16 Apr 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

N Korea’s Kim gives first speech at centenary parade

Titanic dead remembered 100 years after tragedy

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JAMADI ALAWAAL 25, 1433 AH

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Chelsea thrash Spurs to reach FA Cup final

Rooney at the double as United down Villa

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Panel lifts immunity of oppn MPs who stormed Assembly MPs want laws in line with sharia • Graft probes meet till wee hours

Max 34º Min 19º High Tide 08:40 & 19:45 Low Tide 01:23 & 14:21

By B Izzak

Israel moves to thwart ‘flytilla’ JERUSALEM: Israel detained dozens of international activists as they landed at its main airport yesterday, preventing them from entering the country to participate in a planned solidarity mission with Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel said the activists, part of an umbrella group called “Welcome to Palestine”, were provocateurs who posed a security threat. But organizers said the event, meant to draw attention to Israeli travel restrictions on Palestinians, was nonviolent, and they accused Israel of using heavy-handed tactics to stamp out legitimate protest.

Israel is jittery about the prospect of a large influx of foreign protesters arriving because of deadly confrontations with pro-Palestinian activists in the past.

In the worst instance, Israeli naval commandos clashed with activists on board a flotilla trying to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip in May 2010, killing nine activists. Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai said the government “will make sure that everyone who wants to provoke is returned home and the rest will be allowed to enter Israel”.

By early evening, the Interior Ministry said a total of 49 people had been stopped at the airport, most on flights from France, but also from Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Italy and Portugal. At least 12 were placed on flights back home, while arrangements were being made to expel the others.

Hundreds of police were deployed in and around the airport.

Continued on Page 15

TEL AVIV: An Israeli undercover policewoman (right) arrests a leftwing activist holding a pro-Palestinian slogan at Ben Gurion airport yesterday. — AFP

Daily urges end to royal infighting

SEHLA, Bahrain: Thousands of anti-government protesters participate in a march yesterday calling for boycotting the controversial F1 Grand Prix during a pro-democracy protest yesterday in this Shiite village on the outskirts of the capital Manama. — AFP

Bahrain oppn starts week of F1 protests DUBAI: Hundreds of Bahrainis demonstrated yesterday after a Shiite opposition call for a week of pro-democracy protests to coincide with the F1 Grand Prix to be hosted by the Gulf state. Waving red and white Bahraini flags and holding pictures of jailed Shiite activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is on hunger strike, the protesters called for the ouster of the kingdom’s prime minister.

“Leave Khalifa, leave,” they chanted as they marched in the Shiite village of Bilad alQadim, referring to Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, in office since 1971.

Yesterday’s protest was the first in a week of daily demonstrations and sit-ins called by Al-Wefaq, Bahrain’s largest Shiite bloc, planned to last through the end of the controversial Grand Prix race scheduled for April 22. Al-Wefaq said the pro-democracy protests under the banner of “steadfastness and challenge” would take place in Shiite villages on the outskirts of Manama, including one on Tuesday near Bahrain’s international airport. Bahrain, where the majority of the population is Shiite, is ruled by the Sunni AlKhalifa dynasty.

Al-Wefaq said there are no plans for protests near the Sakhir circuit where the race will be held. However, the “Revolution of February 14” youth group, whose members have repeatedly clashed with security forces, has called for “three days of rage” from April 20 to 22 in protest at the decision by motorsport chiefs to go ahead with the

race. Al-Wefaq leader Abdel Jalil Khalil told AFP by telephone the bloc would not try to prevent the event but was organising protests to “take advantage of this week’s race to highlight our political and democratic demands.”

Foreign journalists have been routinely blocked from entering the tiny island state since the the government cracked down on an uprising in Feb-March 2011 that killed 35 people, according to an independent probe.

The Grand Prix controversy has once again swung the international media spotlight on the troubled kingdom, an opportunity the opposition says it will use to publicise demands for greater equality and democracy. Bahrain’s cabinet insisted in a statement yesterday that the decision by Formula 1 to go ahead with the race reflected “confidence in the country’s security and stability.”

The shooting and wounding of a 15year-old boy by riot police last week had increased pressure on race organisers and participating teams to boycott the event.

But on Friday, both the sport’s governing body, the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), and commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone announced the race will take place as scheduled. The US-based watchdog Human Rights Watch condemned the decision, arguing it would be exploited by the ruling dynasty “to obscure the seriousness of the country’s human rights situation.” — AFP

KUWAIT: A leading Kuwaiti newspaper called yesterday for an end to an escalating power struggle within the Al-Sabah ruling family, warning that it could have grave consequences on the state. “Today, we are concerned, worried and shocked while we watch this infighting between wings of the ruling family intensify,” the liberal Al-Qabas daily said in a front-page editorial. “The dispute... is at a turning point. It is feared that if it is not swiftly resolved by the family wise men, it will become... violent,” the daily cautioned.

OPEC’s third largest producer has been rocked by a series of political crises since 2006 that resulted in the resignation of eight cabinets and the dissolution of parliament on four occasions. Kuwaitis often blame the Continued on Page 15

Iran, big powers to keep talking Bibi slams ‘freebie’ ISTANBUL: After a year of sanctions and sabre-rattling over Iran’s nuclear program, negotiators from Tehran and six world powers finally resumed talks and found at least enough common ground to agree to meet again next month. With threats of war hanging over an already unsettled Middle East, US and other Western diplomats welcomed an Iranian willingness in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss their nuclear activities - something they had refused since early last year.

But though they will meet again, in Baghdad on May 23, they remained poles apart. Iran called for a lifting of sanctions and recognition its uranium enrichment is for purely peaceful ends; the United States demanded urgent action to prove the Islamic Republic is not seeking the potential nuclear arsenal which Washington and ally Israel threaten to eliminate by force. “While the atmosphere today was positive and good enough to merit a second round, we continue to stress ... that there is urgency for concrete progress and that the window for a diplomatic resolution is closing,” said a senior US official.

Israel’s prime minister said Iran got a “freebie” from the world’s big powers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that the arrangement gave Iran five weeks to continue uranium enrichment - a process that can be used both in the production of nuclear energy or nuclear weapons - without any restrictions. He said Iran should be forced to stop this immediately.

Over the past year, Israeli talk of “pre-emptive” strikes if Iran does not stop working on some aspects of nuclear technology have stoked fears of war - and Continued on Page 15

KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s legal and legislative committee yesterday agreed to lift the immunity of nine opposition MPs who led hundreds of protesters last November in storming the Assembly building, rapporteur of the panel MP Mohammad Al-Dallal said. The decision came after the nine MPs - Faisal Al-Mislem, Musallam Al-Barrak, Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, Mubarak AlWaalan, Salem Al-Namlan, Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Jamaan Al-Harbash, Khaled Al-Tahous and Falah AlSawwagh - demanded that their immunity be lifted so they can be tried. The final decision however will be taken by the Assembly in the coming session next week and is expected to approve the decision.

The request to lift the immunity was demanded by the public prosecution in order to complete investigation in the case which involves dozens of youth activists and some former MPs. Dallal said the committee took the decision unanimously after Tabtabaei, the head of the panel, left the meeting and despite some legal loopholes in the request by the public prosecution especially in basing the request on laws that had been scrapped.

In another development, 31 mostly Islamist MPs yesterday submitted a request to amend an article in the constitution that would require that all laws passed must be in line with sharia law. The article in its current form states that no law is issued until passed by the Assembly and signed by HH the Amir and the MPs proposed to add that “it must be in compliance with Islamic sharia”. Islamist MPs have been trying to Islamize laws for the past several decades without success despite having a strong majority in some assemblies because of the difficulties involved in amending the constitution.

Continued on Page 15

EX-Kuwait goalie Saied passes away KUWAIT: Kuwaiti footballer Sameer Saied passed away yesterday after succumbing to injuries sustained in a accident late on Thursday. The former national team goalkeeper was jogging with a friend when he was run over by a speeding vehicle in Khairan, and was hospitalized in a critical condition with brain and liver hemorrhages and compound frac tures at Adan Hospital.

Saied - in his forties - was in a coma and doctors had described his condition as unstable. The driver of the speeding vehicle had turned himself in and remains in custody at Wafra police station.

Sameer Saied

Taleban rock Afghanistan with ‘spring offensive’ KABUL: Explosions and gunfire rocked the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday as suicide bombers struck across Afghanistan in coordinated attacks claimed by Taleban insurgents as the start of a spring offensive. The US, British, German and Japanese embassy compounds came under fire as militants attacked the city’s diplomatic enclave and tried to storm parliament sparking a gun battle in which lawmakers and bodyguards fired back from the rooftop.

Embattled President Hamid Karzai was

moved to a safe area and his palace went into lockdown as the capital was hit by a wave of attacks including a failed attempt to target one of his deputies, officials said.

Insurgents armed with heavy machineguns, rocket propelled grenades and suicide vests launched what the Taleban spokesman said was a “coordinated attack” in Kabul and three eastern towns near the capital. In Kabul the insurgents took up positions in Continued on Page 15

KABUL: An Afghan policeman fires during a gun battle yesterday after the Taleban launched a series of coordinated attacks. — AP

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MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

LOCAL

Grand Mosque to be closed for months for maintenance Faithful criticize ‘bad timing’

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Muslims who are used to praying at the Grand Mosque are very disappointed to hear that it will be closed for maintenance for several months, which means that it will not be open during the holy month of Ramadan. Local press reports mention that the maintenance work includes the renovation of concrete pillars and the ceiling, which will be executed by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). This is the first year for any reconstruction to the Grand

Mosque since it was built in 1986.

The Mosque lays on 45,000 square meters, including the outdoor areas.

Hanah, 29 years old, was stunned to hear that the Grand Mosque is closed. “As a woman I pray at home the whole year, but during Ramadan I used to go with my mother and sister to pray the Qiyam prayer at the Grand Mosque.

We have been practicing this habit for about six years, and it is really sad to know that this year we will not be able to do so,” she told the Kuwait Times.

“I wonder why they choose this period of the year? I think that they could either wait until after the holy month or start earlier, as they know that Ramadan is the month of worship. I will have to go to pray at the mosque near our house in Salmiya. It is a small mosque and it gets crowded during the weekends, but it suits our area. I prayed there in Ramadan once or twice before as it is near to my house, but the Qiyam prayers end early and they are shorter than at the Grand Mosque,” added Hana.

Fatma, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti

KUWAIT: People holding prayers at the Grand Mosque during Ramadan.—File photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Clerics urged to pay attention to environment CAIRO: President of the Voluntary Work Center in Kuwait Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah urged clerics to pay attention to environmental issues, pointing out that Islam advocates environment preservation.

This came in a speech delivered by Sheikha Amthal during the awards ceremony for women environment advocates (Arab region) for the year 2011. It was held at the Arab League under the patronage of

Nabil Al-Arabi, Secretary-General of the League of Arab states.

She stressed the importance of paying attention to the environmental issues and education, emphasizing that the Gulf Cooperation Council states countries should start with every child.

She urged Muslim scholars to pay more attention to such issues and try to introduce environmental issues to schooling curriculum. —KUNA

CAIRO: Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other dignitaries at the function.

NA caucus extends regular session to Aug 2 KUWAIT: Members of the National Assembly’s Caucus convened a regular meeting yesterday under the chairmanship of Parliament Speaker, Ahmad Al-Saadoun.

Abdullah Al-Barghash, Secretary of the National Assembly, told the press that the members of the office agreed to extend its current regular session until Aug 2. AlBargash said that the caucus received a letter from the parliamentary human rights committee requesting a delegation of MPs and doctors be sent with family members of Guantanamo detainees Fayez Al-Kandari and Fouzi Al-Awadah, to visit the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He said the Foreign Ministry will address this mat-

ter soon. The National Assembly’s Caucus also approved a request from the nuclear and environment affairs committee to seek help from the committee’s consultants, the MP added. The Caucus also discussed a letter addressed to the International Islamic Parliamentarians Forum regarding their upcoming visit to the state of Kuwait.

The session also addressed the latest updates on the new members of parliament building, which is under construction. Al-Bargash added that some of parliament’s secretary general administrationrelated matters were tackled during the session. —KUNA

who also used to pray at the Grand Mosque during Ramadan, was not pleased to hear the news of the closing of the Mosque. “I think if this reconstruction and maintenance work is necessary, and could not wait until Ramadan is over, then they should have stopped the work in the Holy Month to let people pray there in Ramadan, and then continue the work after the Eid holiday. Tens of thousands of people pray there every night in Ramadan. Where will they go now?

For myself, I will not go to any other mosque. I would rather pray at home,” stressed Fatma.

Wisam, a 45-year-old Lebanese national, criticized the closing of the mosque during this period. He said he will go to pray at Al-Wazzan Mosque near his house in Hawalli. “I have been praying in the Grand Mosque for about 10 years now and it is a shock that I will not be able to pray the Qiyam prayers there this year,” he pointed out.

Salah, 29 years old, said that this is a bad decision and is the result of incorrect planning and administration. “If I was an MP, I would grill the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs for choosing this wrong time and period to renovate the Grand Mosque. Although I do not usually pray there, as I prefer the mosque near my house in Rawdha, I know that tens of thousands of people go specifically to that mosque during Ramadan to pray there. The ministry should have set a schedule to finish the maintenance before Ramadan. This is a big mistake,” he exclaimed.

Health Minister presides over first meeting of new consultants’ board KUWAIT: Minister of Health, Dr Ali Saad AlObeidi, presided over the first meeting of the new consultants board at the ministry’s diwan on Saturday night. He noted that the board should function as the central decision making b o d y w h e n i t co m e s to i m p l e m e n t i n g a n d developing health policies, in addition to planning in the event of emergencies and disasters.

The meeting was attended by Health U n d e r s e c r e t a r y, D r I b r a h i m A l - A b d e l h a d i , Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs, Dr Khalid Al-Sahlawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Quality and Planning, Dr Walid Al-Falah and t h e H e a d o f t h e Te c h n i c a l D e p a r t m e n t , D r Majdah Al-Qattan.

Heads of the specialized medical boards also attended. The minister started with a review of the many topics to be covered in the following meetings and discussed proposals presented by board members to help shape ministry policy.

This first meeting was set for the discussion of agreements made by the ministr y, along with international universities and organizations, including the Memorandum of Understanding signed with McGill University, as an initial step to assess the benefits of these agreements and to evaluate the implementation of the clauses of these agreements. An assessment of the effect of the development of technical and administrative performance and the quality of service received by patients was also planned.

The minister urged attendees to pay attention to the issue of malpractice, and called for an all-inclusive overview of the issue on both technical and legal levels. He stressed that the issue is of vital importance, and that a failure to address it will result in the loss of the citizens’ confidence in the ministry’s services. The officials also discussed the policies of the medical warehouses possible mechanisms for requesting equipment in order to provide a smoother service and better management. — KUNA

VIVA marks one million customers with festival KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, hailed the success of its recent Million Festival, which took Kuwait by storm. The company celebrated the occasion of reaching One Million Customers by holding a special VIVA Million Festival for all customers and the wider Kuwaiti community in three locations, Marina Crescent, Avenues Mall and 360 Mall between April 12 and 14.

Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Badran, VIVA’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We were very pleased that so many VIVA customers, their families and friends came to our VIVA Million Festival. We have received wonderful customer feedback and we hope that everyone who attended enjoyed it just as much as we did. The millionth customer is a major milestone in our growth and we are glad to have been able to celebrate it with our customers and the wider Kuwaiti community.”

He added, “VIVA’s achievement of one million customers in just over three years is testament to the dedication of the whole VIVA family. At VIVA we are committed to delivering the latest technology and to serving the needs of all our customers.”

The VIVA Million Festival was a weekend full of family excitement for Kuwait. The main celebrations took place at Marina Crescent, with additional attractions and activities taking place at the Avenues Mall and 360 Mall. People attending the VIVA Million Festival were entertained by a wide variety of live shows that included: Shadow Motion Show; Laser Show; Halo UV Glow Show; Flame OZ Fire Show; Stilt Walkers the Street United Stage Show which brought the best in street artists and acts.

Customers got to see the creation of

Cabinet holds weekly meeting KUWAIT: The Cabinet held its weekly meeting at Seif Palace yesterday, under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Following the meeting, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs issued a statement on the meeting’s deliberations and outcome.

During the meeting, the Cabinet was also informed of four letters that were referred to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah from Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Beninese President Thomas Yayi Boni, Bangladeshi President Zillur Rahman and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Percy Rajapaksa. The letters focused on bilateral relations and means of

strengthening cooperation in all fields.

The Cabinet was also informed about a letter sent to HH the Amir from Jacques Chirac, expresident of France and head of Chirac Foundation for Peace. The letter focused on the development and humanitarian activities undertaken by Chirac Foundation over the past four years.

On the other hand, the Cabinet welcomed the expected visit of Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said AlSaid to Kuwait which will begin today. It congratulated Information Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah on overcoming the grilling motion filed against him in the National Assembly. The ministers approved a recommendation put forward by public service committee on law number 25 of 1995 which forbids

bachelors from living in buildings allocated for families only.

The Cabinet approved an amendment to Article 63 of law number 23 of 1968 of the police force, a bill on encouraging investment and bilateral trade between Kuwait and Djibouti, bill on cooperation between Kuwait and Sudan in basic and higher education, and a draft law on the statute of Gulf Cooperation Council center for crisis management.

The approved bills and recommendations were referred to HH the Amir for final approval. The Cabinet discussed the main issues to be debated by the National Assembly this week. Finally, the Cabinet reviewed the political affairs in light of the reports related to the overall political developments at the Arab and international levels. —KUNA

professional 3D Art by world renowned artists Julian Beever and Peter Westerink.

Julian Beever is an English chalk artist who has been creating chalk drawings on pavement surfaces since the mid-1990s. He uses a projection technique called anamorphosis to create the illusion of three dimensions when viewed from the correct angle. Peter Westerink is a street painter, who since 2003 pioneered in the field of fine arts and international street painting in particular and since 2007 he has been an entrepreneur specializing in unique and high quality street painting concepts such as the Guinness 3D World Record and Street Painting World Tour.

Since the launch of VIVA’s commercial operations in the Kuwaiti market, the company has consistently sought to present new and exclusive telecommunications, data and information services to its customers. Through its innovation and commitment, VIVA has quickly developed a unique and unprecedented market position as a telecoms leader in Kuwait, stemming from its belief in the importance of frequent and relevant interaction with its customers and rooted in its promotional offers and competitive prices, as well as a reputation for excellence in customer services.

Along the way to its millionth customer, the company has already passed many other major milestones including: launching the Apple iPhone, the world’s favorite smar tphone, in Kuwait; introducing Kuwait’s smallest commercial internet router; becoming the first company to officially sponsor the Kuwaiti National football team; and signing the unique partnership agreement with Manchester United, one of the world’s biggest and most successful football clubs.

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

LOCAL

News

in brief

‘Highest’ in spending on salaries KUWAIT: Kuwait has the highest rate of expenditure on public sector salaries worldwide compared to general Government spending, says a Ministry of Finance report submitted to Parliament concerning the economic and financial conditions in the state, as well as the 2012/2013 state budget formula. The report confirms similar claims made in a World Bank report last month. “Government spending on public sector salaries, in the general expenses of state departments, take up nearly 38.3 percent of the total Government spending rate mentioned in the balance sheet for the 2010/2011 fiscal year”, the report reads. It adds that salaries of servicemen and employees in departments affiliated to the Government gives Kuwait the highest rate worldwide in spending on public sector salaries compared to total spending.

KD14m for water storage, repairs KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Planning and Development, Fadhel Safar, signed on Sunday a KD 14.4 million contract for establishing and maintaining a water treatment network and treated water tanks. The 1,825-day contract provides for setting up and maintaining a water treatment network and 14 treated water reservoirs, as well as establishing a number of lines of water treatment at a distance ranging between 40 and 120 centimeters for a length of 56 kilometers. It also includes an information control center to link networks of treated water, which is located within the project area.

Kuwait- US economic cooperation KUWAIT: American Ambassador to Kuwait, Matthew H. Tuller, discussed with Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anas Al-Saleh, yesterday ways of promoting bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries. The minister discussed a number of issues of common interest with the ambassador to improve the level of trade and economic cooperation and investment between Kuwait and the United States. During the meeting, they discussed strengthening investment relations between the two countries in both government and private sectors, particularly regarding an exchange of investment opportunities available in both countries.

Egyptian attempts to commit suicide

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: An Egyptian tried to claim his own life by swallowing a large number of tablets after he was laid off by the company he worked for, said security sources. Luckily, the man was rushed to hospital just in time and was saved. He will face charges of attempting to commit suicide.

Road accidents A 42-year-old Bangladeshi was killed upon impact when he was run over by a speeding vehicle near Sulaibikhat cemetery. The deceased suffered a serious injury directly to his head and died instantly. A 65-year-old Pakistani sustained broken leg when he was run over by a vehicle in Sharq, said security sources. The man was rushed to the Amiri Hospital for treatment. Three citizens were injured in a car accident along Al-Ghous Street. They were all rushed to Adan Hospital for treatment. An 18-year-old citizen sustained a head injury in a car crash in Sabah Al-Salem.

Egyptian smugglers Two Egyptians were arrested at Kuwait International Airport in possession of hashish upon their return from a vacation in their home country.

Two fires A fire broke out in a Ferdous house yesterday morning, said security sources noting that both Jleeb and Sulaibikhat firemen rushed to the scene. Luckily they found the fire was only in the Diwaniya, annexed to the house. The fire was extinguished in record time. No casualties were reported. Another fire broke out in a five floor Farwaniya building, security sources said. When firemen from Farwaniya, and Ardhiya Backup Center rushed to the scene, they discovered that the fire was in the janitor’s room and that the resulting smoke had spread throughout the building. The whole building had to be evacuated, while firemen rescued some trapped tenants who suffered smoke inhalation.

Iraqi drug runner busted

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: An Iraqi arriving through the northern land border exit of Abdaly was arrested with 80,000 hallucination pills, security sources said. Case papers indicate that after searching the truck he drove, custom inspectors found the pills hidden in secret hideouts. The driver was referred to relevant authorities and the drugs were confiscated.

Sri Lankan Airlines starts direct flights to Colombo from Kuwait Growing tourism demand

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Starting on May 1, Sri Lankan Airlines will start a direct and daily flight to Colombo from Kuwait and vice versa. The regular route will depart from Kuwait at 21:55pm daily and arrive in Colombo at 6:15am. Speaking with the Kuwait Times, Lal Perera, Regional Manager in the Middle East and Africa, said the need for the direct flight is now essential. “The new direct flight will commence from May 1 to serve our passengers who have been requesting a daily and direct flight to and from Kuwait. We yield to our passengers demand. The current Kuwait-DubaiColombo will be disconnected, but the direct Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Dubai to Colombo will continue,” he explained.

According to Perera, one thing that Sri Lankan Airlines considered was the growing tourism demand from the Middle East. “In January and February 2012 alone, we noticed an increase of 42 percent in arrivals from the Middle East. Tourism during the same period last year stood at 5,359 compared to 7,625 tourists this year. We do not have statistics from Kuwait, but when we talk about Middle East Kuwait is one of the wealthiest country in this region. Kuwaitis love to travel, especially during holidays or summer breaks, so I believe the percentage of tourists arriving from Kuwait will be higher,” he mentioned.

Passengers will henceforth be able to enjoy the speed of non-stop flights coupled with the luxury and comfort of wide-bodied A 330 and A 340 aircraft as they travel to Colombo and beyond.

“Travelers will be treated with a real in-flight experience; from convenience to food and hospitality.” The Sri Lankan flag carrier is an award winning airlines with a firm reputation as a global leader in service, comfort, safety, reliability and punctuality.

Sri Lanka’s national carrier will he operating a total of 47 weekly flights into the Middle East effective next month. Since 1982, Kuwait continues to occupy a top slot as some of the key points in their portfolio are destina-

KUWAIT: Lal Perera, Regional Manager of the Middle East and Africa, talking with the Kuwait Times.

—Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat tions in the Middle East.

“In addition to being a heavy ‘employment traffic market’, it also has great potential as a Leisure and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) market. Although our flights currently operate via Dubai, the nonstop operation to be implemented is expected to increase capacity to Colombo and beyond by 100 percent,” he enthused.

Sri Lankan Airlines currently flies to seven cities in India- Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Mumbai, Trichy and Trivandrum, with four flights per week. “This means that we’re further ensuring speedier outbound passenger travel from Kuwait to a wide range of South Indian destinations and Far Eastern destinations, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta via Colombo. This is a boon to our hundreds of commercial travelers, who

require speedy business transactions with their partners in these destinations,” Perera added.

The new dawn of peace in Sri Lanka has been claiming significant numbers of passengers travelling to Sri Lanka for tourism purposes and or even business purposes. “Sri Lanka’s geographical location makes it ideal for most expatriates to enjoy dual holidays in Colombo and the Far East of Colombo, and the Maldives enroute to India for a nominal additional amount”, he pointed out.

I asked whether the on-going Arab Spring uprising has affected their business in the Middle East. “No. We are absolutely not affected or anything. In fact, to cite an example was our Bahrain route. Before, we only have four flights per week, but now we added one to become five per week. So we don’t feel any affect at all in our airlines.

In Muscat, we have only two per week we increased it to four. In Doha we went from five to seven. The latest one is splitting the fight from one route to two in Kuwait and Dubai. So you see, we haven’t been affected negatively at all. We do not have flights to Syria or Iran, so we have not affected by what is going on those places,” he beamed.

Sri Lankan Airlines recently completely transformation the cabin interiors in their entire fleet. The new look will have a subtle, traditional Sri Lankan aura to its plush interiors, and new state of the art entertainment. Travelling Business Class on Sri Lankan Airlines is luxury in the skies, with the introduction of flat bed seats in business class cabins on its wide bodied A 330 aircraft.

The underlying idea of the business class cabin upgrade is primarily to modernize the cabins and create a tranquil atmosphere in a traditional warm ambience of a Sri Lankan home in the sky. Sri Lankan Airlines operates a fleet of 22 aircraft - including wide-bodied A 340 and A 330 aircraft, and mid-range A 3205.

Sri Lankan Airlines currently operates to 60 destinations in 33 countries across the globe from Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and South Asia to Southeast Asia, the Far East, Australia, North America and Canada.

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

LOCAL In my view

Letters to Muna

Increasing crime rate

You are being watched

By Labeed Abdal

muna@kuwaittimes.net

local@kuwaittimes.net

W

ith rapid advancements made in the fields of information technology and communications through medium like Facebook, Twitter, ‘online revelations’ took the lead and toppled governments and regimes.

Order and security establishments all over the world have begun considering those developments, going on to create cyber police units to monitor every tweet.

More cameras will be installed on streets, an inevitable step they have to take so as to prevent crimes. No doubt the changes happening in our lives have a bright side. We deal with smart phones and e-cloud computing. All that has truly made us do things easier in a different fashion.

More cameras will be installed on streets, an inevitable step they have to take so as to prevent crimes. No doubt the changes happening in our lives have a bright side. We deal with smart phones and ecloud computing. All that has truly made us do things easier in a different fashion.

That said, we should not compromise our privacy or freedom or make our liberties threatened. This has threatened security surveillance.

Twitter, Facebook and Youtube were immensely used in Kuwait before the fall of the last government; they were used in many cases of personal defamation and cases of religious assaults .

The Kuwaiti legislative power must bring this issue to top priority as we must protect our national security. Personal data or the right of expression should be protected, while prosecuting the accused or protecting the rights of victims.

Certainly, those who fail to respect privacy and or dignity - which is protected by the Constitution of Kuwait, even individuals, must be brought to justice, if they break the law or overstep its boundaries.

kuwait digest

US Embassy visa refusal

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

A

n assistant director at Kuwait University cancelled a scheduled trip to America because the American Embassy in Kuwait refused to grant him a visa for reasons they did not disclose.

Visas were granted to 11 engineers due to accompany him on the trip.

So far things are very natural.

The unnatural thing was that the cost of the trip was supposed to be added to the tender value of KD 760,000. The contractor was supposed to absorb the cost of the trip within the KD 760,000, but decided to add it as a change to the order, increasing the value of the tender

by KD 76,000 to KD 836,000!

The assistant director was angry at the refusal by the American Embassy and decided to cancel the whole trip. Neither himself nor any of the 11 engineers went to New York, where they were destined to go to follow up with the purchase of a water pump for a Kuwait University project.

So far things are very natural. The unnatural thing was that the cost of the trip was supposed to be added to the tender value of KD 760,000. The contractor was supposed to absorb the cost of the trip within the KD 760,000, but decided to add it as a change to the order, increasing the value of the tender by KD 76,000 to KD 836,000!

As the trip was cancelled, due to the embassy refusal, the change to the order has been cancelled. This order would have cost the general budget KD 76,000 without any right. It is as if the American Embassy unintentionally protected our public money, which was about to be wasted by Kuwaitis.

But, if the American Embassy saved KD 76,000 from being lost, the total cost of the deal exceeding KD 3/4 million has also been lost as no water pump has been built, no water pool has been dug, and on top of all that the contractor received all his money - with a kiss on top of it!

Isn’t there anyone at Kuwait University who can stop this waste? Every corner in the university has a problem, and under every table there is a violation.

The university needs an earthquake of reforms at nine degrees on the Richter scale. Will the minister put an end to this waste and save public money from direct tenders?! — Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest

A faux pas or clever calculus?

By Abdelaziz Aluwaisheg

H

ow did the Iranian government prepare for the Istanbul Conference to discuss its nuclear program? How did it demonstrate its good will toward neighbors and desire for serious dialogue with the international community?

And finally, how did Iran showcase its diplomatic skills when it was in the spotlight and the eyes of the world were following every move it was making?

The Istanbul meeting was held on Saturday. You would think that Iran might be better served by demonstrating some goodwill toward its neighbors to reduce pressure in Istanbul. Instead, however, on Wednesday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad decided to visit the UAE island of Abu Musa, occupied by Iran since 1971, together with two other UAE islands (Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb), a visit that was accompanied by loud nationalistic fanfare. Was this move a faux pas or calculated policy? Was it meant for the domestic choir or for larger international audiences?

The United Arab Emirates immediately issued a statement calling attention to this brazen challenge to its sovereignty over the three islands. Then in measured tones, the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan was quoted as saying that the visit represented “a setback to all efforts and attempts the UAE is making to find a peaceful settlement to Iran’s occupation of the three UAE islands.”

The symbolism of President Ahmadinejad’s visit to Abu Musa was unmistakable, as it was the first ever made by an Iranian president. The message seemed quite clear: Istanbul talks will not change Iran’s policies in the region. To make sure that symbolism was not lost, the official Fars News Agency marshaled a chorus of Iranian officials asserting that “ownership of the three islands is unquestionable” and that the visit was an “internal affair.”

The head of Iran’s Majlis’ (Parliament) Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy was equally strident; he was quoted by the Mehr News Agency as saying that “Iran’s possession of the three islands is unchangeable and permanent and this issue is not open to negotiation.”

From the island, the president went even further, saying that the whole Gulf was Persian. It goes without saying that such quixotic talk only plays in the hands of extremist nationalists who have no interest in cultural dialogue and no capacity for engagement and negotiations between the two shores of the Gulf.

Iran’s conduct on the eve of Istanbul’s nuclear talks only confirms a longstanding fear in the Gulf that even a nonnuclear Iran, under its current government, remains a destabilizing force in the region.

While the international community is focused on Iran’s nuclear program, it tends to underestimate Iran’s regional mischief making. These developments are especially alarming when you examine the new lan-

guage used by Iran to justify its claims to the three occupied islands, a language that may foretell claims to other parts of the Gulf as well. During his visit to Abu Musa Island on Wednesday, Ahmadinejad insisted that historical documents proved “the Persian Gulf is Persian,” according to the official IRNA news agency. He said that the term “Persian Gulf” derived from the “culture, civilization and the dominant opinion of the area.

Since a few thousand years ago, the main culture in most of the world was the Iranian culture and civiliza-

The symbolism of President Ahmadinejad’s visit to Abu Musa was unmistakable, as it was the first ever made by an Iranian president. The message seemed quite clear: Istanbul talks will not change Iran’s policies in the region. To make sure that symbolism was not lost, the official Fars News Agency marshaled a chorus of Iranian officials asserting that “ownership of the three islands is unquestionable” and that the visit was an “internal affair.” tion, and it is clear that the naming of this waterway would be based on the name of this culture and land.”

Regrettably, then, the Iranian President’s visit to Abu Musa may in fact represents a serious setback not just to efforts to find a peaceful solution to political and territorial issue, but also attempts at cultural dialogue.

While Iranian officials in the past used Islamic references to their political ambitions, President Ahmadinejad has abandoned that language and replaced it with a new terminology with Chauvinistic overtones.

It may be wishful thinking to dismiss Iran’s moves last week as political hype intended for domestic consumption or diplomatic bluster intended to improve Iran’s negotiating position in Istanbul. More likely, it appears, Iran is trying to project its claims as the dominant hegemon in the region. Regardless of what we may think of such claims, we should not underestimate the effects of such jingoistic language, and brazen conduct, on the future of Arab-Iranian relations in the Gulf.

Hello Muna, I could not agree more with you about Kuwait’s education system. I am a trained science teacher with some Arab heritage and have found what you describe to be true. Rote learning is a total waste of time as it does not teach you to think! I spend weeks, having received a new class training them to stop copying everything that is on the board. Lessons should not be judged by the amount of facts students copy into books, but by the amount of passion and insight students gain. This is a topic I am delighted to see being addressed, congratulations to you for raising it.

Kamal Dear Muna Al-Fuzai, Will you be kind enough to write about increasing crime rate in this region? Perhaps you have already written about it, just like many others. But how much is enough if the situation is getting worse? We are all sitting on a ticking time bomb. Do we really need to wait till disaster strikes? I hope you can study about the situation (we just can’t walk the streets safely anymore and without fear) and become a voice for public conscience.

Regards, Reader Dear Muna Al-Fuzai, I am really surprised to know that domestic workers are receiving a ‘hiked’ pay scale of KD 85 a month, that is like $350 - 400 a month. Have you even heard of anyone earning so less anywhere in a month? If a person in Australia works at a gas station and all he does is just clean it, he can earn up to $500 a week, not $500 a month. These poor housemaids are made to work so hard, and what do they get in the end, KD 85. Would a Kuwaiti be happy with that kind of a salary? Why do Kuwaitis treat these people like animals? They are human beings for God’s sake. Look at the comments made by the Sri Lankan Ambassador about house maids who were starving while a party was being held in full swing, with every one feasting on delectable items. Is this what Islam has taught us?

If Kuwaitis consider themselves to be Muslims, then they should at least know what our religion says; treat these maids fairly and with respect. When they work 10-12 hours a day doing the cleaning, cooking and looking after kids, one should at least reward them appropriately.

I am highly disgusted at reading that KD 85 will be ‘given’ to them. It is meaningless, and Kuwaitis should be ashamed of themselves for doing it.

These maids are being abused, beaten, starved and even murdered in some cases (unexplained deaths). Just because they cannot go out and speak in public, doesn’t mean that you can take undue advantage of them? If you are working in an office and are not paid for three years, will that be acceptable to you? Why would you do that to a housemaid?

When will Kuwaitis learn that this is not what our religion preaches. Praying five times a day in a mosque is not Islam, but it is one’s actions and words that make you a true Muslim.

Best regards Qaisar Dear Ms Al-Fuzai, My husband reads the overseas news daily and leaves especially good articles for me to read as well.

Your recent article about the importance of understanding and appreciating each others’ cultures and religions was wonderful. (We have the same philosophy.) I gratefully accept your Happy Easter wishes.

Thank you!

Linda Lee United States

kuwait digest

‘Computer out of order’

By Dr Terki Al-Azmi

T

he Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ahmad AlRujaib has received numerous questions from lawmakers concerning different subjects like sports, prices at local co-op societies and other subjects. They overlooked, however, a matter of vital importance that affected Kuwaiti employers and firms in the market.

As part of alleged efforts to ‘modernize’ work at state departments and adopt means of technology, the MSAL bought what it called ‘the automation project;’ a plan to replace the paperwork procedures in labor-related transactions electronically. The project was said to offer a ‘solution’ to the delay in finalizing transitions, as well as offer an effective method to counter labor-related violations. It was implemented for a few years now, yet routine procedures still exist, while violations including crimes like illegal visa trading never stopped.

Despite the adoption of computerized measures, manipulation is the best way according to which a person can guarantee that their transactions are quickly finalized; something that cannot be guaranteed by following legal channels. On that regard, I’d like to draw your attention to incidents that take place at Farwaniya Labor Department : � A company representative will finalize a simple work permit issuance procedure, but is told to come back the following day because the ‘computer is out of order.’ He returns the following day, and receives the same answer. A few days later, the employer per-

sonally goes to the department, but is also shooed away. I wonder what kind of computer glitch takes forever to be fixed, while obstructing vital work all along. � The word ‘automation’ should imply that all work procedures carried out at a government body that adopts an automated system are computerized. Yet, the moment you step inside a labor department, you are required to submit an application form concerning the subject you wish to be helped with. Furthermore, there are chances that you will be asked to provide new documents every day until your transaction is finalized. So much so for automated services! � A company representative wakes up early and arrives at the labor department at 6 am. He takes a token, and waits for his turn to submit a transaction.

Mister Al-Rujaib, do you realize that your ministry’s incompetency is the main reason why Kuwait’s demographic structure remains imbalanced? Do you know that ‘automation’ is only present in name at state departments?

When he arrives at the counter, the employee asks him to come the next day. The representatives goes through the entire procedure the following morning.

This time, the computer is working but after flipping through dossiers, the representative realizes that one document is missing. This basically means that another day has been wasted!

Sometimes I even wonder if transactions are finalized according to any set criteria. If it exists, why is it changing all the time?

Mister Al-Rujaib, do you realize that your ministry’s incompetency is the main reason why Kuwait’s demographic structure remains imbalanced? Do you know that ‘automation’ is only present in name at state departments? Are you aware of the fact that the illegal visa trading is going on smoothly in Kuwait, whereas employers have to go through hell - and eventually resort to wasta (influence) -in order to finalize a simple labor-related procedure when it’s halted by a presumed computer error?

All I’m asking from you, mister Minister, is to launch coordinated efforts to eliminate paperwork completely from labor departments. A transaction usually takes minutes to be finalized in nearby countries which fully utilizes electronic measures, whereas it needs weeks and perhaps multiple ‘wasta’ attempts to be completed in Kuwait. You can start by forming teams of supervisors who can meet with workers at labor departments, and try finding ways to overcome obstacles that cause delay in processing transactions! — Al-Rai

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

local

Kuwait calls for strategies for alternatives to oil Chemistry convention opens

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Philippines, Shulan O Primavera, visited Kuwait Times and discussed matters of mutual concern with Editor-in-Chief Abd AlRahman Alyan. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Warning against hospital projects KUWAIT: The Union of Engineering Offices and Consulting Houses in Kuwait denounced the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) for insisting to build a number of hospitals according to the system of design and construction. The Union said they consider the insistence of the MPW, declared by the assistant undersecretary and earlier by the minister himself, to be against the interests of the public, the state and society.

Bader Al-Salman, Union Chairman, warned of the dangers of constructing those hospitals as per this system, explaining that building hospitals at a cost of about KD 900 million as per design and construction system includes huge dangers which the MPW is still not aware of.

Hospitals are projects that need detailed drawings, which include specifications and the minimum quantities and necessary licensing from concerned

authorities. The Religious Edict and Legislation department has linked the exception for any project with the availability of those conditions. Further, the Union said working by this system ignores the observations and the system of Audit Bureau as well.

Al-Salman said the design and construction obliges the contractor to provide a local and international consultant approved by the ministry, the owner of the project. The consultant makes detailed designs and drawings, and quantifies tables. These must be and approved by the concerned authorities, which means that there is no change in formalities. He said what is going on ignores the role of local engineering offices and consulting houses. He said keeping it on the margin by making them work as a sub contract to the main contractor is no good for the interests of everyone including the state. —Al-Anbaa

Municipality removes flags from Shiite cemetery KUWAIT: Municipality officials removed flags fixed near graves at a Shiite cemetery in Sulaibikhat on Thursday, following orders to “protect the sanctity of graves” in Kuwait.

According to a recent news report, the official in charge of the Jaafari cemetery in Sulaibikhat was approached on Thursday by Municipality staff who carried a warrant demanding the removal of all flags, including Kuwaiti flags placed on martyrs’ graves since 1990.

The official document was reportedly signed by Fahad Al-Masbahi, Director of Kuwait Municipality cemeteries department. A source said Al-Masbahi’s decision was actually made a few months ago, but was put on hold during the tenure of former municipality affairs Minister Dr.

Fadhel Safar, “who postponed it until after the parliamentary elections”.

The action drew several reactions.

Shiite MP Abdulhameed Dashti said the Municipality should have informed Parliament about the step beforehand so that the flags could have been removed voluntarily. Dashti said that the decision comes in line with “the agenda of the Salafist movement that Al-Masbahi follows”. He vowed not to “stay silent” regarding the subject. Jenan Bushehri, a Municipal Council member, questioned the priorities of the Municipality. They removed the flags from the graves of the deceased, but “have so far failed to remove industrial violations or take strict measures against the distributors of foul food”. —Al-Jarida

KUWAIT: In collaboration with the International Red Crescent Committee, Kuwait Red Crescent Society yesterday concluded a training course on crisis management that focused on training volunteers on life-saving and aid activities.

Overseas treatment policy to be changed KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) will introduce changes to the overseas treatment policy “to achieve equality among citizens” benefiting from this service, among regulations projected soon to improve the quality of medical services in Kuwait.

This was announced by Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi in recent statements to Al-Rai. He explained that measures to ‘rational-

ize spending’ on treatment trips paid by the government for Kuwaiti patients. The regulations, which Dr Al-Obaidi confirmed, will be passed by decisions to be announced soon.

It also addressed medical errors in public medical facilities, which the ministry has previously been accused of failing to investigate properly, reported Al-Rai.

KUWAIT: The Second Kuwait Chemistry Conference and the 16th Arab Chemists Conference commenced here yesterday with key statements calling for the need for strategic planning to develop energy resources other than crude oil. HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, represented His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the patron and sponsor of the event. Sheikhs, ministers, Chairman of the Chamber of Industr y and Commerce, Thunayyan AlGhanem, senior officials of the State and Diwan of HH the Prime Minister, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Senegalese Ambassador and participating delegations attended the convention.

Dr. Faiza Al-Kharafi, head of the conference higher committee, welcomed the participants on behalf of Kuwait Chemical Society, the host of the convention. She said planners of the gathering were keen on the attendance of scientists and researchers, renowned for their substantial experience in the realm of alternative energy from various states, in addition to young figures.

Dr. Kharafi boasted that the event drew over 200 specialists representing various scientific and academic establishments. The participants will discuss 35 papers on renewable and alternative energy.

Holding the conference here depicts Kuwait’s distinguished international scientific status, she added. “What makes us most proud is the participation of distinguished scientists, who have flocked to the country from 20 states to discuss the topics of the conference.” After noting that Arab chemists were the first to produce kerosene, she expressed deep gratitude to His Highness the Amir for his sponsorship and care for science and scientists.

Dr. Haider Behbehani, head of the steering committee, said the convention is titled “resources of alternative energy.” He said the conferees will debate and discuss future sources of energy. He confirmed that topics of

the conference include nuclear and solar energy and the impact on the environment from using alternative sources of energy.

“We are emphasizing the role of Kuwaiti researchers in chemistry, for they possesses scientific potential. Up to 100 Kuwaiti chemists will take part in the activities of the convention,” said Dr. Behbehani, thanking HH

pollution and the prospects that fossil fuel may eventually dry up.

“Arabs may bid farewell to glorious days and stand upon ruins of dried (oil) fields some day,” he warned, reciting poetic verses of the eminent Egyptian poet Ibrahim Al-Yazeji.

Stressing that the oil-rich Gulf countries must think strategically and start devising

KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and other dignitaries at the convention. the Prime Minister for attending the gathering on behalf of HH the Amir.

A statement of the Union of Arab Chemists was read by the Secretary General, Dr. Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, who expressed pleasure at the conference being held again “in the State of Kuwait, the pearl of the Gulf and land of giving, under the fatherly sponsorship of His Highness the Amir.”

He affirmed that the issue of alternative energy sources has become a pre-occupation for strategists in many nations, considering soaring prices of oil, mounting environmental

plans for hard times ahead, he underscored the necessity to find alternative sources to produce energy. He said even gigantic oil companies, such as British Petroleum, have begun investing in alternative technology such as solar energy.

“Arab governments must examine such pioneering experiences and try to diversify the sources of energy,” he stressed.

In conclusion, Dr. Al-Ghamdi declared two awards sponsored by the Arab union; the Arab chemistry award for all and the Arab chemistry award for youth. —KUNA

6

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

LOCAL

Reckless drivers injure three police officers Egyptian fugitive held in Khaitan KUWAIT: A police officer was seriously injured after being run over by a drunk driver in Maidan Hawally recently. The suspect was reportedly pulled over by two traffic patrol officers for reckless driving. After learning that he was drunk, the officer asked the suspect to step outside his vehicle. The officer was injured when he tried to prevent the suspect’s escape by clutching onto the steering wheel while standing outside, but was knocked down and run over by the suspect. The officer was admitted to Mubarak Hospital while investigations in search for the suspect went underway.

Meanwhile, two police officers were injured when their driver jumped a red light.

The accident reportedly took place in Sulaibiya recently when one policeman suffered a broken leg and his partner was left with several bruises. The Bangladeshi driver responsible f or the accident emerged unscathed. The injured policemen were admitted to Al-Jahra Hospital..

Fatal crash A male driver lost his life in an accident that took place along Abdaly road on Saturday night. Police officers accompanied by paramedics reached the scene in response to reports that a car had flipped over after colliding into a truck. The 54-year-old suffered fatal injuries in the crash and his body was referred to the coroner. An investigation was opened at Al-Abdali police station,

Work mishap Six construction workers were hospitalized after falling off a height while carrying out renovation work at the Police Academy building. The six Asian men were reportedly on a scaffold and its cords snapped and sent them tumbling to the ground. They were rushed in ambulances to Al-Sabah Hospital after being diagnosed with multiple bruises and fractured bones. An investigation into the case was opened.

Egyptian fugitive Criminal investigators arrested an Egyptian national who is wanted in connection with a major fraud case in his home country. He fled to Kuwait a week before his arrest. Local Interpol authorities had received notice from their Egyptian counterparts on the transactions conducted by the fugitive since he escaped with two million Egyptian pounds amassed through a scam. A week later, the suspect was traced in Khaitan and was arrested.

Body found Police launched a homicide investigation after evidence of foul play was found at a place in Al-Ahmadi governorate where a dead body lay. The Arab man’s body was spotted at a location near a shopping mall. After examining the scene, criminal investigators referred it

Kuwaiti, Gulf formative artists leap to international levels KUWAIT: Eminent visitors of some of the exhibitions currently taking place in Kuwait have said that the formative artists of Kuwait, and the other GCC countries, have successfully interacted with diverse international schools and thus blended their works to produce local pieces of new dimensions.

The Gulf artists have accumulated more knowledge, secrets of the trade and experience as a result of attending various international exhibitions and workshops, said the visitors.

Kuwaiti and GCC artists have studied diverse artistic schools, with some of them having succeeded in creating new and unprecedented trends that put them among the ranks of international ar t creators, said Nasser Mohareb, who visited the fair of Saudi painter, Mohammed Haidar.

The works of Gulf artists, particular-

ly Kuwait, have been rich, said Mohareb, adding that the Kuwaitis are pioneers in the field.

Saudi citizen, Musaed Al-Khaldi, who was present at the fair of Kuwaiti ar tist, Abdul R azzak Al-Jalahmeh, affirmed his keenness on attending Kuwaiti art fairs, noting the special care taken by authorities such the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, the Kuwaiti S ociet y of Formative Arts and the Free Painting hall for young painters, and sculptors and photographers.

Such an artistic atmosphere helps in developing ar tistic sk ills and enriches the formative arts movement as a whole, he asser ted. Wael AlShemmari, who attended the fair of artist Abdul Redha Baqer, said that Gulf formative ar ts “have become mature”. —KUNA

GUST University participates in AHELO feasibility study KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Gulf University for S cience and Technology (GUST ) announced that it will participate in the Assessment of Higher Education Outcomes (AHELO) project, a feasibility study to measure learning outcomes.

The assessment project will take place on April 28. Kuwait University and the Public Authority for applied Education and Training will also engage in the study.

GUST’s Quality Assurance Director, Nada Al-Enezi, said yesterday that Kuwait’s participation clearly underscores its commitment toward students, their parents, and the public.

Kuwait’s participation also reflects its continued efforts toward achieving academic excellence at institutional,

to the Forensic department to determine the time and cause of death.

where the truck’s Asian driver is being held.

national and international levels.

The study’s objective is to determine the feasibility of measuring learning outcomes in ways that are valid across cultures, languages, diverse institutional settings and missions.

Al-Enezi further said that 200 samples of students expected to graduate from GUST University have been selected randomly to take part in the assessment.

Student scores will remain anonymous and will only serve to determine the degree to which cross-border assessments are feasible on an international scale. The AHELO project is a major project of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD). —KUNA

Missing son Police are on the lookout for a young man who has been accused of damaging his father’s car in Ghernata. Police headed to a house in the area in response to an emergency call from a middle-aged citizen who reported his son’s actions. The officers found that the caller’s car was vandalized, but the perpetrator had escaped by then. The car’s owner explained that his 20-year-old son insulted him during a phone call in which he informed him that he had damaged his car.

The man did not divulge much details about the nature of troubled relations shared with his son, but explained that the youngster is known in the neighborhood as a troublemaker. The man was helped to the Sulaibikhat police station where he pressed charges against his son.

Rapist caught A man was arrested in Mubarak Al-Kabeer in connection with sexually assaulting a domestic worker at her employer’s house. The suspect, an Indian man, reportedly slipped into the house after monitoring it for a period of time. His rape attempt was foiled after the housemaid’s screams caught the owners’ attention. They prevented the accused from escaping. Police were informed and arrested the suspect. —Al-Watan, Al-Rai, Al-Qabas

Dialogue sole avenue for tackling Bahrain’s problems MANAMA: Violent incidents in the Kingdom of Bahrain “would not serve” positive atmosphere that was created by the national conciliation, affirmed the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Kingdom.

Kuwait has condemned, in strong terms, any terrorist act that may target Bahrain because it considers any attack on the country as an assault on Kuwait as well, stressed Sheikh Azzam Mubarak AlSabah in an interview, published by the daily Bahraini newspaper, Al-Ayyam, yesterday. The diplomat was alluding to a “terrorist attack” that targeted government security personnel, last week. Whoever exploits freedoms to execute acts of violence, certainly, has misconceptions regarding democratic practices because there is no avenue to reach solutions other than the political settlement, sufficient to tackle all kinds of issues, and not through terrorism or violence, Sheikh Azzam said, stressing necessity that dialogue and peaceful means be adopted to resolve any problems.

The Bahraini society is tolerant and does not accept such acts, and radical thoughts will not last among the tolerant peoples of the Gulf states, Sheikh Azzam opined further. “I believe that the Gulf society has strong immunity vis a vis such diseases that cannot spread in the Gulf region,” he reemphasized.

Affirming that conditions in the Kingdom have remained normal, Sheikh Azzam confirmed that the international Formula-1 race would be held, as scheduled, in the end of the week.

Bahrain’s hosting of the race is a success for all Arab Gulf states, he said, noting that the sports event would contribute in boosting the positive image of Bahrain, as well as the image of all the GCC states.

Kuwait and Bahrain, members of the six-seat GCC, have maintained close and distinctive ties. The regional bloc was founded in the 80s with the aim of enhancing cooperation among the regional countries at various levels. It also includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. —KUNA

KUWAIT: A public campaign drawing awareness against illegal parking in handicapped parking spaces garnered great response over the weekend at Koot Mall, the Avenues and Marina Mall, the Ministry of Interior confirmed yesterday. A team from the MoI public relations department was accompanied by volunteers from Al-Amal e-newspaper and the XYA4 group to answer questions from the public about the goals of the campaign, which focused on stopping illegal parking in spaces allocated for drivers with special needs. The volunteers, who were accompanied by a group of citizens with special needs, handed out flyers to spread awareness regarding this violation.

VIVA hosts children from 12 countries KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, has hosted a visit and party for children from 12 countries at its headquarters as part of the 5th Orphans Forum activities organized by Zakat House. The event took place last Tuesday.

Fahad Al-Fahad, corporate communications executive at VIVA, welcomed the Zakat House team and the delegates from each country along with the children, who had all lost parents, and gave them a brief description on the mechanics and functions of the offices and departments within the company and how they

operate. During the visit he explained VIVA’s social initiatives which are aimed to benefit different segments of society.

Fawaz Al-Shimari, head of the Media Committee from Zakat House, along with other supervisors accompanied the children during the visit.

Commenting during the day, Al-Fahad said: “Since we started operations in Kuwait three years ago, we have always considered it our duty to be an integral part of the community and to support it in the creation of an economically diversified, open and prosperous future for

KUWAIT: Fahad Al-Fahad speaking to the children.

Kuwait. VIVA takes its responsibilities seriously, so we are pleased to welcome Zakat House into VIVA today and we hope that we have been able to make them and their guests feel welcome and that they have had an enjoyable time.”

The 5th Orphans Forum activities organized

by Zakat House hosted orphans from: Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan, Djibouti, Mauritania, Mali, Sudan, Bangladesh, India and Ceylon. The children were selected due to their outstanding achievements in various fields such as academic excellence, Quran memorization or the Hadith, sciences, and sports.

To find out more about VIVA’s initiatives towards the community, you can visit any of VIVA’s 14 conveniently located branches across Kuwait, or visit the company’s website www.viva.com.kw.

VIVA is the newest, most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider in Kuwait.

Launched in December 2008, VIVA makes things Possible for our customers by transforming communication, information and entertainment experiences. The company has rapidly established an unrivalled position in the market through our customer and employee centric

KUWAIT: A group photo of the children with VIVA officials.

approach. VIVA’s quest is to be the mobile brand of choice for Kuwait by being transparent, engaging, energetic and fulfilling.

VIVA continues to take a considerable share of the market by offering an innovative range of best value products, services and content propositions; a state of the art, nationwide network and world-class service. VIVA offers Internet speed up to 42.2Mbps due to the implementation of the most advanced third generation (3G and HSDPA) network in Kuwait resulting in superior coverage, performance and reliability.

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Americas leaders wrap up summit

Militants attack Pakistan jail, nearly 400 escape Page 11

Page 10

Syria ceasefire jeopardized Government vows crackdown on sharp rise in attacks

DARAA: Syrian protesters wave pre-Baath national flags during a demonstration in Daraa province. Thirty-two people have been killed since the ceasefire brokered by UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan took effect, most of them civilians as the death toll is sharply down on pre-ceasefire levels after Syria announced it was halting military operations against the rebels. —AFP BEIRUT: Syria’s ceasefire increasingly was under threat yesterday as the government vowed a crackdown on a wave of “terrorist attacks” and its forces shelled Homs on the day the first UN peace monitors were due to enter the country.

An initial team of UN ceasefire monitors was due to arrive later and will be deployed today in an effort to keep the peace plan on track, the spokesman for international mediator Kofi Annan said.

They will be joined by two dozen more observers in coming days in line with a UN Security Council resolution adopted on Saturday authorising the deployment of up to 30, Ahmad Fawzi said.

“Of course we are hoping that the process holds together until the observers get on the ground,” Fawzi told Reuters in Geneva. The Syrian government said it could not be responsible for the safety of the monitors unless it is involved in “all steps on the ground”, government spokeswoman and presidential adviser Bouthaina Shaaban said.

She also said the number of monitors could rise to 250, but that Syria reserved the right to agree on the nationality of those participating.

In the day the first observers with due in Syria, the city of Homs, one of the hotbeds of opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, was being bombed by government forces at a rate of “one shell per minute”, activists said. They also reported attacks elsewhere in the country. Syria said it would stop what it called “terrorist groups” from continuing criminal acts, state TV quoted a security source as saying, casting further doubt on whether the ceasefire would hold. “(Security forces), based on their duty to protect civilians and the country, will stop terrorist groups from continuing their criminals acts and the

killing of civilians,” the state news agency SANA said.

“Since the announcement of an end to military operations, terrorist attacks have increased by dozens, causing a large loss of life,” SANA added.

The Arab League, which along with the United Nations backed the negotiations by Annan leading to the declaration of a ceasefire, welcomed the Security Council decision to send in monitors. “The Arab League welcomes this decision as it represents an international will to support the mission of the joint envoy Kofi Annan,” Egypt’s news agency MENA said quoting deputy Arab League chief Ahmed Ben Helli.

Helli said Annan will report on his mission at an Arab League meeting on Syria tomorrow in Qatar. Four days after the ceasefire was meant to come into effect, violence persisted. “Early this morning we saw a helicopter and a spotter plane fly overhead. Ten minutes later, there was heavy shelling,” said Walid Al-Fares, an activist living in the battered Homs district of Khalidiya.

Activist video footage, reportedly from Khalidiya, shows an explosion shortly after the sound of a missile flying through the air. Another whiz follows, and the cameraman, standing in a nearby building, pans across to show a ball of flames and smoke rising into the air. Rami Abdelrahman, head of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said shells were being fired at a rate of one a minute. He said there had also been overnight clashes in rural Aleppo.

“People said they heard explosions and shooting after rebels attacked a police station and then clashed with police,” he said. Syria blames the violence on “terrorists” seeking to topple President Assad and has repeatedly

denied journalists access to the country, making it impossible to independently verify the reports.

Although violence has continued throughout the ceasefire, there has been a significant drop in the daily death toll in fighting which has often killed more than 100 people a day.

On Saturday, 14 people were killed, Abdelrahman said and the state news agency SANA said “armed terrorists” killed five people in ambushes around the country. Abu Rabea, an activist in Homs, dismissed the ceasefire and the monitoring mission.

“Nothing has changed in Homs, government loyalists on roofs are using heavy machineguns to shoot us and we are being shelled. The only thing that has changed is that Kofi Annan’s plan is said to be accepted by the regime and the world believes them.”

The Security Council resolution condemned the “widespread violations of human rights by the Syrian authorities, as well as any human rights abuses by armed groups”.

The text, supported by Russian and China, which had vetoed previous Syria resolutions, included a vague warning to Damascus, saying the council would “assess the implementation of this resolution and to consider further steps as appropriate”.

US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice condemned what she said was Syria’s “murderous rampage” over the last year. Asked if Syrian government shelling of Homs on Saturday was a violation of the ceasefire, Rice said: “Absolutely”.

The UN estimates Assad’s forces have killed more than 9,000 people in the uprising. Syrian authorities say foreignbacked militants have killed more than 2,500 soldiers and police. — Reuters

More tornadoes possible in battered Midwest WOODWARD: Residents were scouring through damaged homes across the Midwest yesterday after a violent storm system unleaded dozens of overnight tornadoes across the nation’s midsection, killing at least five people in Oklahoma, leveling buildings and cutting power to hundreds of thousands.

More than 100 tornadoes had been reported across the region by daybreak, according to the National Weather Service. Although the storms were weakening and additional tornadoes were unlikely, forecasters warned that strong thunderstorms were expected as far east as Michigan.

Five people were killed and more than two dozen were injured when a suspected tornado ripped through a

mobile home park in Woodward, Okla., about 140 miles nor thwest of Oklahoma City. Streets in the 12,000resident town were left dotted with mangled vehicles, toppled power lines and leveled buildings.

Retired firefighter Marty Logan said he spotted the tornado when it knocked down power lines, causing flashes of light, and saw a radio tower’s blinking lights go black shortly after midnight. He later saw a man emerge from a twisted, wrecked sport utility vehicle that had been tossed along the side of the road.

“The guy had blood coming down his face,” Logan said, adding that he saw people walking down the street covered in blood when he went to a hard-hit neighborhood. “It was scary,

because I knew it was after midnight and a lot of people were in bed.”

Search teams were scouring rubble for trapped and injured as the sun came up. “They’re still going door to door and in some cases, there are piles of rubble and they are having to sift through the rubble,” said Michelann Ooten, an Oklahoma emergency management official.

In the tiny western Iowa town of Thurman, piles of toppled trees lined the streets in front of homes where missing walls and roofs exposed soaked living rooms. Longtime resident Ted Stafford recalled feeling his home shake, then hearing three windows shatter as the storm hit. He said he was amazed that no one in town was seriously injured.—AP

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

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

Algerian election campaign kicks off ALGIERS: Algeria kicked of 20 days of campaigning yesterday for May 10 parliamentary elections, amid fears of voter apathy in a country where many believe real power rests in the hands of a military elite.

It is Algeria’s first election since the demonstrations and uprisings of the Arab Spring swept the region and prompted the president to put forward a series of reforms. “We cannot emphasize enough the importance of massive participation in the May 10 elections for a supreme legislative

body that is one of the grand institutions of the republic,” President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said in a message to the country Saturday.

There is a widespread cynicism over politics in this oil and gas rich North African country, where despite regular presidential and parliamentary elections, it is believed a small coterie of influential generals control the country. Though the widespread popular uprisings witnessed in other Arab countries never took off in Algeria, there are regular small-scale daily

protests over economic issues, such as lack of housing or utilities. The election will see 42 political parties competing for 389 seats, but the main contest is expected to be between two government-linked political parties and an alliance of three Islamist parties.

While Islamist political parties have dominated post-Arab Spring elections in neighboring Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, Algeria’s leaders have maintained that their country will be an exception. The last time an Islamist

party was poised to win parliamentary elections here was in 1992, prompting a military coup that sparked off a civil war between security forces and Islamist militants. Some 200,000 people died.

To this day, security forces continue to battle remnants of these insurgents, who declared allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2006. Recent polls have 44 percent of Algerians saying they will vote, a slight increase over the dismal 35 percent turnout in the 2007 elections.

In Algeria over the weekend, how-

ever, there were already signs that people aren’t taking the elections seriously. Campaign posters were vandalized and in some cases painted over with slogans saying “why vote for a parliament without power” and “No to elections with potatoes at 120 dinars ($1.60) a kilogram.”

Opposition parties have accused the government of rigging past elections, but this year the government has pledged free and fair elections and allowed in some 500 international observers to monitor the polls. — AP

Egypt political heads meet on poll turmoil Secular groups furious over Shater’s candidacy

KHARTOUM: Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr (L) in Khartoum yesterday. — AFP

Petrol stations run dry in Juba as Sudan oil row bites JUBA: Motorists in South Sudan queued for hours yesterday to try to buy petrol as filling stations ran dry due to a shortage of dollars less than three months after the world’s newest nation shut down oil production in a row with Sudan.

Four petrol stations visited by Reuters in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, had run out of petrol while motorists waited in long queues at the few stations that were still open. “We’ve run out of fuel,” one staff member at a petrol station said, declining to be identified.

“I don’t know when new supplies will come and whether we will be able to pay for it.” The dispute over oil payments has stirred serious tensions between the two former civil war foes, escalating into border clashes that risk pushing the two neighbours into a full-blown war.

The Sudanese army said on Saturday it was fighting South Sudan’s forces in the disputed Heglig region just a few kilometers (miles) from a key oilfield, although South Sudan denied the claim.

Yesterday, Khartoum warned it would not negotiate with Juba until South Sudan withdrew all its forces from the area. A South Sudanese government spokesman in turn accused the north of bombing Heglig’s oil facilities “to rubble”.

The fighting is the worst since the south declared its independence in July, and the oil dispute has begun to inflict serious damage on South Sudan’s economy. Oil production used to account for 98 percent of the state budget and was almost the sole source of foreign currency. But the two sides have been unable to agree how much Juba should pay to export its crude through Sudan, and South Sudan halted oil production in January to stop Khartoum taking oil to

make up for what it called unpaid fees.

South Sudan says it has enough reserves to hold out for a long time, but a dollar shortage is driving up the cost of imports, putting a strain on the economy. The underdeveloped nation needs to buy almost everything from abroad including basic food items and fuel.

Annual inflation rose to 50.9 percent in March from 42.4 percent in February, official data showed last week. Some analysts say prices are actually rising much faster in parts of the country.

As dollars become scarce and the South Sudanese pound weakens, petrol stations are struggling to pay foreign suppliers who truck in fuel for a premium from Kenya and Uganda. South Sudan has no refineries.

“I got up at 4 o’clock in the morning and got petrol at 7.30 but only because I was fourth in the line. Others waited all morning,” Samuel, a taxi driver in Juba, said. “There is no fuel in town. I have been trying to get fuel for four days,” said Sharif Mohammed, another motorist. “It’s very bad.”

South Sudan’s Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin blamed strong demand and logistical challenges for the shortage. “It happens from time to time, but new fuel supplies are on the way,” he said. “It’s not about dollar shortages.”

However, a banker said the central bank had drastically cut dollar flows to commercial banks to preserve dwindling reserves. A dollar now buys between 4 and 4.2 South Sudanese pounds on the black market, compared to 3.5 before the shutdown.

Fuel products used to come from Sudan but fighting on both sides of the border has disrupted cross-border trade since southern secession. — Reuters

Children killed in restive Yemen south SANAA: Three children were among four people killed yesterday in Yemen’s restive east and south by suspected AlQaeda militants, security officials said, a day after three jihadist leaders were killed in an air strike. The defence ministry said in a statement on its website that three “local Al-Qaeda leaders” were k illed in a Yemeni air strike late Saturday while a security official told AFP the raid was conducted by a US drone.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the strike hit a moving vehicle carrying Al-Qaeda operatives in the province of Bayda, some 210 kilometres (130 miles) southeast of the capital Sanaa.

The ministry, however, maintained the government’s routine insistance that only its aircraft carr y out such operations on Yemeni soil. The United States has never formally acknowledged the use of drones against AlQaeda in Yemen, considered by Washington to be the most active and deadly branch of the global terror network and a major focus of its “war on terror.” The three children, including two siblings, were k illed yesterday when a roadside bomb exploded in the eastern province of Hadramawt, a security official told AFP. He blamed AlQaeda militants for planting the device and said a “suspicious vehicle” had been spotted in the area the night before.

The children were killed while walking to school by what the official described as an improvised “time bomb.” In other violence yesterday, one person was killed and at least five others were wounded, including two women, in an Al-Qaeda mortar attack on the southern town of Loder, a security official told AFP. The victim was a member of a committee of armed residents fighting alongside the Yemeni army, the official added. He said “sporadic” clashes continued in the strategic town where last week fierce battles raged between militants and the army.

At least 222 people, including 183 militants, were killed in five days as AlQaeda tried to seize the town. On Saturday, suspected Al-Qaeda gunmen kidnapped a Yemeni officer and two of his aides in Bayda province, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. He gave no further details.

Al-Qaeda has exploited a decline in central government control that accompanied Arab Spring-inspired protests that eventually forced president Ali Abdullah Saleh to cede power.

Since May last year, the extremist group’s Yemen branch, known as the Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law), has seized several towns in the lawless south and east, including Zinjibar, capital of the southern Abyan province.—AFP

CAIRO: Egypt’s political leaders met yesterday after next month’s presidential election was thrown into turmoil with key candidates disqualified and the fate of a new constitution hanging in limbo.

Military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi met the heads of 17 political parties and groups and MPs to discuss major developments ahead of the first presidential poll since a popular uprising ousted long-time leader Hosni Mubarak last year.

According to a military source, the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, whose candidate Khairat al-Shater was barred from running for office, attended the meeting as well as AlNur party, which represents the more conservative brand of Salafi Islam.

On Saturday, Egypt’s election commission said that 10 of the 23 registered presidential candidates had been barred from the race, including ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman, Shater and popular Salafist politician Hazem Abu Ismail.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) headed by Tantawi, that took power when Mubarak was ousted, also examined a law passed by parliament that would ban members of the former regime from standing for office. If approved, the law could also see Ahmed Shafiq-Mubarak’s last prime minister-excluded from the May 23-24 election. A military source told AFP that the SCAF hinted that the law is unconstitutional and would have to be referred to the Supreme Constitutional Court for discussion.

The military council also discussed a court ruling suspending a constituent assembly picked by the Islamist-dominated parliament, tasked with drafting the country’s new constitution.

“There was a suggestion to hold another joint session of the upper and lower house of parliaments and to choose new members for the panel, all from outside parliament,” a military source told AFP. Secular groups and parties had boycotted the panel, arguing that Islamist domination of the commission would muffle their calls for a

SUEZ: Egyptian army soldiers stand guard as smoke billows from a fire in the storage facilities of an oil company in Suez, Egypt, yesterday. In the port city of Suez, one person died and dozens were injured during a fire that raged for nearly 20 hours in the storage facilities of an oil company in the city, local police chief Adel Refaat said. — AP civil state. Saturday’s round of candidacy eliminations will boost former Arab League chief Amr Mussa and former Brotherhood member Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, who are both still in the race. Suleiman’s registration had infuriated the political forces at the forefront of last year’s revolt, with many regarding his candidacy as proof that promises of a transition to democracy were merely cosmetic.

Suleiman, Mubarak’s intelligence chief for two decades, was briefly appointed Egypt’s vice president but quit the post in February 2011 when the president resigned following weeks of mass protests against his 30-year rule.

Secular groups were furious over Shater’s candidacy, accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of monopolising politics after dominating parliament and the constituent assembly. The powerful Islamist group had repeatedly vowed not to present a member for the top job,

but in a dramatic U-turn it put forward Shater, as well as party chairman Mohammed Mursi as a backup candidate.

Commission official Tarek Abul Atta told AFP on Saturday that Suleiman had been disqualified because he failed to garner enough endorsements from all 15 provinces as required under the law.

Shater, who was released from prison in March last year, was barred because of a law stating that candidates can only run in elections six years after being released or pardoned, Abul Atta said.

Shater, who was deputy chairman of the Muslim Brotherhoodbanned under Mubarak-had been in jail on charges of terrorism and money laundering, though the charges at the time were widely seen as politically motivated.

Abu Ismail is out of the race because his mother holds a foreign nationality, violating election rules which state that all candidates,

their parents and their wives must have only Egyptian citizenship.

Another hopeful who has been disqualified is Ayman Nur, who caught the world’s attention when he challenged Mubarak in a 2005 presidential election.

Nur was imprisoned shortly after those elections and released on health grounds in 2009. He was banned under the same rule as Shater.

The candidates have two days to appeal the decision and the commission will issue a final list of approved candidates on April 26.

In a statement on Facebook, Shater said: “We will continue working through all legal channels.”

His campaign argued he could not be disqualified because of an “unjust” conviction under Mubarak, criticising the move as “political, not legal.” The SCAF has promised to hand power to civilian rule in June after a president has been elected. — AFP

Iraq election commission chief released from jail BAGHDAD: Iraq’s electoral commission chief and another member were released on bail yesterday after spending three days in jail on corruption charges, in a case that has stirred political tensions in the countr y ’s fragile power-sharing government.

Faraj al-Haidari, head of Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), and Karim alTamimi were arrested on Thursday on charges they had given illicit bonuses to some IHEC employees, charges they have denied.

The arrests came as Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s critics worry he is seeking to tighten control over independent government bodies.

“An investigative judge ordered the release of both Faraj al-Haidari and Karim al-Tamimi on bail,” said Abdul-Sattar alBirqdar, a Supreme Judicial Council spokesman. Haidari, a Kurd, confirmed to Reuters by telephone that he and Tamimi had been released on a bail of $12,900.

Maliki won a court ruling in January 2011 that put IHEC and other independent bodies like the central bank under more cabinet supervision, alarming critics who saw it as an attempt by the premier to consolidate more power.

A political crisis erupted in

December when Maliki’s Shi’iteled government sought an arrest warrant for Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi on charges he ran death squads and the ouster of Sunni Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq. Hashemi himself has denied any wrongdoing.

Maliki has said the charges against Hashemi were brought by the legal system and his supporters say he is following democratic norms, not abusing them.

But many Iraqi Sunnis fear Maliki was trying to sideline them from government.

The crisis has been complicated by renewed tensions this month between Baghdad’s central government and the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government over who controls oil and disputed territories and over how much rights regions have to autonomy. — Reuters

BAGHDAD: The Head of Iraq’s electoral commission Faraj alHaidari, who was detained on suspicion of corruption poses for a picture at his home in the Green Zone in Baghdad after was was freed on bail of 15 million dinars (about $12,5000) yesterday.

Hadairi was released alongside another member of the Independent High Electoral Commission, Karim Al-Tamimi. — AFP

Lieberman heads to Cyprus JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will today begin a three-day visit to Cyprus for talks with senior officials, his office said yesterday. A statement said he will meet President Demetris Christofias, Foreign Minister Erato KozakouMarcoullis, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis and opposition chief Nicos Anastassiades. Among the issues on

the table will be “promoting a plan to form a regional emergency aid force,” it said. In February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a landmark visit to Cyprus for talks with Christofias which focused on energy cooperation and economic ties. The two countries also signed an agreement to coordinate maritime search and rescue operations. Both Israel and Cyprus have discovered

huge offshore natural gas deposits beneath the Mediterranean Sea between them, and have tentatively discussed cooperation on delivering gas to European and Asian markets.

In March, the countries signed an accord to lay an underwater electricity cable between them, the first stage in a bid to transfer power between the Jewish state and mainland Europe. — AFP

MONDAY, APRIL16, 2012

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

Norway mass killer bent on turning trial into ‘circus’ OSLO: Anti-Islam militant Anders Behring Breivik appears bent on turning a Norwegian court into a “circus” show for his views when he goes on trial today for killing 77 people, reopening wounds in the traditionally tolerant and tranquil nation.

The facts of the case will hardly be at issue; Breivik has proudly admitted bombing the government’s headquarters in Oslo last July, killing eight people, before gunning down 69, mostly teenagers, at a summer camp of the ruling Labour Party.

Nevertheless, the “lone wolf ” killer intends to deny criminal guilt and subject the country to a trial scheduled to

last 10 weeks, during which the court must rule on both his guilt, and his sanity. “ Not only will he explain (his actions), but he will also say he regrets that he didn’t go further,” said Geir Lippestad, Breivik’s defence attorney, urging Norwegians to brace themselves for “tough and demanding” testimony.

Some Norwegians fear Breivik will succeed in making the trial, with about 800 journalists on hand, a platform for antiimmigrant ideas. His defence team has called 29 witnesses, ranging from Islamists to right-wing bloggers, to shed light on his world view.

“It is an unfortunate side effect that this provides him a microphone for his

ideology,” said Atle Dyregrov, the director for the Center for Crisis Psychology.

“For the victims, it will stir up quite a bit of emotion and bring back a lot of pain.”

That appears to be the aim of Breivik, who is scheduled to testify for about a week, starting tomorrow. “Your arrest will mark the initiation of the propaganda phase,” he wrote in a manual for future attackers, part of a 1,500-page manifesto he posted online. “Your trial offers you a stage to the world.”

In a recent letter seen by Norwegian newspaper VG, Breivik added: “The court case looks like it will be a circus ... it is an absolutely unique opportunity to explain the idea of (the manifesto) to the

world.” Last July 22, he set off the bomb before heading to the youth camp on Utoeya island in a lake 40 km (25 miles) outside Oslo, gunning down his victims while police took an hour to get to the massacre site in the chaos following the blast.

Breivik has said he intended his attacks as punishment of “traitors” whose pro-immigration policies were adulterating Norwegian blood. An initial psychiatric test concluded that Breivik was criminally insane while a second one, completed in the past week, found no evidence of psychosis. Resolving this conflict could be the five-judge panel’s major decision. If found sane, Breivik

faces a maximum 21-year sentence but could be held indefinitely if he is considered a continuing danger. If declared insane, he would be held in a psychiatric institution indefinitely with periodic reviews. The courthouse, accessible through airport-style security, is already barricaded by TV trucks as 200 media organisations have descended on Oslo, home of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The cour troom, the countr y ’s biggest, can seat just over a tenth of the journalists, victims and relatives who may wish to attend, so closed-circuit viewing rooms have been set up nearby and in 17 other courthouses around Norway.— Reuters

French rivals hold duelling Paris rallies Sarkozy appears to be on course for a clear defeat

TBILISI: Orthodox believers celebrate Easter at the Sion Cathedral in Tbilisi early yesterday. — AFP

Russian Church celebrates Easter MOSCOW: The Russian Orthodox Church yesterday celebrated Easter with a packed service attended by the political elite in a now familiar sign of its growing power in post-Soviet Russia. President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin were among the political leaders present at the overnight service led by Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at the vast Moscow Church of Christ the Saviour.

Holding lighted candles, Medvedev was accompanied by his wife Svetlana wearing a white headscarf. Putin, who is due to be inaugurated for a third term as president in May, came to the service without his rarelyseen wife Lyudmila.

The Russian Orthodox Church has seen a huge upsurge in power after the fall of the atheist Soviet Union and its leaders take a strong stand on moral issues that the Kremlin hardly ever ignores. “It gives joy to say that in the last years cooperation between the Church, the state and public institutions has become considerably enhanced,” Putin said in a congratulatory Easter message to Kirill.

“New areas (for cooperation) have emerged in culture and education, bringing up children and strengthening the family, as well as charity. “I am sure that such

cooperation will develop in the future to the benefit of our Fatherland,” said Putin.

The Church of Christ the Saviour is itself a potent symbol of the revival of Orthodox Christianity in Russia. It was rebuilt in the 1990s after being blown up under Stalin’s rule in 1931 and then turned into an openair swimming pool.

But the Russian Church is also criticised by secular liberals for straying too freely into pro-Putin politics and earlier this month had to come clean over what was one of its most embarrassing scandals of recent times.

The Church was forced to admit it doctored a photo of Kirill on its official website to erase his expensive watch, after bloggers spotted that the lavish timepiece was reflected on a polished table but was not present on his wrist.

It has also faced criticism over the case of three members of female punk group Pussy Riot who were arrested after attempting to perform anti-Putin songs in the Church of Christ the Saviour and risk up to seven years in jail. Two of the women have been in custody since early March and many activists say their imprisonment in pre-trial detention is already a hugely excessive punishment. — AFP

PARIS: Thousands of supporters of France’s right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist challenger Francois Hollande gathered in Paris yesterday for duelling rallies one week before polling day.

Sarkozy summoned what he calls his “silent majority” to the Place de la Concorde in the heart of the city, while an increasingly confident Hollande staged a concert and campaign meeting at the Chateau de Vincennes in the east.

“To imagine an election already won would be a political, even a moral mistake. Nevertheless, I admit, I am ready to govern France,” Hollande declared in a interview with the weekly Le Journal du Dimanche. His buoyant mood in the final straight was supported by the latest opinion polls, which all still predict a close first round on April 22 followed by a comfortable victory for Hollande in a May 6 runoff against Sarkozy.

Sarkozy and Hollande both hoped to gather tens of thousands of their own supporters-and the attention of television cameras-to launch the final week of campaigning before the first round on a triumphant note.

Speeches got underway first at Sarkozy’s event, with the leaders of his UMP party taking to the stage to denounce the left, while at Vincennes the French West Indian band Kassav took to the stage to entertain Hollande’s crowd.

UMP leader Jean-Francois Cope claimed 100,000 had come to cheer Sarkozy, under a sea of tricolour flags, but observers thought this an exagerrated estimate. The rival crowds looked similar in scale in television images.

“Today, Paris is yours! Your number is a stinging riposte to those who said you were resigned and voiceless,” Prime Minister Francois Fillon declared. Hollande’s adviser

PARIS: Supporters of France’s incumbent President and UMP ruling party’s candidate for the 2012 presidential election pose before a campaign meeting yesterday at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. — AFP Manuel Valls claimed on Twitter that the Socialists had also gathered 100,000, again appearing to err on the high side. Police said in advance that they would not be giving an official estimate of the crowd.

Observers were keen to see who could draw the biggest or most fervent crowds, but nothing in the race has yet shifted the underlying polling data: Sarkozy appears to be on course for a clear defeat after one term.

A cautious campaigner, Hollande has not generated much passion in his own camp, but insisted: “I do not want to be president by default. The country is not wait-

South Africa’s Zuma to wed sixth time

MINSK: Belarus opposition leader and ex-presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov (CR) is welcomed in Minsk after being released from jail early yesterday. Sannikov, who was jailed after he challenged strongman Alexander Lukashenko, was pardoned and released from prison. —AFP

Freed Belarus leader returns home in triumph MINSK: Belarus opposition leader Andrei Sannikov returned home in triumph to Minsk yesterday after his unexpected release from a five year jail term handed out after he challenged strongman president Alexander Lukashenko.

Meanwhile, another prominent opposition figure arrested in Lukashenko’s crackdown on the opposition, the activist Dmitry Bondarenko, was also released yesterday, his wife told AFP. The high-profile releases come as the European Union piles pressure on Minsk to release all political prisoners after hitting the regime with a range of sanctions targeting top officials.

Around 100 supporters shouted “Long live Belarus!” and “Our President!” as Sannikov arrived outside Minsk’s central railway station in the early morning in a car from the northeastern city of Vitebsk, an AFP correspondent said.

“Thank you all for your support and solidarity. I believe that this solidarity and support not only got me released but also saved me,” said Sannikov, clutching bouquets of roses handed by supporters.

He thanked everyone in Belarus who had called for his release, saying: “It was this that prompted international solidarity.

And now we have to get other political prisoners released. This is the main thing.”

Sannikov, a former deputy foreign minister, was the most prominent candidate to run against Lukashenko in controversial December 2010 polls which the strongman swept with almost 80 percent of the vote.

The long-time activist was arrested after riot police cracked down on a mass demonstration following the December 19 election, detaining more than 600 people including most of the opposition candidates.

He was sentenced in May last year to five years in prison on charges of organizing mass disturbances. Bondarenko’s wife Olga said that the activist had also been pardoned while serving a two year sentence and was now heading back to Minsk from the city of Mogilev where he had been imprisoned. Both were released after asking Lukashenko for a pardon which the president then approved. —AFP

JOHANNESBURG: South African President Jacob Zuma will marry his fourth wife next weekend, his spokesman confirmed yesterday.

Zuma will tie the knot at his family homestead in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province, said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj. “I can confirm that President Zuma will formalise his relationship with his fiancee, Ms Bongi Ngema, in a private traditional ceremony at Nkandla this weekend,” Maharaj told AFP. Zuma, a known polygamist, will be married the sixth time. He divorced Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South Africa’s candidate for the African Union top post, in 1998. Another wife, Kate, committed suicide in 2000.

“The president currently has three wives. This will be his fourth wife,” Maharaj said. The president, who turned 70 last Thursday, is believed to have fathered around 20 children. Ngema, who accompanied Zuma on a state visit to the G20 summit in South Korea last year, has a three-year-old son with him. She has a business degree among other academic qualifications.

Nkandla was recently renovated for 64 million rands ($8 million, 6 million euros), the Sunday Times reported. But Zuma himself will foot the bill for wedding, the presidency said in a statement released yesterday afternoon.

“There is no government involvement or cost,” Maharaj said in a statement. He further clarified that the government did not pay for the maintenance of the president’s spouses, because the position of “First Lady” does not formally exist in the country. The state did pay for logistical support when spouses had to accompany the president on official business.

Children who were studying full-time and financially dependent up to the age of 27 had 60 single domestic flights a year “to reunite with their parents,” Maharaj said.

Zuma’s adventures with women have often sparked controversy. In 2006 he was acquitted of rape charges after having consensual sex with an HIV-positive activist and family friend. He famously told the court he had taken a shower to protect himself against infection.

In 2009 he fathered a child with the daughter of 2010 World Cup local chief Irvin Khoza on the eve of the global event. Asked at his birthday party Friday whether he was done with marriage, Zuma replied, “I think so.” — AFP

ing for a president to leave, but for a new one to arrive.”

He has invited popular rock bands to entertain the crowds at his festival-like rally in a leafy area of eastern Paris near the workingclass districts that he will have to mobilise to ensure a majority.

Sarkozy’s camp mocked the lineup, joking that musicians had been invited because the Socialists feared that no one would turn up to hear Hollande’s stump speech, and promised a more traditional rally of their own.

“With us, there will be no concert, but there will be France,” joked Sarkozy spokeswoman Nathalie Kosciucko-Morizet. “If you like

Kassav, go to Vincennes, and if you have the patience there’ll be some Hollande afterwards.”

Hollande’s son, 27-year-old lawyer and campaign adviser Thomas Hollande, said: “It’s an important moment, but it should also be festive. “There’s obviously a risk of a demobilisation, since some are resigned to the result. Francois Hollande has to convince people that change is possible and that he represents it.” Place de la Concorde, just across the River Seine from the National Assembly and lying between the Champs Elysees and the Louvre, was previously the scene of Sarkozy’s triumphant victory rally in 2007.—AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

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Police: Guns show CA suspect set for confrontation MODESTO: Police investigating the death of a man suspected of gunning down a California sheriff’s deputy and a civilian say they’ve found equipment indicating he was preparing for an armed confrontation: a ballistic vest, a gas mask and several weapons including a high-powered assault rifle.

The man’s body was found in the burnt ruins of an apartment building following a fiery standoff with law officers. The fatal shooting Thursday morning of the deputy and a locksmith during an eviction led to a daylong standoff that ended when the four-unit apartment building caught fire. On Friday, authorities recovered a badly burned body that has not been positively identified. But they said the male is the suspect in the slayings.

The weapons were found close to the suspect’s body along with policestyle radios, police said Saturday.

“Investigators also found that the man

was wearing a ballistic vest which strongly suggests that the man barricaded himself in the apartment and was preparing himself for an armed confrontation with police,” said Modesto police spokesman Sgt. Brian Findlen.

The former security guard whose apartment was the scene of the shootings was a financially troubled, paranoid recluse who feared that his apartment would be taken away from him, according to those who knew him.

James Ferrario, 45, lived by himself in the building after his father died in 2008.

Police tentatively identified the body recovered from the apartment Friday, but will not release the name until it is confirmed through DNA and the “coroner’s process,” Findlen said.

Police have said that process could take weeks. “We do believe that the person deceased in that home that we

have discovered is very likely the shooter and suspect,” Findlen told The Associated Press on Saturday.Friends and neighbors told the Modesto Bee that Ferrario took money and food from them and lived in the apartment like a survivalist, without hot water or electricity.

The apartment belonged to Ferrario and his two sisters, said his cousin, Yvonne DiMichele. “Both of his sisters are frightened of him since his father died,” she told the Bee. “They were afraid to kick him out.”

Darlene Williams, who along with her brother, Jonathan, grew up with Ferrario, told the Bee that Ferrario had lost his job as a security guard, and she would bring him money on occasion.

She would slip the cash through a screen door because Ferrario was afraid someone would break in and force him out of the home, she told the newspaper. Ferrario would only

leave at night, dressed in his old security guard uniform, Jonathan Williams said.”I don’t know if that was paranoia or not, but he was afraid his sisters would lock him out of the house if he left,” he said.

Other neighbors said Ferrario had handguns and rifles and security cameras around his house. One former resident, Anna Rivas, told the Bee she moved out after repeated confrontations with Ferrario, one in which he sprayed her husband and a friend with mace. The Ferrario property had fallen behind on payments on a $15,000 Bank of America mortgage taken out in 2003, the newspaper said. The property owner also appears to have defaulted on $13,406 owed to the Whispering Woods Community Association. The association foreclosed on the condo last year, followed by a bank foreclosure in December, the newspaper reported. The deputy,

Robert Paris, 53, and locksmith, Glendon David Engert, 35, were gunned down as they arrived at the apartment late Thursday morning to serve an eviction notice.

Paris, a 16-year veteran of the department, is survived by his parents, a brother and two adult children.

Friends tell the Bee that Engert was married. He had worked as a surveyor at an engineering firm until he was laid off and then learned to be a locksmith.

He had been hired by the landlord to help deputies gain entry to the apartment to serve the eviction notice, police said. It was not clear how Thursday’s fire began, but the Bee reported the sheriff has acknowledged flash-bang devices and tear gas could have been responsible. Four apartments were destroyed by the fire, and 100 units were evacuated after the shooting. — AP

Americas leaders wrap up summit US isolated on Cuba BELFAST: Six-year old Alex Warouaon from Chicago, USA, who’s great-great-greatgrandfather died in the Titanic disaster stands with other relatives during a minute silence at the Titanic Memorial Plaque during the service at Belfast City Hall, Northern Ireland, yesterday one-hundred years after the Titanic sank. — AP

Prayers and silence mark Titanic centenary ABOARD MS BALMORAL: Cruise ship passengers and crew said prayers yesterday at the spot in the North Atlantic where the Titanic sank 100 years ago with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, while the city that built the vessel looked back with a mixture of sorrow and pride.

Exactly a century after the ship went down, passengers lined the decks of MS Balmoral, which has been retracing the route of the doomed voyage. After a moment of silence, three floral wreaths were cast onto the waves as the ship’s whistle sounded in the dark.

Jane Allen from Devon in southwest England, whose great-uncle perished on the Titanic, said the moment vividly reminded her of the horror of the disaster. “All you could hear was the swell splashing against the side of the ship. You could see the white breakers stretching out to sea,” she told the BBC. “You are in the middle of nowhere. And then you look down over the side of the ship and you realize that every man and every woman who didn’t make it into a lifeboat had to make that decision, of when to jump or stay on the ship as the lights went out.”

Another cruise ship, Journey, which has traveled from New York, also held a service at the site of the disaster, 400 miles (640 kilometers) off the coast of Newfoundland. The Titanic, the world’s largest and most luxurious ocean liner, was traveling from England to New York when it struck an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912. It sank less than three hours later, with the loss of all but 700 of the 2,208 passengers and crew.

A century on, events around the globe are marking a tragedy that retains its grip on the world’s imagination. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the Titanic was built, a memorial monument was unveiled yesterday at a ceremony attended by local dignitaries, relatives of the

dead and explorer Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck of the Titanic on the ocean floor in 1985.

A brass band played as the granite plinth bearing bronze plaques was uncovered beside Belfast City Hall.

Officials say it is the first Titanic memorial to list all victims alphabetically, with no distinction between passengers and crew members, or between first-, second- and third-class travelers.

“We remember all those who perished and whose names are herein inscribed men, women and children who loved and we loved, their loss still poignantly felt by their descendants,” the Rev. Ian Gilpin told the crowd. After a minute’s silence, a choir sang “Nearer My God To Thee” - the hymn Titanic’s band is reported to have played as the ship went down. Belfast spent decades scarred by its link to the disaster, but has come to take pride in the feats of engineering and industry involved in building the ship. Last month, a gleaming new visitor attraction, Titanic Belfast, opened on the site of the shipyard where the doomed vessel was built.

“The focus of the world is on Belfast and we are doing her proud,” said Una Reilly, chair of the Belfast Titanic Society.

“We are all proud of this ship. What happened was a disaster; she was not.” On Saturday, thousands attended a memorial concert in Belfast featuring performances

by Bryan Ferry and soul singer Joss Stone.

At St. Anne’s Cathedral in the city, a performance of composer Philip Hammond’s “The Requiem for the Lost Souls of the Titanic” was followed by a torch-lit procession to the Titanic memorial garden in the grounds of city hall. The requiem - performed by male choristers dressed as ship’s crew and female performers in black - also included words by Belfast novelist Glenn Patterson, who imagined the victims reflecting on all they had missed in the last 100 years. — AP

Chavez skips summit, citing doctors’ orders CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez skipped the Summit of the Americas for medical reasons Saturday and headed to Cuba to continue with cancer treatment that is increasingly forcing him out of the international spotlight. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro announced the decision from Colombia, where he was attending the summit in Chavez’s place. He told state television that Chavez decided not to attend on the advice of his doctors.

The decision headed off a potential face-to-face confrontation with President Barack Obama, and also raised questions anew about the effects that Chavez’s cancer could have on his political future and his international ambitions. Chavez has often used such regional summits as a platform to amplify his criticisms of US influence and press for his vision of Latin American integration.

At the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, Chavez took center stage when he shook Obama’s hand and gave him a book that he encouraged him to read: “Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent,” by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano.

“Chavez’s decision not to attend the Cartagena summit will only fuel speculation that he is seriously ill. It would have suited him politically to attend. The Colombians wanted him to be there, as did others,” said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington. “For more than a dozen years he has been at the center of attention at these hemispheric gatherings.

His cancer, coupled with political problems at home, constrains his regional and global role.” Maduro said the president is in the midst of a “careful, disciplined treatment.” Chavez appeared briefly on television Saturday night as he waved goodbye to aides at Caracas’ international airport and climbed the stairs of the presidential jet, heading to Havana for another round of radiation treatment.

He didn’t make any comments, but a message on his Twitter account said: “Here we go, to continue doing battle!

And to continue overcoming! ... We will live and we will win!” Chavez, who is running for re-election in October, told a crowd of supporters on Friday that the radiation therapy has affected his strength but said, “I’m doing well.” — AP

CARTAGENA: Leaders from across the Americas were to wrap up a two-day gathering here yesterday with US President Barack Obama under intense Latin American pressure to let Cuba attend future hemispheric summits.

Saturday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, the host of the Summit of the Americas and Washington’s closest ally in Latin America, said it would be “unacceptable” to keep Cuba out of the next gathering.

And a closed-door plenary session produced a “frank discussion” on the issue, according to Peruvian Foreign Minister Rafael Roncaglio. “Now we are seeking a final statement for the summit and it is up to the Colombian president to do it.

“The isolation, the indifference has shown its ineffectiveness. In today’s world, there is no justification for this anachronism,” Santos said on the summit’s opening day. Cuba has never taken part in a Summit of the Americas, a regular meeting sponsored by the USbased Organization of American States (OAS).

The Colombian’s leader’s statement was echoed by remarks by his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales, who argued that all Latin American states backed Cuba’s participation in the summits. “It is just impossible for one country to oppose the will of others and not listen to them.” the Bolivian president said.

But despite the intense pressure, a deal on the issue appears unlikely, with the United States backed by Canada refusing to yield. Obama, who is campaigning for re -election in the November election, cannot afford to give ammunition to his domestic right-wing opponents who reject any concessions to a com-

CARTAGENA: President Barack Obama, right, speaks with Colombia’s first lady Maria Clemencia Rodriguez and Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos during a dinner at the sixth Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, Saturday. — AP munist regime seen as violating the democratic and human rights of its people.

Havana’s exclusion also prompted Ecuador ’s Rafael Correa to stay away. And an alliance of left-leaning Latin American countries known as ALBA announced here that its members would not take part in any future summits of the Americas if Cuba was not included.

In a statement, ALBA also demanded an immediate end to Washington’s 50-year-old “inhuman economic, trade and financial embargo against Cuba” and urged regional countries “to continue to maintain its united solidarity in favor of Cuba’s admission to the summit.”

ALBA groups Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba,

Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, several Central American leaders met here on the sidelines of the summit Saturday to discuss Guatemala’s proposal to consider legalizing street drug consumption. But they failed to reach consensus.

The proposal was to be taken up by hemispheric leaders at a private session later yesterday.

Obama told his peers he favored a debate on a new drug war strategy but opposes decriminalization or legalization of drugs.

The leaders were to set to sign the summit’s final statement before giving a press conference.

The text focuses on poverty eradication, regional integration, transnational crime and increased access to technology,

but is likely to leave aside controversial issues such as Cuba, the drug fight and Argentina’s claim on the Falklands.

Obama was also to have a bilateral session with Caribbean leaders before attending a working lunch with Santos. The two leaders were then to give a joint press conference before Obama’s departure for home.

Santos also scheduled bilateral talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Obama was later to join Santos at a ceremony in Cartagena’s historic center to deliver land titles to descendants of African runaway slaves for more than 3350 hectares (8200 acres) of nearby ancestral land that they occupy. Cartagena was the most important port for the slave trade during Spanish colonial rule. — AFP

Dozens of rebel-held hostages freed in Peru LIMA: Thirty-six kidnapped construction workers walked out of Peru’s jungle to freedom Saturday after being released by Shining Path rebels who abducted them five days earlier from a town near the country’s main natural gas fields, authorities said.

President Ollanta Humala told the Peruvian radio station RPP that the guerrillas freed the captives because troops and police from a force of 1,500 men deployed for the search were closing in. He said no negotiations with the rebels had taken place.

“Seeing themselves surrounded, they released the 36 hostages,” Humala said from the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia. He said the operations by security

forces will continue until they track down the kidnappers. Three police officers and two soldiers have been killed during the search operation, a military official said on condition of anonymity. He declined to be identified because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. The government had previously confirmed that one police officer was killed Thursday when a helicopter involved in the search was attacked with gunfire. Humala didn’t refer to any casualties. Local officials said previously that the rebels were demanding a $10 million ransom.

Humala said government officials had explained to the workers’ employers that “the government’s policy is not to negotiate with

CUZCO: A released hostage is escorted by a soldier in Cuzco, Peru on Saturday. Peruvian Shining Path guerrillas Saturday freed 36 construction workers from a Swedish company and a Peruvian firm who had been held captive for five days, with President Ollanta Humala insisting that no ransom was paid. — AFP

kidnappers, and we won’t permit a company to stray from that policy.”“This has been an impeccable operation. Nothing has been ceded to these criminal terrorists,” the president said.

Local officials have said the Peruvian workers were kidnapped about 3 am Monday from hotels in the hamlet of Kepashiato, near the Camisea natural gas field. Mayor Rosalio Sanchez said the rebels lingered for a few hours, summoning about 20 residents to an assembly where they condemned the government and the gas industry.

Those who were abducted were working as contractors on gas industry projects. Officials previously said there were 40 workers involved, but on Saturday officials confirmed that there were 36 and that all had been freed. The Swedish construction company Skanska has said that 29 of the kidnapped workers were its employees. Others work for the Peruvian company Construcciones Modulares. Johan Karlstrom, CEO and president of Skanska, said the workers were in good health. “It is hard to express the relief and comfort I feel over the fact that our colleagues now can reunite with their families and return home,” Karlstrom said in a statement. He thanked Peruvian authorities and the company’s client, consortium Transportadora de Gas del Peru, for their cooperation.

Once freed, the men walked out of the jungle to the tiny town of Chuanquiri, said Susano Guillen, the local governor. “They arrived at 11 in the morning, and we were surprised to see them arrive,” Guillen said by phone. “We gave them water because they were hungry and thirsty. Then they left for the town of Kiteni.” Guillen said many of their relatives were there. — AP

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Son of slain Afghan peace council head takes over KABUL: The son of a former Afghan peace council chairman assassinated last fall by a suicide bomber has been chosen as his successor in a renewed push to revitalize efforts to negotiate an end to the decadelong war.

The Saturday election of Salahuddin Rabbani came on the same day that the government-appointed peace council held talks in Kabul with a delegation from Hizb-iIslami, one of three major militant factions that are instrumental to crafting a peaceful end to the conflict as US and other foreign troops leave.

Part of the US-led coalition’s exit strategy is to gradually transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces by the end of 2014 when most international troops will have left or moved into support roles. Another goal is to pull the Taliban and other groups into political discussions with the Afghan government.

The 70-plus members of the Afghan High Peace Council chose Rabbani, an ethnic Tajik and former ambassador to Turkey, to lead the group, according to a statement released by Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office. Rabbani is the son of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani who was

killed Sept. 20, 2011, at his Kabul home by a suicide bomber posing as a Taleban peace emissary.

The assassination dealt a major blow to the peace effort, and the election of the younger Rabbani nearly seven months later was a clear signal of the Afghan government’s desire to continue efforts to reconcile with the Taleban.

After the elder Rabbani’s death, Karzai called on Pakistan, where insurgent leaders are said to be based, to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. The Afghan leader also said peace talks should be led by Afghanistan and that interference from other nations would not be tolerated.

“The peace process can be successful only if Afghans are in the lead,” the new peace council chairman said in the statement. “Otherwise, we cannot achieve things, and we cannot gain the trust of the nation.”

Members of his council met with a fivemember delegation from Hizb-i-Islami and will hold other meetings in coming days with Karzai and his two vice presidents, the president’s spokesman Aimal Faizi said Saturday. “They have come to Kabul with a list of demands, but this is just the begin-

ning of discussions, and we cannot reach a conclusion about the talks at this time,” Faizi said. Hizb-i-Islami is a radical Islamist militia that has thousands of fighters and followers across the north and east. Its leader, powerful warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, is a former Afghan prime minister and one-time US ally who is now listed as a terrorist by Washington. The delegation is led by Hekmatyar’s son-in-law, Dr. Ghairat Baheer.

The first official Hizb-i-Islami delegation held talks with the Afghan government in February 2010 and presented a 15-point peace plan, according to the group’s European representative, Qaribur Rahman Saeed. Then, in December 2011, at the request of the US, a Hizb-i-Islami delegation went to Kabul and met with American, Afghan, NATO and military coalition officials and Karzai, Saeed said. Ismail Qasemyar, a member of the High Peace Council, said the Hizb-i-Islami delegation was visiting for “serious, formal talk.” “They sound more reasonable than the Taleban,” Qasemyar said.

“This could be used as a good model for the other factions.”

If an accord could be struck with Hizb-iIslami, it might pressure the other militant groups to negotiate a deal or risk being left

out of the government, he said. The Taleban, the largest of the three militant factions, announced in March that they were suspending talks with the US. They accused the US of failing to follow through on its promises, making new demands and falsely claiming that the militant group had entered into multilateral negotiations that included the Kabul government, which they have labeled a puppet of the US. “Putting an end to this war is not going to happen - not now, not in the near future,” said Ghulam Haider, a Taleban operations commander in Kandahar.

“We took some startup measures in lowering our weapons, but the media took it many steps ahead of our doings,” he said, adding that negotiating an end to the war was not on the top of the agenda when a large group of top Taleban figures gathered for a meeting in recent weeks. “We never said we were giving up on jihad.”

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the insurgent group suspended talks with the U.S. because they claimed they had agreed to discuss only two issues with the Americans: The establishment of the militant group’s political office in Qatar and the release of five top Taliban leaders from the

U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay to Qatar. The White House has said that the US continues to support an Afghan-led process toward reconciliation and that US terms for participation in that process by the Taleban have not changed. Maulvi Kalamuddin, a member of the peace council and a former Taleban official, said the Taleban are waiting for the US to act.

“The information that I have is that there first needs to be a key - a way of making trust between both sides and for the US to release the five detainees The foreigners need to make the trust because the war was imposed on the Taleban,” he said in his Kabul home earlier this week. Qasemyar, the high peace council’s international relations adviser, predicted that if the prisoners were released, the Taliban would resume talks without delay.

A third major faction operating in Afghanistan is run by the notorious Haqqani network, which has conducted lethal attacks against US and NATO troops and is blamed for deadly assaults in the capital.

Qasemyar acknowledged the US is not on good terms with the Haqqani network but said the peace process needs to be “all inclusive.” —AP

Militants attack Pakistan jail, nearly 400 escape Brazen assault linked to Musharraf

EAST TIMOR: East Timorese people stand near a banner of presidential candidate Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres in Dili yesterday, ahead of the second round of elections today. Opposition figure Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres faces former armed forces chief Taur Matan Ruak - both heroes of the nations long war against Indonesia’s occupation - in voting that is seen as a test for the impoverished nation. —AFP

Presidential run-off vote tests E Timor democracy DILI: East Timor chooses a new president in a run-off vote today, as the young democracy prepares to celebrate its first decade of independence and bid goodbye to UN forces. Either Francisco Guterres “Lu Olo” or Taur Matan Ruak, both heroes of the nation’s 24-year war against Indonesian occupation, will replace Jose Ramos-Horta, the Nobellaureate who trailed in third place in the March 17 first round.

While the presidency is largely ceremonial, it enjoyed a high profile under Ramos-Horta, and the elections are the first in a series of landmark events this year for the half-island nation of 1.1 million people. In May, East Timor will celebrate 10 years of independence, which came after three years of UN administration. On July 7, voters will choose a new government in a general election.

Ameerah Haq, the UN Secretary General’s special representative for East Timor, was reported as saying last week that UN peacekeepers, stationed since 1999, would pull out as planned at year’s end if both elections remain calm.

The first round of voting was peaceful.

But ahead of the run-off at least two homes of political supporters or campaign organisers have been torched and a number of campaign vehicles attacked.

On Friday, about 100 people reportedly pelted stones at Ruak’s headquarters in Dili. Deputy police commander Alfonso de Jesus said that despite the

incidents he expected the elections to go smoothly.

Lu Olo, the most popular candidate in last month’s poll with close to 29 percent of the vote, is backed by several first-round candidates. The softlyspoken 57-year-old, who is known by his nom de guerre and heads the opposition Fretilin party which is synonymous with the resistance, lost the presidency to Ramos-Horta in a run-off in 2007. Ruak, whose name means “piercing eyes” in the local Tetum language, is the former commander of Fretilin’s military wing.

The 55-year-old, running as an independent and standing for president for the first time, is backed by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao’s powerful National Congress for the Reconstruction of East Timor party. He won about 26 percent of the firstround vote.

Ruak, who has vowed to introduce mandatory military service if elected, is accused by the United Nations of involvement in illegal weapons transfers in 2006, when rioting and factional fighting had the nation on the brink of civil war. The voting age for Monday’s polls is 17, and more than 620,000 are eligible to vote at 850 polling stations nationwide. Polls remain open from 7:00 am (2200 GMT Sunday) until 3:00 pm. By law, provisional results must be announced 48 hours after polls close. —AFP

BANNU: Dozens of Islamist militants stormed a prison in Pakistan in the dead of night early yesterday and freed nearly 400 inmates, including one on death row for trying to assassinate former President Pervez Musharraf, police officials said.

Pakistan’s Taliban movement, which is close to al Qaeda, said it was behind the brazen assault by militants armed with rocketpropelled grenades and AK-47 assault rifles. A police official said most of the escapees from the jail in the nor thwestern town of Bannu were militants.

“I don’t remember the exact time, but it must have been way past midnight. There were huge explosions. Plaster from the ceilings fell on us,” said prisoner Malik Nazeef, speak ing by mobile phone to Reuters from the jail in the town of Bannu.

“Then there was gunfire. We didn’t know what was happening.” While the Taleban in neighbouring Afghanistan have staged several jail breaks, such attacks are rare in nuclear-armed Pakistan, a strategic US ally and one of the most unstable countries in the world.

“We have freed hundreds of our comrades in Bannu in this attack. Several of our people have reached their destinations, others are on their way,” a Taleban spokesman said.

The claim could not be immediately verified. The attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades at the black, metal gates of the prison, blowing them open.

Debris was strewn on the ground inside, including locks that were shot off doors. Walls were pockmarked with bullet holes.

An assault of this scale will likely generate fresh questions over Pakistan’s progress in fighting militancy since joining the US-led campaign against militancy, launched after the Sept.

11, 2001, attacks.

Pakistan’s performance has come under more intense scrutiny since US special forces in May last year found Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani town, where he had apparently been living for years, and killed him in a secret raid.

Pakistani officials describe bin Laden’s long presence in the town of Abbottabad as a security lapse and reject suggestions that members of the military and intelligence service were complicit in hiding him there.

The prison break could deal a psychological blow to security forces following repeated government assertions that security crackdowns have weakened militant groups. Pakistan is seen as critical to U.S. efforts to stabilise

Pakistani Taleban are closely linked with the Afghan Taleban.

They move back and for th across the unmarked border, exchange intelligence, and provide shelter for each other in a region U.S. President Barack Obama has described as “the most dangerous place in the world”.

A loose alliance of a dozen groups, the TTP began its battle against the state in 2007, after a bloody army raid on Islamabad’s

BANNU: Pakistani security officials visit the central jail in Bannu, 170 kilometer (106 miles) south of Peshawar, Pakistan yesterday. Taliban militants battled their way into the prison yesterday, freeing close to 400 prisoners, including at least 20 described by police as “very dangerous” insurgents, authorities and the militants said. —AP Afghanistan yet Pakistan faces its own daunting security problems.

The Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP), or Taleban Movement of Pakistan, is seen as the biggest threat, staging suicide bombings and attacks on militar y compounds.

In the unruly ethnic Pashtun tribal areas near the Afghan border, the Taleban control large pockets where they use floggings and beheadings to impose their version of Islamic law. The

Red Mosque, which was controlled by its allies. The assault, ordered by Musharraf, was widely seen as the event that sparked a full-blown Islamist militant campaign to toppled the government.

A police official identified one of the inmates who escaped as a “dangerous prisoner ” named Adnan Rasheed who took part in one of the attempts to k ill Musharraf. “He was a mastermind in (one of the attacks) on Musharraf. These people came

Opposition in Maldives says polls bolster its early vote call

QUETTA: A Pakistani paramilitary soldier patrols during a protest by Shiite Muslims against sectarian violence in Quetta yesterday. Gunmen on April 14 shot dead seven Shiite Muslims in two separate incidents of sectarian violence in Pakistan’s troubled southwestern city of Quetta, police said. —AFP

for him and took another 383 people too,” the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Nazeef described how tall, bearded men with AK-47 rifles yelled “God is Greatest”, fired their weapons at the prison’s ceilings, and asked inmates about Rasheed’s whereabouts.

“One of them had a large hammer and tried to break the lock of our cell. It didn’t work so they shot the lock off with their

MALE: A new government in the Maldives has won two by-elections, according to results yesterday, defeating the party of former President Mohamed Nasheed who was unseated in February and, his party said, bolstering its call for an early presidential poll.

The ouster of Nasheed, the islands’ first democratically elected president, dented the Indian Ocean archipelago’s reputation as a laid-back luxury tourist paradise. Nasheed and his party say the new government of President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik is illegitimate and they have been demanding an early presidential election.

The Commonwealth group of mostly former British colonies suspended the Maldives from its democracy watchdog group in February and has backed early elections to end any question over the legality of the transfer of power.

But Waheed has said an early presi-

dential poll needs constitutional changes and improvements in the Election Commission.

Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said the polling for the two parliamentary by-elections, the first since Nasheed’s ouster and won by the ruling coalition, according to provisional results, was free and fair which reinforced its call for early polls.

“The Elections Commission has said it is possible to hold free and fair elections,” said the MDP’s acting chairman, Moosa Manik. “But the coup-sponsored government is repeatedly telling the international community the conditions are not right for early elections.”

The next election is due in October 2013. Nasheed has said his party was willing to work with the new administration to make the constitutional changes needed to hold an early election. —Reuters

guns. They had wireless sets and were talking to each other. One of them then said that they had found Adnan Rasheed,” he said. “ The entire activity in our block lasted almost an hour. I saw only 15 to 20 men but from the sound and gunfire, I could tell there were many more. None of them were wearing masks.”

Paramilitary troops and security forces later sealed off the Bannu Central Jail. Of a total 944 prisoners there, 384 escaped, said another police official. —Reuters

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Vietnam bloggers face ‘propaganda’ trial HANOI: Three well known Vietnamese bloggers face prosecution for “propaganda against the state” after being accused of posting political articles on a banned website, state media said yesterday.

Phan Thanh Hai, Nguyen Van Hai and Ta Phong Tan were accused of contributing material to the online “Free Journalists Club” of Vietnam, the Thanh Nien newspaper said. The report said the bloggers posted 421 articles on the site between September 2007 and October 2010 and accused them of “dis-

torting the truth, denigrating the party and state”.

“Phan Thanh Hai and Nguyen Van Hai also attended training in Thailand to overthrow the regime of Vietnam in March 2008,” the newspaper added. The bloggers, who are already being held in custody, face a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for the charges.

Phan Thanh Hai’s blog dealt with issues deemed sensitive in Vietnam, such as a dispute with China over maritime sovereignty, controversial bauxite

projects, a scandal around a debt-ridden stateowned shipbuilder and cases of famous dissidents.

He was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City in October 2010 and police confiscated his two computers and numerous documents and articles printed from the Internet. Nguyen Van Hai was set to be released from a 30 month jail term for tax evasion in October 2010, but was kept locked up under the new charge.

Before his arrest in 2008, he had participated in anti-Chinese protests linked to Vietnam’s maritime

territorial dispute with Beijing. Former policewoman Ta Phong Tan used her blog to denounce corruption and injustice in Vietnam’s legal system.

In a January report, US-based Human Rights Watch said Hanoi had “intensified its repression” of dissidents last year. Dozens of bloggers, peaceful political and religious advocates, and land rights activists were jailed in 2011 under “vaguely defined articles” of the penal code, the right group said. — AFP

Secure despite rocket fiasco, N Korea’s Kim lauds military Missiles paraded in Pyongyang

NARITA: US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell speaks to the media upon his arrival at Narita International Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, yesterday. Campbell was the first senior US diplomat to visit Japan after North Korea failed to launch a rocket last Friday. — AP

Criticism hits Japan’s plan to restart nuclear reactors TOKYO: Japan’s plan to restart two offline nuclear reactors came under fire yesterday from media and environmental groups amid doubts over the safety of atomic power after the Fukushima accident. “It is hard to understand why the government is in such a haste to restart the reactors,” the major daily Mainichi Shimbun said in an editorial, adding that more thorough checks were needed to ensure safety.

The government of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced on Friday that it was safe and necessary to restart the reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant in western Japan, which could help prevent power shortages in the summer months.

Only one of Japan’s 54 reactors-in northernmost Hokkaido-is in operation at present, but it is scheduled to be shut down for maintenance work in May. Restarting the two Oi reactors will mean the country is not entirely without nuclear power, which can be generated more cheaply than at fuelburning power plants.

“Independent studies show that there will be no power shortages,” said Wakao Hanaoka, the Japan campaign manager for the environment watchdog Greenpeace.

The activist said Premier Noda and the Oi plant’s operator Kansai Electric Power Co. are “recklessly rushing to bring the reactors back online now, saying they meet its lax safety requirements”.

A massive earthquake and tsunami in March last year caused reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. None of reactors shut for regular checks before the disaster have resumed operation amid safety concerns.

“The nuclear industry and the government were totally unprepared for the disaster at Fukushima Daiichi and now they are

trying to pretend they can call Oi safe without improving safety or emergency measures,” Hanaoka said.

The government set criteria nine days ago for restarting nuclear reactors included measures to prevent a nuclear accident even if reactors are hit by natural disasters as severe as those that ravaged the Fukushima plant. The government still needs to gain approval from regional authorities around the Oi plant for the reactors to be restarted amid persistent public distrust over the safety of nuclear power.

Yukio Edano, the minister of industry, on Saturday called on the governor of Fukui, where the Oi plant is located. The governor, Issei Nishikawa, did not give an immediate response to his request for approval of the plan.

“It is uncertain if the plan will ever gain an understanding of communities which have raised objections to the resumption of the reactors,” the Asahi Shimbun reported yesterday. The influential daily criticised the Noda administration yesterday for being “inconsistent” over its nuclear power policy.

Before Noda took office last September, he promised to follow his predecessor Naoto Kan in ridding Japan of nuclear power, Asahi said.

But he backtracked last January when he said in a policy speech that the resources-poor country would reduce its dependence on nuclear power “as much as possible on a medium- and long-term basis”.

Striking a more positive tone, the conservative daily Sankei Shimbun called on Noda to visit Fukui himself and “speak clearly in his own words about his government’s energy policy and why it is necessary to restart reactors”. — AFP

PYONGYANG: North Korea’s new leader delivered his first major public speech yesterday as the impoverished state celebrated the centenary of its founder’s birth, calling for a push to “final victory” despite a failed rocket launch two days earlier.

A jowly Kim Jong-un, clad in black and the third of his line to rule North Korea, read monotonously from a script in Pyongyang’s central square after goose-stepping soldiers and sailors showcased the North’s military power in a parade in spring sunshine.

Smiling and joking with generals on a podium after the speech, Kim watched as the country’s missiles paraded past, a reminder that despite Friday’s embarrassing failure to successfully launch a rocket, North Korea packs a punch.

In a move that indicated Kim would stick to the “military-first” policies that have put North Korea on the verge of nuclear-weapons capacity, he lauded respectively his grandfather, Kim Ilsung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, as the “founder and the builder of our revolutionary armed forces”.

North Korea is believed to be readying a third nuclear test, based on intelligence satellite images and a past pattern of rocket launches followed by tests. “Let us move forward to final victory,” the 20-something leader urged tens of thousands of military and civilians as they applauded his more than 20-minute speech, the first time a North Korean leader has delivered a major public set-piece address.

Thousands of goose-stepping soldiers held up coloured cards to spell out Kim Jong-un’s name and the words “strong and prosperous”.

The crowd waved artificial pink flowers, celebrating the two dead Kims who ruled the nation in an event that was hosted by one of the country’s top generals, Ri Yong-ho.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency and YTN TV later cited military sources and analysts as saying the North unveiled at the parade a new long-range missile, presumed to be a ballistic missile with a range of to 6,000 km (3,700 miles).

The missile appeared to be longer and with a bigger diameter compared with others the North has revealed. “In order to enhance the dignity of Songun (military-first) Chosun (Korea) and to accomplish the task of building a strong and prosperous socialist country, we have to make every effort to reinforce the people’s armed forces,” Kim said.

Given Kim Jong-il’s years of silence, North Korea specialists said the speech was likely another attempt to remind people of happier days under Kim Il-sung, a revered and avuncular figure the new ruler closely resembles.

“It shows a new governing style for the Kim Jong-un era,” said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University’s department of North Korea studies.

North Korea departed from its usual practise of not telling its population about embarrassing failures when state television on Friday broad-

cast news that a rocket had failed to put a satellite into orbit.

Critics say that the long-range rocket launch was part of a bid to develop a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to hit the United States.

The state that Kim inherited in December after the death of his father boasts a 1.2 millionstrong military but its population of 23 million, many malnourished, supports a puny economy worth just $40 billion annually in purchasing power parity terms, according to the US Central Intelligence Agency.

Analysts say the wretched economy means Kim is tied to the policies of his late father who oversaw the development of the state’s nuclear and missile ambitions. The United States has vowed to prevent North Korea fulfilling those ambitions, although in reality there is little that can be done to one of the most sanctioned nations on earth that is backed diplomatically by China.

“We will continue to keep the pressure on them and they’ll continue to isolate themselves until they take a different path,” President Barack Obama said in an interview with Telemundo, a U.S. television network.

The small economy is matched by North Korea’s limited diplomatic influence. It has few friends other than China, whose strategic interest is in keeping a buffer between it and South Korea which has U.S. military bases.

But even China sounded increasingly exasperated in the run-up to Friday’s rocket launch as North Korea ignored its pleas for restraint,

PYONGYANG: North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un (top R) waves at the end of a major military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of the country’s founder and his grandfather, Kim Il-Sung, in Pyongyang yesterday. The commemorations came just two days after a satellite launch timed to mark the centenary fizzled out embarrassingly when the rocket apparently exploded within minutes of blastoff and plunged into the sea. — AFP

Ex-Thai PM Thaksin plans early return from exile BANGKOK: Exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra celebrated Thailand’s most important holiday in neighboring Cambodia this weekend, telling thousands of fervent supporters who crossed the border to meet him that he intends to return home soon on his own terms.

Thaksin, ousted by a 2006 military coup after being accused of abuse of power and disrespect for the monarchy, led a song-filled rally to mark Songkran, the Thai New Year. Between appearances on stage, he worked the crowd in a manner recalling his past political campaigning.

Thaksin, 62, has been living overseas since jumping bail in 2008 to avoid a two-year jail term on a corruption conviction he says was politically motivated. Saturday’s event, just a few hours’ drive from northeastern Thailand, raises the question: Will he be celebrating the next Songkran at home?

Thaksin - by far Thailand’s most divisive politician - has said in the last few days that his return will be “in the next three to four months,” “not so long,” and when “everything is stable.” He sang several popular songs during his appearance Saturday, with lyrics changed to stress his homesickness or urge his supporters to support his younger sister Yingluck, the current prime minister. He added a strikingly off-key rendition of “My Way,” which segued oddly into “Let It Be.” Thaksin also visited Laos, another neighbor, as part of his well-publicized Songkran tour. Since the beginning of the year, he has visited all four of Thailand’s immediate neighbors - including Myanmar and Malaysia - suggesting, symbolically at least, that he is closing on his goal.

After fleeing Thailand, he based himself in Dubai and fostered a pro-Thaksin “Red Shirt” movement, a counterweight to a “Yellow Shirt” royalist group whose 2006 street demonstrations paved the way for his ouster.

In 2009, he openly backed Red Shirt rioting against an anti-Thaksin government led by the Democrat Party, and in 2010 more discreetly encouraged vastly more disruptive Bangkok street demonstrations that resulted in the worst political violence

in decades, including the deaths of 91 people over two months. Thaksin’s battles at the polls have been more fruitful. Pro-Thaksin parties won convincing victories in all four general elections since 2001 - five if an invalidated poll in 2006 is counted.

With his sister now prime minister and his allies holding a firm majority in Parliament, Thaksin’s prospects appear good. But his 2006 ouster - after becoming the first prime minister ever to complete a four-year term, and then being re-elected by an unprecedented majority - is a reminder that he still has powerful enemies.

He has been accused of arrogance, failure to separate his business interests from affairs of state, and intolerance of criticism. But many believe he was

despite aid pumped in by Beijing, and its diplomatic protection at bodies like the United Nations. Without real weight in the international arena, North Korea is forced to rely on bluster reinforced by periodic rocket launches, nuclear tests and attacks on South Korea, such as one in 2010 when it shelled an island, to get the world to pay attention, analysts say.

That is likely to mean it will stick to the same script. In 2009, North Korea followed a failed attempt to put a satellite into orbit with a nuclear test.

Intelligence satellite images showing a tunnel being dug at the site of two previous tests implying that North Korea either wants to remind the world of the possibility, to prompt a return to aid for disarmament talks, or is preparing a test. “Internationally, now they have to do a nuclear test, preferably using uranium, just in order to show that they should be taken seriously,” said Andre Lankov, a North Korea expert at South Korea’s Kookmin University.

While North Korea confessed on Friday that its rocket had failed to deliver a satellite into orbit, it also continued to churn out reams of propaganda aimed at bolstering the legitimacy of Kim Jong-un and his claim to power based on his bloodline.

“Kim Jong-un is unlikely to be losing power over the launch, as the elite and the military need his legitimising and mythical presence in order to pacify the North Korean population,” said Virginie Grzelczyk, a North Korea expert at Nottingham Trent University in Britain. — Reuters

ousted because his popularity was a threat to the traditional ruling groups - led by an army-palace axis - who feared he wanted to usurp their power. The monarchy was seen as particularly vulnerable because beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej is entering his twilight years.

Post-coup court rulings banning Thaksin’s allies from politics and a constitutional revision to weaken political parties failed to dent his popularity.

“The harsh reality is that he wins elections every time,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. Instead, the prestige and influence of the army and the palace have declined, dragged down by an antidemocratic tinge.—AP

PHNOM PENH: Thailand’s ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra (R) sprays water towards supporters in front of Angkor Wat temple as the country celebrates its new year, during a visit to Siem Reap province, some 300 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh yesterday. Thaksin, who arrived from neighbouring Laos, said in an address to thousands of “Red Shirt” supporters that Thailand could begin to heal its deep political rifts. — AFP

China, Philippines standoff continues in South China Sea MANILA: The Philippines said yesterday it remained locked in a stalemate with China over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The statement came a day after the Philippine side reported that two Chinese vessels remained in Scarborough Shoal, just as the week-old standoff appeared to have eased.

Eight Chinese fishing vessels which sparked the standoff however had already left the area. “The stalemate remains. Both sides are in touch with each other,” Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a brief statement.

He said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario left yesterday for a week-long trip to the United States, and negotiations would be taken over by one of his top aides.

Today, the Philippines and the United States are due to begin joint annual war games to boost its military alliance amid fears of China’s growing power in the region. Local military officials said some of the manoeuvres would take place off the southwestern island of Palawan close to the disputed South China Waters, but sought to downplay fears they could further add to the Scarborough tension.

“The Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) exercises is in no way related to an event like that of the Scarborough Shoal,” said Major Emmanuel Garcia, spokesman for the Philippine contingent.

“We had long planned for this and the focus would be on improving security, counter terrorism and humanitarian and disaster response.”

Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said in a statement the government hoped

China would not be be alarmed by the exercises.

“We are hoping that this will not result in provocation,” Valte said. She said that while Manila maintained jurisdiction over the shoal, it remained committed to resolving the issue in a diplomatic manner. The Scarborough Shoal dispute started on April 8 when the Philippines found the eight Chinese fishing boats in the area, which the Philippines claims as its territory.

A Philippine navy warship was deployed there to arrest the Chinese fishermen for illegal poaching, but China sent three civilian surveillance vessels and took turns blocking the ship. Manila pulled back the naval warship from the area on Thursday and the tension further eased Saturday after the Chinese fishing vessels laden with their catch and escorted by two surveillance ships had already left the area.

But as the Philippines prepared to welcome the positive development, it subsequently reported Beijing had sent back one of the two maritime vessels and a Chinese aircraft made flybys above the lone Philippine vessel.

Manila also said the Chinese harassed a Philippine-registered vessel conducting a scientific survey. Among those aboard the vessel were nine French citizens helping to conduct an “archaeological survey” in the area, though the foreign department did not elaborate further.

The military has said a Philippine coast guard vessel remains near the shoal, about 230 kilometres (140 miles) west of the country’s main island of Luzon, monitoring Chinese activity. — AFP

14

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

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Issues

Strong interests hinder American drug law reform

By Carlos Hamann atin America leaders are increasingly demanding changes to the US-led “War on Drugs” - but with billions of dollars at stake and no clear political benefit there is little incentive in Washington to challenge the status quo, US experts say. For the first time ever talks on alternatives to the US policy, which treats drug users as criminals and uses soldiers to fight drug cartels, were on the agenda at the weekend Summit of the Americas in Colombia. The presidents of Colombia and Guatemala, and ex-presidents of Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, are among the leading voices calling for reform.

In the United States, conservatives and liberals ranging from televangelist Pat Robertson to billionaire George Soros agree that change is long overdue. Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has acknowledged the obvious: “Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade,” she said at the start of a 2009 visit to Mexico. “Neither interdiction (of drugs) nor reducing demand have been successful.”

And yet, $1 trillion after president Richard Nixon launched the “war” in 1971 there has been no substantive change to US drug policies. “It’s been on autopilot for the past 40 years,” said John Walsh with the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). There is little talk on drug policy reform because the violence largely happens outside US borders, said Howard Campbell, a drug trade expert at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The toll is frightening: more than 50,000 people killed in Mexico’s drug war since 2006; Central America reporting the world’s highest homicide rates; and drug violence continuing in Colombia, even after the big cartels were destroyed in the 1990s. The United States, the world’s largest market for illegal narcotics, “is insulated from that violence,” said Campbell. “There is no spillover.”

Campbell lives in El Paso, one of the safest US cities, located directly across the border from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where more than 3,000 people were killed in drug violence in 2010.

Alternatives to current laws include legalizing marijuana, decriminalizing small amounts of hard drugs, and focusing on helping drug users instead of jailing them.

An October Gallup poll showed that 50 percent of Americans favor legal marijuana, up from 12 percent in 1969. An earlier Gallup poll showed 70 percent support for medical marijuana, and efforts are underway in various states to legalize marijuana. Calls for reforming drug laws however are “a political non-starter,” said John Mueller, a political scientist at Ohio State University.

Politicians “are afraid of appearing to be ‘soft’ on drugs, just like they fear being ‘soft’ on terrorism,” he said.

Some $51 billion are spent each year on enforcing drug laws, according to the Drug Policy Alliance, a proreform group. A 2010 study by the libertarian Cato Institute said that legalizing drugs would save the government $41 billion a year and bring in some $47 billion in taxes, assuming the drugs are taxed like alcohol and tobacco. Legalizing drugs would also help clear out US prisons: at least a quarter of the 2.4 million people incarcerated in the United States are there for drug offenses, according to the Drug Policy Alliance.

The “prison-industrial complex”, which includes prison guard unions, “is forever advocating tougher laws”, said Alliance head Ethan Nadelmann. The United States incarcerates a higher share of its population than any other country, according to a 2010 report by the Center for Economic Policy and Research think tank.

Federal and local governments in 2008 spent nearly $75 billion on incarceration, costing around $25,000 a year per inmate, according to the report. Some are held at private prisons. “Stricter sentencing policies, particularly for drug-related offenses, rather than rising crime, are the main culprit behind skyrocketing incarceration rates,” the report said.

Nadelmann also believes that state and federal prosecutors, many of whom handle high-profile cases and then run for office, benefit from tough drug laws. US law enforcement, which has grown in size alongside the drug war, by law can keep a portion of seized drug assets as an incentive. Some $1.7 billion were obtained from drug asset seizures in 2010, according to Justice Department figures. Sometimes the money comes from auctioning seized cars and homes, other times from stacks of cash taken from smugglers caught with drug profits. —AFP

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The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Iran has nowhere to hide in Baghdad talks

By Simon Sturdee ran’s agreement in talks Saturday with world powers for a more indepth meeting in Baghdad on May 23 is the tiniest of steps in what will be a long and difficult road to restoring trust, analysts said. “It’s too early to say whether or not we’ve turned a corner,” Peter Crail, analyst at the Arms Control Association think-tank in Washington, told AFP. “An agreement to begin a negotiations process that can dig deeper into these high-stakes and highly technical issues was as good as we could have expected. There’s still much work to be done,” he said.

What happened here on Saturday “cannot be called a breakthrough. If there is a breakthrough, it would come at the next meeting,” agreed Bruno Tertrais, senior research fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS) in Paris. “It is only when both sides have agreed on the next steps ... and when whatever Iran will agree to can be verified, that we will be able to say for certain that something real has happened.

Until then it’s only talk,” he said.

I

In par ticular, Iran will have no option, if it is to relieve some of the current international pressure, than to commit to what EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and the White House late Saturday called “concrete steps”.

This is likely to include most notably scaling back the enrichment of uranium to purities of 20 percent, which Tehran says is to produce medical isotopes but which, if processed further, can also be used in a nuclear weapon. This more than anything has sparked fears in the international community, not least in Israel, that the real purpose of Iran’s nuclear activities is to get the bomb, a charge the Islamic regime angrily denies.

Iran did little to soothe such such concerns in Januar y when the UN nuclear watchdog said Tehran had begun to enrich at the Fordo site, deep inside a virtually impregnable mountain bunker near the holy city of Qom. Iran might also be able to reconfigure its centrifuges at the site to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels of 90 percent if it decided to go for broke and make nuclear weapons, experts say.

Western powers will in Baghdad also press Iran to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to sites that at present are off-limits and help soothe fears that Tehran has other covert sites, as Fordo was until 2009. To allow this Iran would need to implement the so-called “additional protocol” of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty that Iran, as a NPT signatory, briefly adhered to but dropped in 2006, analysts said. The IAEA itself regularly says in its quarterly reports that since Iran is “not providing the necessary cooperation” it is “unable to provide credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities”.

Another way to relieve pressure could be the revival of previous attempts at a deal whereby other countries supply nuclear fuel in return for Iran sending some of its uranium stockpiles abroad. But Iran is unlikely to give any ground, analyst say, without some sort of commitment that in return, the UN Security Council and Western countries will ease some of the sanctions piled on Tehran in recent years. This though is far from certain, Tertrais at

the FRS told AFP. “Assuming mutual steps can be agreed upon, there is a whole de-esclation process which is conceivable,” he said.

A first step would be to agree not to impose further sanctions, after that to freeze some of the existing sanctions and only then to lift some of the existing sanctions, he said. But he added: “I cannot imagine that the P5+1 would agree to the second and third steps without some real demonstrable and verified steps by Iran.” Mark Hibbs, analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told AFP that “getting Iran and the US to directly engage bilaterally would give this process a shot in the arm, provided there is political will on both sides.”

But in a reminder of Tehran’s enmity towards Washington, a source close to Iran’s delegation said they had spurned a request from their US counterparts for what would have been a rare bilateral meeting on the sidelines in Istanbul.

“Israel is in the background which both in Iran and in the P5+1 has focused people’s minds. They know there is not a lot of time,” Hibbs said. —AFP

Fear, frustration and guns as NRA targets Obama

By Mira Oberman he green-tipped zombie k illing bullets, pinkgripped pistols, and militar y grade rifles with sleek scopes are a fun distraction from the main event. Amid the acres of guns and gear on display at the National Rifle Association’s convention in St. Louis this weekend, an undercurrent of fear and frustration is fueling a drive to oust President Barack Obama and wrest the United States back from the secular liberals. “If President Obama gets a second term, America as we know it will be on its way to being lost forever,” NRA chief Wayne LaPierre warned his members.

“This election - it’s a fight for our country. It’s a fight for our values. It’s a fight for our freedom.”

These are the people that Obama once said “cling to their guns” and they are proud to do so. “The core of what this entire thing is about is an individual’s God-given right to defend himself,” said Roger Smith, 65, a small business owner from rural Missouri and a long-time NRA member.

“Obama’s administration wants to take it all away.” What liberals don’t understand is that guns are both a part of regular family life and a powerful symbol of the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution, said Andy Rice, 66, a retired optician and former Marine from rural Illinois.

“Most of us grew up with guns in the house,” Rice said as he waited for the exhibit hall to open Saturday morning. “Our fathers had guns hanging over

T

the dining room table because they’d fought in WWII or Korea and were proud of it.”

Guns were for hunting, but they also meant a whole lot more. “I t ’s a belief in this countr y,” Rice said. The nation’s founders understood that only a well-armed popu-

dom can only be maintained if the government knows that the populace is armed. And he is convinced that his gun rights are “under attack”.

The NRA - which calls itself the nation’s oldest civil rights group - has been extremely successful in undermining

house floor. Democrats have largely abandoned efforts to tighten controls and the Obama campaign was quick to refute accusations that it has a hidden agenda to take people’s guns away.

That’s because there is little political gain - and plenty of

A man hefts and aims a H&K (Heckler and Koch) MR762A1 rifle fitted with a scope at the National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meetings and Exhibits on Saturday in St Louis, Missouri. —AFP lace could protec t itself against tyrants and that remains a clear and present danger today, his brother Daniel Rice said. “All you have to do is look around the world,” he told AFP. While the United States may have strong institutions to protect democracy, Rice believes free-

gun controls. Some 40 US states now have permissive concealed weapon laws, up from just two in 1981. That means hidden handguns can be carried just about anywhere in most states - bars, churches, banks and one Wisconsin legislator even brings his gun onto the state-

potential loss - in fighting the NRA when most Americans don’t care much about gun control. “The NRA is very, very, very good at what they do,” said Robert Spitzer, author of ‘The Politics of Gun Control’ and a professor at State University of New York at Cortland. “Even though they

don’t win as much as people think, they can make the life of a political leader miserable.” Despite its substantial legislative victories, the NRA has also been very successful at convincing its four million members - and millions of supporters - that gun rights are under attack.

John Gilge, 52, joined the NRA years ago because he’s an avid hunter. These days, personal protection issues are a major concern for the electrician and retired Marine. He has reasons to be afraid.

Several of his colleagues have been robbed at gunpoint after leaving work to grab a sandwich a few blocks away.

His wife has lived through multiple armed robberies at the bank where she works as a teller. And then there are the horrible stories in the news about people getting shot for no reason. “I wish the world was a place where we could walk the streets and not worry about being robbed and raped and murdered,” Gilge said. “But it’s not and I don’t think it ever will be.”

Paul Beherns, 63, was drawn to the NRA convention for “political reasons”. “We’re going in the wrong direction in our country,” Beherns said.

A plumber in a small town in rural Illinois, Beherns longs for the simpler life of 40 or 50 years ago when life was more “pure”. He thinks the country is “sick” and struggled a bit to explain his deep sense of unease. “Being a white Caucasian who believes in the Constitution - I’m going to be in the minority,” he said. “Do you understand?” —AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

NEWS

A North Korean security guard watches fireworks in Pyongyang to celebrate 100 years since the birth of the North Korean founder Kim Il Sung yesterday. — AP

Iran, big powers to keep talking Continued from Page 1 lifted oil prices - especially since estimates of how much longer Tehran might need to build an atomic device, should it wish, have shortened to a year or two. A resumption of dialogue may help dampen anxieties, although hawkish voices in Israel and Western states have long questioned Tehran’s good faith and accuse it of using talks to buy time for its nuclear scientists - some of whom have been killed in what Iran says is a covert campaign by Israeli and Western agencies.

Publicly, negotiators on all sides emphasised the positive. “We expect that subsequent meetings will lead to concrete steps towards a comprehensive negotiated solution which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program,” said Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief who leads negotiations for the six powers.

The group comprises the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, the United States, China, France and Britain - along with Germany. It is known as the P5+1. Calling Saturday’s talks “constructive and useful”, Ashton said: “We want now to move to a sustained process of dialogue.” The Russian delegation called the talks “business-like”. For the White House, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes called the talks “a positive first step”. “The Iranians came to the table and engaged in a discussion about their nuclear programme,” he said. Meeting again was also “positive”.

The meeting in Baghdad, a rare friendly venue for Iranians in the Arab world, would be part of a “step-by-step” approach. Junior officials would meet again before May 23, she said. One senior diplomat present in Istanbul said agreeing to Iran’s request for a meeting in troubled Iraq showed commitment by the negotiators “Baghdad was a test. They are saying: ‘If you really want to talk to us, then come and talk to us’.” Sidestepping questions of how long talks could continue before impatient Western powers, or Israel, might cut them short by force, the envoy said: “I would much rather spend a long day in Istanbul than be picking up the pieces at the end of a war.”

Chief Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili made clear that Iran had no intention of accepting a key demand, that it halt plants which enrich uranium to 20 percent fissile material - far beyond the quality needed to generate the electricity which it says the oil-rich coun-

try requires to develop economic prosperity. Nonetheless, however remote a final accord may be between the Islamic Republic and its adversaries, a return to the negotiating table may calm nerves after 15 angry months.

In that time, the West has imposed new crippling economic sanctions while Iran, watching its key regional ally Syria collapse into internal strife, has threatened to blockade oil tankers. Israel, fearful a nuclear Iran would jeopardise its very survival, has been planning possible “pre-emptive” strikes. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said sanctions may be pressuring Iran into at least considering changing tack: “If, in the past, the Iranians used the talks as a kind of honey trap in order to continue their enrichment and activity while the talks are under way and to prevent sanctions, this time they’re facing a dilemma,” he told Israel Radio yesterday. “The intention now is to continue to tighten sanctions and I estimate that in the coming weeks or months we will know if they are working or not. Only a complete cessation of activity will result in a victory or a positive outcome for the sanctions.”

Yet few expect a rapid change of heart in Tehran, even if the weight of new sanctions, notably financial measures by US President Barack Obama and a European Union oil import ban, have made many Iranians keenly aware of the cost of that policy.

Its defiant defence of a right to nuclear energy has proven one of the more popular policies for Iran’s clerical leaders at a time when dissatisfaction is growing among the population over economic hardships - aggravated by sanctions - and a lack of the political freedoms being claimed elsewhere in the region. “We witnessed progress. There were differences of opinion,” Jalili said. “But the points we agreed on were important.”

Asking for negotiations to include the lifting of sanctions, he said: “The next talks should be based on confidence-building measures which would build the confidence of Iranians.” His defence of 20-percent enrichment did not impress the United States or others who question the justification and say that that level of enrichment makes a “break out” to weapons-grade material - around 90 percent - much easier. Jalili spoke under a banner showing a map of the region and reading “Nuclear Energy for All. Nuclear Weapons for None”, a reference to Iran’s complaints that its Israeli foe is widely assumed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the Middle East. It also bore five photographs, of nuclear scientists Iran says were killed by Israeli or Western agents. — Agencies

Daily urges end to royal infighting Continued from Page 1 turmoil on disputes between senior members of the AlSabah family, which has been in power for more than 250 years. Under Kuwaiti law, all male descendants of Kuwait’s late ruler Mubarak Al-Kabeer, who number around 350, are eligible to become Amir. They are divided into several camps and are competing for the top posts.

Al-Qabas, owned by several wealthy merchant families,

warned that the long-standing royal feud could “become extremely grave” because the separate camps are seeking support from the public, cautioning that the disputes could spread to “state institutions”. In 2006, a power struggle among the Al-Sabahs resulted in an unprecedented vote by parliament to remove the Amir of the time Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al-Sabah on health grounds. The Amir, the crown prince and the prime minister are all members of the Al-Sabah family, which also controls the key ministries of defence, interior, information and foreign affairs. — AFP

Panel lifts immunity of oppn MPs who...

Continued from Page 1 Any amendment to the constitution must be approved by two-thirds of the Assembly, including Cabinet ministers, and accepted by HH the Amir. In order for the Islamist MPs to move the proposal to the next step, at least 44 MPs must approve it, which is unlikely to happen in this Assembly. All previous attempts focused on trying to amend article two of the constitution to make Islamic sharia “the only source of legislation” instead of “Islam is a major source of legislation” as it reads in the current form. The difference between the two attempts is that in the first, all laws and legislation must be derived from sharia while in the second, it only requires laws not to be contradictory to sharia.

In other business, the two investigation committees held lengthy meetings late Saturday night that continued until early hours of yesterday. Head of the money transfer probe committee MP Mislem said the panel heard a number of senior officials at the office of the prime minister and was scheduled to meet foreign ministry undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah and other senior officials. The committee is investigating allegations that former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah transferred millions of dinars of public funds into his own bank accounts overseas.

The other committee, probing allegations that former

MPs received tens of millions of dinars of illegal money, also held a meeting Saturday night that lasted for eight hours in which it heard from several investment officials.

Head of the committee MP Barrak said the committee has decided to recommend to the Assembly to ask the government to suspend head of Kuwait Investment Company Bader Al-Subaie until the case had been probed. Barrak complained that some officials and departments are refusing to provide complete information to the committee like the ministry of justice’s real estate registration department which refused to provide details of property owned by the former MPs under the pretext that the information was classified.

In another development, Barrak said he will provide the majority bloc with a draft grilling of Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali at the bloc’s meeting next Sunday. If the bloc approves the grilling, it could mean the end of the finance minister’s career in the Cabinet because the majority bloc has enough numbers to vote the minister out of office.

Also, the Assembly bureau decided yesterday to extend the current parliamentary term until Aug 2, which means the Assembly will hold sessions during the holy fasting month of Ramadan which starts around July 20. The decision came to compensate part of the time lost after the early general election. The Assembly normally concludes its terms by the end of June.

Taleban rock Afghanistan with ‘spring...

Continued from Page 1 construction sites overlooking government buildings, diplomatic missions and other high profile targets, unleashing a stand-off with security forces throughout the afternoon and evening. Lutfullah Mashal, a spokesman for the National Directorate of Security (NDS), said Mohammad Karim Khalili, one of Karzai’s two deputies was one of the targets of yesterday’s attacks.

Mashal said the group of three tasked with attacking Khalili’s home in west Kabul was captured before reaching their target. They claimed they were linked to the Haqqani Network, he said, a hardcore Taleban branch accused of masterminding most of the high-profile attacks in Kabul and known to have close links to AlQaeda. The attacks will raise fears over the precarious security situation in Afghanistan as NATO prepares to withdraw its 130,000 troops by the end of 2014 and hand responsibility for security to Afghan forces.

A spokesman for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) told AFP that Afghan forces, whose ability to withstand the Taleban after 2014 has been questioned, were taking the lead in countering the assaults on Kabul. US Ambassador Ryan Crocker said the ability of Afghan security forces to respond to the attacks was a “clear sign of progress”. But the latest in a series of spectacular attacks shows militants still have the ability to strike at the heart of the capital, including ISAF bases.

“We took fire (on) Camp Eggers (a major ISAF base in Kabul), ISAF headquarters, Camp Warehouse (along the Jalalabad road) and Camp Gazni (also on Jalalabad road.

No one was hurt,” an ISAF spokesman James Graybeal told AFP. “We have confirmed attacks on the US, the German and British embassies and had earlier reports of attacks on the Russian embassy,” General Carsten Jacobson, told Al Jazeera television. Japan’s Kyodo news agency said

three rockets landed in the Japanese embassy but nobody was hurt and staff had evacuated to a nearby air raid shelter.

Outside the capital, militants attacked government buildings in Logar province, the airport in Jalalabad, and a police facility in the town of Gardez in Paktya province. A total of 19 insurgents died and 14 police and nine civilians were wounded, the Interior Ministry said. Militants were still launching rocket propelled grenades and exchanging fire with security forces as evening fell, an AFP reporter at the scene in Kabul’s embassy enclave said. A Taleban spokesman said “a lot of suicide bombers” were involved in the attacks, which herald the annual fighting season that follows Afghanistan’s harsh winters.

Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taleban spokesman, told AFP by phone from an unknown location, that the attacks were a message to the Kabul government and its Western military backers. “The Kabul administration and the invading forces had said some time ago that the Taleban will not be able to launch a spring offensive. Today’s attacks were the start of our spring offensive,” he said. Several attackers tried to storm the Afghan parliament but were engaged by security forces and driven back, parliamentary media officer Qudratullah Jawid told AFP. MP Mohammad Naeem Lalai told AFP lawmakers joined the security forces in firing on militants as they tried to enter parliament, which was in session.

A police spokesman said the areas under attack in Kabul were the diplomatic enclave of Wazir Akbar Khan in the centre, parliament in the west and District Nine in the south, where there are several foreign military bases. In September last year Taleban attacks targeting locations including the US embassy and headquarters of foreign troops in Kabul killed at least 14 during a 19-hour siege. And in August, nine people were killed when suicide bombers attacked the British Council cultural centre. — AFP

Israel moves to thwart ‘flytilla’ Continued from Page 1 Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said nine Israeli sympathizers were questioned at the airport after causing “public disturbances,” such as unfurling pro-Palestinian banners.

No other unrest was reported. Asked why Israeli authorities consider this particular group of activists a threat, Rosenfeld replied that they have “security backgrounds” or were “involved previously in different activities,” including “security issues concerning Israel”. Hundreds of additional activists were expected to arrive on flights later yesterday.

Amira Musallam, one of the coordinators for “Welcome to Palestine,” said she wasn’t aware of any activists making it through the airport. She said participants had been told not to lie if questioned at the airport, and that the weeklong program was now in doubt. The program included a project to renovate a school, give participants tours, plant trees and “get to know the Palestinian territories”. “The aim of ‘Welcome to Palestine’ is when we have guests coming to Palestine - to Ramallah, Hebron, to Bethlehem, they should be able to say we are going to Palestine and not to lie. They (Israel) forbids people to visit, they are controlling all the borders,” she said.

Israel took action over the weekend to prevent the “flytilla” from ever taking place by pressing airlines not to allow at least 100, maybe more, known activists, to board their flights. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said Israel had sent a list of suspected activists who would not be allowed into the country. It warned the airlines they would have to cover the cost of the activists’ return flights, and threatened unspecified sanctions on airlines if they did not comply, she said.

With airlines cancelling at least 300 passengers’ tickets, scores of activists staged angry demonstrations at airports in several European capitals. At Brussels airport, protests erupted after at least 100 French and Belgian nationals were unable to board flights with Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss Air. In Geneva, several dozen activists held an angry demonstration after around 45 people out of a group of 70 who had been planning to join the campaign were barred from boarding an easyJet flight.

Scores of activists also protested at Charles de Gaulle in Paris, where airport sources said 90 passengers had been prevented from boarding Lufthansa and Swiss Air flights for Tel Aviv. Flanked by dozens of anti-riot police, they marched up to the Lufthansa counter to demand an “official written statement” as to why they had not been allowed to fly. At Istanbul airport, another 50 activists were stranded

after Turkish Airlines reportedly refused to allow them on board, Anatolia news agency reported. In Vienna, Austrian Airlines said five passengers were barred from flights to Tel Aviv, and in Rome, Alitalia turned back seven Italian activists, press reports said. Air France and two British budget carriers, Jet2.com and easyJet, also barred an unspecified number of passengers, with easyJet confirming it had prevented activists from flying to Israel from London and Switzerland.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told activists to concentrate on solving “real problems” in the region. “We appreciate your choosing to make Israel the object of your humanitarian concerns,” he said in a letter dated Saturday.

“We know there were many other worthy choices. You could have chosen to protest the Syrian regime’s daily savagery against its own people, which has claimed thousands of lives. “We therefore suggest that you first solve the real problems of the region, and then come back and share with us your experience,” added Netanyahu. “Have a nice flight.”

At the Bethlehem news conference, organisers dismissed Netanyahu’s letter as “ridiculous”. “When Israel says it is the sole democracy in the Middle East it contradicts itself by deporting people,” Musallem said. “Democracy isn’t only about women being able to talk freely.”

The protest is meant to draw attention to how Israel controls access into Palestinian areas. The Palestinians claim the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, all captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, for their future state. Visitors can only reach the West Bank through Israeli-controlled land crossings or Israeli airports, though at any given time, hundreds of foreigners, including activists, are in the territory, which Israel captured in 1967. Travelers headed for Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank often report being detained and questioned, sometimes for hours, by Israeli border authorities. Israel also restricts access to the border crossing with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers. Some 1.6 million Palestinians live there.

Last July, Israel blocked a similar fly-in effort by preventing dozens from boarding Tel Aviv-bound flights in Europe and denying entry to 69. Some Israelis accused the government of overreacting to the activists’ campaign.

“Instead of waiting to present the crackpot activists with flowers, putting them on buses and leading them directly to their destination in Bethlehem, the heads of the defense establishment and security forces have once again lost their minds,” columnist Eitan Haber wrote in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper. — Agencies

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

sp orts Gebrselassie defeats Radcliffe

Biwott, Tirfi win marathon PARIS: Kenyan runner Stanley Biwott and Ethiopia’s Beyene Tirfi overcame swirling winds and chilly conditions to win the Paris marathon in record times yesterday.

Biwott won in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 11 seconds, beating the old mark of 2:05.47 set by his countryman Vincent Kipruto in 2009, despite running into the wind for most of the first 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

Biwott was struggling in the last uphill stretch toward Avenue Foch, and had to slow down after earlier setting a frenetic pace.

“I realised early in the race that the pace was very fast,” said Biwott, who posted the sixth fastest time of the year. “Then I told myself that if I can maintain that speed I can win the race, because nobody would be able to follow me.”

Tirfi, who was third in 2010, dominated the women’s race in 2:21:39 to surpass Ethiopian Astede Bayisa’s mark of 2:22:02 from two years ago. Biwott pulled ahead after about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), and he comfortably finished ahead of Ethiopians Raji Assefa, who had a new personal best of 2:06:23 and Sisay Jisa (2:06:26). Sultan Haydar was second behind Tirfi in a Turkish national record time of 2:25:07, and Ethiopia’s Makda Harun was third in 2:26:46. — AP

VIENNA: Haile Gebrselassie won a special half-marathon event ahead of the Vienna City Marathon yesterday after chasing and overtaking Paula Radcliffe, who started the race 7 minutes, 52 seconds earlier.

The Ethiopian great overtook Radcliffe after 15.3 kilometers (9.5 miles) and finished in 1 hour, 52 seconds. The Briton, who used the exhibition event as a test for the London Olympic marathon in August, timed 1:12:03.

“It was not good at all for me,” said Radcliffe, who recently suffered from bronchitis. “I felt not well from the sixth, seventh kilometer on but the athmosphere was great so I definitely wanted to finish the race.”

In the regular marathon, Henry Sugut of Kenya set a course record by winning in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 58 seconds for his second victory in Vienna after also winning in 2010.

It was the first marathon on Austrian soil to be completed in under 2:07. Fate Tola of Ethiopia won the women’s race for a second straight year, finishing in 2:26:39.

Radcliffe’s head start of 7:52 equaled the difference between her and Gebrselassie’s personal bests over the 21.1-kilometer (13.1mile) distance.

Radcliffe’s training over the past two weeks was disrupted by the bronchitis and she considered withdrawing from the Vienna event.—AP

Ljubicic says goodbye MONTE CARLO: Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic said his goodbyes to tennis yesterday after suffering a 6-0, 6-3 opening defeat to compatriot Ivan Dodig at the Monte Carlo Masters. The first-round loss was the end of the line for the shaven-headed Croatian icon, who last played in an opening loss in Dubai two months ago. The Monte Carlo-based veteran, 33, had previously announced that the elite event in the principality which opened the pre-French Open run would be his last hurrah in the sport.

“It was a tough day for me, on the court and off,” said an emotional Ljubicic. “I had my mind everywhere else except on the tennis court. Obviously I’m completely out of shape.

I don’t even think it makes any sense to talk about the match today. “I have to say that I felt like it could end up emotionally but I didn’t expect these big emotions really. It’s the end of something beautiful for me.It’s been 20 years and now it’s time to do something else.”

World number 59 Dodig levelled his record in the series at 2-2 as he put out his senior compatriot, who had said that with two young children and ageing bones he was getting diminishing returns from the game.—AP

Nationals roll over Reds WASHINGTON: Washington’s Edwin Jackson gave up only two hits in pitching his fifth career complete game, steering the Nationals to a 4-1 win over the Reds and their fifth straight win.

Jackson (1-0) struck out nine and retired 16 consecutive batters in one stretch, until issuing a walk leading off the eighth.

As if all of that weren’t enough, Jackson even contributed with the bat, hitting a single off Reds starter Homer Bailey (0-2). Adam LaRoche added to his unusually strong start with a tiebreaking two-run double for Washington.

CHICAGO: Detroit Tigers’ Delmon Young is hit by a pitch from Chicago White Sox starter Gavin Floyd during the second inning of a baseball game. — AP

Floyd steers White Sox past Tigers CHICAGO: Chicago pitcher Gavin Floyd overcame control problem to throw six scoreless innings and guide the White Sox to a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday for their fourth straight victory.

Floyd (1-1) walked three and hit three batters but struck out six. Alexei Ramirez, Tyler Flowers and Paul Konerko all homered for the White Sox. Tigers pitcher Adam Wilk (0-1), making first big league start, was hit in his pitching shoulder by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout in the sixth inning. That forced him out after allowing two runs in five innings.

Rangers 6, Twins 2 In Minneapolis, pitcher Yu Darvish kept wriggling out of trouble in five-plus innings, guiding Texas to victory over Minnesota.

Darvish, making his second start, was removed after loading the bases with two outs in the sixth. He allowed one earned run and struck out four.

Josh Hamilton homered among his three hits and Adrian Beltre drove in two runs, including the single in the seventh that put Texas ahead. The Twins failed to score with the bases loaded three times. Robbie Ross (10) earned the win and Brian Duensing (0-1) was the loser.

Orioles 6, Blue Jays 4 In Toronto, Nolan Reimold hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted Baltimore over Toronto.

Reimold hit a towering drive to left off Francisco Cordero (0-1), his second homer of the season and second ninth-inning shot in two days. Wilson Betemit had tied it with a home run in the eighth and Chris Davis also went deep for the Orioles. Luis Ayala (1-0) worked one inning for the win.

Mariners 4, Athletics 0 In Seattle, the hosts got a belated payoff from two new recruits as they beat Oakland.

Seattle pitcher Hector Noesi (1-1) was brilliant on the mound, rebounding from a tough first start, as he struck out six in eight scoreless innings. Jesus Montero, the other centerpiece Seattle received in its offseason trade with the Yankees, hit a line-drive homer and an

opposite-field double. Athletics starter Tommy Milone (1-1) took a one-hitter into the sixth before Seattle scored three times.

Angels 7, Yankees 1 In New York, Albert Pujols showed some belated pep as he and his Los Angeles teammates romped past New York.

Howie Kendrick, Chris Iannetta and Vernon Wells homered as the Angels ended their three-game skid and stopped New York’s winning streak at four.

Pujols got in the swing, too, after a quiet start with his new club. He singled sharply his first time up, then hit an RBI double that onehopped the center-field wall.

Los Angeles starter C.J Wilson (2-0) effectively pitched inside and worked out of frequent trouble, allowing only one run in six innings. It was his first career win against the Yankees. New York starter Phil Hughes (0-2) gave up six runs in 3 1-3 innings.

Red Sox 13, Rays 5 In Boston, David Ortiz drove in five runs and hit one of Boston’s five homers as the Red Sox pounded Tampa Bay for the second straight day.

The game was tied 5-5 until Mike Aviles homered off Burke Badenhop (0-1) to start a three-run seventh inning. The Red Sox rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the first inning as Clay Buchholz (1-0) settled down after that rough start.

Indians 11, Royals 9 In Kansas City, Shin-Soo Choo hit a tworun double with two outs in the 10th inning to give Cleveland a win over Kansas City in a testy game that included three ejections and a pair of bench-clearing scuffles.

The Royals rallied from a seven-run hole to force extra innings before Choo drove a pitch from Greg Holland (0-1) to left-center. Jarrod Dyson nearly caught it at the top of the wall, but the ball popped loose and Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley scored the go-ahead runs.

Jairo Asencio (1-1) earned his first major league win by pitching a clean ninth inning, while Chris Perez set the Royals down in order for his second save. — AP

Dodgers 6, Padres 1 In Los Angeles, Ted Lilly returned from injury for his first start of the season and pitched Los Angeles past San Diego.

Lilly (1-0), whose season was delayed because of neck stiffness, pitched seven innings, struck out four and was charged with just one unearned run. Matt Kemp hit a pair of two-run homers and Andre Ethier also went deep for the Dodgers, who are 8-1 - their best start since beginning their 1981 World Series championship season 9-1.

The Dodgers scored four runs in the first and two more in the second against Joe Wieland (01) in his major league debut.

Mets 5, Phillies 0 In Philadelphia, Jonathon Niese and two relievers combined to shut out Philadelphia, delivering victory for surprising New York.

On a six-hitter, David Wright homered despite a broken finger and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 on Saturday. Niese (2-0) struck out five in 6 2-3 innings, with Bobby Parnell and Jon Rauch completing the job. David Wright went 3 for 5, including a long homer on the first pitch he saw after missing three games with a broken right pinkie.

While the Mets are 6-2 despite being expected to struggle this season, the five-time defending NL East champion Phillies are 3-5 and struggling offensively without All-Stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the middle of their lineup.

Phillies starter Vance Worley (0-1) allowed four runs in six innings.

Cardinals 5, Cubs 1 In St. Louis, Lance Lynn pitched effectively into the sixth inning to guide St. Louis past Chicago. Lynn (2-0) gave up one run in 5 1-3 innings, striking out five and lowering his ERA to 1.50. Yadier Molina had two hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the fourth off Chris Volstad (01).

Braves 2, Brewers 1 In Atlanta, the hosts survived a ninth-inning scare to edge Milwaukee and notch a fourth straight win. Mike Minor (1-1) recorded 18 consecutive outs after opening the second inning and did not allow an earned run in 7 1-3 innings.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel then pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, striking out two batters for the save. Brewers starter Shaun Marcum (1-1) gave up three hits over seven innings as the team lost a third straight.

Astros 5, Marlins 4 In Miami, Carlos Lee drove in the tying run with two outs in the ninth inning, and a fielding error then gifted Houston victory over Miami.

WASHINGTON: Nationals starting pitcher Edwin Jackson delivers to the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of their baseball game. — AP

Marlins closer Heath Bell (0-2) took the mound in the ninth with a 4-1 lead but that soon evaporated, as he retired only two of the seven batters he faced. The Astros got four hits in the ninth and benefited from three Miami errors.

The last miscue was by Logan Morrison, who misjudged a fly hit, staggered and fell, with the ball bouncing off the heel of his glove as the runner came home from third to put the Astros ahead. Houston’s Rhiner Cruz (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Brett Myers worked a perfect ninth for the save.

Giants 4, Pirates 3 In San Francisco, Emmanuel Burriss scored on

a throwing error by shortstop Clint Barmes in the ninth inning to give San Francisco a win over struggling Pittsburgh.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Melky Cabrera hit a sharp grounder to shortstop.

Barmes made a low throw home that bounced in front of the catcher, who could not control it.

The win was a nice morale boost for the Giants on a night they learned All-Star closer Brian Wilson is likely headed for surgery and could miss the season because of an elbow injury. San Francisco’s Javier Lopez (1-0) took the win, getting the final strike out with the potential go-ahead run on second. Chris Resop (0-1) took the loss for the Pirates, who have dropped five straight. — AP

MLB results/standings St Louis 5, Chicago Cubs 1; LA Angels 7, NY Yankees 1; Texas 6, Minnesota 2; Boston 13, Tampa Bay 5; Washington 4, Cincinnati 1; NY Mets 5, Philadelphia 0; Baltimore 6 Toronto 4; Chicago White Sox 5, Detroit 1; Cleveland 11, Kansas City 9 (10 innings); Atlanta 2, Milwaukee 1; Houston 5, Miami 4; San Francisco 4, Pittsburgh 3; Seattle 4, Oakland 0; LA Dodgers 6, San Diego 1; Colorado 8, Arizona 7.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT Baltimore 5 3 .625 4 4 .500 NY Yankees Tampa Bay 4 4 .500 Toronto 4 4 .500 Boston 3 5 .375 Central Division Chicago White Sox 5 2 .714 5 3 .625 Detroit Cleveland 3 4 .429 Kansas City 3 5 .375 Minnesota 2 6 .250 Western Division Texas 7 2 .778 5 5 .500 Seattle Oakland 4 5 .444 LA Angels 3 5 .375

GB 1 1 1 2 0.5 2 2.5 3.5 2.5 3 3.5

National League Eastern Division Washington 7 2 6 2 NY Mets Atlanta 4 4 Philadelphia 3 5 Miami 3 6 Central Division St. Louis 6 3 4 4 Houston Milwaukee 4 5 Cincinnati 3 6 Chicago Cubs 3 6 Pittsburgh 2 6 Western Division LA Dodgers 8 1 5 3 Arizona San Francisco 4 4 Colorado 4 4 San Diego 2 7

.778 .750 .500 .375 .333

0.5 2.5 3.5 4

.667 .50 .444 .333 .333 .250

1.5 2 3 3 3.5

.889 .625 .500 .500 .222

2.5 3.5 3.5 6

Capitals triumph over Bruins in OT BOSTON: Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom scored in second overtime to give the Capitals a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday, tying their NHL first-round playoff series at a game apiece.

Troy Brouwer opened the scoring for the Capitals in the second period, and Boston’s Benoit Pouliot tied it with 7:47 left in regulation.

The winner came when Washington won a faceoff in the Boston zone and M arcus Johansson got the puck from behind the net. He passed it to Backstrom at the left faceoff circle and he wristed it past Bruins goalie Tim Thomas on his stick side.

Thomas made 37 saves for the defending Stanley Cup champions while Capitals goalie Braden Holtby stopped 43 shots in his second career playoff game. Boston won the opener 1-0 in overtime Thursday. Game 3 is today in Washington.

BOSTON: Bruins center Chris Kelly (23) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals with teammate Benoit Pouliot in overtime of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series. — AP

Senators 3, Rangers 2 In New York, Chris Neil scored 1:17 into overtime to lift Ottawa over New York and square the series 1-1. Neil got to a loose puck in front off a rebound and backhanded

the puck past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

The top-seeded Rangers seemed poised to grab a 2-0 series lead when Brian Boyle scored in the third period, but Nick Foligno tied it with 4:37 left in regulation.

Erik Karlsson also scored for the Senators, who exacted some revenge on Boyle for some shots he took at Karlsson during Game 1. A brawl led to the ejections of Ottawa defenseman Matt Carkner and New York forward Brandon Dubinsky just 2:15 in. Anton Stralman had the other goal for the Rangers.

Game 3 is today in Ottawa.

Blackhawks 4, Coyotes 3 In Glendale, Arizona, Chicago scored with seconds left to force overtime and Bryan Bickell then netted his second and the game winner, squaring the series against Phoenix.

The Blackhawks also scored in the dying seconds in the series opener, but this time they capitalized in overtime. Patrick Sharp redirected a shot by Patrick Kane with 5.5 seconds left, then in the extra period, Bickell beat goalie Mike Smith from between the circles after Viktor Stalberg had kept a pass

by Rostislav Klesla in Phoenix’s zone.

Brian Bollig also scored for Chicago.

Antoine Vermette had two goals and nearly had a third in overtime. Raffi Torres also scored for the Coyotes.

Smith made some big saves after nearly being knocked unconscious in the second period, but couldn’t come up with the two that mattered the most. Game 3 is tomorrow in Chicago.

Blues 3, Sharks 0 In St. Louis, the hosts squared the series with victory over San Jose, which began the game poorly when Marc-Edouard Vlasic tapped the ball into his own net.

Vladimir Sobotka was credited with a goal on the first shot of the game after Vlasic’s gaffe. David Backes and Andy McDonald also scored, and T.J. Oshie had two assists in the Blues’ first playoff victory since 2004.

Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak made 12 saves before suffering a leg injury and being replaced by Brian Elliott, who stopped 17 shots.

Elliott is a luxury as a backup, having set a modern NHL record with a 1.56 goalsagainst average and nine shutouts. Games 3 is today in San Jose. — AP

17

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

SPORTS

Deaths put Grand National safety under scrutiny LIVERPOOL: British horse racing regulators will again be forced to review equine welfare in the Grand National after two horses, including Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and leading fancy Synchronised, were put down on Saturday.

Both Synchronised and According To Pete came to grief, their deaths overshadowing a thrilling victory by 33-1 outsider Neptune Collonges.

The fatalities, following two in last year’s event, prompted the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to defend safety steps taken in a race which has regularly come under scrutiny for the number of equine casualties it produces.

Since 1973, there have been 33 horse

deaths in the showpiece steeplechase, a demanding test of stamina and strength of both horse and jockey.

The sight of 40 horses charging at breakneck speed and thundering over 30 fences makes thrilling viewing. The sight of stricken horses covered by tarpaulins is less palatable.

“We are desperately sad at these two accidents and our sympathies are with the connections of both horses,” Aintree racecourse managing director Julian Thick said in a statement.

“When a horse gets hurt, everyone is deeply upset. Safety is the first priority for the organisers of the Grand National and we make every effort to ensure that everyone

involved in the event is able to participate in safety.

“Horse racing is a sport that is very carefully regulated and monitored by the BHA, but risk can never be completely removed.

The Grand National is a professional and well-organised race and only the best horses and jockeys are allowed to enter.”

Following a review of the fatalities in 2011 race some fences were modified to improve safety. Changes included lowering the drop side of the infamous Becher’s Brook but this was the fence where Synchronised met his fate on Saturday.

Professor Tim Morris, Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the BHA, said the organisation took the responsibility of look-

ing after the welfare of horse and rider “very seriously”. “It is our stated objective to continue to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities which occur in racing,” he said.

Five horses were killed during the fourday Cheltenham Festival meeting last month while the Dubai World Cup was also marred by two deaths in a supporting race at Meydan racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

Paul Nicholls, the trainer of Neptune Collonges, said all elements of risk in the sport could not be removed. “All sports have an element of risk and we all take a certain amount of risk each day,” he told a news conference. “We take every effort to minimise risks but even in Flat races acci-

dents can happen.”

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) equine advisor David Muir said organisers needed to reconsider the number of runners, the number of fences, the length of the race and the type and design of the jumps.

“We’ve said it before, the death of a horse is the unacceptable face of horse racing. I am not happy with the drop fences and Becher’s is a drop fence,” he told reporters.

“To be fair, the BHA and Aintree management will look into the race and I believe we will see a rolling change without taking away the ethos of the Grand National over the next few years.” —Reuters

Rosberg wins Chinese GP

Iqbal Sikander demonstrating leg spin

Kuwait Cricket to conduct ACC Level-1 Coach Education Course KUWAIT: Kuwait Cricket has great pleasure to announce its forthcoming event, an ACC Level 1 Cricket Coach Education Course which is slated to be held in Kuwait from April 23-26, 2012. The level I cricket coaching course will be conducted by none other than Iqbal Sikander, an ex-Pakistan International player and Asian Cricket Council Regional Development Officer. Iqbal Sikander will be assisted by Level 3 ACC/CA certified coaches from Kuwait Cricket and this course will be held in the evening sessions from 6 pm to 10 pm.

This event is the very first of its kind in Kuwait and is a stepping stone for those aspiring cricketers aiming to develop their career as internationally recognized coaches. Interested candidates may please contact Asad Baig, Director General, Kuwait Cricket on Mob 97158856 or on email abaig@gckuwait.com or director.general@kuwaitcricket.org for registration

details and selection guidelines.

It is worth mentioning that an ACC certified level 3 coaching course entitles individuals to coach as State level coaches in their respective countries including any test playing countries. Please do not miss this wonderful opportunity and enroll yourself in this course.

Iqbal Sikander is a former Pakistani cricketer who played four ODIs, all of them in the 1992 Cricket World Cup and was part of the Pakistan squad that won it. In January 1991, playing for Karachi Whites against Peshawar in a one-day match, he recorded the extraordinary bowling analysis of 6.2-3-7-7; no other cricketer has ever taken seven wickets in a List A game for the cost of fewer runs. Iqbal Sikander spent a lot of time in English league cricket. In 2001, he took over 100 league wickets for Leigh Cricket Club in the Liverpool Competition.

Bangladesh to tour Pakistan DUBAI: Bangladesh have agreed to tour Pakistan for two matches later this month, the first full internationals in the country since March 2009 when Sri Lankan cricketers and officials were attacked by gunmen in Lahore.

Foreign teams have shunned Pakistan since the attack, which killed six Pakistani policemen, meaning they have had to play their “home” matches at neutral venues.

Several Sri Lankan players were also wounded in the incident, which also led to matches at the 2011 World Cup being taken away from Pakistan.

As part of the short tour, Bangladesh

will play one one-day international on April 29 and one Twenty20 international the next day in Lahore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement on Sunday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf thanked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the government for their support for the tour.

“Since last year we have been trying our best to convince international teams to tour Pakistan. This tour by Bangladesh should eventually help us convince other boards that it is safe to play in Pakistan,” Ashraf told Reuters. —Reuters

SHANGHAI: Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won the Chinese Grand Prix yesterday for his first career Formula One victory, gambling on a two-stop strategy and managing to hold off the rest of the field on worn tires.

Rosberg, who also captured his first pole on Saturday, finished 20.6 seconds ahead of McLaren driver Jenson Button.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said the 26-year-old German, who was competing in his 111th F1 race. “It’s been a long time coming for me, and for the team as well over the past two years and a bit. Now it’s finally here. “It’s just nice to see how quickly we are now progressing. I didn’t expect to be that fast today.” Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was third, followed by the Red Bull duo of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel in fourth and fifth.

Vettel started 11th on the grid and at one stage moved up to second, but the two-time defending world champion couldn’t hold off Button, Hamilton and Webber in the closing stages.

Rosberg’s teammate, seventime world champion Michael Schumacher, had also been expecting to perform well after finishing third in qualifying and moving up to the front row when Hamilton, who qualified second, was penalized for a gearbox change. But the German retired on the 13th lap after his right front wheel was improperly fitted during his first pit stop.

For Mercedes, the victory is evidence it has remedied the quick tire degradation problem that led to disappointing results in the first two races of the year.

Rosberg and Schumacher have been fast in qualifying this season but failed to keep up with other teams when it mattered in the races.

It was Mercedes’ first Formula One victory since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix. Mercedes pulled out of F1 shortly after that victory and didn’t return as a contructor until it bought out Brawn GP at the end of 2009. Mercedes is also the third different team to win a race this year, following Button’s victory at the Australian GP for McLaren and Fernando Alonso’s win at the Malaysian GP for

Ferrari. The 2011 constructor’s champion, Red Bull, is still looking for its first win.

Rosberg drove just one lap in the final session of qualifying to preserve his tires, and said an improved setup helped take the pressure off his tires on Sunday to allow his team’s strategy to pay off.

because when I exited the pits I had four cars in front of me, cars that I wouldn’t have been racing, and I would have had a nice clear track to hopefully hunt down Nico.”

The battle for the minor places featured wheel-to-wheel racing with Button and Hamilton eventually coming out on top in the

ing laps. “I had no tires left at the end of the race,” Vettel said.

Schumacher had been hoping for his first podium finish since his comeback in 2010 after posting solid times in practice this week on the Shanghai circuit.

Instead, he retired from a race for the second time this season. In Melbourne, he ran wide over the

SHANGHAI: Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany celebrates after winning the Chinese Grand Prix. —AP “Before the race, that was our plan,” he said. “The tires lasted for exactly the amount of laps that we were hoping for, so it all just went to plan.”

Rosberg also benefited from a sloppy pit stop by Button at the end of the 39th lap when he lost several crucial seconds and came out of the pit behind a pack of drivers.

As Button jockeyed with Vettel, Webber, Hamilton and Lotus drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean for position, Rosberg was able to widen his lead to 25 seconds and coast to victory.

“I stopped on the marks (in the pits) and we had a problem with the rear of the car, so I was stuck there for nine or 10 seconds,” Button said. “It was a pity

closing laps. The final stages witnessed a spectacular collapse by Raikkonen, who also only pitted twice in the race but was unable to hold his place as his tires slowly gave out. The Finn dropped from second to sixth on the 48th lap and then slipped to 12th on the next lap before eventually finishing 14th.

As Raikkonen fell down the order, Vettel took second and looked to be headed for the podium after a disastrous performance in qualifying left him in 11th position on the starting grid. But his intermediate tires also started to wear out after a two-pit strategy, allowing the McLarens to catch him. Button slipped by the German on the inside of a hairpin turn in the 51st lap, and Hamilton and Webber followed in the clos-

grass at the first turn and was forced to quit soon after with a gear problem. Mercedes was fined ‚‘¨5,000 ($6,540) after Sunday’s race for the unsafe release from the pits.

“I don’t have any hard feelings,” he said. “I feel a bit sorry for one of my boys that I guess he feels responsible, but it’s part of the game.”

With his third third-place finish of the season, Hamilton took the lead in the driver standings with 45 points, two ahead of Button.

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari is third with 37 points, followed by Webber (36) and Vettel (28).

Rosberg rise to sixth with 25.

McLaren leads the constructor standings with 88 points, followed by Red Bull with 64 and Ferrari on 37. —AP

DNV CRYcket - 2012 Tournament KUWAIT: After last year’s fierce storm which interrupted the annual children’s “DNV CRYcket” tournament, the early morning showers this year on March 30, again gave a scare before the 15th “DNV CRYcket-2012” could even start.

But very soon it turned into a brilliant morning, followed by generally good weather throughout the day. Wind picked up in the afternoon and lasted for a couple of hours, but could not diffuse the great fervor of the children.

The unfinished U12 final of the day was the only missed part of the otherwise won-

We are grateful for their support, through which FOCC and CRY are able to meet their targets. We are also thankful to KOC Hockey and Football Committees for providing us with the grounds and facilities. We are also grateful to the Ambassador of India for his support through this message.

Special thanks to the Technical Committee, Umpires and scorers, Team Officials, Cry Buddies, and all the volunteers. We thank the KOC Security staff for helping us for the second year in a row.

They saved us during the storm in 2011 and

Raffle draw offered 10 fabulous prizes and was again hugely successful. This year the U12 category had full participation with 12 teams and the U14 category with 10. In all more than 250 children participated, displaying fierce competition and pride in the color of their teams.

The participating team in the DNV CRYKET-2012 tournament were: Under-14 Category: All Rounders XI, CCC, CSK, Dips Seniors, Fahaheel Challengers, Friendz XI, Gladiators, Pace XI, RCC Seniors, Salwa Sandstorm; whereas Under-12 Category had: Al-Bader Super Tots, CCC, Dips

RCC lifts DNV CRYcket 2012 trophy in U14 category, CCC & Gladiators joint winners in U12 derful day full of fun, enthusiasm and other activities. This annual U14 children’s event is organized by Friends of CRY Club - Kuwait (FOCC-Kuwait). FOCC supports Manav Ashrita Sansthan (MAS) project through CRY, which is focused on the children’s upliftment in the tribal region of Rajasthan state. A progress report was presented in this year’s souvenir, along with FOCC activities in Kuwait. The “Associate Membership” for FOCC is also now open for the current year 2012-13. The event was sponsored by Det NorskeVeritas (DNV). Our other sponsors were Oriental Restaurant, BankMuscat, Career Hunters, Sefeena Gen Trading & Contracting Co., Avanti Palace Restaurant, Payal Jewellers, Udayam restarant, Toastmasters International, Malek Al-Ajeel & Dr. Hind Al-Bahar, PremiumChoice.me, and many other anonymous well wishers.

restored order in 2012, to enable us to complete the tournament ceremonies.

The usual features of the event included the KIDS corner offering exciting games, drawing competition for children in various age categories and essay writing competition, which was open to all - parents and children. The winners in the Essay Competition were Dwiti Ponda (7-10 years); Vijay Amamt (11-13 years); Astrid Jerald (14 -16 years) and Mohammed Inshauddin (above 16 including adults category). The list of winner in the Drawing Competition include Vidya Vathi (under 6 years) Mohammed Qasim (7-10 years), Joe Jacob and Apoorva Rao (joint winners in the 1116 years category) and Mythreyi Rajan (above 16 Including adults). The Buy for CRY stall sold articles donated by good samaritans at unbelievable prices. The

Juniors A, Dips Juniors B, Gladiators, Pace XI A, Pace XI B, RCC Juniors, RCC Subjuniors, TEC Kiddozz, Tiny Tots, The Real Champions.

After the grueling league matches, Cricket Coaching Club (CCC), DIPS B, Gladiators & The Real Champs qualified for the semifinals in U12 category. In the first semifinals, Gladiators who batted first took 69 runs in the allotted 7 overs losing one wicket. In reply The Real Champs could only make 64 losing 4 wickets. In the second semifinals between CCC & DIPS B, DIPS B took 53 runs in 7 overs losing 3 wickets.

CCC outplayed DIPS by scoring 54 runs in just 4.1 overs losing 3 wickets. While the final match between CCC & DIPS B was going on there were some interruptions and the game had to be stopped. The

harsh conditions that prevailed prevented the resumption of the game and the finalists were declared joint winners. Srinidhi Jeyakumar of Gladiators was declared the player of the tournament for her brilliant performance, scoring a total of 43 runs in 3 matches, being out only once and getting 5 wickets in 6 overs conceding 38 runs.

In the U14 section, CCC, DIPS, Riggae Cricket Coaching (RCC) & All rounders XI marched to the semifinals. In the first semifinals, RCC winning the toss opted to field first. They restricted All Rounders to 80 runs and took the needed 81 runs in 6 overs losing just one wicket. In the second semifinals, CCC won the toss and elected to bat first. They took 100 runs in 7 overs losing 4 wickets. In return DIPS were all out for 67 runs in 6.5 overs.

In the grand U14 finals, CCC scored 91 runs at the loss of 4 wickets in the allotted 7 overs and looked all set for a win. But RCC surprised everyone by smashing 95 runs in 5.4 overs without losing any wicket.

Allan Thomas of CCC was adjudged player of the tournament in U14 category. He scored a total of 58 runs in 4 matches getting out only once and took 5 wickets in 8 overs conceding 54 runs.

Congratulations to the winners and the participants. As always “With CRY everyone wins”. You too can join hands with FOCC by becoming a volunteer and/or an associate member. For details visit focckwt.org a picture album of this much awaited event as well as the other activities are also a much viewed by the participating children, parents and all CRY well-wishers.

18

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

sp orts

Spurs clinch Southwest division SAN ANTONIO: The San Antonio Spurs officially clinched the NBA’s Southwest Division title with 105-92 win over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Tim Duncan had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Tony Parker scored 14 for the Spurs, who also stayed close to Oklahoma City for the No. 1 playoff seed in the Western Conference. San Antonio trails by one game with eight to play.

Sebastian Telfair scored 21 points for Phoenix, which simply wants to make the postseason. Yet the Suns never looked ready to play from the start and slipped 1 1/2 games behind Denver and Houston for the West’s eighth and final playoff spot. Phoenix trailed by 17 before the first quarter was even halfway finished.

BANGALORE: Rajasthan Royals batsman Ajinkya Rahane dives to successfully make it to the crease during their Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. —AP

Rajasthan beat Bangalore as Kings XI down Kolkata KOLKATA: Rajasthan Royals batsman Ajinkya Rahane smashed a century to lead his team to a 59-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL yesterday, and Kings XI Punjab beat Kolkata Knight Riders by two runs in a thriller.

Rahane hammered six boundaries off left-arm seamer Sreenath Arvind’s one over to remain 103 not out off 60 balls, hitting in total 12 fours and five sixes in Rajasthan’s imposing score of 195-2.

Bangalore lost Chris Gayle cheaply early before being bowled out for 136 in 19.5 overs. Medium-fast bowler Siddharth Trivedi clean bowled four Bangalore batsmen for 25 runs, including the key wickets of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

England batsman Owais Shah hit 60 off 26 balls with five fours and five sixes to share a stand of 121 with Rahane off just 50 balls.

The win propelled Rajasthan to the top of the table, with six points from three wins and two defeats. Royal Challengers have one win from four matches.

Legspinner Piyush Chawla starred with three crucial wickets for 18 runs as Kings XI Punjab successfully defended total of 134-9.

Chawla ran through the middle order with three quick wickets to help restrict Kolkata to 132-7 after West Indian offspinner Sunil Narine’s tidy figures of 5-19 had restricted Kings XI. Kings XI needed nine off the last over, but medium-fast bowler Harmeet Singh varied his pace intelligently to clean bowl Ryan ten Doeschate.

Debabrata Das, who top-scored for his team with 35, managed a single off the

last delivery when a boundary was required.

But it was Chawla’s triple blow midway through Kolkata’s run chase that hurt the home team most at the Eden Gardens. The legspinner clean bowled Manvinder Bisla (27) and Yousuf Pathan for zero in one over before neatly taking a skied ball off Shakib Al Hasan’s (4) mistimed sweep shot with Kolkata slipping to 88-6 by the 15th over after looking comfortable at 73-2 in the 12th over.

Earlier, King XI’s Mandeep Singh made 38 off 34 balls and teammate David Hussey scored 32 after Narine got the top two wickets of Adam Gilchrist (5) and Shaun Marsh (1) in the space of three deliveries.

The offspinner bagged three more wickets within six balls in his return spell of two overs, but Kings XI managed to score 30 off the last two overs with Bhargav Bhatt hoisting Narine for a six over long on off the last delivery of the innings. Both teams have four points after winning two matches each.

Scores: Kings XI Punjab 134-9 in 20 overs (Mandeep Singh 38, David Hussey 32; Sunil Narine 5-19, Rajat Bhatia 2-14) def.

Kolkata Knight Riders 132-7 in 20 overs (Debabrata Das 35 not out, Manvinder Bisla 27, Gautam Gambhir 22; Piyush Chawla 3-18, Bhargav Bhatt 2-24) by 2 runs.

Rajasthan Royals 195-2 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 103 not out, Owais Shah 60, Zaheer Khan 1-15) def. Royal Challengers Bangalore 136 in 19.5 overs (Mayanak Agarwal 34, Virat Kohli 22; Siddharth Trivedi 4-25, Pankaj Singh 218) by 59 runs. —AP

Cavaliers 98, Wizards 89 In Washington, Luke Harangody had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Cleveland past Washington.

Anthony Parker scored 15 points for the Cavaliers. John Wall scored 19 points to lead the Wizards, one night after missing 10 of 12 shots in a hammering at New York. —AP

Thunder 115, T’wolves 110 In Minneapolis, Kevin Durant scored 43 points and Russell Westbrook had 35 and eight assists in Oklahoma City’s win over Minnesota. Durant scored 16 in the final seven minutes for the Thunder to seal the win.

Anthony Randolph had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who lost their ninth straight game and 25th in a row in April dating to 2009. The Wolves were playing without All-Star Kevin Love with concussion.

Pacers 105, Bucks 99 In Milwaukee, Roy Hibbert had 23 points and 14 rebounds, including six free throws in the final 74 seconds, to lead Indiana to its fourth straight win, beating Milwaukee.

Danny Granger scored 21 points for the Pacers, who held on despite missing their final nine shots.

Monta Ellis had 20 points for the Bucks, who fell 2 1/2 games behind New York and Philadelphia for one of the last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

Grizzlies 103, Jazz 98 In Memphis, OJ Mayo scored 17 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to rally Memphis past Utah. The Jazz held a 4-point lead early in the final period, but Mayo scored 10-straight points for Memphis to erase the advantage.

His 3-pointer with 46 seconds left gave the Grizzlies enough of an advantage to win for the seventh straight time at home.

Rudy Gay led Memphis with 26 points, 18 in the second half, and 12 rebounds. Al Jefferson and Devin Harris scored 20 points apiece for Utah.

Clippers 112, Warriors 104 In Los Angeles, Chris Paul had 28 points and 13 assists to lead Los Angeles past Golden State, moving the Clippers within a game of the Lakers for the Pacific Division lead.

Blake Griffin added 20 points in the Clippers’ third straight win. Nate Robinson led injury-riddled Golden State with 28 points.

SAN ANTONIO: Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash (right) is defended by San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (left) of France, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game. —AP

NBA results/standings LA Clippers 112, Golden State 104; Cleveland 98, Washington 89; Boston 94, New Jersey 82; Oklahoma City 115, Minnesota 110; Memphis 103, Utah 98; Indiana 105, Milwaukee 99; San Antonio 105, Phoenix 91.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Boston 35 25 .583 NY Knicks 31 28 .525 Philadelphia 31 28 .525 New Jersey 22 39 .361 Toronto 21 39 .350 Central Division Chicago 45 14 .763 38 22 .633 Indiana Milwaukee 29 31 .483 Detroit 22 37 .373 Cleveland 20 38 .345 Southeast Division Miami 41 17 .707 35 24 .593 Atlanta Orlando 34 25 .576 Washington 14 46 .233 Charlotte 7 51 .121

Celtics 94, Nets 82

Oosthuizen wins Malaysian Open KUALA LUMPUR: Louis Oosthuizen bounced back from his US Masters heartbreak in the best possible fashion as he completed a stirring three-shot victory at the Malaysian Open yesterday.

Oosthuizen cut a miserable figure after last week’s Augusta play-off, but he was all smiles following his win over Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, who pushed him until the final holes at par-72 Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

The South African, who soared to prominence when he won the British Open two years ago, shot 66, 68, 69, 68 for a 17 under par total, enough for his first victory in Asia and his second of the season after January’s Africa Open.

But most importantly, the win atones for his gutwrenching Masters play-off defeat just one week ago to America’s Bubba Watson, whose mesmerising shot from trees proved the difference on the second playoff hole.

Last year’s Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was sixth, six shots back, while defending champion Matteo Manassero and former world number one Martin Kaymer were both in seventh spot.

England’s Danny Willett, David Lipsy of the United States, and Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello shared third on 12-under-par 276.

Since Augusta, Oosthuizen has flown 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometres) across 12 time zones with his wife and children and grappled with jet lag in tropical Malaysia, where capricious weather forced storm delays on Friday and Saturday.

But he candidly admitted the Masters was still on his mind when he was asked if he felt set for a great year. “It would have been better if I had the green jacket!” Oosthuizen said. “I had a good week last week and I’m looking forward to the next majors.”

Oosthuizen had to rise early to complete seven holes of his third round, after heavy showers curtailed Saturday’s play. He finished it with 69 to maintain his narrow, one-shot lead over Scottish journeyman Gallacher.

He dashed straight back out for his fourth round and, as hot sun replaced the rain-clouds, raced through the front nine with three birdies against a bogey on the par-four sixth to turn at 15 under, a lead of two shots.

Fellow South African Schwartzel, who shot a stunning 64 in round one before slipping off the pace, had got off like a shot with birdie, eagle, birdie on holes four to six, and he picked up another stroke on the 10th.

But he pretended to snap his putter in frustration after a bogey on 13 slowed his charge, and then drove into the water on 16 as his challenge dissolved.

Meanwhile Gallacher slashed Oosthuizen’s lead back to one shot when he birdied the 10th, and he held his nerve with a five-foot save on the par-four 13th to keep pressure on the front-runner.

But within minutes Oosthuizen, playing the same hole in the very next group, arrowed his pitch

In Newark, New Jersey, Avery Bradley hit three straight 3-pointers and scored 11 of his 18 points in a game-deciding third quarter as surging Boston beat New Jersey.

Kevin Garnett had 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Celtics, who have taken over first place in the Atlantic Division. Gerald Green had 15 points to lead New Jersey, which scored only 34 points in the second half.

to within eight feet and duly holed out for a two-shot cushion on 16 under par.

Oosthuizen’s putter was running hot and he was in disbelief when a 30-foot birdie putt just veered centimetres (inches) left on the par-four 14th. He then shaved the cup with another long putt on the parthree 15th.

And the 29-year-old, who had won only three European Tour events before this season, finished it as a contest on 16 when he swept a stunning long iron shot from rough to within three feet to move to 17 under and a three-shot lead.

Oosthuizen was lucky to dodge a bunker as he landed in rough by the 18th green but he calmly chipped on, putted to three inches, and then waited for his partners to finish before tapping in for victory.

“I’m a little bit surprised because I thought I would be tired,” he said. “I played well and the game was there so that made it a lot easier. My game was a bit up and down but I kind of settled down for the final 18 holes.”

Earlier, Germany’s Kaymer was four under through 10 holes but he came apart on the home stretch and finished with an ugly triple-bogey in front of massed fans on the 18th green for 71.

Six-time European Tour winner Alvaro Quiros finished tied for 29th and New Zealand major-winner Michael Campbell had to settle for a share of 63rd as his seven-year win drought continues. —AFP

GB 3.5 3.5 13.5 14 7.5 16.5 23 24.5 6.5 7.5 28 34

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 44 16 .733 Denver 32 27 .542 Utah 31 30 .508 Portland 28 32 .467 Minnesota 25 36 .410 Pacific Division LA Lakers 38 22 .633 LA Clippers 37 23 .617 Phoenix 31 29 .517 Golden State 22 37 .373 Sacramento 19 41 .317 Southwest Division San Antonio 42 16 .724 Memphis 35 24 .593 Dallas 34 26 .567 Houston 32 27 .542 New Orleans 17 42 .288

11.5 13.5 16 19.5 1 7 15.5 19 7.5 9 10.5 25.5

Pettersson takes Heritage lead HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Sweden’s Carl Pettersson fired five consecutive birdies in a sparkling five-under 66 that elevated him one stroke ahead Colt Knost after the third round of the Heritage Classic on Saturday.

With one round to play, Pettersson leads on 12-under-par 201 after overturning an overnight two-stroke deficit on Knost, who slipped back with a 69.

The fast-starting Pettersson started his birdie streak on the second hole under sunny skies at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. “”I didn’t know how many I had made in a row,” the four-time PGA Tour winner told reporters. “”I was in my own little world for a while.”

Bogeys on the 11th and 15th holes halted his charge but the Swede concluded his round with a birdie on 18, his seventh of the day.

He and Knost will be paired together again late yesterday.

“It is always tough playing with the lead,” Pettersson said, “but I look forward to the challenge.” Knost started the third round badly, knocking his opening tee shot into the trees and wound up with a bogey on two of his first three holes.

The American sandwiched an

HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Robert Garrigus blasts out of the bunker onto the third green during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. —AP eagle between the misfires, rolling in a 48-footer from just off the green of the par five second hole. Knost also bogeyed the third and 10th holes and ended the round with three bogeys, three birdies and his eagle.

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson equaled Pettersson’s low round of 66 to move within four strokes of the lead heading into

Sunday’s final round, one ahead of two-time Heritage winner Boo Weekley.

Briton Luke Donald’s grip on the number one ranking loosened further after an even par 72 left him 14 shots off the lead and seven away from a top eight finish that would ensure he remained ahead of Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy in the rankings. —Reuters

Bolt and Blake put on show of speed in Jamaica

MALAYSIA: Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa poses with his trophy after winning the Malaysian Open golf tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. —AP

KINGSTON: Jamaican triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt opened his 2012 season with a sizzling anchor leg as his Racers Track Club logged a world leading time of 37.82 seconds in a 4x100 metres relay on Saturday.

Despite his impressive run, he was forced to share the spotlight with team mate Yohan Blake, who sounded a warning of things to come at the London Olympics by running the year’s fastest 100 metres.

The world champion, who teamed with Bolt on the relay, blitzed home in an impressive 9.90 seconds despite an ordinary start to his first 100 metres of the season.

Bolt, who had twice delayed his season opener in February for undisclosed reasons, did not run an individual event, but easily outpaced compatriot and former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell to win the relay by 10 metres in cool, wet conditions. “”It was my first run and I am happy I got through,” the 100 and 200 metres Olympic champion and world record holder said. “”It was a bit chilly with some rain but this is what we are used to in Europe so it is OK.”

Bolt’s team of Mario Forsythe, Blake and Kimmari Roach had given him a three metres lead before he added to the distance against Powell of the rival MVP Track Club team, which crossed the line in 38.27. “”For me, it’s just about execution,” said Bolt, who expects to defend both sprint titles in London. “”I have been working on my start. Last year that eluded me, but I have to work my way through it this season so I am just looking forward to getting that done.”

The lanky sprinter, who retained his 200 meters world title last year after false starting in the 100 metres final won by Blake, said his preparations for London were going well.

“Everything is coming together,” he said. “We have about 100 days to go before the Olympics so I am just taking my time and working on what I need to.” He said his coach, Glen Mills, made the decision to delay his season until Saturday. Blake, also coached by Mills, had run relays and a 400 metres this year, but this was his first all-out sprint and he responded by delivering the first sub 10-second time of the young season. — Reuters

19

MONDAY APRIL 16, 2012

SPORTS

Valencia stumble but cling on to third spot

FRANCE: Marseille’s team celebrate their victory in the French League Cup Final soccer match against Lyon.—AP

Marseille win third League Cup in a row PARIS: Olympique Marseille finally found something to cheer when an extra-time goal by Brazilian Brandao earned a 1-0 victory over Olympique Lyon on Saturday and a third French League Cup trophy in a row.

Brandao, who came on as a late substitute in a drab final at the Stade de France, scored in the 105th minute with an angled shot from a cross by Benoit Cheyrou to secure his team a berth in next season’s Europa League playoffs.

The result ended Marseille’s dreadful sequence of 12 matches in all competitions without a win, 11 of them defeats. Lyon will have another chance to lift some silverware when they meet third division Quevilly in the French Cup final later this month.

“It does not change the fact we’re having a bad season but it’s a trophy and nobody can take that away from me, not even my worst enemies,” Marseille coach Didier Deschamps told a news conference.

As a player and a coach, former France midfielder Deschamps has lost only one game at the Paris venue, a 3-2 defeat against Russia in 1999. “I told the players to be positive. They did what they had to do and they deserve this trophy,” he added. A packed crowd had to wait until the 39th minute for the first goal attempt of the game, a weak effort from Marseille striker Loic Remy. Mathieu Valbuena’s curling shot from the edge of the box on 62 minutes then went wide as Marseille looked to take control of a game littered with fouls.

They also went close in the 65th minute when Morgan Amalfitano’s header from a Valbuena cross was deflected on to his right post by keeper Hugo Lloris.

It came as little surprise, however, when the match went into extra-time. Brandao replaced Remy in the 97th minute as Deschamps looked to freshen up his attack and the move paid off.—Reuters

Borussia Moenchengladbach 3 (Arango 19, Jantschke 53, Reus 55) Cologne 0; Freiburg 0 Hoffenheim 0.

Played Saturday: Schalke 04 1 (Farfan 9) Borussia Dortmund 2 (Piszczek 17, Kehl 63); Hamburg 1 (Son 12) Hanover 96 0; Kaiserslautern 0 Nuremberg 2 (Didavi 42, Pekhart 73); VfL Wolfsburg 1 (Helmes 27) Augsburg 2 (Oehrl 13, Langkamp 88); Bayer Leverkusen 3 (Schuerrle 44, Kiessling 51, 84) Hertha Berlin 3 (Lasogga 62, Torun 71, 77); Bayern Munich 0 Mainz 05 0.

Played Friday: VfB Stuttgart 4 (Gentner 37, Harnik 45+1, 53, Cacau 89) Werder Bremen 1 (Rosenberg 25).

German league table after the weekend’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31

22 6 20 4 18 3 16 8 14 7 12 9 11 11 11 9 10 11

3 7 10 7 10 10 9 11 10

69 69 66 46 59 46 39 45 38

23 20 41 22 41 43 43 50 40

72 64 57 56 49 45 44 42 41

Wolfsburg Nuremberg Mainz Freiburg Hamburg Augsburg Cologne Hertha K’slautern

31 12 4 31 11 5 31 9 10 31 9 9 31 8 10 31 7 12 31 8 5 31 6 10 31 3 11

15 15 12 13 13 12 18 15 17

Garcia centre into the net from close range.

Joan Verdu doubled the lead four minutes later with a superb strike from just outside the penalty area that arrowed into the top corner, Alvaro Vazquez added a 58th-minute third after a mixup in the visitors’ defence and Kalu Uche rolled in a fourth around 10 minutes from time.

“We played a poor match and they deserved to win,” Valencia coach Unai Emery told a news conference. “The match was evenly balanced in the opening stages but after their first goal everything went in the opponent’s favour and we were a notch below Espanyol,” he added.

“Now we need to pick ourselves up and focus on our remaining league games.” At the Rosaleda, ambitious Qatar-owned Malaga were ahead in the 19th minute thanks to Isco’s deflected shot before defender Gonzalez earned a second yellow card shortly before halftime.

Xabi Prieto equalised four minutes into the second half and Malaga were unable to breach the visitors’ defence again despite numerous chances and the introduction of former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The players were furious when the officials ruled out a Martin Demichelis strike for offside in the dying moments and television replays suggested their complaints were justified. “They disallowed a legitimate goal and that decided the match,” Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini said at a news conference.

“But winning would not yet have

Spanish League results/standings Espanyol 4 (Gomez 26, Verdu 30, Vazquez 58, Uche 80) Valencia 0; Malaga 1 (Isco 19) Real Sociedad 1 (Prieto 48); Real Betis 1 (Ruben Castro 34) Osasuna 0; Villarreal 1 (Perez 46) Racing Santander 1 (Acosta 90+4); Real Zaragoza 1 (Dujmovic 6) Granada 0; Athletic Bilbao 1 (Llorente 13) Real Mallorca 0.

Playing later Rayo Vallecano v Atletico Madrid Played Saturday Real Madrid 3 (Higuain 37, Cristiano Ronaldo 74, Benzema 82) Sporting Gijon 1 (De las Cuevas 30-pen); Levante 1 (Barkero 23-pen) Barcelona 2 (Messi 64, 72-pen).

Playing today Getafe v Sevilla.

Spanish league table after yesterday’s early evening match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Real Madrid Barcelona Valencia Malaga Levante Osasuna Sevilla Athletic Espanyol Atletico

33 33 33 33 33 33 32 33 33 32

27 25 14 15 14 11 12 11 12 11

4 6 10 6 6 13 9 12 9 9

2107 2 96 9 50 12 49 13 47 9 37 11 39 10 48 12 43 12 43

29 24 42 46 46 53 33 44 43 41

85 81 52 51 48 46 45 45 45 42

guaranteed us a place in the Champions League and there are 15 points still available and a lot of teams in the mix,” added the Chilean.

At the other end of the table, Real Zaragoza’s bid to avoid the drop gathered pace when they won 1-0 at home to fellow strugglers Granada, a fourth victory in six games.

Zaragoza have 31 points in 18th, five behind Granada and three ahead of Sporting Gijon, who lost 3-1 at leaders Real Madrid on Saturday.

Racing Santander stay bottom on 26 points after they could only manage a 1-1 draw at 16th-placed Villarreal.

Real Betis Getafe Mallorca Vallecano Sociedad Villarreal Granada Zaragoza Sporting Santander

33 32 33 32 33 33 33 33 33 33

12 11 10 12 10 8 10 8 7 4

6 9 10 4 9 12 6 7 7 14

15 12 13 16 14 13 17 18 19 15

KUWAIT: Qatar’s driver Khaled Al-Suwaidi won Kuwait Rally, the second round of 2012 Middle East Rally competitions which came to a close on Saturday.

Al-Suwaidi’s compatriot Abdullah Al-Qassimi came second while Qatari Mesfer Al-Marri was third.

Kuwait rally driver Salah bin Eidan was fourth.

The second round’s most noticeable news was the withdrawal of veteran Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, the champion of Paris-Dakar Rally, due to technical rea-

45 43 41 57 49 47 49 59 63 52

42 42 40 40 39 36 36 31 28 26

Real will have a four-point advantage over chasing Barca when they meet at the Nou Camp for the second ‘Clasico’ of the campaign next weekend after the arch rivals’ wins on Saturday.

Real, whose Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo broke his own Spanish record with his 41st goal of the campaign, came from a goal down to beat Gijon at the Bernabeu.

Two hours later Argentina’s World Player of the Year Lionel Messi equalled Ronaldo’s mark with both goals in Barca’s comeback victory at Levante.—Reuters

42 33 47 41 34 34 36 34 19

56 42 48 56 55 48 66 57 46

40 38 37 36 34 33 29 28 20

BERLIN: Borussia Moenchengladbach took a step closer to the Champions League yesterday with a 3-0 home win over Cologne, who are heading towards a German league relegation play-off.

Goals by Venezuela striker Juan Arango, attacking midfielder Marco Reus and defender Tony Jantschke gave Gladbach their first Bundesliga win in six games, while Cologne suffered their fifth defeat in six. With only three matches left, Gladbach remain fourth, seven points clear of fifthplaced VfB Stuttgart, and they will be able to book a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds if they hold their place. They are just a point behind Schalke and third place in the Bundesliga means an automatic Champions League berth.

“Everything is still possible, but we will continue to think from game to game,” said Gladbach coach Lucien Favre. “It was a deserved victory. We won 30, which is what we wanted to do, but it was not easy.” Defeat leaves Cologne 16th and heading for

a relegation play-off at the end of the season against the team that finish third in Germany’s second division. Cologne replaced Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken with Frank Schaefer on Thursday, but the 48-year-old has his work cut out, with Cologne at home to resurgent Stuttgart-unbeaten in their last nine games-next weekend. Freiburg, who held Hoffenheim to a goalless draw on Sunday to stay clear of the relegation danger, follow at the end of the month, before Cologne finish their season at home to Bayern Munich on May 5.

Both Gladbach and Cologne are set to lose their star players at the end of the season, with Reus set to leave Gladach for defending champions Borussia Dortmund and Cologne’s Germany star Lukas Podolski tipped to join Arsenal. Dortmund can cement their place as German league champions on Saturday if they beat Gladbach at home, after a 2-1 victory at Schalke left them eight points clear at the top. With second-placed Bayern being

held to a goalless draw at home to Mainz on Saturday night, the Bavarians now have only a wafer-thin chance of denying defending champions Dortmund a second consecutive title.—AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings) English Premier League Arsenal v Wigan 22:00 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5 Spanish League Getafe v Sevilla 22:00 Aljazeera Sport +2 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD

Qatar’s Al-Suwaidi clinches Kuwait Rally title

The First Place winner

40 33 35 49 40 34 30 29 33 24

Gladbach down Cologne

German League results/standings

Dortmund Bayern Schalke Borussia Stuttgart Leverkusen Hanover Werder Hoffenheim

MADRID: Valencia clung on to third place and an automatic berth in next season’s Champions League despite crashing to a 4-0 defeat at an inspired Espanyol in La Liga yesterday.

Fourth-placed Malaga failed to take full advantage of Valencia’s setback in the later kickoff when they surrendered the lead and drew 1-1 at home to Real Sociedad, who had Mikel Gonzalez sent off shortly before halftime.

With five matches remaining, Valencia, who play their Europa League semi-final first leg at La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday, have 52 points, with Malaga on 51 and fifth-placed Levante, 2-1 losers at home to Barcelona on Saturday, on 48. In a congested middle section of the table, where only eight points separate Levante from Rayo Vallecano in 14th, Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla all have 45 points and Atletico can join them with a win at neighbours Rayo in the late kickoff.

Espanyol are ninth, Bilbao, who won 1-0 at home to Real Mallorca, are eighth and seventh-placed Sevilla can draw level with Levante on 48 with a win at Getafe on Monday that would also take them above Osasuna.

The Pamplona-based club stay sixth on 46 points after they lost 1-0 at Real Betis. Valencia looked a shadow of the side who have blazed a trail into the semi-finals of Europe’s second-tier club competition.

They fell behind in the 26th minute at a sun-bathed and festive Cornella-El Prat stadium when Cristian Gomez powered a Sergio

The Second Place winner sons. Chairman of the organizing committee of Kuwait Rally Sheikh Athbi Nayef Al-Sabah praised, at a news conference following the race, the drivers “who reflected the genuine capability of motor sport in the Middle East and its ability to compete in all domains.”

Sheikh Athbi thanked all those who contributed to the success of the second round, particularly the Kuwait Quarter Mile Auto and Motorcycle Club (KQMAMC) and Kuwait International Automobile and

The Third Place winner Tourist Club (KT). KQMAMC Secretary General Sheikh Ali Fawwaz Al-Sabah, addressing the same news conference, thanked all the Kuwaiti youth for organizing such an event.

He also thanked Deputy Chairman of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Mohammad Bin Sulayyem and Deputy Chairman of Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM, or the International Motorcycling Federation) Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah for their support of the second

A group picture with the winners. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

round that was held in Kuwait. Kuwaiti rally driver Salah bin Eidan, speaking to KUNA after the race, said he suffered technical problems but added that he was satisfied with his performance, the first since 2008.

“The rally was long and tough, and competition was fierce with only 13 cars out of 25 others crossed the finish line,” he said. Bin Eidan said he was confident this rally would be the beginning of his return to racing. —KUNA

Oosthuizen wins Malaysian Open

Rosberg bags Chinese GP

18

17

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Valencia stumble but cling on to third spot

Page 19

LONDON: Manchester United’s Portuguese midfielder Nani (left) competes with Aston Villa’s Irish midfielder Samir Carruthers during the English Premier League football match.—AP

United demolish Villa to go five clear Man United 4

Aston Villa 0

LONDON: Two goals from Wayne Rooney, including a controversial penalty won by Ashley Young, helped Manchester United reclaim a five-point lead in the Premier League following a 4-0 win over Aston Villa.

With United owners the Glazer family making a rare appearance at Old Trafford, Danny Welbeck and Nani were also on the mark as Sir Alex Ferguson’s team closed in on a 20th English league title.

Should United and second-placed neighbors City achieve the same results in their next fixtures, on Sunday, then Ferguson would see his club make mathematically certain of that title with victory in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on April 30.

Before Young’s early intervention, United survived a scare inside the opening minute as Stephen Ireland’s through ball sent Andreas Weimann bearing down on goal only for the Austrian to shoot too close to United goalkeeper David de Gea who saved comfortably.

But as United quickly gathered steam, there was a sense that Villa might be left to rue such a miss and, just six minutes into the game, that certainly appeared to be the case.

Former Villa winger Young skipped into the area and tripped, theatrically, over Ciaran Clark’s outstretched leg. Young, who found himself at the centre of a similar controversy after a disputed penalty against QPR last week, clearly made contact with Clark.

But questions will be asked of the manner in which he fell to ground and the haste with which referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot.

Rooney had little interest in the debate, however, and confidently placed his penalty past the dive of Shay Given into the bottom right-hand corner for his

30th goal in 39 games for United this season.

Rooney appeared greedy to add to his tally and he appeared on the end of a Young corner, helped on by Michael Carrick, to head just wide after 24 minutes before Antonio Valencia created an opening for Welbeck which struck James Collins.

Villa had moments that concerned United-Clark headed just wide from a free-kick and Ireland curled a shot just wide-but the remainder of the first half belonged to the home side.

Veteran Paul Scholes sent a spectacular 20-yard volley whistling just wide, connecting directly from a Young corner, and Valencia’s cross was met by Welbeck whose point-blank shot was somehow kept out by Given.

United’s second goal arrived two minutes from half-time, via an attack mounted after good midfield play by Carrick and Rooney.

Carrick passed wide to Patrice Evra whose left-wing cross was missed by both Collins and Nathan Baker in the middle,

allowing Welbeck to slide in at the far post.

Valencia and Scholes saw shots blocked in quick succession just after the hour, following the introduction of Nani as a replacement for Young.

Villa were not aided by the loss of Clark, after a clash of heads with Evra, although his replacement Emile Heskey came close to pulling back a goal when his header, from a Gabriel Agbonlahor cross, was tipped over by de Gea. Rooney should have done better, and killed off the game for good, in the 67th minute when rolling a shot tamely wide from 15 yards but the England forward eventually did claim United’s third six minutes later.

It was a well-worked goal as Rooney passed wide to Valencia who returned the pass, wrong-footing the defence in the process and allowing his team mate to convert easily from 12 yards.

There remained only the issue of how far United could eat into City’s superior goal difference and City could thank their former goalkeeper Given for acrobatic

The Dutchman angled a sublime header to an unmarked Aaron Lennon at the far post, who in turn crossed back into the area for van der Vaart, whose powerful header was blocked on the goalline by Terry. Four minutes later Spurs threatened again, when van der Vaart’s long ball forward for Adebayor missed everyone and beat Petr Cech before rattling the upright.

Yet just when it seemed Spurs were on the verge of an opener, Chelsea took the lead with a goal on 43 minutes that owed everything to the raw power of Drogba.

A long ball forward from Lampard found the Ivorian, who held off Gallas and turned before crashing an unstoppable shot past Carlo Cudicini for 1-0.

Chelsea appeared to be intent on killing the game off early in the second half, Cudicini making a brilliant one-handed save from Mata on 48 minutes to deny the impish playmaker once more.

But Chelsea were to double their lead in controversial circumstances from the ensuing corner.

Cudicini pulled off another stunning block to keep away David Luiz’s near-post header, but the ball fell only as far as Mata.

The number 10’s shot flew hard and low into the goal-mouth and hit a tangle of bodies on the goal-line. Referee Atkinson hesitated before awarding the goal but television replays appeared to show that the ball had not crossed the line.

Tottenham’s players protested but Mata and Chelsea celebrated a 2-0 lead. Spurs responded well and got back into the contest with a well-taken goal when a wonderful pass from Scott Parker sent Adebayor racing through on Cech.

Man Utd 4 (Rooney 7-pen, 73, Welbeck 43, Nani 90) Aston Villa 0 Played Saturday Norwich 1 (Surman 51) Man City 6 (Tevez 18, 73, 80, Aguero 27, 75, Johnson 90); Sunderland 0 Wolves 0; Swansea 3 (Sigurdsson 37, Dyer 43, Dann 63-og) Blackburn 0; West Brom 1 (Dorrans 22) QPR 0.

Playing today Arsenal v Wigan.

English Premier League table after yesterday’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man Utd Man City Arsenal Tottenham Newcastle Chelsea Everton Liverpool Sunderland Fulham

34 34 33 33 33 33 33 33 34 33

26 24 20 17 17 16 13 12 11 11

4 5 4 8 8 9 8 10 10 10

4 5 9 8 8 8 12 11 13 12

82 85 66 57 50 56 38 40 42 43

28 27 41 38 42 38 34 36 41 43

82 77 64 59 59 57 47 46 43 43

saves to keep out subsequent goal-bound shots from Welbeck and Valencia.

Deep into the four minutes of added time, United completed the scoring when

Norwich Swansea West Brom Stoke Aston Villa QPR Wigan Bolton Blackburn Wolves

34 34 34 33 33 34 33 32 34 34

11 11 12 11 7 8 7 9 7 5

10 9 6 9 14 7 10 2 7 8

13 14 16 13 12 19 16 21 20 21

47 38 40 32 35 38 31 36 45 34

58 44 47 45 48 57 57 65 73 73

43 42 42 42 35 31 31 29 28 23

Nani appeared on the end of a patient build-up, gathering a pass from defender Jonny Evans and placing his shot easily past Given’s dive.—AFP

Hearts defeat Celtic to book Scottish Cup final

Chelsea thrash Spurs to reach FA Cup final LONDON: Chelsea thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 51 to set up an FA Cup final showdown with old rivals Liverpool after a Wembley semi-final tinged by controversy here yesterday.

Goals from Didier Drogba, Juan Mata, Ramires, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda saw Chelsea romp into their fourth FA Cup final in six years, with Tottenham’s lone strike coming from Gareth Bale.

The win was the perfect preparation for Chelsea ahead of their Champions League semi-final firstleg meeting with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

But the occasion was marred by controversy before and during the match, with sections of Chelsea’s support chanting and jeering during a minute’s silence prior to kick-off to mark the anniversary of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Chelsea were also the beneficiaries of a deeply controversial decision by referee Martin Atkinson for their second goal, scored by Mata, which replays suggested should not have stood.

Bale briefly gave Tottenham hope of a fightback with a goal on 56 minutes to make it 2-1 but a sublime finish from Ramires, a stunning 35-yard freekick from Lampard and a late effort from Malouda took Chelsea out of sight.

Earlier, Tottenham appeared to be the likeliest to break the deadlock in a first half that was slow to get going, only to be denied by the woodwork and a goal-line clearance from John Terry.

Terry’s last-ditch heroics came on 36 minutes following a cleverly crafted Tottenham attack that began when Emmanuel Adebayor ghosted clear down the left flank and crossed from the byline for Rafael van der Vaart.

EPL results/standings

LONDON: Chelsea’s Frank Lampard celebrates after they beat Tottenham Hotspur in their English FA Cup semifinal soccer match.—AP The Togolese international touched past the Chelsea goalkeeper but was brought crashing down. Atkinson played advantage, however, and Bale was on hand to side-foot into an empty net and make it 2-1.

The goal came at a price for Chelsea, with Luiz carried off with what looked like a hamstring injury that may leave him in doubt for Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona.

Yet hopes of a Tottenham fightback were shortlived. A delicate Mata pass picked out Ramires, who dinked in Chelsea’s third on 77 minutes, and four minutes later, Lampard stepped up to lash in his long-range effort. In injury time, substitute Malouda made it 5-1 from Mata’s pass as Spurs’ evening came to a miserable end.—AFP

GLASGOW: A last-minute Craig Beattie penalty yesterday sent Hearts into the Scottish Cup final and a meeting with Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, as they defeated holders Celtic 2-1 in dramatic fashion at Hampden.

After a goalless first half, Jambos substitute Beattie set up Rudi Skacel to fire home the opener in the 47th minute. Celtic had countless opportunities to equalise, with South Korean international Ki Sung-Yeung twice hitting the post with headers before Gary Hooper nodded home an 86th minute equaliser.

With extra-time looming, referee Euan Norris pointed to the spot in the 90th minute when a Marius Zaliukas shot struck Joe Ledley on the arm and Beattie stepped up to drill the ball past Fraser Forster.

League champions Celtic were denied a penalty in stoppage time when Andy Webster appeared to handle in the box, which prompted Celtic manager Neil Lennon to angrily confront the referee at full-time. The win means Hearts will face Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in May’s final-the first time the sides will have contested the Scottish Cup final since 1896.

Celtic coach Alan Thompson was furious at the penalty decisions. “I think they are very similar and if he gives one at one end then he has to give the one at the other end,” said Thompson, who denied his side were suffering a hangover from the last weekend’s title celebrations.

“Yes, they have struck their hands but was it deliberate in both instances? No, I don’t think so. It’s just inconsistency.” Hearts manager Paulo Sergio said he was proud of his players.

“I am very happy and it’s a great moment for us. We didn’t beat a poor team, we beat the

champions of Scotland that have a great squad, great technical staff and great manager,” he said. “For me to play Hibs in the final is the same as playing any other team but when the time comes we will be ready for them.”

Hearts were handed several chances to lead in the opening minutes but failed to capitalise but it was Celtic who should have had the lead on the stroke of half-time when Mikael Lustig’s cross found its way over to Ki Sung-Yeung at the far post.

But the South Korean sent his diving header crashing off the post from four yards out.

Beattie replaced Scott Robinson at the break and made an instant impact when he set up the opener with just over a minute gone.

Black picked out the former Celtic forward with a pass and he knocked it into the path of Skacel who took it past Forster before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.

Celtic had a chance to instantly reply but after a good first touch Ki’s sent his shot whistling over the bar. Black then played a quick free-kick to Skacel and Forster had to scramble to push his dipping swerving shot from 25 yards round the post.

Hearts came close to a second when Beattie was given space to run at the retreating Celtic defence and fizz a shot inches wide of the post.

Substitute Georgios Samaras, on for Anthony Stokes, then sent a header over the bar, as chances fell at both ends.

It was Celtic who should have equalised in the 82nd minute, though, when Commons found Ki unmarked at the back post with a free-kick but, in a carbon copy of his effort at the end of the first half, the South Korean hit the post with his header.—AFP

Europe struggles to inject growth as recession sets in Page 23

Despite challenge, US pick favored to lead World Bank Page 25

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

Warba Bank signs two accords with StanChart

Kuwait equities edge up as services sector backs Page 24

Page 22

CHICAGO: John and Megan Henshel pack belongings in the condo they were renting to move to a home they just purchased. —AP

Buffett rule will not hurt US: Geithner US economy in better shape to handle high gas prices WASHINGTON: A proposal to impose at least 30 percent income tax on Americans making more than a million dollars a year will not hurt the economy by stifling investment and growth, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said yesterday. “No credible basis for that argument, in my judgment,” Geithner said on CBC’s “Face the Nation.”

“I don’t think there is a plausible path to tax reform ... that doesn’t recognize the realit y that we cannot afford to extend these tax cuts for the most fortunate Americans,” he said.

The US economy is in a better position to deal with high gasoline prices, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said yesterday, adding that unseasonably warm winter had lowered overall energy costs for consumers.

Oil-dollar link hits oil prices KUWAIT: The dollar-oil link has gravely affected the prices of the black gold over the past years, economists concurred here yesterday.

Kuwaiti economist Hajjaj Bukhadhour told KUNA that dollar was linked to oil after the World War II because the dollar is the most used and strong world currency and many of the major countries were debtors to the United States. “The use of dollar was expanded later due to the huge US trade exchange with other countries around the world,” he added.

Bukhadhour went on to say that the US official pegged dollar to oil in 1972, adding that the US-dollar link is not expected to be broken in the near future. He explained that over two thirds of the world currency reserves and trade exchange are in dollar.

American economist Joseph Trevisani ruled out the possibility of oil-dollar de-link.

“De-linking oil and dollar is not expected as the United States still the world’s largest oil producers and consumer,” he told KUNA. Petroleum engineer Waleed Al-Halw said that he believes oil and dollar are indispensible and none would risk to de-pegging oil to dollar due to the strength of this currency on the international markets. For his part, economist Talal Al-Sameri suggested that there is no rival for dollar now and eurozone is facing major financial challenges due to the severe debt crisis. He underlined that this link helps the US play a role in oil pricing worldwide. —KUNA

“ The economy is in a much better position to deal with those pressures ... because natural gas prices are down, the overall cost of energy for consumers is down,” Geithner said on ABC’s “This Week” program. A spike in gasoline prices caused economic growth to brake sharply in the first half of last year.

Gasoline prices have risen 64 cents since the star t of this year, leaving many Americans with a sense of deja vu, which was further reinforced by a slowdown in the pace of job creation last month.

However, Geithner said it was too early to tell whether the economy, which he described as getting stronger, would go through a repeat of last year.

“We can’t tell yet. Obviously, we’ve got a lot of challenges ahead and some risks and uncer tainty ahead. And some of

those risks are, of course, Europe is still going through a difficult crisis,” he said.

He also dismissed suggestions that the country’s huge budget deficit put it at risk of being the next Greece, adding that the challenge was to bring the deficit down without compromising economic growth.

The US Treasury Department said that a wider yuan trading band could help reduce global trade imbalances if it allows more play for market forces.

“China’s decision to widen the daily trading band for its exchange rate, if implemented in a way that allows the value of the exchange rate to reflec t market forces, could contribute rebalancing, which would be positive for China, the United States, and the global economy,” a Treasury Department official told Reuters.

But the Treasury said the process of correcting a “misalignment” of China’s exchange rate is still incomplete and said more progress was needed. “While we welcome the progress to date, the process of correcting the misalignment of China’s exchange rate remains incomplete, and further progress is needed,” the Treasury said. US manufacturers complain that China’s yuan is so undervalued that it gives Beijing an unfair trading advantage and they blame it for having cost millions of lost American factory jobs. The Treasury announced on Friday that a semi-annual report to Congress on currency practices of major trading partners, including China, that was due on April 15 was being delayed until after a series of upcoming international meetings. —Agencies

Saudi shares tumble as Q1 results spur selling MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: The Saudi bourse suffered its biggest daily drop in eight months yesterday following heavy losses in blue-chip stocks as traders booked gains from this year’s surge following disappointing earnings from petrochemical producers.

Most Gulf markets fell as weakening oil prices and a downbeat end to the trading week on global bourses dampened regional sentiment.The Saudi index dropped 2.3 percent to 7,348 points, its largest decline since August 2011. The benchmark has fallen 7.3 percent since April 3’s three-and-a-half year peak.

“We were disappointed with petrochemicals’ results, we thought they would have been able to drive the market through 8,000 points,” said Hesham Tuffaha, Bakheet Investment Group head of asset management.

“The market will most likely rebound in the coming days after the over-selling that happened today. There are a lot of investors coming into the market.”

Petrochemical earnings fell short of expectations because a lack of transparency from firms made it difficult for analysts to make estimates and also due to weaker-than-anticipated global demand for petrochemical products,

Tuffaha said.

Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) dropped 3.9 percent after going ex-dividend, Saudi Telecom fell 3 percent and Kingdom Holding slid 2.5 percent. “If you compare the Saudi market to its peers, it’s still attractive,” added Tuffaha. In Dubai, telecom firm du jumped 14.5 percent after 2.4 million shares changed hands in a trade made in the final minute before the market closed.

The telecoms operator traded 3.8 million shares on the day, slightly above the 30-day daily average. Du’s shares have gained 23 percent since April 9.

“Some traders say it’s an error but I don’t think that is the case,” said Saad alChalabi, a technical analyst for institutional equities at Al Ramz Securities.

“We think it was a legitimate trade,” he said, adding that no further information was available on the transaction. “Most believe du’s first-quarter earnings will be really good.... good margins are expected,” said Samer Al-Jaouni, general manager of Middle East Financial Brokerage Co. Analysts polled by Reuters on average forecast du’s first-quarter profit would rise by 36 percent.

Dubai’s index slipped 0.2 percent in

muted trade, cutting its 2012 gains to 23.8 percent.

Dubai stocks had mounted an earlyyear surge to rally from historical lows and many investors are now waiting to see if company earnings can justify these gains.

“The key thing to look out for from a medium-term perspective is how real estate-linked names such as Tamweel and Deyaar perform,” said Ibrahim Masood, senior investment officer at Mashreq bank. “Anecdotal evidence suggests there’s some recovery and if there are signs of that in the operating performance of these companies it will be a massive positive. Recovery would mean some stability, with people looking to transact and liquidity coming back to the sector.”

Islamic mortgage lender Tamweel surged 8.3 percent, accounting for more than a third of turnover. The stock is a favorite target for day-traders and among the most volatile in Dubai.

Property developer Deyaar lost 0.8 percent, builder Arabtec dropped 2.9 percent and contractor Drake & Scull dipped 2 percent. Dubai house prices have fallen more than 60 percent from a 2008 peak.—Reuters

Tanker of Syrian oil drops anchor off Iran DUBAI: The MT Tour tanker carrying Syrian crude oil dropped anchor in the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas over the weekend, AIS Live ship tracking data on Reuters showed yesterday.

Syria, a small exporter at 109,000 barrels per day in 2010, used to sell most of its crude to Europe until European Union sanctions on oil trade with President Bashar Al-Assad’s government stopped those sales last year.

The MT Tour is owned by ISIM Tour Limited, a shipper identified by the United States as an Iranian government front company set up to evade sanctions. I t loaded Syrian light crude in the Mediterranean in late March before sailing through the Suez Canal and then heading east.

Iran sent the tanker to pick up the crude, estimated to be worth about $84 million to its sanctions-hit Syrian ally, and a source told Reuters last month the cargo was destined for China.

It is not clear why the MT Tour has now dropped anchor off Iran, which as one of the world’s biggest crude producers has no reason to import more.

Tehran is finding it difficult enough to find buyers for its own oil as European and Asian customers cut back imports due to sanctions, forcing it to store millions of barrels of its own crude in oil tankers.

The MT Tour is one of the few Iranian oil tankers whose location is still visible on AIS, while most have apparently switched off their onboard tracking systems. Of those still visible, a fully loaded Iranian very large crude carrier (VLCC) called the MT Nabi was heading nor th on Sunday in the Red Sea towards the off-loading por t for the Sumed pipeline, which crosses Egypt carrying oil from the Gulf to the Mediterranean.

Fully loaded VLCCs cannot sail through the Suez Canal, but the MT Nabi can send its cargo through Sumed for it to be reloaded at the other end and shipped to Europe or the Americas.

Although many buyers in Europe have already sharply reduced or stopped importing Iranian oil, a European Union ban on Iranian oil imports does not come into force until July 1.

Another Iranian VLCC called the Delvar is three days from its delivery destination of Dalian, China, while a VLCC called Dena was still showing as off Durban, South Africa, where it has been anchored since early March. Its position in the water indicates the Dena is no longer fully loaded with oil. Two smaller Iranian oil tankers, the Abadan and Amol, were also anchored near Bandar Abbas yesterday, AIS Live ship tracking data shows. — Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

BUSINESS

Warba Bank signs two accords with StanChart

weekly commodities

Gold at $2,000 by year-end?

By Ole Hansen KUWAIT: Financial markets including commodities spent most of the week recovering from the surprise weakness witnessed in the recent US jobs report. US stocks dropped to a one month low and in Europe the dramatic divergence between different countries continued.

The divergence in the performance so far this year between the DAX index in Germany and the IBEX index in Spain is really stunning and currently stands at 27 percent. Spain especially is now the focus in the prolonged European debt crisis with the yield on its 10-year government bonds reaching 6 percent, more than four percentage points higher than its German equivalent.

Meanwhile, the dollar continues on its road to nowhere with the EURUSD, the world’s most traded currency pair, once again finding support ahead of the important 1.3000 support level. The euro buying - dollar selling that followed once the support level was confirmed generally helped commodities to recover some of their poise late in the week.

However, the near-term outlook for global growth, especially in China where Q1 growth eased to a three-year low, points towards some softness and could limit the upside potential for commodities during this quarter. The China news triggered some selling of industrial metals, especially copper which at one point came close to critical support levels before bouncing as the dollar weakened. Gold did receive a boost after support held once again and from a forecast that 2,000 dollars could be seen before 2013 while oil prices spent most of the week testing the strength of support.

Gold looks towards Fed Traders in the gold market have been wrong-footed on several occasions during the last couple of months as the main price mover has been the constant on/off talk about further US quantitative easing. The recent weakness in US job growth has once again turned the focus towards the potential for more liquidity being provided. Support was also provided by GFMS, one of the world’s leading consultancies in precious metals. In its Gold Survey 2012 it forecast that gold could move above $2,000 by year-end or early 2013 before peaking sometime during 2013.

The reasons behind the continued rally are well known, such as: concerns over the euro-zone debt crisis, negative real yields and the prospect of more US monetary easing. The peak in 2013 and subsequent retracement will occur once the prospect for higher US rates becomes a reality.

GFMS also interestingly sees supply from mining and scrap continuing to rise faster than demand for jewelry and other goods leaving the investment community in charge of driving demand forward. It sees a point in time where not enough investors will step up and that could signal the turn in the market.

The near-term floor in the market is called at 1,530 but will only be met during a risk-off scenario where gold also could get dragged lower for a while.

Technical and momentum traders also found comfort in the fact that the 55-week moving average at 1,647 held its ground leaving the trend line support from 2008 at 1,625 unchallenged. In the days ahead resistance at 1,697 is unlikely to be broken with many investors having a lukewarm and indifferent attitude

to gold, given the many false trade signals that have been generated over several months now. One could however also argue that this bodes well should the upside be broken as many hedge funds have left themselves underexposed and would have to react if the technical picture turns more positive.

Deals to facilitate Asia transactions

Industrial metals hurt Following a strong rally in January, industrial metals caught a bit of a “cold” on emerging signs of slowing economic activity in China. Having traded sideways since early February things have been turning progressively negative during the last couple of weeks, culminating in the weaker than expected jobless report from the US last Friday which further reduced the outlook for economic activity and subsequent demand.

The main culprit however has been China and recent strong domestic inventory builds of construction related commodities like copper and steel have created concerns about the degree of the slowdown.

Considering China in recent years has represented more than 40 percent of global consumption and more than 50 percent of global consumption growth of the major industrial metals the outlook for this country holds the near-term key to price developments.

Copper, the most widely traded of the metals, has fallen through technical levels both in London and New York and is currently looking for support. With fears about a hard landing in China and softer economic US data over the next quarter the price may be struggling to reassert itself. Technically traders are looking out for support at $8,000 MT on the LME in London and $3.6/lb. on COMEX in New York.

While we expect the demand for copper to be relatively soft problems with supplies are likely to keep prices from falling much further. Output from some of the major producing countries has disappointed due to a variety of reasons such as labor disputes, adverse weather, technical issues and a general falling ore grade as some of the major mines have reached maturity Verbal intervention Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter and currently the only holder of any spare capacity, once again has expressed its discontent with current prices above 120 dollars. Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Naimi said that there is no shortage of supply, with its inventories in the Kingdom and around the world, currently being full. He added that Saudi Arabia is determined to bring down prices and can produce more oil if requested, despite already producing 10 million barrels per day, the highest level for three decades.

The International Energy Agency also did its best to calm oil markets when it announced that the oil market had broken a two-year cycle of tightening supply conditions.

It sees demand growth softening at a time where Saudi Arabia has been increasing output. So where is all the oil going if it’s not towards consumption?

The IEA thinks that much of the extra oil has been stockpiled both on land and at seaby especially many emerging economies, which have low forward cover and have therefore increased strategic reserves to protect against potential supply disruptions.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Warba Bank has signed two agreements with the British bank Standard Chartered to facilitate transactions in Asia in light of mounting trade between the Middle Eastern and North African with Asia in general and China in particular, the bank said in a statement issued yesterday.

Warba Bank joined Standard Chartered’s “Asia Express Guaranteed Payments Program” which ensures delivery of funds to beneficiaries in Asia, on the same day or next day. The program also removes much of the uncertainty faced by clients effecting USD payments to Asian Destinations by leveraging its strong footprint across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The Kuwaiti bank also signed, “China Renminbi (RMB) Clearing Services agreement” to provide its clients with an access to the internationalization of RMB. China’s projected annual RMB trade settlement volume was around $175 billion in 2011. It was forecast to reach $756 billion by 2014 and $1, 000 billion by 2015.

This comes in light of shift of economic pow-

er from West to East, internationalization of the RMB and emerging trade corridors between Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Commenting on the agreements, Hosam Nasser Al-Muzaiel,

Hosam Nasser Al-Muzaiel, Investment Manager of Warba Bank

Mozambique seals deal on colonial era power plant MAPUTO: After decades of wrangling, Portugal has finally relinquished its remaining stake in the Cahora Bassa hydro-electric dam to its former colony Mozambique, as part of plans to overhaul the national electric grid.

Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho yesterday signed over half of his country’s remaining 15-percent stake in the dam, with the rest to follow in two years through a share -swap. Mozambique agreed to pay $42 million for an additional 7.5 percent stake now, bringing its holding to 92.5 percent.

Envisaged as Portugal’s grand colonial project, the dam on the mighty Zambezi River was completed in 1974, the same year Portugal pulled out of Mozambique. In a deal struck with the new government, Lisbon retained a majority share in HCB (Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa), the company that runs the dam. Portuguese engineers stayed on to keep it operational during a civil war between 1977 and 1992.

Getting it back has been a matter of Mozambican national pride ever since.

Twenty years after the devastating civil war that left the country without a proper power infrastructure, only one in five Mozambicans has regular access to electricity. Most of them are in the capital, Maputo, which receives power routed through neighboring South Africa. Cahora Bassa only began turning a profit in 2010, three years after the building of a line to South Africa, a project that required clearing vast mine fields.

Mozambique’s powerful neighbor buys 65 percent of HCB’s output. The dam has a capacity of more than 2000 MW. “Owning Cahora Bassa is a source of political affirmation and self-esteem but, but from an economic point of view I don’t see that it gives you much bargaining pow-

er when you deal with a consumer like South Africa that has a monopoly power,” said Antonio Francisco, research director at Mozambique’s Institute of Social and Economic Studies.

However, Mozambique could become an energy player not just in regional markets but globally too. The hydro-power generator is southern Africa’s biggest source of “clean” energy, but is dwarfed by recent discoveries of “dirty” fuel only 100 kilometres (65 miles) away. Foreign giants like Brasil’s Vale and Australia’s Rio Tinto are mining coal in what is believed to be the world’s largest untapped reser ves in Moatize, also in Tete Province. “Cahora Bassa is... a foundation in the expansion and integration of energy infrastructure and energy industries in our country,” said Mozambican President Armando Guebuza after clinching the deal with Portugal.

Mozambique’s grand plan is to harness both the potential of hydro power and coal coking plants in the Zambezi Valley by building a power transmission line between Tete and the country’s south to fuel industrial growth and social development.

Portuguese electricity company REN (Redes Energeticas Nacionais), which bought the other half of Portugal’s percent stake in HCB, is to relinquish the shares in the next two years, swapping them for shares in a separate company set up to build the so-called “backbone” line from Maputo.

“This will create a surplus for export contributing to an increase in transactions and the market for energy in the region and continent,” said Guebuza. Construction on the line is set to begin next year but the government faces criticism over a lack of transparency around the deal. “We would like participants with know-how. — AFP

Investment Manager of Warba Bank said the bank was committed to providing clients with best in class financial services. “During a time of ever closer economic ties between the Middle East and Asia, this partnership with Standard Chartered will strengthen our ability to meet evolving needs of customers, many of whom have interests in the two regions,” he added.

Warba Bank, an Islamic Bank established by virtue of an Amiri Decree, was officially registered in the Central Bank of Kuwait’s list of Islamic Banks on April 5, 2010.

Kuwait, represented by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), owns 24 percent shares of the bank while the remaining 76 percent have been subscribed by the government and allocated equally among Kuwaiti nationals.

Standard Chartered is a British multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in London. It operates a network of over 1,700 branches and outlets across more than 70 countries. It has operations in consumer, corporate and institutional banking and treasury services. — KUNA

News

in brief

Dollar stable against dinar KUWAIT: Exchange rate of the US dollar against the Kuwaiti dinar stabilized, standing at KD 0.278, where the euro dropped to KD 0. 364, compared to Thursday’s figures, said the daily bulletin of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) yesterday. Exchange rate of the Sterling pound dropped to KD 0.441, and the Japanese yen remained unchanged, at KD 0.003.

Meanwhile, the Swiss franc also dropped to KD 0.302.

DIFC names Al-Ghurair chairman DUBAI: Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFCA), the governing body of the emirate’s offshore financial district, has appointed Abdul Aziz al-Ghurair as its new chairman of the board, it said in a statement yesterday. Al-Ghurair, who is also the chairman of Dubai lender Mashreq bank, is also the deputy chairman of the board of DIFC, which since 2004 has been a financial free zone for 800 firms, including 21 of the top 30 global banks, global asset managers, insurers and law firms. Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum named a new board for DIFC in August last year.

KIC earns KD 3.5m in 2011 KUWAIT: Kuwaiti Investment Company (KIC) earned a total of KD 3.5 million in 2011, at a rate of 6.4 fils per stock, compared to KD 3 million worth of losses, at 5.5 fils per share, incurred in 2010, said KIC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bader Al-Subaiee.

Addressing the annual general assembly of the company, yesterday, Al-Subaiee said the company approved financial report of the fiscal year that expired on December 31, 2011. Elaborating, he said total assets of the company amounted to KD 243 million in December 2011, compared to KD 257 million in the same month of 2010. The company’s liabilities reached KD 122 million in 2011 in contrast to KD 138 million in 2010, he said, assuring attending shareholders that the company worked out new investment strategies and restructuring plans, noting that prudent planning had spared the company heavy losses at peak of the world financial crisis.

QNB buys 49% stake in Libyan bank DOHA: Qatar National Bank (QNB), the Gulf state’s largest bank, has acquired a 49 percent stake in Libya’s Bank of Commerce and Development as part of the Qatari lender’s aggressive expansion strategy. The Benghazi-based bank approved QNB as a strategic partner, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two

and promising markets,” QNB Group Chief Executive Officer Ali Shareef Al-Emadi said in the statement.

QNB is also said to be in negotiations to acquire Turkey’s Denizbank, the fast-growing Turkish arm of euro zone debt casualty Dexia.

Last week sources said QNB had made a higher bid after earlier talks stalled over price. The bank is 50-

institutions, a statement from QNB late said. Bank of Commerce and Development, which employs around 820 people, has total assets of $2 billion and a network of 32 branches, the statement said. No other financial details of the transaction was disclosed. The deal “comes in line with QNB’s strategic plan of international expansion in selected

percent owned by sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority and has operations in Syria, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland. Qatar was a major supporter of Libya’s NATO-backed rebels, providing funds, arms and troops and was instrumental in helping overthrow former leader Muammar Gaddafi. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4380000 .3610000 .3000000 .2760000 .2860000 .0040000 .0020000 .0754170 .7347690 .3830000 .0720000 .7203090 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2778000 GB Pound/KD .4402300 Euro .3632930 Swiss francs .3020550 Canadian dollars .2779250 Danish Kroner .0488310 Swedish Kroner .0408830 Australian dlr .2882180 Hong Kong dlr .0358020 Singapore dlr .2225430 Japanese yen .0034330 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0756640 Bahraini dinars .7371630 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0741000 Omani riyals .7218400 Philippine Peso .0000000

.2810000 .4490000 .3690000 .3100000 .2850000 .2940000 .0070000 .0035000 .0761750 .7421540 .4000000 .0770000 .7275480 .0072000 .0500000 .2799000 .4435580 .3660390 .3043380 .2800260 .0492000 .0411920 .2903960 .0360720 .2242250 .0034590 .0054630 .0021880 .0031030 .0034360 .0762360 .7427360 .3958980 .0746600 .7272960 .0066260

US Dollar Pak Rupees

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

278.950 3.076

Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

5.440 2.200 3.409 6.570 76.065 74.555 741.700 46.145 449.400 3.190 1.550 371.900 284.900 3.510

Rate for Transfer

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal

278.650 367.500 444.300 281.600 3.475 5.423 46.115 2.165 3.408 6.515 3.076 742.000 75.900 74.450

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka

5.426 2.168 3.405 3.082 75.92 742.13 46.17 396.93 725.10 76.93 74.50

5.700 2.600 4.000 3.250 76.50 741.00 47.20 395.50 725.00 77.25 74.95

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

Selling Rate

278.950 281.210 444.240 365.770 303.830 738.695 75.925 76.570 74.345 392.660 46.178 2.189 5.426 3.082 3.411 6.549 684.255 4.440 9.120 5.875 3.480 92.305

SELL DRAFT SELL CASH

293.84 283.95 308.35 368.16 445.40 3.52 3.406

292.00 284.50 307.50 369.00 447.00 3.70 3.650

Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Bahrain Exchange Company 10 Tola COUNTRY

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka

SELL CASH

SELL DRAFT

293.100 742.130 3.670

291.600 742.130 3.408

Sterling Pound US Dollar

283.300 548.100 45.500 50.000 167.800 47.680 369.300 36.640 5.750 0.032 0.159 0.237 3.550 395.460 0.189 93.310 45.500 4.290 233.800 1.808 49.400 724.840 3.180 6.850 77.190 74.510 225.190 39.140 2.659 446.500 42.100 307.600 4.200 9.430 198.263 76.080 279.400 1.340 GOLD 1,736.410

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 444.500 279.000

281.800

225.200 46.225 367.800 36.490 5.420 0.031

395.420 0.188 93.310 3.420 232.300 724.660 3.084 6.550 76.760 74.510 225.190 39.140 2.193 444.500 306.000 4.200 9.270 75.980 279.000

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

BUSINESS

Volatile market with a tight range KUWAIT: The FX markets had mixed performances last week as negative news out of Europe resurfaced, alongside disappointing job market figures from the US. In Europe, German bond auction bids reached 4.1 billion Euros, falling short of the 5 billion Euros target.

On the other hand, Italy’s cost of borrowing rose in its three-year bond auction, as it paid a rate of 3.89% on its one-year treasury bills up from 2.76% last month.

In the US, disappointing figures from the job market shook the markets, as a 2-week consecutive drop in equity markets and worsethan-expected consumer sentiment resulted in a broad sell-off of the US Dollar across all the G10 currencies. Meanwhile, talks continue as to whether the Fed will intervene to spur an unconvincing growing US economy at its next meeting at the end of April. The Euro opened at 1.3100 then dropped to 1.3030 only to find support and rally back to close the week at 1.3080. Markets continue to disregard the latest bond auctions and the Euro collapsed at the end of the week as Spanish yields breached the 6% mark.

The Sterling Pound opened the week at 1.5890, rising slowly as talks of a US quantitative easing program resurfaces, only to drop to 1.5806 as European fears escalate. The Pound erased it losses, reaching a high of 1.5984 on positive retail sales data. The Pound then followed the Euro, dropping at the end of the week, to close at 1.5846.

The Japanese Yen opened the week at 81.54. After trading as low as 80.57, the currency rallied on rumors that the Bank of Japan is considering to boost its asset buying and loan program by 5 Trillion Yen on its April 27 monetary policy meeting.

Beige book According to the Federal Reserve’s Beige book, the US economy continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace from mid-February through late March across the twelve Federal Reserve Districts. Manufacturers expressed

NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKETS REPORT optimism about the near-term growth prospects, but were concerned about rising petroleum prices. Additionally, hiring was steady and showed a modest increase while retail spending was positive across the US.

ket gains. The Spanish and German government bonds are signaling that the brief period of rest and recovery in the European Region debt crisis created by the European central

chase program to help subdue the region debt crisis. Germany’s trade surplus shrank to 13.6 billion euros in February, from 15.1 billion euros in January, as imports grew strongly at

Trade balance The US trade deficit narrowed to $46 billion in February, down from $52.5 billion in January, after imports fell by 2.7% to $227.2 billion and exports rose by 0.1% to an all-time high of $181.2 billion. According to a report from the Commerce Department, Imports from China were down by 18.2% with oil imports dropping to the lowest level since 1997. The Exports to Canada rose to 7.2% and exports to European Union nations were up 6.7% despite Europe’s economic slowdown.

Bernanke speech The Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivered a speech titled “Fostering Financial Stability”, in which he addressed two main issues. First, he called on regulators to stem risks from “shadow banking”, referring to regulated investment banks conducting many of their transactions in an unregulated way so that they do not show up on their conventional balance sheet. Second, he said that the US economy is still far from having a full recovery from the effects of the financial crisis.

More Americans have filed for unemployment benefits last week, indicating that the pace of improvement in the labor market is slowing. Applications for jobless benefits increased last week by 13,000 claims to 380,000, against market expectations of 355,000.

The increase in claims would make it difficult to boost the consumer spending that makes up 70% of American economy. This figure highlights Ben Bernanke’s concerns that stronger demand is required to fuel labor mar-

bank’s Long Term Refinancing Operation is ending. A fortnight after Premier Monti said the “flames of crisis” are unlikely to return, German bund yields have fallen to a record low of 0.091% and Spanish borrowing cost have surged to highest level since the ECB started the LTRO in December.

Spanish 10-year yields rose above 6%, close to the 7 % that triggered the bailout of Portugal and Greece. The Spanish yield spread over bunds increased as much as 437 basis points and Italy’s spread over bunds increased to 409 points.

Some analysts are predicting that the increase in Spanish and Italian bond yields will spur another round of additional bond pur-

3.9%. On the other hand, the exports figures were up 1.6% over the month, following a 3.4% increase in January due to German companies’ success outside the euro-zone where they recorded a growth of 13.4% compared with the year before.

Trade balance The UK’s goods and services trade deficitincreased to 3.4 billion pounds from a previous 2.5 billion pounds in January, due to a decrease in exports. The drop was also due to lower car sales to countries outside the EU, including China, Russia and the US. Total exports of goods fell 3.4% in February while imports were unchanged.

UK factory The price of goods produced by factories increased 0.6% from February, higher than analysts forecast. Similarly, the raw material costs rose 1.9%, exceeding analysts’ estimate of 1.4%, suggesting that inflation pressures remain. The statistics office said that the input prices increased mainly due to higher oil prices. UK Retail Sales increased for the first time in three months gaining 1.3 % from a year earlier. The Bank of England expects inflation to drop to its 2.0% target this year as officials count on easing price pressures to help generate a pickup in spending later this year.

Japan, China China’s Consumer Price Index grew by 3.6% in March, from 3.2% in February. The inflation rate increase was due mainly to higher fuel prices and food costs. During the recent months, China’s central bank has cut the Bank’s Reserve Ratio and eased its monetary policy in response to the European debt crisis.

Gross Domestic Product grew at an annual rate of 8.1% in the first quarter of 2012, down from 8.9% in the last quarter of 2011. The Chinese economy grew at it slowest pace in three years due to the financial crisis in Europe and the US. The BOJ kept its monetary policy steady as expected, holding off any new steps to help meet its new inflation target and boost activity ahead of its next policy meeting on April 27. In addition, the Japanese Finance minister voiced hope for an easing this month.

Bank of Japan’s monthly report of recent economic and financial development indicated that Japan’s economic activity has shown some signs of picking up, the export sector have so far remained flat with a mild increase in the domestic demand aided by the restoration of the disaster-stricken facilities.

Kuwait Kuwaiti dinar at 0.27735 The USDKWD opened at 0.27735 yesterday morning.

Europe struggles to inject growth as recession sets in Govts urged to move away from all-out austerity

NEW DELHI: Indian commuters pass by a billboard of British mobile giant, Vodafone in New Delhi. The latest, and for many investors most egregious government measure, was announced in last month’s budget which included provisions allowing India to tax foreign takeovers retroactively to 1962. — AFP

Italy struggles with drama of crisis-linked suicides MILAN: Italians have been taking their own lives at an alarming rate as a result of the economic crisis in recent weeks, forcing a business group to put in place a dedicated psychological assistance network.

Daily media reports have thrown the spotlight on the desperation of small business owners, workers and unemployed people who have lost hope as the economy struggles through recession and unemployment reaches record highs of 9.3 percent.

One of the most shocking cases was the self-immolation last month of a 58-year-old builder in Bologna in central Italy who was under pressure over unpaid taxes. He died of his burns in hospital after nine days of agony.

In the latest case on Thursday, a 53-year-old farmer was found hanged in his farm building in northeast Italy, leaving behind a wife and four children. He had told friends and relatives that his business was in serious financial trouble. The leader of the centre-right People of Freedom party, Angelino Alfano, pointed to “a wave of suicides linked to economic difficulties.”

Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat, Italy’s biggest private company, said: “This is the reflection of an unsustainable situation.” Antonio Di Pietro, leader of the centre-left Italy of Values party, added controversy to the phenomenon earlier this month when he blamed Prime Minister Mario Monti directly saying: “These suicides are on his conscience.”

He accused Monti of “lying in the newspapers about the crisis being over.” Already hit by the global financial crisis in 2009, Italy’s economy has now been weakened even more by the debt crisis and a series of austerity plans approved last year in a bid to reassure the markets over the stability of its finances.

The economy fell back into recession in the second half of last year. Italy’s large immigrant population has also been feeling the pain of economic troubles. Last month, a 27-year-old Moroccan builder who had not been paid for months set himself on fire in the centre of Verona. “He shouted out that he hadn’t been paid for four months and poured petrol over himself before setting himself alight. Police raced to put the flames out and he has been taken to hospital,” a police official said.

The spate of suicides has prompted the association “Businesses That Resist” to put in place in several regions a network of psychologists who help business owners and workers discuss their problems and receive care. “It’s not hard to find yourself in great difficulty,” said Massimo Mazzucchelli, a businessman from Varese in northern Italy behind the project. Mazzuchelli said some of the most frequent problems were debts, payment of tax arrears, delayed payments by clients and getting loans from banks. — AFP

BRUSSELS: With recession looming in debt-struck Europe, governments face growing pleas to move away from all-out austerity and inject growth policies as leaders struggle to revive their economies.

European Union leaders used two summits this year to begin discussions on how to jumpstart growth and create jobs after being forced to focus on measures to counter the debt crisis for two years. Bailouts of Greece, Ireland and Portugal have been accompanied by unpopular budget cuts and structural reforms to convince markets that Europe is getting rid of excessive deficits and debts. In addition, 25 of the 27 EU states signed a German-driven fiscal pact that will force nations to enshrine balanced budgets in law. Portugal became on Friday the second nation after Greece to ratify the deal, which requires 12 such ratifications to come into force. But some analysts say that too much austerity may backfire on nations like Greece that are deep in recession. A slew of bad economic data indicate that the 17-nation euro-zone is likely entering a new recession. The frontrunner in the upcoming French presidential election, Socialist candidate Francois Hollande,

wants to renegotiate the fiscal pact if he is elected in order to insert a growth agenda into the treaty.

Derided as naive by conservatives, Hollande has won a surprising ally, the Financial Times. “Political consensus behind such a growth agenda will not be easy to build.

But as economic conditions get tougher, the high priests of fiscal austerity are bound to become more isolated,” the daily wrote in an editorial “It is therefore encouraging that an increasing number of politicians, including Francois Hollande, the French presidential hopeful, are calling for a ‘European growth strategy.’”

Hollande, who leads French President Nicolas Sarkozy in opinion polls ahead of the first round on April 22, has allies in the German opposition who complain that the pact championed by Chancellor Angela Merkel lacks any growth strategy.

But Hollande would likely have to lower his ambitions since nations have begun to ratify the treaty, which was backed by nearly all socialists in the Portuguese parliament on Friday.

“It is most likely that quickly after the election, the future president, if it is Francois Hollande, will take a

more realistic approach and will opt for an additional text to the pact centered on growth,” a European negotiator close to the matter told AFP. “The left, not only in France, considers the budget pact as an austerity pact.

We must pave the way for a solution and Angela Merkel understands this because we must avoid this being blocked for months,” the source said. While Lisbon backed the budget treaty, Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva joined calls for a shift to a growth strategy to “face up to the current economic stagnation.”

Despite pledges that growth policies will come, few solutions are visible so far. And as is often the case in the 27-nation EU, governments are divided over how to tackle the problem. Twelve nations led by Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian counterpart Mario Monti say the path to growth lies in further opening the single market and reforming labour markets.

The Franco-German team of Merkel and Sarkozy see the solution through deeper integration of fiscal policies. “Europe has been been talking too much about growth for too long, while doing too little,” the Financial Times said. “It is time to act before it is too late.” — AFP

Viva Espana? International investors not so sure MADRID: Spain has become the latest country caught up in the government debt crisis crippling Europe, sparking fears that it’ll join Greece, Portugal and Ireland and go asking for an international bailout. Over the past week, investors have grown increasingly wary of buying Spain’s debt on the international bond markets, sending the country’s cost of borrowing to highs not seen in nearly four months and its stock markets plummeting.

In reality, worries about Spain have always been there. Bond market pressure on Spain began seriously to mount in 2011 as the country’s deficit and unemployment rocketed. But late last year, two factors helped ease this pressure. First, Mariano Rajoy’s right-wing and pro-austerity Popular Party took over the reins after winning general elections in November. But of much greater impact was the European Central Bank’s decision to flood the region’s financial system with more than euro 1 trillion ($1.3 trillion) in bargain loans to banks. The injection spurred lenders to snap up battered government debt, driving Spanish borrowing costs down. However, the effects of the cheap loans across Europe have since dissipated and Spain is taking the brunt of market distrust. Rajoy’s administration faces two big tasks: resurrecting an economy with 23 percent unemployment by creating jobs while trying to reduce its deficit to satisfy EU overseers and international investors via austerity measures. To help them achieve these, the government has already imposed draconian spending cuts as well as introducing labor market and banking sector reforms.

Meanwhile, Spain’s banks are saddled with huge amounts of toxic real estate loans and some of the country’s regional governments have spent way beyond their means.

Rajoy has warned voters that Spain is in for a rough ride, acknowledging that

things will get a lot worse before they get better. With one hand, the government is draining money from the economy as it tries to cut its deficit via austerity cuts. With the other, it is attempting to lay the foundation for a more efficient economy by, for instance, rewriting rigid labor laws to encourage companies to hire once Spain and Europe recovers.

The euro-zone has recently increased the size of its financial firewall to help out its members should they fail to raise money from the markets. But Spain’s euro 1.1 trillion ($1.45 trillion) economy is twice the size of the previous three bailout victims put together. Analysts are worried the euro-zone’s 800 billion euros ($1.05 trillion) firewall is not large enough to deal with the potential threats coming from Spain and other indebted countries such as Italy.

Here is a look at Spain’s problems and what might be done to solve them.

Until recently Spain’s national debt as a percentage of its economy did not look that bad when compared with other European countries. At the end of 2011, Spain’s debt stood at 68.5 percent of gross domestic product, below the eurozone average of about 90 percent and in a different league from Greece at 160 percent. But now that ratio is expected to shoot up. This is due largely to some of the country ’s 17 semiautonomous regions running up huge debts and thereby making the national figure look less manageable. It was overspending by some of these regions - Catalonia, Valencia and Madrid accounted for more than half of all regional debt last year that made up more than a third of Spain’s bloated deficit of 8.5 percent of GDPThat was well over the 6 percent which had been forecast.

The central government has guaranteed a ?35 billion ($46 billion) bank loan

MADRID: A shopping cart is seen attached to a tree next to a closed store covered in posters, Madrid. Spain is the latest country in the hot seat of the eurozone debt crisis, and the stakes are huge if it goes crash-and-burn. — AP

to help regions and town halls pay gardeners, medical suppliers and other businesses with long-outstanding bills. The economy minister says this loan is one reason why by the end of this year the national debt to GDP ratio will be around 80 percent. After an austere budget unveiled in late March, Spain recently announced a new round of spending cuts designed to bring its deficit level down to 5.3 per cent of GDP. However, this has sparked concerns among analysts that if Madrid introduces more austerity measures, growth will be hit further and the country will even miss this target.

TROUBLED BANKS The bursting in 2008 of a real estate bubble that powered the economy for more than a decade has saddled banks, particularly Spain’s savings banks or ‘cajas’, with enormous amounts of bad loans. The country’s central bank, the Bank of Spain, says the sector is still burdened with about euro 175 billion ($230 billion) in “problematic” real estate holdings. As the second recession in three years bites further, bad loans are expected to surge while plunging house prices will lower the value of the vast sea of repossessed or unsold homes the banks already own.

The government has been pushing the lenders to strengthen their finances by merging. It has also introduced rules that require banks to set aside an estimated total of euro 50 billion ($65.7 billion) more in provisions by the end of the 2012 to cover their toxic real estate assets. Banks unable to raise extra capital on their own by the end of May must present plans for a merger. The government will help finance these tie-ups by offering loans from an existing bailout fund. But one big fear is that if the plummeting real estate market takes too much of a toll on banks, the government would not have enough money to save the sector. — AP

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

business

Kuwait equities edge up as services sector backs GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait’s equities ended yesterday’s session up for the fourth consecutive day with the help of companies in the services.

Equipment Holding and Aref Energy Holding accounted for 0.12 percent of the total volume traded in the sector.

The market benchmark KSE Price Index increased by 0.46 percent, and closed at 6,217.30 points. The Global General Index was also up by 0.24 of a point (or 0.14 percent) to close at 177.91 points.

Volume of shares traded increased by 0.37 percent to reach 325.63mn of shares traded at a value of KD30.97mn through 4,316 deals.

Services sector accounted for the highest percent of the total traded volume, accounting for 37.21 percent, followed by the Real Estate sector, which accounted for 23.20 percent of total traded shares. National Ranges Company recorded the highest volume traded with 56.56mn shares exchanging hands. The scrip registered an increase of 2.50 percent to close at KD0.0205. On the other hand, Hits Telecom Holding witnessed the highest traded value at KD3.15mn. Metal & Recycling was the prominent gainer. The scrip added 9.43 percent to close at KD0.116.

Sector-wise Sector wise, five out of eight Global sectoral indices ended the day in the green with Global Non-Kuwaiti Index being the top gainer. The index posted a 0.67 percent daily gain.

Global Services Index was the second biggest gainer today, up 0.52 percent. Two companies in the sector were among the top five gainers in the market. Equipment Holding and Aref Energy Holding were up by 9.09 percent and 8.77 per-

BAGHDAD: Iraq has signed a contract to buy 250 megawatts of electricity per day from United Arab Emirates’ Oilfield Services Co, the electricity ministry said yesterday, to help reduce power shortages as it heads into the heat of the summer months.

In the nine years since the USled invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, successive Iraqi governments have failed to address chronic power disruptions in a country where temperatures can top 50 degrees Celsius in the summer.

Electricity shor tages are a major complaint among Iraqis, many of whom face power cuts for up to 20 hours a day during periods of peak demand.

Frustrations mount in summer and often spark street protests.

The ministry said the two-year contract was based on a price of 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour and included two power plants,

which will be docked on ships and connected to the national grid. The ships are expected to reach the port in Iraq’s oil-rich southern city of Basra within a few weeks, and the plants will be connected to the grid by July 31, the ministry said.

There are already three Turkish ships docked at the port in Basra, which supply 270 MW per day to the national grid. Iraqi demand for electricity peaked at 15,000 MW last year, but the oil-producing nation managed to provide less than half of that.

Its national grid has supplied only a few hours of power a day since its supplies collapsed following the invasion, when power plants were looted or went without maintenance. Iraq plans to boost the national grid’s capacity by about 1,500 MW in the next few months, Salam Qazaz, a deputy electricity minister said in February. — Reuters

Japan mulling $60bn contribution to IMF cent, respectively. Global Banking Index was the top loser yesterday, down 0.10 percent backed by Kuwait Finance House which was the biggest loser in the sector. The bank shed 1.32 percent to end at KD0.750.

Corporate news The consumer sector saw a strong pick up in 2011 driven by a large Amiri cash grant early in the year and a series of pay hikes for nationals.

The first three quarters saw a large rise in consumer spending and consumer confidence strengthened as a result. Household debt also ended a year of slow growth in 2010 to begin a solid recovery in 2Q11, which has been sustained since.

Kuwait Energy Co and its main partner, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp, said they made a new oil discovery in West Ahmad-1X oil well, located in Egypt’s Gulf of Suez.

Aluminum Bahrain production rises 2% ABU DHABI: Aluminum Bahrain’s output rose 2 percent in the first quarter of 2012, while sales were steady despite sluggish growth in Europe slowdown, Alba said yesterday.

Production at one of the world’s largest aluminum smelters was 220,738 tons in the first

Iraq buys 250 MW/day from UAE to boost power supply

quarter of 2012, compared to 216,792 tons in the same period a year ago. Sales were unchanged at 135,104 tons, Alba said in a statement. Bahrain’s state-run energy supplier raised Alba’s gas supply costs by $0.75 per million British thermal units (mmbtu) to $2.25/mmbtu

on Jan. 1, but Alba still enjoys cheaper fuel than many of its competitors.

The company plans to increase its production capacity from 881,000 tonnes to 1.28 million tonnes a year with the addition of a new production line in 2015. — Reuters

TOKYO: Japan is considering lending about $60 billion to the International Monetary Fund to help strengthen a global firewall against contagion from the European sovereign debt crisis, Kyodo news agency said yesterday.

Tokyo is talking with some other key members of the IMF such as China and European nations to finalize their possible contributions to the multilateral lender, ahead of the Group of 20 finance chiefs’ meeting later this week in Washington.

If realized, Japan’s contribution could be one of the biggest by a member nation, Kyodo quoted an unnamed government official as saying.

China is expected to offer a similar amount, leading other emerging

economies, some of which are still calling for additional efforts by European leaders to help themselves.

Japan, the second-biggest stakeholder in the IMF after the United States, has shown readiness to lead relevant discussions at the IMF and G-20, as the US government has shown reluctance to be aggressively involved in any fresh IMF resources boost, Kyodo said.

Tokyo has welcomed the recent decision by euro-zone finance ministers to temporarily increase their bail-out funds to 700 billion euros ($915 billion) from 500 billion to prevent contagion from the fiscal problems in Greece, Ireland and Portugal spreading to bigger members such as Spain and Italy, the report said. — AFP

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MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

business

Can stocks extend their Q1 win streak?

NEW YORK: The zigzag in the stock market this past week may leave you wondering queasily: Will this quarter build on the blockbuster gains from the start of the year or wipe them away?

History suggests the winning streak will continue. Over the past 30 years, strong quarters like the one that ended in March have tended to be followed by more gains. Smaller gains, usually, but gains nonetheless. From 1982, the start of what some consider the modern era of investing, through the end of last year, there were 17 quarters in which the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 10 percent or more.

Only twice were those gains followed by a losing quarter. In both cases, the loss was small: 1.1 percent and 0.1 percent. The other 15 times, the average gain in the

subsequent quarter was 6.6 percent.

The two losses both came when the economy was just emerging from recession, periods that are ripe for market bumpiness as investors try to gauge whether the worst really is behind them.

This time around, the recession has been over for almost three years. And though the market has had quarterly swings, it has moved mostly higher.

Investors are betting that a steady, if unimpressive, expansion is under way.

The S&P gained 12 percent from January through March, its best first quarter since 1998. That followed a gain of 11 percent in the quarter before, from October through December.

And the record is also promising when the market racks up two consecutive double-digit quarters. It’s happened three other times since 1982.

Two candidates for World Bank presidency WASHINGTON: Today the directors of the World Bank will meet to decide who will be the powerful development institution’s next president. On every previous occasion, the United States has without opposition picked an American to head the World Bank, which was founded in 1944. But for the first time this year the US nominee faces a challenger.

Here are the two nominees for the job: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: nominated by her own country Nigeria as well as South Africa and Angola, the 57-year-old economist and finance minister has already spent more than two decades in numerous positions at the World Bank.

Born into an aristocratic family in southern Nigeria, she studied economics at Harvard and earned a doctorate in regional economics and development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In her most recent position at the Bank, she was managing director under outgoing president Robert Zoellick, before being drafted by the new Nigerian government to oversee financial reforms.

She is married to a surgeon, Ikemba Iweala, and they have four children. Jim Yong Kim: the US nominee, 52, was born in South Korea but grew up in rural Iowa. He studied medicine and anthropology at Harvard and taught medicine in several universities.

Between 2003 and 2007, he led a World Health Organization initiative to bring antiretroviral drugs to HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries. — AFP

Global equities are heading up!

By Hayder Tawfik KUWAIT: In some ways, it feels like the markets are now used to life post-crisis comparing to the last 3 years. Investor’s attitude and appetite have seen such enormous shift in recent years and some investors being individuals or institutions have gone to the extreme and into the relative safety of fixed income investments and some others such real estate so in doing so they have reduced or shunned equity investment completely. But I have to admit at the peak of the financial crisis it was the prudent thing to do. However, is this strategy still valid? While the markets have shaken nerves, companies have also responded by getting leaner, lighter on their feet, and essentially created better value for investors. These kinds of companies have taken actions, some very aggressively, hence their balance sheets are looking much stronger and have indeed got rewarded by some spectacular equity performances. Some of these global companies such as IBM, Coca Cola, Apple, and Google to name few, have rewarded their shareholders with excellent performances. For example IBM share price bottomed in the middle of 2008 at around $80 and today it is trading at $200.

Over the recent years, investors have increasingly shied away from investing in equities as a whole, in favor of the apparent relative safety of fixed income. One major reason for the move out of equities is their volatility and perceived risk. Huge losses have frightened many the memory of seeing their investments tumble is still fresh enough in their mind. Because equity volatility is measured and seen on daily basis this in it scares investors. However, some other asset classes are not measured or valued on daily basis so investor’s perception is that they are less or not volatile which is something not true.

Some reliable figures published recently have shown that since 2008, there has been a huge shift away from equity investments into other safer asset classes. It is not easy to quantify these movement in money terms but we can assume that billions if not trillions of $ have moved away from equities. Just imagine what will happen to the equity markets when some small percentage of that money trickles back to equity investments!

One thing has happened as a result of the investment shift is the attraction of global equities rather than just investing locally. This is very much understandable. Top quality companies themselves are increasingly becoming global equities. As companies have diversified, and become global investors have taken out a lot of the risk if investing overseas.

It is no longer important where a company is listed provided it has the competitive positioning on a global scale. This still does not make investment managers’ job any easier as we have noticed recently with some divergence in the performances of some global companies. I think the reason for this is to do with Investment Themes. So the job becomes easier if investors can pick the right stocks which fit the global Investment Themes. Investor’s nerves nous should toughen and more faith should be placed in global equities. The sense of safety that comes in the form of a fixed interest investment is in fact an illusion in today’s high inflation environment relative to what investors get on cash or fixed income investments. —Hayder Tawfik, Executive Vice President of Asset

Each time was followed by a third quarterly gain averaging about 5 percent.

Think of it as Newton’s first law of motion applied to stocks: Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted on by an external force. When investors bid the market up, they keep doing so until something stops them.

The market had plenty to worry about last year - a flare-up of the European debt crisis, fear of another recession in the United States and gridlock in Washington over tax cuts and the government’s borrowing limit.

This month, Europe has returned as a concern. Borrowing costs have risen for Italy and Spain, two countries with flagging economies. The S&P is down 2.7 percent since the second quarter started two weeks ago - its worst two weeks of the year.

But stocks are relatively cheap,

which can be a good reason to buy.

Stocks in the S&P 500 are trading at about 14.4 times earnings, according to research firm Birinyi Associates.

Over the past decade, they’ve averaged 17.1. Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P, says a good first quarter usually augurs a good year.

The last time the S&P blew a double-digit first-quarter lead was 1930, between a stock market crash and the worst of the Depression. That year, the S&P rose 17 percent in the first three months but plunged 40 percent in the last nine.

Of course, Silverblatt adds, “Today is today, and history is history.” Today, the Federal Reserve is playing an outsized role in the market’s movement.

The Fed’s third round of bond-buying ends in June, and investors are starting to worry. Bond-buying by the Fed the past three years has stimulated the

economy by keeping long-term interest rates low and has made stocks more attractive than bonds to many investors.

The Fed announced Operation Twist, a plan to drive down interest rates even further, on Sept. 21. That triggered a 29 percent rally in the S&P from Oct. 3 through April 2. Then, last Tuesday, the Fed released minutes of a meeting in March and disclosed that it is unlikely to stimulate the economy further. Many market strategists think the economy will need more help. And there are still unknowns that could upend the market, including the Supreme Court’s decision on President Barack Obama’s health care law and hotly contested changes to tax policy.

Says Jack Ablin, chief investment officer of BMO-Harris Private Bank: “This is not a market you can put away and forget.” — AP

Despite challenge, US pick favored to lead World Bank Directors meet today to fill post WASHINGTON: Despite an unprecedented challenge from two developingworld candidates, Washington’s 66-year lock on the World Bank presidency will almost certainly remain intact when directors meet today to fill the post.

Even after one of the challengers dropped out Friday to push his support to the other-Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala-they won’t be able to overcome US and European backing for the US nominee, health expert Jim Yong Kim, analysts say.

But the first-ever challenge to traditional American control of the job has signaled that, as with the International Monetary Fund, emerging economies are flexing their muscles for a bigger say in how the near seven-decade old institutions are run. Bank directors say they aim for a consensus decision when they meet formally on Monday to replace current President Robert Zoellick, the former US diplomat incumbent who is leaving in June at the end of his five year term.

The position is crucial for much of the developing world. The president oversees a staff of 9,000 economists, development experts and other policy specialists, and a loan portfolio that hit $258 billion in 2011. Last year the bank committed $43 billion to new loans and grants, helping diverse countries to develop infrastructure, administration, and key sectors of their economies.

Bank experts say Zoellick has done a good job to unite a staff who became dispirited under his predecessor Paul Wolfowitz, and credit him with energizing the bank to act during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

But they also say the institution needs

a new direction that matches the requirements of a much-changed global economic landscape. It needs a cohesive vision for the future, according to former bank staffer Katherine Marshall, now a professor of government at Georgetown University. The race was taken seriously early as the United States appeared unable to find a candidate while OkonjoIweala and Colombian economist and former finance minister Jose Antonio

previous Bank presidents, the KoreanAmerican physician is the head of the Ivy League Dartmouth College but is also known for his work with the World Health Organization on fighting AIDS in developing countries.

“It’s time for a development professional to lead the world’s largest development agency,” President Barack Obama said. Critics, however, raised doubts about Kim’s lack of experience

President Obama with Jim Yong Kim Ocampo threw their names into the hat.

Both were lauded as viable, with Okonjo-Iweala, who spent some 25 years in various positions at the bank, earning prominent endorsements. But the White House surprised all with the nomination of Kim. Not a banker or diplomat like the

across the broad realm of development economics.

But he traveled to around a dozen countries to introduce himself, apparently convincingly enough to earn solid support. Last week Bank directors interviewed the three candidates on how

they aimed to run the Bank, in a process that aimed to show that the choice is made on merit rather than old political arrangements.

That gave rise to some hopes that one of the challengers might have a chance.

Indeed, on Friday as Brazil said that the BRICS emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africawould back one candidate and Ocampo withdrew and endorsed Okonjo-Iweala, some hoped she might have a fighting chance. But Russia immediately broke ranks and endorsed Kim, almost guaranteeing that the tradition that Washington names the World Bank head and Europe supplies the leader of the IMF is likely to go unchanged. “ The only way around that is if European countries refuse to back the US candidate. In the current context, it doesn’t seem likely,” said Daniel Bradlow, a law professor at American University in Washington. But former Bank economist Uri Dadush said the emergence of a competition did count for something.

“Before, when there was only one candidate, the US backing counted for 99 percent and merit for one percent,” he said. “Now, with several candidates, merit counts more but it not the essential thing.” Peter Chowla of the Bretton Woods Project, which monitors the behavior of the World Bank and IMF, said the process only appeared to be more open. Developing countries “don’t have the requisite voting power at the Bank, because the Europeans and the Americans have stalled reforms for decades.” “We still have what is essentially an appointment by the American president,” he said. — AFP

New contract on French debt makes waves in election race PARIS: A new contract to cover risk on bonds issued by heavily-indebted France is getting a rough ride in Paris, just a week before the first round of a hotly-contested presidential election. The launch of futures trading on 10-year French bonds or “obligations assimilables au Tresor” (OAT) has fuelled allegations that speculators will target France, even though the securities might actually help the next president reduce the national debt.

Eurex, a Frankfurt-based derivatives unit of stock market operator Deutsche Boerse, will begin trading Euro-OAT Futures today, adding the instrument to a market which already exists for German and Italian debt. Leaders of French left and extreme-right parties have attacked the launch, and the head of the French stock market watchdog, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, told AFP the move did not send “a good signal”, given that many in France blame the financial sector for much of the stress in the economy.

Socialist front-running presidential candidate Francois Hollande has tapped into a long-standing strand of hostility towards markets, vowing to “dominate” the financial bogeyman as soon as the election is won. Jouyet acknowledged that the OAT futures, which allow investors to buy or sell French bonds at a predetermined date-often three months hence-and price, “can be considered speculative.”

But he also pointed out that OAT futures would be more transparent and better controlled than credit default swaps (CDS), a kind of insurance policy against sovereign defaults which are traded now in more opaque conditions. French central bank governor Christian Noyer noted Friday that the new instrument, by helping investors hedge against risk on French bonds, will boost the market, and that increased trading “could improve, in the sense of reducing, the issuer’s financing costs.”

That would be good news for the next French president, since national debt at the end of last year stood at 1.7 trillion euros ($2.2 trillion), or 85.8 percent of the country’s output, far above the EU limit of 60 percent.

Noyer dismissed arguments that OAT futures will fuel attacks against France, and pointed out that the first European future contract for public debt was launched about 20 years ago under Socialist president Francois Mitterand.

That instrument was abandoned after the euro-zone was created and futures trading based on the 10-year German bond, or Bund, became the norm.

The Bund contract is the so-called benchmark in the euro-zone because Berlin can usually borrow money at the lowest interest rates owing to confidence in its economy.

A German financial market source told AFP Friday that it was “absurd” to worry about OAT futures being used for speculation, saying that their trading volume would probably be limited to 5,000 to 10,000 contracts per day. That compared with one million per day for Bund futures, the source said.

Eurex nonetheless pointed to strong demand for an instrument based on French debt, saying in a statement: “We are responding to the great interest shown

among market participants in more customized hedging solutions.”

The OAT futures will also provide a yardstick for market sentiment with respect to German and Italian debt, the two biggest euro-zone issuers. French politicians such as Jean-Luc Melenchon of the Left Front, have attacked the contracts as a way for “banksters” to make stacks of money on the backs of French workers. Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front called the move a “financial attack” and termed the futures a weapon of “guilded fascism” being wielded by powerful banks.

Investors reply to such criticism by stressing that derivative instruments such as futures are needed by the commodity, industrial and financial sectors to manage risks and note that speculators can suffer losses as well as reap profits. —AFP

BEIJING: Chinese workers fix the tiled roof of a traditional house at Hou Hai in Beijing. —AP

26

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

business

John Stadwick presenting the trophy to Mohammed Saleh Behbehani and Mohammed Reza Behbehani.

Managers and Staff Members at Behbehani honored by General Motors.

GM Middle East honors MSRY Behbehani Behbehani declared largest standalone GMC dealer in the world KUWAIT: Mohammed Saleh and Reza Yousuf Behbehani Company were honored at a recently organized event by General Motors Middle East for their outstanding achievement of the Grand Masters Targets for the year 2011.

Present at the event were Mohammed Saleh Behbehani President and Mohammed Reza Behbehani, Vice President - MSRY Behbehani along with the rest of the Behbehani team. From General Motors Middle East, John Stadwick President and Managing Director General Motors Middle East attended the event accom-

panied by his team. The GM Grand Masters Program is designed and set by General Motors for all GM dealers across the world to maintain a high standard of service and quality required by GM. Each year the dealers are evaluated on their achievement of the Grand Masters targets based on sales volume, after sales service, parts and overall customer satisfaction. Behbehani is the winner of the 2011 Grand Masters Program with full points in all five categories of Retail Sales, Fleet Sales, Customer Relationship Management, Service and Spare Parts. Sales Director at MSRY Behbehani Co, Adel

Get Kuwait’s fastest Internet service with VIVA KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, yesterday announced new enhancements to Kuwait’s fastest internet service, which delivers data at speeds of up to 42.2 Mbps.

Viva CEO Salman Al-Badran VIVA’s 42.2 Mbps internet plan allows customers to enjoy a reliable, quick browsing and download service at home or even while they are on the move more easily than ever before. VIVA’s 42.2Mbps can be bought from any of VIVA’s 14 branches, together

with VIVA’s all new high speed internet USB modem. Internet users can enjoy up to 42.2Mbps as maximum internet speed and 7.2Mbps as minimum speed. VIVA’s unbeatable network speed allows customers to choose the price and package that suits them most. Prices start from KD 1 and up to KD 18 for VIVA’s Surf On and Internet Broadband package which allows prepaid and postpaid customers unlimited internet access. Should customers exceed their free data usage, they can still stream through the internet and access social media websites as well as chatting freely and be charged only for the excess they use.

VIVA’s CEO, Salman Bin Abdul Aziz AlBadran said: “VIVA has always taken pride in its high speed and reliable internet services.

Our network, which covers all regions in Kuwait, has now been upgraded so that our customers can benefit from the latest mobile broadband technologies as well as addressing the increasing demand from them for high internet speed. It is our goal to meet our customers’ every expectation and to lead the development of the telecommunications sector in Kuwait in doing so.” For more information about VIVA’s latest promotions customers can visit any of VIVA’s 14 branches or authorized dealers, or simply visit the website www.viva.com.kw

Joyalukkas announces exciting offers for auspicious Akshaya Tritiya KUWAIT: Joyalukkas, the world’s favorite jeweler is all set to celebrate Akshaya Tritiya, with a variety of offers and exclusive designs that have been specially tailored for this auspicious day. Akshaya Tritiya, is considered an auspicious day by the Indian community, who believe that valuables bought on this special day will bring them prosperity, luck and success. Since a gift in gold is considered very auspicious and lucky on this special day, all Joyalukkas customers shopping on the auspicious days of April 22, 23 and 24 for KD 400, or its equivalent, at any Joyalukkas showrooms across the GCC, will receive a free gold coin.

“Majority of Indians consider gold as the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity and they celebrate the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya by purchasing jewelry. It is believed that purchase of jewelry during Akshaya Tritiya brings in good luck and prosperity.

Since getting a gift in gold is considered as a blessing for prosperity, we have decided to gift our valued customers a free gold coin on purchases made during this auspicious period. I take this opportunity to wish our customers and all the Indian community celebrating Akshaya Tritiya, good health, wealth and prosperity,” said Joy Alukkas, Chairman & MD, Joyalukkas Group.

In addition to the gift of the free gold coin, Joyalukkas will offer an incredible 50 percent discount on purchase of diamond and polki jewelry from April 12, 2012 to April 25. For Akshaya Tritiya, Joyalukkas has planned an exciting collection of 25 plus special necklace sets, bangles, earrings and pendants, which have been specially designed for the celebration. The celebratory designs will be available

under their popular brands like Eleganza, DiRoyale, Tyohaar, Mirage, Bouquet, Ratna, Antique, Navaratna, Sumangal, Masaaki and Teens & Twenties. Special prices have been planned on each of the celebration designs and collections to make the occasion extra special for customers.

“Akshaya Tritiya is special for our customers and we have taken all steps to ensure they get the best for the celebration at Joyalukkas. Our offers and choice of products have been designed to meet the expectation of all jewelry shoppers and make the occasion special for them,” said John Paul Joy Alukkas, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Group.

Joyalukkas, an ISO certified group with 85 showrooms in nine countries across the world Joyalukkas, has been awarded the Superbrand status, 3 years in a row in the UAE.

Behbehani said, “Our achievements have not come to us by chance but as a result of sheer dedication and determination of our team over the years who continuously strive to achieve the loyalty of our customers through a combination of excellent services from all sections, be it sales, service or spare parts. “ Last year MSYR Behbehani achieved landmark sales figures and was declared the largest standalone GMC dealer and achiever of the highest GMC Sierra sales volume in the world. “Behbehani is almost 2000 units ahead of its closest competitor in the US and the

biggest contributor to the total GMC sales volume from Middle East,” stated John Stadwick.

“We feel really honored by this award but I believe the biggest award for any achievement is the desire to achieve more and I am confident that we will outperform ourselves this year,” added Adel Behbehani.

Certificates of appreciation were distributed by MSRY Behbehani to its employees for individual achievements. The evening concluded with a raffle draw, which was held for the employees who took home valuable prizes.

Commercial Facilities Co reports KD 14.2m profit Company assets grow 3.2% in 2011 KUWAIT: The Commercial Facilities Company (SAK) (CFC) announced yesterday that its General Assembly has reviewed and approved the audited financial statements for the year 2011. CFC achieved profits of KD 14.2 million and the growth of the company’s assets is 3.2% for 2011 which was released recently according to its 33rd Annual Report.

In spite of fluctuations in the economic and political situation and the weak performance of the Kuwait Stock Exchange as well as the continuation of the low interest on the KD last year, CFC has achieved a net profit of KD 14.2 million.

Based on the realized profits of the year the Board of Directors proposed to the General Assembly the distribution of a cash dividend of 22% (22 fils per share) , the General Assembly has consented this recommendation.

CFC Chairman and Managing Director Abdullah

Saud Al-Humaidhi said: “Our strong performance in a challenging business environment is a reflection of the company’s resilience and strength. Despite the market challenges, we have been able to achieve the plan and 2011 has been another good year for CFC. “We are constantly endeavoring to improve and innovate our product offerings in line with the demands and expectations of the market. We will continue, as a team, to strive towards achieving our corporate goals to ensure quality service to our customers and create value for our shareholders.”

The company’s financing operations during the year included a bonds issue amounting to KD 50 million, with an interest rate of CBK discount rate plus 1.4% payable quarterly in arrears. The bonds will be redeemed in eight quarterly installments from 14 March 2014 to 14 December 2015. In addition, the company arranged for Kuwaiti dinar loans amount-

ing to KD 17 million and US dollar loans amounting to $95 million.

CFC was established in 1977 as the first Kuwaiti closed shareholding company specializing in offering consumer loans in Kuwait. It has developed its business to become the leading specialist provider of consumer credit in its local market, and is also the largest consumer finance company in Kuwait.

Commercial Facilities Company (CFC) was established in 1977 as the first Kuwaiti closed shareholding company with an initial capital of KD 3.8million ($12.7million). It specialized in providing installment credit facilities to finance consumer and commercial products. CFC plays a major role in the development of the financial and consumer goods industry. It is one of the leading companies in offering installment credit facilities, car financing, and personal cash loans.

Casio Timepiece establishing global brands with individuality KUWAIT: Abdul Aziz Saud Al-Babtain & Sons for Electrical and Electronics Co launched a conference for Casio Watch dealers in Kuwait, in the presence of Ahmed Marhaba, the Executive General Manager of the company and the delegation of Casio Computer Co, Ltd Tokyo, Japan, Tsuneo Nagai.

Ahmad opened the conference with a speech where he welcomed the attendees and reviewed the objectives of the conference and its importance praising the efforts of Casio Computer Co, Ltd Tokyo, Japan in the development of the marketing process in Middle East and the Arabian Gulf and power behind the best watches that have the highest levels of global technology. Tsuneo Nagai addressed the attendees: At Casio, we are vigorously developing our timepiece business with using a combination of highly original product development and unique marketing activities, while pursuing our business philosophy of “Moving Time Forward”.

Then he added: In order to bring even more individuality to our timepiece brands, we are developing products based on our MultiMission Drive concept. This enables watch functions to be utilized to their fullest extent, based on the electronics technology we have developed over the years at Casio.

In the area of marketing, Casio is pursuing worldwide development of the “Global fan creation” Concept, while carrying out activities that introduce people everywhere to Casio’s one-of-a-kind expertise in product creation.

Tsuneo Nagai explained saying: This year, we have adopted the theme of “Smart access to Smart functions”. Smart Access is Casio’s original system for delivering advanced, highly functional watches that are still simple and intuitive to use. This system can be found in the latest additions to our G-shock, Protrek and EDIFICE brands. Noteworthy of their use of innovated advanced technologies, these

brands leading the way in cultivating new user benefits for next era of Timepiece business worldwide.

Then he added: For your better understanding for our state of the art model GWA1000-1A, a new watch to be released by Aug 2012 for the export markets and will be added to Casio’s G-Shock watch family, it is highly practical for pilots, featuring triple resist construction, “smart access” making running the time functions easier than ever with an electronic crown switch and 5 individual motors to show world times very fast and many more.

He concluded saying: “We carry wide range of products to cover consumers worldwide and our timepiece total annual sales in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 is expected to be around 87billion yen. With our plan of further business expansion in the Middle East market, we expect increase of total sales in 2012 fiscal year again,” he added.

Burgan Bank announces Names of daily lucky winners KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the five lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000. Winners’ names will also be announced through Marina FM on a daily basis during their prime shows.

The lucky winners for the five daily draws took home a cash-prize of KD 5000 each, and they are: 1- Thamer Emad Abdulaziz Almutawaa 2- Abd Alamer Faisal Mahmoud Awadh Behbehani 3- Ali Mohd Kol Mohd 4- Soud Mohammad Soud Al Humaidan 5- Anoushirauann Herand Nazariyan The newly re-launched Yawmi Account is better, easier and faster than any day before. With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account.

Customers are also required to deposit KD 100 or equivalent only to enter the daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD 10.

The newly designed Yawmi account has been launched to provide a highly innovative offering along with a higher frequency and incentive of winning for everyone. Today, the Yawmi account is a well understood product, where its popularity can be seen from the number of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances to becoming a daily winner. The more customers deposit, the higher the chances they receive of winning the draw.

Opening a Yawmi account is simple, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and receive all the details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on the Yawmi account or any of the bank’s products and services, or log on to Burgan Bank’s www.burgan.com for further information.

27

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

Estonian robots boost global online clothing market TALLINN: Fashion fans have one more reason to swap brick-and-mortar shops for online retailers: a company in tech-savvy Estonia has come up with a way to let you try on new clothes on your own computer.

The Fits.me company aims to end the guessing game about size and spare online shops heaps of returned goods thanks to shape-shifting robotic mannequins-which can grow from slim to muscular in moments-combined with a technology invented by Estonian universities. “When I wanted to buy clothes online a few years ago, it took time to figure out at Timberland my size is S, at Lacoste and Levi it’s M, but at Abercrombie and Fitch I am XXL,” said Heikki Haldre, its co-founder.

“Our robots and the Virtual Fitting Room technology have solved the main problem that online clothing retailers face-the lack of

a fitting room,” added the 36-year-old. The technology created by two Estonian universities allows online shoppers to enter their body measurements to instantly see how snug an S size would be for them, or how loosely an XXL shirt would fit them.

What makes this possible is the data from Fits.me, which tests garments on the variable robotic mannequins to map how a particular brand’s clothes would look on people of different dimensions. The robots can take on about 100,000 different body shapes, though only about 2,000 are being used for commercial purposes.

The technology has already attracted the world’s largest online fashion retailer Otto, men’s luxury brand Ermenegildo Zegna and US retailer Park & Bond, among others.

Fits.me says its surveys have shown that retailers using the technology had regis-

tered an average 57-percent increase in sales-and a 35-percent drop in volumes of returned goods. “Customers are responding well to the tool and it seems to be helping convert new customers,” said Nadine Sharara, head of e-commerce at British retailer Thomas Pink, which has been using the technology since autumn 2011.

Fits.me comes from the small but technologically advanced Estonia, which has been driving the e-revolution for years with inventions such as Skype. The company is made up of 32 humans and 14 robots, as Haldre puts it. ‘Ground-breaking business model’- Fashion retail was undergoing a major change, he said: research suggested that one in four clothes shops on the high street could face closure in less than eight years as sales moved online. “ While in 2000 only two percent of

2011 and industry watchers were quick to catch on. Vogue fashion magazine picked the company as one of the 100 most influential names in the digital fashion world in their 2012 Online Fashion 100 power list.

“Fits.me is an excellent example of a ground-breaking business model, using the Internet and the best in service delivery to deliver to people swiftly the clothes that they want,” David Lidington, Britain’s minister for Europe, said during his recent trip to Tallinn. But Haldre knows his company still has a long way to go, as thousands of online retailers are still struggling with unhappy customers returning their garments.

“On average, it takes six to eight weeks to launch the technology at an online retailer, so we’ll have to work hard to introduce the Estonian robots to thousands or even just hundreds of retailers,” he said.—AFP

clothes were bought online in developed countries, the share is now 10-13 percent and it is expected to increase to 35 percent by 2020,” he said, citing international surveys. “In 2012, about one in eight garments are sold via the Internet. Customers will return one in four, mainly because the size they received did not fit,” says Haldre. That rate of return is a headache for both retailers and brands: since fashion is seasonal, returned garments cannot be sold at full value-and large numbers of unhappy customers are bad for business.

A survey commissioned by Fits.me showed that 74 percent of online clothes shoppers with a negative experience were less likely to buy from the shop again, with a third unlikely to buy from the same brand’s shops on the high street.

Fits.me launched the technology in early

Global patent wars plague Internet Age Trial to begin in new litigation today

The Huntsville Center for Technology team 1 gets airborne over one of the last obstacles as the 19th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race continued Saturday at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. —AP

Oops: Glitch forces extension for new suffixes NEW YORK: You’re probably familiar with “.com” and “.org.” How about “.oops”?

A technical glitch forced the abrupt shutdown of a system for letting companies and organizations propose new Internet domain name suffixes. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which is in charge of domain names, said some private data may have been exposed.

ICANN has been taking applications for new suffixes to join “.com” and others in use. Up to 1,000 domain name suffixes could be added each year in the most sweeping change to the domain name system since its creation in the 1980s.

The idea is to let Las Vegas hotels, casinos and other attractions congregate around “.Vegas,” or a company such as Canon Inc. draw customers to “cameras.Canon” or “printers.Canon.” The new system will also make Chinese, Japanese and Swahili versions of “.com” possible. The application deadline had been Thursday, but ICANN decided to shut the system down early after discovering the glitch. The system will reopen Tuesday, and the deadline has been extended to next Friday.

ICANN said the software glitch “allowed a limited number of users to view some other users’ file names and user names in certain scenarios.” It wasn’t immediately clear

whether that included proprietary information on the names of the bidders and their proposed suffixes. ICANN officials said Friday they had no immediate comment beyond the posted statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, we took the system offline to protect applicant data,” Chief Operating Officer Akram Atallah wrote on ICANN’s website. “We are examining how this issue occurred and considering appropriate steps forward.” The glitch did not affect general availability of the Internet’s domain name system - the databases that let Internet-connected computers know where to send email and locate websites. It also did not affect the ability to register new names under existing suffixes. Rather, the glitch was with the software ICANN had set up to take applications for new suffixes.

After several years of discussion, ICANN opened a three-month application window in January. Names of bidders and proposed suffixes were to remain confidential until April 30, when ICANN had been scheduled to release the list for public comments and objections. It’s not clear whether that date will be changed because of the deadline extension. The delay shouldn’t have a major effect on the availability of new suffixes, as the new names wouldn’t appear in general use until at least next spring anyhow. —AP

Sony turnaround plan ‘no great shakes’ TOKYO: Sony has little chance of winning back its reputation as an innovator or vaulting ahead of stronger rivals with the “ordinary” turnaround plan its new chief unveiled last week, analysts said.

On Thursday, the firm’s leader Kazuo Hirai said the “urgent” revamp of Sony’s business would cost nearly $1.0 billion this year and mean 10,000 job cuts, as it looks to staunch multi-billion dollar losses. Hirai outlined a blueprint to slash costs at Sony’s struggling television division, while boosting the image of its Bravia TV brand.

Sony’s reforms, in addition to cutting about 6.0 percent of its workforce, also include expanding its PlayStation and online games business, as well as pushing further into emerging markets and new sectors, such as medical equipment and life sciences.

“Now is the time for Sony to change,” Hirai, who replaced Welsh-born US chief executive Howard Stringer earlier this year, said from the company’s Tokyo headquarters. “What is urgent is that we strengthen our core businesses while rebuilding our TV business.” But Hirai’s plan received a collective yawn from analysts, while unimpressed investors pushed Sony shares about 5.5 percent lower Friday amid doubts it would be enough to save the company that invented the Walkman. “I had been expecting no surprise and, as expected, it turned out to be no great shakes,” Nobuo Kurahashi, analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities, told AFP. “It was the ordinary ‘selection and focus’

strategy... It only gives us uncertainty when the company puts the fields where it is losing at the centre of its business strategy. We cannot have high hopes at the moment.” A consumer electronics analyst, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said Sony had little choice but to focus on consumer gadgets such as the video game offerings for which it was once synonymous.

“They are the areas that have growth and profit potential,” he said. “(But) it would be difficult to give consumers the same impact as the one that PlayStation had when it first hit the market... The company needs to show how it will differentiate its products (from rivals).” Sony, along with Japan’s other electronics giants including Panasonic and Sharp, has been fighting a losing battle for years against fierce competition offered up by rivals including South Korea’s Samsung and US-based Apple. Falling prices, particularly in the television segment, have eaten away at their bottom line as a strong yen made their products more expensive overseas while a stuttering global economy also knocked sales. “Sony lacks the scale of Samsung. It lacks the cost edge of Samsung and (Taiwan smartphone maker) HTC,” N. Venkat Venkatraman, a professor at Boston University’s School of Management, said about the plan in printed remarks. “It needs to develop a vision of media and entertainment to rival Apple and deliver it at a price point that is acceptable to the growth markets (India and China).” —AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: The Internet Age is becoming as known for patent litigation as it is for online innovation. From the makers of computer chips to creators of smartphones and designers of videogames, rivalries have spread from marketplaces to courtrooms with combatants warring over rights to use technology. “For many years, there was basically a stalemate in the patents arms race with an understanding that companies wouldn’t sue each other,” said Colleen Chien, a law professor at Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley.

“That was disrupted by a new business model of patent assertion,” she continued. “It has become acceptable to violate the gentlemen’s agreement of not suing and now it is the new norm.” The break in the unofficial truce was inspired in part by “patent trolls,” entities that buy or file patents with the sole intent of some day suing entrepreneurs who use the ideas. Ranks of patent trolls are growing, as is the number of large companies turning to patent litigation not just to cash-in but to gain or protect market terrain, according to Chien.

“What do you call an AOL or a dying company that turns to patent lawsuits?” she asked rhetorically. “Do they become corporate trolls?”

Struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo! last month filed a lawsuit against Facebook accusing the social networking star of infringing on 10 of its patents.

The suit claimed that “Facebook’s entire social network model, which allows users to create profiles and connect with, among other things, persons and businesses, is based on Yahoo!’s patented social networking technology.” Facebook returned fire with a countersuit accusing Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo! of being the one infringing on

patents, and not the other way around.

Even business software giant Oracle has weighed in. A trial will get underway today in a patent case Oracle filed against Google based on software used in Android operating systems.

As patent suits proliferate, Internet firms with ample war chests are spending small fortunes to arm themselves with portfolios purchased from technology companies selling off intellectual assets.

AOL last week announced plans to sell more than 800 patents to Microsoft in a $1.056 billion deal giving the faded Internet star a needed cash injection. Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said that the software giant is getting “a valuable portfolio that we have been following for years.” Facebook in March confirmed that it bought 750 software and networking patents from IBM to beef up it arsenal on an increasingly lawsuit-strewn technology battlefield.

Early this year, Google bought 188 patents and 29 patent applications related to mobile phones from IBM but did not disclose how much it paid.

Last year, IBM sold Google 2,000 or so patents ranging from mobile software to computer hardware and processors. Google has been strengthening its patent portfolio as the fight for dominance in the booming smartphone and tablet computer markets increasingly involves patent lawsuits - with Apple a prime litigator.

The Mountain View, California, technology titan behind Android mobile device software last year transferred patents to smartphone giant HTC Corp. to help the Taiwan-based company in an intellectual property clash with iPhone maker Apple.

Apple has accused HTC and other smartphone makers using Google’s Android mobile

operating system of infringing on Apple-held patents.

Some of the patents that HTC got from Google had belonged to Motorola Mobility, which Google is buying for $12.5 billion in cash in a quest for precious patents. “Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies,” Google chief executive Larry Page said when the Motorola Mobility buy was announced.

Motorola Mobility chief executive Sanjay Jha told financial analysts the US maker of smartphones and touchscreen tablet computers has over 17,000 issued patents and another 7,500 pending.

Meanwhile, Apple and Microsoft allied in a consortium that outbid Google to buy thousands of patents from bankrupt Nortel Corp. in what was branded the largest transfer of intellectual property of the Internet Age. “The reality is, there is more and more liability in making a product,” Chien said. “Companies like Google and Facebook with few patents but big roles in the marketplace have the most to lose.”

Patent suits in hot Internet markets are not necessarily bad news for consumers, provided that companies cashing in use windfalls to develop even more innovative products, according to Chien.

Managing patents could also become a potential source of competitive advantage for startups.

“The Facebook example shows that you can go out and buy patent protection,” Chien said. “It is only when you are making money that you become interesting as a target, and when you are making money you can afford to buy patents.” —AFP

DuPont’s armored car kit a hit in Brazil

Yahoo CEO to outline his strategy with Q1 results SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson is expected to elaborate on his turnaround plans when the beleaguered Internet company releases its firstquarter results.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The report, scheduled to be released after the stock market closes tomorrow, is expected to show Yahoo Inc. remains in a malaise that has been hobbling its stock for years. Unless there is a big surprise in the first-quarter numbers, investors are more likely to be focused on what Thompson says during a conference call that will be held shortly after the report comes out. Thompson has promised to use the call as a forum for explaining his vision after laying off 2,000 employees, or about 14 percent of Yahoo’s workforce, earlier this month.

Most investors seemed to believe the cuts were long overdue, but now they want to know how Thompson intends to revive Yahoo’s revenue growth with fewer resources.

Figuring out how to snap Yahoo out of its financial funk is a problem that three other CEOs haven’t been able to figure out during the past five years. Yahoo lured Thompson away from eBay Inc.’s PayPal payment service three months ago in hopes that he would come up with a better plan. Thompson has offered few concrete details so far. He has made it clear that Yahoo needs to do a better job of analyzing the data that the company collects about its website’s 700 million monthly visitors so it can sell more advertising. He also believes Yahoo needs to focus on improving its mobile services as people increasingly surf the Web on smartphones and tablet computers instead of desktop and laptop computers.

In an effor t to spur more rapid innovation, Thompson is streamlining Yahoo’s management to minimize bureaucracy. He also is trying to sharpen the company’s focus on his top priorities, a process that may lead to the sale of some Yahoo services. —AP

NEW YORK: Would you bulletproof a Kia? If you live in Brazil, the answer could very well be yes - to guard against robbers at stop signs in Sao Paulo or traffic jams in Brasilia.

Armor plating isn’t just for aristocrats anymore as the world’s seventh-largest economy grapples with high rates of kidnapping, murder and robbery. DuPont, widely known as a chemical maker, introduced its bulletproof Kevlar fiber and SentryGlas car kit Armura in 2008 to middle class Brazilian families with Chevrolets, Hondas and yes, even low-cost Kias.

Now, it wants to bulletproof taxis that will shuttle visitors between events for the 2014 World Cup soccer championship and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic games.

“We wanted to bring a solution to a family that wants protection but doesn’t have money to afford classic car armor,” said Carlos Benatto, business manager for DuPont Armura.

Armura, sold only in Brazil, protects against bullets up to .38 caliber. Sales rose 70 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with 2011. DuPont said annual sales of Armura amounted to tens of millions of US dollars, but it declined to be more specific. Sales for the company’s Safety & Protection unit, which makes Armura, rose 17 percent in 2011 to $3.9 billion.

The kit costs about $12,000 (21,984 reais), weighs roughly 200 pounds (90 kilograms), and takes 15 days to install. A DuPont-approved technician replaces a car’s windows with SentryGlas, and puts Kevlar panels behind the door panels.

Because it relatively light weight, the kit does not cut fuel efficiency, DuPont said.

Many middle-class families might struggle to afford Armura, which adds roughly 30 percent to the 59,900 reais ($32,790) cost of a Kia Soul, but alternatives could prove to be more expensive. DuPont said that more than 100 mechanics in Brazil offer car armoring services, cobbling together parts from different vendors that cost twice as much as Armura. Some of them might incorporate Kevlar.

Developed by DuPont in 1965, Kevlar is the industry standard for bulletproofing

door panels, but it is also used in flak jackets, socks and tires. DuPont has even developed a Kevlar tornado and hurricane shelter. DuPont’s bet that customers would like the convenience of one kit designed to seamlessly integrate with their cars is also paying off not only because Armura can be installed in 11 vehicles, including Toyota’s Corolla and the Chevrolet Cruze made by General Motors.

DuPont said it is also talking to automakers about installing Armura in new vehicles.

Alexandre Sarafian, a 25-year-old sporting goods retailer in Sao Paulo, decided to bulletproof a Kia Sportage for his mother, even though he wanted to buy a different car, because the Sportage is compatible with Armura. “This is to get away from the day-to-day violence ... which should be diminishing, but it’s not,” said Sarafian.

“Bulletproofing can get expensive, and you don’t really recover that cost when you sell the car. So it’s better not to pay so much.”

In Brazil, high rates of petty and violent crimes have fueled the demand for security products and services. In Salvador, the country’s third-largest city, the murder rate has more than doubled over the past year, in part because of a police strike.

Brazilians spend roughly $8 billion every year on private security, according to Brazil’s biggest private guards’ union.

That’s as much as the US government spent on security contractors during the first four years of the Iraq war, data from the US Congressional Budget Office showed.

Armura protects against most handguns commonly used in Brazil, Benatto said.

Sao Paulo’s notorious traffic is partly a consequence of crime, as people too scared to take public transportation choose to drive. But thieves have discovered that traffic jams provide opportunities to prey upon the public.

“This is the type of thing we’re trying to prevent,” said Benatto. Armura’s success in Brazil has exceeded DuPont’s expectations, so the company is planning to bring the kit to at least two other countries, but it would not name them. —Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Tuna linked to salmonella outbreak in 20 states WASHINGTON: A yellowfin tuna product used to make dishes like sushi and sashimi sold at restaurants and grocery stores has been linked with an outbreak of salmonella that has sickened more than 100 people in 20 states and the District of Columbia, federal health authorities said Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration said 116 illnesses have been reported, including 12 people who have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Moon Marine USA Corp of Cupertino, Calif., also known as MMI, is

voluntarily recalling 58,828 pounds of frozen raw yellowfin tuna. It was labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA when it was sold to grocery stores and restaurants and is scraped off the fish bones and looks like a ground product.

The product is not available for sale to individual consumers but may have been used to make sushi, sashimi, ceviche and similar dishes available in restaurants and grocery stores. Many of the people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as “spicy tuna,”

the FDA said. Reports of the food borne illness caused by salmonella bareilly have mainly come from the Eastern Seaboard and South, though cases have been reported as far west as Missouri and Texas.

As of Friday, illness had been reported these states and the District of Columbia: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (5), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), As Georgia (5), Illinois (10), Louisiana (2), Maryland (11), Massachusetts (8), Mississippi (1), Missouri (2), New Jersey (7), New York

(24), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (5), South Carolina (3), Texas (3), Virginia (5), and Wisconsin (12).

The memo notes there is likely a 30-day lag time between when people become sick and when cases are reported to health officials. The raw yellowfin tuna product may have passed through several distributors before reaching the restaurant and grocery market and may not be clearly labeled. Previous outbreaks of salmonella bareilly have been linked to bean

sprouts, which are grown in warm, damp conditions. The most common symptoms of salmonella are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight to 72 hours of eating the contaminated food. The illness can be severe or even life-threatening for infants, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. The FDA recommended that people be cautious about eating raw seafood, inquire about the source and “when in doubt, don’t eat it.” — AP

Understanding autoimmune disorders Three-fourths of cases are women

San Francisco startup turns data science into a sport SAN FRANCISCO: Strange secrets hide in numbers. For instance, an orange used car is least likely to be a lemon. This particular unexpected finding came to light courtesy of a data jockey who goes by the Internet alias SirGuessalot, who in fact wasn’t guessing at all. Instead, he and his partner, PlanetThanet, relied on the hard math skills that make them top contenders in a sport tailor-made for the 21st century: competitive number-crunching. The used car defect prediction contest is one of dozens hosted

by San Francisco online startup Kaggle, whose creators believe they can tap the global geek population’s instinct for oneupmanship to mine better answers faster from the world’s ever-rising mountain of data.

“Competitions bring together a wide variety of people into a wide variety of problems,” said Jeremy Howard, who became Kaggle’s president and chief scientist after winning multiple competitions himself. “You get people looking at stuff they’d never look at otherwise.” While the used car contest was fun, Kaggle has its eye on weightier scientific problems. In one contest, an English major who trained himself in data science built a model for predicting the progress of HIV infections in individual patients. In another, a scientist who studies glaciers for a living won a NASA-backed Kaggle competition to measure the shapes of galaxies by mapping the universe’s dark matter.

The data problems that need solving are so important that those who find the solutions should be paid like professional athletes, said Kaggle founder Anthony Goldbloom. By turning data-mining into a crowdsourced contest, he hopes he’s created a way to make that happen. Already one of Kaggle’s contests offers a multimillion dollar prize. “We want to see the best data scientists earning more than Tiger Woods,” said Goldbloom, who started the company in his native Australia and recently came to San Francisco’s South of Market startup haven. The job market for mathematicians and statisticians has become hot as the sheer volume of data generated by ever faster, cheaper com-

puting resources explodes.

Data storage has become so inexpensive that a 2011 McKinsey and Co. report estimated that a disk drive capable of storing all the world’s music would cost about $600. Walmart stores 10 times more data on customer transactions and other parts of its operation than is contained in the entire Library of Congress, according to the same report. Analyzing the so-called “big data” deluge has become a key task for businesses in an effort to divine everything from which ads online customers will click to how much inventory they need to maintain. Political candidates analyze data to predict voting patterns. Dating websites try to predict ideal mates.

Kaggle competitions focus on creating and testing formulas that can be used to make predictions based on the contents of giant datasets. The more accurate the formula, the better the chances it will accurately provide answers to complex questions, such as the orange used car being the least likely to break down. Goldbloom argues that no matter how many data scientists companies hire, relying on in-house data talent means companies can’t know if they’re getting the best solution. In a Kaggle contest, competitors find out as soon as they submit their solutions how they stack up against fellow contestants.

They can keep trying for the duration of the typically three-month contests, which are highlighted on the company web site.

As the first entries come in, the accuracy of competing models improves by leaps, Goldbloom said. As the contests progress, the improvement curve flattens out.

Goldbloom and Howard believe that shows the competitive approach pushes data scientists toward the best solutions within human reach. “Crowdsourcing allows you to squeeze data dry,” Goldbloom said. Not all competitions are open to all comers, however. About 33,000 contestants have taken part in Kaggle’s public competitions, where prize money tends to top out at around $10,000. Winners can get invited to participate in elite private contests, which may include access to sensitive private data sets.—AP

Improving OHS is everybody’s business

T

he success of a company lies in healthy and motivated human resources.

Maintaining a safe and healthy workplace is therefore as much in a company’s’ selfinterest as is business strategy or energy efficiency. Efficient management of occupational health and safety is not only crucial from an ethical and Corporate Social Responsibility point of view, but also from a financial perspective, as well as to meet applicable regulatory guidelines.

Understanding the importance of the health and safety of workers, many companies emphasize that the health of workers is an essential prerequisite in the productivity of a business. A planned approach to hazard identification leads to the need to manage the hazard effectively. Otherwise, what is the point of identifying any risk if it is then ignored?

Under the esteemed patronage of Ministry of Health Kuwait, The 3rd Annual OHS Forum 2012, a prestigious occupational health and safety conference and workshop program, will be held between 7 - 9 May at The Palms Beach Hotel and Spa. The forum is designed to explore the most significant challenges, developments and policies pertaining to occupational safety and making the workplace a healthy and illness-free environment.

Supported by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, UK, and the GCC Health Ministers Council, the forum is accredited by the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization, Ministry of Health, Kuwait where attending delegates can earn 15 CME/CPD credits. Speaking about the event,

Dr AbdelLatif Elmor, Advisor for Occupational Health and Safety with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said, “This forum is the biggest in Kuwait. It addresses the various occupational health issues faced by the Oil and Gas sectors, as well as other industries, in a comprehensive manner. I strongly recommend all Occupational Health and Safety professionals, as well as senior management from petroleum companies, meet the distinguished experts and speakers from across the world coming together at this conference.” Dr Elmor is presenting a paper on “Health Promotion & the Occupational Health System” at the conference.

Dr Sameer Al Haddad, Head of Occupational Health Group at Ministry of Health, Bahrain, will speak on the subject of “Ergonomic Risk Factors and Ergonomic Risk Controls” at the conference, about which he stated, “This forum promotes the science and practice of addressing health hazards in the workplace as well as looking to the challenges, and seeking new strategies to create safer and healthier work environments.” During the three day summit, Occupational Health and Safety Experts from the leading conglomerates in Construction, Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Oil and Gas, Power, Utilities and Aviation companies will share their insight and experiences on successful practices being deployed.

Presentations dealing with a variety of issues such as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), cultural diversity, attitudes, ergonomics and workplace environment considerations, are among those to be delivered.

DALLAS: Kathy Krolikowski of Frisco, Texas, suspected something was wrong long before her doctors did. Every time she said her body ached, she was told she was working too hard or not exercising enough. It took three years before she heard, just as she had suspected, that she had the same autoimmune disorder that had afflicted her mother: rheumatoid arthritis.

Autoimmune disease, which disproportionately strikes women, is easy to miss, says Dr Neelay Gandhi, a family practitioner on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, who took over Krolikowski’s care six months ago.

That’s because the general symptoms of fatigue and achiness are common, and autoimmune disease can take many forms, including lupus, thyroid disorders and multiple sclerosis, he says. In autoimmune disorders, an immune system attacks the healthy tissues it was designed to protect. Getting an early diagnosis can be crucial because the damage the disease causes generally can be stopped or slowed, but not reversed.

Krolikowski, 64, says that’s why she advises women to be persistent when something feels wrong and to find a doctor who will be attentive to their concerns. “Sometimes it’s hard to keep going in when you think, ‘They don’t believe me. What am I going to do?’” she says.

Dr Noel Rose, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Autoimmune Disease Research in Baltimore, has spent decades advocating for increased recognition of autoimmune diseases, which he says afflict an estimated 20 million Americans. Three-fourths of those cases are women; the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health describes it as the underlying cause of more than 100 serious, chronic diseases, and it was cited in the American Journal of Public Health in 2000 as being one of the top 10 leading causes of death among women 65 and younger.

The hope for cures lies in finding the common roots for the diseases that continue to be treated in a “scattershot” way by a variety of specialists as separate conditions, says Rose, co-author of the Encyclopedia of Autoimmune Diseases. Rose would like to see autoimmune disease recognized as an umbrella for these various conditions, just as cancer is used to describe a wide array of diseases with an underlying cause. In fact, the more we understand about autoimmune disease, the better we will understand cancer because they’re opposite ends of the same problem, he says. Cells are too quick to attack healthy tissue in autoimmune disorders and too slow to fight in cancer, allowing harmful tissue to grow out of control. “Autoimmune diseases are rela-

BURLESON: Elizabeth Brammer receives her monthly transfusions by her home health aide inside her home.

For Brammer, finding out she had neuromyelitis optica, or NMO, came as a shock, a relief and a vindication that she was right to push her doctors into investigating her case further for so many years. —MCT tively common, and people should be aware that they’re as much a threat to their health as cancer and heart disease,” Rose says.

Dr Benjamin Greenberg, a neurologist and assistant professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, sees great promise in the Boston-based Accelerated Cure Project. While it focuses primarily on supporting the latest research on multiple sclerosis, the studies can provide insight into other autoimmune disorders, he says. He also encourages patients to check clinicaltrials.gov, where patients can learn about the latest drugs being studied for various conditions. Greenberg says research suggests that some important risk factors for autoimmune disorders are vitamin D deficiency, smoking, genetics, toxins in the environment and poor nutrition. Current cures involve killing or suppressing the cells. One exciting idea on the horizon involves drugs that can retrain cells to not attack healthy tissue, he says.

An intriguing area to explore is why women suffer disproportionately from autoimmune disorders.

Experts speculate that because hormones tend to stimulate immune responses, women’s major hormonal swings may play a significant role in many, though not all forms, of the disease (Type 1 diabetes actually occurs more often in males).

Women seem to be at greatest risk during their childbearing years.

Good communication between doctor and patient can prove key to navigating this disease, Greenberg says. In neuromyelitis optica, a rare autoimmune disorder that attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord, he learned, many patients reported

incidents of vomiting or frequent hiccups before the symptoms manifested themselves. Now when he takes a patient’s history, he asks about hiccups and vomiting. “If they have this condition and you catch it early, you can prevent them from losing their vision or becoming quadriplegic,” he says.

Elizabeth Brammer, 30, of Burleson didn’t have anyone around to ask her questions like that when she was 11 and began struggling off and on with her eyesight. Her symptoms were dismissed at first as a plea for attention and were later mistakenly diagnosed as multiple sclerosis.

Due to the lack of proper treatment, she lost vision in one eye while in college.

She finally got the correct diagnosis from a neurologist in New York four years ago. Since moving to Texas in 2010, she has been under the care of Greenberg, who prescribes regular, preventive immunosuppressive medications that have prevented a flare-up, attack or relapse during her pregnancy with her twin boys.

Gavin and Garrison turned 1 on March 24, and she continues to be in remission. For Brammer, finding out she had neuromyelitis optica, or NMO, came as a shock, a relief and a vindication that she was right to push her doctors into investigating her case further for so many years. “I was overwhelmed. I cried because at least I had found a compass as opposed to rolling around in circles not knowing what to think or what in the world was going on.

It’s terrifying that I have NMO, but at least now I am under the proper care.”

Lupus: The immune system cre-

ates an antibody that can damage any part of the body, but most commonly the joints, skin, kidneys, heart and lungs. Symptoms include fever, weight loss, hair loss, mouth sores, fatigue, rashes, painful or swollen joints and muscles, sensitivity to the sun, chest pain, headache, dizziness, seizure, memor y problems and behavior changes.

Rheumatoid arthritis: The immune system attacks the lining of the joints, resulting in fatigue, fever, weight loss, eye inflammation, lung disease, lumps of tissue under the elbows and anemia. Can lead to stiff, swollen, deformed joints and reduced movement.

Multiple sclerosis: The immune system attacks the protective coating around the nerves, damaging the brain and spinal cord and causing trouble with coordination, balance, speaking and walking. It can ultimately lead to numbness and tingling in arms, legs, hands and feet and to tremors and paralysis.

Thyroid disease (two common forms): Hashimoto’s disease (underactive thyroid): The immune system damages the thyroid gland, leading to decreased production of thyroid hormone, resulting in fatigue, weakness, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, muscle aches, stiff joints, facial swelling and constipation.

Graves’ disease (overactive thyroid): The immune system binds to receptors in the thyroid gland and activates the gland to make too much thyroid hormone, resulting in insomnia, irritability, weight loss, heat sensitivity, sweating, brittle hair, muscle weakness, light menstrual periods, bulging eyes and shaky hands. — MCT

Great Ormond Street Hospital to participate in Medica Conference

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SAN FRANCISCO: Strains of microalgae gather nutrients in the molecular biology lab at Solazyme in South San Francisco, California, on March 28, 2012. The comapany transforms plant sugars into renewable oils that can be used for fuel or foods.— MCT

reat Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH), one of the world’s leading centres for treating sick children, is continuing its global outreach and building awareness of its work with Kuwait’s Ministry of Health, as it participates in the 3rd Kuwait Medica Conference and Exhibition as a Silver Sponsor. The conference, which aims to bring together the latest trends, products, services and ideas in healthcare, will take place from 16th - 18th April 2012 at The Marriott Courtyard, Kuwait. At the conference, members of the GOSH team will deliver detailed presentations about the hospital’s work, and the programs and treatments available to patients and their parents living in the region.

Dr Phil Ancliff, consultant hematologist at GOSH and one of the key speakers at the conference, said: “There is a strong demand for specialist children’s healthcare services in Kuwait. This exhibition provides an opportunity to share best practice in pediatric patient care with medical and healthcare professionals, to stay current with the latest developments and innovations within the industry, and to showcase the services provided by GOSH in Kuwait through our part-

nership with the Ministry of Health.” Dr Ancliff will speak about the treatment of childhood leukemia, other cancers and blood diseases. He will also touch on the partnership between GOSH and the Kuwait Ministry of Health and will conclude with the benefits of the program and Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) as a leading edge technology to Kuwaiti patients. At the conference, GOSH is keen to reach out to both investors and visitors who are keen to learn about the hospital’s services. GOSH’s team will deliver detailed presentations about “Treating childhood leukemia, other cancers and blood disease: a partnership between Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Kuwait Ministry of Health.”In Kuwait GOSH has established a successful working partnership with NBK Hospital.

Senior GOSH medical staff have been providing practical support and training to NBK nurses and doctors which has increased understanding of pediatric procedures, diagnosis and care in a clinical setting. GOSH also provides leading edge diagnostic capability to patients in Kuwait through its Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) testing for children with leukemia at NBK hospital.

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

he a lt h & s c ie n c e

How to get fit in 20 minutes Short workout has significant health effects on unfit volunteers DALLAS: Think about your day. Can you unearth a spare 20 minutes? They may be masquerading as Internet-surfing or lurking within the commercialsskipped sitcom you record and watch every evening.

This search comes with a caveat: When you find those wayward 1,200 seconds, you lose your notime-to-exercise excuse. Because though most health recommendations are for a half-hour workout daily, a concentrated 20 minutes can suffice quite nicely. “Do as much as you can in that 20 minutes,” says Jakob Vingren, assistant professor in the department of kinesiology, health promotion and recreation at the University of North Texas. “Get as much work done as possible in the allotted time.”

At McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, researchers studied the effect that intervals - short bursts of intense exercise - had on various groups of people. They found that a 20-minute workout consisting of one minute of strenuous activity alternated with a minute of easy recovery, had significant health and fitness effects on unfit volunteers, cardiac patients and, in later research, diabetics. “There’s a lot of benefit in 20 minutes if done the right way,” says Bobby Patten, co-founder and head coach of Dallas Aquatic Masters. “If you go for a leisurely walk for 20 minutes, that’s better than sitting. If you upped the intensity, it’s better than a stroll. If you walked up and down hills, that’s even better.”

The brevity is good from a convenience standpoint, though, and breaking the time into pieces helps it pass even more quickly, says Craig Leverette, academic chair professor of physical education at Collin College. “Interval training is about fluctuation of heart rate within a target zone,” he says. “Anything you do, a bunch of little milestones along the way goes by faster than staring at the exact same tree out the exact same window on the exact same treadmill.”

The first part of most workouts tends to involve burning carbohydrates as an energy source, he says.

Most people have a goal of burning fat, which comes later in a workout. The concentrated intensity of a 20-minute workout helps speed the process a little.

“Everybody has a target zone” for their heart rate, Leverette says, “based on age, resting heart rate, things like that. You want it to be as high - moderate to vigorous - as you can be. It will be hard to breathe

and talk, not that you would want to.” Additionally, Vingren says, “The higher the intensity, the more muscle fibers you activate.” Plus, working hard in bursts of intensity helps improve VO2 max, which is a measure for cardiovascular endurance.

How to spend those 20 minutes?

“We can make a simple answer, but it’s not always simple,” says Vingren, who has a doctorate in exercise physiology. “It would be like going to the doctor and saying, ‘I’m sick. I need to take a pill.’ It depends on your goal, current level of training, risk factors. It should all be done on an individual basis.” He recommends a “super-set workout” - moving from one strength-training exercise to the next without stopping, then repeating at least one more time. For example, do a set of squats (lower body, abs and core) followed by bench pressing (arms and chest) and row exercise (back).

“Do larger muscle exercises before smaller muscle exercises, and alternate muscle groups,” Vingren says.

One of the Ontario researchers suggested a 20minute workout that alternates one minute of running or cycling hard with one minute of decreased intensity, done a couple of times a week, after clearing with your doctor, of course. Here are two more ideas: SWIMMING The expert: Bobby Patten, head coach of Dallas Aquatic Masters. The advice: “Play for effort over distance: short distance fast, short easy.” He suggests “pyramid sets” - 25 yards fast, then 25 yards easy.

Increase distance: 50 fast, 50 easy; 100 fast, 100 easy, resting 10 to 20 seconds between each set. “You’re increasing your metabolism more that way than by just going at 70 percent for a longer time,” Patten says. “Any interval I think is beneficial: heart rate high, steady aerobics, then zap it up again. In 20 minutes, you can kill yourself, really feel spent.”

Every mile of swimming is equal to about four miles of running, he says. People run two or three miles and think it’s “a good enough workout. Swimmers get a mind-set of ‘only 1,000 meters’ being not any good. But if you do it as intervals, that’s a good workout.”

CALISTHENICS The expert: Kristin Moses, co-owner of the newly opened Body Bar fitness studio in Travis Walk. She’s also raising three boys, so “totally understands” the no-time-to-exercise crunch. The advice: Start with a three- to four-minute warm-up by doing 30 seconds of jumping jacks, 30 seconds of high knees, 30 of glute kicks, 30 of jumping jacks. “That gets you moving, gets the oxygen moving,” she says. From there, go into a series of squats and lunges: 15 squats at moderate tempo, 15 lunges with your right leg and 15 with your left. “Come to the floor and do 20 to 25 full or modified push-ups. You’re moving from your legs, big-muscle groups, to upper-body big muscles and chest, which builds your heart rate and puts you into fat-burning zones.”

Next, turn over and sit, hands on the floor behind you. Raise your hips off the floor for 20 to 25 triceps dips. Repeat the sequence, and this time “pick up your pace, get your butt moving,” Moses says. “Do the leg sequence again. You’re building stamina.” The third go-round, make it a sprint: “Do jumping jacks as fast as you can, high knees as fast.

You’re starting to spike.” Finish with ab work, she says. Come to the floor and do a plank for 30 seconds to a minute. From there, turn onto your right side and do a side plank. Repeat with the left side.

“Voila!” she says. “You’re done, and you’re in amazing shape.”

FAST WORKOUT ADVICE Mix it up: If you do 20 minutes of cardio one day, do strength training the next time. Make the most of your time. “Some people do 100 bicep curls with the same little dumbbell,” says Jakob Vingren, codirector of the Applied Physiology Laboratory at the University of North Texas. “That’s not really resistance training. The benefits aren’t there. Plus, you’re wasting your time. It takes forever and is not efficient.” Gear your workout to your lifestyle. “What else are you doing that could be counted toward a workout?” says Craig Leverette of Collin College. For people on their feet all day, he suggests doing a 20minute workout focusing on flexibility or strength training. For someone doing a lot of lifting, use the time for cardio. — MCT

DALLAS: Kristin Moses, of Body Bar fitness studio, shows off how to do jumping jacks, part of the routine for a 20-minute workout. — MCT

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MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N Charity evening for ‘Palestine’s Children’

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he ‘Kuwaitis for Jerusalem’ committee; a joint committee between the Women’s Cultural and Social Society and the Kuwait Graduates’ Society, organizes a charity evening next Sunday, April 22, 2012, to support a planned project for the ‘Relief for Palestine’s Children Society’ to establish a cancer treatment pediatric hospital in Bait Jala, Palestine. The event, titled ‘We Deserve to Live’, takes part at the Movenpick Hotel at the Free Trade Zone.

For reservations or other inquiries, please call: 99714347 - 99723474 - 67676167.

Announcements IKFS calligraphy competitions Indo-Kuwait Friendship Society (www.indokuwaitfriendshipsociety.com) is conducting calligraphy competitions in 3 languages (Hindi, Urdu and Arabic) on Friday, 11th May 2012 (8 am to 11 am) at Salmiya Indian Model School, Salmiya, for both gender from age: 17 years and above for all the nationalities in Kuwait. IKFS is requesting the participants to register their names with their contact phone and email IDs on or before 06th May 2012 either by phone: 99430786/97337861 or by email: ikfsociety@gmail.com Kala-Kuwait, Balakalamela-2012 KALA-Kuwait is pleased to announce the registration for the Balakalamela-2012, the art & literary completions for Indian school children, to be held on two consecutive Fridays 27 April 2012 & 4 May 2012 at Carmel School, Khaitan, to provide maximum opportunity for the students to participate.

Based on the repeated requests from the community, KALA have included instrument music also in addition to the existing list of items. Competitions on dance and performing arts are scheduled to 27 April 2012 while Literary & instrument music competitions will be held on 4 May. The registration is free and forms are already distributed to Indian schools in Kuwait as well as available in our website www.kalaonweb.com The filled form may be sent to kalabalakalamela@gmail.com or fax to 24317875. The completions shall be for the 3 categories Sub-Junior, Junior & Seniors and are open to students from Class-I to XII. The prize distribution will be on June 1, the KALA mega event for the year ‘Thathwamasi’ at Central School Auditorium Abbassiya. For further information/ clarification contact 66180229, 66863957, 97817100, 67765810 Palakkad Pravasi Association Arts Day Palakkad Pravasi Association of Kuwait is conducting Arts Day, a full day socio-cultural event for its members and children. The program will be held on 27th April 2012 at 10 am at Indian Central School Auditorium, Abbassiya. The program will consist of various items include bharatanatyam, mohiniyattam, folk dance, Mono Act, mimics, fancy dress, mappilapaattu, recitation, cinematic, group dance etc. PALPAK has been conducting similar event every year since its inception aiming to encourage the talents of its members and children. For registration and more details please contact Suresh Pulikkal - Arts Secretary (97260159) and the Area Secretaries Suresh Madhavan - Salmiya (97253235), Sankaranarayanan - Fahaheel (90925460), Sunilkumar - Farwaniya (97201399), Udayavarman - Abbassiya (97216434).

Open House for Indian Citizens The Ambassador of India will be holding an Open House for Indian citizens to address their problems/grievances on Wednesdays of the second and the fourth week of every month between 1500 hrs and 1600 hrs at the embassy. 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 India’s Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizen 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 labor wing Help Desk functions from 0830 hrs to 1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1630 hrs in the Labor Hall to address the labor related issue.

There is also a 24X7 Help Line (Tel No. 25674163) to assist labors in distress. For any unaddressed issues, the concerned Attaches in the labor section and the head of the labor wing could be contacted.

The retail academy launches job placement via training First program in partnership with Eissa Hussein Al Yousifi

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he Retail Academy in partnership with Eissa Hussein Al Yousifi is proud to announce the first job placement via training program of its kind in Kuwait.

This pilot program which was designed by both parties with the aim to absorb local youths into various retail positions on offer within the Eissa Hussein Al Yousifi electronic shops BEST after completing period of paid training in Retail Management at the Retail Academy.

“The Retail Academy is a serious consideration for any young hopeful looking to start a career in retail from the ground up” stated Yasmeen Al Musallam MD of HRD International.”A large number of youth are unsure of the career paths available to them down the line. In the meantime, career options are growing scarcer as a result of the financial recession which hit many of the market sectors, with the exception of the retail market which in contrast is growing” she added.

According to a report released by Research and Markets in January 2012 it states that ‘Kuwait’s high level of urbanization was contributing to a vibrant retail sector, with sales expected to grow from an estimated KD 2.27 billion in 2011 to KD 3.24 billion by the end of 2015’.

Investment bank Alpen also stated that ‘the wholesale and retail trade sector

expanded by 27.6 percent on year in 2010’. Kuwait ranked first in the ME for all retail and expansion development

to fill the various opportunities that will open up steadily. A career in Retail Management for any Kuwaiti youth is the

according to a report released by the Global Retail Development Index released by AT Kerney in June of 2011.

This translates into more job and career opportunities in the local retail sector.

However, it also means that there will be increased competition for qualified staff

most viable option to take, and promises great room for growth down the line.

Eissa Hussein Al Yousifi and Retail Academy are working hand in hand by identifying interested job seekers, providing them with comprehensive training at the Retail Academy and guaran-

GUST employees complete 6Sigma course

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he Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) provided some of their employees with the opportunity to participate in the 6Sigma Green Belt Certification Course. The employees were nominated from each department and had to maintain certain criteria.

The GUST Professional Advancement & Continuing Education Center (PACE) organized the 2-weeks course for the employees. The course is a business management strategy course, originally developed by Motorola, USA in 1986, and today is widely used in many sectors in different industries. The first week of the course covers: project definition, project selection process, deployment, process mapping, input prioritization tools, measurement systems, capability analysis, sample size

selection, statistical process control, failure mode effect analysis, Minitab 16, process control plans, project plans and deliverables. Six Sigma was designed improve the

people within the organization, such as “Black Belts” and “Green Belts” who become experts in these methods.

The second week of the course cov-

quality of process outputs by pinpointing and removing the causes of all (errors) and minimizing variability in business processes using sets of quality management methods. It has a special infrastructure of

ered: advanced graphical analysis, multivari planning, variation trees and funneling, hypothesis testing, the central limit theorem, statistical analysis roadmap, test for mean t-test, one way ANOVAs, non-

manufacturing application, correlation and regression, multi-vari analysis and process plan controls. The course was completed with a final exam testing all the participants on all materials learnt throughout the course.

GUST would like to congratulate: Dr. Sabah Al-Quaddoumi, VP for Academic Services, Ibrahim Emran, Assistant VP of Financial & Administrative Affairs, Badria Al-Abdulrazzak, Senior Office Manager, Alia Mohammednor Omar, Assistant HR Director, Mohammad Al-Mudhaf, Head of SIS & Graduation, May Al-Ibrahim, Head of Marketing, Anwar Al-Sabah, Head of the Student Life Office,Siby Thomas, Financial Manager and Afnan Al-Rubaian, Project Architect for completing the 6Sigma Green Belt Certification Course.

‘Be the Change’ art exhibition at Bayt Lothan

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Amma Kuwait, PART to hold workshop Amma Kuwait and Progressive Art Realization Troop of Kuwait (PART) announce their maiden joint venture PRAKRUTI. The purpose of the workshop is to motivate children to explore art in nature by inspiring them to observe nature consciously. Prakruti is a 5 hour workshop from 9am to 3pm on 20 April 2012 on landscape painting for budding student artists in the age group ten to seventeen. This workshop which will take place in the Al Jawhara Al Ahlea School, Rigaae will be conducted by the professional artists of PART who will interact with the children and guide them on special effects and professional painting techniques.

The medium of painting will be Acrylic/Water.

Each participant will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the workshop. Participants will get to showcase their paintings of the day and one previous work at the Exhibition that follows this workshop!

Ambassadors of Comedy Dean-Obeidallah (The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour), Nitin Mirani (King Of UAE Comedy), Aron Kader (The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour). All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the St. John Ambulance Brigade (India) and the Fazlani Foundation (India). Go out and have fun while supporting a wonderful cause When: April 27, 2012 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm at the American International School (Hamood Al-Naser Street, Dr. Kamil Al-Rayes Auditorium, Meidan Hawalli) Contact: Mohamed Kagdi or Minhaj Shikari 99788692 or 99710242

teed employment opportunities within the Eissa Hussein Al Yousifi. This synergistic approach is novel, and has never been attempted by a private sector retail company before. Future partnerships of a similar nature are in the making with some of the largest retailer companies in Kuwait.

The Retail Academy is the first of its kind in Kuwait and the region in terms of specialization and the nature and level of programs offered. The distinguished headquarters which were prepared specifically for this purpose, in addition to the experienced and qualified faculty members make the Academy the professional gateway to a life changing experience in the retail world that offering a mixture of sound theoretical and practical retail knowledge in real-world environments which enable individuals to unleash their potential.

The Retail Academy was established in May 2010, to join the Kuwait Maastricht Business School (KMBS) the only MBA private school in Kuwait, and also The British Institute for Training and Education (BITE). All brought by the mother company Human Resource Development International (HRD International). For those interested in a job in retail with Eissa Hussein Al Yousifi contact the Retail Academy for an interview on 22470117/6/5 or email info@retailacademy-kw.com.

KGL employees donate blood

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s part of its continuous social and civil responsibility in giving back to society, and under the theme “Every drop counts... Let’s share our blood”, KGL in association with the Blood Bank of Kuwait organized a Blood Donation Drive on Tuesday, 27 March 2012. This donation drive was aimed at boosting employee participation in a commendable act to offer genuine support to those in need.

The Blood Donation Drive took place at KGL Logistics facility in Mina Abdulla, where employees of various Business Units gathered to participate in this human cause. This drive comes as a continuation of the previous year’s donation efforts carried out by the company that resulted in an overwhelming response by the company staff from all levels.

This participation represented a

strong and humanitarian message that exemplified a sincere contribution (with over 100 donors) to provide support to needy individuals of the community.

It is noteworthy to mention that a team of medical specialists from the Blood Bank of Kuwait supervised the blood donation and provided all forms of support and advice to donors.

t the behest of Satish C. Mehta, the ambassador of India to Kuwait Dr Tahseen Khan’s work will be featured in an exhibition aptly titled “Be the Change”, at the Bayt Lothan Gallery, where the inauguration is on April 16 at 6 pm, and the display will continue on April 17 and 18.

Tahseen’s passion for life in its varied hues is mirrored in her myriad colors on canvas. Tahseen, with the use of mixed media uses her art as a language when words no longer do justice to describe a spectacular seaside sunset or a bustling South Indian village landscape. It’s an outlet she uses to decompress from the intensity of work as a Pediatrician.

It calms her soul and gives meaning to life.

Art is also Tahseen’s call to action, so with just a different twist of her brush, her colors can evoke a burning desire to take a stand on besieging issues that have been swept under the carpet. Her pieces such as “Despite all Odds”, “War and Peace”, “Liberation” and “Give Me a Chance” point towards social disquiet, disasters and gender discrimination; however, there is something in all of them that gives us hope, hope for a better tomorrow, only if we can “Be the Change”.

The exhibition is an initiative in collaboration with the Indian Women’s Association, and will go a long way in providing support to better the plight of the very issues the paintings highlight.

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MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah.

Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. The Embassy resumes its duties on Tuesday 10 April 2012. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.uae.gc.ca.

KUWAIT: The British School of Kuwait (BSK) graduating class of 2012. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

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EMBASSY OF CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus requests Cypriot citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy has moved. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Cypriot citizens in cases of emergencies. Registration information can be emailed to cyprusembassykwt@gmail.com or faxed to 22253227 or given by phone to 65906048 (Mrs Christine). � � � ��� � �

BSK holds ‘Festival of Achievement’

By Ben Garcia

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he British School of Kuwait (BSK) hosted a graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening titled ‘Festival of Achievement’ for Years 11, 12 and 13.

Khalid Sulaiman Al-Jarallah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, patronized the event held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Several high raking Government officials attended the event, including some dignitaries from various embassies in Kuwait.

Sadiq Al-Mutawa, BSK Chairman, welcomed 98 graduates of the class of 2012 during his opening address and urged them to continue their great efforts as they set out to take up places in universities and colleges throughout the world.

He wished all the graduates success, especially in moving towards achieving their education goals. He thanked par-

ents and teachers for their untiring support during a fruitful academic year at BSK. “Today we celebrate the graduation of a distinguished group of students.

These students exerted extraordinary time and efforts during their years at BSK. Thanks to their parents as well. BSK has always been regarded for its reputation in leading the way for modern education. The technological development and advancement we introduced a long ago has been bearing fruits to our students. We are proud of our achievements and I wish everyone all the best and success in the future studies.

Congratulations to all,” Al-Mutawa said.

Following the presentation of diplomas to the graduates by Al-Jarallah, prizes were distributed to the top 30 students in Years 11, 12 and 13. The top academic CIS award was presented to Hiba Arshad. The Leadership Award went

to Gabbi Hill and the much coveted Director’s Award went to Samia AlTimani.

Guest Speaker Khalid Al-Jarallah gave a very incisive speech on the efforts of BSK in the fields of science and in the use of communication technology for parents to access details of achievement, behavior and attendance of their children.

Paul Shropshire, BSK Principal, meanwhile spoke of the evidence for academic excellence which is formed in the outstanding public examination results at GCSE, IGCSE, AS and A2 levels.

“Evidence is found in the list of worldfamous universities to which our students are accepted; Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Stanford among others. Our reputation extends beyond the borders of Kuwait.”

The evening was not just about rec-

ognizing academic excellence. BSK also recognized students in creative arts and sports. Charles Fernandes, who was awarded best in creative arts, captivated the audience with his rendition of the third movement from Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata.

Language prizes were presented by the Ambassadors of Australia, Germany and Switzerland. Guests were treated to a musical treat from BSK String Orchestra, as well as a comic cameo from Saeef Alam who starred as Fagin in this year’s BSK production of Oliver.

Head students Zara Baker and Alex Daoud brought the evening to a close with a vote of thanks to BSK Director, Madame Vera Al-Mutawa. The Festival of Achievement and Graduation Ceremony came to a rousing finale with a salute to the parents and staff of The British School of Kuwait.

EMBASSY OF KOREA The Embassy of the Republic of Korea wishes to inform that it has moved to Mishref. New Address: Embassy of the Republic of Korea Mishref, Block 7A, Diplomatic Area 2, Plot 6 The Embassy also wishes to inform that it will be opened to the public on the following office hours: Saturday to Thursday Morning: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Lunch Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, AlSalaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location.

Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF NEPAL The Embassy of Nepal will be moving from its current location to a new place in Jabriya, Block 8, St. 13, House No. 514, effective from yesterday, 15th April, 2012. Till the new telephone connections are installed, the Embassy may be contacted by email: info@nepembku.org � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF ROMANIA The Embassy of Romania to the State of Kuwait would like to inform that the Consular Section of the Embassy will be close for construction works beginning with 18 April 2012, till 10 May 2012. During this period of time the Consular Section will not issue any type of visas for Romania and will not issue any Romanian passports or travel documents. The Consular Section will only be able to assist with notary deeds. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF THAILAND The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait, wishes to invite the Kuwaiti companies that deal business with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s Commercial Office to register their relevant information to be part of the embassy’s business and trade database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya, Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 -25317531, Ext: 14. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” (+ 965) 972-79-206.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Untamed & Uncut 01:40 Squid Invasion 02:35 Planet Earth 03:30 The Beauty Of Snakes 04:25 Great Ocean Adventures 05:20 Escape To Chimp Eden 05:45 In Too Deep 06:10 Animal Cops Philadelphia 07:00 Orangutan Island 07:25 Penguin Safari 08:15 The Really Wild Show 08:40 Project Puppy 09:10 Bondi Vet - Series 3 Special 10:05 Kingdom Of The Elephants 11:00 Animal ER 11:55 Animal Cops Phoenix 12:50 Wildlife SOS 13:45 SSPCA: On The Wildside 14:10 Wildlife SOS 14:40 Kingdom Of The Elephants 15:30 Animal Battlegrounds 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 17:00 Talk To The Animals 17:25 Dogs 101: Specials 18:20 Must Love Cats 19:15 Wildlife SOS 19:40 Going Ape 20:10 Orangutan Island 20:35 Animal Battlegrounds 21:05 Face To Face With The Polar Bear 22:00 Animal Planet’s Most Outrageous 22:55 Baboons With Bill Bailey 23:20 Baboons With Bill Bailey 23:50 Animal Cops Houston

00:20 Gok’s Fashion Fix 01:10 Diy SOS 01:35 Diy SOS 02:00 Holmes On Homes 02:50 What Not To Wear 03:40 Coleen’s Real Women 04:25 The Restaurant UK 05:20 The Restaurant UK 06:10 Indian Food Made Easy 06:35 Cash In The Attic USA 07:00 Cash In The Attic USA 07:20 MasterChef Australia 07:45 MasterChef Australia 08:30 MasterChef Australia 09:20 Bargain Hunt 10:05 Antiques Roadshow 10:55 Come Dine With Me 11:45 10 Years Younger 12:35 Gok’s Fashion Fix 13:25 Gok’s Fashion Fix 14:10 Fantasy Homes Down Under 14:55 House Swap 15:40 Bargain Hunt 16:25 Antiques Roadshow 17:15 Cash In The Attic USA 17:35 Cash In The Attic USA 18:00 New Scandinavian Cooking 18:25 New Scandinavian Cooking With Claus Meyer 18:50 Indian Food Made Easy 19:15 James Martin’s Champagne 19:40 10 Years Younger 20:30 Gok’s Fashion Fix 21:20 Gok’s Fashion Fix 22:10 Bargain Hunt 22:55 Antiques Roadshow 23:45 New Scandinavian Cooking

00:00 00:10 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:10 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30

BBC World News My Country BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Features The Culture Show Newsday India Business Report Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report

05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 Sport Today 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 BBC World News 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 16:30 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 19:30 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 21:30 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 Hardtalk

00:00 Living Golf 00:30 World Sport 01:00 World Report 02:00 World Report 03:00 The Best Of Backstory 03:30 Talk Asia 04:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 05:00 CNN Newsroom 06:00 Eco Solutions 06:30 News Special 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Inside Africa 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 News Special 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 The Best Of Backstory 12:30 African Voices 13:00 World One 14:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 African Voices 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 News Special 23:00 Connect The World With Becky...

00:15 06:35 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 15:05 16:00

Carfellas Carfellas Mythbusters Gold Rush Bering Sea Gold How Stuff’s Made Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Surviving The Cut Surviving The Cut Battle Machine Bros

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

Wheeler Dealers Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How Stuff’s Made Border Security Auction Kings Cake Boss Gold Rush Bering Sea Gold Swamp Loggers

00:35 Cool Stuff & How It Works 01:00 Cool Stuff & How It Works 01:25 The Tech Show 01:50 Sci-Trek 05:15 Sci-Trek 06:10 Mean Green Machines 06:35 Mean Green Machines 07:00 The Gadget Show 07:25 The Gadget Show 07:50 Kings Of Construction 08:40 Robocar 09:35 Robocar 10:25 Weird Connections 10:50 Weird Connections 11:20 Ultimate Power Builders 12:15 The Kustomizer 13:05 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 13:55 The Gadget Show 14:20 The Gadget Show 14:50 Weird Connections 15:15 Weird Connections 15:40 The Tech Show 16:05 Ultimate Power Builders 17:00 Kings Of Construction 17:50 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 18:40 Mega World 19:30 Superships 20:20 The Gadget Show 20:45 The Gadget Show 21:10 Building The Future 22:00 Mega World 22:50 Superships 23:40 Kings Of Construction

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

Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic A Kind Of Magic Stitch Stitch Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic A Kind Of Magic Fish Hooks Recess So Random Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Phineas And Ferb Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Handy Manny The Hive Mouk Recess So Random Have A Laugh Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Jake & Blake Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas And Ferb So Random Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck A.N.T. Farm Phineas And Ferb Recess So Random Fish Hooks Wizards Of Waverly Place Shake It Up A.N.T. Farm

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

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:20 American Dragon 06:45 Rekkit Rabbit 07:10 Pokemon: Black And White 07:35 Timon And Pumbaa 08:00 Phineas And Ferb 08:25 Pair Of Kings 08:50 Kick Buttowski 09:15 Zeke & Luther 09:40 I’m In The Band 10:05 Phineas And Ferb 10:30 Kid vs Kat 10:55 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 11:20 Pair Of Kings 11:45 Rekkit Rabbit 12:10 American Dragon 12:35 Kick Buttowski 13:00 Phineas And Ferb 13:25 I’m In The Band 13:45 Kid vs Kat 14:10 Pair Of Kings 14:35 Iron Man Armored Adventures 15:00 Rekkit Rabbit 15:25 Pokemon: Black And White 15:50 Timon And Pumbaa 16:15 Kickin It 16:40 Kickin It 17:05 Kickin It 17:30 Scaredy Squirrel 17:55 Phineas And Ferb 18:20 Phineas And Ferb 18:45 I’m In The Band 19:10 Rated A For Awesome 19:35 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 20:00 Pair Of Kings 20:25 Zeke & Luther 20:50 Escape From Scorpion Island 21:20 Aaron Stone 21:45 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Kid vs Kat 23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am KSA

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 Beauty Queens Gone Wrong 03:15 E! Investigates 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Then And Now 05:30 Then And Now 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 10:15 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies 12:05 Kendra 12:35 Kendra 13:05 Dirty Soap 14:05 Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami 14:35 Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Bridalplasty 17:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 18:55 THS 19:55 Khloe And Lamar 20:25 Khloe And Lamar 20:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 21:25 Ice Loves Coco 21:55 Ice Loves Coco 22:25 Scouted 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:15 01:30 02:20 04:00 04:50 05:40 06:30 2008 07:00 2008 07:30 2008 08:00 09:40 10:30 11:20 13:00 13:50 14:15 14:40 16:45 17:10 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:40 20:30 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:50

THE GODFATHER III ON OSN ACTION HD

Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Have A Laugh Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Kim Possible

Aiya TV M1 Selection 2010 Cowboy U Carpocalypse Summer Dew Tour 2011 Summer Dew Tour 2011 Ride Guide Mountainbike Ride Guide Mountainbike Ride Guide Mountainbike Ticket To Ride 2010/11 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 Summer Dew Tour 2011 I’ll Do Anything Dragrace High Dragrace High Featured Featured Man’s Work Man’s Work Dragrace High Dragrace High Summer Dew Tour 2011 Summer Dew Tour 2011 I’ll Do Anything Ed’s Up Ed’s Up Dragrace High Dragrace High Man’s Work Man’s Work Aiya TV

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Kid In A Candy Store 00:55 Restaurant: Impossible 01:45 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:10 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 03:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 03:25 Chopped 04:15 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 04:40 Good Eats 05:05 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam

05:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 05:50 Food Network Challenge 06:35 Barefoot Contessa 07:00 Food Network Challenge 07:50 World Cafe Asia 08:15 Barefoot Contessa 08:40 Good Eats 09:05 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 09:30 Paula’s Best Dishes 09:55 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 10:20 Lidia’s Italy 10:45 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 11:10 Unwrapped 11:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 12:00 Food Network Challenge 12:50 Aarti Party 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 14:30 Kid In A Candy Store 14:55 Paula’s Best Dishes 15:20 Meat & Potatoes 15:45 Iron Chef America 16:35 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Aarti Party 18:15 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 18:40 Dessert First With Anne Thornton 19:05 Kid In A Candy Store 19:30 Food Network Challenge 20:20 Iron Chef America 21:10 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 21:35 Gourmet Farmer 22:00 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 22:25 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 22:50 Andy Bates Street Feasts 23:15 Andy Bates Street Feasts 23:40 Meat & Potatoes

00:30 I Married A Mobster 00:55 I Was Murdered 01:20 Behind Mansion Walls 02:05 LA: City Of Demons 02:55 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 03:45 I Married A Mobster 04:10 I Was Murdered 04:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn 05:20 Mystery ER 06:10 Disappeared 07:00 FBI Files 07:50 Murder Shift 08:40 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 09:30 Real Emergency Calls 09:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

10:20 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 11:10 Disappeared 12:00 Street Patrol 12:25 Street Patrol 12:50 Murder Shift 13:40 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 14:30 Real Emergency Calls 14:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

15:20 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 16:10 Disappeared 17:00 FBI Files 17:50 Murder Shift 18:40 Real Emergency Calls 19:05 Mystery Diagnosis 19:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

20:20 On The Case With Paula Zahn 21:10 Disappeared 22:00 I Married A Mobster 22:25 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion 23:15 Deadly Women: Face To Face 23:40 Autopsy: Most Shocking Cases

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

By Any Means Meet The Natives Food School One Man & His Campervan Bondi Rescue Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Danger Men Naked Lentil

By Any Means Meet The Natives Food School One Man & His Campervan Bondi Rescue Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Danger Men Naked Lentil

By Any Means Banged Up Abroad Departures Graham’s World Earth Tripping Perilous Journeys Which Way To City Chase Marrakech Banged Up Abroad Departures Graham’s World Earth Tripping Perilous Journeys Which Way To

02:00 Panther-18 04:00 The Ranch 05:30 Diary Of A Madman 07:05 Extremities 08:35 Countdown To Chaos-PG 10:00 Tennessee Nights 11:45 Article 99-18 13:25 The Bridge At Remagen-PG 15:20 Joey-PG 16:55 Dust Factory-PG 18:30 Crime And Punishment-PG 20:05 Platoon-18 22:00 Spellcaster-18 23:20 Mgm’s Big Screen-FAM 23:35 Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia

00:00 02:00 04:00 18 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:15 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Fading Of The Cries-18 The Killer Inside Me-18 30 Days Of Night: Dark DaysFlight Of The Phoenix-PG15 The Lost Future-PG15 Coach Carter-PG15 Altitude-PG15 The Lost Future-PG15 Inside Out-PG Altitude-PG15 Brotherhood-PG15 The Godfather III-18

01:15 Nine Dead-PG15 03:00 Faster-PG15 05:00 Prom-PG15

HALL PASS ON OSN CINEMA 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:15 PG15 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Ramona And Beezus-PG Love The Beast-PG Prom-PG15 The Social Network-PG15 The LXD: The Uprising BeginsLove The Beast-PG Gentlemen Broncos-PG15 Dear John-PG15 Hall Pass-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Saturday Night Live Syndicated 03:00 Friends With Benefits 03:30 10 Items Or Less 04:00 The Simpsons 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 06:00 Weird Science 06:30 How I Met Your Mother 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 The Simpsons 08:30 Friends With Benefits 09:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 09:30 Raising Hope 10:00 Modern Family 10:30 How I Met Your Mother 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Weird Science 12:30 The Simpsons 13:00 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 13:30 How I Met Your Mother 14:00 10 Items Or Less 14:30 Modern Family 15:00 Raising Hope 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:30 Weird Science 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Melissa And Joey 18:30 10 Items Or Less 19:00 Raising Hope 19:30 Modern Family 20:00 Community 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 21:30 The Colbert Report Global Edition 22:00 Entourage 22:30 How To Make It In America 23:00 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 23:30 Community

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Unforgettable Missing Body Of Proof True Blood The View Live Good Morning America The Protector Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Unforgettable Body Of Proof Live Good Morning America The Protector The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Revenge Desperate Housewives Game Of Thrones The Closer True Blood

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

Bones Missing Unforgettable Body Of Proof Burn Notice Bones Emmerdale Coronation Street Surface Unforgettable Missing Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Surface Bones Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show

18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Surface Revenge Desperate Housewives Game Of Thrones The Closer The Killing

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

Wild Bill-PG15 Shutter Island-18 2:22-18 Tracker-PG15 Rocky III-PG15 Attack On Leningrad-PG15 Freight-PG15 Rocky III-PG15 Triassic Attack-PG15 The Warrior’s Way-PG15 The Godfather III-18

00:00 A Guy Thing-PG15 02:00 Bob Roberts-PG15 04:00 Finding Lenny-PG15 06:00 Vice Versa-PG 08:00 Like Mike-PG 10:00 Mean Girls 2-PG15 12:00 Double Wedding-PG15 14:00 Straight Talk-PG15 16:00 A Guy Thing-PG15 18:00 Crazy On The Outside-PG15 20:00 The Legend Of Awesomest Maximus-PG15 22:00 Killing Bono-18

01:15 Shout-PG15 03:00 Random Hearts-18 05:15 My Enemy’s Enemy-PG15 07:00 The Sting-PG 09:15 Greener Mountains-PG 11:00 Soapdish-PG 13:00 Good Hair-PG15 15:00 Mammoth-PG15 17:15 Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming-PG15 19:00 On Strike For Christmas-PG15 21:00 Skirt Day-PG15 23:00 Best Laid Plans-18

01:15 Random Hearts-18 03:45 A Soldier’s Love Story-PG15 05:15 Elle: A Modern Cinderella TalePG15 07:00 Soul Surfer-PG15 09:00 The 19th Wife-PG15 10:45 Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World-PG15 12:45 Glorious 39-PG15 15:00 Love And Mary-PG15 17:00 The 19th Wife-PG15 18:45 Tron: Legacy-PG15 21:00 The Legend Of Awesomest Maximus-PG15 23:00 The Men Who Stare At Goats18

00:00 The Adventures Of Don Quixote-FAM 02:00 In Search Of The Titanic-PG 04:00 Supertramps-FAM 06:00 Furry Vengeance-PG 08:00 Winner & The Golden Child: Part I-FAM 10:00 The Lion King 1 1/2-FAM 12:00 The Wind In The Willows-PG 14:00 Ice Age-FAM 16:00 The Prince Of Dinosaurs-PG 18:00 The Lion King 1 1/2-FAM 20:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG 22:00 The Wind In The Willows-PG

00:00 Live NBC Meet The Press 01:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 01:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 02:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 02:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 03:00 Live NBC Sunday Today Show 04:00 ABC This Week With G Stephanopoulos 05:00 Live NBC Meet The Press 06:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 06:30 Live NBC Nightly News (Sat-

Sun) 07:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 07:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 08:00 ABC This Week With G Stephanopoulos 09:00 ABC World News Now With David Muir 09:30 Live NBC Nightly News (SatSun) 10:00 ABC World News Now 10:30 Live ABC World News Now 11:00 NBC Early Today 11:30 ABC America This Morning 12:00 ABC America This Morning 12:30 Live ABC America This Morning 13:00 Live ABC America This Morning 13:30 MSNBC First Look 14:00 Live NBC Today Show 18:00 MSNBC News 19:00 MSNBC Now With Alex Wagner 20:00 MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports 21:00 MSNBC Newsnation 22:00 MSNBC Martin Bashir 23:00 MSNBC The Dylan Ratigan Show

00:00 Scottish FA Cup 02:00 WWE SmackDown 04:00 WWE Experience 05:00 WWE Bottom Line 06:00 WWE Vintage 07:00 Scottish FA Cup 09:00 NRL Premiership 11:00 Trans World Sport 12:00 Live NRL Premiership 14:00 Super Rugby 16:00 Volvo Ocean Race 17:00 Scottish FA Cup 19:00 Super Rugby Highlights 20:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 21:00 NRL Premiership 23:00 Premier League Darts

01:30 06:00 07:00 09:30 10:30 11:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 23:30

European PGA Tour Trans World Sport AFL Premiership Golfing World Futbol Mundial Adventure Sports Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Scottish FA Cup NRL Premiership Golfing World AFL Winners Volvo Ocean Race Highlights SPL Highlights Scottish FA Cup Golfing World

00:00 Trans World Sport 01:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 01:30 Super Rugby 05:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 Asian Tour Golf 12:30 Golfing World 13:30 Premier League Darts 17:00 Adventure Sports 19:00 Scottish FA Cup 21:00 Top 14 Highlights 21:30 AFL Winners 22:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 23:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights

01:00 02:00 03:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00

WWE Bottom Line UFC Prelims UFC UFC Unleashed WWE Bottom Line WWE Experience Prizefighter UAE National Race Day Series UAE National Race Day Series WWE NXT WWE Experience WWE SmackDown V8 Supercars Challenge V8 Supercars Extra Mobil 1 The Grid UFC 145 Countdown UFC Prelims UFC

36

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Cowell had affair with Minogue imon Cowell had a secret affair with Dannii Minogue. The reality TV mogul claims he was “like a schoolboy” for Dannii who had an affair with her after she joined the panel ‘The X Factor’ in the UK alongside him in 2007. In a new unauthorized biography, ‘Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell’, he says: “I had a crush on her. It was Dannii’s hair and the sexy clothes. “I was like a schoolboy. She was foxy. She was a real man’s girl. Very feminine. It was genuine love.” Simon, 52, started seeing Dannii who earlier this month split from former rugby player Kris Smith after four years together - after breaking up from his long term girlfriend Terri Seymour, in 2008.

He added: “After Terri Seymour, I wasn’t ready for another relationship.” Dannii - who is now a single mother to 21-month-old son Ethan - left ‘The X Factor’ in 2010, and by that time Simon already had his eye on another of the show’s female judges, pop singer Cheryl Cole, who was on the judging panel between 2008 and 2010, although he was unsuccessful in getting her. He said: “I would have liked an affair with

S

Cheryl [but] I felt like a mouse being played with by a beautiful cat.” Simon was smitten with the 28-year-old star after she made frequent visits to his dressing room while they starred on the show. In quotes from the book published in The Sun newspaper, Simon said: “She would come in dressed in her tracksuit and her slippers, drop her eyes and play the soulful victim to get around me. She played me. I adored her.”

However, Simon and Cheryl’s relationship ultimately turned sour after he took her to star in the US version of ‘The X Factor’ but she wasn’t a hit, and was sacked after just three audition shows.

Collins

wants to be protected

ily Collins wants a man to look after her. The ‘Mirror Mirror’ actress - who was recently linked to Zac Efron - says her ideal boyfriend would be someone that makes her feel protected as well as being able to make her laugh. She said: “I want someone who makes me laugh, who makes me feel extremely special, that being you is enough, and makes you feel protected and taking care of. “All men come in all shapes and sizes, and as long as they have those certain qualities I’ve never been one to have a certain type.” At the moment, Lily - daughter of singing legend Phil Collins - is busy concentrating on her career and says her life is very much like a fairy tale. The 23-year-old beauty - who plays Snow White in ‘Mirror Mirror’ - told Britain’s OK! magazine: “It’s still unbelievable that I get to do what I love as a living. It was like a 24-hour time frame when I got that movie - that in itself was very much a fairy tale to me. Just being able to get dressed up and be in a movie like this, it’s a whirlwind.”

Rihanna rules out rehab

L

Spears gives $100 tip to waiter ritney Spears gave a waiter $100 after he helped calm down her five-year-old son Jayden. The ‘Hold It Against Me’ singer was out eating at a restaurant in San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles with Jayden and sixyear-old son Sean when her youngest began crying and wouldn’t stop. However, an intrepid employee at the establishment saw the problem and brought over crayons to distract the youngster, impressing Britney who gave him the generous gift after she finished with her meal. An onlooker told the National Enquirer magazine: “Britney just couldn’t calm her tyke down. “But a sympathetic waiter, not one assigned to her table, helped save the day when he came over with a box of crayons and started drawing animation action characters. Jayden’s tears dried up instantly as he and his brother got totally absorbed and happy.” Britney - who became engaged to long-term boyfriend and manager Jason Trawick in Las Vegas last December - gave the money in addition to the tip for the meal. The star is currently believed to be in negotiations to become a judge on the US version of ‘X Factor’, following the departure of Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul from the panel.

B

Sarah Harding he Girls Aloud star - who recently completed a stint in rehab for alcohol and prescription pill addiction - is currently working hard on getting her ideal figure as she is keen to show ex-fiance Tom Crane what he is missing. A source told Closer magazine: “Sarah has thrown herself into exercise, which has been brilliant for her physically and mentally.

She’s become a huge fan of Bikram yoga - sometimes even taking two classes a day - and she’s doing hundreds of sit-ups a day. She’s drinking lots of water, cutting out most carbs and is filling up on protein. She says she has more energy and has told pals she no longer craves a drink. She’s determined to have a body to die for and wants to show Tom what he’s missing.”

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ihanna says she will never end up in rehab because she thrives on pressure. The singing superstar - who shot to fame with ‘Pon De Replay’ in 2005 after Jay-Z discovered her when she was just 16 - has taken the world by storm, but she admits she won’t let the pressure get to her and end up at a treatment facility. Speaking about going into rehab she told Mondanite magazine: “That will never happen to me. I refuse to crack under pressure - in fact I thrive on it. So when I read about Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse who have suffered under it, it’s sad. It is easy to criticise them but it happens. You just have to stay focused and keep your feet on the ground.” The 23-year-old star also says she stays grounded by phoning her best friend. She said: “Staying down to earth in this industry in general is really not easy, but I am strong and when I feel lost or depressed on the road, I call my best friends Melissa.

When I see people turning to drugs and alcohol, then that’s when I call Melissa. She helps me get through things.”

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Prince Harry’s friends fuel rumors riends of Prince Harry have fuelled rumors he is dating singer Mollie King. The British royal is said to have become smitten with The Saturdays vocalist after they were introduced by mutual friends at a polo match in 2010, but they only started dating recently after she split from model David Gandy after two years together. A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: “They have been to Public nightclub a couple of times and get along well. It’s ironic because Mollie fell for David over Prince Harry, but now she seems very taken with Harry.” In recent weeks Mollie, 24, and Harry, 27, have been at the same London nightspots including Public and karaoke bar Bunga Bunga, but

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always left separately, as they are keen to avoid any publicity. The source added: “They’re having a lovely time together but she won’t say anything publicly because she knows that will mean the end of it. “She loves the publicity so she is happy to drop a few hints and keep people guessing.” Palace aides have not commented on the relationship, but Mollie did proclaim her affections for Harry, a baby African hippo, who is named after the prince, and has become an internet sensation after he was rejected by his mother and is being raised at a sanctuary in South Africa.

Kitsch looked ‘awful’ aylor Kitsch was made to look “awful” in ‘John Carter’. The 31-year-old actor plays the titular military captain who is sent to Mars in the film and he has revealed his handsome appearance would be marked up on set most days.

When asked how he feels to be a sex symbol, he said: “I don’t pick my roles in any way, shape or form in the sense of that kind of stuff. If anything, we uglify a lot of that. Even in ‘John Carter’ we tried, if you ask Bill Corso who did make-up.

Every morning he made me look so awful. “It’s just honest to the character. There’s little things you can do to show how messed up he is - if there’s more cuts and bruises, to the bags under his eyes, to making him more pale in the flashback scene. Half the crew thought I was really sick

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wants a ‘body to die for’ However, while Sarah, 30, concentrates on getting healthy sources say the planned Girls Aloud reunion could be halted as she’s not sure if she’s ready to rejoin bandmates Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Nadine Coyle at the moment. A source said: “Sarah’s so busy working out, she’s barely spoken to the other girls. She’s told pals that five girls working so closely leads to bickering and rivalry and that’s not what she needs. Sarah has pals who aren’t famous and feels ‘normal’ people have a calming effect on her.

When anyone asks about the reunion, she just says, ‘If it happens, it happens.’ “

because we did the make-up that way.” Despite mind-blowing special effects and a huge promotional campaign, ‘John Carter’ - which is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ ‘Barsoom’ series of novels - has been one of the biggest box office flops of all time with studio Walt Disney expecting to lose $200 million of the movie. However, Taylor - who can currently also be seen in ‘Battleship’ opposite Rihanna - is not concerned by the feature’s financial failure and insists he is extremely proud of the movie. He added to the Daily Record newspaper: “I don’t see it (‘John Carter’) as a failure, that’s the thing. I’m incredibly proud of it and I would do it all over again. If someone told me that my first lead film would make well over $300 million that’s a good thing.” —Bang Showbiz

Garner

in no hurry to lose baby weight ennifer Garner is in no hurry to lose her baby weight.

The ‘Alias’ actress recently gave birth to her third child, a son named Samuel, and while she would like regain her pre-baby figure, she says she’s too busy to worry about it. A source close to Jennifer - who also has daughters Violet, six, and three-year-old Seraphina, with husband Ben Affleck - told Closer magazine: “Jennifer has had a yoga instructor at the house a couple of times, but she’s not throwing herself into a hardcore gym routine yet. She does feel she’s gained more weight this time around, because she was so busy with the girls that she found herself not eating healthily. But she hasn’t had time to really think about it. “Still being in her maternity wear is her motivation, but it’s only been a few weeks - it’s just not a priority right now.” After her previous pregnancies, Jennifer, 39, has said she felt pressured to lose her baby weight especially as she gains so much when she’s expecting. She has said: “I do feel pressure, but I can’t seem to be pregnant without gaining 45lbs, so there’s not a lot I can do about it.”

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Romania’s Easter eggs

become popular decorative objects Decorated eggs using beeswax and red dye are pictured. hen Ioana Matei learned to decorate eggs with her grandmother for Orthodox Easter using beeswax and red dye, she never imagined her creations would seduce people beyond Romania’s borders. “I think people are getting tired of objects which are mass produced. They are looking for

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handmade things, things done with the heart”, she told AFP as she drew floral and religious designs on duck eggs in Niculesti, her home village nestled in the picturesque hills of southeast Romania. Millions of Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter this weekend. In eastern Europe, they exchange painted and decorated eggs, seen as a symbol of rebirth, to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If most people paint them with a single colour to give them to family and friends on Easter Sunday or leave them on the graves of their loved ones, artisans like Ioana Matei have transformed egg decoration into a highly developed folk

Romanian Ioana Matei poses with her adorned eggs using beeswax and red dye.

art, which is gaining international recognition. Decorated eggs from Ukraine and Romania have been showcased in exhibitions in New York, Rome and Brussels. The technique of decorating eggs is similar to that used for African and Asian “batik” with melted beeswax and dyes. In Ukraine, these eggs are called “pysanki” while in Romania they are “incondeiate”.

Matei decorates eggs from her own ducks and geese and sometimes ostrich eggs. After emptying and carefully washing them, she uses melted beeswax to trace out designs.

Her hand steadily draws flowers, crosses or designs inherited from her grandmother and inspired by life on the farm (a plough, horse reins...) The part covered with beeswax stays white while the rest of the egg goes red when it is plunged in dye. At the end, the wax is removed with the help of a candle. “It is a very meticulous and lengthy job but I love it.

When I decorate my eggs, I forget all my worries”, she says. She often works

Ioana Matei adorns eggs using beeswax and red dye.

Lottery man who helps winners live the dream hen those magic lottery numbers come up, you might scream with excitement, sit in stunned silence or run to call a loved one. But sooner or later you will come across someone like Andy Carter. You could call him the man who makes dreams come true. Carter is a winners’ advisor for Camelot, the organizers of the lottery in Britain, where three ticket holders have won huge EuroMillions jackpots since January each worth around 50 million euros ($65 million). It’s his job to check your winning ticket and arrange for the funds to be transferred into your bank account. And then he’ll hold your hand

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after scooping the jackpot, and hasn’t looked back.

“I play a little bit of rugby, I quite enjoy going out fishing. It’s just nice just to do what you want, when you want,” he told AFP. But Baker is aware of the need to be careful with his winnings if he wants his life of leisure to last, and is full of praise for the support he received from Carter and his colleagues at Camelot. “They don’t just turn up and say here’s a cheque, off you go, have a nice life. I think they’ve learned that you can’t just drop an amount of money in someone’s lap like that,” he said.

The case of Michael Carroll, a former

File photo shows Colin Weir and his wife Christine posing with a giant cheque during a photocall in Falkirk, Scotland after winning a record 161 million GBP (185 million euros/259 million USD) in the EuroMillions Lottery on July 15, 2011. —AFP while you work out what on Earth you’re going to do with the money.

“People are in shock, and quite often scared of what’s going to happen. They want reassurance that this is real, this is happening,” Carter told AFP. His advice to every one of his winners begins with three words: “Take your time.” By which he means, try to keep a clear head, take some legal and financial advice, and don’t leave your job or your partner just yet. Hotel chef Neil Baker was put in touch with Carter when he won £1.6 million (1.9 million euros, $2.6 million) on the national lottery in February last year, and says his advice was invaluablealthough he handed in his notice 24 hours

rubbish collector who won £10 million a decade ago, offers a cautionary tale. Then aged just 19, he bought a mansion where he held lavish parties and set up a demolition race track in the garden, but he also developed a drugs habit, had several runins with the police, and now lives on welfare handouts. “I think sometimes you can win too much on the lottery-you’ve got more money than you’re ever going to need,” Baker says. Carter believes most people are actually quite sensible, saying they often spend their money not on fast cars and a whole new life, but on a new home, helping out family and friends, and donating large amounts to charity.

‘It’s a strange job’ Many have modest ambitions for the cash. Catherine Bull, 35, who with her husband Gareth won 48.9 million euros on the EuroMillions in January, said what she really wanted was to replace the carpet on the upstairs landing, as the old one was “terrible”. People who win really big can face a wave of demands, however, particularly if they have gone public. When Colin and Christine Weir, an unassuming, middleaged Scottish couple, announced they had won 185 million euros on the EuroMillions last July they were inundated by sacks of begging letters which forced them to move house. Carter advised the Weirs but won’t discuss their decision to tell the world of their good fortune, a move that was clearly good publicity for Camelot but appears to have left the couple open to unwanted attention.

However, he points out that it can be hard to keep the news quiet, a fact acknowledged by Christine Weir, who told her local newspaper: “If we hadn’t told anyone, people would have thought we were laundering money.” Baker didn’t want to go public about his win last year, but when the local newspaper got hold of the story, Carter advised him to come clean. In the end, £1.6 million was not enough to make him a celebrity, a situation he is happy with, allowing him to continue a quiet life living with his mum in the same house, and splashing out occasionally on designer sunglasses or a holiday.

“The money we’ve won is a nice amount of money, you can’t knock it, but the more you win the more you get followed, and we’ve had no problem with that,” the 37year-old said. Carter says the Weirs are now happily settled in their new home, and insists that the money improves the lives of the majority of winners. He is barred by company rules from playing the lottery himself, but the bond he forges with his clientshe is often invited to weddings or children’s baptisms-means he can bask in their good fortune. “It’s a strange job because by and large you only deal with very happy people in very happy circumstances,” the 38-yearold says. For many people, “their win seems to come just in time, when they’re really struggling”, Carter adds. “Particularly nowadays-people don’t have jobs, they are feeling the squeeze, and the lottery is providing a bit of hope.” —AFP

at night: “I give up some sleep to do something beautiful”, she says, smiling. She uses mostly red dye as a symbol of the blood of Christ.

“In Bucovina, northern Romania, ethnic Ukrainian women have created intricate designs using several colors and complicated patterns but in southern Romania, ornaments have remained simpler”, says Ioana Popescu, director of the research department at the Romania’s museum on popular arts and traditions, one of the leading such institutions in Europe. Legends attached to the eggs are also numerous and vary from region to region in a country known for its melting pot of cultures, with about 20 official minorities (Ukrainians, old Russians, ethnic Hungarians...), she adds.

“The decorated eggs are made to be kept and admired for their beauty.

They have become much appreciated gifts, including abroad”, Popescu confirms. “Lots of foreigners have bought my eggs. They like them as decorative objects in their house”, Matei

Decorated eggs using beeswax and red dye are pictured on April 13, 2012, in Niculesti village (130km northeast from Bucharest). —AFP photos explains, whose work has been exhibited in Italy and Germany. “For Westerners these eggs look exotic. In Italy, we saw people ready to pay very high prices for them”, Popescu says.

Matei dispalys decorated eggs using beeswax and red dye.

Decorated eggs price can range from two to up to 100 dollars depending on the size of the egg, their pattern and if they are ordered from abroad or bought in Romania. —AFP

Matei adorns eggs.

Louvre goes visual with

Nintendo 3DS guide he Louvre Museum is used to dealing with antiquities: Nearly all of its thousands of works of art date to 1848 or earlier. Now, it wants to create a relic of its own the old museum audio guide. The famed Paris museum, whose origins date to the 18th century, is pressing on toward modernity and going visual with new electronic guides in a deal with Japan’s Nintendo. The guide provides 3DS game consoles that offer touch-screen, visual-andaudio guidance for visitors who teem the museum’s labyrinthine halls by the millions each year.

Billed as an unprecedented innovation at a museum, the game consoles launched last week offer 700 recordings on famed works like the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Mona Lisa - only a tiny sliver of the 35,000-odd works displayed in the museum.

The electronic guides, both navigational and informative, offer virtual glimpses of the artistic touches that are tough for the naked eye to see, like tiny details on towering tableaux on the museum’s woodpaneled walls. They’ll use much of the same information in the Louvre’s now-shelved audio guides. Pairing France’s highest-of-high-brow museums with a Japanese technology company behind games like Donkey Kong, Mario Brothers and Zelda might not seem like a natural fit. And

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some may view the electronic guide as a shop window for Nintendo. But Louvre officials say the museum must change with the times, and try to access as wide a public possible.

Over the years, the Louvre has drawn controversy with some of its innovations, including the glasspyramid entrance by ChineseAmerican architect I.M. Pei or its sharing parts of its massive collection with wealthy countries like the United Arab Emirates - which is to open a Louvre affiliate in 2015.

Above all, the console is meant to reach out to the Louvre’s customer base: the museum welcomed 8.9 million visitors last year - more than half of them under age 30, and about two-thirds foreign. The guides, for now available in seven languages, cost Ä5 ($6.50) on top of the museum’s Ä10 ($13) standard admission price. And coming soon: French sign language.

Press a button, and the viewer virtually floats over, say, statues by Michelangelo, or zooms up close on the tiny cracks in the face of the Mona Lisa - all but impossible to see from behind a crowded rope line.

The console comes in handy peering high up at Veronese’s 60square-meter (645-square-foot) painting “The Wedding at Cana,” across from the Mona Lisa. Details of the giant tableau easily seen on screen can be checked against the

A visitor studies a painting “The Raft of the Medusa” by French artist Theodore Gericault 1791- 1824 with the help of the new audio guide at the Louvre Museum in Paris. —AP photos

real thing. The biggest benefit may be helping art lovers get around: Visitors see their location, which blinks inside a diagram of exhibit rooms on one of the console’s two screens. A menu allows for a specific search for one of 50 of the museum’s most popular works and can plot a path to get there. Another feature is a “masterpieces” walk. Because of the Louvre’s thick walls, and because some of its exhibit spaces are underground, 3G mobile phone networks don’t reach everywhere inside. The positioning system relies on beacons posted around the museum.

Nintendo’s director-general for France, Stephan Bole, insisted the console isn’t aimed as a substitute for a live, in-person visit: Virtual isn’t the same thing as seeing the works themselves. “The 3DS is to assist a visit that remains live - you have to see the paintings to appreciate them,” he said by phone. “We want to complement the real live visit.”

Many visitors were spotted wandering around with the new 3DS guides Thursday afternoon. But some, asked about how they liked them, complained of a steep learning curve. “The classic, usual audio guide works better. I would have to search for the information that’s on this, instead of just pressing the number” next to a work of art, said Naoyuki Tomizawa, a 41-year-old IT manager from Tokyo. —AP

A visitor views a sculpture at the Louvre Museum in Paris with the help of the new audio guide.

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Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, left, accepts his trophy from Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong after Guns N’ Roses was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Sheila Kirshner accepts the Ahmet Ertegun Award for her late husband, producer Don Kirshner, at induction ceremonies for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .

Chuck D, left, and LL Cool J introduce the Beastie Boys.

Wanda King accepts induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her late father, Blues singer Freddie King.

n their way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Guns N’ Roses got together for one more gig. Axl Rose missed it. The hedonistic hard rockers, who became the world’s top music act amid endless dysfunction, members of Guns N’ Roses reunited for three songs in Cleveland on Saturday night before 6,000 fans, many of whom were thrilled to see at least most of the band’s original lineup jam on classic hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City.” Rose, the band’s frontman and ringmaster of the G N’ R traveling sex, drugs and rock and roll circus, declined to attend the induction, saying he didn’t want to be part of the ceremony because it “doesn’t appear to be somewhere I’m actually wanted or respected.”

He was hardly missed.

While his decision disappointed some hardcore fans and ended any possibility of a fullscale reunion of the original lineup, guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Steve Adler performed for the first time in nearly 20 years to the delight of the sell-out crowd inside Cleveland’s historic Public Hall. Guns N’ Roses were one of the headliners of this year’s eclectic group of inductees, which included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, folk icon Donovan, late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro and Guns N’ Roses performs after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Saturday, April 14, 2012, British bands the Small Faces and Faces. The in Cleveland. —AP photos event lasted well into the early morning with an All-Star jam featuring some of rock’s biggest to him as he cared deeply about music and the names closing the 5 1-2 hour ceremony with a love of the brotherhood of being in a band and stirring rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher being a creative force in the universe, which he is and always will be a brother in everything we Ground.”

Hours earlier, Chili Peppers lead singer do.”

Comedian Chris Rock, a longtime fan and Anthony Kiedis said it was strange to be enshrined while the band was touring. “We’re friend of the band, inducted the Chili Peppers. “If going somewhere,” Kiedis said. “How can we (Beach Boy) Brian Wilson (funkmaster) George stop and take an award when really we’re just Clinton had a kid he would be ugly,” Rock said. halfway there? But it is nice to be together with “But he would sound like the Red Hot Chili people that we spent some incredible years Peppers.” The Chili Peppers took the stage at 1 along the way writing songs and playing shows am and opened a four-song set with “By The in little theaters and sweaty little transvestite Way” with drummer Chad Smith flanked by Jack clubs and having the time of our lives.” Irons and Cliff Martinez, two former drummers Cleveland rocked without Rose. As he inducted with the band. Flea gave a moving speech in Guns N’ Roses, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong which spoke of his passion to play for the musirecalled the first time he saw the band on MTV. cians before him. He choked back tears as he “I thought, one these guys could end up dead or thanked his mother.

Three white middle-class smart alecks from in jail,” he said.

Guns N’ Roses came out both barrels blaring New York City, the Beastie Boys were initially disand their debut album “Appetite For missed as beer-swilling frat boys following their Destruction,” shook a music world that at the 1986 debut album “License To Ill,” which featime was consumed with pop ballads and dance tured songs like “(You Gotta) Fight For Your music. “It’s the best debut album in the history Right (To Party!)” and “Girls.” But their follow-up, of rock and roll,” Armstrong said. “Every song hits “Paul’s Boutique,” was acclaimed by critics and hard. It takes you a trip to the seedy world of Los brought the Beasties credibility in the black hipAngeles. The thing that set them apart from hop community. “It broke the mold,” said Public Donovan Leitch accepts induction into the Rock and everyone else was guts. They never lost their Enemy’s Chuck D, later citing one of the group’s Roll Hall of Fame. edge for one second.” Armstrong talked about lines. “The Beastie Boys are indeed three bad each of the Guns members, talking about Slash’s brothers who made history. They brought a mastery and Adler’s pulsive, pounding beats whole new look to rap and hip-hop. They proved that rap could come from any street before pausing.

“Let’s see, who am I missing?” The reference not just a few.” to Rose drew boos and catcalls that Armstrong tried to shout down. “He’s one of the best frontmen to ever touch a microphone,” Armstrong said. McKagan and Slash did not mention Rose during their brief remarks but then took the stage with Myles Kennedy, a member of a side project with Slash, singing lead vocals. Like Guns N’ Roses, the Red Hot Chili Peppers emerged from Los Angeles during the 1980s when Sunset Strip’s rock scene was dominated by “hair” bands more concerned with their tight lycra pants and eyeliner than their sound. Not the Chili Peppers, who found their unique groove by blending punk, funk, rock and rap.

While their lineup has undergone some changes - founding guitarist Hillel Slovak died of a heroin overdose in 1988 - Kiedis and bassist Flea have survived personal highs and lows and the band remains one of music’s top live acts.

Kiedis said Slovak would have loved the honor. “I think that he would have a good laugh,” Kiedis said. “Yeah, it would certainly mean something Donovan Leitch performs on stage.

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis speaks after induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Small Faces/Faces members Ian McLagan, second from left, Kenney Jones, and Ronnie Wood, right, appear in the press room with Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall left, after induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

John Mellencamp and Donovan Leitch perform.

Ronnie Wood, left, Mike ‘Flea’ Balazary, center, and Billy Joe Armstrong perform.

The Roots, including Travie McCoy (left), Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter, center, and Kid Rock perform after induction of the Beastie Boys.

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Sara Bareilles performs after the induction of late Laura Nyro.

Members of Small Faces/Faces perform after induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

R&B artist Smokey Robinson appears in the press room before the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Darlene Love performs.

Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons of ZZ-Top introduce the late Blues singer Freddie King for induction.

Only two of the three Beasties attended the ceremony. Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz read a speech by Adam “MCA” Yauch, who has been fighting cancer. The Beasties are just the third hiphop act to enter the hall, joining Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five and Run DMC. Kid Rock joined the Roots in a medley of Beastie hits, including “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn” and “Sabotage.” Stevie Van Zandt, one of Bruce Springsteen’s sidemen in the E Street Band, inducted the Small Faces and Faces, bands that included Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, two rock superstars. Van Zandt credited the underrated bands for having a major influence on generations of rockers. He said both were blessed to have strong lead singers in the late Steve Marriott and Rod Stewart.

“Not many bands get two lives or two of the greatest white soul singers in the history of rock and roll,” he said. Stewart came down with the flu this week and couldn’t attend. Simply Red’s lead singer Mick Hucknall, a friend of the band, filled on three songs including the classic “Stay With Me,” with Wood, previously inducted with the Rolling Stones, delivering an exquisite slide guitar. During a speech that was at times comical but heartfelt throughout, John Mellen camp inducted Donovan, a balladeer from the flowerpower 1960s once labeled “the new Dylan.”

Donovan Leitch had a string of hits in the ‘60s with “Sunshine Superman,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man” and “Mellow Yellow.”

During his remarks, Mellencamp raised the copy of Donovan’s “Fairy Tale” album he bought 47 years ago as a kid in Indiana.

“I wasn’t just listening to Donovan, I was living Donovan,” Mellencamp said. “He was my inspiration. One of the original originals.” The influential Nyro, who died in 1997, never reached commercial success

but wrote hits for other artists. She was inducted by singer Bette Midler.

“I loved her the moment I dropped the needle on the vinyl,” Midler said. “She was the very essence of New York City. Not in the gritty real sense, but in the passionate, romantic, ethereal, eternal sense.” Carole King inducted late rock promoter Don Kirchner, who helped launch the careers of Prince and the Eagles. Smokey Robinson inducted long-deserving backup bands for early rock artists. The groups included Buddy Holly’s The Crickets, James Brown’s The Famous Flames, Bill Hailey’s The Comets and Robinson’s The Miracles. — AP

Singer Carole King introduces Don Kirshner for the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

annes season kicks off this week as the film festival unveils its pick of Hollywood giants and arthouse newcomers to compete for the coveted Palme d’Or at the glitzy event on the French Riviera next month.

Organizers will announce the 20-odd films in the official competition at a press conference in Paris Thursday, ending film buff speculation about who will make the cut for the world’s top movie showcase on May 16-27. Cannes’ general delegate Thierry Fremaux selects the line-up each year from among some 2,000 productions, from the biggest names in film right down to first-time directors from North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America or Africa.

He was left fuming early this month when a bogus Cannes selection was posted online in an April Fool’s prank. The fake list notably named hotly-awaited films from US directors Terrence Malick and David Cronenberg as well as Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom”, a 1960s teen love story already announced as Cannes’ opening movie. “There are always rumors about the films at Cannes-and it always gets on directors’ nerves,” Gilles Jacob, the festival’s 81-year-old current chairman and longtime general delegate, told AFP this week.

“It’s pretty easy to take a list of all the great films in production around the world, to look at the great directors, the release dates,” he said. “Of course, in the mix some of the films are bound to be in Cannes. But a selection is more than just that: there are the discoveries, first films, people who have never come before.” This year’s jury is headed up by Italian director Nanni Moretti, who scooped a Palme d’Or for “La stanza del figlio” (“The Son’s Room”) in 2001, and who is the first non-American in the role since 2009. Moretti told AFP earlier this month he would be “looking for films that are still able to surprise me, not the kind of film I’ve already seen 5,000 times.”

Organizers will also Thursday announce the line-up for the parallel section for up-and-coming talent, Un Certain Regard, whose jury is to be chaired by the British actor and director Tim Roth. Despite the promise of surprises, several dozen big-name movies currently in post-production are strongly tipped for a slot at the festival. According to the buzz in Hollywood, “Madagascar 3” is all-butassured of a screening, though not necessarily in competition.

And US film giant Warner Bros has made it known that its latest Batman movie-”The Dark Knight Rises” by Christopher Nolan, starring Marion Cotillard-is finished, well ahead of its July 19 release date. “On the Road” by the Brazilian Walter Salles is seen as a strong contender: based on the Jack Kerouac novel and starring Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart and Viggo Mortensen, the film is planned for release in late May. From Britain, Ken Loachwho has brought 16 films to Cannes in the past could be in for a place with his new film about an ex-offender on the mend, “The Angel’s Share”.

US director James Gray is tipped for a spot with “Low Life”, starring Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix in a tale about an innocent immigrant woman tricked into a life of burlesque. Michael Haneke-whose “The White Ribbon” won the 2009 Palme d’Or-has a film in post-production called “Amour” (Love) about a woman hit by a stroke, also seen as a likely choice if it is ready in time.

South Korea’s Park Chan-wook-who owes his international breakthrough to a slot at Cannes with “Oldboy” in 2004 — is seen as a contender with “Stoker”, an English-language thriller starring Nicole Kidman.

Film sources told AFP the Argentinean director Pablo Trapero could return to Cannes with “Elefante blanco” (White Elephant), the story of two priests battling corruption in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. Woody Allen could also walk the red carpet-though probably out-of-competition-with “To Rome with Love”, whose A-list cast includes Ellen Page, Penelope Cruz and Roberto Benigni. And according to Le Figaro newspaper, Claude Miller’s “Therese Desqueyroux”, which was in post-production when the French filmmaker died early this month, is likely to be part of the official Cannes selection. — AFP

Guitarist Slash gestures with Duff McKagan, back left, and Steven Adler.

Future of Judah Maccabee film uncertain Steve Van Zandt introduces Small Faces/Faces.

As Bette Midler looks on, right, Gil Bianchini accepts induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his late mother, Laura Nyro.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' Mike "Flea" Balazary, left, singer Anthony Kiedis and drummer Chad Smith, right, perform after induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

(From left) Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, Slash and Steven Adler, after their performance.

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he future of a film about ancient Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee may be close to flickering out. Warner Bros spokesman Paul McGuire said Friday that the studio is “analyzing what to do with the project.” The film about the biblical hero was to be a collaboration between producer Mel Gibson and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas. After the studio recently rejected Eszterhas’ script, the screenwriter accused Gibson of anti-Semitism in a letter published online.

Gibson responded with his own letter denying the allegations. In 2006, Gibson was arrested for drunken driving. A leaked arrest report revealed he used anti-Semitic and sexist slurs.

The Eszterhas allegations and Gibson’s history prompted Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center to issue a statement Thursday calling for Warner Bros. and all other studios “to permanently shelve the Maccabee project as long as Mel Gibson is associated with the film.” The Maccabees’ unlikely victory over those who would repress Jewish religious freedoms is celebrated on Chanukah, the Jewish festival of light.

Romania’s Easter eggs become popular decorative objects

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012

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Models present creations by Pakistani designer Mona Imran on the first day of Bridal Couture Week in Karachi on April 13, 2012. The three-day ‘Bridal Couture Week’ organized by Style 360 aims to promote Pakistan’s textile industry. — AFP/AP photos

Models present creations of Pakistani designer Nauman Arfeen.

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he former plus-size model recently dyed her hair platinum blonde and while people are shocked by her “transformation”, she loves the “extreme” change to her appearance. She said: “People can’t believe the transformation. I had black hair and now I have white hair.

“That’s what’s so exciting. I wanted to do something different. I wanted to show up as a different canvas at a shoot. It’s a very extreme look but very beautiful. Though it’s nothing conventional.” Crystal underwent several dying sessions to change her hair and she is delighted by the finished look.

She told People magazine: “It’s a challenging look. But what’s wonderful is it’s something that photographs beautifully.” The model lists actress Tilda Swinton as her style icon because she admires the way the ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin’ star changes her look so frequently. The 25-year-old beauty explained: “I’m not trying to conform to one certain look. “I look up to someone like Tilda Swinton. She’s the fashion icon. She experiments and that keeps life fun.” — Bang Showbiz

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immy Choo is to collaborate with Rob Pruitt on a new spring/summer 2013 collection. The fashion house will join forces with the contemporary artist - who is known for his array of colorful work - on a capsule cruise collection, and the brand is hoping his influence will lead to the creation of some “very collectable and uniquely beautiful” products. Jimmy Choo creative directors Sandra Choi and Simon Holloway said: “We were captivated by Pruitt’s energy, his computer screen use of color and the festive exuberance of his prints and materials; there were elements in his work that reminded us in subtle ways of the Jimmy Choo design iconography. “We sensed that Rob’s twist on Jimmy Choo glamour would yield something very collectable and uniquely beautiful.”

The collection will feature shoes, small leather accessories and handbags, and it is expected to arrive in Jimmy Choo boutiques and online in November 2012. The brand is no stranger to working with contemporary artists after joining forces with Nan Goldin for its spring/summer 2012 Icons cruise collection. What’s more, Marilyn Minter and Richard Phillips were onboard for Jimmy Choo’s spring/summer 2011 Crystal cruise collection and spring/summer 2008 collection respectively. — Bang Showbiz

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he Italian fashion designer says she gets a lot of her inspiration from the lives of everyday women and uses the tradition kitchen attire for her collections because it symbolizes the tough lives some females have to lead. She said: “I’m interested in the lives of women in general, which is why I love aprons. The apron is a recurring theme in my work because it is symbolic of women’s sufferance. It’s an emblem of women’s despair, their poverty, their passions. I love drama and romance. It’s one of the reasons why I love antique jewelry - I like to live the lives of other women.

Miuccia - who works for Prada and heads her fashion forward sister company Miu Miu - has previously said she often wears clothes she thinks are “appalling” and sometimes hates her own signature style. She said: “I get passions, I have to wear something even if I know it’s really appalling. It’s all about the fantasy of the moment and for about 20 days it’s all I want.”-Bang Showbiz