15th Jun

Obama, Romney take campaigns to Ohio

Cold cash over cool coffee

15

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FR EE

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Nadal finds his feet on grass

Max 48º Min 28º

NO: 15479- Friday, June 15, 2012

www.kuwaittimes.net

Egypt court orders parliament dissolved See Page 12

CAIRO: An Egyptian boy peers out of barbed wire, his face painted with the number 25, the date of the Egyptian revolution, during a protest in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo yesterday. (inset) A file photo of giant billboards showing Egyptian presidential candidates Ahmed Shafiq, top, and Mohammed Morsi, bottom, are seen along a highway in Cairo, Egypt. — AP

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

It’s simple: What goes up must come down

By Sawsan Kazak

sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

I

t was another sad, gloomy week in the economic world as markets in Asia mostly fell, Wall Street posted losses once again and the situation in Europe managed to find a way to deteriorate even further. Banks in Spain being downgraded and Greece seriously considering leaving the euro are, but a few of the problems facing the financial world. I say that the financial crisis and whatever happens in Europe will eventually, and unavoidably, affect everyone else. But financial crises are nothing new and have been happening for centuries.

Markets, stocks and economies go up and then come down; sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly in a crash. It’s the natural order of things. If you throw an apple up in the air, it will eventually fall down no matter how high you fling it up there - unless you throw it out of the earth’s orbit and send it to float with the satellites and spaceships.

Otherwise, it is eventually coming down and will probably hit you on the head if you’re not paying attention.

In 1720, there was something called the Mississippi Bubble, which was an economic collapse in France caused by the spice trade. In 1901, severe drought and the assassination of President McKinley caused the US to have a market crash. There was the famous Wall Street Crash of 1929 in the US where the stock market simply imploded. In 1973-1974, UK experienced their own market crash, caused partially by a miners’ strike and a drastic rise in oil prices. These are just a few drops in the ocean called ‘financial crises’.

What’s funny to me is the constant state of shock people find them-

Satire Wire

selves in every time there is a market crash. What do people think that the market balloon can just keep growing and growing and it will never pop? I know my analogies of economies being like apples or balloons are simplistic and basic in nature, but to truly understand the complex things in life, one has to boil them down to their bare minimum.

I am not an economist, by any stretch of the imagination, but a simple look at the past will show us that we are not going to be forever stuck in a state of freefall when it comes to our financial situation. So those overused clichés such as ‘what goes up, must come down’, ‘for every action there is a reaction’, and ‘history always repeats itself’ are true. It’s like we’re always looking for the exception, a situation different from the actual reality of things.

All we can do now is look to the past and try to understand how long this financial crisis will last and how to fix it by comparing it to those of the past because, after all, the markets have to go back up before they crash again.

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Local Spotlight

By Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

T

rue female friends gather during a crisis, and there is no better time than when a fire occurs in somebody’s house. I don’t mean a real fire but a ‘fire’ in terms of a fight caused by words. Most of these fights are due to misunderstandings by both parties - wife and husband. The question remains, are mothers-in-law devils?

My friend had a big fight with her new mother-in-law. She thinks she is interfering with everything happening in her family. She wants to know

what they do, what they eat and when! She finds it unacceptable to report daily to his mother on every little thing she does.

When she expressed disapproval, the husband defended his mother’s actions, even justifying it by saying his mother misses him and wants to make sure he’s okay. My friend thinks this is childish behaviour, and that he is a mature adult who does not need to be baby-sat all his life. Both are right, although I do not agree with the mother’s behaviour. At the end of

Kuwait’s my business

Kuwait’s inefficiency isn’t funny. Or is it?

By John P Hayes

local@kuwaittimes.net

“Don’t use humour!” hat’s one piece of advice I received when I moved from USA to Kuwait almost two years ago to teach university students. I was advised not to use humour because “students will not understand it.”

Go ahead, finish laughing, and then please continue reading.

I couldn’t imagine teaching “straight” anywhere in the world. You probably knew teachers who didn’t use humour. What did you think of them? Did you appreciate them more than the funny teachers?

The funny thing is that the advice wasn’t totally without merit because my sense of humour has created a few problems. Whether the students don’t understand, or they don’t want to understand (because it gives them a platform for complaining about high academic standards), occasionally they misinterpret my humour as disrespectful to them or to Kuwait.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and the students realize it when they arrive in my International Marketing class where we study the importance of developing cultural skills. People with good cultural skills can communicate more effectively, tolerate cultural differences better, remain nonjudgmental, and laugh things off. (All of which sounds like good advice for some of Kuwait’s MPs as they tend to the country’s business.)

“If you plan to work for or relate to a multi-national company,” I tell my students, “you need to develop cultural skills, including the ability to laugh at yourself and your circumstances.” Laughter is a global bond, and it’s a way to relieve stress when things don’t go as planned.

And how often do things go as planned in Kuwait? For example, during my first two months in the country I could drive with my Texas driver’s license. But the day I became a legal resident of the country, it became illegal for me to drive without a Kuwait license.

Huh? What did my residency have to do with my driving privileges? (Can we call driving a privilege in Kuwait?) Making matters worse, I got my Civil ID the day before the start of Eid. “You probably won’t get a driver’s license for at least two weeks,” I was told.

“What do I do now?”

“Drive anyway,” was the advice. “Everyone does in Kuwait.”

I didn’t because I was afraid of going to jail (probably not much humour there). So I hired a driver and liked him so much that even after I got my driver’s license (which required visiting three different buildings, 14 different “windows” for initials and signatures, and more than two weeks) I kept the driver.

Meanwhile, I updated my Texas driver’s license via the Internet and received it within five days.

Inefficiency can be funny (and if you don’t laugh about it, it’s more frustrating), but only if you overlook the fact that it wastes so much of Kuwait’s money.

Eventually someone has to ask, “Why can’t Kuwait become more efficient?”

“Don’t ask questions that start with why.”

That was another piece of advice before moving to Kuwait. Obviously, I don’t think much of advice, especially when it’s free. But I do enjoy a good laugh and I get one almost every day in Kuwait. Incidentally, life was rarely this humorous in the “efficient” USA.

T

Dr. John P. Hayes is a marketing professor at Gulf University for Science & Technology. Contact him at questions@hayesworldwide.com or via Twitter @drjohnhayes.

Holy mothers-in-law their fiery discussion, both were angry and stopped talking to each other.

Despite this, I think mothers-in-law are sweet. They are passionate when it comes to their beloved children. Their actions can be seen as protective because they want to be assured that no-one will harm their boys and girls emotionally or physically. That is also unfair and wrong, as a wife can never

be a second mother. Men can’t seem to figure this out. Here is my message to all men who seek a wife in the shape of a mother. A wife can be kind and sweet, but she can’t treat you the same way your mother did.

She may turn a blind eye to some mistakes you make, but she will not forget insults.

Mothers-in-law must understand that when their kids get married, they become

someone else’s responsibility. I think in the Arab society, mothers tend to be very emotional and close to their kids, but when they grow up and marry, they no longer need that close tie.

New brides also have to be careful not to fight endlessly with their husbands over their mothers. Mothers are, after all, holy.

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

By Velina Nacheva

F

or Svetlana, an engineer working in Kuwait, it is ritualistic to wake up, reach out for her BlackBerry to check the tweets and post the first thing that comes to her mind. “In the beginning, it was all about the feeling that you share, that you are not alone.

Today, a year later, I have discovered my own voice and have become more self-confident in expressing my opinion on a variety of issues,” said Svetlana who tweets anonymously about “the social issues of the day”. For her, the clout that Twitter possesses is not akin to toppling regimes or gathering a large number of people to rally. It is about liberating herself.

Svetlana is not alone in her choice to connect to people online communicating with succinct 14-character posts. Condemned by some and praised by others yet agreed by all to be a very powerful communication tool, Twitter in Kuwait has increasingly acquired a cult following generating an avalanche of tweets monthly. A recent report placed Kuwait’s Twitter users on top of the Arab World with almost 60 million tweets posted in March 2012 alone. There were almost 60 million tweets generated in Kuwait only in March 2012, said Khaled El-Ahmad a Jordan-based social media consultant and trainer. “Kuwait’s Twitter space generated more tweets than any other country including the Arab Spring countries,” he said.

For the six-month period leading to March 2012, the Twitter users in Kuwait have doubled, explains El-Ahmad who tweets as #shusmo.

El-Ahmad recently released a report on the number of users and tweets in the Middle East using data provided by the Dubai School of Government via their Arab Social Media Report , which he calls “the only source of data on Twitter in the Middle East.” Some 8.6 percent of the population in Kuwait tweets, the report shows. In Kuwait, in September 2011 there were 117,304 active Twitter users (those who tweet at least once a month) and in March 2012 the active users’ base swelled to 235,000 Twitter users, says El-Ahmad elaborating that the numbers from Kuwait were the biggest surprise in the March report.

What accounts for such a turnaround?

The prevalent online connectivity, the proliferation of smartphones and the swell of young tech-savvy demographics in the country are pinpointed as the major culprits for the local Twitter thrive. In its most benign form, Twitter in Kuwait is used for workrelated purposes and for the immediacy of communicating events.

However, adversaries of this social microblogging service claim that Twitter creates an opportunity for rumour spreading and the circulation of unverified facts.

What makes you tweet Kuwait?

The growth of Twitter popularity in Kuwait El-Ahmad relates to the local culture of “people who are into online dialogue and connecting to peers”. Premising his observation on the emergence of the blogosphere in Kuwait, he recalled the collaboration of the Kuwaiti online community in the infancy of the blogopshere. “Kuwaiti bloggers were pioneers compared to other countries,” he said.

Dareen, a young professional Kuwaiti girl, considers the diwaniya culture embedded in the societal fabric to be also linked to Twitter’s popularity growth in Kuwait. She said “Twitter fits perfectly in Kuwait and the socially-driven culture. It is a great tool to connect with one another.”

For veteran Twitterer Ahmad, Twitter provides a platform for communication and removes any barriers of communication that could have prevented anyone from expressing their opinion. “Twitter helped to make people more open-minded.” Having opened his account in 2009 with the sole purpose of following news he had interest in, he says “I never planned to be active but now I am so much more active than in the beginning”. Ahmad admits “Now I am more open to speak my mind openly about stuff that cannot be easily discussed in public.

Svetlana shared a similar claim. “Twitter empowers people. Even if you tweet anonymously, when your followers comment or start mushrooming, you feel what you have to say is of importance. It has

in a way, turned me into a journalist - a career I never dreamt of”.

“If it was not for the revolution in Egypt I wouldn’t be on Twitter,” says Lana, a former Egyptian journalist. Lana who joined Twitter on January 28 last year, the day, she said the previous regime in her home country cut-off the communication channels on the third day of the revolt. “Twitter and Facebook were the way for Egyptian people to post news and pictures of what was happening,” she said explaining that this was her way of supporting the revolution from Kuwait. A year later, Lana says the avenue of Twitter for her has reshaped. “Twitter is the right place to disclose your political views and opinions and to follow up the news from Egypt,” she says admitting that she uses her own identity on Twitter. Earlier she used to check tweets for work-related purposes. “Today, I use it to express my opinion openly.”

Glass ceiling and ostracizing Admitting that it is hard to measure gender on Twitter because of its registration nature, El-Ahmad explains that internationally, women on Twitter make up about 55 percent. In the Arab region in September the women demographics made up just 32 percent which consequentially increased to 34 percent by March, he said, adding, “Participation of women is low but is increasing slowly.”

Svetlana is of the opposite opinion. She feels the local Twitter scene is dominated by fashionistas, food experts, dieticians, marketers, trainers, and soul-searchers who are all women. “I have been following different accounts for a while and women turned out to be behind many of them,” she said.

For Svetlana, no glass-ceiling exists on Twitterville. “We are all equal; we can say what we want and can be who we want. People read what we have to say not because of our gender but because of our thoughts.”

Dareen echoed a similar sentiment. “Twitter has given women the freedom to express themselves. On Twitter, women can talk about things they cannot discuss otherwise... even politically,” she said.

Reem, a 23-year-old Kuwaiti, also spotlights that Twitter is the only place where there is no glass-ceiling and that is why it is popular with both genders.

Be on Twitter, know the news Reem who found her job through Twitter, joined the microblogging site two years ago for two main reasons: to network and to follow business insights that were helpful in her university studies.

Initially, she was following business accounts and later became attached to the social networking tool because she now has Twitterfriends who she never met in real life. Stating that globally Twitter started as a “big newspaper and a social hub” she says in Kuwait people tweet because they lack space to express themselves. She argues that some choose to tweet anonymously and attract a large following while others tweet under their real names and that is how they gain Twitter popularity and followers.

Dareen had similar reasons to join Twitter when it was the new social networking tool. She needed news while studying at a university in the US. “I knew that popular figures and agencies in the West were posting information on Twitter. I used to monitor everything.”

Today, Dareen uses Twitter for work a lot and to keep track of what is going on in Kuwait. “It is hard to get information in Kuwait,” she says adding that on Twitter things are happening live.”

Hussain, a Kuwaiti teacher was similarly motivated to join the microblogging site. He says that he is on Twitter because he can stay in touch with the current news and learn about what is happening around him. “From riots and protests to launches of new restaurants and new products in supermarkets I get all that from my Twitter circle.”

Dareen and Reem admit that they self-censor when tweeting.

Whereas Dareen self-censors because of her job and to avoid libel, Reem is cautious of what she says because of “family members.”

Reem opines: “Not everyone accepts every idea.” For Dareen, there is a fine line between what you can say and what you think. “If I would not say something in somebody’s face then I will not tweet it,” she said. As she puts it succinctly, “Here everyone follows everything.

This could be a good and a bad thing.” In Kuwait’s Twitter space

expats feel no sense of estrangement. As a newbie male Twitterer from Jordan puts it: “On Twitter, no one is ostracized.” He outlined: “I can join the local debate and nobody would care if I am an expat or a citizen since I tweet anonymously. It is great to be followed by both Kuwaitis and expats and debate issues together. After all, we all live here and we are all interested in similar topics. “ The potency of 140-character posts Globally, Twitter has been used to connect with peers, for commercial branding, NGOs, and political messaging. In the Arab world, Twitter is mostly dominated by politics more than anything else, ElAhmad said. Reem feels a similar pull. Calling Twitter, “a great political tool” she says: “Twitter in Kuwait is quite big on politics.”

When the mainstream media in Kuwait chooses to dance around issues of social importance, the merry bunch of Twitterers cull ideas, and provoke debate in a hive like fashion. This political buzz, however, could trigger the opposite effect. Hussain, a seasoned Twitterer quit his account several times when the public Twitter-sphere seemed too polarized and when “political fights took place over Twitter.” “Sometimes Twitter becomes too noisy. It becomes a mud fight with people screaming at each other and calling names.”

The spread of rumours Social media of the likes of Twitter in a well-knit society could provoke a geyser of speculation. A columnist in an Arabic newspaper this week argued that some Twitterers use the social networking popularity to “mislead people with erroneous assumptions and distorting the facts.” The columnist recalled the rumours which later made it into the mainstream media, that Kuwait is deporting Syrians who took part in a protest. Tracing the genesis of the story, he discovered that in a Chinese whispers manner, Twitter posts about the deportation of two Syrians with criminal records went viral and in the hyper retweeting were somehow distorted and further spiced with comments from various people, including politicians and activists.

The columnist concluded:” In a well-knit society, gossip of any magnitude spreads like wild fire.”

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Sharq experiences

A panoramic shot of Sharq with Kuwait towers (left) and Al-Hamra Tower (right).

By Aakash Bakaya

A

decade ago, Firdous cinema was a landmark, a meeting spot and one of the most visited family destinations in Sharq. Every weekend, tickets would be sold out for the latest Bollywood and Arabic films. When you sat inside, you always sensed that you were a part of a much bigger community.

Now, more than 10 years later, the 77-storey Al-Hamra Tower stands in its place and recently opened its doors to the public. Apart from boasting a lux-

for sure - they won’t be selling their tickets at 250 fils like Firdous.

Sharq represents what the entire country is going through: a monumental stage of development, quick and speedy change. The pace of expansion is so fast that every six months, you can surely spot a new construction coming up, promising another gigantic tower in this once sleepy suburb. The after-effects of these changes are yet to be seen.

Change is certainly good, but how long does it take to have the opposite effect - not only in Sharq but also all of

Al-Hamra Tower (right) dwarfs the rest of Sharq. — Photos by Aakash Bakaya ury mall with several branded stores, Al-Hamra is also waiting to unveil their 10-screen cinema multiplex with IMAX theatres as well. It is yet to be seen if they will become more famous than Firdous cinemas but one thing is

Kuwait?

Joseph D’Souza Manager of Mitsui & Co Kuwait has lived here more than 30 years. He says “Sharq was the most coveted residential area in Kuwait during the early 1970’s. After 2000, it has

transformed into a dynamic commercial district in Kuwait. With the addition of several multibillion-dollar buildings for both commercial and residential purposes such as the prestigious Al-Hamra Tower, this area is up for more tremendous changes”.

Even with the numerous developments, the history of this area is rich in the traditional aspects. In the early 60s, Sharq was the centre of Kuwait and the heart of the merchant community. During that time, the district stretched from where Bneid-Al-Gar is now today till the Seef Palace which is now at the centre of Kuwait City. Hilal Fajhan Almurairi one of the richest men in the history of Kuwait lived here and helped Sheikh Mubarak AlSabah during the hard times of World War II. Over the years, Sharq has been home to some of the most prominent families in Kuwait. Today, the area still is home to the famous Dasman Palace and many of the destroyed remnants of the Palace are still visible and are a stark reminder of Kuwait’s invasion.

“Many changes have taken place due to expansion in population and businesses but it has always maintained its allure due to preservation efforts. This has reflected positively on the shape Sharq is taking today,” said Safa Al-Hashem MD and political activist, whose ancestors have all originated from Sharq.

There are several preservation efforts happening in the area. The old American Hospital (which was once part of the old Sharq area) has been restored in recent years and is now a museum. Other efforts greatly help the community such as the new ‘Hope: School for special needs’. The school used to be an abandoned building for several years after the Liberation. Over the last few years, it has been rebuilt and is now a striving school helping mentally-challenged children of all ages.

Change is normal for any district,

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

the winds of change

KUWAIT: A residential area in Sharq is pictured.

especially for one in Kuwait but the rate of change is staggering when examined. The skyline has gone from having just two or three skyscrapers to now having more than 20. With the new business city opening up, that number is said to increase. These changes in infrastructure have impacted the residents as well. Many complain of inadequate living space in the new buildings and some poorly maintained and built facilities. There has also been a drastic increase in the rents of both the older and newer buildings in the area without providing anything new or adequate. Traffic was never a problem here as well but now it is common to be stuck on the same road for long periods of time during peak hours. This has made living difficult especially for people who have recently shifted to the area and has forced Sharq from becoming a thriving residential district to a more business-oriented one where many of the long time residents have left. Yet these issues are common for many citizens all around in Kuwait and many hope that there will be improvements sooner rather than later.

People who come to Sharq love its quiet, peaceful nature and the fact that though it is far from other crowded areas, it is still close to the integral hotspots. Monica Fernandes is anoth-

er long-time resident of the community and her travel agency recently shifted to Sharq. “Sharq has always been a sophisticated suburb in Kuwait City.

I’m grateful that everything I need and all the facilities are just a stone’s throw away. The lovely view of Kuwait Towers and the sea gives a feeling of comfort and beauty which can’t be felt in other places of the country.

Hopefully it will continue to develop in the right direction with sleeker constructions and stores”.

Sharq will continue to impress and provide the best that Kuwait has to offer. There may be a few hiccups along the way but people are optimistic that it’s all for the best. Change is a difficult situation to adjust to but quiet Sharq remains committed to improving the infrastructure and development of Kuwait while staying true to its roots.

KUWAIT: New constructions in the area are seen.

From a sleepy residential suburb to a bustling business-oriented area, Sharq is seen changing gears in the fast lane to development

A few business sector buildings are seen.

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

By Sawsan Kazak

I

n Kuwait, it is not uncommon to look out of the window and see a dark orange sky, or find a thick layer of fine dust encasing the cars or even a film of grime on all your possessions at home. These sights are the aftermath of a dust storm.

Dusty weather used to be a sporadic inconvenience we had to deal with every once in a while but, these days, this kind of weather has become the rule rather than the exception. And with Kuwait astronomer Saleh Al-Ojairi predicting 170 days of dust this summer, we are in for a few more dust storms over the next few months.

What the dust is doing to the cars and tables in our lives is obvious, but what is it doing to our health? If you stand still for long enough, a thin layer of dust will start accumulating on you. But the dust is not only making us look like antiques, it’s also affecting our skin.

Dr. Mohamed Fathy, a dermatologist at the Dar Al-Fouad Clinic in Hawally believes that the dust is causing irritations and may be a cause of wrinkles. “The dust lowers the skin’s ability to be moisturized, and dries it out,” said Dr. Fathy, adding “skin produces a thin layer of oil that keeps it moisturized and protects its elasticity; this layer of oil soaks up any dust in the air and it stays there. This causes skin to lose its vitality.”

As for preventing the effects of the dust storms on our skin, Dr. Fathy believes that trying to minimize exposure to the dust is the best prevention. “Also, when people get home, they should wash their face with a mild cleanser; a moisturizing cleanser is preferable which would help humidify the skin and not dry it out further. And finally, people need to apply creams rich in vitamins such as C or E and take multivitamins as this will keep skin soft and protect it against the harmful effects of the dust,” explained Dr. Fathy.

Being a dermatologist, he reiterated the fact that the sun is very harmful to the skin and that sunscreen is a must before stepping out of the house. “Sun-block’s effectiveness fades every two hours and needs to be applied many times. For instance, if a woman is heading to work in the morning, she should apply it and again before heading home, she should reapply some more.

Even if it’s a dusty day and the sun isn’t visible, we are still being exposed to ultra-violet rays,” said Dr. Fathy.

Trespassing dust If that thin layer of sand can make it past windows and doors, it is probably making its way past our nostrils too. Dr. Neween Gerges, a pharmacist at the Tarik Pharmacy in Salmiya sees how health is affected by dust storms firsthand.

“When there is a severe storm, this triggers problems in asthmatic patients; they get what is called a bronco-spasm which prevents them from being able to breathe properly,” said Dr. Gerges. She sees many patients coming in for antiallergic pills and bronco-dilating medication to reverse the effect of bronco-spasms. “People also ask for nebulizers which are devices that administer medication directly to the lungs in the form of a mist when inhaled,” explained Dr. Gerges.

“The dust also causes coughs in people with or without asthma called bronco-constriction. And because their cough reflex is triggered by the dust, I have noticed an increase in the use of cough syrup. People also experience runny noses, sneezing and general irritation in the nasal passages. So they usually come in for saline water to help clean their nasal mucosa and get nasal sprays to clear the congestion in the airway passages,” said Dr. Gerges.

“People’s eyes are another problem,” says Dr. Gerges, adding “I see many people come in here with red irritated eyes, tearing and swelling. We also see a kind of Conjunctivitis.” Conjunctivitis is an inflammation on the lining of the eyelids where crust forms on the eyelid and causes blurry vision and sometimes pain. Dr Gerges says that she has not seen a major increase in dust related cases this year, saying “every year it’s the same thing.”

Like Dr. Fathy, Dr. Gerges also believes that avoiding any unnecessary exposure to the dust is the best thing to do. “If people have to go out, face masks to cover the nose and mouth or just a wet cloth is a good way to reduce the amount of dust inhaled. Because the dust is so fine, it gets into our bodies very easily,” adds Dr. Gerges. She says that when people are at home, they should try as much as they can to clean after every dust storm and ensure they close any gaps in the windows or doors to prevent dust from entering.

— sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

‘Even if it’s a dusty day and the sun isn’t visible, we are still exposed to ultra-violet rays’

KUWAIT: People are seen trying to cover their mouth during a recent dust storm. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

By Sherif Ismail

E

very day at 4 pm, a cafe in Khaldiya turns into a mini classroom. On one table, a teacher in his mid-40s is teaching three girls math. On a separate table, another teacher is showing physics graphs to four female students. At the end of the sessions, the girls dig through their bags and each takes out a KD 10 note for the hour. It’s exam time and many students in Kuwait are paying extra to learn whatever they missed in class, or topics they are unsure of, to increase their chances of passing the exams. Achieving higher grades and learning are certainly positive endeavours, but such tutoring is not legal in Kuwait.

Students pour into the cafe for tutoring throughout the day, with each tutor teaching around four groups a day. It’s not an isolated activity, either; coffee shops near Kuwait University in Khaldiya and Kaifan are often busy with students seeking tutoring. Tutors can remain at the same table for up to 10 hours, teaching as many as seven students at a time. At the start of each session, the tutor asks if the students understood everything covered in their prior session. One teacher, who asked to remain anonymous given that the activity is technically illegal, explained to his students, “Now, you have to listen carefully and you will understand the main subject matter. I will unfold the sub-

KUWAIT: Students and their ‘teachers’ are seen during one of the tuitions at a local cafe.

— Photos by Sherif Ismail

ject’s mysteries and will help you solve various problems for the first time.”

A class typically lasts around one hour and the usual teaching apparatus can be seen scattered across the coffee shop’s tables; papers, pencils and a range of coloured pens. Classes are occasionally interrupted by tutors’ phone-calls which are much less reminiscent of ‘teacher’ and more like ‘market haggler’: “I’ll be busy today until 12 am... No the class is one hour... It’s KD 10 if you are with a group, or else you should come in at least a group of five... No, if you’re alone I’ll charge you KD 20... believe me, this is the first time I’ve charged this little!”

The bargaining comes at the end of the class as debts are settled and new sessions scheduled.

During one session, a female student realized she had forgotten to bring the tuition money.

The tutor wanted to reschedule her for another class the following day, or the day after, but warned that he would not allow her to join the ‘class’ if she didn’t bring the money. One of the tutors admitted openly to being a teacher when asked, but denied giving private tuitions, insisting, “Of course I don’t. These are poor students and I’m helping them free of charge.” He quickly excused himself to meet his next group of students before commencing a new class, this time at a different table.

While the setting may be casual, the money being earned certainly is not. An average group, which consisted of around five students, paid KD 50 per hour. Some teachers stayed at the coffee shop teaching for almost 10 hours, which brings their day’s earnings to up to KD 500 a day per teacher. As genuine as their intentions may be, the practice is illegal in Kuwait, therefore explaining why both the students and their ‘teachers’ were hesitant to provide more details.

Local FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Governor defends Central Bank’s role Controversy continues over court ruling

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: Students are pictured during an exam in a private school. — Photo by Sunil Cherian

Are exams scary?

By Sunil Cherian KUWAIT: The saying that examinations are a necessary evil may well be inaccurate. Students, at least in private schools, no longer see exams as a nightmare or a fever-generating evil. The cumulative assessment policy, which many private schools have now adapted across the world, calls for continuous, day-to-day observations to be made by teachers. In the ever-expanding grading efforts being made throughout the year, annual exams are more like the final act on the school year’s stage.

Many private schools in Kuwait have broad policies for examinations. If a student is absent on the day of an exam, the school will provide a ‘make-up’ test for them. Even if the student doesn’t sit the makeup or re-sit, it is within the school’s policy to promote him/her by considering the overall progress the student has made over the course in the whole year. In case of the absence of the student in the final exam, a certain percentage of the student’s previous achievements is added up to the total.

Students who know that their fate doesn’t depend on the exams they take, enter the exam hall leaving behind their notes, mobile phones and their droopy and heavy minds. For them, an exam is not the end of the world. “I prepare the exam paper as fun as possible,” said Katy, a Language Arts teacher at a private school. “It’s their writing skill that I want from an exam paper. Listening, reading and speaking skills may have been recorded months ago”.

On the other hand, many parents think exams decide their children’s future. The schools that have no cumulative assessment system tend to rely on the examination criterion to pass the judgment on students. Such schools use exam as a weapon to threaten the student and parent community, making the exam a Saharan task. The parents want to see everything on paper, a proof that is as clear as the red mark. Assessing a student by continuous observation and recording is not appealing to them.

Khaled Al-Mahini, an Arabic teacher with 27 years of teaching experience said cheating in the exam happens because of the stringency of the exam system. “There are students who tear a page of the Holy Quran in the Islamic Studies exam, just because they are lazy to learn”, Al-Mahini said. “Then there are printing companies which make the content of a textbook page as small as the palm so that students can hide the small size paper under their sleeves.

There are expat teachers who close their eyes when they see a cheating attempt. There are also students who threaten their teachers by saying that ‘My father is a policeman’”.

KUWAIT: Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait Saad AlHashel yesterday defended the bank in refusing to provide classified information to the parliamentary committee probing alleged bank deposits. Head of the probe panel MP Mussallam Al-Barrak had accused the governor and other central bank officials of attempting to block the committee’s investigation by refusing to provide information about the bank accounts of members of the previous parliament and government.

The committee has been investigating allegations that 13 former MPs had received huge deposits into their bank accounts worth around KD 100 million last year which some opposition MPs had charged to be political bribes. The committee had demanded that the Central Bank provide details about the bank accounts of members of the previous parliament and government without revealing their names in order to allow the committee to decide whether there had been illegal deposits.

Al-Hashel said in a statement that the Central Bank aims at protecting the banking and financial system in the country within the framework of the law. He said that the bank’s refusal to provide information related to the private wealth of clients

should not be interpreted as an attempt to protect those people against any suspected crime. Al-Hashel said that the constitutional court has banned any action that may undermine the clients of banks and insisted on the confidentiality of bank secrets, including accounts, deposits and debt.

In another development, controversy continued yesterday over a court ruling issued on Wednesday by the lower court which acquitted five officers of the Special Forces from the charges of beating MP Obaid Al-Wasmi in December 2010 at a public rally.

The verdict was strongly criticized by Al-Wasmi, who vowed to take necessary legal actions, and by several other MPs who said the verdict will encourage police to beat up people because they escape punishment.

The court said in the ruling that in beating Al-Wasmi, the officers were implementing the orders of HH the Amir who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, and accordingly should not be questioned.

MP Waleed Al-Tabtabai on his Twitter account yesterday called on the higher judicial council to hold an emergency meeting to study the consequences of the dangerous ruling.

The youth Civil Democratic Movement (CDM) meanwhile said the ruling was based on faulty legal grounds.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is pictured chairing yesterday’s joint Cabinet-council meeting session. — KUNA

Cabinet discusses development plan, SMEs KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Cabinet discussed yesterday proposals and remarks by the Parliamentary Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs regarding the draft law of the state’s third annual medium-term development plan. It also viewed projections of the General Secretariat of the Higher Council for Planning and Development on the bill, especially those regarding infrastructure and public services. At yesterday’s session, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at Al-Seif Palace, the joint cabinet-council meeting further discussed reports on administrative, economic, human resources and societal development.

Recommendations on statuses of investment firms and the national program for the development of Small and Medium

Enterprises (SMEs) were discussed, as well as means to combat unemployment and provide job opportunities, he added. The joint meeting also discussed mechanisms for implementing mega projects to be carried out by international firms, either inside Kuwait or overseas in a way that would preserve the country’s economic reputation. This comes on the backdrop of cancelling the controversial K-Dow deal between Kuwait’s state-owned Petrochemical Industry Company (PIC) and American Dow Chemicals and in a bid to avoid negative consequences in the future. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration court had recently issued a multibillion dollar ruling in favor of Dow Chemical because of the contract cancellation.

Policeman caught dancing, drinking on tape KUWAIT: The electronic crimes department is investigating a video in which a policeman can be seen dancing while clearly intoxicated.

Liquor bottles are clearly visible on a table in the video, and a woman’s voice can be heard encouraging the uniformed policeman’s performance. The video surfaced after being spotted on a social media outlet online. The tape was filmed by the woman who can be heard speaking throughout, and appears to have taken place in an apartment. There is also considerable focus on the officer’s rank and the emblem

of his department. High ranking officials ordered a quick investigation into the matter and to identify the officer.

Bedoon kidnapped, beaten A bedoon adolescent accused three of his friends of kidnapping, beating and attempting to rape him before he managed to escape.

Traffic patrol officers were asked for help by the teen, who told them that two of his bedoon friends and a Syrian expatriate asked him to go with them to collect their grades from school.

The teen reported that the group instead took him to a secluded area where they attempted to rape him. The victim added that when he fought back, they attacked him, beating him badly.

Police investigations are underway.

Handicapped child raped Security authorities sent a handicapped child for medical treatment when his mother accused their driver, an Indian expatriate, of molesting and raping him. The woman told police that she had noticed blood on her son’s clothes, adding

that when she checked the child she discovered he had been raped. She added that upon being asked, her son told her that the driver had molested him. Investigations are underway.

Drunk collides with police patrol A drunken man ran a red light and collided with a police patrol that had been chasing him.

The driver attempted to flee the scene but was quickly brought under control. Reports revealed that the man, a Kuwaiti citizen, was wearing a Special Forces shirt. — Al-Rai

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Chavez shows off first Venezuelan drone

Cameron faces Murdoch storm at UK media probe

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Lanka’s ex-army chief vows to win next polls

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DAMASCUS: A general view of the destroyed prayer hall of Sayyida Zeinab shrine after a car bomb exploded near the shrine, in a suburb of Damascus, yesteday.—AP

Bomber hits shrine in Damascus Bomb goes off near security offices DAMASCUS: A suicide bomber blew up a vehicle near a revered Shiite shrine in the Syrian capital yesterday, wounding 14 people and damaging the shrine, state media and witnesses said.

Official news agency SANA said the vehicle exploded in a garage 50 metres (yards) from Sayyida Zeinab shrine. There was “substantial damage in the area of the blast” and “the terrorist who carried out the operation was killed,” it said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, citing anti-regime activists, said the bomb went off near security offices, damaging the apparent target as well as the shrine, as seen in a video posted on the Internet. A witness said a van drove at speed into the parking lot at 6 am (0300 GMT) and exploded among parked vehicles, including pilgrim buses. The vehicles and a nearby police station were damaged, an AFP photographer at the site said.

The windows of the mausoleum were shattered and its air vents ripped out by the force of the blast, which left a three-metre (10-foot) crater.

Tiles on the minarets were damaged.

International peace envoy Kofi Annan has warned that Syria’s 15 months of deadly unrest could turn into all-out sectarian war. Most of Syria’s 22-million population are Sunni Muslims,

while its minorities include Alawites, an offshoot Shiite community to which President Bashar alAssad belongs.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, mainly from Syria’s ally Iran, travel each year to the shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, a granddaughter of Prophet Mohammed, in an area of south Damascus that is home to many Iraqi refugees. Also early yesterday, a car bomb in Idlib city in northwest Syria targeted a military checkpoint, the Syrian Observatory said, adding that an unknown number of soldiers were killed or wounded.

At least 22 people were killed in the latest violence across the country, it said. International observers, meanwhile, visited Al-Haffe town in the Mediterranean province of Latakia, a day after Syrian authorities said the area had been “cleansed” of rebel fighters, a UN spokeswoman in Damascus said. Syrian rebels withdrew on Wednesday from the besieged town and nearby villages that had been under intense shelling by regime forces for eight days, according to the Observatory.

As the death toll of the conflict soars, Amnesty International accused Syria of committing crimes against humanity to punish communities supporting rebels. The London-based group called

for an international response after claiming it had fresh evidence that victims, including children, had been dragged from their homes and shot dead by soldiers, who in some cases then set the remains on fire.

“This disturbing new evidence of an organised pattern of grave abuses highlights the pressing need for decisive international action,” said Amnesty’s Donatella Rovera on the release of the 70-page report entitled Deadly Reprisals. The advocacy group interviewed people in 23 towns and villages across Syria and concluded that government forces and militias were guilty of “grave human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes.”

The allegations came as the Syrian Observatory reported that more than 14,400 people have been killed in Syria in the revolt against Assad’s regime, including 2,302 in the past month alone. The Observatory said eight people, including three opposition fighters, were killed in some of yesterday’s worst violence during clashes between troops and rebels in and around the central city of Homs.

Troops bombarded the rebel-held town of Rastan in Homs province “using helicopters and

mortars, killing and wounding a large number of rebel fighters,” the watchdog reported. In the southern city of Daraa, five people were killed in the Tareek al-Sad district, which was heavily shelled, the Britain-based Observatory said. Six people were killed in the central province of Hama. Opposition sources said anti-Assad groups are to meet in Istanbul on Friday and Saturday in a bid to settle their differences and close ranks.

Senior members of the main opposition Syrian National Council, the Kurdish National Council and smaller groups such as one led by tribal chief Nawaf al-Bashir are to take part in the meeting, they said. “It is kind of a last call to join us,” an SNC source said, on condition of anonymity. On the diplomatic front, British foreign minister William Hague yesterday urged Russia and Iran to use their “full influence” over their ally Syria to achieve a peaceful end to the bloody uprising. Hague met his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Kabul on the sidelines of a conference on the future of Afghanistan. China, meanwhile, said it disapproved of “one-sided” sanctions and pressure on Syria after France raised the prospect of a new raft of punitive measures against Assad’s regime.—AFP

International FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Egypt court orders parliament dissolved Rulings escalate power struggle CAIRO: Egypt’s highest court yesterday ordered the country’s Islamist-dominated parliament dissolved and ruled that the last prime minister to serve under Hosni Mubarak could stay in the presidential race, twin blows to the Muslim Brotherhood that could sweep away its political gains since Mubarak’s ouster 16 months ago. The rulings by the Supreme Constitutional Court, whose judges are Mubarak appointees, escalated the power struggle between the Brotherhood and the military, which stepped in to rule after Mubarak’s fall. The decisions tip the contest dramatically in favor of the ruling generals, robbing the Brotherhood of its power base in parliament and boosting Ahmad Shafiq, the former Mubarak prime minister who many see as the military’s favorite in the presidential contest against the Brotherhood’s candidate.

Senior Muslim Brotherhood leader and lawmaker Mohammed el-Beltagy said the

rulings amounted to a “full-fledged coup.”

“This is the Egypt that Shafiq and the military council want and which I will not accept no matter how dear the price is,” he wrote on his Facebook page. The Brotherhood and liberal and leftist activists who backed last year’s revolution against Mubarak accused the military of using the constitutional court as a proxy to preserve the hold of the ousted leader’s authoritarian regime and the generals over the country. Many of them were vowing new street protests. The ruling means that new elections will have to be held to form a new parliament. In the last election, held over three months starting in November, the Brotherhood came out the big winners, grabbing nearly half the seats.

Ultraconservative Islamists known as Salafis won another 20 percent. In the months that followed, the Brotherhood tried to translate those gains into governing power but was repeatedly stymied by

Ben Ali sentenced to life in absentia TUNIS: A Tunisian court sentenced ousted leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in absentia, to life in prison on Wednesday for presiding over the bloody protest crackdown that ignited the Arab Spring. Former interior minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem and several more of Ben Ali’s inner circle received sentences of up to 15 years in prison, but other key figures saw their charges dismissed, much to the anger of victims’ families.

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Ben Ali-who fled after his ouster and is living in exile in Saudi Arabia-over the killing of 22 people while clamping down on the central cities of Thala and Kasserine. “We tried to hand down a fair verdict, and nobody put any pressure on us. We were only guided by God and our own personal conviction,” civilian judge Chokri Mejri said at the end of the six-month trial in Kef, west of Tunis.

The court drew angry cries from victims’ families outside when it dropped charges against 10 officials, including former presidential guard chief Ali Seriati and the former director of Tunisia’s riot police, Moncef Laajimi. “Revenge!

Revenge!” they shouted, according to Abdelkarim Maghouri, a lawyer present at the hearing. “The judge could not fully read the verdict because of the ruckus,” Maghouri told AFP. Wasfi Seihi, whose cousin Wajdi was killed in Thala, said: “The judge should have pronounced the death penalty for all the accused.”

Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old vegetable seller from the central town of Sidi Bouzid, inspired the Tunisian revolt in December 2010 when he set himself on fire and died in protest at official corruption. His suicide set off weeks of protests that ended up toppling one of the most entrenched autocratic regimes in the Arab world and led to democratic elections last October that saw a moderate Islamist party rise to power.

The ouster of Ben Ali launched a wave of protests in the Middle East and North Africa that became known as the Arab Spring and is still sweeping the region. Wednesday’s convictions were the first of senior regime personnel over the killing of hundreds of protesters during the Tunisian revolution. But there were fears that anger over the acquittals of several key figures and lingering doubts that Ben Ali will ever be brought to justice could see fresh violence. “I fear that this judgment will cause unrest,” Anouar el-Bassi, a lawyer for victims’ families, told AFP. “Two former pillars of the forces of order” were acquitted, he said, referring to Laajimi and senior interior ministry official Moncef Krifa. Meanwhile, Tunisia’s government on Wednesday blamed Salafists and old regime loyalists for the worst unrest since Ben Ali’s ouster but dismissed suggestions that Al-Qaeda initiated the violence. —AFP

the military’s grip. On Saturday and Sunday, Shafiq goes head-to-head against the Brotherhood’s candidate, Mohammed Morsi, in the presidential run-off. The race has already deeply polarized the country.

The anti-Shafiq camp views him as an extension of Mubarak’s authoritarian regime. The anti-Morsi camp fears he and the Brotherhood will turn Egypt into an Islamic state and curtail freedoms if he wins. In its decisions yesterday, the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that a third of the legislature was elected illegally. As a result, it says in its explanation of the ruling, “the makeup of the entire chamber is illegal and, consequently, it does not legally stand.”

The explanation was carried by Egypt’s official news agency and confirmed to The Associated Press by one of the court’s judges, Maher Sami Youssef. The law governing the parliamentary elections was ruled unconstitutional by a lower court

because it breached the principle of equality when it allowed party members to contest a third of seats set aside for independents. The remaining two thirds were contested by party slates.

In a separate ruling, the court said Shafiq could stay in the presidential race, rejecting a law passed by parliament last month that barred prominent figures from the old regime from running for office.

Defenders of the law argued that after a revolution aimed at removing Mubarak’s rule, parliament had a right to prevent regime members from returning to power.

Opponents of the law called it political revenge targeting Shafiq. The court said the law was not based on “objective grounds” and was discriminatory, violating “the principle of equality.”

“This historic ruling sends the message that the era of score-settling and tailormade law is over,” a vigorous Shafiq told supporters gathered in a rally. —AP

Iraq pilgrimage security tight after bombs kill 72 BAGHDAD: Iraqi authorities banned motorcycles from Baghdad’s streets and dispatched tens of thousands of security forces to guard a Shiite pilgrimage yesterday after coordinated car bombings targeted processions across the country the day before, killing 72 people in one of the worst attacks since the US troops withdrawal.

Despite the violence, hundreds of thousands of faithful Shiites continued their marches to commemorate a revered saint. The processions of pilgrims carrying green banners filled roads into and around the capital as they made their way toward the twin-domed shrine in Baghdad’s Kazimiyah neighborhood where Imam Moussa Al-Kadhim is said to be buried.

“The events that took place yesterday will never undermine our determination to go to commemorate Imam Al-Kadhim,” vowed pilgrim Sayid Ali Jassim, standing near a security checkpoint where heavily armed soldiers peered out from behind barriers. Main Baghdad streets were closed off with concrete blocks yesterday, and soldiers at roadblocks searched pilgrims as they entered roads leading to the shrine. A senior Defense Ministry officer said motorcycles had been banned to reduce the risk that one might slip a bomb past a checkpoint, and he said at least 30,000 soldiers and police were on the streets. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the measures.

Authorities yesterday raised the death toll to 72 and said the 22 explosions in seven cities and towns on Wednesday also wounded more than 270 people, according to two officials from the health and interior ministries. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The attacks around the country came amid political tension over power-sharing. Iraq’s Sunnis and Kurds accuse the Shiite prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, of consolidating

power in his own hands. The sharpening political divisions suggest Iraq has made little progress in healing the breach among its religious and ethnic communities that once pushed the country to the brink of civil war.

No one has claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attacks but the bombings bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda and its Sunni militant allies seeking to exploit the sectarian tensions. Iraqi authorities played down any suggestion that the devastating attacks that have taken place every few weeks or so since the US military withdrew in mid-December portend a return to the all-out, sectarian violence that tore

the nation apart in 2006-2007.

Wednesday’s blasts were the third in a week targeting the annual Shiite pilgrimage to observe the eighth-century death of al-Kadhim, a revered saint who was the Prophet Muhammad’s great-grandson.

The commemoration culminates on Saturday. The level of violence has dropped dramatically in Iraq since the height of the war, though Shiite religious events still are often targeted.

But large-scale bombings still come once or twice a month and security forces have been unable to prevent such the attacks, even though they were on high alert this week.—AP

BAGHDAD: Muslim Shiite pilgrims walk past a cage representing the prison where the revered Imam Musa Kadhim was poisoned in the year 799, as they head on foot to the Kadhimiya shrine in north Baghdad to commemorate the death anniversary of the seventh of 12 Shiite imams, in the Iraqi capital yesterday.—AFP

International FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Cameron faces Murdoch storm at UK media probe

David Cameron

LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron faced a televised grilling over the nature of his relationship with Rupert Murdoch’s press group yesterday at an inquiry that has turned into a slow-motion political disaster for the British leader. Cameron’s daylong appearance at the Leveson Inquiry comes after months of embarrassing revelations on his friendships with people at the heart of Murdoch’s News Corp including two former newspaper editors now facing criminal charges.

Cameron’s judgment has also come under attack over his backing for a minister accused of discreetly championing News

Corp’s bid for full ownership of pay-TV firm BSkyB at a time when he was supposed to be an impartial overseer. One of the themes now dominating the inquiry is a widely held view that generations of British politicians cultivated powerful media figures, especially Rupert Murdoch, in a tacit agreement to look after each other’s interests. “The idea of overt deals is nonsense. I also don’t believe in this theory that was sort of a nod and a wink and some sort of covert agreement,” Cameron told the inquiry. Cameron set up the inquiry into media standards himself last year after a phone-hacking scandal erupted at one of

Murdoch’s British tabloids, but he has found himself increasingly under its glare.

His decision to agree to spend a whole working day at Leveson, at a time when he is under intense pressure over an economic recession, the euro zone crisis and other pressing matters, is a measure of how much the fallout from the Murdoch saga is dogging his premiership. He was well prepared and gave evidence fluently. He clasped his hands and frowned in concentration as he listened to questions from lawyer Robert Jay, and when speaking jabbed his hands left and right for emphasis.—Reuters

International FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

India steel factory explosion kills ten Cause of blast still uncertain

KRASNODAR: Russian President Vladimir Putin fastens the Order of Kutuzov sash to the flag of the Order of Alexander Nevsky at an award ceremony for the 393 Airborne Regiment in Korenovsk, Krasnodar region yesterday. —AFP

Putin says Russia needs new strategic bomber MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin says Russia needs a new strategic bomber and will develop it despite high costs.

Speaking yesterday at a meeting with the military top brass after visiting a base in southern Russia, Putin said the project would be expensive and technologically challenging. He added that the job needs to be done despite high costs, according to Russian news agencies. Putin didn’t mention any specific figures or a give a time frame for the project. Russia’s air force has several dozen Soviet-built Tu-95 four-engine turboprop bombers whose design dates back to the 1950s and just over a dozen more modern supersonic Tu-160 bombers.

Efforts to upgrade the fleet has been stymied by the 1991 Soviet collapse that left Russian economy in shambles.— AP

EU to warn new Serbian president over rhetoric BRUSSELS: Serbia’s new president yesterday tried to assure worried European leaders that he has shifted from his earlier extreme anti-Western stance, saying his country hopes to receive EU approval later this year to open accession talks with the bloc. Tomislav Nikolic, a former ultranationalist who says he has left behind his far-right views, has courted controversy since his election last month, questioning whether the Bosnian Serb killings of 8,000 Muslims in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre constitutes genocide and claiming that Vukovar, a Croatian town destroyed by Serb forces in 1991, is a Serbian city.

EU officials said they would warn Nikolic to tone down his nationalist statements if he wishes to see his nation progress toward membership in the bloc. After a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton during his first visit to Brussels, Nikolic vowed that “there is no better future for Serbia than membership in the union.”

During the 1990s Balkan wars, Nikolic was the deputy leader of the extremist Serbian Radical Party, which was even more hardline than Serbian autocrat Slobodan Milosevic.

Nikolic’s gradual transformation started after Milosevic was ousted in 2000 and he has shown recent signs of conciliation, expressing support for the previous government’s quest for EU membership. During his inauguration ceremony on Monday, Nikolic pledged to press on with pro-EU policies, declaring that “Serbia’s road to the EU is the road to the future.”

“Despite our problems with forming a government, we will do everything possible to receive EU approval before the end of the year to open accession negotiations,” Nikolic said after meeting Ashton. In March, the EU made Serbia an official candidate for membership - a key step on the road to full membership. A candidate nation must then be invited to open formal accession talks, which normally drag on for years.—AP

HYDERABAD: At least 10 people were killed and several others seriously injured in an explosion at a steel factory in southeast India, a local government official said yesterday. “Ten people died in the blast on Wednesday evening and about nine are battling for their lives in hospital,” Lav Agarwal, district administrator of Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh, told AFP. A spokesman for the plant who declined to be named said that first reports suggested that the explosion occurred in a control room, but that the cause of the blast was uncertain.

“We found people with 75 percent burns who were rushed to the hospital,” he said. “An oxygen supply pipe burst and we are investigating.” The stateowned Rashtriya Ispat Nigam plant, sit-

uated in Visakhapatnam, 600 kilometres (370 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad, was hit by another fatal accident last month when two workers were killed at the furnace site.

Local media reported that a fire broken out on Wednesday after a huge blast heard at about 8:00 pm, and that firefighters continued to battle the blaze in the morning as a full search for any further bodies was undertaken.

Many of the victims, who were all factory employees or contract workers, were treated at a hospital on the plant site with some of the injured moved to public hospitals in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam.

The Hindu newspaper reported on its website that eight people died at the scene and two others had died of their

injuries in hospital. It said that one general manager and three deputy general managers were among the dead. The plant, which is commonly known by the name of Vizag, was set up in 1971 and has recently raised its annual capacity from 3.0 to 6.3 million tonnes of liquid steel.

As part of the ongoing expansion plan, a new blast furnace was commissioned in April. The plant’s management did not immediately release details about the blast or any casualty numbers. Lax safety standards are a regular problem in India’s factories, and union leaders had raised concerned that the rapid expansion of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam plant could lead to a dangerous environment for workers.—AFP

Golden dream divides crisis-hit Greeks ARISTOTELES: In the economic wasteland that crisis-hit Greece has become for investors, the promise of gold from mines that once bankrolled Alexander the Great seems like an oasis in a desert. But the dream is by no means unanimous, even if it guarantees jobs in small towns like Aristoteles in northern Greece-named after the ancient philosopher who was born in the area-as the country grapples with a monstrous recession.

Greece’s desperate need for foreign capital, coupled with the sharp rise in the price of gold in recent years, has led to a renaissance of efforts to mine the precious metal. New projects are in the works in three places: near Perama in Thrace in north-east Greece, near Kilkis in the north and in the Halkidiki peninsula, both in the northern Greek province of Macedonia.

It is in Halkidiki that the process is most advanced, with the environment ministry in July 2011 awarding a licence to mine two seams of gold near Olympias to Hellas Gold, a subsidiary of Canada’s European Goldfields. The firm, acquired earlier this year by compatriot Eldorado Gold, says it plans to plough around one billion euros ($1.2 billion) into the mines of Halkidiki, which have been producing lead, zinc and silver for decades.

“We have already invested around 150 million euros and we employ 650 people. Eventually we intend to create 1,500 jobs,” Petros Stratoudakis from the firm told AFP. But not everyone is pleased.”How many jobs are going to be destroyed in agriculture and tourism because of the environmental effects?” wonders local Georgios Tsirigotis, 54, a university professor who campaigned against earlier mining projects.

The water supply for the east of the

Halkidiki peninsula-which has 8,000 inhabitants in the winter and up to 30,000 in summer-”passes exactly through where they want to mine,” he told AFP. According to campaign group No Dirty Gold, a single gold ring creates on average 20 tons of mine waste, while cyanide and other toxic chemicals used to separate gold from rock can seep into the local water supply.

economy. In particular the project’s proponents say that the gold will be extracted using a new method that negates the need to use cyanide, but detractors say the method is untested.

But the stand-off has gone beyond the use of words. An umbrella group of around 100 protest groups has been stepping up actions on the ground including occupying buildings, demonstrations and blocking

ATHENS: Panos Kamenos, leader of the Independent Greeks party, gives a press conference at the Zappion Hall in central Athens yesterday.—AFP Tsirigotis is a veteran of protests 10 years ago that culminated in the government cancelling a previous goldmining licence because of what it called “an imminent danger” to the environment. As a result he thought he was dreaming when he heard that this Pandora’s Box was about to be reopened. Each side in the dispute brandishes technical studies to support their arguments: either that the mine will be an ecological disaster, or that it will be harmless-and a boost to the

roads. In March, scuffles between mine workers and demonstrators left several people injured. The project has also been dogged by allegations of corruption, with the European Union in 2011 condemning Greece for having sold the contract to European Goldfields at an inflated price and without a proper tender process. The state secretary in the economy ministry at the time is now the mayor of the town of Aristoteles where the new mines will be.—AFP

International FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

US wildfires fuel urgency for forest restoration ALBUQUERQUE: As firefighters battle blazes in the western US that have forced hundreds of evacuations and destroyed hundreds of structures, the US Forest Service chief is renewing his call to restore forests to a more natural state, where fire was part of the landscape. Experts say a combination of decades of vigorous fire suppression and the waning of the timber industry over environmental concerns has left many forests a tangled, overgrown mess, subject to the kind of super-fires that are now regularly consuming millions of acres and hundreds of homes.

The urgency couldn’t be greater, Tom Tidwell said. The plan calls for accelerating restoration programs - including prescribed fires and mechanical thinning - by 20 percent each year in key areas that are facing the greatest danger.

This year’s target: 4 million acres. The budget: About $1 billion. “We need to understand the conditions we’re facing today,” Tidwell told The Associated Press in an interview. “They’re different than what we used to deal with.

We’re seeing erratic fire behavior, more erratic weather.” In

southern New Mexico, a lightning-sparked fire raced across more than 37,000 acres in recent days, damaging or destroying at least 224 homes and other structures.

Hundreds of residents remained out of their homes Wednesday.

To the north, a Colorado fire has burned 73 square miles, destroyed more than 100 structures and forced hundreds of people from their homes. The blaze was just 10 percent contained late Wednesday. The accelerated restoration effort is focused on several projects, the largest of which is a 20 year plan that calls for restoring 2.4 million acres across four forests in northern Arizona. The Forest Service recently awarded a contract to start thinning the first 300,000 acres.

A similar project is planned in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico, where a historic fire ripped through 244 square miles and threatened one of the national’s premier nuclear laboratories last summer. Forest officials estimate the cost of fire suppression in some of the areas tar-

geted for restoration could be reduced by up to 50 percent because of the work.

Still, there are millions of acres - wilderness and roadless, rugged areas - where mechanical thinning won’t be an option. In those areas, fire will have to take its natural course. “Everybody has to keep in mind that fire will play a huge significant role in our landscape for the rest of time,” Newman said. With more natural fires, experts contend the forest has a better chance of recovering.

Severe fires tend to sterilize the soil, destroy any banks of seeds stored in the ground and leave mountainsides primed for erosion.

Tidwell said campaigns are under way at the federal and state level to address the benefits of restoration, particularly prescribed fire under the right conditions. “We’re going to have trade-offs of either dealing with smoke at different times of the year or dealing with what we’re dealing with now,” he said, pointing to the fires burning across the country. — AP

Obama, Romney take campaigns to Ohio Ohio key to election hopes of both candidates

CABO SAN LUCAS: Mexican Federal Police personnel in riot gear during a crowd control drill on Wednesday, in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico, at an undisclosed temporary base. There are 1000’s of law enforcement officers rolling in to the Los Cabos area for the G-20 Summit to be held June 1820 with the attendance of the world’s largest country leaders. —AFP

Prosecutors winding down case against Sandusky BELLEFONTE: The child sex abuse trial of Jerry Sandusky resumes yesterday as prosecutors appear to be winding down their case against the 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach, charged with abusing 10 boys over a 15-year span. Judge John Cleland has said the prosecution could rest by the end of the day on Friday. Five of Sandusky’s accusers have now testified, including three on Wednesday.

Sandusky has maintained his innocence in the face of graphic testimony this week and accusations from the prosecution that he groomed potential victims through a charity he founded for at-risk youth.

Sandusky’s attorneys have suggested his accusers have financial reasons for coming forward. On Wednesday, one accuser said Sandusky pinned him down and performed oral sex on him, threatened to keep him from seeing his

family if he reported what happened and later told him he loved him. The alleged victim is one of two who came forward after Sandusky was initially charged in November with assaulting eight boys, a scandal that jolted one of the most storied college sports programs in the country.

Speaking in a calm but sometimes hesitant voice, the 25-year-old said Sandusky later apologized for the threat: “He told me he didn’t mean it and that he loved me.” An expressionless Sandusky sat mostly still at the defense table, occasionally turning his head to look the accuser in the eye. Jurors also heard excerpts from a television interview Sandusky did on NBC’s “Rock Center” soon after his arrest. In the interview with Bob Costas, Sandusky said he’s not a pedophile but shouldn’t have showered with boys. — AP

WASHINGTON : The crucial state of Ohio was getting a full dose of presidential politics yesterday, with President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney trying to sell voters on their visions of how to fix the battered US economy. The campaign appearances mark the first time Obama and Romney have taken their message to the same state on the same day. Ohio is key to the election hopes of both candidates. With less than five months remaining until the Nov. 6 election, they are virtually tied in the polls.

New reports on the economy yesterday brought little optimism, with weekly applications for unemployment aid inching up and a broad measure of trade, the US current account trade deficit, widening in the first three months of the year for the largest imbalance since late 2008. Under the US election system, presidents are chosen in state-bystate contests. No Republican has won the presidency without carrying heavily populated Ohio, which, unlike most other states, is neither predictably Republican nor Democratic. Obama won Ohio by 5 percentage points in 2008, but the Republicans stormed back two years later with sweeping victories in the state gubernatorial and congressional races.

Yesterday’s campaign appearances are scheduled in different cities but just minutes apart. Obama’s visit, his 22nd to Ohio as president, comes as once-confident Democrats are increasingly worried he could lose the November election. It follows a difficult two weeks for the president, including a dismal report on the jobless rate rising to 8.2 percent, a Democratic defeat in a rare governor recall election in Wisconsin and an impressive fundraising month for Romney and Republicans, who surged ahead of Obama and the Democrats for the first time.

In addition, the Federal Reserve this week released data showing that the median family net worth shrank to levels not seen since 1992 between 2007 and 2010. The Obama campaign may take heart, however, from a Gallup poll released yesterday saying 68 percent of Americans surveyed still said former President George W. Bush was to blame for the economic problems engulfing the United States.

Romney again assailed Obama’s economic record Wednesday, telling business leaders in Washington that he expects the president to use “cheap” words during yesterday’s economic speech in Cleveland. Obama’s speech is scheduled to start just minutes before a Romney campaign stop in Cincinnati. “You’re going to see him change course when he speaks tomorrow, where he will acknowledge that it isn’t going so well,” said Romney, who is planning a fiveday bus tour through Ohio. “My own view is that he will speak eloquently, but that words are cheap.”

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who says his personal success as a businessman is evidence he can shepherd the US economy, said Obama’s record over the last

three and a half years “is the most anti-investment, antibusiness, anti-jobs series of policies” in modern American history. “He is not responsible for whatever improvement we might be seeing. Instead, he’s responsible for the fact that it’s taken so long to see this recovery,” he said. The Obama campaign countered that Romney’s speech was filled with “dishonest claim after dishonest claim” about the president’s record, and that the Republican was trying to deflect attention from his own poor economic record as Massachusetts governor.

The proof of Ohio’s status as a campaign battleground is in the spending. Last week, the two campaigns and their allies poured more money into TV ads in Ohio - about $1.3 million each - than in any other state, including Florida. In the most recent weekly measure of campaign broadcast spending, Romney’s forces nearly matched Obama’s dollar for dollar in Ohio.—AP

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama (R) and First Lady Michelle Obama enter the East Room with Israeli President Shimon Peres for a dinner where he was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Wednesday at the White House in Washington, DC. The medal is the highest civilian honour in the US. —AFP

International FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

American’s health declining in Cuba prison, says Lawyer WASHINGTON: A lawyer for an American imprisoned in Cuba for more than two years says his client’s health is declining and that Cuba is withholding the results of medical tests performed on him last month. Peter Kahn, a lawyer for Alan Gross, said he sent a letter Monday to Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington requesting the test results. He said the Maryland man now has difficulty walking and has developed a mass behind his right shoulder blade.

Kahn said Gross, a U.S. government subcontractor who was working in Cuba when he was imprisoned in 2009, was told the test results would be provided so that American doctors could look at them. But he said that hasn’t happened though other test results have been provided in the past.

“They still haven’t shown up, and we’re not getting a straight answer as to why, which causes us even more concern because maybe there is something serious going on here,” Kahn said. The Cuban government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Gross, 63, was sentenced to 15 years for crimes against the state after he brought restricted communications equipment to the communist island nation while on a democracy-building program. Kahn did not release the letter he sent to Jorge Bolanos, Cuba’s ambassador in Washington, but said he would wait for a response. He did provide a photo of Gross taken in May that shows he has lost a significant amount of weight.

Gross’ family has said the American had lost more than 100 pounds since being imprisoned in Cuba. But his health has worsened recently. Kahn said Gross used to walk in circles around his cell and do pull-ups but that he is no longer able to do so. Cuban doctors told Gross he has emphysema, severe degenerative arthritis and a hematoma, a gathering of blood under the skin, on his shoulder.

His wife, Judy Gross, who now lives in Washington, DC, has been sending over-the-counter drugs and a prescription cholesterol medication. But the medications are taking a long time to reach him, and she expressed worries about his health in an e-mailed statement.

“I am afraid that he is slipping away, and the Cubans’ refusal to provide his recent medical results only heightens my concerns. I am worried they might be concealing something,” she wrote. Kahn said that Alan Gross is concerned about his health and also the health of his family, including his mother who has inoperable lung cancer. Kahn wrote directly to Cuban President Raul Castro in March asking that Gross be allowed to travel to his mother’s home in Texas for two weeks in April in order to be with her and celebrate her 90th birthday. Kahn promised Gross would return to Cuba, but he did not receive a reply.

In March, a judge in Miami allowed a Cuban intelligence agent on probation in the United States to fly to Cuba to visit his brother, who also has lung cancer. Rene Gonzalez later returned to finish serving a three-year probation sentence.

The ruling had raised hopes Cuba might reciprocate with a similar humanitarian gesture for Gross. “He gave his word that he was going to return, and he was a man of his word and he did return. There’s no reason why Alan shouldn’t be trusted in the same context,” Kahn said. — AP

Mexico bus crash kills 11 MORELIA: Mexican officials say a bus on a school field trip has crashed in the western state of Michoacan, killing 11 people, including two children. State prosecutor’s office spokesman Jonathan Arredondo says another 34 people were injured Wednesday when the bus crashed into a house and then split in half. He says the brakes may have failed. Earlier Wednesday, Arredondo said three children were among the victims. He said two children, a brother and sister, were killed. Arredondo says the bus was traveling to an exotic animal farm with kindergarten students, parents and teachers aboard when the accident occurred in the small town of San Marcos. The school had rented the bus for the day. — AP

Chavez shows off first Venezuelan drone CARACAS: Venezuela has developed its own unarmed aerial drone with help from Iran, China and Russia, according to President Hugo Chavez, saying the drones had military and civilian uses. It is “one of three aircraft that we have made here, and we will continue to manufacture them,” Chavez said Wednesday during a meeting with defense chiefs. “Russia, China, Iran and other allied countries” had contributed to the project, he added. The drone has a range of 100 kilometers (60 miles), can reach an altitude of 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) according to General Julio Morales, head of the state-run Cavim arms manufacturer, which developed the aircraft.

They can stay aloft for up to 90 minutes and can transmit real-time video and images, and is currently being upgraded in order to carry out night flights, he added. The three-byfour-meter drone was part of a system “exclusively for defense,” aimed at surveillance and the monitoring of pipelines, dams and other rural infrastructure, Morales said.

Another official said the drone was made from components manufactured in Venezuela and assembled by military engineers trained in Iran.

Cavim is currently developing factories to manufacture rifles, grenades, gunpowder and ammunition. Chavez hailed the recent development-with Russian aid-of a factory to make AK-103 assault rifles. “We have the right (to manufacture weapons),” Chavez said. “We would not if we were a colony, but we are a free and independent country.”

When completed, the factory is expected to produce 25,000 rifles and 70 million rounds of ammunition a year.

Chavez, who has been recovering from nearly a year of cancer treatment, plans to seek a new term in elections later this year. Chavez, in power since 1999, has been a vocal opponent of what he refers to as US “imperialism” in Latin America, and has boasted of close ties with American foes like Iran and Cuba. — AFP

CARACAS: Handout photo released by the Venezuelan Presidency of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (2-R) speaking next to Venezuelan Defense Minister Henry Rangel Silva (C) during a visit to the Ministry of Defense in Caracas on Wednesday. —AFP

Quebec teacher suspended for showing grisly video MONTREAL: A Montreal teacher has been suspended for showing high school students a video that police believe shows the slaying and dismembering of a Chinese student, authorities said Wednesday. Police suspect Luka Magnotta of killing Jun Lin and posting a video online that shows him stabbing and having sex with the dismembered corpse. The case drew national attention when Lin’s body parts were mailed to the headquarters of two of Canada’s main political parties, and provoked an international manhunt when the suspect fled to Europe. Magnotta was caught Berlin last week and is facing extradition.

Montreal police said Wednesday that DNA results confirmed that two body parts mailed to two Vancouver schools last week belong to Lin. His head is still missing. The teacher was suspended with pay on June 4, the same day he showed the video. The school board released a statement calling the teacher’s behavior inappropriate and offensive. Staff at Cavelier-De LaSalle High School said that a team of psychologists was available to deal with any problems. The teacher’s name was not released.

The video is so disturbing that, according to Montreal police, even seasoned detectives who watched it were troubled. The teacher, whom one student described as being in

his 20s, had been under contract to teach a 10th-grade history and citizenship education class through the end of the year.

Education Minister Michelle Courchesne criticized the teacher.

“It’s horrifying,” Courchesne told reporters in Quebec City. “It’s a very, very serious and total lack of judgment. I don’t see any educational value in that.”

Some students defended the teacher. Maude Aubin-Boivin, 17, who was in the class when the video was played, said it was it was the kids who asked the teacher to show it. She said the teacher hesitated and that a few of her classmates objected. In the end, the class voted with a show of hands 22 to 3 in favor of watching it, she said. The three who voted against it stayed and watched anyway. “He’s a very good teacher,” Aubin-Boivin, 17, said. “Honestly, his courses are super fun ....

He’s a teacher who knows his job and who knows how to teach.”

Before showing the video, she said, the teacher warned the class, “‘Watch out, for sure there are images that could be shocking.’” She said he fast-forwarded through some of the video. Aubin-Boivin said the contents were troubling, but insisted she was fine. “For sure, at the beginning I found it tough,” she said. “But I wasn’t traumatized or anything. We see so much these days on TV.” — AP

International FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

India PM on defensive as economy hit by bad news Congress says Singh will remain PM until 2014

Sarath Fonseka

Lanka’s ex-army chief vows to win next polls COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s former army chief-turned-opposition leader vowed yesterday to topple the government in elections due by 2016, calling the administration corrupt and dictatorial in a speech three weeks after emerging from prison.

Sarath Fonseka, once a close ally of President Mahinda Rajapaksa but now a bitter enemy, said he was in talks with other opposition lawmakers to come up with a common election strategy against Rajapaksa’s administration.

“We must topple this corrupt government,” he said, in his first news conference since his May 21 release from prison.

Elections, however, are not due for another four years, and the current government is unlikely to want to call early elections because it now controls two-thirds of the parliament’s seats.

Also, Fonseka himself is barred from running for another seven years because of his prison term, although he said would spearhead the opposition in the interim.

“I can speak on election platforms, I could form a political party and be its leader and could lead the masses,” he said.

After challenging Rajapaksa in 2010 elections, Fonseka was charged and convicted of fraud and later of additional charges - in what he and his supporters said was a political vendetta by Rajapaksa’s administration. The government has denied those allegations, and had no immediate reaction to Fonseka’s comments yesterday.

Fonseka was freed as a result of a presidential pardon by Rajapaksa, which was issued following intense pressure from both the former army chief’s local supporters and foreign governments, including the United States, which called him a “political prisoner.” Fonseka, yesterday, accused the government of nepotism. One of Rajapaksa’s brothers is the parliament speaker, another is defense secretary and a third is minister of economic development. Fonseka also complained about a constitutional amendment pushed through by Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition in 2010 that boosted the president’s control over the judiciary, police and elections officials, while eliminating term limits for the presidency.

Rajapaksa and Fonseka were both considered war heroes by the Sinhalese majority for crushing the Tamil rebels in 2009, ending a quarter-century civil war that killed 80,000 to 100,000 people But they fell out months after the war ended and the general quit the army after accusing Rajapaksa of sidelining him, suspecting a military coup. Their relationship further deteriorated after Fonseka challenged Rajapaksa in the presidential election in 2010.— AP

Truck crashes in India; 12 kids among 24 dead AHMADABAD: A cargo truck carrying workers and their families overturned on a slippery road yesterday after overnight rains in western India, killing 24 people and injuring another 17, police said. The workers had hitched a ride aboard the truck while it was hauling salt to Madhya Pradesh state, police officer Bharat Bhai said. The dead included 12 children and six women, Bhai said. The accident occurred near the automobile manufacturing hub of Sanand, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Ahmadabad, Gujarat state’s main city, Bhai told The Associated Press. The 17 injured were hospitalized, 11 of them in serious condition, he said. Police earlier said that 25 people were injured in the accident. Road accidents are common in India due to negligence, bad roads and aging vehicles.—AP

NEW DELHI: India’s ruling Congress party was in turmoil yesterday after two key allies signalled they had lost confidence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose fragile coalition government has struggled to cope with mounting economic problems. The party was forced to spring to the prime minister’s defence, insisting he would remain in his post until general elections due by 2014, after the allies suggested he should be considered for the largely ceremonial position of president.

Congress was blindsided by the comments from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has repeatedly thwarted proposed economic reforms despite being a member of the government, and Mulayam Singh, another powerful regional leader. Congress’s ability to get its nominee elected president is widely seen as an important test of its power after it suffered stinging defeats in provincial elections this year. India will elect a new president on July 19 and Singh has already made clear he has no interest in taking the post.

Singh, hailed as the architect of landmark economic reforms he introduced in 1991 when he was finance minister, has been widely criticised by business leaders and investors for weak leadership at a time when India is beset by slowing growth, dwindling foreign investment, and high inflation. There was fresh evidence of the economic troubles yesterday. Government data showed that exports from Asia’s third-largest economy fell 4.16 percent in

May over the previous year, while inflation rose in the same month to 7.55 percent.

Congress, which has ruled India for most of the 65 years it has been independent, has yet to officially name its presidential candidate, but Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is viewed as party leader Sonia Gandhi’s top choice.

SURPRISE SNUB Until Wednesday, the party thought it had the votes it needed to get him elected and much of the focus had been on who would replace him and whether the change in leadership would be a boon to the economy. But the snub by Congress’s allies - Mukherjee was not on their list of potential candidates - threw what had been a relatively smooth presidential race into disarray and fuelled speculation about a new government lineup that would not include Singh, who has been prime minister since 2004.

“We cannot afford to remove Manmohan Singh from the prime minister’s post. It is our commitment to the nation. He will stay in the chair until 2014,” said Janardan Dwivedi, the Congress party’s chief spokesman.

Television news channels showed Congress leaders shuttling back and forth from Sonia Gandhi’s New Delhi home as she tried to plot a way forward. Three Congress officials told Reuters that Mukherjee remained her preferred candidate but that the situation was fluid.

News reports said the party was scram-

bling to muster the votes it needed from a coalition of smaller parties. It was not clear whether it would get the magic number it needs to get its candidate through the electoral college. “The Congress would lose face badly if it does not now run with Mukherjee,” India’s Economic Times warned. With the next general election widely expected to produce a fragmented parliament with no clear winner, Congress wants to make sure it controls the presidency. The new president will play a key role in deciding which party takes the lead in forming a government.

The political drama is a major distraction at a time when the flagging economy and global economic uncertainty require the government’s full attention, a government official said. “It is not correct to say that the work has stopped. Work is going on. But it does act as a distraction,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

When the situation is bad, you would want complete focus on the economy.”

Indian media offered differing interpretations for Wednesday’s embarrassing snub by the regional allies, but analysts agreed it was typical of the machinations that complicate Indian politics and confound good governance. “Everybody has a chess game in mind,” said analyst Surjit Bhalla, chairman of Oxus Investments, expressing hope that the latest developments could provide the impetus to shake up the political landscape and break the policy inertia.— Reuters

Afghan neighbors try to tackle issues together KABUL: Afghanistan’s neighbors and regional heavyweights met in Kabul yesterday to do something they rarely do - try to tackle common threats and problems together. With NATO’s combat mission ending in 2014, the region’s countries are being called on to help stabilize Afghanistan by joining forces to resolve regional problems such as extremism, drug-trafficking, poor coordination on economic issues and, most importantly, terrorism. Any cooperation, however, is bound to share the stage with longtime neighborhood rivalries, the ongoing war in Afghanistan and a fragile effort to reach a peace accord with the Taleban .

Opening the one-day conference, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the head of the government-appointed peace council will travel soon to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to seek their continued help in talking peace with the Taleban in hopes of ending decades of war. Security was tight in the capital for the conference, with roads blocked off and a heavy police presence in the streets. An attack in the east served as a reminder of the daily violence in the country. An officer with the national intelligence service was killed in a suicide bombing in Kunar province, according to Gul Zaman, the administrative head of Nari district where the blast

occurred. Karzai said that successful peace discussions with the Taleban are one of the most important elements in attaining harmony in the region. The Afghan leader, who has pushed neighboring Pakistan to do more to help further the peace process, thanked Saudi Arabia for its help in trying to find a political resolution to the war.

“We also very much hope that our brothers and sisters in Pakistan will do same,” Karzai said. The Taleban have been willing in the past to hold discussions with the United States but have rejected talks with the Afghan government, although Karzai insists that Taleban leaders have spoken with his government in private. The Taleban have announced their intention to open an office in Qatar.

Karzai has backed that plan, but has been pushing Saudi Arabia as a venue for any possible talks.

Karzai said that Salahuddin Rabbani, the head of the high peace council, would visit Saudi Arabia and Pakistan soon. Rabbani is the son of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was killed in September 2011 by a suicide bomber posing as a peace emissary from the Taleban . Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Pakistan stood ready to assist with the peace process, but that Afghanistan’s various

factions need to reach a consensus about a political resolution to the war. Only then can it be supported by Afghanistan’s neighbors, she said.

Pakistan has been accused of providing militants sanctuary on its soil and aiding insurgents who attack Afghan and foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has been pushing Islamabad to help lure Taleban leaders, who are believed to be hiding or under arrest in Pakistan, to the negotiating table.

Pakistan has been under pressure from the United States, too. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a recent visit to Kabul that the US was losing patience with Pakistan and wants it to do more to go after the Taleban , especially the Al-Qaeda affiliated Haqqani network.

“While there are formidable challenges ahead, we must not be consumed by negativity,” Khar said. She said Pakistan was committed to fighting for peace. “This is a matter of Pakistan’s core national interest,” she said. “We in Pakistan know that we cannot grow, that we cannot progress and we cannot live peacefully if our neighbors, particularly and especially our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, are not growing, are not progressing and are not living peacefully.”—AP

International FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Ethnic groups suffered in Myanmar clashes 30,000 people displaced

FUKUI: This Jan 26, 2012 file photo shows No 3, right, and No 4 reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co’s Ohi nuclear power plant in Ohi, Fukui prefecture, western Japan. Japan moved closer yesterday to restarting the nuclear reactors for the first time since last year’s earthquake and tsunami.— AP

Japan moves closer to restarting reactors TOKYO: Japan moved closer to restarting nuclear reactors for the first time since last year’s earthquake and tsunami led to a nationwide shutdown after a mayor gave his support yesterday to bringing two of them back online. All 50 of Japan’s workable reactors are offline because of safety concerns or for maintenance since the March 11, 2011, disaster caused radiation leaks at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.

Public opposition to nuclear power remains high, even though the government has been pressing for the restart of reactors because it says nuclear energy is crucial to Japan’s economy.

Power companies have warned of looming shortages, as demand reaches its summer peak. Work to restart two reactors in the western town of Ohi, which are the first ready to resume generating power, could begin as soon as this weekend now that the mayor signed off on the plan. Once the work begins, it takes about three weeks to get a reactor operating at full capacity. The governor of Fukui, the prefecture (state) in which Ohi is located, now has to meet with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to inform him that the local governments are willing to accept the restart plan. The prime minister has to give final approval, which Japanese media reports said will likely happen Saturday.

“We want to move ahead as quickly as possible once we receive the approval,” said Takahiro Senoo, a spokesman for Kansai Electric Power Co., the utility that runs the plant. He said that if work is begun soon the plant could be up and running in time to meet the summer crunch, which is expected in mid-July or August. Ohi Mayor Shinobu Tokioka said he approved restarting the reactors because he is concerned about possible power shortages and the impact on the local economy of keeping the plant closed.

Local consent is not legally required for restarting the reactors, but the government wants the support because of the sensitivity of the issue. The public has shown great concern that government failures, such as not sharing radiation leak data, worsened the crisis at Fukushima and could recur.

Last year’s massive earthquake and tsunami caused explosions and meltdowns at the Fukushima plant. Tens of thousands of residents were evacuated because of the radiation leaks. Although the plant’s operator says it has restored some stability, it could take years to decontaminate the area and decades to safely close down Fukushima’s reactors.

With the high-demand summer months looming, Noda announced last week that he wants to restart Ohi’s reactors as soon as possible. He also said he wants to move forward with the restart of other plants as soon as their safety is confirmed. Before last year’s crisis, Japan depended on nuclear for about one-third of its electricity and was planning to expand that further. The government is now carrying out a sweeping review of that plan. Noda said the government has taken ample measures to ensure the two reactors in Fukui prefecture would not leak radiation if an earthquake or tsunami as severe as last year’s should strike them.-AP

YANGON: The communal violence that swept through a western Myanmar state over the past week killed 29 people and inflicted similar damage on both of the contending ethnic communities, figures from local authorities showed yesterday.

Authorities in the Rakhine state capital Sittwe also revealed that 30,000 people had been displaced, much higher than previous tallies and possibly posing a relief problem for a poor area.

While government media had made some effort to not directly blame either side for the violence - describing rioters as ‘terrorists’ - other press coverage and news spread over the Internet gave a strong impression that the Rohingya community was mostly the aggressor. The reports fueled long-standing prejudice against the Rohingya, who Myanmar’s government and many citizens widely regard as illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh.

The government appeared keen to keep the violence from spreading into a Buddhist-Muslim split elsewhere in the country. Although the tensions in Rakhine state are based on ethnic rivalries, they also split along religious lines. The media briefing in Sittwe, led by Rakhine state minister for border affairs Col. Htein Lin, was the first since serious rioting broke out last Friday in the state’s Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.

Officials told reporters that 13 ethnic Rakhines and 16 Rohingya Muslims were killed in clashes from last Friday through Wednesday, while the injured included 16 Rakhine and 22 Rohingya. They also said 31,884 displaced people are being sheltered at monasteries and schools. Of 2,528 houses that were burned down, 1,192 belonged to Rakhines and 1,336 belonged to Rohingyas. Nine Buddhist monasteries and seven mosques were also burned, they said. Unrest hit eight areas in all, they said: Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Sittwe, Rambree Island, Mrauk Oo, Ponna Kyun , Pauk Taw and Kyauktaw, with the most

damage and death in Maungdaw and Sittwe. Army troops were called out to help quell the violence last Friday and a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed, and when the situation spread to Sittwe, a seaport and the area’s main urban center, President Thein Sein declared an emergency for the state, giving the military full administrative powers to keep order.

Sittwe was calm for the second straight day, with banks and some shops open.

The violence had drawn appeals globally for a restoration of peace, and Thein Sein had said if it spread, it would threaten his policy of democratic reforms after five decades of repressive military rule. On Wednesday Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N.’s human rights expert for Myanmar, warned that the recent deadly violence in Rakhine state poses a “serious threat” to

the country’s future.

“It is critical that the government intensify its efforts to defuse tension and restore security to prevent the violence from spreading further,” he said in a statement. The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar issued a statement saying Charge d’Affaires Michael Thurston had met separately in Yangon with local Muslim organizations and the Rakhine National Development Party.

“The most important thing now is that all sides remain calm. Further dialogue is needed. And dialogue can only occur when there is calm,” the statement quoted Thurston saying. It also said the embassy encouraged Myanmar’s government to investigate in a manner that respects due process and the rule of law.—AP

GENEVA: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, and ILO director, Chilean Juan Somavia, left, attend a press conference during the 101st International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday.— AP

Philippine tycoon wins battle to keep fortune MANILA: Philippine billionaire Lucio Tan has won a decades-long legal battle to keep the fortune he built up during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, his lawyer said yesterday. An anti-graft court ruled on Wednesday that the government’s 1987 seizure of some 22 billion pesos (about $520 million at current exchange rates), was illegal, lawyer Estelito Mendoza said in a statement.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government froze the assets, which included beer, tobacco and banking firms, shortly after Marcos was deposed, alleging in court Tan conspired with the dictator to acquire them illegally. Mendoza said Tan, an ethnic Chinese tycoon ranked by Forbes as the secondrichest Filipino with an estimated fortune of $3.5 billion, hoped the ruling

would finally end the government’s campaign against him.

“It is (Tan’s) hope that with this decision of the Sandiganbayan (court), the (government) will relent in its effort to lay claim to his assets and in restricting the exercise of full rights over those properties,” Mendoza said. The assets include Fortune Tobacco, a dominant player in the local cigarette market, Asia Brewery, the country’s number-two beer manufacturer, and Allied Banking, a midranking domestic lender. Tan retained controlled of these companies during the sequestration but could not sell or merge the firms.

The 77-year-old has always denied that he received favours from Marcos, who was toppled in a bloodless “people power” revolt in 1986 and died in US

exile three years later. One of the first acts of the government that succeeded Marcos was to form the wealth commission to recover up to $10 billion in state assets allegedly stolen by the dictator and his associates. However successive governments have largely failed in their efforts, with local courts frequently ruling in favour of the cronies, many of whom have remained extremely powerful political and business figures.

Last year another Marcos ally, Eduardo Cojuangco, an uncle of the current president, also beat government efforts to take back his shares in San Miguel Corporation, one of the country’s largest conglomerates. Tan had also got the anti-graft court to lift the sequestration twice previously, Mendoza said. —AFP

Business FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Nokia to cut 10,000 jobs

Iran unhappy with oil price fall PAGE 21

PAGE 20

GODAVARIKHANI: Indian coal miners push a trolley laden with coal inside an underground tunnel of a mine owned by The Sinagareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) at Godavarikhani, some 250 kilometers east of Hyderabad. Human Rights Watch yesterday blasted the Indian government for failing to regulate the country’s “out of control” mining industry which it said fuelled corruption and damaged local communities. — AFP

Dubai deflation eases, dips 1.2% Food prices jump 3.1$; Housing costs down DUBAI: Deflation in Dubai eased to its lowest annual rate in four months in May, data showed, dipping to 1.2 percent to extend the emirate’s longest period of price declines since inflation hit a record 10.8 percent in 2008.

Month on month prices rose 0.3 percent, driven by higher food costs, ending a series of five monthly falls in the Gulf trade and business hub, yesterday’s Dubai Statistics Center data showed. Annual price falls eased to 1.5 percent in April from 1.9 percent in March. Deflation is being mainly driven by a weak housing market, which has yet to recover from a property crash in late 2008, though the United Arab Emirates of which Dubai is a part uses price controls to keep some food costs low.

The property market remains oversupplied with new residential units following a $25 billion debt restructur-

ing of a state-owned conglomerate in 2009-2010. Strong trade flows and tourist numbers helped Dubai’s economy, which faces billions dollars of debt maturities in the coming years, expand 3.4 percent in 2011. “(It is) another benign monthly inflation figure driven by a rise in food prices,” Giyas Gokkent, chief economist at National Bank of Abu Dhabi, said in a note. “Dubai continues to experience deflation in the annual headline figures due to a decline in rents.”

Costs of housing including rents and utilities dipped 0.1 percent month-on-month. The item, which accounts for nearly 44 percent of consumer expenses in the coastal desert emirate, showed an average monthly drop of 1.1 percent this year. Dubai house prices may finally stop falling this year, a Reuters poll showed in May, although oversupply will weigh

on the market for some time and keep property developers away. Food prices in Dubai’s $83 billion economy jumped 3.1 percent in May compared with the previous month, the most in 11 months.

In neighboring Abu Dhabi, which accounts for almost all of the United Arab Emirates’ crude production, annual inflation dipped to 1.7 percent in May from April’s nine-month high of 1.8 percent, data showed earlier this month. The UAE, the world’s No. 3 oil exporter, is yet to release May inflation data for the whole federation. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the largest among the UAE’s seven emirates. The UAE’s hydrocarbon and trade-reliant economy is forecast to see a slower growth of 3.1 percent this year after 4.2 percent in 2011 due to the global slowdown and weak domestic bank lending. — Reuters

News

in brief

Aramco ramps up exploration KHOBAR: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia may raise the number of its drilling rigs to a record high above 150 next year as the state oil giant ramps up exploration for unconventional gas, industry sources said. Boosting natural gas output helps Saudi Arabia meets its rising domestic demand for power. The rigs will mainly be aimed at an increase in drilling for unconventional gas in the Red Sea area and will include some rigs in the oilfields of Shaybah and south of Ghawar, the sources said. The state oil giant will drill as many as 20 gas wells in the northwest of the country, two of the sources said.

Aabar grabs Arabtec stake DUBAI: Abu Dhabi state-fund aabar Investments bought a 21.6 percent stake in Dubai builder Arabtec for a value of 827.6 million dirhams ($225.32 million), an income statement by the fund’s parent firm IPIC showed yesterday. The stake purchase shows aabar valued Arabtec at around $1 billion. Arabtec currently has a market value of $1.2 billion following an 88-percent surge in the share price in 2012. Aabar, which owns stakes in high-profile names such as German carmaker Daimler and commodities trader Glencore, has been quietly building its stake in Arabtec this year through market purchases.

Business FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Kuwait to pour $150 million into Malaysia IHH IPO KIA’s biggest investment in Asian IPO SINGAPORE: Sovereign wealth fund Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) will invest about $150 million in Malaysian firm IHH Healthcare’s planned $2 billion IPO in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, two sources with direct knowledge of the deal said. The investment is poised to make KIA the second-biggest investor in the Malaysian healthcare firm’s IPO. It will be the fund’s biggest investment in an Asian flotation since it poured $800 million into Agricultural Bank of China’s $21 billion offering in 2010.

With a heavy reliance on cornerstone investors and domestic demand, Malaysia has bucked the dismal IPO trend in other markets such as Singapore, where motor racing firm Formula One decided to delay its near $3 billion offering due to volatile markets. In the latest blow to Asian deals, soccer club Manchester United also

ditched its plans for an Asian stock market flotation and is preparing to list in the United States, IFR reported on Wednesday. Cornerstone investors back many Asian listings, committing to buy large, guaranteed stakes and agreeing to a lock-up period during which they will not sell their shares.

BIG-TICKET INVESTMENTS KIA, which manages $280 billion in assets, invests in big-ticket IPOs, but has been lately keeping its powder dry amid volatile markets, banking sources have said earlier. Malaysia pension fund EPF will separately invest about $200 million in the IHH IPO, making it the biggest investor in the deal, said the sources, who could not be named because the details of the deal are not public. “These two are the biggest cornerstone investors in IHH,”

one of the sources said. IHH declined to comment. EPF and KIA could not be immediately reached for comment.

IHH Healthcare, which is partly owned by state investor Khazanah Nasional Berhad, is the country’s second-biggest IPO this year after Felda Global Ventures Holdings priced its $3.1 billion IPO late on Wednesday near the top of an indicative range. The IHH IPO is expected to be priced in the second week of July and the listing is scheduled in the week starting July 23, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters. IHH this week already locked in BlackRock Inc, Capital Group and Och-Ziff Capital Management Group as cornerstone investors for its dual listing, sources said. The board of International Finance Corp (IFC), the financial arm of the World Bank, has also approved a proposal to become a cor-

nerstone investor in IHH’s offering, a source said.

BUYING SPREE IHH has been on an aggressive buying spree in the past few years. It now owns Turkish hospital group Acibadem AS , Singapore’s Parkway Holdings, India’s Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd and Malaysia-based Pantai Hospitals and International Medical University. The firm is offering 2.2 billion shares, out of which 80 percent will be new shares. The sale amounts to some 25 percent of its enlarged capital. CIMB, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America-Merrill Lynch are the lead global co-ordinators, with Credit Suisse, DBS, Goldman Sachs and Maybank acting as joint bookrunners in the deal. Nomura, Singapore’s OCBC and UBS are the co-lead managers.— Reuters

Islamic capital protection targets the retail market

ULM: Mobile phones are displayed in the entrance hall of the Nokia research center in Ulm, western Germany yesterday. —AFP

Nokia to cut 10,000 jobs HELSINKI: Finland’s Nokia, one of the world’s biggest mobile phone makers, yesterday cut its outlook and said it planned 10,000 job cuts by the end of 2013 amid massive additional cost-saving measures. “These planned reductions are a difficult consequence of the intended actions we believe we must take to ensure Nokia’s long-term competitive strength,” company chief executive Stephen Elop said in a statement. Following the news, Nokia, which only recently lost the world number one ranking maker spot it had held for 14 years, saw its shares plunge more than 11 percent on the Helsinki stock exchange, which was down 2.0 percent. The company, undergoing a major restructuring for more than a year, said it would implement an additional 1.6 billion euros ($2.0 billion) in cost reductions by the end of next year, especially affecting its beleaguered Devices & Services unit. As part of the cuts, Nokia said it would close facilities in Ulm, Germany, Burnaby, Canada, and its manufacturing plant in Salo, Finland, although its Salo research and development operations would continue. “As a result of the planned changes announced today, Nokia plans to reduce up to 10,000 positions globally by the end of 2013,” the company said, adding that it had begun discussions with unions and other employee representatives.

Analysts were caught off guard by the announcement. “These cuts were bigger than anyone expected. We knew that something would happen but this was well beyond our expecta-

tions,” Nordea Bank analyst Sami Sarkamies said, adding that the deeper-than-expected spending cuts and falling stock price could make Nokia a prime takeover target. “It is possible that in the current situation a bigger company would buy Nokia,” he said. Another analyst, however, said that remained an unlikely scenario.

Nokia yesterday also announced a massive management reshuffle. “We must re-shape our operating model and ensure that we create a structure that can support our competitive ambitions,” Elop explained. The move came as Nokia continues to suffer major market share losses in the all-important smartphone market. Nokia has since early 2011 been restructuring and phasing out its Symbian smartphones in favor of a partnership with Microsoft.

That alliance has produced a first line of Lumia smartphones, which Nokia is counting on to help it survive in a rapidly changing landscape marked by stiff competition from RiM’s Blackberry, Apple’s iPhone and handsets running Google’s Android platform among others. “We intend to pursue an even more focused effort on Lumia, continued innovation around our feature phones, while placing increased emphasis on our location-based services,” Elop said. Nokia acknowledged that competition in the second quarter was hitting its smartphone business harder than expected and warned the operating loss in its main mobile devices unit would be bigger than previously anticipated.— AFP

SYDNEY: Islamic capital-protected products are starting to gain ground among retail investors in the Gulf, because of volatility in the equity markets and growing acceptance within the industry of how the products are created. Traditionally, capital-protected products have been somewhat controversial among Islamic investors; although offering a defined return is acceptable in Islamic finance, investors must take some risk, so that they are not getting money for nothing. In capital-protected products, it can be argued that investors are avoiding downside risk.

The complexity of the products has also alienated some Islamic investors, given Islam’s suspicion of pure monetary speculation and financial engineering. “It’s a proprietary solution, a black box,” said a senior banker involved in one of the transactions, adding that reading the fine print of the contract was needed to understand some of the risks borne by investors.

But investors’ disillusionment with equities is pushing some towards capital-protected products as a relatively safe alternative. After soaring in the first quarter of this year, Gulf stock markets have given up almost all their gains as the global financial climate has worsened. Equities trading volumes have fallen back towards last year’s low levels. Takaful (Islamic insurance) companies in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia have cut their equity exposure by 30 percent over the past five years, according to an April report by Ernst & Young. “Long-only funds have not met the requirements of shariacompliant investors” who lack tools to protect themselves against high market volatility, said Ruggiero Lomonaco, executive director for the Middle East and Africa at Royal Bank of Scotland.

RETAIL A number of Gulf institutions is responding to the market opportunity. Earlier this month, Qatarbased Barwa Bank launched a retail offering linked to a basket of Indonesian and Turkish stocks, guaranteeing all principal with the “potential to earn double-digit returns”, the bank said. Dubai-based Noor Islamic Bank launched two products in May. One is linked to the volatility of stock markets in the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries; if a benchmark for volatility is breached, exposure to equities is trimmed and moved to other investments. The other offers a choice from a basket of asset classes; every six months, clients are given the option to pick the best-performing asset and

drop another from their basket.

In March, Dubai-based Takaful Emarat launched an equity fund offering 90 percent of principal protection, structured via Morgan Stanley. The aim was to “come up with innovative products that suit the demands and needs of our customers”, chief executive Ghassan Marrouche said. Industry sources said it was too early to tell the extent to which demand for capital-protected products was rising in the Gulf. Takaful Emarat said it raised 4 million dirhams ($1.1 million) in the first two weeks.

Since the products are sold as certificates, with assets actually held in large issuer companies such as Morgan Stanley, asset size is not reported by the Islamic banks, making it hard to determine the volume of their business. But in the United Arab Emirates at least, the regulatory environment appears to have become more welcoming for structured products in recent months. “In the UAE, the approval process for retail distribution was tightened three years ago, but since then it has been somewhat relaxed,” said Geert Bossuyt, chief executive of Islamic finance consultants Dar Al Istithmar.

STRUCTURES Conventional capital-protected products often comprise a zero-coupon bond, which guarantees a fixed amount at maturity, and an option contract that provides access to a particular market exposure. Islamic versions tend to use a similar approach. The guaranteed principal is often created using a murabaha, a cost plus mark-up contract, that delivers a return similar to a zerocoupon bond. Attempts to replicate the option contract have spawned different, competing methods but the market has gradually warmed to a structure known as wa’ad, a “unilateral promise”.

Effectively the issuing institution promises to deliver a return linked to a reference index. This flexibility has allowed investors access to commodity baskets, as in the case of a product launched by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank in September, and hedge fund returns, as in a product available from Dubai Islamic Bank. The wide range of financial instruments and markets to which Islamic investors can be exposed through a wa’ad has prompted criticism from some sharia scholars, who have questioned whether religiously impermissible industries such as tobacco could become involved indirectly. — Reuters

Business FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Spain’s debt hits record; shares extend losses Euro-zone crisis worsens LONDON: Spain’s 10-year bond yield climbed to a euro-era record of 7 percent on Wednesday as the storm surrounding Europe’s debt crisis worsened, with fears over its impact on global growth sending world shares lower. US stock index futures pointed to a more mixed start on Wall Street after weak retail sales data and the euro-zone’s problems had sent shares lower on Wednesday. “The underlying problem of deteriorating confidence in sovereign debt in Europe is continuing to intensify,” said Lee Hardman, currency economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.

The rise in Spanish debt yields came as Germany, Europe’s most powerful economy, rebuffed calls from other European leaders to help underwrite the region’s debt or guarantee deposits in euro-zone banks. Chancellor Angela Merkel, addressing parliament in Berlin, labeled ideas such as issuing joint euro bonds or creating a Europe-wide bank deposit guarantee scheme as “miracle solutions”, and said they were “counterproductive” and would violate the German constitution.

The apparent tensions at heart of the euro area over how to deal with the crisis did little to shake the single currency out of its trading range however, with many investors sidelined by the approach of Sunday’s cliffhanger election in Greece, which could see it leave

the 17-member currency bloc. The euro has spent the week within a range between a near two-year low set on June 1 of $1.2288 and Monday’s threeweek high of $1.2672 and was up 0.1 percent yesterday at $1.2575. “The euro has been relatively stable as we head into the Greek election, and that will dictate market direction next week.

Investors do not want to take on extra

risk at this point,” Hardman said.

The worries about Spain sent its 10year government bond yields up as much as 25 basis points to a record high of 7.02 percent, just over the 7 percent mark that drove Greece, Ireland and Portugal to seek international bailouts.

The rise followed a three-notch downgrade in Spain’s credit rating by Moody’s Investors Service late on

SINGAPORE: A digital billboard flashes the Asian markets index at the financial district of Raffles place in Singapore yesterday. Asian markets fell yesterday, as dealers followed losses on Wall Street while selling pressure was also stoked by fears over Spain and nervousness ahead of crucial Greek polls. — AFP

Oil cools euro-zone inflation BRUSSELS: Euro-zone inflation hit a 15-month low in May as fuel and transport costs fell, giving the European Central Bank leeway to cut interest rates, though that alone would do little to revive the region’s stuttering economy. The ECB left rates at 1 percent last week and its president says the onus is on the region’s governments to take concerted action to boost confidence and competitiveness in a region where separate figures yesterday showed labor costs continued to outpace economic growth.

Many economists expect the ECB to cut borrowing costs in the coming months, and ratesetter Ewald Nowotny said late last week the bank has the ability to ease policy if the economy continues to weaken. But cutting cost of borrowing for companies would do little to address the euro-zone’s underlying problems, with banks reluctant to lend, Spanish bond yields spiraling and Greece’s future in the euro-zone uncertain.

“I think there’s quite a high chance of a rate reduction already over the next one or two months, but I think the big question is whether cutting rates has much meaning in the current environment,” said Nick Kounis, a senior economist at ABN Amro.

Annual consumer price inflation in the 17 countries sharing the euro was 2.4 percent in May, EU statistics office Eurostat said yesterday, dropping from 2.6 percent in April as world oil prices fell.

“At the moment we are seeing the effects of past oil price rises and indirect tax hikes, but inflation is likely to collapse next year, so the ECB probably does have some room for manoeuvre,” Kounis said.

SMALL MERCIES Confidence in the euro-zone’s economy has evaporated as European leaders struggle to get to grips with the bloc’s twoyear debt crisis. “The central actors in this crisis are not in Frankfurt but in Berlin and it is up to governments not central banks to dig the euro-zone out of this,” Kounis said. EU leaders will discuss establishing closer fiscal ties at a summit on June 2829, and a draft statement prepared for them to deliver after they meet underscored the need for banking and budgetary integration. —Reuters

Wednesday, which took it to within one notch of “junk” status. Spanish yields have risen sharply this week after eurozone ministers agreed at the weekend on a rescue plan of up to 100 billion euros for the country’s banks that has failed to convince investors it solves Spain’s financial problems. The yields on Spanish debt later eased back to be around 19 basis points higher on the day at 6.97 percent.

ITALY IN FOCUS Fears that Spain’s problems may be repeated on an even larger scale in Italy, Europe’s third-largest economy, saw its three-year borrowing costs spike to 5.3 percent at auction yestersday, the highest since December. Italian government 10-year bond yields also rose three basis points to 6.25 percent. The gains came despite Germany’s strong expression of support for Prime Minister Mario Monti’s reforms when he visited Berlin on Wednesday.

“We are fast approaching the point where both Spain and Italy may have to be removed from the market,” said Gary Jenkins, director of Swordfish Research.

Europe’s top shares extended their recent losses, with concerns about Spain and Italy adding to fears the worsening euro-zone debt crisis was hurting global growth, crimping appetite for riskier assets like equities. —Reuters

No change on oil limits, OPEC says Iran unhappy with price fall VIENNA: OPEC prepared to keep oil output limits on hold yesterday, leaving swing producer Saudi Arabia to unilaterally decide whether it needs to scale back supplies to stem a price slide. Most in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries want cartel number one Saudi Arabia to cut back to defend oil prices at $100 a barrel but Riyadh is keen to prevent high fuel costs hampering a return to stronger economic growth in the West.

Extra oil from Saudi is largely responsible for lifting OPEC output to 31.6 million bpd, well in advance of the group’s formal 30-million-bpd target. “In my opinion we should be keeping to the ceiling, the ceiling we agreed in December,” said Angolan Oil Minister Jose de Vasconcelos. “In all probability,” OPEC would retain that formal target, said Kuwaiti Oil Minister Hani Hussein. Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi, though, has often surprised in the past and caused some uncertainty earlier in the week. First he suggested OPEC might need to lift its collective limit to match forecast demand for the rest of the year- estimated by OPEC headquarters at 30.7 million bpd. The next day he said he was happy with policy as is.

IRAN SAUDI MEETING AMIABLE Iran, often at odds with Saudi Arabia at OPEC, appears in no mood to squabble at this meeting, despite being unhappy that a fall in prices has coincided with a drop in its exports because of Western sanctions against its nuclear program.

“We object to the drop in prices,” said Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi. A meeting between Saudi Oil Minister Ali AlNaimi and Qasemi passed amiably, delegates from the two countries said. Oil prices have dropped from a $128 peak for the year in March to $97, in part because the economic outlook has darkened but also because of increased Saudi output

VIENNA: Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke (right) speaks to journalists prior to the start of the meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, at their headquarters in Vienna yesterday. — AP that in April set a 30-year high of 10.1 million barrels a day.

That has lifted world oil inventories rapidly, a deliberate move by Riyadh to counter the possibility that Iranian oil output falls heavily when a European Union embargo on Tehran starts next month. Iranian production is already down to a 20year low. Naimi has called the extra Saudi volumes and consequent oil price decline “a kind of stimulus” for the world economy. —Reuters

Business FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Airbus assembly forges ahead despite carbon spat Factory receives parts for 100th Chinese-assembled jet TIANJIN: Three years after it bet heavily on China by opening its first assembly line outside Europe, Airbus has entered talks in a bid to extend production beyond 2016, offering airlines a chance to buy a locally assembled version of a future revamped jet. The move comes as a trade row grows between Beijing and Brussels over European Union plans to tackle carbon emissions by foreign airlines - a move Airbus says led to the suspension of long-distance jet orders worth up to $14 billion.

It also coincides with the start of work on the 100th aircraft since the assembly line opened near Beijing. Fuselage parts for the centurion jet arrived at the Tianjin factory late on Wednesday, ready to move through a four-part production line.

Airbus has backed China’s refusal to accept an EU decision to force airlines into its emissions trading scheme, which covers flights into and out of Europe. But it does not expect the row to affect assembly in the gritty port city of Tianjin.

Assembly of short-haul A320s there began in 2009 following a Sino-French pact, as Airbus seeks hundreds of sales in the fastest-growing aviation market and Beijing grows the skills needed to support its own fledging passenger aircraft industry. Airbus owns 51 percent of the production venture with partners including China Aviation Industry Corporations (AVIC I and II) and Tianjin Free Trade Zone. A contract for a total of 284 aircraft runs until the end of the first quarter of 2016. “We have started discussions with our partners on whether and on what

terms to renew our contract,” Laurence Barron, president of Airbus China, said.

He said the two sides had agreed a date by which they must make a decision to allow long lead-time production to continue without interruption, but declined to say when this would be.

Unlike traditional outsourcing deals, Airbus says it costs more to produce an A320 in China because of the longer lead times, including a month-long sea voyage needed to bring the aircraft from Europe in sections ready for assembly. The logic of opening the plant was to sustain Airbus sales to China, which ordered a total of 400 A319s or A320s worth over

$30 billion at today’s prices in three lots following the deal.

Tianjin is the third assembly line for the best-selling 150-seat A320-family after Toulouse in France and Hamburg in Germany. The current generation of A320-family aircraft is due to be upgraded with fuel-saving engines from 2016 in a modification that spurred record Airbus sales last year, and prompted rival Boeing to react with its own makeover of the popular 737. Were the deal extended, the revamped “A320neo” aircraft would automatically be produced in Tianjin as well as Europe. The world’s largest passenger jetmaker has a 48 percent market share in

TIANJIN: Photo shows an Air China Airbus A320 plane under construction on the assembly line of Airbus factory in the northern port city of Tianjin. — AFP

US jobless claims up WASHINGTON: New claims for state jobless benefits rose for the fifth time in six weeks and consumer prices fell in May, opening the door wider for the US Federal Reserve to help an economy that shows signs of weakening. Though the increase was small, it undermined hopes that a recent slowdown in hiring would prove temporary. “There is very little sign of life,” said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer of Hugh Johnson Advisors in Albany, New York. “The economy as measured by employment conditions has slowed and there doesn’t appear to be any change when you look at the claims numbers.”

New claims rose by 6,000 last week, the Labor Department said yesterday, and have been trending higher since February, which may have marked a turning point for the US economy.

Every month since February, employers have cut back on new hiring. The slackening US recovery and a worsening debt crisis in Europe have increased expectations of a further easing of monetary policy by the Fed, although economists are divided on whether the central bank will act when it holds its next policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Prices for US government debt fell following the publication of the data.

In a sign the Fed could have more maneuvering room at that meeting, consumer prices dropped 0.3 percent last month, the sharpest decline since December 2008. Holding back inflation last month, US gasoline prices fell 6.8 percent, the most in more than three years, the Labor Department said. The reason for the decline appears to be Europe’s debt crisis, which menaces the global economy and has pushed world oil prices lower.

That amounts to something of a silver lining for the wider economy because it suggests consumers could have a little more money to spend on other things. It also brightens President Barack Obama’s chances of reelection in November. The president will make his case on the economy at a campaign speech yesterday in the battleground state of Ohio. Still, outside the volatile food and energy category, inflation pressure appeared more steady. These so-called core prices climbed 0.2 percent, matching the prior month’s increase.

Stickiness in the core reading could give pause to some Fed policymakers as the central bank considers possible measures to help the economy. —Reuters

China versus Boeing’s 52 percent, and the nation represents 20 percent of its global deliveries. It estimates that in the next 20 years, China will need 4,270 new passenger and cargo aircraft.

RISING LABOUR COSTS Tianjin will barely dent overall demand, but is seen as a gamble that Airbus hopes will lead to significant new sales. Airbus is producing three aircraft a month in Tianjin and 37 in Europe, which will rise to four and 38 respectively by the end of the year. Barron said the Tianjin venture would break even this year.

Certain costs are kept inside Airbus, such as the financial burden of carrying inventory for an extra three months while it is prepared and shipped to Tianjin, and an allowance for shortfalls in efficiency that are inherent in early production. Analysts say the costs still being borne inside the joint venture are likely to be the most thorny issue during the renewal talks, which could take a couple of years to complete. Barron said Airbus would make every effort to “compress” the extra costs resulting from the elongated supply chain. It has started by consolidating some of the work finishing off Chinesemade wing parts in Tianjin rather than sending the parts off to Europe to be completed and sent back. The venture cannot, however, escape some of the pressures facing virtually all industrial businesses in China. The factory’s manager Jean-Luc Charles, a Toulouse-born Airbus veteran, said labor costs were rising by 8 percent a year. —Reuters

Countries across world gird for Greece turmoil China, India working on contingency plans TOKYO: The threat of turmoil sweeping across global markets next week if Greece’s election prompts a panicky flight of money from the euro-zone has policymakers from Beijing to Zurich preparing to protect their currencies and economies from an unwelcome influx. Swiss National Bank President Thomas Jordan is among the most vociferous, dangling the threat on Thursday of imposing capital controls to stop the Swiss franc from soaring as a result of investors seeking the currency’s relative safety. “The SNB will not tolerate this,” he said bluntly.

Switzerland is not alone. The Bank of Japan is prioritizing market stability, according to one source, with economists saying the bank’s main concern would be to stop the yen taking off. Intervention would be a likely response should the yen rise too high for the authorities’ taste. With G20 leaders meeting in Mexico next week there is even speculation of a coordinated global response although no evidence of that has emerged so far. India has a range of crisis management groups within the government set up to deal with euro-zone-triggered financial stress, according to Kaushik Basu, the finance minister’s chief economic adviser.

In China, key agencies including the central bank, have been asked to come up with similar plans, sources said last week.

Measures may include keeping the yuan

steady and stepping up policies to stabilize the economy, they said. The big concern for all these countries - and others across Europe and the Americas - is that a victory on Sunday by parties in Greece opposed to austerity attached to its second bailout will send the euro-zone further into crisis by pushing the country towards the currency bloc’s exit door.

There are already signs of contagion.

Spanish 10-year bond yields rose above 7 percent for the first time in the euro era yesterday, hitting a level widely seen as being unsustainable. It has all triggered concerns about another global financial market spasm similar to the one that followed the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

“Europe’s debt problems are the biggest risk to the global and Japanese economies,” BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa told parliament this week. “A loss of market stability will lead to a severe economic slump, as we experienced during the Lehman crisis.”

Norway could also suffer a hot money surge.

It could cut interest rates in extremis to curb its currency, and has a monetary policy meeting next week, but with an already thriving economy it would risk overheating.

Fellow euro outsider Denmark is in a similar camp. Its central bank, and a top Swiss central banker, said last month that they were looking at the possibility of deploying negative interest rates.

DEFENDING THE FORT Switzerland is already working to protect its economy from uncontrollable franc strength, a condition that damages exports and raises the danger of deflation. It imposed a cap of 1.20 francs to the euro last September and pledged yesterday to defend it. “Even at the current rate, the Swiss franc is still high.

Another appreciation would have a serious impact on both prices and the economy in Switzerland,” Jordan, the SNB chairman, said.

“If necessary (the bank) stands ready to take further measures at any time.” Jordan did not say whether capital controls - stopping money from flowing in and out - were under consideration, but he pointedly did not rule them out, saying: “We are continuously looking at all possible other measures.”

Sources in Tokyo said capital controls had been discounted in Japan because of the size of the economy, the world’s third largest. But with the shock of the 2008/2009 crisis still fresh, the country is not taking any chances.

Indeed, many of the policies adopted in 2008/2009 are still in place, such as near zero central bank interest rates and easier collateral terms for short-term funding operations.

The Bank of Japan still has a Lehman-legacy dollar-swap arrangement with the US Federal Reserve, as do others. The latest extension of the deal, which allows the BOJ to tap unlimited amounts of dollars, runs to February 2013. —Reuters

Tr a v e l FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

THEY ARE THE 99!

99 Mystical Noor Stones carry all that is left of the wisdom and knowledge of the lost civilization of Baghdad. But the Noor Stones lie scattered across the globe - now little more than a legend. One man has made it his life’s mission to seek out what was lost. His name is Dr. Ramzi Razem and he has searched fruitlessly for the Noor Stones all his life. Now, his luck is about to change - the first of the stones have been rediscovered and with them a special type of human who can unlock the gem’s mystical power. Ramzi brings these gem - bearers together to

THE FASCINATING STORY OF THE 99 Baghdad lies in ruins, destroyed by the marauding armies of Hulagu Khan. The brave librarians of the great Dar Al-Hikma rush to save the glory of the ancient world’s accumulated wisdom, little knowing that centuries later their efforts will bear strange fruit. While the Noor Stones were created to save the library, their power has transcended that task and in our own time has provided extraordinary abilities to an international group of young people, the world’s newest superheroes known as… The 99.

www.the99.org

The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2012, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

form a new force for good in the world. A force known as ... the 99!

Opinion FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

DAMASCUS: A UN observer takes photographs as he inspects the damage inside a Shiite holy shrine in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb of Damascus, after a suicide car bomb exploded there early yesterday, wounding at least 14 people and damaging one of Shiite Islam’s holiest shrines, Syrian state media and witnesses reported. —AFP

Tehran set to continue backing Assad Iran’s Syria options limited as Assad battles on DUBAI: Iran’s clerical leadership never misses a chance to parade on the international stage and it has been buoyed by suggestions the oil-producing nation of 75 million might join a group of global powers intended to revive peace efforts in Syria.

The reality however is a little different.

The Islamic Republic appears to be running out of options if it is to maintain its influence in Syria and by extension its ability to manipulate events across the Middle East.

Wedded to President Bashar Al-Assad’s bloody crackdown against Syrian rebels, distrusted by opposition groups and sanctioned by Western nations over its controversial nuclear program, Iran’s top authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has little room to maneuver, say diplomats and analysts.

The only real tool left in Iran’s locker would seem to be raising the fear - and arguably an implied threat - of protracted and bloody civil conflict in Syria. Tehran hopes it could force Western governments to step back and focus instead on the idea of working with Syria’s power structure.

“The Iranians want to play a role, but only to protect their interests. It’s a serious predicament and there’s no Plan B. Changing course is going to be very difficult for them,” said a European diplomat based in Tehran.

For Tehran, having a voice on a Syrian contact group as proposed by special envoy Kofi Annan would serve as a way of safeguarding its interests beyond its borders, give it a hand in shaping events inside Syria and ensure the popular revolutions that have gripped the Middle East do not spread

to Iran. But that role already looks out of reach. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has rebuffed suggestions of Iranian involvement, accusing the country of helping Damascus to “stage-manage the repression” and British officials are equally frosty. Few doubt they can be persuaded to change their minds.

Key allies In recent years Iran’s Shiite theocracy has strengthened its alignment with Syria’s nationalist secular government to further its opposition to Israel and as a counterweight against Sunni powers in the region such as Saudi Arabia.

Together Damascus and Tehran count among their achievements confronting former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and through supporting the militant Hezbollah movement - forcing Israel to withdraw from its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.

There is little doubt about the concern felt in Tehran’s corridors of power over the crisis in Syria. But Iran’s leadership isn’t panicking just yet. “If things keep ticking the way they are now, the Iranians are sitting relatively comfortably,” said a western diplomat, referring to the level of violence going on. “The Russians are doing all the heavy lifting internationally and Iran can just sit back behind them.”

For now, Iran is doing what it can to help Assad to hang on. That includes supplying training, weapons and communications expertise to assist Syrian forces in wiping out rebel groups.

A senior commander in Iran’s Al-Quds

Brigade - the revolutionary force with a special focus on military operations outside the country - was last month quoted in official media as hinting that Iranian forces were active inside Syria.

Initially, Iran viewed the Arab Spring as a welcome trend. Tehran’s political elite watched those they regarded as pro-western dictators being swept away by what they saw as a vibrant “Islamic awakening”.

But the situation in Syria threw the Iranian theocracy into some apparent confusion. At first Iran’s leaders were defiant, then the language mellowed as the crisis deepened.

There were opaque calls for the Syrian government to reform and for the “legitimate demands” of the people to be met.

But as Assad dug in, so Iran’s leaders reaffirmed their support. Guiding them was the increasing involvement of rival regional powers - Qatar and Saudi Arabia - which were starting to fund Syrian opposition groups.

LOOKING BEYOND ASSAD Iran is however less wedded to Assad and more to what his leadership represents.

Khamenei may decide to let go of Assad in favor of retaining his security apparatus, diplomatic sources say.

“Iran may be ready for after Assad but not for the end of the Baath regime,” said a nonwestern diplomat based in Tehran. As long as the Iranians can rely on keeping the bulk of the security establishment in place, he said, Assad could be dispensable.

The source also alluded to Iran’s flirtations with Syrian opposition groups. There had been indirect contact with the Syrian

National Council, an umbrella opposition organization based in Turkey, he said. “It is clear they are making some plans with possible opposition contacts but the situation is very fluid,” the diplomat added. Opposition figures however say they have no trust in Iran, given its support for Assad’s persecution of his own people.

There are also suspicions Iran may try its hand at securing concessions from the West over its nuclear program in return for withdrawing support for Assad. Iran’s economy is suffering from tough sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies, which accuse Tehran of seeking to develop an atomic weapons capability.

Diplomats say such bargaining would not succeed given some Western estimates that Assad can only hold on for so long.Ultimately, isolation is what Iran fears most. Its biggest concern is that it becomes “the next step of the Middle East revolutions project,” said the non-Western diplomat in Tehran.

For 33 years the Islamic Republic has survived in adverse conditions but it remains deeply sensitive to the explosive demonstrations that erupted in Iran after elections in 2009 that threatened its very existence.

“Probably the most important factor in their decision-making is the worry that failure in Syria will lead to copy-cat actions in Iran,” said Ali Ansari of Scotland’s St Andrew’s University. “The key for them here is not necessarily to prevent the fall of Assad but to suggest that any fall would be long bloody and protracted, as a useful deterrence to their own opposition. It’s cynical but effective.”—Reuters

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FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Years

www.kuwaittimes.net

A Red Beard Flying Warrior performs during a dress rehearsal of the "Peking Opera" at the Opera House in Sydney, Australia, yesterday. — AP

Food FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

recipes Everyday cooking

By Sawsan Kazak

M

y fondest memory of corn is when my mother would buy huge bags of it at the market in Montreal. We would then sit in the backyard and clean the corn for hours. The whole house would smell of fresh corn and we would enjoy it simply with a touch of butter and a sprinkling of salt. Corn on the cob is not in abundance here in Kuwait but that doesn’t mean we can enjoy its sweet taste. The following recipes highlight the great taste of corn.

Send your suggestions to: sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

Food FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Corn and black bean salad I

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon white sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can sweet corn, drained

n a small bowl, mix together balsamic vinegar, oil, salt, sugar, black pepper, cumin, and chili powder. In a medium bowl, stir together black beans and corn. Toss with vinegar and oil dressing, and garnish with cilantro. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Sweet corn soup

3/4 cup whole sweet corn kernels 3/4 cup sweet corn, grated 5 cups Clear Vegetable Stock 3 tbsp cornflour mixed with 1/4 cup water 1 tsp sugar (optional) salt to taste

P

ut the stock in a pan and add the sweet corn kernels. Cover and cook over a medium flame for approximately 10 minutes or till the corn is tender. Add the grated corn and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add the cornflour paste and simmer for some more time. Add the sugar and salt and serve hot with chillies in vinegar, soya sauce and chilli sauce.

Aztec salsa

2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and chopped 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (11 ounce) can Mexican-style corn 3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped 3 green onions, sliced 1 small red onion, chopped 1/4 cup olive oil, or as needed 1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix

L

ightly combine the avocados with red wine vinegar in a salad bowl. Stir in the black beans, corn, tomatoes, green onions, and red onion. Whisk together the olive oil and Italian dressing mix in a bowl, pour over the salad, and toss lightly.

Grilled corn on the cob 6 ears corn 6 tablespoons butter, softened salt and pepper to taste

P

reheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate. Peel back corn husks and remove silk. Place 1 tablespoon butter, salt and pepper on each piece of corn. Close husks. Wrap each ear of corn tightly in aluminum foil. Place on the prepared grill.

Cook approximately 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until corn is tender.

Relationships FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

When your child leaves the nest I

f you’re a parent with a grown up son or daughter who is getting ready for college soon, the painful thought of parting would have crossed your mind. Relax!

It’s just a part and parcel of life and you can look forward to having the family car all to yourself finally - and pretty much everything else! Here’s how to learn to let go because distance is known to make the heart grow fonder.

Be prepared: Being mentally prepared is most important as your understanding and handling of this situation can affect your child in ways that you may never know. Understand that this is a brand new beginning for your child too. If you demonstrate any apprehensions and negative emotions, your child may sense these through your communications. To help your child make a smooth transition, gear yourself up to take it all in your stride and set a good example as a parent.

Fix your attitude: Train your mind to think positively and fix your attitude. Think of all the exciting opportunities-educational or worldly, your child could encounter with this exposure. Imagine the wide and wonderful experiences he could gain and remember to count your blessings. Having given parenting your best shot, it is now the perfect time for you to step back and revel in your child’s accomplishments.

Believe in the value of your upbringing and in your child’s capability to cope with this new change and make the best of this significant milestone in your child’s life.

Shift your focus: Now that you may have more time on your hands, this would be the best time to shift your focus temporarily-away from you fledgling child and concentrate on other members of your family. Perhaps there are younger siblings who need your support and attention; you need to brace yourself up, stay calm and cheerfully optimistic. Learn to adapt to the new situation and look upon it as an opportunity for growth. Think of it as a time to share extra magical moments with your spouse or to give an extra special time to your other kids.

Consider others: It would be wise to make use of this time to think things out from others viewpoint. Forget how you feel; stop brooding over how much you miss your child. You may not be the only one experiencing this predicament.

Instead, why not make it a point to consider others for a change? Determine that from today onwards, you will only nurture positive thoughts and not react negatively to any situation or people. Kindness and thoughtfulness have a way of soothing the most raging spirits; use these lavishly from time to time.

Avoid boredom: Now is the time to seep yourself in pleasurable activities. This is the surest way to avoid boredom. Snap out of it right away; do something exciting, out of the ordinary. Allow yourself the luxury of an exclusive spa, go sailing or skiing or hiking. Take up a hobby, write that longshelved letter, read a stimulating book, entertain yourself with a classic movie.

Another sure way to avoid boredom-tell your spouse “I love you.” Show him/her that you care. Don’t just exist- LIVE! Strive to learn each day, from every new experience and practice what you can from each of the above five tips. Above all, have faith; faith in yourself, your child and most importantly in God. Faith in God makes us strong and resilient. Finally, repeatedly remind yourself these two things: First, your child wherever he/she is will always remain your child—-no matter how far his wings will carry him and second, your child will continue to cling to the embedded roots which you have so lovingly planted in your home. www.fabulously40.com

Fun ways to cope H

aving problems trying to figure out what to do with your college child’s room now that he has moved out? It doesn’t last long. Once you get used to having more freedom, you realize there’s a whole lot of living going on. It’s time to party!

1. Create an entertainment room Besides having a living room or a family room, you might want to have an area of your house that can be a man-cave, or an entertainment room. This is the room you shove that old bed out of, put furniture you really want in here like a recliner, a pool table, a big screen TV, and a stereo system. Place a small basketball hoop, a Nintendo Wii system and have some fun while losing weight.

2. Design a workout room Utilize this NEW space in your home to lose those unwanted pounds. Move workout equipment into your child’s room such as a

stationary bike, and an elliptical, a punching bag, or whatever you want to work out on.

3. Create a dance studio Create a state of the art dance studio.

Paint the walls with fun colors, so that when your ceiling mounted disco ball arrives, you can groove to the music and have some major fun. You can dance alone, or with your spouse/life partner. Dance with your other kids still at home. You can also create a dance studio for the younger kids to dance, having fun while your oldest child is away at college.

4. Create a hobby room Don’t cry when your child leaves home for college, have a great time finding a hobby.

Utilize that old bedroom as your new hobby studio! Design a place to do what you always really wanted to do; whether that is sewing, writing, or painting. Allow the inner artist in you to come out to design new creations.

Books FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

‘The Chaperone’ sheds light on dark secrets

E

arly on in “The Chaperone,” Laura Moriarty’s fourth novel, it becomes clear that Cora Carlisle is fighting a losing battle. Her charge is Louise Brooks, soon-to-be silent-film star and something of a force of nature. As the critic Kenneth Tynan wrote, Brooks was “a creature of impulse, a creator of impulses, a temptress with no pretensions, capable of dissolving into a giggling fit at a peak of ecstasy, . . . with that sleek jet cloche of hair that rings such a peal of bells in my subconscious.” Moriarty’s Louise is only 15, a Jazz Age lost girl playing uncertainty as brashness, but impulse and temptation are already in bloom.

Cora, on the other hand, is Moriarty’s own creation: a 36-year-old protestant wife and resident of Wichita, Kan. During the summer of 1922, she agrees to accompany Louise on a trip to New York. While she quickly warms to her position as guardian, seizing on the opportunity to provide the rebellious girl with the moral instruction she lacks, Cora has her own reasons for going. As a child, she was sent to Kansas from New York on an orphan train; the trip is a chance to uncover the past.

Familiar as this seems - staid Midwestern matron confronts permissive urban world, ineffable longings stir - Moriarty’s plot appears at first to provide an opportunity for exploring what happens when, as Virginia Woolf put it, “Chloe likes Olivia”: the relationship of two women, “unlit by the capricious and colored light of the other gender.” But even when that is not at issue, the broad strokes of history step in to take its place.

Too often, the image of these women is diffused by what is happening around them, and the consensus about it: Cora’s morals are knee-jerk and, from the remove of history, easy to condemn. Then there’s Louise, eating lollipops and evoking more than a shade of Lolita.

In the novel, as in life, Louise reads Schopenhauer, and Cora, snooping, notices she has underlined a passage: “The agony of the devoured animal is always far greater than the pleasure of the devourer.” Brooks may have been devoured by life, but she did her fair share of devouring too. Her inevitable destruction was less a judgment than a kind of choice. Neither use nor abuse by men was her interpreter and neither was not history, really- Brooks never sought nor has she been granted forgiveness from anyone, herself least of all.

Despite her built-in appeal, Louise is present in the novel mainly to serve as fodder, if not exactly inspiration, for Cora’s feminist awakening.

It’s a part any young thing of the 1920s could have played, though it fits Louise to a T: “As young as Louise was, she was a grown woman, a modern woman, smart and fearless of judgment, a lovely sparkle on the blade of her generation as it slashed at the old conventions.” Louise’s rebelliousness, well researched by Moriarty, helps midwife Cora’s reversal by demonstrating the worthlessness of the conservative virtues Cora holds dear. (Perhaps, Moriarty wants to suggest, it’s Louise who’s the chaperone.) But this awakening is suspect given what little we know of Cora’s character. And it’s unfortunate that liberation should be embodied by some of Cora’s impulsive and questionable decisions.

Moriarty’s sentences are pert and plucky, shaped by a contemporary sensibility that can leave an anachronistic aftertaste: “I only tell you this because I care”; “Get it all out.” She has an eye for scenic detail, stopping to notice things like biscuit smells and window cracks. But sometimes background feels staged: a man drinking from a flask at Grand Central too clearly contradicts Cora’s prohibitionist beliefs. Cinematic extras, like historical commonplaces, serve as stand-ins for a character’s thought.

At one moment, as Louise and Cora attend the musical “Shuffle Along,” Moriarty appears to be on the verge of something. Cora wants to leave but wavers when a black woman and her son take seats beside her: “They couldn’t get up and leave now - not without giving the impression that they were fleeing from the proximity of this woman and the boy, that they were somehow personally offended by them.”

Moriarty seems poised to delve into a conflict between Cora’s propriety and her latent discomfort with race. Such discomfort, in a native of a city where the Klan was 6,000 members strong (out of “maybe 80,000 souls in total”), seems authentic; its incompatibility with good

Midwestern manners promises insight into Cora’s hypocrisy. But Moriarty flinches: “Cora had no problem with colored people,” she writes, and the scene breaks, fast-tracking ahead by decades to a point at which Cora is little more than an eyepiece for racial harmony. As to what she felt while watching “Shuffle Along,” Moriarty notes that Cora had a “wonderful evening.” Wonderful indeed, what history can do in the space of a song.

There are several such missed opportunities: Margaret Sanger mentioned, society’s disapproval noted, the reader left to wonder what Cora must think. An air of generality begins to cling to the characters even as they stride toward self-fulfillment. The course of Cora’s life and the history she bumps into in her rather Gumpish way are persuasively conveyed, but what she feels becomes less and less so. After the pivotal summer, with Louise just a historical check mark, Moriarty runs briskly through the next 60 years: so-and-so promoted, so-and-so not killed in the war.

Though Moriarty makes a similar point about Midwestern hypocrisy, she seems unwilling to unbuckle the belt fully when it comes to her characters. In the end even Cora’s new morality is stuck, so to speak, in the barn - the self she believes she’s found kept secret, from the reader as from everyone else.

— www.nytimes.com

Health FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Run like the wind

Anyone can be a jogger - all you need is sneakers and the will R

unning is very good for your health. It provides a great cardiovascular workout, strengthens and tones your muscles. Regular jogging gives better overall physical condition as well as some other health benefits, including mental benefits such as relaxation and reduction of anxiety.

Most importantly for many, running is a good way to lose weight and generally get fitter.

Regular running and jogging Regular running and jogging is a good way to improve your health and fitness.

You do not need to become a marathon runner to benefit greatly from running.

Many people are concerned about longterm damage to joints such as knees,

ankles and hips, as a result of running.

However, with good quality running shoes and a sensible approach, the risks are minimal, and the benefits of being fitter outweigh those possible risks.

Jogging makes the heart stronger. It increases the capacity of the blood circulation and of the respiratory system. This is essential for maintaining good fitness. It also speeds up the digestive system and

can help to relieve digestive problems.

Many people who live a sedentary lifestyle develop digestive problems that can be improved with a healthier diet and some regular exercise.

Does jogging help you to lose weight?

Jogging makes you burn fat and thereby helps to lose weight. In addition to increasing metabolism, jogging is an effective way to burn more calories, which helps you lose weight. If calories consumed in food are less than calories spent during exercise and other daily activities, you will lose weight. It is impossible not to! Many people have learned how to lose belly fat by starting a running program.

Jogging helps to reduce stubborn belly fat. Stubborn fat can be very hard to shift, but a running program can really help to cut down on the last of your stubborn fat.

The key is to think long-term and always work on your fitness. Change can take a long time to come but the end result it much improved fitness and strength which makes maintaining a healthy weight so much easier.

If you suffer from poor appetite, jogging will improve your appetite. Along with all other forms of exercise - the harder you work, the more you need to eat to repair your muscles and refuel them. When you start to run longer distances you will start to eat to fuel your body, and may even find that you need to eat more food every day, than you did when you were overweight.

As you develop your running you need to ensure that you are eating well, so read up on some nutrition advice for runners.

Jogging for stronger bones and muscles Jogging will strengthen the muscles and bone density of your legs, hips and back.

Long distance runners have very strong legs, even though they often look very thin and weak. Running does not produce bulky muscles, like weight training or even circuit training does, but it does increase leg strength. Also, the constant impact caused during running can increase bone density, so long as you follow a healthy diet.

Learning to enjoy running Running can give you both physical and mental joy, so long you do not exhaust yourself! When jogging is done correctly, you will actually feel less tired after you have finished a tour than before you

began. You may even start to enjoy the feelings in your muscles during the jogging and afterwards.

Running is a great way of getting away from your usual daily environment.

Running outside is often much more pleasurable than exercising in a gym. Even running in the rain can be refreshing and pleasurable. While running some people also get a euphoric mental feeling - a “runners high�! www.motleyhealth.com

Beauty FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Go homemade!

Who knew beauty could be found right on the kitchen shelf?

T

oday we live in a generation that has been brought up on synthetic health and beauty products. Products that are constantly being tested on animals, and more frighteningly often linked to cancer!

And let’s not even mention the cost!

If you are reading this then like us, you are probably looking to break the mold by rediscovering the healthy benefits of some good old fashioned and natural homemade beauty recipes.

The recipes, treatments and remedies below are often made from flowers, herbs, grains, fruits and vegetables. So you can also be assured that you are not using harsh or drying chemicals on your skin.

Expensive equipment isn’t required, and you’d be surprised to know that a lot of the ingredients you need can be found in your very own kitchen! Such as a sprig of herbs, a spoonful of honey, oatmeal or almonds.

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask This mask combines avocados, which are rich in Vitamin E, with carrots, which are high in beta-carotene and antioxidants, and cream, which is high in calcium and protein. These ingredients will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots.

1 avocado, mashed 1 carrot, cooked and mashed 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 egg, beaten 3 tablespoons honey Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place 10-15 minutes.

Rinse with cool water and follow with your favorite toner.

Kiwi Facial Cleanser 1 kiwi fruit 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt

1 tablespoon orange water 1 tablespoon apricot or almond oil 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon finely ground almonds 2 drops orange (or your favorite citrus) essential oil Puree the kiwi fruit in a food processor until liquid. During processing, add yogurt, orange water, almond or apricot oil, and ground almonds. Process until thick and cream like. Add essential and stir to mix. To apply, massage gently over neck, face and decollete to cleanse. Rinse well. Makes one application.

superficial irritation. Thyme, which is used in antiseptic preparations, is a good astringent. Because this cleanser is very gentle, it can be used each morning. Dab it on your face and neck with a cotton ball, and rinse.

2 sprigs fresh thyme, crumbled (or 1/2 dried thyme) 2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed 1/2 cup boiling water Juice of Half Lemon Mix the thyme and fennel seed in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Add lemon juice and steep for 15 minutes. Strain the infusion and store the liquid in a jar, in the refrigerator. www.Spaindex.com

Thyme and Fennel Seed Cleanser Fennel has been used throughout history as an aid to digestion or as a slight diuretic. As an infusion, fennel seeds can be gently cleansing and toning for the skin, and they can help reduce puffiness and

Show me the honey!

H

oney can very safely be applied on the skin on a daily basis. It has a long list of health benefits, and practically no side effects, so you can use it without any worries. You can combine honey with many other household ingredients from your kitchen, and this is the ideal way to use it, as it provides more benefits for your skin than simply using honey by itself. However, if you want to use plain honey you can certainly do so - honey by itself provides great benefits to the skin, and as mentioned, is certainly not harmful even if applied every day.

Honey works as an excellent moisturizer, and in addition has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Daily application of honey is an excellent way to keep your skin soft, supple, and clean. Honey will minimize the chances of skin infections occurring, and can sometimes even help cure a skin infection, as long as the infection is not too serious. It has been proven to be effective in treating cuts, bruises, and burns, sometimes even more so than many commercially available medicines. If you frequently suffer from pimples, application of honey can help minimize or even prevent secondary infections and the scarring that result from such infections. However, you should note that there is no indication that honey by itself can cure acne or pimples.

If you are interested in using honey as a home remedy

along with other household ingredients, you can try several different face packs and face washes. One very effective face pack can be prepared by mixing honey with a little lemon juice, and adding sandalwood powder to this mixture to create a thick paste. Apply the paste to your face, leave it on for half an hour, and then wash it off with plain water. Honey can also be combined with milk and a little bit of sandalwood powder and turmeric powder to create a very effective face wash. If you prefer, you can use rose water instead of milk, or you can use both liquids together.

Honey can also be used to prepare a homemade face scrub. You can mix a teaspoon of honey with a few drops of lemon juice, a teaspoon of rose water, and one finely ground almond, and then use this mixture as a face scrub.

These are just a few examples, and there are many variations that use these and other household ingredients along with honey. www.dailyglow.com

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

O

ne of the many decapitated heads that appeared on “Game of Thrones” last season was a prop likeness of former President George W Bush, its creators revealed in a DVD commentary. In the tenth episode of the HBO hit’s first season, the character Sansa Stark looks at several heads on spikes. One belongs to the former United States president. The show’s co-creators pointed out their use of a head with Bush’s face - plus a heavy wig - but said they weren’t making a political statement. (Someone using the name SidIncoginto on Reddit pointed out Bush’s inclusion, and io9, which picked up on the oddity, has video.) “The last head on the left is George Bush,” says David Benioff, one of the co-creators, in the DVD commentary. “George Bush’s head appears in a couple beheading scenes,” adds co-creator D.B. Weiss. “It’s not a choice, it’s not a political statement,” explains Benioff. “It’s just, we had to use what heads we had around.”

In an interview with TheWrap earlier this year, Weiss and Benioff said they tried not to deliberately

inject politics into their show, based on the novels of George R.R. Martin. “We’re definitely not tempted to do anything consciously,” Weiss said. “Of course we’re voracious news readers and we live in the world and are very influenced by the world that we live in, so I think enough finds its way in that way probably more than enough finds its way in that way. To try to do it on purpose seems like it would be a mistake.” Added Benioff: “I’m always kind of irritated when I’m watching some period story where it’s very obviously trying to make some kind of allegorical statement. It feels like a falsehood. I know that sounds kind of funny when you’re talking about the world of fiction. But it doesn’t feel like it’s coming from the world itself, but like it’s trying to be commentary. Like the writer’s trying to be clever and teach a lesson.” Weiss concluded, “It means the story isn’t about what the story’s really about anymore. Which means what it’s really about starts to get flat and two-dimensional. I love it when ‘South Park’ does it though.” — Reuters

Sean Bean

‘Game of Thrones’ put George W Bush’s head on a spike

‘Goodfellas’

File photo shows actor Christopher Plummer

Christopher Plummer,

on screen and on stage at 82

H

itting 82 hasn’t meant Christopher Plummer is slowing down. In fact, he seems to be hitting the gas. “I’ve never worked as hard as I have in my life at the present time and I think it’s wonderful,” the oldest Oscar winner says. “It keeps me on my toes. It keeps me young. It keeps my memory going.”

Plummer, who helped present at the Tony Awards on Sunday and who thrilled Nina Arianda by handing her a best actress award, is preparing for his stage performance in “The Tempest” to be shown in hundreds of movie theaters on Thursday. Later this fall, his “Barrymore” will hit movie screens across the world. And in between, he’s spilling his guts: Plummer will this month present “A World or Two,” an autobiographical one-man show about his favorite writers at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada.

“It’s a celebration of language, is really what I call it and how it influenced me from the time I was very young right through my life,” Plummer says. “Each decade there are poets and prose writers who have influenced me.” Plummer lists some of them: Stephen Leacock and A.A. Milne to Ben Jonson and Ogden Nash and Rudyard Kipling. The show, which Plummer has previously performed for charity functions, has been sharpened under the direction of Des McAnuff, the artistic director of the Stratford Festival. “It sort of rides right through my life, from the love interests, to middle age and to death and then back again so that they cycle is complete,” says Plummer. “It’s really quite personal now.

I’m a little bit scared that it’s too personal. But it never can be.”

Plummer has enjoyed a vibrant late-career push that has included his first two Oscar nominations in the past three years.

He won this year for his role in “Beginners” as Hal Fields, a museum director who becomes openly gay after his wife of 44 years dies. Now two of his stage roles are hitting movie screens - “The Tempest,” which was recorded live over two days in the summer of 2010 by McAnuff at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and his “Barrymore,” a two-person play exploring the life of actor John Barrymore that earned Plummer his second Tony in 1997. —AP

Former gangster Henry Hill dies in LA H

enry Hill spent much of his life as a “goodfella,” believing his last moment would come with a bullet to the back of his head. In the end he died at a hospital after a long illness, going out like all the average nobodies he once pitied. Hill, who went from small-time gangster to big-time celebrity when his life as a mobster-turned-FBI informant became the basis for the Martin Scorsese film “Goodfellas,” died Tuesday at age 69, longtime girlfriend Lisa Caserta told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Hill had open heart surgery last year and died of complications from longtime heart problems related to smoking, she said.”He was a good soul towards the end ... he started feeling remorseful,” she said.

An associate in New York’s Lucchese crime family, Hill told detailed, disturbing and often hilarious tales of life in the mob that first appeared in the 1986 book “Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family,” by Nicholas Pileggi, a journalist Hill sought out shortly after becoming an informant.

“Henry Hill was a hood. He was a hustler.

He had schemed and plotted and broken heads,” Pileggi wrote in the book. “He knew how to bribe and he knew how to con. He was a full-time working racketeer, an articulate hoodlum from organized crime.” In 1990 the book, adapted for the screen by Pileggi and Scorsese, became the instant classic “Goodfellas,” starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta as Hill, a young hoodlum on the make who thrives in the Mafia but is eventually forced by drugs to turn on his criminal friends and lead the life of a sad suburbanite. The film became a constantly quoted pop cultural phenomenon that provided the template for the modern gangster story. In the book and the film he talks about how hard it was to lead an ordinary life after years steeped in gangster glamour”Unlike older Mafia tales, which focused on family and honor, “Wiseguy” and “Goodfellas” mostly dwelled on how utterly awesome it was to be in the mob - on the gangster as rock

File photo shows Henry Hill sits in the dining room of the Firefly restaurant in North Platte, Neb, with a portrait of actor Ray Liotta portraying Hill in the movie ‘Goodfellas’ hanging on the wall behind him. — AP star - at least until the life caught up with you.

“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster,” Liotta, as Hill, says in the movie. “For us to live any other way was nuts.” Born in Brooklyn to an Irish father and an Italian mother, Hill’s life with the mob began at age 11 when he wandered into a cabstand across the street in 1955 looking for work. He soon knew the life of these silk-suited soldiers was for him.

He began running errands for the men at the stand that soon led to small-time crimes. He was first arrested at age 16 for using a stolen credit card in an attempt to buy tires for the brother of gang leader Paul Vario, and impressed the gang leaders for refusing to squeal on them. Far bigger crimes awaited, including the 1967 theft of $420,000 in cash from the Air France cargo terminal at JFK airport in New York, among the biggest cash heists in history at the time. And in 1978, Hill had a key role in the theft of $5.8 million in cash from a Lufthansa Airlines vault, a heist masterminded by Jimmy Burke, the inspiration for De Niro’s character in “Goodfellas.”

“Whenever we needed money, we’d rob the airport,” Liotta says in the movie. “To

us, it was better than Citibank.” But the crew involved in the heist would soon turn on each other, and several would end up dead, leaving Hill extremely paranoid he could be next, he later told Pileggi. He was also selling drugs behind the back of his boss, Vario, and in 1980 was arrested on a narcotics-trafficking charge. More afraid of his associates than prison, Hill decided he had no choice but to become an informant, and signed an agreement with a Department of Justice task force that would prove more fruitful than anyone imagined. “The arrest of Henry Hill was a price beyond measure,” Pileggi wrote.”

“Hill had grown up in the mob. He was only a mechanic, but he knew everything. He knew how it worked. He knew who oiled the machinery. He knew, literally, where the bodies were buried. If he talked, police knew that Henry Hill could give them the key to dozens of indictments and convictions.” Hill’s testimony sent dozens of men to prison, many for the Lufthansa heist, and he and his wife Karen, played by Lorraine Bracco in the movie, went into hiding together, spending years fearing retribution by a gun to the back of his head from his old colleagues. — AP

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Review

Metallica helps FBI in trying to catch Va killer

M

etallica has recorded a public service video as part of a law enforcement publicity blitz to try to catch a man wanted in the death of a Virginia Tech student who disappeared after leaving one of the heavy metal band’s concerts.

Composite sketches of the suspect will be featured at bus shelters and on digital billboards up and down the East Coast, and a video on the Internet from lead singer James Hetfield urges people to come forward with tips and to contact police if they think they recognize the man. The FBI and Virginia State Police announced the campaign on Wednesday. “Remember, any information - no matter how small you might think it is - could be that crucial piece investigators need to help solve the case,” Hetfield says in the video, which appears on YouTube and an FBI website dedicated to the case.

Morgan Harrington, a 20-year-old aspiring teacher and Virginia Tech student, disappeared while attending an October 2009 concert in Charlottesville, Va. Her skeletal remains were discovered about three months later in a remote hay field about 10 miles from the concert venue. Police have said Harrington became separated from friends after she left the concert early and was denied re-entry to the arena. She was last seen hitchhiking that night.

Her T-shirt was found outside an apartment building near the Charlottesville auditorium, but a camera and a crystal necklace she had with her were missing. The FBI says the suspect has also been linked through DNA to a September 2005 sexual assault in Fairfax City, Va, where a woman walking home from a grocery story reported being grabbed from behind, dragged behind a maintenance shed and attacked.

Authorities this month released an enhanced composite sketch based on a description from the sexual assault victim. “We don’t know who he is so we don’t know where he is,” said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller. Harrington’s mother, Gil Harrington, said she and her husband, Dan, are hopeful the new publicity effort will lead to an arrest. “Our big motivation now is to catch this man and help save the next girl because he is a predator at the top of his game,” Gil Harrington said, adding, “I have urgency as time goes on as to where he’s going to strike next.” The Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers is offering $100,000 for any information leading to an arrest, and Metallica has put up a $50,000 reward.

Gil Harrington said it was an “abomination” to suffer through the murder of a child, and that the band has been supportive from the outset. “The band reacted to that right away. It was a matter of days before James Hetfield was on the phone to Dan saying, ‘As a father, I am outraged,’” he said. The FBI campaign, which also includes podcasts, social media outreach and an online photo gallery, is similar to ones that have led to the arrests of former Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger, and of Aaron Thomas, who is suspected in a series of sexual assaults along the East Coast. — AP

Sandler sires lame kid in

That’s My Boy T

o say Adam Sandler’s new movie isn’t as bad as his last is like saying your typical dental filling isn’t as bad as a root canal.

Neither will kill you, and with today’s anesthesia, they may not hurt that much. But there’s no way you want to be in that reclining chair, with sharp metal objects shoved in your mouth. So why do we keep renting those comfy, stadium-seating cinema chairs and letting Sandler shovel something else down our throats? “That’s My Boy” is hardly Sandler’s worst, and next to last year’s abysmal “Jack and Jill,” his latest one looks almost inspired. Yet this father-son story is just more of the same gross, lazy comedy that Sandler’s been doing for years, the repetitiveness evident in his generally declining box-office receipts. Sandler’s audience is outgrowing his movies, even if he isn’t. The idea behind the movie isn’t half bad and provides some parallels to Sandler, a guy who’s made a career out of stunted adolescence. In this one, he plays a middle-aged loser who was in his early teens when he knocked up his seventh-grade teacher and has been the world’s most infantile dad to his boy ever since.

You know the formula: Sandler’s Donny Berger has to grow up in some fashion by the end of “That’s My Boy,” while his estranged son, Todd (Andy Samberg), must come to appreciate the unique upbringing received at the hands of his dad, even if Donny didn’t so much rear him as rear-end him. Now a neurotic but somehow successful Wall Streeter, Todd is preparing to marry his dream girl (Leighton Meester) when Donny barges back into his life, scheming to fix his own financial problems and reconnect with the son he hasn’t seen in more than a decade. From this premise, we get vomit jokes, club routines, fecal humor, and gags with pictures of old women. In short, we get Sandler, doing what he always does, with whatever edge he once had continuing to erode as he ages and looks sillier at what he’s doing.

With some thought and effort, “That’s My Boy” could be fresher, smarter and much, much funnier, while still retaining all the grossout gags and idiocy that Sandler loves. The 45-year-old Sandler could have grown up a bit along with Donny, a good career direction if he hopes to keep this crap up as he nears AARP eligibility age.

Sandler, also a producer on the movie, as well as director Sean Anders and screenwriter David Caspe stay on the really stupid end of stupid, though. As Donny, Sandler clunks people on the head with booze bottles, flaunts his outrageous erections in people’s faces and shouts “Wazzup?” far too many times. More than once is too many times, given the mumbling voice Sandler adopts for Donny. At one point, he imitates “Fantasy Island” co-star Herve Villechaize shouting “Da plane! Da plane!” It’s actually less annoying than Donny’s everyday voice.

Bearing some physical resemblance to Sandler, Samberg is well cast as Donny’s son, and he plays the straight man well enough for his “Saturday Night Live” predecessor. Other casting choices range from clever to weird. Susan Sarandon and real-life daughter Eva Amurri Martino make a spitting-image duo as the older and younger versions of Donny’s seductress teacher. Genially playing a variation of himself, Vanilla Ice is kind of funny as an old pal of Donny. James Caan must have too much time on his hands, though, popping up for some strained scenes as a boxer-turned priest. And if you bother to cast Tony Orlando in something more than a bit part, why not go the extra mile and work in the singer’s old backup group, Dawn?

Sandler could have found a way to weave them into Donny’s fan club. Almost everyone he encounters loves Donny, but those are actors getting paid for it. The audience of “That’s My Boy” is paying them - and paying Sandler his millions - money better spent on whatever dental work you’ve been putting off. —AP

Lucy Lawless pleads guilty to trespass

“X

ena: Warrior Princess” actress Lucy Lawless says she has “no regrets” about boarding and preventing an oildrilling ship from leaving a New Zealand dock, a protest action that saw her plead guilty yesterday to trespass charges. “For the first time in my life, I put my body and reputation on the line to stand up for my beliefs and do the right thing,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press after her appearance in court. “I hope I’ve encouraged other people to do the same.” In February, the 44-yearold native New Zealander and six other Greenpeace activists climbed a

drilling tower on the vessel Noble Discoverer, which was docked in New Zealand bound for the Arctic, to protest oil exploration in the Arctic.

Lawless spent four days atop the 174foot (53-meter) tower, camping and blogging about her experiences.

She and seven other Greenpeace activists - including one who’d helped from the ground - pleaded guilty at Auckland District Court to charges of unlawfully being on a ship.

She is due to be sentenced in September and faces a maximum three years in jail after prosecutors reduced a more serious charge of burglary. —AP

Jerry Lewis

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Muhammad Ali becomes face of

Louis Vuitton

M

uhammad Ali is the new face of Louis Vuitton’s latest Core Values campaign. The boxing legend appears alongside his grandson at his Arizona home in the campaign, which was shot by Annie Leibovitz and will appear in the international press from today Louis Vuitton ceo and chairman Yves Carcelle said: “Muhammad Ali is the epitome of an outstanding personality - a true living legend in boxing and far beyond. We are honored that he agreed to be photographed for the Core Values campaign, and delighted with the way this beautiful portrait of the champion and his grandson captures the idea of transmission, which is of great significance to Louis Vuitton.”

The campaign’s tagline reads: “Some stars show you the way.

Muhammad Ali and a rising star. Phoenix, Arizona.” The three-time world heavyweight boxing champion follows in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and U2 frontman Bono who have all modelled for the label’s Core Values travel line. — Bang Showbiz

L

ady Gaga revealed her first perfume on Wednesday - but it’s not going to smell like blood and semen as the flamboyant singer once hoped. Called Fame, pictures of the perfume bottle leaked online on Wednesday and details were later confirmed on Twitter by the “Born This Way” singer herself. “Looks like photos of my perfume are being leaked.

Oh you fashion editors I could just crinkle my hands at you,” Gaga tweeted while on the Asian leg of her world tour.

Gaga also released pictures of the bottle and its packaging, which showed that the fragrance is in the form of a black liquid that apparently becomes invisible once sprayed on the skin. “It’s black like the soul of fame but invisible once airborne”, according to the packaging. Fame will smell of “tears of belladonna, crushed heart of tiger orchidea with a black veil of incense, pulverized apricot and the combinative essences of saffron and honey drops.” Gaga was widely reported last year to have asked for the scent to have notes of “blood and semen” and that it would be suited to “an expensive hooker.” Fame, which was originally thought to be called Monster, is due to go on sale later this summer. — Reuters

Niger’s fashion designer Alphadi holding a Senegalese flag is applauded by models on June 13, 2012 at the end of the opening fashion show of the 10th Dakar’s Fashion Week, scheduled from June 12 to 17. — AFP

Moussa Traore

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Hadja Perle

Models present creations by Niger’s fashion designer Alphadi.

Mamta Lopy

Maguette Gueye

D

avid Beckham is “proud” of wife Victoria for becoming a credible fashion designer. The soccer star - who has four children, Brooklyn, 13, Romeo, nine, sevenyear-old Cruz and 11-month-old Harper with his spouse knows it was “hard” for her to establish her career away from her background as a singer in the Spice Girls. He said: “I’m so proud. When you prove people wrong it’s really satisfying and I think she’s done that. “To go from a Spice Girl, a pop star in the biggest girl band in the world, to a respect-

ed fashion designer, that’s a hell of a step. Even I know that’s a hard thing to do. She’s done unbelievably well.”

David attended Victoria’s New York Fashion Week presentation in February, and though he enjoyed his first fashion show, he admitted he stayed quiet while he was there because he was surrounded by knowledgeable people in the industry. He told Elle magazine: “I’m really surprised by how short the shows are. All the work that goes into them and it’s done in minutes. But it was the best five minutes

I’ve had in a long time. “I was sat next to a few fashion people and I felt like I had to keep my mouth shut. But I knew certain things. I knew, ‘Great lines and great shapes’ and ‘There were a couple of great color pops’. So, you know, I knew certain things.”— Bang Showbiz

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

“S

now water” and invisible ink may be strange choices to adorn a white piece of paper. But then “Invisible: Art of the Unseen”, a new exhibition at London’s Hayward Gallery, is all about redefining the phrase “a blank canvas”. The show, which runs until Aug. 6, boasts a large collection of “non-visual” works or art inspired by the invisible including by Andy Warhol and Yoko Ono. And no, it is not a joke. “While to a lot of people, invisible art might seem like their leg is being pulled and this is a kind of prank, I think the artists in this show have made these works because it was the best way they could find to talk about what they were talking about,” said gallery director Ralph Rugoff. “I hope it’s a really pleasurable stretch like kind of doing a mental yoga class,” he told Reuters. “But hopefully when you come out, your imagination is charged up.”

On the walls of the gallery hang slim wooden frames around apparently blank pieces of paper-in fact they are daubed with invisible ink and snow water. Ono encourages visitors to imagine painting their own picture through a series of typed instructions, while Warhol’s “Invisible Sculpture” from 1985 features a white plinth he once stood on which continues to evoke his aura of celebrity.

Light grey colored descriptions of the works are barely visible on the gallery’s stark white walls, adding to the art of the unseen as visitors strive to figure out the meaning of each room. Some works are based on the idea of spectators creating art themselves.

Artist Tom Friedman’s blank canvas, which he said became a work of art when he dedicated 1,000 hours to staring at it, is continually being added to with each visitor. “Anyone who comes through this show is a key performer and participant in the exhibition because invisible work really happens in your head and that’s what a lot of the artists are interested in,” Rugoff said. “I hope they experience many different things. I mean there’s work in the exhibition that is humorous but there is work in the exhibition that is very poignant.” The imagination is also let loose in a pitch black velvet corridor called “The Ghost of James Lee Byars”. Strolling through the vast hall containing one of the world’s biggest invisible drawings by Taipei artist Lai Chih-Sheng, art masters student Katie Elliott, 23, said she came to the exhibition for inspiration on how to draw in more experimental ways. “My favorite bit was the very dark installation that you had to walk through because it’s so simple but it affects you so much. I loved it.”

Rugoff said the exhibition, which costs eight pounds ($12) to enter, was a stark contrast to the blockbuster art shows being staged across London to coincide with the Olympic Games in the city later this summer.

“This is a show that is the opposite, goes in the opposite direction. Instead of asking you sit back and relax, it asks you to become involved.” The gallery said on its blog that it had received a wide range of reactions amusement, excitement and anger. One visitor even suggested paying the entrance fee with invisible money. — Reuters

Jean-Luc Courcoult, ‘La maison dans la Loire’ (The house in the Loire river), one of the nine works of the art event ‘Estuaire’ (estuary of the Loire river), is seen near Coueron, western France, on June 9, 2012. ‘Estuaire’ and ‘Le voyage a Nantes’ (A journey to Nantes), two contemporary art events, the first along the estuary, the second in forty stages which runs along 8.5 km in Nantes’ streets, take place from today to August 19, 2012. — AFP

C

hanning Tatum, Kurt Russell and movie stars of today and yesteryear are no longer just actors, but marketers as well. At the fourth-annual Produced By conference on Saturday, Hollywood agents, marketing executives, financiers and other industry experts stressed that filmmakers and actors have no choice but to get involved from start to finish in a project, especially when it comes to marketing. “If there’s an actor who won’t pump a movie, he won’t get as much work,” Jay Cohen, a partner at the Gersh Agency, told the audience at a panel about digital cinema.

Studios have always used stars to promote films, but in the age of social media, the methods of promotion have diversified, increasing the demands on many actors. A decade ago, stars like Al Pacino or Kurt Russell often resisted showing up at a theater for a movie opening - let alone tweeting their whereabouts. That star attitude is now outdated, as studios look for any way to build a dedicated audience. “You need to set a film up with a community that wants to own it,” Dwight Caines, President of Worldwide Digital Marketing for host studio Sony, told an audience at a marketing-focused panel. “The myth is that a movie happens so fast you can start later. You need to start when you’re casting, trying to find ownership of an audience when a script is greenlit. It’s hard to compete with so many choices for consumers.”

Caines cited two examples from his studio’s slate this year “21 Jump Street” and “Think Like a Man.” For “Jump Street,” Sony staged a contest on Twitter between stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill to gain the most followers over a set period of time. The winner would release the trailer on Facebook. Hill won, but overslept on the day he was supposed to post the trailer. The studio tracked him down and got the trailer up. “It aligned fans with one of stars,” Caines said. “It made people talk about the trailer and shaped conversation to make people say what you want them to say without giving them the words.”

On the same panel, Lady Gaga’s manager Troy Carter echoed Caines’ sentiment about initiating the campaign early, noting that it took Lady Gaga time to amass her massive cadre of followers. “Can you get an audience of 100 people to engage around casting where they feel they have a seat at the table?” Carter asked. He also cited “Think Like a Man,” which has now taken in more than $90 million at the box office, and the involvement of star Kevin Hart.

“You watch Kevin Hart engage the audience very early on in process and even before the trailer you were familiar. You felt like you were involved in the process,” Carter said. “I do the same with artists.” Hart plugged the movie everywhere he could, including a series of spots linked with the NBA. He also tweeted early and often, and the cast later appeared at theaters showing the film. That is an approach Kevin Smith has embraced, and will do so again with “Bindlestiffs,” a film being released under his SModcast Pictures Presents banner later this month. Smith, along with filmmakers Andrew Edison and Luke Loftin, will host question and answer sessions at four theaters across the country.

This all points to a new level of commitment actors must show. No longer is showing up to the set enough. ‘Filmmakers understand they and everyone in the process needs to take part,” said Kevin Iwashina, managing partner of Preferred Content. “Everyone from the producer to the filmmaker to the actor is involved beginning to end.” — Reuters

A woman poses with an untitled piece by Indian-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor at Sotheby’s auction house in central London yesterday. The piece has an estimated value of 400,000 - 600,000 GPB (622,000 - 932,000 USD) and is due to be sold at its forthcoming sale of Impressionist and Modern Art and Contemporary Art sale on June 19, 2012. — AFP

Te c h n o l o g y FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

HTC One X:

Quietly winning the smartphone race

By Priyanka Saligram

2

012 has been Android’s year. Market monsters like Samsung, HTC, and Sony unleashed their smartphones this year and the offerings have been good enough to challenge brand loyalty and make some ditch their old and preferred brands for the greener grass on the other side.

HTC released One X to combat Samsung’s highly publicized and awaited S III and doesn’t truly disappoint. HTC One X comes with the latest version of Android 4.0 which is the Ice Cream Sandwich. It has a very impressive 4.7-inch screen, fits in the pocket without much struggle and feels very user-friendly.

The design The first thing that you notice is the huge screen - and that is even before you switch on the phone. Even though it is very light, it has a respectable weight which balances the way the phone feels in your palm. When a phone is as long and wide as the HTC One X, if it got any lighter, it would have a “toy-phone” like feel which is the last thing you would want for the money you’re doling out. The touchable handset feels especially comfortable while messaging, watching videos or gaming. The phone comes in white and black and both the colors are visually appealing with a gloss finish.

The screen The screen stands out mostly because of the size. At 4.7 inches, it’s huge, but the real star of the show is the spectacular resolution. It’s extremely sharp and pays attention to detail - which is perfect when you’re zooming into a photograph or checking out videos.

Way before you marvel at the resolution, you notice the lock screen. Instead of the regular horizontal slide to unlock, you need to drag a ring up the screen to start it and you can also drag one of the icons into the ring to start that application.

The moment I forgot to breathe was when I saw the live wallpaper and checked out one which shows autumn leaves delicately falling on water and creating ripples. Mesmerized, I reached out with my finger and touched the screen, expecting to feel cool water against my skin, fully forgetting that I was looking at just glass.

Another wallpaper of soft clouds moving in the sky simulates the feeling of looking outside the window of a flight mid-air. If that’s not sheer genius, what is?

The camera HTC One X went all out to showcase the camera on this baby as one of the bestselling features and probably THE reason you should rush out and buy the phone.

When you view the scene on the screen, it does look terribly impressive and the colors look more vibrant and almost threedimensional but on clicking the picture, the image looks artificial and almost waxy, which is not something you expect. This is disappointing but you can still give marks to the fact that the shutter and video recording buttons are on the screen

throughout and lets you add effects as you take the picture. The phone also lets you snap images from the HD video recording which is great as long as you’re cool with the waxiness.

Beats Audio The sound is a perfect blend of bass and clarity, so full points. With 32GB of storage, you also get access to bonus Dropbox storage for two years. Beats Audio creates a fantastic listening experience on youtube, Netflix or your personal music list. One X lets you multi-task as you catch a movie or listen to music, so no compromises there.

Battery The battery doesn’t have a reputation for being spectacular and it needs a few charges through the day, assuming you are using the phone to take calls, message, listen to music, watch and download videos or just keep checking out the features on a daily basis.

Apart from all this, One X also manages to pack in GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC technology, plus there’s quad-band GSM and 3G connectivity. The one small nagging problem might be the way Wi-Fi gets affected because of the design and the phone does tend to get heated up sometimes.

HTC One X is jam-packed with options, features and stuff that would make your mom proud - like the flashlight with three varying degrees of brightness or stuff that would impress your dad - like the Car Mode which helps you use your phone in peace when it’s functioning as a GPS attached to the windshield while you’re driving.

On a final note, given the rate at which Android is taking over the world, the distance between Apple’s iOS lovers and Android converts is getting hammered down to tissue paper thinness each passing day.

HTC One X specifications Size: 134.36 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm

Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor

Weight: 130 grams with battery Display: 4.7-inch HD720p touch screen Resolution: 1280 x 720 CPU Speed 1.5 GHz, quad-core (global version) 1.5 GHz, dual-core LTE version (USA and select countries) Platform Android(tm) 4.0 with HTC Sense(tm) 4 Memory1 Total storage : 32 GB;RAM:1 GB Network2 HSPA/WCDMA: Europe/Asia: 850/900/1900//2100 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz Sensors Gyro sensor G-Sensor Digital compass

Connectivity 3.5 mm stereo audio jack NFC3 Bluetooth with aptX(tm) enabled (Bluetooth 4.0) Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n DLNA for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to a compatible TV or computer Micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port with mobile high-definition video link (MHL) for USB or HDMI connection (Special cable required for HDMI connection.)

Camera with HTC ImageSense (tm) 8 megapixel camera with auto focus, smart LED flash, and BSI sensor (for better low-light captures) F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens 1080p HD video recording 1.3 megapixel front camera (720p for video chat) Dedicated imaging chip Capture a photo in the midst of recording HD video

Continuous shooting mode captures multiple snapshots Auto flash smartly determined by distance from your subject Video stabilization feature removes annoying, shaky motion High quality slow motion video capture and playback Sound enhancement Audio (tm) Multimedia Audio supported formats: Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 9) Recording: .amr Video supported formats: Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv (Windows Media Video 9), .avi (MP4 ASP and MP3) Recording: .mp4 Battery Capacity :1800 mAh — www.htc.com

L e i s u re

C R O S S W O R D

7 0 6

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

To Yester

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

ACROSS

1. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

4. Ruffed grouse.

10. The network in the reticular formation that serves an alerting or arousal function.

13. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

14. The place where something begins, where it springs into being.

15. Alsatian artist and poet who was cofounder of Dadaism in Zurich.

16. An imaginary elephant that appears in a series of French books for children.

18. A vigorous blow.

19. The 26th letter of the Roman alphabet.

20. Relating to or characteristic of Arabs.

21. French novelist.

23. A unit of luminous flux equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle of 1 steradian by a point source of 1 candela intensity radiating uniformly in all directions.

24. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

28. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

29. Any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent.

33. A defamatory or abusive word or phrase.

36. Fallow deer.

37. The cry made by sheep.

38. Speaking a Slavic language.

42. A device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces.

43. A state in southeastern United States.

45. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

46. The federal agency that insures residential mortgages.

50. (Irish) Mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

52. The branch of mechanics concerned with forces in equilibrium.

55. Any plant of the genus Erica.

59. An avalanche volcanic water and mud down the slopes of a volcano.

60. Informal terms for a meal.

63. A light touch or stroke.

64. A kind of person.

65. A genus of tropical American plants have sword-shaped leaves and a fleshy compound fruits composed of the fruits of several flowers (such as pineapples).

67. A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number).

68. Seed of a pea plant.

69. West Indian tree having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.

70. How long something has existed.

DOWN 1. A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue.

2. Fear resulting from the awareness of danger.

3. A small cake leavened with yeast.

4. Of or relating to or derived from or containing boron.

5. A state in northwestern United States on the Pacific.

6. Horny projecting mouth of a bird.

7. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

8. In the Arabian Nights a hero who tells of the fantastic adventures he had in his voyages.

9. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria and closely related to Hausa.

10. Harass with persistent criticism or carping.

11. A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography).

12. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

17. The superior of an abbey of monks.

22. A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element.

25. An honorary arts degree.

26. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

27. An independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest.

30. A spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-andaft sail.

31. A woman hired to suckle a child of someone else.

32. Type genus of the Ranidae.

34. Committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidates.

35. A gray tetravalent metallic element that resembles zirconium chemically and is found in zirconium minerals.

39. A boy or man.

40. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

41. Painted beauty and red admiral.

44. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

47. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

48. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (19021984).

49. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

51. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

53. An account describing incidents or events.

54. Fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm.

56. The content of cognition.

57. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

58. A French abbot.

61. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

62. The bill in a restaurant.

66. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

Yesterday’s Solution

W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

A seminar on safe rigging practice was organized by Five Star group in association with Crosby group recently.

Venalthanima 2012 concluded

V

enalthanima 2012, a three days’ students’ workshop which underlined integral approach to personality development came to a grand close on last Sunday evening at Indian Central School, Abbasiya.

Shaikh Suhail Ahmed who helped the participants to fly in the wings of hypnosis to the abundant powers of mind, Kalabhavan Johnarts who opened windows to the wonder world of colors and lines, Magician Thomas who exposed the mesmeric beauty of magic and Ahmed Taher, the Palestinian social worker dedicated his life for the society made the final day eventful, colorful & unforgettable. The boundless scope of music and its healing effect has been demonstrated by Shaiju Pallipuram, Prathapan and Sreenath.

The participants were in the role of organizers in the valedictory function that was held in the evening. Manu Chandrasekhar (Chief Operating Officer of 98.4 UFM) was the chief guest.

Commencing the program, along with him, Jojimon Thomas (General Convenor, VenalThanima 2012), Pancily Varkey (Country head of UAE Exchange), Santhosh Kumar (Deputy General Manager, Hazawi Group), Jacob Thomas, Litty Binoy and Razak Payyoli (Parents representative) lighted the traditional lamp. Babuji Bathery (designer and director of the camp) delivered the keynote address.

Manu Chandrasekhar released the ‘camp document’ by receiving it from Shaji Varghese and handing over to Maju Karippal. The ‘Document’ contained synopsis of all activities in the camp until the closing hrs.

Sidharth Raghunath and Binitha Marie Thomas (Juniors), Ruchithra Dinesh and Akash Jose Antony (Seniors) were selected as best campers in the gallop poll conducted among the participants.

Vinod V. Nair, Anwar Sadath, Raju Zachariah and Abdul Fatha Thayyil distributed prizes for best campers. Besides, Sheethal, Bibin, Kevin, Athira, Arjun and Pooja were selected as 98.4 UFM celebrities, getting a chance to participate in UFM programs.

Iris (Sub-juniors), Super Stars (juniors) and V.I.O.D Avengers (Seniors) were selected as the best Groups based on the points they earned in different category as well as the overall performance in the Camp. Hamza Payyannur, Sunil P.Antony, Somu Mathew and Sathar Kunnil distributed other prizes and certificates for the participants.

The audience welcomed the announcement made by Manu Chandrasekhar that all the participants of Venalthanima 2012 will get an opportunity to showcase their talent in 98.4UFM. Various skits, dances and musical programs presented by the participants on short notice turned into a visual banquet and the display of their creativity. The

presidium including Jasna Elizabeth John and Amal Anwar Sayeed controlled the meeting procedures.

From yoga to Kalari, magic to hypnotism, drawing to music and the list has been expanded to aerobics, environment, positive thinking, group dynamics, leadership training and communication skills and so on, the design of the workshop awakened the young generation to a new dawn of enhanced self-confidence. The participants returned with the thrill that was filled by Venalthanima, a carnival of enthusiasm which emphasized the ‘kudamaattam’ of various skills.

Adv. John Thomas, Ambika Mukundan, Anita Pillai , Dr. V. Binumon, Shensai Varghese, Johnarts, Jomon Mankuzhikary, Litty Jacob, Magician Thomas, Priya Mohandas, Rathi Dinesh, Santhosh Varghese, Sasi Krishnan, Shabi Nadakkavu, Shaiju Pallipuram, Shaikh

Suhail Ahmed, Somu Mathew, Mary John, Sunil Pookkod, Usha Dileep and Ahmed Taher conducted different sessions during the days of workshop.

Babuji Bathery (Camp Designer & Director), Jojimon Thomas (Gen. Convenor), Abey Paul, Alex Varghese (Benny), Ashok Pancily Varkey, Beena Paul, D.K. Dileep, Dinesh Kollara, Geomon Joseph, Jacob Thomas, Jacob Varghese (Benoy), Jeff Jacob, Joe Jacob, Johney Kunnil, Maju Karipal, Mary John, Mukundan, Manu, Pancily Varkey, Prajeesh Balan, Priya Mohandas, Raghunathan Nair, Sabu M. Peter, Savyo Job, Shaiju Pallipuram, Shaji Varghese, Sheelu Shaji, Thomas Kattanam, Mohammed Ali, Sultan, Raja Chennai, Varghese Paul, Sabu and Rathi Dinesh were the volunteers who worked hard to make the Camp possible, enjoyable & fruitful to the participants.

Embassies holiday The British Embassy will be closed on Sunday 17 June on the occasion of the Prophet’s Ascension. The Consular Section will also be closed on the same date above.

The Spain Embassy will be closed on Sunday the 17th June, on the occasion of Ascension of Prophet Mohammad and will re-open Monday 18th June.

Announcements Open House for Indian citizens Open 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 today, 13th, 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.

‘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 to97822021 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.

KERA Fahaheel unit election KERA general body elections for Fahaheel unit shall be conducted on Friday 22nd June 2012 at 5:30PM at basement hall at Mangaf (Block 4, Street 21, Bilding no.65, behind Kalamat copy centre after European telephone centre on the road from Mangaf signal).

TV Listings FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

00:45 01:40 02:35 03:30 04:25 05:20 05:45 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:25 08:15 08:40 09:10 10:05 11:00 11:55 12:50 13:15 13:45 14:10 14:40 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:25 18:20 18:45 19:15 19:40 20:10 20:35 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50

Untamed & Uncut I’m Alive Whale Wars: Viking Shores Max’s Big Tracks The Animals’ Guide To Survival Shamwari: A Wild Life Animal Battlegrounds Wild Africa Rescue Wild Africa Rescue Escape To Chimp Eden The Planet’s Funniest Animals Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Breed All About It Your Pet Wants This, Too! The Animals’ Guide To Survival Animal Precinct Animal Cops Philadelphia E-Vets: The Interns E-Vets: The Interns Bondi Vet Wildlife SOS The Animals’ Guide To Survival Animal Kingdom Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Growing Up...

Dogs 101 Cats Of Claw Hill Cats Of Claw Hill Wildlife SOS Bondi Vet Escape To Chimp Eden Animal Battlegrounds Mutant Planet Seven Deadly Strikes I Was Bitten Last Chance Highway

00:25 Indian Food Made Easy 00:50 Saturday Kitchen 2007/08 02:10 MasterChef 02:35 MasterChef 03:05 Living In The Sun 03:55 A Taste Of My Life 04:20 The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook 04:50 Rick Stein’s French Odyssey 05:15 James Martin’s Champagne 05:40 Living In The Sun 06:35 Come Dine With Me 07:25 Indian Food Made Easy 07:55 MasterChef Australia 08:45 MasterChef Australia 09:15 Bargain Hunt 10:00 Antiques Roadshow 10:50 Come Dine With Me 11:40 10 Years Younger 12:30 Celebrity Fantasy Homes 14:00 Fantasy Homes In The City 14:50 Bargain Hunt 15:30 Antiques Roadshow 16:20 Dolce Vito: Dream Restaurant 16:45 The Boss Is Coming To Dinner 17:10 Come Dine With Me 18:00 Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers 18:30 New Scandinavian Cooking With Andreas Viestad 19:00 Rick Stein’s French Odyssey 19:25 James Martin’s Champagne 19:50 Antiques Roadshow 20:45 Gok’s Fashion Fix 21:30 Gok’s Fashion Fix 22:20 Bargain Hunt 23:05 Antiques Roadshow 23:55 Come Dine With Me

00:30 00:55 01:20 02:10 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30 05:55 06:00 06:25 07:00 07:15 07:40 08:05 08:55 09:45 10:10 10:35 11:25 11:50 12:15 13:05 13:30 13:55

Bakugan: New Vestroia Bakugan: New Vestroia Powerpuff Girls Courage The Cowardly Dog The Amazing World Of Gumball Ben 10 Adventure Time Powerpuff Girls Generator Rex Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Angelo Rules Casper’s Scare School Eliot Kid The Amazing World Of Gumball Adventure Time Regular Show Grim Adventures Of...

Courage The Cowardly Dog Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Powerpuff Girls Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Ed, Edd n Eddy Ben 10: Alien Force Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders Camp Lazlo

14:45 15:35 16:25 16:50 17:15 17:40 18:05 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:45 20:10 21:00 21:25 21:50 22:00 22:50 23:15 23:40

Powerpuff Girls Angelo Rules The Marvelous Misadventures...

Grim Adventures Of...

The Amazing World Of Gumball Adventure Time Regular Show Ben 10 Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge Hero 108 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Courage The Cowardly Dog Ben 10: Alien Force The Powerpuff Girls Cow And Chicken Codename: Kids Next Door Ben 10 Ben 10 Chowder

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 05:45 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:45 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30

Amanpour World Sport Piers Morgan Tonight World Report Anderson Cooper 360 Piers Morgan Tonight Quest Means Business CNN Marketplace Europe The Situation Room World Sport Business Traveller World Report World Report World Sport African Voices World Business Today CNN Marketplace Middle East Amanpour Talk Asia World One Piers Morgan Tonight News Stream World Business Today International Desk The Brief News Special

19:00 World Sport 19:30 Inside Africa 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 21:45 CNN Marketplace Africa 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 02:00 03:45 06:00 08:15 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Outcast-R Fright Night-PG15 13 Assassins-18 Hidalgo-PG15 True Justice: Street Wars-PG15 Spider-Man-PG Friday Night Lights-PG15 True Justice: Street Wars-PG15 The Warlords-PG15 Friday Night Lights-PG15 Aeon Flux-PG15 Ronin-18

01:00 03:00 PG 05:00 07:00 09:00 PG 11:00 13:00 14:45 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Older Than America-PG15 African Cats: Kingdom Of Courage-

00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Family Guy The League Angry Boys Mad Love

03:30 04:30 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:30 23:00 23:30

Mr. Sunshine The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Til Death Dharma And Greg Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Mad Love Til Death Cougar Town How I Met Your Mother The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Dharma And Greg Til Death Mr. Sunshine How I Met Your Mother Cougar Town The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Dharma And Greg Late Night With Jimmy Fallon New Girl Melissa & Joey 30 Rock Modern Family The Tonight Show With Jay Leno The Daily Show With Jon Stewart The Colbert Report Allen Gregory Angry Boys Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 19:00

GCB One Tree Hill Downton Abbey Parenthood Lights Out Good Morning America The Practice Emmerdale The Martha Stewart Show The View GCB One Tree Hill Live Good Morning America The Practice Castle Fairly Legal

Coyote County Loser-PG15 The 19th Wife-PG15 African Cats: Kingdom Of CourageThe Borrowers-PG Bound By A Secret-PG15 Fast Five-PG15 The Conspirator-PG15 True Grit-PG15 The Adjustment Bureau-PG15 A Perfect Getaway-18

20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Jane By Design Smash The Bachelor Lights Out

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Psych Downton Abbey Love Bites One Tree Hill GCB C.S.I. Miami Psych Emmerdale Hot In Cleveland The Protector Parenthood One Tree Hill GCB The Chicago Code The Protector Psych The Chicago Code Castle Fairly Legal Jane By Design Smash The Bachelor Love Bites

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Kingdom-18 Splinter-18 Madso’s War-18 The Last Airbender-PG Kull The Conqueror-PG15 Inside Out-PG15 X-Men-PG15 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 The Warrior’s Way-PG15 Child’s Play 3-18 The Collector-18 Puffball: The Devil’s Eyeball-PG15

00:00 Pete Smalls Is Dead-18 02:00 Napoleon Dynamite-PG 04:00 Renaissance Man-PG15 06:15 Heart And Souls-PG 08:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 10:00 The Parent Trap-PG 12:15 Garfield-PG 14:00 Princess Diaries 2: Engagement-FAM 16:00 The Parent Trap-PG 18:15 Tank Girl-PG15 20:00 Hitch-PG15 22:00 The Extra Man-PG15

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:30 13:15 15:15 17:45 19:45 21:45 23:45

18:00 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore-PG 20:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 22:00 Emilie Jolie-PG

00:00 Somewhere-18 02:00 Morning Glory-PG15 04:00 Ways To Live Forever-PG15 06:00 Double Wedding-PG15 08:00 Beethoven’s Christmas AdventurePG 10:00 Fat Albert-PG 12:00 Morning Glory-PG15 14:00 Rat-PG15 16:00 Beethoven’s Christmas AdventurePG 17:30 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt.1-PG15 20:00 The Romantics-PG15 22:00 Frenemy-18

Royal

Secretariat-PG15 Into The Night-18 Black Lightning-PG15 Khao Niao Moo Ping-PG15 Funny Bones-PG15 Witch Hunt-PG15 The Mirror Has Two Faces-PG15 Funny Bones-PG15 Eight Below-PG Return To Paradise-PG15 I Capture The Castle-18 Jungle Fever-18

01:15 According To Greta-PG15 03:00 Hop-PG 05:00 Game Change-PG15 07:00 My Sassy Girl-PG15 09:00 Elle: A Modern Cinderella TalePG15 10:45 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid-PG 12:15 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules-PG15 14:00 Another Year-PG15 16:15 Elle: A Modern Cinderella TalePG15 18:00 Just Go With It-PG15 20:00 The Romantics-PG15 22:00 Black Swan-18 23:45 Labor Pains-PG15

OUTCAST ON OSN ACTION HD

00:00 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil-PG 02:00 Mia And The Migoo-PG 04:00 Rainbow Valley Heroes-PG15 06:00 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil-PG 08:00 The Lucky Dragon-PG 10:00 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore-PG 12:00 Emilie Jolie-PG 14:00 Gulliver’s Travels-PG 16:00 Winnie The Pooh-FAM

01:30 02:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:30 15:30 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 20:00 22:30 23:00

Futbol Mundial International Rugby Union PGA European Tour Highlights International Rugby Union International Rugby Union PGA European Tour Highlights PGA European Tour Weekly Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport Live AFL Premiership Futbol Mundial Volvo Ocean Race Volvo Ocean Race Highlights PGA European Tour Weekly NRL Premiership AFL Premiership Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport

02:00 03:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 11:30 12:30 14:30 15:30 16:30 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

WWE NXT Trans World Sport IRB Junior World Championship Volvo Ocean Race Highlights WWE NXT Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Rugby League WWE NXT Live NRL Premiership Trans World Sport PGA European Tour Highlights AFL Premiership WWE NXT WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line UFC The Ultimate Fighter

00:00 Golfing World 02:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 02:30 Ladies European Tour Highlights 03:30 Golfing World 04:30 AFL Premiership Highlights 05:30 Total Rugby 06:00 Ping Pong World Championship 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 11:00 ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 12:30 ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 14:00 PGA European Tour Weekly 14:30 Live ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 16:30 Live ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 18:30 Live ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 20:30 Live ATP Tennis Aegon Championships 22:30 Golfing World 23:30 Total Rugby

00:00 01:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:00 12:30 14:30 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

WWE NXT Prizefighter UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Unleashed WWE NXT WWE Vintage Collection Prizefighter NRL Full Time Live NRL Premiership WWE NXT NRL Full Time Mobil 1 The Grid V8 Supercars Extra UAE National Race Day Series UAE National Race Day Series UFC WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line UFC The Ultimate Fighter

FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

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Adan Hospital

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Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Clinics Rabiya

24732263

Rawdha

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Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Cain pitches perfect game for Giants SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco’s Matt Cain pitched the 22nd perfect game in major league history and first for the Giants, striking out a career-high 14 batters in the 10-0 interleague win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

Cain pulled off the rare feat - not allowing any batter to get on base - with help from outfielders Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco, who took fine running catches in the closing stages. He got Jason Castro on a grounder toward third base for the 27th and final out.

Cain (8-2) threw 86 of his pitches for strikes and faced four 3-2 counts. His 125 pitches were the most thrown in any perfect game.

It was the second perfect game of the season and the fifth no-hitter - including three in June. The Astros failed to get a hit for the fifth time in their history and first since 2008.

Cabrera, Brandon Belt and Blanco all hit two-run homers for the Giants. Houston starter JA Happ (4-7) allowed eight runs in 3 13 innings.

the New York Mets’ record for consecutive scoreless innings in a victory over Tampa Bay. Dickey (10-1), who co-leads the major leagues for wins, ran his career-best shutout streak to 32 2-3 innings before yielding an unearned run in the ninth. That topped the previous club mark of 31 2-3 scoreless innings set by Jerry Koosman in 1973.

Dickey set a career best with 12 strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter. Over his past five outings, the 37-year-old knuckleballer has struck out 50 while walking only three.

He outpitched AL wins leader David Price (8-4). According to STATS LLC, this was only the second regular-season game since 1921 to feature the AL and NL wins leaders.

Orioles 7, Pirates 1 In Baltimore, Jake Arrieta tied a career high with nine strikeouts over seven innings, steering Baltimore past Pittsburgh for its fourth straight victory.

Arrieta (3-8) was dominant in ending a sixgame losing streak, giving up one run. He

fect ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances.

Texas has won seven straight against the Diamondbacks, who were shut out for only the second time this season.

Reds 5, Indians 3 In Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips had another strong game against his former team, hitting a two-run homer and driving in three runs as Cincinnati topped Cleveland.

Phillips’ two-run shot in the seventh inning made it 58 straight games with at least one homer at Great American Ball Park; the longest active streak in the majors.

Phillips also had an RBI single off Derek Lowe (7-5) and three hits overall against the team that traded him at the start of the 2006 season. Phillips is a .347 career hitter against Cleveland. Cincinnati starter Mat Latos (5-2) pitched seven innings in place of Mike Leake, one of several Reds hit hard by a stomach virus. Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 20 games, matching the longest in the majors this season.

Angels 2, Dodgers 1 In Los Angeles, Erick Aybar led off the ninth inning with his first home run of the season, lifting the Angels over their Los Angeles rivals.

Aybar hit a pitch from closer Kenley Jansen (4-2) into the pavilion seats beyond right-center. Alberto Callaspo also homered for the Angels.

LaTroy Hawkins (1-1) earned his first victory with the Angels by pitching a hitless eighth.

Ernesto Frieri got three outs for his sixth save in six chances, retiring former Angel Bobby Abreu on a comebacker with two runners in scoring position.

Yankees 3, Braves 2 In Atlanta, Curtis Granderson hit a goahead two-run homer in the sixth inning as streaking New York hung on to edge Atlanta and complete its second straight three-game sweep. New York starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (6-6) gave up two runs in six innings and set a season high with eight strikeouts.

He stranded runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings before giving up a two-run shot in the fifth. Granderson answered an inning later.

The Yankees have surged into first place in the American League East with sweeps of the Mets and Braves. Rafael Soriano gave up a single with two outs in the ninth before completing the save by inducing a popup to second base.

The Braves had runners in scoring position in six innings and went 2 for 13 in that situation. Atlanta starter Tim Hudson (4-3) gave up the lead before he could record an out in the sixth. He gave up three runs with no walks and eight strikeouts in six innings.

Nationals 6, Blue Jays 2 In Toronto, Stephen Strasburg (8-1) won his fifth straight start by guiding Washington past Toronto, completing a three-game sweep. Tyler Moore, called up from the minors last week, hit the first two home runs of his career as the Nationals completed the first undefeated six-game road trip since the franchise relocated from Montreal. Moore went 3 for 4 with five RBIs. The Blue Jays (31-32) lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell below .500 for the first time this season. Toronto starter Kyle Drabek (4-7) was forced to leave after suffering an apparent injury. He allowed four runs in 4 1-3 innings.

Mets 9, Rays 1 In St. Petersburg, Florida, RA Dickey broke

Marlins went 1-8 on their homestand and were outscored 56-17. Miami starter Ricky Nolasco (6-5) allowed four runs in six innings.

Phillies 9, Twins 8 In Minneapolis, Jim Thome drove in four runs against his former team, including a long homer, as Philadelphia hung on for a win over Minnesota.

After three straight soft singles to start the game against PJ Walters (2-2), Thome smacked one to right field to drive in two runs and prompt manager Ron Gardenhire to visit the mound. Walters wasn’t able to get loose, the team announced, and left because of stiffness and pain in his shoulder.

John Mayberry also had four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the first inning to give Cole Hamels (9-3) a six-run lead he barely held. Jonathan Papelbon got the last four outs for his 17th save in as many attempts.

The Twins trailed 6-0 and 9-3 before a rally which Papelbon ended by striking out Joe Mauer in a perfect ninth.

Tigers 8, Cubs 4 In Chicago, Jhonny Peralta had three hits and two RBIs one night after he made two costly throwing errors, and Detroit rallied to beat Chicago.

Brennan Boesch had four hits, including a solo homer, and made a diving catch in right field as the Tigers improved to 8-1 in their last nine games against the Cubs, who had won four straight home games. Chicago starter Matt Garza (2-5) allowed seven hits in six innings.

He is 0-4 with a 5.26 ERA in his past seven starts. Detroit starter Rick Porcello (4-4) gave up nine hits in five innings, but managed to earn his first victory since May 6.

Royals 4, Brewers 3 In Kansas City, Mike Moustakas walked with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, giving Kansas City a come-from-behind victory over Milwaukee. Billy Butler singled to lead off the inning against Kameron Loe (2-2), and Eric Hosmer drew a walk before Jeff Francoeur ripped a single to left field, loading the bases for Moustakas, who walked on five pitches from Jose Veras to win it.

Tim Collins (3-0) earned the win for Kansas City, which trailed 3-1 with two outs in the ninth inning before Alcides Escobar hit a tworun triple to force extra innings.

SAN FRANCISCO: Matt Cain No. 18 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at AT&T Park. — AFP filled in for scheduled starter Brian Matusz, who deflected a baseball onto his nose Tuesday during bunting practice. Wilson Betemit had a season-high three hits and drove in three runs, going 3 for 3 and giving the Orioles a 5-0 lead with a homer int the sixth off Kevin Correia (2-6). Baltimore’s fourgame home winning streak is a season high.

Rangers 1, D’backs 0 In Arlington, Texas, Craig Gentry hit a twoout RBI single in the eighth inning for the game’s only run as Texas edged Arizona.

Mike Napoli drew a leadoff walk in the eighth off rookie Wade Miley (7-3) before a sacrifice bunt by Yorvit Torrealba. After a strikeout, Gentry, the No. 9 batter hitting an impressive .340 this season, hit a hard onehopper over the glove of the third baseman and into left field.

Mike Adams (1-2) retired the only two batters he faced after replacing starter Matt Harrison, who has pitched 16 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings. Joe Nathan worked a per-

Cardinals 1, White Sox 0 In St. Louis, Lance Lynn struck out a career-high 12 to stay tied for the major league lead in wins as St. Louis ended Chicago’s eight-game road winning streak.

Lynn (10-2) pitched 7 1-3 scoreless innings and joined the Mets’ RA Dickey as the only 10-game winners in the majors.

Carlos Beltran hit his NL-best 19th home run, going long in the third inning off Jake Peavy (6-2). He had three of the four hits for the Cardinals, who scored a single run for the third straight game.

Red Sox 10, Marlins 2 In Miami, Felix Doubront pitched a careerhigh seven innings, guiding Boston past reeling Miami. Doubront (7-3), coming off the worst start of his career, retired 16 in a row and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Doubront, who struck out nine, hadn’t pitched more than 6 1-3 innings in his 15 previous career starts. David Ortiz hit a homer and drove in three runs for the Red Sox. The

Athletics 10, Rockies 8 In Denver, Brandon Inge hit a go-ahead, two-run double during a three-run ninth inning which lifted Oakland over Colorado.

With the A’s trailing 8-7 heading into the ninth, Coco Crisp singled off closer Rafael Betancourt (1-2). Jemile Woods sacrificed Crisp to second and he stole third before scoring the tying run on Collin Cowgill’s sacrifice fly. Seth Smith, who had homered earlier, hit a two-out double. Josh Reddick, pinch-hitting for reliever Jerry Blevins (1-0), was walked intentionally, and Inge followed by lashing a double. Todd Helton hit a grand slam and Michael Cuddyer had two homers for the Rockies, who have lost seven straight and are 0-8 in interleague games this season.

Padres 1, Mariners 0 In Seattle, Jason Marquis and three San Diego relievers combined to shut out Seattle.

Marquis (1-1) managed to repeatedly get out of trouble, having allowed a baserunner in every one of his 6-1/3 innings. Yonder Alonso hit only the seventh homer of his career on the first pitch of the seventh inning from Mariners starter Hector Noesi (2-7). — AP

Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Parker leads Sparks to victory over Sun UNCASVILLE: Candace Parker had 33 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to an 87-81 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday.

Nneka Ogwumike, the top pick in this year’s WNBA draft, had 18 points and five rebounds for Los Angeles (7-1). Jantel Lavender added 10 points and eight rebounds.

Tina Charles had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead Connecticut (6-2). Kara Lawson had 16 points and four assists and Asjha Jones added 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Sparks trailed 81-80 with more than a minute left before scoring the game’s final seven points.After Parker blocked Charles’ layup attempt, Ogwumike was fouled by Jones as Los Angeles brought the ball up and the rookie made both her free throws to put the Sparks ahead for good with 1:05 to go.

HALLE: Spanish Rafael Nadal hits the ball during his double match with Marcel Granollers against Slovenia’s Michal Mertinak and Serbia’s Viktor Troicki at the ATP Gerry Weber Open. — AFP

Nadal finds his feet on grass HALLE: Newly-crowned French Open champion Rafael Nadal made a winning return to grass courts yesterday, defeating Slovakiaís Lukas Lacko 7-5, 6-1 in the second round of the Halle ATP tournament.

The Spanish world number two, playing at the German venue for the first time since 2005, will tackle German eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarter-finals.

Nadal played doubles late Wednesday with compatriot Marcel Granollers, a potential partner for the Olympics, and won 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 against Michal Mertinak and Viktor Troicki.

“The first set, it was a little tough to adapt but it got better in the second set,” said Nadal, who secured victory with an ace. “I hope that playing doubles will help with my singles.”

Seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal admitted on Wednesday that he is wary of history repeating itself when he returns to the grass courts of Halle for the first time in seven years yesterday. Nadal has played this pre-Wimbledon just once, in 2005, arriving in Germany on the back of his first Roland Garros title. But his career grasscourt bow was brief when he lost in three sets to Germany’s Alexander Waske in his opening match, a defeat that did little to boost his confidence on what was then an alien surface. “When you win a tournament like Roland Garros, it’s very difficult to play the following week. Especially when you win for the first time, the first Grand Slam in my career,” said the world number two. “This time, I can lose tomorrow (his singles opener against Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko) but for sure I’ll try to stay focused on the match.”

Since that 2005 setback, Nadal has mastered grass courts, winning Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, two of his 11 Grand Slam titles which were boosted to 11 in total by his record-breaking seventh French Open victory on Monday.

“The week after winning a tournament like Roland Garros is never easy because there is a lot of tension, a lot of emotion,” said the Spaniard. “I also played a lot of matches on clay this season, I am always a little tired after the French. There are adjustments-the speed of the court, how to hit the ball on grass.

“I came here in 2005, played a couple years at Queen’s, the transition was never easy. A tournament after the French Open, you have to be very careful because the first round can be very dangerous against any player. “This is the most drastic change in the season, makes success here very difficult.”—AFP

Sky 74, Storm 58 At Rosemont, Illinois, Epiphanny Prince scored 17 points, and Sylvia Fowles had 16 points and 15 rebounds as Chicago beat Seattle for its club-record sixth straight win.

Fowles got her eighth straight doubledouble, matching her own single-season league record set last year. Tamera Young scored 12 points and Ruth Riley added 10 for Chicago (7-1), which never trailed.

Tina Thompson scored 13 points and Ann Wauters had 12 as Seattle (1-7) dropped its sixth straight on the road and fourth in a row overall.

The Sky led by nine at halftime and stretched it to 11 early in the third quarter before Seattle pulled within four heading to the fourth. However, Chicago pulled away with an 11-0 that gave it a 70-53 lead with 2:48 to go. — AP

UNCASVILLE: Los Angeles Sparks’ Candace Parker (left) drives past Connecticut Sun’s Tan White during the first half of a WNBA basketball game. — AP Preview

Tiger, Rory set for stern test SAN FRANCISCO: The stage is set for a riveting US Open at the revered but challenging Olympic Club with former world number one Tiger Woods seemingly back to his best, and defending champion Rory McIlroy not far off.

Woods and McIlroy are capable of electrifying the galleries with their power and precision and both are itching to return to the major winner’s circle in the championship widely accepted as the most grueling of all.

It has been four long years since Woods won the most recent of his 14 majors, in a playoff for the 2008 US Open, and he knows time is perhaps not on his side as he tries to hunt down the record 18 piled up by golfing great Jack Nicklaus. While his form has come in fits and starts this year, Woods issued a timely US Open warning to his rivals with his remarkable two-shot victory at the Memorial tournament two weeks ago in Dublin, Ohio. “It feels good,” Woods, a three-times US Open champion, told reporters while preparing for Thursday’s opening round on the Lake Course at Olympic. “I’ve played the golf course now a couple of times and it’s quick out there.

“I’m excited about playing, excited about this golf course. I’ve played a lot here in college and it’s great to be back,” added the 36-year-old American, who attended nearby Stanford University.

Woods, who tied for 18th when the US Open was last held at Olympic in 1998, is well aware of the demands on precise ball-

striking made by the fast running Lake Course with its tilting dogleg fairways. “This probably tests the player more than any other championship,” he said. “We have to shape the ball. We have to hit the ball high. We have to hit the ball low. Our short game’s got to be dialed in.

“You can look at the history of guys who were in contention or who ended up winning there, all were wonderful drivers of the golf ball and good, solid iron players.” World number two McIlroy arrived at Olympic in a reasonably positive frame of mind, having ended a run of three missed cuts around the world with a tie for seventh at the St. Jude Classic on Sunday. “It was a really good idea that I went there,” said the 23-year-old Northern Irishman, who made a late decision to add the event to his playing schedule. “I definitely feel more comfortable about my game going into this week if I hadn’t have played. So I’m happy that I did. “The last 12 months have been fantastic. I felt like I played very well in that time. I am really looking forward to this week and giving it a good go in trying to defend.” McIlroy, who won his third PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic in March, romped to a stunning eight-shot victory in last year’s US Open on a rain-softened Congressional layout. This week, though, the players are likely to face a more typical US Open challenge with firm, fast-running conditions at a venue where the fairways are tricky to hit and the greens are small. —Reuters

Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012

Today’s Matches on TV UEFA European Championship

Ukraine v France 19:00 Al-Jazeera Sport +9 Al-Jazeera Sport+10 Al-Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al-Jazeera Sport 2 HD Al-Jazeera Sport - Euro

Group

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Sweden v England 21:45 Al-Jazeera Sport +9 Al-Jazeera Sport+10 Al-Jazeera Sport 1 HD Al-Jazeera Sport 2 HD Al-Jazeera Sport - Euro

Spain send Ireland home GDANSK: A double by Fernando Torres inspired defending champions Spain to a 4-0 thrashing of Ireland yesterday in their Euro 2012 Group C match and ended Irish hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals. For all their endeavor in defence, Ireland struggled constantly to cope with the torrent of Spanish attacks as Torres proved he is back to his best with two clinically-taken goals.

Having decided the Euro 2008 final with the winning goal against Germany, Torres netted either side of David Silva second-half strike before his replacement Cesc Fabregas added the fourth seven minutes from time.

“We were chasing shadows,” said Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews. “We said before the match we should learn from our mistakes in the first game but then we shot ourselves in the foot by conceding an early goal. Make no mistake they are a top side and we were always up against it.

“In terms of the Italy game we are playing for pride simple as that.” With 66 percent ball possession, 26 shots on goal, 20 of which were on target, Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given had a busy night as Spain dominated while Ireland managed just six shots on goal in total.

The win puts Spain top of the group on goal difference and level on four points with second-placed Croatia, who Vicente del Bosque’s world champions face here at Arena Gdansk again on Monday.

Italy, who drew 1-1 with Croatia earlier, have two points in third and can still progress if they beat Ireland in Poznan, Poland, the

same day, but the Azzurri are reliant on either Spain or Croatia winning in Gdansk.

Spain had complained to UEFA about the dry condition of the Gdansk pitch during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Italy as Fabregas labelled it “a disaster”, but heavy rain during Thursday’s match made the issue null and void.

Having used a 4-3-3 formation against Italy without a recognised striker, del Bosque elected to start Torres at the expense of Fabregas.

The Chelsea star rewarded the faith with the opening goal after just four minutes.

Group C standings GDANSK: Euro 2012 Group C table after yesterday’s games (Played, won, drawn, lost, for, against, points): Results Spain 1 Italy 1 Ireland 1 Croatia 3 Italy 1 Croatia 1 Spain 4 Ireland 0 Group C Croatia 2 1 1 0 4 2 4 Spain 2 1 1 0 5 1 4 Italy 2 0 2 0 2 2 2 Ireland 2 0 0 2 1 7 0

With Spain on the attack, Ireland defender Richard Dunne tackled Silva on the edge of the area, but Torres pounced on the loose ball and drilled his shot past Given from a tight angle.

Buoyed by the legions of green-clad fans, who clearly outnumbered the Spanish fans and sang until the end, Ireland battled forward, but any rare first-half forages into the Spain half were quickly snuffed out.

A heavy tackle on Andres Iniesta earned Ireland captain Robbie Keane the game’s first booking on 36 minutes and Glenn Whelan followed just before the break for a foul on Silva as it finished 1-0 at the break. Giovanni Trapattoni brought on Jon Walters for Simon Cox up front at half-time, but there was no stemming the tide of Spanish attacks.

A long-range shot from Iniesta was parried

by Given, but fell into Silva’s path, who jinked his way around defenders to roll his shot calmly past Given four minutes after the break.

After Given pulled off more heroics to deny Xavi Hernandez’s corner shot, Ireland lifted their tempo with a series of attacks as Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas was pressed into service.

The threatened third goal came when Silva released Torres, who raced away from Dunne and slotted home his shot on 70 minutes to give Given no chance before the Spaniard made way for Fabregas four minutes later.

The Barcelona star, who scored the equaliser against Italy, again showed his class as he drilled home his shot from a tight angle for Spain’s fourth. —AFP

Spain’s Fernando Torres

STATISTICS Match statistics for Spain’s 4-0 win against Ireland in their Euro 2012 Group C match at the PGE Arena in Gdansk yesterday.

Spain Ireland Goals scored 4 0 Total shots 6 6 Shots on target 20 4 Corners 8 2 Offsides 6 1 Fouls committed 9 16 Yellow cards 2 3 Red cards 0 0 Ball possession (percent) 66 34

Croatia hold Italy to boost q-final hopes STATISTICS Match statistics for Italy’s 1-1 draw with Croatia in their Euro 2012 Group C match at the City Stadium in Poznan yesterday.

Italy Croatia Goals scored 1 1 Total shots 5 10 Shots on target 7 8 Corners 6 3 Offsides 3 1 Fouls committed 15 22 Yellow cards 2 1 Red cards 0 0 Ball possession (percent) 52 48

POZNAN: Croatia held Italy to a 1-1 draw in their Euro 2012 Group C clash at the Municipal Stadium here yesterday to boost their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Italy totally dominated the first period and went in at the break a goal to the good through a sumptuous Andrea Pirlo free-kick.

But a defensive error allowed Mario Mandzukic to equalise in the final 20 minutes and keep Croatia at the top of the group on four points.

Italy will now need to beat Ireland in their final group game and hope that the result in Croatia’s game against Spain is kind to them if they are to progress. The first half was oneway traffic and the Azzurri deserved more than the single goal they registered.

Having been such a disappointment against Spain, Mario Balotelli seemed more awake here and shot wide after a neat turn on three minutes, making the most of limited space in the box.

Claudio Marchisio rifled a shot over the

bar while a Balotelli shot from the edge of the area was punched clear by goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.

Croatia were struggling to create aything of note but Nikica Jelavic was a shoelace away from turning in Darijo Srna’s cross at the near post. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had asked his team to get in behind the defence and Antonio Cassano did exactly that to meet Leonardo Bonucci’s flick over the top but he screwed his effort wide.

Pletikosa came to his side’s rescue on 37 minutes as he made a double save from Marchisio, who latched onto Cassano’s pass, turned a sliding Srna but then couldn’t find the finish to beat the goalkeeper, who spread himself ice hockey style to deny the Juventus midfielder.

Italy got the goal their dominance deserved two minutes later as Pirlo curled an exquisite free-kick over the wall and inside the post, although it seemed a generous award in the first place from English referee

Howard Webb.

Cassano almost added a second before the break with a flicked header from Pirlo’s corner that went just over. Right on the stroke of half-time Croatia broke but Gianluigi Buffon comfortably stopped Mandzukic’s shot.

Croatia started a bit brighter in the second period and Modric got a shot away that Buffon again gathered comfortably before sending another over the bar. Balotelli had a crack from distance that sailed over but then out of the blue, Croatia equalised.

Ivan Strinic sent over a cross from deep and Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini mistimed his jump allowing Mandzukic to bring the ball down and fire home off the near post from six yards.

Substitute Riccardo Montolivo had a shot from distance for Italy that Pletikosa dealt with. But it was the Croats who were pushing hardest for a winner in the dying stages, without creating anything of note. — AFP