals for keeping Islamists at bay and granting rights to women. But when Tunisians finally got to vote in free and fair elections last October, the Islamist Ennahda Party emerged as the frontrunner. Ennahda now runs the country in coalition with two secular parties on an interim basis and is also taking the leading role in writing a new constitution due to be completed sometime this year.

Last month, Ennahda pledged to keep

order ” by airing the animated film “Persepolis” about the 1979 Iranian revolution because it contains a scene depicting God. Manouba University has been the site of repeated clashes between liberals and Salafists, with the latter demanding an end to the campus ban on women wearing the veil.

Individual Salafists in small towns reportedly harass women for not abiding by conservative dress. In one incident a prominent secular intellectual and a newspaper editor were punched and kicked by a crowd of Salafists protesting outside a

courtroom. “The problem is that even if it tried, and it is willing to do, Ennhahda is not capable of satisfying ever ybody,” Belaid said. “ They cannot meet the demands of the extremists of either side, but especially of the Salafists. They want to take power and push out Ennahda, which in the Salafists’ eyes is a traitor.”

Meanwhile, Tunisia’s liberals are not yet convinced that Ennahda won’t cave in to at least some of the conser vatives’ demands, nor do they fully trust that the government will guarantee human rights.

When the Interior Ministry ordered its ban on demonstrations on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, it cited complaints from local merchants that the constant protests were disrupting traffic and business. But the order enraged the opposition, which it interpreted as a strike against freedom of expression.

“During the first phase of the transition, the political elite acted in a very smooth way. There was an attempt to use dialogue and comprise. Now, there are widening divisions in the political elite between Islamists and secularists,” said Guellali of Human Rights Watch. “Each one is trying to defend its own turf, and that might lead to heightened tensions on the street.”

Compounding the government’s woes over the religious-secular division, Tunisia’s economy is still struggling. Direct foreign investment jumped by more than a third in the first two months of this year from a year earlier, but government forecasts of the economy growing 4.5 percent have been trimmed back to 3.5 percent.

Unemployment climbed to nearly 19 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. The tourism sector has yet to recover. Tourism Minister Elyess Fakfak said last month that the number of visitors would rise 20 percent this year, but that would be a million fewer than the record seven million that arrived in 2010.

Ennahda can take solace in the fact that despite the noise in the street, many Tunisians continue to back the government. Opinion polls suggest that Ennahda Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali’s support has grown from the 37 percent of the vote his party received in the October elections. Approval ratings for his coalition partners have also risen. — Media Line

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

sp orts No London ‘divorce’ for Li

Wenger backs Arsenal’s trip KUALA LUMPUR: Manager Arsene Wenger is supportive of Arsenal’s change of policy to conduct lucrative tours in Asia, the Premier League club told Reuters yesterday, as they announced a fixture against a Malaysia XI in July. Having previously favored taking his squad to mainland Europe for low-key pre-season tours, Wenger relaxed his stance and the 13-times English champions played money-making fixtures in Kuala Lumpur and Hangzhou, China last year.

They will return to the Malaysian capital on July 24 before facing Premier League rivals Manchester City in Beijing three days later and finishing on July 29 in Hong Kong against local side Kitchee FC. Arsenal’s Communications Director Mark Gonnella said Wenger and the players fully understood the need for such tours that help the team engage with the supporters and showcase themselves to potential sponsors as well.—Reuters

BEIJING: China’s top tennis player Li Na has blasted media scrutiny of her Olympic preparations by insisting she will not be giving her hen-pecked husband coach the boot for this year’s London Games.

The reigning French Open champion, who has always had an uneasy relationship with the Chinese media, will stick with Jiang Shan and not hire a foreign coach, she told the China Daily.

“I don’t know why the media are so interested,” said the outspoken 30year-old. “Maybe you are not confident in Jiang and my current team.

“Up to now, I haven’t had any intention of recruiting a foreign coach,” said Li, who often pokes fun at

her husband in interviews. “I hope the media won’t ask about it again.”

Jiang guided Li to the final of last year’s Australian Open, where she lost a tough three-setter to Belgium’s Kim Clijsters. Danish Fed Cup captain Michael Mortensen took over and helped her win the French Open title but Jiang was reinstated after the U.S. Open.

Li’s form dipped after becoming Asia’s first grand slam winner in Paris, although the player expressed confidence ahead of the Olympics.

“Compared with reaching the final at the Australian Open last year, people may feel a little bit disappointed about my results this year,” said the world number eight. —Reuters

Semenya and Pistorius to run at S African nationals JOHANNESBURG: Olympic hopefuls Caster Semenya and Oscar Pistorius are scheduled to compete at this week’s South African championships. Semenya will run in the 800 meters, while double-amputee Pistorius will run in the 400.

Semenya, a silver medalist at last year’s world championships, needs to run 1 minute, 59.90 seconds or better to qualify for her first Olympics. The former world champion ran a sluggish 2:03.60 in her season debut last month - her first twolap race under new coach and Olympic great Maria Mutola.

Pistorius needs one more qualifying time of 45.30 seconds in an international event to make history as the first amputee runner to compete at the Olympics. He ran 45.20 at a meet in Pretoria on March 17, the second time he’s gone inside the able-bodied qualifying time for London.

Athletics South Africa has said athletes hoping to go to the Olympics must compete at the two-day nationals that start Friday in the south coast city of Port Elizabeth.—AP

Yankees, Red Sox advance BALTIMORE: The New York Yankees finally won for the first time this season, using four hits by Derek Jeter and an effective pitching performance by Ivan Nova to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 Monday night. Andruw Jones homered for the Yankees, who averted the fourth 0-4 start in the club’s history - the first since 1973. New York began the season by losing three straight to Tampa Bay. Nova (1-0) allowed two runs and 10 hits (six for extra bases) in seven innings, striking out seven with no walks. Orioles starter Brian Matusz (0-1) threw 96 pitches in laboring through four innings. He gave up four runs, six hits and four walks in absorbing his 10th straight loss over two seasons.

CINCINNATI: St. Louis Cardinals’ Yadier Molina (4) hits a two-run double off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jose Arredondo as Cincinnati Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan (left) watches during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game.—AP

Cardinals roll over Reds CINCINNATI: Matt Holliday, David Freese and Yadier Molina homered during the Cardinals’ big first inning to help the defending World Series champions to a 7-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

St. Louis improved to 4-1 with an offense that hasn’t missed Albert Pujols so far. Only 20 pitches into the game, Reds starter Homer Bailey (0-1) trailed 4-0. It was the second time this season that St. Louis hit three homers in an inning. Molina also doubled home a pair of runs in the eighth.

Jake Westbrook (1-0) overcame an early bout of wildness, allowing only three hits and one unearned run in seven innings. The righthander slimmed down in the offseason and had an impressive spring training, getting the sink back on his fastball.

Bailey retired the first two Cardinals then came apart. Holliday homered, Lance Berkman walked and Freese homered. Molina also homered on the next pitch.

After the bad opening inning, Bailey settled in and allowed only two more hits while pitching into the sixth inning.

Marlins 6, Phillies 2 At Philadelphia, Anibal Sanchez took a three-hitter into the seventh and Omar Infante hit a pair of solo homers as Miami spoiled Philadelphia’s home opener.

Sanchez (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, outpitching two-time AllStar Cole Hamels (0-1). Gaby Sanchez had two hits and two RBIs, Emilio Bonifacio had three hits and Austin Kearns hit a solo shot off Jonathan Papelbon.

Hamels allowed four runs - three earned and eight hits, striking out nine in 5 1-3 innings for the Phillies, who are missing Chase Utley and Ryan Howard from the middle of the lineup.

Giants 7, Rockies 0 At Denver, Barry Zito threw a four-hitter for his first shutout in nine years and Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer to lead San Francisco over Colorado.

Zito (1-0) allowed three harmless singles and a double. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out four in tossing his fifth career shutout and first since April 18, 2003, against Texas.

Brandon Crawford helped ruin the Rockies’ home opener with a three-run double off reliever Matt Reynolds in the fifth that made it 7-0. Jhoulys Chacin (0-1), who led the Rockies in wins, ERA, innings and strikeouts

last season, gave up four runs, all earned, on four hits and five walks in four shaky innings.

Mets 4, Nationals 3 At New York, Daniel Murphy singled home the winning run in the ninth and New York took advantage of a throwing error by reliever Henry Rodriguez to beat Washington.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit his first major league homer for the Mets, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2007. Jon Rauch (1-0) worked two hitless innings for his first win with New York.

Pinch-hitter Mike Baxter drew a leadoff walk from Rodriguez (0-1) in the ninth. Ruben Tejada put down a sacrifice bunt and Baxter advanced to third on a wild throw to first.

Baxter was initially waved home, but a late stop sign caused him to slip and scramble back to third. Murphy followed with his winning single.

Astros 8, Braves 3 At Houston, Travis Buck drove in two runs and Justin Maxwell homered in his Houston debut as the Astros rebounded from an early deficit thanks to sloppy defensive play by Atlanta.

Houston trailed 3-0 in the third before a trio of errors by the Braves, with two from third baseman Juan Francisco, led to three unearned runs and tied the game.

Astros starter J.A. Happ drove in the goahead run with an RBI single in the fourth that made it 4-3. Pinch-hitter JD Martinez and Jose Altuve drove in a run each in the sixth.

Happ (1-0) allowed six hits and three runs with five strikeouts in six innings for the win.

Brandon Beachy (0-1) allowed four hits and four runs - one earned - in five innings.

Brewers 7, Cubs 5 At Chicago, Aramis Ramirez drove in two runs in his return to Wrigley Field, Ryan Braun got booed relentlessly and Milwaukee hung on to beat Chicago.

The Brewers held a four-run lead going into the ninth before the Cubs scored two runs and had the bases loaded when John Axford struck out Starlin Castro on three pitches to end it.

Shawn Marcum (1-0) settled down after a shaky start and gave up three runs in six solid innings. Rickie Weeks homered, while Braun had two hits and scored a run.

Matt Gamel added a run-scoring triple off Shawn Camp (0-1) and scored in the sixth, breaking a 3-3 tie. Camp gave up three runs on five hits in two inning of work.—AP

the game at 5, then Mitch Moreland and Josh Hamilton both went deep in the fourth to give Darvish an 8-5 lead. Ian Kinsler added a three -run blast in the eighth.

Darvish was Japan’s top pitcher before the Rangers committed more than $107 million to acquire

Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 2 At Toronto, Ryan Sweeney singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as the Boston Red Sox rallied to beat the Blue Jays, spoiling Toronto’s home opener and avoiding the first back-to-back 0-4 starts in team history.

Dustin Pedroia homered and scored the tying run as the Red Sox handed new Blue Jays closer Sergio Santos his second blown save in three appearances.

Handed a 2-1 lead to start the ninth, Santos (0-1) surrendered a leadoff double to Pedroia, who advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzalez.

Kevin Youkilis struck out before David Ortiz and Cody Ross drew consecutive walks. After a visit to the mound by pitching coach Bruce Walton, Sweeney hit an RBI single through the right side.

Rangers 11, Mariners 5 At Arlington, Texas, Yu Darvish overcome a rocky start and got a big boost from the powerful Texas lineup, winning his much-anticipated major league debut in the Rangers’ victory over the Mariners.

After giving up four runs while throwing 42 pitches in the first inning, then allowing another run in the second, Darvish (1-0) settled down and later retired 10 in a row while pitching into the sixth.

Nelson Cruz hit a three -run homer in the third for Texas to tie

BALTIMORE: New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game. —AP him, including his guaranteed $56 million, six-year contract.

Angels 5, Twins 1 At Minneapolis, CJ Wilson won his awaited Angels debut with seven smooth innings, giving Los Angeles all the boost it needed to

Tampa Bay Baltimore Toronto NY Yankees Boston Detroit Chicago W Sox Kansas City Cleveland Minnesota Texas Seattle LA Angels Oakland

W L PCT 3 0 1.000 3 1 .750 2 2 .500 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 Central Division 3 0 1.000 2 2 .500 2 2 .500 1 3 .250 0 4 0 Western Division 3 1 .750 3 2 .600 2 2 .500 2 3 .400

GB .5 1.5 2.5 2.5 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 .5 1 1.5

NY Mets Washington Miami Philadelphia Atlanta St. Louis Houston Pittsburgh Milwaukee Cincinnati Chicago Cubs Arizona LA Dodgers San Francisco Colorado San Diego

AUGUSTA: Champion Bubba Watson will always have the prestigious green jacket but, once the dust settles, the most stirring memory of the 76th Masters will be the wonder shot for the ages conjured up by Louis Oosthuizen.

Oosthuizen, who romped to a seven-stroke victory at the 2010 British Open, triggered one of the loudest roars ever heard at Augusta National with his astonishing albatross two at the par-five second. The gap-toothed South African with the silky swing

2 2.5 3 4 .5 1 1.5 1.5 2.5 .5 2.5 2.5 2.5

gle and Bobby Abreu’s double drove in first-inning runs against Nick Blackburn.

Albert Pujols didn’t get a ball out of the infield in four at-bats, but he reached on a fielder’s choice, hustled from first to third on a single to center and scored the Angels’ first

Athletics 1, Royals 0 At Oakland, Tommy Milone allowed three hits over a careerhigh eight innings in an impressive Oakland debut as the Athletics held off the Royals.

Milone (1-0) faced the minimum in five of his innings, including getting through the fourth despite throwing only two strikes among his 10 pitches.

Perhaps for a night, Milone made it easier for the small group of fans who turned out at the Coliseum to picture life without lefty Gio Gonzalez. The A’s acquired Milone from the Nationals in December, sending All-Star Gonzalez to the nation’s capital.

Luis Mendoza hung tough through 5 2-3 innings in the opener of Kansas City’s lone trip to Oakland this year. The right-hander (0-1), who went 4-0 with a 0.47 ERA in six spring training starts, allowed one earned run on five hits, struck out two and walked four.—AP

Oosthuizen joins elite Masters company with wonder shot

Miami 6, Philadelphia 2; San Francisco 7, Colorado 0; LA Angels 5, Minnesota 1; Milwaukee 7, Chicago Cubs 5; NY Yankees 6, Baltimore 2; Chicago White Sox 4, Cleveland 2; Boston 4, Toronto 2; NY Mets 4, Washington 3; St. Louis 7, Cincinnati 1; Texas 11, Seattle 5; Houston 8, Atlanta 3; Oakland 1, Kansas City 0.

National League Eastern Division 4 0 1.000 2 2 .500 2 3 .400 1 3 .250 0 4 0 Central Division 4 1 .800 3 1 .750 2 1 .667 2 2 .500 2 2 .500 1 3 .250 Western Division 3 0 1.000 3 1 .750 1 3 .250 1 3 .250 1 3 .250

run. Pujols is 3 for 14 through four games, with one run batted in.

Blackburn (0-1) was charged with five runs over six innings, but he recorded 15 straight outs in one stretch and surrendered just five hits, a decent first start after two straight rough seasons.

White Sox 4, Indians 2 At Cleveland, Chris Sale won his first career start, limiting Cleveland to one run in 6 2-3 innings as he led the White Sox to a win over the Indians.

Sale pitched out of Chicago’s bullpen the past two seasons but moved into the rotation after ace Mark Buehrle left as a free agent this winter. The left-hander, who had made 79 relief appearances, took a one-hit shutout into the sixth. In his longest outing, Sale allowed three hits and struck out five.

The 23-year-old had little trouble with a Cleveland team that came in batting .153. Rookie Hector Santiago gave up Jose Lopez ’s homer in the ninth before getting his second save.

AJ Pierzynski hit a two-run homer in the first, four batters after Alejandro De Aza homered leading off against Josh Tomlin (0-1).

MLB results/standings

American League Eastern Division

beat the Twins and spoil Minnesota’s home opener.

Wilson (1-0) allowed three hits while striking out five, giving up only one fly ball, a home run by Josh Willingham. Wilson, who struck out Joe Mauer twice, had a 2-0 lead before he even touched the mound, after Torii Hunter’s sin-

AUGUSTA: Louis Oosthuizen, of South Africa, tips his cap after hitting a double eagle two on the par 5 second hole during the fourth round of the Masters golf tournament in this file photo.—AP

holed out from 253 yards with a fouriron to record the first albatross, or double-eagle, on that hole and only the fourth ever achieved at the Masters. Playing with eventual winner Watson in Sunday’s final round, Oosthuizen watched as his ball landed on the front of the green in between the two bunkers and bounced along before rolling up the hill. The fans crammed around the green applauded politely but the ball kept on rolling, tracking sharply from left to right before dropping into the cup with what appeared to be its dying breath.

The cheering reached an ear-splitting crescendo and the sound reverberated around the Georgian pines as players on every part of the course were alerted to something very special.

Oosthuizen thrust both arms skywards before high-fiving his caddie.

Watson considered joining the celebrations but thought better of it.

“When we were walking up 18 during regulation, I told Louis I just wanted to run over there and give him a high-five,” Watson said after beating the South African on the second extra hole to claim his first major title.

“It was amazing to see the crowd.

The crowd roared forever. As a fan of golf, that’s what you love watching and I got to see it front row. We got to hear some roars out there.”

Oosthuizen’s remarkable feat gave him a two-shot lead but the leaderboard was the last thing on Watson’s mind having witnessed such a special moment.

“I wasn’t thinking about he was leading at that time,” said the

American left-hander, who is known for being a shot-making genius himself. “I wasn’t paying attention at the time.

“I was just thinking how amazing that shot was. It was his first double eagle, so special for him, too.”

Oosthuizen had perfectly executed his pre-shot strategy, but was dumbfounded when he saw his ball disappear into the cup.

“It was about 210 yards to the front and that was a good four-iron for me,” he said of the task facing him with his second shot from the fairway.

“I needed to pitch it about five, six paces on the green, and I knew if I get it right, it’s going to feed towards the hole. But I never thought it would go in,” he grinned.

While Oosthuizen ultimately fell short of a perfect afternoon when he was edged out by Watson in the playoff, his name will forever be etched into Masters folklore as one of the four ‘albatross’ men.

Gene Sarazen was the first, holing out with a four-wood at the par-five 15th in the fourth round of the 1935 edition, his storied “shot heard round the world” helping set up a playoff victory over Craig Wood. That miracle shot, probably the most famous single stroke of all time in golf, pulled him level with fellow American Wood and Sarazen went on to win his only green jacket by five strokes in a 36hole playoff the following day.

Australian Bruce Devlin followed suit at the par-five eighth in the first round of the 1967 Masters and American Jeff Maggert grabbed his albatross at the par-five 13th in the fourth round in 1994.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

sp orts

Federer, Messi and ... Boonen ROUBAIX: Lionel Messi, Roger Federer and ... Tom Boonen. Granted, Boonen isn’t the global mega-star those other two are, but they’re alike in that they tower above others in their sport.

On a bicycle over cobblestones, there’s never been anyone better than Boonen. To the layman, that might not seem much of a claim to fame. But in cycling, it makes Boonen something of a god. This sport has built a whole tradition of venerating hard men who win hard races the hard way. Boonen on Sunday won the hardest one-day race there is, for a record-tying fourth time, and did it the hardest way possible alone.

For 53 kilometers (32 miles), Boonen rode solo at the front of Paris-Roubaix, his long, muscular legs inexorably churning him forward over the brutally bumpy cobblestones that make this race a monument in cycling, as cherished by hard-core fans as Le Mans in motorsport and football’s ‘clasico’ matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The cobblestone tracks through

French farmland shake loose nuts and bolts, puncture tires and spill riders. The rattle and shake of gripping handlebars over them is so exhausting, like holding a jackhammer for hours, that many of the 113 riders who reached the finish and the 82 others who foundered before the northern French town of Roubaix will suffer aches and pains for the rest of this week.

“Everything hurts - your arms, your hands, your legs, your back, your neck,” said Allan Peiper, a director with the Garmin-Barracuda team who rode in five Tours de France and multiple ParisRoubaix. He said the battering meted out by the cobbles makes the race even more punishing than the toughest mountain stages at the Tour.

But Boonen seemed to glide over the rocks. That takes tremendous power and bike-handling technique. And it took courage to ride off the front of the race when the finish was so distant. In recent decades, few have pulled off such a long, one-man victory.

Bike fans adore such daring. The risk for Boonen was that he would quickly

tire and be swallowed by rivals hunting as a pack behind. But once Boonen escaped, they couldn’t catch him.

Cobblestone by cobblestone, Boonen pedaled relentlessly to maintain and then increase his lead. When it finally reached 1 minute, with 26 kilometers (16 miles) to ride, it became clear that the game was up.

“I don’t get many chances to pull off a number like that one,” Boonen said. “I found myself at the front alone and thought, ‘OK, why not give it a try?’ I fought for every second and when I had accumulated a minute, I thought, ‘OK. It’s possible to ride all the way to Roubaix.’”

“Frankly, it was beautiful,” said Christian Prudhomme, the Tour director who had the best seat in the house, riding in a car behind.

“We were right behind him for an hour and a half. It was a sort of animallike strength. Not at all robotic,” Prudhomme said. “It was impressive.”

This was the 110th Paris-Roubaix, which started in 1896, making it older than the Tour. With the other champi-

ons, Boonen has a plaque bearing his name in the communal showers at Roubaix’s velodrome, where the race ends among cheering crowds.

Boonen on Sunday also happily lifted the wonderfully bizarre trophy the race has awarded winners since 1977 - a cobblestone mounted on marble.

In 2009, when Boonen tested positive for cocaine a second time, it looked like success was ruining him. He unhappily acknowledged that when he parties, “I apparently turn into somebody different.”

Now, the former world champion looks like a winner again.

“People said he was finished, because of his health problems, his knee problems, his wobbles outside of sport,” said Prudhomme. “Now, he is back.”

Boonen also won Roubaix in 2005, ‘08 and ‘09, and now shares the record of victories with Roger de Vlaeminck, winner in 1972, ‘74, ‘75 and ‘77.

This month, Boonen also won his third Tour of Flanders, the daylong race through his native Belgium. It, too, rat-

tles over cobbled sections.

Federer’s record of 16 tennis majors and the football marks Messi is setting almost every week with Barcelona are arguably more impressive and certainly make them better known.

But Boonen’s combined total of seven Roubaix and Flanders wins, a new record, is important stuff to fans who think cycling over rocks really rocks.

“It makes him almost a god,” said Francois Doulcier, president of The Friends of Paris-Roubaix, a group dedicated to preserving the ancient cobblestone tracks.

“It means he really is strong, that he loves cycling, and that he loves classic races with paving stones. We’re in awe.”

After Boonen crossed the line, an employee of his Omega PharmaQuick Step team cleaned him up a bit with a quick wipe of his arms, face and legs, making him presentable for television interviews.

Shame, really. Because covered in the grime and dust this race throws up, Boonen looked the part: the cobblestone king. —AP

Biffle claws to the top, others mired in pack after break

BARBADOS: Australia’s Matthew Wade watches as he is caught by West Indies’ Darren Bravo (right) for 28 runs on the fourth day of their first cricket Test match. —AP

Windies bowlers keep pressure on Australia BARBADOS: West Indies kept the pressure on Australia on day three of the first test in Bridgetown, Barbados on Monday with the tourists restricted at the close to 248 for five in 95 overs.

Skipper Michael Clarke (73) was the backbone of the Australian batting as they laboured in reply to West Indies’ 449 for nine declared.

Resuming on their overnight total of 44-0, Australia suffered an early setback when West Indies skipper Darren Sammy struck twice to remove both openers.

Sammy ’s nagging line outside off stump finally teased Ed Cowan (14) into an edge to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh and then Sammy struck again with a similar delivery to Dave Warner (42)who found Darren Bravo at second slip.

The home team certainly smelt blood when Ricky Ponting was run out for four after Shane Watson hesitated while calling his partner for a second and left the former Australia captain stranded.

At 84 for three, Australia needed to get their heads down and Watson and Clarke ground out 49 runs in 18.2 overs before lunch.

That set a possible foundation for the experienced pairing but Watson needlessly chased the second ball from Kemar Roach after lunch, gifting Baugh another catch as he departed for 39.

Sammy was disappointed when Clarke, on 27, was given out caught behind off Devendra Bishoo but had the decision overturned on a review showing little of a conclusive nature.

Clarke took advantage of the reprieve and put on a patient 82 run partnership with Mike Hussey for the fifth wicket but

the hard work was undone when the Clarke unwisely tried to go over the top against Bishoo and found Narsingh Deonarine in the deep.

It was a needless shot and although Hussey (47 not out) and Matthew Wade (19 not out) saw it through to an early close because of bad light, Australia have plenty of work to do on the fourth day.

Clarke, was disappointed with the way he got out but believes his team can still win the test. “I think Michael Hussey and I were building a pretty good partnership, maybe it was a lapse of concentration, I got done in flight so it was a pretty good ball from Bishoo,” he said.

“But once you are in you have to make the most of it and go on and get big scores,” he added. Clarke said his batsmen had been restricted by some smart bowling from their opponents on a surface which was star ting to help the bowlers.

“I thought all the West Indies bowlers did a fantastic job on a wicket that has probably deteriorated a little bit, there is a little bit of inconsistent bounce,” he said.

“We are going to have to bowl better than we did in the first innings and make as many runs as we can in this innings. I certainly think we can still win the test match from here,” added Clarke.

For the West Indians, looking an improved unit so far in this series, the key is clearly to try to finish off Australia quickly.

“Early wickets will be crucial tomorrow,” said Sammy, “Five wickets today was good but there is still a lot of work to do”. —Reuters

CHARLOTTE: Greg Biffle fell two laps down at Martinsville, clawed his way to a 13th-place finish, then headed to the Bahamas as NASCAR’s points leader. “It feels good to go on vacation being the point leader,” Biffle said after the April 1 race in Virginia.

Biffle better have enjoyed his time away from the track, because it’s game-on from here. NASCAR resumes racing this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, the first in a stretch of 14 consecutive races that will shape most of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field.

Brad Keselowski proved last year a driver can overcome a slow start and still be a championship contender. He was a season-low 28th in the standings nine races into the season, turned things around at the start of the summer and used three wins to claim one of the two wild card spots in the 12-driver Chase field. That leaves hope for Kasey Kahne, who has had a horrendous start to his Hendrick Motorsports tenure.

Despite two poles and strong cars, Kahne has been plagued with problems and has four finishes of 29th or worse. His best showing so far this season was 14th at California, and an engine failure at Martinsville has him sitting 31st in the standings.

He’s been furious at times and frustrated with his position but isn’t giving up hope he can turn things around with strong Chevrolets that are struggling to make it to the finish. “I am upset that we haven’t run great this year, but we are great on Friday and Saturday,” Kahne said.

“We have the speed, so when it’s our time we will be ready to take advantage of it.”

He’ll have to get moving pretty soon, though, because there are some big names sitting outside the top 10 in points right now.

Carl Edwards, who lost the championship to Tony Stewart last season on a tie-breaker, is currently 11th, and Keselowski, despite a win

at Bristol, is 12th.

Kyle Busch is stuck back in 16th and uncharacteristically has only challenged for one victory so far this season. He settled for second to Stewart at California, where he led 80 laps in the rain-shortened race, but has only one other top-10 finish this season.

Busch has only missed the Chase twice in his career - his 2005 rookie season, and in 2009, when he won four races but fell just short of claiming the final spot in the field.

Stuck in 21st is four-time champion Jeff Gordon, outside the top

MARTINSVILLE: This March 30, 2012 file photo shows NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle (right) and Tony Stewart talking during practice at Martinsville Speedway. —AP 10 in points six races into the season for only the third time in his career. He rallied to make the Chase in 2004 and 2011 but has a lot of ground to make up this season.

Although Gordon has led at least one lap in every race - and was out front for 328 laps at Martinsville - he’s got just one top10 finish. Still, he isn’t all that worried. “I like the Chase format, because we are still in it,” he said.

“We just have to focus on winning

Scoreboard at the close of play on the third day of the first test between West Indies and Australia at Kensington Oval in Barbados yesterday: 46-1, D.Warner 10-0-45-2, M.Hussey 2-06-0.

Australia innings E.Cowan c Baugh b Sammy 14 D.Warner c Bravo b Sammy 42 S.Watson c Baugh b Roach 39 R.Ponting tun out 4 M.Clarke c Deonarine b Bishoo 73 M.Hussey not out 47 M.Wade not out 19 Extras (lb-8, nb-2) 10 Total (5 wickets, 95 overs) 248 To bat: P.Siddle, R.Harris, B.Hilfenhaus, N.Lyon.

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-65, 3-84, 4-133, 5-215 Bowling: F.Edwards 15-2-41-0 (nb-1), K.Roach 17-2-56-1, D.Bishoo 30-7-77-1 (nb -1), D.Sammy 15-5-33-2, N.Deonarine 18-5-33-0.

points and finished second in the final standings.

Now, behind four top-10 finishes in the first six races, Biffle currently holds a six-point lead over Dale Earnhardt Jr. It shows he’s had a strong start to the season but means very little else at this stage of the game.

Kyle Busch spent 21 weeks atop the points standings in 2008, only to stumble at the start of the Chase and finish 10th in the champi-

onship race. Gordon led for nine weeks early in the 2009 season, then Stewart took over the top spot for 13 straight weeks leading into the Chase. Neither challenged for the title.

Same thing happened to Kevin Harvick in 2010, and Edwards, despite leading 16 of 26 regular season weeks last year, also failed to win the title.

So Biffle heads into Saturday night’s race at Texas with a clear understanding of what’s ahead for his Roush Fenway Racing team.

“I know that we’re probably not going to lead the points the whole way,” he said. “So I’m happy and proud of our team fighting to stay in the points lead (and) running as good as we can every week. But the reality is I know that we may (lose the points lead). If and when that happens, certainly I’m not going to let that take the wind out of our sails.” What he needs, though, is a victory.

Biffle hasn’t won a race since Kansas in 2010 and takes a 49-race winless streak into Texas. But he’s confident he’s getting close behind new crew chief Matt Puccia, who has already this season matched the three top-five finishes Biffle scored last season.

“You’re never happy unless you win or you’re winning. I don’t mean happy as you’re not satisfied, but you’re going to continue to work hard, or harder, be aggressive, until you win,” Biffle said. “When I say we’re looking for a good, solid, topfive run, we want to be in the top five, and the reason why I use that analogy is because a winner usually never comes from out of the top five. “If you’re not running in that top five, you don’t stand a snowball’s chance of winning that race.

Are we happy with finishing third or whatever? Yeah, we’re happy because we went there, we gave it a hundred percent, and that’s the result we ended up with. But we’re going to continue ‘til we reach that Victory Circle.” —AP

Bahrain adviser says F1 security plans in place

SCOREBOARD West Indies innings A.Barath c Siddle b Harris 22 K.Brathwaite c Wade b Siddle 57 K.Edwards c and b Warner 61 D.Bravo c Hussey b Watson 51 S.Chanderpaul not out 103 N.Deonarine c Wade b Harris 21 C.Baugh run out 22 D.Sammy c Cowan b Hilfenhaus 41 K.Roach c Clarke b Lyon 16 F.Edwards c Hussey b Warner 10 D.Bishoo not out 18 Extras (b-12, lb-9, w-4, nb-2) 27 Total (for 9 wickets, 153 overs) 449 (declared) Fall of wickets: 1-38 2-142 3-167 4-240 5-285 6-316 7-369 8-402 9-421.

Bowling: R. Harris 29-8-83-2, B.Hilfenhaus 33-12-67-1 (nb-1), P.Siddle 31-10-83-1 (nb-1, w-2), N.Lyon 31-1194-1, M.Clarke 2-0-4-0, S.Watson 15-5-

races right now. We can’t focus on trying to be in the top 10 in points. ... There’s not an urgency, but we’re starting to feel a bit more pressure to start putting those good finishes together that I know we are capable of doing, which is the good thing,” So the attention, for now, shifts toward the back of the field to see who can salvage their season.

It takes the heat off Biffle, who’s leading the points standings for just the second time in his career.

Biffle’s only other time out front was in 2005, when he won six races but spent just one week atop the

NAPLES: Emirates Team New Zealand crew lower the catamaran in the sea to prepare the trial of America’s Cup World Series in Naples. America’s Cup World Series Naples will start today and will see the final match-race on April 15. —AFP

DUBAI: Security at the Bahrain Grand Prix will aim to be “low key and discreet” but will include contingency plans to deal with potential disruptions such as demonstrators invading the circuit, an adviser to the Gulf Kingdom’s Interior Ministr y said Monday.

John Yates, a former assistant commissioner in the London Metropolitan Police Service, told The Associated Press that he reviewed the plans ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 22. He said authorities are aiming to provide adequate security that keeps fans safe without showing overt force that impinges on Bahrain’s biggest sporting event.

“It is very much hoped that the policing will be low key and discreet,” Yates said. “But if there are problems, they ... must be able to escalate their response if need be.

People can be assured that if problems arise, then there will be a plan to deal with that as there would be with any public event in the world.”

The 2011 race at Bahrain International Circuit was canceled due to a wave of antigovernment protest and the subsequent crackdown that has left at least 50 people dead. There are still daily clashes between demonstrators and security forces, but the country’s Sunni rulers are desperate to hold the race to show the country is recovering from the protests. The protesters, however, are demanding the race be canceled until their concerns of right abuses and greater equality for the Shiite majority are addressed by authorities.

Yates acknowledges there are “pockets of violence” in Shiite villages but said that “95 percent” of the Gulf island is safe.

He said he expects some protests will be allowed but warns that anyone trying to shut down the race would be treated harshly.

“If people want to protest lawfully and give proper notice, as they have to, then they will be allowed to protest,” Yates said.

“But you can’t have a protest that shuts off every road and doesn’t allow people to get to the grand prix circuit. That would be absurd. They can be allowed to protest in certain places where it doesn’t cause huge disruptions and their message can get across.”

Yates noted that anyone copying the actions of the protester who interrupted the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge on the River Thames in London last Saturday would be foolhardy to do so.

“If someone chooses to invade the circuit, what an incredibly stupid and reckless thing to do,” he said. “You saw what happened in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race over the weekend. That man is lucky to get away with his life. Anyone who invades the circuit is putting themselves in danger, putting the drivers in danger, putting potentially other spectators in danger. That will be clamped down on and properly so.”

Despite former world champion Damon Hill calling on motor racing’s governing body to reconsider staging the grand prix, Yates said the race goes ahead for Bahrain.

“It’s a really important event for this country. It’s hugely important for the economy,” Yates said. “There is nothing that in any way warrants for the race to be postponed.” Those comments were echoed by another Englishman, Bahrain national football coach Peter Taylor. —AP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

S P ORT S

Beijing grapples with Games legacy four years on BEIJING: Four years after Beijing hosted a spectacular summer Olympics, China’s bustling capital sees vastly improved public transport and infrastructure, but many of the venues built for the event languish unloved, underused and draining public finances.

The jewels in the crown were two architecturallystunning buildings-the main “Bird’s Nest” stadium and the “Water Cube” aquatics centre, described by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge as “beautiful” and “unprecedented” venues.

“The successful hosting of the Olympics was not only splendid for Chinese sports, it ... excited the passion of one billion people about sport,” China’s sports minister Liu Peng was cited as saying by state media last year, summing up the Games legacy for Beijing.

Yet today both places are better known for the steady stream of curious tourists they attract-some 4.61 million visitors in 2011 — rather than as locations for major sporting events.

While the Bird’s Nest does host the odd football match or track and field competition, it has also been

the site of a “winter wonderland” theme park and concerts.

The stadium’s management estimates that at the current rate, it will take some three decades to recoup the 3 billion yuan ($480 million) cost of building it.

The neighbouring Water Cube lost an estimated 11 million yuan last year, even with a state subsidy and revenue from an attached water park built after the Olympics to capitalise on its fame.

“The cost for building Olympic venues was substantial. But the organisers failed to consider overall how to use the venues after the Olympics when building these sites or even bidding for the Olympics,” said Yan Qiang, chief sports editor of NetEase Media Group.

“For sports venues, the more frequently they are used, the longer they will last, the better protection they will receive, and society will benefit that much more,” Yan added. “I think Beijing has a severe shortage in this regards.”

Other venues have fared even worse than the Bird’s Nest or Water Cube. The kayaking venue sits all but

abandoned, what water remaining in it being sucked up by a large pipe to quench a surrounding park in the midst of a typically parched Beijing spring, during a recent visit by a Reuters journalist.

The rowing venue, located in a remote and hard to reach northeastern suburb, now hosts mostly small dinghys. Neither sport is well-known in China, which partly explains the almost total abandonment. Some sites, such as for table tennis and wrestling, were built inside universities.

“They were given these huge venues ... and they had no event management experience, and they weren’t allowed to get any before the Olympic Games,” said Susan Brownell, professor of anthropology and expert on Chinese sports at the University of MissouriSt. Louis. “After the Games were over they were learning from scratch in terms of how to manage an event,” she added. Plus, in Communist Party-controlled China, there is the added concern over large crowds in the current tense run-up to a once-in-a-decade handover of power for the country’s top leadership, which will

happen in the autumn.

“In order to hold a major sports event you have to bring thousands of people together, and that’s a public assembly. In the current political atmosphere there’s just a lot of fear of large public assemblies,” Brownell said. Even the trumpeted closing of polluting factories to improve Beijing’s notoriously poor air has only had a limited effect and the city is still regularly cloaked in a think pall of choking smog.

Where once Chinese swelled with pride at the hosting of the Olympics, especially after the country topped the gold medal table in 2008, some now criticise the venues for their wastefulness. “I think the building materials are very expensive and wasteful,” said tourist Li Fang.

The Water Cube “changes water everyday, which is a huge waste of water resources. It also consumes lots of electricity when the lights are on. I think it’s better to devote these resources to people’s daily life. These expenses are totally unnecessary”, the 21-year-old added. — Reuters

Judo gold just what the doctor ordered Carmen Marton in action in this file photo

Australia taekwondo team a perfect match SYDNEY: Taekwondo fighter Carmen Marton has two big events pencilled in for 2012 and her fiance Safwan Khalil will now be with her at both after they were named as the Australia team for the London Olympics yesterday.

Marton, who reached the quarter-finals at the Beijing Olympics, and Khalil, who will be making his Games debut in London, plan to marry later this year, a decade after meeting at the taekwondo junior world championships.

“I feel very fortunate to be with some-

Safwan Khalil

one who knows exactly what it is going to take to prepare and perform at the Olympic Games,” said Marton, who will compete in the women’s under 67 kg class at the ExCeL in London’s docklands.

“We have both pushed the lengths of patience and understanding, especially since I am based in Melbourne preparing with my coaches and club, and he is in Sydney preparing with his coach and club.

“Maintaining a relationship can be hard at times, but I also believe it has built up our strength and determination as individuals.”

Khalil, who will compete in the men’s under-58kg class, will also be supported by his brother and coach Ali in London.

“My family completes the puzzle,” the Lebanon-born 25-year-old said. “Their support and help throughout the past years have been what keeps me going when I feel like I’ve hit a wall.

“Ali and I work great together and to share this journey with him is an amazing feeling. “Also having Carmen on the team is fantastic - she’s so clever, smart and experienced and knows what to say when I’m down and out.”

Marton is the more likely of the two to return home from the July 27-Aug. 12 Games with a medal and, like most Olympians, she has no doubt which one she wants.

“I am there to win gold,” the 25-yearold said. “I do not want to go there and simply participate. My goal is to do everything I possibly can to prepare so I am confident and happy when it comes to my competition day.” — Reuters

Britain on track for Olympic charge MELBOURNE: British track cycling team bosses admit they are unlikely to dominate the Olympics as they did in Beijing following the resurgence of rivals Australia.

But after the 2012 world championships, where both countries looked down on their rivals from atop the medals table, Britain’s performance director Dave Brailsford was looking to London with optimism.

“If we were maxing out, then there would be cause for concern,” said Brailsford. “But I think there’s no reason why we can’t step up again. Britain’s impressive 12-medal haul from the Laoshan velodrome in 2008 included seven gold from the 10 Olympic finals.

Australia, the track kings of Athens in 2004, won only one medal, a silver, through sprinter Anna Meares.

Australia, however, have now dominated the track world championships for the fourth consecutive year. “We are going to go to London expecting to be at our absolute best, and if we go there at our best the outcomes will take care of themselves,” said Australia’s performance director Kevin Tabotta. His team topped the table at the five-day championships with 15 medals including six gold while Britain were second on 13 including six gold.

Brailsford admitted the competitive gap has narrowed. “There is nothing in it,” said Brailsford. “Previously in some events there has been a physical difference and I don’t think that’s any longer the case.”

As well as winning more than a third of the competition’s 57 medals, both teams dug deep to crucially win world titles in eight of the 10 Olympic events.

Australia won the men’s team sprint, the women’s keirin and the men’s omnium while Britain fared better with five gold in the women’s and men’s team pursuit, the women’s sprint and omnium and the men’s keirin. From the 10 Olympic disciplines, Britain and Australia won a total of 16

medals at the championships.

A year on from winning just one world championship gold, Brailsford says he is even more encouraged by the intensity of performance shown by his team.

Calling it the “hardest fought world champs I’ve ever seen”, Brailsford saw world records in the men’s and women’s team pursuit as well as a number of intense battles from riders still fighting for Olympic selection.

“There’s so many nations now who have got so close, and there’s so many riders desperate to get selection for the Games, the whole cocktail of those things has made it terrifically difficult and challenging,” said Brailsford.

“But I think we’ve come through it well, I think we’ve moved on which was the key thing and some of the key battles have gone our way.” Tabotta echoed those thoughts: “I’m pretty pleased about the individual and team performances so far. “Medals have been great but the personal bests and the times that have been hit by the athletes have exceeded what we expected for the championships.

“We’re tracking really well... so we’re pleased with the progress the athletes have made. We know what events we need to improve on between now and London.”

In the British capital the Britain v Australia rivalry is likely to lead to new world records for the men’s (4 km) and women’s (3 km) team pursuit events.

Both nations also have solid gold medal contenders in the second endurance event, the omnium-which will make its Olympic debut in London. The sprint events of the individual sprint, keirin and team sprint will be more difficult to predict.

World records in the women’s team sprint, for example, have been set five times in less than two months by teams from Australia, Britain and now Germany. —AFP

BUENOS AIRES: Olympic judo bronze medallist Paula Pareto could be forgiven for forgetting to take the stethoscope from around her neck when she steps onto the mat for her first fight at the London Games.

Argentine Pareto, who won a surprise medal in Beijing in the 48kg category, is burning the candle at both ends as she tries to fit training and her medical studies into a packed day, which includes spending four hours at a hospital.

The 26-year-old told Reuters her status as an Olympian does not mean her tutors at University of Buenos Aires give her a free pass if she needs to train or get away for a tournament.

“As far as being absent is concerned, I have to tell them I’m going to be away, maybe a week or a bit less ... In that sense they give me consideration, but when I’m around I do what everyone does,” she said referring to her fellow students.

“I think the London dates just fit in and tutors won’t make an issue concerning absenteeism,” she said in an interview before evening training.

Pan-American champion Pareto, Argentina’s first Olympic medal winner in judo, says she is better for her Beijing experience but knows there is no guarantee she will do better in London.

“Really, I went to Beijing looking to see what would happen and get experience and I came back with the bronze medal so it was a return to my country with great joy,” said Pareto, who has the nickname “La Peke. “I’m going to London more prepared than for Beijing, that’s sure, but we’ll see.

“I only had fifth place at the world championships the previous year and it was like no one knew much about me in

Beijing.” Watching her practice at the Cenard national training centre on the edge of the capital with an intensity one can imagine she also puts into her studies, it is difficult to imagine when she has time to rest.“I take my rest more at the weekends than in the week because during the week the free time I have left between one practice and another I try to study,” she said.

Travelling also eats up hours of Pareto’s time. She lives in a northern suburb 30 kilometers from the city centre and her coach, Fernando Yuma, works at her club Estudiantes in the provincial capital 60km to the south. The journey that can take more than three hours by bus and train one way.

“It’s quite complicated because I live in Tigre ... and I travel to La Plata, so it’s more or less three and a half hours by train and bus. Sometimes I have the luck of going by car but it isn’t often.

“My personal coach, who trains the national team, comes on Mondays and Fridays here to Cenard, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he’s in La Plata so I go there because ... I think it’s worth the effort.”

She does not waste a second of the travelling time, getting her books out to study during the journey. Pareto, who has two brothers, says having the support of her family is crucial, although it is not always easy for them to watch her compete.

“None of them went to China,” she said.

“My mother didn’t manage to get the money together so it became impossible. Now she’s doing all she can to go to London.

“My father prefers to follow me on TV ... I can understand him because he’s a father and he’s afraid I might get hurt.” — Reuters Paula Pareto seen in this file photo

Horses get rock star treatment CALAIS: The duck-egg blue lorry gingerly joins a queue of cars lined up along the Eurotunnel platform in Calais, northern France, as Channel tunnel shuttle boarding begins.

Inside, Voske, a 10-year-old show-jumping champion, and his six equine companions breakfast on hay before the last leg of their Miami-Amsterdam-Britain journey.

“They are getting bored, like us,” said Sophie Broome, one of three grooms who have been tending the horses since they left Florida and the Winter Equestrian Festival.

The seven thoroughbreds are travelling on the dedicated horse transport service that Channel tunnel operator Eurotunnel has launched ahead of the London Olympics this summer, when 1,000 horses are expected to travel to Britain.

Elite competition horses can clock up thousands of travel miles every year and require special care worthy of pampered rock stars.

Eurotunnel, which has been carrying passengers and freight along the 55-kilometre long undersea tunnel between France and Britain since 1994, has teamed up with four horse-transport firms to provide a faster, smoother service that aims to minimize disruption for prized horses that must arrive in peak form for competitions. “ We are always looking at ways we can expand our services for cross-channel transport,” said Jo Willacy, commercial director at Eurotunnel. “We became aware a few years ago that there was clearly going to be a major opportunity for transportation linked to the Olympics.” Environmental changes and the stress of travelling can weaken the horses’ immune system, making them more susceptible to illness and even life-threatening conditions.

Compared to the 90-minute cross-channel ferry service, a journey on the Eurotunnel shuttle takes just 35 minutes, requires minimal waiting time and is available up to four times every hour.

Eurotunnel first began working with three British horse travel companies-Peden Bloodstock, Harbour Shipping and John Parker International-in March 2010, targeting not just customers who needed to transport horses for competitions, but also British horse-owners who wanted to take their animals to holiday homes in France.“We wanted to understand the customers before we fully launched the service,” said Harvey Alexander, marketing and sales director at Eurotunnel.

The positive feedback from horse owners, and growing demand, led Eurotunnel to join forces with another firm, Equine Travel Agency, which has operations in mainland Europe, in November 2011.

Horse transport needs to be meticulously planned as travel can take its toll on horses. The animals are prone to stress and can develop seri-

ous conditions such as travel sickness, a respiratory disease.

Travelling in cramped spaces means they cannot lower their head freely to snort, cough and clear their throat and lungs. They also have to eat with their head raised, standing in one place, instead of typical head-down grazing behavior. To minimize the risk of travel sickness, vehicles used for horse transport must be kept as clean as possible to avoid a build-up of dust particles and need proper ventilation to ensure the horses can breathe clean, fresh air all the time. Hay and feed have to be kept dampened to avoid dust.

Grooms have to be on hand to check the horses and need round-the-clock access during

to the horses during the crossing.

“The biggest advantage of Eurotunnel is speed,” said John Parker, the owner of John Parker International, a British-based horse-transport firm that handles 5,000 horses every year.

“For example, it saves us two days on a trip to Italy.” Although using Eurotunnel adds around 100 pounds ($160) to the cost of the journey when compared to the ferry service, boarding is very swift and waiting time is kept to a minimum. The lorry-which needs specifications such as a leak-proof floor and ventilation when the engine is switched off - is loaded in one of the passenger shuttles, rather than the noisier freight shuttles, without any other vehicles, to leave horses undisturbed.

Voske, a 10-year-old show-jumping champion the journey to make sure they are travelling comfortably.

Red-tape for horse transport can be equally complicated. Like humans, horses need to carry a passport when they travel abroad, but also require health certificates and export licences, which have to be obtained every time they travel. Before Eurotunnel began carrying horses, connections between the UK and mainland Europe were ensured by air or ferry.

When flying with horses in the cargo hold, pilots have to take special precautions, such as taxiing gently and only gradually accelerating before lifting off at a shallow angle to minimize the risk of horses losing their balance.

Ferry travel is often disrupted by bad weather and, in case of choppy seas, can cause horses to suffer from sea sickness. Crossing and loading times are longer and grooms do not have access

“The most important difference is that the groom stays with the horse for the entire journey, in case there are any problems,” said Parker.

Eurotunnel carried over 1,000 horses in the first year. This year it expects to transport 2,000, excluding those travelling for the Olympics.

The company has declined to provide forecasts for the Olympics, saying it expects to receive most bookings later in April and May. Among them there will be the French equestrian team, which is shipping 10 horses to London in late July. “Although travel by Eurotunnel is more complex because the lorries need to have certain specifications, the journey is smooth and there is no risk the horses will be stuck at the port in case of bad weather conditions,” said Pascal Dubois, technical director of the Federation Francaise d’Equitation. “There’s no chance they will miss the competition.” —Reuters

18

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

S P ORT S

Lakers get past Hornets NEW ORLEANS: Pau Gasol had 25 points and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Kobe Bryant’s absence to beat the New Orleans Hornets 93-91 on Monday night.

Bryant missed his second straight game with a sore left shin, but Ramon Sessions helped pick up the slack with 17 points, including a 3-pointer that put the Lakers ahead by six with 26 seconds left.

Andrew Bynum added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who snapped a two-game skid.

Carl Landry had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Marco Belinelli scored 20 points for New Orleans, which led by as much as eight points in the fourth quarter, before the Lakers stormed back.

Greivis Vasquez added 18 points and 11 assists for the Hornets, hitting a career-high five 3-pointers on six attempts. Chris Kaman had 16 points and five blocked shots.

Grizzlies 94, Clippers 85 At Memphis, Marc Gasol scored 18 points and Rudy Gay had 16 as the Grizzlies held on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers.

Mike Conley and OJ Mayo added 13 each for Memphis, which won for the eighth time in 10 games and moved one-half game behind the Clippers for the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

Marreese Speights finished had 12 points and Zach Randolph added 10 points and 12 rebounds as the Grizzlies finished with a 48-36 rebounding edge, but committed 20 turnovers.

Chris Paul led Los Angeles with 21 points and six assists, while Blake Griffin had 19 points on 9-of14 shooting from the field.

DeAndre Jordan added 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Eric Bledsoe and Randy Foye scored 11 points each.

Pacers 103, Raptors 98 At Indianapolis, Danny Granger and George Hill scored 18 points each as Indiana took an early lead and held off Toronto.

Paul George had 15 points and Leandro Barbosa added 14 to help the Pacers - third in the Eastern Conference - win for the fourth time in their last five games.

Hill also had seven rebounds and four assists while making his first start of the season in place of the Darren Collison, who sat out with a groin injury sustained in Indiana’s loss to Boston on Saturday.

Linas Kleiza scored 18 points

- all in the fourth quarter - as the Raptors tried to rally from a 15-point deficit at the start of the period. Alan Anderson had 13 of his 17 points in the third quarter and Amir Johnson finished with 16 for Toronto. Ed Davis added 11 points and 10 rebounds and Jose Calderon had 14 assists.

San Antonio by percentage points for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 for the Bucks.

Wizards 113, Bobcats 85 At Charlotte, Jordan Crawford scored 20 points and Washington got 67 points from its reserves in a matchup of the NBA’s two

Suns 114, Timberwolves 90 At Minneapolis, Shannon Brown had 17 points and seven rebounds as Phoenix’s reserves outscored Minnesota’s 66-27.

Markieff Morris led the backups with 21 points and Steve Nash had 14 points and five assists for the Suns, who have won five of their last six games and 11 of 16 to surge back into the playoff picture.

They started the day one game behind Denver for eighth in the West.

Kevin Love had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost six in a row. They have lost 22 straight games in April dating back to 2009. JJ Barea had 16 points, but the Wolves’ massive defensive problems continued with the Suns shooting 57 percent.

PORTLAND: Houston Rockets forward Patrick Patterson (left) blocks a shot by Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus during the second half of their NBA basketball game. —AP Thunder 109, Bucks 89 At Milwaukee, Russell Westbrook scored 26 points and Oklahoma City won its second straight, beating Milwaukee in a game that featured seven technical fouls and an ejection of Bucks backup forward Larry Sanders.

Sanders was ejected after earning a pair of technicals in the second half, while Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Jennings and coach Scott Skiles also were assessed technicals for Milwaukee. Oklahoma City’s Nazr Mohammed and Serge Ibaka also were called for technicals. Kevin Durant added 19 for the Thunder, who broke a three-game losing streak with a victory over Toronto on Sunday. Oklahoma City came into Monday’s game trailing

worst teams.

James Singleton had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Cartier Martin chipped in with 19 points as the Wizards (13-44) swept the three-game season series from the Bobcats. John Wall scored just two points but had 12 assists. Corey Maggette scored 23 points for the Bobcats (7-48), who lost their 12th straight.

Magic 119, Pistons 89 At Orlando, Jason Richardson hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points as Orlando cruised past Detroit. Glen Davis added 16 points and 16 rebounds starting in place of center Dwight Howard, who missed his third game in two weeks with back spasms.

NBA results/standings Orlando 119, Detroit 89; Indiana 103, Toronto 98; Washington 113, Charlotte 85; LA Lakers 93, New Orleans 91; Oklahoma City 109, Milwaukee 89; Memphis 94, LA Clippers 85; Utah 91, San Antonio 84; Phoenix 114, Minnesota 90; Denver 123, Golden State 84.

Boston NY Knicks Philadelphia New Jersey Toronto

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L 32 24 29 27 29 27 21 37 20 38

All five Orlando starters reached double figures in the Magic’s first win over the Pistons this season.

The Magic also were playing without backup point guard Chris Duhon, who was suspended for the game for conduct detrimental to the team. Tayshaun Prince led Detroit with 21 points and eight rebounds.

PCT .571 .518 .518 .362 .345

GB 3 3 12 13

Western Conference Northwest Division 42 15 31 26 30 28 27 31 25 33

.737 .544 .517 .466 .431

11 12.5 15.5 17.5

LA Lakers LA Clippers Phoenix Golden State Sacramento

Pacific Division 36 22 34 23 30 27 22 34 19 38

.621 .596 .526 .393 .333

1.5 5.5 13 16.5

San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans

Southwest Division 40 15 33 23 32 25 31 26 15 42

.727 .589 .561 .544 .263

7.5 9 10 26

Oklahoma City Denver Utah Portland Minnesota

Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland

Central Division 43 14 35 22 28 29 21 36 18 36

.754 .614 .491 .368 .333

8 15 22 23.5

Miami Atlanta Orlando Washington Charlotte

Southeast Division 40 15 34 23 34 23 13 44 7 48

.727 .596 .596 .228 .127

7 7 28 33

Nuggets 123, Warriors 84 At Denver, rookie Kenneth Faried had season highs of 27 points and 17 rebounds, and the Denver never trailed en route to its most lopsided win of the season.

The 39-point margin exceeded Denver’s previous high of 29 points against Sacramento on Jan. 25, and coincided with the return of Danilo Gallinari. He helped pick up the offense by scoring 15 points in his first game since breaking his left thumb against Dallas on March 19.

Arron Afflalo also had 15 points, and JaVale McGee and Corey Brewer each added 13 for Denver.

Golden State was led by Klay Thompson and Nate Robinson with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Jazz 91, Spurs 84 At Salt Lake City, Devin Harris scored 25 points, including 11 straight in the fourth quarter, as Utah halted San Antonio’s 11game winning streak and boosted its own playoff hopes. Paul Millsap added 18 points for the Jazz, who avenged a 114-104 road loss Sunday to the Spurs.

Utah (30-28) is injury riddled but the Spurs (40-15) were shorthanded in a different way, choosing not to bring stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for the rematch of the home-andhome set. Coach Gregg Popovich wanted the trio, averaging 46.8 points, to rest.

Gary Neal and Tiago Splitter scored 14 points apiece, and DeJuan Blair added 13 in San Antonio’s first loss since March 17.

Rockets 94, T Blazers 89 At Portland, Goran Dragic scored 22 points as Houston beat Portland to complete an unbeaten four-game road trip.

Chase Budinger added 15 points off the bench for the Rockets, who beat the Bulls, Lakers and Kings before visiting Portland. Houston, jockeying for playoff position in the Western Conference, has won six of its last eight games overall. LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and six rebounds for Portland, which trailed by as many as 14 points.

The Trail Blazers, who are seeing their playoff hopes dwindle, have gone 7-8 since firing coach Nate McMillan. —AP

BANGALORE: Royal Challengers Bangalore Zaheer Khan (right) celebrates with captain Daniel Vettori (left) the dismissal of Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Manoj Tiwary (center) during their Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match. —AP

Balaji stars as Knight Riders win BANGALORE: Seam bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji produced a superb spell of 4-18 as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Bangalore Royal Challengers by 42 runs in the Indian Premier League yesterday.

Balaji bowled an immaculate line to claim the important wickets of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to help restrict Bangalore to 123-9 after Kolkata had scored 165-8 in 20 overs.

South Africa allrounder Jacques Kallis had earlier removed big-hitting opener Chris Gayle and Cheteshwar Pujara to complete an allround performance of 22 and 2-7.

Captain Gautam Gambhir (64) and Manvinder Bisla (46) were the other performers for Kolkata, which won its first game after two losses. Bangalore has one win and one loss.

Kolkata made a superb start after being put in to bat, but faltered in the latter half of its innings when a total of close to 200 looked likely.

After Kallis’s steady innings was brought to an end by Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori, Gautam Gambhir and Manvinder Bisla added 64 in less than eight overs.

Gambhir struck nine fours in 39 balls, the captain hitting pace bowler Harshal Patel for 15 in an over, including the lone six of his innings.

Bisla struck three sixes and two fours, the

was confident that Abidal would return to the pitch after getting a new liver.

“I am sure he will return. Not having him available to play is not what is important. He is irreplaceable for us. We don’t have a substitute. He gives us an infinite range of possibilities,” Guardiola said.

Eric Abidal But the internationally-renowned head of Spain’s organ transplant service, Rafael Matesanz, has warned that it would be “very difficult” for Abidal to play again after undergoing a transplant.

“It’s clear that everything should go well and that he could play sport at a high level but football is a contact sport and one of the things that you have to avoid after a transplant is trauma and blows in that area,” he told sports daily Marca last month. “He has to take a series of precautions for the rest of his life, including

not getting hit in that area. He will have medical treatment for life and will have to have regular check-ups.”

Abidal made a rapid recovery after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his liver in March 2011 and drew loud cheers as he made a symbolic return on May 3 in the final minutes of Barca’s Champions League semi-final second leg tie with Real Madrid. “The Camp Nou’s ovation in the semi finals of the Champions League was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. He’s a very good person and very much loved by the squad,” Guardiola said last month.

“If people love him so much it’s because he has earned it. I’m sure that that will give him a lot of strength to get through this.” Abidal has been a regular this season for the Catalan side, starting in 20 first division matches. But he has not played since picking up a hip injury playing for France in their friendly win over Germany at the start of March.

His contract had been due to expire at the end of the current season but in January he agreed a new one-year deal with Barcelona which ties him to the club until 2013 with options to extend it by two more years. —AFP

Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 165-8 (Gautam Gambhir 64, Manvinder Bisla 46; Vinay Kumar 2-18, Zaheer Khan 2-31, Muttiah Muralitharan 2-31) def. Royal Challengers Bangalore 123-9 ( Vinay Kumar 25, Lakshmipathy Balaji 4-18, Jacques Kallis 2-7, Shakib Al Hassan 2-21). —AP

International-starved Pakistan eyes Twenty20 league action KARACHI: Deprived of hosting international matches since a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus three years ago, Pakistan hopes a high-profile new Twenty20 league can lure back overseas players.

No international team has played in Pakistan since the March 2009 attack in Lahore, which left eight people dead and several visiting players wounded, and the national team has had to play its “home” matches abroad, mostly in the United Arab Emirates.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still waiting for Bangladesh’s response to an invitation to play a limited-overs series later this month.

If Bangladesh are reluctant to come, it is inevitable that bigger-name teams like Australia, India, England and South Africa will continue to stay away while any doubts linger over players’ safety. Passion for cricket in Pakistan remains undiminished, however, and corporate interest has reignited the PCB’s efforts to start a Pakistan Premier League (PPL), modelled on the megabucks Indian Premier League.

Nine teams are competing in this year’s IPL, the fifth edition of the tournament, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings led

by Indian captain M.S. Dhoni again emerging as one of the sides to beat.

But Pakistani players, who are usually a major draw in India, have been kept out of the tournament since the second edition, reportedly due to security fears.

Four companies, including one from India, are expected to give a presentation to the PCB this week on how to stage the PPL, with a UAEbased bank and two telecoms companies interested in taking up team franchises.

“It’s exciting to have a very good initial

Barca’s Abidal due for liver transplant BARCELONA: Barcelona’s French international defender Eric Abidal was scheduled to undergo a liver transplant late yesterday, a club spokesman said without confirming whether the operation had begun. “I confirm that the operation was scheduled for today but I don’t know whether it has started,” the Barcelona spokesman told AFP. “We have not received any information to the contrary. We are in the hands of the doctors, waiting to see what they will say.”

Barcelona-based sports daily Sport said Abidal entered the operating block of BarnaClinic and the surgery was expected to last between six and eight hours. The 32-year-old defender was to receive a liver donated by his cousin Gerard, the paper reported on its online edition.

Barcelona announced March 15 that he would have a liver transplant “in the coming weeks”, nearly a year after the player had a tumor removed from the same organ.

The club did not give any indication of how long he would be out of action but the operation puts him in doubt for the French team in the June 8-July 1 Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine. Shortly after the club made the announcement, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he

wicketkeeper-batsman using his feet well during his 29-ball innings. He was fooled by a ball that left him from Sri Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan to be stumped as he jumped out of his crease.

Muralitharan, Zaheer Khan and Vinay Kumar took two wickets each as Kolkata slipped from 125-1 in the 14th over. Manoj Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan, Ryan ten Doeschate and Shakib al-Hassan all failing to get into double-figures.

In reply, Bangalore failed to recover from the early wickets by Kallis and Balaji was later well supported by allrounder Rajat Bhatia in the middle of the innings to mount pressure on the batsmen.

Bangalore was 33-5 in the 10th over. A brief resistence by Vettori (20) was brought to an end by Balaji in his final over. Vinay Kumar threw his bat around for 25 off 26 balls but the contribution was too little too late.

response from corporate companies on the PPL,” PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told AFP. “We are looking at the viability of a Twenty20 event involving some foreign players, and it would be great if it comes about,” he said.

A British Universities team played two limitedovers games in Lahore last week-at the Gaddafi Stadium that hosted the fateful Sri Lanka Test in 2009 and Ahmed said the visit should encourage other foreign sides to follow.

“The security situation has improved and is improving. That is why the British Universities team toured Pakistan, and we have stringent security plans for the safety of the foreign players.”

But convincing foreign players to come to a country still battling Islamist militancy will be no easy task-particularly with the IPL on the doorstep offering huge salaries and reliable safety.

Ehsan Mani, a Pakistani who was International Cricket Council (ICC) president from 2003 to 2006, admits there is a lot of work to do and warns it will take time to persuade overseas players it is safe to come to Pakistan.

“The PCB should have a strong security plan and engage the ICC, ask them on what benchmarks of security they will send their officials,” he said.

“They should start a league in which very few overseas players come initially, and confidence should be built gradually.” It is not the first time the PPL idea has been floated. Former PCB chairman Naseem Ashraf wanted to launch a league to rival the IPL, but he had to quit after military ruler Pervez Musharraf was ousted and the idea was dropped. —AFP

Preview

Belhanda not expecting favors from Marseille PARIS: Montpellier playmaker Younes Belhanda says he does not expect beleaguered Marseille to roll over when his title-chasing side visit Stade Velodrome today.

With Marseille in ninth place in Ligue 1 and on a run of 11 games without a win, some of the club’s fans have pledged to support Montpellier, who are bidding to pull clear of OM’s hated rivals Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table.

Victory for Montpellier would put them three points above PSG with seven games to play and their cause is helped by the fact that Marseille will have one eye on Saturday’s League Cup final against Lyon at Stade de France.

Belhanda, though, says he does not expect Marseille coach Didier Deschamps to field a weakened side.

“Not only do I not believe that, but it would be stupid for them to give up on the match,” the Moroccan told Tuesday’s edition of L’Equipe.

“Doing that would be lying to themselves. It would be an insult to football.”

The game was initially pushed back to allow Marseille extra time to prepare for the second leg

of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, in which they succumbed to a 40 aggregate defeat. Marseille will have to do without top scorer Loic Remy and right-back Cesar Azpilicueta, who were both substituted during Sunday ’s 2-1 loss to PSG at Parc des Princes.

Remy is yet to fully recover from a right thigh injury, while Azpilicueta received a heavy knock to his ankle against PSG. “Remy has a problem with his thigh,” Deschamps told reporters yesterday. “We have to make sure he feels free enough. You can see it in his play. He won’t be there.”

Ghanaian midfielder Andre Ayew, meanwhile, may miss out due to an ongoing shoulder problem that could require an operation before the end of the season. “I’m a competitor,” he said. “If the coach needs me, I’ll always be there for the team, as long as I’m able to play.” Montpellier coach Rene Girard is likely to make one change to the team that beat Sochaux 2-1 on Saturday, with Garr y Bocaly expected to replace Cyril Jeunechamp at rightback after serving a suspension. —AFP

19

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

SPORTS

City discovering money no guarantee of success

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo

Real faces Atletico as league lead shrinks BARCELONA: With its lead over Barcelona crumbling, league pacesetter Real Madrid faces a crucial Spanish capital derby at an Atletico Madrid eager to break a run of 22 games without a victory over its crosstown rivals today.

Three draws in its last five games have cut Madrid’s once commanding advantage of 10 points down to four, and Barcelona will have a shot at pulling even closer late yesterday at home against Getafe.

Madrid’s visit to Vicente Calderon stadium is even more important with it set to travel to Barcelona in less than two weeks.

“The gap with Barcelona has been reduced, but now we just have to keep moving forward,” said Madrid captain Iker Casillas.

“The derby will be a special match. After so long without beating us, for them it will also be a vital game.”

“Real Madrid can lose this league because mathematically it isn’t over. Each match is a final.” Atletico hasn’t beaten Madrid since 1999, and Madrid’s dominance has only increased over time with wins in each its last seven meetings.

For Atletico to have a chance it will need to repeat Valencia’s feat on Sunday when it held Madrid’s potent attack in check for a 0-0 draw.

Jose Mourinho’s Madrid has scored a league-high 100 goals so far this season 74 of those coming from the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema - and is on pace to break the all-time league record of 107.

While struggling away, coach Diego Simeone has his Atletico team playing well at home where it has won three in a row.

“We have to respect them because they are leaders and are more than 30 points above us in the standings. This is one of the best Real Madrid sides ever,” said Atletico defender Filipe Luis. “But we will be playing in front of our fans and will try to get the win. “All of us dream about beating Madrid after all these years.” Getafe dealt Barcelona its first loss of the season in November thanks to Juan Valera’s secondhalf goal when the modest side was able to stifle the European champions by adopting a defensive approach.

Barcelona should have an easier time of breaking down Getafe at home where it has not lost since September of 2010.

Despite Madrid’s recent troubles, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says his team’s fierce rivals are still likely winners of the league title.

“It’s almost impossible for us to win this league,” Guardiola said. “Madrid is the favorite. The difference of four points means that Madrid is favorite because if we slip up, the league is theirs.”

Barcelona will be without suspended midfielder Cesc Fabregas, while defenders Gerard Pique and Dani Alves are both doubtful because of injury.

The defending champions will be able to count on prolific scorer Lionel Messi as they seek a tenth straight league win.

Messi is playing perhaps the best football of his already illustrious career. On Saturday, he scored twice to become the first player to score 60 goals in a major European league since Gerd Mueller had 67 for Bayern Munich in 1972-73.

The Argentina forward leads the Spanish league with 38 goals, one more than Madrid’s Ronaldo. Both are vying to break the Portuguese international’s league record of 40 set last season.

“We will pay (Messi) special attention and be on top of him, but that is what all the coaches do and at the end he always scores,” said Getafe coach Luis Garcia.

“There are times he cannot be stopped.

What he is doing is incredible, not just the goals but also everything else he generates.” Third-place Valencia will look to build on its draw at Madrid today as it welcomes the explosive Rayo Vallecano, fresh off a 60 rout of Osasuna over the weekend.

Levante will try to take three points at last-place Sporting Gijon that would keep this season’s surprise team in the thick of the hunt for a top-four finish and a Champions League place. Also Wednesday, Athletic Bilbao visits Granada in search of a second straight win to maintain its fading hopes of a late-season rally to move up the standings. Tomorrow, it’s: Villarreal vs.

Malaga; Racing Santander vs. Mallorca; and Sevilla vs. Zaragoza.—AP

Szczesny says Arsenal gunning for second spot LONDON: Wojciech Szczesny has insisted Arsenal could yet catch Manchester City and finish the season as Premier League runners-up. Arsene Wenger’s side travel to face relegation-threatened Wolves today where they will attempt to build on last weekend’s 1-0 win over City.

That victory, secured by Mikel Arteta’s late goal, effectively ended City’s hopes of winning the English title and moved the Gunners to within 10 points of Roberto Mancini’s side with six games remaining.

The primary target for the north London club is to finish third and gain direct qualification into the Champions League group stage, but Szczesny believes City may now falter, paving the way for Arsenal to clinch second spot with Manchester United all but assured of retaining their Premier League title.

“I believe we will finish third,” said the Arsenal goalkeeper. “Man City have lost their chance of the title-it was a big blow to us last year and they might drop a little bit, so who knows maybe we can catch them as well. “Our aim is to win every game and if we do that we will be in the Champions League next season.” Wenger was frustrated by a mid-season slump that prevented his side from mounting a stronger challenge at the top of the table.

But a run of eight wins in the last nine league games has revived their season, with the unexpected defeat at Queens Park Rangers the only blemish on Arsenal’s recent record. And midfielder Yossi Benayoun believes they must maintain that run to fend off the challenge of fourthplaced Newcastle and Tottenham, two points behind the Gunners and Chelsea, who are four points adrift of Arsenal in sixth place.

“We had to take three points (against City) to open the gap,” said Benayoun. “It will be very close until the end of the season, we have to continue to play like this,” the Israeli added.

“At this time of the season I think every game is a difficult one. Teams will fight for their lives in this league and it is harder to play against them, especially when you play at their ground. “It will be like this against Wolves. But if we are 100 percent committed, then we will win the game.”

Wolves manager Terry Connor insists he has “no regrets” about taking on the posi-

LONDON: Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny reacts after his team made a near miss in this file photo. —AP tion despite garnering a solitary point from his first seven games in charge after his promotion from assistant boss following the sacking of former manager Mick McCarthy. Saturday’s defeat by Stoke made it six successive losses for Wolves after they had drawn in Connor’s opening match in charge at Newcastle.

They are now six points adrift at the foot of the table and relegation to the Championship is starting to look like a formality. But Connor said: “I’m in charge and have been given a job to do till May 13 and will carry that through. “That hasn’t changed one iota for me unless Jez Moxey (the chief executive) or Steve Morgan (the owner) tell me otherwise.

“Wherever we are after that I am sure the club will sit down and take stock and decide where they go from there.

“I have no regrets about taking the job.

It is a tremendous challenge and honour and privilege to be manager of Wolves in the Premier League.

“I am enjoying it-but I just wish we could get a few results for the fans and the club.” Connor must decide whether to recall Roger Johnson and Kevin Doyle after leaving the pair on the bench for Saturday’s defeat at the Britannia Stadium.—AFP

LONDON: With Manchester United closing in on a 20th English championship title, Manchester City is discovering that not even investing more than $1 billion on players can guarantee success over a unified and settled squad.

Man City had been predicted by many to win a first English league title since 1968 after its massive outlay on players. But the Abu Dhabi-owned club has lost a five-point lead to allow defending champion United to surge eight points clear with six rounds left.

“We have brought players in and it takes time for them to settle, coming from abroad or from other clubs, and gelling as a team,” City winger James Milner said. “We have challenged this season and are still fighting until the end. As a team to move forwards, to keep improving, you have to work hard and be together for a number of years.”

United’s advantage could grow further after today, when it plays Wigan and City meets West Bromwich Albion.

A successful title defense for United could even be clinched at City’s Etihad Stadium on April 30, completing a remarkable turnaround for the team after being beaten 6-1 in the October derby.

“It would be huge (winning the title) when you look at the spending power Manchester City have, the injuries we’ve had, the experience we’ve lost - Scholesy (Paul Scholes) for half the season, Edwin van der Sar, John O’Shea, Wes Brown,” United midfielder Ryan Giggs said. “Then the challenge we faced bringing in a new goalkeeper - David de Gea came in for a lot of criticism early on but he’s worked hard and he’s showing terrific form at a key time - and the young talent we’ve blooded in, it would be a massive achievement.”

Giggs has been part of United’s 12 title-winning sides in the previous 19 seasons, while City has only starting becoming a credible challenger since the first injection of funds from Abu Dhabi’s royal family in 2008.

“United are obviously a strong side, but we knew that all season,” Milner said. “For the last 20 years, they have got that knack of winning and know how to close out title races. This is the first year we have been up there as a group ... learning is the biggest thing, of being in these positions.”

City also needs to learn about team unity, with the squad imploding of late after having made an electrifying start to the season.

Carlos Tevez’s feud with the club after refusing to warm up during a Champions League match in September kept him out of the team for six months.

Manager Roberto Mancini has also had to deal with another troublesome striker, Mario Balotelli, whose conduct on and off the pitch has been a constant distraction.

Mancini said the gifted-butflawed Italian is likely to be sold in the offseason after he was sent off in Sunday’s loss at Arsenal.

The red card came after a second lunge on Bacary Sagna and, when considered with previous indiscretions, could lead to Balotelli being banned for nine matches by the English Football Association. But the aggravation caused by Balotelli and Tevez is not the only reason for City’s collapse.

“We have played well for the majority of the season but have come unstuck for whatever reason over the past few weeks, most of the time away from home,” Milner said. “We have been very strong at home, but away have not got the results we

LONDON: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini makes a point to his team in this file photo. —AP want. It is about having that ruthlessness on the road which we can learn from.”

After beating City 1-0 on Sunday, Arsenal can strengthen its grip on third place with a victory at bottom-place Wolverhampton Wanderers today.

The Gunners have a two-point advantage and a game in hand over Tottenham and Newcastle.

“We play for the battle for third place, which gives us direct quali-

fication for the Champions League,” Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen said. “That is very important for the club and is our main target at the moment.

“In some games we have shown a lot of quality and we can compete with everybody.

You have to be consistent in the league and sometimes that’s not been the case for us, but we will try to do that better next year.”—AP

Bayern, Dortmund clash to decide German title BERLIN: Bayern Munich are hunting their first win over Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund for two years today in the eagerly-anticipated clash which could decide the German league title race. With five league games left this season, second-placed Bayern are three points behind leaders Dortmund and the winner at Borussia’s sold-out Signal Iduna Park stadium will be in pole position to claim the league title.

“We can’t afford to lose,” admitted Bayern chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge. “It will probably be decisive in the title race.

“It would still be all to play for should we draw, and if we win, we’d take pole position from Dortmund.”

‘Clash of the Titans’, ‘Game of Games’ and ‘Festival of Football’ are just some of the catchphrases used to describe the showdown in the media here.

Victory for Dortmund will leave them six points clear of the Bavarians, but a win for Bayern will put them top of the league for the first time since the start of February, when Dortmund replaced them. Bayern’s Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger, who played in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Augsburg, is again set to start having proved his fitness after damaging ankle ligaments in February.

“I just want to win the game no matter how dirty or how richly deserved,” he said. Dortmund’s teenage star Mario Goetze could well play a role, but it remains to be seen how much coach Juergen Klopp is prepared to use the young star, who

has struggled with a groin problem for the last 10 weeks.

When the teams last met in November in Munich, Goetze’s second-half winner gave his side a 1-0 victory, while Dortmund won both league matches against Bayern home and away last season. The last time Bayern beat Dortmund was back in February 2010 when the hosts claimed a 31 win at Munich’s Allianz Arena, but their midfielder Toni Kroos said the present is all that matters. “All that counts is that we’re in superb shape and we’ve won a lot of matches in a row,” insisted the 22-year-old. “We travel to Dortmund in good form.

“Obviously, we’re wary and we know how good they are, but we’re still just a little bit better in terms of footballing quality. “It’ll be very tense and we know we absolutely can’t afford to lose.

“You sense that everyone in the team knows the importance of this match.” Dortmund are in fine form with ten wins and two draws since Christmas and the title is theirs to lose.

“On Wednesday, it’s going to be a clash of footballing cultures,” said Klopp. “Bayern’s ‘Mia san Mia’ meets our ‘We are football’, it’s going to be exciting. “We are going to put on a show for the 80,000.” With a Champions League semi-final first-leg at home to Real Madrid to come next Tuesday and nine straight victories behind them, the men from Munich are brimming with confidence.

Dortmund president Dr Reinhard Rauball has described today’s clash as the ‘game-of-

games’, while his Bayern counterpart Uli Hoeness has dubbed it the ‘moment of truth’.

“We have a great deal of optimism, but also the necessary respect,” said the Bavarian club’s director of sport Christian Nerlinger. Neither coach is prepared to admit the title race will be decided by today’s result.

“We’ll only know who to call champions after the last day. Even after today, a whole lot can still happen,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.

Dortmund are chasing a second consecutive league title, while the teams will meet again in the German Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on May 12.—AP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

English Premier League Wolves v Arsenal Abu Dhabi Sports HD Wigan v Man United Abu Dhabi Sports HD Man City v West Brom Abu Dhabi Sports HD QPR v Swansea Abu Dhabi Sports HD

21:45 21:45 21:45 22:00

Spanish League Atletico v Real Madrid Aljazeera Sport +2 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD

23:00

GERMANY: Bayern’s Mario Gomez (right) celebrates with teammates in this file photo. —AP

City discovering money no guarantee of success

Balaji stars as Knight Riders win

19

18

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

Bahrain adviser says F1 security plans in place

Page 16

SPAIN: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi from Argentina scores against Getafe during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium.—AP

Barcelona pile pressure on Real MADRID: Defending champions Barcelona upped the pressure on leaders Real Madrid yesterday as they moved to within a point of their bitter rivals after a 40 thumping of Getafe.

Two goals from Alexis Sanchez, one from Pedro Rodriguez and Lionel Messi’s 39th in the league this season gave Barca a 10th consecutive league victory after another near perfect performance by the Catalans. Real can restore their four point advantage if they beat Atletico Madrid today - they have not lost to their city rivals since 1999 .

The clash between Barca and Madrid on April 21st in the Camp Nou has become increasingly important as the Catalans have reduced the gap on Madrid from 10 points to only one in less than a month. Barcelona dominated Getafe throughout, controlling possession with their usual passing game and goalkeeper Victor Valdes summed up the situation on the final whistle.

“Our work is done here, let’s wait and see what

Madrid do tomorrow night in their game,” he said.

Andres Iniesta had the game’s first chance when his shot was tipped over by Miguel Angel Moya in the Getafe goal on 12 minutes.

A minute later and Barca were ahead. Iniesta started the move on the left for Messi to chest the ball into the path of the Chilean Sanchez who made no mistake from 20 yards out.

On 17 minutes the lead was almost doubled when Xavi Hernandez had appeared to finish perfectly a neat passing move only for Argentinian centre-half Cata Diaz to scoop the ball clear on the goalline. Barca continued to dominate but did not add to their lead until just before half-time when Iniesta supplied Messi with a delightful back flick for the Argentinian to finish with a powerful shot.

On 72 minutes Alexis doubled his tally heading home an inch perfect right-wing cross from youngster Isaac Cuenca.

Two minutes later and it was another header from

Pedro who rounded off the scoring when he was quickest to meet a right-wing free-kick from Messi.

Barca turned on the style for the final minutes and Messi almost scored again from an impossible angle with two minutes remaining after a twisting run had taken him past 3 defenders.

Earlier yesterday Raul Garcia scored two secondhalf goals to help Osasuna beat Espanyol 2-0 in a battle between two teams competing for places in next season’s Europa League.

For Osasuna the result was the perfect recovery from last weekend’s 6-0 reversal at Rayo Vallecano, however they were helped by a card happy referee who booked players from start to finish.

Espanyol ended the game with nine men when Philippe Courtois and Juan Forlin were sent off in the second half for two bookable offences each.

Osasuna stay sixth on 46 points while Espanyol, who have not won in five matches, remain four points behind in ninth position.

Spanish League results/standings Barcelona 4 (Sanchez“13,”“73,”Messi 44“, Pe”dro75)“Getafe 0; Real Sociedad 1 (Vela 55) Real Betis 1 (Ruben Castro 69); Osasuna 2 (Raul Garcia 53, 69) Espanyol 0.

Spanish league table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Real Madrid Barcelona Malaga Valencia Levante Osasuna Atletico Sevilla Espanyol Getafe

EPL result/standings Blackburn 2 (Yakubu 36, 61-pen) Liverpool 3 (Maxi Rodriguez 13, 16, Carroll 90) English Premier League table after yesterday’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Liverpool 3

BLACKBURN: Andy Carroll struck a dramatic injury-time winner as 10-man Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 at Ewood Park in a rollercoaster Premier League clash here yesterday.

Liverpool looked to be cruising to victory after goals from Maxi Rodriguez fired them into a 2-0 lead early on.

But a red card for goalkeeper Alexander Doni-himself filling in for the suspended Pepe Reina-changed the complexion of the game and thrust third-choice goalkeeper Brad Jones into the limelight.

Jones promptly announced his entrance by saving Ayegbeni Yakubu’s spot-kick but Rovers hauled themselves back into the contest and eventually drew level.

Yakubu made amends for his penalty miss to head home for 2-1 and then levelled from the penalty spot in the second half to make it 2-2 and give Rovers hope of pulling clear of the relegation zone.

However Carroll was to have the final word with his header a minute into stoppage time to give Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, another Ewood Park occasion to put in his memory bank.

It will always be a special ground for Dalglish after winning the Championship while in charge of Blackburn in 1995. And it became extra-special within 16 minutes as Liverpool’s lightning start eased the pressure on Dalglish.

Only 13 minutes had gone when Blackburn went behind, with much of the credit going to Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel who speared a splendid 80-yard pass into the feet of Craig Bellamy.

The winger charged forward before delivering a perfectly-judged cross that Rodriguez turned in from close-

LONDON: Liverpool’s Slovak defender Martin Skrtel (top) heads clear from Blackburn Rovers’ French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi during the English Premier League football match. —AFP range. Three minutes later, Liverpool stretched their lead and Rodriguez was again the scorer after impressive work from Jonjo Shelvey. The midfielder won the ball in midfield and surged forward to force a save from Rovers’ keeper Paul Robinson. Carroll’s shot from the rebound was blocked, but Rodriguez was more clinical when the ball dropped to his feet and he swept it in.

Liverpool’s stunning start came despite a muchchanged side with Dalglish clearly eyeing this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Everton. Another regular missing was Pepe Reina, serving the second game of his three match suspension to give a rare opportunity to Brazilian Doni. Reina’s red card at Newcastle had presented Doni

Man Utd Man City Arsenal Tottenham Newcastle Chelsea Everton Liverpool Fulham Norwich Sunderland Stoke West Brom Swansea Aston Villa Bolton QPR Blackburn Wigan W’hampton

32 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 32 32 32 32 32 33 32 32

25 22 19 17 17 16 13 12 11 11 11 11 11 10 7 9 7 7 6 5

4 5 4 8 8 9 8 10 10 10 9 9 6 9 14 2 7 7 10 7

3 5 9 8 8 8 12 11 12 12 13 13 15 13 11 21 18 19 16 20

78 75 63 57 50 56 38 40 43 46 42 32 39 35 35 36 35 45 30 34

27 26 41 38 42 38 34 36 43 52 41 45 43 41 44 65 56 70 57 70

25 4 2 100 27 79 24 6 2 94 23 78 15 5 11 47 43 50 13 10 8 46 37 49 14 6 11 44 41 48 11 13 8 37 52 46 11 9 11 42 37 42 11 9 11 36 33 42 11 9 12 39 43 42 11 9 12 33 43 42

Bilbao Rayo Betis Sociedad Mallorca Granada Villarreal Zaragoza Racing Gijon

Real Betis and Real Sociedad shared a 1-1 draw to help both teams edge closer to survival. Carlos Vela put Sociedad ahead just after half-time before Ruben

10-man Reds sink Rovers Blackburn 2

31 32 31 31 31 32 31 31 32 32

79 71 61 59 59 57 47 46 43 43 42 42 39 39 35 29 28 28 28 22

with the chance to play in Saturday’s semi-final - but his Wembley dream was shattered after just 25 minutes after he brought down Junior Hoilett.

Third-choice keeper Jones replaced Jon Flanagan, the full-back whose mishit back-pass had left Hoilett racing clear. And Jones, now heading to the Wembley showpiece tie, made an instant impact when he saved the unconvincing penalty from Yakubu. Jones was beaten, though, in the 36th minute when a fine free-kick from David Dunn gave Yakubu the chance to head inside the post rom eight yards. Dalglish’s outnumbered team were pinned back for long periods during the rest of the match. — AFP

31 31 32 32 31 31 31 31 31 31

10 12 11 10 9 10 7 7 4 6

11 4 6 8 10 5 11 7 13 7

10 15 15 14 12 16 13 17 14 18

45 48 39 39 32 28 31 28 23 29

42 53 45 48 40 46 45 56 48 58

41 40 39 38 37 35 32 28 25 25

Castro equalised on 69 minutes for Betis. Earlier Imanol Agirretxe had a first-half penalty saved by Fabricio Agosto in the Betis goal. — AFP

Milan edge Chievo to regain top spot ROME: AC Milan went back to the top of Serie A, for 24 hours at least, with a hard fought 1-0 victor y at Chievo in rainy Verona yesterday.

Milan bounced straight back from Saturday ’s 2-1 defeat at home to Fiorentina despite being ravaged by injury and suspensions-they had 14 players missing.

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari scored the only goal of the game early on as M ilan moved two points clear of Juventus. The Old Lady of Turin can retake the lead if they beat Lazio today.

It was a far from vintage Milan performance as Chievo bossed the game but showing the true form of champions they managed to nick the three points despite not playing well.

Such were their problems that coach Massimiliano Allegri gave teenage fullback Mattia De Sciglio a first ever league start, although he previously played in the Champions League.

And veteran midfielder Gennaroi Gattuso was draughted back in for a first start since September. Under pressure after picking up a single point from their previous two games and being overhauled by Juve, Milan needed a bt of luck and things immediately started to look rosy.

Muntari set his sights from more than 25 yards out and although he hit his strike truly, goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino seemed slow in diving to his right and the ball nestled into the bottom corner on eight minutes.

That apart it was almost all Chievo in the first half but Milan still led at the break. Former Milan for ward Alber to Paloschi had the ball in the net after he was slipped in by Nicolas Frey but that effort was ruled out for a dubious-looking offside.

The young for ward then played in Frenchman Cyril Thereau but goalkeeper Christian Abbiati tipped his low effort around the post.

Milan were playing exclusively on the break and one long punt forward caught the hosts’ defence napping, sending Antonio Nocerino scampering clear only for the midfielder’s awful first touch to carry straight through to Sorrentino.

Frey crossed to the back post but Sergio Pellissier headed wide. Up the other end, Brazilian Robinho’s step over sent two defenders the wrong way but his near post shot was shovelled behind.

On the stroke of half-time Pellissier teed up Luca Rigoni but he failed to hit the target from 15 yards. Chievo continued to dominate against a weakened M ilan team in the second half and Pellissier had two glorious chances to score but the first he volleyed straight at Abbiati and the second was deflected over.M ilan had their hear ts in their mouths when Thereau’s back flick clearly hit Alessandro Nesta’s hand in the box but the Frenchman was flagged for offside.

Francesco Acerbi had the ball in the Milan net with the last kick of the game but that too was chalked off for offside, this time a clear one.—AFP

Flow of Iran oil to Asia slows as sanctions bite Page 22

Kuwait employment grows 6% in 2011 Page 23

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

Bank stocks help KSE rebound from loss Page 24

Cameron on Japan, S Asia tour to boost business Page 25

MADRID: A broker sits in the stock exchange in Madrid yesterday. Worries about Spain’s finances intensified yesterday when the country’s bond yields on international markets rose despite expectations of a new round of austerity measures. — AP

French economy grinds to a halt US, Japan economies pick up, euro-zone lags: OECD PARIS: France’s economy posted no growth in the first quarter and there are no signs of a strong recovery in activity in the coming months, according to a Bank of France survey yesterday.

In its monthly report, the Bank of France indicated that the euro-zone’s second largest economy avoided a recession, after it grew by 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter. However, it said that activity was likely to remain stable in the coming months, a pic yesterday from the INSEE national statistics office.

The Bank of France said that its business sentiment indicator for industr y was unchanged in March at 95, a 3-month low it reached in February. It noted that industrial activity improved, with rises in pharmaceuticals and chemicals, transport equipment and hi-tech goods. “Forecasts suggest that activity will remain stable in the short term,” the bank said.

Economists said that with fiscal tightening across Europe weighing on external demand for French goods and with rising domestic unemployment likely to peak

next year above 10 percent, it was no surprise the growth outlook was weak.

The US and Japanese economies are showing strong signs of recovery, and the euro-zone is also picking up speed but lags behind, the OECD said yesterday.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said that its composite indicator of leading indicators pointed to a “potential turning point in economic activity in the euro area and regained momentum in other major economies.”

The individual indicators for Japan and the United States “continue to show strong signs of regained momentum in economic activity,” the OECD said. The signs from the euro-zone point to “a potential turning point but with diverging assessments for the four major European economies,” it said.

“The figures are a little bit disappointing,” said Michel Martinez, economist at Societe Generale in Paris, who forecasts modest 0.5 percent growth in France for the year as a whole.

OECD says Mideast state firms wield huge clout PARIS: State-owned companies wield huge influence in Middle East and North African economies but many are subject to undue political influence and conflicts of interest, the OECD said yesterday.

It said that “improved corporate governance is key to reducing corruption and restoring confidence in public institutions in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.” The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development urged a shake-up of the way such companies are run while also commenting that “privatization is not the only answer to reforming state-owned firms.”

Reforms would bring about “greater public accountability and improve their efficiency,” the OECD said in a report entitled “Towards New Arrangements for State Ownership in the Middle East and North Africa.” The report said state-owned enterprises accounted for up to half of economic output in some of these countries and provided nearly 30 percent of all employment, compared with two to three percent in the advanced countries belonging to the OECD. The organization, an influential research and advisory body for rich countries, said that reforms should be focused in several areas. It noted in particular that in many countries, ministries were directly responsible for commercial activities by such companies, and that the functions of ownership and regulation were often in the same hands. This could result in “significant conflicts of interest,” the OECD said. Some state-owned companies were not subject to laws covering companies but came under special legal arrangements “which effectively politicize their governance and exempt them from competition and bankruptcy frameworks.” For governments in these countries it was essential to tighten up governance of such enterprises to increase transparency and accountability, for example separating regulation form ownership and increasing competitive pressures, the report recommended. —AFP

“They are in line with the cyclical picture of the French economy which stalled in the fourth- and the first-quarter and where the recovery will be weak,” he said.

“You cannot have a tough fiscal adjustment over two years and expect strong growth at the same time.”

President Nicolas Sarkozy, who trails his Socialist rival in polls ahead of next month’s crucial presidential runoff, has made cutting France’s deficit a top priority.

His government cut the deficit to 5.2 percent of GDP last year, below its target of 5.7 percent, and has pledged to balance the budget by 2016. The Bank of France said industrial capacity utilization was unchanged in March and remained below its long-term average. Order books were close to normal levels while inventories were slightly above target.

For the services sector, meanwhile, the business sentiment level was also unchanged at 93, while the Bank of France said activity here had grown at a faster pace on the back of transport and engineering.

In a separate survey, INSEE said that manufacturing output fell by 1.2 percent in February after slipping a revised 0.1 percent in January. For industry as a whole, output increased by 0.3 percent, in line with economists’ forecasts, helped by a rise in gas and electricity consumption amid a cold snap.

Industrial output rose a revised 0.2 percent in month-on-month in January, in line with the euro zone average. “Industrial production has been on a downward slope since mid-2011,” wrote Fabrice Montagne, an economist at Barclays Capital.

“We will need to see stronger signs in terms of business sentiment, demand and competitiveness before we can expect a clear upswing in the French industrial sector,” he said.

Economists said that the data confirmed the picture of an economy in the doldrums.

“Today’s industrial production data support our forecast for flattish GDP in the first quarter,” wrote Tullia Bucco, an economist at Unicredit in Milan. — Agencies

China’s ZTE planned US computer sale to Iran BEIJING: China’s ZTE Corp, which recently sold Iran’s largest telecommunications firm a powerful surveillance system, later agreed to ship to Iran millions of dollars worth of embargoed US computer equipment, documents show.

The American components were part of an 8 million euro ($10.5 million) equipment-supply contract, dated June 30, 2011, between ZTE, a Chinese trading firm and a unit of the consortium that controls the Iranian telecom, Telecommunication Co. of Iran, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. ZTE is China’s second-largest telecommunications equipment maker. The documents shed further light on how Iran obtains sophisticated American tech products despite US sanctions on Iran. China is a major conduit. Reuters in March revealed an earlier deal between ZTE and TCI, which centered on nonAmerican surveillance equipment but also included some US tech goods.

The latest deal, though smaller in scale, was much more reliant on US products.

Beijing and Moscow have vetoed Western attempts to strengthen sanctions against Iran over its nucleardevelopment program. ZTE, based in the city of Shenzhen, is publicly traded but its largest shareholder is a Chinese state-owned enterprise.

According to the contract’s parts list, the equipment to be delivered from China included IBM servers; switches made by Cisco Systems Inc and Brocade Communications Systems Inc; database software from Oracle Corp and a unit of EMC Corp; Symantec back-up and ant-virus software; and a Juniper Networks firewall.

The parts were intended for businesssupport services, including a ZTE billing system.

A spokesman for ZTE said last week in an email that “as far as we know” the company had not yet shipped any of the products. Asked if ZTE intended to do so, he emailed a new statement Monday that said: “We have no intention to implement this contract or ship the products.”

He also said ZTE decided “to abandon” the agreement after “we realized that the contract involved some US embargoed products.” The contract had made clear the American provenance of the goods: Its accompanying parts list, signed by ZTE, lists more than 20 different computer products from US companies. Washington has banned the sale of such goods to Iran for years.

US companies that responded to requests for comment said they were not aware of the Iranian contract; several said they were investigating the matter. A spokesman for IBM said:

“Our agreements with ZTE specifically prohibit ZTE from the transfer of IBM products to Iran. If any of IBM’s business partners are breaching our export compliance agreements, then IBM will take appropriate actions.”

A Brocade spokesman said the company doesn’t sell any products to Iran “and we certainly have not shipped these products to” ZTE. A spokesman for Greenplum, the EMC unit, said: “We have no knowledge of the contract described, but are actively researching this matter.” A Cisco spokesman said: “We continue to investigate this matter, as any violation of US export controls is a very serious matter.” According to the US Treasury Dept., a US company would violate sanctions if it shipped products requiring an export license to a third party knowing the goods would end up in Iran.

The United States, Europe and the United Nations have been imposing increasingly tough economic sanctions on Iran to pressure it to refrain from developing nuclear weapons, which Iran denies it is doing. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, China, Russia, Britain and France - plus Germany are scheduled to hold talks with Iran Saturday in Istanbul over its nuclear program, which it maintains is peaceful. — Reuters

Tehran cuts oil supply to Spain TEHRAN: Iran has cut oil exports to Spain, Iranian media outlets Al-Alam and Press TV said yesterday, quoting unidentified sources. “Oil exports to Spain have been cut,” the Arab-language Al-Alam network said on its website. If confirmed, the halt of crude to Spain would expand Iran’s pre-emptive stoppage of crude sales to the European Union, which is implementing an oil embargo on Iran due to come fully into effect on July 1.

In February, Tehran announced it was stopping all oil exports to Britain and France in a largely symbolic gesture because those countries imported little Iranian crude anyway. Spain, though, relied on Iran for some 12 percent of its crude imports last year, or around 160,000 barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency. Al-Alam reported that Iran was also mulling stopping crude exports to Germany and Italy.

Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said earlier yesterday that his country was also no longer supplying any oil to Greece, according to his ministry’s website. The reports of the cut in oil exports came ahead of talks Iran is to hold on Saturday in Istanbul with world powers over its disputed nuclear program.

The European Union and the United States have been upping sanctions on Iran this year to punish it for activities they fear masks a drive towards nuclear weapons capability-something Tehran denies it is seeking. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday defiantly said Iran was able to survive up to three years without selling any of its oil, which last year brought in $100 billion.

“We have enough foreign currency so that, even if one barrel of oil is not sold for two or even three years, the country will be managed well and the enemies will not see their wishes (come true),” he said in a televised speech.

He also said that “whoever wants to violate the rights of the Iranian nation will be dealt a blow to the mouth so bad they will forget the path to their homes,” implying that Iran was taking a hardline position in the Istanbul talks. Qasemi, saying that Iran was no longer supplying any oil to Greece, insisted that “Iran is not having any problem selling its oil and oil products” in other markets. Greece was heavily dependent on Iranian oil, buying 100,000 barrels per day on favorable credit conditions its cash-strapped economy was finding difficult to obtain elsewhere.

The United States announced last month it was exempting 10 EU countries-including Spain and Greece-and Japan from its own sanctions punishing countries that did not significantly reduce Iranian oil imports. Last week, an official in Greece’s energy ministry confirmed that Greece was seeking “alternative sources” for oil because of the EU embargo. Additional quantities were being sought from Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Libya, the official said. Iran is the second-biggest producer in OPEC, pumping some 3.5 million barrels a day, 2.5 million of which are sold as exports. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

BUSINESS

Dubai’s Shuaa names Colin Macdonald as new CEO DUBAI: Shuaa Capital, the struggling Dubai-based investment bank, yesterday named a former ABN Amro banker as its new chief executive, replacing Michael Philipp who stepped down after just six months in the job.

Shuaa said Colin MacDonald, who was previously ABN’s group managing director and regional head for the Middle East, will over a bank struggling to find its feet after the global

financial downturn hit its core business. MacDonald left the Dutch lender in 2010 and has been working as an independent financial advisor since then. Shuaa also said in a statement that Sheik h Maktoum Hasher AlMaktoum, a member of the ruling royal family, will assume the position of executive chairman with immediate effect.

Sources had told Reuters earlier

that Philipp, a former Credit Suisse banker who was named CEO in October, had resigned. Phillip’s departure comes as the latest blow to Shuaa, whose stock price has fallen by more than 90 percent since 2008.

One of the Arab world’s largest investment banks and once a symbol of the sector’s potential in the region, Shuaa was hit by the 2008 global financial downturn, with asset impair-

ments erasing profits.

The company repor ted a wider 2011 net loss of 293.8 million dirhams ($80 million)for 2011, compared with a net loss of 223.7 million dirhams a year earlier as it booked provisions and one-off charges.

The Dubai-listed company shares closed down 2.8 percent yesterday.

The stock is up 43.6 percent since the beginning of 2012 after hitting bot-

tom and losing more than 56 percent of its value in 2011. Shuaa, which helped float ports operator DP World several years ago, fired close to 60 employees by the end of December, and is in the process of cutting more jobs. The majority of the redundancies related to the retail brokerage business, which Shuaa exited after slumping trade volumes in the United Arab Emirates. — Reuters

Flow of Iran oil to Asia slows as sanctions bite Insurers more reluctant to cover tankers TOKYO/HONG KONG: Japanese trading houses will cut Iranian crude imports from April, industry sources said yesterday, in the latest sign that Western sanctions are curbing the flow of Tehran’s oil to its biggest customers in Asia.

Insurers are showing growing reluctance to cover tankers carrying Iranian oil and a senior official at a unit of Chinese refiner Sinopec Corp said it was increasingly wary of crude from Iran due to the supply threat posed by sanctions.

The United States and European Union have tightened sanctions on Iran’s oil trade as they seek to reduce the flow of petrodollars and force Tehran to halt a nuclear program the West suspects is intended to produce weapons.

“Iranian crude currently is a rather sensitive subject,” Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemicals Chief Financial Officer Ye Guohua told reporters at an earnings briefing. “This year we will continue to be cautious about Iranian crude imports.”

China, India, Japan and South Korea are the four biggest buyers of Iranian crude in Asia, and all of them have cut imports. The sanctions are making it hard for refiners who want to continue importing to find shippers, insurers to underwrite trade and banks to clear payments.

Industry sources in Japan said that trading houses and refiners there would reduce Iranian

crude imports by about 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) in April. The reduction is the equivalent to about 18.5 percent of the 322,900 bpd that Japan imported in the first two months of the year, according to the latest government data available.

The cuts come even after the United States in March exempted Japan and 10 EU nations from sanctions due to take effect in July because they have significantly cut purchases of Iranian oil.

Soon after receiving the exemption, Finance Minister Jun Azumi said Japan would continue to cut imports of Iranian oil. Washington has pointed to the world’s third-largest importer, Japan, a s an example for other Iranian crude buyers as the country reduced purchases even though it needed more oil to help meet rising demand after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in March 2011.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, arriving in Tokyo yesterday, said he would tell his hosts it was important to keep up the pressure on Tehran. “We know that the Japanese have particular needs and a particular reliance on imported oil,” he told reporters. “Obviously I will be saying how important it is that we maximize the pressure on Iran... The stronger the oil embargo can be, the better.”

Lebanon delays gas tenders, sets up administrator BEIRUT: Lebanon is delaying tenders for offshore exploratory drilling as it sets up an oil and gas oversight committee, but seismic tests suggest increasingly large potential gas reserves, Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil said. Interest in drilling in the eastern Mediterranean has grown since two natural gas fields were discovered off the coast of Israel, Lebanon’s southern neighbor. Estimates value those reserves at tens of billions of dollars.

Lebanon had aimed to launch tenders for exploration drilling by the end of March, but oil industry sources recently said the licensing round was expected around mid-year.

Bassil told Reuters in a telephone interview that delays in establishing an administrative state oil body were holding up the plans but did not set a new target date for the licensing round.

“Before we form the committee, we can’t talk about tenders,” he said.

Twenty-seven companies have bought seismic surveys of the coastal waters, and several have expressed interest in drilling including British oil explorer Cairn Energy and London-listed Genel, he said.

Cairn’s local partner is CC Energy Development SAI, an associated company of CCC, a Lebanese private company. Cove Energy, currently subject to a bid battle between Royal Dutch Shell

and Thailand’s PTT, has also said it is mulling entering the licensing round with Cairn and CCC. Analysis of three-dimensional seismic data is continuing and has showed increasingly encouraging prospects, Bassil said. “We can’t talk today about expected (quantities of gas), but every time (we review the data) it gets better,” he said. “Between the 2-D and the 3-D surveys we confirmed additional quantities three to five times higher in the survey areas.”

“There is a high possibility of very promising commercial quantities of gas,” he said.

Any sizeable gas discovery and production could help Lebanon tackle chronic power shortages, which result in daily power cuts across the country of between three to 10 hours.

Bassil plans to lease two electricity generating boats, possibly from Turkey, to meet some of the shortfall, while the government addresses plans to build new power plants or expand existing ones.

Lebanon remains in dispute with Israel over an 850-square-km stretch of sea off their coast, but Bassil has dismissed concerns over possible delays to drilling because of the disagreement.

The disputed region lies near to a region where US and Israeli firms discovered the two massive natural gas fields. — Reuters

On Monday, a senior industry official told Reuters that Hong Kong maritime insurers would not provide full cover to tankers carrying Iranian oil after EU sanctions take effect from July, another blow to Chinese importers struggling to find ways around the measures.

China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, is Iran’s largest trading partner and biggest oil client that buys up 20 percent of the Islamic Republic’s total crude exports. Iran is China’s No.3 supplier after Saudi Arabia and Angola.

Arthur Bowring, managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, said that as more insurers confirm they will soon halt or sharply reduce coverage to tankers operating in Iran, China’s government may need to step in and take the risk to get contracted crude supplies from Tehran.

The EU sanctions on Tehran will close off the European re-insurance market for all tankers carr ying Iranian oil anywhere in the world.

Reinsurance helps spread the risk when the coverage surpasses what commercial insurers can handle. Japan and South Korea have lobbied for exemptions to the EU sanctions, but insurance and shipping executives say a complete ban looks likely. — Reuters

Jordan to import more fuel oil SINGAPORE/DUBAI: Jordan Petroleum Refinery Co, the country’s sole refinery, is importing more fuel oil and gasoil for power generation, as continued attacks on a pipeline running through Egypt, Israel and Jordan disrupt natural gas supply, industry sources said yesterday.

The refiner is expected to buy all 210,000 tons of fuel oil it sought via tender in mid-March from various sellers, though details will only be available after the tender is awarded today, a source familiar with the matter said. In addition to fuel oil, the refiner is also seeking 500,000 tons of gasoil, with the tender closing at the end of April.

The increased demand for fuel oil that meets Jordan’s power utility specifications has prompted at least one seller to pull volumes from East Asia, a rare move as fuel oil normally flows from the Middle East to the East. Sahara Energy International has arranged a ship to move 80,000 tons of fuel oil from Singapore to Aqaba around April 16, a shipping report showed. “Their specifications, which require very low metal content, make it difficult to source for supplies,” a trader said.

Jordan’s monthly fuel oil import requirement before the pipeline explosions had been just the occasional 40,000 tons to meet its summer power generation demand, the same trader added. The country also normally exports high-sulfur fuel oil from its Aqaba port, but the volumes actually originate from Iraq, traders said. “Jordan does not export its own fuel oil, they lease out tankage to Iraqi exporters instead. But Iraqi fuel oil does not meet the power utilities’ specifications, that’s why they get exported,” another trader said.

An explosion hit the Egyptian pipeline carrying gas to Israel and Jordan on Monday for the 14th time since the uprising against President Hosni Mubarak began last year.

The installation is run by Gasco, a subsidiary of Egypt’s national gas company EGAS, and has been shut since Feb. 5 after an explosion. — Reuters

An Afghan boy walks with his cow at sunset in Mazar-I Sharif, capital of the Balkh province yesterday. Agriculture has traditionally driven the Central Asian nation’s economy, with wheat and cereal production being mainstays and quality fruits, especially pomegranates, apricots, grapes, melons, and mulberries being exported to many countries. — AFP

Investment surge seen for ‘gold mine’ Myanmar: ADB BANGKOK: Myanmar’s hermit economy could boom on an anticipated influx of foreign investment in a “gold mine” of opportunities once sanctions are lifted, the Asian Development Bank’s country manager for Myanmar said yesterday.

Growth is expected to be 6 percent this fiscal year and 6.3 percent for 2013-2014, but that is likely to be surpassed if Western sanctions are undone and investment pours in to one of Asia’s last remaining frontier markets, much through public private partnerships (PPP), said Craig Steffensen, the ADB’s country manager for Myanmar and Thailand. “Myanmar is a gold mine, any way you look at it - natural resources, gas and oil deposits, spatial dimensions, location between China, India, Southeast Asia. It’s a huge market waiting to happen and growth will come from everywhere, not one specific sector,” he told Reuters in an interview.

“The boom that’s about to begin has brought people from four corners of the globe. There’s tremendous potential ... there’s no flight to, or hotel in Myanmar that isn’t booked by businesspeople looking at opportunities there to get involved in tourism, banking, telecommunications and construction.” That interest in the longisolated country picked up after its year-old quasi-civilian government embarked on an astonishing wave of reforms unimaginable under the five-decade rule of the military, which plundered and mishandled an economy squeezed by Western sanctions imposed for human rights abuses. The embargoes, some of which could be lifted in coming weeks, were holding the ADB back from providing proper assistance to the government, which, though inexperienced, was committed to transparency and liberalization, Steffensen said.

The ADB’s provisional assessment of the size of Myanmar’s economy was about $40 billion, an eighth of neighboring Thailand’s, which has a similar population.

The ADB and IMF have been visiting

Myanmar since October to compile assessments and advise the government and central bank on economic strategy, but Steffensen said full engagement - such as full-time technical support and loans could not take place until sanctions were lifted and Myanmar’s outstanding arrears of $500 million were cleared.

“It’s not what we’re doing, but what we’re not doing. Until sanctions are lifted, it makes it difficult to do anything in Myanmar, but there’s a very capable team (of Myanmar economists) running things there,” Steffensen said.

“We’re impressed by the fact this is a reform-minded administration in the economic sphere. They’ve set off on a very ambitious agenda, they’ve turned to the IFIs (international financial institutions) for assistance in laying out the agenda, privatising, sequencing measures to ensure stability is maintained and the ability to help growth.” The ADB set up a joint office with the World Bank in the commercial capital, Yangon, on Thursday, he said, adding a full mission would be opened in the administrative capital, Naypyitaw, when sanctions were lifted.

Last week’s managed float of the kyat currency was a sign of the government’s commitment, he added. The kyat was pegged at 6.4 per dollar for the previous 35 years but has traded at black market rates about 130 times higher.

It has hovered around 818/dollar since the float started on April 2. “Auctions have been transparent so our hat goes off to the central bank, they seem to be doing very well so far,” he said.

But despite the potential, there are big tests ahead and the government should prioritise development and proper handling of the economy and the influx of foreign capital over big growth. “I wouldn’t be surprised if our projections in 2013 are surpassed,” Steffensen said. “The trick is not generating growth, but managing that growth responsibly.” — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4380000 .3610000 .3000000 .2760000 .2840000 .0040000 .0020000 .0753770 .7343730 .3830000 .0720000 .7199210 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2776500 GB Pound/KD .4402970 Euro .3630270 Swiss francs .3020890 Canadian dollars .2781230 Danish Kroner .0487940 Swedish Kroner .0409610 Australian dlr .2855770 Hong Kong dlr .0357550 Singapore dlr .2201470 Japanese yen .0034220 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0756230 Bahraini dinars .7367650 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0740600 Omani riyals .7214500 Philippine Peso .0000000

.2810000 .4490000 .3690000 .3100000 .2840000 .2940000 .0070000 .0035000 .0761340 .7417540 .4000000 .0770000 .7271560 .0072000 .0500000 .2797500 .4436280 .3657730 .3043740 .2802260 .0491630 .0412710 .2877370 .0360260 .2218130 .0034480 .0054840 .0022210 .0030940 .0034350 .0761950 .7423380 .3956860 .0746200 .7269070 .0065750

US Dollar Pak Rupees

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

279.100 3.080

Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

5.470 2.220 3.409 6.555 76.065 74.555 741.700 46.187 448.500 3.190 1.550 371.200 285.600 3.510

Rate for Transfer

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

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

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

278.450 368.300 445.600 282.000 3.455 5.435 46.140 2.210 3.407 6.515 3.073 740.650 75.850 74.350

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka

5.438 2.221 3.416 3.080 75.87 741.73 46.16 396.71 724.71 76.89 74.46

5.700 2.600 4.000 3.250 76.50 741.00 47.20 395.50 725.00 77.25 74.95

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

Selling Rate

278.900 281.160 444.435 367.515 305.395 738.565 75.910 76.555 74.335 392.590 46.189 2.224 5.460 3.095 3.411 6.521 684.130 4.385 9.070 5.875 3.505 92.285

SELL DRAFT SELL CASH

291.88 284.28 309.48 369.35 447.22 3.50 3.404

292.00 282.50 308.50 369.00 447.00 3.70 3.650

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 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

Bahrain Exchange Company 10 Tola COUNTRY

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka

SELL CASH

290.900 742.530 3.630

283.800 548.400 45.500 50.000 167.800 47.420 368.700 36.670 5.770 0.032 0.159 0.237 3.520 395.680 0.189 93.210 45.400 4.290 231.900 1.809 49.200 725.230 3.180 6.850 77.230 74.550 223.000 39.160 2.660 446.700 42.300 307.500 4.200 9.400 198.263 76.120 279.600 1.340 GOLD 1,721.690

SELL DRAFT

289.400 742.530 3.410

Sterling Pound US Dollar

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 444.700 279.200

282.300

223.000 46.250 367.200 36.520 5.445 0.031

395.630 0.188 93.210 3.410 230.400 725.050 3.092 6.540 76.800 74.550 223.000 39.160 2.217 444.700 306.200 4.200 9.230 76.020 279.200

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

BUSINESS

Kuwait employment grows 6% in 2011 NBK ECONOMIC REPORT

PIRAEUS: People pull their luggage along the quayside yesterday at the port of Piraeus as Greek sailors began a two-day strike against government reforms, halting ferry connections to the islands ahead of the Orthodox Easter holidays and disrupting the export of agricultural produce. — AFP

Greece raises $1.7bn, borrowing costs drop ATHENS: Greece yesterday paid sharply lower rates to raise 1.3 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in a sale of 6-month treasury bills, the debt management agency said.

“Total bids reached 2.62 billion euros and the amount finally accepted was 1.30 billion euros,” the agency said in a statement, with the interest paid to investors 4.55 percent, down from 4.80 percent at the last equivalent sale on March 6 which had raised 1.14 billion euros.

The auction is Greece’s second since a landmark exchange and writedown with private creditors last month to erase 107 billion euros from the country’s short- and medium-term debt.

Greece has already exchanged over 94.8 billion euros in debt issued under Greek

law and will add another 20.27 billion euros in bonds and state utility loans guaranteed by the government under foreign law. Remaining bondholders have been given until April 20 to join the operation.

The debt rollover, supported by a global bank association, was tied to a 130billion-euro bailout approved by the eurozone in February.

The International Monetary Fund last week also decided on a new 28 billion euro loan for Greece, payable over four years.

Greece has a public debt of over 350 billion euros and was forced to seek a first EU-IMF bailout in May 2010 when it could no longer raise funding at sustainable rates on the markets to cover its obligations. — AFP

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s total population reached 3.69 million at the end of December 2011 according to figures published by the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI). The population grew by 3.2% from a year ago. The number of Kuwaiti nationals reached nearly 1.18 million, or 32% of the total population.

Growth was slightly higher than in recent years, as the population grew at an annual average of 2.9% in the previous five years. The expatriate population represented 68% of Kuwait’s population at the end of 2011. Their numbers increased by roughly 80 thousand (3.3%) over the previous year, in part reflecting a pickup in economic activity. Growth in the expatriate population peaked four years ago at 8.6% before dropping to around 0.5% during 2008 and 2009. It has since recovered to a more moderate pace.

Kuwait’s total labor force grew by 3.2% in 2011 to reach 2.18 million. Growth among Kuwaiti nationals was strong, exceeding 6% year-on-year. For expatriates, the numbers were up in both the public and private sectors, though they fell for domestic workers. Growth for expat workers was slower at 3.4%.

The number of employed Kuwaitis at the end of 2011 rose by over 21,500, better than the 16,200 gain in the previous year.

Seventeen thousand of the new jobs were in the public sector, roughly twice the increase in public sector employment of Kuwaitis a year ago. Of the new jobs for Kuwaitis, 21% were in the private sector, keeping the public/private shares little changed from previous years. New employment in the private sector among Kuwaiti nationals in 2011 was 4,400. About

half of the new jobs in this sector went to women. The number of Kuwaitis employed in the private sector rose to 80 thousand.

For Kuwaitis employed in the public sector, growth accelerated during 2011 as the government created the most jobs in more than a decade. The public sector added more than 17 thousand jobs for nationals in 2011. In fact, the number of Kuwaiti entrants to the public sector nearly doubled compared to 2010. There were over 17,000 new public sector employees compared to 8,800 during the same period a year before; that figure was the highest ever.

The strong employment performance for Kuwaitis in the public sector was likely encouraged by the approval of salary hikes in the government sector that are perhaps luring some workers from the private sector. The public sector added 5,500 expatriate jobs, somewhat stronger than the previous two

Spain defends cost-cutting reform of public services MADRID: Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos defended yesterday plans to save 10 billion euros by making public services run more efficiently, saying this was needed ensure the “sustainability” of healthcare and education. The government announced the measure late Monday amid growing investor concerns over Spain’s ability to rein in public spending which has caused the country’s borrowing costs to rise steadily.

The savings which the government expects to make through its reform of public services are on top of the 27 billion euros in spending cuts and tax increases included in its 2012 budget agreed late last month. “The reform of health and education services are unavoidable but not to save 10 billion euros; it is unavoidable to guarantee the sustainability of public health and education in the medium- and long-term,” the minister said.

“I would not see it as a response to a (specific) situation in the markets. They are structural reforms which are going to produce results over the next five to ten years,” he added at a business conference.

The government will approve the reform of the country’s public health and education systems later this month, De Guindos said. “It is going to be done very, very quickly,” he said.

Spain 17 autonomous regions are responsible for providing education and healthcare and they are at the heart of investor concerns over the country’s ability to slash its public deficit to the EU limit of 3.0 percent of GDP in 2013 from 8.5 percent last year. De Guindos said his conservative government, in power since December, would push ahead with its agenda of reforms aimed at reviving the economy and meeting the public deficit targets. “I think our European partners know perfectly well that the Spanish government is their best ally when it comes to finding solutions to the problems which we have right now,” he said.

The government has not outlined how it intends to streamline public services, saying only Monday that it would seek to eliminate overlaps and ensure “a greater rationalization.” Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro said the details of the reforms will be ready within two weeks so as to be included in the budgets this year of the regional governments. “They are ambitious reforms,” he said, during an interview with public radio RNE. Spain’s regions ended 2011 with a public deficit equal to 2.94 percent of national gross domestic product, compared with the central government’s target for them this year of 1.5 percent. — AFP

support high-speed networks is costly, making urban areas the immediate battlegrounds for customers.

The arrival of 4G comes as India’s fast-growing telecoms sector is reeling from a huge corruption scandal in which a former telecom minister is alleged to have underpriced 2G licenses to favor some companies, costing the treasury up to $39 billion. Bharti, which operates in 20 countries in Africa and Asia and has 200 million customers, said after Kolkata it will launch 4G in the high-tech Indian city of Bangalore within the next month. It said it expected it would take several years for 4G services to become widely used. However, 3G, now common in Europe and the United States, has been slow to take off in India. Bharti and other telecom firms paid a total of 386 billion rupees ($7.5 billion) in 2010 to purchase fourth-generation wireless broadband spectrum in a fiercely contested auction staged by the government. Bharti secured 4G spectrum in four of India’s 22 telecom areas, in Kolkata and the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Punjab, for 33 billion rupees ($650 million). — AFP

Hinduja Bank backs Iran food financing GENEVA: Hinduja Group’s Swiss-based private banking arm is able to continue providing financing to trading houses shipping food to Iran, its chief executive told Reuters, despite difficulties in processing payments. “We are happy to provide help for the Iranian people in supporting trade finance on a humanitarian basis for food and pharmaceuticals,” Chief Executive Charles de Boissezon told Reuters by telephone.

Hinduja Bank is part of an Indian family-owned conglomerate that invests in sectors including energy and automobiles. “Every transaction we do we have to have pre-approval from the regulators and it’s examined under a microscope.

There’s still business to be done totally legally and even the Americans appreciate you have to continue this trade,” said De Boissezon. Food shipments are not targeted under western sanctions aimed at Iran’s disputed nuclear program, but

financial measures have frozen Iranian firms out of much of the global banking system.

Some suppliers have resorted to using Turkish banks as an alternative trade financing route to work around Western sanctions.

De Boissezon did not specify which type of food deals the bank was financing but Hinduja Bank is known for lending to large Geneva-based agricultural trading houses.

US agribusiness group Cargill’s vice chairman told Reuters in February that it was possible to supply Iran with grain via non-dollar currencies and that it planned to continue shipments.

Trading houses such as Bunge and Louis Dreyfus also have large trading offices in Geneva. Iran imports around 4.5 million tons of grain a year, including about 3.5 million tons of corn, which is mainly used in animal feed. — Reuters

In the

news

Rajhi Bank Q1 net up 18%

MADRID: Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness Luis de Guindos (left) talks with Spain’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism Jose Manuel Soria (right) before the “Forum Europa” meeting in Madrid yesterday. — AFP

RIYADH: Saudi-based Al Rajhi Bank, the kingdom’s biggest Islamic lender, yesterday it posted an 18 percent rise in first-quarter net profit due to an increase in operational income, but it missed analysts’ forecasts. Earnings for the three months ended March 31 rose to 2.01 billion riyals ($536 million) from 1.70 billion riyals a year earlier, the bank said in a statement posted on the website of the Saudi bourse. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected 2.09 billion riyals on average. The bank had net profits of 1.9 billion riyals in the last quarter of 2011. Operational income rose 16.7 percent to 3.43 billion riyals, net income from finance and investments rose 4.3 percent to 2.33 billion riyals and total assets at the end of the period were 234 billion riyals, compared to 203 billion a year earlier.

In March, the bank’s board accepted the resignation of its chief executive, Abdullah Al-Rajhi, replacing him with Suleiman Al-Zain.

Egypt’s Ezz Steel net profit falls

Bharti Airtel offers 4G service in India NEW DELHI: India’s Bharti Airtel said yesterday it had become the first company in the country to offer high-speed Internet services using fourth-generation (4G) telecommunications technology.

The company said high-speed wireless broadband “has the potential to transform India” and to provide a platform for “building the country’s digital economy”. “Today’s launch is a major milestone for India and Airtel,” Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal said in a statement.

Bharti rolled out the 4G wireless broadband services in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata and is working on launching advanced technology networks in other parts of the country.

With one of the largest pools of young people in the world, India will see massive growth in consumption of data and content over mobile devices and proliferation of mobile commerce, analysts say. 4G allows mobile phone users to surf the Internet, at a rate several times faster than 3G services that are still being rolled out across the country.

Analysts say India’s rural areas offer huge market potential but erecting infrastructure to

years. Since 2000, the share of women of the Kuwaiti work force has steadily increased, from 35% to nearly 46%. These gains are in part linked to women’s educational achievements.

As much as 61% of women aged 25 and older have received a diploma or a higher degree, compared with 39% of men.

In the public sector, the proportion of Kuwaiti women has risen from 41% in 2005 to 45% at the end of December 2011. While the gain in this sector has been gradual, the private sector has seen a far more dramatic shift in women’s participation. The proportion of women employees in the private sector has risen from 39% to 51% over the last five years.

The net change in the expatriate labor force (excluding domestic workers) reached 48,700 at the end of 2011. Public sector hiring of nonKuwaitis was a relatively small 5,400 while the private sector hired 43,200.

CAIRO: Egypt’s largest steel producer, Ezz Steel, posted a 20 percent drop in 2011 net profit yesterday as soaring costs and higher taxes offset a rise in sales during a year of economic and political turmoil. An uprising ousted President Hosni Mubarak in February last year and the turmoil rocked Ezz Steel, which gets much of its business from infrastructure and real estate sectors that were plunged into crisis. Ezz Steel’s net income dropped to 202 million Egyptian pounds ($33.5 million) last year, despite a 12 percent rise in net sales to 18.6 billion pounds. “The increase of corporate tax rates from 20 percent to 25 percent in Egypt weighed on net profits,” Beltone Research said in a note.

Banque Saudi Fransi Q1 up TOKYO: Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Masaaki Shirakawa speaks before the press at the bank headquarters in Tokyo yesterday after a two-day policy board meeting. — AFP

BOJ leaves rates interest unchanged TOKYO: The Bank of Japan yesterday left its key interest rate unchanged and maintained its view that the world’s thirdlargest economy was picking up, but dashed hopes for fresh easing measures.

The central bank, which made the announcement after a two-day policy board meeting, said the vote to keep rates unchanged at between zero and 0.1 percent was unanimous.

Its decision not to usher in more easing measures took a bite out of the benchmark Nikkei 225 index, which closed in negative territory after staging a morning rally while the yen strengthened on the news.

“Tuesday’s decision seems to have disappointed some short-term speculators, but for a majority of market economists it’s not a surprise,” said Satoshi Osanai, economist at Daiwa Institute of Research.

BOJ governor Masaaki Shirakawa cautioned against speculation the bank would take action at its next policy meeting later this month. He also warned that Europe’s debt problems and global commodity prices remained a concern, adding that the key US economy was “improving moderately.”

“Japan’s economic activity has shown some signs of picking up, although it has remained more or less flat,” he told a press briefing. The battle against the stubborn deflation that has haunted the nation’s

economy for years would continue, he said. Falling prices cut into corporate profits, leading firms to slash jobs and put off capital investment that generates growth, while also encouraging consumers to delay purchases.

“The bank recognizes that Japan’s economy faces the critical challenge of overcoming deflation and returning to a sustainable growth path with price stability,” Shirakawa said.

He added that the bank would “pursue powerful monetary easing, and will support private financial institutions in their efforts to strengthen the foundations for Japan’s economic growth.”

Earlier Tuesday, finance minister Jun Azumi said he hoped the central bank would “act appropriately” by reaching into its policy bag to help fuel economic growth, hinting at a strong appetite among lawmakers for further easing. “I believe this is an important month for us to build a solid base for the economy this year so it can make a further leap forward,” he told a regular news briefing.

Last month, the bank boosted a loan program by 2.0 trillion yen ($24.5 billion) to 5.0 trillion yen amid reconstruction efforts seen as crucial to reviving the economy, which was hammered by last year’s quake-tsunami disaster and flooding in Thailand. —AFP

RIYADH: Banque Saudi Fransi posted a 10 percent gain in its first-quarter net profit on the back of improved operating income, the bank said in a bourse statement yesterday, edging ahead of analysts’ expectations. The 789 million riyals ($210.4 million) it earned in the first three months of 2012 compared with net earnings of 717 million riyals in the same period a year earlier and 661 million riyals in the last quarter of 2011. Analysts surveyed by Reuters expected the firm to post, on average, 778 million riyals in profit in the first quarter. The company attributed its profit gains to an increase in total operating income, which rose by 6.1 percent to 1.22 billion riyals from 1.15 billion in the first quarter of 2011. Profits from special commissions grew by 5.9 percent to 802 million riyals from 757 million riyals in the same period a year earlier.

Saudi Hollandi Bank profit up RIYADH: Saudi Hollandi Bank posted a 21.9 percent rise in first-quarter net profit on higher operating income and lower expenses, but missed analysts’ expectations for the first three months of the year. The bank made 290 million riyals ($77.3 million) in the first quarter, it said yesterday, compared to 238 million riyals for the same period a year ago. Six analysts canvassed by Reuters had forecast, on average, that the bank would record a net income of 318 million riyals in the first quarter.

The bank attributed the result to lower operating expenses and higher operating income, which rose 11.3 percent to 540 million riyals from 485 million riyals in the first three months of 2011, it said in a statement posted on the website of the Saudi bourse. Saudi Hollandi Bank said its net income from special commissions rose 3.6 percent to 322 million riyals, total assets rose 18 percent to 60.2 billion riyals and loans and advances rose 22.2 percent to 40.2 billion riyals. — Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

business

Bank stocks help KSE rebound from loss GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) rebounded from Monday’s sixweek low with the banking sector support yesterday. Shares in Boubyan Bank climbed 3.6 percent after National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) received regulatory approval to raise its stake in the Islamic lender to 60 percent.

The gains registered in four out of the 10 blue-chips, in addition to the good performance of the banking sector was reflected on the general performance of major indices. The market benchmark KSE Price Index increased by 0.47 percent, and closed at 6,148.7 points. Global General Index reported a gain of 0.98 percent to close at 176.92 points.

Volume of shares traded increased by 6.97 percent to reach 369.89mn of shares traded at a value of KD46.47mn through 5,566 deals.

Investment sector accounted for the highest percent of the total traded volume, accounting for 28.42 percent, followed by the services sector, which accounted for 25.29 percent of total traded shares. Gulf Finance House recorded the highest volume traded with 44.08mn shares exchanging hands. The scrip registered an increase of 5.45 percent to close at KD0.058. On the other hand, Zain witnessed the highest traded value at KD5.08mn.

KIPCO Asset Management (KAMCO) was the prominent gainer. The scrip added 15.7 percent to close at

KD0.280. On the other hand, KGL Logistics Company was the biggest loser today as it plunged by 5 percent to close at KD0.285.

Sector-wise Global Services Index topped the gainers list by appreciating 2.42 percent. Zain rose by 5.80 percent to close at KD0.730; while Agility Company added 1.27 percent to close at KD0.400. Global Food Sector advanced by 1.16 percent. From the sector’s components, Livestock

Transport & Trading Company was the only loser today as it declined by 2.13 percent to close at KD0.184.

Kuwait United Poultry Company was the biggest gainer in the sector as it managed to rise by 7.94 percent to close at KD0.136.

The real estate sector also witnessed a positive performance as Global Real Estate Index increased by 0.52 percent today. Many stock registered gains in this sector, noting Kuwait Real Estate Company (+3.70 percent), National Real Estate

Company (+5.17 percent) and Salhia Real Estate Company (+2.73 percent).

Corporate news National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) announced that it has received the Central Bank of Kuwait’s approval to increase its stake in Boubyan Bank from 47.29 percent to 60 percent, which still awaits the authorities’ approval. OPEC’s reference crude oil basket price fell to $120.40pb on Monday from $121.15pb in the previous session, OPEC said yesterday.

LONDON: Oil slipped below $122 yesterday as soft Chinese import data raised concerns about oil demand growth in the world’s second-biggest consumer. Frontmonth Brent crude futures were down 85 cents at $121.85 a barrel at 0843 GMT. The contract slipped as low as $121.02 on Monday, the lowest since March 15.

US oil was down 58 cents to $101.88.

Copper prices also fell due to soft Chinese data. Investors are watching for signs that China can avoid a hard landing as it tweaks monetary and fiscal policies to cut rising costs and help small businesses hit by a global downturn. Overall imports grew 5.3 percent, lagging expectations for growth of 9 percent. “There have been some doubts about global oil demand growth creeping into the market, and China’s crude oil import numbers won’t help change that perception very much,” said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. China’s exports grew 8.9 percent compared with a consensus call for 7.2 percent, but the slide in imports suggested soggy domestic demand in the first quarter.

Asia shares slipped along with base

metals on worries about the demand outlook for the leading importer of raw materials. “An important point of the trade numbers is the softer overall import figure,” Spooner said.

“That raises a question on the country’s domestic activity and investment program and if economic activity has been softer than anticipated.” China’s March crude imports were off the previous month’s record. Still, the volume rose 8.7 percent on the year to 5.55 million barrels per day (bpd), their third highest ever, data showed, as refiners built stocks while scaling back operations. European shares also fell as investors returning from a holiday weekend in Europe cut their exposure to risky assets after surprisingly weak March US jobs data late last week. Oil futures are also under pressure on expectations of a further increase in US commercial crude inventories, building on the biggest two-week increase in more than a decade, as higher imports easily outpaced sluggish refinery demand. Industr y group American Petroleum Institute (API) is due to release its numbers later in the day. — Reuters

Cobham renews Thrane & Thrane bid after stake buy

Accenture closes on Neo Metrics takeover NEW YORK: Accenture PLC has completed its buyout of Spain’s Neo Metrics Analytics SL, the management and technology services consultancy said yesterday. Financial terms were not disclosed. Accenture said that the deal, which was announced in January, will bolster its ana-

Brent slips below $122 on soft China data

lytical models and techniques for fraud management, quality management, pricing optimization and demand forecasting. Last month Accenture reported that its fiscal second-quarter net income jumped 28 percent as revenue increased across all of its divisions. Accenture is

based in Dublin, Ireland, but has a main office in New York. Neo Metrics is based in Madrid, Spain. Its US shares closed at $63.74 on Monday. They are trading near their 52-week high of $65.89 reached last week. They traded as low as $47.40 in mid-August. — AP

LONDON/COPENHAGEN: British aero electronics group Cobham renewed its 270 million pound ($428.20 million) bid for Thrane & Thrane, after some investors warmed to the proposal, selling the suitor almost a quarter of its Danish rival.

Cobham submitted an offer of 420 Danish crowns ($73.78) per share in February, but on March 12 withdrew the offer for the satellite and radio communications equipment maker after its board failed to recommend the proposal.

Cobham Chief Financial Officer Warren Tucker said in a conference call that the situation surrounding Cobham’s interest had changed over the past few weeks, with the resignation of the previous Thrane & Thrane chairman leading to a number of shareholders offering Cobham their shares.

“We concluded that we did want to buy those shares at the same level as we had

mentioned earlier,” Tucker said.Cobham last week said it owned more than a quarter of Thrane & Thrane having bought a 22.7 percent stake after some investors in the Danish company offered to sell their shares. Cobham’s 25.59 percent stake makes it Thrane & Thrane’s largest shareholder and exceeds the 24 percent holding of co-founder Lars Thrane who has opposed the takeover. Shares in Thrane & Thrane leapt 8.5 percent to 422 crowns by 1232 GMT after earlier touching 428 crowns. Cobham shares were up 0.1 percent in London. “Cobham continues to seek to work with the board of Thrane & Thrane to achieve a recommendation for this offer and to facilitate the bringing together of Thrane & Thrane and Cobham’s SATCOM business in a way that provides the best future for the business, its employees and customers.”— Reuters

25

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

BUSINESS

German exports buoyed by demand from outside EU FRANKFURT: Germany’s trade surplus fell in February but stronger-thanexpected demand from outside Europe may keep the euro-zone’s biggest economy out of recession, analysts said yesterday. Germany exported goods worth 91 billion euros ($119 billion) in seasonally-adjusted terms in February, up 1.6 percent from January, the national statistics office Destatis said. At the same time, imports were up 3.9 percent at 77.4 billion euros, giving a trade surplus of 13.6 billion euros, down from 15.1 billion euros in January. It was the second month in a row that exports have increased and defied analysts’ expectations for a drop this month.

A breakdown showed that it was primarily demand from outside Europe that was behind the export growth. While exports to the euro area rose a modest 3.3 percent yearon-year in February, exports to non-eurozone countries increased 9.7 percent and to non-European nations 13.4 percent, the figures showed. On the other side, imports from the eurozone rose 5.5 percent year-on-year while imports from countries outside Europe grew 5.2 percent. Analysts said that following disappointing manufacturing orders and industrial output data last week, the trade report suggested that Germany might

be able to avoid a recession after all.

The German economy contracted 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and there are concerns it might shrink again in the first quarter of 2012. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.”A string of poor numbers from manufacturing and lower purchasing managers’ indices sparked fears that the German economy might actually be affected more than expected by the weak activity in the periphery,” said Commerzbank economist Ulrike Rondorf. However, the trade numbers “give hope that in the first quarter, gross domestic product expanded at least at a modest pace.

Global economic activity has picked up again and competitive Germany should continue to profit in the coming quarters,” she said.

ING Belgium economist Carsten Brzeski said that last week’s “industrial data showed that the German economy is still flirting with a technical recession. “However, a weather-driven sharp rebound in the construction sector, moderate production and today’s trade data still have the potential to lift the economy into recessionfree territory.”

Germany ’s economic fate was “more and more in the hands of its trading partners outside the eurozone,” Brzeski said.” The main drivers of

Germany’s export engine are currently non-euro-zone countries-the United States, Britain and China.”

Peter Kaidusch at Natixis said that while the economic news coming out of Germany is “hardly brilliant ... there is still a chance to achieve maybe zero growth in the first quarter and thus overcome hard times without a recession.”

The German federation of exporters and wholesalers, BGA, said Tuesday it was projecting the trade surplus to remain more or less stable this year and that despite the debt crisis, “there are more opportunities than risks” for the German economy, which was fundamentally healthy. —AFP

Cameron on Japan, S Asia tour to boost business Nissan announces $200m investment in Britain

TOKYO: British Prime Minister David Cameron (center) is briefed on a new hatchback vehicle, the Japanese car maker plans to produce in Britain, by Nissan Executive Vice President Andy Palmer (right) and Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga (left) during his visit to the global headquarters of the Japanese automakers in Yokohama near Tokyo yesterday. —AP

Gold firms on hopes for fresh easing LONDON: Gold prices rose yesterday as expectations that a sluggish employment market in the United States could spark a fresh round of US quantitative easing drove prices higher, despite the influence of a firming dollar. Ultraloose US monetary policy, which keeps real interest rates and consequently the opportunity cost of holding gold low, is a key driver of higher bullion prices. Expectations for a fresh round of QE were lifted by soft US jobs data last week.

Spot gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,643.80 an ounce at 0915 GMT, while US gold futures for June delivery were up $1.20 an ounce at $1,645.10. Spot prices have declined in five of the last six weeks as QE expectations have fluctuated.

Analysts betting on higher prices say they are concerned that Friday’s jobs data, coupled with the end of a jewellers’ strike in key consumer India, had not driven prices higher. “It looks like we need bigger and better news to support gold right now,” Saxo Bank vice president Ole Hansen said. “Traders have been wrongfooted on numerous occasions during the last two months on QE on/off talks.”

“The non-farm payrolls and India ending the strike should have triggered a stronger bounce, but at this moment, where general softness in commodities has been seen, traders wants to see the cash before jumping back into gold in a major way.” The euro failed to hold onto early gains against the dollar and drifted lower, as cautious buying linked to hopes that soft US payrolls data might bring forward another round of quantitative easing petered out.

Other assets seen as higher risk also retreated, with European shares falling nearly 1 percent, oil prices slipping and base metals on the back foot. Soft Chinese import data raised concerns about commodities demand growth in the world’s largest consumer of many raw mate-

rials. Safe-haven German Bund yields hit sixmonth lows and the cost of insuring Italian and Spanish debt against default rose sharply on Tuesday as disappointing U.S. jobs data last week further dented appetite for riskier assets.

Gold demand in number one buyer India picked up slightly at the start of the week after a three-week-long jewellers’ strike ended, but dealers said demand was surprisingly sluggish.

“For gold to turn a corner and build momentum, physical buying really needs to kick in,” said UBS in a note yesterday. “The end of the jewellers strike in India provides a good foundation, especially with the Akshaya Tritiya festival on Apr. 24. But prices need to be appropriate. “Last week, Indian demand only became impressive when gold traded below $1,620,” it added.

“Appetite from India so far this week has been quite modest. Premiums in China have been above average of late. But in terms of volumes... gold turnover on the Shanghai Gold Exchange is not particularly exceptional.” China’s gold output was 26.9 tons in February, up 11 percent from January, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said yesterday, after mining activity rebounded back after the Lunar New Year holidays in January. China is the world’s biggest gold producer and recorded record output last year, although its domestic demand still outstrips supply by hundreds of tons a year. Among other precious metals, silver was flat at $31.52 an ounce. The gold/silver ratio, which measures the number of silver ounces needed to buy an ounce of gold, rose to its highest since early January on Tuesday.

Silver imports into India, the biggest consumer of the white metal, are likely to decline up to 27 percent this year on expectations of volatile prices, the head of the country’s biggest bullion importer, ScotiaMocatta’s Sunil Kashyap, said on Monday. —Reuters

Bernanke: Fed working on regulatory failure WASHINGTON: Chairman Ben Bernanke said yesterday that the Federal Reserve is working to address the regulatory failures that were exposed by the 2008 financial crisis. But he cautioned that as the financial system evolves, new risks will emerge. The Fed has overhauled its regulatory efforts to focus much more on the stability of the entire financial system, Bernanke said. It seeks to avoid mistakes of the past crisis, such as big non-bank institutions escaping the supervision. But the Fed chief said it was not enough for regulators to just address problems exposed by the crisis. The financial system is constantly evolving and unanticipated future risks to stability will develop, he said. Bernanke’s comments came in a speech Monday night to a conference sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

The financial crisis, which hit with force in the fall of 2008 after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, underscored the need for regulators to do a better job in policing the financial system, he said. “About three and a half years have passed since the darkest days of the financial crisis, but our economy is still far from having fully recovered from its effects,” Bernanke said in his remarks. In terms of closer supervision, Bernanke noted that the central bank last month released the results of stringent stress tests in which all but four of 19 major US financial institutions got passing grades. The Fed declared the institutions strong enough to survive an eco-

nomic downturn worse than the Great Recession. In another example of stepped up supervision, Bernanke said that the Fed has been actively monitoring US banks’ direct and indirect exposures to the European debt crisis. It is also tracking the way US banks are managing their exposure to the risks posed by the European crisis. Bernanke said that the Fed and other banking regulators are moving to impose tougher standards, not just on big banks but on big nonfinancial institutions such as insurance companies. The aim is to better regulate all financial institutions that could pose a risk to the stability of the financial system.

“But even as we make progress on known vulnerabilities, we must be mindful that our financial system is constantly evolving and that unanticipated risks will develop over time,” Bernanke said. He said that was an unavoidable consequence of the new financial regulations put into place by the sweeping Dodd-Frank Act that Congress passed in 2010 to overhaul the financial regulatory system.

“An inevitable side effect of new regulations is that the system will adapt in ways that push risk-taking from more-regulated to less-regulated areas, increasing the need for careful monitoring and supervision of the system as a whole,” he said. Bernanke said that the Fed has increased its efforts at system-wide monitoring with the creation of an Office of Financial Stability Policy and Research. —AP

TOKYO: British Prime Minister David Cameron began yesterday a tour of Japan and Southeast Asia vowing to explore opportunities the region offers to bolster Britain’s sluggish economy by boosting trade and investment ties.

Hours before Cameron’s plane touched down in Tokyo, Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co said it would spend $200 million to build a new hatchback at its British plant. British officials said, in all, more than 200 million pounds ($317.19 million) of Japanese investment in Britain had been agreed, including a Mitsui Corp wind turbine research project in Edinburgh and a Panasonic fuel cell research centre in Cardiff.

“This trip is really about British business, British exports and investment from Britain into these countries, and investment from these countries into Britain,” Cameron told reporters. “Nissan’s investment in the UK is a huge vote of confidence in the skills and flexibility of the UK workforce.

We want to attract more investment like this,” said Cameron, due to meet Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda later yesterday. Nissan’s new car will go into production in 2014 and create 225 jobs at its Sunderland factory in northern England and 900 more at the carmaker ’ s British suppliers. The new commitment comes on top of $200 million earmarked for production of a new compact car Nissan announced last month and will take manufacturing capacity at Britain’s biggest car plant beyond 550,000 vehicles a year.

Accompanied by about 35 executives from defense, energy, construction and other firms, Cameron will head from Tokyo to Indonesia today and Malaysia the following day.

On Friday, Cameron is due in Myanmar where he will meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as the first major Western leader to visit the long-isolated country since a 1962 coup began a half century of

military rule. His visit, confirmed by sources in Myanmar, comes nearly two weeks after Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won historic by-elections by a landslide, convincing the United States and European Union to consider relaxing economic sanctions imposed years ago in response to human rights abuses.

Architecture and infrastructure firms and nuclear industry executives are with Cameron, reflecting British hopes for a slice of the vast sums Japan will spend to clean up and rebuild regions devastated by last year’s earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami washed away swathes of Japan’s northeastern coast and wrecked the Fukushima

TOKYO: Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron meets Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (right) at the latter’s official residence in Tokyo yesterday. —AFP Cameron’s two-year-old coalition government is trying to boost British manufacturing to lessen reliance on financial services roiled by the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. It also seeks to limit the economy’s exposure to the crisis-hit euro-zone by doing more business with fast-growing Asian economies and emerging markets around the world.

In Japan, Cameron and Noda are expected to discuss cooperation on defense manufacturing, nuclear decommissioning and free trade, as well as the violence in Syria and relations with Iran and North Korea.

nuclear plant north of Tokyo, releasing radiation and forcing 80,000 people from their homes.

“British companies have significant expertise in nuclear decommissioning and clean-up, with 19 nuclear sites in the UK currently being managed through the process,” Cameron said. He also hopes to capitalize on Japan’s recent decision to relax its selfimposed decades-old ban on military equipment exports, which could open the way to the joint development of arms by Japanese and British firms. Progress on securing a free trade agreement between the European Union and

Indian car makers see double-digit growth NEW DELHI: India’s car industry forecast yesterday that sales would grow 10 to 12 percent this fiscal year as expected interest rate cuts lure buyers back into showrooms-up from just two percent last year.

The forecast by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) came as passenger car sales raced ahead last month by 19.66 percent from a year earlier, marking the fifth straight monthly increase. But sales growth

Japan is also on the agenda.

In Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, the British delegation will focus on deals in energy, construction, retail, pharmaceutical, defense and financial services sectors.

“There’s enormous upside potential, and I think a number of businesses are very excited by the fact

slowed to 2.19 percent for the full year to March 31, well down from a scorching 29 percent rise the previous financial year. The low growth, the slowest in three years, reflected a weak first few months as climbing fuel prices and high interest rates that pushed up loan costs deterred buyers.

Sales for 2011-12 totalled 2.02 million cars in the emerging market giant, which has a population of 1.2 billion people.

NEW DELHI: Tata Motors Passenger Car Business Unit President Rajiv Dube (right) and Managing Director of AMP Motors Gurmeet Singh Anand pose in front of Jaguar and Land Rover cars during the inauguration of a JaguarLand Rover showroom in New Delhi. —AFP

Vishnu Mathur, director general of SIAM, said the car market should revive this year with the central bank expected to start rolling back its aggressive string of rate hikes as inflation eases.

“The number of car owners is still pathetically low in India-there is huge scope for the auto industry,” Mathur told reporters in New Delhi. Just 12 out of every 1,000 Indians own a vehicle, compared with more than 500 out of every 1,000 people in the United States, Mathur said. “That’s why all the auto manufacturing companies from across the globe are coming to India-they are all coming here because they see good long-term growth.”

Global automakers from General Motors to Toyota have been steering to India and neighboring China seeking to boost sales with markets in most developed countries saturated.

Car ownership remains low in India, where hundreds of millions live below the poverty line, but an expanding economy is minting millions of new middle-class families and millionaires each year. The government expects Asia’s third-largest economy to grow 7.6 percent in the current fiscal year, up from an estimated 6.9 percent last year. —AFP

we’re going to Indonesia,” Cameron told reporters.

In Malaysia, Britain aims to tap the Southeast Asian country’s position as a regional education hub, with many Western universities setting up campuses there.

The British leader also hopes to bolster moderate forces in the two Muslim democracies.

“There’s the issue of encouraging moderate Islam and showing that Islam and democracy are compatible. And I think that both Indonesia and Malaysia are great examples of that,” Cameron said. —Reuters

Loop Telecom latest casualty of 2G ruling MUMBAI: India’s Loop Telecom will close down its operations after losing its licenses in the wake of an alleged multi-billion dollar corruption scandal, a company spokesman said, while its sister company Loop Mobile would continue operations in Mumbai.

India’s Supreme Court in February ordered cancellation of 122 telecoms licenses held by eight operators, including that of Loop Telecom, because of alleged irregularities in the way they were awarded in 2008. A state auditor estimated New Delhi may have lost as much as $34 billion as the permits were given out at “unbelievably low” prices.

Loop is the third casualty of the court ruling, after Abu Dhabi’s Etisalat said it would close its Indian operation and Bahrain’s Batelco agreed to sell its 43 percent stake in its Indian joint venture. “We have no choice given the Supreme Court judgment,” a spokesman for Loop Telecom told Reuters.

Loop Telecom has written to the government to demand a 38 billion rupee ($740.81 million) refund for its license fees plus interest, compensation charges and bank guarantees, the Mint newspaper reported yesterday, citing a letter signed by the company’s managing director. The company spokesman confirmed the letter had been sent, but declined to comment on the amount demanded. Loop Telecom has contacted its around 6,000 subscribers to urge them to switch to an alternative mobile telecom provider. The decision will not impact Loop Mobile, a company in the Loop Group that runs mobile services in the city of Mumbai. —Reuters

26

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

business

Burgan Bank launches new iPhone application Application includes banking and info services

Gulfmart to open second branch in Farwaniya KUWAIT: Gulfmart, the fastest growing supermarket chain with the largest number of branches in Kuwait, will open their twelfth branch in the country at Farwaniya. The newest branch of Gulfmart will be inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta today at 10am.

The new Gulfmart branch, located in the Radhi Mutlaq Al-Rashidi Complex, next to Al-Sana roundabout and in close proximity to Farwaniya police-station, provides convenient car parking facilities and a comfortable shopping ambience. The 11,000 square feet spacious supermarket with its broad aisles and easily accessible shelves stocked with a wide selection of products from around the world, offers shoppers enormous value through convenient access, extensive selection, competitive prices and great service.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration, Arif Sheikh, Managing Director of Gulfmart Group, said, “Customers in Kuwait have been patronizing Gulfmart ever since we opened our first outlet here in 1999.

We are very grateful for this support which has encouraged us to now open our twelfth branch in Kuwait at Farwaniya. We hope to meet the demands of residents in this area, who have long yearned for quality products at affordable prices. Together with our eleven other branches, we are now able to provide value offerings to customers across the country, from Fahaheel in the south to Jahra in the north.”

Gulfmart’s entrepreneurship in opening new stores in suburbs underserved by full-service retail supermarkets is widely appreciated by residents in those areas. The supermarket, wellknown for carrying a wide variety of products that cater to the shopping needs of the diverse population in Kuwait, is especially popular for offering products that meet the requirements of customers in the locality.

Nikil Ajagaonkar Gulfmart’s Operations Manager, and top officials of the Centralized Merchandizing Department of the Group, including Nicolas Panse, Raju Sawlani, Fakhruddin Kabir, Imran Sheikh, Zujer Saifee and Sameer Sheikh, affirmed that unbelievable offers, great promotions and special offers for the upcoming Indian festival of Vishu, await shoppers at the new branch in Farwaniya.

Elaborating on opening the new branch, TA Remesh, Gulfmart Country Manager in Kuwait, said, “The opening of our twelfth branch in Farwaniya is a momentous occasion for Gulfmart; it marks the beginning of the second phase of our aggressive expansion strategy in Kuwait. With the scheduled launch next month of two more

application, customers are required to visit Apple’s application store, and download the Burgan Bank iPhone application free of charge, or contact the bank on 1804080.

Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest commercial Bank based in Kuwait,

Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institutions sectors, as well as having a growing retail and private bank customer base.

Burgan Bank has four majority owned subsidiaries: Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq), Jordan Kuwait Bank - JKB (Jordan) and Tunis International Bank - TIB (Tunisia), (collectively known as the “Burgan Bank Group”).

The Bank has continuously improved its per formance over the years through an expanded revenue structure, diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base. The adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has positioned it as a trendsetter in the domestic market and within the MENA region.

Burgan Bank’s brand has been created on a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment, excellence and progression, to remind us of the high standards to which we aspire.

‘People come first’ is the foundation on which its products and services are developed.

Excellence is one of the Bank’s four key values and Burgan Bank continually strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry. The Bank was re-certified in 2010 with the ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking businesses, making it the only Bank in GCC to receive such accreditation. The Bank also has to its credit the distinction of being the only Bank in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase Quality Recognition Award, twelve years in succession.

Brand new Mercedes Benz C180 2012 to lucky winner TA Remesh, Gulfmart Country Manager

branches in Fahaheel and Salwa, and the imminent opening of a second mini-mart in Abu Halifa, we will be well on the way to realizing our ambitious goal of having 25 stores in Kuwait by the end of 2013.”

The new branch is also significant in that it is our second branch in Farwaniya, and illustrates our confidence in the growing consumer base in this area. The new branch, which offers 11,000 square feet of comfortable shopping ambience, also provides easy access and ample car parking facilities for our customers.

Gulfmart has always endeavored to achieve total customer satisfaction by offering customers incredible promotions, best services and convenient shopping locations that deliver quality products at affordable prices, said the Country Manager.

The result of Gulfmart’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in the consistent successes of the ever-increasing number of Gulfmart branches across the country. In addition to their two branches each in Jleeb Al Shuyoukh, Hawally and now in Farwaniya, and a mini-mart in Salmiya, they also have full-service outlets in Shuwaikh, Salmiya, Fahaheel, Khaitan and Jahra.

Etihad Airways expands code share with Brussels Airlines ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways continues to build its presence in Europe with the expansion of its codeshare agreement with Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines, which will now include Brussels Airlines services to three regional French cities Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse - from today.

These are in addition to Brussels Airlines’ ser vices to Barcelona, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Madrid, Oslo and Stockholm, on which Etihad Airways already codeshares.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “This adds three very popular destinations to the Etihad Airways network, and opens up more of Europe for our customers.

“This expansion is as a natural next step in what has been a very successful partnership since 2006, and we look forward to continuing to work with Brussels Airlines to also enable passengers from

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday that it has officially launched its own iPhone application. The new application includes an array of banking along with informative services such as account summaries and statements, transfer between accounts, locating branches using the GPS guide, updated exchange rates, the bank’s latest offers, as well as the most recent news updates.

Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem, Burgan Bank’s Chief Retail Banking Officer- General Manager said “We are delighted to launch the Burgan Bank application for iPhone users. iPhones, amongst other smartphones, are increasingly popular in Kuwait, and we are committed to using this technology to provide more added value services and convenience to our customers.”

“We will continue to enhance functionality of our iPhone application. This new initiative reflects on the bank’s continuous efforts of providing a variety of banking choices to its customers wherever they are,” added AlMukhaizeem.

The iPhone application, which is available at the Apple application store, will also allow users to enjoy the Burgan Bank’s online facility. The feature on the iPhone will give ease of access to customers to wish to do online banking in a safe and secure manner.

For further information on how to use the

various points on their network to travel to Abu Dhabi and further afield.”

Etihad Airways operates eight weekly Abu Dhabi-Brussels services in a twoclass aircraft configuration.

Travellers can book the new codeshare destinations through travel agents, Etihad shops, Etihad Airways contact centres or via www.etihad.com Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011 carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 84 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, with a fleet of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also owns nearly 30 per cent of airberlin, Europe’s sixth largest airline, and 40 per cent of Air Seychelles.

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, announced the winner in its hugely successful “Win a Car Every Week” campaign.

Jaber Marzouq Al-Azemi and Sultan Ayeth Aldosari were each lucky winners of a new Mercedes Benz C180 2012 in the campaign. The winners expressed their happiness for being the lucky winners of the new Mercedes Benz C180 car as it is a dream come true and it has been made possible by VIVA. VIVA congratulated the winners and invited customers to participate in the ongoing campaign in order to be one of the many winners in the upcoming weekly draws.

VIVA also reiterated its commitment to continuously provide unique and tailor made offers designed to better serve and reward its customers.

The offer is only applicable to prepaid customers where they can enter the draw through two

options, the first option is to subscribe with 500 fils per day which gives them infinite min-

utes and SMS within VIVA network. For every 500 fils spent, the customer is entitled 1

Fahad Al-Fahad with one of the winners Jaber Marzouq Al-Azemi.

chance to enter the draw. The second option for prepaid customers includes subscribing to BlackBerr y KD7 which gives them full and unlimited BlackBerry Services, where customers will gain 15 points automatically.

Customers are able to subscribe to both options in order to enter the draw to win a luxurious car, where their points will be accumulated and carried on to the next draw if they did not win. To increase their chances to win a new car every week, prepaid customers can subscribe to the ‘Flavor of the Week’ which will be a ‘special service’ for that week allowing more opportunities to win every week.

To subscribe, to ‘Infinite Calls and SMS’ offer, Send “1” to 535 in an SMS. Prepaid customers interested in the full, unlimited, local KD 7 BlackBerry offer, can send an SMS with the number ‘2’ to ‘535’.

For the full menu of the prepaid offers, send an SMS with the word “GO” to number ‘535’.

Joyalukkas Centre, biggest fashion, jewelry showroom in Oman now open MUSCAT: Joyalukkas the world’s largest jewelry retail chain has opened its first Joyalukkas Centre in Ruwi, Muscat. The mega showroom, located in a landmark new building across the Ruwi police station, offers a unique combination of jewelry and fashion under one roof. The largest and first of its kind showroom was inaugurated by Bollywood celebrity and Joyalukkas Brand ambassador, R Madhavan. The occasion was also graced by the presence of dignitaries that included Hassan Ali Jawad, Managing Director, United Securities LLC, and Yassin Bin Jaffer, Partner, Joyalukkas Jewellery. Joy Alukkas, Chairman and MD, Joyalukkas Group, Mr. John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Group and other senior executives of the group also attended the grand opening.

“It is a dream come true. We feel honored to be able to offer to the discerning shoppers of Oman this unique experience of jewelry and fashion under one roof. The Joyalukkas Centre features a large format jewelry showroom and also a very large fashion section that will cater to both women and men with a wide collection of fashion and textile materials. We look forward to the blessings and patronage of the residents of Oman to make the Joyalukkas Centre a grand success,” said Joy Alukkas, Chairman and MD, Joyalukkas Group.

The showroom is ver y conveniently located on the popular Ruwi high street in Muscat with ample parking space and the largest collection of various jewelry, textiles and fashion to ensure the biggest retail experience of its kind in Oman. The fantastic retail mix of this unique format includes the largest collection of traditional and contemporary gold jewelry, the widest range of diamonds, precious stones, pearls and platinum jewelry, a big choice of saris, churidars, bridal wear and men’s formal and informal wear.

“It is an absolute honor to be here for this grand opening. Joyalukkas is a brand that is constantly innovating and striving to offer the consumer the best in all aspects of shopping. The sheer size, convenience,

choice, value and unique collections that the Joyalukkas Centre is offering, will I am sure be the best in Oman. Muscat is beautiful place with great people and this trip has been a pleasure,” said R Madhavan.

The showroom features an exclusive corner for men that offer the best of office and casual wear. From suits to jeans the Joyalukkas Centre plans to cater to all the needs of men, across all budgets possible.

For women other than exclusive and bridal wear, the Joyalukkas Centre is also offering a wide range of formal and everyday wear in all forms like Sarees, Churidars, Formal wear and more. The Joyalukkas textile and fashion collections and range has been sourced from the best sources possible to ensure customers best quality at the lowest prices.

“We are delighted to be able to offer our unique retail concept to the discerning shoppers of Oman. At the Joyalukkas Centre we have ensured a team of highly

trained staff to ensure they serve every need of shoppers with commitment and pleasure. The Joyalukkas’ irresistible combination of choice, value, service, convenience and this unique format, is tailored to the needs of the residents of Oman,” said John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Group.

Joyalukkas, the only ISO 14001-2004 & ISO 9001-2008 certified jewelry retail chain has been recognized with many awards and accolades for its exceptional standards in jewelry retailing. Its popular Chennai showroom has also been recognized by the Limca Book of records for being the largest jewelry showroom in the world. In addition to this, Joyalukkas has also been awarded the Middle-East Retailer of the Year award and recognized by the Government of Dubai under the Dubai Quality Awards program for its consistent adherence to procedures, systems and correct practices to ensure 100 percent customer satisfaction.

MUSCAT: Film star R Madhavan, Joy Alukkas, John Paul Joy Alukkas, Hassan Ali Jawad, Yassin Bin Jaffer of Joyalukkas Jewellery, Thomas Scaria, Justin Sunny of Joyalukkas Group, Henry George, Joyalukkas Group and Jose KF during the opening of the showroom.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Healthcare a ‘privilege’ in Greece after cuts, experts warn ATHENS: Healthcare in Greece risks becoming a privilege after two years of sweeping budget cuts imposed by the authorities in their desperate effort to slash bills and steady the finances, experts warn. With public health spending at around 10 billion euros, 25 percent lower than in 2009, staying healthy “risks becoming a privilege,” says Haralambos Economou, a sociology professor at Panteion University in Athens.

Two years of biting austerity have left Greece in a fifth year of recession with over a million people officially unemployed, some 20 percent of the workforce.

Healthcare experts argue that up to 10 percent of the population now has to dig into their dwindling savings if they need treatment. Previously, most Greeks had turned to private care whenever possible, even to the tune of paying nearly 40 percent of total health

costs out of their own pocket, one of the highest rates among developed nations.

Now, demand at public hospitals is up 20-30 percent as they fall back on the state system just as it comes under intense pressure from the cost cutting.

Worse still, many people seek to finesse the system, turning up at hospital as an emergency case in order to get immediate treatment, rather than arrange -and have to pay for-an appointment in advance.

The hospitals try their best in the circumstances. “After recent reforms forced us to take money from people who lack healthcare coverage, more and more patients try to avoid making appointments for lack of cash,” says Meropi Manteou, a lung specialist at Sotiria general hospital in Athens.

“They come in with the flu and try to pass it off as an emergency. We do what we can to help the poorest that come

but I don’t know how long we’ll be able to turn a blind eye,” Manteou said.

Even those with years of healthcare contributions behind them face increasing problems. The health ministry has cut the list of medicines and tests eligible for a partial refund from social insurance funds, which are themselves in dire straits from fiscal mismanagement and chronically low contributions now exacerbated by the rising rate of unemployment.

State hospitals are having to make do with reduced funding, doctor salaries cut by a quar ter, a chronic shortage of nurses and overtime pay pending since December, grumbles George Kalliabetsos, a pathology clinic supervisor in the central city of Volos.

Kalliabetsos says his clinic frequently has to accommodate 45 patients with only 35 beds, four doctors out of a required seven and just two night nurses, not to mention regular shortages in

medical supplies.

Health ministry officials insist the cuts were necessary to rid a system, originally modelled in the 1980s on Britain’s National Health Service, of decades of wasteful practice. “There is great room to cut cost without hampering the system,” argues Stavros Karvounis, a financial advisor to Health Minister Andreas Loverdos.

As an example, he notes that medicine costs ultimately borne by the state had skyrocketed before the economic crisis hit Greece in 2010. The health minister recently charged that Greeks are still overspending on unnecessary medicine and hospital tests, burdening social welfare funds as the country faces its worst debt crisis in decades.

Loverdos said 3.5 million CAT body scans were carried out in Greece last year, double the number in the other European Union states combined while Greeks also threw out one billion euros

($1.3 billion) of out-of-date medicine stored in their homes.

Public spending on medicine also was cut to 3.75 billion euros last year from 5.6 billion euros in 2010, and the health ministry plans to make another 800-million- euros cut this year, Loverdos said.

One of the ministr y ’s proudest achievements this year has been the introduction of a new online prescription system to eliminate the chaotic book-keeping that had allowed unscrupulous doctors and pharmacists to write bogus prescriptions for years, skimming the proceeds.

But the kinks in the new system are such to drive law-abiding doctors mad.

“It’s a total shambles; the system is down two or three times a week, and the drugs are listed in a completely irrational manner,” says Maria, a general practitioner who declined to give her surname.—AFP

Living kidney donations favor some patient groups Donors take six weeks off work after transplant

HONG KONG: The carcass of the world’s most well-preserved baby mammoth, named Lyuba, is displayed in Hong Kong yesterday. Lyuba, whose carcass is 42 thousand years old was found by a reindeer herder in Yamal Peninsula in Russia on 2007. She will be exhibited at IFC Mall in Hong Kong. —AFP

Seattle council protects public breastfeeding SEATTLE: It’s already against Washington state law to discriminate against public breastfeeding, but the Seattle City Council specifically made it illegal for businesses and other entities to ask nursing moms to stop, cover up or move to a different location in public areas.

The council unanimously approved a measure that adds a mother’s right to breastfeed her child to a list of protected civil rights, such as race, color, disability and religion - allowing the city’s office of civil rights to enforce the law and educate the public about the issue.

“The bottom line is, it’s a health issue for our community,” said Councilman Bruce Harrell, who sponsored the bill. “It’s very clear the benefits of breastfeeding. What we want to do is move the needle in terms of community acceptance of breastfeeding by having our local civil office of rights enforcing the law.”

Mayor Mike McGinn will sign the bill into law, his spokesman Aaron Pickus said Monday. Supporters say nursing moms in Seattle continue to be told to stop, cover up or move to a different area while at cafes, stores, restaurants, theaters and other areas of public accommodation, despite the existing state law.

“We know that every single day, moms are being discriminated against,” said Rachel Schwartz, manager of the advocacy group Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington. “It’s not about duplicating the (state) law. It’s making it easier to follow through with the law.”

Dozens of states have laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Seattle’s ordinance would make it illegal to ask a nursing mom to stop, cover up or move to another location; it would apply to areas open to the public, including doctor’s offices, restaurants, libraries and theaters.

Seattle mom Alice Enevoldsen said it’s silly that Seattle needs such a law, but she

thinks it’s important that it passes. It’ll be easier for the city to enforce, she said.

“Babies don’t have a lot of control over when they’re hungry. We need to feed them when they’re hungry,” said the mom of a 1-year-old. Sometimes that means you’re out in a public place, she said, adding: “Just get out of my business. I’m going to feed my baby.”

The Seattle Women’s Commission lobbied for the bill after hearing from dozens of community and women’s groups that mothers were being told to cover up or leave.

“For those who have been discriminated against, it’s embarrassing,” said Abigail Echo-Hawk with the Seattle Women’s Commission. “It can embarrass a woman so much that she may choose to stop breastfeeding.”

Eliminating barriers to breastfeeding will help more women continue to nurse, she added.

Since the Washington state law protecting public breastfeeding went into effect in 2009, three mothers have filed complaints with the state Human Rights Commission.

One mother was asked to move to another location while she was breastfeeding her baby in the lobby of her physical therapist in Sultan. She was uncomfortable with the situation so she left the office without keeping her appointment. That business agreed to buy a $5,000 US Savings Bond in the child’s name, said Laura Lindstrand, policy analyst state commission.

Two other cases are pending. One complaint was filed by a mother who was told she couldn’t breastfeed her baby at a daycare center in Long Beach. Another was filed by a mother who was breastfeeding while soaking at the Sol Duc Hot Springs in Port Angeles.

“I don’t think everybody wants to breastfeed in public, but I think we should all have the ability to do what’s best for our babies when it’s best for our babies,” said Enevoldsen, the Seattle mom. — AP

SAN FRANCISCO: Nail care products are displayed at a beauty supply shop in San Francisco. California’s chemical regulators randomly sampled dozens of professional grade nail polishes that claimed to be free of a “toxic trio” of dangerous substances and found that many still contained the chemicals in high levels. — AP

NEW YORK: People in the United States who receive a kidney from a live donor who is not a relative tend to be white, highly educated and live in wealthier neighborhoods, according to a study that calls for wider outreach to promote living donation.

Researchers, whose findings appeared in the Journal of Urology, said the findings demonstrate that financial and educational barriers make it harder for the poor and minorities to give or receive an organ.

“We’re not doing enough in this country to remove disincentives to living donation,” said Gabriel Danovitch, senior author of the study and director of the kidney and pancreas transplant program at UCLA. The kidney is one of the few organs a person can give away, yet still lead a healthy life afterwards with one remaining kidney. Since the 1990s, advances in immune-suppression have made it safer to receive an organ from someone who isn’t biologically related. Lessinvasive surgery techniques also make it easier to donate.

But while medical costs for a live donor are typically covered by health insurance, additional expenses - such as travel, lodging and

time off from work - are not. To see who was most likely to donate, Danovitch and his colleagues looked at information about all 39,000 adult kidney transplants in the United States from 1997 to 2007 that occurred with a live donor. They gathered information on education, race, insurance type, zip code and whether people were related.

Danovitch’s group found that kidney donations from non-relatives have become more common, rising from seven percent of live donations in 1997 to 26 percent in 2006. The vast majority of unrelated donors have an emotional relationship with the patient, such as friends. In a few cases, though, organs came from volunteers with no relationships.

But they found that both unrelated donors and recipients were generally older, likely to live in slightly higher-income neighborhoods than related donors and recipients, and more likely to have a college degree.

Patients with higher socioeconomic status are probably more likely to have access to potential donors who have similar means and resources, the researchers wrote. “It’s not because (people in lower socioeconomic status groups) care about their loved ones any

less, but because they can’t pay for the flight, the hotel or losing their job,” Danovitch told Reuters Health.

Kidney donors typically have to take six weeks off work after the transplant. In addition, informational barriers may explain why recipients of organs from unrelated donors are more likely to have had more education.

Cultural differences may also be a factor, they wrote. Amber Reeves-Daniel, the medical director of abdominal organ transplant at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, said she’s seen that African American transplant recipients almost always receive a live donor kidney from a relative.

“I think there’s a sense of closeness in the African American family structure of ‘we’re going to make this work,’” said Reeves-Daniel, who was not involved in the study. “If that doesn’t work out, then they say ‘I would just get a kidney from a deceased donor.’”

But the number of people waiting for a kidney from a deceased donor greatly outnumbers availability. According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, 91,000 people are waiting for a kidney in the United States. — Reuters

Number of US teen births lowest in 70 yrs

HERAT: Afghan women look on as a child lies on a bed in a tuberculosis section of the main hospital in Herat yesterday. According to the last estimate of World Health Organization (WHO) more than 10,000 Afghans die annually due to tuberculosis. — AFP

Dental X-rays linked to brain tumors: Study WASHINGTON: People who get regular dental X-rays are more likely to suffer a common type of brain tumor, US researchers said yesterday, suggesting that yearly exams may not be best for most patients.

The study in the US journal Cancer showed people diagnosed with meningioma who reported having a yearly bitewing exam were 1.4 times to 1.9 times as likely as a healthy control group to have developed such tumors.

A bitewing exam involves an X-ray film being held in place by a tab between the teeth. Also, people who reported getting a yearly panorex examin which an X-ray is taken outside the mouth and shows all the teeth on one film-were 2.7 to three times more likely to develop cancer, said the study.

A meningioma is a tumor that forms in the membrane around the brain or spinal cord. Most of the time these tumors are benign and slow growing, but they can lead to disability or lifethreatening conditions.

The research, led by Elizabeth Claus of the Yale University School of Medicine, was based on data from 1,433 US patients who were diagnosed with the tumors between the ages of ages 20-79.

For comparison, researchers consulted data from a control group of 1,350 individuals who had similar characteristics but had not been diagnosed with a meningioma.

Dental patients today are exposed to

lower radiation levels than they were in the past, but the research should prompt dentists and patients to re-examine when and why dental X-rays are given, said Claus.

“The study presents an ideal opportunity in public health to increase awareness regarding the optimal use of dental X-rays, which unlike many risk factors is modifiable,” she said. The American Dental Association’s guidelines call for children to get one X-ray every one to two years; teens to have one every 1.5 to three years, and adults every two to three years.

The ADA said in 2006 there was little evidence to back up the routine use of full-mouth dental X-rays in patients without any symptoms. Michael Schulder, vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Cushing Neuroscience Institute, part of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System in New York, said he was not shocked by the findings.

“This should come as no great surprise given the connection between radiation and meningioma development that has been established in various other contexts,” said Schulder, who was not involved in the research.

“The chance of these tumors arising in patients who were X-rayed yearly still was low. Nonetheless, dentists and their patients should strongly consider obtaining X-rays less often than yearly unless symptoms suggest the need for imaging.” — AFP

WASHINGTON: The number of new teenage mothers in the United States is at its lowest level in nearly 70 years but remains the highest of any major developed country, according to official figures released yesterday.

The current rate of 34.3 births per 1,000 women aged 1519 is down 44 percent from a peak in 1991, and is 64 percent lower than the record set during the 1957 “baby boom” of 96.3 births per 1,000. In 2010 just under 368,000 babies were born to women aged 15-19, in addition to 4,500 born to girls aged 10-14, according to the figures released by the National Center for Health Statistics.

In one year, between 2009 and 2010, the rate plunged by nine percent, a “phenomenal” decline, Brady Hamilton, an author of the study, told AFP. He attributed the “good news” of the report to both the general decline in fertility among all age groups-except women aged 40-45 — and to “numerous programs” aimed at preventing teen pregnancy.

However, the US teen birth rate remains far higher than that of other industrialized countries. A UN report from 2009 found a rate of 16.5 births per 1,000 teenage women in Australia, 12.2 in Spain, 10.2 in France, 9.8 in Germany, 4.9 in Japan and 25 in Britain. The US report said the teen birth rate was down across all racial groups and all areas of the country.

However, the rate varies by region, with the southern state of Mississippi recording a rate of 55 births per 1,000 teenage women and the northeastern state of New Hampshire recording just 15.7. The overall teen birth rate “continues to be a matter of public concern because of the elevated health risk for teen mothers and their infants,” the National Center for Health Statistics said. —AFP

3 more pesticides may harm salmon CALIFORNIA: A draft federal evaluation has found that three more common pesticides used on home lawns and agricultural crops jeopardize the survival of West Coast salmon. The evaluation from NOAA Fisheries Service is the latest one resulting from lawsuits filed by conservation groups and salmon fishermen demanding the US Environmental Protection Agency enforce restrictions on pesticides around salmon streams. This one looked at the pre-emergent herbicides oryzalin, pendimenthalin and trifluralin. They are used to control weeds in lawns, on road shoulders, in orchards, vineyards, and farm fields growing soybeans, cotton, corn, Christmas trees and other crops. Heaviest use is in California.

The herbicides are ingredients in more than 100 commercial products made by dozens of manufacturers.

NOAA Fisheries informed the US Environmental Protection Agency that they are likely to jeopardize half the 26 salmon populations on the West Coast protected by the Endangered Species Act, and suggested restrictions like no-spray buffers to keep them out of salmon streams.

Trifluralin is the most toxic of the three, and deforms fish backbones even at low concentrations. It is used on soybeans, cotton, lawns and road shoulders. Oryzalin is the least toxic, and is harmful to aquatic plants that make up salmon habitat.

It is used on shrubs, lawns and golf courses.

Pendimenthalin is toxic to aquatic plants and insects that salmon eat. It is used on soybeans, cotton, corn and peanuts.

Heather Hansen of Washington Friends of Farms and Forests, which represents commodity growers, said the proposed restrictions were less dramatic than those suggested for other pesticides. —AP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

H E A LT H

GCC gets super-specialty healthcare Opening of Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi KUWAIT: The first advanced healthcare facility capable of meeting the lifestyle requirements of GCC citizens began operations with the opening of Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi on April 3, 2012. With this, patients from the Gulf states, who previously needed to travel to the West and elsewhere, looking for high quality healthcare, can now get access to such services right here in the region.

The multi-specialty and wellness hospital has combined the best talents, equipment and technologies with unbeatable luxury and personalised services. In fact, Burjeel stands out as the only hospital in the Gulf to offer the comfort and convenience of suites, based on the lifestyle needs of Arab families. It has a total of 32 suites and 88 rooms, with duplex extravagant Royal suites spreading over 557 sq m, rooms and suites across six categories with varying levels of luxury and comfort. Particular attention has

also been paid to the comfort of relatives and friends staying with inpatients.

“The idea for Burjeel Hospital was borne out of the vision of Abu Dhabi to become the most advanced centre for healthcare services in the region,” said Dr Shamsheer, VP, Managing Director, Burjeel Hospital. “Burjeel has been envisaged as a truly international medical facility that will offer cutting edge healthcare services, administered by some of the finest medical talent available.”

Currently, a large number of people requiring advanced treatment for various diseases depend on specialised hospitals abroad, primarily in Germany and the United Kingdom. Recently, Thailand and India too have become popular destinations for such patients.

According to studies, it is estimated that GCC citizens spend AED92 billion annually to travel abroad for health reasons.

With its state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure and use of latest technology, Burjeel is set to provide a big boost to the UAE’s medical tourism industry, considering that the hospital was set up keeping in mind Arab standards and emphasis on family. It, therefore, also features a fullyequipped gymnasium with state-ofthe-art fitness and equipment, a spa, and a multi-cuisine restaurant.

“At Burjeel, our outstanding healthcare services are complemented by a healing touch, which is rare to find in today’s fast-paced world. We understand the region and its requirements, and our medical infrastructure is capable of giving a new dimension to medical tourism in the UAE,” said Dr Shamsheer.

Burjeel Hospital will be fully functional in a phased manner in the coming months. Currently it has begun operations of its Out Patient Services which includes consultations in differ-

ent specialties, dental services, specimen testing and diagnostic imaging.

The newly launched services also include Out-Patient Department Clinics offering family medicine, paediatric, vascular surgery, general surgery (consultation only) and nephrology.

More clinics are set to open in the coming weeks.

Dr Charles Stanford, Chief Executive Officer at Burjeel Hospital, said: “Burjeel is Arabic word for wind tower, standing for the traditional hospitality of the Gulf region. But along with traditional charm, Burjeel Hospital is all about sophistication. At Burjeel, we have the right mix of medical talent, technology and wellness infrastructure to offer patients from the UAE and other parts of the region a truly international healthcare environment.”

Burjeel Hospital is located on Al Najdah Street in Abu Dhabi and is easily accessible from most locations within Abu Dhabi. The hospital, on an area

of over 70,000 square metres, will offer more than 200-beds and provide the entire range of specialised healthcare services, including a state-of-the-art surgery department, capable of delivering comprehensive treatment.

Burjeel has established centres of excellence in association with the world’s best health service providers.

These centres of excellence will bring together highly accredited medical experts across almost all specialisations. Additionally, each department within the hospital offers an aesthetic ambience to put patients at ease.

The hospital provides 10 operating rooms, including a state of the art Hybrid OR, intensive care units (separate units for medicine, neonatology, new born, cardiac and surgery), delivery suites, dialysis facilities, and clinical departments and two pharmacies.

The ground and 6-storey hospital also has a large basement parking, adding to the convenience of visitors.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N Greetings

Pravasandhra’s ‘Simha Gharjana’ a grand success

H

appy Birthday Favor! We pray that God will bless and guide you as you grow to be a blessing to our family Amen. Greetings from LAIF, daddy, mummy, sister and aunt Chinwe.

‘S

imha Gharjana’ mega musical program, which was organized by Pravasandhra Telugu Desam, NBK Seva Samithi was grand success with huge crowd at the Abbasiya Open Park last Friday.

Kuwait Telugu community and Nandamuri Fans dream came true as their beloved popular Telugu legendary hero Nandamuri Bala Krishna, who is a son of the great Telugu/Indian personality Padmasri Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, exchief minister of Andhra Pradesh came to Kuwait to appreciate their relentless services as one of the main reasons. They have seen their hero with great admiration as he arrived to Kuwait on his 3 days trip and participate as chief guest in this event.

On behalf of Nandamuri Bala Krishna Kuwait visit, Pravasandhra Telugu Desam, NBK Seva Samiti organized, ‘Simha

GUST welcomes jazz performers Coco York & Mike Del Ferro

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he Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in cooperation with the US Embassy and American Voices Abroad welcomed a performance by Jazz artists Coco York, Jazz Vocalist and Mike Del Ferro, Jazz Pianist in their auditorium for a lively presentation of pure jazz.

York wowed the crowd with her soulful performance and witty humor. Everyone was entertained with Del Ferro’s experience on the piano and how his sound blended beautifully with York’s strong vocal talent.

In attendance was Dr Abdulrahman Al-Muhailan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who thoroughly enjoyed the performance and enjoyed the students’ interaction and participation with York on her scat renditions, following the explanation of where scat came from - the late Ella Fitzgerald. She mentioned that it was said that Fitzgerald was the one who started scat singing as a young girl singing with her father’s band, when she would forget the lyrics of the songs.

GUST was the first stop in the duo’s tour and the university hopes to welcome them back again in the future. The Humanities Department at GUST is always on the lookout for talent to share with its students and faculty to expose them to different sounds and cultures.

Gharjana’ a mega musical program. The unique program was a mega success due to the presence of large audience and Bala Krishna fans.

Indian ambassador Satish C Mehta was also present as one of the dignitaries.

Bala Krishna expressed his appreciation for Telugu people, who are living in Kuwait, their role of development of Andhra Pradesh, social activities in his speech. He explained the greatness of Telugu language and culture and called for Telugu people’s unity. Bala Krishna appreciated the Pravasandhra Telugudesam, NBK Seva samithi efforts for arranging this event.

Bala Krishna also recognized the services of Pravasandhra Telugu Desam, Gulf Wide Nandamuri fans and other associations and appreciated their sincere efforts for this great cause in fund raising for

“Basava Tarakam Indo - American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute” a hospital with ultra modern equipment which is serving the downtrodden people of India suffering from dangerous disease “cancer” with minimum charges possible.

Pravasandhra Telugu Desam president Mulakala Subbarayudu, President Venkat Koduri conveyed their sincere thanks to Bala Krishna for accepting the invitation and visiting Kuwait, Telugu community in Kuwait attended in large number for this event.

Telugu play back singers Simha and Kousya troupe mesmerize the audience with songs and music.

After that Pravasandhra Telugu Desam President M Subbarayudu Naidu, President Koduri Venkata Siva Rao, Vice President Pidikiti Sreenivas Chowdary, General Secretary M. Suresh Babu, Joint

Secretary’s Peram Ramana, Adusupalli Uday Prakash, Treasurer P Sudarsan, Program Coordinator K V N Prasad, PROs Rajesh Kumar, P Gopal Raju and members, The Gulf Wide Nandamuri Fans President Santharam Naidu, Vice President Divakar Oleti, General Secretary Venkatesh Naidu Vegi, other executive committee members Malepati Babu, Kishore Daruru, Babu Naidu Polarapu, Medamalli Sreenu, Mohan Babu Kottapalli, Mani Sannapaneni, Nagendra Marathu, Master Mahaboob Basha, Bujjaiah Naidu Penigalapati, Chinna Subbaiah, Naidu Konanki, Manohar Naidu Paidi, Narasimha Naidu Meka, Bala Polina and other members, Paritala Yuvasena, Yugastar Nadamuri fans members felicitated individually their beloved hero and presented a mementos to Bala Krishna in front of thousands of NBK lovers and garlanded him with immense pleasure.

Satellite TV channel - Bangla vision’s successful

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orldwide viewed satellite TV channel Bangla Vision’s successful completed six year and had a grand celebration in Kuwait with festivity in accordance. Bangla vision family in Kuwait organized a colorful celebration and discussion meeting by cutting the cake.

The festivity commenced with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran, recited by A.K. Azad Nur well wisher of the channel and President of Manikganj Society in Kuwait..

Prayers were offered for continuous success of the channel and well being of the nation as well.

Renowned journalist and poet Sheikh Ehsanul Haque Khokan presented a program and was presided over

by Bangla vision’s Kuwait representative Kamrul Hasan.

Media personality and the CEO of Marafia Kuwaitia group of companies - Shahid Islam Papul attended the festivity as the chief guest. Among other invitees the special guests were Zafar Ahmed Chowdhury, Bangabandhu Parisad president Sheikh Akramuzzaman, Abdul Quddus, Seschsasebak Dal president Mornin ullah Patwary, Abdul Awal, General Secretary of Seschsasebak League - Kuwait Shamsul Islam, President of Sramik dal- Kuwait Iqbal along with them a vast number of expatriate socio-cultural activists, journalists and community leaders participated in the celebration.

KDNA organizes one day family picnic

Palakkad Pravasi Association to conduct Arts Day

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alakkad Pravasi Association of Kuwait is conducting Arts Day, a full day socio-cultural event for its members and children. The program will be held on 27th April 2012 at 10 am at Indian Central School Auditorium, Abbassiya. The program will consist of various items include bharatanatyam, mohiniyattam, folk dance, Mono Act, mimics, fancy dress, mappilapaattu, recitation, cinematic, group dance etc. PALPAK has been conducting similar event every year since its inception aiming to encourage the talents of its members and children.

For registration and more details please contact Suresh Pulikkal - Arts Secretary (97260159) and the Area Secretaries Suresh Madhavan - Salmiya (97253235), Sankaranarayanan - Fahaheel (90925460), Sunilkumar - Farwaniya (97201399), Udayavarman Abbassiya (97216434).

Announcements Future Eye Theatre anniversary Future Eye Theatre, Kuwait will celebrate its second anniversary on April 13, 2012 (6 pm to 9.30pm on Friday) at the Indian Central School auditorium, Abbassiya. The celebration entitled ‘Kaliyarangu’, will showcase a variety of theatre presentations.

Manjulan, a well-known film and theatre personality from Kerala, will be the chief guest of the this year’s celebration. Manjulan’s solo drama ‘Koonan’ will be a major attraction of the anniversary celebration. The highlight of the celebration will be the staging of the Malayalam version of Samuel Beckett’s most celebrated play ‘Waiting for Godot’ by Future Eye Theatre members. A theatre sketch on Bertolt Brecht’s popular play ‘Threepenny Opera’ will also be staged on the occasion. All theatre lovers are welcome. Entry is free.

Grand Mosque Tour For a rewarding, spiritual and informative experience.

This is a 1 1/2 tour of one of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks. Ladies are required to cover (long sleeves and long ankle length skirt, otherwise the mosque will provide a cloak; If you have your own scarf you’re welcome to bring it). Cameras are allowed and children are welcome. This tour meets directly at the Grand Mosque at 9:15am on April 14, 2012 @ 9:15 am - 10:45 am at Grand Mosque. Contact: AWARE Center 2533-5280

K

ozhikode District NRI Association (KDNA) organized one day Vinoda Yatra (family picnic) to Abdali Rawdatain Spring Camp on Friday 6th April 2012.

Picnic provided a great escape from the routine to the members & family. Picnic started with breakfast followed by a brief morning session and Area Presidents and General Secretaries gave picnic guidelines to the entire participants to ensure the safety and picnic schedule.

Chief Tour coordinator Rasheed Payanthong welcomed the audience and Advisory Board member Krishnan Kadalundi were inaugurated the Picnic.

Association President Zubair MM Advisory Board Member Basheer Batha, General Secretary Suresh Mathur, Vice Presidents Azeez Thikkodi, Kalathil Abdurahiman, Joint Treasurer RN Shoukath Ali were spoken during the inaugural session.

Picnic provided lot of entertainment, sports, games, different types of competitions, quiz, Musical Orchestra and various other activities to the members to rejoice in a leisurely atmosphere.

Delicious food was served to all the participants for the lunch. In the evening session prizes distributed to the winner of various competitions were given by the guests

Vinod V Nair, Malayalam Media Forum convener & Jeevan TV Kuwait Bureau Chief and Sathar Kunnil, E-Jalakam portal Chief Editor, Central Executive Members, Area/Unit office bearers and senior members.

Picnic came to end with musical extravaganza lead by Association Arts & Cultural Secretary Rafi Kallai & Joint Secretary Abdurahiman Naduvannur. Famous Singer Rafi Kozhikode, Kabeer, Shana Hakim, Adv.Anas Puthiyottil , Basheer Batha, Dhanya Padmanabhan among

enthralled the audience.

Santhosh Punathil, Mohanraj Areekad, Ubaid Chakalakkal, Sajeevan Kunnimmel, Premaraj Koroth, Mohammed Vazhayil, Nisar Kannam Velly, Ilyas Thottathil, K Ali Koya, Sathyan Varunda, Zaheer Alakkal, RN Shoukath Ali, Hakeem Vilyapalli, Swapna Santosh, Shahina Zubair, Jisha Suresh, Sofia Rahman, Shajina Nisar, Shafeera Rasheed, Rejitha Thulasi were coordinated and controlled the picnic.

TRASSK annual general body meeting

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hrissur Association of Kuwait (TRASSK) Conducted its Annual General Body meeting at Salmiya Indian Community School, Aman branch on Friday 23rd March. Annual General Body meeting elected its new Office Bearers for the year 2012-13. The meeting started with a silent prayer followed by a remembrance speech by Joint secretary Mr.Ashraf for the three members who passed away this year.

TRASSK Joint treasurer Sreejith welcomed all members for the meeting.

TRASSK President Sebastian Vathukadan during his presidential address congratulated members, central committee members and office bearers for their contribution towards the growth of TRASSK. General Secretary Steephen Vadakethala presented the annual working report, Vanitha Vedi report was presented by Mrs. Shiny Frank and finance report was pre-

sented by Treasurer Manish Kumar. All report was well defined and got approval from all of its members. Members raised new suggestions & all their queries were replied by President Sebastian through an open discussion forum. The new scheme of Building houses for needy members was explained to the members by President.

A appreciative memento was awarded

by Sebastian Vathukadan to Joy Joseph (Advisor & Former president of TRASSK) who leaves Kuwait after 8 year of his service. TRASSK Abbassiya-B area Convener Mr. Ravi was awarded with a memento for his valuable effort for the maximum sales of coupons. TRASSK President MR. Sebastian Vathukadan was recognized for his dedicated leadership throughout his

Presidential tenure with a memento from Mr. Joy Joseph former president of TRASSK. The general body elected Ajith Menon (President), Biju Kadavi (General Secretary), Jeejo Sunny(Treasurer) Chandran P.S (Vice President) Babu Paryil, Sherin Mullakara, and Sudheer. (Joint Secretaries), and Sanoj Sahadevan (Joint Treasurer) as new office bearers for the year 2012-13. The general body also elected Kochurani Wilson (President), Priya Manikandan (Secretary) and Lissy Wilson (Treasurer) as new office bearers for Vanitha Vedi for 2012-13. K. R. Prasad, Rafi Padiyath, and Joseph Wadakkan were the returning officers.

Sports meet victors prize were distributed in the same venue after meeting.

More than 500 members attended the meeting and around 10:30 PM meeting was concluded with the thanks giving speech from Joint Secretary Baiju C.P.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N

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

GUST sponsors instructor Ahmad Al-Majed on 2012 Absa Cape Epic Largest mountain bike race

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he Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) sponsored Instructor Ahmad Al-Majed on his recent conquest of conquering the 2012 Absa Cape Epic, which is considered the largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world, an 8-day, approximately 800 km race on the nature of the Western Cape and around 15,000meters of climbing over some of the most “magnificent passes in South Africa.” Ahmad Al-Majed, is one part of the first Arab team to participate in the race in the past 10 years.

As the official website states, the Absa Cape Epic takes place every year around the last week of March and the first week of April and every year, the route changes every year, and welcomes new aspiring amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world.

GUST is an avid supporter of sports and took the opportunity to sponsor Mr. Al-Majed on this adventure. In the Absa Cape Epic, the athletes’ satisfaction, wellbeing and enjoyment of the race are the organizers’ primary goals

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The ninth edition of the race kicked off with a 27-kilometer prologue. The event saw 1,200 excited riders from 46 countries enjoy sunny weather with the first group of riders starting their 8-day journey at 6:45am. According to Dr. Basil Bonner, the Mediclinic Race Doctor, the 2012 Absa Cape Epic was the toughest Cape Epic he has experienced, stating: “We saw more clavicle fractures than the

average for previous races. The route was dry, rocky and very technical and riders came off their bikes more often.”

After eight days of uphill climbs and slopes of seemingly never-ending miles, Ahmad Al-Majed completed the race: “I have no idea how we managed to finish that race. It was the toughest experience we ever had! It was 60 hours and 8 minutes of hammering on the bike trying our

best to cross the South African mountains. It was a great experience. Thank God we came back in one piece.

Nevertheless, I’m not sure if I’d want to do it again!”

GUST is honored to have sponsored this journey and continuously encourages their students and staff to participate in sports and athletics to ensure a well-rounded and wholesome lifestyle.

A grandiose celebration of kindergarten graduation at IIS

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indergarten Graduation Fiesta was celebrated at Enchanted Kingdom of India International School (IIS) on Thursday, 22nd March 2012.

It was an evening filled with mysteries, wonders, Fantasy, Magic and High -Octane fun and entertainment wrapped in a pixie of dust which was unleashed by the students.

The event began when the little comperes Master Jeffry and Miss. Sabrina transported the audience to the enchanted kingdom where colours were bright, the air soft and the evening more fragrant than before as technically their mission was to keep the audience happy and entertaining.

The graduation Fiesta was graced by the galaxy of dignitaries, guests and proud parents. The evening was adored by the chief guest Dr Shaikha Maymoona Khalifa Al-Sabha, Osama Al Shaheen, R.K. Nair, Kuwait International bank, Falah Ahmed Al mane, Fahaheel Branch, Kuwait (CBK) Mashhoor, President of Indo Kuwait Friendship society, Talal Baqer, Sr.Branch Manager, Kuwait International Branch were the guest of honour.

Dr. P.A Ibrahim, the chairman welcomed the august gathering. He congratulated the parents and students and he focussed on all round development and achievement of the students.

Director Malayil Moosa Koya honoured the Chief guest with blossom flowers.

Principal F.M.Basheer Ahmed, Vice principal Narider Kaur graced the occasion.

The technical savy of IIS was inaugurated by the chairman, Dr.P.A Ibrahim. IIS always aims to provide the best possible education to the students.

It also develops in them qualities of integrity, honesty, trust, tolerance and compassion to promote a spirit of enquiry to foster an educational temper within the bonds of humanism. Keeping in pace with the aim, the school honored the meritorious students of class 12th and 10th.Class X &12

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. The Canadian Embassy will be closed on Sunday and Monday 08 and 09 April 2012 on the occasion of Easter. The Embassy will resume its duties on Tuesday 10 April 2012. 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.

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus requests Cypriot citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy has moved. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Cypriot citizens in cases of emergencies. Registration information can be emailed to cyprusembassykwt@gmail.com or faxed to 22253227 or given by phone to 65906048 (Mrs Christine). nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KOREA The Embassy of the Republic of Korea wishes to inform that it has moved to Mishref. New Address: Embassy of the Republic of Korea Mishref, Block 7A, Diplomatic Area 2, Plot 6 The Embassy also wishes to inform that it will be opened to the public on the following office hours: Saturdays to Thursday Morning: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Lunch Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, AlSalaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location.

Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NEPAL The Embassy of Nepal will be moving from its current location to a new place in Jabriya, Block 8, St. 13, House No. 514, effective from Sunday, 15th April, 2012. Till the new telephone connections are installed, the Embassy may be contacted by email: info@nepembku.org nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF ROMANIA The Embassy of Romania to the State of Kuwait would like to inform that the Consular Section of the Embassy will be close for construction works beginning with 18 April 2012, till 10 May 2012. During this period of time the Consular Section will not issue any type of visas for Romania and will not issue any Romanian passports or travel documents. The Consular Section will only be able to assist with notary deeds. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience. nnnnnnn

who excelled their talents in CBSE board exams.PA Abdullah Memorial Award for science stream was awarded gold coins to Ms.Reena & Ms.Sana of class XII Ms.Munazza was honoured with chairman’s award for securing A1 i.e 10/10 grade in cumulative grade percentage (C.G.P.A) A gold coin for excellence was awarded to her.

The cultural show at the kingdom was unfurled by a spectacular welcome dance presented by the students of LKG C with vigor and panache and the charismatic bash was swirled up by Hawa Hawa presented by tiny tots of LKG C. The glitz and glamour of Kuwait was evident when the children of UKG E &F following the glowing speck of right of Kuwait and presented the glimpses of Kuwait. The guests & audience also joined on swirling flags to the irresistible rhythmic beat of Kuwait song.

The power of magic was initiated on the award winning

best musical lion king followed by waka-waka with an aerial act performed by Master Mohammed Qazi. The wild entry of Salim was swasbuckling and kept the audience awe-struck with his performance.

The heartbeat of the audience raised high. When they experienced life time journey through the stormy desert and disclosed the secret of Arabian land by UKG G.

The meticulous action, emotion drama and unbelievable sight and fireworks of rapid moving steps was seen in the dramatic art form when the students of UKG C & D drove the audience on a cyclonic carpet ride with Alladin and Jasmine.

The exciting creatures of the kids world was displayed by the Monster dance and exhibited animal party at the enchanted kingdom by UKG A

&D. An essay of creativity and captivating poetry of foot step was presented by Bollywood Hungama by UKG A,B,& C. The rip roaring programme came to an end when all the graduating students with the mask came along with their teachers with the message of love. The guests also joined hand with the students and wished the students to take the world with stride.

The little compere were appreciated by one and all for their excellent voice modulation and dialogues deliveries.

It was a nostalgic moment for the parent s to see their children graduating and completing their 1st milestone with confidence.

The school was in full spark to bring out the best and create another mark in the history of India International School. The happy ending at the enchanted kingdom came to an end after the vote of thanks presented by head of KG Dept. Mrs.Shifana Muizz.

EMBASSY OF THAILAND The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait, wishes to invite the Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 -25317531, Ext: 14. 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

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

ACCOMMODATION A room available for a single working class lady in a furnished 2-bedroom flat in Salmiya -close to Hadi hospital. Please call 66801355

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 11/4/2012 Flt Route

Time

JZR QTR JZR JZR QTR ETH GFA UAE ETD DHX FDB MSR QTR KAC THY DHX FAH JZR AFR KAC BAW JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC ADB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB IRA ETD GFA RNV FCX MEA JZR MSR RBG IRM KNE JZR IRC CLX MSR GFA KAC RJA FDB KNE KAC QTR SVA KAC KAC QTR JZR KAC SVA ETD IYE SYR UAE GFA SVA UAL JZR BAB JZR ABY ALK KAC KAC KAC FDB MSR KHT JZR KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC AXB FDB OMA MEA QTR GFA KAC KLM JZR UAE ETD ABY QTR DHX AIC GFA UAL SAI JZR RBG DLH BBC THY

185 148 539 267 6130 620 211 853 305 370 67 612 138 544 770 1707 201 555 6702 412 157 529 206 382 53 302 1354 352 284 344 362 855 125 132 55 603 301 213 311 203 404 165 606 3553 5066 460 561 6791 792 610 219 672 640 57 472 790 140 500 788 546 134 535 538 9354 303 824 341 857 215 510 982 177 436 777 127 227 542 166 786 63 620 7605 787 618 674 102 572 774 393 61 647 402 146 221 514 417 135 859 307 129 136 372 975 217 981 441 239 3563 636 44 772

0:15 0:20 0:30 0:50 1:40 1:45 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:55 3:10 3:20 3:25 4:10 4:35 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:05 6:15 6:30 6:40 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:50 8:00 8:05 8:15 8:20 8:20 8:25 8:30 9:00 9:20 9:25 9:30 10:00 10:20 10:30 10:55 11:05 11:10 11:10 11:55 12:10 12:25 13:15 13:15 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:40 13:45 14:15 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:00 15:05 15:15 16:00 16:10 16:25 16:35 16:35 16:40 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:40 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:50 22:55 23:05 23:10 23:15 23:40

DUBAI DOHA CAIRO BEIRUT DOHA ADDIS ABABA BAHRAIN DUBAI ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI CAIRO DOHA CAIRO ISTANBUL BAHRAIN DUBAI ALEXANDRIA PARIS MANILA LONDON ASSIUT ISLAMABAD DELHI DUBAI MUMBAI AL MAKTOUM INTERNATI COCHIN DHAKA CHENNAI COLOMBO DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA DUBAI SHIRAZ ABU DHABI BAHRAIN YEREVAN DUBAI BEIRUT DUBAI LUXOR ALEXANDRIA MASHAD MEDINAH SOHAG MASHAD LUXEMBOURG CAIRO BAHRAIN DUBAI AMMAN DUBAI JEDDAH MEDINAH DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA DOHA CAIRO SHARM EL SHEIKH JEDDAH ABU DHABI SANAA DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH WASHINGTON DC DULLES DUBAI BAHRAIN JEDDAH SHARJAH COLOMBO CAIRO PARIS JEDDAH DUBAI ASSIUT AL MAKTOUM INTERNATI RIYADH DOHA DUBAI NEW YORK MUMBAI RIYADH KOZHIKODE DUBAI MUSCAT BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN TEHRAN AMSTERDAM BAHRAIN DUBAI ABU DHABI SHARJAH DOHA BAHRAIN CHENNAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN LAHORE AMMAN ASSIUT FRANKFURT ESENBOGA ISTANBUL

Airlines AIC UAL DLH PIA THY ETH QTR UAE FDB DHX ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR JZR GFA THY AFR KAC KAC BAW FDB KAC ABY JZR KAC KAC UAE KAC KAC QTR FDB ETD IRA GFA RNV KAC FCX RBG MEA ADB MSR JZR KAC KNE KAC JZR IRM IRC GFA FDB MSR RJA CLX KAC KNE SVA KAC JZR QTR KAC KAC ETD JZR IYE SYR JZR QTR SVA UAE GFA JZR ABY KAC SVA UAL JZR ALK FDB BAB MSR JZR KAC KAC JAI FDB KAC KHT KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA JZR DHX KLM ABY ETD KAC UAE FAH QTR KAC KAC JZR DHX BBC QTR AXB GFA RBG KAC JZR SAI

Departure Flights on Wednesday 11/4/2012 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 981 WASHINGTON DC 637 FRANKFURT 206 LAHORE 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 6131 DOHA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 6702 DUBAI 545 ALEXANDRI 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 175 FRANKFURT 126 SHARJAH 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDA 856 DUBAI 789 MADINAH 117 NEW YORK 133 DOHA 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 602 SHIRAZ 214 BAHRAIN 312 YEREVAN 541 CAIRO 204 DUBAI 3564 ASSIU 405 BEIRUT 1354 KANDAHAR 619 ASSIUT 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 461 MADINAH 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 5065 MASHHAD 6792 MASHHAD 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 641 AMMAN 792 GIALAM 673 DUBAI 473 JEDDAH 503 MADINAH 617 DOHA 786 RIYADH 135 DOHA 773 RIYADH 513 IMAM KHOMEINI 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 824 SANAA 342 DAMASCUS 538 AIRO 141 DOHA 2055 JEDDAH 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 153 ISTANBUL 511 RIYADH 982 BAHRAIN 266 BEIRUT 228 DUBAI 64 DUBAI 439 BAHRAIN 621 ALEXANDRIA 184 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 361 COLOMBO 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 331 RIVANDRUM 7603 KANDAHAR 351 KOCHI 648 MUSCAT 403 BEIRUT 543 CAIRO 222 BAHRAIN 502 LUXOR 171 BAHRAIN 417 DAMMAM 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 381 DELHI 860 DUBAI 102 DUBA 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 554 ALEXANDRIA 373 BAHRAIN 44 DHAKA 147 DOHA 394 KOCHI 218 BAHRAIN 3554 ALEXANDRIA 415 KUALA LUMPUR 528 ASSIUT 442 LAHORE

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

Furnished room in apartment (for Pakistani or Indian decent bachelor) in Salmiya near City Center.

Rent KD 65. Tel: 99959140.

(C 3946) 11-4-2012 Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 1:25 2:15 2:45 3:10 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:00 6:55 7:05 7:10 7:55 8:10 8:20 8:25 8:25 8:55 9:05 9:10 9:20 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:45 11:30 11:30 11:45 11:50 11:55 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:30 13:00 13:10 13:20 :25 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:45 15:05 15:15 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:15 16:25 16:25 17:20 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:40 17:45 17:55 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:50 19:10 19:25 19:35 19:55 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 21:50 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:30 23:45 23:50 23:50 23:59

For decent bachelor (non smoking) or working ladies location: Amman street, opposite to Al Rashid hospital. Building no. 44 2nd floor, room no. 10. Contact: 66232356, 50223132.

(C 3945) 10-4-2012 Sharing accommodation available for one bachelor in Abbassiya, double bedroom flat, available on 1st May, Rent KD 40/- only.

Contact: 99162583.

(C 3938) 8-4-2012 Room available in Salmiya near City Center for decent bachelor. Rent KD 75/-.

Contact: 99959140.

(C 3934) 5-4-2012

FOR SALE Eitcher half lorry model 2001 for sale. Contact: 50631577. (C 3937) 10-4-2012

MATRIMONIAL Australian man 50 years old Lebanese born just arrived in Kuwait, seeking alliance from a Kuwaiti lady

single divorce widow ok, must be God fearing lady.

Contact dadogeorge@hotmail.com (C 3947) 11-4-2012 Marthomite parents in Kuwait, invite proposals for their daughter (27/160/Fair), B/B in Kuwait, Masters from UK, currently working in Bangalore as senior executive, from well qualified and employed MARTHOMA /CSI/ORTHODOX boys (preferably working in (USA/UK/AUSTRALIA/CANADA/KUWAIT/DUBAI). Email: thomaskw8@yahoo.com (C 3943) Pakistani parents Sunni Muslim in Kuwait invite proposals for their son (31/179/Fair) currently working in Kuwait. Email: wwxxyyzz123@live.com (C 3944) 10-4-2012

CHANGE OF NAME Suresh Kumar Ramachandran holder of Indian passport No. G4510525 has converted to Islam with name of MOHAMMED SUREKH; and shall be known here forth.

(C 3939) 8-4-2012 I,Penigalapati Chinnanarsaiah, S/O Venkataiah Naidu, holder of Indian Passport No,G9940624, Resident of Venkatanarayanampalli, Chakrampeta Post, Rajampeta, Kadapa District, Andhrapradesh have changed my name to Polarapu Babu Naidu.

I, Penigalapati Sailaja, H/O

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Clinics Rabiya

24732263

Rawdha

22517733

Adailiya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Khaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Qadisiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

Polarapu Babu Naidu holder of Indian Passport No: H1830112, Resident of Venkatanarayanampalli, Chakrampeta Post, Rajampeta, Kadapa District, Andhrapradesh have changed my name to Polarapu Sailaja.

I, Sai Nikhil Chowdary, S/O Polarapu Babu Naidu, holder Of Indian Passport No:J1329699, Resident of Venkatanarayanampalli, Chakrampeta Post, Rajampeta, Kadapa District, Andhrapradesh have changed my name to Polarapu Sainikhil Chowdary.

I, Krishna Chaitanya Chowdary, S/O Polarapu Babu Naidu, holder of Indian Passport No:H1830044, Resident of Venkatanarayanampalli, Chakrampeta Post, Rajampeta, Kadapa District, Andhrapradesh have changed my name to Polarapu Krishna Chaitanya Chowdary.

11-4-2012

SITUATION WANTED With my determination of hard work & an experience of more than 10 years in the Fashion Warehouse, I am looking for a job as Warehouse Manager/ Assistant Warehouse Manager. Contact: 99796229 (C 3940) 8-4-2012

SITUATION VACANT A family is looking to hire a cook for Arabian and Indian dishes. Contact: 99006777.

(C 3942) 9-4-2012 ICDL / ECDL trainer needed for home tuition. Must speak English. Contact: 97862486 (C 3941) 8-4-2012

TUITION Math teacher for secondary stage, language schools, bilingual schools and intermediate stage: Algebra, Gmath, Geometry, Statistics for arts and science branches. Tel: 66974020.

English language teacher specialized in starting elementary and intermediate, 10th and 11th experienced in starting functions, grammar, set book, vocabulary, notes and model exams available. Tel: 65791555.

Arabic language teacher, masters in methods of teaching for secondary and intermediate students. Tel: 50644685.

Senior Arabic language teacher, elementary and intermediate, long experience in Kuwait curricula, explaining grammar rules and starting those weak in reading and writing. Tel: 99262948.

Senior chemistr y and physics teacher. Long experience for 10th, 11th and 12th stages. Intermediate science and applied institutions. Highly competent.

Tel: 99542922.

Mathematics and statistics female teacher for female students in the secondary, intermediate, university and applied institutions female students. Tel: 99410370.

Female Syrian Arabic language teacher for elementary and intermediate, and starting the weak using Halaby method in her house located in Abdallah Al-Mubarak area. Tel: 50513699.

AIRLINES 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

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 22456700 22958787 22453820/1

112 Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

Pakistan canine fighters forced into blood sport

By Khurram Shahzad

F

ighting can be a way of life in parts of Talibanscourged Pakistan, but on the farms it is more likely to be dogs who are in training for their own violent and bloody battles. Officially banned by the government and condemned as cruel by animal rights groups, thousands of wealthy Pakistani farmers, landowners and businessmen use the quiet winter months to indulge a passion for bloody bulldog fights. “I love Moti just like my kids. He’s a source of pride,” crowed a jubilant Malik Tassaduq Hussain after his dog won a fight in Tangdhe Sayedan, a village in Punjab province, 110 km east of Islamabad.

To the din of drum beats and flutes, men hoisted Moti onto their shoulders, danced through the crowds and showered the animal with banknotes after thousands watched him bite and tear his way to victory on a secluded plateau. In villages such as these, fights between bulldogs, known as “booly” in Punjabi, provide one of the few forms of entertainment while crops grow. The rules are brutally simple: the dogs fight until one bleeds to death, runs off, or until the owner takes pity and withdraws the animal from battle, handing the opponent victory.

Winning owners can get small prizes such as trophies, cell phones, or televisions while some organ-

isers give prize money ranging from 5,000 rupees ($55) to 100,000 rupees, depending on what the organisers can afford. “We organise these festivals because we love dog fights. Every organiser chooses his own or associates’ land in the village to stage these fights. It’s a hobby of the powerful,” said Abdul Ghaffar, a local organiser. A champion like Moti, whose name means Pearl, costs hundreds of dollars a month in food and requires extensive training before the annual fighting season, which runs from late September to late March.

Hussain explains Moti’s complicated, and expensive diet. “We give him two litres of milk, one kilogram of meat, butter and a supplement of an apple every day. It costs us 50,000 rupees ($548) every month,” said the 59-year-old farmer.

“Half my family is settled in Britain and my brother, who is a lawyer over there, gives me money to feed the dog and keep our family’s honour.” Moti is two years old but spent a

year training for his first fight, running behind a motorcycle for more than 20 km a day, Hussain said.

Those who win, bring honour and pride to the owners.

But it’s a different story for those who lose. “Please don’t ask me anything. I am disturbed. My dog lost,” said one young man in his early twenties. “I have no courage to speak, it is shame,” he added, rubbing salt into his dog’s wounds to stop them becoming infected. As with bans on terror groups that allow organisations to rename themselves and carry on largely unchecked, Pakistan does little to enforce the prohibition on dog fights and the industry they attract.

Traders set up tea and snack stalls around the field.

There are organised parking contracts and every fight is filmed. Videos of major fights go on sale. There is an unwritten calendar of meets, and every fan, dog owner and stall holder knows when and where to

ship up within 200 kilometres. “I go to every fight and set up my stall everywhere. I earn around 3,000 rupees ($33) a day which is much more than what I get from my shop,” Ishtiaq Ahmed, 45, told AFP. Police say they do raid fights and arrest culprits but Punjab police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghazanfar concedes that most get bail. The maximum penalty - six months in jail and a fine equivalent to $11 - is hardly prohibitive and activists want the government to do more to outlaw dog fights, which they say are “wrong” and “cruel”. “Many dogs die due to wounds after the fights. Fighting dogs develop skin diseases and many of their wounds do not heal,” said Nasim Ahmad, secretary in Pakistan for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals.

Zulfiqar Otho, a vet who volunteers for the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society, told AFP that owners of losing dogs sometimes shoot them after fights and that on average, one dog dies per festival. “They are rich businessmen, feudal lords, members of the parliament and other bigwigs of society.

They influence police through their stature and money... Police can’t move against the will of these people,” he told AFP. But the fans are unperturbed.

“God created dogs to fight and bite,” said farmer Chaudhry Javed. “Even if we don’t arrange this, they’ll fight each other,” he added. — AFP

35

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 644

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) You are full of confidence in how to succeed at some new project today. Consider leading others in this new project—your inventiveness is heightened. An unexpected turn of events could be profitable this afternoon. Later today it will be good to drop whatever you are doing and do something original and exciting. The domestic scene gains new appeal this afternoon and a little effort to sort out some of those relationship problems is successful. Treat others as you would want others to treat you—you will find comfort. Communal activities that take place at this time should be both well-attended and successful. This is a great time to plan some future event with your parents and family. You’d want to be with friends or family and just have a good time.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You will be glad to find some time to mark items and chores off your list. You will be feeling full of energy and a great deal of ambition sends you gobbling up any work you are given. What a day for relationships and relating! Your completeness genuinely depends on someone else and you do not want to be alone. If any ruffled feathers need smoothing, now is the time to do it, because nobody will want to argue. Anyone you attract today will be good for you and you will make a great first impression. You may show an interest in cultural or literary affairs regarding the spending of money. You also may use the social sphere to improve your position in the world of moneymaking through a business associate or friend. Networking is good at this time.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. A fatal disease of cattle that affects the central nervous system.

4. King of England who was renounced by Northumbria in favor of his brother Edgar (died in 959).

10. The basic unit of electric current adopted under the System International d'Unites.

13. (informal) Of the highest quality.

14. Flesh of large European flatfish.

15. The month following February and preceding April.

16. A flexible container with a single opening.

17. Contrary to or forbidden by law.

18. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

19. A public promotion of some product or service.

21. A cart drawn by a dog.

24. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

25. A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element.

26. A member of the Nahuatl people who established an empire in Mexico that was overthrown by Cortes in 1519.

29. Recently borne.

34. A unit of electrical charge equal to the amount of charge transferred by a current of 1 ampere in 1 second.

36. The capital of Western Samoa.

37. A hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers.

38. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

39. A graphical recording of the cardiac cycle produced by an electrocardiograph.

40. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

46. Undergo resorption.

48. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance.

51. Somewhat ill or prone to illness.

55. A rapid bustling commotion.

56. An agency of the United Nations responsible for programs to aid education and the health of children and mothers in developing countries.

59. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

60. Extremely pleasing.

61. Marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects.

62. (prefix) Bad or erroneous or lack of.

63. A sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice.

64. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

65. The residue that remains when something is burned.

DOWN 1. A small cake leavened with yeast.

2. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

3. A graphical record of electrical activity of the brain.

4. A body of poetry that conveys the traditions of a society by treating some epic theme.

5. Scale-like structure between the base of the wing and the halter of a two-winged fly.

6. An audiotape recording of sound.

7. Marked by extreme lack of restraint or control.

8. The United Nations agency concerned with civil aviation.

9. Cheap showy jewelry or ornament or clothing.

10. Type genus of the Amiidae.

11. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion.

12. The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on.

20. Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829).

22. A communist state in the Caribbean on the island of Cuba.

23. make senseless or dizzy by or as if by a blow.

27. (anatomy) Any encircling or beltlike structure.

28. Payment due by the recipient on delivery.

30. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

31. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

32. Possessing material wealth.

33. Kamarupan languages spoken in northeastern India and western Burma.

35. A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk.

41. The cry made by sheep.

42. A genus of orb-weaving spiders including common garden spiders and barn spiders.

43. Manufactured in standard sizes to be shipped and assembled elsewhere.

44. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

45. An inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities.

47. A drama set to music.

49. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

50. An edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter).

51. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

52. God of love and erotic desire.

53. Armor plate that protects the chest.

54. Distinctive and stylish elegance.

57. The United Nations agency concerned with international maritime activities.

58. Nut of any of several trees of the genus Corylus.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your energy is high and your creative juices are ready to be applied to this day’s work. Try to remain somewhat objective; your patience could be tested. Now is the time to get many things accomplished.

Those engaged in creative work will be blessed with inspirations. You will enjoy an interesting exchange of ideas with a friend later today. Challenges at home are met with insight—your optimism is appealing and contagious. Take care you do not overspend on pleasure interests. However, all work and no play makes Jack, or Jill, a dull person. Add some fun into your life without spending a great deal of money. It may be a good time to plan a trip to the zoo or take a tour. A young person enjoys your company this evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You attract many opportunities in the workplace; you also must choose which to pursue. Faith in yourself is an important factor as to how you choose. You reap what you sow; thus working hard now will most likely pay off well in the future. The energies around you now may present the opportunity for a personal, romantic relationship with someone from the workplace. Caution should be exercised before entering into any type of relationship or transaction impulsively. This should be an amorous time for friends who feel a genuine desire to both give and receive. Neither one will feel whole without the other. There could be a temptation to make too much or too little of a relationship. Keep a perspective, even with all that passion.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Your concentration, when it comes to details, helps you to create works of art. This is as much in the workplace with regard to a simple business letter as it is in some large project—artistic or not. You are the perfect candidate for jobs in advertisement, finance, banking or accounting. If you have considered running your own business, now may be a good time to create a plan.

Planning first, of course, is the basis of success. Your sound business sense and your enthusiasm to work often leads to a healthy bank account. Do not be afraid to diversify your investments: diamonds, real estate, bonds, etc. At home this evening, set down some goals on paper and create long-term goals as well as short-term goals. If you have family in your home, create family goals together.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) There is an accent on relationships now—professional, social or intimate. You are well-disposed to others at this time; however, you should be careful of bending over backwards just to please someone. Today marks a period of hard work and responsibility, both in salvaging some endeavors that appear to be failing and in branching out in new directions. It may not be long before you will feel qualified for a bit more responsibility on the job. You may be able to choose between travel and relocation. Your thirst for freedom and excitement, while a definite boon to any relationship, should not completely dominate your relationship or your decision making in a new job venture. Ask yourself where you would like to be in five years. Romance is in tonight.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Everything points to your taking the controls today. You could feel great support from those around you. This is a time when the desire to increase your finances is great—though you may be reckless through gambling or speculation in handling new-found finances. Deposit any of these new funds into a moneymaking account before you have second thoughts. You are apt to spend a great deal of time communicating with co-workers and people apart from work this week. You have the ability to control your emotions and use them wisely in interactions that are professional as well as personal. Someone you have not heard from in a long time will call this evening; laughter will be heard from far away and you encourage each other to be successful.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Wanting to escape from responsibilities is a human condition.

As we grow and become adults we learn to accept the consequences of our actions and to be a responsible individual. This good character engenders trustfulness from others. Today, you may decide to make some changes with regard to some of your responsibilities. After others see the changes you have made, you will notice quite a lot of praise and respect for your hard work. Most of all, there is respect of self. This could mean losing weight, stopping a bad habit, finishing an unfinished project or being on time at meetings, etc. If you already exhibit a show of responsibility, you will find yourself encouraging a friend, co-worker or relative to accomplish and gain that respect.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may be able to find answers to some insurmountable professional problem today. New thoughts become more important just now. Teaching, learning, communicating and social contacts have a way of outlining new directions in your life. Staying on an even keel with a business partner is the best bet just now. You have a festive spirit and should do well at social gatherings. Activities you hold at home for friends or relatives could be most rewarding this week. Relations with members of the opposite sex are strengthened during this time. If favors are needed, now is a good time to ask, or to grant favors to another person. There is an easygoing manner to friends and family. Love relationships are exalted.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Mental motivation from others is helpful today; it is a good idea to make every effort to cooperate and compromise with others. The project at hand should therefore be a great success. Concepts normally too subtle to grasp should come clear to you today—one after the other! Your sensitivity and imagination are running rampant. Do not expect too many people to understand you for now—you may be just too far ahead of them at this time. This is a good day for artistic endeavors. Not a good day for legal or business negotiations even though they will move along at an average pace. Your fundamental beliefs about your position in society and responsibilities as an adult are now seriously examined. You may find that just about anything can happen.

To

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You should expend great zest in moneymaking efforts but should show caution about the type of activities in which you become involved. Mostly, though, you should avoid the desire to obtain material status symbols at this time. Teaching, learning, communicating and social contacts have a way of outlining new directions in your life. There is much activity and involvement with these kinds of issues now. Your mental faculties are sharp these days, making you readily receptive to all thoughts that impinge upon you. It’s best to rely on facts rather than feelings during this time, especially when an expensive mistake might be the outcome. By tomorrow you will be laughing at any negative or insecure feelings that you have had recently—have patience with yourself.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

There are powerful energies spilling into your life in unpredictable ways. Careful—the decisions and actions of today will have long-lasting effects. Your attitude of ambition helps motivate those around you to achieve. You are hardworking and you enjoy working and involving others in a successful outcome. You do not like to alienate fellow workers. Your emotions should be sailing on relatively calm seas this afternoon, giving you an unhurried chance to sit down and take an accounting of how the projects or current work is proceeding. If there are any problems on the horizon, you will have a breather for now. Your understanding of the needs of others is in perfect balance with your own needs. People are your best friends today—enjoy.

36

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

lifestyle G O S S I P

Kourtney

is keeping a list of baby names on her phone

he 32-year-old reality star - who is expecting a baby girl with partner Scott Disick in July - is relying on modern technology to keep track of her ever-changing choices. She said: “We always have our little list that I keep in my phone “I have my little list of names, and I cross it off one day and a new one comes. We definitely don’t have the name. We’re going back and forth.” With two-year-old son Mason to care for, Kourtney admits this pregnancy has not been quite as easy as her first. She explained: “I think it’s a little bit harder

T

he 32-year-old basketball player - who arrived from the Los Angeles Lakers in December - has come under fire from supporters for a number of poor performances this season, which insiders believe are down to the pressure of his celebrity lifestyle and being in front of the cameras on reality TV show ‘Khloe and Lamar ’. An NBA (National Basketball Association) source told the New York Post newspaper: “When he wasn’t playing well, it meant he looked bad. “And when you have a show about your life, when you are off-court, you have to deal with the producers asking all those questions. He had a horrible summer, but ... he was more concerned about the cameras and how he looked.”

Lamar - who took a leave of absence in February after his father fell ill - confirmed in a statement: “The Mavericks and I have mutually agreed that it’s in the best interest of both parties for me to step away.” But Khloe - who relocated from Los Angeles to Dallas in December and got a job as a radio host, presenting ‘The Mix Up With Khloe Kardashian Odom’ on MIX 102.9 - has pledged her support to the basketball star and admitted she will “miss” the city. In a series of tweets, the 27year-old brunette wrote: “Never a dull moment.

“U deserve so much better. Know ur worth and know ur skills that have been proven and earned!

U showed ur strength, I love u. “Blessed to have had such an amazing experience. Short but very sweet :) #memories “I loved Dallas and will miss it! (sic)” Lamar will be listed as inactive, rather than being immediately released, allowing the Mavericks to trade him when the season ends in June. During his Mavericks career Lamar averaged less than seven points a game, but he managed an average of more than 14 points a match with the Lakers last season.

being pregnant when you have a toddler I’m chasing after. Last time I could nap more.” Although she has been suffering from “a little more morning sickness”, the ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ regular is still managing to exercise. She told People Magazine: “I’ve been active chasing after Mason. We go on walks all the time. Pushing the stroller is like carrying all these weights, and then [there’s] the extra weight on my stomach, so it’s good. It’s fun. “Last time I felt amazing the whole [pregnancy], and this time too. I feel really lucky.”

husband Lamar leaves Dallas Mavericks

Khloe’s

T

Tori Spelling hopes her next baby is a boy T

he former ‘90210’ actress - who already has son Liam, five, and daughters Stella, three, and Hattie, five months, with husband Dean McDermott - says she would like another son to give Liam a play mate. She said: “We would like a little boy, and Stella ...

she’s now a middle child and when we told her about the pregnancy she said ‘I hope it’s a little boy for Liam’. The 38year-old discovered she was pregnant whilst being treated in hospital for a migraine just one month after giving birth to Hattie, and admits that while she was shocked, her kids seemed unfazed.

She explained: “It was as if we had said, ‘Oh we got milk today’. We brought home milk today and put it in the fridge and you can go help yourself to a glass.’”

However, Dean, 45, has been revelling in his virility since learning of the pregnancy. Appearing on the Rachael Ray show, she said: “Well, my husband got really lucky that night and then I got lucky. He’s feeling real proud of himself. “He’s like a fluffed up chicken. Women walk by and he’s like, ‘Don’t walk too close to me - I’ve got the batter’.”

Silverstone chews

Beyonce and Jay-Z

her son’s food for him

take daughter on first vacation

Heigl admits her adopted daughter initially rejected her

he former ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star - who adopted Naleigh from South Korea in 2009 with husband Josh Kelley - says she felt like a “bad mother” when she failed to bond with her little one. She said: “I fought incredibly hard for my daughter to accept me as mother. Her rejection almost broke my heart. “At first I blamed myself and thought I was a bad mother.

It took a while before I could admit to myself that the lack of trust had nothing to do with me.” To make matters worse, Josh was quick to form a relationship with the 10-month-old. She admitted: “I wasn’t exactly jealous, but I was a little bit envious.” To cope with the pain, the 33year-old actress threw herself in to work, but soon understood her absence was only making matters worse. She said: “When I realised that, I immediately cut back on work.” With more time to spend together, the bond gradually developed and Katherine carved out a parental identity of her own. In an interview with German magazine Bild am Sonntag, she explained: “I’m the cuddler. I’m the one she comes to if she’s hurt. And I have a ritual for putting her to bed.

She has one blankie that goes over her, one that goes by her face, and one that she holds. It’s our little thing.”

T

he couple - who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week - have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with threemonth-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht. As well as doting on the youngster - whose head was covered to protect her from the sun - Beyonce, 30, and her 42-year-old spouse have also been able to have quality time alone. The couple were seen strolling hand in hand before soaking up the sun on the beach. Both were clad in black swimwear and were prepared for the day, toting an ice bucket containing a bottle of wine and several bottles of water, while the ‘Otis’ rapper was also seen sipping from a coconut. The break comes days after it was claimed the pair renewed their wedding vows in a midnight ceremony to mark their anniversary on April 4. Beyonce and Jay-Z reaffirmed their commitment to one another in a “moving” ceremony in front of guests including Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. The couple are said to have exchanged rings during the vow renewal, with Jay - whose real name is Shawn Carter - spotted at the Jacob and Co. jewellery store in New York the following day. A source said: “I know he checked out coloured diamonds, the rare blue ‘Lumina’ in particular.”

T

T

too which is insane.” Alicia insists she and her husband Christopher Jarecki weren’t trying to tell people how to raise their children when she posted the video, but say it’s a routine they feel comfortable with.

Speaking at an audience Q&A with director Amy Heckerling following a screening of ‘Clueless’ and her upcoming film ‘Vamps’, Alicia said: “It’s just a thing that has been going on for thousands of years and I didn’t think I was inventing anything but in our culture...

“Every time my husband goes to the YMCA some guy comes over and says, ‘That’s how we do it in the south!’

Between him getting those great comments and me knowing in my gut it’s natural and lovely, I really wasn’t trying to tell anybody what to do.”

Levine says TV fame is more ‘intense’ than with Maroon 5

he ‘Moves Like Jagger’ singer admits he wasn’t prepared for all the extra attention he has received since becoming a coach on the US version of ‘The Voice’. When asked about his increased fame since the pop star search TV show started, he said: “This has been very intense. I wasn’t really expecting it. I was very used to what had been happening with me and the band for many years, so it takes some adjustments and I’m getting used to it. Things like being surrounded by people asking questions like this are a little bit new for me. But it doesn’t really bother me very much and I stay relatively private most of the time so it’s all good.” One thing that has definitely changed for Adam since he

T

he ‘Clueless’ actress recently revealed her unorthodox method for feeding 11-month-old Bear - which involves chewing food then spitting it into the youngster’s mouth - and says she can’t believe the uproar it’s caused because it is a natural way to feed babies. She said: “People have been feeding their kids that way for thousands for years. It’s a weaning process. Honestly, when I posted the video I was not thinking, so maybe I was like Cher (her character in ‘Clueless’)! I think it’s adorable and it makes me laugh every time he does it. “He attacks my mouth and I think it’s adorable. He also knows how to use his hands and he also eats regular food so when babies are weaning, he still breastfeeds. Some people think that’s disgusting

appeared on ‘The Voice’ - which also stars Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton as coaches - is that people now pay more attention to what he has to say. The 33-year-old musician - who released his first album with Maroon 5 in 2002 - admits he does sometimes worry about his words coming back to haunt him. In an interview in Britain’s OK! magazine, he said: “You need to be careful about what you say. It’s a kind of weird balancing act between carefully considering what you’re saying and then not worrying too much about what you say - as long as you don’t say anything absolutely terrible ... But I like the fact people are listening to what I say now, at least a little bit more than they had before.”

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

lifestyle

Dior names Raf Simons as new artistic director

C

hristian Dior has named Belgian designer Raf Simons as its new artistic director, seven months after its icon, John Galliano, was convicted by a Paris court for drunken anti-Semitic ravings. A fashion rebel of a different sort, Simons - who began his career as a furniture designer and has had his own successful menswear label - will present his first show for the renowned Dior fashion house in July, according to Monday’s announcement. Galliano was dismissed

by Dior in March 2011, days before its fallwinter runway show, after a video went viral on the Internet showing the bad-boy designer inebriated and insulting a fellow client at a Paris cafe. He was heard slurring “I love Hitler,” among other incendiary remarks.

The 44-year-old Simons, who designed for the minimalist Jil Sander label from 2005 until just recently, was a top name among rumored candidates for the Dior job. A statement by Dior said Simons will serve as artistic director for haute couture, ready-to- wear and women’s accessories. It praised him as “one of the greatest current talents” and said he will “inspire and propel into the 21st century” the style carried on by the prestigious house since its creation in 1946.

“I am thrilled to join this great house ...,” the statement quoted Simons as saying. “The house of Dior is the symbol of absolute elegance.” How Simons will translate his own vision for Dior will doubtless be the top question at the Paris show in July. His palette has produced both minimalist and maxed-out colors on precision designs. “I’m sure Raf ’s New Look for Dior will be incredible and we can’t wait to see what he creates,” said Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey in an e-mail.

Simons has had a quirky career. After moving from furniture to menswear in 1995, he then took a sabbatical and ended up as a professor of the fashion department at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, from 2000 until 2005. His menswear label mixed a rebellious touch with precision.

“The most important message Raf wants to communicate is: pride in individuality,” his official CV says. Simons was clearly preparing for his Dior moment with his February shows in Paris then Milan his last for Jil Sander. At his Milan finale, he shed tears and took a second curtain call after ovations and a spontaneous invasion of the runway.

Fashionistas will clearly be glad to have him back, this time at a house with deep roots in a venerable fashion institution.

After its founding in 1946, Dior presented its first collection a year later. Today, Dior is one of the world’s top fashion houses, producing finely crafted couture to widely available cosmetics.

The interim design leadership at Dior came from Bill Gaytten and was safe and serviceable, but likely not enough to sustain Dior’s buzz and prestige. With the announcement, Dior can close for good the painful chapter of the Galliano affair.

Galliano was convicted in September of “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” but not given a prison term or forced to pay a fine, imposed but suspended.

At the trial, the once prideful designer humbly explained he had a “triple addiction” - to alcohol, barbiturates and sleeping pills - and said he recalled nothing.

He said he was sorry for “the sadness that this whole affair has caused.” In testimony before the court in proceedings in June, Galliano said he didn’t recall anything.

Where Galliano had showmanship and flair - sometimes outrageous - Simons tends to be more restrained. He took the helm at Jil Sander when the faltering label was looking for a designer who could push the line further without abandoning the minimalist trademark of the founder, who had since left the company.

Simons began with a black and white womenswear collection. His evolution there culminated several seasons ago in a burst of color that dazzled the fashion world. The winter 2013 show, presented on the fourth day of Milan Fashion Week on Feb. 25, was his last as creative director for the label. It was feminine and soft.

Simons has much support in the industry.

His designs have increasingly becoming a bellwether for trends. Lately, his clothes gained support in fashion magazines, and the Jil Sander show became a musthave ticket during the Milan Fashion Week.

Still, he doesn’t have the celebrity of a Galliano, and Jil Sander didn’t have as broad an audience to please as does Dior.

It will be the trick for Simons to balance exciting, fashion-forward design with global appeal that will find its place on red carpets and in department stores. Fashion writer Samantha Critchell in New York contributed to this report. — AP

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Popular Indian film star set to complete 100 movies

By Lenin Kumar Polineni KUWAIT: Social services are the responsibility of every artist, says Nandamuri Bala Krishna, an artiste, actor and political activist from India. “I feel this,” he says during an exclusive interview with the Kuwait Times during his three-day visit to Kuwait last week.

Nadamuri Bala Krishna, also popularly known as ‘Balayya’ and ‘NBK’ by fans and admirers alike, is the son of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu film legend. He starred in many critical and commercial films and established himself as one of the leading contemporary actors of Telugu cinema.

In addition to films, Balakrishna is associated with several philanthropic and social activities. He campaigned for the Telugu Desam Party during many elections, and is the Chairman of the Board of Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute. He was also the Chief Guest at ‘Simha Gharjana Mega Musical Night Program’ which was organized by Pravasaandhra Telugu Desam, NBK Seva Samithi on the evening of April 6.

Excerpts from the tete-a-tete:

KT: Tell us more about your political participation.

NBK: I have announced my participation in the upcoming 2014 elections. I will contest on behalf of the Telugu Desam Party.

KT: You have been an important part of the political scene in Andhra Pradesh for the last 30 years. How do you think it has changed over the years?

NBK: Well, there has been a visible change for sure. My father NT Rama Rao and brother-in-law Chandra Babu Naidu ruled as chief ministers for more than 17 years over the last 30 years. There were no instances of any abuse of power but these days, none of my family members are involved in official procedures. Today, every newspaper is filled with corruption cases, inquiries and so on. Unfortunately Telugu Desam Party lost power twice and this turned out to be a big disaster for the state and resulted in uninhibited corruption.

People have been observing this. About seven or eight years ago, Andhra Pradesh was an icon and reflected the development taking place in India. Now, we are sorry to say that the condition is quite bad in many aspects. For this reason, Telugu Desam party will definitely come back to power soon.

KT: How has your visit to Kuwait been so far?

NBK: I am very happy to visit Kuwait. The Telugu community which is residing in Kuwait has been extremely warm and hospitable. I am very proud to see more than 250,000 Telugu people living together and participating in so many social, cultural and welfare activities.

It gives me great joy to see this and wish our Telugu people will stay united always.

KT: You are very straightforward; do you think this is appropriate in politics? Are you confident of your success in politics?

NBK: Yes, I am. Even my father was very straightforward and he went on to create history. His empathetic attitude helped him understand people better and thus made him iconic in Indian politics. My father never cared about his critics and I am the same. We have our own manifesto.

KT: What would you like to convey during this visit?

NBK: We can survive and thrive anywhere in the world because of our work and business. We came here with the purpose of making a living and must respect Kuwait’s system and laws. Also as humans, we have to fulfill our responsibilities.

KT: You have completed 92 movies and are currently working on a few more films. Can we expect 100th movie shortly?

NBK: Definitely! I will surely complete 100 movies in Telugu very soon.

KT: We hear that you have been spending more time on social service. Is this true?

NBK: Yes, it’s true. Social service is the responsibility of every artiste. My father who was the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh apart from a legendary Telugu film star used to tell me the same. He practiced what he preached and initiated many welfare activities as a film star. He reacted spontaneously to people’s problems and national calamities. I’m just walking in his footsteps. I have been spending time on the Telugu film industry welfare programs and Basava Tarakam Memorial Cancer Hospital activities apart from fundraising events.

‘Adhinayakudu’ portrays Bala Krishna in father, son, and grand-father roles

KT: Tell us more about your upcoming film ‘Adhinayakudu’.

NBK: ‘Adhinayakudu’ will be a blockbuster in the Telugu Industry. I played three different roles as a grandfather, father, and grandson for the first time on screen. I am certain that Adhinayakudu will be the biggest hit.

KT: Which is the movie you are most proud of?

NBK: I am proud of all my movies and have done many mythological, historical, social and fantasy films.

KT: When is your son Moshagna entering films?

NBK: He still has time. He has another five years of studies to complete before thinking of joining films.

Bala Krishna is seen essaying various characters in his films.

Penang’s famed food hawkers see tradition lose steam

S

oon Chuan Choo has spent 45 years sweating next to a sizzling curbside wok in Malaysia’s heat, frying up flat noodles mixed with chilli sauce, prawns, tofu, cockles, egg and sprouts. It may not sound like much of a life unless you grasp the priorities of her home state Penang, where cheap, spicy street food and the hawkers who provide it are venerated as local treasures.”I grew up eating her char kway teow and still it’s so perfect and she is such a character,” said office worker Janthi Victor, referring to Soon’s trademark protective goggles, floppy red chef’s hat and sour demeanour.

For well over a century, Penang’s food hawkers have been conspicuous by the clouds of steam, pungent aromas and devoted crowds surrounding them. But some fear it is a dying art as a new generation shuns taking over their parent’s modest curbside stands, threatening beloved recipes and a slice of the island’s multi-cultural character. “My daughter won’t do it so I don’t know what will happen,” Soon said in the Hokkien dialect spoken by many Malaysian Chinese as she brusquely plunked a steaming plate onto a wobbly plastic table of tourists from Indonesia.

Penang food blogger C.K. Lam says many young people today are not keen on a life of “sweating under the hot sun.” “Some lucky hawkers are able to pass it on but many just hope to earn enough to retire and there is nobody to follow up,” she said. Once one of Britain’s oldest Asian settlements, Penang is widely recognized as Asia’s street

food capital, its mix of immigrant Chinese, Indian, and local Malay flavors creating a unique culinary heritage.

Street hawkers first sprang up to meet the needs of the immigrant underclass and today operate from portable metallic stands on lanes in and around Georgetown, Penang’s capital. Street food is prevalent across Malaysia but most dominant in Penang, whose name is evoked by hawker stalls across the country as a mark of tastiness.

Penang’s hawkers serve up a diverse array of dishes unique to Malaysia, typically based on noodles and packing a spicy punch.

Char kway teow is considered a signature dish, typically kept moist, but not oily, by discreetly-added lard. The rice noodles of curry mee swim in a broth of curry, coconut milk and pig’s blood, while various other rice and noodle dishes are packed with intestines and other organs proudly advertised on hawker signs as “offal”. Locals develop strong allegiances to certain hawkers-an iPhone app helps them keep track of who is cooking what and where-and often closely watch cooks in hopes of divining their fiercely guarded secrets.

“We all get along well except when it comes to (Penang hawker) food,” said Chua See Poh, a government worker from the nearby city of Ipoh, while slurping down curry mee with friends. “It’s the only thing we might argue about.” Soon became a target of such passions in 2010 when a Facebook boycott was launched after a customer reported being verbally abused by her while waiting for a

7 ringgit ($2.30) plate of her char kway teow. The boycott campaign fizzled, however, and the demanding crowds keep her as grumpy as ever.

When celebrity TV chef Anthony Bourdain visited recently for a piece on Penang, he asked Soon if she spoke English, said Penang Global Tourism Director Ooi Geok Ling. Soon snapped in Hokkien, “If I could speak English, I wouldn’t be doing this, would I?” Her polar opposite is Mahboob Zakaria, a garrulous ethnic Indian Muslim

whose family has for more than 80 years sold its delicious mee goreng-thin noodles fried with a smoky tomato-chilli sauce, squid, potato, and other ingredients.

A showman, the 57-year-old Mahboob spins his sizzling wok with a flourish while tossing in the ingredients as he banters happily with customers in English, Tamil, Malay and Hokkien. His son Sabik Ahamed will take over the operation someday, calling it predestined. “This came from God,” he said. But increasingly, sons and daughters demur, and the food suffers as secret homemade recipes are replaced by store-bought ingredients used by new hawkers, said Lam. Hope for keeping traditions alive may lie in people like John Martin, who bought the hawker setup and secret recipe of Ewe Chooi Guan in 2005.

For decades, Ewe’s family had served Penang laksa-a spicy-sour noodle soup unique to Penang and made from homemade fish stock, prawn paste, and pineapple-but had no willing heirs.

“We wanted to keep up the tradition. It is such good food, it would have been a waste to just start from scratch,” said Martin, who is of Portuguese-Chinese descent. Martin made plastic moulds in a previous job that earned about 3,000 ringgit per month. He makes more now, he says, while declining to say how much.

“There is a risk of losing these great foods. A lot of work goes into preparing them, you work from 7 am to 9 pm Most people wouldn’t do that.” — AFP

Chef Cora stumps for healthier school meals

A

merican chef Cat Cora has been traveling around the United States to raise awareness about nutrition and to promote better school meals as a part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Chefs Move to Schools” campaign. The 44-year-old, who lives in California, is also a cohost of a food competition show, “Around the World in 80 Plates,” which is set to debut in May. She spoke to Reuters about her passion for healthy eating and helping school cafeterias around the US.

Q: Why did you get involve in “Chefs Move to Schools”?

A: “It’s really important to get the word out on nutrition education in public schools. I have one son in public school and another one coming up.

It’s important to show why it is important to eat healthier and have money go into school lunches and school cafeterias.”

Q: What are the problems with school lunches and cafeterias?

A: “It’s education, but it’s really funding. We know there are problems with the quality of the

school lunches. That’s something we all know. It’s getting the school more funding so we could raise the quality of the food that goes on those plates in the cafeterias. The people who are cooking and serving the lunches are just limited by their budgets.”

Q: What activities have you engaged in so far?

A: “When we kicked off ‘Chefs Move to School’ program, her (Obama’s) overall philosophy was for chefs to adopt schools and go into those schools and make changes in a way that really motivates the school system. It’s really us as chefs going around the country being grassroots about it. “My school is the one that my son goes to, Washington Elementary in Santa Barbara which is practically across the street from where I live. I’ve gone there, done some demos and spoke to the principal.

That school doesn’t even have a cafeteria, so it’s talking about how do we build a cafeteria.”

Q: How do you answer critics about why government shouldn’t get so involved in telling children what to eat?

A: “Obviously that’s not happening at home.

We see that because we have an obesity epidemic on our hands in the country. That affects everyone. That affects our healthcare system. It affects our economy. So what we have been doing isn’t working. If we do get more funding for nutritional education, we do need to get the government to get involved. It’s very appropriate for the First Lady to get involved. It should be commended that she’s involved. Bringing these chefs together is a brilliant move. She’s brought an army of chefs out there to fight obesity. That’s what we do. We feed and nurture people. Chefs are some of the people that kids look up to these days.”

Q: There is plenty of information on television and the Internet about nutrition and healthy eating. Why don’t we see more people change their unhealthy habits?

A: “It has to be more real for people. I think it’s easy to watch a diet or weight loss or a healthy eating or a healthy cooking show, but not really participate in their own life. I think people want a quick fix. They are busy. They are stressed and they have kids ... There is no quick fix to losing weight

and staying healthy. It’s a lifestyle change.”

Truffled Orzo with Asiago Cheese (Serves 4-6) 1 tablespoon salt 1 1/3 cups orzo 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons grated Asiago cheese 1 teaspoon truffle oil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1. In a 4-to6-quart stockpot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.

2. Add the salt and the orzo, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until the pasta is al dente (or just slightly chewy) 3. In a 10-inch saute pan, melt the butter.

4. Add the cooked pasta and 3 tablespoons of the Asiago cheese. Drizzle on the truffle oil, sprinkle on the salt, and give it a few cranks of freshly ground pepper. Toss well.

5. Spoon the orzo into a serving bowl, top with the remaining cheese, and serve immediately. — Reuters

Popular Indian film star set to complete 100 movies

39

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012

A woman (C) throws a rose into the sea at berths 43/44 from where the RMS Titanic set sail on its ill-fated maiden voyage 100 years ago at Southampton dock yesterday during a ceremony where descendants of some of those who died on the Titanic paid tribute to the lost. —AFP

Titanic wreck still inspires awe for explorer, 30 dives on F

rench explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet was part of the first expedition to reach the wreck of the “unsinkable” Titanic in 1987, and 30 dives later he says the magic still remains. The remains of the transatlantic liner hold no secrets for Nargeolet, a retired French Navy captain who is now director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, Inc., the official custodian of the vessel.

He has led six of the eight official expeditions to the site of the epic maritime disaster some 12,400 feet (3,780 meters) down at the bottom of the North Atlantic. Among the 5,000 artefacts his teams have recovered is a 20-ton section of the ship’s prow. “It’s the most beautiful piece, with its anchor chains, its still shining hoist, as clean as if they were polished that very morning,” Nargeolet said.

He is just as passionate about the debris field trailing away from the wreck which contains thousands of objects, and the steady deterioration of the wreck he has visited over the last quarter century. His last expedition was in 2010. No light penetrates so far down in the ocean’s depths, and the remains of the ship are shrouded in “complete darkness,” Nargeolet said, explaining divers use huge projectors to light their way. “But they are a bit like dipped headlights, they don’t shine too far,” he said. “The water is extremely coldat near-freezing temperatures-and there is a

current which is quite strong,” Nargeolet added.

“On some days, it looks like it’s snowing on the wreckage due to particles falling down from the Gulf Stream,” a powerful Atlantic ocean current. His most memorable encounter remains that fateful day 25 years ago when he discovered the legendary ship for the first time. “There were three of us in the submarine. Not a word was spoken for 10 minutes. Usually we talk a lot in a submarine, but we were very emotional. It was breathtaking,” Nargeolet recalled.

“We were lucky to come upon it at the front section-the most beautiful part. We went back up along the hull. We knew this was the Titanic for sure and then we reached the stern.” The Titanic split in at least two major sections as it sank after hitting an iceberg four days into its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York in the early hours of April 15, 1912. More than 1,500 people lost their lives.

The after part broke up and everything that was in that section “is in a pile of debris, to the east of the ship’s stern,” according to Nargeolet. “You can see dishes, pieces of machinery, boilers, a lot of coal. We found a little bit of everything-very beautiful objects, vases, but also pieces from the boat that had been completely twisted and bent, showing

the very intense stress on the hull when it broke,” he said.

Over the course of the expeditions, the longest of which lasted eight or nine weeks, Nargeolet and other divers hauled back to the

surface thousands of items, including dishes, clothing, documents, personal belongings from the passengers and pieces of the ship now shown in exhibitions. “We have not recovered anything from inside the ship,”

Volunteers put up gas filled with LED light lanterns to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking at the Marina Bay Sands ArtScience Museum in Singapore yesterday. Over 2000 lanterns were placed outside the museum to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. —AFP

Nargeolet said, adding that all the items were recorded, along with the place they were found and the owner’s name, if known.

Emotions ran high at times, like when the explorer read a French musician’s score left in an open leather trunk. Saturated but nearly intact, the sheet of music was later treated and preserved. “We also salvaged some handwritten letters that can still be read today,” Nargeolet said. Of all the objects brought back to shore-and Nargeolet says thousands more still lay on the ocean floor-he has his favorites such as a small watering can and a cherub that used to stand at the bottom of the rear staircase.

The century-old wreck is continuing to deteriorate, with “increasingly visible” results, he said. The damage is making its way to the front of the ship, which had been in better shape than the rest, and is now reaching the grand staircase, while the decks are falling apart. But Nargeolet remains fascinated by the site. “I love wreck sites, whatever they may be,” he explained. “I like to find them, pull on a line and bring back a piece of history.”

Nargeolet, who led an expedition in the Atlantic to search for the wreck and black boxes of a 2009 Air France crash that killed 228 people, is now working with several researchers to map out the entire Titanic site.

That project is nearly complete.— AFP

Titanic’s wealthiest passenger built NYC hotel A

A worker shows the McBaguette, the French “baguette” sold by US fast food giant McDonald’s in their French outlets yesterday at a McDonald’s restaurant in Paris. The Mc baguette, filled with a hamburger, will be tested from April 18 for six weeks in its 1,200 fast-food in France and the group will decide whether to market it from September. —AFP

McDonald’s looks to lure French with ‘McBaguette’

T

he French branch of US fast food giant McDonald’s said yesterday it was to introduce a “McBaguette” sandwich in a bid to cater to local tastes. Often derided in food-mad France for its mass-production approach, the chain has worked to adapt with sandwiches featuring local ingredients such as goat’s cheese and pepper sauce, alongside its traditional burgers and chips.

The McBaguette will be launched as a test product on April 18 for six weeks in the chain’s 1,230 French restaurants, Nawfal Trabelsi, McDonald’s France’s vice president for marketing, told journalists. “It’s a crispy baguette, served hot, with beef, a slightly

strong whole grain mustard sauce and ripe Emmental cheese,” Trabelsi said, adding that the product was of “symbolic importance” and part of the company’s efforts at local “integration”.

After long resisting the lure of fast food, French consumers have increasingly turned to chain restaurants in recent years, with the fast food market growing from about 20 billion euros ($26 billion) in 2004 to nearly 33 billion euros last year. McDonald’s has done particularly well, growing to 63,000 employees since opening its first French branch in 1979 and with pre-tax turnover last year of 4.2 billion euros.— AFP

century after the Titanic sank, the legacy of the ship’s wealthiest and most famous passenger lives on quietly at the luxury hotel he built in New York City. John Jacob Astor IV, who was one of the richest men in America, went down with the ship in 1912 after helping his pregnant wife escape into the last lifeboat. But at the St. Regis, one of Manhattan’s oldest luxury hotels, the aristocratic sensibilities of the Gilded Age remain intact.

Butlers in white ties and black tailcoats still roam the hallways. The lobby, with its frescoed ceiling and elaborate marble staircase, has not been altered since Astor died. And the thousands of leatherbound books that he collected have been preserved on the same bookshelves for 100 years. This year, in tribute to Astor’s memory, the hotel worked with a publisher to add a new book to those shelves. “A Survivor’s Tale,” which was released this month, is the first-person account of a passenger who survived the disaster by jumping overboard as the ship disappeared into the water.

“This was his jewel,” said Astor’s granddaughter, Jackie Drexel, as she gazed around the hotel one recent morning. “My grandfather used to come and walk the stairs frequently first thing in the morning to make sure everything was running perfectly. He conceived of it with great pride.” The copper moldings on the roof have turned green with age, but inside, the antique furniture and silk wall coverings hearken back to a more refined era. And the guests wandering its hallways are still the wealthiest of the wealthy: the hotel is a favorite among royal families and celebrities hoping to keep a low-profile and avoid the paparazzi.

“The key element to everything in the hotel is the discretion,” said Paul Nash, the general manager. “We have heads of state, royal families, entertainers, politicians.” When Astor built the St. Regis in 1904, it overlooked Fifth Avenue’s row of mansions and, at just 18 stories high, was the tallest skyscraper in the city. It was modeled after the extravagant hotels of Europe that had not yet become ubiquitous in the US. At that time, it was common for the very rich to live in luxurious hotels like the St. Regis for long stretches of time. According to Nash,

that hasn’t changed, either: The hotel’s presidential suite, which costs a cool $21,000 per night, is routinely occupied by the same guests for three months straight. “They can walk around the hotel like it’s their home, and nobody will disturb them,” explained 25-year-old Jennifer Giacche, one of the hotel’s butlers.

While the uniform looks like it was plucked from the set of a period drama, the St. Regis butlers’ job responsibilities have evolved over the years to meet the needs of 21st-century jetsetters. They still pour coffee and fluff pillows, but the butlers of today - a rarity at modern hotels - are really more like highly educated personal assistants who speak several languages, not the stuffy servants portrayed on TV’s “Downton Abbey.” —AP

The newly redecorated Dior Suite is seen in New York’s St. Regis Hotel, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. A century after the Titanic sank, the legacy of the ship’s wealthiest and most famous passenger, John Jacob Astor, quietly lives on at the luxury hotel he built in New York City. —AP