13th Jun

CR IP TI ON BS SU

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Al-Kharafi, Al-Shaya among most powerful Arabs

40 PAGES

NO: 15477

150 FILS

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www.kuwaittimes.net

RAJAB 23, 1433 AH

Poland hold Russia to stay in Euro hunt as fans clash

20

Cabinet expected to quit, ‘majority’ demands seats Amir accepts Rujaib’s resignation, names Othaina as stand-in

Max 45º Min 32º High Tide 06:56 & 18:56 Low Tide 13:14

By B Izzak

Diesel fumes cause cancer

LONDON: Diesel engine exhaust fumes cause cancer in humans and belong in the same potentially deadly category as asbestos, arsenic and mustard gas, World Health Organisation (WHO) experts said yesterday. The experts, who said their findings were unanimous and based on “compelling” scientific evidence, urged people across the world to reduce their exposure to diesel fumes wherever possible. In an announcement likely to cause consternation among car and truck makers, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the WHO’s cancer department, reclassified diesel exhausts from its group 2A of probable carcinogens to its group 1 of substances that have definite links to cancer.

“The (expert) working group found that diesel exhaust is a cause of lung cancer and also noted a positive association with an increased risk of bladder cancer,” it said in a statement. The decision is a result of a week-long meeting of independent experts who assessed the latest scientific evidence on the cancer-causing potential of diesel and gasoline exhausts. The decision puts diesel fumes in the same IARC risk category as a number of other noxious substances including asbestos, arsenic, mustard gas, alcohol and tobacco.

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WROCLAW: A Czech fan wears a hat in the colors of the Czech Republic before the Euro 2012 championships football match between Greece and the Czech Republic yesterday at the Municipal Stadium. — AFP (See Page 20)

KUWAIT: Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah is highly expected to submit his government’s resignation shortly after it became evident that the Cabinet is unable to work in harmony with the opposition-dominated National Assembly. Lawmakers from the opposition, which controls a comfortable majority, meanwhile called on the prime minister to appoint a large number of MPs in the new Cabinet in order to get the required support from the Assembly.

The new developments came after the social affairs and labour minister Ahmad Al-Rujaib submitted his resignation to the prime minister, becoming the second minister to quit the four-month old Cabinet. HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah accepted the resignation and appointed Communications Minister Salem Al-Othaina as acting minister in the portfolio, KUNA said, citing a decree. Rujaib was apparently forced to step down after opposition MPs submitted two grillings against him, both claiming wide-ranging irregularities in his ministry. The two grillings were scheduled to be debated on June 20 and were highly expected to be followed with no-confidence motions which were expected to succeed.

The prime minister appears to be contemplating whether to offer the resignation of the whole Cabinet or carry out a limited reshuffle that is expected to include the oil and defense ministers besides the social affairs and finance ministers. Former finance minister Mustafa Al-Shamali resigned last month after a marathon grilling over allegations of financial and administrative irregularities that he categorically denied.

Continued on Page 13

Workers in Qatar risk ‘forced labour’: HRW Doha mulls ‘workers’ committees’

French first lady tweets ‘royal’ jibe PARIS: With a single tweet, France’s first lady managed yesterday to take a swipe at her man’s ex, put herself publicly at odds with the president, and throw a spanner in the works of his Socialist party. Valerie Trierweiler posted an apparently innocent message on Twitter wishing a relatively unknown politician good luck in his bid to win a seat in the National Assembly in Sunday’s second round parliamentary vote. But the tweet stunned France as it was obvious that the real target was Segolene Royal, the woman who shared President Francois Hollande’s life for three decades and is the mother of their four children.

Royal, who failed in 2007 to get herself elected president, is standing against Olivier Falorni, a Socialist dissident, for a parliamentary seat for the western town Valerie Trierweiler of La Rochelle. Hollande has publicly thrown his weight behind Royal, writing this week that she is “the only candidate of the presidential majority who can be assured of my support” in the constituency.

Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry travelled yesterday to Continued on Page 13

DOHA: Human Rights Watch warned yesterday that migrant construction workers in Qatar, which is preparing to host the 2022 World Cup, risk serious abuse amounting to “forced labour”. “The government needs to ensure that the cutting edge, high-tech stadiums it’s planning to build for World Cup fans are not built on the backs of abused and exploited workers,” said HRW Middle East director Sarah Leah Whitson in a statement released at a news conference in Doha.

The New York-based watchdog said construction workers, mostly South Asians, “risk serious exploitation and abuse, sometimes amounting to forced labour,” as it released its report: “Building a Better World Cup: Protecting Migrant Workers in Qatar Ahead of FIFA 2022.”

Earlier, a Qatar minister said the Gulf nation’s cabinet has approved the formation of “work- Sarah Leah Whitson ers’ committees” ahead of the World Cup. Labor Minister Nasser bin Abdullah Hamidi said the draft law must still be approved by the country’s ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. He spoke to AP after meeting Monday with international labor activists in Geneva. The International Trade Union Confederation’s general secretary, Sharran Burrow, said the committees fall short of full union rights.

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DAMASCUS: Members of the United Nations observers mission in Syria (UNSMIS) are seen on a field visit to Al-Midan market yesterday. - AFP

Syria in ‘full civil war’ Crowds block UN monitors in Haffe DAMASCUS: Syria is now in a full-scale civil war, UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said yesterday, as UN observers reported they were fired on as they tried to enter a town feared to be the target of a new massacre. The news came as the Syrian government accused Washington of encouraging more massacres in the strife-torn country, which Damascus always attributes to “armed terrorists,” and of meddling in its internal affairs. Asked whether he believed Syria is in a civil war, Ladsous told a small group of reporters: “Yes I think we can say that. Clearly what is happening is that the government of Syria lost some

large chunks of territory, several cities to the opposition, and wants to retake control.” “There is a massive increase in the level of violence,” Ladsous said.

On the ground, the UN Supervision Mission in Syria said observers trying to reach the northwestern town of Al-Haffe were driven back by an angry crowd of people who threw rocks and metal bars at them, and were then fired on by unknown assailants. “As they were leaving the area, three vehicles heading towards (northwest) Idlib were fired upon,” the UNSMIS statement said.

Continued on Page 13

in the

news

Wataniya CEO quits, deputy takes helm

France turns away 3 Saudis over veils

Activists demand release of Omani protesters

Iran claims designing nuclear submarine

DUBAI: The chief executive of Wataniya, Kuwait’s No. 2 telecoms operator, has resigned, parent company Qatar Telecom (Qtel) said yesterday. Qtel said Scott Gegenheimer left to “pursue other opportunities” and his deputy Abdulaziz Fakhroo has been promoted to acting chief executive. Gegenheimer joined Wataniya in 2002 and became CEO in 2008. Fakhroo was appointed deputy chief executive earlier this year following a distinguished career at Qtel Qatar, where he served as Executive Director for Technology and Senior Manager for Wireless Networks. He has been with Qtel for more than 20 years and has been a member of the executive management team in Qatar. Qtel owns a 52.5 percent stake in Wataniya, which is also known as National Mobile Telecommunications Co. Wataniya has operations in Kuwait, Tunisia, Algeria, the Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives. (See Page 21)

PARIS: France has refused entry to three women from Saudi Arabia who declined to take off their veils for immigration officials, forcing them to get a return flight, an airport source said yesterday. The women arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha at 2:30 pm (1230 GMT ) Monday but were denied entry into France after refusing to lift their full Muslim veils to show their faces to police carrying out border controls. “They were issued a fine, according to the law” and returned to Doha that evening, the source said. France has outraged many Muslims with its law against full veils, which came into force in April 2011 and bans covering one’s face in public. Violations are punishable by a fine of up to €150 ($190) or a citizenship training.

About 300 women were caught breaking the law in the first year it was in force, according to the interior ministry.

KUWAIT: Civil society groups in the Gulf states yesterday called on Oman to immediately release more than 30 rights activists arrested in the past few days for demanding reforms. The Gulf Forum for Civil Societies (GFCS), an organisation of liberal activists in the Gulf, said Omani authorities arrested 22 activists on Monday who were demanding the release of 10 others held the previous week. “We call on the Omani government to free the detainees immediately without any preconditions in respect for international charters signed by Oman,” said a statement signed by GFCS secretary general Anwar Al-Rasheed. The 10 activists were arrested on June 1 when they gathered outside police headquarters in support of striking oil workers who were demanding wage raises and better working conditions, Rasheed told AFP. Those arrested include writers, poets, bloggers, lawyers and journalists, the statement said. They also include five women.

TEHRAN: Iran has taken “initial steps” to design its first nuclear-powered submarine, a deputy navy commander claimed in an interview with the Fars news agency published yesterday. “Initial steps to design and build nuclear submarine propulsion systems have begun,” Admiral Abbas Zamini, the technical deputy navy chief, told the agency. “All countries have the right to use peaceful nuclear technology, including for the propulsion system of its vessels,” he said. Iran’s navy “needs the (nuclear-powered) propulsion system to succeed in realising very long-distance operations.” Iran regularly boasts about advances in military and scientific fields, but in most cases fails to provide proof they were ever carried out. Western military experts regularly cast doubt on its claims. Just a handful of nations - the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China - have the technology to make their own nuclear-powered submarines. (See Page 8)

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

LOCAL

Filipinos urged to strive for ‘real economic freedom’ 114th Independence Day celebrated

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Philippines’ Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera recollected the country’s history and their struggle for independence as the Filipino people commemorated their country’s Independence Day. Primavera delivered his independence day speech at the lobby of the new embassy in Faiha, in front of leaders of the community, guests and high ranking embassy officials after the traditional flaghoisting ceremony.

He reminisced events from the time of Spanish colonization up until independence was attained in 1898 and to the present time of Aquino administration. He said that the Philippines is rich in all aspects -from skills to culture and to natural resources and heritage.

Touching upon present Filipino economic scenario, he acknowledged that Philippines has been left behind by its neighbors.

However, he noted that the Philippines will emerge as one of the biggest players in the world economy by 2050 citing economic analysis. He said that even if the Philippines is free politically, another aspect in governance should not be overlooked which is real economic independence. In the 1960s, Primavera said that Philippines was second to Japan as the most economically developed country in the world. “In the 1960s, the Philippines already had supermarkets which even China, Korea or Thailand did not have [at that time]. From the 1970s, Korea emerged as a major economy, right after their wars, followed by Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. In the 1980s and 90s, India and China have risen, so have

other countries in Africa and Latin America. We were left behind, but we are happy that according to our president (Benigno Aquino III), we are re-emerging and that by 2050, we will be the 16th biggest economy in the world,” he beamed.

Primavera asserted the 6.4 percent growth that Philippines

pendence in 1898 was a collective effort and will of their forefathers.

“We are the first ever Asian country to have declared independence from a former colonizer. We are the first countr y in Asia to revolt against the colonizer, using both peaceful [by Dr Jose Rizal propaganda] and violent means [by

KUWAIT: Some visitors pose with Vice Consul Rea Oreta achieved in the first quarter of 2012 is quite an amazing accomplishment, considering the downward trend experienced by some economic powers in the world. “So, we are emerging and many economist believe that the Philippines will be the next miracle of Asia,” he quipped. He urged his countrymen, especially Filipinos in Kuwait to continue working harder and help their country achieve ‘real economic independence.’ “We all have the potential to make our country great. We just have to help each other and our countr y,” Primavera urged. He said that the declaration of Philippines inde-

KUWAIT: Philippine Ambassador Shulan Primavera addresses Filipinos at the embassy lobby in Faiha yesterday.

— Photos by Joseph Shagra

News

in brief

Pioneer in recycling KUWAIT: Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Industrial Co, Dr Anwar Al-Naki, said that Kuwait has the potential to become a pioneer in recycling consumer goods. He said that Kuwait has a high average consumption of recyclable goods, especially aluminum, iron, copper and other metals and goods like paper, plastic and vehicles tires. He emphasized that there is high demand from India, Korea and China for such materials as well as potential partnerships in industry. He added that there are recyclable raw materials such as aluminum. Dr AlNaki further added that there are considerable challenges facing the industrial sector, which has weakened recycling in the country despite the great potential for it. He noted that the lack of industrial land and lack of licenses and finance has impacted negatively on the endeavor.

Return shahada to Kuwaiti flag KUWAIT: Dr Mohammad Al-Tabtabae has called for the shahada, “No God But Allah, Mohammad the Prophet of Allah,” to be rewritten on the flag of Kuwait. The flag previously featured the text, and Al-Tabtabae expressed his hope for its return, adding that the words were removed in 1962 and that reviving them would return the Kuwaiti flag to that of the country’s forefathers .

Andres Bonifacio]. On June 12, 1898 the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the Americans,” he recalled. Primavera noted that with the Americans, Filipinos were able to learn the art of governance and democracy. “Americans shared education and the abundant literacy to Filipinos, we were able to improve our public health and taught us liberal democracy and the art of governance,” he said.

“True enough that by 1907, we had our own National Assembly, first ever in Asia, and we were able to elect and vote for the members of Parliament.

By 1946, we were given real

independence by Americans. In fact, it was the second independence on July 4, 1946,” he recalled.

After his speech, Cathy Gizon, the longest serving embassy staff in Kuwait, was delegated to read out President Aquino’s Independence Day message as token of appreciation and gratitude to embassy staff.

Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay’s message was read out by Vice Consul Rea Oreta. The messages from Secretaries [Ministers] of Foreign Affairs and Depar tment of Labor and Employment were read out by Sheila Monedero (Vice Consul) and Labor Attache David Des Dicang respectively.

Speaking with the Kuwait Times after the event, Dicang revealed that on the eve of Independence Day last Monday, about 73 runaway housemaids were repatriated to Manila. The mass repatriation was carried out with the help of Kuwaiti and Philippine government. “Of the 73 repatriated Filipinos yesterday [Monday] the Kuwaiti government paid for 53 plane tickets, while the rest were borne by the Philippine government. We are hoping that in the next couple of days, we will be able to repatriate more,” he added.

Dicang stressed that with the mass repatriation of runaway housemaids, embassy shelter is no longer congested. “We are down to 90 housemaids at the shelter. In the next couple of weeks, housemaids will go home on normal flights. We are happy that there are at least 30 housemaids who were hired by a famous hotel in Kuwait. They will return to Kuwait on visa number 18.

Surely, for them, it means better opportunity, better salar y and working conditions,” he added.

KUWAIT: Some leaders of the community listen to messages being read out.

Kuwaiti delegation in Brazil for Rio 20+ preparations BRASILIA: A Kuwaiti delegation is to take part in the preparatory meetings for the Rio 20+ meetings in Brazil. They will focus on the progress of sustainability dossiers and means of realizing greener policies and practices worldwide. The preparatory committee meets June 13-15, and the activities and initiatives of NGOs are to be discussed June 16-19. Heads of state, or their representatives, are to meet June 20-22 for the summit. The Kuwaiti delegation is presided over by Chairperson of the Volunteer Work Center, Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as well as members representing various Ministries, State Institutions, the Higher

Planning Council, the Environment Public Authority, and the Public Authority for Industry. Discussions set to take place during the event include possible means to shift to greener economies, the eradication of poverty, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, the promotion of social equality, female empowerment, and the establishment and restoration of peace and security across the world.

The Ambassador expressed hope that the meetings would yield positive resolutions to help achieve sustainable development, noting there have been many successful examples in this field over the last two decades. — KUNA

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah received at Seif Palace yesterday, Chairperson of Volunteer Work Center Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad and congratulated her after she received a top honorary sash, for her outstanding voluntary activities, from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The premier lauded Sheikha Amthal’s efforts in preserving the environment and her activities in different voluntary sectors.

Euro-Arab organization congratulates Sheikha Amthal GENEVA: The Euro-Arab Environment Organization (EAEO) congratulated Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, Chairperson of Kuwait’s Volunteer Work Center upon being honored by His Highness the Amir Sheik h Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in appreciation for her profound effor ts in ser vice of Kuwaiti environment and contributions made in voluntary work.

Dr Tareq Al-Obeid, Secretary General of the Geneva-based organization, said in a statement that Sheikha Amthal earned the honor that was conferred upon her by HH the Amir, who decorated her with the state’s top-degree band for her efforts to safeguard Kuwait’s environment and promote the spirit of volunteering among citizens.

Sheikha Amthal has rendered a service for the environment, through voluntary action, a civic behavior and social conduct, thereby placing Kuwait among nations of astounding record in philanthropic activities.

Supporting words of praise with tangible examples, Dr Obeid cited a long chain of initiatives and campaigns, masterminded by Sheikha Amthal, namely the projects for labor safety, supplying workers

with water, juices and milk, conserving water and power, protection of marine environment and a campaign themed, ‘My environment is my home.’

Kuwaiti youth view Sheikha Amthal’s works as an example to follow in terms of devotion for the homeland, cooperation and solidarity, in line with the country’s social-religious-cultural heritage.

The Amiri honor was granted to Sheik ha Amthal on Monday at Bayan Palace. “This honor further encourages and motivates us all to exert more effort in the service of our homeland, and to further promote the culture of volunteerism in all fields, including in environment preservation,” Sheikha Amthal was quoted as saying after her ceremonial meeting with His Highness. The Euro-Arab Environment Organization is a non-governmental, international, independent and non-profit environmental organization which follows no particular political or religious trend. It encourages cooperation and provides support for projects and programs that help mitigate pollution by international funds and other bodies. It also offers consultation to governmental and non-governmental bodies on various environmental issues.—KUNA

GCC electricity, water meeting concludes RIYADH: Minister of Electricity and Water of Kuwait Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim s a i d h e re ye s t e rd a y t h a t t h e Ex traordinar y M eeting of the GCC e l e c t r i c i t y a n d w a te r co o p e r a t i o n committee, which concluded here yesterday discussed water link age and water security between the GCC states. Al-Ibrahim said before leaving here that the meeting came in implementation of directives of GCC leade r s a t t h e i r c o n s u l t a t i ve s u m m i t , which was held in Riyadh last May, on the need to pay more attention to the water sector and look for ways to provide sustainable water sources.

He pointed out that the meeting discussed the topic of water linkage between the GCC countries in light of decisions of the GCC Supreme Council relating to this matter besides previous studies conducted in this regard as well as a long-term comprehensive

research strategy on the water issue.

He revealed that the GCC Electricity a n d Wa t e r U n d e r s e c r e t a r i e s h a v e been entrusted to hold a meeting in the coming days to review the previous studies pertinent to water linking, in addition to the modification in light of the developments that have taken place in coordination with the Consultancy Group in charge of preparing the study. He added that the undersecretaries would discuss in their meeting the benchmarks for the previous study prepared in 2007 and the criteria according to which the cost of the project would be distributed, in addition to the water reser ves available in each countr y separately and negotiate with the consultant on cost and the period of termination of the study. The extraordinary meeting kicked off here earlier in the day. —KUNA

Kuwaiti students visit Italian universities

Traffic jams clog street KUWAIT: Traffic jams have become worrisome. It is a daily routine that motorists have to go through everyday owing to excavations and detours that clog the area from Jamal Abdel Nasser Street leading to Kuwait City, extending all the way to the Ports Authority, bringing the traffic flow to a virtual standstill. The problem is caused by maintenance an excavation work being conducted in the area over several years without any tangible results. Sources said that the work is under progress to create and maintain the pipelines for Airport Road rain water from Fourth Ring Road to Jamal Abdel Nasser Street, in addition to completing Al-Ghazali street pipes. The cost of both projects amounts to a sum of KD 19 million, a project that is linked to the government development plan. The ministry is racing with time to complete the projects on time.

Co-op societies elections KUWAIT: In the recent elections held at co-operative societies’ Union, the union bloc emerged victorious and obtained top posts. Polling was held in 31 co-operative societies, spelling an end to rumors and predictions on the Union’s fate. The Union bloc members will allocate positions as per previous understanding. AdbulAziz AlSamhan will serve as the Co-operative Union Chairman.

Rashid Boursely will serve as the post of Deputy Chairman, Nabeel Al-Mifrih will be Secretary General and Treasurer. Adel Al-Shamroukh will serve as Head of Pricing Committee.

ROME: The visiting Kuwaiti delegation pictured with Kuwaiti Consul General in Milano Sheikh Sami Abdelaziz Al-Hamad.

ROME: The visiting delegation from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) met with Kuwaiti Consul General in Milano Sheikh Sami Abdelaziz Al-Hamad, who stressed the importance of securing Kuwait’s good repute through higher education and qualification for its nationals.

The student delegation is on a tour of several universities, institutes, education-

al institutions, and cultural and industrial institutions in Italy.

The consulate statement in this regard pointed out that the students are of different majors and the delegation is headed by Dean of Student Care and Activities Dr. Khalifah Bahbahani. The consul general received the delegation at the Consulate building in Milano, it added.

The aim of the tour, it said, is for the students to experience some of the cultural and scientific landmarks of Italy, which has a rich history and enjoys a leading standing among peer countries in Europe. The consul general also briefed the students on aspects of the work of diplomatic missions in general, and work at the consulate in Milano in particular.

The delegation came to Rome on May 29 as part of the PAAET student activities program and the 10 students are from five faculties and specialized institutes. Italy had been chosen as the destination of the visit for its wealth of both advanced scientific and industrial institutions and prestigious and timehonored educational and cultural institutions. — KUNA

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

local

Team for Green Effect helps boost environment awareness Another successful year

By Nawara Fattahova

KUWAIT: Indonesian Ambassador Ferry Adambar visited Kuwait Times on Monday and held talks with Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan on topics of mutual interest.

Iraqi victims express gratitude to Kuwait KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met two Iraqis, who received medical treatment funded

by Kuwait for severe injuries and burns, at Seif Palace yesterday.

The two men, Ali Abbas and Ahmad Hamza, were accompanied by the Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait, M ohammad Hussein Bahr Aloloum, who expressed delight at meeting the Amir, commending the Kuwaiti leader for his “historic” humanitarian gesture.

“The Iraqi people suffered from crimes which travelled to our dear neighbor, Kuwait. We will remember them with pain, and they will remain a lesson for the future that societies should live in peace and have good relations,” he said.

He described the initiative as a bridge between the States and a symbol of the improving relations between both countries. The two victims also spoke of their

ordeal and how valuable the treatment was to them, “My state of health was critical, and no one really expected me to survive.

When I came to Kuwait, they were very gracious and the doctors did an excellent job. We thank HH the Amir for the support and treatment he has given us. Iraqis and Kuwaitis are brothers, and we will always be,” Abbas said.

Hamza added, “I thank HH the Amir for covering the costs of my treatment in Britain. I had given up on my condition, but now I can move my ar tificial leg, w h i ch h a s im p roved my co ndit io n,” Abbas and Hamza sustained their injuries during the Iraq War in 2003.

The meeting with HH the Amir was held in the attendance of Kuwait ’s Minister of Health, Ali Al-Obaidi, and Deputy Minister for Amiri Diwan Affairs, Sheikh Ali Al-Sabah. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Team for Green Effect concluded its programs and activities for the year 2011-2012 on Monday evening at the Movenpick Al Bidaa Hotel. During this ceremony, results of its participation in the Earth Hour Campaign and the Team’s participation in various environment-related activities were announced by different environmental institutions. Tareq Al-Sugobi, Deputy President of the Voluntary Work Center of voluntary teams noted that 22 teams are working under the umbrella of the Center, including the Kuwaiti Team for Green Effect (KTGE) that began at the Kuwait University and joined the Center later.

“The members of the Team exerted great efforts in convincing public and private institutions, and individuals on spreading environment awareness in shopping malls, banks and public institutions. The Team has upheld Kuwait’s image internationally at the Earth Hour Campaign, which is a pride for all of us. And I thank Sheikh Amthal for her support to all voluntary teams,” he stated.

From her side, Abrar Bin Ali, Head of the Team said that this year’s results were great. “The num-

ber of participants in this campaign are on the rise every year, with a great difference compared to five years ago. Also, more sectors are participating, which led the Kuwaiti Environment Hour being organized, similar to the Earth Hour. We participated in organizing this event,” she pointed out.

One of the most significant events in which the Team participated was the Million Environment Activity in Kuwait. “This activity was organized by the Kuwait Society for Environment Protection(KSEP) in cooperation with One Billion Green Activity in the World Campaign, organized by the International Earth Day Organization and 192 different countries that participated in this activity,” explained Abrar.

“The results of this participation is a proof of KTGE’s status and its popularity in Kuwait. The results also work as a fact of the team’s effect in community, ranking first among other environmental teams by participating in 129,878 environment activities,” she added.

More than 160 different institutions participated in the Earth Hour event. “This shows that great work was done by 13 members. This work presented Kuwait in 147 countries and more

KUWAIT: Tareq Al-Sugobi awarding a member of the KTGE Team and Abrar Bin Ali (right).

‘US, Russia agreed on Assad’s stepping down’ KUWAIT: Washington and Moscow agree that the Syrian regime needs to step down, but are on disagreement with regards to the method to achieve the transition, the United States Ambassador to Kuwait said in a recent statement.

Ambassador Matthew Tueller’s comments came during a visit to Al-Rai daily with US Embassy staff in which he met with Editor-in-Chief Majid Al-Ali. “US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are currently exerting efforts through diplomatic channels to focus on the current situation in Syria which is both hard and dangerous on the Syrian people and the entire region”, the ambassador was quoted by Al-Rai yesterday.

Ambassador Tueller further indicates that the United States is currently in negation with Security Council countries over the issue; including Russia. “[Special representative on Syria] Fredrick Hoff visited Moscow recently to hold discussions with Russian officials, while the [US] Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford have since two days been carrying out talks in

Turkey with representatives from the Syrian opposition forces as part of efforts to garner more international attention to their support”, he said, adding that the third aspect his country is focusing on is “finding ways to supply humanitarian needs to the people of Syria”.

Ambassador Tueller did not confirm speculations that his country is working with Russia on a solution that would end the Syrian crisis similar to the formula used in Yemen. “While an agreement is in place on the need for the current regime in Damascus to step down, we still disagreed with Russia and China regarding the method to achieve this goal”, the ambassador clarified. Regarding concern over the possibility of civil war taking place in Syria, ambassador Tueller said that “the current situation could’ve been avoided when we asked Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad a year ago to be part of the solution, but clearly he never had the intention nor the willingness to accept democratic transition or share of power, and instead plans to use violence and the security option to suppress his people”. —Al-Rai

KU plans two-semester program for freshmen KUWAIT: The Kuwait University (KU) is waiting for the announcement of high school final examination results so that a mechanism can be devised to admit as many new college students next semester. The University suffers from a capacity shortage.

Senior KU insiders quoted by Al-Rai yesterday indicate that the KU Board assigned the Deanship of Admission and Registration to finalize the admission process on the basis of classifying candidates into three categories: Kuwaitis, children of Kuwaiti women, and non-Kuwaitis.

The admission procedure will be slightly different this year, with the same enrollment standards applied in accepting Kuwaiti students regardless of whether they are stateless residents or non-Kuwaitis.

The Ministry of Higher Education announced on Monday, plans to accept all high school graduates that are eligible to enroll into the KU through a two-semester program in which at least 7,000 freshmen have enrolled in the first semester. However, the remaining will be given

priority by the second semester. Meanwhile, sources within the ministry indicate that Nayef Al-Hajraf, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education has ‘full control’ over the issue to avoid a similar crisis from taking place when the ministry failed to provide seats to thousands of graduates who were left behind. Minister AlHajraf seeks to increase the budget allocated for the scholarship program so that more students can be abroad if necessary, said the sources , reported Al-Rai. More than 34,000 12th grade students appeared for their final examinations on Sunday and will finish on June 22nd for the Science stream and 23rd for the Arts stream.

Meanwhile, Al-Qabas reported yesterday that that 83 students were “deprived of barred from appearing in remaining exams,” as a punishment for being caught cheating on Monday, reported Al-Qabas. Undersecretary Tamadher AlSadairawi said that the Ministry of Education has allocated a budget this year to install test halls with jammers to intercept mobile phone calls, reported Al-Rai.

Jordanian-Kuwaiti ties strong: Tarawneh AMMAN: Jordanian Prime Minister, Dr Fayez Tarawneh, underscored here yesterday the strong relations between Jordan and Kuwait, noting that both countries share a common stance regarding the current developments in the region. In an exclusive interview with KUNA, Tarawneh stressed the importance of communication between the two countries’ officials especially, he added, given the high expectations based on their bilateral meetings.

He said, “Our duty as responsible officials is to promote the ambitions of our peoples to a practical reality in order to foster integration in all areas of mutual interest, especially as there is a real desire within the leadership of

both countries to strengthen cooperation in all areas given the availability of investment opportunities.” Asked about his country’s delegation with the GCC states, Tarawneh said, “We received the GCC’s decision regarding granting Jordan and Morocco a sum of five billion US dollars for development projects with pleasure and gratitude. The projects are set over a five-year term, which was agreed upon bilaterally with all Gulf countries concerned.”

He stressed that there is much to be done between the two sides, adding that the door for investment in the private sector is open and supported by laws that encourage GCC investors to invest in Jordan. — KUNA

than 7,000 cities around the world. Some public institutions try to snatch our achievement without making any efforts,” said Abrar.

During the ceremony, a short documentary on the Earth Hour event 2012 was screened. The event concluded with the members of KTGE being facilitated, in addition to sponsors, photographers’ team and those that supported the event.

KUWAIT: Abrar Bin Ali delivering her speech.

KUWAIT: Al-Sugobi awarding a member of the voluntary team. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

LOCAL kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Criticizing the wrong party

Reviving broadcast media’s creativity

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

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remember Sulaiman Al-Asousi as an actor for his role in the famous play ‘Tamasha.’ As children, his performance was etched in our minds for more than three years.

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Ps and many citizens have, in my opinion, overreacted when they expressed outrage over recent incidents in which lawmakers and other persons disrespected Kuwait’s flag or national anthem. I believe so because the incidents in these cases are classified under freedom of opin-

The special thing about AlAsousi, besides being highly professional, is that he speaks in the original Kuwaiti dialect that is untouched by modernity.

Many TV channel hosts attempt to speak the Kuwaiti dialect, but they end up sounding more elderly than authentic.

The government has the duty of raising children on patriotism as a top priority. Instead, children are being taught to give priority to religious and pan-regional issues ahead of loyalty to their country. There have been Kuwaitis who were killed fighting in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and others willing today to die in Syria. ion that is protected by Kuwait’s Constitution and democratic system. Granted, it is an unfortunate opinion to disrespect national symbols, but remains an action that is not punishable by Kuwait’s law. Expressing a bad opinion is not a crime or an aggressive action. A person is not considered criminal by law for simply thinking of committing a crime; but only after committing it.

The outrage should’ve been expressed, in my opinion, against the reasons which led for the recent disrespectful incidents to happen. The government has the duty of raising children on patriotism as a top priority. Instead, children are being taught to give priority to religious and pan-regional issues ahead of loyalty to their country. There have been Kuwaitis who were killed fighting in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and others willing today to die in Syria. However, people with the same ideology failed to show similar attitude to die in Kuwait’s defense during the Iraqi Invasion. It’s no wonder after that to see people who are less willing to die for their country, show disrespect to their country’s national symbols.

This ideology is based on glorification of religion on the expense of patriotism, leaving the door open for sectarianism or tribalism to thrive in society. The true state of outrage should be expressed against the party responsible for this unpatriotic behavior; which in this case is the government. While the government sponsors efforts to boost religious loyalty in society, it fails to carry out similar endeavors to instill the principles of patriotism and loyalty to the country within young generations. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Political spending, national security

By Najat Al-Hashash

kuwait digest

Recycling is the solution

By Dr Yaqoub Al-Sharrah

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dvancements in technology have brought about much-needed positive changes that improved the quality of human lives, but not without the negative aspects that threaten the safety of the place we live in. This is evident with the increasing rates of depletion of natural resources, energy consumption, as well as dependence on industry in all aspects of life. Fossil fuel is used to run factories and means of transportation despite their destructive effects on the environment.

The overconsumption of food resources combined with growing industry and people’s lack of awareness has created a waste disposal crisis that threatens human lives. Waste comes in different shapes: solid, liquid and gas, and from different sources that include industrial and agricultural activity, as well as human waste. Similarly, all types of waste have distinctive features in terms of their hazardous effects as well as effective disposal methods.

Solid waste is considered one of the most difficult safe disposal methods. Many developing countries use random methods to dispose of solid waste, including burying landfills, burning in incinerations and even dumping waste into the sea. These methods continue to happen today despite warnings that contribute to global pollution.

On the other hand, advanced countries utilize safer methods to dispose solid waste by setting up recycling factories that help get rid of paper, clothes, furniture, tires, plastic, and steel. This industry also helps countries achieve economic and environmental advancement by becoming producers of various equipment.

Unfortunately, Kuwait does not utilize advanced methods of waste disposal to protect the local environment. The recent incident in which flames engulfed piles of tires disposed randomly in the middle of the desert exposes authorities’ lack of attention

towards fulfilling their environmental responsibilities.

According to official estimates, nearly four million kilograms of household waste is collected everyday in Kuwait. Meanwhile, the country has only a single recycling factory that cannot manage so much load.

The remaining waste is then buried in landfills that pose huge environmental risk. Think about the environment and economic benefits our country can gain from projects in which private companies build recycling factories to recycle paper, glass, metal in Kuwait. — Al-Rai

The overconsumption of food resources combined with growing industry and people’s lack of awareness has created a waste disposal crisis that threatens human lives. Waste comes in different shapes: solid, liquid and gas, and from different sources that include industrial and agricultural activity, as well as human waste. Similarly, all types of waste have distinctive features in terms of their hazardous effects as well as effective disposal methods.

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he investigations report based on which the Court of Ministers shelved the case against former prime minister HH Sheikh Nasser AlMohammad Al-Sabah over the cash transfers issue, highlights the fact that the prosecutor failed to provide evidence to prove that the former premier has committed a criminal act. The Court explained that the funds mentioned in the case were spent at places that are “out of the legal jurisdiction because they are connected with matters that concern national security.” Information about these transactions are therefore “classified for international considerations left for the assessment of the state’s leadership.” Disclosing them could put the national security at risk.

It is safe to say that all countries have secret issues. Protecting their national security requires that these be kept classified. It is also safe to say that ‘political money’ or financial aid that Kuwait gives is part of the country’s foreign policy that goes in line with securing support to protect Kuwait’s national interests. Everybody knows that politics is a very complicated subject that only highly experienced individuals can master.

If we examine Kuwait’s situation from different aspects, we find that country faces multiple disadvantages when compared to neighboring countries in the region. Kuwait is situated between countries that are geographically larger than it is.

However, Kuwait’s population is equal to the population of one city or province of these countries.

Topographically, Kuwait lacks mountains, rivers or other aspects that form a natural barrier that provide protection against aggression.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s democracy allows citizens to take part in the decision-making process; worrying neighboring countries that lack such practice.

This could be the reason why these countries would want to see Kuwait’s democracy fail as a result of endless political tensions. This is because a successful system could result in a public outcry calling for adopting democracy.

Don’t you think that a country facing disadvantages in the form of a small size and population, lack of natural border security, demographic imbalance, in addition to enviable wealth, has the right to take necessary steps to protect its security?

Political spending in this case can be allowed.

Furthermore, I believe that spending must remain confidential, left to the prime minister and cabinet members who run the state’s affairs. I believe that trust should be shown in the process according to which leaders conduct the state’s affairs, and avoid debating in matters that deal with national security. This is especially the case after the recent court ruling found Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah not guilty of committing a crime. — Al-Rai

OP-ED

Where are the legislators headed to?

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he country is deteriorating by the day. Un-parliamentary behavior rules the roost and we pay the price. We began tolerating criticism, to the point where it is unbearable now. The symbols of the country’s patriotism and irresponsible rhetoric is eating into the concept of a state.

We can exercise the right to criticism and hold many accountable as per the articles guaranteed by the Constitution.

However, several irresponsible remarks were made last week that shakes the state’s foundations.

The seasoned Salaf MP Khalid Al-Sultan who claims to be rational confirms to the political leadership. He calls for striking out Article 15 from the penal law, which is his right. He added that only those that agree with blasphemy will be reinstate the law.

“Almighty Allah will hold those who did not stand up for the Prophet accountable.” Where is wisdom and rationale in this statement? Did those who reinstates the law agree upon blasphemy? The proposal was sent back by the Justice Minister, Prime Minister and HH the Amir.

Are they enemies of the Prophet (PBUH).

Did MP Khalid Al-Sultan forget the Salafist group ideology that calls for obeying the ruler? Or does obeying their ‘Amir’ come ahead of obeying the country’s Amir? Al-Sultan has breached all limits of freedom. Instead of targeting the government, he went after the state.

MP Waleed Al-Tabatabae won-

ders if protecting the Amiri decree is more important than protecting the honor of Prophet

MP Waleed AlTabatabae wonders if protecting the Amiri decree is more important than protecting the honor of Prophet (PBUH). All intentions are ignored, and there is complete ignorance about what the Constitution stipulates. Al-Tabatabae goes further by commenting on the sports crisis. “I am not worried about the flag being hoisted at the London Olympics because it is only a cloth.” He has eschewed the symbolism that is represented by the flag.

(PBUH). All intentions are ignored, and there is complete ignorance about what the Constitution stipulates. Al-Tabatabae goes further by commenting on the sports crisis. “I am not worried about the flag being hoisted at the London Olympics because it is only a cloth.” He has eschewed the symbolism that is represented by the flag.

How will Al-Tabatabae answer those who may say that the Constitution is only a piece of paper or the Holy Quran is just a book. What is worse is that his colleague MP Mohammad Hayef refuses to stand up in respect to the national anthem because it is a musical piece.

MP Dr Obaid Al-Wasmi, a former law professor, said “ the incidents that lead up to of security men being attacked in AlHarbash’s diwan are not consistent. Al-Mudhaf’s appeal was considered within 48 hours, raising doubts.” Here MP Al-Wasmi raises questions the law, thereby questioning the judiciary. If he has convincing evidence to present, then we will support and defend his opinion.

As it is inappropriate to comment on a case that is sub-judice, it would have been better for MP Al-Wasmi to support the judiciary’s independence and preserve its neutrality, keeping away from political polarization. If people lose confidence in the judiciary, then the state will cease to exist. Some legislators only help undermine national security. Only Almighty Allah knows where we are headed to! — Aljarida

Al-Asousi disappeared and appeared again in the mid 90s, as a reporter on MBC television channel. He was then seen in the avatar of an outstanding radio jockey for ‘Al-Deewania’ program being broadcast by Radio Marina. He once said, “I was a guest at the program and after that, I became a permanent radio jockey.”

The special thing about Al-Asousi, besides being highly professional, is that he speaks in the original Kuwaiti dialect that is untouched by modernity.

Many T V channel hosts attempt to speak the Kuwaiti dialect, but they end up sounding more elderly than authentic. Al-Asousi is an exception who speaks the original dialect without making any improvisations. It is the heavy but beautiful dialect we hear at senior citizens’ diwaniyas.

As a listener, I enjoy Al-Asousi’s performance and I believe that the private FM stations era, of which Radio Marina is a part, helped in discovering a talented artiste like him. I mention Al-Sanousi here because the Ministry of Information can look up to him. There are many gifted artistes at the Ministry of Information. However, thanks to ‘wasta,’ (influence) and nepotism, the innovators vanish. Like I said previously, the Ministry of Information is home to great directors, program producers and TV announcers who are highly professional.

Sadly, political mentality kills all creativity, pushing our TV channels into the lowest ratings. This policy is killing our creativity. Otherwise, how is it possible that one TV announcer, who wields ‘wasta’ returns every season with the same program?

NOTE: I think Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah AlMubarak will be able to bring a sea change to the Ministry. The problem is that he is burdened with many political responsibilities. — Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest

We expect better telecom services

By Hamad Al-Sarie

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n the past, the Ministry of Communication (MoC) announced that it plans to allow mobile telephone number portability in the country. This system was implemented in Bahrain but not in Kuwait despite the Communications Minister Salem Al-Othaina announcing the same more than three months ago.

I have observed that it is difficult to go fishing these days owing to poor weather conditions, especially to the south of Kuwait. However, even when it is better, as you arrive at the coast of Qarooh Island, mobile service is cut off. I hope the companies will install telecommunication towers in Kuwaiti islands in order to help fishermen.

It appears that telecommunications companies in Kuwait have become stronger than the ministry.

They refuse to execute ministry’s plans and projects, although their service are below citizen and expat’s expectations. To avail of internet services that provide good speed, people have to shell out large amounts from their pockets.

Furthermore, the Ministry has not granted permission to companies to introduce ‘4G’ network. We look forward to a favorable decision from the ministry on this regard. After all, encouraging the private sector is the country’s duty to improve services despite the high costs borne by consumers.

On another note, I have observed that it is difficult to go fishing these days owing to poor weather conditions, especially to the south of Kuwait.

However, even when it is better, as you arrive at the coast of Qarooh Island, mobile service is cut off. I hope the companies will install telecommunication towers in Kuwaiti islands in order to help fishermen.

They will be able to use their mobile phones in case they face problems.

I asked one of the officials about the distance that a tower can cover so that calls can be received.

He told me that the maximum distance covered is 25 km. Strangely, once you arrive in Fintas heading towards Nuwaiseeb and manually search for the networks available on your phone, you will find the names of several companies listed.

Only thing, they are all Iranian telecommunication companies! This means that their networks cover a distance of more than 250 kilometers. I know that concerned authorities have been informed about this, but no action has been taken yet. — Al-Anbaa

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

local

Seven more ministers ‘submit resignations’ Frustrated over deadlock in relations

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday at Seif Palace the Kenyan Foreign Minister Sam Ongeri, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah.

Bright future for low cost flight market in Mideast KUWAIT: Providing governments relax their control on the aviation market, the low cost flights market has great potential to grow in the future as the region is geared up for this sector, KFH-Research said yesterday.

Low cost airline companies in the region own 75 aircrafts, while demand has reached 100 aircrafts, the research revealed. Economy flights form 10pct of seat capacities in the region, it added.

In addition, the report explained that economy flight companies in the region that are owned by the private sector, have proven the sector’s ability to succeed and make profits despite challenges, which indicates further growth in the future.

The importance of the LCC market in the Middle East has grown steadily since the launch of the region’s first LCC flights by Air Arabia in October 2003, but the growth has not been as high as initially anticipated, as carriers can attest to.

Just four airlines make up the regional LCC market - Air Arabia, flydubai, Jazeera Airways and NAS Air. Air Arabia also has two subsidiary carriers - Air Arabia Maroc, launched in 2007, and Air Arabia Egypt, launched in 2010.

A third, based in Jordan, has been on hold for several years. There are also some smaller carriers in the region that are filling the gap between LCCs and full service airlines. Bahrain

Air markets itself as a “premium value” carrier, including some LCC elements in its model but also offering two seating classes - including an all-new business class cabin - and a correspondingly greater emphasis on service and product levels.

RAK Airways, based in the UAE emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, also has low cost elements, but like Bahrain Air has adopted a hybrid model between full service and low-cost airlines. Between them, regional LCCs operate close to 75 aircraft, with around another 100 on order, a figure that will likely grow only moderately in the near future. Air Arabia still has 44 aircraft on order, while NAS Air has 27 more due to it.

Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways only has three aircraft on order but plans to expand its fleet only marginally over the next four years (the company also operates a leasing division, which will add to its fleet).

LCCs in the region account for around 10pct of all regional seating capacity: 11.8pct of intra-Middle East capacity and 8pct of seats to/from the region. The past few years have seen a slowing of the explosive growth rate of LCCs in the Middle East. A number of factors, including high barriers to entry, protectionism in favour of state-owned carriers and the regional unrest to hit the region, have all contributed to this slow down. — KUNA

KUWAIT: While it has been confirmed that Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ahmad Al-Rujaib had submitted his resignation during the cabinet’s meeting Monday, a report published yesterday further indicates that seven other ministers have tendered their resignations to Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah “and asked him to take whatever action he feels suitable”.

Speaking to Al-Jarida on the condition of anonymity, sources close to the cabinet indicate that the premier was approached Sunday night by Minster of Information Mohammad Al-Abdullah, Minister of Awqaf and Justice Jamal AlShehab, Minister of Communications Salem Al- O thainah, M inister of Commerce Anas Al-Saleh, Minister of Electricity and Water Abdul-Aziz AlIbrahim, Minister of Oil Hani Hussain and Minister of Education Nayef AlHajraf “who put their resignations at his disposal”.

The ministers reportedly informed the premier that others were supposed to join them in filing their mass resignation “but couldn’t make it due to prior engagements”. Ministers are reportedly frustrated over the deadlock in relations with the parliament given the abundance of grilling motions and confrontations in the form of inquisitions that can affect the process of their work.

Al-Rujaib is the second minister to step down in the five-month-old cabinet af ter former finance minister Mustafa Al-Shamali resigned following the debate of his grilling last month.

The recent developments add more fuel to the fire regarding speculations

of a cabinet reshuffle Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak could be mulling in the near future.

On that regard, Al-Qabas mentioned the possibility of resumption of negotiation between the cabinet and the oppositionist coalition that form the majority in the parliament “to offer lawmakers spots in the cabinet”.

This was stated by sources with knowledge of communications ongoing “between the cabinet and members of the Majority Bloc”, who further indicate that the two sides reached preliminary agreement on a formula allowing four or five MPs to assume ministers’ posts “as long as they take part in the decision making process”.

Both sides reportedly commenced talks following Al-Shamali’s resignation “but stopped after the cabinet rejected draft laws” which include a bill setting death penalty as punishment for offending God Almighty and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

In the meantime, the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity pointed out that some Majority Bloc MPs prefer that the cabinet appoints at least nine people close to the opposition as ministers “so that the loss in number doesn’t affect the influence the Majority Bloc has in the parliament”.

The sources however indicate that prime minister HH Sheikh Jaber already rejected this proposal “prompting other MPs to entertain the idea of nominating six bloc members” to join the cabinet.

Negotiations between Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak and the Majority Bloc broke down before the cabinet’s formation last February when the premier refused

to accept the bloc’s request to join with at least nine portfolios.

While a cabinet member can be assigned to the social ministry on interim basis through the summer, many speculate that the prime minister could carry out a reshuffle which could establish more harmonized relationship with the parliament.

The Cabinet was formed early February following political turmoil which saw a parliamentary dissolution after the resignation of the former prime minister Sheik h Nasser AlMohammad Al-Sabah’s cabinet late 2011 due to public pressure led by the opposition.

In other news, MP Mohammad AlJuwaihel commended on Monday “the Interior Minister’s decision to cancel the [Kuwaiti] citizenship of Nayef AlMutairi” who reportedly also carries the Saudi nationality in violation of Kuwaiti regulations which ban dual citizenship.

Meanwhile, the controversial lawmaker warned that “similar slow measures still don’t relieve the minister out of his responsibilities”.

Al-Juwaihel who is a member of the unofficial coalition of ‘Minority’ MPs in the parliament has a standing interpellation against minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah over subjects that include alleged irregularities in naturalization.

The lawmaker announced in the meantime information based on the minister’s responses to his earlier inquisitions “which indicate that 78 convicts sentenced to death and 109 to life in prison are fugitives living among us today”. — Al-Jarida, Al-Qabas

Municipal Council approves camping regulations KUWAIT: The Municipal Council, approved on Monday, new regulations governing camps that will be pitched during forthcoming fall season and excluded a number of locations which belong to state-run Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

The council members reduced the

amount of insurance to be paid by campers from KD 250 to KD 100. The insurance is reimbursed when the camp location is cleared and cleaned. Camping starts on November 1 until March 31 next year.

The council members approved a request made by the Ministry of

Communications to privatize the Liberation Tower building which houses the Government Mall.

They also approved the Ministry of Public Works’ request to provide it 16,400 square meters of commercial plot at Kuwait International Airport’s new terminal. —KUNA

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

LOCAL

Kidnap attempts foiled in Mahboula, Riggae Teen killed in traffic accident KUWAIT: Three people were injured in incident where they managed to stop two suspects from kidnapping a woman in Mahboula. Police arrested the kidnapper after a man blocked their way with his vehicle. Police and paramedics rushed to a location where a vicious fight was reported.

The three Syrian men were admitted to Adan Hospital. The third was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a deep stab wound to his shoulder. In the meantime, police arrested the suspects, a Kuwaiti and a GCC citizen.

Investigations revealed that the injured clashed with the suspects who tried to bundle a Filipina woman into their car. The suspects face charges of attempted murder, kidnap and physical assault, reported Al-Anba.

In a similar case, police are trying to hunt down a white pick-up truck driver who tried to kidnap a woman in Riggae. The attempt was thwarted after a pedestrian intervened. A 31year-old female citizen filed a complaint with Andalus police station officers stating that a stranger attempted to pull her into his car while walking out of a beauty salon. The woman explained that the attempt failed after an Arab man who passed by at the time intervened. The man was later identified as an imam from a local mosque and provided the victim with the license plate number of the suspect’s car. A case was filed, reported Al-Anba.

Fatal accident A teenage motorist was killed and another was seriously injured in an accident that took

place at Sabhan Road. The 18-year-old was pronounced dead by paramedics. The other driver at the helm of the other vehicle was admitted to the hospital. Investigators are trying to track down an unidentified driver who reportedly swerved off the road, skidding along its length and crashing into the victims’ car, causing it to lose balance and flip over, reported Al-Watan.

Worker wins lawsuit The Appeals Court ordered a company to pay a KD 50,000 compensation to a construction worker who was maimed for life after a workplace accident. The sentence was passed after the court found the worker’s supervisor guilty of failing to secure the construction site where the accident happened, reported Al-Rai. ‘Homosexual guests’ A woman was released from police custody following her arrest recently after explaining that she fled her husband’s house because “he invites in homosexuals with whom he is in a relationship.” Mubarak Al-Kabeer investigators launched a search for a Kuwaiti man’s wife after he filed a missing person report two days ago.

Police traced her at an Egaila apartment. The woman was taken into custody and questioned.

She then confirmed that she chose to live alone and distanced herself from her husband’s ‘relationships with homosexuals’ The woman was allowed to leave after police launched an investigations into the case, reported Al-Rai.

Suicide attempt A man suffers from brain damage as a result of consuming poisoning in suicide attempt. The Ethiopian man was rushed to the Mubarak Hospital in an ambulance. He reportedly fell unconscious at his embassy’s building. Doctors revealed that he suffered from a serious case of poisoning. Preliminary investigations indicate that the man consumed a toxic substance in an attempt to end his life, reported Al-Rai. Egyptian fugitive Local Interpol officers arrested an Egyptian in Farwaniya who is wanted in his home country in connection with fake cheque charges.

Investigations went underway after local authorities were contacted by Egyptian counterparts about “a fugitive who escaped to Kuwait where he has a valid residence permit.” Following his arrest, the suspect was referred to higher authorities to handle procedures, reported Al-Qabas.

Teenager held A Kuwaiti teenager was arrested recently in connection with committing 17 thefts reported in the Capital, Farwaniya and Hawally governorates. The suspect was nabbed in Shuwaikh while smashing open the window of a car parked near a garage. The arrest happened after he attempted to flee in his own car. However, police cornered him shortly. Officers found tools inside the suspect’s car. The youngster admitted to committing all thefts by smashing open car windows, reported Al-Anba.

KUWAIT: The ambassador of Russian Federation Alexander Kinshehak hosted a reception at the embassy on the occasion of his country’s National Day this week. High ranking officials , diplomats and media persons attended the reception. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

‘Renewable energy’ generating opportunities for private sector KUWAIT: ‘Renewable Energy: Seeds of Change’, a white paper by Deloitte Middle East, finds that the recent changes in regional policies towards renewable energy will create an abundance of opportunities for private sector companies in the GCC, in the near and long term.

As an oil producing region, the Middle East has long been considered a net emitter of carbon.

However, the Deloitte Whitepaper indicates that this perception now appears to be changing as the region takes steps to embrace renewable energy.

Many GCC governments have already announced plans to capitalize on renewable energy. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman have each stated plans to produce at least 10% of their energy from sustainable sources by 2020. Whereas Dubai and Abu Dhabi each set targets of producing 5% and 7% respectively of their energy from solar and renewable sources by 2030.

While energy independence is one reason for the shift to renewables, the opportunity costs of burning oil is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, Energy experts at Deloitte say. They cite that Saudi Arabia alone is estimated to be diverting 800,000 barrels of its daily oil production to oil burning power plants. At current market prices of $120 per barrel, this amounts to up to $35 billion in lost oil revenue per annum as a result of not selling oil to foreign markets.

“In the near term, we expect to seeseveral policy announcements and a push towards green energy production being stimulated at the national and governmental levels,” said Declan Hayes, Managing Director, Renewable Energy&Cleantech, DeloitteMiddle East. “This is because it is the Governments and National companies themselves who are currently bearing the impact of the costs and who see the financial incentive to initiate change,” he added. In light of the ongoing changes in the renewable energy sector, the Deloitte whitepaper outlines several near and medium term topics to appear, over and above policy announcements and a push towards green energy production. The Deloitte whitepaper finds that given sufficient projects, the additional burst of activity in the Middle East will serve as good incentive for large multinational renewable energy companies and component manufacturers alike to consider establishing presence and production centers in the region. Over the medium term, the Deloitte whitepaper outlines several key themes which are expected to emerge: Gradual removal of oil subsidies in favor of a free market mechanism While any move that would negatively impact the subsidization of electricity produced from oil is expected to face a potential social backlash, a

gradual increase in the price of oil to more fairly reflect market values seems to be an inevitable step. A decrease in oil input price subsidies would serve to simultaneously reduce the opportunity costs of lost oil revenues (i.e. oil not already sold to foreign markets), while also reducing the local demand for oil and its derivative products, the Deloitte whitepaper predicts.

Consideration of feed-in tariffs and/or tax benefits to encourage renewable energy production The introduction of feed-in tariffs to provide a guaranteed stream of income for electricity generated by the private sector would serve to stimulate the private sector into considering renewable energy adoption.

Opportunities for companies adapting technology to better suit the desert environment By developing technology that is able to better withstand the dust, sand, wind, high temperatures and low water levels that characterize the desert environment in most of the Middle East, companies may realize a first mover’s advantage to mass adoption. Market forces and a changing competitive landscape are providing compelling reasons to consider alternative sources of energy. As such, many short term and medium term opportunities will continue to surface and impact the GCC region.

ABK's Ahlan Ahli staff get rewarded KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait recently honored its call center Ahlan Ahli's staff in a felicitation ceremony, in appreciation of their outstanding performance and concerted efforts to provide a special tele-banking experience to ABK customers.

The event resulted from the Bank's constant focus to provide quality service to its customers and therefore award employees when they deliver. Ahlan Ahli's services are highly appreciated by its users, and it is rated amongst the top banking call centers.

The attending management, Stewart Lockie, GM Retail Banking, Othman Tawfiqi, Head of Delivery Channels, and Cobus Crous, the Call Center Manager congratulated the staff on their outstanding performance. The awardees were thrilled and thanked the management for this recognition.

ABK provides 24 hours tele-banking service to its customers through Ahlan Ahli, manned by a qualified, professional team. Through Ahlan Ahli customers can inquire about their personal accounts, credit cards and loans balances

BRUSSELS: Ambassador Nabeela Al-Mulla pictured with members of the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation.

Kuwaiti MPs’ visit strengthens ties with Belgian parliament BRUSSELS: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Belgium, Nabeela Al-Mulla, hosted a dinner Monday night at her residence in honour of a group of Kuwaiti parliamentarians currently visiting Belgium.

Al-Mulla expressed her pleasure to see the members of Kuwait’s National Assembly who are on their first visit to Belgium since the new parliament was elected in Kuwait in February.

“I found them very well versed in terms of the issues that are common between Europe in general and the Middle East, Arab Spring, the position on Syria, stability in the Gulf,” she said. “It was a very interesting conversation and very open whereby each MP had his own special area of interest. It was a pleasure to have an informal exchange of views with them over dinner along with the members of the embassy staff,” noted Al-Mulla.

She stated that the visit of the Kuwaiti deputies will contribute to the strengthening of parliamentary ties between Belgium and Kuwait and noted that the Kuwaiti MPs have extended an invitation to their Belgian counterparts to visit Kuwait. The six member Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation is led by MPs Dr Jamman Al-Harbash and includes Abdullah Al-Barghash, Nayef Abdulaziz Al-Ajmi, Salem Al-Azmi, Mohammad Al-Khalifah and Munawer AlAzmi. Earlier, the Belgian-Kuwaiti Parliamentary Friendship Group met to review the progress of ties and cooperation between the two countries and exchange views on regional and international developments.

The parliamentarians described relations between the two countries as very good and discussed ways to further deepen them.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in Syria, Iran, Bahrain, Yemen as well as the situation of immigrants and Muslims in Belgium and Europe and the threat of the rise of extreme right wing groups in Europe.

The six-member Kuwait delegation, led by member of the National Assembly Dr Jamaan Al-Harbash, held the first meeting with Herman De Croo, member of the foreign relations committee and former speaker of the Belgian Parliament.

“We had a very frank meeting and the questions put by the Kuwaiti delegation were quite straight”, De Croo said after the meeting.

He said the Kuwaiti MPs asked how Belgium was dealing with the issues of illegal immigration, stateless people, about its position towards Iran’s nuclear programme, and Syria.

“I explained our positions and told them that I am a member of parliament since 45 years and I did a lot to increase the understanding with the world of Islam,” said the 70 year old De Croo.

He is the oldest member of the Belgian parliament and has held several government posts, including minister for education and transport.

De Croo said he initiated the teaching of Islam in Belgian schools and also the creation of a mosque at Brussels airport to promote democracy and tolerance between Belgium and the Muslim world.

When he was the speaker of parliament, De Croos said he visited Kuwait and noted that Belgium was very active in supporting it when invaded in the early 90’s.

“Relations between the two countries are good and it was a very good meeting,” he added.

Al-Harbash, chair of the Group, said

that the meeting is part of the Kuwait parliament’s efforts to promote friendships with parliaments of other nations.

He noted that Belgium played a noble and important role during the occupation and liberation of Kuwait and it also has a positive position on the Palestine issue.

Belgium voted in favour of the recognition of a Palestinian state and also in favour of a seat for Palestine in UNESCO. Al Harbash said Belgium has also a very progressive European position regarding the issue of the Syrian people’s revolution.

He said that today’s meeting enriched the experiences of the Kuwait parliamentarians and contributed in explaining the issues of the Gulf region and the support to the revolution in Syria and its people.

They also spoke about the situation of Muslims in Belgium and about the rise of extreme right wing groups in the country as well as Europe, while the majority in Belgium are against this trend, he said.

Al Harbash underlined that this right wing extremism is a threat to international peace and security.

Abdullah Al Barghash, the vice-chair of the Group, said they were very happy to visit Belgium and to meet and exchange views with their hugely-experienced Belgian colleagues.

“We spoke about the ties that link Belgium and Kuwait and issues of mutual interest such as stateless persons and the position of the Belgian parliament towards Syria, and we found that their position is similar to ours in condemning the crimes being committed in the country and supporting to the people,” he said. They also spoke about the situation in Iran and the dangers posed by its nuclear programme, and we noted the similarity between the two positions, he said. The Kuwait parliamentarians held a second meeting with Patrick Morau, deputy head of the foreign relations committee in the Belgian parliament and Belgium’s representative at the International Parliamentary Union.

“We have good parliamentary relations with Kuwait and as parliamentarians, we can speak openly without taboo,” Morau said. “They had a lot of questions, for example they asked about the ban of the niqab in Belgium. We explained our position and they explained their position. We now know Kuwait better than before,” he said. “We are going to continue our contacts and perhaps send a Belgian parliamentary delegation to Kuwait to see how democracy is working there. Relations are very good,” added Moriau.

On his part, MP Mohammad Al Kalifah said they discussed many issues in particular developments in Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

They assured the Belgian side that the democratic system in Kuwait determines the relations between the ruler and the people and safeguards the rights of the people, he said.

They also explained to the Belgian MPs that Iran has expansionist designs in the Gulf and to bring the Gulf under its influence like it did in Iraq, said Al Khalifah.

“We have good parliament, political and trade relations with Belgium and we should use this good relations to support the Arab cause in particular the Palestine question,” he added. The Kuwait delegation also includes Nayef Abdulaziz AlAjmi, Salem Al-Azmi, and Munawer AlAzmi. The Kuwaiti deputies were scheduled to meet members of the upper house of the Belgian parliament and the Senate yesterday. — KUNA

Rise in airport traffic, freight activity among many other services. Customers can also be made aware of new products and services of the Bank, and any other important information.

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KUWAIT: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA), Kuwait Airport said on Tuesday that airport traffic is on the rise at Kuwait International Airport in May, reaching 11 percent in the number of flights, seven percent in number of passengers, and three percent in air freight compared to

May 2011. A press release has placed overall number of passengers at over 703,000, with 343, 000 incoming and 360,000 departing travelers. It said that the overall number of flights to and from the airport came to 7,178 flights, including 6,259 commercial flights.—KUNA

International WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Dozens dead as Myanmar religious violence rages

Page 12

Pakistan should ‘bite the bullet’ in NATO routes row

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MOSCOW: People gather during an opposition rally in central Moscow yesterday. Tens of thousands of Russians flooded Moscow’s tree-lined boulevards in the first massive protest against President Vladimir Putin’s rule since his inauguration. — AP

Russians defy threats, march against Putin Websites go offline; Washington ‘deeply concerned’ MOSCOW: Russian protesters galvanized by raids on the homes of their leaders joined a march against President Vladimir Putin yesterday despite the threat of fines the size of their annual pay. Hundreds had gathered on Moscow’s scenic Pushkin Square under a heavy rain for a march to the site of a rally that organizers hope will draw 50,000 and become the biggest since Putin’s historic March election to a third term. The hashtag “Everyone to Pushka (Puskin Square) at 12” remained one of the top trends on Russia’s Twitter in the morning while protest leaders posted photos of their allies appearing for mandatory questioning as the event began.

“People will come out to the protest anyway. I don’t understand why the authorities are trying to fight the protests with methods of force,” opposition lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov told Moscow Echo radio. “I think that everything will be peaceful this time.” The so-called March of Millions follows bloody battles that

broke out between riot police and the mostly young crowd during a Moscow event held on the eve of Putin’s May 7 swearing in.

Scenes of police clubs swinging against the backdrop of the Kremlin drew a sharp rebuke from Western governments and dealt a bruising political blow to Putin on the very first day of his return from a four-year stint as premier.

But the Kremlin decided to respond with the kind of show of force that characterized much of Putin’s 2000-2008 presidential mandate and already appears to be a hallmark of the ex-KGB spy’s new mandate.

It used its slim parliamentary majority to ram through legislation raising penalties for protesters to 300,000 rubles ($9,000) - more than for any other administrative offence and about the size of Russians’ average annual pay.

And even Putin’s own human rights adviser was forced to sound the alarm on Monday when police armed with assault rifles conducted simultaneous morning raids on the homes

of the protests’ most prominent leaders. “I think that from the standpoint of social harmony, modernization and political reforms, this is the very worst that could have happened,” Putin’s human rights council chief Mikhail Fedotov observed.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that Washington “is deeply concerned by the apparent harassment of Russian political opposition figures on the eve of the planned demonstrations.”

Officers beat down the doors of the increasingly popular anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny as well as media celebrity Ksenia Sobchak-a more recent recruit to the ranks of Putin’s critics. Others targeted on Monday included Sergei Udaltsov-an outspoken ultraleftist who stages periodic hunger strikes to protest his repeated arrests-and the far more moderate democracy campaigner Ilya Yashin.

Navalny tweeted a photograph of Yashin and Sobchak waiting to be questioned at the

Investigative Committee with big smiles on their faces just as the rally was about to begin.

“Investigators intend to find out their role in organizing (the May 6) mass demonstration,” said Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin. Udaltsov for his part tweeted that he intended to skip the questioning session and appear at the rally instead because he was its main organizer and responsible for overall security. Yesterday’s march is being held on the patriotic Russia Day holiday marking the country’s 1990 declaration of independence from Soviet rule. Moscow police said they were sending 12,000 riot officers and interior ministry troops onto the streets of the capital to keep order.

Meanwhile, the websites of Russia’s main independent news sources became inaccessible yesterday as protesters gathered in Moscow for a march against President Vladimir Putin’s third Kremlin term. The site of the Moscow Echo radio station went down about a

News

in brief

New Zealand ‘Accidental Millionaire’ pleads guilty AUCKLAND: A man who went on the run after a bank mistakenly deposited millions of dollars into his account has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of theft. Hui “Leo” Gao was dubbed the “Accidental Millionaire” after Westpac bank in 2009 mistakenly gave the gas station owner a credit line of 10 million New Zealand dollars ($7.7 million), 100 times his approved limit. Gao and partner Kara Hurring then transferred millions of dollars into other accounts and left for China. Hong Kong police arrested the 31-yearold Gao last year and New Zealand authorities extradited him. Hurring returned voluntarily after having a baby and was last month found guilty of theft, attempted fraud and money laundering. Both Hurring and Gao are awaiting sentencing.

US drone crashes NANTICOKE: A Naval drone aircraft crashed on Maryland’s Eastern Shore on Monday without injuries or property damage on the ground, officials said. The 44-foot plane on a routine training flight crashed around noon near Bloodsworth Island, across the Chesapeake Bay from the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, according to Jaime Cosgrove, a spokeswoman for the Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons program. Aerial video from WBOC-TV showed a planeshaped indentation surrounded by burning debris at the swampy crash site. The cause is being investigated and the US Coast Guard has set up a safety zone around the crash site, officials said. The Northrop Grumman RQ-4A BAMS-D drones with a range of 10,500 nautical miles can reach 11 miles above the ground, which is above most weather, and stay in the air for more than 30 hours with speeds up to 391 mph, according to the Navy. It is operated by a crew of four on the ground. The $46 million aircraft is one of five acquired from the Air Force Global Hawk program that support more than half of maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.

MANILA: Protesters march towards the US embassy to mark the 114th anniversary of the Philippines’ declaration of independence from Spain, in Manila yesterday. The protesters called for genuine independence and accused Philippine President Benigno Aquino of subservience to the US and also called for redistribution of land to farmers. — AFP

Philippine churches turn on Manila over US troops MANILA: Church officials in the Philippines yesterday accused Manila of trying to increase US troop numbers in the country, as it marked the 114th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Spain.

The left-leaning Ecumenical Bishops Forum, composed of dozens of Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, suggested that closer ties between Manila and Washington would only bring more US soldiers to the Philippines.

“The visit of President (Benigno) Aquino to the US this past week was also about the US military deployment in the Philippines, although the president officially denies it,” it said in a statement. It alleged that US forces had recently been allowed to “re-

occupy” their former bases at Clark and Subic Bay-which have already been converted to commercial purposes. After the Spanish departure from the Philippines the US took possession of the archipelago in turn.

Nowadays surveys consistently show wide pro-US sentiment among ordinary Filipinos, but there are highly-visible, vocally anti-American nationalists and leftists in religious, academic and elite circles. During his recent trip Aquino sought greater US help to boost the country’s defenses amid a two-month long standoff between Philippine and Chinese troops over the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed outcrop in the South China Sea. — AFP

half hour before protesters started to gather on central Pushkin Square for a walk to the site of a rally organizers hope will draw 50,000 people. The Dozhd (Rain) TV website and that of the prominent opposition Novaya Gazeta twice-weekly newspaper also could not be accessed as the event officially got under way at 0800 GMT. The websites of Russia’s main media sources-including Kremlinallied papers and state-controlled television stations-were all accessible and operating without delay.

A Dozhd newscaster said their station’s website was the victim of a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack of unknown origin.

Opposition leaders accuse pro-Putin youth groups of staging such attacks with the Kremlin’s tacit approval at sensitive political times. The same websites became inaccessible during disputed December parliamentary elections that sparked the biggest wave of protests against Putin’s dominant 12-year rule. — Agencies

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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

Israel ‘to evacuate Tel Aviv’ in event of missile attack Iran claims designing nuclear submarine TEHRAN: Iran has taken “initial steps” to design its first nuclear-powered submarine, a deputy navy commander claimed in an interview with the Fars news agency published yesterday.

“Initial steps to design and build nuclear submarine propulsion systems have begun,” Admiral Abbas Zamini, the technical deputy navy chief, told the agency. “All countries have the right to use peaceful nuclear technology, including for the propulsion system of its vessels,” he said.

Iran’s navy “needs the (nuclearpowered) propulsion system to succeed in realizing very long-distance operations.” He did not provide further details. Iran regularly boasts about advances in military and scientific

fields, but in most cases fails to provide proof they were ever carried out.

Western military experts regularly cast doubt on its claims. Just a handful of nations-the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China-have the technology to make their own nuclear-powered submarines. India has a model under development.

The navy official’s announcement comes as the P5+1 group of world powers are preparing for a new round of crunch talks with Iran in Moscow on June 18 and 19 over Tehran’s disputed nuclear activities. Iran is pushing forward with an ambitious nuclear program despite UN Security Council resolutions demanding a halt to uranium enrichment. The nuclear program is at

the heart of a decade-long standoff between a defiant Tehran and Western powers that fear the Islamic regime is covertly conducting research for atomic weapons capability.

‘EVACUATING TEL AVIV’ Israel will evacuate the entire population of Tel Aviv if it is hit by missiles, particularly if they have unconventional warheads, the commander in charge of Israel’s central region said.

Colonel Adam Zusman, chief of the Home Front Command in Israel’s Gush Dan region, which encompasses the city of Tel Aviv and its environs, said an attack on the centre of the country would force massive evacuations. “In case of a missile attack on the centre

of Israel, especially unconventional, the population from Tel Aviv and other cities will be evacuated and relocated in other areas of the country,” Zusman said in an interview at the weekend.

“Massive evacuations will take place in case of unconventional attacks and if buildings are destroyed by a missile.” Zusman said Israel continued to face serious threats from Iran and its allies, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.” We estimate that in case of war, hundreds of missiles will hit Tel Aviv and its nearby cities. As a result of these attacks, there will be hundreds of Israeli casualties. “In the next war, nobody will be able to drink a coffee in Dizengoff,” he said, referring to a

popular street in downtown Tel Aviv.

“Israeli civilians will have to face the threat. Today, every civilian is threatened in Israel.” Zusman said Israel has some of the “most sophisticated” antiaircraft system in the world, but that the Jewish state could not count on any system for total protection. “We are getting ready for the worst-case scenario.” He acknowledged that gaps in preparedness remain, with around 30 percent of the residents in the area under his command lacking gas masks. But in other areas, he said, precautions had been taken, including the running of regular drills and the preparation of hospitals to deal with the potential of treating casualties while under attack.—Agencies

Israel revokes residency of 250,000 Palestinians 213 immigrants netted in mass round-up

CAIRO: Egyptian parliament members choose names from the list of the candidates for the Constitution Committee during a meeting to elect its members in Cairo yesterday.— AFP

Mubarak casts shadow as Egyptian vote looms CAIRO: Speculation about Hosni Mubarak’s health has riveted Egyptians since he was sent to jail to serve a life sentence, a reminder that his legacy still hangs over the Arab world’s most populous nation days before a run-off election to choose his successor. The former president may have been pushed from power, yet many of his opponents worry that the institutions of state which kept him in office for 30 years are regrouping to reassert their grip after last year’s popular uprising.

Some point to the deciding presidential vote on June 16-17, when Egyptians face a stark choice between the candidate of the once -banned Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Mursi, and Ahmed Shafik, Mubarak’s last prime minister who was a top military officer like his ex-boss. “The fact that you have Shafik as a candidate for the presidency and that he has a real chance to be the next president does mean for me that the transitional period has been managed in a way to reach that result,” said Hassan Nafaa, a politics professor who also campaigned against Mubarak’s rule.

Reports of the 84-year-old Mubarak’s waning health conveyed by various officials, newspapers and state media, offering scant and sometimes conflicting details of his ailments, have only served to fuel suspicions held by the former president’s opponents.

Critics see such reports as a bid to have Mubarak moved to a medical facility, sparing him the humiliation of a prison hospital.

Mubarak’s lawyer says he is in a critical state and being denied the basic rights of a prisoner to proper treatment.

A prison official said Mubarak was in a stable condition yesterday. “(Mubarak’s) entourage has already used this way to gain the sympathy of the Egyptian people,” said Nafaa, although he said he had no first-hand

insight into the former president’s condition.

“We are in a very troubled moment,” he added. The interest in Mubarak’s health recalled the latter days of his time in power, when speculation about whether he was fit enough to carry on emerged frequently from behind palace walls.

The euphoria that accompanied Mubarak’s fall on Feb 11, 2011 has turned into deep uncertainty and worry for many Egyptians. The generals who took charge after Mubarak was toppled have overseen a messy and often bloody transition. The final crucial step before the army formally hands over power to a new president is the election that gives Egyptians the chance to choose their leader for the first time in the history of a nation that stretches back to the pharaohs.

Yet, instead of uniting the country in the excitement of their first free presidential vote, the election has exposed deep divisions, with the outcome far from clear.Many of those who took to the streets against Mubarak are angry that the army and police force, pillars of the former leader’s rule, have survived the revolt intact and unreformed.

Though Mubarak was sentenced to life in jail, six top police officers were acquitted for lack of evidence. That prompted protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square because many felt Mubarak could now win an appeal.

“I came here because of the futile verdict on Mubarak. People came here to have a revolution for the country, but they laughed at us and stole it from us,” said Osama Ahmed, 38, one of those who joined protests in Tahrir after the verdict. Adding to uncertainty, a constitutional court is expected to rule tomorrow, two days before the vote, on whether a law that would block Shafik from running is constitutional. It will also rule on a case that could lead to dissolving the recently elected Islamist-led parliament. —Reuters

Salafi Islamists and police clash in Tunis TUNIS: Hundreds of Salafi Islamists, angered by an art exhibition they say insults Muslims, clashed with police in Tunis yesterday, raising religious tensions in the home of the Arab Spring. Protesters blocked streets and set tyres alight in the working class Ettadamen and Sidi Hussein districts of the capital overnight, hurling petrol bombs at police in some of the worst confrontations since last year’s revolt ousted Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali and began the Arab Spring.

An Interior Ministry official said 86 people had been detained overnight and seven members of the security forces had been wounded as they tried to quell the rioting by using tear gas and firing into the air. By morning, protests had spread to a number of residential districts, with young men preventing trams from passing through the Intilaqa district of the capital, where shops remained closed. There was evidence of looting in some areas, where shop windows were smashed.

The clashes come a day after a group of Salafis, who follow a puritanical interpretation of Islam, forced their way into an art exhibition in the upscale La Marsa suburb and defaced works they deemed offensive.

The work that appears to have caused the most fury and polarized Tunisians, spelt out the name of God using insects. “These artists are attacking Islam and this is not new. Islam is targeted,” said a youth, who gave his name as Ali and had removed his shirt and was preparing to confront police in Ettadamen.

“What has added fuel to the flames is the silence of the government which has taken no decision,” said Ali, who did not describe himself as a Salafi. In a statement released before the protests, Ennahda, the moderate Islamist party that now leads the government, condemned what it described as provocations and insults against religion but urged its own supporters to respond peacefully.

The violence puts Ennahda in a difficult position. While Islamists did not play a major role in the revolution, the struggle over the role of Islam in government and society has since emerged as the most divisive issue in Tunisian politics and several clashes have erupted in recent months. Salafis, some of whom are loyal to Al-Qaeda, want a broader role for religion in the new Tunisia, alarming secular elites who fear they will seek to impose their views and ultimately undermine the nascent democracy.

Last month, Salafis attacked bars and shops selling alcohol in at least two provincial towns, clashing with locals and police and prompting the justice minister, a member of Ennahda, to promise that perpetrators would be punished. The clashes come a day after the leader of Al-Qaeda called on Tunisians to defend Islamic law from Ennahda, which won the first post-revolutionary election in North Africa in October and has said it would not seek to impose sharia (Islamic law) in the new constitution that is being drawn up.—Reuters

JERUSALEM: Israel revoked the residency of nearly 250,000 Palestinians between 1967 and 1994, according to Israeli military figures obtained by a human rights group and shown to AFP yesterday.

A letter sent to Israeli NGO HaMoked shows Israel stripped the residency of more than 100,000 people living in Gaza and about 140,000 people living in the West Bank after it occupied the Palestinian territories in 1967.

Palestinians lost their residency for various reasons, including tens of thousands for failing to respond to a census. Others saw their residency revoked after travelling overseas for a number of years and failing to periodically renew their permits. But rights groups say the renewal process was never explained to many Palestinians who travelled abroad to study or work only to discover they had missed the renewal deadline and therefore lost their residency.

And the total number affected by the revocations is believed to be higher than the official figure because entire families were sometimes forced to leave their homes after one member had their residency revoked. Ido Blum, head of HaMoked’s legal team, said the policy, which was in force for 27 years until the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1994, was a violation of international law. “It is a clear violation of law for the occupying force to reduce the local population by revoking their residency rights, especially through an administrative procedure,” he said. The policy did not take into account whether the individual affected had residency or nationality elsewhere, and likely left some Palestinians stateless, he said. In 1994, when the Palestinian Authority took administrative control of parts of the West Bank and Gaza under the Oslo agreement, some Palestinians were allowed to return. Israeli figures show about 12,000 Palestinians were able to get their residency reinstated, but others have long since died without having their residency restored. While the policy of revoking residency no longer applies to the West Bank and Gaza, it is still implemented in east Jerusalem. Palestinians unable to provide documents including utility bills or school enrolment forms

TEL AVIV: Israeli immigration officers arrest an African migrant in Levinsky Park, where thousands of migrants reside, in the Mediterranean city of Tel Aviv yesterday. — AFP indicating Jerusalem is their “centre of life” risk losing their permit to stay in the Holy City.

Israel’s immigration police have arrested 213 people, more than half of them from South Sudan, in a series of raids aimed at rounding up and deporting illegal immigrants, officials said yesterday.

Officials from the Population and Migration Authority said a total of 140 people had been arrested on Sunday and Monday, with another 73 picked up in nationwide raids yesterday morning. Sunday’s raids, which began in the early morning, saw police round up some 25 immigrants, around a third of them from South Sudan, but the campaign gathered speed on Monday, when 115 people were arrested, spokeswoman Sabine Hadad said.

“Yesterday, 115 illegal immigrants were arrested, of which 105 were from South Sudan,” she said of the mass round-up which is being referred to as “Operation Returning Home.” “This week, we will pay for their airline tickets and give 1,000 euros ($1,250) to each adult that agrees to return to their home country with their children,” she added, saying the offer was “only

on the table for one week.” Further raids yesterday morning saw another 73 people arrested, immigration officials said without giving a breakdown of their countries of origin.

Official figures show there are 60,000 Africans living in Israel illegally, most of whom live in the run down neighborhoods of southern Tel Aviv. But around a quarter of that number are living in the southern Red Sea resort town of Eilat, located next to the Egyptian border, and where immigration police could be seen stopping African passers by and asking for their IDs, an AFP correspondent said. “For the time being, I feel good. I’m not sure they can find anything on us,” said 32-year-old Anthony Christiano from South Sudan. “I don’t blame them (the immigration police) - it’s the state that wants us out,” he said.

Nearby, local resident Yusef Khuri sat at a small table gathering signatures to urge the authorities to rid the city of its African immigrants, flanked by posters reading: “Free conquered Eilat.” “They have wrecked our country and have taken over every aspect of our lives,” he spat. “They are border jumpers,

they should be shot.” Last week, an Israeli court decided that the lives of an estimated 1,500 South Sudanese were no longer at risk in their homeland, clearing the way for their mass expulsion. It was not immediately clear when the deportations would begin, although a report in Israel’s Maariv newspaper suggested that the first flight would leave for Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Sunday.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who has frequently tried to expel nonJewish immigrants sparking accusations of racism, yesterday said the raids were “just the beginning.” “At the moment we are permitted only to deport citizens of South Sudan and the Ivory Coast.. The next stage is the removal from Israel of all the infiltrators from Eritrea and Sudan,” he wrote in the Israel HaYom newspaper. Allowing them to stay would mean “the end of the Zionist dream,” he warned. Rising tensions over the growing number of illegal immigrants entering Israel exploded into violence last month when a protest in south Tel Aviv turned nasty, with demonstrators smashing African-run shops and property, chanting “Blacks out!”. — Agencies

Blasts kill 8 in Afghanistan 80 perish as quake triggers landslide KABUL: Taleban bomb attacks killed at least eight people, including women and children, in Afghanistan yesterday, officials said. A suicide bomber on a bicycle targeted a police patrol in the main market of Chahar Bolak, a small town in the

northern province of Balkh, regional police spokesman Lal Mohammad Ahmadzi said. The interior ministry in Kabul confirmed the incident, saying three civilians were killed and five police officers were wounded.

Hours earlier, a roadside bomb

BAGHLAN: Afghans stand at the site after an earthquake hit Baghlan province, north of Kabul. As many as 80 people are feared dead after an earthquake struck northern Afghanistan. — AP

ripped through a minibus in the central province of Wardak, killing five civilians, an official said.

Provincial government spokesman Sahidullah Shahid said a mine exploded under the minibus, killing five civilians, including women and children. “Two others are injured,” Shahid said. Four other passeners survived the explosion in the restive province’s Sayed Abad district, he said. Authorities blamed both attacks on the “enemies of Afghanistan”, a phrase commonly used by Afghan officials to refer to Taleban and other insurgents.

On Monday, a roadside bomb killed five people in northern Afghanistan and last week twin suicide bombings killed 23 people in the south. Taleban insurgents regularly use improvised roadside bombs to target Afghan and Western military forces, but they often kill civilians who use the same roads. For the past five years the number of civilians killed in the war has risen steadily, reaching a record 3,021 in 2011 - the vast majority caused by insurgents, the United Nations says. The Taleban are still fighting a bitter insurgency more

than a decade after being toppled from power by the 2001 US-led invasion.

In another development, an earthquake in Afghanistan triggered a landslide which buried mud homes in a mountain village and rescuers feared at least 80 people had been killed, provincial officials said yesterday. Two quakes with magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.7 struck mountainous northern Afghanistan on Monday, bringing a slide of mud and rocks down on the remote settlement. The governor of Baghlan province said 22 homes were buried but the bodies of only two women had been recovered.

Twenty people were in hospital with injuries. “We don’t think we will be able to take out the other bodies,” Governor Abdul Majid said. A rescue team only had one bulldozer to try to clear the rubble, he said.

“We will hold a prayer for the victims.” The United Nations said it was working with authorities in the area to determine what aid was needed.

Afghanistan’s north is prone to earthquakes. A 2002 quake in the same province killed more than 2,000 people. — Agencies

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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

Pakistan should ‘bite the bullet’ in NATO routes row Washington-Islamabad ties plunge to all-time low ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s civilian government should “bite the bullet” and re-open supply routes to NATO forces in Afghanistan in order to ease tensions with the United States, a senior US government official said yesterday.

The United States said on Monday it was withdrawing its team of negotiators from Pakistan without securing a long-sought deal on supply routes for the war in neighboring Afghanistan, publicly exposing a diplomatic stalemate and deeply strained relations that appear at risk of deteriorating further.

“If the civilian government in Islamabad would bite the bullet and make the political decision to open the ground lines of communication, that would deflect some of the negativity right now,” the official told Reuters. “It wouldn’t automatically turn things around, but that would be an important step.” Pakistan banned trucks from carrying supplies to the war effort in Afghanistan last year in protest against a cross-border NATO air attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, a measure US officials initially

hoped would be short term. Although the US official suggested Pakistan would have to take several steps to repair heavily damaged ties, he said the strategic allies could not afford a rupture. “We have longer-term interests that we must keep in mind. The interests are nuclear, it is counterterrorism and it is also reconciliation in Afghanistan for a relatively peaceful and stable region,” said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“So you know, the heightened sentiments in Washington will eventually have to come to a point where people say hold on, we have bigger interests here.” Pakistan, for its part, is demanding an apology from the United States over the NATO strike, but it is unlikely to get one. The NATO strike fanned national anger over everything from covert CIA drone strikes to the US incursion into Pakistan last year to kill Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and the supply routes evolved into a lightning-rod issue. Relations with Pakistan had been poor for the past six months, said the US official. He said both the Raymond Davis case - in

which a CIA contractor shot and killed two Pakistanis he suspected of trying to rob him - and the raid on bin Laden’s compound had strained ties, but the final straw was the deaths of the 24 Pakistani soldiers.

“Salala broke the camel’s back,” said the US official, referring to the location where the NATO strike occurred. After six weeks of negotiations that at least once appeared close to a deal, the Pentagon acknowledged on Monday that the US team had failed to clinch an accord and was coming home. With the Pakistan routes unavailable, NATO has turned to countries to the north of Afghanistan for more expensive, longer land routes.

Resupplying troops in Afghanistan through the northern route is about 21/2 times more expensive than shipping items through Pakistan, a US defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The announcement about the negotiators came just days after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the United States was reaching the limits of its patience because of safe havens Pakistan

offered to Islamist insurgents, who are attacking US forces across the border in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies allegations that it uses Afghan militant groups as proxies in preparation for

any settlement to the war in Afghanistan, or in the event of prolonged instability after most foreign combat troops leave by the end of 2014. — Reuters

KARACHI: Fuel tanker trucks, used to transport fuel to NATO forces in Afghanistan, are seen parked along a road in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi yesterday. — AFP

Washington exempts India from tough new sanctions US clears 7; Punishment looms for China over Iran

NEW DELHI: Young Indian shoe shiners wait for customers on a pavement in New Delhi yesterday. — AP

Indian child labor persists NEW DELHI: Police raids on factories in the Indian capital revealed dozens of migrant kids hard at work yesterday despite laws against child labor. Police rounded up 26 children from three textiles factories and a metal processing plant, but dozens more are believed to have escaped. Those captured had all come to New Delhi from the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

“Some of them were working in acid and metal,” with the task of breaking down metals and mixing alloys, said Kailash Satyarthi of India’s charity Save the Child. Some were embroidering women’s clothing including saris and had been coached to deflect questions from authorities about their work. “I have just come from my village. I have come here to study,” said 11-year-old Samshad, explaining that he was choosing to work during a “holiday.” His 10-year-old colleague Samthu, however, admitted he did intricate needlework for the plant.

There are at least hundreds of thousands of children toiling in hidden and hazardous corners of India, including brick kilns, pesticide-laden fields or

chemical factories. In New Delhi alone, about 50,000 children are believed to be working in factories, with thousands more begging on the streets and sorting garbage. India recently passed a law aimed at fighting child labor by making education compulsory up to age 14. But grinding poverty still leads many kids to work, and certain industries that involve intricate machinery or delicate handiwork prefer their smaller hands.

Sometimes, the factories promise the children only food and a place to sleep.

Sometimes, they pay for the children’s work in advance to their parents when the kids are taken for work - a situation that Satyarthi said essentially amounts to child slavery.

The charity said it rescued 1,300 children last year from work in Delhi factories. During yesterday’s raids, five men were arrested on charges of employing the children. The kids, some of them crying at being taken from their jobs, were registered at an officials’ office in Seelampur slum district of east Delhi before going to a state welfare home for children. — AP

Pakistan probe implicates former ambassador to US ISLAMABAD: A controversial Pakistani judicial investigation has found that the country’s former ambassador to the US did indeed write a secret letter to American officials requesting their help in reining in the powerful army last year, a lawmaker and the state media said yesterday. The finding could lead to treason charges against the envoy and add to pressures on President Asif Ali Zardari. Ex-envoy Hussein Haqqani has denied any role in authoring the memo, and said in a statement the commission report was “political and one-sided.”

Many independent observers have also concluded that the probe was politicized. He resigned from his post after the scandal broke, and currently resides in America. The commission was investigating politically explosive allegations that Haqqani sought US assistance last year in warding off an alleged army coup in the aftermath of the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The scandal pitted the weak civilian government against the army, and drew in other the feuding power brokers in Pakistan - the Supreme Court, the opposition and the media.

The letter dispute and other politically-driven clashes between Pakistani state institutions, as well as an increasingly hostile relationship with Washington, have intensified stains on the country’s shaky elected government as it struggles against Islamist militancy and economic stagnation. Some analysts have predicted events could end in a destabilizing stalemate, conditions that in the past have led to coups and other military interventions.

Allegations of collusion between Washington and Pakistani officials may also complicate American efforts to rebuild security cooperation with Pakistan, thrown into disarray in November by accidental US airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the Afghan border.

The commission has called witnesses and sought to examine telephone records from Haqqani, who did not appear before the probe. Many other Pakistani observers have been skeptical of the investigation. Haqqani’s chief accuser in the case was an AmericanPakistani businessman with a history of making unsubstantiated allegations who once appeared in a music video featuring female naked mud wrestlers.

The commission read out its finding in the Supreme Court. Opposition lawmaker Khwaja Asif, who was present, said the probe concluded Haqqani tried to undermine Pakistan’s constitution and was not “loyal to the state.” The court ordered Haqqani, who was a close aide to Zardari and a member of his party, to appear before it after two weeks.

Retired Justice Nasira Javed said the commission was working on orders from the Supreme Court and said that criminal proceedings against Haqqani on treason charges could now begin.

The release of the report findings came just hours before the Supreme Court heard testimony from a billionaire property developer who claimed that the son of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry accepted $3.5 million work of shopping and foreign trips to influence judges at the court. — A

WASHINGTON: The United States said it would exempt seven emerging economies including India from tough new sanctions after they cut back on oil from Iran, but the punishment still loomed for China. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added India, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Taiwan to the list of those exempt from the sanctions. In March, she made exemptions for European Union nations and Japan.

The decision was announced two days before Clinton meets Indian officials for annual talks.

The move resolves one of the biggest points of tension in years in the growing relationship between the world’s two largest democracies. Under a law approved last year that irritated some US allies, the United States starting on June 28 will penalize foreign financial institutions over transactions with Iran’s central bank, which handles sales of the country’s key export.

Clinton said the seven economies exempted on Monday have all “significantly” reduced crude oil purchases from Iran. She cast the exemptions as proof of

success in the US campaign to put pressure on Iran’s clerical regime, which Israel and some Western officials fear is seeking a nuclear bomb. “By reducing Iran’s oil sales, we are sending a decisive message to Iran’s leaders: until they take concrete actions to satisfy the concerns of the international community, they will continue to face increasing isolation and pressure,” Clinton said in a statement.

However, the United States did not announce an exemption for China-which is heavily dependent on oil from Iran and elsewhere to power its giant economy. Officials said that the United States remained in talks with Beijing. “We have informed our Chinese colleagues fully about the scope and urgency” of the sanctions, a senior US official told reporters on condition of anonymity. But the official said that China-one of six nations in talks with Iran that resume next week in Moscow-was a “very important partner” on the nuclear row.

“We may have different perceptions of sanctions at different times, but one of the things that has been very important is that China has agreed to this dual-track

process of pressure as well as persuasion,” the official said. Chinese President Hu Jintao called Friday on Iran to be “flexible and pragmatic” on its nuclear program.

Some industry experts say that China, despite its public stance, has been quietly diversifying from Iranian oil.

A number of countries were angered by the US law, arguing that only the UN Security Council has the right to slap sanctions and that the reductions in oil would jeopardize an already shaky economic recovery. But Iran’s archrival Saudi Arabia has opened its spigots to make up for any shortfall from Tehran. To the surprise of some forecasters, oil prices have been declining despite the tensions surrounding Iran. The International Energy Agency estimated that Iran was not selling up to one-quarter of the 3.3 million barrels it produced each day in April.

India has said that it will cut its purchases of Iranian oil by 11 percent. India has historically enjoyed warm relations with Iran but it tried to play down differences when Clinton visited last month.

President Barack Obama’s adminis-

tration hopes to exert economic pressure on Iran in part to avert an attack by Israel, whose prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has not ruled out the use of force.

Representative Ileana RosLehtinen, the Republican head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the Democratic administration for the exemptions, saying it was not tough enough on Iran. “If the administration is willing to exempt all of these countries, who will they make an example out of?” she said.

The Obama administration has repeatedly voiced concern that an Israeli strike would be devastating and potentially fuel an arms race in the region. Clinton, in her statement, renewed her call on Iran to “engage seriously” to resolve international concerns. “Iran has the ability to address these concerns by taking concrete steps during the next round of talks in Moscow.

I urge its leaders to do so,” Clinton said.

Iran contends that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

US intelligence, while concerned about Iran, has not concluded that Iran is building a nuclear weapon. — AFP

Key political risks to watch in India NEW DELHI: India’s economy grew at its slowest pace in nine years in the first three months of 2012, dragged by an extended euro zone crisis and policy paralysis at home, while the coalition government is under tremendous strain from scandals and rebellious coalition partners. Some economists warn that unless the government acts to reverse the growth slump, India’s sovereign ratings may be jeopardized. The risk of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s second term being cut short before a general election due in 2014 is low, but cannot be ruled out. The failure of Singh’s Congress party in state elections in early March have put him and the party under even more pressure.

POLICY PARALYSIS After lurching from crisis to crisis for more than a year, the policy paralysis of Prime Minister Singh’s government and its failure to pass significant reforms to sustain growth are blamed by economists for the slump in GDP growth. The figure fell to 5.3 percent in the first three months of this year from 9.2 percent in the same quarter of 2011. Since it won a second term in 2009, the government led by Singh’s Congress party has taken no major policy initiatives to further the economic liberalization he pioneered.

Instead, a seemingly endless series of corruption scandals, and coalition allies that block unpopular bills, have frozen the government into inaction. Rahul Gandhi, son of current party leader Sonia Gandhi, utterly failed to deliver a promised comeback for the Congress party in crucial state elections in early March, casting fresh doubt on his capacity to become the next member of a dynasty to lead the country. The party’s flop in Uttar Pradesh has reduced Singh’s scope to relaunch reforms and reverse a slowdown in economic growth.

Anger at Singh’s poor performance is rising, with some talk in the Indian media that he will not survive as prime minister until 2014 elections. That is unlikely, and the government could probably also muster the support to survive a no-confidence vote. Also helping the government is the lack of appetite among the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a general election before 2014. Despite Singh’s woes, it is by no means clear the BJP has won over sufficient voters to its Hindu nationalist cause.

Top government advisors are publicly call-

ing for the leadership to tackle politically unpopular reforms between the July presidential selection and key state elections later in the year. India’s president must be chosen by parliament before a July 24 deadline.

Although the president does wield some power, the head of state is a largely ceremonial figure. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is a leading candidate for the presidency, opening the possibility of a major cabinet reshuffle in coming weeks that could be the last chance for Singh to bring his floundering government back on track.

FAILURE TO REFORM Investors says the government’s priorities should be cutting subsidies for fuel, fertilizer and food to fix the country’s fiscal credibility, tackling regulatory uncertainty, and reducing the high cost of doing business. In May, state oil companies said they would raise the price of petrol by about 11 percent, the first increase in six months, in an effort to recover losses inflicted by higher global oil prices and a plunging rupee. Only days later, the refiners agreed to a partial rollback of the increase as

the government responded to a public outcry that included the burning of effigies of Singh and Gandhi, a policy reversal that suggests the government is highly unlikely to pass the tough reforms India needs to speed up its pace of growth again. Asia’s third-largest economy is struggling to contain its fiscal deficit, which widened to 5.097 trillion rupees ($90.86 billion), or equivalent to 5.76 percent of its gross domestic product, in the 2011/12 fiscal year.

India announced a series of austerity measures in May, including a 10 percent cut in nonplan spending for this fiscal year, but analysts dismissed them as insufficient unlikely have much impact on the country’s overall expenditure. India is sitting on a comfortable cushion of $300 billion in foreign reserves, so comparisons with India’s 1991 payments crisis are premature, but confidence is waning. As ever, India’s dependence on imported, subsidized energy is a weakness, with high prices adding to pressure both on the current account and fiscal deficits. A long financial crisis in Europe could exacerbate capital outflows and further trim demand for Indian exports. — Reuters

RAWALPINDI: Indian Defense Secretary Shashikant Sharama (sixth left on the left side of the table) holds talk with his Pakistani counterpart Nargis Sethi (fifth right on the right side of the table) at the Defense Ministry in Rawalpindi yesterday. Top defense officials from Pakistan and India discussed in a two-day official talks on the dispute over Siachen, the world highest battle field, where two countries deployed thousands of troops for years. — AP

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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

Chinese students on edge after Montreal murder MONTREAL: The murder and dismemberment of a Chinese national studying in Montreal has sent a chill through the Chinese student community, prompting calls to be careful about building random friendships.

Lin Jun, a 33-year-old student at Concordia University, was allegedly killed at the end of last month by Luka Rocco Magnotta, a porn actor who was estranged from his family and obsessed with his looks. Magnotta is accused of stabbing Lin to death with an ice-pick and then cutting up the body and mailing parts across Canadathe head and two limbs are still missing.

Magnotta allegedly posted a video of his horrifying crime on the Internet before sparking an international manhunt by fleeing to Paris then Germany.

The suspect, who is thought to have

had a sexual relationship with the victim at one time, is awaiting extradition in a Berlin jail and is expected to return to Canada later this month to face charges of first degree murder and committing indignities to a body.

“Even though this is an isolated case and Canada is a safe place, it’s just so horrible,” Yan Shi, head of Concordia’s Chinese Students Association said.

“From what I can see, there is anxiety among Chinese students, and people are afraid.”

Yan said that students continue to post comments on websites on how to protect themselves by becoming better informed or trained in self-defense techniques. “Everyone is sharing information about this,” he added. Yan said the suggestion that the killing might have been racially-motivated is unlikely but nonetheless swirling in some

minds. Immediately after the murder, the Chinese embassy in Canada urged its nationals living in or traveling to Canada to “strengthen their personal security.” And the Chinese Family Service of Greater Montreal, an agency that provides help to Chinese immigrants, said last week that many families have called to ask if their children are safe here.

The brutal nature of Lin’s demise, and the personality of his alleged killer, has given many students pause.

“I’m shocked. Many students are emotional about this,” said Wang Yuanhao, a 21-year-old Concordia student who came to Montreal from Shanghai. “It’s hard to believe it happened in this way but we need to think about who to trust, and we need to know the kind of people we are having relationships with,” said Wang, who mentors

Chinese students at Concordia. Wang said she was aware of reports that Linwidely known to have been responsible and kind-was lonely and may have been vulnerable to being manipulated.

She said many Chinese students who come to Canada are “shy and reserved.” “It’s hard to make friends. I know that.” Relina Bi, a recent graduate who was vice president of Concordia’s International Students Association, cautioned young people against making friends randomly. “It’s really important to know how to make friends,” said 25-year-old Bi, who is also from Shanghai. “I made friends at school, through clubs and associations. I didn’t do it randomly,” she added.

“When I came to Canada, I had no friends or family,” said the accounting graduate, who lived with a sponsor

family until she moved in with other students.

Bi said she has always been reserved but tries to get involved in social activities while avoiding situations that make her insecure. Lin’s killing is the second of a Chinese student in Canada within the last 14 months. In April 2011, Liu Qian, a 23year-old political science student at York University in Toronto, was talking on her web cam to her boyfriend in China when a muscular stranger broke into her apartment and began to attack her.

Her semi-naked body was found by police after the boyfriend alerted authorities. Brian Dickson, a clean-cut 30-year-old student politician, has been accused of first degree murder and is to stand trial before Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice. — AFP

US and Florida face off over voter purge effort Florida sues to get access to DHS database on citizens

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters during a caravan before registering in the National Electoral Center for the upcoming presidential election, in Caracas. — AFP

Chavez stages a comeback rally CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez led his biggest rally since he was diagnosed with cancer a year ago, seeking to stage a show of strength on Monday as he heads into a re-election campaign to extend his 13 years of socialist rule. The former soldier delivered a nearly three-hour speech with his practiced mix of folkloric spontaneity and militant discourse, marking a dramatic re-entry into the public eye after months of keeping a low profile during cancer treatment.

The event was all the more important after his opposition rival, Henrique Capriles, put on a show of youthful vigor on Sunday by leading a 10-km march with hundreds of thousands of supporters. “We have been facing the psychological warfare of the adversary, that Chavez has only a few days left to live, that he is in a wheelchair,” Chavez told a pulsing crowd after filing his re-election bid with the authorities. “Now, here I am once again in front of you, registering my candidacy in the name of the fatherland,” he said, wearing his trademark red beret and track-suit top in the colors of the Venezuelan flag.

The speech, which ranged from arcane Venezuelan historical references to casual banter with government ministers, marks the de facto launch of his

campaign for the Oct 7 vote. He has steadily stepped up his public appearances in recent weeks after mostly communicating via Twitter or phone calls to state television. Supporters flooded the streets of downtown Caracas in the hours prior to Chavez’s appearance, dancing to music pounding from speakers as giant inflatable Chavez dolls waved their arms above the crowd.

Hundreds of buses that ferried his followers to Caracas stood parked in side streets.

Despite his vigor at the podium, Chavez ’s face appeared unusually swollen and at one point he appeared to walk with some difficulty, prompting a scathing Twitter response from Capriles: “This candidate isn’t walking, he is out of gasoline!” Chavez, in turn, tarred Capriles as a candidate “who smells of nothing, tastes of nothing, is completely insipid.”

He joked that he would ask a famous Venezuelan comedian who briefly ran for president in 2006 to join the race because the opposition “doesn’t entertain anyone.” He did not provide details on his condition or say if he would need more treatment. Last year he had two operations to remove a baseball-sized tumor, and this year had a third operation only months after having declared himself “cancer free.” — Reuters

Commerce secretary probed in car crashes, seizure cited WASHINGTON: US Commerce Secretary John Bryson is being investigated for his role in two car crashes including a hit-and-run accident - near his Los Angeles-area home over the weekend that department officials linked to a seizure that left him unconscious behind the wheel. Bryson, who oversees several federal agencies and focuses on business issues, was hospitalized in California but returned to Washington on Monday while police continued their probe, said Commerce Department spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman.

President Barack Obama said in an interview that he only found out about the incident earlier in the day but had not spoken with Bryson. “My hope is he’s doing all right. We’re still trying to find out. It sounds like it was healthrelated in some way,” Obama told KTIV television of Sioux Falls, Iowa. “But we’re going to make sure, obviously, that he gets the best care and, you know, we’ll be able to make a determination from there,” Obama said. The incident raised questions about Bryson’s health and his future leadership at the agency as Obama courts business leaders in his bid to win a second term in November.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama believes Bryson has served “effectively” and brushed aside questions about whether he remains fit for the Cabinet. Asked whether Obama was aware that Bryson had any kind of

medical condition when he picked him, Carney would only say: “The president nominated Secretary Bryson to serve because he felt he was capable of doing the job.” Bryson, an energy expert and seasoned businessman, has held the job for less than a year. Police in Southern California said Bryson was found unconscious on Saturday behind the wheel of his Lexus after crashing into the same car twice, leaving the scene and then colliding with another vehicle. At least one crash is being investigated as a felony hit-andrun.

It was not immediately clear whether the seizure led to either of the car crashes or if Bryson, 68, has been diagnosed with any underlying illnesses. A Commerce official said he had never had a seizure before. “We cannot confirm the exact timing of the seizure, the cause of the seizure or the sequence of events,” the official said.

“The secretary was driving alone and at this point he has a limited recall of the events.” Cabinet members or other senior aides entangled in legal controversy always have the potential to cause political headaches for a president but never more so than in the midst of a re-election campaign.

White House chief of staff Jack Lew spoke to Bryson on Monday, Carney said. “We’re still in the process of gathering information,” he told reporters. “ There’s more that needs to be learned.” — Reuters

MIAMI: The US Justice Department and Florida exchanged legal salvoes yesterday over the state’s controversial effort to remove non-US citizens from its voter rolls ahead of this year’s presidential election. Florida fired the first shot, filing a lawsuit against the federal government seeking access to a national database detailing citizenship information as part of its drive to verify whether non-citizens are illegally registered to vote in the state.

Moments later, the Justice Department responded and said it had initiated steps to sue Florida for violating federal voting laws.

The maneuvering escalated a legal battle between Washington and Republican Governor Rick Scott over his push to purge Florida’s voter lists, which is alleged to have misidentified hundreds of people who turned out to be US citizens. Supporters of the purge say it is aimed at clearing voter rolls of noncitizens. However, critics call it a part of longrunning Republican efforts to deter minorities and the poor, who tend to vote Democratic, from casting ballots. Florida, which President Barack Obama won by 2.8 percent in 2008, is expected to be a key swing state in the Nov 6 presidential election.

Officials initially said they were examining about 180,000 potential non-citizens. The state has identified about 2,700 registered voters who have been asked to produce proof of citizenship. According to the Miami Herald, 47 non-citizens who may have cast unlawful ballots have been found so far. Filed in a US district court in Washington, DC, Florida’s lawsuit accused the federal government of preventing the state from being able to check the citizenship status of voters by denying it access to a US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) database listing information on US citizens.

“For nearly a year, the US Department of Homeland Security has failed to meet its legal obligation to provide us the information necessary to identify and remove ineligible voters from Florida’s voter rolls,” Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner said in a statement. “We can’t let the federal government delay our efforts to uphold the integrity of Florida elections any longer,” he said.

FEDERAL CONCERN The Justice Department has called on the state to halt the effort. Last week, in a letter responding to a Justice Department statement that the purge could be illegal, Detzner

said that it was the Obama administration that appeared to be violating the law by not granting Florida access to the database known as SAVE. On Monday, US Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez wrote back to Detzner in a strongly worded five-page letter

base including alien registration numbers or certificate numbers found on immigrationrelated documents. “Florida has failed either to provide the necessary information to DHS, or to confirm that the necessary information would be available for verification purposes

CALIFORNIA: Hin Lee takes a photo of his car after getting into an accident at the 400 block of South San Gabriel in San Gabriel, California. This intersection was the scene of the first of two accidents involving Commerce Secretary Bryson. — AFP and said it “appears that the State of Florida is unwilling to conform its behavior to the requirements of federal law.”

Perez warned that Florida’s ongoing search and purging of non-eligible voters may violate the National Voter Registration Act, which requires that adjustments to voting rolls be made more than 90 days before an election.

Florida holds a primary election on Aug 14. He said because of Florida’s “unwillingness to comply with these requirements, I have authorized the initiation of an enforcement action against Florida in federal court.” Perez also said he was concerned about “inaccuracies” in the state’s request for access to SAVE. “The SAVE Program relies on DHS records, which do not include a comprehensive and definitive listing of US citizens and does not include, for example, those born in the United States,” he said.

He said Florida had failed to provide key information to cross-reference with the data-

US Senate to review solitary confinement WASHINGTON: A US Senate panel said Monday it will hold first-ever hearings on solitary confinement in prisons, a move hailed by rights groups opposed to a practice that has left some inmates isolated for years on end.

Number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and civil rights, “announced today that he would hold the first-ever congressional hearing on the issue of solitary confinement at 10:00 am on Tuesday, June 19,” his office said.

Witnesses have yet to be announced, but the hearing is expected to focus on the human rights, fiscal and public safety consequences of the practice. “During the last several decades, the United States has witnessed an explosion in the use of solitary confinement for federal, state, and local prisoners and detainees,” according to Durbin’s office. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the “incredibly significant” hearings as a chance to publicize the debate over a prison policy the group says effects some 80,000 inmates across the country.

“It’s going to be the first national look at the practice,” Amy Fettig, senior staff council at the ACLU National Prison Project said.

Prisoners who are placed in solitary are often suffering from severe mental illness, and their conditions often worsen over time, making them even harder to manage and leading to increased rates of suicide attempts, self-abuse and disciplinary infractions, she said. “People are spending weeks, months, years and even decades in solitary confinement,” which some US prison systems sometimes described as “administrative segregation,” she said. The hearings come in the wake of a call last October to the United Nations General Assembly by the UN special rapporteur on torture, Juan Mendez, to ban solitary confinement worldwide, saying “it can amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Fettig said the United States is an “outlier in the pervasive use of solitary confinement,” with some 35,000 prisoners isolated in US “Supermax” detention facilities and another 45,000 isolated in prisons and jails. — AFP

under the SAVE program,” he said. “As a result the significant problems you are encountering in administering this new program are of your own creation,” Perez added.

According to the Miami Herald, Florida’s current list of potential non-citizen voters includes many people who are lawful citizens.

One voter singled out as suspicious turned out to be a Brooklyn-born World War Two hero with a Bronze Star from the Battle of the Bulge. A disproportionate number of those identified are either Hispanic or black, the newspaper said. Last week, civil rights groups filed a legal challenge to the purge, arguing it violates legislation to protect minorities. Scott defended the state’s effort in comments to Fox News and argued he had little choice but to file the lawsuit.

“We want to have fair, honest elections in our state,” he said. “We’ve been put in the position of having to sue the federal government to get this information.” — Reuters

One dead as wildfires rage in Colorado, New Mexico DENVER: More firefighters were called up yesterday to help fight a raging wildfire in the western US state of Colorado, which remains out of control and has claimed one life, officials said. Up to 200 firefighters were ordered in to help reinforce the 400 already battling to contain the blaze northwest of Denver, along with aircraft, including five of the nine heavy air tankers available nationwide.

“There was some good progress made today with a lot of hard work by crews,” said an update late Monday from the Larimer County Sheriff ’s Department.

“The fire is looking better tonight than

COLORADO: A helicopter drops water on the High Park wildfire burning near homes west of Fort Collins, Colo. — AP

last night.... There was a lot of air support today including a lot of water drops by the helicopters along both the south and northeast flanks of the fire,” it said.

But the blaze remained zero percent contained, and had spread to cover 41,140 acres by late in the day, compared to 39,000 acres in the morning, and more than double the night before.

A spokesman confirmed the death of a 62-year-old woman, Linda Steadman, who had been reported missing and whose remains were found in the ashes of her burned-out home, authorities said. The blaze, dubbed the High Park Fire, broke out early Saturday near Fort Collins, about 60 miles northwest of Denver.

By Monday seven helicopters, five Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs), the five heavy air tankers and two other aircraft were involved in the operation, said the Sheriff’s Department. The Colorado National Guard also provided two Blackhawk helicopters for use today either for transport or bucket drops depending on the need. “We have good reason to believe there are 100-plus structures that are damaged or destroyed. When I say structures, we don’t know if they are homes, sheds or what,” Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith told reporters.

“Four hundred ground and engine crews are fighting the fire. We expect to have 500-600 working by the end of tomorrow,” added the late evening update. The cause of the fire has been confirmed as lightning. — AFP

12

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

international

Dingo ‘responsible’ for Azaria’s death Australian coroner ends 32-year mystery CANBERRA: A 32-year legal mystery over the death of a baby in Australia’s outback came to an end yesterday when a coroner found a dingo was responsible for killing infant Azaria Chamberlain, a case that split national opinion and attracted global headlines. The coroner’s finding ends a threedecade fight for justice by Azaria’s parents, Michael Chamberlain and Lindy Chamberlain, who was jailed for three years over her daughter’s death before she was later cleared.

“This has been a terrifying battle, bitter at times, but now some healing, and a chance to put our daughter’s spirit to rest,” Michael Chamberlain told reporters in the Northern Territory capital Darwin after the coroner’s ruling. Azaria disappeared on Aug 17, 1980 from a tent in a camping ground near Uluru, a towering, haunting monolith formerly known as Ayers Rock, one of central Australia’s main tourist attractions. Azaria’s body was never found. Her parents always maintained she was taken by a dingo, an Australian native wild dog.

“Obviously we are relieved and delighted to come to the

end of this saga,” Lindy Chamberlain, now known as Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, told reporters outside the court.

The dingo-baby case has been

Streep as Lindy Chamberlain.

TAKEN BY A DINGO Northern Territory Coroner Elizabeth Morris found evidence

should read “attacked and taken by a dingo”. “What occurred on 17th August, 1980, was that shortly after Mrs Chamberlain placed Azaria in the tent, a din-

DARWIN: Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton shows her daughter’s Azaria’s death certificate as ex-husband Michael Chamberlain (left) looks on after a coroner ruled that a dingo snatched baby Azaria Chamberlain from a tent in the Australian desert 32 years ago. —AFP dramatized several times, and was turned into a Hollywood film “A Cry in the Dark”, starring Oscar-winning actress Meryl

from the case proved a dingo or dingoes were responsible for 9week-old Azaria’s death and ruled that her death certificate

go or dingoes entered the tent, took Azaria and carried and dragged her from the immediate area,” Morris said.

In an emotional finding, Morris then offered her condolences to the Chamberlains and one of their sons, who were in the Darwin court room. “Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of your special loved daughter and sister Azaria. I am so sorry for your loss,” she said to the family. “Time does not remove the pain and sadness of the death of a child.” A first inquest in 1981 supported the parents’ account but, a second inquest in 1982 overturned that finding and recommended Lindy and Michael Chamberlain stand trial over Azaria’s death.

Lindy Chamberlain, then pregnant with her fourth child, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Michael Chamberlain was convicted of being an accessory and given a suspended sentence. A judicial inquiry, known as a Royal Commission, overturned the convictions in 1987, leading to Lindy Chamberlain’s release. A third inquest in 1995 returned an open verdict. The latest inquest, however, heard new evidence of several dingo attacks on humans, including details of how a nine-year old boy died in Queensland after being attacked in 2001. —Reuters

Dozens dead as Myanmar religious violence rages SITTWE: Dozens of people have been killed in a surge in sectarian violence in Myanmar, an official said yesterday, as international pressure grew for an end to the violence. A state of emergency has been declared for western Rakhine state, which has been rocked by a wave of rioting and arson, posing a major test for the reformist government which took power last year. “About 25 people have been killed during the unrest,” a senior government official said, requesting anonymity. He did not give details of how they died or whether they were Buddhists or Muslims.

A further 41 people were wounded in five days of unrest, he said. The death toll does not include 10 Muslims who were killed on June 3 by a Buddhist mob in apparent revenge for the rape and murder of a woman, which sparked the violence in Rakhine. Rights organizations fear the death toll could be much higher than the official figure. AFP reporters have been unable to visit many of the affected areas for security reasons.

Gunfire rattled the state capital Sittwe yesterday and there was a heavy security presence, according to an AFP reporter. Plumes of smoke rose from fires dotted around the area.

Separately, police in neighboring Bangladesh said a Muslim died in a hospital there yesterday after he was allegedly shot by Myanmar security forces before escaping across the border. The United States urged an immediate halt to the deadly sectarian unrest, which has prompted the United Nations to evacuate foreign workers from Rakhine state. US Secretary of State Hillary

Clinton on Monday called for “all parties to exercise restraint”, adding the “the United States continues to be deeply concerned”.

The United Nations has begun pulling out more than 40 workers-including foreignersand their families from the area.

Warning that the violence is running “out of control”, New York-based Human Rights Watch called for international observers to be deployed in Rakhine. “Why is the internation-

Muslims including the Rohingya, described by the United Nations as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities. The Myanmar government considers the Rohingya to be foreigners, while many citizens see them as illegal immigrants and view them with hostility, describing them as “Bengalis”.

Rioting has seen hundreds of homes set on fire across the state. An ethnic Rakhine fireman said some Rohingya villagers had

RAKHINE: Muslim villagers are relocated to secure areas in Sittwe, capital of Rakhine state in western Myanmar, where sectarian violence are ongoing. —AP al community pulling out at this time? Is the threat at a level that warrants it?” said Phil Robertson, deputy director of HRW’s Asia division “The government of Burma (Myanmar) has thrown a black veil over the situation in Rakhine state,” he said. Rakhine, a predominantly Buddhist state bordering Bangladesh, is home to a large number of

been injured as they escaped burning homes near Sittwe. “We all have sympathy for them (the Rohingya). We saw women and children running for their lives. We are all humans,” he added, but asked not to be named. Around 100 other Rohingya attempting to escape over the frontier were turned back as they tried to cross a river, Bangladesh border

forces said, the second straight day boats have been repelled from landing on its territory.

The violence poses a serious challenge to Myanmar’s reformist President Thein Sein, as the nation takes tentative steps towards democracy after decades of authoritarian rule. A commentary published yesterday in government mouthpiece the New Light of Myanmar warned continued ethnic strife could also put the unity of the country in jeopardy. Under the headline “A single spark may well set the whole hillside on fire”, the piece urged unity across Myanmar’s dozens of ethnic groups. Animosity between local Buddhists and the Rohingya appears increasingly intractable with both sides trading angry accusations over the surge in violence this month, much of it playing out over social networking websites.

Experts say more radical elements on both sides may be trying to benefit from the unrest. “Some Buddhist hardliners probably want to see the Rohingya purged from Burmese soil. Others would tolerate a situation where the Rohingya are forced to accept subordinate status,” said Nicholas Farrelly, a southeast Asia expert at the Australian National University. “On the other side there are Rohingya who want the world to pay much more consistent attention to their plight. They may consider this flare-up of violence serves that purpose.” According to the UN, there are nearly 800,000 Rohingya in Myanmar, mostly in Rakhine. Another one million or more are thought to live in other countries.—AFP

News

in brief

China and US smash arms trafficking ring BEIJING: China and the United States said yesterday they have busted an international arms trafficking ring and arrested 26 suspects, in a rare instance of law enforcement cooperation. The arrests came after a 10-month investigation triggered by the seizure of a parcel containing pistols and rifle parts at the Shanghai international airport in August last year, China’s public security ministry said. A Chinese man was detained when he tried to collect the parcel, which had come from New York and was destined for the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, the ministry said.

Subsequent investigations revealed a 25-year-old Chinese man living in the United States since 2009 had been shipping firearms to Chinese buyers contacted online using courier ser vices.

Authorities have seized 93 guns, more than 50,000 bullets and a large number of gun parts in China. Among those arrested was a staff sergeant with the US National Guard who had 12 guns in his possession when he was picked up in May. He was allegedly planning to ship the guns to China, where possession of firearms is prohibited and punishable by jail. US officials travelled to Shanghai where they were allowed “unprecedented access to investigative information” the US embassy in Beijing said in a statement.

China, Malaysia in ‘panda diplomacy’ KUALA LUMPUR: China will loan two endangered baby pandas to Malaysia for 10 years to commemorate strong diplomatic ties between the two Asian countries, the environment ministry said yesterday. “The Malaysian government will be receiving a pair of pandas following an agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association,” the Natural Resources and Environment ministry said in a statement. “This agreement shows Malaysia’s commitment towards China’s efforts in increasing the number of endangered giant pandas, which is estimated at about 1,600 only,” it added. The New Straits Times newspaper yesterday said Prime Minister Najib Razak had recently requested for the pandas during a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The pandas will be kept in special enclosures in a wetland park in Putrajaya, just south of the capital Kuala Lumpur. The environment ministry said the presence of the pandas in Malaysia would promote awareness of panda conservation in China. China is famed for its “panda diplomacy”, using the bears as diplomatic gifts to other countries. Just about 1,600 remain in the wild in China, with some 300 others in captivity worldwidemostly in China.

US raises concern on China abortion policy WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday voiced opposition to China’s one-child-only policy after activists reported that a five-month-pregnant woman faces an imminent forced abortion.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that the United States has asked China about the case of Cao Ruyi, who according to US campaigners will be forced to abort on Saturday unless she pays a hefty fine in Hunan province.

“We make no secret that the United States strongly opposes all aspects of China’s coercive birth limitation policies, including forced abortion and sterilization, and we always raise these issues with the Chinese government,” Nuland told reporters.

All Girls Allowed, an advocacy group led by former Tiananmen Square protest leader Chai Ling, said that Cao and her husband are being asked to pay 150,000 yuan, or $24,000, in “social burden fees” if they give birth to the child. Chai Ling, who lives in exile in the United States, said she spoke Sunday with Cao and found out that she was released by family planning officials after paying 10,000 yuan ($1,600) as a deposit, which she can only recover by returning for an abortion on Saturday. Since 1980, China has restricted most families in China from bearing more than one child as a means of controlling the population.

Key political risks to watch in Japan TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda replaced five cabinet ministers at the start of June, hoping to smooth the way to a deal with the opposition on doubling sales tax despite a rift in the ruling par t y over the plan. Noda, who needs opposition support to get bills through parliament, wants to persuade the biggest opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), to back a package of laws including the sales tax increase. The increase in sales tax, which would bring it to 10 percent by 2015 from 5 percent now, is seen as essential in an effort to curb Japan’s snowballing public debt. The cost of insuring against default on 5-year sovereign debt traded just under 100 basis points in mid-June, down around 40 points since the start of 2012. Below are some of the key political risks to watch.

NODA ROLLS THE DICE The big risk is that while Japan today can still satisfy all of its borrowing needs at home and at very low rates, delays caused by the political gridlock could leave it

unable to do so for much longer.

Japan spends half of its tax income just to service its debt. Each year it adds more than the combined gross domestic product of Greece and Portugal to its debt pile. The debt exceeds the value of two years of economic output, the highest among industrialized nations, and ratings agency Fitch cut its credit rating in May, citing scant progress in coping with swelling social security costs.

Noda, Japan’s sixth leader in five years, is trying to secure cooperation from the opposition, but he may yet join the list of Japan’s short-lived leaders who failed to accomplish a great deal. He has staked his political future on getting the sales tax onto the statute book, pledging to force a vote in this session of parliament which ends on June 21. Opposition parties have cooperated on reconstruction budgets, but the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party wants a snap election before any further key legislation is tackled. However, in recent weeks the LDP has indicated a compromise was possible if

the ruling Democrats agreed to drop par ts of the tax and social security reform that could lead to more spending. Noda has said he does not plan to call a snap vote anytime soon.

WHAT TO WATCH Opposition response to sales tax hike plans and government plans to ease the reconstruction tax burden via government share disposals, including a stake in Japan Tobacco, that the main opposition Liberal Democrats oppose. The shape of re fo r m o f p u b l i c f i n a n ce, a n d whether ratings agencies will deem it sufficient to stop Japan’s public debt from piling up. Standard & Poor’s has said even if the government manages to win opposition approval for its plan to double the sales tax by the middle of the decade, it would only temporarily slow growth in public debt. Japan in 2011 registered its first trade deficit in more than 30 years, raising the question of how much longer the countr y can rely on exports to help finance its public debt.

NUKE CRISIS, POWER SHORTAGES? All of Japan’s 50 available reactors have been shut, mostly for maintenance checks, since the disaster at Tokyo Electric Power’s Fukushima plant, triggered by a huge tsunami in March 2011. Nuclear power supplied about 30 percent of Japan’s electricity before the crisis, and Noda’s administration is now debating what role it should play in the future, with restarts under discussion in government. In late May, Noda said it was necessary to restart idled nuclear reactors whose safety has been confirmed, but he would only make a final decision on reactor restarts once local authorities have made up their minds.

The government has said Tokyo Electric Power has achieved a state of cold shutdown at all three damaged reactors at Fukushima Daiichi, meaning water used cool fuel rods had remained below boiling point. It also said the plant was in principle under control, drawing criticism from media, Fukushima area officials and environmental groups that it was underplaying risks and challenges still looming after the disaster. The major test will be whether Japan can

avoid power outages in summer 2012 if its entire fleet of reactors is kept idled due to public concerns. Those efforts may be further complicated by cuts in Iranian oil imports Tokyo made to win a waiver from US sanctions imposed with its embargo on Iranian oil.

WHAT TO WATCH Discussions and decisions on restarting some nuclear reactors. The spotlight is now on the governor of the western prefecture of Fukui and the mayor of the town of Ohi where two reactors closest to winning the approval are located. Future of Fukushima plant operator. In late December, the trade minister asked Tokyo Electric to accept a de facto nationalization. In March, the utility asked the government for an injection of about $12 billion as well as 846 billion yen from a governmentbacked bailout body to help compensate victims of the disaster.

Energy supply outlook. The government has said the country will avoid power cuts in the summer even if the last few nuclear reactors cease operating.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

NEWS

Pearl ‘culture’ returns to Gulf waters

Pearls are displayed at the Pearl Museum in Ras al-Khaimah.

A worker pulls up a net of oyster shells that have been growing pearls in the water for almost a year from the sea farm.

Mohamed Al-Suwaidi of RAK Pearls Holding holds a cultured pearl inside an oyster shell after it was collected from a sea farm in Ras alKhaimah, UAE, in this April 4, 2012 photo. — AP photos

RAS AL-KHAIMAH: Long before the discovery of oil transformed the Gulf, pearls were the region’s source of wealth, and pearl divers were a mainstay of the economy. Their way of life, however, was changed forLotfi Hassaid, general manager of RAK Pearls Holding, ever after Japanese researchers learned how to grow inserts mantle tissue, which will encourage the growth of a cultured pearls in 1930s. Now a collaboration between pearl traders in Japan and the United Arab cultured pearl, into an oyster at the company’s laboratory.

Workers in Qatar risk ‘forced labour’: HRW Continued from Page 1 The 146-page HRW report was based on interviews with 73 migrant construction workers, as well as meetings and correspondence with government officials, employers, contracting companies, recruitment agents, diplomats from labour-sending countries, and worker advocates, HRW said.

It said the problems migrant workers face include “exorbitant recruitment fees, which can take years to pay off, employers’ routine confiscation of worker passports, and Qatar’s restrictive sponsorship system that gives employers inordinate control over their employees”. “Workers reported a range of problems, including unpaid wages, illegal salary deductions, crowded and unsanitary labor camps, and unsafe working conditions,” it said.

The group cited Qatar as having one of the most restrictive sponsorship laws in the Gulf region. Migrant

workers are unable to change jobs without their employer’s permission and their sponsoring employer must sign an exit permit before they can leave the country. Poor working conditions are common across the region where impoverished men and women from South Asia have come for decades to work on construction sites or oil projects, or as domestic help. Welfare workers say the sponsorship system, in place across much of the Gulf, and the lack of a minimum wage allow migrant workers to be exploited.

HRW pointed out that Qatari laws also prohibit migrant workers from unionising or striking, in violation of the International Labour Organisation regulations which identify free association as a core labour right. Whitson told reporters that the government of Qatar has shown willingness to cooperate, but has not made any commitments so far. “The Qatari government

is very open. They have expressed their wishes to work with Human Rights Watch... (But) they have not made any specific commitments and said they need more time,” she said.

She also said that Qatari authorities did not try to obstruct HRW’s press conference from being held in Doha.

The energy-rich Gulf emirate became last year the first Arab country to be awarded rights to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. It announced multi-billion-dollar developments in preparation for the global event, including air-conditioned stadiums to cope with high temperature and humidity in the desert state. HRW said that Qatar may recruit up to one million additional migrant construction workers in the next decade in preparation for the tournament. It said migrant workers already represent 94 percent of the Qatar’s workforce, the world’s highest ratio of migrants to citizens. — Agencies

French first lady tweets ‘royal’ jibe Continued from Page 1 La Rochelle to show her backing for Royal, declaring that she had the unwavering support of the entire party, which is tipped to win a majority of seats in Sunday’s vote.

But just as she made that ringing endorsement, Trierweiler delivered her blow on the micro-blogging site: “Good luck to Olivier Falorni who was done nothing worthy of blame, who has fought alongside the people of La Rochelle for so many years with selfless commitment.”

Royal, who is hoping to become parliamentary speaker if elected, declined to react to the taunt, saying only that “all my spirit, all my energy, all my thoughts are for the voters” of La Rochelle. Aubry, when asked about the tweet, said that all that mattered was that Hollande had backed Royal.

Reports of rivalry between Trierweiler and Royal had led to speculation, which Trierweiler denies, that the current first lady had Royal airbrushed out of a film screened to Socialist faithful at Hollande’s January campaign launch.

Hollande stood loyally by Royal as she battled Nicolas Sarkozy for the presidency in the 2007 race but he had reportedly been in a relationship since 2005 with

Trierweiler, a twice-divorced 47-year-old journalist and mother of three.

The tweet by Trierweiler, who has kept her job at Paris Match magazine and has not married Hollande, caused dismay in the Socialist party and sparked derision from rightwing opponents. Eric Ciotti, from Sarkozy’s UMP party, declared that “vaudeville has come to the Elysee” presidential palace, while another UMP politician said “it’s ‘Dallas’ at the Elysee”, referring to the steamy US soap opera. Socialist deputy Jean-Louis Bianco said he found Trierweiler’s tweet “purely and simply disgraceful”.

Trierweiler had a previous catty outing on Twitter during Hollande’s presidential campaign, when she lashed out at Paris Match after finding herself and her boyfriend on the front page. Their photo was accompanied by the headline: “Francois Hollande’s charming asset. The story of how their love was born.” Trierweiler, who supported Hollande on the campaign trail and had an office at his headquarters, tweeted her fury at not being informed by her employer that she was their top story for the week. She sarcastically congratulated the magazine, in a second, even angrier tweet, for reducing her to a trophy companion. — AFP

Cabinet expected to quit, ‘majority’ Continued from Page 1 Several opposition MPs called on the prime minister to include a good number of opposition lawmakers in the new Cabinet but they differed on the numbers. MP Musallam Al-Barrak said the opposition needs at least nine ministers in the Cabinet so as to have a say on decisions in the 16-member Cabinet in order to be able to carry out the development projects they had promised during the election campaign.

Commenting on reports that the Cabinet was expected to resign, Barrak said that “we are not concerned about whether it will resign or not but we will grill any minister who we think is not fit”. He added that after the resignation of two ministers and reports that ministers from the ruling family have offered

to resign, “it is an opportunity for the prime minister to form a national salvation government with the parliamentary majority”. Barrak said that the opposition majority is prepared to take part in the new government with at least nine ministers and not lower than this.

Islamist opposition MP Waleed AlTabtabaei also demanded nine ministers but said the number should be negotiable. Liberal MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari said that there should be at least six ministers from the opposition or the premier should form a national salvation Cabinet including all political groupings. MP Faisal Al-Mislem said that the only fundamental remedy for Kuwait’s crisis is by introducing constitutional reforms, adding that the opposition will prepare the required amend-

ments to the constitution and study them with other groups before submitting them officially at the start of the next term in October.

The Assembly’s legal and legislative committee meanwhile approved two key amendments to the internal charter of the Assembly, head of the committee MP Tabtabaei said. The first amendment allows the Assembly to hold sessions without the need of the presence of ministers, which is a precondition currently under the charter.

The second amendment prevents the Assembly from delaying grillings of ministers for more than a month. It states that ministers have the right to delay the grilling debate for two weeks and again for a similar period with the approval of the Assembly which cannot be extended further.

ty and nutrients for cultured pearls. Imura said the Gulf cultured pearls are generally thicker than those in Japan. In the wild, pearls are formed when an irritant gets into an oyster’s shell, and the animal excretes layers of a substance known as nacre around it. To produce a cultured pearl, farmers introduce an artificial irritant to stimulate development. — AP

Emirates had brought oyster farming and cultured pearl harvests to the UAE for the first time. The joint venture of RAK Pearl Holding of Abdulla Al-Suwaidi and Japanese pearl merchant Daiji Imura currently has 200,000 oysters and plans for further expansion.

The waters around Ras al-Khaimah, about 100 km northeast of Dubai, have an ideal temperature, salini-

Syria in ‘full civil war’ Continued from Page 1 “The source of fire is still unclear.” Earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “residents of the pro-regime village of As-Sheer blocked the road and prevented the UN observer team from reaching AlHaffe”, also speaking of the observers being targeted with stones.

The Observatory’s Rami Abdel Rahman said people “lay down on the road blocking access to the vehicles of the observers,” who then began looking for another route into to the town, in the province of Latakia. It was not immediately clear if UNSMIS and the Observatory were talking about the same incident.

For its part, the Syrian foreign ministry said the “government reaffirms its adherence” to UN-Arab envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan and “will not allow armed groups and their supporters to attack or threaten the UN observers or prevent them from completing their task”.

Free Syrian Army rebels have clashed with regime troops at the town’s edges in fierce fighting, local activist Abu Mohammed told AFP via Skype, adding that “the town is completely besieged but regime forces have so far been unable to enter it”. At least 120 people have been killed in the fighting in Al-Haffe over the past week, including 68 troops, 29 civilians and 23 rebel fighters, with hundreds wounded, according to Abdel Rahman. The Observatory also reported troops using heavy artillery and helicopter gunships in their attacks on Al-Haffe, where activists feared a massacre would be committed if regime troops managed to enter the restive town.

Abdel Rahman said hundreds of Free Syrian Army fighters are active in and around Al-Haffe, a town of about 30,000 people, setting the scene for a violent confrontation. The UN observer mission said it had received reports of “a large number of civilians, including women and children trapped inside the town and are trying to mediate their evacuation”. UN chief Ban Ki-moon joined Annan in demanding that unarmed military observers from UNSMIS be allowed into Al-Haffe.

The United States has voiced concerns that the

regime is planning to carry out new atrocities, after the massacre of 55 people last week in Al-Kubeir and at least 108 near Houla in late May. “The United States joins joint special envoy Kofi Annan in expressing deep alarm by reports from inside Syria that the regime may be organising another massacre,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. The French foreign ministry spokesman echoed the US warnings. “We share concerns about the preparation of new massacres,” Bernard Valero said, adding that “we more than ever support the Annan plan”.

In its statement, the Syrian foreign ministry struck back by saying “the US administration is pushing forth with its flagrant interference in Syria’s internal affairs and its backing of armed terrorist groups. “US statements distort the truth and what is happening on the ground while encouraging armed terrorist groups to carry out more massacres ... not only in Al-Haffe but throughout the country,” a statement added.

Meanwhile, the UN accused Syrian troops of using children as “human shields”, as it branded Damascus one of the worst offenders on its annual “list of shame” of conflict countries. Children as young as nine had been victims of killing and maiming, arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, a report said. “Rarely, have I seen such brutality against children as in Syria, where girls and boys are detained, tortured, executed, and used as human shields,” Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN special representative for children in armed conflict, told AFP. Annan, who brokered a faltering six-point plan, wants to bring together world and regional powers to put pressure on Syria’s leader, his spokesman said yesterday. Diplomats said Annan sees the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and United States - taking part along with Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others. At least 36 people were killed in shelling and clashes across Syria yesterday, 24 of them civilians and 12 soldiers, the Observatory said. More than 14,100 people have been killed in Syria since the antiregime revolt erupted in March 2011, according to the Observatory. — AFP

Diesel fumes cause cancer Continued from Page 1 Christopher Portier, chairman of the IARC working Group, said the group’s conclusion “was unanimous that diesel engine exhaust causes lung cancer in humans”. “Given the additional health impacts from diesel particulates, exposure to this mixture of chemicals should be reduced worldwide,” he said in a statement. Diesel cars are mainly popular in western Europe, where advantageous tax treatments have helped trigger technological advances and a boom in demand.

Outside of Europe and India, diesel engines are almost entirely confined to commercial vehicles - mostly because of the fuel’s greater efficiency. German carmakers are trying to raise awareness for diesels in the United States, where the long distances travelled on highways suit diesel engines. For about 20 years, diesel engine exhaust was defined by IARC as probably carcinogenic to humans - group 2A - but an IARC advisory group has repeatedly recommended diesel engine exhaust as a high priority for re-evaluation since 1998.

Reacting to IARC’s decision, Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Washington DC-based Diesel Technology Forum said diesel engine and equipment makers, fuel refiners and emissions control technology makers have invested billions of dollars in research into

technologies and strategies to reduce emissions. “New technology diesel engines, which use ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel, advanced engines and emissions control systems, are near zero emissions for nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter,” he said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said she was surprised by the move and the industry would “have to study the findings in all their details”. “These technologies have been developed to address precisely these concerns,” Sigrid de Vries told Reuters. “The latest diesel technology is really very clean.”

IARC said it had considered recent advances in technology which had cut levels of particulates and chemicals in exhaust fumes, particularly in developed economies, but said it was not yet clear how these might translate into health effects. “Research into this question is needed,” it said. “In addition, existing fuels and vehicles without these modifications will take many years to be replaced, particularly in less developed countries, where regulatory measures are currently also less stringent.” The group said gasoline exhaust fumes should be classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans”, a finding that was unchanged from the previous IARC assessment made in 1989. — Reuters

14

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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Issues

Firefighters and architects race to save euro edifice

By Paul Taylor rchitects and firemen are racing to save the euro zone from destruction, trying to redesign the edifice even as flames are leaping from the outhouses towards the core of the building. As always since the start of Europe’s debt crisis in late 2009, the builders are working on a different timescale from the firefighters, posing a risk that the house may burn down before new buttresses and extensions are approved and in place. While investors’ confidence in the ability of European leaders to stem the debt crisis has been ebbing by the day, the redesign now under discussion to strengthen the currency’s foundations will take months, if not years.

After dousing down Greece, Ireland and Portugal, finance ministers of the 17-nation currency area spent the weekend tackling the latest blaze in Spain, an economy twice as big as the three others combined. They agreed to lend up to Ä100 billion ($125 billion) to help recapitalise Spanish banks while preserving the Madrid government’s access to capital markets. It was the first time the euro zone had acted preventively to assist a member state before it was shut out of the markets, a shift from EU paymaster Germany’s past insistence that any bailout must be a “last resort” and denoting perhaps a new flexibility in its crisis management - or a realisation that acting fast could save money down the line.

If Europe had to cover Spain’s borrowing needs for the next three years under a full sovereign bailout, it would severely stretch the euro zone’s only recently increased rescue funds, especially if Ireland and Portugal need extra help before they can return to the markets as seems likely. The firemen may have bought some time for the architects. But Greece will flare up anew if radical leftist parties opposed to the terms of Athens’ international bailout win an election next Sunday, or the vote ends in deadlock again. That could lead to a suspension of aid and a Greek default, raising the risk of bank runs elsewhere which the currency bloc remains ill-equipped to deal with.

To outsiders, it often looks as if European governments are trying to fight a roaring inferno with a garden hose, even though they have plenty of water on the premises.

“Europe is one of the wealthiest parts of the planet,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on a visit to Paris last week. Yet the euro was “kind of a half done project” that lacked the fully empowered central bank, strong government with fiscal authority and banking regulator that should go with a monetary union, he said. US President Barack Obama telephoned euro zone leaders last week to appeal for swift action to shore up the foundations of their single currency, fearing the crisis may otherwise hurt the US economy and damage his re-election prospects.

European leaders are starting to get the message and the EU’s top officials are working on ideas for fiscal and banking union to put to a summit on June 28-29. But the mechanics of changing treaties and getting up to 27 member states to ratify them are inevitably slow-moving.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy says they will only be “building blocks”. Detailed plans won’t be ready until October and the German government, in an internal document seen by Reuters, expects agreement on a redesign of euro zone governance in March 2013. That would then have to be ratified by all member states. That seems like light years given the current state of financial markets. On the plus side, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the EU’s pre-eminent leader, has now embraced the need for a much closer fiscal and political union to underpin the single currency. Berlin has moved in other areas too, agreeing for example to give Madrid an extra year to meet its budget deficit goal of three percent of GDP. But she is still balking at asking German taxpayers to share more liability by issuing common euro zone bonds or a joint bank deposit guarantee. That would raise constitutional issues and could be political dynamite ahead of an October 2013 election. Merkel says euro zone countries will have to transfer more national budget sovereignty to European institutions, including the EU Court of Justice, to make such a union work.

That requires treaty changes that will be highly contentious in several countries, notably France and the Netherlands, which voted against a European constitution in 2005 referendums. Recognition of the need for a much more tightly knit federal core Europe to make the currency work comes at a time when public support for European integration is at a low ebb. An opinion survey conducted for the Pew Research Center in eight EU countries in March and April, before the latest spike in the crisis, found that euro zone citizens want to keep the single currency but don’t back giving up more sovereignty. — Reuters

A

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After miracle reunion, mom, son find divide

By Kristen Gelineau aroo Brierley pulled up to the train station and stepped out of his car into the chaotic landscape that had haunted his dreams. The swerving bicycles, noisy three-wheelers and vendors’ pushcarts crowding the streets of this Indian town were half a world from where he lived in Australia’s tranquil island state of Tasmania. And yet he knew that once - a lifetime ago - he had called this place home.

It was Feb 12, 2012, and he hadn’t been here in nearly 25 years, since that nightmarish day when his brother vanished and a train whisked him away from everything he knew. Since he had ended up an orphan in distant Calcutta, before an Australian couple adopted him and gave him a second chance at family. It took years of searching the Internet before he finally found his way back to this town. After all this time, would his family still be here? If they were, what would they say? What would he say?

His loved ones in Australia had warned him not to expect too much. He remembered the cramped house he had left behind, the poverty, the hunger. He’d spent years wondering about the fate of his family, and tried now to prepare himself for the worst. He stood still, drinking it all in. Through his now-adult eyes, everything seemed much smaller than in his memory. But the smells and sounds were the same, and the layout almost exactly as he remembered: The road near the train tracks, the fountain he’d spotted on an Internet satellite image. He began to walk, following twisty pathways etched into his brain as a child.

Saroo could feel it. His memory was guiding him home.

S

•••••••

Fatima struggled to take her usual nap after returning from her morning routine of cleaning neighbors’ homes and washing their dishes. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Saroo. She had heard of a man wandering through a nearby neighborhood who had amnesia and couldn’t find his family. Could that be her son? She doubted it. She had heard he wasn’t tall like her other children, but she decided she would find him in the next day or two just to be sure. She gave up on sleeping and rose from the bed she had borrowed from a neighbor, rolling off a mattress so wafer thin that a gentle hand could feel the metal slats underneath. She sat on her doorstep, watching life go by along the alley.

wanted to know whether Fatima had looked for him. She told him about her search and how she had never given up hope. He told her that when he went through tough times, he would think of his family in India and go into a corner and cry. Saroo was devastated to learn about his brother Guddu’s grisly death on the train tracks. Fatima called Kallu and Shakila with the news of their brother’s return. Kallu raced over on his motorcycle. “You will be happy now,” he told his mother. “Your son is back.”

Saroo broke away to call his girlfriend. Lisa Williams,

PART TWO who had spent endless nights watching him hunt online for his hometown, was still asleep when the phone rang.

Saroo had done it: He had found his family. Williams shot out of bed. “What?!” she screamed. He repeated the words.

She began to dance around the room. Closure, she thought. At last.

•••••••

•••••••

Closure is complicated. Saroo’s questions about his family’s fate were answered, but new ones about how to deal with the future took their place. Fatima’s quest was over too, but how much did her lost son want to be in her life?

Enough to satisfy a mother who never gave up on finding him? Can a mother and son ripped apart, separated by decades, thousands of miles and different cultures, fit back together again?

Their first problem: They couldn’t communicate. Fatima was illiterate and knew no English. Saroo remembered only a tiny handful of Hindi words. It took them hours to find a neighbor to translate. Over the next few days, they communicated through hand gestures. Not understanding anything happening around him, Saroo would sit quietly and watch his family. If an English speaker dropped by, they would chat.

He was unfamiliar in other ways as well. He drank bottled water so he wouldn’t get sick from the hose everyone else drank from outside. Fatima worried that he wouldn’t like the food she made, though he said it was fine. Even his name was strange. They pronounced it ‘SHEH roo’ in keeping with the local Hindi dialect; He had anglicized it to ‘SAH

Fatima and Shakila beg a visitor to call Saroo for them.

The conversation, through a translator, begins like so many other mother-son calls. She asks if he is eating. Then she complains he doesn’t call enough. “Why don’t you talk to us?” she asks. “At least ask how your mother is doing.” They don’t speak the same language, so what’s the point in calling, he says. When he does call, he has trouble getting through. Meanwhile, his sister calls him, sometimes in the middle of work, sometimes in the middle of the night. She never speaks, he says, frustrated. It’s like a crank call.

Fatima says she left him a message and cried when he didn’t call her back. The ache for her son is clear in her voice. Saroo insists he sends text messages to his brother to have translated and passed on to her. “I’m not able to talk to them all the time, it’s just hard for me,” he says. She grows sarcastic. “Take care of the family you are staying with, don’t bother with this family here,” she says.

They need to understand the difficult position he is in, he says. “I’ve got to be very careful with everything, you see. I don’t want to upset my family here and give too much attention to my family in India,” he says. Then he announces he is coming back. He is getting money together and is going to buy her a house. “No, no!” she says angrily. Don’t bother coming. I will go away for a few months and no one will be here to see you, she says, voice dripping with acid. “Just stay calm and be happy that I’m alive and you know where I am,” he says in exasperation.

Fatima is in such a fury, the translator stops interpreting her words. Her rage is incomprehensible to her perplexed son. “I was hoping that my son would come back. How could I have known that my son would not come back,” she hisses into the phone. “With my heart and my soul I prayed to the almighty, I went walking barefoot for your sake. Why will my prayers not be answered? You continue staying there, son. If you think of a family, think only about that side of the family.”

•••••••

Saroo stared at the house in front of him in shock. One, because it was the place he’d called home so long ago.

Two, because it seemed impossibly tiny; the top of the front door reached his chest. He was examining the door’s padlock and chain when a woman emerged from the adjacent house. She asked, in hybrid Hindi-English, if he needed help. Saroo pulled out a copy of a childhood photo his Australian parents had taken of him. He showed it to the woman, tried to explain. He said the names of his siblings and mother, waiting for a flicker of recognition. He felt dread growing in his gut as she stared in silence. Was his family dead? Had he lost them forever? More neighbors were gathering. He repeated his pleas. Did someone, anyone, know where his family was? A man plucked the photo from Saroo’s hand. “Wait here,” he said, and hurried off. A few minutes later, he returned. “Come with me,” he said. “I am going to take you to your mother.” Saroo was numb as the man guided him around the corner, where three women stood waiting. He stared at them blankly. Only the woman in the middle seemed remotely familiar. “This is your mother,” the man said, gesturing toward the woman in the center. She had been young, in her thirties, the last time he saw her. She looked so much older now. But behind the weathered face, there was something unmistakable. Unforgettable. Mother. His mother.

•••••••

Fatima was still sitting on her doorstep when she heard the words she always knew would come, but couldn’t believe were actually being spoken. “Your Saroo is back,” a neighbor screamed, running toward her. Fatima walked down her alley and saw a mob of people walking up the road as if in a procession. In the middle stood a man calling out the names of her family. Of his family. He rushed to her, and she to him. They grabbed each other and hugged tightly. He couldn’t find words, so he just held her.

The scar from the long-ago horse kick was still there in his forehead, and he had the same chin dimple that marked all her children, but Fatima would have recognized him anyway, even though he was now 30. She led him by the hand to her new home and hugged him for what felt like an hour, cried and caressed his head. “My Saroo is back,” she said. “The almighty has finally answered my prayers. He has brought the joy back. He has finally brought my Saroo back.”

Saroo was overwhelmed. Tears slid down his face. He

back to work at his family’s hose supply business, and hunted for a house with his girlfriend. He turned off his phone at night to silence the relentless ringing. He began sending Fatima $100 a month, so she could quit her job cleaning homes and washing dishes that pays her about 1,500 rupees ($30) a month. But she hasn’t quit her job and hasn’t touched the money he put in her bank account. She insists she won’t take his money unless he gives it to her in person.

She seems to want him to care for his mother as a good Indian boy should, seeing to her every need, following her commands and revering her above any job, girlfriend or wife. That’s what many sons are brought up to do in India.

Not in Australia. She still lives in her tiny concrete home with peeling whitewash and a roof of bamboo and corrugated metal, surviving on subsidized grain, near-rotten onions she buys at a discount and stale bread she softens in lentil stew. She frets that her poverty might embarrass Saroo or his Australian parents. The gulf between mother and son remains vast.

•••••••

In this Feb 15, 2012 photo provided by Saroo Brierley, his mother, Fatima Munshi, embraces him as his nephew, Ayan Khan, leans on his shoulder at Munshi’s home in Khandwa, India.— AP roo’. They hired a photographer to document their reunion.

In one photo, Fatima, wearing a sari, tenderly cradles his face in her hand and kisses his cheek. Saroo, wearing a pink T-shirt and jeans, smiles wide and looks at the camera.

•••••••

Their 10 days together went by so fast - too fast. Local media kept trying to interview him. Neighbors stopped by to meet the boy who had miraculously returned. There was little time for the family to be alone. Suddenly, Fatima was standing with Saroo outside the airport terminal, wanting to drag him back home with her. He said goodbye, then walked inside to check in. It wasn’t long before he came back out, to see if she was still there. She was, and waited with him until he finally had to leave. He promised he would return.

In Tasmania, Saroo faced more changes. The media frenzy over his story intensified. He hired an agent to juggle interview requests. Movie producers began calling.

Publishing houses battled over the book rights. He went

Saroo doesn’t want to overthink it. He wants to revel in the joy of their remarkable reunion. For him, it has been a miracle punctuated by a happy ending. “It’s sort of taken a weight off my shoulders,” he says. “Instead of going to bed at night and thinking, ‘How is my family? Are they still alive?’ I know in my head now I can let those questions rest.” He hopes to visit India once or twice a year, but he cannot move back. He has other responsibilities, other family and a whole other life in Tasmania. He is Australian now. “This is where I live,” he says. “When I come back, whether it’s sooner or later, then we can start building our relationship again.”

Fatima is confused and frustrated. She doesn’t want him to move back here, where there is nothing. But she wants to be with him. Maybe she can move to Australia, she says.

She adds sternly that she would ban all girlfriends from his house. A few minutes later she softens. She couldn’t really move away from her life here to an unfamiliar place where no one can talk with her, she says. At least, and at last, Saroo’s return has brought her “mental peace”, she says.

She tries to understand that he has new parents, new expectations and a new life a world away. She just wants him to see her once in a while, to call her occasionally, even if they can only speak a few sentences to each other. “For the moment,” she says, “it’s enough for me that I went to him. And he called me Amma.” Mother. - AP (Concludes) NOTE: This story is based on multiple interviews with Saroo Brierley, his girlfriend Lisa Williams, mother Fatima Munshi, sister Shakila Khan, a representative of the Indian Society for Sponsorship and Adoption, photographs of Saroo and Fatima’s reunion, and the reporters’ own observations from watching and listening to them.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Japanese composting new food waste solution MIDDLETON, Massachusetts: Down the back stairs of the clubhouse kitchen, on a plot lost among the expanse of tightly trimmed fairways and greens, weeks-old food is buried under a tarp and mulch and left to decompose. But this private country club in Massachusetts isn’t taking an unsanitary shortcut with its trash. It’s trying bokashi, an obscure composting method it says will help it recycle 4 tons of food waste each year. Bokashi is based on an ancient Japanese practice that ferments food waste by covering it with a mix of microorganisms that suppress its smell and eventually produce soil. Bokashi is not widely used in the United States, but its practitioners think it should be.

At Ferncroft Country Club, owner Affinity Management decided to start bokashi last month after trying it successfully at a public golf course it operates in Maryland.

Advocates say the key advantage of bokashi, if done correctly, is that the microorganisms involved don’t produce foul odors as they break down the food. So people can toss in meat, and even small amounts of dairy and oils, unlike in other composting methods. That eliminates much of the waste sorting that can make composting impractical for a larger food establishment. And the treated food won’t turn stomachs or attract pests.

At Ferncroft, a mild smell is apparent only within inches of the food, which is first fermented in a sealed container.

There’s no smell near the pile where the food is later buried, and it appears untouched by varmints as it breaks down into soil. “I’ll be honest with you. I thought by now we were going to see a hole, a nibble or something. It’s nothing,” said executive chef Stephane Baloy, who runs Ferncroft’s program.

Though little-known, bokashi has appeared in recent decades in pockets around the country, from Arizona to Brooklyn. But the Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t list it as a composting method and has no information on it, according to a spokeswoman. At the US Composting Council, Leanne Spaulding said there’s almost no credible research on the practice. She said there are

questions about whether there’s enough space in crowded urban settings for the soil that would be produced by widespread bokashi use. And she said some see bokashi as a “gimmick” because the commercial product that’s widely used by practitioners today is made up of microorganisms that occur naturally everywhere.

Bokashi traces back centuries to Japanese farmers who covered food scraps in their rich, regional soil, which contained microorganisms that would ferment the food. After a few weeks, they’d bury the waste. Two or three weeks later, it was soil. Today, bokashi practitioners often get the needed microorganisms from a product first sold in the early 1980s called Effective Microorganisms (EM1), which is distributed by a Texas-based company called TeraGanix.

The product is no gimmick, said executive vice president Eric Lancaster, but rather a way to help bokashi practitioners avoid a stinking mess by assuring them they’re getting the right mix of microorganisms every time.

The EM1 is mixed with some kind of carbon it can stick to, such as bran or sawdust, as well as molasses or another sugar the microorganisms can feed on. Practitioners then layer the concoction on newly disposed food and seal it in an airtight bucket. Weeks later, it’s taken out of the bucket and buried. There’s little smell with properly done bokashi because the microorganisms that break down the food produce amino acids and small amounts of alcohol. Those don’t stink like the ammonia and hydrogen sulfide produced by other microorganisms when food is left to rot, said Joshua Cheng, an associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at Brooklyn College.

Cheng is doing research on bokashi, some of it funded

by TeraGanix, to better understand the chemistry behind how the food breaks down, the quality of the soil produced and to document the claims about a lack of odor.

He’s also trying to make sure there are no pathogens produced ‚Ä” a concern in any composting process. “There are not supposed to be, but we need to make sure that there is not,” Cheng said.

Bokashi advocates believe the practice will see wider

Executive chef Stephane Baloy scatters a mixture of microorganisms into a container of composting scrap food at the Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Massachusetts June 11, 2012. — AP

adoption if people can get word about it, just because the amount of food wasted in the US is so staggering.

According to the EPA, the US generated more than 34 million tons of food waste in 2010, accounting for 14 percent of all the solid waste that reached landfills or incinerators. Vandra Thorburn, who runs a business in which she provides and collects bokashi buckets from about 50 customers around Brooklyn, said she’s making it her personal mission to get bokashi listed by the EPA.

Contrary to concerns that cities don’t have space for bokashi, she said the unobtrusive method produces soil that could fill community gardens or revitalize worn or contaminated soils around the city. At Ferncroft last week, Baloy surveyed his new herb and seasonings garden, which he’ll fill with the soil produced by bokashi. He said he’s liked what he’s seen from the process. But it’s early. “It’s still pretty new,” Baloy said. “We’re seeing how it goes.” — AP

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

sp orts Sharapova to carry Russian flag at opening ceremony MOSCOW: Maria Sharapova will be the Russian delegation’s flag-bearer at next month’s Olympic opening ceremony in London, Russia’s tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev said yesterday.

“Tennis is a very popular sport and, so as far as I know, Roger Federer has been chosen to carry the Swiss flag and Rafa Nadal will lead the Spanish delegation at the opening ceremony in London,” Tarpishchev, a member of the International Olympic Committee, was quoted as saying by local media.

The Russians have broken with tradition by choosing Sharapova, who won the French Open title last weekend. Carrying the flag is considered a great honor in Russia and, until now, it was given only to famous athletes, mostly men, such as Greco-Roman wrestler Alexander Karelin and swimmer Alexander Popov, who have won numerous Olympic titles.

Sharapova, 25, will be making her Olympic debut in London after failing to qualify for the 2004 Games in Athens and missing the 2008 edition in Beijing with a shoulder injury. —Reuters

Katich quits Australian cricket

Injury blow for Springboks J OH AN N E S B UR G: P r op Coenie Oosthuizen’s injuryenforced absence from the rest of the rugby test series against England is a major blow for the Springboks, forwar d s c oac h J ohann van Graan said yesterday.

O ost hu i z e n has a mi l d l y b u l gi ng d i sc i n hi s ne c k, ac c or d i ng t o t e am d oc t or Craig Roberts, and will be out of action for between two and three months.

“C oe ni e i s st i l l a y ou ng player and has a long career ahead of him and needs to be manage d ap p r op r i at e l y ,” Roberts said. “We will follow a conservative approach with him.”

The 23-year-old Oosthuizen made his debut off the bench

i n t h e f irs t t e s t a g a in s t England in Durban and Van Graan said he had made an impact.

“He showed in the first test what he can do and his injury is a big loss for us, especially since he can play both tighthe a d a n d lo o s e h e a d, ” V a n Graan told reporters.

E n g la n d, w h o lo s t t h e opening test in Durban 22-17, needed to get their moment u m ba c k , a s s is t a n t c o a c h Simon Hardy said ahead of Wednesday’s match against a Southern Barbarians team.

“We were disappointed with Saturday and we’ve reflected and had our review but, like all good sides, we know we’re on the path to somewhere,” Hardy told a news conference. —Reuters

SYDNEY: Simon Katich is retiring from Australian first class cricket to spend more time with his family, the former Test opener announced yesterday. The 36-year-old, who scored 4,188 runs in 56 test at an average of 45.03, was at the centre of a major row last June when he was dumped

by Cricket Australia from the list of centrally contracted players.

Katich, who scored 10 test centuries for his country, in part blamed bad blood emanating from a 2009 dressing room confrontation with Michael Clarke, who was made captain last March, for his omission. The gritty lefthander was reprimanded for those comments in December and played no part in Australia’s drawn series against New Zealand and whitewash of India in the domestic summer.

Katich, who also played 45 one-day matches for Australia, conceded last year that his international career was over and in October gave up the captaincy of New South Wales. “Simon Katich wishes to advise that he has decided to retire from first class cricket in Australia,” read a statement from England where Katich is playing country cricket with Hampshire.

“With a young family and a desire for an extended time at home, Simon has decided it is time to reassess his priorities.”—Reuters

Kings hoist Stanley Cup LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Kings were finally crowned National Hockey League (NHL) champions on Monday, punishing the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to hoist their maiden Stanley Cup on a perfect night for California dreaming.

After failing to clinch their maiden championship in the previous two games of the series, the Kings settled any nerves with three first period

“This is something everyone’s dreamed of for their whole lives and this city’ dreamed of for 45 years,” said Brown. “I can’t really explain it. We had an opportunity to do something special on home ice and we did, and we’re champions.”

With the Stanley Cup and its white-gloved entourage in the Staples Center, champagne on ice and long-suffering fans eager to celebrate, the sellout

came true,” said Slovenian-born Kings sniper Anze Kopitar. “To do it in front of the home crowd, to have my family here, my girlfriend ... to do it in front of them and share it with them is unbelievable.”

As the final seconds ticked off the clock and the capacity crowd on its feet, Kings goalie Jonathan Quick - voted the most valuable player of the playoffs - tossed his gloves to

LOS ANGELES: Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) holds up the Stanley Cup after the Kings beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1during Game Six of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals. —AP goals while Steve Bernier was serving a game-changing penalty for a hit that left Rob Scuderi with blood pouring from his mouth.

The Kings wasted no time making the Devils pay for their sins with captain Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis all scoring in a span of less than four minutes to leave New Jersey in a 3-0 hole.

crowd was chanting “We want the Cup. We want the Cup” with 40 minutes still to play in regulation.

Two periods later they would own the treasured trophy as the eighth-seeded Kings completed one of the most remarkable playoff runs the league has ever seen.

“It’s just everything you pretty much dream and dreams just

the air before being mobbed by team mates while confetti and streamers rained down from the rafters.

Then came the moment Los Angeles hockey fans had waited nearly a half-century for, to witness the Stanley Cup being brought to the ice and handed over to the Kings by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. A week ago the Kings’ Stanley

Cup coronation had seemed a certainty as they raced out to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

But even in Hollywood things do not always go according to script and the series turned into an edge-of-your-seat thriller as the Devils stormed grabbed two wins and threatened to force a decisive seventh game in New Jersey.

There have been 25 teams that have found themselves down 3-0 in the final series and only once - the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs - has a team come back to hoist the Stanley Cup. The Devils already found themselves in relatively uncharted territory on Monday as they were just the third team to fight back and force a Game Six after trailing 3-0.

But the magic ran out for the Devils as the Kings capped off a fairytale post-season run with a rout. Up 3-0 in Monday’s game, the Kings kept their foot on the Devils’ throats as Carter scored his second of the game 90 seconds into an ill-tempered second period that saw New Jersey’s frustrations result in a string of penalties.

Rookie forward Adam Henrique gave the Devils some hope at forcing a decisive seventh game when he scored with 75 seconds to play in the period to spoil Quick’s shutout bid.

The goal, however, did not spoil the party as the Kings added two more in the third period from Lewis and Matt Greene to clinch the series 4-2, touching off the biggest hockey party Hollywood has even seen.

“The guys did an unbelievable job,” said Kings coach Darryl Sutter, who took over behind the bench midway through the season after the team’s slow start.

“These guys have been so good with leadership and with the young guys listening and staying right in the moment that’s all we talked about.” —Reuters

Oosthuizen eyes second major title at US Open SAN FRANCISCO: Two months after the bitter disappointment of losing a playoff for the Masters, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen is hoping a recent dip in form will not derail his tilt at a second major title at this week’s US Open.

The 29-year-old has triumphed twice worldwide this season but has not been at his best in recent weeks, missing three cuts in his last four PGA Tour starts.

“I’m probably not where I want to be going into the US Open but I feel like I am really close,” Oosthuizen told Reuters on a sundrenched afternoon at the Olympic Club on Monday.

“The season has been good, it’s just the last month that I haven’t really felt comfortable over the golf ball. I’ve worked on a few things and I feel a lot better now.”

He launched his 2012 campaign with a successful title defense at the Africa Open, then rebounded from his Masters disappointment in April with victory at the Malaysian Open.

“Overall, I am very happy with the season,” the South African world number 16 said. “I’ve just got to take it on from here and try to do the same that I did in Houston and Augusta.”

Oosthuizen, who won his only major title with a commanding seven-stroke victory at the 2010 British Open, finished third at the

Houston Open in April, a week before his playoff loss to American left-hander Bubba Watson at the Masters.

The compact South African, whose swing is widely regarded as one of the best in the game, thrilled the Masters galleries with a rare albatross at the par-five second in the final round to grab a two-shot lead. However, he was

“I played well at Augusta and I’m not feeling like I threw it away or anything,” Oosthuizen said. “I just got outplayed and I think that’s the way you want to lose a major - if there is a way.

“You are always disappointed knowing you came that close but it makes next year at Augusta just a bit sweeter to go back and try to win it.” This week, Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen eventually caught by a charging Watson, who went on to claim his maiden major title with a par at the first extra hole after conjuring a miraculous shot from pine straw that hooked 40 yards onto the green.

faces a challenging par-70 Lake Course at Olympic which will host the US Open for a fifth time.

Though the hilly layout has no water hazards, no out-of-bounds and only one fairway bunker, on the par-four sixth, its first six holes

constitute possibly the toughest start to any major championship.

“You’d probably rather have those six holes early out rather than looking up to them at the end of the round but there are a lot of tough holes there,” Oosthuizen, who played all 18 holes in practice on Monday, said with a grin.

“There’s not really any hole where you can stand on the tee knowing you can birdie it or feeling like you’ve got a very good chance you’re going to birdie it.

“It’s one of those stretches where you’ve just got to keep patient and know that everyone is going to make bogeys.”

Simply “making pars” was the biggest challenge at Olympic, he said: “It’s just a tough golf course.

You need to hit the fairways off the tees and then the greens are really, really firm and really fast.”

A unique aspect of the Lake Course is the number of dogleg fairways which slant in an opposite direction, but Oosthuizen preferred to focus on the upside to this quirk.

“It actually gets you to hit shapes,” he said. “I like seeing shapes off the tee ... where you’ve got to hit a draw into a fairway that sits left-to-right.” The 112th US Open starts tomorrow when Oosthuizen will tee off from the ninth hole in the company of Australian Jason Day and American Jason Dufner. —Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Dodgers’ Elian Herrera dives back to second base, then advances to third as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Erick Aybar can’t get a handle on an error pickoff throw from pitcher Garrett Richards in the first inning of an interleague baseball game. —AP

Pujols lifts Angels over Dodgers LOS ANGELES: Albert Pujols had a tiebreaking single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, lifting the Angels to a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers in Monday’s interleague game between the two Los Angeles teams. The Angels rallied from an early 2-0 deficit. Mike Trout homered in the fourth inning and added an RBI single in the sixth to tie it. He then scored the go-ahead run from second base on Pujols’ broken-bat hit.

Jason Isringhausen (2-0), one of four Angels relievers, got one out for the win. Ernesto Frieri pitched the ninth for the save. Kenley Jansen (4-1) gave up Pujols’ hit and took the loss for the Dodgers.

Yankees 3, Braves 0 In Atlanta, New York blanked Atlanta and took a share of top spot in the American League East division for the first time in seven weeks.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova (8-2) combined with four relievers on the shutout. He gave up only one walk amid six strikeouts in seven innings to post his fourth straight win. He also managed his first career hit with a single in the second inning. Raul Ibanez led off the second inning with a homer and Robinson Cano had two hits, including a run-scoring single in the first. The surging Yankees climbed into a tie with Tampa Bay for the divi-

sion lead. Braves starter Randall Delgado (4-6) set a career-worst by issuing six walks, allowing three runs in five innings.

Nationals 6, Blue Jays 3 In Toronto, Bryce Harper had three hits in his return to the starting lineup as Washington downed Toronto and notched a fourth straight win.

Nationals starter Edwin Jackson (33) allowed only three hits in eight strong innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season. He is 4-0 in his past seven starts against the Blue Jays. Toronto lost starting pitcher Brandon Morrow (7-4) just nine pitches into the first inning when he strained a muscle in his left side.

Marlins 4, Red Sox 1 In Miami, the hosts opened the retractable roof for the first time in nearly two months, took to the outdoor setting and snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over Boston.

Marlins starter Josh Johnson (4-4) outpitched his former teammate Josh Beckett, allowing only one run in seven innings. Rookie Donovan Solano drove in two runs for Miami. Beckett (4-7), the Marlins’ postseason star when they won the World Series in 2003, pitched against them for the first time. He gave up four runs in seven innings. —AP

MLB results/standings Washington 6, Toronto 3; NY Yankees 3, Atlanta 0; Miami 4, Boston 1; LA Angels 3, LA Dodgers 2.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT NY Yankees 35 25 .583 Tampa Bay 35 25 .583 Baltimore 34 26 .567 Toronto 31 30 .508 Boston 29 32 .475 Central Division Chicago White Sox 33 27 Cleveland 32 27 Detroit 28 32 Kansas City 24 34 Minnesota 24 35

.550 .542 .467 .414 .407

Western Division Texas 35 26 .574 LA Angels 33 29 .532 Seattle 27 35 .435 Oakland 26 35 .426

GB 1 4.5 6.5

.5 5 8 8.5

2.5 8.5 9

National League Eastern Division Washington 36 23 Atlanta 34 27 NY Mets 32 29 Miami 32 29 Philadelphia 29 33

.610 .557 .525 .525 .468

Central Division Cincinnati 32 27 Pittsburgh 32 27 St. Louis 31 30 Milwaukee 28 32 Houston 26 34 Chicago Cubs 20 40

.542 .542 .508 2 .467 4.5 .433 6.5 .333 12.5

3 5 5 8.5

Western Division LA Dodgers 39 23 .629 San Francisco 34 27 .557 4.5 Arizona 30 30 .500 8 Colorado 24 35 .407 13.5 San Diego 20 41 .328 18.5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

S P ORT S

And the loser is...taking legal advice LONDON: For every British athlete selected for his or her home London Olympics, there are others who have had the door closed on them and are not taking it lying down.

Protests, appeals and threats of legal action have accompanied the increasingly frequent announcements by the British Olympic Association (BOA) of the latest men and women welcomed to Team GB. Recent squad announcements for taekwondo, triathlon, diving, fencing and rhythmic gymnastics have all been in the headlines as much for those who missed out but are desperate to be included as for those who made it.

“There’s a lot of athletes not being selected right now and we need to be sympathetic to the incredible journey they have been on and what they have tried to do to make selection,” BOA chief executive Andy Hunt told reporters yesterday.

Many of the problems arise from the awarding of ‘Host Nation’ places, which allow those Britons who have not achieved Olympic qualifying standards to

take part at the discretion of the national association. The selection policies and criteria for them can be controversial.

“You do get perhaps more subjective judgements needing to be made as to who will either deliver the most credible performance or has the most potential for 2016. So that is part of it,” said Hunt. “There is just a massive interest in competing with the home team at a home Games. And thirdly there are more sponsors, more agents, more interested parties supporting athletes, fighting to the last moment to get an individual on the team.”

The presentation yesterday of the 10 British fencers to compete at the Games starting on July 27 came as one of those overlooked submitted an appeal against British Fencing’s selection procedures. Keith Cook, the 2010 British champion and an ambassador for sponsors Samsung along with former England soccer captain David Beckham and showjumper Zara Phillips, said he was ‘totally baffled’ by his omission.

Fencing had already seen off four appeals by others against apparently subjective choices and has strongly denied any bias. At the weekend, Liz Blatchford said she was considering legal action after British Triathlon chose a lower-ranked rival as a ‘domestique’ to help world champion Helen Jenkins win a medal.

“Our highest ranked athletes...have proven time in time out that they do not need any help to win, so I really feel that giving Olympic spots to domestiques is a complete and utter waste and truly unfair to those athletes like myself who have given everything to be the best triathletes they can be,” she said on her website (www.lizblatchford.com).

World taekwondo number one and European champion Aaron Cook said on Friday he was seeking legal advice after lower-ranked rival Lutalo Muhammad was preferred to him, a decision that the BOA initially refused to accept but has now.

Hunt said the BOA would seek in future to ensure subjectivity was removed as far as possible from the

process with criteria “much more clearly set out and perhaps ranked so individuals can understand how these judgements have been made.

“There were a few appeals in fencing...we have reviewed all the documentation, we are completely comfortable,” he added.

“They followed due process in their selection, none of the appeals were upheld and therefore there was no requirement for re-selection.

“An athlete might try and take some form of legal action but in every case an athlete signs up to the selection policy. That is usually a binding process which has an appeal mechanism within it,” he added. Hunt said he fully supported the triathlon selection. “They (the athletes) knew on this journey they were going in to either be selected because they had a podium (to aim for) or they were supporting the other athletes getting there. They all signed up for it,” he said. “They might now say I’d have wished for a different approach but that’s too late.” — Reuters

Queen’s granddaughter Zara seeks Olympic glory

CAIRO: Nur el-Din Hussein, 24, of Egypt’s national rowing team attends a training session in the Nile River in Cairo in preparation for next month’s London Olympics. — AFP

Building lives and Olympians NEW YORK: For most athletes an Olympic medal is the pinnacle of success — for Peter Westbrook, it was only the beginning.

A mixed race child from the inner-city, Westbrook was an unlikely devotee to the sport of fencing, but having reaped the rewards of the sport all the way to Olympic bronze in 1984, the 60-year-old now devotes himself to producing other Olympians.

His Peter Westbrook Foundation (PWF) is marking its 20th year and can boast 10 Olympians and counting, as well producing lawyers, investment strategists and fencing coaches, not to mention a string of students at elite US universities.

The latest Olympian moulded by Westbrook is women’s foilist Nzingha Prescod, a 19-year old first generation American, who not only has three cadet and junior world titles to her name but possesses an Ivy League calibre mind.

Ranked 18th in the world in the senior division, she has put her studies at Columbia University on hold to grasp for the chance at Olympic glory.

“The pressure of making the team impacted my outlook. Now I feel free,” the right-handed Prescod said recently before heading off to practice.

Even at the tender age of 19, and still in braces, she’s not the youngest American on the U.S. fencing squad. That distinction goes to fellow foilist and world No. 4 ranked Lee Kiefer from Lexington, Kentucky, who only turns 18 this week.

Prescod trains at the New York Fencers Club, the oldest fencing salle in the United States. She’ll be joined in London by club mates Nicole Ross and men’s foilist Miles Chamley-Watson.

The PWF runs its athletic and academic programs out of the club, where the walls are filled with portraits of Olympians past, that over time has reflected the growing diversity in the sport’s elite ranks.

“Maybe a month or two ago it was just enough to make the team. Now I want to go for it. I want a medal at the Olympics and I don’t want my mom’s time to be a waste,” she said, motivated by Kiefer’s bronze at the 2011 World Championships in Catania, Italy.

Brooklyn-born Prescod picked up a foil for the first time in 2001 at the age of nine. After trying a variety of sport and dance, she eventually just wanted to follow her sister who was taken to the Saturday morning training sessions run by the PWF. After fencing is finished at midday, the foundation runs an academic tutoring and test preparation programme for participants who want to excel in high school and boost their chances to get into top universities.

Prescod trains six days a week with her coach Buckie Leach. “A good practice is a three or four T-shirt day,” she said.

Her Saint Vincent-born mother Marva, a lawyer in Brookyln Family Court who raised the girls on her own, heard about the PWF from a colleague. There Prescod found the unvarnished real world tough love message that Westbrook delivers weekly to the kids.

Westbrook came from the gang-infested housing projects of Newark, New Jersey. His Japanese-born mother bribed him with $5 bills every time he went to fencing practice after school. His AfricanAmerican father, a soldier, had long ago abandoned the family, creating emotional scars that Westbrook says has taken “years of therapy” to overcome.

The bribes worked. He was off the streets and into a world generally reserved for the white elite. Angry with his absent father and the discrimination he felt by being half Japanese, he fought his way to a college degree from New York University, a bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, 13 US national titles, and gold medals at the Pan American Games.

In the 20 years since he started his foundation, he has done more to change the face of fencing in America, literally, by offering inner-city kids from underserved New York neighborhoods the chance to compete at world class levels in a sport dominated by Europeans.

“With every person that comes in, we try to make it so positive, to let them see their positive self. Let them see how the things in their lives, the negativity, how they view things, the pain. Whatever. The things that hamper them.... That I think is what really differentiates us,” he said.

He recognizes that the majority of the kids won’t become Olympians, but they can learn life skills, academic skills and have the capacity to dream ambitiously and then work towards making them reality. “If you just deal with fencing, you get fencing results. But if you kind of let the person see their own scars, and we’ve all got scars, but if you let them see those scars and work with them, you get a much better product,” Westbrook said.

The majority of the kids are minorities from lower income homes, although many do come from the wealthier suburbs. On a typical Saturday morning, 150 or more elementary and high school kids are run through 90 minutes of calisthenics and then choose a weapon: foil, epee, or sabre.

Foil is the lightest of the three weapons with valid touches, or points, made from the tip of the blade on an opponent’s torso. Rules govern who has the right of way or advantage when making touches. Sabre has the same rules but points can be scored either with the tip or a slash of the blade from the waist upwards. Epee is simpler. The whole body is valid and the points go to the one who hits first with the tip.

Prescod herself helps run some of the training groups. She is composed and not easily ruffled on the strip. Yet she is also not easy to open up and reveal too much of her life.

While she has a relationship with her Anguillan father and his family, Prescod says the PWF filled in a missing part of her family, and then some.

“I don’t know what it is like to have a two-parent home,” she said. “PWF is like my family. They are not extended, but really close. A lot of other fencers don’t really have that kind of support network and that is what I think makes us so successful.”—Reuters

LONDON: One thing is often said about Queen Elizabeth II’s oldest granddaughter, Zara Phillips: she thrives under pressure. It’s about to be a very useful skill.

The 14th in line for the British throne has defied the odds, clawing her way to a spot on the British Olympic equestrian team after a strong performance last weekend at Bramham in northeast England.

“She brings a unique ability to deal with pressure,” said Jimmy Wofford, a US expert on eventing, the three-part event that Phillips competes in. “I wouldn’t want the lifestyle that produced it, but our format these days guarantees a cliffhanger finish ... You have to have Sunday afternoon nerve.”

The grueling sport combines the precise balletic movements of dressage, the athletic display of show jumping and the endurance and speed needed for cross country courses.

Only a few weeks ago, the 31year-old was widely considered to be a long shot to make the strong squad. Britain’s sodden spring had led to the cancellation of several big equestrian contests that would have given Olympic decision-makers a chance to see her in action.

But Phillips proved it is a mistake to count her out. She kept charging on, even skipping the huge Thames boat pageant marking her grandmother’s Diamond Jubilee - 60 years on the throne - so that she could compete. She and her horse, High Kingdom, just kept getting better, melding as a team, forcing observers to note her consistency and her experience.

Phillips has suffered many disappointments before. She had been selected to compete for the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Toytown, an exceptional horse with whom she

seemed to share an uncanny bond.

But Toytown got injured only weeks before the games, and since horse and rider compete as a team, Phillips stayed home.

She struggled in the years that followed. But then last fall she came charging back on High Kingdom, a 16.2 hands high (5foot-6-inch) bay gelding that she describes as “a pretty cool, very relaxed kind of guy.” “It’s awesome to be given this opportunity,” Phillips said in a statement late Monday. “I am really excited and can’t wait to kick on and get him there.”

High Kingdom, a thoroughbred, has great speed, an advantage on the London Olympic course at Greenwich, said Lucy Higginson, editor of the equestrian publication, Horse & Hound.

Phillips will be following in the footsteps of her parents - Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips - both of whom competed for Britain in the Olympics.

Princess Anne fell off her horse during the 1976 Montreal Games but still remembered the experience as one of the best in her life.

Phillips’ father fared better, winning a team gold at Munich in 1972 and silver in Seoul 16 years later. He is now a top coach for the US equestrian team.

Phillips and her older brother, Peter, have very low profiles in the royal family and hold no royal titles - unique among the queen’s eight grandchildren - after their mother turned down the monarch’s offer of honors.

But Phillips is very much a part of the royal family. The queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were honored guests at her wedding last year to international rugby star Mike Tindall, who

AACHEN: This, July 6, 2007 file photo shows Britain’s Zara Phillips, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, riding ‘Toytown’ in the jumping test competition of the Event Competitions at the World Equestrian Festival. — AP

has been photographed playfully wrestling Princes William and Harry until they begged for mercy.

Both Phillips and the British equestrian universe have been adamant that she would be chosen only on merit. Others on the UK

team include William Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Piggy French and Tina Cook.

But can she win gold for Britain?

Bookmaker Ladbrokes has made her an odds-on favorite to win.

“Every time Zara goes out now, she looks better, “Wofford said. — AP

LONDON: In this photo released yesterday by the Olympic Organising Committee LOCOG, showing a model of the rural English scene which will be the centre piece for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. — AP

Olympic stadium to become giant meadow for opening LONDON: London’s Olympic Stadium will be transformed into a British meadow complete with fields, cows, ducks, a horse-drawn plough and a game of village cricket for the opening ceremony of this year’s summer Games.

Film maker Danny Boyle, artistic director of the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony which takes place on July 27, said yesterday he wanted to recreate a classic rural idyll for the opening scene of the three-hour event. At either end of the stadium there will be “mosh pits” filled with standing members of the public.

One side will evoke the spirit of the Glastonbury music festival, a huge pop extravaganza held on a dairy farm in southwest England, while the other will reflect the Last Night of the Proms, an annual classical music celebration.

“It’s a real meadow with real grass and real animals and it’s actually something that we’re very proud of,” Boyle told reporters huddled around a

model of the opening set for the ceremony.

“You begin with a certain kind of philosophy, which is, you think what were we, where have we come from, what’s our heritage ... what are we now and where are we going?”

Boyle, an Oscar winner for his acclaimed “Slumdog Millionaire”, said repeatedly that he was “bound to fail” in any effort to encapsulate the spirit of a nation with a single ceremony, but hoped everyone would take something away from it.

He also said that the rising urban population, and the problems of life in British cities, would be reflected. But there were few signs of that at a news briefing to unveil the look and feel of the ceremony. “It (rural Britain) is real, it brings together all the four nations, it’s something that is spread across all our lands, but it’s also disappeared as well,” he said.

“But it’s also mythical. I think it’s in our brains

as part of ourselves, this ideal which is kind of like a childhood memory in a way. I think all of us in some degree are attached to it.”

The four countries of the United Kingdom are represented with giant representations of their emblem flowers-the rose for England, thistle for Scotland, flax for Northern Ireland and daffodil for Wales. The Olympic athletes will walk around the meadow, made up of mini-fields separated by hedges and a river, and electronic group Underworld will provide the soundtrack.

The ceremony, which costs around 27 million pounds ($42 million) to stage, is titled “Isles of Wonder” inspired by William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest”, and the opening scene unveiled on Tuesday is called “Green and Pleasant”.

Expected to draw a television audience of more than a billion people, the ceremony will start at 9 pm local time on July 27th and is due to end at around midnight.—Reuters

18

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

sp orts

Heavyweights take points in Asia qualifiers BRISBANE: Asian heavyweights Japan, South Korea and Australia all took strides toward automatic qualification for the 2014 World Cup by earning creditable results yesterday.

Iran, another one of the favorites to advance, was forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Qatar.

Japan drew 1-1 away to Australia, which will be grateful for a point after playing most of the second half a man down.

Japan tops Group B with seven points from two games with Australia in second with two points from two games. Iraq and Oman were also on two points after drawing 1-1.

South Korea won 3-0 at home against Lebanon to lead Group A with two wins from two games. Iran and Qatar were two points behind while Lebanon and Uzbekistan had one point each and face an uphill task to make the top two and qualify automatically for Brazil 2014.

In Brisbane, Luke Wilkshire’s 70th-minute penalty allowed 10-man Australia to salvage a draw against Japan in a game strewn with contentious refereeing decisions. Australia played a man down after substitute Mark Milligan picked up a harsh second booking in the 55th, and Japan capitalized 10 minutes later when Keisuke Honda dribbled in and passed

GOYANG: South Korea’s Kwak Tae-hwi (right) fights for the ball against Lebanon’s Hassan El Mohamad during their Group A final round of Asia qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. —AP perfectly across the face of goal for Yuzo Kurihara to tap in.

Wilkshire equalized five minutes later after Saudi referee Khalil Al Ghamdi awarded a questionable penalty against Atsuto Uchida for pulling back Alex Brosque on the goal-line as Australia took a corner.

Japan also finished the game with 10 men after goalscorer Kurihara received his second yellow for bundling Brosque to the ground in an off-the-ball incident.

The refereeing drama went right to the wire: Honda was lining up a free kick only for Ghamdi to decide he was taking too long to take the shot and blew the whistle for fulltime, to the bemusement of Japan’s players and bench.

“The way things went with the red card, we had to dig in,” Australia captain Lucas Neill said. “A little bit of Aussie spirit came into play. We could have gone on to win it (but) we’ll take the draw. Both teams will

be happy with it. “ This is arguably the best Japanese team that’s ever been put out, let’s give credit to the Australian boys.” Honda agreed it was a good result.

“A 1-1 draw away is not a bad result,” Honda said. “They have a lot of experienced players and controlled the pace at the start but we gradually got into the game and found our rhythm. We had more chances from midway through the second half until the end.”

Oman kept alive its hopes of advancing by drawing with Iraq. Oman, which also drew with Australia last week, struck in the eighth minute when Mohammed al-Balushi headed home a cross from Hussain Ali al-Hadhri.

Iraq star striker Younis Mahmoud equalized in the 37th from the penalty spot, awarded after Oman defender Abdul al-Mukhaini was called for a handball.

“Playing against Iraq is always difficult. But I’m satisfied with the result, even after playing three games in a row without much break,” Oman coach Paul Le Guen said. Iraq coach Zico said the team’s hopes of advancing were still good. “ We need to work hard a lot,” Zico said. “As we’re playing with lot of seniors who’ve been there for the last 10 years, Iraqi

football needs innovation.”

Qatar served as Iraq’s home ground as FIFA has banned Iraq from hosting internationals because of safety concerns in the war-torn country. The temperature for much of the match was above 40 degrees Celsius (104 F), since Iraq didn’t have the luxury that Qatar had last week of playing in the country’s only air-conditioned stadium. In Goyang, Kim Bo-kyoung scored the opening two goals as South Korea made it two wins from two to take command in Group A. “What we have to do now is to continue the form we have shown in the last two games in the rest of the qualification,” coach Choi Kang-hee said.

Despite losing midfielder Ki Sung-yeung to injury early on, Kim opened the scoring in the 29th when his shot from the

edge of the area went in off the crossbar. Lebanon attacks were few and far between and just two minutes after the restart, Kim collected the ball on the halfway line and out-ran the defenders to score his second.

Koo Ja-cheol capped the scoring as regulation time expired, stripping the ball from a too-casual Lebanon defender on the edge of the area and lashing in a fierce shot.

“At the present time, we are not able to compare ourselves with Korea,” Lebanon coach Theo Bucker said. “They are far ahead of us in many aspects.”

Qatar survived an onslaught from Iran to secure a goal-less draw. Iran wasted the bulk of possession and good chances, thanks in part to Qatar goalkeeper Qasem Burhan. It has scored only once in its first two matches. —AP

KIFF League final KUWAIT: The KIFF League Championship final between Don Bosco Oratory and DHL FC will be played at the Al-Qadsia Sporting Club stadium (Hawally) on Friday, June 15 at 7:00pm (sharp).

The chief guest for the event is the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Shri Satish C Metha. Indian soccer icon and Arjuna Awardee Bruno Coutinho, the Jt. Director of Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) is the guest of honor and Naser Omran Kanan of Gulf Cable will be the special invitee.

Prior to the final, renowned dance troupe ‘Jovas XLNC for Dance’ will be performing at 6:45pm.

28 of 29 is proof of tennis’ golden era

Al-Hindal (center) with Al-Otaibi and his trainer Nasser Jarallah

Kuwaiti athletes excel in Sri Lanka KUWAIT: Kuwait athletic team concluded its participation in the 15th Asian Championship that was held in Sri Lanka from June 9-12 by claiming a silver and bronze medals.

Majid Zayed took second place in the decathlon while Mubarak Al-Hindal took

the bronze medal in the hammer throw scoring a distance of 59.85 meters.

Athletics Association Secretary General Mohammad Al-Otaibi lauded the efforts of Kuwait’s athletes adding that there will be a training camp in Spain to prepare for the London Olympics.

Cricket targets urban youth LONDON: Former England cricket captain Ian Botham wants to encourage children from tough urban areas to play the game by promoting a condensed form tailored for school gyms or basketball courts.

Botham, who was one of England’s greatest all-round players, is concerned that poorer youngsters are turned off by cricket despite efforts to reinvent the game in recent years and rid it of its stuffy image.

“Kids in inner-city areas think cricket is boring and they can’t afford pads or equipment — we want to change that,” said Botham, lead ambassador for the “Cage Cricket” initiative and a crowd pleaser in his 1980s heyday.

Cage Cricket is designed for just six players, rather than the traditional 11-aside, with players competing as individuals and earning points for batting, bowling and fielding. The format removes time spent waiting around for a chance to bat that puts many youngsters off cricket for life. It can be played with a soft ball rather than the hard, red leather cricket ball and matches should last only around an hour.

Another plus in a rain-lashed English summer is that it is not at the mercy of the elements. Botham, 56, will join former players and lawmakers in demonstrating the game on Tuesday in a specially built cage in the grounds of the British parliament.

Cricket, once the most traditional of sports with its pristine white kit and rituals such as the tea interval, has undergone a series of makeovers in recent years to try to maintain its appeal.

The most dramatic development in the professional game has been the launch of Twenty20 cricket-a brash form that is over in 3 hours rather than the five days that international test matches can endure.

That shorter format has proved a commercial success, spawning the moneyspinning Indian Premier League.

Cage Cricket is working with a London youth charity totry to establish 50 venues across the capital. Its founders are also using online funding platform Spacehive.com to encourage businesses and enthusiasts to contribute cash to build cages, initially in the southern English city of Portsmouth and then in other parts of the country.

England are the world’s top team in test cricket and latest annual figures from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) showed a five percent increase in players of all ages in club cricket.

However, critics say the game risks once again becoming the preserve of leafy suburbs and expensive schools. — Reuters

Ian Botham

PARIS: While a bank of photographers took pictures for posterity and the front pages of the world, Rafael Nadal lovingly studied the champions’ names - the likes of Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer and, of course, his own - engraved on the base of the French Open trophy.

A huge grin dawned on his face like sunrise. He looked like the happiest person on the planet.

And yet, minutes later, down in the bowels of the Roland Garros arena where Nadal had just made history, his uncle and coach was talking not about the brilliance of the best clay-court player men’s tennis has ever seen, but about his rotten luck. The point Toni Nadal was making was that his nephew’s career could have been even more stellar if he had been playing in another era - one without Federer and now, increasingly, Novak Djokovic - his defeated opponent in this French Open final.

“Unlucky, unlucky, oh yes,” uncle Toni said. “If there wasn’t Federer, perhaps Rafael would have been No. 1 for four years.

But with Federer, that was impossible.” He is right, of course. But wrong, too.

Nadal would almost certainly have more major titles by now this record seventh French Open crown took his total to 11 - if not for Federer and Djokovic. Without those two stones in his shoes, Nadal could have ruled alone at the top of tennis for years.

But would tennis fans have cared as much about the men’s game as they do now? No. And would Nadal have become such a good player if first Federer and now Djokovic hadn’t forced him to improve? Probably not.

“To just watch these top players push each other, I don’t think there’s any much further to push,” Steffi Graf, a 22-time major winner on the women’s side, said before this latest momentous chapter in the Djokovic-NadalFederer rivalry. “Men’s tennis, definitely, is at the highest it has ever been.”

Like musketeers, they’re even more glorious as a trio. By building this golden era of tennis together, they share in its glitter.

It may sometimes seem like a curse for Toni Nadal, but it is precisely because his nephew is tested so often against opponents of such high quality that we can be absolutely sure of his and their greatness.

To beat each other, they have to lift their game to the highest of standards. All three have been made bigger and stronger by their rivalry, not diminished by it.

They are each other’s poison, but also each other’s magic potion that makes them look good.

Together, they have now won 28 of the last 29 majors. So, in men’s tennis, it is them on one plane, everyone else on another, and looks likely to stay that way for the immediate future, at least for Nadal and Djokovic. Both in their mid-twenties, they have more time than Federer, 30, to

a library of self-help motivational books - “I will be there fighting,” “I can’t let him feel comfortable,” “I have to play aggressive, I have to play my game” - and executed his plan for the first two sets until rain Sunday made the balls play like grapefruits and took the sting off Nadal’s shots.

require Djokovic’s very best tennis, and he only delivered that in patches.

To breach Nadal’s defenses, Djokovic was forced to aim for the sidelines. Often, the risk didn’t pay off. But he did have some success with serve and volley and a few elegant lobs over Nadal’s

PARIS: Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia pose for photographers in this file photo. —AP make even more of a mark.

“They are doing something to one another that hasn’t been done before,” said three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander. “Borg made (John) McEnroe a better player, but Borg quit. And Federer made Nadal a better player, and Federer didn’t quit. And Djokovic has beaten the hell out of Nadal, and Nadal didn’t quit. So I think they’re a very special three players that are not afraid of one another. They’re not mentally really disturbed by one another. They just tactically, technically can’t handle the other guy.

It’s very interesting.”

Had he won his first French Open final, Djokovic would have become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold four majors at the same time.

But Nadal, for his mental health, needed this victory more.

Another loss in a major final to the world’s No. 1 would have been the fourth in a row for Nadal, an unprecedented Grand Slam of losses that would have done untold damage to the Spaniard’s confidence.

So he came to this match talking as though he had swallowed

If looks could kill, there’s a patch of red clay on the Philippe Chatrier showcourt at Roland Garros that would need last rites.

That was where Djokovic’s backhand service return landed on the very first point of the fourth set, with the tide turning Djokovic’s way after he won the third. Nadal swung his racket, missed the ball entirely and, convinced he’d had a bad bounce from the increasingly sodden clay, stared furiously at the offending spot. That captured how the wet messed with Nadal’s mind and his tennis.

Nadal can count himself lucky that the referee intervened two games later, sending them home until Monday. But he doesn’t owe his eventual 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory to luck. He won as he often does, by soaking up pretty much everything thrown at him and returning it with interest and lashes of topspin.

Nadal is so at home at Roland Garros that the ballkids know, seemingly without being told, to lay out a towel on the red clay next to his bench so his white equipment bag doesn’t get dirty.

Beating him was always going to

head - variety that may help him unlock the riddle of beating Nadal on his best surface next time.

“How much is he going to improve on clay? So much,” said Wilander. “After today, he’s going to figure, ‘OK, I could have won that match if I do this and this, and I work on my forehand and maybe come in a little more, maybe more surprise serve and volley. Three or four points makes a big difference.’ He’s right there.

They better watch out for him on clay next year, because he’ll be heading in the other direction, I think. I really do.”

What a prospect. For many, Federer is the greatest player in tennis history. His record 16 major titles give his fans a giltedged argument. Without Nadal, Federer would have had more.

Without Federer, so might Nadal.

And, without them, Djokovic would not have been forced to hone himself into the force he has become - formidable enough to still be ranked No. 1 despite this defeat. A golden era, indeed.

“I have great rivals,” Nadal said.

“For me, you can feel unlucky or lucky. Both.” — AP

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

19

SPORTS

Today’s Matches on TV UEFA European Championship

Group

B

Netherlands v Germany

Denmark v Portugal

21:45

19:00 Al-Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al-Jazeera Sport +9 Al-Jazeera Sport +10 Al-Jazeera Sport 2 HD

Al-Jazeera Sport 1 HD

Al-Jazeera Sport +9 Al-Jazeera Sport +10 Al-Jazeera Sport 2 HD

Euro 2012 briefs

Police tear gas Poland-Russia brawlers WARSAW: Police used tear gas and water cannon and detained dozens of brawling football fans ahead of a key duel between old foes Poland and Russia in the Euro 2012 football championship.

Police said they had detained more than a 100 unruly fans on both sides while about 10 were treated for minor injuries ahead of a match that the authorities say is posing the city’s “greatest ever” security challenge.

Tensions have been stoked by centuries of bad blood and suspicion between the two countries, coupled with pockets of fans on both sides with a reputation for violence.

Police sprayed water cannon on Polish fans near the stadium before the kickoff while tear gas was used in another area near the venue which was encircled by a thick cordon of riot police with dogs and rubber-bullet guns. Riot police and vans created a buffer as Russian fans began marching to the National Stadium across a central Warsaw bridge chanting “Russia, Russia” and waving white, blue and red

Russian flags. Some Polish fans yelled obscenities at the Russian marchers, who responded by hurling back bottles, but security forces swiftly managed to keep the situation in check on what is also Russia’s national day.

Helicopters circled the city sky as vuvuzelas blared below and thousands of chanting Poland fans decked out in their national red-and-white also made their way in a loud but orderly fashion to the stadium.

Some 6,000 policemen are on duty in the capital for the duration of the tournament and Poland’s Euro 2012 organisers have said that 9,800 Russian and 29,300 Polish fans had tickets for Tuesday’s encounter.

Some 12,000 Russian fans are in the city for match day. The match got off to a roaring start shortly before 1900 GMT as a sea of Poland fans decked out in red and white cheered on the home team and a smaller contingent of Russia supporters unfurled a giant flag embalzoned with a sword-wielding warrior with the worlds “This is Russia.”

Interior Minister Jacek Cichocki had

earlier said the security operation surrounding the match in the capital was the city’s “greatest-ever challenge”.

“Drunk fans both in the city centre and on the outskirts of Warsaw after the game-especially around midnightthat’s a real concern to us,” added Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Tusk also hit back at claims of racism levelled at Poland, with a number of reported incidents, most notably taunts at members of the Dutch national team as they trained in Krakow.

European football’s governing body UEFA was also looking into allegations that Russian fans taunted EthiopianCzech player Theodor Gebre Selassie.

“Let’s be honest, racist and antiSemitic attitudes among Polish hooligans are a fact. But I strongly protest against stigmatising Poland as a country in which this phenomenon is growing,” he said.

Some Russian fans insisted the security issue was overblown. “We won’t be provoking anything,” said Svetoslaw Sorokine, 33, who travelled 48 hours by train from Yoshkar-Ola, a city 800 kilo-

metres (500 miles) east of Moscow, for the match. “Our supporters come in a spirit of peace to support our team, not to play politics,” he added.

Fellow fan Ilya Koulikov, a Moscow native, said fears of clashes among fans were being “fuelled by the media who are stoking the fire. People have come for the football.”

Polish media played up the tense history of the old foes, with the centreleft daily Gazeta Wyborcza resorting to military language. “It won’t be a simple march across Warsaw, alas, but massive air raids against the Polish net,” the newspaper said. “Above all, we must survive this match.”

Russia come into the game on a high after thumping the Czech Republic 4-1 in their first game, but Poland drew 1-1 with Greece, making a win a must for the Euro 2012 co-hosts if they are to go through to the last eight.

Football-mad Tusk joked that his “trembling heart” predicted a 4-0 victory for Poland but “reason and my football savvy tell me it’s going to a very tough match.”—AFP

Activists angry over Cassano’s gay comments

Portuguese in must-win game against Denmark LVIV: Portugal have yet to win this year but today’s game against Denmark in Lviv, Ukraine, would be an ideal time to end that run, as they take on the side that beat them to top spot in qualifying.

The Portuguese-finalists in 2004 when they hosted the tournament-opened their Euro 2012 campaign with a far from dishonorable 1-0 defeat to the hands of one of the favorites for the title, Germany. But with the Danes, champions in 1992, having stunned the Dutch, Paulo Bento’s team know that while a draw would at least give them an outside chance of reaching the last eight, nothing short of victory is required with the Dutch still to play. Portugal, though, face an uphill battle, with the Danes on the up and having beaten the Selecao 2-1 in the final tournament qualifier in Copenhagen last October, making it three wins from five against the Portuguese, and forcing them to play-off. Pivotal to them getting something out of the game will be for their captain and one world class player Cristiano Ronaldo to get more involved than he was after yet another disappointing performance for him at this level against the Germans. In his defence, the 26-year-old Real Madrid superstar does not have the same quality of playing talent supporting him as he had when he first made an impression as a player in the 2004 tournament. Indeed, one of those players of the so-called “golden generation” of

Portuguese players, Luis Figo, sprang to his defence on Sunday and called on Ronaldo’s team-mates to give him the opportunity to display his considerable talents. “I think the team need to give him the chances to have a good performance,” said the 39-year-old former Real Madrid star. “The characteristic of Cristiano is to finish, to score, so, if the team don’t produce those kind of opportunities then of course his performance is down.”

Ronaldo for his part believes they should draw on their experience from 2004 when as hosts they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of the unheralded Greeks, who were then to rub salt into their wounds by beating them in the final.

“Now we have to pick ourselves up and continue,” he told uefa.com. “We have to take as an example the team of 2004, when we also started with a defeat, but then reached the final. “We have been playing well for several games and just haven’t had the luck with our finishing.”

Their goal scorer against the Dutch, Michael Krohn-Dehli, typifies this dogged spirit-a journeyman forward who failed to make it in six years in Dutch club football.

He believes they can progress to the last eight with more of the same character. “We don’t have to win our next two games in order to progress to the last eight. We now have a great opportunity.”—AFP

LVIV: Denmark head coach Morten Olsen calls the players during the official training session on the eve of the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group B match against Portugal.

—AP

Do-or-die Dutch out to down Germany GDANSK: Holland take on Germany in today’s Group B key clash with the World Cup finalists knowing another defeat could threaten an early exit from Euro 2012 following their shock loss to Denmark.

In one of the key matches of the group stages, the Dutch have to pick themselves up from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to the Danes as Michael Krohn-Dehli’s first-half strike decided a match the Dutch had largely dominated.

Bert van Marwijk’s team now have to beat both Germany at Kharkiv’s Metalist Stadium, then Portugal on Sunday to be sure of qualifying from the pool, which has been dubbed ‘The Group of Death’.

“We have to win (the remaining two games). We have no other choice,” said Dutch captain Mark van Bommel. After wasting a string of chances against

Denmark, the mis-firing Dutch have vowed to put that right in what promises to be a heated contest with daytime temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) forecast in Kharkiv.

However, all does not appear to be well in the Dutch camp with reports that several players including last season’s Bundesliga leading scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart are in dispute with coach Bert van Marwijk.

Huntelaar has already expressed his anger at Robin van Persie being selected ahead of him for the Denmark match and pointedly he was the only player who did not face the domestic press on Monday.

However, Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder said that there was nothing to be read into the reports of disunity.

“It is not obligatory that we should all be

KHARKIV: Netherland’s players warm up during the official training session on the eve of the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group B match against Germany. —AP

friends in order to play together and win games. “And I don’t have the impression that there are clans, or small cliques that are opposing each other.

“If that was the case I would react, because I am here to become champion of Europe.” While the Dutch will be fighting for survival, Germany arrive in Ukraine knowing another win will put them in the quarterfinals following Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Portugal.

“Clearly, the challenge is huge for the Netherlands,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew. “When you’ve lost the first game, you can no longer afford another defeat. “They allowed themselves to be rushed against Denmark and they will not let that happen again.”

The Germans have a habit of crashing to defeat in their second game at major tournaments, despite starting with an impressive win, and team manager Oliver Bierhoff has said they must break the habitual second-game slump.

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, having opened with a 4-0 rout of Australia, Germany crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat to Serbia, five days later.

Likewise, at Euro 2008, an impressive 2-0 victory over Poland was backed up by a shock 2-1 defeat to Croatia en route to the final and Bierhoff is hoping his team will brush off the second-game slump to beat the Dutch.

“I hope that after the second game this time it will be different and that we come out as winners,” Bierhoff told reporters before the team’s departure.—AFP

KRAKOW: Italy striker Antonio Cassano was yesterday criticised by gay rights campaigners for using a derogatory word to describe homosexuals and saying he hopes there are no gay players in the national team.

During a press conference, the forward was asked a question about an Italian television personality’s claim there are two gay and two so-called “metrosexuals” in the national squad.

“What’s a metrosexual?” Cassano asked the questioner, before adding: “If they’re queer, that’s their problem. I hope there aren’t any queers in the national team. “But if they’re queer, it’s their business. Are there any? I don’t know.”

Outspoken Cassano used the Italian word “frocio”, which can be translated in English as “queer”.

“Metrosexual” has become a term to describe usually a wealthy city-dwelling man, regardless of sexual orientation, who spends a lot of time and money on shopping and his own appearance.

Cassano’s reply was largely laughed off but provoked a strongly-worded response from campaign group the Gay Centre in Italy, who themselves used an Italian slang phrase for doing something stupid that plays on Cassano’s name.

“Cassano says ‘cassanate’ (stupid things) about gays, showing his arrogance and irresponsibility,” said spokesman Fabrizio Marrazzo in a statement. “Unifying sport and homophobia gives a dangerous message, especially to the young.

“Cassano has shown that he has no respect, not only from a sporting perspective but from a human one, towards the many who follow him and consider him a great player.

“He would deserve at least a yellow card if not an expulsion from the European Championships. “It is a relief at least that the coach Cesare Prandelli thinks differently. “In any case it is in fact football which will be the theme of our next Gay Help Line, the phone line which gives help against homophobia.”

After the exchange, Cassano turned to the translator and said: “You’re not going to translate that to the Polish press, are you?”

Homosexuality in sport and particularly football is a sensitive issue. There are no high-profile openly gay footballers in the major European leagues and many gay rights groups have called for someone to take a stand and become the first.

Last year, German international goalkeeper Manuel Neuer told Bunte magazine that “those (players) who are homosexual should say so. That would take a load off their minds. And the fans would get over it quickly. “What is important to them is the performances on the pitch of the player, not his sexual preferences.”

But earlier this year Italy striker Antonio Di Natale said he thought the sport’s macho culture would make it very difficult for a player to be openly gay.

Former Nottingham Forest forward Justin Fashanu is the only English footballer to have come out later in his career.

He killed himself in 1998 at the age of 37 after being questioned by police in the United States about an alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old boy.—AFP

It’s all in my head Czech skipper Tomas Rosicky says he doesn’t actually sing the national anthem. “I haven’t sung it for some time. I hum it in my head,” the Arsenal man explained. “But I am superstitious - I sang it when I was young and we always lost. It’s not that I don’t know the words or don’t want to sing,” he insisted. The anthem, “Kde domov muj?” translates as Where is My Country?

Mastering fan chants Up until Euro 2012, Poland’s football stadiums have been unfamiliar territory to the bulk of supporters from the rest of Europe, just like the Polish language, which can bemuse outsiders. To help foreign fans navigate Poland’s fan-chant repertoire, Polish football blogger and player scout Michal Zachodny provided AFP with a handy guide to the terrace favorites.

“The most obvious one you hear is ‘Polska, Bialoczerwoni’,” Zachodny said. Sung to the tune of the 1979 hit “Go West” by Village People, which is adapted by fans around the world, it simply means “Poland, the White and Reds”, in a nod to the national colors. The pronunciation is simpler than it looks, with “Bialoczerwoni” sounding like “bee-ah-wo cherr-von-ee”. Another standard is “Nic sie nie stalo”, sung to the tune of “Guantanamera” and pronounced like “nits she nee star-wo”.

Melon feast A Spanish fruit company hopes its delicious melons will help energize Spain’s European Championship bid following its opening draw against Italy. A truck filled with the fruit was delivered to the World Cup champions’ training base in northern Poland, with the team having already enjoyed the “frog-skinned” melons for breakfast Tuesday morning. Frog skin refers to the color of the fruit.

Spanish sports daily AS organized the 1,865mile delivery from El Monarca, which is based in Murcia, Spain. Spain’s bid to become the first team to win three straight major titles continues Thursday against Group C rival Ireland.

‘Outsized egos’ Belgian fans have been making light of neighboring Holland’s loss to Denmark in their opening Euro 12 match. Having seen their team fail to qualify some Belgians have been backing the ‘Oranje’ but the media made fun of the defeat, which sparked claims some of the Dutch have outsized egos. Broadcaster Sporza came up with the wheeze Legoland 1 Egoland 0 for their headline in allusion to the personality clashed in the side juxtaposed with the Danish invention of child’s toy Lego.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Portuguese in must-win game against Denmark Page 19

WARSAW: Russia goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev makes a save in front of Poland’s Robert Lewandowski during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match.—AP

Poland hold Russia to stay in hunt WARSAW: Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland kept their chances of a quarter-finals berth alive yesterday after drawing 1-1 with Russia, putting on ice their opponents’ hopes of clinching the first slot in the knock-out phase.

The Poles, needing to take at least a point from the Group A match in the wake of their 1-1 tournament opener against Greece on Friday, were keenly aware of Russia’s high-octane 4-1 performance against the Czech Republic the same night.

A goal by Alan Dzagoev in the first-half - his third of the tournament - was cancelled out in spectacular fashion in the second-half by Polish captain Kuba Blaszczykowski.

Dutch coach Dick Advocaat praised Poland for their performance but added he was happy with the point. “Poland played very well tonight being under the risk of losing the chance to win a place in the last eight if they lost,” he said.

“Meanwhile, we allowed them to create too many chances in attack. “That means we still need to strengthen our defence. We also played well

and scored before the break and had many chances in the second but we missed them all. In general, I’d say the draw is a good result for us,” said the 64-year-old Dutchman.

Russian captain Andrei Arshavin said that while the point was welcome they only had themselves to blame for allowing the Poles back into the game.

“We started well and took the lead but after the break we played too loosely allowing Poland to reply on dangerous counter-attacks,” he said.

Poland coach Franciszek Smuda was happy with the result but above all with the way his players had stuck to their gameplan - he won’t be so happy with the angry manner in which Ludovic Obraniak shurgged him aside on being taken off in the final minute.

“We are a young side, and we are going to get ever better. “I am above all happy with the players because they played to the game plan from the first to last minute.”

In what may be the most politically-charged

fixture of the tournament, Poland looked the hungrier team in the first half, launching a series of convincing attacks on the Russian goal.

Hard work appeared to have paid off when Eugen Polanski moved onto a through ball from lone striker Robert Lewandowski and fired past Vyacheslav Malafeev.

But fans and the Polish bench swung from ecstasy to misery when his 18th-minute shot was ruled offside. A resurgent Russia picked up the pace, with Arshavin crossing in the 25th minute to Aleksandr Kerzhakov, only for him to miss the target. Polish keeper Przeymslaw Tyton - whose penalty-saving heroics after he came on as a substitute for red-carded first choice Wojciech Szczesny helped avoid a Polish defeat to Greece saved a free kick from Arshavin a minute later.

Russia’s efforts bore fruit in the 37th minute when rising star Dzagoev, who notched a double against the Czechs, latched onto an inswinging Arshavin free kick to open the scoring.

The Poles appeared tired, but battled hard, and

finally equalised in the 57th minute when Blaszczykowski picked up a cross from Obraniak and fired home a left-footed piledriver. There were nervous moments for both sides in the remainder of the half, with the noise levels rising in Warsaw’s brandnew National Stadium.

Sporting encounters between Poland and Russia are often high pressure, as they feed into centuries of antipathy between the two nations, and the rivalry in the stadium’s terraces was palpable from the start of the match.

Tensions had risen in Warsaw beforehand, as police made dozens of arrests and used water canons to halt brawls between fans from both camps. With the Czech Republic having beaten Greece 2-1 earlier yesterday, Russia top Group A on four points after two amtches with the Czechs second on three points, Poland third on two and Greece fourth on one. Russia wrap up their group matches against Greece on Saturday, when Poland face the Czechs.—AFP

STATISTICS Match statistics for the 1-1 draw between Poland and Russia in their Euro 2012 Group A match at the National Stadium in Warsaw yesterday.

Poland Goals scored 1 Total shots 15 Shots on target 9 Corners 4 Offsides 2 Fouls committed 12 Yellow cards 2 Red cards 0 Ball possession (percent) 43

Russia 1 7 3 6 2 13 2 0 57

Czechs defeat Greeks to keep hopes alive STATISTICS Match statistics for the Czech Republic’s 2-1 win against Greece in their Euro 2012 Group A match at the City Stadium in Wroclaw yesterday.

Greece Goals scored 1 Total shots 7 Shots on target 5 Corners 1 Offsides 6 Fouls committed 14 Yellow cards 3 Red cards 0 Ball possession (percent) 54

Czech Republic 2 8 3 4 0 26 3 0 46

Group A standings Euro 2012 Group A table after yesterday’s games (Played, won, drawn, lost, for, against, points): Results Poland 1, Greece 1 Russia 4, Czech Republic 1 Greece 1, Czech Republic 2 Poland 1, Russia 1 Group A Russia 2 1 1 0 5 2 4 Czech Republic 2 1 0 1 3 5 3 Poland 2 0 2 0 2 2 2 Greece 2 0 1 1 2 3 1

WROCLAW: The Czech Republic kept alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2012 quarter-finals as they beat Greece 2-1 in their Group A clash here yesterday. Victory not only took the Czechs onto three points with a game to come against co-hosts Poland but was also revenge for their defeat by the Greeks in the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

The Greeks — who went on to win the Euro 2004 title — are stuck on just a point with Russia, who beat the Czechs 4-1 in their opener. The Czechs made a dream start scoring twice in the opening six minutes with Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar scoring.

Greece threatened to get back into the match seven minutes into the second-half when Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech spilled the ball straight to Fanis Gekas and he tucked the ball away.

Czech coach Michal Bilek was delighted with the victory, though, not so happy with the second-half performance. “The changes (to the starting line-up) proved useful, we played a great first half, controlled the game, we soon scored twice, the first half was great,” said Bilek.

“Tomas Rosicky picked up an injury and we missed his creative skills, we found it hard to create, we conceded a terribly stupid goal and then got under pressure.” Jiracek was more relieved than ecstatic. “We’ve made it, the goal was

WROCLAW: Czech Republic’s Vaclav Pilar (left) controls the ball against Greece’s Vassilis Torosidis during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match.—AP

really important, and we’re very happy right now,” he said. “After five minutes we were on top, the crowd pushed us forward, but then we fell apart in the second half and had to fight till the end.

“We mustn’t get too satisfied, we know we had to fight hard. Now we’ll focus on the last game against Poland which will be terribly important and we’ve got to

handle that.”

The Czechs made a dream start as they took advantage of the out of sorts second choice Greek centreback pairing of Kostas Katsouranis and Kyriakos Papadopoulos, who had replaced the injured Avraam Padadopoulos and the suspended Socratis Papastathopoulos.

First Jiracek was picked out in the third

minute by Thomas Hubschman with a superb ball over the top which the Wolfsburg dynamo ran on to and fired in a shot that gave Greek ‘keeper Costas Chalkias no chance. Chalkias was at fault for the second goal three minutes later as he failed to cut out Theo Gebre Selassie’s ball from the byline and with the two Greek central defenders slow to react Pilar slid in to put the ball in the net for his second goal of the tournament.

Chalkias’s unhappy afternoon ended prematurely when he had to go off injured in the 22nd minute and was replaced by Michalis Sapikis. Sapikis proved himself, though, as he made two fine stops in the first-half from Rosicky and Jiracek.

However, the second-half got off in the worst possible manner with Rosicky one of the few players still in the side who played in the 2004 game - failing to appear as he was found to be suffering from an apparent Achilles tendon injury.

The Greeks heartened by the loss of the Czechs most influential player pressed for a goal. They were rewarded when there was a rare error by Cech — another of the class of 2004 — as he collided with Tomas Sivok going for a cross spilled the ball and Fanis Gekas was on hand to gratefully tuck the ball into the net. —AFP

Sinopec turns down cut-price Iran crude Page 22

Indian skies inviting, but no takers for airlines Page 24

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Markets cautious over Spain banks rescue

China revives economic reform amid transition Page 25

PAGE 23

MADRID: Activists stage a satirical performance depicting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (second left), bailed out banks (left) and the demands of citizens for greater transparency, outside the Congress of Deputies in Madrid yesterday. — AFP

Al-Kharafi, Al-Shaya among powerful Arabs Business Power 500 List

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s leading businessmen Engineer Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi and Mohammed Al-Shaya were among the leading and inspirational personalities in the Arab world who were honored at a glittering ceremony held on Monday in Dubai’s Khalifa Tower. The ceremony was held to honor the world’s most powerful Arabs during the unveiling of Arabian Business’s latest ‘Power 500 List’.

Al-Kharafi won the special award for winning the second place locally and the 26th in the Arab world. Kuwait’s Mohammed Al-Shaya, chairman of the AlShaya Group, won the first place locally and came 18th amongst the Arab businessmen and economists.

Al-Shaya is known for his outstanding ability to run his company in the hardest times following the global financial crisis, Europe’s debt crisis and regional problems impacting on the retail sector.

Al-Shaya is currently one of the leading regional and international businessmen whose group is one of the most active in the Middle East running a wide range of businesses including real estate, constructions, hotels, retail trade, IT and publicity.

Al-Shaya was appointed CEO before assuming Al-Shaya Company’s executive board chairmanship in 2007 to lead the company’s expansion to own over 1,800 outlets selling the 50 most famous brands worldwide. Al-Shaya outlets cover 20 Middle East markets in Turkey, Cyprus,

Wataniya Telecom announces Fakhroo as new acting CEO

Engineer Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi

Shaikha Al-Bahar

Mohammad Al-Shaya

Russia, Poland, Egypt and recently in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary.

Engineer Bader Al-Kharafi is a member of the board of directors of Kuwait’s AlKharafi Group, a leading Arab business empire worth over $14 billion. The group was founded by Bader’s grandfather and was expanded under his late father Nasser Al-Kharafi over the last 30 years.

The group is engaged in a large number of businesses such as telecommunication, general trading, agriculture, food industries, restaurants, steel, real estate, recreation and tourism.

Bader Al-Kharafi is also the chairman of the board and the managing director

of the Gulf Cables and Elec trical Industries Co. He is also a board member of the Zain Group both in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in addition to many other companies where the group owns shares.

Twenty six personalities from Kuwait won the Power 500 List (the World’s Most Influential Arabs 2012 Awards) organized by the Arabian Business M agazine.

Mohammed Al-Shaya (18th in the Arab world) leads the list from Kuwait followed

by Bader Al-Kharafi (26th in the Arab world) and Saad Al-Barrak (the 82nd in the Arab world).

The Kuwaiti list included Faizal AlAyyar (4th locally and 92nd among the

Arabs), Hosniya Hashim (122nd Amongst Arabs), Shaikha Al-Bahar (124th amongst Arabs), Ghaida Al-Khaled (136th amongst Arabs), Nabil Bin Salamah (141st amongst Arabs), Marwan Boodai (146), Farouq Al-Zanki (171), Khaled Abo AlFadhl (178), Maha Al-Ghunaim (205), Suad Al-Humaidhi (206), Nayef AlMutawa (229), Emad Bu Khamseen (234), R asheed Al-Nafisi (239), Zahi K houri (245), Tareq Al-Sultan (255), Dona Sultan (263), Salam Al-Hindal (278), Mahmoud Al-Nouri (290), Samir Al-Nafisi (315), Hamad Al-Falah (414), Ali Al-Shamlan (445), Ibrahim Ali Al- Qadhi (452 and Adnan Al-Mislem (456).

OPEC price hawks call on Saudi to cut output VIENNA: OPEC’s price hawks yesterday called on Saudi Arabia to rein in excess production to stem a slide in oil prices that has knocked off $30 a barrel crude since March.

“We are going to make a very strong call in the meeting that the countries that are over-producing cut,” said Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez. Saudi Arabia has lifted output to 10 million barrels daily, its highest in decades, to help nurse sickly global economic growth in what Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi has called a “type of stimulus” for the economy.

That has taken supply from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to 31.6 million barrels a day in May, an OPEC report said yesterday, well above the official 30-million-bpd target it set in December. That has riled the price

hawks in OPEC, many of whom require more than $100 crude to balance national budgets. Oil has fallen from near $128 a barrel for Brent crude in March to trade at less than $98 yesterday.

“We think we need to keep the ceiling on production of 30 million that was agreed at our last meeting in December,” said Ramirez. “The first and most important issue is we agree to stick to the 30 million,” agreed Iran’s OPEC governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi. Iraq too has said OPEC is pumping too much. Its oil output curbed by US and European sanctions, Iran has grown increasingly irritated that its regional Middle East rival Saudi Arabia has lifted supply at its expense.

Iranian output is at a 2-year low just above 3 million bpd.

Riyadh on Monday risked inflaming

relations with Tehran by suggesting OPEC might need to lift its output target to match demand in the second half of the year. But it appeared to back away from that position yesterday, making it most likely the group will leave supply policy unchanged. Saudi Oil Minister Ali AlNaimi told reporters he was “happy with the way things are.” But Riyadh may need to go further than that and reduce output quite sharply if it wants to prevent a further build in global oil inventories.

Signs are it has already started, pumping 9.8 million bpd in May from 10.1 million in April, according to the data it submits to OPEC. OPEC’s in-house experts say demand for fuel is cooling and that current output levels are well in advance of demand for OPEC crude in the second half of the year.

“Signs appear to be showing that the global economy is slowing further,” the group’s Vienna-based secretariat said in a monthly report. “The second half of the year could see a further easing in fundamentals, despite seasonally higher demand.” The report said demand for OPEC crude would average 30.74 million barrels per day in the second half of the year.

That would imply OPEC needs to slice nearly a million barrels daily from existing output levels if it wants to prevent inventories rising in the second half of the year. Commercial stocks among OECD countries are forecast by the US Energy I nfo rmatio n Administration (EIA) to reach 2.64 billion barrels, or 57.3 days of forward cover, by the end of the year. — Reuters

KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom yesterday announced that Abdulaziz Fakhroo, Deputy CEO of Wataniya Kuwait, has been named as the new Acting CEO of Wataniya Kuwait, following the departure of Scott Gegenheimer, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, a press release here said.

Eng Fakhroo was named as Deputy CEO for Wataniya Kuwait this year, following a distinguished career at Qtel Qatar, where he served as Executive Director for Technology and Senior Manager for Wireless Networks, playing a key role in the commercial and technical development of many cornerstone technologies. He has been with Qtel for more than 20 years and has been a member of the Executive Management team in Qatar. In addition to his role at Qtel Qatar, Eng Fakhroo has also held the position of Chairman of GSM Arab World.

Gegenheimer decided to leave Wataniya Kuwait to pursue other opportunities, following a career that saw him join the company in 2002 as Chief Financial Officer of subsidiary Tunisiana, before being named as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Wataniya Telecom in January 2008, the release said.

“Gegenheimer has contributed to the success and growth of the company through his sound leadership and Wataniya wishes him all the best for his future endeavors. Wataniya conveys its full support and confidence in Abdulaziz Fakhroo, the new Acting CEO,” the press release added. Wataniya Kuwait is a key operation for NMTC and we look forward to the continued success of the company under his leadership.

S&P under fire over India warning NEW DELHI: India’s ruling party, officials and a top business group yesterday criticized US ratings agency Standard and Poor’s for threatening to downgrade the country’s credit rating into “junk” status. Standard & Poor’s report, titled “Will India be the first BRIC Fallen Angel?”, warned Monday that India could be the first of the BRIC emerging economies to lose its investment-grade rating unless it revives growth and embraces reform. “There may be some hidden criteria (which S&P follows), but they didn’t explain it to us,” R. Gopalan, India’s economic affairs secretary, told reporters. He highlighted how the firm gave Spain a better rating than India despite Madrid seeking emergency financial aid for its banks and struggling to raise money from financial markets. In April, the agency changed India’s credit outlook to negative from stable, maintaining India’s rating at “BBB-” but warning it faced at least a one-in-three chance of a downgrade if its public finances worsened.

“BBB-” is just one notch above “junk”, which carries an increased risk of default and would see India having to pay higher interest rates on its public borrowing.—AFP

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

BUSINESS

Iraq looks to raise profile with OPEC candidate BAGHDAD: As Iraq increases oil output and emerges as a key supplier, it is now pushing a candidate for OPEC secretary general, part of efforts to boost its profile and retake a big role in the cartel it helped found.

Baghdad had for decades stood on the sidelines of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a result of conflict and sanctions during the rule of Saddam Hussein, and the violent aftermath of his overthrow, highlighted by Iraq’s removal from OPEC’s national production quota system. But in recent years, Iraq has opened its oil sector to development by foreign firms and increased its crude production, with further dramatic increases in the works. And although any successful candidate for the job requires unanimous approval from the cartel’s member states, meaning agreement on any of the four proposed names is far from a sure thing when the 12-

Of the four, only Saudi Arabia’s candidate is not a former oil minister, a position OPEC secretary generals have traditionally held at some point. “ Thamir’s own merits are so obvious that he’s a great candidate,” Venezuela’s former oil minister Alirio Parra told

country grouping meets on June 14, the mere fact that an Iraqi candidate is in the mix marks a sea change.

Baghdad’s candidate, Thamir Ghadhban, is widely lauded as a well-qualified technocrat who led the country’s oil sector during, arguably, its most difficult period in the years following the 2003 US-led invasion.

After the invasion, Ghadhban was named chief executive of Iraq’s oil industry, and subsequently adviser to the oil minister before himself becoming the minister in 2004.

The 67-year-old, who holds a Master’s degree in petroleum reser voir engineering from Britain’s prestigious Imperial College London, worked in Iraq’s oil industry for upwards of 30 years before more recently heading Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s advisory committee. Ghadhban is pitted against three other candidates, proposed separately by Saudi Arabia, Iran and Ecuador.

Thamir Ghadhban

Iranian bank halts guarantees for India imports NEW DELHI: Iran’s Bank Parsian has stopped issuing payment guarantees for Iranian importers who buy Indian goods, because its account that was set up to skirt Western sanctions does not have the necessary funds in rupees. India, exempted on Monday from the latest US sanctions against Iran’s disputed nuclear program after cutting crude purchases from Tehran, is the world’s fourth-largest oil importer and the second-biggest customer of the Islamic republic.

New Delhi and Tehran in January had agreed on a barter-like system to settle 45 percent of their $10 billion-plus a year oil trade in rupees, which are not freely traded internationally, and use them to repay Indian exporters of other goods. In this arrangement, letters of credit (LCs) would have guaranteed payments and smoothed trade, which could have helped Iran’s economy as sanctions squeeze its oil sales and revenues.

India’s only other means of payment to Iran currently is in euros through Turkey’s Halkbank, after a clearing mechanism in dollars was closed by the Reserve Bank of India under pressure from Washington in December 2010. “We have decided to stop opening letters of credit because we are committed to pay beneficiaries when they present (the shipping documents for) the goods,” Bank Parsian’s vice-president for international affairs, Mohajeri Tehrani, told Reuters by telephone from Tehran yesterday. “From two, three months we are waiting to receive funds from them (Indian oil firms). But unfortunately they have not paid so far to our account with (India’s) UCO Bank,” Tehrani said.

Indian refiners are waiting to make payments into the account at UCO Bank until New Delhi implements a planned exemption for them from a hefty local tax, which was announced in March and can take up

AFP by telephone from London.

“Over the years, I have dealt with him lots. He has all the qualities that are necessary.” But Parra cautioned that the unanimity requirement made any predictions over who would win the election complicated.

“There are four candidates, so you cannot say there is a frontrunner,” said Parra, who as a candidate for OPEC secretary general in 1994 fell victim to the unanimity rule when he secured the support of all cartel member states except for one.

“Don’t expect results overnight. It is very difficult indeed for candidates to be elected.” For Iraq, the election offers a chance for it to retake a leadership role in OPEC, which was founded in Baghdad in September 1960 with it as one of six member countries. Since OPEC’s founding, only one Iraqi has held the position of secretary general-Abdul Rahman al-Bazzaz, who manned the post for a year

from 1964. Fadhil Al-Chalabi was acting secretary general from 1983-88.

And with Iran and Saudi Arabia traditionally holding opposing positions within OPEC, there is potential that Ghadhban could emerge as a compromise candidate of sorts.

According to one analyst, OPEC would benefit from Iraq being in the lead. “Putting Iraq in a position of responsibility means it has to act responsibly towards everyone,” said Ruba Husari, editor of www.iraqoilforum.com.

She added, alluding to Iraq’s current production and large projected increases in coming years, and its accompanying ability to affect oil markets: “Instead of having a classroom with a (potential) rebel, you put him in charge, so (he thinks), ‘we have to satisfy everyone’.”

Iraq currently exports around 2.45 million barrels per day (bpd), but this figure is set to increase dramatically in the coming years.

For now, Iraq remains a member of OPEC but does not have a national quota for oil production, and Iraqi oil officials have mooted the possibility of opening quota negotiations with the cartel once production increases to between four to five million bpd.

It is projected to hit those figures from around 2015 onwards, and with OPEC secretaries general serving a maximum of two three-year terms, such negotiations could conceivably open with an Iraqi at the helm, were Ghadhban successful. “ They should accommodate Iraq, especially at a time when quotas will be discussed,” an Iraqi oil official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“They (OPEC member states) should take Iraq on board, and in reality they should reward Iraq with this post, rather than block it.” “Iraq has been, in the past, marginalized” within OPEC, the official said. “Now Iraq is back.” —AFP

Sinopec turns down cut-price Iran crude

to 60 days to be put into effect. Uday Narayan Mitra, general manager for treasury, international and finance at UCO Bank, declined to comment.

Indian exporters had hoped to boost sales under the rupee scheme and create a new market for their goods in Iran, which has reduced imports from western countries under pressure from sanctions, and they are now rethinking their business plans. India is keen to step up exports of food and other items allowed under sanctions such as engineering goods to strengthen its own economy and fix a trade imbalance tilted in favor of Iran.

“Bank Parsian has stopped issuing LCs ... leading to a huge backlog in payments. We are requesting the Indian government to step in and help us,” M P Jindal, president of the All India Rice Exporters’ Association, told Reuters. Jindal said Iranian importers now owe Indian rice exporters about 10 billion rupees ($179.3 million). India, the world’s second-biggest rice producer, exports about 1 million tonnes a year of mostly basmati to Iran, a leading importer of the aromatic grain.

Parsian’s Tehrani said Iran had offered to deposit about 10 million euros ($12.5 million) in the bank’s account with UCO bank to settle the dues of Indian exporters.

“Unfortunately they (New Delhi) did not accept our request,” he said.

“We have LCs worth 20 million rupees under negotiation with UCO Bank, but it’s been over a month and we have not got a payment,” said Pankaj Bansal, a partner at engineering goods maker TMA International. He said there had been discussions over new business worth 50 million rupees, but added: “Now we are thinking whether we should produce the goods for Iran or not ... As per the current scenario I am apprehensive whether this system, not working now, will work in future.” — Reuters

Singapore seeks US sanctions waiver

BEIJING: Chinese refiner Sinopec has turned down offers of bargain Iranian crude and will cut imports by up to a fifth this year, a senior Chinese oil executive said, insisting ties with the United States are more important than cut-price oil as the West squeezes Tehran over its controversial nuclear program.

And, with just 20 days to go until European Union sanctions against Iran’s oil trade - effectively cutting off tanker insurance - major Asian buyers of Iranian crude were still scrambling on Tuesday for a solution to keep the oil flowing. EU companies will be banned from insuring tankers carrying Iranian crude from July 1 and, as European insurers cover most of the world’s tankers, Asian importers in China, India, Japan and South Korea have struggled to find alternative insurance.

India’s state-owned refiners will halt planned imports of 173,000 barrels per day (bpd) from Iran when the EU sanctions take effect unless the government allows them to use insurance and freight arranged by Tehran, sources said, and Japan’s government made the first move towards sovereign insurance, submitting a special bill to parliament to allow it to insure Iranian crude imports.

Government sources in South Korea have said Seoul will simply stop buying Iranian crude from July, and a foreign ministry spokesman told a briefing on Tuesday that there was no consideration to provide state guarantees

on oil imports. The Chinese official said the insurance ban would not be a problem for China, which alone buys as much as a fifth of Iran’s crude exports. “So long as China wants to solve this problem, there must be a way. It won’t be a difficult issue. We are fully capable of sorting it out,” he said, without

The four big Asian buyers have cut Iranian imports by about a fifth from the 1.45 million barrels per day they bought a year ago. The cuts and threat of sanctions have helped drain Iran’s oil revenues by an estimated $10 billion so far this year.

China opposes any unilateral

going into how importers would continue bringing in Iranian oil.

Ahead of its own sanctions - cutting companies off from the US financial system - Washington on Monday added India and South Korea, but not China, to a list of those exempt, noting their significant cuts in imports from Iran. The West is seeking to choke Tehran’s oil revenue and force a halt to a nuclear program it believes is aimed at making weapons. Iran says its nuclear work is for civilian purposes.

sanctions on another country and says it has to buy Iranian crude to meet its energy needs. “We believe the crude oil trade between Iran and China is completely legal and fair. We have already made clear our position to the US side on this,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular briefing yesterday.

While China made big cuts in first-quarter imports from Iran, the United States is wary that Beijing might find it difficult to resist a bargain if Tehran tries to sell crude it

can no longer export to other buyers later this year. Sinopec has already resisted such offers, said the Beijing-based official who has knowledge of the refiner’s trading operations.

“The Iranians have made some offers, but we have turned them down,” the official said, declining to elaborate. “The economic benefits of filling some discounted Iranian oil into the national oil reserves would be too small a consideration for the state. The key concern for the Chinese government would be China-US relations.” China is only one of Iran’s oil buyers.

The others are India, Japan and South Korea - that could still face penalties from the United States once sanctions kick in on June 28.

Singapore, not a big oil consumer but a major blender of fuel, including some from Iran, said it imported no Iranian crude in May and was in talks with the United States about getting an exemption from sanctions.

The government, which normally has a hands-off approach to the oil trade, has stepped in to make sure its banks and finance houses are not locked out of the U.S. system, sources said.

China is Iran’s top trade partner and Beijing has publicly criticized sanctions against Tehran outside the framework of the United Nations. Still, China’s state-owned energy giants have made big investments in the United States, perhaps making them more mindful of sanctions. —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 .4310000 .3480000 .2890000 .2690000 .2750000 .0040000 .0020000 .0759590 .7400480 .3840000 .0710000 .7254840 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2798000 GB Pound/KD .4334380 Euro .3495400 Swiss francs .2910340 Canadian dollars .2714000 Danish Kroner .0470210 Swedish Kroner .0394450 Australian dlr .2768480 Hong Kong dlr .0360600 Singapore dlr .2180490 Japanese yen .0035210 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0762090 Bahraini dinars .7424700 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0746330 Omani riyals .7270370 Philippine Peso .0000000

.2830000 .4420000 .3560000 .3000000 .2800000 .2850000 .0070000 .0035000 .0767230 .7474850 .4020000 .0770000 .7327760 .0072000 .0500000 .2819000 .4366910 .3521640 .2932180 .2734370 .0473740 .0397410 .2789260 .0363310 .2196850 .0035470 .0050640 .0021410 .0030030 .0034550 .0767810 .7480430 .3987270 .0751930 .7324930 .0066140

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah

281.000 2.981 5.040 2.135 3.433 6.575 76.610 75.090 747.000 46.536 440.900 2.990

Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

1.550 356.800 278.100 3.190

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

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

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

280.800 353.500 437.400 274.550 3.575 5.023 46.530 2.124 3.417 6.490 2.986 747.200 76.500 74.950

SELL DRAFT SELL CASH

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

283.38 277.89 297.84 354.99 280.10 438.80 3.61 3.427 5.044 2.149 3.180 2.983 76.33 745.82 46.42 399.06 729.00 77.35 74.90

288.50 279.50 296.50 354.00 281.50 441.00 3.65 3.550 5.330 2.400 3.850 3.200 77.50 745.50 47.85 396.00 730.00 77.55 75.25

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar

Selling Rate

280.450 277.315 437.245 355.140 295.505 742.480

COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound

SELL CASH 281.900 747.430 3.670 276.200 552.000 45.800 48.200 167.800 48.150 356.300 36.920 5.230 0.032 0.161 0.236 3.630 398.290 0.190 91.330 44.200 4.320 220.500 1.821 47.900 730.040 3.150 6.730 77.740 75.040 220.640 36.300 2.677 439.600 40.600 296.000 4.300

Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

9.260 198.263 76.630 281.400 1.350

10 Tola

GOLD 1,680.550

Sterling Pound US Dollar

9.090 76.530 281.000

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 437.600 281.000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Bahrain Exchange Company

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY

76.335 76.980 74.745 394.775 46.427 2.148 5.074 2.982 3.427 6.522 687.940 4.515 8.935 5.905 3.265 88.500

SELL DRAFT 280.400 747.430 3.432 274.700

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Malaysian Ringgit

3.553 5.072 3.053 2.141 3.173 220.090 36.173 3.425 6.439 8.876 89.338 GCC COUNTRIES 74.883 77.158 729.380 745.850 76.464

220.600 46.557 353.800 36.770 5.030 0.031

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

398.250 0.189 91.330

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.250 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.466 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.309 Tunisian Dinar 176.65 Jordanian Dinar 396.190 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.884 Syrian Lier 4.899 Morocco Dirham 32.64

3.170 219.000 729.860 3.000 6.551 77.310 75.040 220.640 36.300 2.129 437.600 294.500 4.300

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 280.700 Euro 354.52 Sterling Pound 441.820 Canadian dollar 274.79 Turkish lire 152.400 Swiss Franc 295.01 US Dollar Buying 279.500 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

GOLD 293.000 148.000 75.250

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

BUSINESS

Markets cautious over Spain banks rescue BRUSSELS: World markets rose cautiously yesterday as uncertainty reigned over whether Europe’s plan to rescue Spain’s ailing banks would be enough to prevent the continent’s debt crisis from infecting other economies, like Italy.

Stocks had surged early Monday as investors seemed to bestow their approval on a weekend deal to make €100 billion ($125 billion) available to Spain to revive banks crushed by bad real estate loans. But those gains were erased in just a few hours, as observers worried the money might just add to the Spanish government’s debts, and maybe eventually force it to seek its own bailout.

As a sign of investor wariness of Spain, the yield, or interest rate, on its 10-year benchmark bond shot up. It was still climbing yesterday, reaching 6.65 percent. That’s dangerously close to the 7 percent yield that has forced other countries to seek rescue loans. Italy’s yields were also rising. Stock markets in Europe were eking out some gains today, but the tremendous volatility over the past day proves that Europe’s problems are far from over. France’s CAC-40 rose 0.3 per-

cent to 3,053.18, while the DAX in Germany gained 0.6 percent at 6,179.03.

The FTSE index of leading British shared climbed 0.4 percent to 5,452.95. The euro was flat at $1.2476.

Wall Street also rose on the open, with the Dow industrial average gaining 0.4 percent to 12,458 and the S&P 500 rising 0.2 percent to 1,313.50. “‘Fragile’ is perhaps the most appropriate word to describe sentiment at present,” said Ben Critchley, a sales trader with IG Index.

“Yesterday’s trading showed that even 100 billion euros is not sufficient to rebuild battered investor confidence, and Spanish and Italian yields are creeping higher once again.”

As always with the euro-zone crisis, concern about one country is never limited to that country.

If Spain needs help, investors might worry that Italy will too. Both are enormous economies - the fourth- and thirdlargest in the currency bloc, respectively and many think the euro-zone cannot afford to rescue them.

Italy’s government on Monday confirmed that the country’s recession is

deepening. The economy contracted at a quarterly rate of 0.8 percent in the first three months of the year, the worst contraction in three years and double Spain’s rate. Investors are also nervously eyeing a Greek election this Sunday to see if a party that has said it will throw out the country’s bailout agreement will be the big winner. The party has been rising in the polls, convincing Greeks that it can either get a better deal - after months of brutal cuts - or that Greece would be better on its own.

“Italy of course is never far away when we consider Spain’s situation; add Greece into that mix and you have a dangerous combination,” Critchley said.

Earlier in the day, Asian markets responded to the gloom that had settled over Europe and the US late Monday.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index lost 1 percent to close at 8,536.72. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.7 percent to 1,854.74 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was 0.4 percent lower at 18,872.56.

Mainland Chinese shares lost ground, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index shedding 0.5 percent to 2,289.79.

MADRID: Journalists report in front of the IBEX-35 index curve yesterday at Madrid’s stock exchange. European stock markets opened little changed to firmer yesterday as investors kept a cautious eye on developments in Spain after initial enthusiasm over a massive bank bailout faded badly the previous day. — AFP

The Shenzhen Composite Index lost 0.4 percent to 942.18.

Energy prices were stable, with benchmark oil for July delivery up 57 cents to

$83.27 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Pamela Sampson contributed to this report from Bangkok. — AP

Oil, food prices dampen US imported inflation Export prices decline 0.4%

BERLIN: Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel stands next to the new co-chairman of the Deutsche Bank Anshu Jain at an economy day of her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party yesterday. — AFP

Oil weakens with euro-zone crisis, ample supplies LONDON: Crude oil futures fell close to $97 a barrel yesterday, extending losses on fears the euro-zone debt crisis will worsen and hurt the global economy, threatening demand growth, while OPEC is seen likely to keep production levels unchanged. Optimism over a bailout for Spain’s troubled banks faded because of concerns about the package’s impact on public debt, while uncertainty surrounding elections in Greece on Sunday compounded worries the crisis in Europe will deepen.

The euro has retreated from a near threeweek high of $1.2672 as the initial euphoria from Spain’s 100 billion euro ($125.1 billion) bank rescue fizzled. Brent crude futures fell 85 cents to $97.15 by 1230 GMT. Earlier in the session, prices fell as low as $96.62 a barrel, close to this year’s low of $95.63 struck on June 4. US oil was down 17 cents at $82.53 a barrel after hitting a oneyear low at $81.07. “Europe is significantly affecting the growth outlook, and given China is already weak, further deterioration in the euro zone crisis could tip the global economy into a recession,” said Guy Wolf, a macro strategist at Marex Spectron. “Despite that, the supply side in energy does not look particularly bearish, and the ‘Iran premium’ has been largely priced out.”

Crude futures on Monday rallied more than $2 after euro-zone finance ministers agreed on the loan to Spain to tackle the problems of debtstricken banks. But doubts about the deal emerged overnight, rekindling concerns that Madrid’s financial woes would worsen.

The EU has already begun discussing contingency plans for a Greek exit, including withdrawal limits at bank automated teller machines.

Cyprus, which is heavily exposed to Greece, said on Monday that before the end of this month it may become the fifth member of the currency

bloc to apply for an international bailout.

“It is a data-heavy week with the OPEC meeting and the IEA (International Energy Agency) monthly report. OPEC is expected to yield little change,” said Tobias Merath, head of private banking commodity research at Credit Suisse, “Weaker China data could also change IEA oil demand projections.”

Oil is also under pressure following comments top exporter Saudi Arabia intends to keep production at current levels, despite a recent fall in crude prices. Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali AlNaimi said yesterday he was happy with OPEC’s current oil output target.

But OPEC’s price hawks have called on Saudi Arabia to rein in excess production to stem a slide in oil prices that has knocked $30 a barrel of crude since March. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)meets tomorrow in Vienna to chart production policy.

Supply from the 12-member group, running nearly 2 million barrels per day above a selfimposed production ceiling of 30 million bpd, is at its highest since 2008. “The oversupply will keep going into countries’ inventories,” said Carsten Fritsch, an oil analyst at Commerzbank, “OPEC is unlikely to reduce production. But the hawks will want to cut, so there is a risk of no common agreement, like last June.”

OPEC is producing above its latest demand forecast. OPEC sees demand for its oil as unchanged at an average of 30.74 million barrels per day in the second half of the year, its monthly report said. Saudi Arabia has lifted output sharply to 10 million barrels a day, a 30-year high, to prevent inflated fuel prices from choking off global growth and to help offset any disruption in supplies from the Middle East associated with sanctions against Iran. — Reuters

Boubyan Petrochemical Co posts KD 24.7m in profit KUWAIT: Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) announced realizing profit of KD 24.7 million for the year ending April 30, 2012, which compares to a sum of KD 22.8 for the previous fiscal year. Share dividend reached 51.1 fils, compared to last year’s 47.2fils.

In its statement on the Kuwait Stock Exchange website, BPC said the board recommended cash dividend at 40 percent for the said year, for shareholders registered at the time of the General Assembly, which took place yesterday. Shareholders equity came to KD 278.4 million compared to last

year’s 258.4 million. Assets meanwhile came to KD 428.3 whereas liabilities came to KD 148. 5 million by the end of April.

Liabilities last year were KD 170 million.

The company was founded in 1995, listed with KSE in 1997 with paid capital of KD 48.5 million. It is licensed to invest in industrial ventures in general, and specifically in the fields of chemicals and petrochemicals. The company’s main investments are stakes in EQUATE, and the two fully owned off-shoots Boubyan Plastic Industries and National Waste Management Company. — KUNA

WASHINGTON: US import prices recorded their largest decline in nearly two years in May as energy and food costs fell, government data showed yesterday, pointing to muted inflation pressures.

Overall import prices fell 1.0 percent, the biggest drop since June 2010, the Labor Department said. April’s data was revised to show a flat reading instead of the previously reported 0.5 percent drop. The decline last month was in line with economists’ expectations. In the 12 months to May, import prices fell 0.3 percent, posting their first year-on-year decline since October 2009.

Stripping out fuels and food, import prices were unchanged, dampened by weak costs for imported industrial supplies and materials and autos. The price for imported capital goods was unchanged last month. The data was the latest sign that broader inflation pressures remained benign - in line with the Federal Reserve’s view and potentially evidence of weaker global demand amid a worsening debt crisis in Europe.

“Price pressures have come off sharply since April...giving the Federal Open Market

Committee some breathing room should they want to implement more quantitative easing and alleviating pressure on margins for businesses, while freeing up some discretionary income for households,” said Ellen Zentner, senior economist at Nomura Securities in New York.

The cloud of uncertainty from the euro-zone crisis has been blamed for last month’s sharp pull back in US job creation and is sapping business confidence.

In a separate report, the National Federation of Independent Business said its Small Business Optimism Index eased 0.1 percentage points to 94.4 in May. Ian Shepherdson, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics said the tiny decline was a relief, considering the weakness in stock prices lately.

“The danger is not over yet, given the variability of the links between movements in stock prices and the survey, but so far the damage is slight,” he said. Data today is expected to show that weak energy costs depressed wholesale prices in May for a third month in a row, according to a Reuters survey. Outside food and energy, producer prices are expected to have

remained muted, with an increase of 0.2 percent forecast after rising by the same margin in April.

Last month, imported petroleum prices dropped 4.2 percent, the largest fall in two years, after slipping 0.4 percent in April. Weak petroleum prices should help to further lower the cost of gasoline and aid the sputtering economic recovery. Imported food prices fell 0.7 percent last month after edging up 0.1 percent in April.

Elsewhere, imported industrial supplies and material prices fell 2.7 percent, the biggest fall in nearly two years, after dipping 0.3 percent the prior month.

Imported capital goods prices were unchanged after slipping 0.1 percent the prior month. Imported motor vehicle prices fell 0.1 percent after increasing 0.7 percent in April.

The Labor Department report also showed export prices fell 0.4 percent last month, the first drop since December and a bigger decline than the 0.1 percent fall forecast by economists.

Export prices increased 0.4 percent in April. In the 12 months to May, export prices slipped 0.1 percent, the first year-on-year fall since October 2009. — Reuters

BNP eyes sale of Egypt retail operations DUBAI: BNP Paribas, France’s biggest listed bank, is planning to sell its retail banking operations in Egypt as the lender seeks to shore up its capital base and exit noncore operations, two banking sources said yesterday. BNP, with around 70 branches in the North African country, may raise as much as $400 million if the sale goes through, one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Both the sources said talks were at very early stages.

BNP has been shedding assets to meet tougher capital requirements under new banking regulations, intended to crack down on risk taking, that have forced many European banks to slash their balance sheets.

The sources did not want to be named as the matter is not public. A spokeswoman for BNP said the lender would examine any “expressions of interest” for the business while declining to provide any additional details.

Dow Jones reported the news earlier.

“BNP has had a strategic review of their international operations and decided to hive off the Egyptian retail business. It’s not a massive business and talks are happening at very initial stages,” the first source said.

Qatar National Bank (QNB), the largest lender in the Gulf Arab state, is one of the parties which has expressed initial interest, the source said.

QNB, which has an ambitious regional expansion plan, recently lost out to Russia’s Sberbank in bidding for Turkey’s DenizBank. The bank was not immediately available for comment. BNP has retail, corporate banking and private banking operations in Egypt but is only looking to sell the retail business, the sources said.

Egypt’s economy has taken a hit after more than a year of political unrest led to a sharp drop in tourism revenues and kept foreign investors at bay. European banks, hit by the euro zone sovereign debt crisis, have been retrenching from the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey as they look to boost their capital bases to cope with a sluggish economy and a rise in non-performing loans. Greek lender EFG Eurobank agreed to sell its Turkish arm to Kuwait’s Burgan Bank in a $355 million deal in April. Smaller rival Piraeus Bank is also trying to dispose of its Egyptian operations, a sale seen generating over $200 million. — Reuters

BARCELONA: A man holds a banner during a protest against the request of financial support from the European Union by the Spanish government in front of a Bank of Spain building in Barcelona. — AFP

Dubai’s JAFZA to issue $650m 7-year sukuk DUBAI: Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), a stateowned industrial park, plans to issue a $650million, seven-year Islamic bond to help refinance an upcoming maturity and has set initial price guidance for the deal, arranging banks said.

Profit rate guidance for the sukuk is indicated at between 7 and 7.25 percent and the new issue had attracted orders of about $1.75 billion at 1200 GMT yesterday, according to an update from lead arrangers.

Books are due to close at 1300 GMT. JAFZA, part of Dubai’s flagship Dubai World conglomerate, is putting together a financing package to meet a $2.04 billion Islamic bond which matures in November. The company plans to raise $1.85 billion towards redemption of the sukuk through this new issue and a $1.2 billion

Islamic financing facility.

The remainder will be paid through JAFZA’s cash balance. The original dirham-denominated bond is expected to be repaid two days after the new $650 million deal settles, lead arrangers said. Bondholders voted last month to let JAFZA repay the debt early.

Yesterday, the bond was bid at close to par at 99.150 and was yielding 4.9 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data. Yields have fallen from near 10 percent levels at the end of the first quarter as a lack of clarity on repayment worried investors. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank , National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Citi, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Samba Financial Group and Standard Chartered are bookrunners on the sukuk. — Reuters

Singapore leans on oil firms to stop Iran trade SINGAPORE: Singapore is putting pressure on oil companies operating in the city-state to cut their dealings with Iran as it seeks to be exempted from US sanctions on Iran’s oil trade, sources said yesterday. US ally Singapore was absent from a list of countries that Washington this week declared exempt from sanctions after they reduced Iranian oil imports. The sanctions aim to cut the flow of petrodollars that fund Iran’s nuclear program, which the West believes Tehran is using to develop weapons. Iran says it needs reactors to supply electricity.

Singapore is one of the world’s biggest oil trading hubs and most of its imports from Iran are of oil products rather than

crude. Fuel from Iran is blended, stored, traded and transported from one ship to another by private companies operating on the island and in surrounding waters. “Singapore is putting pressure on banks and oil companies because it doesn’t want to risk US sanctions,” a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. “The biggest fear is the impact this will have on Singapore’s financial system.” The government has historically kept intervention in oil trade to a minimum, but the sources said it has stepped in to ensure that financial institutions are not cut off from the US system for processing Iran oil transactions after sanctions take effect on June 28.

Singapore is a key Asian financial centre, and would be seriously affected if its banks were targeted by Washington.

Singapore’s foreign ministry said yesterday the country did not import any Iranian crude last month and was in talks with the United States to obtain an exemption.

Singapore’s crude imports from Iran are anyway small, as US energy firms hold stakes in two of the island’s three refineries and so are banned under long-standing US sanctions from importing Iranian crude.

International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, the country’s trade agency, is leaning on oil trading companies, said sources famil-

iar with IE communications to the oil firms. The IE was not immediately available to comment. The wording from the IE has strengthened in recent weeks to urge trading firms to stop importing, the sources said. Earlier communication reminded them of the commercial implications of sanctions.

“This time it was different ... stronger,” a Singapore-based oil products trader said. Fuel oil shipments from Iran to Singapore, the world’s top marine fuel hub by volume, have already fallen due to Western sanctions. So far this year, they have dropped to about 309,380 tons a month from 532,000 tons a month last year, Reuters data show. — Reuters

24

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

business

Asia braces for weaker exports, Europe falters

SINGAPORE: Cargo ships are framed through the deck of a heavy lift vessel in Singapore. Asia is girding for a worsening Europe crisis that has already stifled demand for exports that have powered growth and given hundreds of millions a higher standard of living. —AP

Do Asia central banks hold enough gold?

LONDON: The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) noted in its June 2012 Quarterly Review that “central bank balance sheets in emerging Asia expanded rapidly over the past decade because of the unprecedented rise in foreign reserve assets”.

Reserves rose from $1.1 trillion to $6.4 trillion in 2011. Most of these nations hold a low proportion of gold in their reserves, while they are among the countries with the highest personal gold use, at least when compared with local GDP. This may seem counterintuitive, but it is a result of history; long-standing industrialized nations were on the gold standard in parts of the 19th and 20th centuries and their central banks are still heavy with the metal while their populations have a variety of outlets for disposable income.

At current prices, for example, world official sector gold holdings, based on the figures reported by the IMF (these figures are for end-March, the latest available comprehensive numbers), represent 14 percent of gold+foreign exchange. China’s holdings are just 1.7 percent, and Indonesia’s gold accounts for 2.4 percent of total. France, by contrast, holds 84 percent of its reserves in gold and Spain, 34 percent. The level of European reserves has prompted a number of suggestions during the euro-zone crisis that a portion of any euro-zone members’ central bank gold could be sold to reduce financial distress. This is effectively prohibited by European legislation, which enshrines the independence of the central banks as the custodians of reserves.

Sales specifically to help the fiscal position are thus not permitted, especially as it could compromise the independence of the central banks from political influence.

Furthermore, even if it were permissible, the size of the gold market is such that no viable disposal could make any palpable difference to debt levels.

Is it likely therefore, in the face of increasing stresses, but specifically in this case to the Asian nations, that gold holdings will be increased? The relatively small size of the market suggests that there is little point if the sole purpose is to make a tangible difference to currency risk.

For China to raise its holdings to, say, 10 percent of combined foreign exchange (without dipping into its foreign exchange reserves so to do, and not affecting the gold price en route) it would have to raise its gold holdings from the current reported level of 1,054 tons to 6,869 tons; an addition of 5,815 tons or the equivalent of more than two years’ global mine supply. Hardly viable.

OFFICIAL HOLDINGS It is a matter of record that the official sector is building its gold reserves. Thomson Reuters GFMS’ Gold Survey of 2012 identifies net central bank purchases of 455 tons in 2011, which was only the second increase since 1988 (the first was in 2010) and the largest since 1964. Central bankers remain concerned by the disproportionate level of

dollars in reserves as well as fiat currency risk as a whole, intensified by the sovereign debt crisis in the euro-zone.

Recent official sector gold buyers have included Mexico (over 100 tons since February 2011) and Turkey (the increase in the latter’s reserves includes the acceptance of commercial banks’ gold into its reserves), while Russia has continued its uptake and Kazakhstan has been absorbing gold; indeed the Kazakh central bank was reported to have stated in early June that its gold holdings, of which it already has 100 tons, should account for 15 percent of reserves.

Calculations from the latest IMF figures suggest that Kazakh gold holdings were at 15 percent at end-April; this implies a steady monitoring of the position rather than sizeable future purchases. And what of emerging Asian nations, where local demand is so strong in terms of gold per unit of GDP? The first large-scale increase in reported holdings in recent years was the increase in China in April 2009, when reserves were reported at 1,054 tons, up from 600 tons.

India acquired 200 tons in November 2009 from the IMF disposals (an increase of 56 percent in Indian gold reserves), while the Philippines continues to absorb a proportion of local production and Thailand has raised its holdings by more than 80 percent since mid-2010.

Possibly the most significant change, though, is that in South Korea. Although the tonnage involved is small, at just 40 tons since May 2009, it is an increase of 180 percent over the period. It still means that gold comprises just 1 percent of Korea’s total foreign exchange reserves, however.

To take gold to a weighting of 10 percent, would, at current prices, entail the absorption of 630 tons. A tall order, and not a policy that the South Korean central bank has espoused, but it is not beyond the stretch of imagination.

The lack of any notable increase in South Korean central bank gold holdings between 1998 (when more than 250 tons of local privately-held gold was mobilized and sold into the market in order to increase domestic liquidity during the Asian financial crisis) and 2010 suggests a phlegmatic attitude to renewed instability in the region.

The recent additions to the central bank’s reserves could now suggest a more cautious approach to fiat currencies as a whole and the dollar in particular, even though the tonnage involved is minimal.

Meanwhile the local population in East Asia remains a high consumer of gold; while gold is now meeting competition for disposable income, it remains a primary mode of investment against inflation and political risk, carrying a long history as powerful, portable, anonymous wealth. Furthermore, gold bars have swung firmly back into favor in Europe as a result of the euro-zone sovereign debt crisis, especially in Germany and Switzerland. This follows years of dishoarding that had been driven primarily by French heirs to old war chests, literally full of Napoleons, some of them. — Reuters

SINGAPORE: After supplying European customers for more than 40 years with neon bright ornamental fish, Shirley Lim is now looking elsewhere for sales. Lim, whose business in Singapore and Malaysia grows aquatic plants and breeds colorful fish such as the Checkered Rainbow and Butterfly Barb, said orders from Europe are down by a fifth this year. “ The situation in Europe seems so unpredictable,” said Lim of the debt stricken and economically ailing continent that once accounted for as much as 80 percent of her South Island Aquarium company’s business. “I’m looking at other Asian markets instead of just concentrating on the EU.” Lim’s story is an increasingly familiar one in Asia, for companies big and small. The family run business flourished by operating in a low-cost location and selling its products to countries that while far away, were rich and dependable. Now, those big markets in Europe and the US no longer seem so rich or reliable and Asian countries, while fastgrowing, cannot pick up all the slack.

As an austerity-weary Greece votes this weekend in elections that could determine if it stays in the euro and Spain’s ailing banks get bailout money, Asia is girding for a worsening Europe crisis that has already stifled demand for exports that have powered growth and given hundreds of millions a higher standard of living.

One of the biggest concerns in Asia is that a sudden Greek exit from the euro common currency will spark panic and freeze global credit such as in the aftermath of the Lehman collapse in 2008.

“Fears are growing of a potential rerun of 2008, this time sparked by Europe,” said Frederic Neumann, an economist at HSBC in Hong Kong. “Asia is in a little better shape to withstand a similar shock. But it would still hurt.” How China weathers the European

crisis will serve as a harbinger for the rest of Asia.

China is not only the region’s biggest economy and exporter but it has become the top destination for other leading Asian exporters such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. They feed China’s growing domestic market and manufacture many of the components which make up its exports.

Strong growth in emerging Asian economies such as India, Indonesia and Thailand over the last decade has eased the region’s dependence on demand from developed markets. But Europe is still China’s biggest export market and sales to the continent have fallen 0.8 percent in the first five months of 2012 from the year before.

The debt crisis and economic malaise of the last four years in the US and Europe have helped accelerate the longer-term trend of Asian exporters focusing closer to home and on other emerging regions in search of growing markets for their goods. Europe used to be a top destination for Yi Haijun’s blue and white Chinese porcelain plates, bowls and tea sets. Now he says buyers in France are balking over the price of his $0.85 porcelain lampshades.

“Some of my friends in this industry have even stopped selling to Europe because they can’t afford our products like before,” said Yi, a third generation porcelain producer in the southern Chinese city of Jingdezhen. “We sell more within China now and to the Middle East.”

In India, Asia’s third-biggest economy, exports of clothing, footwear, carpets and handicrafts to Europe have slowed sharply this year, said Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations.

Weak European demand has Indian companies scrambling to find new customers in South America, Japan, South Africa and Russia, said A. Sakthivel, who manages clothing manufacturer

Poppys Knitwear in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu state.

“From September onwards, European importers were asking us to postpone shipments and cancel or reduce orders,” said Sakthivel, whose company usually earns over half its revenue from Europe, mostly from cotton T-shirt sales. “From Europe, we don’t get many orders now, especially from Greece, Spain and Italy.”

So far this year, exports to the US have held up for most Asian countries - despite recent signs of weak jobs growth in the world’s largest economy.

That has helped to avert a more pronounced economic slowdown. China said over the weekend that its sales to the US jumped 23 percent in May. Asian exporters are also anxious that a spreading bank crisis in Europe would tighten global credit. To protect against the risk that buyers won’t pay after receiving merchandise, exporters often use loans, credit lines or some kind of guarantee from the importer’s bank, known as export financing. Disruptions to export financing in 2008 undermined sales and helped trigger a sharp economic slump in Asia. While Asian companies have sought to broaden their financing sources since the crisis, the region remains vulnerable to a European credit squeeze.

Figures from the Bank for International Settlements show overseas lending, particularly by European banks and in the bank-to-bank market, has been in retreat for months. Japan and Switzerland were the only two nations whose banks increased overseas lending in the final quarter of 2011 but not by enough to offset the overall decline. Moody’s Analytics estimates that should Greece leave the euro and the subsequent financial contagion were limited to Europe, Asian manufacturing growth would likely slow to 5 percent by March 2013 from a year earlier, or 4 percentage points less than if there were no contagion. —AP

Indian skies inviting, but no takers for airlines ‘It would be madness to invest in domestic carrier’ BEIJING: With a potential air market of hundreds of millions of people, airlines ought to be hammering on India’s door - yet global airline executives say it would be madness to invest in a domestic carrier there, even if they were allowed to.

Although India’s economy is not the investor darling it was some years ago, the 1.2 billion population includes a sizeable middle class with increasing disposable income and the desire to go places. It’s a sprawling nation, trains are packed and their safety record is poor, so the potential for air travel is huge. But there was little enthusiasm for India at a major airlines summit in Beijing this week. “Anybody who is looking at India now is going to say it’s going to be an extremely difficult proposition.

There is a reward, access to a vast market, but the execution of that is the question,” Tim Clark, president of Dubai’s Emirates Airlines, told Reuters.

“You cannot afford to let civil aviation be a lame duck, not in something the size of India. You will have to find a way to make it work.”

A notable absentee at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) meeting was larger than life Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya, whose Kingfisher Airlines is ensnared in dramatic losses and has been suspended from the group’s international settlements systems.

Other Indian airlines like Jet Airways and Spicejet are also in the red. Foreign airlines are not allowed to take a stake in a domestic Indian airline but the government has been sitting for years on a proposal to allow them to take a maximum 49 percent share. The move could be passed by parliament later this year.

The big issues are the high cost of jet fuel and airport charges, which are the highest in the world. Then there is the lack of political will to push through economic reform, alongside strangling red tape and a lumbering bureaucracy. On top of all that is state-run Air India. The carrier

is hard hit by a pilots strike but is in line for a $5.8 billion taxpayer bailout, and recently slashed fares.

“You have got to address that big white elephant Air India,” said Azran Osman, the chief executive of Malaysian low-cost carrier Air AsiaX, which suspended its India operations recently.

“If it continues to behave the way it is, you can make it 100 percent foreign ownership, and no one’s going to be attracted.”

Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, the owner of British Airways and Iberia, said he does not see reforms on foreign ownership taking place in India. “But even if they do, so long as you have a state that continues to provide funds to an airline that is

lines across the world are interested to join the Indian market ... India is still a very young market. Five years down the line, competition will dictate that these issues get sorted out,” Rao, whose firm builds three-quarters of India’s aircraft, told Reuters.

If and when rules are relaxed, foreign airlines are likely to set up a new carrier with an Indian partner, rather than sink money into an existing concern, industry insiders said. India’s airlines are reeling under a debt load of $20 billion, and overall lost more than $2 billion in the fiscal year that ended in March. “Foreign airlines do not necessarily have to invest in an existing carrier. They can always invest in a new carrier and that is very much a part of their plans,” said a

MUMBAI: Air India’s Boeing 747-412 plane at the Mumbai International airport. inefficient and is dragging down the rest of the industry I think it would be madness to invest.”

It’s not all gloom and doom however - India does have some supporters who say what works in its favor is a market size just about a fifth of China’s. “Today what airlines have tapped is very, very small relative to the size of the population,” said Kiran Rao, an executive vice-president at Airbus and president of Airbus India.

“What you will see is that India’s economic story will continue to succeed. It may go through its ups and downs, but the long term potential for India is very strong.” “A lot of air-

source familiar with foreign airlines’ plans.

“Look at Indigo. Just a few years back, it started from a plain clean paper, without any debt load. Look where it is now - right at the top,” said the source, who declined to be identified because the plans are private.

Indigo - the only airline making money in India - recently toppled Jet Airways to be the biggest airline in India in terms of a single brand’s market share.

Jet, with its low cost arm, JetKonnect, had a market share of 28.2 percent as of April, while Indigo enjoyed a share of 23.8 percent.

JetKonnect contributed 6.8 percentage points to Jet Airways’ market share. Kuwait Airways, which held a stake in Jet before the government barred foreign ownership in 1997, will evaluate opportunities to own a stake in a local carrier when new rules come into force, its deputy planning director of international affairs said. “We have 500,000 Indians living in Kuwait, that’s out of a 3 million population. It’s a big number ... if we have the facility to fly more flights, we will do that,” Saud A AlMokhaizeem told Reuters on the sidelines of the IATA meeting.

“India is a very big market, not only to the Gulf, but also to Europe and USA. Despite the yields not being that big because of competition, the volume business is high.”

Airlines want to invest in a country which is growing at a fast pace, has a huge population and an “unbelievable market potential,” and tend to ignore the negatives, said Dinesh Keskar, a senior vice-president at Boeing who oversees Asia-Pacific sales, including India. “At the end of the day, you are going with your eyes wide open. It will hopefully will get only better from here on, and if they can make money in this environment, they can make money in any environment.”

But the skeptics appeared to be far greater in number. Many industry insiders believe that without the government relaxing taxes, airport charges, and bringing in other reforms, it will be difficult for Indian carriers to attract any foreign investment. “Lifting the foreign investment limit is obviously a move in the right direction. But that, in itself, is not going to be an answer to everybody’s prayers,” said Tony Tyler, the chief of the International Air Transport Association, which represents more than 80 percent of the global airline traffic.

“You need to be think about this as a business. What do businesses need? They need capacity, (but) they need to be affordable.” — Reuters

Vietnam banking reform in trouble: Experts HO CHI MINH CITY: Vietnam’s drive to restructure its troubled banking sector is being derailed by powerful interest groups as the political will needed to force through painful reforms falters, experts say.

After a decade of rapid, chaotic bank liberalisation, Vietnam has ended up with too many domestic banks (42) — many of which are overloaded with toxic debt-and poor governance across the system, economists warn.

Last year, faced with persistently high inflation and critical liquidity conditions at many of the weaker banks, the government announced aggressive restructuring plans. But as inflation has fallen-from a high of 23 percent last August to 8.3 percent in May, allowing the central bank to increase monetary supply and easing banks’ liquidity problems-so too have appetites for reform.

“Things have calmed down a bit because of falling inflation. So now they’re thinking ‘OK we don’t have to be so aggressive’,” said economist Nguyen Xuan Thanh, director of the public policy program at the Fulbright School in Ho Chi Minh City. “The second factor (slowing reform) is the resistance from the banks, from the owners of the banks... the political economy doesn’t allow the government to act decisively by taking over a bank and cleaning it up to sell.”

Aside from five fully-foreign owned banks, such as ANZ and HSBC, the sector is dominated by large

state-owned banks and dozens of smaller joint stock banks owned by public or private investors.

After years of rapid credit growth, the balance sheets of many of these banks are weighed down with toxic loans-the majority of which went to badlyrun state-owned enterprises and speculative property investments. While the larger state banks benefit from an implicit government guarantee and continued investor confidence, many of the joint stock banks have serious liquidity problems and can barely stay afloat, experts say.

This has hit the broader economy-credit lines have all but dried up which has affected small and medium businesses particularly badly with some 18,000 going bankrupt this year alone.

Unless there is decisive restructuring, the system will remain unhealthy “and the economy as a whole will suffer”, said Thanh. What the government needs to do is “take over the weakest banks, merge them, sell off the bad debt and then resell the merged bank”, said Jonathan Pincus, a HCMC-based economist from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Vietnam program. “It would be quicker and less risky for the system as a whole. But bank owners would resist this,” he said. To have a banking license in Vietnam, one Hanoi-based diplomat said, you have to be “very well connected”. Bank ownership brings benefits-the possibility of kickbacks, access to cheap credit.

Many small joint stock banks are owned by sub-

sidiaries of state-owned enterprises or well-connected groups of investors who own multiple banks, evading regulations with accounting tricks.

The sector is riddled with complex cross ownership patterns which are proving “politically difficult to unwind”, Pincus said. The government’s reform plan relies on private sector voluntary mergers to improve systemic liquidity by having those with healthy balance sheets absorb those in trouble.

But many banks are hiding the true state of their balance sheets and finding ways to hide their nonperforming loans (NPLs), Pincus told AFP. “They loan money to customers of other banks, who use the money to close out their loans with others.

Customers of other banks do that with them. It keeps everyone’s NPL rate down,” he said.

The government has divided the banks into four categories with different credit growth ceilings for 2012 — in effect, identifying the weaker institutions and banning them from lending. Five to eight of them will be merged this year, the government has said, although it now appears “embarrassed” and is backing off from this pledge, said Le Tham Duong from the Ho Chi Minh City Banking University.

With the first merger of three weak banks in December, rather than the government taking over the institutions, writing off bad debts, and seriously restructuring, the banks were simply rolled together, experts say. —AFP

HO CHI MINH CITY: Vietnamese workers walking past the Stock Exchange building in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s drive to restructure its troubled banking sector is being derailed by powerful interest groups as the political will needed to force through painful reforms falters, experts say. — AFP

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

business

Kenya’s north, long overlooked, poised to get even LOYANGALANI, Kenya: Poor, drought-prone and populated by pastoralists, northern Kenya was largely overlooked for decades. But newfound oil and Africa’s largest wind farm could be set to change all that. “This country has long been divided between low potential regions and high potential regions, according to a very deliberate government policy,” said Mzalendo Kibunjia, who heads the national cohesion and integration commission.

“But now the low potential is becoming the high potential,” he told a recent conference on the future of the north, organized at Loyangalani on the shores of Lake Turkana, one of the hottest and most desolate regions of Africa. It started in early March with

the launch of what has been presented as Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure project: an oil pipeline, a railway and a highway across northern Kenya to Lamu on the Indian Ocean where a port will be built in order to give Kenya’s landlocked northern neighbors Ethiopia and South Sudan port access.

A few days later UK-listed Tullow Oil said it had found very promising quantities of oil in the Turkana region.

Moreover in the coming months a consortium of European and African companies is to start building Africa’s biggest wind farm, also in Turkana; it will have the capacity to supply 20 percent of Kenya’s energy needs.

A few months may be all it takes to invert the historical configuration of

the more developed south and the under-developed north. Currently the north, which covers half of Kenya’s surface area of 582,600 square kilometers (224,942 square miles) is home to a mere 10 percent of the country’s 39 million inhabitants.

The three regions that make up the north of the country are also by far the poorest in Kenya. More than 94 percent of the population of Turkana lives below the poverty threshold, compared with 22 percent in Nairobi, according to the last census in 2009.

The north has long been cut off from the rest of the country. Without coffee, tea, or industry, the British never saw any reason to build a railway to the north.

Even today the macadam road

stops just north of Isiolo, normally considered the frontier town between north and south.

Beyond that point there are only dirt roads, impassible in the rainy season and often unsafe because of bandits. Turkana, Samburu, Somali, Rendille, Gabra and El Molo peoples, among others, raise goats and camels with no access to electricity or running water.

But that could change quickly. “If we do a good job, less than five years is all the north needs to catch up with the rest of the country,” said local MP Joseph Lekuton.

The transformation could be speeded by the fact that the new constitution adopted in 2010 will, starting next year, decentralize large chunks of the

national budget. That is, if this process is handled well, warned Lekuton.

“I think it will help if we have good governors in the country. I hope most of these governors will not go to jail in two or three years because of all this money they will have to manage,” he said. Hassan Wario, a director at National Museums of Kenya and a native of the northern Wajir district, voiced a similar concern.

He fears that any energy-based boom in Northern Kenya “would obviously benefit the elites” first and foremost. Speculators are reportedly already snapping up land around Turkana’s oil fields.

“It’ll be a long time before a Turkana or an El Molo gets any petrodollars,” Wario said. — AFP

China revives economic reform amid transition Banks may be allowed to set interest rates

AHMEDABAD: Indian women work at the electrical wiring section of the OREVA E Bike manufacturing facility near Samakhiali of Kutch district, some 240 km from Ahmedabad. India’s industrial output grew just 0.1 percent in April yearon-year, official data showed yesterday, adding to concerns about the economy and raising the chances of an interest rate cut next week. — AFP

Indian industrial sector stalls NEW DELHI: India’s industrial output grew just 0.1 percent in April year-onyear, official data showed yesterday, adding to concerns about the economy and raising the chances of an interest rate cut next week. The manufacturing sector, which accounts for three-quarters of the industrial production index, also expanded a weaker-than-expected 0.1 percent. And production of capital goods, a key indicator of investment, shrank 16.3 percent.

The data adds to an increasingly gloomy picture of the once-booming Indian economy, which analysts say has been hit by a lack of economic reforms, high interest rates, plummeting business confidence and the euro-zone debt crisis.

Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had expected industrial production to increase 1.0 percent in April, based on a median of their predictions, after a shock contraction of 3.5 percent in March.

The new data comes on the heels of figures published on May 31 showing the Indian economy expanded 5.3 percent in the January-March period, the slowest quarterly growth figure in nine years that led to a round of soul-searching.

After a decade of scorching near double-digit economic growth, there is growing alarm that India is sliding back towards its previous expansion rate of 5.0-6.0 percent. The government says India needs higher growth to lift its overwhelmingly poor 1.2-billion population out of poverty and provide the estimated 8.0-10 million new jobs every year to absorb the expected growth in the labor force.

In contrast to the woes in India’s industrial sector, output from China’s factories grew 9.3 percent in April on a 12-

month basis and 9.6 percent in May, the government said at the weekend.

Next Monday, India’s central bank holds a policy meeting where it is expected to cut interest rates again, having raised them 13 times between March 2010 and October 2011. “ The weak industrial production number we have and the generally subdued growth and lower oil prices will add more pressure on the central bank to cut rates next week,” HSBC Asia analyst Leif Eskesen told local television. He cautioned, however, that “I don’t think easing policy rates is the right instrument to improve the growth rate in India.”

Lower interest rates are likely to result in higher inflation-already at 7.0 percent on an annual basis-because of India’s poor infrastructure and other structural constraints, many analysts believe.

But the government is also unable to stimulate the economy because of a gaping fiscal deficit and increasing pressure to rein in spending and subsidies. The left-leaning administration of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also been unable or unwilling to push through economic reforms such as opening up the retail sector to foreign investment because of disagreements in the coalition.

Rating agency Standard & Poor ’s warned Monday that India could be the first of the BRIC emerging economies to lose its investment-grade debt rating unless it revived its growth and rekindled its reform agenda. In April, the firm downgraded India’s credit outlook to negative from stable, maintaining its rating at “BBB-” but warning it faced at least a one-in-three chance of losing its status if its public finances worsened. — AFP

Euro-zone crisis dents BAA airport traffic LONDON: British airports operator BAA said the euro zone crisis had dented traffic numbers from UK airports to Greece, Spain and other European countries suffering worsening economic conditions.

The owner of London Heathrow Europe’s busiest airport - yesterday said passenger numbers between Heathrow and Greece dropped 11.3 percent in May compared with the same month a year ago, with numbers to and from Italy falling 9.2 percent, Portugal 11.4 percent and Spain 2.5 percent.

“The impact of the euro-zone crisis is still being felt with sharp falls in passenger numbers to the worst affected countries and reduced cargo traffic,” said BAA’s chief executive Colin Matthews.

BAA, owned by Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial , said cargo traffic - a key indicator of economic health - fell 2.4 percent across its airports last month.

Cargo traffic at Heathrow was down 3.8 percent. “Both (cargo) figures are likely to be a reflection of the continued economic problems, particularly in the euro zone,” added Mathews.

IAG, formed by the merger of British Airways and Iberia, last week said worsening economic conditions in Spain hit its performance last month, undermining

strength in long-haul travel out of London. Traffic at airports operated by BAA fell 0.1 percent in May, compared with the same month in 2011, reflecting last year’s late Easter and Royal Wedding which boosted traffic in May 2011. The late May bank holiday into June this year also reduced last month traffic figures, it said. BAA said 5.8 million passengers passed through Heathrow last month, 0.6 percent down on last May. BAA, prevented by the government from building a third runway at Heathrow because of environmental concerns, has seen traffic to emerging markets rise in recent years and believes it is now falling behind rival European airports in the battle for these lucrative routes because of constraints on growth. The company, which also owns Southampton in the south of England, and Glasgow and Aberdeen airports in Scotland, said the euro -zone crisis showed why Britain urgently needed to build better links to the countries whose economies are growing such as China, India and Brazil. “With the UK’s only hub airport, Heathrow, already full, France and Germany are forging ahead and we are being left behind,” said Matthews. — Reuters

SHANGHAI: China’s move to allow more competition in its state-dominated banking sector revives a reform shelved for nearly a decade and defies expectations of a policy freeze before leadership change this year. In what analysts see as a significant step for economic reform, the central bank will allow banks more flexibility to set interest rates, effectively introducing greater competition and improving allocation of capital.

Just two months ago, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao railed against the “monopoly” of big banks, which have reaped healthy profits and funnelled cash to state enterprises while shunning more nimble private firms. In a policy announcement on Friday-made along with the first interest rate cut in over three yearsbanks can offer a 20 percent discount on loans against a government-set benchmark and a 10 percent premium on deposits.

“The People’s Bank of China has resumed its interest rate liberalization process, stalled since 2004,” said Qu Hongbin, co-head of Asian economics research for HSBC in Hong Kong.

“This... also implies that Beijing is getting ready to step up its pace of financial reforms.”

The change means banks can attract borrowers with cheaper loans while drawing deposits by offering higher interest rates.

Previously, lending rates only could float just 10 percent below the set rate. Such a reform was not expected to happen ahead of a oncein-a-decade leadership shake -up in the autumn, with expectations the government would avoid change to preserve political and financial stability.

“We didn’t get it until now, when arguably the political background is less certain,” Ken Peng, senior economist at BNP Paribas in Beijing, told AFP. “Generally, people didn’t expect such momentous change until after the 18th Party Congress,” he said, referring to the communist party meeting which will usher in the country’s new leaders.

For years, officials have pledged to further liberalize rates. The last moves date to 2004, when the government removed a ceiling on lending rates and scrapped a floor on deposit rates.

There are signs of movement on other eco-

nomic reforms. A month ago, China began allowing its currency to trade in a wider band against the US dollar, on the long march for the yuan to become freely convertible.

“As China has put internationalization of the renminbi (yuan) on the agenda, it must also carry out internal liberalization,” Liao Qun, chief economist at Citic Bank International in

as the reform will eat into their profits by narrowing the spread between lending and deposit rates. Publicly traded Chinese banks fell on Friday on those worries.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) — the country’s biggest lendertumbled 4.9 percent in Hong Kong trading while another state banking giant, China

BEIJING: An Air China flight attendant stands near model planes at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 68th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Beijing yesterday. Worldwide, airlines should make total profits this year of $3 billion on revenues of $631 billion - a 0.5 percent margin, the IATA said in an industry outlook released as it opened its annual general meeting in Beijing. —AP Hong Kong, told AFP. Some analysts argue the time for interest rate liberalization is ripe, even as the world’s second largest economy slows.

More competition should drive lending rates lower, helping pump more funds into the flagging economy.

“These policies are positive for China’s long-term growth, as financial resources can be allocated more efficiently,” said Zhang Zhiwei, chief China economist for Nomura Securities. “But they also bring risks to financial stability.” Banks will be the biggest losers

Construction Bank, fell 4.0 percent. With the potential for risk to the banking system, China will move carefully to implement further reforms, analysts said.

“Of all the structural changes in the rebalancing process, interest rate liberalization may be the hardest to implement,” Chris Leung, senior economist at DBS in Hong Kong, said in a recent report. “The government must have a strong will, whilst banks must be willing and able change the way they assess credit risks and grant loans.” — AFP

Indonesia keeps key rate at 5.75% to curb inflation

Qantas chief rules out equity raising SYDNEY: Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has ruled out an equity raising despite the embattled airline’s flailing share price, but is preparing a high-level team to ward off any possible hostile takeovers. Shares in the flagship Australian airline last week dived below Aus$1 ($0.99) for the first time since it was floated in 1995 after being put on credit watch by Standard & Poor’s.

But Joyce said despite the stock plunging as low as 96.2 cents, prompting speculation that it would soon look to raise capital, the measure was not necessary to allow the carrier to retain its investment-grade credit rating.

“We don’t need to raise equity in order to do that,” Joyce said in comments from the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association conference in Beijing reported in The Australian newspaper yesterday. Qantas shares tanked last week after S&P put its BBB/A-2 investment-grade rating on credit watch negative following warnings of a huge profit slump. The “Flying Kangaroo” has said underlying profit before tax is

expected to drop from Aus$552 million last year to Aus$50-100 million due to soaring fuel costs and worsening global conditions driven by European debt woes.

Joyce said the company was continuing with its strategy to turn international business losses around, adding: “I believe fundamentally that the underlying value of the company will come through in the share price. “And it’s very clear that the underlying value of the company is worth a lot more than the share price is today.” Shares recovered almost 11 percent yesterday to close at Aus$1.075, but remain well short of their peak around Aus$6 in October 2007 before the global financial crisis which stripped it of almost half its value in six months. Given the current share price, Qantas has formed a key management group headed by Joyce to deal with any possible takeover bids that emerge, reports said. The airline has also hired investment bank Macquarie Group to advise it in the event of any potential takeover and Citigroup to watch its share register. —AFP

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s central bank left its overnight benchmark rate unchanged yesterday at 5.75 percent, seeking to keep inflation under control while boosting the weak rupiah. “Bank Indonesia’s interest rate policy is still aimed at controlling inflation,” the central bank’s director Difi Johansyah said in a statement.

“At the same time, we are strengthening monetary operations and making prudent macroeconomic policies... to stabilize the value of the rupiah.” Year-on-year inflation eased to 4.45 percent in May from 4.5 percent in April as basic food prices fell during harvest season.

In a bid to shore up the rupiah, Bank Indonesia (BI) will begin offering term deposits starting Wednesday to encourage domestic banks to keep more US dollars onshore.

Johansyah has said that the BI would offer “an attractive interest rate” to encourage lenders to park their dollars with the central bank rather than offshore. Fears of Greece’s possible exit from the euro-zone have sent investors to safe -haven assets, creating an onshore liquidity shortage and putting pressure on the local currency.

BI’s intention to intervene was announced last month as the rupiah hit a 30-month low, restraining the bank from cutting its policy rate to help fuel domestic growth amid economic instability abroad. The bank said that while domestic demand in Indonesia was robust, the “worsening and uncertain crisis in Europe, and the vulnerability of the US economy ” would likely slow Indonesian exports.

“In these global economic conditions, the economy in the second quarter is forecast to grow between 6.3 percent and 6.7 percent,” Johansyah said.

Indonesia’s gross domestic product expanded 6.3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, slower than the 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. — AFP

26

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

BUSINESS

Geely vehicles debut in Kuwait after creating history in Saudi, Oman Kuwait Automotive Imports Co launches the most stunning range of Geely cars

EMGRAND EC7

LC PANDA KUWAIT: Kuwait Automotive Imports Co WLL (Al-Shaya & Al-Sagar), a leading automotive and auto products distributor in Kuwait, proudly launched 3 Geely models from China in its brand new Geely 3S facility (Showroom, Service and Parts centre, designed and executed by Al-Nasser & Al-Nashie United Co and Al-Injaz Trading & Contracting Co) in AlRai on Monday.

The VIP unveiling ceremony took place in the presence of KAICO management, senior officials from GEELY International Corporation, China Joe Xiong (Vice General Manager) and Scott Qiu (Sales Manager) and the Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait.

At the VIP launch event Yousef Alshaya (CEO) stated that the launch of Geely vehicles in Kuwait was an exciting moment for KAICO and a major event in their automotive calendar in this 76th historic year. Ashish Tandon (General Manager) added, “Geely cars are renowned for their up-to-date technology, great performance and superb quality and were developed in accordance with European standards. We are extremely proud to be partner of Geely Intl Corporation and bring this exciting range of cars to Kuwait”.

Joe Xiong said the future would be for Chinese cars after the substantial development in its automotive industry. Geely Holding Group completed the full ownership of Volvo Car Corporation from Ford Motor Company in August 2010. Ford bought the Swedish Volvo car business in 1999. So Geely has adopted the Swedish as well as the US car technologies into its own cars.

Rexzcy Williams (Brand Manager - Geely) added that they have considerable ambitions to get a high market share noting that the global spread of Chinese cars had already begun and soon the world would witness

EMGRAND EC8

the success of Geely cars especially that they had achieved a lot of international awards (on safety crash tests) confirming the strength and the quality of these cars.

At the end of the unveiling ceremony Ashish Tandon invited all journalists and potential customers to test drive the new models from Geely by contacting Anish Joy (Mob 50634600) and avail of the special introductory prices.

over the European cars in the same class and the bumper and front beam reach the European ECE standards.

As to its appearance, EMGRAND EC8 collects together the outstanding elements of various excellent models. It is 4,905 mm long, 1,830 mm wide and 1,495 mm high, and its wheelbase is 2,805 mm, primarily the mainstream dimensions in its grade. It looks stable and generous as well as fashionable and dynamic. A dynamic, stable and integral body frame is outlined by three characteristic lines, thoroughly displaying a distinct theme and appropriate harmony.

EC8 is equipped with a large number of smart technologies such as centralized control of multi-function steering wheel, cruise control system, full-range audio and video entertainment broadcast system, GPS global satellite navigation system, Bluetooth mobile communication system, intelligent lighting system, three-zone double-loop combination instrument, automatic zoned air conditioning, luxury power windows, built-in power sunroof, sunshade, front and rear reversing sensors etc. EC8 has also adopted Mitsubishi’s 2.4L and 2.0L engine, and Mitsubishi 4AT transmission.

Yousef Alshaya, CEO KAICO EMGRAND EC8 EC8 is positioned as a “new competitive cross-class car”, targeting at the intermediate and senior auto market which needs higher requirements for quality. It has been manufactured according to the most stringent European standards and designed according to European regulations in terms of safety, environmental protection, quality and other standards. The braking system matching is

KMBS preparing for intake of 17 admission applications KUWAIT: Kuwait-Maastricht Business and has been offering its programs for School (KMBS) has announced its prepa- more than 9 years (during which 900 sturation for intake 18 admission applica- dents from different majors have graduated). tions, which will start September 2012.

Al-Enezi also added that there will be Abdullah Al-Enezi, Head of Admissions Unit, stated that current reg- coordination with the Centre for istration started in April 2012, and will Continuing Education at KMBS to offer continue until the 30th of August, 2012. English and Mathematics preparation He also mentioned that the number of courses that could assist students in sucstudents for intake 17 will be approxi- cessfully passing the admission requirements. Students recruited to mately 120, and that lecture KMBS are highly motivated, timings will be suitable. professional individuals from He also stated that the a wide range of organizaMaastricht School of tions(both public and priManagement (MSM), which is vate). Many of them hold the mother college of KMBS senior positions, and chose (and from the Netherlands), to continue at KMBS in order has a distinctive reputation in to improve and develop their Kuwait. This is due to its managerial and strategic many years of experience, skills, said Al-Enezi. excellent business and ecoAl-Enezi wishes the best of nomics curricula and materiluck and success for all the als. Therefore, students are attracted to continue study- Abdullah Al-Enezi, applicants and advises them Head of to register before the 30th of ing at KMBS, as it is accredited Admissions Unit August, as seats are limited. locally and internationally,

EMGRAND EC7 EC7 follows European standards and emulates European quality, so the global success of EC7 is not a surprise. The key of success is that EC7 has grasped the demands of customers for comfort, space, appearance, production techniques, equipment and cost performance. The body of Emgrand EC7, designed in accordance with the highest European collision standards, can effectively absorb crash energy and disperse it over a wide area, thus greatly

reducing cab deformation and better protecting drivers and passengers. GEELY Emgrand EC7 made history by becoming China’s first proprietary model that participated in the European safety collision test and achieved great success, which, according to GEELY, is attributable to its ‘Safety First’ R & D strategy where safety is a top priority.

EC7 is available in sedan and hatchback models, and has a 1.8L DOHC, 4-cylinder,

Ashish Tandon, General Manager KAICO CVVT engine and CVT transmission. The car comes equipped with an AM/FM radio with CD player and MP3, power windows, 6-way power driver seat adjuster, leather seats, sunroof with jam protection, rear sensors, remote keyless entry, fully automatic airconditioner. The car is also equipped with 2 front airbags, ABS + EBD, safety belts, alloy wheels, and a steering locking anti-theft device.

LC PANDA GEELY LC is the second bionic mini car after the Volkswagen Beetle in global market. The design of the GEELY LC, with vivid application of the principles of bionics, drew China’s national treasure PANDA’s cute looks in the model’s appearance and interior trim.

Its unique round shape is very pleasant and eye-catching.

The black big ellipse intake grille of GEELY LC is pretty like panda’s smiley mouth; the front lights surrounded by black edges are really like the dark circle around eyes of a panda; the rear lights are masterly deigned as the foot prints of a panda to form a light group with one big and four small ones, which is as vivid as a real panda palm.

The bionic engineering adheres to the ‘three S’ design R&D concept (small, special and safe), making LC has agile style, spacious inner room and safety performance. After less than one year since its launch into the market in 2009, GEELY LC won the seventh position in the ‘World’s Smallest Model Awards’ of U.S. ‘Business Week’ which evaluates cars in terms of comprehensive size, engine performance, emission system, consumption, etc. In addition, GEELY LC has been successively awarded two trophies in China, which are The Most Original Design of ‘Chinese Automobile Design 2009’ and The Most Beautiful Model in the Chinese market of ‘Beautiful Automobile Awards 2010’.

GEELY LC achieved five-star performance in C-NCAP collision test, GEELY LC applies a safety technology system named GEELY Total Safety Management (GTSM), which includes application of the high-strength steel board, the seamlessly integrating safety features and the front and rear collision bumper with an anti-collision beam.

KGL Logistics holds general assembly KUWAIT: KGL Logistics KSC (closed) held its Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting on Monday June 11, 2012 at 11:00 am for the approval of its Consolidated Financial Statement Report for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The Board of Directors’ Report outlined the achievements of the company during the year 2011, whereby the revenues for the year 2011 amounted to KD 29.9 Million compared to KD 21.5 Million in the year 2010, thereby reflecting a growth of 39.7% from the previous year, whereby the total amount of expenses amounted to KD 20.9 million for the year 2011 in comparison with KD 14.1 million in 2010.

Accordingly, profits for the year 2011 stood at KD 9 million as compared to KD 7.4 million in 2010, reflecting a growth of 20.4% from the previous year.

In terms of dividends distribution, the General Assembly approved the recommendation of the Board of Directors to distribute a

cash dividend at a rate of 20% of the shares’ nominal value and bonus shares at a rate of 10% of the paidup capital for the financial year ending on December 31, 2011. The distributions shall include all shareholders registered on the date of

to expand its role in the local market by promoting its participation in local tenders while emphasizing on its regional growth specifically in the markets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Iraq.

Moreover, the company looks forward to execute the various Build, Operate Transfer (BOT) projects in Kuwait.

KGL Logistics Chairman Jafar M Ali thanked the shareholders, customers and partners for their end-

convening the General Assembly.

The company’s capital will become KD30 million after the shares distribution.

During the General Assembly, the Board of Directors also highlighted the company’s future plans

The company also targets the tenders offered by the US Government and the NATO Forces in the region.

KGL Logistics shall additionally diversify its set of services to expand its market share and pave the way for additional future expansion.

less support and confidence in the company’s continued improvement and success under the leadership of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minster and the Kuwait government.

Ford Conservation Grants call for grassroots environmental projects $100,000 available to deserving projects KUWAIT: The Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants, one of the largest corporate initiatives of its kind in the world, is looking to award a total of $100,000 of funds to deserving environmental projects from groups and individuals across the GCC, Levant and for the first time, in Iraq, in a bid to help grass-root level conservation efforts.

Supported by UNESCO Doha, Ford is encouraging individuals, community and non-profit groups that have projects currently running in the areas of preservation of the natural environment, environmental education and conservation engineering to apply for the grants.

The Ford Grants program, now entering its 13th year, has awarded a total of $1.2 million to over 140 environmental projects from the GCC, Lebanon and Jordan since its inception. Application forms are available and can be downloaded from

www.me.ford.com . The deadline to submit applications is July 10, 2012.

Projects from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are welcome to apply.

In recent years, recipients of the Grants included efforts of different groups to raise awareness on conservation through education especially among students. Majority of these projects involve schoolchildren, engaging the youth to be environmental advocates at an early age.

With funds received from Ford, these projects were able to continue with their missions in conserving the environment and activating the community’s participation.

An independent panel of jurors consisting of nine experts and academics from environmental agencies and institutions in the region will choose the winning projects. The jury panel was carefully selected in coop-

eration with UNESCO Doha, based on geographical coverage, experience and gender equality.Recipients of the Ford Grants will be selected based on initiatives that demonstrate a welldefined sense of purpose, a commitment to maximizing available resources, and a reputation for meeting objectives and delivering planned programs and services.

Larry Prein, managing director of Ford Middle East said: “ We’re looking forward to receiving applications from the region especially from Iraq which is now included in the expanded coverage of the program. We hope that the recipients which will be chosen this year will continue to provide

the impetus and motivation for others to intensify their efforts in conserving the environment. But before this year ’s recipients are chosen, we encourage everyone who is active in this field to send in your application for the Grants by visiting Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants page through www.me.ford.com.”

The program was initially created to empower individuals and nonprofit groups that are donating their time and effor t to preser ve the environment. By providing the necessary funding and visibility, they hope to encourage the multiplication of similar grassroots effor ts that

they will serve as catalysts for change across the globe.

For his par t, Dr Benno Boer, UNESCO’s Ecological Sciences Advisor in the Arab Region said: “UNESCO is the lead agency of the United Nations Decade on Educations for Sustainable Development (2005 - 2014), adopting practices that foster sustainable development. With the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (known as Rio + 20), it is high time to discuss globally “The Future We Want”, and develop local practices that will make significant contributions to the Millennium Development Goal No. 7, which is “Environmental Sustainability ”.

Environmental problems can only be solved, if they are identified, studied, and discussed, and activities implemented.

One of the essential contributions to improve the ecological foot-print is via public awareness and engage-

ment. There are many unsung heroes of the environment here in our region and we are seeking to support them through the available funds provided by the Ford Motor Company Conser vation and Environmental Grants. Taking care of the environment is a huge task that requires technical, intellectual and financial resources. We hope that this program will provide additional support to the ongoing projects being carried out by environmental groups and individuals. UNESCO has supported this initiative of Ford for some time in the Middle East - we most certainly hope that, based on the achievements and lessons learned, we can widen our ongoing partnership a broader international scale.”

For more information about the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants, please visit www.me.ford.com or write to fmegrant@ford.com.

27

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Organizations in Kuwait invited to Transform IT + Business with EMC

Wael Mustafa, district manager for Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Levent at EMC

By Islam Al-Sharaa KUWAIT: During an exclusive event entitled ‘Cloud Transforms IT, Big Data Transforms Business,’ EMC yesterday shared insights on the importance of IT infrastructure transformation for organizations in Kuwait. This is the first EMC led industry event in Kuwait, and it was held at the Sheraton Hotel, with ComputerLinks, EMC’s distributor, being the exclusive event partner.

Cloud computing transforms IT, delivering the maximum possible IT efficiency and making it possible to store, manage and analyze all of the world’s information even as informa-

A partial view of the audience. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

tion continues to grow. As a result, and in order to meet the service-level demands required by businesses today, IT organizations recognize the need to transform their infrastructures and operations in order to address the cost, efficiency, scalability, and agility of infrastructure. This conference explored the massive opportunity of IT transformation, and the strategies that will help organizations implement the right IT transformation model to drive their business forward.

During the conference, EMC’s senior delegates showcased the EMC IT strategy and transformation services, which combines innovative strate-

gies with a pragmatic approach to transformation, aiming at maximizing the organization’s IT delivery effectiveness and cost efficiency.

Wael Mostafa, Sales District Manager for the North Gulf Region, EMC, opened the event with a keynote speech, Mostafa Magdy, Presales Manager for the North Gulf and Levant, EMC followed with a session covering ‘Transform IT, Transform Business.’

EMC believes that ‘Transforming IT and Transforming Business’ starts with you. You have the opportunity to transform yourself and lead the transformation of IT and business.

Following is an excerpt from a

Mostafa Magdy, Pre-sales Manager for the north Gulf and Levant, EMC

Kuwait Times interview with Wael Mostafa.

KT: Can you tell us about the EMC’s operations in the region with a special focus on Kuwait?

WM: EMC is a company operating from the region for more than 12 years. We cover all of the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Kuwait is an important market for EMC. We have investments in Kuwait for the past 10 years. We have a grown considerably during the past year. We hope that investment and sales will increase in 2012. We plan to open our office in two months time as part of expansion plans in the region.

The new offices and staff will cover all

areas - from sales technology implementation to services and support.

KT: How is your company faring in the face of growing competition from IT firms in Kuwait and the region?

WM: Today our market share in Kuwait is substantial, especially in ecloud computing data storage and backup recovery security solutions. In 2012, we expect to capture 50 percent of Kuwaiti market. We have the confidence, platforms and the solutions to be able to do that. Plus, we have confidence in our customers in EMC. Information is vital for any company’s functioning.

KT: What could be the anticipated

fallout of the global financial crisis, especially the developments in euro-zone on your business?

WM: Global events have negatively impacted everyone in the US and Europe. Economic woes have even gripped Iran, North Korea and the Arab Spring. Information is always required and there is a need for new security technology. Regardless of financial crises, the company still needs technology to work and perform business. So that will power us ahead.

EMC grew 20 percent in 2011. We now aim to meet customer requirements and save money with the use of new technology.

New Internet suffix bids include ‘.lol’ and ‘.bank’ Largest expansion of address system NEW YORK: If Google has its way, people won’t need “Google.com” to do searches.

They can simply go to “.Google.” New York City wants Internet addresses ending in “.nyc,” while several companies and groups are looking to create “.doctor,” “.music” and “.bank.”

Google Inc. is also seeking “.YouTube” and “.lol” - the digital shorthand for “laugh out loud.”

Others are looking to attract non-English speakers with suffixes in a variety of languages.

Some 2,000 proposals have been submitted as part of the largest expansion of the Internet address system since its creation in the 1980s.

These suffixes would rival “.com” and about 300 others now in use. Companies would be able to create separate websites and separate addresses for each of their products and brands, for instance, even as they keep their existing “.com” name. One day, you might go to “comedy.YouTube” rather than “YouTube.com/comedy.”

The organization behind the expansion, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, will announce a full list and other details in London today.

It’ll take at least a year or two, however, for the first of these new suffixes to win approval and appear in use.

Some of them never will if they are found to violate trademarks or are deemed offensive.

Others will be delayed as competing bidders quarrel for easy-to-remember words such as “.web.” When multiple applications seek the same suffix, ICANN will encourage parties to work out an agreement. ICANN will hold an auction if the competing bidders fail to reach a compromise.

The expansion, already several years in the works, had been delayed by more than a month this spring because of technical glitches with the application system.

From a technical standpoint, the names let Internet-connected computers know where to send email and locate websites. But they’ve come to mean much more. Amazon.com Inc., for instance, has built its brand around the

domain name.

Alex Stamos, whose Artemis Internet company is bidding for “.secure,” said the expansion will “create much more specific neighborhoods with specific focus and goals.”

Stamos envisions “.secure” as a neighborhood for banks, medical professionals, payroll providers and others needing to establish consumer trust. Websites that adopt “.secure” instead of “.com” in their names would go through additional screening and be required to follow certain security practices such as encryption of all Web traffic.

The suffixes are restricted to the richest companies and groups, who paid $185,000 per proposal. If approved, each suffix would cost at least $25,000 a year to maintain, with a 10-year commitment required. By comparison, a personal address with a common suffix such as “.com” usually costs less than $10 a year.

ICANN has received at least $350 million in applications fees, which will pay for the organization’s costs setting up the system, reviewing applications and making sure parties do what they have promised once the suffix is operational. Some of the money will be set aside to cover potential lawsuits from unsuccessful applicants and others.

Despite the startup costs, suffixes could potentially generate millions of dollars a year for winning bidders. For instance, a startup company called ICM Registry now receives some $60 a year for every “.xxx” registered. That startup now wants “.sex,”“.porn” and “.adult.”

Stamos said he expects to charge thousands of dollars for a “.secure” name. The idea is to attract just those businesses that need the higher level of security.

Not all bidders will be looking to sell names under their suffixes, though. Google, for instance, may decide to keep “.Google” for its own sites, though it indicated it might open “.YouTube” for brands to create video channels.

Google declined comment on specifics beyond a recent blog post.

Skeptics worry that an expansion will mean

more addresses available to scams that use similar-sounding names such as “Amazom” rather than “Amazon” to trick people into giving passwords and credit card information. Others worry that new suffixes could create additional platforms for hate groups or lead to addresses ending in obscenities. ICANN spent years crafting guidelines meant to curtail nefarious activities, but critics say there aren’t enough safeguards in place. Critics include a coalition of business groups worried about protecting their brands in newly created names.

There’s also a question of how useful the new names will be, at least among English speakers. Alternatives to “.com” introduced over the past decade have had mixed success. These days, Internet users often find websites not by typing in the address but by using a search engine. And with mobile devices getting more popular, people are using apps to bypass Web browsers entirely.

The demand for new suffixes appears greater outside the US. That’s because many of the “.com” names had been grabbed by Americans who got on the Internet first. In addition, suffixes had been largely limited to the 26 letters of the English alphabet until now.

“I don’t think any of these will be the next dot-com,” said Bhavin Turakhia, founder and CEO of Directi Group, a Dubai company that is seeking “.click,”“.baby,”“.insurance” and 28 others.

“Dot-com had too much of a legacy to be outdone in a short period of time. But it has potential to be a very strong alternative and over time capture reasonable market share.”

ICANN has already allowed two major expansions of the addressing system. In 2000, it approved seven new domains, including “.info” and “.biz.” It began accepting new bids again in 2004. It added seven from that round, including “.xxx” last year. It also cleared others on an ad hoc basis, including “.eu” for the European Union and “.ps” for the Palestinian territories.

Under the new system, the application process will be streamlined and allow for up to 1,000 new suffixes a year. —- AP

Cost of electric vehicles reduced DETROIT: A123 Systems, the manufacturer of electric vehicle battery packs, said a new technology could reduce the cost of electric vehicles by $600.

But an executive said the Massachusetts-based company will focus more on selling its electrical grid storage products because demand for electrical vehicles remains weak.

“As a company we’re not focused on EVs because we have seen a pullback in the marketplace as it relates to EV adoption,” said Jason Forcier, vice president of A123’s automotive solutions group. “Focusing on those other customers, that’s really what’s going to be driving the company going forward.”

A123, which employs about 780 workers in Livonia, Romulus and Ann Arbor, said its new technology, nanophosphate EXT, relies on chemistry improvements to reduce the need for battery cooling systems. Batteries using the technology would be able to maintain 90% of their initial power

capacity after 2,000 full charge-discharge cycles at 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

“I think it is a major breakthrough for the technology,” Forcier said.

A123 has faced a series of challenges in recent months, including investor lawsuits, following disclosure that a production problem that forced it to recall batteries supplied to electric vehicle makers such as Fisker Automotive.

The company received a $249.1 million federal economic stimulus grant in 2009 and $135 million in tax credits, incentives and grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

But A123 lost $125 million in the first quarter on sales of $10.9 million. The company told the Securities and Exchange Commission in May that there was “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue to operate on its own.

Still, Forcier said A123 is pressing ahead with plans to add 400 new employees over the next four

months to its Michigan plants. He said the company is experiencing new demand from customers in the electrical grid storage sector. The new technology, he said, could appeal to the telecommunications sector for use in cell phone towers or to automakers as a replacement for lead-acid batteries in start-stop micro-hybrids, which are popular in Europe and are starting to roll out in the US. A123 is not revealing details about the new technology, but Forcier said it had already secured a customer - a German automaker he declined to identify - and it will go into production in early 2013.

“They have been able to increase the operating window to colder and warmer temperatures simultaneously without sacrifice to performance or life at each extreme,” said Ahmad Pesaran, energy storage team lead at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Center for Transportation Technologies and Systems, in an email. —AP

CERRO ARMAZONES: This handout artist’s impression released by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) yesterday shows the European Extremely Large Telescope in its enclosure on Cerro Armazones, a 3060metre mountaintop in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The 39.3-metre E-ELT will be the largest optical/infrared telescope in the world. Operations are planned to start early in the next decade. —AFP

Apple fends off Android challenge with maps, Siri SAN FRANCISCO: Apple said yesterday it was revving up the software running its coveted gadgets, training its sights on the China marketand tossing Google Maps aside in the process.

Apple used its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to show off upgrades to the software running iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices including its own Siri-infused mapping technology and features tailored for Chinese users.

The hundreds of improvements in the iOS 6 mobile operating system due out before the end of the year come as Apple seeks to outdistance rivals powered by Google’s Android software.

Apple chief Tim Cook kicked off the California company’s annual WWDC by showing off new capabilities built into software for its hot-selling devices and slimmer, more powerful MacBook laptop computers.

Apple booted Google Maps from iOS 6, opening up another front in the war with the maker of the Android operating system.

Apple’s new operating system for the iPhone and iPad includes “an entire new mapping solution from the ground up, and it is beautiful,” Apple’s Scott Forstall told the standing-room only crowd in San Francisco.

“We are doing all the cartography ourselves.

We are covering the world.”

Apple has “ingested hundreds of millions of business listings around the world,” he added, and has integrated with the consumer review service Yelp for reviews and ratings.

Although Maps does little to generate revenues directly, it often links to searches for products and services such as restaurants or businesses.

“You can now do local search even in China,” said Forstall, who added that an array of new iOS 6 features was tailored for that country.

Analysts say the Apple maps program could over time move iPhone and iPad users away from Google search and reduce revenues for the search giant.

“Make no mistake, with maps and some expanded Siri features, Apple is now in the search business,” said analyst Greg Sterling on the technology blog Search Engine Land.

Google last week beefed up its maps program, which had been pre-installed on Apple devices.

Apple said that iOS 6 will also include a better-educated Siri personal assistant, which performs many of the search functions of Google.

“Siri has been out only eight months,” Forstall said.

“In these eight months Siri has been studying up and learning a lot more.”

Siri, which made its debut with the release of the iPhone 4S, will be extended to recent generation iPad tablet computers, according to Forstall.

Another improvement to the iOS will be to incorporate Facebook in the operating system.

“We have been working very closely with Facebook to create the best Facebook experience ever on a mobile device,” Forstall said.

Apple also pulled back the curtain on slimmer, more powerful Macintosh laptops.

The move keeps Apple, which has been dominating the market for tablet computers like the iPad, in the game against a new line of slimmer laptops using Microsoft Windows or the Google Chrome operating system.

“Today we’ve updated the entire MacBook line with faster processors, graphics, memory, flash storage and USB 3 connectivity,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

The MacBook Air is as thin as 0.68 inches (1.7 centimeters) and weighs as little as 2.38 pounds (1.08 kilos). Its price starts at $999.

Improved models will see a boost in speed and memory and cost $100 less than previous versions.

The high-performance MacBook Pro will include the “Retina” display used on the new iPads, giving an extra high resolution screen.

“With a gorgeous Retina display, all flash architecture and a radically thin and light design, the new MacBook Pro is the most advanced Mac we have ever built,” Cook said. Prices start at $1,399.

The new MacBook Pro is “a screamer of a machine,” according to Gartner analyst Van Baker.

“Apple is doing some amazing things with the notebook form factor,” Baker said. “It is a shame to see Apple is the only notebook manufacturer doing innovation as opposed to driving costs down.”

Improvements to the software powering Macintosh computers included dictation technology so that “wherever you can type you can now talk,” according to Apple senior vice president of software Craig Federighi.

Apple was also “really improving our Chinese input method” with a better dictionary, special fonts for characters, and support for search engine Baidu and other major Internet services in that country, Federighi said.

“Get your apps ready for China,” he told developers. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Surgery offers hope for victims of female genital mutilation Three million girls fall victim every year: WHO PARIS: Fatima Sheriff has a sketchy recollection of the day her mother pinned down her four-year-old body while a stranger slashed at her genitals. “I remember I was fighting,” the 32-year-old told AFP, pointing to her back where she bears a scar from flailing about on the stony ground on which she was mutilated. “I remember my mum was the one who held me,” she said, recounting that her assailants had wielded a razor blade.

“If somebody did that to me today I would kill them,” she said simply. Sheriff was living in the west African state of Sierra Leone when the nightmare took place.

She is one of about 140 million women worldwide to have been subjected to genital mutilation-a practice in which a young girl’s clitoris and labia are removed, all or in part, in the belief that this will reduce libido and keep a woman chaste. The cost to this beautiful young woman was years of shame and pleasureless sex, feelings of victimiza-

tion and inadequacy, and jealousy of women with intact genitals. But 18 months ago, Sheriff’s life changed when she underwent reconstructive surgery that included rebuilding her clitoris. Following weeks of painful recovery, she was rewarded with her first orgasm.

“I went: ‘Wow, that’s me! I can do this!’” said the mother of two girls, recalling the event with tears in her eyes. Sheriff, an aesthetician training as an English teacher, was a patient of Pierre Foldes, a surgeon at Poissy-Saint Germain Hospital northwest of Paris. He is one of fewer than 10 doctors trained to do the procedure in Francewhere the operation has been covered by national health insurance since 2004.

Foldes’ 2,938 patients between 1998 and 2009 were mainly from Mali, Senegal and Ivory Coast, though 560 had been mutilated in France. Most were between the ages of five and nine when it happened.

In a paper published in The Lancet med-

ical journal yesterday, Foldes and colleagues report on the success of the procedure based on a follow-up of 866 patients.

In the first comprehensive assessment of the surgery’s long-term benefits to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, the authors report that more than a third of the women who had never experienced an orgasm before the corrective procedure started to have them afterward. With support from a sex therapist, half who had “restricted” orgasms were now climaxing regularly.

“Clitoral reconstruction after female genital mutilation is feasible,” the authors conclude. “It can certainly improve women’s pleasure and lessen their pain. It also allows mutilated women to recover their identity.”

According to the World Health Organization, about three million girls a year fall victim to genital mutilation. It is commonest in western, eastern, and northeastern regions of Africa and the Middle

East and among communities of migrants from these areas now living in Europe and North America.

Reviled and outlawed internationally, the practice not only wreaks emotional havoc. It can cause health problems ranging from urinary difficulties, cysts and infection to infertility and complications in childbirth.

Sheriff said the surgery had given her a new self-confidence that resonates beyond her sex life. She only recently started talking about her experience, and plans to launch a blog titled “My Clitoris and Me” to help women who have been through the same ordeal and encourage them to have the surgery.

“It is the best thing I ever did,” she said.

“For the first time, I am living my life. I feel like I can conquer the world.” But she is one of the lucky ones. “In most developed and all developing countries, reconstructive surgery is prohibitively expensive,” the paper says. —AFP

Fatima Sheriff poses on Monday at her home in La Roche-Guyon. — AFP

Low-level hospital noise may disrupt sleep: Study

The file photo shows an interactive display during the press preview of “Brain: The inside story” exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. A freezer failure at a major US brain bank has damaged 54 brain samples that were supposed to be used for autism research, officials said yesterday.—AFP

US freezer failure damages brains for research WASHINGTON: A freezer failure at a major US brain bank has damaged 54 brain samples that were supposed to be used for autism research, officials said yesterday.

The reasons for the freezer malfunction remain unclear, said the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (HBTRC) at McLean Hospital, which is the largest federally funded brain bank in the United States. “A full investigation has been launched to determine what caused the freezer, as well as two alarm systems that should have been triggered by the rising temperature, to fail,” said the HBTRC

statement. The damaged samples were part of a collection of 3,000 brain samples that the center keeps for researchboth US and international-into disorders such as autism, Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. “ This was a priceless collection,” Francine Benes, director of the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center, told the Boston Globe. “You can’t express its value in dollar amounts.” One expert told the newspaper that the loss could cause a decade -long setback to autism research. — AFP

Health costs forcing more Americans to skip care WASHINGTON: One quarter of Americans report problems paying for medical bills, and more than half say they have skipped or cut back on health care due to the cost, according to a survey released Monday.

Ahead of an expected Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s health care reforms, the Kaiser Family Foundation survey also said that 64 percent of people worry about the rising cost of health care and health insurance. Some 45 million Americans do not have health insurance, and the United States does not have universal health care.

According to the survey, 26 percent of people said they or a family member ran into problems paying their medical bills over the past year. And 58 percent reported skipping or putting off medical care since a year ago due to the cost. Around one quarter say they skipped tests to avoid costs; the same percentage said they did not fill a drug prescription for the same reason.

And 16 percent of people said they cut pills in half, or skipped scheduled doses, to save money.

Most of those surveyed reported the cost of health care, whether from insurance, copayments and deductibles, or health services, is rising, despite the government’s efforts to drive down costs. The biggest amount of care-skipping comes from people without insurance, Kaiser said. “Fully eight in ten of the uninsured (81 percent) report delaying or foregoing care due to cost in the past year.”

The survey comes out with the country’s highest court expected to rule, by the end of the month, on lawsuits challenging President Barack Obama’s signature health care reform package pushed through Congress three years ago.

The ruling could halt key parts or all of the package, which aimed at requiring all citizens to have health care coverage and at creating cheaper coverage options.

“While economic challenges facing the country continue and the Supreme Court is deciding the fate of the Affordable Care Act, the survey finds that the problems and concerns related to health care costs and access are widespread.” — AFP

Certain hospital sounds, such as electronic alarms, telephones and conversations, can wake patients up even at relatively low levels, creating an environment that may slow healing, according to a US study.

The report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, follows another study earlier this year that discovered hospital noise levels can spike up to 80 decibels (dB), about as loud as a chainsaw. “It’s nervewracking enough to be a hospital patient, and there’s a lot of racket at night,” said Orfeu Buxton, a neuroscientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, who led the study. To measure how loud particular noises have to be to wake people up, Buxton and his colleagues monitored the sleep of 12 healthy people as the researchers pumped sounds into the room where they slept. Many of the noises were recorded from an actual hospital.

They included IV pump alarms, people talking, a plane flying overhead and a laundry cart rolling down the hall.

Throughout the night, the researchers would play the noises one at a time.

Each sound was first played at the level of a whisper and if the person’s brain waves didn’t show a response, the researchers stepped

up the level until the “patient” woke up or the volume reached 70 dB, about the level of people shouting.

The findings showed that alarms and voices were the worst offenders when it came to disturbing sleep, Buxton said.

For instance, during moderately light levels of sleep - where people spend most of the night - an IV

pump alarm woke up about 90 percent of people at 40 dB, the quietest level. Even during deep sleep, more than half of people woke up to the alarm played at the level of a whisper. Similarly, about threequarters of participants woke up from the sound of people having a whispered conversation during the lighter stage of sleep, the

BOSTON: Nurses walk under dimmed lighting during “quiet time” at the Newborn Family Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Anyone who’s had a hospital stay knows the beeping monitors, the pagers and phones, the hallway chatter, the roommate, even the squeaky laundry carts all make for a not-so-restful place to heal. — AP

researchers said. While people might not remember being aroused by the sounds, they could feel less rested the next day, Buxton said. Traffic outside, a jet flying overhead, a helicopter taking off and a toilet flushing were much less disruptive.

The researchers also measured how people’s heart rates responded to each of the sounds, and they found that arousals caused a slight increase in heart rate. The result “gives us confidence this is a genuine physiological response in a negative way,” said Jeffrey Ellenbogen, chief of sleep medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, who co-led the study.

All of the patients were healthy and not in the hospital, and Ellenbogen, also from Harvard Medical School, said he would expect to see an even greater disturbance among older and sicker hospitalized patients.

Susan Frampton, the president of Planetree, a group that promotes patient-centered healthcare, said hospitals can lower some disruptive sounds, such as by designing buildings to reduce noise exposure.

“One thing is to close the doors on patient rooms,” added Frampton, who was not involved in the study.

“You have no idea how many hospitals’ staff don’t even think of doing that.” — Reuters

US insurers to keep parts of health law WASHINGTON: Some of the nation’s biggest health insurers will keep some popular parts of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul even if the law fails to survive Supreme Court scrutiny. UnitedHealth Group, Humana and Aetna all said on Monday that they will continue to cover preventive care such as immunizations and screenings without requiring patients to pay a set fee called a co-payment. They also said they’d still cover adult children up to age 26 through their parents’ insurance plans.

Additionally, they all pledged to continue to offer a simple process for patients who want to appeal when their insurance claims have been denied.

WellPoint, the nation’s second largest insurer behind UnitedHealth, said it will announce its plans after the Supreme Court’s ruling. The company runs Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in several states.

The announcements come after insurers initially fought to block passage of the overhaul, which aims to provide coverage for millions of uninsured people.

Challenges from states and other groups opposed to the law made their way to the Supreme Court.

Justices are expected to rule later this month on whether to uphold the law that was passed in 2010, or strike down parts or all of it.

That major insurers are keeping some of the early provisions of the law underscores the popularity of those requirements.

Patients have gotten used to the benefits, and insurers already have factored in the cost of the provisions into the premiums that customers have to pay for coverage.

Bob Laszewski, a consultant in the insurance industry, said insurers have probably added about 3 percent to a patient’s bill for the early provisions, depending on the type of coverage. As a result,

he said if insurers didn’t keep the provisions, customers probably would expect a drop in the premiums they have to pay.

“It would probably be more trouble to roll these things back than go ahead with them,” said Laszewski, a former insurance executive. “It just makes common sense to leave these things in there and not take these benefits away since they’re already priced in.”

UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc., the nation’s No. 5 insurer, went further than No. 3 Aetna Inc. by saying they’d keep several early provisions of the law. Both companies said they won’t impose lifetime dollar limits on how much an insurance policy pays out to cover claims. That helps people fighting cancer and expensive, chronic illnesses. The two insurers also said they would not pursue rescissions, or the cancellation of a person’s coverage retroactively - except in limited

instances such as cases of fraud.

Both companies said in separate statements Monday that they decided to keep those provisions because they make sense.

Humana said that its customers should “have the peace of mind” knowing that the company will keep the provisions even if the law isn’t upheld.

“The protections we are voluntarily extending are good for people’s health, promote broader access to quality care and contribute to helping control rising health care costs,” UnitedHealth CEO Stephen J. Hemsley said.

The insurers stopped short of promising to extend an important initial overhaul provision that requires the coverage of children up to age 19 with pre-existing conditions. A lone insurer keeping that provision might get overwhelmed with applications from children with expensive medical conditions who want the guarantee of coverage. — AP

Ethics body backs potential ‘3-parent’ IVF treatment LONDON: “Three-parent” fertility treatments designed to prevent some incurable inherited diseases would be ethical and should go ahead as long as research shows they are likely to be safe and effective, a British medical ethics panel said yesterday.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics said the potential treatments - known as threeparent in vitro fertilization (IVF) because the offspring have genes from a mother, father and from a female donor - should be offered to affected families together with full information and expert support.

“If these treatments are successful, these children would be among the first in the world to have a genetic connection to not two people, but three people,” said Geoff Watts, who chaired a Nuffield inquiry into the issue. “There are a number of ethical questions that arise and needed to be considered.” Britain is widely considered to be at the forefront of research in this area, so ethical considerations and scientific

advances here are likely to be closely watched around the world. Pro-life campaigners called the potential treatments dangerous.

Around one in 6,500 children worldwide are born with serious diseases caused by faulty mitochondrial DNA. The new potential treatments involve intervening in the fertilization process to remove faulty mitochondrial DNA, which can lead to a range of inherited conditions including fatal heart problems, liver failure, brain disorders, blindness and muscular weakness.

Still at the research stage, the treatments effectively replace mitochondria, which act as tiny energy-generating batteries inside cells, so a baby does not inherit faults from its mother.

Mitochondria are only passed down the maternal line. “If further research shows these techniques to be sufficiently safe and effective, we think it would be ethical for families to use them ... provided they

receive an appropriate level of information and support,” said Watts.

Speaking at a briefing about the inquiry’s conclusions, he said the new treatments could offer significant health and social benefits to affected families, allowing them to live “free from what can be very severe and debilitating disorders” and to have children without needing to adopt. “This is a way in which parents can have children who are genetically related to them,” Watts said. “And the descendants of any woman born via these therapies should inherit healthy mitochondria and be free of mitochondrial disorders.”

There are various potential techniques.

One being developed by scientists at Britain’s Newcastle University, known as pronuclear transfer, swaps DNA between two fertilized human eggs. Another, known as the maternal spindle transfer, swaps material between the mother’s egg and a donor egg before fertilization.

Medical experts welcomed the ethics report, saying it had rightly raised and clarified important issues in good time before potential treatments become available.

“Scientific progress that benefits human health is at its most effective when such questions can be raised and treatments are developed in a transparent and consultative manner,” said Catherine Elliott of the Medical Research Council (MRC).

But pro-life campaigners at the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) criticized the research. “Creating embryonic children in the laboratory abuses them, by subjecting them to unnatural processes. These techniques are both destructive and dangerous and therefore unethical,” Anthony Ozimic, SPUC’s communications manager, said in a statement.

Watts said the inquiry had also considered whether the proposed treatments would be a form of so-called “germline therapy” - since the changes resulting from

replacing mitochondrial DNA would be passed on not only to the children, but also to future descendants of any girls born.

Although mitochondrial DNA swapping is not the same as altering the DNA inside a cell’s nucleus, the Nuffield inquiry concluded it was nevertheless a form of germline therapy. But Watts stressed this did not mean the ethics body would approve any other forms of germline therapy, which are currently banned in Britain.

“Some people concerned about the idea of germline therapies may fear that if such treatments for mitochondrial gene disorders were approved, a slippery slope would be created towards comparable alterations to the nuclear genome,” he said. “(But) we are only talking about the use of these techniques in the clearlydefined situation of otherwise incurable mitochondrial disorders, under strict regulation.” — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Big Bang particle discovery closer: Scientists GENEVA: Physicists investigating the make-up of the universe are closing in on the Higgs boson, an elusive particle thought to have been key to turning debris from the Big Bang into stars, planets and finally life, scientists said yesterday.

Researchers at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) are using their large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s biggest particle accelerator, to try to prove that the mystery particle really exists. Poring over huge volumes of data, CERN physicists are confident they are now closer to achieving that aim, outside scientists with links to two key research teams at the Switzerland-based facility said.

“They are getting quite fired up,” one scientist outside CERN but with links to the experiment who declined to be

named told Reuters. Strong signs of the Higgs were being seen in the same energy range where it was tentatively spotted last year, the scientists added, even though the particle is so shortlived that it can only be detected by the traces it leaves.

The quest for the obscure but scientifically crucial Higgs boson is being conducted by harnessing the LHC’s high energy accelerator, which is located on the edge of Geneva, to replicate the Big Bang, the process scientists believe brought the known universe into being.

The Higgs is named after Briton Peter Higgs who in 1964 first came up with a detailed idea of what it might be and is the last major missing piece in the so-called Standard Model of how the universe works at the elementary

particle level. Its formal discovery, once it is endorsed by the world scientific community, would almost certainly ensure a Nobel prize for Higgs, now 83 and retired, and perhaps for at least one other European physicist and one American.

The scientists spoke of their CERN colleagues’ progress after research chiefs at the Swiss facility decreed a cut-off last weekend in the processing of all data related to the search for the particle ahead of a major physics conference, ICHEP, in Melbourne in midJuly. There has been widespread speculation that a major announcement on the Higgs, based on careful analysis of the most interesting of over 300 trillion proton collisions in the LHC so far this year, may be made at that gathering.

But there was no confirmation from

CERN itself that it was close to formally announcing it had discovered the particle and its linked energy field, thought to have given mass to matter and shape to the universe 13.7 billion years ago.

Researchers on the collider’s separate ATLAS and CMS detectors have been “blinded” - or cut off from findings from the rival team and even from different groups inside their own.

CERN spokesman James Gillies said the centre would want to make any important announcement, once there was something to say, in Geneva. “As for what ATLAS and CMS may or may not have in the 2012 data, that ’s only known to a few people in each experiment right now,” he added.

“Blinding” is used in science to ensure that different groups working on identical experiments but with dif-

ferent if similar equipment do not influence the outcome of each other ’s research.

If they then come to the same conclusion, they can safely be seen to have independently validated each other’s results, clearing the way to actually claiming a discovery.

In December 2011, after some 16 months of collisions at lower energy levels than this year, both teams joined at CERN to say they had separately seen “tantalizing glimpses” of the Higgs but needed more time to be sure if it was really there. Data still coming in after last weekend’s analysis cut-off will be processed later in the summer.

Physicists say that more than half of the collisions produce nothing of scientific value and the record of their tracks are automatically dumped. — Reuters

Older dads linked to grandkid health: Study

GORAKHPUR: An Indian child suffering from Japanese Encephalitis lies on a bed at The Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Lucknow on Monday. The death toll due to the viral disease has risen to 88 in eastern Uttar Pradesh alone this year, according to the Press Trust of India. — AFP

NEW YORK: Finally, some good news for older dads. A new study hints that their children and even their grandchildren may get a health benefit because of their older age. It’s based on research into something called telomeres tips on the ends of chromosomes.

Some previous studies have associated having longer telomeres ( TEE-loh-meers) with better health and longer lives.

Telomeres haven’t been proven to cause those benefits in the general population, but a number of researchers think they may hold secrets for things like longevity and cancer.

As you age, telomeres shorten.

However, previous studies have shown that the older a man is when he becomes a father, the longer the telomeres his children tend to have. The new research confirms that and finds it’s

extended to the grandchildren.

That’s a cheerier result for older dads than some other studies in recent years that indicate their kids are at heightened risk for things like autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The new work didn’t look at health outcomes. That’s a future step, said researcher Dan T.A. Eisenberg of Northwestern University. He presents the results with colleagues in Monday’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Carol Greider of Johns Hopkins University, who shared a Nobel Prize in 2009 for telomere research but who didn’t participate in the new study, said it’s no surprise that the telomere effect would extend beyond children to grandchildren.

She cautioned that since older fathers also tend to pass more

potentially harmful genetic mutations, it’s “not at all clear” whether advanced paternal age gives an overall health benefit to children.

In a statement, the Northwestern researchers said their study shouldn’t be taken as a recommendation that men reproduce at older ages, because there’s a risk of mutations.

The researchers’ work involved an analysis of telomeres in blood samples from a large, multigenerational study in the Philippines.

One analysis of about 2,000 people confirmed the idea that the older your dad was when you were born, the longer your telomeres tend to be. That held true throughout the age range of the fathers, who were 15 to 43 at the time their sons or daughters were born. Researchers then extended that another generation: The older your father’s father was when

your father was born, the longer your telomeres tend to be. That analysis included 234 grandchildren. A separate analysis found no significant effect from the mother’s father. The telomere contribution from a grandfather adds to the one from the father, researchers found. Some previous studies of the impact of older fatherhood have been less encouraging. In 2010, for example, at least two big studies confirmed a link to having children with autism, with one finding that a father ’s age makes the biggest difference when the mother is young. In 2008, a big Swedish study strengthened evidence linking bipolar disorder to older paternal ages, although researchers said the risk was still so low that it shouldn’t discourage older men from having children. — AP

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

WHAT’S ON Congratulations

Movenpick Hotel kicks off Euro 2012 extravaganza ith mega screens, a wide range of food & beverages and daily prizes, Movenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida’a is the place to watch Euro Cup 2012 Kuwait - Movenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida’a Kuwait held a fabulous opening ceremony on June 8 to kick off the Euro Cup 2012 event at the hotel. The opening ceremony was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the State of Kuwait and the

W Congratulations to Nidhi Alexander who scored 95% in all subjects in grade 12 (except for Physics 89%). Best wishes from her parents.

Summer Scrabble for kids

Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait, and was held at Layali Al Bida’a Tent.

Attendees included the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Kuwait, HE Janusz Szwedo, Ukrainian Consul, Andrii Melnychenko among diplomats from other nations, representatives of the sponsors of the event and others. “Layali Al Bida’a Tent” was created especially for football fans in Kuwait who want to

watch the Euro Cup matches with friends and family, while enjoying Movenpick’s great atmosphere and unparalleled hospitality.

All matches through the finals will be broadcast on mega screens, accompanied by a wide range of food and beverages, as well as a daily raffle draw to further reward guests with valuables prizes such as airline tickets to Europe, iphones, gift vouchers and much more. The Euro

Cup 2012 event is generously sponsored

by Zain, KLM-Air France, TAF, Vio and Rauch. “We are proud to be part of this important sporting event, which shows our continuous commitment to stay relevant to the world’s events,” said Maged Gubr, the hotel’s General Manager.

ood news for kids still here during the summer vacations. You can join up with me to learn some tricks, tips and how to play Scrabble the right way! Need to know more? Then register with me Rohaina at 66634224 or at rainaveer@hotmail.com. You will be given Scrabble boards and have loads of fun games, mind games and quizzes. If this sounds fun, then call soon. Classes will end on July 26th. Classes are on Thursdays ONLY and from 2.30 - 4.00 pm. Loads of fun and games in store.

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Condolence Meeting condolence meeting will be held by Indian Citizens Committee at 10:30 am on Saturday, 16th June, 2012, in honor of Muhammad Ali, who expired under tragic circumstances in Kuwait.

Muhammad Ali had sought assistance from the Indian Embassy, but regretfully ended up in jail after damaging embassy property, where he was found dead, allegedly having committed suicide. All are welcome to attend. For details call - ICC Office, Shaab Al Bahri, Block No 8, Al Khandi Street, Villa No 22. Tel: 22623180 / 22624715 / 22624719

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Announcements Open House for Indian citizens pen House for Indian citizens by the ambassador which is being held every alternate Wednesday has been found useful by the Indian community and the embassy. It will now be held on every Wednesday from June 2012 between 1500 hrs and 1600 hrs. in the embassy.

During the month of June, 2012 the dates for the open house fall on 20th and 27th of the month. In case Wednesday is an embassy holiday, the meeting will be held on the next working day.

To ensure timely action/follow-up by the embassy, it is requested that, wherever possible, Indian citizens should exhaust the existing channels of interaction/grievance redressal and bring their problems/issues in writing with supporting documents. It may be mentioned that embassy of Indiaís Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizens on all workings days from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs by the Consular Officer in the Meeting Room of the Consular Hall.

For any unaddressed issues, Second Secretary (Consular) could be contacted. Furthermore, the head of the Consular Wing is also available to redress grievances. Similarly, a labour wing Help Desk functions from 0830 hrs to 1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1630 hrs in the Labour Hall to address the labour related issues. There is also a 24x7 Help Line (Tel No. 25674163) to assist labourers in distress. For any unaddressed issues, the concerned attaches in the labour section and the head of the labour wing could be contacted.

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KDNA meeting Kozhikode District NRI Association Kuwait (KDNA), registered with Indian Embassy Kuwait, has decided to conduct a public meeting to discuss on Air India strike and the plight of the passengers today (June 13) at United Indian School, Abbasiya at 7:00 pm.

‘Leniency of Islam’ An unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait. The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Kazhakuttom- Investment Capital of Kerala azhakuttom, the cyber city of Kerala, is fast rising as a trade and investment centre in Kerala. As a result several government initiatives, as well as private investments like Techopark, Kinfra Apparel Park and Film City are successfully proving to the world the immense potential of Kazhakuttom. At Technopark, there are presently more than 40,000 professionals working for various MNC’s. By the end of 2012 this number is expected to rise to more than 100,000 employees, and as a result, close to 95,000 residential units will be required in this area.

Foreseeing this potential, over 46 builders from various parts of India have announced project developments in this small town. Despite the presence of these builders, along with existing promoters in Trivandrum, the total number of units they can develop will be less than 20,000.

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Various IT companies like TCS, Microsoft, Infosys and others have grown out off Techno Park and they have acquired land in the various parts of Kazhakuttom.

Kinfra Film City, a government initiative, has been a resounding success. Earlier, most of the preproduction work for films was carried out in Chennai. The whole Malayalam Film Industry now depends on Kinfra Film City for their requirements.

Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and other major stars have invested in this major initiative.

Similarly, Kinfra Apparel Par has carved a niche on its own. This 100 acre property houses some of the major names in the apparel industry, including among others, JC Penny and Leela Lace are housed here.

Kinfra Apparel Park employs more than 30,000 employees in various sectors other than apparel.

Another major government initiative is

the Telecom city. Government has already acquired land. According to the latest information from government, telecom city will provide infrastructure, R&D facilities and offices for major players in the communication industry. This will be a major landmark in the industrial history of Kerala.

Envisaging a fast forward growth at Kazhakuttom, more than 28 resorts have applied for approval to the local body.

Kazahkuttom Beach has all the potential to develop as a tourist attraction like Kovalam or Varkala. St. Xavier’s College, the Indian Army’s Sainik School, Trivandrum International School are some of the educational institutions located within 8 kms of Kazhakuttom. Besides this, promoters of shopping malls from Singapore and Malaysia have already acquired land for their investment.

All these developments prove the immense investment opportunity at Kazhakuttom, which is also favorably located at the junction from which the IT corridor of Kerala, commonly known as Kovalam Bye-pass and NH47, splits. By 2013, land cost in Kazhakuttom is expected to show a steep increase, proving that it is a safe haven for Investment. Foreseeing this Aswathy Housing started their project in 1995 under the name Aswathy Park and so far completed 2 Phases with 200 Villas and Apartments. The Phase 3 with 50 villas has started which is on the structural level.

Alexander Vadekkedom is a pioneer in this field in Trivandrum who is Kuwait on a short visit. It will be worth to contact him on Tel: 97341369 to get more details on the development of this city and about the new Special Offers on their Phase III projects.

Director of the nursing institution at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Sheikha Al-Methen, and Deputy Director for the training department, Hajraf Al-Hajraf, rewarded longtime instructor Raj’a Farghali following the end of her service.

Free Arabic course PC is opening an Intensive Basic Arabic Course for ladies commencing from June 3 to July 8, 2012. The class will be from 5-7 pm for three days a week. Registration is on! For information, call 22512257.

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Yousuf Al-Rakabi celebrated his graduation from the American University of Kuwait with a Bachelor degree in business administration, in a ceremony attended by family and friends.

Youth India holds zonal conference he social relief activities of the expatriates in Kuwait are highly appreciated, and we add value to our life only when we are able to see the difficulties of other as our difficulties and work to help the people in distress,” said Khaleelurahman, Kaniv Social Relief cell official and former president of Youth India Kuwait while speaking at the Youth India Salmiya Zonal conference.

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Youth India has been active in social relief activities and has made its mark in such activities. Youth India provides a platform for all people irrespective of their beliefs or affiliations, to co-operate to provide relief to the less fortunate along with activities in arts as well as sports activities. The embassy needs to rise to the needs of the people and take appropriate action to repatriate the

scores of Indians who have been jailed in the recent crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Youth India Executive member briefed on the topic ‘My expatriate life’ to start a discussion. Youth India Salmiya Zonal co-ordinator moderated the discussion. Kerala Islamic Group Area President Ismail VM attended the function. Nasser, Zubair, Shyam, Shafi, Nawaf,

Mahnas, shajahan, Vaseem, Asif, Afsal, Sadiq and Ismail participated in the discussions. Afsal Babu conducted a Multimedia Quiz which thrilled the audience. Shafi entertained the audience with his melodious songs. Salmiya Youth India President Nawas Ali welcomed the audience and Hawally Youth India President Muhammed Rafeeq proposed the vote of thanks.

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WHAT’S ON

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Embassy Information

Ashabakat, Promastar Group host Seminar shabakat Technical Network for Computer, one of the subsidiaries of Khatif Holding KCSC, the Kuwait-based venture capital and acquisitions company, and Promastar, a Middle East platinum partner of Oracle specialized in Primavera, held a project management seminar in Sheraton Hotel Kuwait demonstrating how companies can deliver more projects on schedule and within scope, while reducing overall cost. By using the renowned and most powerful Project Portfolio Management Suite from Oracle-Primavera Solutions, corporations in Kuwait were shown how much easier it is to prioritize, plan, manage and execute projects, programs and portfolios.

Commenting on the seminar, Saeed Al Hussain, COO Ashabakat said: “The project management seminar comes as

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part of our commitment to sharing best international practices and with companies in Kuwait and introducing them to the latest technologies to help them achieve their business goals efficiently and in a cost effective manner. “A proven way to do this and add value is with Primavera, which, as demonstrated at the seminar, offers businesses a qualitative and competitive edge in the market, as well as peace of mind knowing the software will implement their projects efficiently.”

After witnessing the value-added potential of Primavera, a number of enterprises signed contracts with Ashabakat and Promastar at the conclusion of the seminar. Ideal for the oil and gas, power and utility, engineering and construction, government, IT and telecom sectors, the Management Suite is

effectively a single-solution for managing projects of any size. Fatma Mohammad Al-Bader (CEO) Ashabakat Promastar inaugurated the seminar, which began with a brief introduction on the joint venture recently signed by Ashabakat and Promastar, a professional consulting house specialized in providing project portfolio management, and a certified advantage Oracle platinum partner for EMEA with Primavera solutions.

Oracle’s Primavera Contract Management software is state-of-the-art, streamlining processes related to construction projects. It adds value by allowing enterprises to control every aspect of a project through one piece of software.

With construction involving the collaboration of a multitude of different staff from managers, engineers, to suppliers and owners - Primavera allows a virtual

platform allowing all the different entities to effortlessly and efficiently communicate.

Al Hussain added: “With Oracle Primavera Project Portfolio Management Suite, companies now have a single solution for managing projects of any size, adaptable to various levels of complexities within a project, which intelligently scales to meet the needs of various roles, functions, or skill levels in your organization and on your project team.” Mostafa El Bakry, President of Promastar said: “Primavera can help customers make faster and better business decisions, which range from organizing and analyzing data to custom product development.

Through this seminar we’re happy to reach out to organizations and give them the confidence to use efficient software and solutions.”

New Pakistan International School, Hawally holds 15 year celebrations

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.

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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 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.

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EMBASSY OF CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus would like to inform the public that from 3rd June 2012 the Consulate section located at the premises of the Embassy has started issuing Visas. Address: Salwa-Block 3, Al-Mutanabbi Street Building No. 35, Tel : (965)25620350, Fax: (965)25620470, Email : info@cyprus-embassy.org.kw Working hours 9:00am till 12:00pm everyday except Friday & Saturday Hence, The Honorary Consulate of Cyprus in Kuwait city will stop issuing Visas from the same date.

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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: Saturday 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 ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform Kenyan residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that with effect from June 1, 2012 the Embassy has moved from its current location to a new location in Surra Block 1, Street 8, Villa 303. Please note that the new telephone and fax numbers will be communicated as soon as possible. For enquiries you can contact Consular Section on mobile 90935162 or 97527306.

PIS, Hawally has achieved cherishing status after 15 years continuous advancement in promoting and enhancing education and catering to the educational and spiritual growth of the students, under the benevolent guidance of its founder and Director, Mrs. Anita Bukharey.

It was an awesome occasion when the celebrations of its successful 15 years were held on 6th & 7th of June, 2012. In an inauguration ceremony, the Director Mrs. Anita Bukharey, cut the cake with the tremendous applause

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and appreciation of the whole staff and was congratulated for her strenuous efforts to make NPIS, Hawally a remarkable and preferred institution in Kuwait.

The two days celebrations marked the end and beginning of a new era with the enthusiastic participation of children from all classes.

Face painting, games, prizes, slides and bouncies with enchanting food stalls made the celebrations unique and splendid occasion. To make the celebrations a distinctive occasion, souvenirs were awarded to the students.

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EMBASSY OF MEXICO The Embassy of Mexico is pleased to inform that it is located in CLIFFS Complex, Villa 6, Salmiya, block 9, Baghdad street, Jadda Lane 7. The working hours for consular issues are from 9:00 to 12:00 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 14:00 to 15:00 hours for lunch break. The Embassy of Mexico kindly requests all Mexicans citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the e-mail: embkuwait@sre.gob.mx in order to register or update contact information. Other consultations or/and appointments could be done by telephone or fax: (+965) 2573 1952 ■■■■■■■

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 ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF NEPAL The Embassy of Nepal has moved to a new location in Jabriya, Block 8, St. 13, House No. 514, effective from 15th April, 2012. Till the new telephone connections are installed, the Embassy may be contacted by email: info@nepembku.org ■■■■■■■

Meet and Greet 2012 he Indian Dental Alliance of Kuwait (IDAK) recently held its Meet and Greet event at the Jawhart Al Salih School auditorium in Riggai on April 20, 2012. The IDAK council extended warm welcome to its present and former members. It also introduced and felicitated the coordinators of the various working committees. The evening was compered by Dr. Binu Mathew. To get the evening rolling, there was an interesting and hilarious ‘icebreaker game’ by the Vice President Dr. Dolly. Later the General Secretary Dr. Anil presented the ‘Amended constitution’ followed by an ‘Orientation lecture’ by Dr. Saquib.

There was a video presentation that brought back pleasant memories and also highlighted the achievements of past IDAK councils. Following are the winners of the raffle draw conducted by Dr. Divya and Dr. Angela. Dr. Prakash Kamath and Dr. Aysha Alex - Cash prizes. Dr. Deen Dayal Mittapalli - 32” inch LCD TV sponsored by Alghanim Electronics. Ex-President Dr. Peter D’Souza - High Definition Camcorder. IDAK wishes to thank their sponsors Alghanim Electronics and Al Khalid Tyres for the wonderful prizes and mementos. A scrumptious buffet was laid out to bring the evening to a close.

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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 ■■■■■■■

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.

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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.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Untamed & Uncut 01:40 I’m Alive 02:35 Extreme Animals 03:30 World Wild Vet 04:25 The Animals’ Guide To Survival 05:20 Shamwari: A Wild Life 05:45 Animal Battlegrounds 06:10 Safari Vet School 06:35 Safari Vet School 07:00 Escape To Chimp Eden 07:25 Project Puppy 07:50 Jeff Corwin Unleashed 08:15 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 08:40 Breed All About It 09:10 Bad Dog 10:05 The Animals’ Guide To Survival 11:00 Animal Precinct 11:55 Animal Cops Philadelphia 12:50 Cell Dogs 13:45 Bondi Vet 14:10 Wildlife SOS 14:40 The Animals’ Guide To Survival 15:30 Shamwari: A Wild Life 16:00 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 16:30 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 17:25 Dogs 101 18:20 Extraordinary Dogs 18:45 Extraordinary Dogs 19:15 Wildlife SOS 19:40 Bondi Vet 20:10 Escape To Chimp Eden 20:35 Animal Battlegrounds 21:05 The Animals’ Guide To Survival 22:00 Monster Bug Wars 22:55 Wildest Arctic 23:50 Animal Cops Houston

00:15 Come Dine With Me 01:05 Indian Food Made Easy 01:30 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 02:00 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 02:30 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 03:00 MasterChef 03:50 Living In The Sun 04:45 Rachel’s Favourite Food For Living 05:15 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 05:40 Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey 06:30 Rick Stein’s French Odyssey 07:00 Indian Food Made Easy 07:25 MasterChef Australia 08:10 MasterChef Australia 09:00 MasterChef Australia 09:25 Bargain Hunt 10:10 Antiques Roadshow 11:00 Come Dine With Me 11:50 10 Years Younger 12:40 What Not To Wear 13:30 What Not To Wear 14:20 Fantasy Homes In The City 15:10 Bargain Hunt 15:55 Antiques Roadshow 16:45 The Boss Is Coming To Dinner 17:10 Come Dine With Me 18:00 Delicious Iceland 18:30 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 19:00 Rick Stein’s French Odyssey 19:30 James Martin’s Champagne 19:55 Antiques Roadshow 20:45 What Not To Wear 21:35 What Not To Wear 22:25 Bargain Hunt 23:10 Antiques Roadshow

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:00

Duck Dodgers The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Jetsons Puppy In My Pocket Popeye Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races The Flintstones

05:25 05:50 06:00 06:30 06:55 07:20 07:45 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:25 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:00 12:15 12:40 12:55 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:30 17:55 18:10 19:00 19:15 19:40 19:55 20:20 20:35 20:55 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:20 23:45

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Popeye Classics Dexters Laboratory Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Ha Ha Hairies Pink Panther And Pals The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Flintstones Duck Dodgers Tom & Jerry Kids Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Ha Ha Hairies The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! Dastardly And Muttley Looney Tunes Puppy In My Pocket Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show The Garfield Show Dexter’s Laboratory Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Ha Ha Hairies Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley New Yogi Bear Show

00:30 Bakugan: New Vestroia 00:55 Bakugan: New Vestroia 01:20 Powerpuff Girls 02:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Ben 10 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Powerpuff Girls 04:40 Generator Rex 05:05 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:30 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:55 Angelo Rules 06:00 Casper’s Scare School 06:25 Eliot Kid 07:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 07:15 Adventure Time 07:40 Regular Show 08:05 Grim Adventures Of...

08:55 Courage The Cowardly Dog 09:45 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 10:10 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 10:35 Powerpuff Girls 11:25 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 11:50 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 12:15 Ed, Edd n Eddy 13:05 Ben 10: Alien Force 13:30 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 13:55 Camp Lazlo 14:45 Powerpuff Girls 15:35 Angelo Rules 16:25 The Marvelous Misadventures...

16:50 Grim Adventures Of...

17:15 The Amazing World Of Gumball 17:40 Adventure Time 18:05 Regular Show 18:30 Ben 10 18:55 Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge 19:20 Hero 108 19:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 20:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 21:00 Ben 10: Alien Force 21:25 The Powerpuff Girls 21:50 Cow And Chicken 22:00 Codename: Kids Next Door 22:50 Ben 10

TAXI ON OSN ACTION HD

23:15 Ben 10 23:40 Chowder

00:00 Amanpour 00:30 World Sport 01:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 02:00 World Report 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 Quest Means Business 06:00 The Situation Room 07:00 World Sport 07:30 World’s Untold Stories 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 Inside Africa 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 Amanpour 12:30 Cnngo 13:00 World One 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 Cnngo 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 Worst-Case Scenario 00:40 Surviving Disaster 01:35 Bear Grylls’ Wild Weekend 02:30 Finding Bigfoot 03:25 An Idiot Abroad 04:20 Surviving Disaster 05:15 How Do They Do It? 05:40 How It’s Made 06:05 Gold Rush 07:00 Chop Shop 07:50 Mythbusters 08:45 Ultimate Survival 09:40 Border Security 10:05 Auction Kings 10:30 How Do They Do It? 10:55 How It’s Made 11:25 Unchained Reaction 12:20 James May’s Man Lab 13:15 Inventions That Shook The World 14:10 Border Security 14:35 Auction Kings 15:05 Ultimate Survival 16:00 Chop Shop 16:55 Wheeler Dealers 17:20 Gold Rush 18:15 Mythbusters 19:10 How Do They Do It? 19:40 How It’s Made 20:05 Border Security 20:35 Auction Kings 21:00 South Beach Classics 21:30 Unchained Reaction 22:25 Mythbusters 23:20 Mythbusters

00:35 01:25 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:35 04:25 05:15 06:05 07:00 07:50 07:53 08:20 08:50 09:40 10:30 10:55 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:45

Mega World The Colony Stuck With Hackett Stuck With Hackett The Gadget Show Prototype This How The Universe Works Mega World Sci-Trek Catch It Keep It Head Rush Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Fi Science Sport Science Prototype This The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Mega World Catch It Keep It Scrapheap Challenge How The Universe Works Prototype This

15:35 16:00 16:03 16:30 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:50 23:40

The Gadget Show Head Rush Bang Goes The Theory Sci-Fi Science Sci-Trek Sport Science How The Universe Works Alien Encounters Prophets Of Science Fiction The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Alien Encounters Prophets Of Science Fiction Sport Science

00:10 00:35 01:00 01:25 01:50 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:10 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:40 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:30 08:45 09:10 09:20 09:35 09:45 10:00 10:25 10:50 11:15 11:40 12:05 12:30 12:55 13:05 13:20 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:00 18:10 18:35 19:00 19:25 19:50 20:10 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:05 22:30 22:55 23:20 23:45

Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Emperor’s New School Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents Fish Hooks Recess So Random Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Handy Manny The Hive Mouk Recess So Random Hannah Montana Fish Hooks Jake & Blake Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Recess Jessie A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Suite Life On Deck Shake It Up Phineas And Ferb Jessie A.N.T. Farm The Return Of Jafar Jessie A.N.T. Farm Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie So Random So Random Suite Life On Deck Jonas Los Angeles Shake It Up Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Kim Possible

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:20 American Dragon 06:45 Rekkit Rabbit 07:10 Pokemon: Black And White 07:35 Phineas And Ferb 08:00 Phineas And Ferb 08:25 Pair Of Kings 08:50 Kick Buttowski 09:15 Zeke & Luther 09:40 I’m In The Band 10:05 Phineas And Ferb 10:15 Phineas And Ferb 10:30 Kid vs Kat 10:55 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 11:20 Aaron Stone 11:45 Rekkit Rabbit 12:10 American Dragon 12:35 Kick Buttowski 13:00 Phineas And Ferb 13:10 Phineas And Ferb 13:25 I’m In The Band 13:45 Kid vs Kat 14:10 Pair Of Kings 14:35 Zeke & Luther 15:00 Pokemon: Black And White 15:25 Rekkit Rabbit 15:50 Phineas And Ferb 16:15 Pair Of Kings 16:40 Kickin It 17:05 Pair Of Kings 17:30 Kickin It 17:55 Quad Cup 18:20 Pair Of Kings 18:45 Kickin It 19:10 Pair Of Kings 19:35 Kickin It 20:00 Zeke & Luther 20:25 Phineas And Ferb 20:50 Kid vs Kat 21:15 Aaron Stone 21:40 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 22:05 Phineas And Ferb 22:30 Kid vs Kat 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

00:55 Style Star 01:25 25 Celebrity Near Death Experiences 03:15 Behind The Scenes 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Kendra 13:35 Kendra 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Dirty Soap 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Ice Loves Coco 20:25 Ice Loves Coco 20:55 Keeping Up With The

Kardashians 21:25 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:40 09:30 09:55 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:25 12:50 13:40 14:30 14:55 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:05 19:55 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:40

Ghost Lab A Haunting Killer Kids Deadly Women Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab A Haunting Disappeared FBI Files Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Street Patrol Street Patrol Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared FBI Files Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared American Greed American Greed Dr G: Medical Examiner

01:05 Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM 01:20 The Trip-18 02:40 Spellcaster-18 04:05 The Believers-PG 06:00 Till The End Of The Night-PG 07:30 Irma LA Douce-PG 09:50 Double Deception 11:25 Report To The CommissionerPG 13:15 Big Stickup At Brink’s-PG 15:00 Delirious-PG 16:35 Electra Glide In Blue-PG 18:25 Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM 18:40 Slow Dancing In The Big CityPG 20:30 She Fought Alone-18 22:00 Still Of The Night-PG 23:30 The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three-18

00:00 Adventure Wanted 01:00 Word Travels 01:30 Word Travels 02:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 02:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 03:00 Exploring The Vine 03:30 Exploring The Vine 04:00 Long Way Down 05:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 06:00 Adventure Wanted 07:00 Word Travels 07:30 Word Travels 08:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 08:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 09:00 Exploring The Vine 09:30 Exploring The Vine 10:00 Long Way Down 11:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 12:00 Adventure Wanted 13:00 Word Travels 13:30 Travel Madness 14:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 14:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 15:00 Exploring The Vine 15:30 Exploring The Vine 16:00 Long Way Down 17:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 18:00 Adventure Wanted 19:00 By Any Means 20:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 20:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 21:00 Madventures 21:30 Madventures 22:00 Graham’s World 22:30 Graham’s World 23:00 Danger Beach 23:30 Danger Beach

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 Barrie 21:00 22:00 23:00

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35 06:00 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10

Megastructures Bob Ballard Specials Naked Science S2.5 Megastructures World’s Deadliest Animals Shark Men Lockdown Air Crash Investigation Megastructures Bob Ballard Specials Naked Science S2.5 Megastructures World’s Deadliest Animals Shark Men Lockdown Air Crash Investigation Untamed Americas Bob Ballard Specials Naked Science Megastructures Britain’s Machines with Chris Animal Mega Moves The Border Air Crash Investigation

Animal Underworld Ultimate Vipers Monster Fish Ninja Shrimp Crocs Of Katuma Swamp Men Wild Chronicles Wild Chronicles Monster Fish Ninja Shrimp Crocs Of Katuma Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy World’s Weirdest

BRIGHT STAR ON OSN CINEMA 11:05 Wildlife Rescue Africa 12:00 Alaskan Killer Shark 13:00 Monster Fish 14:00 Manta Mystery (aka Project Manta) 15:00 Swamp Men 16:00 World’s Wildest Encounters 17:00 World’s Weirdest 18:00 Wildlife Rescue Africa 19:00 Monster Fish 20:00 Ninja Shrimp 21:00 Crocs Of Katuma 22:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 23:00 World’s Weirdest

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35 06:00 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10 10:35 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

Animal Autopsy Crocodile King Hooked Expedition Wild Animal Superpowers Swamp Men Wild Chronicles Wild Chronicles Hooked Expedition Wild Animal Superpowers Night Stalkers Chimp Diaries Chimp Diaries Animal Underworld World’s Deadliest Animals Monster Fish Strike Force Animal Superpowers Striker!

Chimp Diaries Chimp Diaries Maneater Manhunt Hooked Expedition Wild Animal Superpowers Night Stalkers Chimp Diaries Chimp Diaries

00:00 Deadline-18 02:00 Hustle And Flow-18 04:00 Vengeance-PG15 06:00 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within-PG 08:15 Legendary-PG15 10:30 Spartacus-PG15 13:45 Dick Tracy-PG15 16:00 Taxi-PG15 18:00 Legendary-PG15 20:00 Death Race 2-18 21:45 The Godfather-18

01:00 02:45 PG15 04:30 PG15 06:00 09:00 PG15 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Black Death-PG15 Stonehenge ApocalypseJustice For Natalee HollowayMy Name Is Khan-PG15 Stonehenge ApocalypseCalvin Marshall-PG15 The Art Of Getting By-PG15 Bright Star-PG15 The Tender Hook-PG15 How Do You Know-PG15 Roadie-PG15 Priest-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Eastbound And Down 02:00 Entourage 02:30 The Big C 03:00 Mad Love 03:30 Mr. Sunshine 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Til Death 06:00 Dharma And Greg 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 Mad Love 09:00 Til Death 09:30 The Cleveland Show 10:00 Friends With Benefits 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Dharma And Greg 13:00 Til Death 14:00 Mr. Sunshine 14:30 Friends With Benefits

15:00 The Cleveland Show 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Dharma And Greg 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Mad Love 18:30 Mr. Sunshine 19:00 Hot In Cleveland 19:30 Hot In Cleveland 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 22:30 Hung 23:00 Angry Boys 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Royal Pains House The River White Collar Lights Out Good Morning America The Practice Emmerdale Coronation Street The Martha Stewart Show The View Royal Pains White Collar Live Good Morning America The Practice Emmerdale Coronation Street Hawthorne Grimm The Glades Supernatural Lights Out

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Psych The River House White Collar Royal Pains Eureka Psych Emmerdale Coronation Street The Protector White Collar House Emmerdale Coronation Street The Protector Psych Emmerdale Coronation Street The Protector Hawthorne Grimm The Glades Supernatural Treme

01:00 Icarus-18 03:00 Vengeance-PG15 05:00 Carrie-18 07:00 Planet Of The Apes-PG15 09:00 Flight Of The Phoenix-PG15 11:00 Patriot Games-PG15 13:00 Long Weekend-PG15 15:00 Flight Of The Phoenix-PG15 17:00 The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen-PG15 19:00 Fade To Black-18 21:00 The Daisy Chain-PG15 22:45 Bram Stoker’s Dracula-18

00:00 Made In Dagenham-PG15 02:00 The Open Road-PG15 04:00 Addams Family Values-PG 06:00 Finding Lenny-PG15 08:00 The Open Road-PG15 10:00 Return To Sleepaway CampPG15 12:00 Open Season 3-FAM 14:00 What’s The Worst That Could Happen?-PG15 16:00 Return To Sleepaway CampPG15 18:00 Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee-PG15 20:00 Happy Gilmore-PG15 22:00 The Slammin’ Salmon-18

02:00 04:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Last Holiday-PG15 The Help-PG15 How To Train Your Dragon-PG Zookeeper-PG15 Don’t Fade Away-PG15 Cars 2-FAM B-Girl-PG15 Zookeeper-PG15 Death At A Funeral-PG15 Roadie-PG15 No Strings Attached-18

02:00 Gal-18 04:00 Munich-18 07:00 Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World-PG15 09:00 Inside Job-PG15 11:00 Don’t Look Back-PG15 13:00 Across The Sea Of Time-FAM 14:30 Inside Job-PG15 16:30 Dead Poets Society-PG15 18:45 Eat Pray Love-PG15 21:00 Random Hearts-18 23:15 L’armee Du Crime-18

00:00 Super Rugby Highlights 02:00 Futbol Mundial 02:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 03:00 IRB Junior World Championship 07:00 International Rugby Union 09:00 Super Rugby Highlights 10:00 Volvo Ocean Race 11:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 11:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 12:30 Futbol Mundial 13:00 Live Rugby League State of Origin 16:00 Live International Rugby Union 18:00 Trans World Sport 19:00 Rugby League State of Origin 21:00 International Rugby Union 23:00 International Rugby Union

03:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 04:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 05:30 America’s Cup Highlights 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 IRB Junior World Championship 09:00 IRB Junior World Championship 11:00 Futbol Mundial 11:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 12:00 Trans World Sport 13:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 14:00 Darts 18:00 UFC Prelims 21:00 UFC 23:00 Trans World Sport

00:00 Rugby Union Nations Cup 06:00 Ping Pong World Championship 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 14:00 Top 14 Highlights 14:30 Live ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 22:30 Ladies European Tour Highlights

00:00 01:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

UFC Unleashed Prizefighter UFC Unleashed UFC WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT Prizefighter Mobil 1 The Grid WWE This Week WWE SmackDown UAE National Race Day Series Mobil 1 The Grid V8 Supercars Extra V8 Supercars Highlights WWE Vintage Collection WWE SmackDown WWE Experience V8 Supercars Highlights UFC

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR JZR MEA ETH RJA GFA UAE ETD THY DHX FDB MSR QTR KAC THY DHX JZR KAC BAW JZR KAC KAC QTR FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB IRA ETD BAB GFA MEA JZR MSR IRM JZR CLX IRC KNE MSR RJA GFA KAC FDB QTR KAC SVA KAC JZR KAC QTR JZR KAC ETD IYE SYR UAE UAL GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY QTR KAC BAB KAC KAC KNE FDB MSR RBG JZR KAC KAC JAI KAC JZR KAC AXB FDB OMA MEA QTR GFA ALK KAC KLM UAE JZR ETD BBC ABY QTR DHX AIC FDB GFA UAL JZR MEA DLH MSR THY

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 13/6/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 408 BEIRUT 620 ADDIS ABABA 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 768 ISTANBUL 370 BAHRAIN 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 529 ASSIUT 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 6130 DOHA 53 DUBAI 284 DHAKA 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 344 CHENNAI 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 606 LUXOR 5066 MASHAD 561 SOHAG 792 LUXEMBOURG 6791 MASHAD 472 JEDDAH 610 CAIRO 640 AMMAN 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 140 DOHA 790 MEDINAH 500 JEDDAH 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 535 CAIRO 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 303 ABU DHABI 824 SANAA 341 DAMASCUS 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 144 DOHA 542 CAIRO 438 BAHRAIN 786 JEDDAH 166 PARIS 460 MEDINAH 63 DUBAI 620 ASSIUT 3553 ALEXANDRIA 787 RIYADH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 572 MUMBAI 102 NEW YORK 175 DUBAI 774 RIYADH 393 KOZHIKODE 61 DUBAI 647 MUSCAT 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 229 COLOMBO 514 TEHRAN 417 AMSTERDAM 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 307 ABU DHABI 43 DHAKA 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 372 BAHRAIN 975 CHENNAI 59 DUBAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 239 AMMAN 406 BEIRUT 636 FRANKFURT 614 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL

Time 0:15 0:20 0:30 0:50 1:00 1:45 2:10 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:50 2:55 3:10 3:20 3:25 4:10 4:35 5:00 6:00 6:15 6:30 6:40 7:15 7:30 7:45 7:45 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:20 8:20 8:25 8:30 9:00 9:20 9:25 9:30 9:35 10:00 10:55 11:05 11:10 11:55 12:25 13:15 13:15 13:20 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:40 13:45 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:15 16:00 16:10 16:35 16:35 16:40 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:40 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:35 19:40 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:00 23:10 23:35 23:40

Airlines AIC UAL DLH MSR PIA MEA THY ETH THY UAE FDB DHX ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR RJA JZR GFA THY KAC KAC BAW FDB KAC JZR KAC ABY JZR QTR KAC KAC UAE KAC QTR FDB ETD BAB IRA GFA KAC MEA MSR JZR KAC KAC JZR IRM KNE IRC GFA FDB MSR RJA CLX KAC JZR KAC SVA JZR QTR KAC KAC ETD JZR IYE SYR JZR QTR UAE GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA JZR QTR FDB BAB KNE RBG MSR JZR KAC KAC KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC OMA MEA KAC GFA JZR DHX ALK KLM ABY ETD KAC UAE QTR KAC KAC JZR DHX BBC QTR AXB FDB GFA KAC JZR MEA

Depature Flights on Wednesday 13/6/2012 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 981 WASHINGTON DC 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 206 LAHORE 409 BEIRUT 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 769 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 643 AMMAN 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 175 FRANKFURT 256 BEIRUT 117 NEW YORK 126 SHARJAH 534 CAIRO 6131 DOHA 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 789 MADINAH 133 DOHA 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 437 BAHRAIN 602 SHIRAZ 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 405 BEIRUT 619 ASSIUT 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 5065 MASHHAD 461 JEDDAH 6792 MASHHAD 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 641 AMMAN 792 GIALAM 673 DUBAI 174 DUBAI 617 DOHA 503 MADINAH 786 RIYADH 135 DOHA 773 RIYADH 513 IMAM KHOMEINI 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 824 SANAA 342 DAMASCUS 538 CAIRO 141 DOHA 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 982 BAHRAIN 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 145 DOHA 64 DUBAI 439 BAHRAIN 477 JEDDAH 3554 ALEXANDRIA621 ALEXANDRIA 184 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 361 COLOMBO 153 ISTANBUL 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 351 KOCHI 648 MUSCAT 403 BEIRUT 543 CAIRO 222 BAHRAIN 502 LUXOR 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 417 DAMMAM 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 381 DELHI 860 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 554 ALEXANDRIA 373 BAHRAIN 44 DHAKA 147 DOHA 394 KOCHI 60 DUBAI 218 BAHRAIN 415 KUALA LUMPUR 528 ASSIUT 407 BEIRUT

Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:35 1:25 2:00 2:15 2:45 3:40 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:00 6:50 6:55 7:05 7:10 8:10 8:20 8:25 8:25 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:25 10:45 11:30 11:55 12:10 12:15 12:30 13:10 13:20 13:25 14:10 14:15 14:25 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:45 15:05 15:25 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:15 16:25 16:25 17:20 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:05 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:45 19:55 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:10 23:15 23:30 23:50 23:50 23:59

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

SITUATION WANTED Accountant M.Com, PGDCA with 9 years experience (4.5 years in UAE) looking for a suitable job, with residence visa (Transferable) and UAE driving license. Contact: 50295386, Email: jijojamesa@gmail.com (C 4042) Australian man just arrived in Kuwait, speaks Arabic, looking for a senior job in Automotive, Restaurant, Hotel, Overseas buyer building. Contact: 60976100.

(C 4043) 12-6-2012 ACCOMMODATION A decent bachelor needs accommodation with Pakistani family room.

Contact: 90926037.

(C 4044) 13-6-2012

MATRIMONIAL Financially-sound ex-NRI parents invite proposals for their son 28/180, fair, B.Com and MBA (Finance) from a respected institution, employed in a reputed bank in Kuwait, from parents of professionally qualified, God-fearing girls, preferably MBA (Finance), M.Com or engineers.

Contact: dr.matt32@gmail.com 13-6-2012

SITUATION VACANT Required English speaking nanny/maid. Please Contact: 99824597. (C 4040) 11-6-2012 CHANGE OF NAME

Sharing accommodation available for decent bachelor non-smoking, Amman Street, opposite to AlRashid Hospital. Contact: 66232356 / 50223132.

(C 4041) 11-6-2012 Sharing accommodation available for decent Kerala bachelor in Abbasiya near German Clinic. Contact: 66941892. (C 4039) 10-6-2012

Gnanasegaran Rajendiran, son of Rajendiran and Rajendiran Jothi bearing an Indian passport No. G7703114 having an address 23, N.No. 18, Asanampattu Bethlegam, I street MU College RD Reddy THOP, Ambur Vellore 635 802, Tamilnadu had embraced Islam and changed the name as Muhammed Abdullah.

(C 4038) 9-6-2012

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station

22434064

Al-Murqab Police Station

22435865

Al-Daiya Police Station

22544200

Al-Fayha’a Police Station

22547133

Al-Qadissiya Police Station

22515277

Al-Nugra Police Station

22616662

Al-Salmiya Police Station

25714406

Al-Dasma Police Station

22530801

Prayer timings Fajr: Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:13 11:48 15:22 18:49 20:21

34

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 704

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) With a great interest in the business and practical world, your mind is quick and sharp and when you have the opportunity to problem solve, you show that same quick mind, particularly today when it comes to making career decisions. You like your career conventional and you defy anyone who would suggest otherwise. This is a great time to be with others and to work in a team effort. If you are in sales you will find this a profitable time. You go out of your way to conform and avoid the new, novel and unconventional with great vigor. Those that do not see your positive attributes could become frustrated with your nonconforming ways. Be aware and take care in this area of your life. You are compassionate with friends this evening.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Deadlines and projects may be running close to completion today and you should extend great effort and hard work regarding these matters. Things are working with rather than against you, so do not hold back.

However, do not overdo and try to go too far, too fast. Let things take their natural course. There will be a time for new accomplishments later today during which insights and breakthroughs in organizational routine are in order. You will have some really bright ideas about how to manipulate business to serve you best. The job that you are involved with today is the pathway to bigger and better opportunities. You may be examining your goals. Walking or bicycling this afternoon is a good way to do away with the stresses of the day.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. A polymer of vinyl chloride used instead of rubber in electric cables.

4. Any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia.

10. A nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue.

13. The syllable naming the sixth (submediant) note of a major or minor scale in solmization.

14. German romantic poet (1787-1862).

15. (meaning literally `born') Used to indicate the maiden or family name of a married woman.

16. Type genus of the family Unionidae.

18. A Russian river.

19. A city of northern Poland near the mouth of the Vistula River on a gulf of the Baltic Sea. 21. A kitchen utensil that cuts or chops food (especially meat) into small pieces.

23. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

24. A family of languages of the Fula people of west Africa in the sub-Sahara regions from Senegal to Chad.

25. Thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern.

27. A drug (trade names Calan and Isoptin) used as an oral or parenteral calcium blocker in cases of hypertension or congestive heart failure or angina or migraine.

28. An anti-TNF compound (trade name Arava) that is given orally.

30. A complex red organic pigment containing iron and other atoms to which oxygen binds.

33. Having leadership guidance.

38. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

42. A port in western Israel on the Mediterranean.

44. Of or pertaining to Sabah or its people.

45. A metrical unit with unstressed-stressed syllables.

46. A local computer network for communication between computers.

47. Optical instrument consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision.

51. An informal term for a father.

55. Deciduous South African tree having large odd-pinnate leaves and profuse fragrant orange-yellow flowers.

58. An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling of light-headedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months.

59. The rate at which red blood cells settle out in a tube of blood under standardized conditions.

60. (prosody) Of or consisting of iambs.

62. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

63. United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters.

64. Remote city of Kazakhstan that (ostensibly for security reasons) was made the capital in 1998.

65. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

DOWN 1. Exactly vertical.

2. (Norse mythology) Race of ancient gods sometimes in conflict with the Aesir.

3. A coarse twilled cotton fabric used for uniforms.

4. A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element.

5. Relating to or consisting of or emphasizing chords.

6. A white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves.

7. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

8. Any tree or shrub of the genus Inga having pinnate leaves and showy usually white flowers.

9. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

10. Declare invalid.

11. A unit of magnetic flux density equal to one weber per square meter.

12. Large dark brown North American arboreal carnivorous mammal.

17. English scholastic philosopher and assumed author of Occam's Razor (1285-1349).

20. (old-fashioned) At or from or to a great distance.

22. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

26. Divisible by two.

29. A public promotion of some product or service.

31. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

32. Liquid containing proteins and electrolytes including the liquid in blood plasma and interstitial fluid.

34. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

35. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code.

36. A Turkish unit of weight equal to about 2.75 pounds.

37. Airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc..

39. Genus of New Zealand mat-forming herbs or subshrubs.

40. Soviet statesman and head of state of the USSR (1875-1946).

41. A baton used by a magician or water diviner.

43. A tax on employees and employers that is used to fund the Social Security system.

48. A city in Tuscany.

49. A British peer ranking below a Marquess and above a Viscount.

50. A small cake leavened with yeast.

52. Largest known toad species.

53. Fallow deer.

54. The sixth month of the civil year.

56. The local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England.

57. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

61. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your co-workers or work mates enjoy having you on their team today. Group discussions find you expressive and insightful. More and more often, others realize that you are not what you appear to be. Your personality and the way the world sees you appear more outgoing than is the case after you become comfortable with people. Your appearance and personality may bring you unwanted attention—the real you prefers to stay out of the limelight. Look for ways to strengthen the side of you that is really quite shy. You can be your own very best friend. Mastering and being comfortable with yourself is true power. Relax with a good book, music or a good television program this evening. You and a friend or family member enjoy a visit for a while.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Health and work goals take on a greater importance for you today. You are freedom loving, independent and at times, even a trifle remote. You are not bound by relationships and are thus not much of a domestic.

You are very original when it comes to home and surroundings—resulting in the environment you build around you. This could also manifest in unusual ways of supporting yourself. When you have breakthroughs, they often come as insights into your immediate surroundings—your support system. There are new insights today into how you can add to your finances. Don’t be in such a hurry that you forget to ask questions. This evening will bring several opportunities for pleasurable activities—but no gambling.

NON SEQUITUR

Leo (July 23-August 22) You get right to the point today. There is plenty of enthusiasm for ideas and people. Your inner self-confidence is admirable and burns with its own light. You may need to pay a little more attention when you speak to others today; remember, not everybody knows the whole story. You will become more communicative, flexible, mental and other-oriented, when you allow yourself to be more relaxed with a particular audience. Circumstances can throw you into positions where you must deal with communications, service or enclosed hidden interests. You may deal with education, psychology or teaching principles and techniques to others. Tonight you may want to show off some new pictures . . . photographic techniques have really improved.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You enjoy and value the simple life and may find yourself around the home front doing the little things you enjoy this afternoon. You may have tomato vines to care for or a yard to tend, whatever the case, you seem to enjoy a little quite time alone. If you are supposed to be working in an office today, you may have decided to just take the day off and be alone. Perhaps a sick day or a vacation day is the choice. Your appreciation for discipline is natural and lifelong so it is not often you partake in a day away from the office. It is, however, always a good thing to set aside time for the occasional time-out day. You actually love responsibility and tend to pile on the chores. You are grateful for a day of rest, relaxation and refurbishment—alone or with someone.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Good practical job-related thoughts and ideas are available today. The ability to exchange a few words with superiors or describe what you see may always seem to create the occasion where others come to you for confirmation or authorization. You could use this ability to change your job classification to an inspector or buyer. Your mind is quick and sharp and your words are the only weapon you will need. You have insight into your emotions and drive and you can talk about your feelings with great insight. The new cycle beginning now is marked by a more intense focus on mental activities. There is likely to be an emphasis on reading, writing, studying and exchanging information with others regarding this knowledge.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A major life event may be helpful in creating a new outlook on the way you make decisions. This time in your life may mark the era of independence. You are on your own and you will notice an increase of responsibility and accountability. This is a time for deep thought, review of self and a new chance.

Emotional challenge, probably offered from someone close to you, may mark this time. Circumstances press you and tend to bring out the rebel in you. You could feel frustrated and thwarted by events. However, your self-control will show your maturity and circumstances should work together to help bring out your ideals—make it easier to make your dreams real. You are able to make a positive difference in other people’s lives. Relax tonight.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) What is a clear career decision, or an easy solution, may go against your sense of values today. For example, there may be family matters that need special attention at this time and you may opt to stay home. Since this cannot happen too often, you will do well to dive into some problem-solving techniques and teach them to others. Relationships, whether partnerships, personal ties or the social scene in general, are very important during this time and can have a decided influence on your career and workplace. You may find that a more impersonal attitude is important. You may perceive how to proceed with some new ideas with regard to your life situation. Make alternative plans when frustrations occur. Relax this evening and count your blessings.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You can expect a little boost—some extra support or recognition from those around you. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others and the lines of communication are open and clear.

Ambition and achievement are qualities you hold in special regard. This could all involve getting ahead by combining business with pleasure and enjoying the rewards of your hard work. The social graces pave your path to success. The support you need for whatever you are planning today is available. Health and work goals take on a greater importance. Team sports and swimming or walking every other day with a friend can boost your energy and increase your stamina—a great way to enjoy friends and better health.

To

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Don’t be too surprised if you end up working in a customer service department this summer. Others see that you are able to act and get things done and they value and appreciate you. You will still have time for your creative moods but mostly there are opportunities to solve problems. This could involve interaction with the public or with young people. Co-workers or friends will find you particularly witty this afternoon—an instant umbrella of warmth, friendship and self-expression. You may have insights or breakthroughs with regard to your living situation or life circumstances today. Interested in serving others, you worry about their welfare. You like to take care of everything and are always redeeming, salvaging and restoring.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

You have a natural ability to grasp spiritual and visionary matters. You can perform with imagination and metaphysical thoughts as others work with durable things. This is because you understand what is behind and connecting things. Much of your own self-image is wrapped up in your ability to work with images—dreams and the imagination. You would make a good teacher in areas of music or philosophy and all that is mystical. You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others and are in a good position to exchange a few words on your thoughts and concerns. There is an opportunity to work with theatrical props or some other similar subject. General good feelings and a sense of harmony makes this a happy time.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n

112 GOVERNORATE

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

Rabiya

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

PHONE

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

ST TATE T OF KUW K WA AIT

Tel.: e 161

DIRECTORA ATE T GENE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIA V ATION T METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT DA AY: Y Tuesday

Ext.: 2627 262 - 2630

12/06/2012

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

07:00

Issue Time

BY Y DA AY:

Hot with moderate becoming light gradually north westerly wind, with speed of 15 - 38 km/h

BY Y NIGHT:

Relatively hot with light to moderate freshening gradually at times north westerly wind, with speed of 15 - 40 km/h causing raising dust over open areas No Current Warnings arnin a

WA ARNING ST TATION T

MAX. EXP P.

MIN. REC.

KUW WAIT A CITY

45 °C

33 °C

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

45 °C

30 °C

NUW WAISEEB A

45 °C

32 °C

WA AFRA

47 °C

33 °C

SALMI

44 °C

28 °C

ABDAL LY

46 °C

30 °C

JAL ALIY YAH A

45 °C

30 °C

FAILAKA A

45 °C

28 °C

AHMADI POR RT

44 °C

34 °C

UMM AL-MARADEM

40 °C

31 °C

WA ARBA A - BUBY YAN A

46 °C

27 °C

SFC. CHART

12/06/2012 0000 UTC

4 DA AYS Y FORECAST Temperatures DA AY

DA ATE T

WEA AT THER

Weednesday

13/06

Thursday

14/06

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

33 °C

NE-S

15 - 40 km/h

31 °C

VRB-SW

12 - 32 km/h

47 °C

33 °C

VRB-SW

12 - 35 km/h

46 °C

30 °C

S-SE

12 - 35 km/h

MAX.

MIN.

hot + raising dust

45 °C

hot

46 °C

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

Friday

15/06

hot

South Jahra

24775066

Saturday

16/06

hot

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Fajr

03:13

MAX. Temp.

45 °C

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Sunrise

04:48

MIN. Temp.

32 °C

Firdous

24892674

Zuhr

11:48

MAX. RH

12 %

Asr

15:22

MIN. RH

Al-Omariya

24719048

Sunset

18:48

MAX. Wind

N.Kheitan

24710044

Isha

20:20

TOT TAL AL RAIINF FALL A L IN 24 HR.

Fintas

3900322

PRA RA AYER Y TIMES

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WA AIT AIRPORT

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

04 % NW 64 km/h 00 mm

12/06/12 02:35 UTC

V1.00

T1.06

PRIVATE CLINICS Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

lifest yle G o s s i p

anye West can’t wait to have children with Kim Kardashian. The ‘Paranoid’ rapper apparently wants to start a family with his girlfriend and is keen to get hitched to the ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians star too. A source told Us Weekly: “Kanye says he can’t wait to see her carrying his child,” a source revealed. “He says she will look beautiful pregnant.” Despite Kim, 31, having two failed marriages already, the insider added they she is keen to tie the knot with Kanye 35. They said: “They’re seriously talking marriage. And yes, she would [accept his proposal].” She is yet to finalize her divorce from basketball player Kris Humphries, 27, but her relationship with the music star is very serious. The confidante continued: “They are the real deal. I’ve never seen her like this. “He waited for Kim. He knows they’re meant to be.” For her boyfriend’s birthday on Friday (08.06.12), she purchased a $750,000 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4. Kim then surprised her man on his birthday with a trip to Ireland, where he and Jay-Z were performing in concert for their Watch The Throne tour. Kris Humphries’ lawyers have had a telephone conference with FBI agents over claims his ex-girlfriend tried to extort him. Apparently the legal representatives handed over evidence proving Myla

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Sinanaj demanded a large sum of money in exchange for her silence about his relationship with estranged wife Kim Kardashian. Sources told TMZ that Kris’ attorneys had the meeting with officials in Minnesota and produced recorded messages from Myla which proves their point. However the FBI would neither confirm nor deny an investigation was taking place. It had previously been reported that Kris’ lawyers were trying to get her to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Sources connected with Myla said she has emails, texts and other documents chronicling their relationship that could hurt Kris’ divorce court claims if they became public. The website reports that the two sides could not reach an agreement as he prepares to allege that his reality TV star ex was fraudulent in their marriage. The 27-year-old star - who split from Kim after just 72 days of marriage last October - had been dating the 25-year-old, whose real name is Fatmire, since meeting at a prominent New York hotel.

Diaz hris Brown has been hanging out with Rihanna’s family. The ‘Yeah 3x’ singer has been spotted in the same club as his former girlfriend - who he was convicted of assaulting three years ago - twice in the last few weeks and though they kept apart from one another, insiders say they are “seeing a lot of each other in private” and Chris was with Rihanna, her cousins and grandfather Lional Brathwaite at Jay-Z’s 40/40 venue in New York to watch the NBA game between Miami Heat and Boston Celtics last weekend. A source told the New York Post newspaper: “Rihanna arrived first in a yellow cab, with her family and friends, and was escorted to a private room. Brown arrived a little later and joined her and her family. They sat on the same couch together rooting for the Heat. There was no sign of his girlfriend Karreueche Tran.” Chris and his friends left after the game, while Rihanna’s group stayed longer. Their rekindled friendship is said to be a source of concern to the ‘We Found Love’ singer’s management and insiders think it may delay her from releas-

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ing any new music in case there is a backlash over the situation, particularly after the criticism Rihanna received for working with Chris on two tracks, ‘Turn Up the Music’ and ‘Birthday Cake’, earlier this year. The source said: “Everyone in the business assumes she and Chris are getting back together, and it is only a matter of time before they’ll be more public about it. “It’s like she is testing the water - first they work on music together, then they hang out in a friendly way, so the public won’t be completely shocked when they step out together publicly.

“There is also a tug of war at Roc Nation over the final say on what she is doing. But everyone agrees they can’t control Rihanna and can’t stop her seeing Chris, no matter how much they fear the negative public reaction will be. It means she probably won’t release another album this year, for fear of a backlash.”

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Sandler Fancies his shorts A dam Sandler embarrasses his daughters by always wearing shorts. The funnyman prefers to wear shorter legged clothing, but his daughters Sadie Madison, six, and Sunny Madeline, three - with wife Jackie Titone - get upset when he picks them up from school wearing them. He told People.com: “I wear shorts a lot. And my kids do ask me to put pants on when I go to school. They ask, ‘Could you just one

ussell Brand thinks he deserves a knighthood. The former drug and sex addict revealed that he thinks he is in line for the honor and that his fans will be upset if he is not presented with one soon.

He told The Sun: “They can’t ignore me for much longer. I should have a knighthood.

Otherwise the people will revolt.” The comedian has been open about his love of Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family. After moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, the ‘Arthur’ star was particularly upset to be missing out on the Queen’s Diamond

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ameron Diaz is writing her first book. The 39-year-old star is penning a tome about the importance of nutrition and staying healthy for young girls after gaining inspiration from her friend Gwyneth Paltrow’s weekly lifestyle journal Goop!, which sees the US actress provide wellness tips, recipes and fashion advice. A publishing source said: “Cameron has become very close to Gwyneth and it’s been very interesting for her to see what Gwyneth is doing with Goop!. “She’s been inspired by Gwyneth and the way she uses her fame to influence and help people. Now Cameron wants to do the same.” The ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ actress started to think more about living healthily following the death of her father 58-year-old father Emilio Diaz from pneumonia in 2008 - but the blonde beauty is keen to ensure the book - which will feature advice from celebrity pals Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth - is not perceived as a diet guide. The insider explained to E! Online: “Everything changed for Cameron after her father died. She realized what is important and started to think more and more about her health. “This book isn’t about her. And it’s not a diet of any kind. Of course, it’s her own journey that has helped her realize what’s important, but she wants the book to appeal to everyone, and not just be about her own food choices.” As well as writing a book - which is yet to have a working title - Cameron is also planning to visit schools across the US to find out what teenagers enjoying eating and ensure they are making healthy food choices. The source added: “She wants to use her celebrity to make a difference. She knows she is a role model to girls and she really wants to use that position to do good.

“Cameron is going to be visiting high schools around the country to talk to teenagers about their food choices and what is important to them. “She wants them to know that being thin should not be their priority, it’s about getting the right vitamins and knowing what foods will give them energy and keep them strong. She wants to get their feedback, learn about how they decide what to eat now, and teach them to make more informed choices.”

Jubilee celebrations in London earlier this month. He said: “It hurts my heart. It’s a great time in our country and I’m devastated not to be there. I love the Queen and have never been so in love with her since I came to America. Russell - who filed for divorce from singer Katy Perry in December added before the event that he would be celebrating regardless of his whereabouts. He added: “But we will be honoring the Queen in our own special way.”

time wear pants?’ And every time I get out of the car, I look down and I go, ‘I got those shorts on! Who’s gonna yell at me?’” Adam, 45, realises his daughters’ pain, as his behavior is very much the same as his own fathers. He added: “My father used to wear the same trousers for, like, a week. “And I remember I was like, ‘My friends have been over three times this week, and they’ve seen him in the brown pants every time. Can I please convince this guy to get on some blue pants for the day?’” However, Adam accepts that it’s all just part of him getting older, and that it was destiny he would become an embarrassing father. He added: “I’m getting older, and it happens. You get a little to the point where you don’t care as much. I’m definitely at that age.”

ritney Spears’ ‘X Factor’ walkouts are “embarrassing” show bosses. The ‘Toxic’ singer has stepped out of auditions twice and sources close to show supreme Simon Cowell say he is worried paying the pop star $15 million to take a role on the panel was not worth the trouble she is causing. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It’s embarrassing to have an empty seat on the panel in filming sessions as the footage is almost totally wasted. If a great singer appears and producers want to use the audition, you have to tell viewers why Britney wasn’t there. That’s not easy.

“Britney is getting $15 million to appear and it could be the biggest gamble Simon Cowell has ever made.” Britney’s first walkout was in Austin, Texas and while she and the other judges, Demi Lovato, L.A. Reid and stand-in Louis Walsh, all left their seats in protest at a rude contestant in Kansas at the weekend, Britney was the only panellist not to immediately return. An insider revealed she went to her dressing room, leaving the others to finish the auditions without her.

The source added: “If she continues to behave like this it will get embarrassing.”

Britney’s manager Larry Rudolph denied any problems saying: “What is everyone’s problem? Everything is fine. Britney loves being on ‘X Factor’.”—Bang Showbiz

B rew Barrymore and new husband Will Kopelman are honeymooning in Big Sur, California. The actress and the art consultant - who married in an intimate ceremony earlier this month - have decided to stay close to their Montecito home and are spending a romantic few days at the Post Ranch Inn where they are enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean off the Saint Lucia Mountains. The couple - who are expecting their first child together - have so far been very lowkey and have been spotted enjoying romantic walks together while dressed in casual clothes. After tying the knot with Will, Drew spoke about her wedding, saying it was “perfect” and she how couldn’t have wished for a better day. Drew - who has been married twice before - said: “The day was perfect. Everyone we love and care about was there. It was as fun and meaningful as we ever could have hoped.” The 37-year-old star - who had been dating Will for around 18 months - wore a flower-embroidered Chanel gown designed by Karl Lagerfeld, which showed off her ever-growing baby bump.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

A view of the Trajan market in Rome.

Trajan’s Market: Overlooked jewel in the heart of Rome

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n a heavily trafficked street where few tourists pass in the heart of ancient Rome lies the entrance to one of the Eternal City’s most extraordinary and overlooked monuments-Trajan’s Market. Built in the second century AD as a series of vaulted offices for managers of the nearby Trajan Forum headed up by a “procurator”, the architectural complex has served as a fortress, a convent and a barracks over the centuries. Clinging to a hillside that overlooks the Roman Forum, the nearly 2,000-year-old monument offers spectacular views over the Colosseum. The site is often referred to as the “world’s oldest shopping mall,” but its name is something of a misnomer as it was never the main market of Imperial Rome, site director Lucrezia Ungaro told AFP. “It was like a large administrative centre to manage Trajan’s Forum situated right by it. You have to imagine

offices, meetings rooms buzzing with civil servants,” he said. The monument spreads out over thousands of square metres (feet) and is divided into six floors with dozens of arches. Three pedestrian roads run through them, including the ancient Via Biberatica, paved with hefty basalt blocks. The Emperor Trajan ruled between 53 and 117 AD and is well known for his extensive public building, as well as conquests that widened the empire.

Trajan’s Column next to the Market commemorates his victory in the Dacian Wars when Rome took over a vast area between the Black Sea and the Adriatic. The majestic Great Hall has the most spectacular views but weary tourists can also find a spot of calm in the Garden of the Militias, a haven in Rome’s busy traffic overlooked by the mediaeval Tower of the Militias.

The red-brick tower-the highest in Rome-was built

A file photo taken on May 14, 2012 shows a standing armored male statue dated 3rd century A.D exhibited in the Trajan’s market in Rome.—AFP photos

A view of the Trajan’s market (front) in Rome.

between the 12th and 13th centuries by noble families that turned the site into a fortress. In the 16th century, the area was again taken over by a group of Dominican nuns who turned it into a convent that lasted for three centuries.

Following the unification of Italy and the expropriation of many Catholic Church buildings in the 19th century, it was turned into a military barracks.

Archaeological excavations in the 20th century returned the monument to a semblance of its original state by removing additions made over the centuries. The Grand Hall is now open to the public and hosts temporary exhibitions as well as cultural events and concerts but it is still struggling to attract visitors. “The average duration of a holiday in Rome is three days, and tourists tend to concentrate on the most famous monuments,” Ungaro said, adding: “Whether to visit a monument is

also a financial choice.”

The entry fee for Trajan’s Market is 11 euros ($14), while a 12-euro ticket covers the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. There are long-mooted plans to give Trajan’s Market greater visibility by, for example, opening up an entrance directly from the Roman Forum below the monument-an area that attracts thousands of tourists every day.

But getting hold of financing in the current climate is a struggle as state culture budgets have been slashed in the face of to the debt crisis. It seems that at least for now Trajan’s Market will remain a place where discerning visitors can soak in centuries of history in a haven of calm.—AFP

views of the Trajan’s market

World Chefs: Saad puts global spin on familiar dishes

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merican chef Jeffrey Saad likes to play with flavors from around the world and to liven up soups, sandwiches and everyday food with Asian and Middle Eastern spices and sauces.

In his first book, “Global Kitchen: Recipes Without Borders,” the 45-year-old co-owner and executive chef of The Grove restaurant in San Francisco provides recipes inspired by his travels and influenced by the traditional Lebanese meals cooked by his grandmother. Saad, who grew up in a suburb outside of Chicago, spoke to Reuters about must-have spices, favorite meals and the versatility of eggs.

Q: What is your idea of global cuisine?

A: “To me, global cuisine is how people are eating now. It’s not about I want Thai food and I’m going to a Thai neighborhood to have Thai food ...

I think the difference between global cuisine, or what I call cooking without borders, and fusion is not mixing two cuisines together to come up with something new. It’s borrowing from the different cultures and trying to create a signature profile. “In my book, for example, in the Mexican chapter, you use cumin, coriander, ancho chilies, dried chilies and tomatillos. There is no doubt you are tasting Mexico in your mouth. You are going to get the essence of Mexico in your mouth. Obviously, Mexican cuisine is much deeper than that. That’s the beginning point, and a way to have that flavor stamp. Now you could apply those things to recipes and everything you’re cooking and you’re eating globally. You are having the flavors of another country by tweaking the comfort food you normally eat.”

Q: What is your approach to maintaining the integrity of a cuisine’s flavor profile?

A: “People could mix cuisines and they turn out great. My endless joke is fusion cuisine could insult every country involved with something muddled ... What I do in my restaurant, The Grove, is classic comfort food with a twist.”

Q: Compare the way people are eating now with when you were growing up.

A: “When I was growing up, my grandmother would make these very traditional Lebanese foods. When we went to her home, I felt like we were leaving the country. Looking back as a kid, that was my first real global experience. I would be having chick peas, grape leaves and the magic of rosewater in the baklava with the phyllo dough and ground nuts. It was so authentic. “But ... if you wanted Chinese, it would be hard to find anything but egg foo young, at least in the Midwest. These things that were sweet and sticky or sweet and spicy or sweet and sour, they felt very one dimensional. I’m sure it made sense at the time. Now people really want the essence and what those cuisines are about more than just the shadow of itself.”

Q: What are the must-have spices in your pantry?

A: “I have this power-wheel of flavors. I have five to six spices I tend to reach for. One of them is Herbes de Provence. That’s like a bouquet of herbs from the south of France, which has been dried out. It’s great to add to simple tuna salad and omelet. That’s quick flavor in a multiple of formats. “If you want Chinese, all you need is fivespice. You could add it to shrimps. You could saute them or stir-fry them. You could bake them or roast them as well. You would get this nice, sweet kind of crust. “I also recommend having soy

sauce, hoisin sauce, sriracha or any kind of chili paste you like. When you mix them in equal parts, you make a great instant Chinese-style sauce. I also love smoked paprika. It colors and flavors.

When you put a bit of smoked paprika in oil, it just lights up. Whole fennel seeds add a great texture and flavor to tomato sauce.”

Q: Why did you devote a whole chapter in your book to eggs?

A: “I call them my 12 little sous-chefs. When you have a dozen eggs in the fridge, you are guaranteed a meal. I have (not) yet met a spice, an herb, a protein, a flavor that doesn’t taste great with eggs. They are super versatile and inexpensive.

Whole Tandoori Chicken with Mustard SeedRoasted Potatoes (Serves 4) 1 teaspoon cumin seed 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek (optional) 1 teaspoon coriander seed 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon ground turmeric 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning 2 tablespoons ghee or unsalted butter 1 chicken (3 to 4 pounds) 3 cups chopped fingerling potatoes (1/2inch cubes) 2 teaspoons canola oil 2 teaspoons whole brown mustard seeds 1.Preheat the oven to 325 degree Fahrenheit (162.Celsius).

2.Grind together the cumin, fenugreek (if using), coriander and black pepper in a spice grinder or coffee grinder. Move to a small bowl and mix in the turmeric and salt. Mix in the

ghee to form a seasoned paste. Rub all over the chicken, including under its skin.

3.Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan. Tie together the wings and legs and place in the oven. Roast until the internal temperature at the thickest part of the breast and leg is 150 degree Fahrenheit (65.5 Celsius). Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes.

4.While the chicken is roasting, add the potatoes to a medium pot and cover with

water. Boil until tender, about eight minutes.

Drain and rinse under cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel. In a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat add the canola oil. Once the oil is hot, add the potatoes and mustard seeds and stir occasionally until golden brown.

Season with salt.

5.Place the chicken on a platter and garnish with the potatoes. Serve.—Reuters

‘You and My Friends’ (2011/12) by Ryan McGinley is displayed at the exhibition ‘Art Unlimited’, prior to the ‘Art 43 Basel’ show, in Basel, Switzerland, yesterday. The Art Unlimited sector at Art 43 Basel shows projects that transcend the classical art-show stand, including video projections, large-scale installations, massive sculptures and live performances from tomorrow through June 17, 2012.—AP

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

lifestyle M u s i c

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Akina Minami during a promotional event for the new film ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ at a Uniqlo clothing store in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district yesterday. The film will be released in Japan on June 30. — AP

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he Band Perry is working to build an international fan base. They’ve played shows overseas and have more coming up. But at CMA Music Festival last week, roles were reversed as fans from around the world flocked to their home town of Nashville.

File photo shows from left, Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry and Reid Perry of The Band Perry perform at the 2012 CMT Music Awards, in Nashville, Tenn. — AP

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CMA Fest set a new attendance record this year, with 71,000 fans showing up each day.

Attendees came from all 50 states and two dozen countries, including Australia, Chile, China, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and several places in Europe.

“It’s a big goal of ours to try and win the international heart this year,” said lead singer Kimberly Perry. “We’ve been over to the U.K. now twice this year and are headed back over to Europe two more times, once with (Brad) Paisley and once to do a string of our own shows. So it’s really exciting to know that country music has footprints across an ocean.”

The sibling trio is working on a follow up to the band’s self-titled, platinum album, featuring the No. 1 hit “If I Die Young.” They are also promoting their single, “Postcard From Paris.” This year marked their third CMA Fest as artists and the second time they were asked to play the big stage at LP Field.

With most major country stars in town for CMA Fest, The Band Perry also got to see some of their own favorite artists.— AP

“We’ve seen people from Germany, Scandinavia, the U.K,” said Reid Perry, before signing autographs at Fan Fair Hall. “So it’s like Nashville is the center of the world for a week.”

housands of “tween” girls jammed a vast square with their parents and screamed in unison throughout teen superstar Justin Bieber’s free concert Monday night, an event that was expected to draw 200,000 people to the historic center of Mexico’s capital. Bieber opened with his hit song “Baby,” while his adoring fans filling the city’s main plaza sang along or shouted “Justin! Justin! Justin!” “Mexico City, there is a lot of people today!” Bieber told the crowd. “Every one of you is my biggest fan.” Dressed in white jeans and a gray sweatshirt that he took off to reveal a white T-shirt, the singer wore neon yellow tennis shoes and was accompanied by five dancers in neon colors. Four giant screens showed parts of his music videos to the crowd of mainly girls and their parents, who braved a light, intermittent rain during the concert.

The crowd went wild when Bieber asked a fan onto the stage, gave her a bouquet of flowers and sang “One Less Lonely Girl” into her ear. The girl didn’t stop crying. The gray and reddish stones of the plaza were covered in a sea of purple as the mainly 10- to 14-yearold crowd paid homage to what is reported to be Bieber’s favorite color. After singing a couple of songs while playing an acoustic guitar, Bieber changed into an all- black outfit and sang some of his more energetic songs, including “Somebody To Love.” At a news conference before the concert, the teen star said there is no artist he would spend days in line waiting for.

“There is no one I admire so much to do something crazy, but if Michael Jackson were here, I would do it for him. So, I do understand the emotion that the girls feel and that makes me feel very honored,” Bieber said.

Hundreds at the Zocalo, which was filled to capacity, had to cover themselves in plastic rain capes sold by vendors who came prepared for a rainy evening.

Mariana Villanueva, 12, traveled from the western city of Guadalajara for her idol’s concert. She was near the stage, where she said she almost fainted because people kept squeezing her. “It was worth it!” Villanueva said. “I have no words; it was magnificent!” The concert closed with fireworks and confetti spewing from the stage. Earlier, girls shuffled through security checkpoints with hats and umbrellas, staking claim to some of the roughly 80,000 spots allocated in the plaza itself.

An additional 120,000 or more fans were expected to watch on giant TV screens erected on nearby streets.

Fernanda Gutierrez Aparicio, a 13-year-old seventh grader at a local middle school, said she spent a week camping out with her mother on a nearby street in hopes of being among the first to enter. She said they returned home only to bathe and look after Fernanda’s 15-year-old sister, who recently had surgery. But her mother, Adriana Martinez, 41, gave up on trying to get her daughter into the front rows because of the press of other fans. “I was really disappointed. When we got up front, people were crushing you, not letting you breathe,” Martinez said. Even hours before the concert, “People were jostling each other and it got to the point that you couldn’t move.”

To Fernanda, it was all worth it - even missing the week of classes leading up to the two-hour concert that was to open with “3BallMTY” and Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen. “I told my teacher that I wasn’t going to school and not to expect me in class for a few days, because I was going to be out supporting my idol,” Fernanda said. Fernanda most wanted to hear Bieber sing “That Should Be Me,” which pretty much reflects her feelings about the Canadian singer.

“I want to be Selena Gomez, to be with him,” she cooed, referring to Bieber’s girlfriend. Authorities said

hinese actress Zhang Ziyi has sued Hong Kong’s leading newspaper the Apple Daily and its sister weekly Next Magazine over reports that she prostituted herself with senior Chinese officials. The “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” star signed the suit presented to the Hong Kong High Court on Monday, saying the reports were “seriously defamatory” and “false”. An article in Apple Daily on May 29 said Zhang “is a prostitute” and had sex with disgraced top official Bo Xilai and his wealthy associate Xu Ming for money on “numerous occasions”, the court document said. The tabloid also alleged the 33-year-old actress had sex with other top officials and “unnamed rich persons”, and had accrued a fortune worth 700 million yuan ($110 million) from these illicit liaisons over 10 years.

“The plaintiff has been subjected to public odium, hatred, contempt or ridicule,” the suit signed by the actress said, adding it would seek unspecified damages. “The plaintiff’s public image has also been seriously and continuously undermined which has caused and will continue to cause loss and damage to her profession and career.”

Apple Daily, a Chinese-language newspaper known for racy celebrity gossip and strong criticism of the Chinese communist authorities, did not reply to requests from AFP for comment. The story was removed from the newspaper’s website after Zhang threatened to sue last month. Bo was sacked from his post as boss of Chongqing city in March and then suspended from China’s powerful central politburo for “serious discipline violation”-code for corruption. He has not been seen since.

His wife, Gu Kailai, is in custody under suspicion of ordering the murder of a British businessman. Zhang also denied Apple Daily’s assertion that she was now under investigation by Chinese authorities and was barred from leaving China. Apple Daily and Next Magazine are owned by Hong Kong entrepreneur Jimmy Lai’s Next Media. The company’s share price fell in morning trade but finished 1.79 percent higher yesterday, while the Hang Seng index slipped 0.43 percent. Apple Daily editor-in-chief Cheung Kim-hung and Next Magazine’s chief editor Li Chi-ho were also named as defendants in the suit.

A spokesman for the actress, whose other films include “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Rush Hour 2”, said in a post on Chinese social media

they would have more than 5,000 police on hand, partly to prevent the sort of crush that injured 40 Bieber fans at a free concert in Oslo, Norway, in late May. “Most of the fans will be between 10 and 17 years old. There will be a lot of girls,” said Hector Antunano, a city official. “We are being very careful that the majority of the police are women and we are taking precautions so that there is no rush toward the stage.” Karina Gutierrez, a 13-year-old who uses a wheelchair, was disappointed with the spot authorities assigned to youngsters with disabilities. She was the first fan to arrive in the special area that was set aside in one of the corners of the plaza, far from the stage.”Visibility is not very clear from here,” Gutierrez said.

She missed school and her parents didn’t go to work so the whole family could attend the concert.

Gutierrez arrived to the capital Monday morning with her parents and two brothers from the city of Toluca, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) from the capital. “They wanted to see him from up close,” said Gutierrez’s father, Juan Manuel Salinas. “It’s not fair that they are so far back.” The Zocalo is ringed by some of the most historic structures in the hemisphere: Mexico’s Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace and the partially excavated remains of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan.

The plaza was created by the Aztecs in 1325 and was redrawn after the Spanish conquest of 1521.

Bieber’s performance emptied the sprawling square of its normal population, heavy on tourists, street vendors and political protesters, some of whom agreed grudgingly to clear space for the concert by abandoning an encampment there after negotiations with the city government. A similar concert in the Zocalo last month by former Beatle Paul McCartney drew an esti-

Fans of Canadian singer Justin Bieber scream while waiting outside the hotel he is staying.

that Zhang “will not tolerate the recent irresponsible media rumours”.”The legal proceedings mean that we have started down the road to maintaining her legal rights and interests. Justice can be expected soon,” the spokesman said. In addition to damages, the lawsuit seeks an injunction order restraining the defendants from publishing “similar words” defaming Zhang in the future. Zhang did not attend the premiere in Cannes last month of her latest release, “Dangerous Liaisons”, a Chinese-language film set in 1930s Shanghai that is adapted from the 18th-century French tale of sex and betrayal. — AFP

mated 230,000 people, including President Felipe Calderon. There was no word on whether the president would take his children to see Bieber. — AP

Fans of Canadian singer Justin Bieber cry during a concert.

This file photo taken on May 24, 2009 shows Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi arriving for the screening of ‘Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky’. — AFP

Canadian singer Justin Bieber performs during a concert at the Zocalo square, in Mexico City, on June 11, 2012.

— AFP photos

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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Japan’s music sensation: A band chosen by its fans

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KB48 is not exactly a band. It’s an army of girls-next-door, ranked by its fans, and after taking Japan by storm it’s getting ready to go global. More than 60 girls and young women, split into four teams, make up what is arguably Japan’s most popular pop group. It performs almost every day, has spawned affiliate groups across the country and has recently given rise to sister mega-groups in China, Taiwan and Indonesia.

AKB48’s big event is an annual vote - by almost 1.4 million fans this year - to determine who gets to record their next single, which inevitably becomes a hit. AKB48 raked in more than $200 million in CD sales last year alone.

The girls pranced and sang on stage before last week’s vote as their fans waved glow sticks and sang along with familiar tunes. When the winners were announced, the girls cried, bowed deeply, thanked fans for their loyalty and promised to live up to their expectations. Their singing and dancing aren’t always perfect, and the group’s ever-changing members are hard to keep track of. But fans are very forgiving to their flaws, and view them as their friends or little sisters, not out-of-reach superstars.

There are other mass girl pop groups, such as

South Korea’s Girls’ Generation and KARA, but they are more polished and have a set membership and no elections. AKB is also much more accessible: Fans can visit their daily shows in downtown Tokyo, attend handshaking events or exchange messages via social networking services. After each show, all the girls line up outside the theater to see off the fans with high fives and exchange a few words.

“You get to watch them grow. In the beginning, perhaps they weren’t very good, but then later you see them evolve and shine on stage,” said Kao Yi-wen, a Taiwanese student who was among three overseas fans selected to attend last Wednesday’s election results at Tokyo’s Budokan hall. Founder and producer Yasushi Akimoto formed the group in 2005, calling them “idols whom you can go and meet in person.” Fans get to see a slice of their ordinary lives by reading each girl’s blog. The organizers have also published DVDs showing backstage scenes, including personal struggles and conflicts among teams.

But performances can seem rather orchestrated.

As the girls sing and dance in unison, fans follow a set cheering formula, shouting “A! K! B! 48!” Fans know exactly when and what to do - like an experienced Kabuki audience that knows when to yell

File photo shows Japan’s all-girl pop idol group AKB48 members perform during the annual AKB48 popularity poll in Tokyo. — AP photos

an actor’s name exactly at the right moment during a play.

Now Akimoto is taking the enterprise abroad, creating what are essentially AKB48 clones in Jakarta (JKT48), Taipei (TPE48) and Shanghai (SNH48). JKT48 is the farthest along. Made up of Indonesian girls and young women, it follows the AKB routine exactly, down to the opening cheers, with the same songs and choreographed dancing. The only difference is the Indonesian translation of most lyrics.

“I wasn’t fully confident (AKB) could make sense to anybody but the Japanese, and I thought hurdles would be higher overseas,” Akimoto said in a recent TV interview. “But I want to tell everyone that ‘let’s have confidence.’ Today the world is watching Japan, and we are also watching the world.” The main group got its name from the location of its theater in the downtown Tokyo district of Akihabara, sometimes called “Akiba,” the birthplace of Japanese “otaku,” or geek, subculture dominated by comics, anime and video games.

AKB is still shaped by those influences: Many of its members dress in schoolgirl uniforms like characters in comic books, and some members talk in a cartoon-like, high-pitched sweet voice.

Many Japanese, including self-described “geeks,” are not seeking a superstar like Lady Gaga, said Takuro Morinaga, an economist at Dokkyo University who is also an expert of Japan’s “otaku” culture.

“They are certainly cute, but not outstanding beauties,” he said. “You can probably find one in your classroom, and that’s what makes them likable.” Core fans are mostly men, but AKB is gaining a following among teenage girls and older women. Some critics say they come across as sex objects that encourage men to exploit young women. They sometimes perform in itty-bitty bikinis for video clips or pose for photo books.

But others say they have a positive, hard-working image: They are required to devote themselves to AKB, wash their own laundry and aren’t allowed

to have boyfriends.

The group initially had three 16-member groups - Team A, Team K and Team B - hence the number 48 in its name. It has since expanded to at least nine sister groups and teams of “interns” around the country - including SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48, representing various cities.

Only people who bought the latest AKB CDs or joined fan clubs are allowed to cast ballots, which can be done online. People gathered in front of TV screens in downtown Tokyo for last week’s election. Morinaga said it “seems to be monitored even more closely than the real elections.” The top 16 performers will record the next single, and the number-one vote getter sings in the center position. For most girls, the primary goal is simply to make the top 64, which brings more TV and other media exposure.

Yuko Oshima, the winner two years ago, returned to the top seat with 108,837 votes. “I really wanted to be up on this stage again,” the tearful 24-year-old said. “I was under enormous pressure (to win).” She praised the younger girls for their ambition and said “that is what will keep us going.” Many of the performers - aged 14 to 26 - said they have “no special talents” but vowed to improve and continue to pursue their dreams to become a top singer, dancer or actress, and eventually “graduate” from the group to go solo.

So far, no AKB alumna has made it big on her own.

Joseph Salmingo of El Monte, California, found AKB48 through the Internet while studying Japanese. He was among the three overseas guests who won tickets to the election by submitting what’s considered the most enthusiastic cheers for the girls. He said he enjoys the drama that he sees in the group - friendships, rivalries and dreams.” There’s just so many of them and each one has their own story,” he said. “It’s kind of like a reality show.” — AP

Japan’s all-girl pop idol group AKB48 member Yuko Oshima reacts after winning.

New film shows how Houston’s death changed Grammys

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n almost hypnotic sense of naturalism draws you into “Your Sister’s Sister,” an intimate comic-drama about three people who find their lives intertwined in sudden and unexpected ways. Writer-director Lynn Shelton, who made the possibility of gay porn between straight best friends seem logical if not downright inevitable in 2009’s “Humpday,” once again employs her preferred tactic of having her actors collaborate on developing their characters and improvising their dialogue. (The stars get a “creative consultant” credit.) The result is appealingly, believably imperfect.

And although the end feels a bit too tidy by comparison - despite a final shot that’s intentionally ambiguous - it also has an emotional impact that will sneak up on you.

This film image released by IFC Films shows, from left, Mark Duplass, Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt in a scene from ‘Your Sister’s Sister.’ — AP That’s thanks to Mark Duplass, who also costarred in “Humpday,” making an understated final plea that’s sweetly heartbreaking. This is probably his best work yet, his most mature and deeply felt.

And he’s been everywhere in the past year or so between this, “Safety Not Guaranteed,” the FX series

“The League” and his own directing efforts with his brother, Jay, like “Jeff, Who Lives at Home.”

Here, Duplass stars as Jack, who’s still feeling shattered a year after the death of his brother.

Jack’s best friend, Iris (Emily Blunt), suggests that he get away for a while on his own by visiting her family’s remote cabin on an island off the Washington coast. (Shelton shot “Your Sister’s Sister” on the San Juan Islands, and the quiet, jagged beauty of the place adds to the sense of isolation, to the idea that anything could happen between these people.)

When Jack arrives, though, he finds that Iris’ sister, Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), is already there trying to find her own peace. Hannah had escaped to this wild, idyllic setting in hopes of getting over the break-up of a seven-year relationship with her girlfriend. But then she and Jack share a painfully honest, awkward, drunken night which leads to an even weirder morning when Iris shows up unannounced.

Through the highs and lows, confrontations and revelations over a series of days, all three performers play off each other beautifully.

Blunt and DeWitt have such a lovely, easy chemistry - as well as an understandable tension - they truly make you feel as if you’re watching a sisterly bond, full of teasing and secrets and resentments.

(And yes, in case you’re wondering, the film does explain why Iris has a British accent and Hannah does not.) Shelton reveals their connection through long takes as the two women lie awake in bed at night, whispering their most personal thoughts the way they probably did as girls. But then DeWitt shares a totally different energy with Duplass. She’s tough at first, a bit guarded, but then flashes a quick, dry wit as the two polish off a bottle of tequila in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. —AP

W

hen Grammy Awards producers learned of Whitney Houston’s death less than 24 hours before the live telecast, they scrapped parts of the script, added performances and puzzled over how best to honor the Grammywinning singer who died unexpectedly at age 48.

Host LL Cool J said addressing the Grammy audience at Staples Center after Houston’s death was “definitely the most challenging moment I’ve faced in my career.” He decided to open with a prayer, and producers agreed, though none could recall another network TV event that began as such.

This and other last-minute changes made to the 54th annual Grammy Awards are chronicled in a new documentary, “A Death in the Family: The Show Must Go On,” which premiered Monday at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The screening of the 25-minute documentary and 14minute highlight reel of past Grammy performances was also a not-so-subtle push for Emmy votes. “We’d love to have you consider us when you vote,” said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the Grammy Awards for the past 32 years. “We’ve been nominated before and not won.” He added that executives at CBS, which broadcasts the Grammys, suggested Ehrlich’s team produce the documentary, which can be seen on the Grammy.com website and at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. Emmy ballots are due at the end of the month. The documentary, though it deals with show changes made after Houston’s death, isn’t a downer.

Ehrlich said that about an hour before he heard about Houston, he’d experienced a career high: Paul McCartney, who was set to close the show, asked if he might perform a Beatles medley from “Abbey Road,” and maybe it could include a guitar jam with the likes of Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh and Bruce Springsteen. The number came together just before Houston’s death. Ehrlich said the magic of that McCartney moment made him feel “like maybe there is a God.” “God said, I’m going to give this to him, but I’m not going to let him get too cocky,” the veteran producer said in an interview before the screening.

After Houston died, the challenge was to “do

something that was respectful to Whitney,” Ehrlich said, “that set a tone that also didn’t lose the fact that there were thousands of people who were coming to this event because they had done something remarkable this year on their own, and they needed to be treated with respect as well.”

The documentary includes interviews with LL Cool J and Jennifer Hudson, who performed a heartfelt tribute to Houston. It also includes rehearsal footage and interviews with Springsteen and Grohl, who said performing alongside McCartney was unforgettable. Springsteen joked that he had “been waiting since 1964” for the opportunity to play with the former Beatle. Grohl said sharing the stage with such icons was like “looking at Mount Rushmore.”

February’s Grammy Awards drew nearly 40 million viewers, its second largest audience ever. The biggest Grammy audience - more than 43 million viewers - came in 1984, when Michael Jackson won a record eight awards for “Thriller.” — AP

Musician LL Cool J attends the premiere of The Recording Academy’s ‘A Death In The Family: The Show Must Go On’ at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre .—AP

Japan’s music sensation: A band chosen by its fans

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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he ‘Marry The Night’ singer - whose real name is Stefani Germanotta - is famed for her outrageous costumes, including a dress made out of meat which she donned for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, and has asked her team to create some headwear filled with the insects after learning of a study which suggests the creatures respond more to her music than that of any other artist.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “Lady Gaga has been looking to top her famous meat dress for some time - and this could be it. She dubbed cockroaches ‘My real life monsters’ after hearing of the recent study. “Now she wants to incorporate them in a headpiece by having them crawling around inside a netted cage.”

The study was conducted by engineering students from New York who were studying the movement of insects. Rock groups Weezer and Avenged Seven fold had no effect, but Lady Gaga’s music made the roaches dance.

—Bang Showbiz

1,122 people in yukata, a casual summer kimono dress, celebrate as they set a new world record of people dressed yukata at a gathering, recognized by Guiness World Records in Tokyo yesterday. The world record attempt was made as a part of sales promotion for Japan’s traditional kimono dress. — AFP

LatAm’s top fashion event begins in Sao Paulo with communities in Brazil’s poor areas to develop “sustainable” projects that will be displayed during the event. “We have to stop being a country which produces clothes and instead be a country which produces design,” said Borges, stressing that fashion is the country’s third-biggest industry.

According to Texbrasil, the Brazilian Fashion Industry Export Program, the South American giant is the fifth-largest textile and apparel producer in the world. Sao Paulo fashion week is held twice a year, in January for the winter collections and in June for the summer collections. — AP

Tufi Duek

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ao Paulo fashion week-the top catwalk labels set to showcase their summer collections with the focus on sustainable design. Alexandre Herchcovitch, Animale and Tufi Duek were the first to unveil their latest creations at the Biennal pavilion in the city’s Ibirapuera Park. Ronaldo Fraga, Agua de Coco, Ellus, Joao Pimenta, Forum and Juliana Jabour are among the others due to take center stage over the course of the week. “The whole world recognizes Sao Paulo Fashion Week, senses that it operates in a unique way in the fashion world. Brazil is a unique country, with a unique culture,” creative director Paulo Borges told a pre-event press conference.

Organizers expects the event to generate a total of $1 billion in business. Prospective buyers came from Britain, Dubai, Spain and the United States, but Borges said sales were mainly focused on the domestic market. The theme for this year’s summer collections is: “We transform: Stories worth telling”-putting the emphasis on tradition and local design.

Under a scheme led by architect Marcelo Rosenbaum, professional designers worked

Models present creations by Animale during the 2013 summer collection of the Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 11, 2012. — AFP photos

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wedish fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz has struck its latest collaboration deal with French label Maison Martin Margiela, vowing to offer shoppers “memorable” and experimental fashion moments through the 2012 autumn and winter collection. The line is set for launch on Nov. 15 and will be available in 230 H&M stores world-wide as well as online. The collection will contain both garments and accessories for men and women.

The Paris-headquartered fashion collective promises to create an interesting collaboration between the two houses “that will surprise all.” Yesterday’s deal is the latest to be announced by Stockholm-based H&M, which has previously worked with Versace, Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney on its guest-designer collections. — AP

ward winning jewellery retailer Pure Gold Jewellers is offering a grand 75% discount offer on a range of modern and elegant diamond jewellery this summer. According to Karim Merchant, CEO & MD of Pure Gold Jewellers: “Summer holidays are the perfect occasion to shop as a family; and especially for expatriates, it is the best time to shop for holiday gifts. Our massive summer discounts will make every woman’s dream of owning an amazing piece of diamond jewellery come true.” The 75% offer is applicable on the brand’s Pure Diamonds collection and is available from all Pure Gold Jewellers stores across the GCC. “We look forward to welcoming more customers to our stores this summer as this is an opportunity not to be missed,” added Merchant.

For further information please contact: Lisa George, Iris PR, UAE. E:mail:lisa@irispr.net About Pure Gold Jewellers Pure Gold Jewellers is an award winning jewellery retailer known for excellent customer service. It is now one of the fastest growing jewellery brands in the region and in India with over 100 stores, and the company is in the process of opening 200 stores. For further information please visit www.pugold.com