16 Feb 2012

IO N SU BS CR IP T THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

RABIA ALAWAL 24, 1433 AH

www.kuwaittimes.net

NO: 15361

Amir urges end to rifts as new Assembly meets

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Kuwait National Day

Saadoun returns as speaker • Oppn controls key posts, panels

Max 20º Min 14º High Tide 06:49 & 18:05 Low Tide 00:09 & 11:14

from the editor’s desk

No woman no cry

By Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan

myopinion@kuwaittimes.net

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t seems that since women fell short in parliamentary elections, the government decided to feature a men’s only Cabinet as well. Unfortunately, the women who were in parliament and in the government in the previous term brought a fresh new educated perspective that does not suit the requirements for Kuwaiti politics these days. In short, they did not shout nonsense and use insults and they respected the laws of the land. However, this actually might be for the best because many things in the Kuwaiti society are still taboo between men and women and this parliament is promising to be more vulgar than ever since many people succeeded in the elections for the wrong reasons.

The opening ceremony was anything but smooth, with MPs starting a war of words right from the start of the voting process for the speaker of the parliament. It is a custom in Kuwait that in the opening session, the eldest MP fills in as temporary speaker till the new speaker is voted in. The electronic voting system was dropped by fill-in speaker Khaled Al-Sultan without any explanation other than it was within his rights to do so. This was not met well by many MPs, who wanted to know the reasons behind that. Then people from every corner of the parliament started shouting either for or against this process and the session was in chaos. One person from the audience had to be carried out by guards as he lost his temper and shouted, “this is the parliament of Kandahar not Kuwait”, making a sarcastic reference to the number of Islamists in this parliament and their obvious influence on this decision. Finally, order was restored and the voting went on.

When the results were announced, there was a large cheer from the crowd who were mainly pro-opposition, and suddenly a fight broke out in the VIP guest section of all places as two supporters of some MPs took things too far with their support. They had to be carried out as well.

Is this the caliber of secretaries and staff our MPs bring along into the VIP sections of the parliament?

The thing that attracted my attention was the way many MPs took their oath. Some MPs recited it with seriousness, some recited it with a tone of unserious mockery and some Islamists added words such as “with what is acceptable to God I swear.......”, which makes me wonder if this is their way of opposing the law since it seems like they can decide what is acceptable to God in their own opinions anyways? As for those who used a mocking sarcastic tone, I really have no explanation to what their role in parliament is going to be other than turning our political stage into a circus.

However, there were some good signs and even a few MPs who actually set an example. MPs who opposed the voting process more notably, such as Marzouq AlGhanem, Ali Al-Rashed and Mohammed Al-Saqer, accepted the decision that seemed to be the will of the majority.

MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun who was competing for the position of speaker with MP Al-Saqer allowed his opponent to voice his concerns and respected the opinions of everybody by staying out of the debate, which was the move that helped to restore order to the session. Obviously his years of experience came into hand. When the results were announced and Al-Saadoun won, Al-Saqer was graceful in defeat, congratulated Al-Saadoun, offered his support to what is in the benefit of Kuwait and thanked all those who supported him and those who relieved him from the responsibility of the position of speaker.

These MPs showed the true spirit of democracy speak your case, argue your argument with respect, but then accept gracefully the outcome of the democratic choice of the majority. Unfortunately, many other MPs would have taken this to the streets and probably hype their people to storm the parliament if they failed to achieve what they wanted. Hopefully, they will learn.

His Highness the Amir made a reference to respecting each other and respecting opposing opinions the way Kuwait traditionally was and will hopefully remain. HH the Amir also referred to the fact that Kuwait is a country governed by law and that no one is above the law.

Hopefully this parliament and this government will surprise us for a change and regain our trust in our democracy. God bless Kuwait.

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (right) addresses the opening session of the new National Assembly yesterday. (Inset) Veteran opposition MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun is elected speaker of the Assembly. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

By B Izzak

Honduras prison fire kills more than 350 TEGUCIGALPA: A massive fire swept through an overcrowded prison in Honduras and killed more than 350 inmates, many of them trapped and screaming inside their cells. A senior official at the attorney general’s office, Danelia Ferrera, said 357 people died in the blaze that began late on Tuesday night at the prison in Comayagua, about 75 km north of the capital Tegucigalpa. “It’s a terrible scene ... Our staff went into the cells and the bodies are charred, most of them are unrecognizable,” Ferrera told Reuters, adding that officials would have to use dental records and DNA in many cases to identify those killed. It was one of the worst prison fires ever in Latin America. “We heard screaming from the people who caught on fire,” one prisoner told reporters, showing the fingers he fractured in his escape from the fire.

Continued on Page 13

COMAYAGUA, Honduras: Police and soldiers (bottom) and journalists (top) take cover during clashes with inmates’ relatives after a deadly prison fire yesterday. — AFP

Iran trumpets nuke progress Israel: Iran terror ‘exposed’

MUHARRAQ, Bahrain: A few hundred supporters of the Bahraini government demonstrate yesterday near a banner with upside-down images of (clockwise from top left) Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and Bahraini senior Shiite cleric Issa Qassim. — AP

TEHRAN: Iran announced new strides in its nuclear program yesterday in a defiant blow to US and EU pressure to rein in its atomic activities, and amid signs of an increasingly vicious covert war with Israel over the issue.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled on state television what was described as Iran’s first domestically produced, 20-percent enriched nuclear fuel for Tehran’s research reactor. He said 3,000 more centrifuges had been added to his country’s uranium enrichment effort, and officials said new-generation, high-capacity centrifuges had been installed in Iran’s Natanz facility. And he ordered Iran to “go build” four more nuclear research reactors.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation chief Fereydoon Abbasi Davani also said that uranium exploration in Iran Continued on Page 13

Assad sets vote to end near 50-year Baath rule

Trade, tourism keep Dubai economy growing

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KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah yesterday inaugurated the new National Assembly by calling for cooperation and an end to crises while warning that he will not allow divisive elements to put Kuwait’s interests and future at risk.

During similar speeches at the opening session of the new parliament, the prime minister and MP Khaled AlSultan, who chaired the session being the oldest member, called for preserving national unity amid a backdrop of recent tribal and sectarian tensions that led to protests.

The Islamist-led opposition which won a majority in the election on Feb 2 swept all the main posts in the Assembly and most of the panels, as veteran opposition figure MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun was elected speaker with a good margin over his rival liberal MP Mohammad AlSaqer. Saadoun, 78, received 38 votes against 26 for Saqer while the prime minister did not vote and walked out of the session when the election started.

The jam-packed chamber broke into a wild applause even before the counting finished when Saadoun received the 33rd vote which means an absolute majority. People attending in the gallery gave Saadoun a standing ovation as he got up to express his thanks to the MPs who voted him, referring to a similar vote in 1999 when he lost the speaker’s post to Jassem AlKhorafi, who continued in the post until the previous Assembly. Saadoun is the longest serving lawmaker in the state. He has been a member of parliament since 1975, winning in every parliamentary poll since then.

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Domestics need sponsor nod to travel abroad KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior said in a statement yesterday that a holder of Article 20 residency will not be allowed to leave Kuwait for any country except with the sponsor or any of his family members or with a letter from the sponsor approving the departure. However, domestic workers can depart to their home country as per the decision of the Undersecretary Gen Ghazi Al-Omar.

Assistant Undersecretary Lt Gen Anwar Al-Yaseen said in the statement that if the sponsor has no objection that his worker travels alone or in the company of others by air, he should report to the duty officer at Kuwait airport, and if traveling by land, he should report to the duty officer at the border exit from which the employee will leave, and if Continued on Page 13

Robinho double lifts Milan to big win over Arsenal

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

LOCAL

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Sabah and oldest MP Khaled Al-Sultan attend the opening session of the new parliamentary term in Kuwait City yesterday.

His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, addressing the new parliamentary session. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

MPs Ahmad Al-Saadoun and Mohammad Al-Saqer attend the MP Musallam Al-Barrak makes a point during the openopening session. ing session of the new parliamentary term.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah (right) and other family members attend the parliament in Kuwait yesterday.

‘History will document our deeds, whether to our disgrace or our credit’ Premier addresses NA inaugural session KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlHamad Al-Sabah, addressed the officials attending the inauguration by His Highness the Amir of the 14th legislative term of the National Assembly after the Amiri address. He started by praying the Almighty bless the homeland with more prosperity as the country marks the 25 February Independence Day and 26 February Liberation Day. HH the PM then congratulated the members of Parliament on gaining the trust of the Kuwaiti people, and urged them to spare no effort to serve them and help the country along the path of development.

The Premier stressed that the Kuwaiti Constitution clearly entrenches the Kuwaiti values of justice, freedom and equality for all, and that Kuwaitis always practice and opt for democracy while adhering to the constitution and preserving national unity.

“Our Kuwaiti values state respect for others, respect for others’ opinions, following the teachings of Islam and call for a conscience while seeking the greater good and shunning narrow interests.”

“We have heard, with all care and appreciation, the sound and prudent advice in His Highness the Amir’s address, which showed his care to fully understand the needs and concerns of his subjects.

Addressing the Amir, the Premier said “I myself and the ministers of my Cabinet stress our wholehearted commitment to what our oath entails, and are all determined to do our best to cooperate with the members of Parliament to put your prudent advice into effect.” His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah recalled a verse from the Holy Quran befitting our time. “And fear tumult or oppression, which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that God is strict in punishment.” Al-Anfal, verse 25.

“We condemn recent practices, which threatened the fabric of our society. We hereby state our belief that our national unity is too strong to be defeated by ill-meaning deeds, reckless thoughts, or the odd word or notion here or there which go against the grain of Kuwaitis’ values of maintaining national unity and putting the higher

MP Mohammad Al-Jwaihel attends the opening session of the new parliamentary term yesterday.

interest of the homeland first and foremost.” Furthermore, “the government is in the process of drafting a number of legislations and thinking procedures aimed at preserving national unity.

However, what is required goes beyond issue of law... we also need a more active involved role for our mosques, schools, and media.”

“Kuwait looks up to us all now, and expects us to uphold our responsibilities, that we rise up to the challenge of internal reform and overall development, and that we face the serious developments and changes on the international scene with full realization of their different aspects and their possible effect on our country.

“With all these challenges before us, I find it fitting to shed light on several reference points we should all seek to entrench: “First; Kuwait is a state of institutions, ruled by a Constitution which organizes the operation and cooperation of the three authorities under the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, and guarantees of basic rights and public freedoms.

“Second; it is vital to preserve Kuwaiti sovereignty and independence,

and that it remains a haven of security, safety, and stability, where people live in safety for their lives and property.

“Third; Kuwaitis have always been and will always be members of a family which interacts, supports and aids all other members, shares joy and sorrow, seeks a united front and one say in the realization that they also share one goal and one destiny.

“Fourth; that all efforts and resources must be joined and put into the overall reform project, so that Kuwait regains its prestige and shines anew as a beacon of development, enlightenment, plenty, and prosperity.

“Fifth; that development and change are rules of life, and that we must seek the best, most productive, and most noble choices within the framework of the Constitution and national consensus, and that all this takes place within an atmosphere of harmony, which has always been the unique characteristic of Kuwaiti society.

“There is also stress on the need to cut down bureaucracy, to review documentation and documentation processing involved in follow-up on state projects, and to guarantee state bodies’

French Ambassador Nada Yafi (left) and British Ambassador Frank Baker attend the opening session of the parliament.

commitment to their responsibilities and deadlines. “The government also stresses its sincere resolve to uphold the law, without bias ... and abiding by the law is a duty for us all,” His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said.

As for sensationalism, calls for violation of law, and for disturbing order rather than seeking legal channels, they cannot and will not serve our national interest.” Speaking for the Kuwaiti Government, the premier also stressed its commitment to counter corruption and hold those involved in corruption and abuse accountable for their violations, to restore funds, profit from funds, and resources illegally obtained. It also aims to address certain conflict of interest, the need to protect informants, as well as punishments and penalties in this regard.

The premier then addressed media work. “The government is keen on bolstering the role of media in preserving national unity and homeland security.”

The premier stressed all media work must be “within the legal frameworks of responsible and accountable freedom, must shun chaos and disorder, and learn from the experiences of advanced

nations with the ultimate objective of reflecting a civilized image of the country and the keenness of its people on practicing freedom and democracy within the restraints of awareness, accountability, and responsibility, and put national interest above all else.”

The global financial crisis was also mentioned. “The global financial crisis and its impact had greatly affected the Kuwaiti economy, and we expect even more of that in view of recent worsening of the crisis. This requires us to take all precautions and measures to protect our national economy and assign the private sector a more active role in leading the economic process.

“This involves serious steps to realize economic reform, which in essence is a result of addressing imbalances of the structure of the economy while curbing waste, limiting growth of consumer spending, and preserving resources for future generations.

“We are expected to bring forth considerable achievement ... and we realize the Kuwaiti people are monitoring and assessing our performance ... History will document our deeds, whether to our disgrace or our credit.” —KUNA

Kuwaiti women attend opening session for the new parliament term yesterday.

Top priority to national unity: Al-Sultan KUWAIT: Kuwaiti MPs stressed the importance of safeguarding the unity of the nation and combating those who threaten it, during the inaugural session yesterday of 14th legislative term of the National Assembly.

Internal and external national security, the deterioration of public services and illegal residents were other issues pointed out. The MPs were represented in an address by Khaled Al-Sultan, delivered as per Kuwaiti tradition by the most aged speaker. After greeting the attending Kuwaiti leadership, His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-

Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlHamad Al-Sabah, MP Al-Sultan noted the changing political landscape in the surrounding region. “A cold spring which has removed oppressive regimes has swept our Arab nations. These regimes have been around for many years, by the use of repressive and ancient policies,” he said.

Kuwait is going through a spring of another kind, he said, whereby reform policies are being implemented in reality according to the directions of HH the Amir. Al-Sultan stressed the total loyalty of the Kuwaiti Parliament and its people to HH the Amir and the ruling Al-Sabah family. He also called on the nation to combat

any form of sedition or incitement of division carried out by single entities or local tabloid media.

“The Kuwait we all know is one of

MP Khaled Al-Sultan many tribes. It does not differentiate between its nationals in rights and duties.

It does not differentiate between city-

dweller and Bedouin. It does not differentiate between Sunni and Shiite,” he said.

Al-Sultan stressed the need to formulate clear policies that defend the unity of the nation and tackle those who attempt to disrupt it.

The elder also launched an attack on usury, which is forbidden under Islamic law. He said it is up to the nation to issue laws that abandon interest gained from personal loans to the public.

He said development in the country came to a halt due the absence of good leadership and bad management from the executive authority, as well as conflicts in interest and corruption.

Some of the reasons for deterioration

in the country are attributed to low levels of education, poor standards in health, water and electricity services and major delays in housing files. Al-Sultan called an intervention by the Kuwaiti leadership to correct the situation in the country in order to meet the aspirations of its people.

“Other countries’ experiences, the socialist and the capitalist ones, prove that the road to a good political and economic sovereignty is paved by taking interest in developing the private sector, especially small businesses, in order to face present and future challenges and provide job opportunities for a predicted 340 thousand unemployed during the next 14 years.” He also urged the importance of

creating a post-oil economy for the country which depend on sources other than oil. Hence, oil returns will be invested for the future generations reserve. He also stressed increasing the family income which will ultimately lead to alleviating the budget of the country.

The National Assembly approved many vital projects. These included the five-year-development plan, the annual development plan, housing laws, privatization laws, privatization of power plants, freedom of competition laws, the prevention of monopoly and the creation of joint sectors between the government and private sectors to serve the best interests of the people. —KUNA

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

local

KUWAIT: The Assistant Undersecretary for Penitentiary Reform Affairs Lt Gen Khalil Al-Shammali participated in the inaugural ceremony of 2012 spring camp for female inmates at the Central Jail. The event was held on Feb 14, reflecting the humane and social aspect of penitentiary reforms.

Hashish peddlers caught

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two Arab expatriates were arrested on charges of drug trading.

Information was received concerning the two men and they were kept under observation. An undercover agent approached them to buy a piece of hashish. At the time of delivery they were caught with marked money which they had exchanged with the secret agent for the piece of hashish. After searching their house, police found half a kilogram of hashish. They confessed to the crime and said they obtained the hashish from another person. They said they had a male Kuwaiti partner, who was caught. After searching his house, police found another half a kilogram of hashish. The three men were sent to the concerned authorities.

attempting to cross the street in Sulaibikhat opposite KFC. He was fatally injured and fractured his left hand.

Paramedic staff who reached the spot in response to an emergency call admitted him to Al Sabah hospital.

Car accidents A car accident took place along Arabian Gulf road opposite Al-Shaab, resulting in a 41-year- old Georgian woman sustaining injuries, and a 23year- old citizen suffering a shoulder dislocation. Both were admitted to Amiri hospital.

In another incident, a car accident took place in Fahaheel road opposite AlHadi hospital, severely injuring an 18year- old man. He was admitted to Mubarak hospital.

Suspicious death Security sources received a report that a woman fell in the toilet of her house in Mubarak Al-Kabeer. Security men and a medical emergency team responded to the report and transported the woman to Adan Hospital. She was dead on arrival. The report indicated that the woman fell on her head. A Ministry of Interior investigator suspected criminal acts could be behind the death of the woman. Therefore, he registered a case of suspected crime and informed criminal investigators. The body was sent to verify the cause of death and whether there is a crime or not.

Hit and run case A 48-year-old Bangladeshi expat was run over by a speeding car while

Ministers identify challenges, ready to cooperate with MPs Kuwait facing a crucial phase KUWAIT: New ministers acknowledged that crucial challenges lie ahead requiring maximum efforts as well as cooperation from lawmakers to restore development in the country. Their intentions were expressed in statements made shortly following the Cabinet’s announcement. “Kuwait is facing a crucial phase that necessitates comprehensive reforms to meet requirements of facing the upcoming challenges, improving national unity and pushing the development plan forward,” said Minister of Public Works and State Minister of Planning and Development Dr Fadhel Al-Safar.

He recognized that fighting sectarianism, law enforcement, protection of public funds and implementation of major infrastructure projects as issues that the Cabinet gives top priority to.

Meanwhile, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud AlSabah said that the Cabinet realizes “the responsibility of protecting Kuwait,” expressing full commitment to cooperating with MPs “within the framework of law.”

Likewise, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Ahmad Al-Rujaib said that the Cabinet and Parliament are “the two wings by which Kuwait

can soar toward more development and prosperity,” further announcing plans to examine problems facing the process of work at the MSAL and work. Minister of Communication Salem AlOthaina said that work will focus on improving telecommunications, internet and postal services in Kuwait. In the meantime, Minister of Health Dr Ali Al-Obaidi admitted that the first challenge he needs to tackle is “restore citizens’ trust in the state’s medical facilities,” which he said will work toward achieving cooperation with medical staff, the World Health Organization(WHO) as well as the health committee.

Meanwhile, Minister of Oil Hani Husain said that programs for oil sector employees’ capacity development will be given top priority in order to meet requirements for implementing mega projects as soon as possible. The minister of commerce and industry revealed plans to improve commercial and industrial business structure in Kuwait, as well as boost competition by fighting monopoly and attracting foreign investors.

The new Cabinet elicited mixed reaction from lawmakers; some of whom thought it was disappointing while others blamed oppositionists for

requesting a minimum of nine portfolios to accept invitations. “I was hoping that members from the parliamentary majority would join the Cabinet, but I believe their requests were impossible to relent to,” said MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Tuesday.

Islamist MP Abdullatif Al-Omairi said that the parliamentary majority “sent a message before the Cabinet’s formation that we are willing to cooperate with it, whether we decide to join it or not,” admitting that the Cabinet should be given an opportunity to perform before its action is assessed. Hopes to achieve stability in the political scene were also shared by MP Adnan AlMutawaa, who felt that the Cabinet’s should not include a female minister. “The Cabinet must take time to prove its competency, after which [MPs] can assess its performance,” he said.

A statement released on Tuesday signed by 32 MPs explained that the parliamentary majority opted against joining the Cabinet after His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah offered a maximum of three portfolios “which would not result in Kuwaiti people’s aspirations being met.” —Al-Qabas, Al-Rai

Tortured Gitmo Kuwaiti ends hunger strike

KUWAIT: The drug traders who were arrested yesterday.

KUWAIT: Fawzi Al-Odah, one of two Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo Bay prison, recently ended a hunger strike he started in protest at being held indefinitely without trial, his attorney Adel Abdulhadi said.

Abdulhadi, who defends Al-Odah’s fellow Kuwaiti jail mate Fayez Al-Kandari, said that he obtained the information from American attor-

neys Thomas Wilner and Neil Koslowe after they recently met Al-Odah for the first time since 2006. “ While they said that Al-Odah was removed from solidarity confinement, the lawyers noted that Al-Odah was subjected to painful methods to make him eat during his hunger strike, including the infamous force-feeding chair”, Abdulhadi added. Lawyers Wilner and

Koslowe said Al-Odah is suffering from severe weight loss and other complications as a result of hunger strikes he went on during his decadelong confinement. “Al-Odah was left with no other choice but to comply with threats that include torture and staying indefinitely in solidarity confinement if he continued with his hunger strike”, Abdulhadi said.—Al-Watan

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

LOCAL kuwait digest

Local Spotlight

Penal Code amendment

Women are not wanted here!

By Mustafa Al-Sarraf rticle 111 of Kuwait’s Penal Code stipulates that a person found guilty of insulting or making publically disparaging remarks against a religious belief in any shape or form, will be sentenced to one year in prison along with a KD75 fine. This article is listed under chapter two of the Penal Code titled ‘Crimes that damage public interest,’ under the first sector titled ‘crimes pertinent with state security and sanctity of religions.’

It is noticed that the maximum penalty for such a crime is not on par with how serious this crime is on state security - if the penalty is similar to misdemeanor offenses rather than felonies.

Founders of Kuwait ’s Penal Code listed this offense under state security crimes, given its serious effect on national security and society.

It appears, however, that the founders underestimated its penalty back in 1960s.

Article 101 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes calls for changing the state’s ruling system, mentioned the penalty for a person found guilty of this crime as seven years imprisonment with 7,000 Gulf rupees (the currency Kuwait used at the time). The penalty was intensified to ten years imprisonment.

Today, such crimes have been on the rise, leaving destructive effects on the society in the form of animosity being spread among people.

This, therefore, protects national security from consequences of amending Article 111 of the Penal Code to intensify penalties and classify this crime as a felony.

In my opinion, such amendments will help restore people’s faith in the legal system by making them more willing to report offenses instead of resorting to mass protests or vengeful reactions, thereby boosting stability in the society and credibility of the country’s legal system.

People lose faith in their legal system if they feel that penalties it includes fail to punish criminals properly for crimes they commit that are deemed serious in society. This requires urgent action to go ahead with proper amendments to make penalty of undermining religious beliefs on par with the magnitude of the crime. — Al-Qabas

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kuwait digest

A pearl in the Arab World

By Abdullah Al-Misfir Al-Adwani ow, the Opposition have the majority in the National Assembly, after the bribe takers have gone. The Opposition’s word is leading in the National Assembly among political powers who used to criticize the government and accuse it of short falls. The ball now is in the Opposition’s yard.

Now it will be clear who did not do his work right, and who was after escalation and creating crises and who did not want cooperation and growth for this State. Therefore, the Opposition

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The public is now with you, MPs of the nation, so always keep the public in your mind with just legislation, and implement laws which have been delayed. Activate subjective supervision, which is not after crisis and escalation. Achieve the delayed justice on the grounds of this State. There is no justification for new crises. should be very well aware of their behavior in the coming days and push forward the growth wheels.

They should help the Government to achieve and activate its supervision tools. as well as the legislative tools.

People did their part and supported the opposition and demonstrated in the streets, at that time we all announced that we were not satisfied from government performance.

His Highness the Amir has trusted the citizens, who in turn chose their new MPs. Either Kuwait will be or not.

The public is now with you, MPs of the nation, so always keep the public in your mind with just legislation, and implement laws which have been delayed. Activate subjective supervision, which is not after crisis and escalation. Achieve the delayed justice on the grounds of this State. There is no justification for new crises, especially as the National Assembly speaker chair is apparently heading towards Ahmad Al-Saadoun. He was considered an outstanding opposition leader during the past period. So, can we reach a central point in the interests of Kuwait?

Kuwait has witnessed youth activities and healthy political activities lately. Therefore, it is supposed that what is coming will be much better than the past. We hold our hopes on the MPs, so do not let us down. The ball is now in your yard...!

Now we hope the Prime Minister, with the trust of His Highness the Amir, will choose efficient ministers. We will get a homogenous Government and National Council and then Kuwait can stand up and be as it always was.... A pearl in all the Arab world. — Al-Anbaa

Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net inally the new government has sworn in after going through hard times. Kuwait’s men spoke and discussed opinions. Women, on the other hand, are being treated as if they do not even exist . I really believe that our own government, the National Assembly have disowned us.

Sorry to say, I can’t blame people for making the choices they did in recent elections. In fact, some women garnered a decent number of votes. Voters tried to support them, though they failed . Yet, the government offers no explanation as to why no woman was part of government formation.

In fact , all human rights organizations made allegations against Kuwait on the way expats are treated; it may actually be true in some respect. Yes, I understand the election process and it is up to people to choose, but how did women meet with such a dismal defeat? I am obliged to write about the status of women in Kuwait because the government ignores them. The world is developing and moving ahead and women in other parts of the world are becoming prime ministers, judges and ministers. We are on the path toward regression.

The worst excuse I have heard is that election results are based on efficiency and not gender bias in any form. Is that true? There is not a single qualified Kuwaiti woman who can compete with those men?

Now , I hope human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch have something to say about that!

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kuwait digest

The sectarian crisis

By Dr Sulaiman Al-Khadhari t can be risky for a society to rely on ‘inherited found themselves under fire by members of their culture’ in regulating the relationship between same religious belief.

In order to look for effective ways to end the trust different social groups, and that’s because these cultures can deeply influence political work, and be crisis between Sunnis and Shiites in Kuwait, we first have to understand that this problem has regional used to serve vested interests.

The prime example is blatant and dangerous dimensions as well. Kuwait is located in a region instigations concerning the relationship shared that lies between two superpowers which represent between Sunnis and Shiites in Kuwait. While the Islam’s two religious sects. We cannot ignore the country takes pride in a history of co-existence and effect of the feud between these two superpowers in addition to sectarimutual respect shared an struggles in between social Bahrain and Syria groups, this alone is History shows us that there are many when we talk about a not enough to mainSunni versus Shiite tain the relationship differences separating Sunni and Shiite problem in Kuwait. between different relibeliefs. They denied the fact that stagYet, the regional gious, sectarian ing an ‘information revolution’ will be effect cannot extend groups.

Instead, to a country, unless it effor ts should be futile. Followers of each of the two relifinds suitable envimade to enforce equal gious groups have formed political modronment in the said rights . els that derive legitimacy from their idecountry. This is where Histor y shows us our job comes into that there are many ological or jurisprudential inheritance, play. Handling our differences separating leaving little room for expression of difcurrent situation first Sunni and Shiite ferent opinions. This led to all efforts to begins with restoring beliefs. They denied principles of a soverthe fact that staging achieve a so called ‘Islamic unity’ being eign state of law. In an ‘information revolueliminated. Any attempt taken to bridge order for this to haption’ will be futile. the gap between two different religious pen, the government Followers of each of must give up policies the two religious group is regarded as ‘yielding to the oththat include forging groups have formed er party’s demands.’ alliances with politipolitical models that cal groups which repderive legitimacy from resent religious sects, their ideological or jurisprudential inheritance, leaving little room for and begin treating all citizens equally. The crisis we expression of different opinions. This led to all suffer from today is deep-rooted and multi-dimenefforts to achieve a so called ‘Islamic unity’ being sional, but can be resolved by achieving equality, as eliminated. Any attempt taken to bridge the gap well as eliminating hateful and provocative speech between two different religious group is regarded in society. We hope that the society can realize the as ‘yielding to the other party’s demands.’ In fact, latter without the need for regulations which can many people who wanted reconciliation attempts limit freedom of expression. —Al-Rai

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kuwait digest

Stay focused on regional developments

By Dr Mohammad Al-Muqatea s much crucial as the current events in the local ing the decision of the parliament’s majority to turn political scene are, they must not take our atten- down invitations to join, exposes errors in the political tion away from a potential war in the region way by which the Cabinet is run, which is the reason which in my opinion is inevitable to happen between for its continuous failure in past years. MPs lost trust this April and May. Of course no one prefers a war sce- that they can take part in a successful Cabinet as a nario that brings killing, displacement, destruction, result of these failures. The errors mainly resulted from the fact that ministers are left to work solely, thus elimlack of stability and economic collapse of the region.

However, it appears that this scenario is likely going inated the aspect of teamwork from the Cabinet’s work. Moreover, the strugto happen given Iran’s gles also expose errors in unwise policies which our parliamentary system include intentional escaRegardless of what the future could as a result of constitutionlation starting with interbe holding, we in Kuwait must take al flaws which fail to provention in interior affairs precautionary measures to prepare vide a system based on of Gulf Cooperation political parties. These Council countries all the for the worst case scenarios including errors require prompt way to its controversial a destructive war that we might find address or the Cabinet will nuclear program. The ourselves in the middle of. Therefore, not be able to avoid failure only way by which a war regardless of how it is can be avoided is if Iran the current developments on the formed. changes its policies. political scene must not take authori• The second aspect is Otherwise, the West is ties’ attention away from developthe case of egocentric lawadamant to target it with makers who were seen so military action that can ments in the regional and internafull of themselves followleave very costly consetional scenes. ing their election or quences to all countries reelection despite limited of the region.

Regardless of what the future could be holding, we action to be proud of. MPs are not considered a good in Kuwait must take precautionary measures to pre- addition to the parliament just because they insist pare for the worst case scenarios including a destruc- they are so, but instead should let their actions do the tive war that we might find ourselves in the middle of. talking. Unfortunately, we have many examples of MPs Therefore, the current developments on the political with so much popularity gained through strong media scene must not take authorities’ attention away from presence rather than actual achievements which they developments in the regional and international scenes. lack.

• Finally I would like to give credit to three lawmakWith regards to Kuwait’s local situation, there are three things I feel which need to be pointed out. They ers: Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaei, Abdurrahman Al-Anjari and Mohammad Hayef for their spontaneous work and are: • The struggles Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- stances which garnered them respect of people, even Mubarak Al-Sabah faced in forming the Cabinet follow- those with different opinions. — Al-Qabas

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kuwait digest

On the way to Somalization!

By Hassan Al-Essa ll members of the Tora Bora-like political bloc that won refused to accept posts in a government under HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlSabah affirming the fact that ordinary ministers (public non-royal ones) are useless. They are merely considered items of political decoration needed to complete the constitutional ornament, whereas real strings are with ‘deluxe’ ministers belonging to Al-Sabah ruling family. They control all the ins and outs of the country.

Regular, everyday issues are left to ordinary ministers while greater ones and significant decisions are usually limited to a ‘mini-Cabinet.’ I have always called ‘the government of the government.’

Therefore, following the steps of the pre-French revolution public Parliament, the MPs of the Kuwaiti people felt that there is no need to share power with the country ‘nobles.’

Hence, views of the ‘Kabed MPs’ mean nothing today and, at such a critical time in Kuwait’s history, with the presence of a state of sectarian and doctrinal polarization and the largely contagious viruses of ‘ignorance’ and cultural and religious isolation of citizens, it would be unfair to evaluate the current premier

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Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlSabah is cornered by so many demands from a state and region that is clouded by rebellion and ugly civil wars which strengthened tribalism. The tribes oppress weaker ones. Kuwait is full of silly people who can be easily beguiled by the likes of Mohammed Al-Mulaifi who relentlessly wait outside court houses to sue others following the steps of their Egyptian mentor, Yousif Al-Badri in a quest for fame! using the same scale to assess his predecessor. If this is true, why not give the man a chance to at least prove himself, and let his work and the achievements of his Cabinet act as the final judge in a country that has lost sight of goals for a long time!

Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah is cornered by so many demands from a state and region that is clouded by rebellion and ugly civil wars which strengthened tribalism. The tribes oppress weaker ones. Kuwait is full of silly people who can be easily beguiled by the likes of Mohammed Al-Mulaifi who relentlessly wait outside court houses to sue others following the steps of their Egyptian mentor, Yousif Al-Badri in a quest for fame! We do realize the shortcomings of Kuwait’s democracy with no parties, power circulation, lack of real inter-power separation, no taxes, complete control of wealth by government and those who are in the same orbit. Yet, if we give the man a hand and share responsibility with him, we might find a way out of this dark tunnel. Hadn’t it been for oil, we would have been lost. So, let us defuse the crisis before it gets worse by actions of both the racial sectarian government followers and the ‘Bin Laden and Thawahri kids’ who want to whip and behead others. Will we, then, leave Kuwait be torn apart by sectarian conflicts so that it becomes Gulf’s Somalia? — Aljarida

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

local ‘Inspections ensure food safety’

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Regular inspection campaigns held at co-operative societies, markets, grocery stores, restaurants and sweet shops ensure that all rules and regulations are enforced equally, said Ahmadi governorate Municipality Director Fahad Al-Otaibi. He asserted that the Municipality recently inspected the Fahaheel co-operative society,

KUWAIT: Collective photo of some volunteers who attended the celebration.

Volunteer-driven team spreads altruistic passion in Kuwait Act of giving ‘a way of life’

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Unveiling a slew of charitable projects, ‘Spread the Passion’ volunteer-driven team celebrated its second anniversary on Tuesday in Qurtuba. During the event, individuals that are the driving force behind the team were honored, and volunteers were awarded certificates. This celebration coincided with worldwide Valentine’s Day celebrations.

“We held the celebration on this day with the idea of spreading the message of love — love for one’s home, working toward it, and love for volunteer work to serve the country. Spread the Passion has launched a wide range of activities,” said Fatma AlMusawi, head of the team.

‘Spread the Passion’ comprises a team of volunteers with the main aim of spreading awareness on different charitable causes in Kuwait by organizing different events throughout the year.

“We want to make the act of

giving simple, and a way of life.

Giving can be in the form of support, volunteering or help with

excited with the list of projects that have been planned, and want more volunteers to join us,”

KUWAIT: Fatma Al-Musawi awarding Ahmed Al-Enizie. — Photos

by Yasser Al-Zayyat fund-raising for a good cause.

Our mission is to make giving a part of our lives by supporting volunteer work and promoting social, cultural, environmental and community projects. We are

added Al-Musawi.

‘Spread the Passion’ is a voluntary team founded on Feb 14, 2010 under the slogan ‘Make giving a part of your life.’ The team undertakes activities all over

Kuwait. The most important of these was participating in the donation campaign for Bayt Abdullah, a project for children suffering from cancer. They also actively supported ‘Journey of Hope’, a project for the disabled.

“For the two past years, the team has been celebrating its anniversary. The team’s achievements and participations has made it a well-known name in the community service field,” stated Al-Musawi.

The idea of the team is to connect the volunteer with suitable charity work and to find volunteers for different charity activities and fields.

The team then divides volunteers to batches, who are trained to develop skills. The team is currently training the first batch that will handle administrative work. The team works in association with the Blu Grey Company, and is currently establishing a sec tor for developing social services.

in addition to grocery stores, restaurants, pastries and juice makers, fish and meat shops.

At least 39 citations were issued to business owners and six written undertakings were obtained to destroy inedible foodstuff weighing 117 kilograms. The offenses varied between working without permits and serving stale food, in addition to restaurants being poorly staffed and workers not complying with hygiene standards.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

local

Hala February festivities at Lulu Hypermarket KUWAIT: Lulu Hypermarket, the region’s retail major and the largest hypermarket and lifestyle shopping destination of choice in Kuwait, is all set to roll out its festivities and offerings for the Hala February festival now sweeping across Kuwait. The launch of the festival will take place under the patronage of Sheikh Faisal Al-Humoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah and the management of Lulu Hypermarket, today at 7.30pm at the Lulu Hypermarket’s Qurain branch located in Abu Futaira, off Exit 208 to the west on Road 30.

The inauguration ceremony, to which the public is cordially invited, will witness many special offerings and promotions geared for the occasion. The Hala February

celebration at Lulu Hypermarket is part of the hypermarket chain’s ongoing community engagement program that sees the retailer engaging with the community in celebrating various occasions marking social and religious festivities in the country. The highly popular and pioneer Lulu retail chain in the Middle East, caters to over 468,000 customers everyday and is ranked number one among the Middle East retailers, according to ‘The Grocer - Middle East’, a UK based retail magazine. With an annual turnover of $4.1 billion and a multiethnic employee profile of more than 27,000 people from over 29 countries, the group plans on opening its 100th store in the region by March, 2012.

KPC set to sign contracts worth $5bn KUWAIT: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) is set to sign agreements and contracts with international firms worth a total $5 billion over the next two days.

Earlier yesterday, the state-run oil company signed a contract to provide 20,000 barrels of crude and 300,000 tons of liquefied gas to a Thai firm on a daily basis, Managing Director of Global Marketing, Naser Al-Mudhaf said in statements to the press.

KPC also signed a contract to provide a daily 200,000 tons of liquefied gas, subject to increase, to Indian-owned Bharat Petroleum and another worth over $2.5 bil-

lion with Indonesia’s Petromina.

Al-Mudhaf expected more contracts to follow in the coming period, noting to the renewal of an important contract with a Chinese firm.

A golf competition he was attending here, is a great chance to meet representatives of some 70 oil companies, present at the KPC-hosted tournament, he said.

Meanwhile, KPC Chief Executive Farouq Al-Zanki revealed talks were being arranged, over the next couple of days, to discuss joint projects between the Kuwaiti company and others from China and Vietnam.— KUNA

KUWAIT: Members of the Kuwaiti delegation at the East Mediterranean International Travel and Tourism Exhibition in Istanbul.

Kuwait takes part in tourism exhibition KUWAIT: The tourism division of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) represented Kuwait at the East Mediterranean International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (EMITT) held recently in Istanbul, Turkey.

Kuwait’s delegation was led by Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism Sector Affairs Ali Al-Baghli, and its participation shed light on the tourism industry in Kuwait and

offered opportunities to investors from Turkey and Europe.

Meanwhile, the tourism sector at the MCI has entered into an ongoing strategic cooperation agreement with the Touristic Enterprises Company, Khalid Al-Ghanim Executive Vice President and Managing Director supports the TEC’s efforts to promote tourism in the country. The TEC made its presence felt in Kuwait’s pavilion.

Gulfmart Country-Head assumes additional charge of GÈant KUWAIT: BMA International and Retail Arabia ing customers with closer and more convenrecently announced the appointment of ient access to the widest range of good qualiRemesh T.A. as Country-Head of GÈant Easy ty products at the most competitive prices.”

He went on to add that in addition to the Supermarket in Kuwait. Remesh, a veteran of the retail industry who heads the popular imminent opening of an Geant Easy supermarket in Egaila, and one each Gulfmart chain of superin Sulaibikhat and Farwaniya in markets, now takes on the the first quarter of 2012, the added responsibility of company plans on opening a leading Geant Easy superfurther four more Geant Easy markets in the country. outlets in different parts of the The newly appointed country by the end of the year. retail veteran brings with Gulfmart and Retail Arabia him broad and in-depth are wholly owned subsidiaries knowledge of the retail secof UAE based retail conglomertor, with unique hands-on ate BMA International. Retail experience in all aspects of Arabia, which has franchise supermarket retailing in rights for the global retail the local market. Speaking major Geant Hypermarket in on taking up his challengBahrain, UAE and Kuwait maring assignment, Remesh ket, is represented in Kuwait said, “The combined operaRemesh T.A. through Fu Com, a joint-ventional synergies and sales strategies of Gulfmart and Geant Easy will ture company formed in association with help strengthen and further boost services Tamdeen Group, Kuwait’s leading retail and offered by both supermarkets, while provid- real-estate company.

KUWAIT: NBK Group Deputy CEO Isam Al-Sager, NBK-Kuwait CEO Shaikha Al-Bahar and NBK Consumer Banking Group General Manager Mazin Al-Nahedh in a group photo with the top performers.

NBK honors 2011 top performers KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) held a special Elite Ceremony at the Sheraton hotel honoring its top performing employees for 2011 from the Consumer Banking Group.

NBK Group Deputy CEO Isam AlSager, NBK-Kuwait CEO Shaikha AlBahar, NBK Consumer Banking Group General Manager Mazin AlNahedh and other NBK executives attended the ceremony and congratulated the top performers on a job well done.

Al-Bahar praised the top performing employees for their excellence and professionalism. “NBK’s strong financial performance and leading market position are due to the achievements and dedication of its outstanding employees,” she said.

“NBK rewards achievement because we understand that excellence in performance begins with human resources.”

“We invest in our people and their success,” said Al-Nahedh. “We

strongly believe in professional development and supporting our staff to improve their capabilities, talent and expertise. We are proud of our employees and their achievements.”

Top performing staff were recognized in the following categories: Best Sales & Service Delivery, Service Quality, Quality Assurance and Product Knowledge for 2011. NBK provides a range of professional development opportunities for staff, with specific programs such as the NBK High Fliers initiative in cooperation with the American University of Beirut aimed at training and developing the bank’s future leaders.

NBK enjoys the highest credit ratings in the region by international rating agencies: Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings. It has the largest overseas network encompassing more than 176 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries worldwide.

KUWAIT: NBK-Kuwait CEO Shaikha Al-Bahar speaking at the ceremony.

KD200 informant sells out fugitive Kuwaiti woman saved in Cairo KUWAIT: Jahra police recently arrested a fugitive following thirty ambush attempts, which all failed as he escaped at the last moment. He was wanted for numerous charges including stealing a car impounded at Sulaibiya police station and house break-ins. The suspect raised suspicion that he might have an accomplice who informs him of police ambushes to help him escape. Jahra Security Director, Maj Gen Ibrahim Al-Tarrah, responded by forming four separate investigation teams to look for the suspect. Eventually, a detective found an informant who agreed to provide information about the suspect’s whereabouts for KD200. Maj Gen Al-Tarrah gave permission to approve the offer and volunteered to pay the money from his pocket. A few hours later, the informant tipped police with the location of a camp in Kabad where the suspect was located. Security officers rushed to the location and found the suspect extremely intoxicated with a bottle of imported liquor. He was placed under arrest following resistance and taken to Taima police station for further action. Meanwhile, Maj Gen AlTarrah launched a separate investigation to verify suspicions on whether the suspect was helped to escape previous ambushes.

Miraculous escape Egyptian police saved a Kuwaiti woman from a kidnap attempt in Cairo recently.

According to security sources, the 47-year-old female citizen was seen by patrol officers calling for help inside a taxi that was speeding in 6th of October City. The officers were able to force the taxi cab to stop, following a car chase. They took the driver and the female passenger to authorities. The woman told police during investigations that she caught the taxi from her house. She wanted to go to a market in the neighborhood, but the suspect reportedly began to harass her. She said the

driver was heading to a remote location when the cab was spotted by police. The suspect remains in custody pending ongoing investigations.

Bag lady A search is currently under way for two male suspects who attempted to mug a female pedestrian in Salmiya recently. The suspects disappeared with their SUV after the Filipina woman refused to let go of her handbag, despite a violent robbery attempt. Police rushed to the crime scene after the victim made an emergency call following the incident. She explained to police that the two stepped out of their vehicle after stopping near her while she was walking in the area.

They knocked her to the ground in an attempt to steal her purse. They eventually ran away because she kept a tight grip on her bag. A case was filed for investigations.

Teenager raped A National Guard officer accused of sexual assault to a minor is currently being held under investigation. The case was filed at Taima police station by a Ministry of Interior officer who reported that his 16-year-old son was kidnapped and raped at a camp in Salmi.

The victim told his father that the suspect forced him inside his car and drove from Oyoun to the remote location where the assault took place. The suspect was identified through the license plate number of his car, and eventually placed under arrest. Despite denying the accusations, he was placed behind bars after the victim identified him as his kidnapper.

Passport forgery Ahmadi police were recently able to arrest a male suspect accused of selling forged Kuwaiti passports to expatriates in Kuwait to

help them escape from the country under cover. Investigations with the suspect revealed that many fugitives managed to escape from Kuwait using this trick.

Investigations were ongoing after Ahmadi Security Director, Brig Gen Abdullatif AlWuhaib, received a tip about a suspect buying missing Kuwaiti passports for up to KD300 each. Following his arrest, the suspect admitted that he sold many forged passports to Arab men for at least KD400 a piece. He said the expatriates used the forge passports to escape. The man remains in custody pending further investigations.

Envelope alert Officers at Abdali border checkpoint were put on high alert Tuesday after the arrival of 16 envelopes containing a suspicious powder, similar in shape to an element used in assembling explosives. Testing later showed that the material was aluminum phosphate, a harmless chemical compound.

Scam An Indian man filed a case against a suspect who lured him into a trap to steal his money. In a statement to Surra police officers, the victim said the suspect requested a KD360 fee to obtain a KD100,000 grand prize he allegedly won in a lottery carried out by a local phone company. After obtaining the money, the suspect asked his victim to wait for a phone call the next day for information on obtaining his reward. The victim eventually called the suspect when no one called him.

The suspect reportedly told the man he was the victim of a scam. He warned him against reporting the case. A search is ongoing for the suspect. Police learned that the phone number he used was last registered by an Asian man who left Kuwait several years ago.

—Al-Rai, Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: The Capital Municipality held an inspection campaign this week to remove unlicensed billboards, including election campaign banners, that were erected along pavements. In January, a total of 535 such illegal structures were removed and 94 citations were issued to violators. —Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Berlusconi should go to prison for bribery: Prosecutors

Unsettled Texas primary may slip into May or later Page 9

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Saudi in Mohammed Twitter row insists he repented RIYADH: A Saudi journalist awaiting interrogation over Tweets deemed insulting to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) insists that he has repented, a relative told AFP yesterday.

Hamza Kashgari “has affirmed to his family that he stands by his repentance, that he has made a mistake and regrets it,” said the family member on condition of anonymity. The 23-year-old fled to Malaysia after his comments sparked a wave of condemnations and threats against his life, but was deported back to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Upon his return from Malaysia, Kashgari “informed his family he is in very good condition,” the source said. “His family is still waiting for authorities to allow them to visit him and appoint a defence lawyer.” A Saudi lawyer told AFP on Tuesday that Kashgari “has not yet been interrogated and we hope this issue ends before it reaches the attorney general.” Saudi English-language daily Arab News reported earlier this week that Kashgari would face blasphemy charges.

On the occasion of the prophet’s (PBUH) birthday, Kashgari tweeted: “I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you and there is a lot I don’t understand about you.” “I will not pray for you.” His post sparked outrage and prompted thousands to call on a Facebook page entitled “The Saudi people demand Hamza Kashgari’s execution” for him to be executed. The page already has more than 23,000 members.

Kashgari had quickly apologized for his comments, tweeting: “I have made a mistake, and I hope Allah and all those whom I have offended will forgive me.” The European Union said Monday that it was “deeply disappointed” that Malaysia deported Kashgari. Kashgari was a columnist at the Jeddah-based Al-Bilad newspaper, which fired him after the controversy over his tweets. Insulting the Mohammed is considered blasphemous in Islam and is a crime punishable by death in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia. —AFP

DAMASCUS: Syrians rally in support of President Bashar Al-Assad in central Damascus yesterday. Syria’s president decreed a vote on a new constitution this month, which would effectively end nearly 50 years of single party rule, state media said, as troops reportedly stormed centres of dissent. —AFP

Assad sets vote to end near 50-year Baath rule Troops storm centers of dissent DAMASCUS: Syria’s president decreed a vote this month on a new constitution that would effectively end nearly 50 years of single party rule, state media said, as troops reportedly stormed centers of dissent. A day after flatly rejecting UN allegations of crimes against humanity, Bashar al-Assad called the ballot for February 26, in a move clearly aimed at placating growing global outrage over the bloodshed.

Under the newly proposed charter, freedom is “a sacred right” and “the people will govern the people” in a multiparty democratic system, state television said. The new constitution also states that Islamic case law will be used as a source for legislation, that the president must be Muslim and over the age of 40. It also prohibits parties based on religion. Assad, who in April lifted a state of emergency in force since 1963, when his Baath Party took power, has made repeated promises of reforms that have failed to materialize since a popular uprising erupted on March 15.

The embattled president, who succeeded his late father Hafez in 2000, has said the constitution would usher in a “new era” for Syria, SANA state news agency reported. There was no immediate reaction to the announcement from Syria’s political opposition, but analysts said it fell short of what was required to end the Arab Spring-inspired uprising.

“It’s good that the regime at any point talks about reform or fundamental change, but... holding a referendum amid a civil war between the government and its people is unacceptable,” said Paul Salem of the Carnegie Middle East Centre.

Assad’s latest move came as activists said troops stormed the central city of Hama and stepped up their assault on protest hubs nationwide, defiant in the face of mounting Arab and Western efforts to end the bloodshed.

Further to the south, an explosion struck an oil pipeline at daybreak in the flashpoint city of Homs, with activists saying government forces bombed it from the air and state media blaming “armed terrorist gangs.”

Syria’s government on Tuesday rejected UN charges of crimes against humanity, as monitors accused Assad’s forces of launching one of their heaviest assaults yet in a 12day onslaught on Homs. And after Russia and China twice vetoed a resolution calling on Assad to stop the deadly attacks on civilians, diplomats said they would now seek a condemnation of the violence at the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Rights groups say more than 6,000 people have been killed since government forces launched a brutal crackdown on protests calling for democracy, which were launched 11 months ago to the day.

The pipeline blast in Homs sent up columns of black smoke over the central city, according to footage uploaded by opposition activists to video-sharing website YouTube.

Hadi Abdullah of the opposition General Commission of the Syrian Revolution said it was the third such attack on the same pipeline, although this was the first time that it was targeted with aircraft. The reported use of warplanes could not be immediately verified. Syria’s government has attributed several similar attacks to foreign-backed “terrorists”, but the opposition accuses it of destroying energy infrastructure to punish dissenters.

Assad’s forces appear to have refrained from using air power to crush armed rebels to avoid a no-fly zone being imposed over the country. On the ground, however, troops launched an assault on the city of Hama, just north of Homs, where loud blasts could be heard in the Hamidiyeh and other neighborhoods, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britainbased monitoring group, said ongoing clashes had killed 20 people, including nine civilians, in Al-Atareb, northwestern Aleppo province.

A bomb blast killed three people in Jisr Al-Shughur, a 16-

year-old schoolgirl was shot dead in southern Daraa province and gunfire and explosions rocked the northern city of Idlib, said the Observatory. In Damascus, dozens of young Syrians gathered in front of the Russian embassy to thank Moscow and Beijing for their support, state television reported. “We are here to thank Russia and China,” said one woman who urged Assad to deploy the army across Syria and to strike what she called gangs “with an iron fist.”

As the diplomatic gears turned, China said it wanted an immediate halt to the spiraling bloodshed in Syria and an “inclusive dialogue” between the government and opposition protesters. China and Russia have faced a barrage of criticism for blocking a UN Security Council resolution condemning the bloody crackdown on protests in Syria, including from Arab nations with which Beijing normally has good ties. — AFP

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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

Political unrest deepens plight of Yemen children SANAA/DUBAI: Fatima Al-Aqra’s eyes glazed over for a moment as 14month-old Enas, the scrawny infant at her feet, tugged feebly at the hem of her tattered black veil. “He does this because he knows food is on the way,” said the young mother, coming out of her daze to throw a few granules of sugar into a brown paste of breadcrumbs and hot water. “This will be his only meal of the day.” Political turmoil has pushed Yemen, already one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, to the brink of a humanitarian crisis to rival the one that ravaged the Horn of Africa last year.

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, says 57 percent of Yemen’s 12 million children are chronically malnourished- the highest level of chronic malnutrition in the world after Afghanistan. In 2012, an estimated 750,000 children will face what it describes as acute malnutrition, of whom two-thirds will be at risk of dying or suffering from lifelong physi-

cal and cognitive impairment, said UNICEF’s Yemen representative Geert Cappelaere.

Nearly a quarter of Yemen’s 28 million population-about seven million people-are now in dire need of food.

“We can’t afford sugar, rice or beans.

The last time my children ate chicken was over a year and a half ago,” said Amin Mohammed Shirad, a 45-yearold father of eight living in a tworoom shack on the dusty outskirts of the capital. Like many other families, the Shirads subsist on crops and vegetables grown in a small plot of land behind their house. The family food supplies are now so low that they have begun rationing meals. Amin says he has been eating one meal a day and that his children have all gone without dinner for the past week. “The most important thing in our lives right now is flour. If that goes, we will starve,” said Amin, shifting his six-month-old baby in his lap.

Yemen will hold an election on

Feb. 21 to replace President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who transferred power to his deputy in November after months of protests that have severely weakened the central government in Sanaa. The protests helped end Saleh’s 33-year grip on power and added to turmoil that pushed up food prices and unemployment to an estimated half of the labour force in 2011, up from around 35 percent in 2010, as foreign aid fell to a trickle, according to economists and aid organizations.

Tens of thousands of Yemenis lost their jobs in 2011 and the price of basic commodities like rice jumped by as much as 60 percent, Sanaa University economist Mohamed AlMaitami said. Enas’s father Mohammed roams the streets of their neighborhood, fishing discarded plastic bottles out of garbage bins to sell to shops in exchange for bread.

Before 2011’s uprising, Mohammed had a job mixing concrete for a floortile factory. But power cuts and soar-

ing diesel prices brought on by the destruction of oil pipelines by antigovernment tribesmen forced the business to close.

Compounding the problem, aid agencies, fearing a security breakdown, pulled their staff out of the country, halting dozens of public welfare projects relied on by thousands of Yemenis. Others cut back operations significantly due to the violence that followed the protests, which began last January. While some agencies like the World Bank have since returned to Yemen, others are still waiting for further signs of stability.

Oxfam says it hopes the poll will encourage Yemen’s wealthy Gulf Arab neighbors - some of whom are currently offering Yemen small amounts of aid in the form of oil and gas packages - to support the impoverished state.

“Governments weren’t (financially) supporting Yemen because of the political situation, so we would want

to see a shift in that,” said Oxfam country manager for Yemen Colette Fearon. “It’s not the (people’s) fault what the regime is, so they shouldn’t be penalized. For a humanitarian crisis you should overcome whatever the politics are.” The election has already run into problems, however, with both southern separatists and rebels in the north saying they will boycott it.

Many families now spend half of their monthly income on bread alone, according to the World Food Program’s Yemen-based media officer Georgia Warner. Maitami said buying clean water can absorb a remaining 30 to 40 percent of their household income. The World Food Program lists Yemen as the 11th most food-insecure country in the world. Yemen has vowed to face the growing threat of food insecurity, but local economists say these promises were not fulfilled and that Saleh’s government instead directed funds to fight the rebels.

“In cooperation with the United Nations, we put in place an emergency plan to overcome child malnutrition through medical and health intervention,” Yemen’s deputy health minister Majed al-Junaid told Reuters on Sunday. “There are many public services in the country that didn’t receive any budget in 2011,” said economist Maitami. “A lot of budgeted money was... not being used to ease lives of Yemenis but to buy arms.”

As time passes without substantive moves to help them, Yemeni families are losing hope. “We won’t survive another year like the last,” said Fatima from her sparse living room.

Her son’s skin crinkled like thin leather in her hands as she tried to feed him, his gaunt cheeks stretched painfully for six mouthfuls of grey gruel, all she could afford to let him swallow for that day. “Like all Yemenis we are praying for a way out of this misery.” —Reuters

Over 120 hurt in Bahrain clashes, dialogue sought Tentative contacts between govt, Shiite opposition MANAMA: More than 120 protesters have been wounded in clashes with police in Bahrain this week, activists said yesterday, and a top opposition figure said the government had put out feelers about talks to resolve the Gulf island’s year-long crisis. Activists using the name “Feb. 14 Youth Coalition” called for more demonstrations a day after protests to mark the first anniversary of a violently sup-

to hospitals run by the government, which is appointed by the Sunni monarchy.

The protests began as a spontaneous movement embracing both Shiites and Sunnis, cutting across religious and class divides with demands for broad political, social and economic reform. But they descended into sectarian violence as backroom talks on democratic reforms went nowhere, and

However, Abduljalil Khalil, who heads the parliamentary caucus of the Shi’ite Wefaq party, the largest opposition faction, said three senior Wefaq figures met two weeks ago with Royal Court Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed, a powerful figure in the ruling Al-Khalifa family, at the government’s request. Khalil said they presented the key demand of the opposition, outlined in a

MANAMA: Bahraini men are seen handcuffed Tuesday beside a road in Manama, Bahrain, as police stopped motorists entering the capital, checking identification and detaining young men from several cars. —AP pressed pro-democracy uprising with Sunni-Shiite sectarian overtones. “There were over 100 cases on Tuesday and 37 of them are bad, with head injuries and fractures,” said a medic who works with researchers of an international organization and asked not to be identified. “On Monday we had 20 people (wounded) in villages around the country.”The medic said some casualties had been hit by birdshot, which Bahraini police deny using. Most of the wounded are treated in village homes or private health clinics because protesters from the Shiite majority fear they will be arrested if they go

hardliners in government and opposition seized the initiative.

Government forces backed by Saudi troops crushed last year’s month-long revolt. By June, when a state of emergency was lifted, 35 people including security personnel had been killed.

The island state, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet and is aligned with the United States and oil giant Saudi Arabia in their disputes with Iran over its nuclear program, has been in turmoil ever since. Shiites clash regularly with riot police, while the opposition and government accuse each other of rejecting dialogue.

statement in October known as the Manama Document, for a referendum on moving towards full parliamentary democracy.

Such a move to curb the extensive powers of the ruling dynasty would be a first in the Gulf. “He asked if we are ready for dialogue, and we said ‘yes’, but a serious and constructive one,” Khalil said. “We presented our views on how to get out of this mess. He said they’ll get back to us ... Now we are at the first anniversary of Feb. 14, and security action has not worked. They realise they need to have a political solution.”

Asked if the opposition, which

includes Shiite Islamists as well as Sunni and Shiite secularists, would agree to Sunni-led parties close to the government taking part, Khalil said they agreed that the government should hold separate discussions with them.

Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman, who confirmed the contacts at a press conference, called on protesting youths this week to avoid being dragged into violent confrontations with police. A protester called Ahmed, 20, said he had been struck by birdshot on Tuesday during clashes with police in one of several Shiite districts that ring Pearl Roundabout, the hub of last year’s unrest, now home to a National Guard camp and sealed off with barbed wire.

“I threw a rock and then one of them (police) stood and shot straight at me. One of the pellets just missed my head,” he said, sitting on a mattress on the ground in visible pain. A male nurse who helps treat activists said he had removed all but one of the pellets, pinching the skin around one wound to demonstrate that the projectile was still inside. An Interior Ministry statement said on Tuesday that rioters had been responsible for chaos and vandalism in several villages, but gave no information on how many had been wounded or detained.

Spokesman Ahmed Almannai told Reuters that those who believed they had been hit by birdshot should approach the authorities to verify the nature of their injuries. After international pressure, a commission of foreign legal experts investigated last year’s unrest and revealed systematic torture and deaths in police custody during that period. Violence has intensified since the commission’s report in November and the overall death toll is now around 66. Six US activists who came to observe how police handled Tuesday’s anniversary protests were detained and deported. A number of senior US and British officials have been in Manama in the past week, including US Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, who called for more effort to heal Bahrain’s rifts.

—Reuters

Cleric says ex-Brotherhood man best for Egypt presidency CAIRO: A former member of the Muslim Brotherhood is the best of the Egyptian presidential candidates to have emerged so far, a high-profile Islamic cleric has said, support that could help his chances in the race to become the next head of state. Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian cleric based in Qatar, described Abdel Moneim Abol Fotoh as the “leading candidate” from a field including former Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, a liberal and former foreign minister.

Though it is hard to say how much sway Qaradawi could have over the public at large, his remarks could influence those voters sympathetic to the Islamist groups which dominated recent parliamentary elections, including supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is not contesting the presidency. “I see Abol Fotoh as the first in terms of age and experience of Arab and Egyptian affairs,” Qaradawi said in an inter view with the Shorouk newspaper published yesterday. “He is a cheerful man of good morals who deals

with everyone.”

The election to decide who will be the first president of the post-Hosni Mubarak era will be held in late May, state newspaper alAhram quoted a government minister as saying yesterday. The ruling military council is due to hand power to the new head of state at the end of June. One of the most widely respected Sunni Muslim clerics in the Arab world, Qaradawi is a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood seen as close to the group but independent of it. He is a household name in the Arab world thanks to his regular appearances on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel.

The Brotherhood’s decision not to field its own presidential candidate is part of an effort to ease the concerns of those at home and abroad worried about Islamist domination of the post-Mubarak era. The group has also said it will not back any of the other Islamists who are seeking the presidency, a stance that would appear to rule out its backing for Abol Fotoh, 60. His decision to run for the presi-

dency resulted in expulsion from the Brotherhood. His departure from the group last year was the culmination of years of friction with other members of the Brotherhood leadership.

More organized than others, the group banned under former Mubarak secured more than 43 percent of the seats in the new legislature, making it the biggest single party.

Qaradawi said Abol Fotoh’s qualities meant he was “ahead of others”. “ This is my view,” Qaradawi said. “The Brotherhood have their view.” Shadi Hamid, an expert on Islamist groups based at the Brookings Doha Center, said Qaradawi’s remarks on Abol Fotoh, while positive, fell short of outright backing for now.

“Because this is the first real election in Egypt, we don’t know how far these kind of endorsements go,” he said. But he added: “His words carry weight, people listen to him ... If he comes out and says: ‘There are two people here and I urge all Egyptians to vote for one of them’, then that could help tip the balance.” —Reuters

TRIPOLI: A Libyan couple and their children look at a falcon statue, painted in the colours of the revolutionary flag and covered with the inscription “God is great”, displayed outside the museum set up on Tripoli boulevard in Misrata on February 12, 2012. —AFP

Libya prepares for revolution day with fears for future TRIPOLI: One year since the antiGaddafi revolt erupted, Libya is battling challenges ranging from how to tame rowdy militias who fought his forces to establishing a new rule of law in the country. On Friday, Libya marks the first anniversary of the revolution against Muammar Gaddafi, which was ignited in the eastern city of Benghazi on February 17 and ended on October 20 with the dictator’s killing.

No official celebrations have been organized at a national level, but local councils are planning commemorations and have been warned to be on the alert against possible attacks by Gaddafi supporters. “We need to be careful because some agents of Gaddafi’s regime have dreams (of creating insecurity). But the thuwar (revolutionaries) are ready all the time to confront them firmly,” warned Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelali.

Gaddafi’s ouster and death was one of the key events of the so-called Arab Spring, but Libya has since struggled to erase the legacy of the former strongman’s four decades of iron-fisted rule.

Thousands of people were killed or wounded in the struggle, the country’s vital oil production ground to a halt, and homes, businesses, factories, schools and hospitals were devastated. So Libya’s new rulers face daunting challenges-not only rebuilding an ageing infrastructure and repairing the damage, but also fostering vibrant state institutions, tackling a corrupt economy and boosting what are weak health, judicial and educational systems.

But their most immediate headache is how to control the tens of thousands of ex-rebels who helped oust Gaddafi and have now turned into powerful militias, whose jealously guarded commitment to their honor and power occasionally erupts into deadly clashes. “By now they (militias) have developed vested interests they will be loath to relinquish,” said World Bank advisor Hafed Al-Ghwell in a recent report.

Ghwell said the militias have an edge over the nation’s National Transitional Council (NTC) because of their “superior local knowledge and connections, strong leaderships and revolutionary legitimacy.” In the absence of a regular and efficient national army and police, the militias are providing security on the streets and even guarding installations such as airports. But armed with light and heavy weapons these rival militias have emerged as the biggest security threat for Libya, regularly clashing with each other and causing fatalities.

Global human rights organizations Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders have lashed out at them, accusing them of torturing their prisoners, most of whom are former pro-Gaddafi fighters.

“Revenge attacks against populations deemed to have supported Gaddafi also grew” in recent months, HRW said in its World Report 2012, particularly targeting militias from the city of western port city of Misrata.

It accused militias from Misrata of preventing about 30,000 people from returning to their homes in Tawarga, a nearby town. The NTC is keen to integrate these militias into security services, but acknowledge that it is a tough task.

“This (disarming of militias) is a much more complex issue than it may sound,” Prime Minister Abdel Rahim Al-Kib recently told reporters. In September, HRW called on the Libyan authorities to establish a judicial system capable of handling the situation of all prisoners. In November, the NTC announced the adoption of a law on transitional justice but has failed to reveal its contents so far. Ghwell said the NTC’s desire to control the militias is understandable, but there are concerns about the ruling body itself.

“The NTC has had to struggle with internal divisions, a credibility deficit and questions surrounding its effectiveness,” he said. Within four months of the end of the conflict, the NTC suffered a severe blow after its number-two and former Gaddafi stalwart, Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, resigned after protests against him in Benghazi, the cradle of the uprising. His belated defection from the previous regime angered protesters, who attacked the NTC offices in Benghazi with grenades, accusing the council of “non-transparency, stealing the revolution and allowing opportunists” of the old regime to be part of the new ruling team. Faced with such stiff challenges, the NTC has put everything on hold until the election of the nation’s first 200member Constituent Assemby in June, including the awarding of new contracts to foreign companies for rebuilding the war-battered country.

“The heart of the matter is political.

The security landscape’s fragmentation, and militias’ unwillingness to give up arms, reflects distrust and uncertainty regarding who has the legitimacy to lead during the transition,” said Ghwell.

In a bid to boost its own credentials, the NTC adopted the nation’s first new election law earlier this month, giving priority to women, youth and political parties to participate in the nation-building process. “Libya’s new leaders face an enormous challenge ... to build a country based on the rule of law after 42 years of one-family rule, while preventing revenge attacks ... and promoting reconciliation,” HRW said. “All these processes will take time and will require outside assistance. But the events of 2011 have given Libyans the opportunity to begin this arduous process.” —AFP

9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

INTERNATIONAL

Colombian priests hired hitmen to kill themselves BOGOTA: Rev Rafael Reatiga asked his parishioners to pray for him and gave the choirmaster a list of songs for his funeral shortly before he was found shot to death together with another Roman Catholic priest, a Colombian prosecutor said Tuesday.

Authorities initially suspected robbery when Reatiga’s body was found along with that of Rev Richard Piffano, 37, in a car in southern Bogota on Jan 27, 2011.

But on Tuesday prosecutor Ana Patricia Larrota said investigators had determined that it was suicide by hitmen in the year-old case: the two priests hired gunmen to kill them after Reatiga discovered he had AIDS. The priests gave members of a criminal gang the equivalent of $8,500, said the chief investigator of the prosecutor’s office, Maritza Gonzalez, as two of the four alleged assassins appeared before a judge for processing.

She said the two priests had originally planned to throw themselves off a cliff into a canyon north of Bogota but apparently lacked the nerve. In addition to AIDS, Reatiga had syphilis and witness testimony indicated he was a regular visitor to places frequented by gays in central Bogota, Larrota told the judge who processed the two alleged assassins on Tuesday. Gildardo Alberto Penate and Isidro Castiblanco were

charged with aggravated homicide, said Larrota. Each faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

Three weeks before their deaths, Reatiga had transferred his possessions to his mother. Piffano withdrew about $3,700 from his bank account on the day of his death, Gonzalez said. Investigators said they located the alleged killers based on telephone numbers the priests had called from their

cell phones in the days before their deaths.

Authorities found the stolen cell phone of one of the priests on a gang member months after the killing.

Some of the numbers ended up belonging to a criminal band involved in counterfeiting, fraud and arms trafficking, they said. It allegedly supplied the killers, including two who authorities say remain at large. —AP

Unsettled Texas primary may slip into May or later Federal judges demand compromise SAN ANTONIO: Once set to rule Super Tuesday, the Texas primaries may now slide into May and out of relevance in the Republican presidential race because of disputed redistricting maps that now has a panel of federal judges demanding compromise. Although the chances of an April primary are not officially extinguished, even the judges acknowledged those prospects are fading because of logistics.

Elections workers from some of Texas’ largest counties are push-

the state have been unable to compromise for weeks on temporary voting maps for the 2012 elections. On some proposals, only one disputed district stands in the way of a deal.

“The Senate - get it done,” Garcia said Tuesday, pointing his finger at the table of minority rights lawyers. Delegate-rich Texas was originally scheduled to be a part of next month’s slate of Super Tuesday primaries, but the redistricting clash forced the state to reschedule its contest to April 3.

sense for the primary elections.

That would make Texas among the last states in the nation to hold a primary but would also ensure that maps would reflect any Voting Rights Act issues that a Washington court is still deciding.

But Democratic and Republican party officials said they would prefer a vote in late May. “That’s asking me if I want to be shot in the stomach or the head,” said Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. “I’d rather be shot in the stomach,

CALIFORNIA: Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich poses for photographs during a campaign stop at the Tulare World Ag Expo Tuesday. —AP ing May 22 as the next earliest date if maps can be settled quickly.

One could be finished yesterday after US District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered the state and minority rights groups to return to court with an agreedupon map for state Senate.

Despite court-ordered negotiations, the Texas attorney general and minority rights groups suing

With that date now all but dead too, a May primary could be long after Republicans settle on a nominee to face President Barack Obama.

Garcia and the other two judges on the panel have not yet officially canceled the scheduled April 3 primary, but that’s a mere formality. US District Judge Xavier Rodriguez at one point suggested that June 26 may make the most

which would be May.” Even if Texas is left out of choosing who will be at the top of the Republican ticket, plenty is still at stake whenever the state settles on new voting maps.

The ramifications are national because Texas was awarded four new congressional seats following the 2010 census. Whether they go Democrat or Republican could affect the balance of power in the

US House. The updated count determined the population boom in Texas was driven by nearly 3 million new Hispanic residents over the last decade, but minority groups and Democrats say those numbers weren’t reflected in how the Republican-controlled Legislature redrew districts statewide.

One example of how far apart both sides remain came early in Tuesday’s hearing. David Mattax, an attorney for the Texas attorney general’s office, said the state compromised on more than two dozen districts in its latest offer that was accepted by a handful of minority groups. The groups that balked, meanwhile, submitted a counterproposal - which Mattax said featured changes to more than 60 districts.

“This map rewrites the entire state,” Mattax said. Any flickering hopes of an April primary all but died after county officials took the stand. Bexar County Elections Administrator Jackie Callanen testified that because ballots to soldiers deployed overseas must be mailed 45 days prior to an election under federal law, the window for any April primary date had closed.

Callanen suggested May 22 as the earliest date now possible, and at least six other county elections workers raised their hands in agreement. The judges still asked Callanen, who is responsible for nearly 1 million voters around San Antonio, what would happen if they rushed ahead with an April 17 primary. “You will be setting counties up for failure. I don’t know a nicer way to say that,” she said. Judges also refloated the idea of holding a split primary, in which Texas would hold a presidential primary in April and another primary for state and congressional races later. But the additional costs of holding two primaries would have to be picked up by the state, which has already been forced to make budget cuts. —AP

Mexican church draws fire for voting guidelines MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church drew fire Tuesday for releasing a set of voting “guidelines” for the faithful ahead of the July 1 presidential elections. All religious groups in Mexico are banned from engaging in electoral politics, or supporting or opposing any candidate or party. The guidelines published by the Archdiocese of Mexico on its web site appear to closely skirt the restriction.

But the issue is a sensitive one in Mexico, where harsh anti-clerical laws sparked the 1926-1929 Cristero war, an uprising by Roman Catholic rebels against Mexico’s secular government in which tens of thousands of people died. While loosened in the 1990s, many restrictions on church activities in Mexico remain.

The latest “pastoral guidelines” do not mention any party, saying only that Catholics cannot “choose as a political option those who support or promote false rights or liberties that attack the teachings contained in the Holy Scriptures, tradition and doctrine of the Church.” That appeared to be a reference to gay marriage and abortion rights, both of which the church has hotly opposed.

The guidelines also say Catholics “should be alert to the commitments of the candidates and their parties to respect the foremost of all rights, which is the right to life, from the moment of conception.” The suggestions appear aimed especially at candidates of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, which has enacted both gay marriage and legalized abortion in Mexico City, which it governs.

The publication comes just over a month before Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to visit central Mexico from March 23 to 26. Bernardo Barranco, an expert at Mexico’s Center for Religious Studies, called the guidelines “a provocation” and said that while they did not appear to violate the letter of the law, it violated the spirit of Article

130 of Mexico’s constitution, which states that “priests and ministers cannot form political associations nor carry out propaganda for any candidate, party or political group.”

“It is written very carefully, very trickily,” Barranco said. “The problem is that it is written in such a way that it does not explicitly violate the law, but implicitly it does.” It is not the first time church officials have spoken out publicly on political issues. In 2007, church officials harshly criticized a Democratic Revolution abortion proposal. And in 2003, two Roman Catholic priests received warnings from the Interior Department not to get involved in politics after a compliant was filed by a small political party.

The now-defunct party, Mexico Possible, had accused a total of 13 prelates of cautioning parishioners not to vote for parties that supported abortion or gay rights. Mexico Possible interpreted those statements as a campaign against its own platform. The church was an integral, often domineering part of Spain’s colonial government of Mexico for nearly 300 years. A liberal backlash in the 19th century led to confiscation of most church property and strict limits on clerics. Tensions gradually eased and reforms in the 1990s allowed priests to wear clerical garb in public, to vote and to establish openly religious schools, all of which were previously prohibited.

However, debate was reignited in recent months after a group of legislators presented a proposal in congress to further loosen regulations by guaranteeing parishioners the right to celebrate religious events in public, freely use media outlets and guarantee the right of parents’ to give their children a religious education. Critics say the vaguely worded proposal could open the door to pushing religion into public schools and public affairs. —AP

CARACAS: Henrique Capriles holds up a document certifying he will be the opposition candidate during the upcoming presidential elections in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday.—AP

Venezuela court blocks destruction of voter lists CARACAS: Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered opposition electoral officials not to destroy lists of voters following primary elections, a decision that was promptly condemned by opposition leaders who vowed to keep voters’ identities secret.

The court order was sought by Rafael Velasquez, a mayoral contender who lost in Sunday’s primary and called for the voter lists to be reviewed.

But opposition politicians said the decision appeared to be an attempt to intimidate adversaries of President Hugo Chavez.

“The secrecy of the vote is a

commitment, and we’re going to keep it,” opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez said in response to the ruling. “There will be no court decision ... that will prevent what’s happening to keep happening: that more Venezuelans are joining.” After a failed 2004 recall vote against Chavez, a list of those who had petitioned for the election was leaked and widely circulated.

Hundreds of people complained that after appearing on the list, they were fired from government jobs or prevented from working for the government. —AP

IDAHO: Republican candidate for president Rick Santorum stumps in Boise, Idaho, at Capital High School on Tuesday. —AP

Santorum revels in sudden rise in support BOISE: The latest Republican presidential contender to surge in polls, Rick Santorum is trying to turn his newfound strength into something lasting that will establish him as the conservative challenger to Mitt Romney. But things don’t look so strong for the former Pennsylvania senator just beneath the surface. Three new polls show Santorum, coming off a stunning sweep of three state contests last week, has pulled even with presumed front-runner Romney in the race to challenge President Barack Obama in the November election.

The shift in the polls for Santorum continues the startling swings in a contest that has been notable for its instability. It also comes during a lull in state-bystate voting and in the debates that have kept candidates in the public eye.

Republican voters have been unable to coalesce around one candidate as both the most electable against Obama and sufficiently conservative to win strong backing from the party’s tea party and evangelical Christian base voters.

Santorum claims he is the leading conservative in the race, while Romney has been pitching himself to conservative voters who have doubts about his former, more moderate, positions on key social issues such as abortion.

A saving grace, perhaps, for Romney is that his level of support in the polls has held roughly steady while a series of challengers, Santorum being the most recent, have enjoyed a tie with or lead over the former Massachusetts governor.

Curious Republicans now pack Santorum’s rallies. Supporters have funneled nearly $4 million to his formerly empty campaign account over the past seven days. And his staff is plotting an aggressive strategy to challenge Romney in Romney’s native Michigan and beyond.

But Santorum is underfunded and outmanned. He’s still lacking in organization, a month and a half into the primary season. And, after he won three contests in a single day last week, his opponents on the right and the left - have begun their own efforts to tear him down. An upbeat Santorum faced more than 1,000 people in a Boise, Idaho, high school auditorium Tuesday night and said his ideas would carry him through.

He said he’s someone “who can overcome the disadvantages of money and media attention and still be in a position to win. Ideas matter.” But his challenges were on display the day before in Tacoma, Washington state, where hundreds of supporters waited on cold, wet cement stairs in the dark to see the Republican presidential candidate with whom they’re barely familiar and he was heckled by liberal protesters from a nearby Occupy encampment.

Santorum has surged to a virtual tie with Romney in nationwide polling following his surprising sweep in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri last week. But his popularity may have less to do with who he is than who he isn’t. Santorum is not Romney. And with Newt Gingrich’s recent decline, that’s enough for some conservatives - at least for now.

A New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday showed Santorum with 30 percent support among Republican voters, three points ahead of Romney but within the survey’s margin of error.

The new poll essentially mirrors results in surveys by the Pew Research Center for

the People & the Press and the Gallup organization. The Pew results released Monday showed Santorum two points up with 30 percent support. Gallup showed Romney maintaining a twopoint lead with 32 percent support. Both results were within the surveys’ margins of error.

Both Pew and Gallup showed Santorum shooting up 14 points from a month ago. Romney and others are now working to raise questions about Santorum’s record as a lawmaker. The long-time front-runner for the nomination, Romney has deployed surrogates such as a former Santorum Senate colleague, Jim Talent of Missouri, to attack Santorum’s support for special projects for his home state in Congress. The conservative Club for Growth has been equally critical. And Romney has been aggressive on the campaign trail, suggesting in recent days that Santorum and Gingrich represent the kind of overspending Washington insiders the small government, anti-tax tea party movement abhors.

At the same time, left-leaning groups such as the Center For American Progress and Emily’s List are going after Santorum’s comments on women. A staunch social conservative, Santorum has been critical of women serving in combat and sometimes in the workplace.

“Sadly the propaganda campaign launched in the 1960s has taken root,” reads a passage in Santorum’s book.

“The radical feminists succeeded in undermining the traditional family and convincing women that professional accomplishments are the key to happiness.”

“These things that Rick Santorum is attacking are broadly supported by women and American families,” said Tara McGuinness of the Center for American Progress. “It isn’t 1952. Most American families have two working parents.”

Santorum says he’s not going to sit back and just take such shots. On Tuesday, he began running ads on Fox News Channel in Michigan, which along with Arizona hold the next primaries on Feb. 28. It was a signal to supporters - and to donors that Santorum planned to contest the state where Romney grew up and his father served as governor.

“We think we can plant our flag there and do well,” Santorum said. Santorum’s advisers are bracing for an onslaught from Romney. “We fully expect his search-and-destroy methods to be put on display. ... instead of focusing on his own record, their first inclination is to tear down his opponent,” said Hogan Gidley, Santorum’s communications chief. But there are limits to what Santorum’s little team can do.

He refuses to hire a pollster and pledges to campaign from his gut. He has brought on more experienced campaign aides, yet he lacks a headquarters in which they can meet. Often, Santorum’s top aides confer over conference calls or Skype. He intends to rely on volunteers in some states. Gingrich won’t make things easier for Santorum either. Despite falling in the polls, the former speaker of the House of Representatives insists he’s the strongest Romney alternative and hopes to revive his sputtering candidacy yet again in the 10-state Super Tuesday contests of March 6 when a handful of Southern states hold races. —AP

A

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e niv rsar n

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Years

On the Occasion of the 70th Birth Anniversary of H.E. Kim Jong Il, the Great Leader of the Korean People

Life of a Great Man February 16 this year is the 70th birthday of the great leader Kim Jong Il. The great leader Kim Jong Il meant the power of Korea, the destiny of the Korean nation and the whole of life of the Koreans. During his life of nearly 70 years, he devoted his all to the country and the people. His was a truly heroic life.

H.E. KIM JONG IL Kim Jong Il was born on February 16, 1942, in the Paektusan Secret Camp. His family was a patriotic, popular and revolutionary one through generations. His father, President Kim Il Sung, was a legendary hero of the anti-Japanese warfare and the great sun of the nation, who founded the Juche idea and brought the Korean people national liberation and national revival by means of arms.

His mother Kim Jong Suk was the anti-Japanese heroine and a brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu who set out on the road of revolution in her early years and devoted her whole life to the struggle for national liberation and the victorious revolution.

Kim Jong Il spent his childhood with the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters during the period of the anti-Japanese war. While living with the fighters, he got the high sense of righteousness and great courage and grew earlier in mind for his age. After the country was liberated in August 1945, he followed his parents visiting cities and fishing and rural villages, and witnessed the enthusiasm and struggle of the people who were working hard for the building of a new country. During the days he fostered a popular character and made a firm resolve to devote himself to the people.

Amid the flames of the Fatherland Liberation War (1950–1953) that was decisive of the nation’s destiny he cultivated the patriotic mind, the infinite hatred against the enemy, and the attachment to arms.

He set out on the road of revolution after the President. He started his Songun revolutionary leadership by inspecting the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division of the Korean People’s Army together with the President on August 25, 1960, and giving important instructions regarding how to strengthen the KPA. From the late 1960s, Kim Jong Il began to administer Songun politics by taking over the President’s Songun idea and exploits of Songun leadership.

He studied at Kim Il Sung University from 1960 to 1964. During the university days, he firmly defended and developed the President’s revolutionary idea and theories by conducting energetic ideo-theoretical activities, and made lots of ideo-theoretical suggestions to inherit and complete the Juche revolutionary cause. His ideological and theoretical activities covered all fields, including politics, defence upbuilding, the economy, culture and

international studies.

After graduating from the university, he began to work at the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea on June 19, 1964.

He was designated as the only heir to the President in February 1974, according to the unanimous desire and will of the whole Party and all the people. He carried out the historic cause of formulating the President’s revolutionary idea after his august name and of proclaiming that modelling the whole society on the Juche idea is the paramount programme of the WPK. Based on deep studies of the fundamental principle and essence of the Juche idea, Kim Jong Il systematized the guiding idea of the Party as an integrated system of Juche-based idea, theory and method.

In October 1980, Kim Jong Il was elected a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, secretary of the Party Central Committee and a member of the Party Central Military Commission. Leading the Party work, he gave importance to laying the solid foundation of the Party for succeeding and accomplishing the Juche revolutionary cause.

The leader conducted energetic ideological and theoretical activities to make an integrated system of the President’s revolutionary idea, the Juche idea. In March 1982 he published the historic treatise On the Juche Idea by bringing together all conceptions, categories and theoretical contents of the Juche idea— socio-historical background of the founding of the Juche idea and its philosophical principles, socio-historical principles, guiding principles and historic significance. As soon as it was made public, the work received absolute support from leaders and progressive figures of many countries and revolutionary peoples around the world, and rapidly spread worldwide.

Kim Jong Il was put in the responsible position of the supreme commander of the KPA on December 24, 1991 and was elected Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission on April 9, 1993.

After the end of the Cold War, the United States found the key to realization of its world domination by force in holding socialist Korea in check. While making a propaganda of Korea’s “nuke development” and forcing the country to accept nuclear inspection, the Americans conducted the Team Spirit 93 joint military rehearsal on the greatest ever scale, which was targeted against the country. At this juncture Kim Jong Il made a great and courageous decision to challenge the enemies’ hard-line policy with harder-line policy. He issued the KPA supreme commander’s order on declaring the semi-war state to the whole country, all the people and the whole army, and saw to it that the DPRK government made public the statement on withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in March 1993. The political, public and press circles around the world were unsparing in their praise, saying, “The guts of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il are greater than the one of world-famous prominent commanders got together” and “The present confrontation shows the climax of the north Korean leader’s art of leadership.”

In the working-level contact between the DPRK and the US held in New York in December 1993, Washington accepted the package deal proposed by Pyongyang. But it went against its promise with Korea and instigated the International Atomic Energy Agency to force an overall inspection and an “ad hoc inspection” of Korea’s two military objects. Kim Jong Il saw that the Foreign Ministry spokesman pronounced Korea’s principled stand in January 1994. He made sure that the DPRK’s firm stand was made public to the world in June that it would immediately withdraw from the IAEA, and that since the US was trying to mobilize its allies to adopt a UN resolution of imposing “sanctions” on Korea, “sanctions” meant war and there would be no mercy in the war. On

H.E. KIM JONG UN, the Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army and the Supreme Leader of the Korean People

October 21 that year the DPRK-US Agreed Framework representing the just stand and assertion of Korea for settlement of the nuclear issue in the Korean peninsula was published. On October 20 the then US President Bill Clinton sent a letter for assurances, in which he expressed his respect for Kim Jong Il by calling him “supreme leader of the DPRK,” and confirmed that he would use the full powers of his office to facilitate arrangements.

Kim Il Sung, President of the DPRK and general secretary of the WPK Central Committee, passed away in July 1994. When the whole country was in deep sorrow, Kim Jong Il, enduring his grief by force of will, understood the earnest desire of the people for eternity of the President, and put forth the slogans “The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung will always be with us!” and “Let us arm ourselves firmly with the revolutionary idea of the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung!” He saw to it that the Kumsusan Assembly Hall was refurbished into the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, so as to lay the President in state there, and that the age of Juche and the Day of the Sun were instituted to hand down the President’s revolutionary life and immortal exploits to all generations to come. He made sure that the strong will to revere Kim Il Sung as the first and eternal President was legalized in the Socialist Constitution, and energetically led the work to revise and supplement the Constitution. The newly revised Socialist Constitution adopted at the 1st Session of the 10th Supreme People’s Assembly in September 1998 is the Kim Il Sung Constitution legalizing the President’s Juche-oriented conceptions and exploits of state building. It gives a clear definition that Kim Il Sung will be revered as the eternal President of the Republic.

Towards the close of the 20th century the Korean people had to undergo the Arduous March due to the politico-military provocations and pressure and vicious economic blockade of the imperialist allied forces to stifle socialism.

At this juncture Kim Jong Il made a resolve to break through the difficulties and advance the socialist cause by intensifying and developing Songun politics in a comprehensive way.

Kim Jong Il was elected General Secretary of the WPK on October 8, 1997.

At the time Kim Jong Il formulated Songun politics as the main political mode of socialism, and comprehensively clarified its essence, characteristics, validity and vitality. Maintaining steady development of the defence industry of the country as an important task of Songun politics, he pressed ahead with the work more vigorously, along with the strengthening of the People’s Army.

He put forward the line of economic construction in the Songun era that demands giving priority to development of the defence industry while simultaneously developing light industry and agriculture, and made sure that the line was thoroughly implemented. Under his energetic leadership, Korea successfully launched its artificial earth satellites Kwangmyongsong 1 and 2 and took the rightful position of a nuclear state.

Order of Kim Jong II

Gold medal of Kim Jong II Prize

The building of a great, prosperous and powerful socialist nation was the President’s lifetime intention, and Kim Jong Il’s strong will and determination.

Kim Jong Il wisely led all the people to turn out as one in the struggle for the building of a powerful nation. While being always on the way of continuous on-the-spot guidance to a huge number of factories and businesses of the national economy, he mapped out a grand plan of building an economic power and providing the people with civilized and comfortable life.

He opened up the way of building a prosperous nation by means of the policy of giving importance to science and technology. He defined the policy as a strategic line to be followed in building a powerful socialist nation, and made it one of the three mainstays in building a prosperous nation along with the two policies of attaching importance to ideology and military affairs. He saw to it that all units of the national economy actively introduced the CNC technology under the slogan of “Push back the frontiers of science and technology!” and that the effort to make the national economy more Juche-oriented, modern and scientific was vigorously promoted.

Kim Jong Il saw that the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration, which are governed by the idea of “by our nation itself,” were adopted true to President Kim Il Sung’s instructions for national reunification. He also took important measures to put an end to the tragedy of national division, thus raising the Koreans’ enthusiasm for reunification. He mercilessly smashed the anti-reunification moves of the US imperialists and the south Korean regime by force of Songun politics.

Kim Jong Il conducted the energetic external activities by dint of his outstanding political abilities and noble personality, and thus provided the sure guarantee for independence of the whole world and peace in Northeast Asia.

The greatest exploit of Kim Jong Il for the country and the people is that he made a successful arrangement for the Juche revolutionary cause, or the Songun revolutionary cause, that was pioneered on Mt. Paektu, to go ahead.

The Korean people are now under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, an outstanding leader who is endowed with the spirit, personality and leadership art that were inherent in the great saints of Mt. Paektu. It is really a blessing for the nation to have prominent leaders generation after generation.

Kim Jong Il put forth great ideas and theories, walked a long way and achieved great exploits in his life. He regarded himself as a son and faithful servant of the people rather than leader of the country, and devoted his all to firmly defending the people’s interests and to their happiness.

He suddenly passed away to the grief of all the people. Though his heart stopped beating, his august name and benevolent image will remain in the heart of the Korean people forever, and his revolutionary idea and immortal exploits will go down in the national history for all eternity.

Medal of Kim Jong II Youth Honour Prize

Badge of Kim Jong II Children Honour Prize

Single-hearted Unity Goes Ahead

I

n the early years of the previous century, the first generation of the Korean revolutionaries upheld President Kim Il Sung as the sun of the nation and established the valuable tradition of unity based on one ideology and one centre during the days of the arduous anti-Japanese armed struggle.

The might of unity whereby the leader believed in the people and the latter followed the former with absolute trust in him to overcome trials and hardships was the source of the power that brought victory in the two revolutionary wars—the antiJapanese armed struggle and the Fatherland Liberation War— to the Koreans and established the people-centred socialist system in the country.

At the end of the 1990s the Korean people firmly defended socialism overcoming difficulties during the Arduous March, which was wholly attributable to their conviction that as long as they were led by Kim Jong Il, they would surely win victory and that they could do anything when the Party was determined.

With such a faith and will, they laid a solid foundation for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful socialist nation and brought about an epoch-making change.

It has rather been cemented with the passage of time.

Korea’s history and tradition of single-hearted unity are now firmly maintained.

At the Conference of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in 2010 the Korean people acclaimed the dear respected Kim Jong Un at the head of the Party and revolution.

The single-hearted unity of the whole Party, all the army and the entire people around Kim Jong Un is based on their boundless fascination with and absolute trust in him.

His august name has already been kept in the heart of the Korean people, and his uncommon personality has been told

like a legend. He was always on the long road of Songun with Kim Jong Il to lead the Korean revolution.

Kim Jong Un faithfully assisted Kim Jong Il’s Songun leadership, and perfectly carried out the plans of the latter on the highest standard.

The days of mourning in December last year when the whole country was writhing in agony over the great loss of the nation showed what absolute trust the Korean people had had in Kim Jong Un. The whole country was pervaded with the people’s firm resolve to share their fate with Kim Jong Un, who is identical to Kim Jong Il, and to be loyal to him as they were to Kim Jong Il. The single-hearted unity of Korea has been further strengthened in the sea of tears instead of being weakened.

At present all the Korean people—from the anti-Japanese fighters and war veterans to officials and working people who went through the Arduous March, and young people—are firmly united behind Kim Jong Un. The voice of faith calling for unity behind him is reverberating throughout the country, and all matters of the revolution and construction are done true to his intention.

Kim Jong Un is now thoroughly applying the ideology and line, revolutionary principle and fighting mode put forward by President Kim Il Sung and the leader Kim Jong Il with no concession or vacillation.

It is Kim Jong Un’s iron will that there will be no change in the Party and the state holding fast to the President’s ideology and cause and implementing the instructions of Kim Jong Il. Kim Jong Un is the banner of victory and glory of Songun Korea and the eternal centre of its unity. The whole country is permeated with the strong will of all the Party, the whole army and all the people to become a fortress and a shield of defending Kim Jong Un at the cost of their lives and follow the WPK for all eternity.

The might of the single-hearted unity is the true source of belief that the new century of Juche will be glorified as the one of final victory of the revolutionary cause pioneered on Mt. Paektu and of the building of a powerful nation.

Order of Kim Jong Il , Kim Jong Il Prize , Kim Jong Il Youth Honour Prize , Kim Jong Il Children Honour Prize have been instituted on the occasion of the 70th birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il in the DPRK.

Order of Kim Jong Il, as well as Order of Kim Il Sung, is the highest order in the country.

Kim Jong Il Prize is the top prize in the DPRK as well as Kim Il Sung Prize.

Kim Jong Il Youth Honour Prize is the highest prize for the Korean youth along with Kim Il Sung Youth Honour Prize.

Kim Jong Il Children Honour Prize is the highest prize for the Korean children along with Kim Il Sung Children Honour Prize.

Kimjongilia Festival to be held The 16th Kimjongilia Festival will take place in Pyongyang on the occasion of the Day of the Shining Star ( February 16, the Birth Anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il) amid the intense yearning and profound reverence of all the people for leader Kim Jong Il. The festival that will run at the Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia Exhibition Hall from mid-February 2012 will be attended by military organs, ministries, national agencies, overseas Koreans’ organizations, working people, students, children and foreigners.

The festival will be a highest tribute of the Korean army and people and the world’s progressives praying for the immortality of Kim Jong Il who devoted his all to the country and people in the whole course of his revolutionary struggle.

It will go a long way towards commemorating the greatest national holiday significantly and inspiring the Korean army and people to successfully implement his instructions, singlemindedly united around Kim Jong Un.

Kimjongilia

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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

Berlusconi should go to prison for bribery, prosecutors says Ex-prime minister denies charges

BUDAPEST: People make their way in a blizzard on a road near Debrecen, 226 kms east of Budapest, Hungary yesterday, as snowstorms make traffic difficult in most of the country. —AP

Cold snap in Eastern Europe kills over 600 BUCHAREST: More than 600 people in Eastern Europe have died during a recordbreaking cold snap that has brought the heaviest blizzards in recent memory and trapped thousands behind walls of snow, officials said yesterday. Authorities in Russia say 205 people have died in the deep freeze that began in late January, while in Ukraine there have been 112 fatalities, and in Poland 107 people lost their lives due to the frigid weather. There were 35 deaths in

Hungary, 20 in Serbia, and 10 in Kosovo. In hard-hit Romania, some 23,000 people remain isolated in 225 communities where more than week of heavy snowfall has blocked roads and wreaked havoc on the rail network. Nearly 4,000 people cut off for more than a week said yesterday they were short of food water, and medicine.

Authorities said seven people have died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 86 deaths.—AP

Sarkozy to launch presidential campaign PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy was set to formally declare his candidacy for a second term on television yesterday, hoping to overcome deep unpopularity with a short and intense campaign. The centre-right president, who lags Socialist challenger Francois Hollande in all opinion polls, launched his Twitter feed with the news that he had accepted an invitation to appear on TF1’s evening news at 1900 GMT. With the long-expected announcement, Sarkozy will formally enter the race, although opponents say he has been campaigning stealthily for months. “Now the real campaign starts,” Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, a close Sarkozy ally, told France Info radio. Despite polls showing Hollande would beat Sarkozy by up to 15 points in a May 6 runoff between the two, the president’s camp is confident he can narrow the gap before the April 22 first round.

Despite a disapproval rating of 68 percent, Sarkozy hopes to present himself as an experienced leader who can drag France out of the economic slump and overcome the euro zone crisis alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel. But with unemployment stuck at a 12-year high of 9.3 percent and a stream of news about companies closing or relocating production abroad, Sarkozy-who took office in 2007 pledging a return to full employment-faces an uphill struggle.

Credit rating agency Moody’s warned on Monday that it could follow Standard & Poor’s and remove France’s AAA rating.

Finance Minister Francois Baroin has promised to stick to measures designed to promote growth and cut France’s deficit.

GDP data yesterday provided a rare glimmer of hope. Preliminary data from the INSEE statistics office showed that French gross domestic product (GDP) eked out 0.2 percent growth in the fourth quarter. A Reuters poll of 36 economists had predicted on average a 0.1 percent contraction.

It was the first time since the beginning of 2009 that French quarterly growth outperformed neighboring Germany, which Sarkozy has repeatedly held up as the economic model to follow.

In the past weeks, Sarkozy has announced a VAT sales tax increase to fund a cut in payroll charges and is introducing a 0.1 percent tax on financial transactions. He is expected to flesh out his campaign platform in a keynote speech in

the Mediterranean port city of Marseille on Sunday. A formidable campaigner, Sarkzoy plans to hold his first rally today in the Alpine town of Annecy. Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry described Sarkozy entering the campaign as a non-event.

“The French aren’t interested in this sort of communication ... they want us to deal with their problems,” she said on French television station LCI. Sarkozy’s announcement coincides with Hollande’s second major campaign speech yesterday in his home city of Rouen. A Harris Interactive poll of firstround voting intentions, published yesterday, showed Hollande and Sarkozy each gaining one point at 28 and 24 percent respectively. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen was seen winning 20 percent, centrist Francois Bayrou 13 percent and far-left challenger Jean-Luc Melenchon eight percent. In the run-off second round on May 6, Hollande would beat Sarkozy 57 percent to 43 percent.

Polling analysts say that with just nine weeks to go, Sarkozy will have a hard time to make up so much lost ground. “We have rarely seen a president so far behind the challenger at this point in the camapaign,” Harris Interactive polling chief Jean-Daniel LÈvy told Reuters. “Sarkozy still has a small change of winning if he manages to pull the Socialist candidate into his issues of immigration and security, and as long as the debate does not focus on his personality or achievements,” LÈvy added.

Sarkozy and Hollande both say their priority is to restore public finances and whoever becomes the next president will have to push through roughly 100 bilion euros of austerity measures in the next five years to plug the state deficit. But they propose very different ways to reach that goal. Hollande kicked off his campaign in late January with an economic program that would raise taxes on banks, big firms and the wealthy to help him reduce the public deficit while pumping more funds into education and state-aided job creation.

Juppe, once seen as a possible alternative conservative candidate, said that nothing was lost for Sarkozy. “We have seen this kind of situation before and it is now that the campaign starts, it is now that the president as a candidate will outline his priorities and that we will see the weaknesses of the Socialist candidate,” he said.—Reuters

ROME: Italian ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s legal woes returned to haunt him yesterday as Milan prosecutors asked he be sentenced to five years in prison for bribing his former tax lawyer. “It is certain, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the defendant is guilty,” prosecutor Fabio De Pasquale told a court in a damning attack in which he accused Berlusconi’s defence of being entirely “based on false documents.”

Berlusconi is accused of paying British lawyer David Mills $600,000 (450,000 euros) to provide false testimony in several trials against the tycoon in the 1990s. He denies the charges and accuses prosecutors of plotting against him. The request that the media magnate serve time in jail is largely symbolic.

Even if Berlusconi is convicted, the 75-yearold is unlikely to ever serve time in prison since sentencing guidelines in Italy are lenient for over-70s and the case is due to expire under a statute of limitations this year.

“It would be a major blow to his prestige nationally and internationally,” said James Walston, a professor at the American University in Rome. Mills, a specialist in offshore tax havens, was convicted by a Milan court in 2009 and sentenced to four-and-ahalf years in jail, but an appeals court threw out the corruption case in 2010 because it had run out of time. The court did however denounce what it described as “a case of very serious corruption”, which was taken by legal experts as an admission that it believed Berlusconi was guilty in corrupting Mills.

Mills, estranged husband of former cabinet minister Tessa Jowell, told the Milan court in

December that his own claim in a letter that he had received the money from “the B. people” was in fact “pure imagination”.

Prosecutors argued yesterday that Mills was lying when he retracted his initial claim,

ROME: This file picture taken on February 1, 2012 at the Italian parliament in Rome shows Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reacting during the presentation of Antonio Razzi’s book “Le mie mani pulite” (My clean hands). —AFP

Kosovo Serbs defy EU with referendum KOSOVSKA MITROVICA: Serbs in Kosovo voted for the second day yesterday in a referendum on ethnic Albanian rule, in a slap in the face to efforts by Serbia and the EU to resolve differences over the territory.

The vote is a reaction to EU-brokered talks between Belgrade and Pristina.

Many Kosovo Serbs feel that Serbia should not deal with a government it officially does not recognize.

They fear that Serbia, which is hoping to win official candidate status from the European Union in March will eventually give up its claim to Kosovo, leaving them at the mercy of the ethnic Albanian government. “The message we are sending from the voting booth is that ... every one wants to stay under Serbia’s authority and not under (Kosovo prime minister) Hashim Thaci,” 62-year-old Miomir Scekic told AFP “I hope our president Boris Tadic finally also understands that message. The referendum, which is expected to be a resounding rejection of the authority of the Kosovo government, has no legal weight and has been dismissed by both Serbia and Kosovo, as well as the international community.

“Pristina, Belgrade and the international community will ignore the vote but the Serbs in nor thern Kosovo feel the need to make themselves heard as they are not included in the Belgrade-Pristina talks,” Vladimir Todoric, a political analyst from Serbia’s Centre for New Politics told AFP. Serbia’s state secretar y for Kosovo, Oliver Jovanovic, on Tuesday slammed the “open defiance” of the Serb-dominated northern Kosovo municipalities in organizing the vote. He blamed nationalist opposition parties for trying to “position themselves” ahead of general elections in Serbia this spring.

Three of the four towns which organized the referendum are controlled by the opposition. Serbian President Tadic said the referendum was “harming the interests of the

(Serbian) state”, while insisting that Belgrade would never accept Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008.

Dozens of countries recognise Kosovo’s independence including the United States and most of Europe. Some 35,000 voters in the majority Serb north are being asked: “Do you accept the institutions of the so-called republic of Kosovo seated in Pristina?” The turnout on the first day of vote was 48 percent, the authorities said. Out of a population of about two million, there are some 120,000 ethnic Serbs in Kosovo, 40,000 of whom live in the north on the border with Serbia and the rest in enclaves dotted around the territory. Only Serbs in northern Kosovo were participating in the referendum. Kosovan analysts said the referendum showed that just one day ahead of the fourth anniversary of Pristina’s declaration of independence, Thaci’s government does not control the whole of its territory.

“It discredits the government as it sends a message to the world that something is wrong in a par t of Kosovo and that it requires international attention and solution,” political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu, a well-known commentator on northern Kosovo, told AFP. “This referendum reconfirms for the umpteenth time that Kosovo cannot establish control over all its territory,” commentator Adrian Collaku said in a column for the independent Zeri daily, calling it “another step towards secession” for northern Kosovo.

The north was the scene of unrest in November, when some 50 soldiers from the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force were hurt as they moved to dismantle barricades erected at the border by Serbs. The Serb protests were triggered by a move from Pristina to try and take control of two disputed border crossings.

Polling stations will close at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT ), and the first partial results are expected later yesterday.—AFP

north that left some two million people dead.

Up to 700,000 ethnic southerners are estimated to remain in Sudan ahead of an April deadline for them to either go south or normalise their status with the Khar toum authorities. On Sunday, Khartoum and Juba agreed to cooperate in the transfer of ethnic southerners to the new nation, the official SUNA news agency said. Khartoum’s Social Welfare Minister, Amira al-Fadel Mohamed, signed a memorandum of understanding on the issue with South Sudan’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Joseph Lual Achwel, SUNA said, adding the agreement covers road, air and river transport.

Despite the deal, the International Organization for Migration and the UN have said it is logistically impossible for all southerners in Sudan to either move south or obtain official status in the north before the April 8 deadline.—AFP

MITROVICA: A man walks past a billboard, part of a campaign for a Serbian referendum in northern Kosovo, reading: “All for Serbia, vote No to the so-called Kosovo institutions at the referendum”, in the northern part of the ethnically divided town Mitrovica, Kosovo, yesterday.—AP

Somali president asks for lifting of arms embargo MOGADISHU: Somalia’s president asked the United Nations yesterday to lift the arms embargo against his country, saying the recent merger between Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabab has made the dropping of the arms ban necessary. Thousands of Somalis marched through the capital during an anti-militant protest attended by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

Many of the demonstrators were shouting and angry as they protested the Al-Qaeda merger.

One protester’s poster read: “Let us be united to fight our enemy AlQaeda.” The Somali militant group Al-Shabab has long had close links with Al-Qaeda, but the two announced an official merger last week. “To say the arms embargo cannot be lifted now is unfair,” Ahmed said. “Our army is working under difficult conditions because of economic problems and a lack of arms.” The UN imposed an arms embargo on Somalia in 1992, one year after warlords toppled dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. The warlords then turned on each other, sinking the poverty-stricken nation of 7 million people into chaos. Ahmed’s call for the lifting of the arms embargo comes one week before a high-level meeting on Somalia to be attended by world leaders in London. Currently the Somali army is armed by international donors.—AP

Islamic leader goes on trial in Norway over death threats

Violent demonstration by ex-Sudanese military KHARTOUM: Sacked South Sudanese members of the Sudanese military pelted motorists and police with stones and blocked traffic yesterday to protest delays in their severance pay, witnesses said. About 100 protesters gathered on Africa Road, a major ar ter y in the Sudanese capital, shouting “We want our rights!” Witnesses said the demonstrators were seeking compensation and marched to the multi-lane thoroughfare from a nearby office of the Sudan Armed Forces.

Stones thrown by the demonstrators shattered windows of some passing cars, an AFP reporter witnessed. Riot police wielding batons dispersed the protesters, and there were no apparent arrests or injuries. The Khartoum government fired ethnic southern members of its civil service last year prior to the July separation of South Sudan, which voted overwhelmingly for independence after decades of conflict with the

Italian media said. The trial against the flamboyant former premier for paying the bribe was previously suspended thanks to a law passed when he was prime minister, and prosecutors’ attempts to see him behind bars now may come too late.

The defence has accused the judges sitting in the Milan court of being biased against the former premier and have asked for the case to be moved to another court. An appeals court is set to rule on their request on February 18.

Should they support the defence’s request, the trial will be moved to a fresh court and would start again from scratch.

Even if the Milan court is found to be competent, the case is set to expire under a statute of limitations later this year. “In practical terms it means nothing, the statute of limitations is about to kick in. Even if he was convicted, there would be an appeal and the case would be thrown out. He’s not going to go to jail,” Walston said. Berlusconi, who remained a member of parliament after stepping down in November, is a defendant in four ongoing trials for bribery, tax fraud, sex with an underage prostitute, abuse of power and violating official secrets.

The ageing playboy has said he will not run for prime minister in the next general election and now regards his role as a “founding father” of his party. Even if he escapes prison in the bribery case, observers say that a guilty sentence may weaken his rumored ambitions to run for the presidency in 2013. “This would just be one of the many reasons that he would be an unsuitable candidate,” Walston said.— AFP

OSLO: Mullah Krekar, center, seated between his lawyers Brynjar Meling, left, and Arvid Sjoedin, right, in an Oslo District court, Oslo, Norway yesterday.—AP

OSLO: Mullah Krekar, the founder of radical Iraqi Kurdish Islamist group Ansar al-Islam, went on trial in Norway yesterday accused of making death threats, most notably against a former government minister. The 55-year-old mullah, whose real name is Najmeddine Faraj Ahmad and who figures on terrorist lists drawn up by the United Nations and the United States, pleaded not guilty on the first day of his trial before the Oslo district cour t. According to media in Norway, where he has lived since 1991, he risks up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty. Krekar has among other things been charged with threatening Erna Solberg, the current head of the Conservative Party and a former government minister who signed his expulsion order, deeming him a threat to national security.

The deportation process began in 2003 but has yet to be carried out since Norwegian law prevents him from being deported to Iraq until his safety can be guaranteed and as long as he risks the

death penalty. “Norway will pay a heavy price for my death,” he said during a meeting with international media in June 2010. “If for example Erna Solberg deports me and I die as a result, she will suffer the same fate,” he said in Arabic, adding: “I don’t know who will kill her: Al Qaeda, Ansar al-Islam, my family, my children. I don’t know... But she will pay the price.”

Before the Oslo court yesterday, wearing traditional Kurdish attire, Krekar hinted he would gladly repeat those declarations. His lawyer Brynjar Meling stressed however that his client’s words merely referred to Islamic principles and were protected under freedom of expression laws. Krekar also stands accused of criminal incitement after he during an interview with US commercial broadcaster NBC called for attacks on US soldiers in Iraq. While he acknowledges having cofounded Ansar al-Islam, which also figures on international lists of terrorist groups, in 2001, Krekar insists he has not led the group since 2002.—AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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

Japan planned review of tsunami risk, but too late TOKYO: Four days before a tsunami devastated a Japanese nuclear plant, its operator promised a fuller assessment of the risk of such a disaster - but not for seven months. The disclosure in a three -page briefing paper obtained by The Associated Press raises questions about whether the utility and regulators were too complacent about studies that suggested a tsunami could overwhelm the defenses at the 40-year-old Fukushima Dai-ichi plant.

It also highlights Japan’s slow pace of decision-making on an issue that experts had been warning about for at least 20 months. “If they had made the decision earlier, then they could have been prepared on March 11,” said Hideyuki Hirakawa, an Osaka University expert on governance and the sciences. “There is absolutely noth-

ing you can do in four days.” On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude offshore earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed about 19,000 people along Japan’s northeastern coast. The surge of water knocked out power at the coastal Fukushima plant, leading to the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Tens of thousands have had to leave the area, and it’s unclear whether some will ever be able to move back.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. presented the briefing paper, stamped “handle with care,” at a meeting with Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency on March 7. The agency released the document to the AP under a public records request. The paper summarized studies that suggested a tsunami as high as 33 feet (10 meters) might hit the plant, much higher than the 20-

foot (six-meter) surge it had been designed to withstand. The actual tsunami was even higher: 45 feet (14 meters).

TEPCO, as the Tokyo-based utility is commonly known, said it would review tsunami preparedness at all its plants by mid-April and present a new assessment of the Fukushima plant by October - dates listed on the bottom of the first page under “plans for the future.” Masaru Kobayashi, who heads the agency’s earthquake-safety section, said he saw the estimates for the first time at the March 7 meeting. “I told them that a speedy response was necessary, if these numbers are true,” he said.

But TEPCO spokeswoman Ai Tanaka noted that the government did not order any immediate action. “None of the findings were conclusive,” she

added. The report cited 2010 research at the government’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology as saying that two to three more years would be needed to reassess the tsunami risks for northeastern Japan.

However the researcher, Yuichi Namegaya, told the AP that while more time was needed to determine the extent of the risk, the danger was evident. “The studies on a Fukushima tsunami were clear, even before my research,” he said. As early as June 2009, Yukinobu Okamura, a tsunami expert at the same government institute, warned about the need to look more closely at new evidence that a major tsunami called Jogan had hit northeastern Japan in the 9th Century.

“I would like to ask why you have not touched on this at all,” Okamura

demanded of a panel on nuclear regulatory policy. “I find it unacceptable.”

Kobayashi, the regulator, said he called for the March 7 meeting after hearing about research on the Jogan tsunami.

He described the meeting as a polite, perfunctory affair at his agency that lasted 30, maybe 40, minutes.

The document included three diagrams. One was TEPCO’s estimate of the maximum tsunami risk, based on 2002 guidelines from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers that were the government-approved standards. The other two were more recent academic projections that suggested the possibility of the higher tsunami. Kobayashi recalled the meeting after the March 11 tsunami. “The numbers I saw were bigger than what we had earlier assessed,” he said. “It had happened, and I felt bad.” — AP

NATO regrets airstrike that killed eight young Afghans Civilian casualties source of friction between US, Karzai

YANGON: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (C) delivers a speech during a political rally in Hlegu township outside Yangon yesterday. Suu Kyi will contest a seat in parliament in the upcoming April 1 by-election. —AFP

Myanmar peace can be reached within three months: Minister NAYPYITAW: Myanmar’s government expects to reach ceasefire deals with all of the country’s ethnic minority rebel armies within three months before starting a process of political dialogue towards “everlasting peace”, its top peace negotiator said yesterday. In his first interview with a foreign news organization, Aung Min, a retired general and minister for rail transportation tasked with negotiating an end to the decadesold conflicts, said Myanmar’s 49 years of military rule had not let peace prevail but the new civilian-led government was winning the trust of the rebel armies.

Long-lasting political solutions with economic incentives for conflict areas were within reach, he said. “This is a chronic disease that has been happening for over 60 years. Successive governments couldn’t cure the disease because the remedy didn’t fit,” Aung Min said.

“Things have changed in our country and this situation has now changed, this has allowed us to find the remedy.” Peace with the rebels, most of whom demand autonomy under what they call a “genuine federal system”, has been set by the United States and the European Union as a condition for lifting sanctions on the former Burma, an underdeveloped but resource-rich country that has wilted under international isolation and inept armyrule.

But Aung Min said the government’s motive was not the lifting of sanctions. “I don’t consider other factors. We are all brethrens, no matter whether ethnic fighters or soldiers die, they are all our families,” he said. Nine of 16 rebel groups had signed ceasefire agreements with the government and he expected six more deals to be reached within a few months, including with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of the biggest groups, which the Myanmar military is still fighting.

He said the Kayah Nationalities Progressive Party (KNPP) would sign a deal on March 1 and five smaller parties

were ready to put down their arms. He declined to comment on the conflict in Kachin State, which rages on despite an order by President Thein Sein and the armed forces commander-in-chief for troops to end offensives. Aung Min also said Senior General Than Shwe, the former dictator who ruled Myanmar with an iron fist for 18 years, had no influence on his former prodigies now in charge of the nominally civilian government.

“U Than Shwe has retired completely.

We don’t need to follow his orders or influence. There is now virtually no contact,” Aung Min said. U is a Burmese honorific. “He has a big library next to his residence. When he was in power he had no time to read books and he’s reading now.

We owe a debt of gratitude to him for his leadership during the transitional period, for the peaceful transition from military rule to a democratic society.” “He doesn’t need to be involved. I’m very sure he’ll be pleased with the situation now, looking at it from afar.”

Many people in Myanmar suspect the reclusive and highly secretive former strongman, a psychological warfare specialist, has maintained a behind the scenes role. Aung Min’s comments were the first by a member of the new government lauding Than Shwe for his role in the transition since he stepped aside on March 30 last year to make way for Thein Sein’s nominally civilian government.

Aung Min also rejected speculation that there was conflict in the government between reformers and hardline remnants of the junta. “This is all rumors.

We are all united behind the president,” he added. Thein Sein had laid down a three-step plan for peace with the rebel groups that involved ceasefires, political agreements and resettlement of displaced people, then a special assembly of parliament in which all of the groups would cement long-term deals, he said.

Ethnic Burmans, the country’s traditional rulers, make up about two-thirds of its estimated 60 million people. — Reuters

Philippines arrest Abu Sayyaf suspect MANILA: Philippine troops have arrested an alleged Abu Sayyaf militant suspected of involvement in numerous kidnappings, including those of American and European tourists, police said yesterday. Abdulhan Ussih, subject of a $77,000 bounty, was captured Tuesday after three months of surveillance in southern Zamboanga city. He was a fish trader and helped secure food and other supplies for the militants, police Senior Superintendent Generoso Bonifacio said.

Ussih has denied any link to AlQaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and to the kidnappings, but he provided food and other items needed by Radulan Sahiron, an Abu Sayyaf commander on southern Jolo island who has been blamed for high-profile ransom kidnappings, Bonifacio said. The militants seized European tourists from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan in 2000 and three Americans and 17 Filipinos

from the Philippine resort of Dos Palmas in 2001. They beheaded one of the Americans and another died during a military rescue.

Meanwhile yesterday, army troops clashed with about 15 Abu Sayyaf militants near Sumisip town on southern Basilan island where the gunmen apparently were planning to bomb a road project as part of an extortion bid, army Col. Ricardo Visaya said. The militants fled, leaving behind bomb parts, a motorcycle and binoculars. Troops were pursuing the militants, Visaya said, and no casualties in the fighting were immediately reported.

The Abu Sayyaf, now estimated to have less than 400 armed fighters, has been weakened by US-backed Philippine military offensives but remains a key security concern. The US says it is terrorist organization responsible for bombings, kidnappings and beheadings. —AP

KABUL: The US -led military coalition said yesterday that it regrets the killing of eight civilians in a NATO airstrike this month in eastern Afghanistan. Civilian casualties have long been a source of friction between the US -led international force and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who condemned the bombing and sent a delegation to the scene to investigate. The coalition called in the airstrike on Feb 8 in the Najrab district in Kapisa province, after movements by eight people on the ground were assessed as a threat to Afghan police and NATO forces in the area, said Army Brig. Gen. Lewis Boone, director of public affairs for the coalition. “The aircraft dropped two bombs on the group that we believed to be an imminent threat to our people,” Boone told reporters in Kabul. “Despite all tactical directives being followed precisely, we now know the unfortunate result of this engagement. In the end, eight young Afghans lost their lives in this very sad event.”

Coalition and Afghan security forces were searching the area for weapons and ammunition, he said. Using binoculars and other equipment, ground forces identified several groups of Afghan males leaving a village at different times and going in different directions, he said.

One group of eight headed for nearby mountains.

“They were observed moving in open terrain in a tactical fashion, clearly keeping distance from each other,” Boone said. “Their purposeful movements and the weapons they were seen to be carrying led the ground commander to believe this group was getting ready to attack and were an imminent threat to the Afghan National Police and coalition forces in the valley.” The ages of the victims remained unclear. Local officials said seven were boys between the ages of 6 and 14 and one was a mentally ill young man around 18 to 20 years old. Air Commodore Mike Wigston, the director

of NATO air operations, said coalition officials did not reach the village until two days after the airstrike. By then, the victims had been buried. He said local officials showed the assessment team photographs of the corpses.

Forensic experts, who examined the photo-

were insurgents or smugglers. They were bombed because we thought they were a threat.” US Gen. John Allen, the top commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has met with the provincial governor to express his condolences. Hussain Khan Sanjani, the leader

HERAT: Afghan children play on the remains of a Soviet-era armoured personnel carrier in Herat yesterday. Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan on February 15, 1989, after ten years of fighting against Mujahiddin millitamen. —AFP graphs, said the victims were young teenagers around 15 years old and one was older, Wigston said.

“These were young Afghans - adult-sized. I have no doubt that they were carrying weapons,” Wigston said, adding that it’s not unusual for villagers to carry weapons. “We may never know what they were doing lined up under that rock that day,” he said. “I’m not saying they were Taleban. I’m not saying they were insurgents. They weren’t bombed because they were Taleban, or because they

of the Kapisa provincial council who visited the area, said residents told him that before the airstrike, coalition aircraft were patrolling overhead as other forces searched homes. Fearing the presence of the troops, the victims rounded up sheep and cows and moved them toward a mountainous area behind their homes, he said. When they got cold, they gathered brush and lighted a fire to keep warm, he said. One airstrike hit a large boulder and the other struck the victims, who were badly burned, according to Sanjani. —AP

For some Pakistanis, suicide the only way to escape poverty

NEW DELHI: A disaster management official carries a stretcher as people pretend to be dead during a disaster drill to check the preparedness of various agencies in the event of a major earthquake, in New Delhi, India yesterday. —AP

Sirens wail in drill across Indian capital NEW DELHI: Ambulance sirens screamed, firefighters rescued pretend victims and children dove under school desks for cover during a citywide disaster drill yesterday in India’s congested, quake-vulnerable capital of 16.7 million people. It was the first-ever earthquake drill for New Delhi, where poorly constructed buildings, loosely hanging electrical wires and narrow alleys that encourage traffic would mean heavy damage in a major earthquake.

Nine out of 10 buildings are at risk of moderate or significant damage if either of two nearby faults release a quake of around magnitude 7 or higher, the city says. Shaking might intensify if waters from the nearby Yamuna River slosh onto land and turn the subsoil to jelly. “This is to prepare and see our strength and infrastructure,” firefighter Atul Garg said. “We have to see our strength ... and to educate the people.” Officials staged disaster scenarios including freeway collapses and damage at hospitals. Water and food security departments practiced organizing supply distri-

butions. Some offices and markets were evacuated. Metro trains ground to a halt for more than a half-hour. Dogs sniffed out people posing as survivors, and medics tended to fake wounds.

Fake smoke was released throughout New Delhi’s municipal headquarters where more than 200 police, firefighters and medics scrambled to carry people out on stretchers and to guide crowds of workers, some screaming or clutching rags to their mouths, down smoke-filled stairwells and out of exits.

Traffic backed up in many areas as cars were diverted as part of the drill. The exercise marked a strong shift by the city government in its readiness to address earthquake preparations, after five decades of relatively little progress in heeding warnings and following recommendations.

Meanwhile, the population has more than tripled, and each year tens of thousands of housing units are built with substandard material, floors above the legal limit and no earthquake safety checks. — AP

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Bashiran Bibi and her husband fought everyday because money was too tight. Their hungry children’s screams tormented her. She began begging in Pakistan’s streets. But that didn’t help. So the maid, 25, decided there was only one way to deal with crushing poverty. She jumped in front of a speeding train with her two sons and daughter, all under the age of 3. “Bashiran told me the night before that it would be better for everyone if they all died,” said her mother-inlaw, Barkat.

Pakistanis react to widespread hardship in many ways. Some head abroad looking for jobs. Others are drawn to militant groups seeking to topple the state. In the ten months to October of 2011, about 1,600 people decided that suicide was the only option, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The previous year 2,399 people killed themselves and poverty was a significant factor, but a precise breakup was not available, the commission said. Suicide linked to poverty is not unique to Pakistan. Since the mid-1990s, an estimated 150,000 small farmers have committed suicide in neighboring India, mostly over debts, according to the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University.

But Pakistan has nowhere near the economic power that India does, so tackling social ills could be more difficult here. Growing economic pressures could push the suicide figure even higher in the South Asian nation where over one in five people live below the international poverty line of $1 a day. Critics say alleviating poverty has never been a priority. In the 2011-12 budget, Pakistan’s government allocated 0.04 percent of spending for social protection schemes. By comparison, just over 17.8 percent went to defence, though some experts put the figure at 26 percent.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali, special assistant to the prime minister on social affairs, argues Pakistan has made enormous efforts to eradicate poverty including monthly cash grants to poor families headed by women. “The government has led a very targeted and focused approach,” she said.

People like Talib Hussain, 45, didn’t seem to benefit.

He borrowed money to start a livestock business but it folded. One creditor after another threatened to call the police if he didn’t pay up.

When the pressure became unbearable, he walked out of his thatch-roofed mud hut house early one morning, wrapped his turban around his neck and hung himself from a tree. —Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 , 2012

NEWS

A man pulls a sledge through the snowy landscape near Bautzen, eastern Germany, on Tuesday. After a weekslong cold spell, temperatures rose again in parts of the country. — AFP

Domestics need sponsor nod to travel abroad Iran trumpets nuke progress Continued from Page 1 by sea, he should report to the duty officer at the port of exit. This is in addition to reporting to the operations administration in Nahda and obtaining a letter signed by the sponsor allowing an Article 20 residency

holder to depart and get the letter approved from the issuing party. Yaseen emphasized on the necessity that the sponsor should come in person to sign on the permission. He said that there is coordination in this respect between border authorities and the ministry’s public relations department.

Amir urges end to rifts as new Assembly meets Continued from Page 1 Islamist Salafist MP Sultan was elected deputy speaker with 35 votes, defeating MP Adnan Abdulsamad who received 24 votes and MP Obaid Al-Wasmi, who got just six votes. Islamist MPs Abdullah Al-Barghash and Faisal Al-Yahya were elected as secretary and supervisor of the Assembly respectively. This means that the opposition made a clean sweep of the Assembly’s four key posts, an indication that it will also control the Assembly office. Opposition MPs also controlled almost all the panels that are highly important in legislations, probes and investigations. This means that the opposition has control of the National Assembly bureau.

Following the election, Saadoun adjourned the Assembly until Feb 28 after the national and liberation days’ holidays. Ahead of the speaker’s election, opposition and pro-government MPs clashed over the way the vote should be conducted after Sultan decided to revert to the old ballot paper system.

The Amir said that Kuwait has recently witnessed “unprecedented events which are far away from freedom or democracy”, in a reference to tribal and sectarian tensions that gripped the country before and after the general elections. “These events constitute a flagrant breach of the law, are in contradiction of Kuwait’s values and traditions and threaten to lead to huge evils and burn our country,” the Amir said. He said he totally rejects undermining and insulting any section of the society and also rejects attempts by those who try to take the law into their own hands. “We are a state of institutions and our judiciary is well known to be fair and just”.

Sheikh Sabah said that Kuwait is facing a host of internal challenges and external dangers that is hindering its progress and stalling development. He said that warding off such dangers and challenges and preserving national unity should top the priorities of the National Assembly. The Amir called on MPs to pay greater attention to rectifying the structural defects in the national economy by diversifying sources of income and creating productive jobs for the youths. Sheikh Sabah also called for paying attention to the young generation and their problems, adding that he has instructed the Amiri Diwan to convene a national conference on youths in a bid to resolve problems facing them.

Chairing the session as the oldest MP, Sultan highlighted a number of issues that need to be resolved, focusing on Islamic issues. Referring to the success of the Arab Spring in removing “tyrant and oppressive regimes”, Sultan said that Kuwait had a spring of its own in which the Kuwaiti people renewed their loyalty to the Amir and the regime. He urged the nation to combat all forms of divisions in the society, being promoted by what he described as “corrupt media”. “The Kuwait we all know is one of many tribes. It does not divide between its nationals in rights and duties; it does not divide between urbanites and bedouin and it does not divide between Sunnis and Shiites,” he said.

Sultan pointed out the need to draw out clear policies that defend the unity of the nation and tackle those who attempt to disrupt it, and urged banning unIslamic bank interest or usury, which is forbidden under sharia law. Development in the country came to a halt due the absence of a good government administration, besides conflicts of interest and corruption, he added.

Some of the reasons for the deterioration seen in the country are attributed to low levels of education, poor standards in health, water and electricity services and major delays in housing.

Sultan called for creating as many as 340,000 jobs for youngsters over the next 14 years and called for starting to seriously think about a post-oil economy that depends on other sources of income besides oil. He said the Assembly had approved several vital laws like the development plan, housing laws, privatization law, privatization of power plants, the prevention of monopoly and the creation of joint ventures between the government and private sector to serve the best interests of the people. However, the government sadly was slow in implementing these projects which reveals the inefficiency of the country’s institutions. Therefore, there has to be a total reform of the system according to international standards, Sultan said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah stressed that the government will take a number of measures aimed at strengthening national unity and prevent divisive factors. He said the government is in the process of drafting a number of legislations aimed

at preserving national unity. The premier vowed that his government will work to maintain Kuwait as a state of institutions, ruled by a constitution which regulates the operation and cooperation of the three authorities under the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and guarantees of basic rights and public freedoms. He also stressed that it is vital to preserve Kuwait’s sovereignty and independence, and that Kuwait remains a haven of security, safety, and stability, where people live in safety of their lives and property.

National Assembly Committees • Foreign Relations Committee Mohammad Al-Saqer Mubarak Al-Waalan Ali Al-Deqbasi Ammar Al-Ajmi Hamad Al-Matar • Interior and Defense Committee Abdullah Al-Tareeji Salem Al-Namlan Adnan Al-Mutawa Nayef Al-Ajmi Mohammad Al-Khalifa • Petitions and Complaints Committee Hussein Al-Qallaf Falah Al-Sawwagh Abdullah Al-Barghash Khaled Al-Mutairi Munawer Al-Azemi • Financial and Economic Affairs Committee Adnan Al-Mutawa Abdulrahman Al-Anjari Riyad Al-Adasani Khaled Al-Sultan Ahmad Lari Ammar Al-Ajmi Marzouk Al-Ghanem • Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee Ali Al-Rashed Obaid Al-Wasmi Ahmad Al-Azemi Osama Al-Munawer Mohammad Al-Dallal Faisal Al-Yahya Waleed Al-Tabtabaei • Educational Committee Jamaan Al-Harbash Ali Al-Omair Khaled Al-Mutairi Mohammad Al-Hatlani Bader Al-Dahoom • Health and Social Affairs Committee Shaya Al-Shaya Riyad Al-Adasani Mubarak Al-Waalan Mohammad Al-Kandari Al-Saifi Al-Saifi • Public Utilities Committee Osama Al-Shaheen Falah Al-Sawwagh Salem Al-Namlan Ahmad Al-Azemi Mohammad Al-Khalifa Adel Al-Damkhi Faisal Al-Mislem • Budgets Committee Adnan Abdulsamad Abdullatif Al-Ameeri Marzouk Al-Ghanem Nabeel Al-Fadl Saleh Ashour Bader Al-Dahoom Hamad Al-Matar • Public Funds Protection Committee Abdulrahman Al-Anjari Musallam Al-Barrak Khaled Al-Tahous Al-Saifi Al-Saifi Mohammad Al-Juwaihel

Continued from Page 1 had been stepped up and a new yellowcake processing factory would be “pre-launched” sometime over the next 13 months. The developments underlined Tehran’s determination to forge ahead with nuclear activities despite tough sanctions from the West -and despite speculation that Israel or the United States could be months from launching military strikes against Iran. Iran portrayed the advances as evidence it was only interested in peaceful nuclear goals, under the slogan “nuclear energy for all, nuclear weapons for none”.

But the steps challenged four sets of UN sanctions and a raft of unilateral US and EU sanctions designed to halt a program much of the West fears masks a drive for atomic weapons. Israel -the Middle East’s sole but undeclared nuclear power which feels its existence is threatened by a nuclear Iran - is widely held to have been carrying out clandestine acts against its arch foe. Those acts have included the murder of four Iranian scientists by unidentified motorbike assailants in the past two years and the deployment of a highly sophisticated computer virus, Stuxnet, which damaged many of Iran’s centrifuges. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in those acts.

But it has accused Iran of targeting its diplomats in India, Georgia and Thailand this week after bomb attacks or plots uncovered in those countries. One Israeli diplomat in New Delhi was gravely hurt when a bomb attached to her car blew up. In Bangkok, two Iranians were in custody, including one who lost both his legs to a bomb he tried to throw at police, and another was arrested after flying to Malaysia.

“Iran’s terrorist activities have been exposed to everyone,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Aggression like this, if it is not stopped, will end up in spreading.” Iran has denied any role in those incidents.

A senior Thai intelligence official told AFP that the men arrested had planned to assassinate Israeli diplomats. “These three Iranian men are an assassination team and their targets were Israeli diplomats including the ambassador,” he said. “Their plan was to attach bombs to diplomats’ cars.” Thai police said explosives and magnets were found inside a house used by the suspects.

Despite Iran’s denials of involvement, observers said the use of motorbike assassins to blow up targets’ cars with magnetic bombs closely mirrored the method used to murder nuclear scientists in Iran in the past two years. “We believe Tehran is behind these recent attacks because the modus operandi used in New Delhi and Tbilisi is the same as that used in the recent assassinations of Iranian scientists,” said Boaz Ganor, an Israeli expert in counter terrorism at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Centre. “That is a way of Iran putting its signature on the attacks and in that way, sending a message aimed at deterring Israel,” he told AFP. With the covert war forced into the open, Israel was likely to use the attacks to increase international pressure over Iran’s nuclear program, the Jerusalem Post newspaper said.

“As long as the attacks are not successful, Israel is going to try and use the spate of attacks to its benefit, and specifically

garner international support against Iran’s nuclear program,” the paper said. Former Mossad official Mickey Segal told AFP the attacks would definitely strengthen Israel’s hand in the diplomatic offensive against Iran. “All these things help the strategic environment which is building against Iran as a terror-supporting state,” said Segal. “Obviously if you catch a person with an Iranian passport, it greatly helps the IsraeliWestern narrative against Iran.”

Observers see possible payback occurring. They believe Iran and Israel could now be caught up in a cycle of retribution that each has condemned as “terrorism” by the other side. Attempts to defuse the soaring tensions through dialogue appear to be making little headway. Iran has repeatedly said it is ready to resume talks with world powers that collapsed a year ago. Yesterday, it finally replied to a letter sent nearly four months ago by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton proposing a return to the talks.

“Iran welcomes the readiness of the P5+1 group to return to negotiations in order to take fundamental steps toward further cooperation,” chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili wrote in the letter, according to the official IRNA news agency. Ashton’s spokeswoman confirmed the letter had been received and that EU officials were “carefully studying” it and consulting with the powers concerned. The P5+1 consists of the five permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - and Germany.

Thus far, Russia and China have stood by Iran, criticising the Western sanctions on it as a barrier to the talks and refusing to comply with them. But there were indications that the support could be weakening, at least in Russia. “We are concerned that the distance that separates Iran from the hypothetical possession of technologies to create nuclear weapons is contracting,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. “The Iranian side is indeed making progress in its nuclear program,” he told the specialised journal Security Index.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, is to send a high-level team back to Tehran next week to discuss suspicions Iran is working towards atomic weapons. IAEA officials were last in Tehran at the end of January but their talks were inconclusive. As one diplomat at IAEA headquarters in Vienna said, the Iranians “quite cleverly stonewalled for three days”. Iran’s economy is showing meanwhile the strains of the West’s economic sanctions. The rial has slumped against the dollar in black market trade, boosting costs for goods already victims of high inflation officially put at 21 percent and unofficially around 30 percent.

Iran said yesterday it was considering cutting oil sales to six EU countries in retaliation for an EU ban on Iranian oil being phased in over the next four months, sending oil prices soaring. But it would not do so “at the moment”, the Arabic-language broadcaster Al-Alam reported, quoting foreign ministry officials. Unperturbed European officials said they were looking for other suppliers anyway, mainly Saudi Arabia, which has promised to make up any shortfall in the market from curbed exports from Iran. — Agencies

Honduras prison fire kills more than 350 Continued from Page 1 “We had to push up the roof panels to get out.”

Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world, according to the United Nations, and there are frequent riots and clashes between rival street gangs in its cramped prisons. But it was not yet clear if the prison fire was started during a riot or if it was an accident.

Worried and angry relatives surrounded the prison yesterday morning, at one point throwing rocks at police and trying to force their way inside the prison. Police responded by firing shots into the air and shooting tear gas at protesters, most of whom were women.

President Porfirio Lobo said he suspended the director of the Comayagua prison and the head of the national prison system to ensure a thorough investigation. He promised to “take urgent measures to deal with this tragedy, which has plunged all Hondurans into mourning”. There was confusion over the death toll, with some reports that more than 100 inmates had escaped and could have been mistakenly counted among the dead and others that the dead and missing totalled 402 people - almost half the prison’s inmates.

Lucy Marder, head of forensic services in Comayagua, said police reported that one of the dead was a woman who had stayed overnight at the prison and the rest were inmates, but she said some of the presumed dead could have escaped. Local media reported that the Comayagua fire department chief also died in the blaze.

Honduras’ notoriously violent street gangs, known as ‘maras’, gained power

inside Hispanic neighborhoods in the United States in the 1980s and then spread down into Central America.

Their members wear distinctive tattoos and are involved in drugs and weapons trafficking, armed robbery and protection rackets. The Comayagua prison housed more than 850 inmates - well above its capacity. A local police chief read out the names of 457 survivors outside the prison, but relatives were not appeased.

“This is desperate, they won’t tell us anything and I think my husband is dead,” a crying Gregoria Zelaya told Canal 5 TV as she stood by a chain link fence. “My brother Roberto Mejia was in unit six,” said an emotional Glenda Mejia. “They’ve told me that the inmates from that unit are all dead,” she told AFP. Nearby, Carlos Ramirez was waiting outside the facility for word about his brother Elwin, imprisoned on a murder conviction, who also was housed in unit six. “I haven’t been told anything,” Ramirez said, his voice breaking. Officials here expressed sympathy with the relatives’ frustration, but urged them to be patient. “We understand the pain of the families, but we have to follow a process under the law,” Security Minister Pompeyo Bonilla told local media. “We call for calm. It is a very difficult situation,” he said.

Local firemen said they were prevented from entering the prison due to gunshots. But Daniel Orellana, head of the prison system, said there was no riot. “We have two hypotheses, one is that a prisoner set fire to a mattress and the other one is that there was a short circuit in the electrical system,” he said.

Comayagua fire department spokesman Josue Garcia said he saw “horrific” scenes while trying to put out

the fire, saying inmates rioted in attempts to escape. He said “some 100 prisoners were burned to death or suffocated in their cells”. “We couldn’t get them out because we didn’t have the keys and couldn’t find the guards who had them,” Garcia said.

Rescuers carried shirtless, semi-conscious prisoners from the facility by their arms and legs. One hauled a victim away from the fire by piggyback. A prisoner identified as Silverio Aguilar told HRN Radio that someone started screaming, “Fire! fire!” and the prisoners called for help. “For a while, nobody listened. But after a few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, a guard appeared with keys and let us out,” he said. He said there had been 60 prisoners packed into his cell.

Across Honduras, prisons are filled to double their capacity with about 12,500 prisoners in jails meant to hold 6,000. More than 100 prisoners were killed in a fire in the textile manufacturing town of San Pedro Sula several years ago, and survivors said later that guards fired on prisoners trying to escape the blaze. Honduras had more than 80 homicides per 100,000 people in 2009, a rate 16 times that of the United States, according to a United Nations report last year. The country is a major drug trafficking transit point for South American cocaine moving north to consumers in the United States, and authorities say there is increasing presence of violent Mexican drug cartels in the country. A political crisis ripped through Honduras in mid2009 when a widely-condemned coup toppled the democratically elected president but the country has been trying to heal divisions since Lobo was elected later that year. — Agencies

14

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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Issues

Cows and condos scandal highlights faded reforms

By Stuart Grudgings scandal centred on cows and luxury condos raises the chances that Malaysian elections will be delayed and highlights Prime Minister Najib Razak’s stuttering efforts to reform the corruption-prone Southeast Asian nation. “Cowgate”, as it has inevitably been dubbed, is providing rich fodder for the opposition as it digs up dirt on a publicly funded cattle-rearing project that it says was used as a personal fund for the family of one of Najib’s ministers.

It is not the first corruption scandal to hit Najib and his long-ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), but the farmyard connection makes it a potentially damaging one because rural Malays - the bedrock of UMNO’s support - may relate to it more easily than to more obscure financial matters.

“The cow issue is God-given,” Zuraida Kamaruddin, the head of the women’s wing of the opposition People’s Justice Party, told Reuters following a speech at a recent rally, which she punctuated with the occasional “moo” for comic effect. “This time we have real evidence that proves their mismanagement.” The family of Women, Families and Communities Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is accused of using 250 million ringgit ($83 million) in soft government loans meant to develop the cattle project to buy luxury apartments, expensive overseas trips and a Mercedes.

Meanwhile, the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project was found by the auditor-general to have done little to reach its initial goal of making the country 40 percent selfsufficient in beef production by 2010. Najib last month froze the assets of the NFC, which is under investigation by Malaysia’s anti-corruption commission. With fresh allegations appearing almost daily on the country’s lively Internet news sites, the scandal adds to growing temptations for him to delay elections that must be called by April 2013.

The 58-year-old son of a former prime minister had been expected to call the polls around April, before a looming global slowdown risked hurting Malaysia’s tradedependent economy. But with the US economy showing signs of recovery and the euro zone not yet imploding, he may feel he can wait and hope for the scandal to blow over while recent government handouts to poorer families take effect. Gross domestic product figures out yesterday were expected to show Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy slowed in the last quarter of 2011 but still grew at a brisk annual pace of 5 percent.

The risk for Najib is that the scandal could balloon further or set off other allegations of graft, implicating other members of his government and giving a further boost to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar was acquitted on sodomy charges last month, leaving him free to campaign.

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is expected to hold on to its parliamentary majority after historic gains by the opposition in 2008. But the NFC scandal adds to the difficulty Najib faces in recapturing the coalition’s once impregnable two-thirds majority and winning a mandate to keep up with his tentative reforms.

That could set off an internal power struggle, with many expecting Najib’s more conservative, less reform-minded deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to launch a bid for the UMNO leadership. “There are people within UMNO who don’t want any change at all,” said a Kuala-Lumpur-based fund manager who asked not to be identified. “If Muhyiddin comes in ... he’s an old fashioned sort of politician and the market won’t react well.”

Malaysia, once mentioned in the same breath as South Korea and Singapore as an Asian “tiger” economy, has mostly disappointed since the region’s financial crisis of 1997 as it struggles to revamp an economy centred on commodities and low-end manufacturing. Corruption has worsened, with the country sliding to 60th in Transparency International’s global ranking of graft perceptions last year compared to 33rd in 2002. Najib has reached out to Malaysia’s middle class as a reformer, promising to replace repressive security laws and wean the country off a racebased economic system that has alleviated poverty but increasingly stunted growth, fuelled corruption and turned off foreign investors.

But he has watered down or backtracked on many of his key pledges, encountering opposition from within UMNO and its network of corporate interests that benefit from the system of ethnic Malay privileges. Najib announced a significant overhaul of the system in 2010 named the New Economic Model (NEM), most of which has not been implemented. “The NEM is not only dead but has also been effectively buried under a new avalanche of preferential policies and contracts that run against the open, transparent and accountable system promised,” said Lim Teck Ghee, the director of Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Initiatives. — Reuters

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Sanctions sap Dubai role as Iran trade hub

By Humeyra Pamuk eza, an Iranian businessman in his midthirties, moved to Dubai 10 years ago to make his fortune. For a while, he succeeded - annual sales at his machinery trading firm reached $70 million. Over the past 18 months, most of what he built has crumbled. Tightening international sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme have culminated in making it impossible for Reza to send payments through banks. That has forced him to fire 22 of 26 staff and to sever business ties with machinery making giants such as Japan’s Komatsu, he says.

“If I can’t move any money, how can I do business?” said Reza, who declined to give his full name because of concern that publicity could cause political problems for him inside Iran. “As of a month ago, the business is officially dead. We’re now in a situation where even if we hand the banks actual cash in return for a credit or as actual payment, they won’t take it if the goods are going to Iran.”

The United Nations and Western countries have imposed an escalating series of economic sanctions against Iran over the past five years.

Business with Iranian companies linked to the nuclear programme was banned and their assets were frozen; trade and investment involving Iran’s energy industry were restricted. But Iran’s trade boomed with the freewheeling commercial hub of Dubai, 150 km across the Gulf in the United Arab Emirates - in fact, the sanctions may have had the effect of pushing more business through Dubai.

Re-export trade between Iran and the UAE goods sent to the UAE for on-shipment to Iran, and Iranian goods sent to the UAE for on-shipment to other countries - totalled 31.9 billion dirhams ($8.7 billion) in the first nine months of

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2011, latest data from the UAE customs authority show. It did not give an annual growth rate, but in the first half of 2011, Iranian re-exports rose 36 percent from a year ago to 19.5 billion dirhams. That was a significant share of Iran’s non-oil foreign trade; its merchandise imports were $70 billion in the fiscal year to last March 20 while non-energy exports were $26.3 billion, according to International Monetary Fund estimates.

In the last three months, however, the sanctions have started to bite in Dubai, because of new US rules that are freezing Iran out of much of the global system for financing trade. Most non-oil trade with Iran remains perfectly legal under the sanctions - but if traders cannot obtain letters of credit or other finance, they cannot ship the goods. Mehdi, an Iranian national who works in a money-exchange business in Dubai’s bustling Deira district, which is filled with small merchant shops and trading firms, said money flows to and from Iran had slowed dramatically since late last year. “Things have changed now. People are afraid,” he said.

The sanctions are reversing over a century of deepening ties between Iran and Dubai. In the late 19th century, Persian merchants crossed the Gulf to Dubai, then little more than a fishing village, and helped lay the foundations for its vibrant trading community. The chaos of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979 triggered a fresh wave of Iranian immigrants to Dubai. Around 8,000 Iranian traders and trading firms are registered in the emirate, according to the local Iranian Business Council. Ethnic Iranians are estimated to account for roughly 10 percent of its population of 2 million.

More than anything else, two US steps have damaged the relationship. On Nov 21, the United States named Iran as an area of “primary money laundering concern”, making it legally

more dangerous for banks around the world that have any US business to deal with Iranian banks. And on Dec 31, U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law a bill imposing sanctions on financial institutions that deal with Iran’s central bank, which is the main conduit for its oil revenues. Sanctioned institutions would be frozen out of US financial markets. For many banks in Dubai and around the world, the two measures made financing even the most innocent trade with Iran prohibitively risky. The UAE’s central bank responded by telling local banks to stop issuing letters of credit for Iranian business, commercial bankers said. Changing political winds within the UAE may have contributed to the ban. Karim Sadjadpour, Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a global think tank, said that until recently, Dubai differed with Abu Dhabi, the other major power in the UAE, over how to deal with Tehran.

“Dubai preferred a more accommodating, business-first approach; Abu Dhabi had grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, its “imperialist” ambitions in the (Arabian) Gulf, and the growing population of Iranians residing in the UAE.” The tightening of international sanctions, and Abu Dhabi’s increased influence in the UAE since it bailed Dubai out of a corporate debt crisis in 2009, mean the UAE now “speaks with one voice, that of Abu Dhabi, in its dealings and disputes with Tehran”, Sadjadpour said.

In Dubai’s gold souk, a regional centre for trade in jewellery, dealers say difficulties in transferring money are drying up their Iran business. “We used to send 100 kilos of gold...to Tehran. Two months ago it stopped. I can’t send anything now. Wholesalers in Iran are now buying from Turkey instead,” said an Iranian dealer.

Trade is also suffering at the Dubai Creek, a shallow waterway snaking through the northern

part of the city, where wooden dhows wait to be loaded with boxes of clothing and household electronics before heading across the Gulf to Iran’s Bandar Abbas and Kish Island ports.

This is simple, straight-forward trade, in which merchants send goods and receive cash in return. But even that business is weakening, said a trader visiting a dhow to check on his shipment. “The number of trips has decreased and collecting money from Iran has become harder.”

There is considerable speculation among Dubai’s merchants over how Iran will seek to circumvent the obstacles to its trade. Some think it will use the hawala system of informal money brokers who operate outside conventional banking channels; they are well established in the Middle East and South Asia. Iranian importers may resort to barter trade. There is talk that Turkey could emerge as a new reexport hub for Iran, since at least one bank there, Halkbank, has continued to handle customers’ payments for Iranian oil. Iraq, which has a common border and political ties with Tehran, could play a bigger role.

Either way, Dubai’s Iran business looks set to suffer. That will not be crippling for the UAE economy as a whole, which saw its exports including energy rise above $220 billion in 2010, but it is a heavy blow for the Iranian diaspora in Dubai. Mehdi predicts several money exchanges in Deira will shut down if the situation continues. “We can only make transfers (to Iran) up to $10,000 dollars and even then, we have to answer so many questions. For businesses, $10,000 is nothing.” His shrinking business has prompted him to question his life in Dubai. “I came here seven years ago. There was no future for me in Iran,” he said. “It is a luxurious life here in Dubai, nowhere like Iran. But now we are afraid.” — Reuters

Gas, workaholic govt back Qatar ambitions

By Sitaraman Shankar and Regan Doherty ive years ago, half a dozen cars at a traffic light in Qatar’s capital Doha would lead to mutterings about how crowded the city was becoming. Now bumper-to-bumper traffic often clogs a seafront dominated by gleaming skyscrapers. At night, tastefully lit buildings exude opulence, and wooden dhows plying the water are the only obvious sign of the past.

But this change is nothing compared with the transformation that the country’s rulers plan over the next decade. Throw in its aspirations to be a regional peacebroker, and it’s no exaggeration to call Qatar the world’s most ambitious country.

The gas-rich Gulf state has a population of just 1.7 million people, of which only about 250,000 are Qatari citizens; most of the rest are foreign workers. So as it spends $150 billion on a metro, airport, seaport, roads and an urban makeover in preparation to host the 2022 soccer World Cup, the inevitable question is being asked: has a country a quarter the size of Switzerland bitten off more than it can chew? The betting is still that cash - plenty of it - will help Qatar buy its way to success, but there are risks in the longer term. One is the lack of depth in the energy-dependent economy.

“We’re relatively comfortable with Qatar currently. The top risk is a collapse in energy prices - given the size of the tickets they’re writing for themselves, things could get bad pretty quickly if they don’t generate enough revenue,” said Abdulkadir Hussain, chief executive at Mashreq Capital in Dubai. “The economy is not diversified, and the diversification process is being funded by energy prices, so there would be a derailment if prices came off.” Hussain doesn’t expect natural gas prices to collapse, at least in the next three years, but any slowdown among key emerging market consumers could hurt.

Prices have fallen in the last few years because of new gas sources and a slowing global economy, and they recovered only slightly after last year’s earthquake in Japan boosted demand.

Qatar bulls point to estimates of as much as $17 trillion in monetisable natural gas riches still in the ground. Exports of this bounty have lifted Qatar citizens to a per capita income of well over $90,000, the world’s second-highest. The country’s desire to think big and impress is evident. An $11 billion new airport will eventually be able to handle 50 million passengers annually. It will start operations later this year, boasting onyx countertops, sunken gardens, a mosque complex, squash courts and a swimming pool. Qatar Airways’ rapid expansion and the desire to make Doha a transport hub - mirror plans by Gulf rivals Dubai and Abu Dhabi and their airlines. The coun-

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try’s sovereign wealth fund is the most aggressive in the region, having spent north of $20 billion on buying into companies ranging from iconic German carmakers Porsche and Volkswagen to luxury British department store Harrods and two football clubs.

But the scale of the task in hand and the reliance on nature’s gifts may conflict with the relatively small number of talented managers to see development plans through. “They have probably the best leadership in the Arab world. The prime minister is the hardest working in the region. Their biggest problem is finding people to manage their vision,” said a Dohabased senior banker, who declined to be named because of the sensitive nature of the discussion.

The workaholic prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani, a member of the country’s ruling family who was instrumental in helping its emir take power in 1995, doubles up as foreign minister and also pulls the trigger on big purchases by the sovereign fund. The banker cited Sheikh Hamad’s busy schedule as a reason the fund didn’t do still more deals. Not surprisingly, the perception in financial circles is that the government takes on responsibility for too much, stunting the private sector’s development.

Much is made of the role that small and medium-sized Qatari companies will play as contractors and subcontractors in preparing for the World Cup, but such firms are thin on the ground. Qatari bankers are concerned about which projects to fund, and the relatively small size of the banking system means contractors may have to look to Saudi banks for financing.

Some in the industry say the risks of delay in executing Qatar’s World Cup development plans are substantial, mirroring slow changes in economic and financial regulation. “They move very slowly here. Ten years may appear a long time, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they require every bit of it,” said a construction industry source.

Four years after Qatar announced a plan for a market watchdog combining the powers of the financial centre regulator, the stock market regulator and the central bank, there has been little progress. The stock exchange has just introduced Treasury bill trading and talks of introducing market makers, traders who would spur activity by quoting both buy and sell prices. But there has been little progress in getting companies to raise limits on foreign ownership of their shares, causing equities index compiler MSCI to delay a decision to lift Qatar to emerging market status. However, international belief in Qatar’s prospects - at least relative to a worsening global economic climate - still appears strong, as evidenced by the success of its $5 billion sovereign bond issue late last year.

Qatar’s leaders haven’t shied away from taking controversial positions on world affairs, and their ability to engage almost everyone from the United States to Hezbollah has helped the country position itself as a diplomatic power centre. It was a major supporter of Libya’s rebels last year, providing arms and troops and ensuring the lasting gratitude of Libyans. The United States and Afghanistan are holding talks for Taliban insurgents to open a political office in Qatar. But the lack of democracy at home may present a key challenge over the longer term.

The difficulty in getting individuals on the ground to speak on the record about the risks in Qatar’s ambitions reflects the sensitivities of doing business in a small, authoritarian state, whose natural riches helped it avoid the political unrest seen elsewhere in the region during last year’s Arab Spring. “Despite the large number of buffers that protects Qatar from contagion, the lack of political freedom combined with the country’s young population presents a potential challenge for stability in the long term,” said Anthony Skinner, director at Maplecroft, a British-based risk advisory firm.

Though led by a modernising ruling family, most Qataris are conservative Muslims who practice Wahhabism, an austere form of Islam. Social change that accompanies breakneck expansion is unlikely to sit well with all. “Qatar is led by a relatively progressive elite that nonetheless has to be mindful of religious or culturally conservative forces within the country.

It’s a question of two steps forward, one step back,” said a Doha-based consultant who declined to be named. “It’s not easy to be an absolute monarch in this part of the world.

Taking everyone with you is going to be hard.”

Some signs of this internal conflict are visible. Qatar recently suspended sales of alcohol at The Pearl-Qatar, an artificial island that hosts international restaurants popular with expatriates. “Alcohol was allowed on The Pearl, and now it’s not, with no explanation given. That leads to confusion, speculation and gossip,” the consultant said. “But the country’s leadership has a marked ambition to lead, and changes within Qatar will occur because of that. Its ability to digest what it’s doing that’s the challenge.” Qatar has a long way to go to create a financial centre rivalling even Dubai, an hour’s flight away and still the preferred destination for Western bankers in the region despite its debt crisis two years ago. Dubai, and not Qatar, was the major recipient of capital flight out of Bahrain during that country’s popular revolt last year. And so, much as the government talks of diversifying the economy away from the energy sector, it’s clear that it’s going to have to be gas that does most of the heavy lifting.— Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

sp orts Mengual eyes coaching job BARCELONA: Spanish synchronised swimmer Gemma Mengual has said she is considering going into coaching after announcing her retirement yesterday following a career that made her one of the Iberian nation’s most successful athletes. The 34-year-old, who is known as “la sirena”, or the “the mermaid”, won almost 40 medals in European, world and Olympic competition and originally intended to make her comeback at the London Olympic Games after taking time out to have a child. She told an emotional news conference in Barcelona yesterday she had reversed her decision because she no longer felt fulfilled in a sport which she said had given her more than she could ever have hoped. “In the long term, definitely yes,” Mengual said when asked about a coaching career.

“I am retiring now from a sport that has made me happy and through which I have made others happy and I am retiring without suffering any injury,” she added.

“There are still some things I have not achieved. I have never won an Olympic gold, but that’s life.”

Mengual won two silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in the duet and team events, and the London Games would have been her fourth. — Reuters

NHL results/standings NY Rangers 3, Boston 0; New Jersey 4, Buffalo 1; Columbus 2, St. Louis 1; Ottawa 4, Tampa Bay 0; Detroit 3, Dallas 1; Anaheim 2, Minnesota 1; Nashville 3, Chicago 2; NY Islanders 3, Winnipeg 1; Calgary 5, Toronto 1.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS NY Rangers 37 13 5 156 110 79 Pittsburgh 32 19 5 175 148 69 Philadelphia 31 18 7 182 169 69 New Jersey 32 20 4 158 156 68 NY Islanders 24 24 8 134 160 56 Northeast Division Boston 34 18 2 184 123 70 Ottawa 29 22 8 173 181 66 Toronto 28 23 6 172 171 62 Montreal 23 25 9 152 154 55 Buffalo 24 26 6 137 162 54 Southeast Division Florida 27 17 11 141 152 65 Washington 28 23 5 156 160 61 Winnipeg 26 26 6 140 164 58 Tampa Bay 24 26 6 155 189 54 Carolina 21 25 11 147 175 53 Western Conference Central Division Detroit 39 17 2 185 136 80 St. Louis 34 15 7 140 113 75 Nashville 33 18 6 161 150 72 Chicago 29 21 7 176 174 65 Columbus 17 34 6 133 186 40 Northwest Division Vancouver 35 15 6 180 139 76 Calgary 27 22 8 139 152 62 Colorado 28 25 4 146 159 60 Minnesota 25 23 8 126 146 58 Edmonton 22 28 5 147 165 49 Pacific Division San Jose 31 17 6 158 130 68 Los Angeles 27 19 11 124 124 65 Phoenix 27 21 9 149 146 63 Dallas 28 25 3 146 160 59 Anaheim 23 24 9 146 164 55 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

Racing-Metro shuffle team PARIS: Crisis-hit Top 14 club Racing-Metro have further shuffled their backroom staff, bringing in Didier Retiere as forwards coach in place of Philippe Berbizier, brother of director of rugby Pierre. Club president Jacky Lorenzetti said that former France forwards coach (2008-11) Retiere and backs coach Gonzalo Quesada, who has been with the Parisian club since November, would be the team’s hands-on coaching staff. “I confirm more than ever Pierre’s presence as Racing’s director of rugby,” Lorenzetti said of Berbizier. “He will be backed by two on-the-pitch coaches: Gonzalo Quesada, in charge of team training and the backs; and Didier Retiere who comes in as a consultant in charge of the forwards.” Former club lock forward and ex-Fiji captain Simon Raiwalui was named manager to deal with all off-field matters.

Racing-Metro are going through a troubled time which peaked earlier this month with the sacking of No 8 Sebastien Chabal, one of the most marketable sportsmen in France, after he fell out with Pierre Berbizier and Lorenzetti. — AFP

Rangers beat Bruins 3-0 BOSTON: The New York Rangers opened their NHL Eastern Conference lead over nearest rival Boston to nine points with a 3-0 road win at the Bruins on Tuesday. Henrik Lundqvist made 42 saves for his NHLleading seventh shutout of the season as New York won its fourth straight game. Ryan Callahan scored for the sixth time in four games, and Ryan McDonagh and Artem Anisimov also had goals for the Rangers, who won despite being outshot 42-20. Lundqvist recorded his 42nd careeer shutout and is 18-5-2 against the Bruins in his career.

assist in Ottawa’s win over Tampa Bay. After Erik Karlsson opened the scoring, Spezza made it 2-0 in the second, 3-0 in the third, and completed his hat trick with a later empty netter. Senators goalie Craig Anderson made 28 saves, and is 3-0 against the Lightning this season.

Winnipeg. Parenteau redirected a shot by Milan Jurcina for his 12th goal and 50th point of the season at 1:36 of the third period. Matt Moulson also scored for the Islanders with his team-leading 25th goal of the season. Matt Martin sealed the victory with an empty-netter with 53 seconds left that was assisted by

RED WINGS 3, STARS 1 In Detroit, the hosts won an NHL-record 21st straight home game, beating Dallas. Henrik Zetterberg and Brad Stuart scored midway through the first period for the Red Wings, who broke the mark of 20 set by the Boston Bruins during the 1929-30 season, and matched by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1976.

Adam Burish scored a consolation goal in the final minute for the Stars.

PREDATORS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2 In Nashville, Ryan Ellis scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and added an assist as Nashville handed Chicago its ninth straight loss. Ryan Suter and Nick Spaling also scored for the Predators. Bryan Bickell and Marian Hossa scored for the slumping Blackhawks.

DEVILS 4, SABRES 1 In Buffalo, Ilya Kovalchuk had three goals and an assist to power New Jersey past Buffalo. Martin Brodeur stopped 29 shots, while Petr Sykora also netted for the Devils, who extended their road winning streak to a season-best five games. New Jersey, sixth in the Eastern Conference, is one point behind division rivals Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Jason Pominville scored for the Sabres.

FLAMES 5, MAPLE LEAFS 1 In Calgary, Miikka Kiprusoff made 41 saves as Calgary routed Toronto. Alex Tanguay had a goal and two assists, Paul Byron scored on a penalty shot in the second period, and Olli Jokinen, Jarome Iginla and Blake Comeau added goals for the Flames. Calgary is unbeaten in regulation in six games, moving within one point of eighth-placed Phoenix in the Western Conference playoff race. Tyler Bozak scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost four straight and are clinging to eighth place in the Eastern Conference - one point ahead of Washington.

SENATORS 4, LIGHTNING 0 In Tampa, Jason Spezza had three goals and an

Ponting return prompts vice-captaincy confusion SYDNEY: Steve Waugh has questioned recalling Ricky Ponting as captain of the Australian one-day team in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke, reflecting widespread confusion in the country about the role of the vice-captain. Ponting, who stood down as test and one-day captain after the World Cup last year, will lead Australia in their one-day triangular series match against Sri Lanka on Friday after his successor Clarke suffered a mild hamstring strain.

Opening batsman David Warner was vice-captain of the side but chief selector John Inverarity said they were keen not to put much pressure on the 25-yearold, while there was no mention at all of test vice-captain Brad Haddin. “Ricky will do it blindfolded but the future is probably Dave Warner, so I’m surprised they didn’t go to Warner and go to the future,” said Waugh, who captained Australia in one-dayers and tests from 1999 to 2004. “It’s only a temporary thing but you put Dave Warner in there as vice-captain so I assume they think he is leadership material. “If he’s vice-captain, why can’t he captain the side as well? Maybe they think Dave’s not quite ready but why is he vice-captain?” “It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Waugh played a part in Australian cricket’s Argus review, which was undertaken in the wake of the humiliating Ashes defeat around the turn of last year.

One of the review’s recommendations was that the captain should seek and use the counsel of his vicecaptain, which, it said, was an important role and should be more clearly defined. Wicketkeeper Haddin was vice-captain under Clarke during the 4-0 series sweep of India around the turn of the year.

The 34-year-old was described as “rested” for the first three matches of the triangular series, which also includes India, but with typical candour preferred to describe himself as having been dropped. “If he’s rested, why doesn’t he come back in and be the captain?”

Waugh asked reporters. “He’s vice-captain of the test side so there was an opportunity for Brad to be captain of the one-day team. “Obviously he is having an enforced rest. I’m not sure what it is. It’s a bit confusing and it’d be good for someone to clear it up.” Another test vice-captain, allrounder Shane Watson, is still on the comeback trail after injuries sustained last year in South Africa. — Reuters

Egyptian supporters ‘march for martyrs’ CAIRO: Hundreds of hard core fans of Cairo’s Al-Ahly football club, Ahly Ultras, marched through central Cairo yesterday to demand justice for the dozens killed in stadium violence earlier this month. Donning their club T-shirts and waving black flags, the Ultras were joined by supporters in the march from their club headquarters to the office of the prosecutor general, AFP reporters said. They chanted against the interior ministry, which they say failed to prevent the violence in the northern city of Port Said which left more than 70 people dead, most of them Al-Ahly fans.

Many carried pictures of those who died in the football riot, pitting fans of Port Said club Al-Masry against Al-Ahly supporters.

The football violence sparked five days of clashes in Cairo and Suez that left 16 people dead. The Ultras-the name given to organizations of hard core fans of several football clubs-played a prominent role in the uprising that overthrew president Hosni Mubarak a year ago. Commentators have fed speculation that pro-Mubarak forces were behind the massacre, or at least complicit. — AFP

CALGARY: Roman Horak #51 of the Calgary Flames, Darryl Boyce #47 and Mike Brown #18 of the Toronto Maple Leafs watch the puck bounce past Brown’s arm in third period NHL action on February 14, 2012. — AFP BLUE JACKETS 2, BLUES 1 In Columbus, Derek Dorsett’s third-period goal lifted Columbus over St Louis. A potential tying goal by St. Louis with 1.8 seconds left was disallowed after a lengthy review, which showed the Blues’ David Perron falling on top of the prone Blue Jackets goalie and then shoving the puck into the net. James Wisniewski scored for Columbus, while David Backes netted for St. Louis, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

ISLANDERS 3, JETS 1 In Winnipeg, P A Parenteau scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period as New York beat

Parenteau. Evgeni Nabokov made 37 saves for New York. Chris Thorburn scored for Winnipeg.

DUCKS 2, WILD 1 In St Paul, Minnesota, Corey Perry scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period as Anaheim handed Minnesota fifth straight loss.

The Wild led 1-0 after two periods thanks to Dany Heatley’s team-leading 19th goal of the season, but Niklas Hagman tied it in the third, and Perry swooped in to give Anaheim the lead for good.

The Wild has scored just seven goals in six games.

Jonas Hiller stopped 17 shots for the Ducks, who won for the first time this season when trailing after two periods. — AP

Cook hits second successive century in England victory

Yuvraj Singh

Cancer-stricken Yuvraj gets Armstrong boost NEW DELHI: India’s cancer-stricken World Cup star Yuvraj Singh said yesterday he was inspired after getting a message from US cycling legend Lance Armstrong wishing him a speedy recovery. “Message from @lancearmstrong makes me feel better! Thank you lance means a lot hope we can meet,” tweeted Yuvraj, who is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States for a malignant tumor located between his lungs. The ace all-rounder, named man of the tournament after India’s World Cup win in April last year, already said he had been drawing inspiration from Armstrong, who overcame testicular cancer to win the Tour de France seven times. A photo of the message, posted on Yuvraj’s twitter account, read: “Yuvi, I want you to know that the entire LIVESTRONG team is here for you. “ We say it all the time, and truly believe in it: Knowledge is power, Unity is strength, and Attitude is everything. Please know that we are here to help you and your family in any way possible. Go Yuvi!!

Livestrong.” Yuvraj had earlier tweeted that he was reading Armstrong’s book “It’s Not About The Bike”, saying: “I’m sure the book will motivate me and pull me through this difficult time.” He had a dream run in the World Cup, scoring 362 runs and grabbing 15 wickets in nine matches. He has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two of three home Tests against the West Indies in November. Yuvraj has so far scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 runs in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000. — AFP

ABU DHABI: Alastair Cook became the first England captain to score consecutive one-day centuries yesterday to set his side up for a 20-run victory over Pakistan in the second one-day international in Abu Dhabi.

Cook won the toss for the second time in the fourmatch series, then cashed in with 102, his fourth oneday century, from 118 deliveries in an England total of 250 for four.

Fast bowler Steven Finn then turned in another match-winning performance with four for 34 from 10 overs as Pakistan were dismissed for 230 from 49 overs.

Cook survived a chance on 30 to wicketkeeper Umar Akmal off Shahid Afridi during a technically assured innings against the spinners who had bowled their

country to a 3-0 victory in the test series.

His opening partner Kevin Pietersen reached 26 in a partnership of 67 before he fell in familiar fashion, lbw to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for 26.

Ravi Bopara compiled a second consecutive half-century with 58 and Eoin Morgan struck a brisk, unbeaten 25. Mohammad Hafeez (26) and Imram Farhat (47) gave Pakistan a steady start with 61 but wickets then fell regularly as the England bowlers maintained a tight line and length. Afridi struck 18 from as many deliveries and captain Misbah-ul-Haq kept his side in the hunt with 47 from 59 balls before he was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, who clung on to a skied mis-hit at full stretch off Stuart Broad. —Reuters

SCOREBOARD ABU DHABI: Complete scoreboard in the second day-night international between Pakistan and England at Abu Dhabi Stadium yesterday: England A. Cook c and b Afridi 102 K. Pietersen lbw b Ajmal 26 J. Trott c Umar b Cheema 23 R. Bopara c Umar b Cheema 58 E. Morgan not out 25 Extras: (b1, lb5, w10) 16 Total: (for four wickets) 250 Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Pietersen), 2-116 (Trott), 3-194 (Cook), 4-250 (Bopara) Bowling: Gul 7-1-43-0, Cheema 9-0-49-2 (w7), Hafeez 4-0-24-0 (w1), Rehman 10-0-36-0, Afridi 10-1-38-1, Ajmal 10-0-54-1 (w2) Overs: 50 Pakistan Mohammad Hafeez c Trott b Anderson Imran Farhat run out Azhar Ali b Patel Younis Khan lbw b Patel

26 47 31 5

Misbah-ul Haq c Kieswetter b Broad 47 Umar Akmal c Patel b Finn 21 Shahid Afridi b Anderson 18 Abdur Rehman b Finn 1 Umar Gul lbw b Finn 5 Saeed Ajmal not out 7 Aizaz Cheema b Finn 1 Extras: (b1, lb11, nb1, w8) 21 Total: 230 Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Hafeez), 2-92 (Farhat), 3-104 (Younis), 4-142 (Ali), 5-179 (Umar), 6-207 (Afridi), 7-217 (Rehman), 8-217 (Misbah), 9-222 (Gul), 10-230 (Cheema) Bowling: Finn 10-1-34-4 (nb1, w2), Anderson 9-1-36-2 (w2), Broad 10-0-54-1 (w4), Swann 8-0-33-0, Bopara 2-0-10-0, Patel 10-051-2 Overs: 49 Result: England win by 20 runs

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

sp orts

Heat scores rare road hat-trick Jeremy Lin

‘Linsanity’ touches down in star-struck Canada TORONTO:‘Linsanity’ slammed into hockey-mad Canada with the force of a winter storm on Tuesday as Jeremy Lin, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) newest sensation, set hearts aflutter with a Valentine’s Day visit to the league’s most northern outpost. A game between two losing teams would not normally qualify as a must-see event but Lin, the anonymous benchwarmer turned NBA superstar in a week, made the New York Knicks’ visit to the Toronto Raptors the hottest ticket in town.

Part of Lin’s immense appeal is his made-forHollywood back story of sleeping on a team mate’s couch one day and living the American dream the next. The ‘Linderella’ story continued at the Air Canada Centre as the Taiwanese American stepped up and coolly dropped a three-pointer from the top of the arc with a halfsecond to play to stun the Raptors 90-87.

That spell-binding piece of magic gave the Knicks their sixth straight victory, with Lin the driving force after starting in the last five games.

On a day dedicated to love, Lin’s last-minute heroics to cap an occasionally ragged performance gave Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni hope the 23-year-old might be set for a long-term relationship with the NBA, rather than the occasional one-night stand. “He’s a tough kid, you don’t know that until you go into games with him,” D’Antoni told reporters. He’s really tough, mentally he’s there. “I have complete faith in him. He was pretty confident that was going in. “He’s a marked man now. He isn’t going to sneak up on anybody.”

Lin committed eight turnovers but with the game on the line he was again the Knicks go-to guy, scoring New York’s last six points, including his long-range winner to finish with a game-high 27-points with 11 assists. The first TaiwaneseAmerican to play in the NBA, Lin’s rise from obscurity to toast of the Big Apple is an extraordinary tale that is hard to resist. The point guard from Harvard, a college better known as a springboard to the US presidency than the NBA, went undrafted and was cut by Golden State and Houston before finding a place at the end of the Knicks bench in December.

MARKETING DREAM Given his chance, Lin seized the NBA spotlight with both hands, and has inspired the Knicks with a string of stunning performances.

“You have to have luck in life ... he had an opportunity and took advantage of it,” said D’Antoni.

“There are a lot of NBA players who don’t make it.

Sometimes you get lucky. “It’s a great story, so enjoy it, hopefully it will last.” As the first ripples of “Linsanity” hit Asia, marketing men have rubbed their hands with glee as they contemplate a candidate to fill the very large shoes left by last year’s retirement of Yao Ming. But nowhere has the fascination been greater than New York, where Lin’s No. 17 jersey is the NBA’s top seller and shares of Madison Square Garden Co, owner of the Knicks, have shot to record highs.

Some experts say Lin has the potential to be a bigger marketing force than any current athlete, provided ‘Linsanity’ does not prove to be a passing fad. “He is Tiger Woods before the scandal, I think he has everything going for him,” Ronn Torossian, chief executive of 5W Public Relations, told Reuters. “If he can continue to deliver on the court his possibilities off the court are limitless. “I don’t think he needs to put up MVP numbers but I do think when you look at marketing greatness over the last few years, whether it is David Beckham, Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, let’s not forget they were all winners. “Before anything else he has to be a winner. If he is, I can’t tell you if we have ever seen anything like this.”

‘IT’S A MIRACLE’ Certainly Raptors fans are not accustomed to seeing anything like it in Toronto, where such lavish attention is reserved for the NBA’s elite. The Raptors have fielded more media interest than for any other regular season game and Tuesday’s contest marked just the second sellout of the season. Coaches, team mates, fans and even Lin himself are at a loss to explain the sequence of events that took him from anonymity to one of the headline acts of the NBA. Opposing defenses will be more interested in getting acquainted with Lin and searching for a cure for ‘Linsanity.’ “I’ve been able to get away with some stuff but defenses are going to start locking in so I’m going to have to improve,” said Lin, who averaged 26.8 points, 8 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his first five games.

“If you look back at my story ... there are a lot of things that had to happen that I just couldn’t control. “I think it’s a miracle because obviously I don’t think anybody expected this to happen the way it happened.”— Reuters

Retired NFL players still seeking better benefits MINNEAPOLIS: The group of NFL retirees that was a part of the labor talks during the lockout last year has not given up their push for better post-career care. The money they helped gain for their fellow former players was less than what they believe they were promised, and they’re eager to argue their case in court. “I’m going to fight ‘em to the end,” said Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure, one of 47 ex-players who signed on as plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in federal court against the NFL Players Association. They’ve alleged the current players illegally overreached by determining the retiree share of the $10-billion-a-year business without them.

US District Judge Susan Richard Nelson will hear oral arguments in St Paul, Minn, from both sides. The union has motioned to have the case dismissed. Spokesman Carl Francis said the NFLPA won’t comment on the lawsuit.

The union’s response to the complaint was filed under seal. Michael Hausfeld, the lead attorney for the retired player group led by former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Carl Eller, insisted his clients aren’t trying to make a money grab. Eller said they’ve estimated between $300 and $500 million in additional benefits they were promised in the early stages of CBA talks and didn’t get.

Their contention is they were pushed out of negotiations to streamline the mediation process despite a court order for their inclusion. Those talks last summer led to a new collective bargaining agreement for the owners and players and saved the 2011 season. “The retirees don’t begrudge the present players any income they merit, but at the same time they don’t feel it was appropriate for the current players to essentially shortchange the retirees,” Hausfeld said.

The NFL’s new “Legacy Fund” is an additional $620 million carved into the new CBA to go toward pension increases. Current payments to retirees or beneficiaries were bumped up to at least $600 per month. Players over 55 already receiving pensions were given a benefit credit, an extra $124 per season for those accrued prior to 1975 and an additional $108 per season for those played between 1975 and 1992.

Overall, including the “Legacy Fund,” an extra $1 billion was set aside in the new CBA to improve benefits, league spokesman Greg Aiello said. Hausfeld’s firm also filed a concussion-related lawsuit on behalf of more than 100 former players last month against the NFL in Philadelphia federal court, alleging negligence and minimization by the league toward head-injury risk in the game. Commissioner

Roger Goodell said during Super Bowl week the NFL “will not quit” helping “retired players, the current players and future players by making the game safer.”

There is a palpable bitterness that has existed toward modern players from the retirees that has existed for decades. Lawyers for the retired players referred in the complaint to a 2010 quote from New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees that described some of the retirees as coming to the current players and asking them to “please make up for my bad judgment.” Brees cited divorces, bad business decisions and an unwillingness to work after football as reasons for financial struggles of some of the former players.

Eller acknowledged that perception his group has tried to overcome among the current players. “A lot of us did make bad decisions. We had our chance. We had our day at the park. I know that I certainly made bad decisions, but the point is that players today are still making bad decisions. And they’re making millions of dollars. So what I’m saying is let’s work together to minimize those decisions,” Eller said. DeLamielleure was less diplomatic. “I wish we could do football stuff instead of all this legal-beagle stuff. If we did this stuff when we were playing football, we’d kick their butt and take ‘em to the woodshed,” he said.

DeLamielleure, who blocked for O.J. Simpson with the Buffalo Bills during the 1970s as a six-time Pro Bowl pick over 13 NFL seasons, said the pension increases still aren’t enough. He and his wife of 40 years both work.

They had four children, adopted two more and raised three others. “We built this league for all these guys to have a good profession,” he said.

One problem retired players have had is a lack of unification of their agendas. There are several groups that exist to organize and serve former NFL players, including Eller’s Retired Players Association.

The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, for which DeLamielleure is an advisory committee member, is another group. It’s a nonprofit designed to provide financial assistance and coordinate social services for those ex-players in the direst of needs - down to shelter, food and health care. Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk is one of the current players who’ve gotten involved. Birk said he’s “not big into the legal battles” but he said he understands why Eller and his supporters are so fired up about the issues. “When you feel like the game’s kind of turned its back on you, it’s tough,” Birk said. “I think that’s why you see a lot of the dirty laundry being aired. It’s an emotionally charged issue.”— AP

INDIANAPOLIS: The Miami Heat became the first NBA team in 33 years to win three straight road games in as many days as they beat the Indiana Pacers 105-90 on Tuesday. Miami is also the first club in 42 years to win each of the three by double digits. Phoenix was the last to win three in a row on the road in consecutive days, in 1978-79. Milwaukee was the last team to win all three by at least 10 in 1970-71.

LeBron James scored 23 points and nearly produced his first triple-double in 11 months, while Dwyane Wade had 16 points for the Heat, which limited Indiana to just 6 of 23 from the field in the first quarter and not much better until the closing minutes. David West’s 14 points led the Pacers, who suffered a fourth straight loss. Even worse, they lost leading scorer Danny Granger with a sprained ankle in the first quarter and he did not return.

THUNDER 111, JAZZ 85 In Oklahoma City, James Harden scored 22 points as Oklahoma City beat Utah for the second time in five days. Kevin Durant added 21 for NBA-leading Oklahoma City, which had a rest in between the two games, while Utah was playing its only set of three straight games for the season, and has lost the first two. The well-rested Thunder never trailed and led by at least 12 throughout the second half on their way to an eighth straight home win, extending the team’s longest such streak since moving from Seattle in 2008. Russell Westbrook chipped in 16 points for Oklahoma City. Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 15 points.

SPURS 99, PISTONS 95 In Auburn Hills, Michigan, San Antonio overcame a spirited Detroit rally to beat the Pistons for its eighth consecutive victory.

Detroit trailed by 15 in the fourth quarter but came back to take the lead behind Ben Wallace, the veteran big man who set a record by appearing in his 1,055th career game - the most for an undrafted player since the NBAABA merger. The Spurs finally took the lead for good on Tony Parker’s driving layup with 1:13 remaining. Tim Duncan had 18 points and 13 rebounds for San Antonio.

KNICKS 90, RAPTORS 87 In Toronto, Jeremy Lin made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with less than a second to play to extend his remarkable form run and give New York victory over Toronto. The NBA’s first American-Taiwanese player, Lin had 27 points and a career-high 11 assists in his first game

since being named Eastern Conference player of the week. His dramatic 3-point winner gave the Knicks the lead for the first time since the opening quarter. Toronto’s Rasual Butler airballed his attempted tying shot at the buzzer.

Amare Stoudemire returned from a four-game absence with 21 points for New York, which has won six straight. Jose Calderon scored 25 points for the Raptors.

WIZARDS 124, TRAIL BLAZERS 109 In Portland, Nick Young scored a seasonhigh 35 points as Washington beat Portland.

John Wall added 29 points and nine assists for the Wizards, who put together their best game of the season, shooting 60 percent from the field and 52 percent on 3-pointers. Young was 7 of 8 from behind the arc. Nicolas Batum tied a career high with 33 points for the Blazers, who lost All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge to an ankle injury early in the game.— AP

LAKERS 86, HAWKS 78 In Los Angeles, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final 5:20 and grabbed 13 rebounds as Los Angeles beat Atlanta.

Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who returned from a 3-3 road trip and improved to 12-2 at home compared to 5-10 away. Kobe Bryant, whose jumper in the final 5 seconds beat Toronto on Sunday, finished this one with only 10 points in 34 minutes on 5 for 18 shooting. The Hawks shot just 34.4 percent in the opener of a fivegame trip. Jeff Teague led them with 18 points.

BULLS 121, KINGS 115 In Chicago, the hosts saw their 19-point fourth-quarter lead sliced to just two before steadying and defeating Sacramento. Luol Deng came through with 23 points and a career-high 11 assists while Joakim Noah added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls, who were without injured star Derrick Rose for a third straight game. The victory clinched the Eastern Conference coaching spot at the All-Star game for the Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau. DeMarcus Cousins led Sacramento with 28 points and 17 rebounds.

GRIZZLIES 93, ROCKETS 83 In Memphis, Mike Conley scored 21 points to lead Memphis over Houston. Conley scored seven points in the final 2:26 after the Rockets had trimmed what had been a 15-point lead in the third quarter to 84-79 with three minutes left. Conley answered with a 3-pointer following a scramble for a loose ball under the Grizzlies basket for an 87-79 advantage. Rudy Gay added 20 points and eight rebounds for Memphis. Kyle Lowry led the Rockets with 24 points.

NUGGETS 109, SUNS 92 In Denver, the hosts broke open a close game in the third quarter to see off undermanned Phoenix. Arron Afflalo scored 20 points and Ty Lawson had 17 for the Nuggets, who snapped a five-game home losing skid.

Markieff Morris had 21 points for the Suns, who rested starters Steve Nash and Grant Hill.

PORTLAND: The Washington Wizards’ Rashard Lewis (bottom left) and Jan Vesely (top left) from Czechoslovakia, scramble for a loose ball with the Portland Trail Blazers Nicolas Batum (bottom right) from France during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Portland on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012. —AP

NBA results/standings Miami 105, Indiana 90; NY Knicks 90, Toronto 87; San Antonio 99, Detroit 95; Memphis 93, Houston 83; Chicago 121, Sacramento 115; Oklahoma City 111, Utah 85; Denver 109, Phoenix 92; Washington 124, Portland 109; LA Lakers 86, Atlanta 78.

Philadelphia Boston NY Knicks Toronto New Jersey Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Cleveland Detroit Miami Atlanta Orlando Washington Charlotte

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB 20 9 .690 15 12 .556 4 14 15 .483 6 9 21 .300 11.5 8 21 .276 12 Central Division 24 7 .774 17 11 .607 5.5 12 16 .429 10.5 10 16 .385 11.5 8 22 .267 15.5 Southeast Division 23 7 .767 18 11 .621 4.5 18 11 .621 4.5 7 22 .241 15.5 3 25 .107 19

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 22 6 .786 Denver 17 12 .586 5.5 Portland 15 14 .517 7.5 Utah 14 14 .500 8 Minnesota 13 16 .448 9.5 Pacific Division LA Clippers 17 9 .654 LA Lakers 17 12 .586 1.5 Golden State 11 14 .440 5.5 Phoenix 12 17 .414 6.5 Sacramento 10 18 .357 8 Southwest Division San Antonio 20 9 .690 Dallas 18 11 .621 2 Houston 16 13 .552 4 Memphis 15 14 .517 5 New Orleans 5 23 .179 14.5

Chisora, Klitschko face off MUNICH: Britain’s Dereck Chisora refuses to be intimidated by heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko ahead of Saturday’s world title fight and has taken steps to make sure he is not beaten before he steps into the ring. Chisora will challenge for the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title at the Olympiahalle in Munich on Saturday despite losing two of his

last three bouts. The 28-year-old was controversially beaten by local hero Robert Helenius for the European belt in Finland in December, but it was a vastly improved display to the unanimous decision he lost to Tyson Fury for the British title in July. But the burly Brit says he will not fall into the same trap as Klitschko’s previous opponents, who Chisora claims have

MUNICH: British boxer Dereck Chisora (right) faces Ukrainian boxer Vitali Klitschko during a photo call in Munich, southern Germany ahead of their WBC World Heavyweight fight. — AFP

been beaten before they even step into the ring. An oversized poster of Klitschko hangs in Chisora’s London gym and he says it has helped him get used to the Ukrainian’s icecold stare and with each training session his desire to dethrone the champion has grown stronger.

“Before the bell, he’s nice to you, but then he wants to destroy you,” said Chisora of Klitschko’s psychological approach. “Most of the guys had already lost to him before they step in the ring, because they were trembling with fear. “But I have pride and passion. I am the worst type of pest for him.” Chisora has already said he will knock out the 40-year-old champion in the eighth round. “I just need one right punch to knock Klitschko out,” he said.

Chisora is not the first opponent to talk big before fight night against Vitali Klitschko, who has said he will save his response for the ring.

The facts speak for themselves: Klitschko has won 43 of his 45 professional fights and has enjoyed 40 knock-outs.

With a knock-out ratio of 89 percent, he is one of boxing’s all-time KO specialists. Britain’s Lennox Lewis, the last boxer to beat Klitschko after their 2003 fight says his compatriot could pull off an upset. “Chisora has a chance. He is a real heavyweight,” said the former world champion. “All he needs is a hit on the chin.” The Zimbabwe-born Chisora is giving away 15 cms in height and his record of 15 wins, nine knockouts and two defeats hardly compares on paper to the champion. “I will attack him from the start and hurt him,” said Chisora. “Klitschko has never fought a man like me.”— AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

S P ORT S

Olympic kings welcome world to London LONDON: The march to Olympic track cycling glory takes one of two significant steps this weekend when the World Cup series, to the annoyance of some British officials, culminates in London. Held in the Olympic velodrome from Thursday to Sunday and doubling as a test event for the Games, the 14-final competition is a serious stepping stone for the teams hoping to topple Britain from their Olympic pedestal.

Britain sped to seven of the ten gold medals on offer in Beijing four years ago, when Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Bradley Wiggins became household names across the nation. But since 2008, the once yawning gap between the Brits and the rest

has narrowed considerably. Australia have dominated some Olympic events, while making significant progress in others at world level in the intervening years and should be Britain’s biggest challengers for the early season bragging rights.

With the next world championships being held in Melbourne in early April, Australia come to London hoping to get a taste for the recently-laid boards on which they hope to leave some markers for August. “We’ll be looking to win in London and stamp a bit of authority there and do the same thing at the worlds,” said Australia’s Jack Bobridge, the world record holder and champion in the individual pursuit who is the driving force in their four-

man team event. “It’ll be great to get there, get some data and see what the track’s like.”

Teams from Germany, France and New Zealand, among others, will also be expected to go full throttle at the 250-metre track in which Sir Chris Hoy, a triple gold winner in Beijing, played a small but not insignificant role in designing. The fact London is hosting the event, however, has not been welcomed by some. Britain’s track team chief, Dave Brailsford, said in November any advantage gained from the Olympic velodrome was now lost.

“I’m a little bit miffed, if I’m honest, if I’m really, really honest,” Brailsford told the BBC. “To have a fully-blown World Cup as a test event when a lot of the

other venues are using national championships - we’re basically inviting the rest of the world in, and the opposition in.”

Another factor Brailsford might want to consider is this: their rivals will be determined to make sure there is no repeat of what, for some, was a humiliating experience in Beijing.

Australia have again become a force in the coveted men’s team pursuit, while France have regained control of the men’s individual and team sprint events-three events in which Britain are reigning Olympic champions.

Sunday will also be crucial for both England’s Jason Kenny and Hoy as they take another step in their battle to secure the single individual sprint

spot for the Games. “I’m going for anything I can get. It’s just racing at the end of the day,” said Kenny, who will be awarded last year’s sprint world title following Frenchman Gregory Bauge’s disqualification for missed doping tests. “Racing Chris is like racing anyone else.

It’s no different from racing the French boys or the Aussies.” At last year’s world championships in the Netherlands, Australian Anna Meares also beat British Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton to the coveted sprint gold for the first time. Along with Lithuania’s Simona Krupeckaite and Guo Shuang of China, they are expected to light up the women’s match sprint tournament. — AFP

Garcia to be in thick of Ryder Cup action LOS ANGELES: Spain’s Sergio Garcia is keen to be back in the thick of the action when Europe defend their Ryder Cup crown against the United States in September. A five-time Ryder Cup player, Garcia says he found his role as vice captain for Colin Montgomerie’s Europe at Celtic Manor in 2010 rewarding but frustrating. “It was great to be part of the team in the way that I was,” Garcia said Tuesday as he prepared to tee it up today in his first US PGA Tour start of the season at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club. “But at the same time ... I would not like to do that again because even though you try to help as much as you can, you feel like you’re useless. You can’t help them with any cubs, you can’t help them with any putts. You can’t help them with anything. So it feels like you kind of have your hands tied behind your back.”

So Garcia is aiming to be a full-fledged playing member of the European team captained by compatriot Jose-Maria Olazabal at Medinah, Illinois. “I love the Ryder Cup,” Garcia said. “It’s definitely one of the goals. I would love to make that team and help my teammates

retain the Cup.” Garcia, who admits to a tough two years as he struggled with motivation and concentration, finished 2011 on a strong note with two tournament titles in October-jump-starting his Ryder Cup bid. He was in contention at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship last month and finished tied for fifth at weather-abbreviated Qatar Masters on February 5.

To launch his US season he returns to Riviera, in the western suburbs of Los Angeles, for the first time since 2008. He hopes the tournament will be a good springboard for the World Golf Championships-Matchplay Championship in Arizona next week. “I’m excited to start here in the US,” said Garcia, who climbed as high as number two in the world three years ago but plunged out of the top 50 during his drought. He’s now at 17 in the world and eyeing a return to the top 10. “Probably mentally is what’s improved the most, because you go from kind of being a little bit screwed up in the head to really knowing what you want to do on the course,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’m like I was when I was 18 or 19, but I try to enjoy the game as much as I did then.” — AFP

KRASNAYA POLYANA: Italy’s Dominik Paris competes during the Men’s super-combined World Cup at the Rosa Khutor Mountain Resort in Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi, the 2014 Sochi Olympics alpine venue. — AFP

Tseng seeking to get back on track PATTAYA: World number one Yani Tseng will be looking to reignite her winning streak as she defends her title at the Honda LPGA Thailand this week after disappointment in Australia. The Taiwanese star, who won 12 titles worldwide last year and seven US LPGA Tour victories, will be hoping to repeat her 2011 win when the $1.5 million

ple and triple bogeys in her last two rounds in this month’s Women’s Australian Open to finish joint eighth, two shots off the six-way victory playoff won by US teenager Jessica Korda. Tseng has been working on a more power ful swing, which may have contributed to some of her wayward drives in Melbourne. However, she said she was

Yani Tseng tournament tees off on Thursday at the Siam Country Club.

“I’ve been working hard and am looking forward to defending the title,” she said Wednesday. “The course is in great condition.” Tseng endured the horrors of quadru-

quite happy with her new swing. “I’m not hitting it any longer, but I am more consistent,” she said.

World number two Suzann Pettersen will be keen to pounce on any slip-ups. The Norwegian has an impressive record in this

event, never finishing lower than eighth. “I love this layout,” she said at the par-72 course in the Thai resort city of Pattaya.

“The greens are fast and true.” Michelle Wie performed well at last year’s tournament when she finished runner-up to Tseng, and the big-hitting Hawaiian will be hoping to go one better this year.

Wie has her graduation coming up soon and a win in Thailand would be the icing on the cake. “I’ve enjoyed the studying, but soon I will have more time to concentrate on golf,” she said.

Showing good early season form has been America’s Brittany Lincicome who came so close to winning last week’s nailbiting six-player play-off in Australia. Also in that play-off and performing in Thailand are South Korea’s US Open champion Ryu So-Yeon and compatriot Seo Hee-Kyung, as well as Stacy Lewis of the US and Julieta Granada from Paraguay. Among other leading golfers expected to be in contention this week are third-ranked Na Yeon-Choi, another Korean, along with the Americans Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer, ranked fourth and fifth respectively.

Creamer has a big following in Thailand and will be among the favorites for the title. “It’s my first event of the season and I’m a little rusty,” she said. “But the fans are really supportive here and I love it.” Japan’s Ai Miyazato, ranked 11th in the world, won the tournament two years ago and after finishing well down the field last year will be looking to recapture her previous form.

There is also considerable interest in Thailand over the presence of teenage prodigy Alexis “Lexi” Thompson who has just turned 17. Last year, at the age of 16, she became the youngest-ever player to win on the LPGA Tour with her triumph at the Navistar Classic. — AFP

Late start for Adam Scott and a snub for Mike Weir LOS ANGELES: Adam Scott was on the range at Riviera on Tuesday and had every reason to feel like a stranger. He is the only player from the top 10 in the world who has yet to play a tournament this year. “I may have to introduce myself to a fair bit of people,” Scott said. Waiting until the Northern Trust Open to begin his 2012 season was only partially by design. Scott had planned to be at Kapalua for the US PGA Tour opener, but he had his tonsils taken out in December.

He said the recovery time for an adult is about three weeks.

Scott said he had tonsillitis at least five times a year for the last couple of seasons, and when it happened last September at the Deutsche Bank Championships - he was tied for the lead through 36 holes - that was the last straw. “It was the first time I had it during a tournament,” he said. “I figured if I had it during a major, it would be one less chance of getting one.” The three-month break was the longest of his career, and it was the first time in 10 years Scott has spent so much time at home in Australia.

It allowed him to get his mind off golf, and it made him eager to return.

“I’m really ready to play, and that’s

important, too,” Scott said. “I’ve been starved of tournament golf at the moment.” The majors were also behind his late start to the year. Scott has not performed well in the biggest events throughout his career as he tried to find the right schedule leading up to the majors. He might have found something a year ago, when he was runner-up at the Masters and finished seventh in the US PGA Championship. It was only the second time he had two top 10s in the majors in one year. Scott will play the Match Play Championship, Doral and then take part in the Tavistock Cup. That means he will play three tournaments and a 36-hole made-for-TV exhibition before going to the first major. But it worked last year. “Look, I’ve tried so many different things trying to get myself in the best shape for the biggest events, and until last year, I didn’t play very good in the biggest events,” he said. “Last year I changed it up and took my time getting ready properly, and I had a good result. It worked last year. I have to try to do something similar.” Scott also hopes the late start will keep him fresh at the end.

Despite a solid season, he felt flat when the FedEx Cup playoffs began. — AP

Masters quest motivates Els

Ernie Els

LOS ANGELES: Ernie Els is on a quest to book his berth for the first major championship of 2012, and said the challenge of securing a Masters place is powerful earlyseason motivation. “Obviously, the Masters is right around the corner,” said the 42-year-old South African, who fell out of the top 70 in a 2011 season he has characterized as “dismal”.

“I’ve never really been in that position where I had to try and qualify for it because I’ve been fortunate enough to basically glide through and get in there. So I’ve got to do some work, and I think it’s good for me. It will keep me focused-get me trying. I think that’s a good thing.” Els has moved back up to 65 in the world rankings, with the top 50 as of the week before the Masters-or winners of a US PGA Tour title this yearreceiving invitations to Augusta National.

Els, owner of two US Open titles and a British Open crown, will tee it up today in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club, where he lifted the trophy in 1999.

He’s due to start the following week at the World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Although the field includes the top 64 in the world rankings, No 11 Phil Mickelson, who won last week at Pebble Beach, plans to play at Riviera then skip the Match Play, opening the door for Els. “That’s a nice break coming my way,” said Els, who said he was “grateful” to be in the Match Play field. “I’ll buy Phil a steak dinner this week, maybe send him a good bottle of Bordeaux or something,” he added with a laugh. — AFP

PEBBLE BEACH: Mike Weir of Canada saves par during the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am the Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course) in Pebble Beach, California. — AFP

18

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

S P ORT S

Warsaw stadium still causing problems for Poland WARSAW: The most momentous year in Polish soccer history should kick off with a friendly against Portugal at the new national stadium in Warsaw on Feb 29 - but there are doubts the match can take place there because of ongoing problems. On Tuesday, continuing troubles forced the stadium manager to step down - less than four months before the $641 million stadium is due to stage the opening match of the European Championship between Poland and Greece.

There is also continuing criticism of Poland’s newly-appointed 35year-old Sports Minister Joanna Mucha, who is constantly at loggerheads with hardliners from Poland’s Football Association (PZPN).

Meanwhile national coach Franciszek Smuda yesterday named his squad for the Portugal game, saying he hoped that the match can take place in the capital. Warsaw is due to stage the opening match and four other games in Euro 2012

including the second semi-final.

The Olympic Stadium in Kiev, the main venue in Ukraine which is cohosting the event with Poland, is already operational. The final will be held there on July 1. Asked what would happen if he could not lead the team out in the capital, Smuda told reporters: “We will play in Wroclaw, but I would prefer to play in Warsaw, finally.” While the political infighting and problems with the stadium are going on, Smuda’s main

concern is to produce a team which can bring a smile to the faces of fans who have not had a lot to celebrate since Poland reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1982.

A mixed bag of results in their preparatory friendlies was highlighted by a 2-1 win over Argentina last year. “This is our last test against such a strong opponent ahead of the Euros,” Smuda said, adding that his squad for the Portugal game would be more or less the one he will

employ in June. “One could say its 90, 95 or 99.9 percent. “It’s hard to say exactly now as every week injuries happen and somebody falls out of the game. But over the last two years I have achieved my goal, I know who to focus on, my first eleven is in place.”

Borussia Dortmund’s Polish trio of Lukasz Piszczek, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski are all included while both of Arsenal’s goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski are named in a 22-

man squad. Although he can include a third goalkeeper for Euro 2012, Manchester United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak is not named for this match. Of the 22, 17 are based overseas. Asked to comment on Mucha’s performance nearly 100 days after she was sworn in, Smuda said: “Well, Minister Mucha is a pretty woman, that’s for sure, and will do anything to work things out. “I’m sure she will become a very good sports minister.” —Reuters

Berdych, Del Potro win in Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM: Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych gestures after a point against his compatriot Lukas Rosol on the third day of the ATP Rotterdam Tennis Open yesterday. —AFP

ROTTERDAM: Tomas Berdych overpowered his Czech Davis Cup teammate Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2 yesterday to start his campaign at the ATP Rotterdam Open with a win. Both Berdych and Rosol won singles ties at the weekend as they helped their country into the Davis quarter-finals and a date with Serbia. But Berdych, seeded second, showed his clear superiority in the clash between countrymen. “I’m satisfied,” the number seven said after advancing in an hour and a quarter with ten aces and three breaks of serve as the pair met for the first time. “It was indoors but still a tough transition from Davis Cup. “Our court was much faster with lower bounce. I didn’t really have much time to train here. but I coped with it pretty well. I was able to find my rhythm quite fast and was able to play my game.” Third seed Juan Del Potro made a winning debut as he played the event for the first time as he put out 2008 champion Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4. The Frenchman, ranked 47th, was fighting jet-leg after flying in from France’s 4-1 Davis Cup victory at the weekend over Canada in Vancouver, nine time zones away. The last member of the elite was going into opening action later, with top seed Roger Federer stepping onto court at the Ahoy stadium for the first time since winning the 2005 title to take on Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Del Potro admitted he had trouble closing out victory. “I was nervous in the last game,” said the South American who returned to the ATP Top 10 after reaching an Australian Open quarter-final which he lost to Roger Federer. “I’m really pleased to have won in my first match here,” he said after advancing in nearly two and a half hours. In other first round results, Marcos Baghdatis beat German Matthias Bachinger 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 while Russian Alex Bogomolov advanced as Sergiy Stakhovsky quit injured trailing 6-3, 0-1. Slovak Karol Beck beat Germany’s Philipp Petzschner 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. —AFP

F1: Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead LONDON: The Bahrain Grand Prix is still on for April, despite opposition protests marking the one-year anniversary of a civil uprising against the minority rule in the Gulf kingdom. Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone dismissed Tuesday’s massive anti-government protest in Manama as “a lot of kids having a go at the police.” “I don’t think it’s anything serious at all,” Ecclestone was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper yesterday.

“It doesn’t change our position in any shape or form. “If the people in Bahrain (the government) say, ‘Look Bernie, it wouldn’t be good for you to come over here,’ then I would think again.

That is what they said last year.” At least 40 people have been killed during a year of unprecedented political unrest in Bahrain. On Tuesday, police fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters to prevent them from regrouping on the outskirts of Manama and marching to Pearl Square - the epicenter of opposition’s demon-

strations last year. The clashes prompted renewed uncertainty about whether the 2012 F1 race can go ahead after last year’s revolt by the Shiite majority against the Sunni rulers led to Bahrain’s premier international event being canceled. But governing body FIA said the race, which was first staged in 2004, will go ahead on April 22 as planned. “The FIA, like many in the diplomatic community in the kingdom, ... believes the staging of a grand prix would be beneficial in bridging some of the difficulties Bahrain is experiencing,” the governing body said Wednesday. “The FIA is not in a position to influence political matters in a sovereign country such as Bahrain and we can only wish for a long-term peaceful solution.

“A number of reforms have been enacted, others are going through legislation. We warmly welcome this, as does the motor sport community which we represent.” Bahrain’s ruling dynasty has promised reforms to end the

upheaval, although it refuses to make the farreaching changes the protesters and the main opposition movement, Al Wefaq, has demanded. The strategically important island of 525,000 inhabitants became the first country in the Middle East to be awarded a grand prix in 2004 and draws a worldwide TV audience of about 100 million viewers in 187 countries.

Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa owns the rights to the grand prix and serves as commander of the armed forces in the island country. Rulers there are eager to stage the race this year to show that the kingdom is safe again to draw foreign investors and tourists back to the country. A so-called national dialogue began in July, but Al Wefaq delegates pulled out of the talks, saying the government was not willing to discuss political reform. Since then, no talks have taken place, but street clashes between security forces and opposition supporters have occurred almost on daily basis for months.—AP

Vonn, others pleased with Sochi 2014 course KRASNAYA POLYANA: From Lindsey Vonn on down, the first impression of the women’s downhill course for the 2014 Sochi Olympics was a positive one. The only problem was that the jumps were too large. “I like it. The snow is a little bit soft and it was definitely windy today, but first impression was good,” Vonn said after Wednesday’s opening training run for this weekend’s World Cup races - a major test event for the games. “There’s more terrain on this course than pretty much every World Cup that I’ve been to.”

Downhill world champion Elisabeth Goergl of Austria was also pleased with the Rosa Khutor slope. “It’s got everything in it really steep parts and jumps and nice, steep turns and flat parts and rolls - so it’s an interesting track,” Goergl said. “It’s definitely Olympic worth.” However, after the first three skiers flew high off the slope’s two big jumps, course officials began waving flags to slow skiers down as they approached those sections, meaning most racers didn’t get a chance to go full speed all the way down. “I was really, really high the first jump. ... I was flying,” said Johanna Schnarf of Italy, who was the first skier on the course and led the session by 0.01 seconds ahead of Vonn - although she missed a gate.

Vonn started 15th and was flagged before the jumps, but

that didn’t stop her. “The coaches said, ‘If you feel like there’s a headwind then stop,’” Vonn said. “I felt the headwind but I still didn’t stop.” With downhill and supercombined races scheduled, Vonn could clinch both discipline titles this weekend. The American holds

super-combi, she’s 55 points in front of Tina Maze of Slovenia and 60 points ahead of Nicole Hosp of Austria.

Vonn is aiming for her fifth consecutive downhill title and third straight in super-combi. “I know what I have to do but I try

SOCHI: A photo shows an Olympic countdown clock in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, displaying 753 days left before the event. Sochi will host the 2014 Winter Olympics, which will start on February 7, 2014. —AFP a 230-point lead over Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein and is 255 points in front of Georgl with two downhills remaining after this weekend. Entering the final

not to think about it,” Vonn said. “It would just be great to win here, period. It’s the Olympic track, so I want to get up to speed and see what I can do and really risk a lot

so that I know what I’m capable of for the Olympics.” Like the men last week, the women are impressed with the amount of progress in a resort that was begun from scratch just a few years ago. While the area is not open to the public yet, there are already numerous gondolas and chairlifts in place and world-class slopes. Down in the valley below, workers are toiling all day and night to build hotels, restaurants and shops - plus rail and highway connections from the Black Sea coast 50 kilometers away.

“I can’t believe that none of this was here two years ago,” American downhiller Laurenne Ross said. “Who came through here and decided where we’re going to run the downhill and cut all the trees down? It’s so cool that you can do that. It makes me want to make a resort, make some really cool runs.” Security men wearing traditional Russian fur hats and carrying machine guns are all over the place. “I feel like I’m in ‘James Bond’ or something,” said another American, Alice McKennis. However, not everything is ready. “Where we go in before we go to the start there’s not a real, working toilet - it’s just a hole,” said defending overall World Cup winner Maria HoeflRiesch of Germany. “There’s still some (work) to do but there was nothing here, so I think it’s going to be good.”—AP

DOHA: Vera Zvonareva of Russia returns the ball to Romanian Monica Niculescu during their women’s singles match at Qatar tennis open tournament. —AP

Wozniacki crashes at first hurdle in Doha DOHA: Caroline Wozniacki, playing her first match since losing her world number one ranking, crashed out of the Qatar Open yesterday, squandering three match points in a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) defeat to Lucie Safarova.

There was also misery for defending champion Vera Zvonareva who quit with a hip injury midway through her second round match against Romania’s Monica Niculescu.

Czech left-hander Safarova saved three match points in the third set and played a superb tiebreaker to set up a third round clash with Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who defeated compatriot Maria Kirilenko 64, 6-4.

Wozniacki, seeded two but now ranked at four in the world, was deposed from the world top spot when she was knocked out of the Australian Open quarter-finals. “I just want to get out of here (the press conference room). You don’t want to stay when you lose a match like that,” Wozniacki.

“It’s really disappointing but you have to move on,” added the Dane, who was runner up twice in Doha-in the 2010 season-ending championships and last year’s Qatar Open.

There were no such problems, however, for newly-crowned world number one and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka who cruised into the third round, beating Germany’s Mona Barthel 6-1, 6-0.

The Belarussian top seed will now take on Romania’s Simona Halep. Safarova, who is now 2-1 in career clashes with Wozniacki, said: “Unless you win the final point, the match is not over.”

“I just wanted to keep fighting. It feels absolutely amazing,” added the 25-yearold, who has won four titles on the WTA Tour.

Even the presence of golfer boyfriend Rory McIlroy couldn’t inspire Wozniacki as she made several unforced errors on big points to allow Safarova back into the match in the second set. The Dane also failed to take advantage of three match points in the 10th game of the third.

Buoyed by the let-off, Safarova really turned it on in the tiebreaker, pulling away after the scores were tied 3-3, a lucky net cord giving her a 4-3 lead.

A cracking double-handed backhand passing shot saw the Czech go up 5-3.

Earlier Zvonareva’s hip problem came back to haunt her for the second consecutive week when she called it quits after trailing Niculescu.

Niculescu had taken the first set 7-5 and was leading 3-2 in the second when Zvonareva, the sixth seed, decided she couldn’t take the pain anymore.

Last week in Pattaya, Zvonareva quit during her quarter-final match with another Romanian, Sorana Cirstea, who was taking on Australia’s Samantha Stosur in Doha later on Wednesday.

Earlier, fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland thrashed Great Britain’s Anne Keothavong 6-1, 6-2, while French fifth seed Marion Bartoli also had it easy, beating Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2, 6-0. Serb Jelena Jankovic bowed out, falling to Israeli Shahar Peer 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. —AFP

Qualifiers book dates with Monfils, Roddick SAN JOSE: Qualifiers Dimitar Kutrovsky and Denis Kudla booked matches against the highest seeds at the ATP San Jose Open with three-set triumphs on Tuesday at the $531,000 indoor hardcourt event.

Bulgarian Kutrovsky outlasted US qualifier Dennis Lajola 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in a first-round matchup to book a secondround date with French top seed Gael Monfils.

The Frenchman seeks his fifth career ATP crown after making a semi-final run at San Jose last year. Monfils and three other top seeds were given first-round byes.

Kudla outlasted US wild card Jack Sock 64, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 and advanced to a secondround meeting with US second seed Andy Roddick, a three-time San Jose champion.

Sock surrendered a break on his fifth dou-

ble fault to give Kudla a 4-2 lead in the final set. Kudla smashed his eighth ace to hold for a 5-2 edge and held serve at love in the final game of the match.

Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller rallied to oust American qualifier Tim Smyczek 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 and book a second-round match against either American Ryan Sweeting or French fifth seed Julien Benneteau. World No 70 Muller snapped a four-match losing streak with the win over Smyczek. Muller had not won a tour-level match since the beginning week of the season, when he advanced to the second round at the Brisbane International. In other matches, Steve Darcis of Belgium needed a pair of tiebreakers to defeat Steve Johnson of the USA 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5). —AFP

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

S P ORT S

Tevez has to let his feet do the talking LONDON: Not a moment too soon, Carlos Tevez appears ready to apologize. It seems Manchester City’s ostracized striker has tired of twiddling his thumbs and playing golf while frittering away millions in fines and earnings lost by not playing. He says he wants to be a soccer player again to - try not to laugh - “win over the fans.”

To which the answer must be: Not so fast, Carlos. Forgiveness has to be earned. If there is to be redemption for Tevez, the player who has contributed more than most of late to giving overpaid soccer players a bad name, then he’ll need to let his feet not his mouth do the talking. Score goals.

Win matches. Make City the English champions for the first time since 1968. Those three things are the only way back for Tevez following his moment of madness in Munich. Alone, saying sorry, flowers and chocolates won’t suffice.

There are two good reasons why City should offer a second chance to the player whom manager Roberto Mancini, in the heat of anger last September, insisted would never play again for the Premier League leaders.

The first is that it was never 100 percent clear just how badly Tevez behaved to make Mancini so furious. Initially, Mancini said Tevez refused to

come on as a substitute in City’s 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

“He refused to play,” the Italian said, an accusation that painted Tevez as a petulant mutineer.

Taking Mancini’s word as gospel, soccer administrators and commentators lined up to denigrate the Argentine. A FIFA vice president described his behavior as “despicable” and said the world governing body, as with drug cheats, should have the power to ban him from the sport.

Former Liverpool great Graeme Souness called Tevez a “disgrace to football” who “epitomizes what the man in the street thinks is wrong with modern footballers.” Bookmakers Betfair encouraged fans to ditch their Tevez shirts by providing them with a large bin that had the words “Goodbye Manchester” painted on it.

But Tevez had a different story. The way he tells it, he was willing to play but simply didn’t want to warm up again when told. He took issue with the way Mancini spoke. “He ordered me like a dog to warm up,” Tevez claimed this week in an interview with Fox Sports in Argentina.

Either way, Tevez’s behavior smacks of insubordination. It’s difficult to see a world of difference between refusing to play and not wanting to warm

up. Tevez compounded his errors by subsequently going AWOL back to Argentina. “I was upset by the situation and needed to be with my family,” he said.

Still, Mancini perhaps could have handled this better. The Italian possibly should have taken a few deep breaths before he vented his spleen to TV cameras, going public with a problem that maybe could have been handled in the locker room.

Soccer is an emotive and emotional game, with many big egos. Tempers flare. But not every club allows disputes between players and managers to explode into a full-blown soap opera like this one.

If Tevez’s stated desire to now make amends is sincere, if he apologizes to Mancini and throws himself with vigor and a smile back into work on the training ground, then the manager should take the opportunity to move on.

“He has a lot of repairs to do with the fans and he realizes that and he has said that he is ready to apologize,” Tevez’s adviser, Kia Joorabchian, told broadcaster Sky Sports.

The other reason Tevez should play - even if only so City can show off his skills to potential buyers - is that he is too good not to. It’s sad for soccer that a player with his talents is going to waste, like a sports car gathering dust or a Picasso in a base-

ment. Tevez hasn’t played for City since Sept. 21.

Argentina international Sergio Aguero has been so spectacular in the meantime for City that Tevez hasn’t been missed as much as he otherwise might have been.

For Mancini, having Tevez back isn’t without risk. Will other players at City be happy to see him back or could his presence be poisonous for team morale and Mancini’s authority, especially if Tevez is still sulky and rebellious? Has Tevez returned to Manchester with a genuine desire to play or simply to pick up his paycheck? Tevez ’s behavior in Munich tested Mancini’s management; his return will, too.

But if Tevez quickly gets match-fit again after his five months of idleness, the 28-year-old’s marauding energy in and around the box, his big-game experience and the goals he scores and creates could help City stay ahead of Manchester United in the three remaining months of the Premier League season and secure its first league title in 44 years.

That, at least, is the optimistic theory. It’s for Tevez to turn it into reality if Mancini lets him. If and only if - Tevez demonstrates again what a fine player he can be will he stop being soccer’s rebel without a cause. — AP

Manchester duo face up to Europa League task

MEDELLIN: Roberto Cereceda of Chile’s Universidad de Chile (right) battles for the ball with Colombia’s Atletico Nacional’s Elkin Calle, during a Copa Libertadores soccer match. — AP

Boca held in Libertadores opener BARINAS: Boca Juniors were held to a 0-0 draw by Venezuelan hosts Zamora on Tuesday in the Argentine power club’s opening match in the group stage of this season’s Copa Libertadores.

Zamora was playing its first ever game in the continental competition, while Boca Juniors has won the competition on six occasions and is among the favorites this year.

In other games Tuesday, Colombia’s Atletico Nacional had a 2-0 home win over Universidad de Chile 2-0, and Uruguay’s Defensor Sporting also won 2-0 at home against Deportivo Quito of Ecuador.

In Group 4, Boca Juniors, which won the Argentine Apertura championship going undefeated in 19 games and conceding just six goals, did not create many clear cut chances against Zamora, despite enjoying the majority of possession.

Uruguayan Santiago Silva came closest for Boca Juniors with a header that hit the post and rebounded into the goalkeeper’s arms in the 90th minute.

Silva was making his debut for Boca Juniors after signing from Italian team Fiorentina in January. He is only eligible to play in the Copa Libertadores, not the domestic league.

“We couldn*t get the three points we wanted, but a point helps us,” Zamora’s Jaime Bustamente said after the game. The

Group 4 opener was last week, when Brazil’s Fluminese won 1-0 at home against Argentine side Arsenal.

In Medellin, Colombia, Atletico Nacional’s Juan Valencia opened the scoring with a left foot volley from inside the penalty area in the 29th in the Group 8 game.

Dorlan Pabon got the second for Atletico Nacional after holding off a defender and shooting low underneath the goalkeeper from inside the box in the 81st.

Universidad de Chile, the current Copa Sudamericana champion, had only one shot all game. Argentina’s Godoy Cruz and Uruguay’s Penarol play today in this week’s other Group 8 match.

At Montevideo in Group 7, Defensor Sporting took the lead against Deportivo Quito through a penalty from Braian Aleman in the 23rd. Maximilian Callorda added the second 12 minutes from the end. The result moves Defensor Sporting onto three points from two games played, while Deportivo Quito stays on one point after drawing last week at Mexican team Guadalajara. Argentine side Velez Sarsfield is in first place in Group 7, having defeated Defensor Sporting 3-0 last week. Group games continue late yesterday and today, with reigning Copa Libertadores champions Santos, of Brazil, playing Peru’s The Strongest late yesterday. — AP

PARIS: The city of Manchester were hoping to see their two football sides fight out the Champions League final but instead today both sets of fans will have to make do with the lesser fare of the Europa League.

However, both face tricky second round ties if they are to progress a step closer to the final on May 9 in the mundane surroundings of Bucharest rather than the glamour of the Champions League final in Munich on May 19.

Bigspending City - who finished third in a tough Champions League group behind Bayern Munich and Napoli — have to travel to defending champions Porto in Portugal while United, who surprisingly finished below Benfica and Basel, are away at Dutch giants Ajax.

City manager Roberto Mancini insists that he will select a strong side to play the Portuguese champions, whose high standards of last season when they were all but unbeatable domestically and in Europe have slipped and they trail Benfica by five points in this term’s title race.

Indeed while the Premier League title remains the Italian’s top target he is also looking to add some European silverware to the trophy cabinet and with City having lost out on retaining the FA Cup the Europa League has taken on added importance.

“I will play a strong team against Porto. We want to win the Europa League because it is an important trophy,” Mancini told the Sunday Mirror.

“We have no game next week (having been knocked out of the FA Cup) so we can concentrate fully on a good performance. It will be difficult to go through because Porto are a top team, but we want to do the best we can in this competition.

“We were disappointed not to do well in the Champions League, but it was a difficult group and we were unlucky to go out with 10 points.

“Now our concentration is on the Europa. It is a long time since Manchester City won a trophy in Europe (their one and only win the now defunct Cup Winners Cup in 1970).

“Last season we won the FA Cup after a long time and winning a European trophy would be a big step for the club,” added Mancini, who as a player scored the only goal in his side Sampdoria’s Cup Winners Cup quarter-final at Porto in the 1994/95 season.

Porto, though, will fancy their chances of coming out of it best as they are unbeaten in seven home European matches while City have just one win in their last seven away trips in Europe.

United perhaps face an easier task as they play an Ajax side a long way short of the quality that dominated Europe in the 1970’s and who won the Champions League title most recently in 1995.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson will still send out a top quality side on today and believes that Portuguese star Nani and English defender Phil Jones will also get a run out after recovering from injuries.

“I’m definitely treating it seriously,” said Ferguson, who is seeking to make it a full house of European trophies having won the 1991 Cup Winners Cup with United and subsequently two Champions League trophies.

“The great thing about today is we don’t have a game next Saturday (they are also out of the FA Cup) so I can play my strongest team and will play my strongest team. “The thing is to look forward to it. It’s still European football and still a good standard.

“I think it’s amazing that, in the 55 years we’ve been involved in Europe, we’ve never played Ajax. When you think of all the draws that have been

PLZEN: Raul Gonzalez of Schalke 04 juggles a ball during a practice session in Plzen, Czech Republic yesterday. Schalke is to face Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League first leg round of 32 soccer match today. —AP made, the quarter-finals and the groups, we’ve never drawn them.

“It’ll be a full house too with a great stadium and a great pitch. They’re not having a great time at the moment but I think, playing United, they will be well motivated for it and always play nice football too.”

Ferguson’s Ajax counterpart former Dutch playing great Frank de Boer has not given up hope of winning the league title despite them being eight points off leaders PSV Eindhoven. However, were they to claim the scalp of United it would trump even winning the league crown. “Two clubs with masses of history and a rooms full of European Cups - this tie is worthy of the Champions League,” he said. “We know they are the toughest team to beat but we are relishing it.” — AFP

Today’s matches on TV

UEFA Europa League

Sports minister: Spain has a doping problem MADRID: Spain’s sports minister acknowledged Tuesday that the country has a problem with doping that needs fixing, after its record in the fight against drugs came under further scrutiny following Alberto Contador’s ban from cycling.

Jose Ignacio Wert, minister for Education, Culture and Sport, said Spain needed to improve its record “to gain credibility” in the eyes of international bodies.

“We have a problem with doping and that’s why we have every intention of making sure Spain’s anti-doping law conforms with WADA’s anti-doping code,” Wert said at the Forum de la Nueva Sociedad.

He added that tougher measures on doping are necessary to provide “institutional aid” to Madrid’s bid to host the 2020 Olympics, and a planned bid from Barcelona for the 2022 Winter Games.

Contador was banned this month over a failed drug test at the 2010 Tour de France and stripped of the title of that race.

The Spanish cyclist, who also won the Tour in 2007 and ‘09, was handed a retroactive two-year ban that will sideline him from this year’s French classic, the Giro d’Italia and the London Olympics.

Contador has formed part of Spain’s golden generation that includes athletes such as Rafael Nadal, Formula One driver Fernando Alonso, NBA star Pau Gasol and the national football team, which is the world and European champion.

But figures like Nadal and Contador have been the butt of doping jokes by a satirical TV program in France, which has

drawn much attention and ire from Spanish athletes and the general population.

“The best response is just to ignore them,” Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Tuesday as he honored Nadal, David Ferrer and Spain’s Davis Cup winning team. The satirical skits by Les Guignols came on the heels of former French Open champion Yannick Noah’s opinion piece in newspaper Le Monde in November accusing Spanish sport of being rife with doping. Before the World AntiDoping Agency and the International Cycling Union took Contador’s case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Spanish cycling federation had cleared Contador of doping after he blamed his positive result on contaminated meat. “I’m more motivated than ever to clean up Spain’s image,” Nadal, a six-time French Open champion, said in a TV interview on Monday. “Spanish sport is characterized by sacrifice, humility and spirit of overcoming adversity that all athletes have. “You can’t accuse someone of something you have no proof of, even if it’s humorous. France is obsessed with us.”

The Spanish cycling and tennis federations are suing France’s Canal Plus TV for using their logos without approval in the skits. Spain has been at the forefront of international ire in the fight against doping since the Operation Puerto investigation was launched in May 2006. That probe implicated at least 50 cyclists and saw a number of doctors and cycling team officials arrested. —AP

Lokomotiv v Bilbao .................... 20:00 Al Jazeera Sports +2 Legia v Sporting ......................... 21:00 Al Jazeera Sports +7 Plzen v Schalke ........................... 21:00 Al Jazeera Sports +8 Ajax v Man United ...................... 21:00 Al Jazeera Sports +4 Salzburg v Kharkiv ...................... 21:00 Al Jazeera Sports +5 VATICAN: In this photo made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI (center) poses for a group picture with Atletico Madrid soccer team members at the end of the general audience at the Vatican, yesterday. — AP

Scottish champion Rangers seeks bankruptcy protection LONDON: Scottish champion Rangers was forced to seek bankruptcy protection on Tuesday after a financial meltdown, triggering a 10-point deduction for the 140-year-old club and effectively handing the title to Celtic.

Rangers became the most prominent European club to go into financial administration after a longrunning dispute with the tax authorities came to a head, and is now 14 points behind its fierce Glasgow rival because of the automatic deduction by the league. “It has been a very disappointing and black day,” manager Ally McCoist said. “Going into administration obviously wasn’t ideal but it’s the opinion of many people that it might be the best thing for this football club.” Rangers is not only the most successful club in Scottish football, but its 54 domestic titles are a world record. UEFA has been warning about the perils of rampant overspending in football, revealing last

month that the combined debt of leading European sides exceeded 8 billion pounds ($10.5 billion).

Rangers was forced into administration over tax debts of 9 million pounds ($14 million) accrued in the nine months of Craig Whyte’s ownership. But the Ibrox outfit is also awaiting the verdict of a tax tribunal over long-standing contested liabilities of up to 75 million pounds ($117 million).

The Scottish Football Association described Rangers being plunged into administration as a “dire situation” that reflected badly on the country.

“This is a profoundly sad chapter in the history of Scottish football,” SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said. “We should not underestimate the potential ramifications for the image of the game as a whole.”

Rangers is now being run by financial advisers Duff and Phelps, whose task as administrators is “to ensure the ongoing survival of the business.” —AP

Lazio v Atletico ............................ 21:00 Al Jazeera Sports +1 Alkmaar v Anderlecht ................. 21:00 Al Jazeera Sports +6 Steaua v FC Twente ...................... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +6 Stoke v Valencia .......................... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +2 Porto v Man City .......................... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +4 Hannover v Brugge ..................... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +5 Trabzonspor v Eindhoven ........... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +7 Udinese v PAOK ........................... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +1 Krakow v Standard ...................... 23:05 Al Jazeera Sports +8

Wozniacki crashes at first hurdle in Doha

Heat scores rare road hat-trick

18

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Tevez has to let his feet do the talking

Page 19

ITALY: AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng (right) of Ghana, challenges for the ball with Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, of Belgium, during a Champions League, round of 16, first leg, soccer match. — AP

Milan leave Arsenal hopes in tatters MILAN: AC Milan all but booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a swashbuckling performance to thump hapless Arsenal 4-0 at the San Siro yesterday.

A Kevin-Prince Boateng blockbuster, a Robinho brace and a penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the Italians their first win in seven Champions League clashes against English opposition while also ending a run of three straight home defeats against Premier League teams.

It means the second round, second leg at the Emirates in three weeks time should be little more than a formality for Massimiliano Allegri’s players.

Not even the introduction of Thierry Henry in his final appearance before

returning to New York Red Bulls could inspire a surprisingly out of sorts Gunners formation.

Any suggestions that Milan might have had an inferiority complex following their terrible run against the English were shattered in a first half in which the hosts were composed and clinical on the counter while the visitors were unsettled and error-prone.

Tomas Rosicky at one end and Clarence Seedorf at the other traded sight-setters early on before Ignazio Abate had a cross deflected into the side-netting.

A lovely move from Milan saw Luca Antonini chip the ball to Ibrahimovic who teed up Urby Emanuelson but the Dutch midfielder, on as an early substi-

tute for Seedorf, couldn’t match the neat build-up play with a comparable finish.

The hosts went ahead on the quarter hour mark when Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny scuffed a clearance straight to Antonio Nocerino who fed Boateng to crash a volley in off the underside of the bar.

Nocerino thrashed a volley over with Ibrahimovic screaming for a pass while the largely anonymous Robin Van Persie’s free-kick was headed tamely by Laurent Koscielny into goalkeeper Christian Abbiati’s arms.

Another Arsenal mistake saw Ibrahimovic, who was in tigerish form all night, sent scampering down the left on 38 minutes and he had time to pick

Zenit slay Portuguese giants SAINT PETERSBURG: Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg came from a goal down to beat Portuguese giants Benfica 3-2 in their Champions League last 16 first-leg encounter here yesterday.

Zenit midfielder Roman Shirokov netted a double - taking his tally to five in this season’s competition while substitute Sergei Semak got the hosts other goal.

Benfica’s goals came from defender Maxi Pereira and Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo, both after errors by goalkeeper Yury Zhevnov.

“It was a nervous match,” Zenit manager Luciano Spalletti said. “My players showed really good skill. They showed a lot of heart to win the match in such a grave situation.

However they did exactly what we decided to do ahead of the match. We won deservedly tonight.”

The visitors manager Jorge Jesus meanwhile said he was upset with the result but was expecting an even tougher battle in the second leg.

“It was really tough to play here,” he said. “We allowed Zenit to score three goals, that means we defended poorly this evening. It’s a pity.

“But nothing is finished yet. The place in the next round will be decided in the return match. I think it will be even more tough.”

The hosts, who came into the match lacking a competitive edge because the Russian league is on a winter break, coped well enough without several key players but still fell behind in the 20th minute.

Uruguayan star Pereira pounced after Zhevnov, standing in for injured first choice Vyacheslav Malafeyev, failed to hold Cardozo’s freekick.

Benfica ‘keeper Artur came to the

out Robinho to head in from eight yards. And it could have been worse at the break for the English side as Boateng shot into the side netting and Antonini poked wide having beaten Szczesny to the ball.

Arsene Wenger introduced Henry at half-time but any thoughts that might inspire the Londoners were dispelled within four minutes as more timid defending gave Robinho the time and space to shoot home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Milan were ripping Arsenal apart on the counter and one such rapier attack with a three-on-two situation fell unfortunately to full-back Antonini whose finish was true to his occupation.

Arsenal finally put together a move

of stunning quality on 65 minutes with Henry flicking the ball up for Van Persie to volley goalwards but Abbiati’s save matched what had come before it.

And yet 11 minutes from time Ibrahimovic hammered the final nail into Arsenal’s coffin as he used his wealth of experience to win a penalty in contact with Johan Djourou before putting away the spot-kick himself.

Abbiati would twice more deny Van Persie whose volley with his weaker right foot and header were both kept out.

Clashes broke out between a group of Arsenal fans and police in Milan ahead of the Champions League match between the “rossoneri” and the Gunners, Italian news agency Ansa

reported.

English fans threw bottles and cans at police and Milan supporters on the central Piazza del Duomo in front of the 14th century cathedral that dominates the square.

Verbal clashes broke out between four Milan fans and a group of around 200 Arsenal supporters, who threw cans and chased their Italian counterparts into the landmark Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade adjoining the square.

The English fans were stopped by police but started throwing bottles.

One Arsenal fan suffered a head injury in the subsequent clashes while another was arrested before calm was restored. — AFP

Brandao double hands Marseille last eight spot PARIS: A double from Brazilian striker Brandao gave Marseille a 3-1 win over amateur side Bourg-Peronnas yesterday and a place in the French Cup quarter-finals.

Marseille were joined in the last eight later on Wednesday

by Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint Germain, who gained revenge on Dijon for being knocked out by them in the League Cup with a 1-0 win. Brandao, who faces rape charges in France over an alleged incident that occurred in March last year, struck in the 28th minute and the second minute of time added on in the first-half to all but seal their spot in the last eight.

His double — taking his total to five goals in the six matches since he returned last month from a loan spell with Brazilian side Gremio — and one from Ghanaian star Jordan Ayew saw the 10-time Cup winners, the last time in 1989, canter to victory.

“We may have had just an amateur side as our opposition this afternoon, but it was the first challenge before many others that await us in the coming weeks,” said Marseille coach Dider Deschamps, whose side have a league match this weekend followed by a Champions League clash with Inter Milan next week. “There were just two important words this evening-serious and concentration and we did what was required.”

Bourg-Perronas, who reached the last eight in 1998, did at least reward their thousand or so supporters who had travelled down to watch them as Ousmane Diaby grabbed a consolation goal 12 minutes from time.

PSG remained on course for their first ever domestic double thanks to a 15th minute goal by Brazilian marksman Nene, who profited from a dreadful error by Dijon goalkeeper Baba Tchagouni.

Tchagouni failed to control a backpass allowing Nene to be rewarded for his persistence as he seized on the ball and shot home into an empty net.

The win was a perfect boost for PSG - who rested several key players - ahead of their crucial Ligue 1 match with secondplaced Montpellier this Sunday with the latter trailing them by just a point. PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with the performance but admitted that they would have to step up a gear at the weekend.

“It is imperative that we play better against Montpellier,” said the Italian, who is seeking his second domestic double in three seasons having won the English version with Chelsea in the 2009/2010 campaign. “They are a dangerous side.” — AFP

Parma slow Juve title charge ST PETERSBURG: Zenit’s Roman Shirokov (left) fights for the ball with Benfica’s Maxi Pereira during the Champions League, round of 16, first leg, soccer match. —AP visitors rescue in the 22nd minute as battle in the early stages of the seche saved well from Alexander ond-half with the first clear chance Kerzhakov’s shot from inside the area. falling to Zenit substitute Vladimir However he was unable to prevent Bystrov in the 68th minute but he Shirokov ’s equaliser in the 27th missed the target with a close-range minute when the Russian internation- sharp-angled shot. al midfielder scored with a sweet Semak, though, gave the hosts the right-footed volley from Tomas lead for the first time 19 minutes from Hubocan’s cross from the left. the final whistle with a delightful Both teams had more chances to backheel from Bystrov’s cross. get the upper hand before the break The visitors poured forward and with Benfica’s former Argentinian were rewarded when Cardozo international midfielder Pablo Aimar equalised with three minutes remaintesting Zhevnov with a low effort ing but Shirokov replied immediately from 20-metres out. with the winner, tapping home after a Both sides got mired in a midfield defensive mix-up. — AFP

ROME: Juventus missed the chance to retake the lead in Serie A as Parma held them to a 0-0 draw yesterday. AC Milan had gone top with a 2-1 win at Udinese on Saturday but the draw, Juve’s 10th in 22 league games this season, left them a point behind the rossoneri.

They still have a game in hand, though, and did at least maintain their unbeaten run this season, extending it to 25 matches in all competitions.

Juventus dominated the first half and should have had an early lead. Giorgio Chiellini got up to meet Andrea Pirlo’s freekick but his header bounced off the base of the post.

The rest of the half involved lots of Juve probing but few concrete chances. Arturo

Vidal looped a high ball into the box and Alessandro Matri got up to meet it but his header lacked power.

Pirlo came inches away from producing something special but his free-kick from 20 yards flew just past the post. Mirko Vucinic beat a man on the edge of the box with a clever jink but his finish was woeful while Matri burrowed into the area only to overrun the ball allowing Nicola Pavarini to come out and smother the ball. Parma came out with more purpose after the break and created their first chance as former Juve forward Sebastian Giovinco, following a swift counter, forced Gianluigi Buffon into a sprawling save.

The whole second period took on a different shape, with Parma far more positive

and Juve struggling to create anything of note. Giovinco looked the most dangerous player on the pitch after the break but too often seemed to go to ground rather than head for goal. Juve started to click towards the end of the game but still couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Pirlo hit one from distance that had Pavarini bundling the ball behind while Claudio Marchisio fizzed a shot just past the upright.

Six minutes from time Juve should have won it as Pirlo dinked the ball over the top but Pavarini made a vital stop to deny Emanuele Giaccherini. In the day’s other game Guido Marilungo scored the only goal as Atalanta beat Genoa 1-0 in a mid-table battle. — AFP

Business

Euro-zone limp into recession Page 26

Can Pakistan state airline fly through tough times?

Page 26

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Abu Dhabi developer swings to Q4 profit

Ford Fusion registers best sales year ever Page 22

Page 23

Dubai targets 4.5% growth Trade, tourism keep Dubai economy growing

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan riot police unleash water cannon onto demonstrators in Colombo yesterday. Sri Lanka’s Marxist JVP party took to the streets against rising living costs after the government raised prices of fuel by 35 percent, milk food by 3.7 percent, and bus fares by 20 percent over the weekend. Prices of electricity and gas are also scheduled to go up shortly. — AFP

India shares hit six-month high MUMBAI: Indian shares rose to their highest level in six months during morning trade yesterday, buoyed by foreign fund inflows, a rising rupee and easing inflationary pressures. The benchmark Sensex index of 30 blue-chip stocks rose as much as 1.35 percent to 18,089.99, led by auto and engineering stocks. The Sensex last crossed 18,000 points in August. “The rupee appreciation, easing of inflation and hopes of a solution to the Greece problems have all boosted sentiment,” said Hemen Kapadia, chief executive at

Mumbai investment advisory firm Chart Pundit.

India’s rupee has risen 9.0 percent against the dollar in the past two months, boosted by foreign funds inflows-after being the worst performing currency in Asia last year. The rupee was at 49.1 to the dollar yesterday, strengthening from a record low of 54 in December last year. A rising rupee makes key imports such as oil cheaper. Foreign funds bought $4.17 billion worth of Indian stocks so far in 2012 while selling $1.56 billion worth of Indian issues during the same time a year earli-

er, according to data from the market regulator.

Sentiment has also improved as India’s annual inflation starts to fall. It reached a two-year-low of 6.55 percent in January, fanning hopes of an early interest rate cut to counter weakening economic growth. India’s top vehicle maker, Tata Motors, jumped 6.66 percent intraday Wednesday to 285.75 rupees, after it reported Tuesday a 41.0 percent rise in its quarterly net profit, led by strong demand for cars. Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro was up 3.31 percent to 1,425 rupees. — AFP

DUBAI: Dubai’s economy will continue to grow in 2012 despite persistent contraction in its once rapidly-booming construction sector, thanks to healthy trade and tourism, an official and economists said yesterday.

Growth in the gross domestic product of the debt-laden emirate is “expected to be over 4.5 percent this year,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, the head of the Dubai Economic Sector Committee.

The forecast by Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED) is also around 4.1 percent for 2012. This is a “respectable rate” driven by over six percent growth in tourism, and similar rates in trade and manufacturing, in addition to transport, said DED chief economist Mohammad Lahouel. The growth will continue “despite a continued decline in construction,” he said at the Dubai Economic Outlook 2012 forum.

Lahouel said the final figures on GDP growth achieved in 2011 were not out, though he expected they should be around three percent, a “little bit over two percent,” achieved in 2010. Standard Chartered’s Marios Maratheftis agreed with the positive outlook for Dubai, but he put the forecast for growth rate in 2012 at 2.4 percent. “We think it is good given that 2011 was a good year,” said Maratheftis, the bank’s head of research for Western Hemisphere.

A slower rate of growth is not bad news because the quality of growth is improving, he said. “The fundamentals of Dubai are pretty healthy and strong. Construction will continue to be negative, but I think it is good news because focus is shifting towards productive sectors,” he said. “It shouldn’t be about the rate of growth but about the quality of growth,” he added, highlighting that the retail sector “is doing well, if not booming” while hospitality is also doing very well.

Dubai’s economy contracted in 2009

DUBAI: Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed AlMaktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Economic Sector Committee and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, attends the Dubai Economic Outlook Forum 2012 yesterday. — AFP after being hit by the global financial crisis which dried out international finance and brought its property sector-which grew at break-neck speed over five years-to a shrieking halt, shedding around 60 percent of its value so far. But the economy picked up pace, banking on its developed tourism and retail sectors, as well its traditional trade sector. Dubai sent jitters throughout global markets in November 2009, when it said it needed to freeze payments on some $26 billion of debt owed by its largest group, Dubai World. But the conglomerate succeeded in reaching an agreement with lenders to restructure $14.7 billion of debt.

The debt on Dubai’s government-related entities is estimated at $100 billion. — AFP

22

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

business

AUB announces weekly draws results Program based on Islamic sharia principles Awadhalla Bakhsh and Ali Abdulla Mohamed.

With the new Al-Hassad Islamic 2011 scheme, customers have a lot more to look forward to. With 28 Weekly Prizes totaling KD100,000 each week and “Salary for Life” Prizes every month, the chances to win bigger prizes more often couldn’t get any better. The most attractive feature of the new scheme is the chance to win bigger prizes, more frequently with 3 grand prizes of KD25,000 each, week on week plus 25 other weekly prizes of KD1,000. Chances to win big prizes on a weekly basis, offer instant rewards to both existing as well as new Investors in Investment Saving Account (Al Hassad Islamic).

With the introduction of a “Salary for Life” Prize of KD250,000 every month, the grand prize is also now more frequent and customers do not need to wait for a quarter or more to qualify for the grand prize. The “Salary for Life” has been a core feature for the AL Hassad Islamic scheme with prizes paid out to date exceeding KD10 Million. The monthly “Salary for Life” prize has enabled winners to afford better homes, ensure better education for their children and enjoy an improved quality of

KUWAIT: AUB has announced the results of the weekly draws of its AlHassad Islamic savings scheme. The lucky customers winning the Grand Weekly prize worth KD25,000 each at the draws held on the 8th of February 2012 are: Dhahiya Mutlaq Khalaf Al Azmi, Masooma Darwish Ali Redha, Abdulaziz Mohd Al Derham. The following AlHassad Islamic customers won cash prizes of KD 1000 each: Abdullah Mansour Mohammad Al Mansour, Mohammed Ali Mohammed Mahmoud Al Kandari, Dalia Taher Ahmed Ali Al Ansari, Sharifa Abdullah Ahmed Al Eedan, Ahmed Radhi Salem Al Anzi, Khaled Naseem Fadel Hussain, Eiman Abdullah Hillal Al Enzi, Ahmed Hayder, Abeer Mohammed Salem Al Kaabi, Veronica Patrick Mills, Ayaa Anwar Ali, Mahmoud Abdalla Alsaied Ebaid, Mohd Abdulla Mohd Jerkhi, Alyaa Nayef Draib Al Enezi, Imam Dean Mohd Ismael, Hamed Hmoud Darwesh Al Khalidi, Meshaal Mohammed Fahad Al Muatairi, Abdulrahman Mohammad Raja Al Resheedi, Abdullah Sadoun Salim Al Maleki, Fayez Alrasoul Sayegh, Seeta Mohd Saif Al Azmi, Naser Abdulsamad Jadoua Al Jouhar, Fawzia Ahmed Ebrahim Mohammed, Parween Ali

CFC offers valuable services for SMEs KUWAIT: In a testament to its commitment to entrepreneurs, Commercial Facilities Company (CFC) continues to offer a range of commercial services to Entrepreneurs across Kuwait. These services come at competitive interest rates with quick procedures and easy loans. As an added value service, CFC also provide financial consultancy to its customers” “SMEs in the region and Kuwait in particular, have a large role to play in a country as the economy diversifies”, said Mohammed Al-Qattan, Manager Service Development, Commercial Facilities Company.

“We, being one of the eminent Kuwaiti companies in the market, feel it appropriate to contribute towards business operations and enhance corporate growth through the pioneering concepts of young Kuwaiti talents. We take pride in supporting these talents and being a part of their growth through commercial loans.” “Our business motto earmarks the convenience and promptness of our services and in turn reflects on our consumer-based mission in placing our customers as a first priority.

We have been in the market for many years and are pleased to be part of the national economic growth.” On his part, Meshari Adel Al Shamry, General Manager of Triangle Restaurant, said, “CFC was keen on providing everything I needed for my business to grow as it financed the cars that we use for my company’s special deliveries. This has created the chance for me to focus on the development and growth of my business.”

“CFC is a well trusted company and that

life, with the assurance that the rewards will continue to come month after month for 250 months.

AL Hassad Islamic is the only scheme to offer high value weekly and monthly prizes that are significantly higher than the total outlay of other prize schemes in Kuwait. In addition to the attractive prize pool, customers with high balances can opt for other unique features such as Investment savings plan, cheque facility linked to their investment savings account and state of the art e-banking and 24 x 7 Contact Center support.

The new Al-Hassad Islamic 2011 is geared to meeting the needs of salaried individuals. Customers can benefit from not only the biggest and most attractive prize pool but can also enjoy state of the art banking benefits and access to AUB’s unique products’ range for Islamic Finances, credit cards and investment products. All Al Hassad draws are conducted under the scrutiny of officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and independent auditing firm, Ernst& Young. For more information on the Al-Hassad Islamic investment savings account, its prize structure and eligibility criteria, customers may visit any AUB Kuwait.

KUWAIT: The area manager Tariq Alsheward congratulating the winner Abdulla Almansour.

Emirates NBD Q4 profit drops 62% Bank further revalues down Union Properties

is why I did not hesitate to take the loan from CFC when I decided to expand my company”. CFC’s business commercial loans are easy and available within reach in no time. Thanks to its 34 years of experience in the market and profound understanding of its clients’ needs, the Company offers a practical initiative to continue simplifying its clients’ daily operations through convenient financing solutions. The services that CFC offers vary in the fields of asset financing, vehicles, heavy equipment and appliances that connect to the operational divisions necessary in any company.

DUBAI: Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest bank, posted a 62-percent fall in its fourth-quarter net profit yesterday, as provisions weighed heavily for the second quarter in succession. The bank had net profit of 152 million dirhams ($41.38 million) in the three months ending Dec 31, compared with 403 million dirhams in the same period a year earlier. Two analysts had forecast profit of 114 million dirhams and 230.30 million dirhams.

Impairment allowances jumped 425 percent in the quarter, at 1.06 billion dirhams in the threemonth period, compared with 201 million dirhams this time last year.

Total impairments for 2011 stood at 4.98 billion dirhams, up 56 percent from 3.2 billion dirhams in 2010. ENBD had warned in Octoberfollowing a 59-percent drop in third-quarter profits on provisioning against government-linked debt exposure-that its final quarter numbers were likely to be hit by further impairment charges. Net profit for 2011 rose 6 percent to 2.48 billion dirhams compared to 2.34 billion dirhams in 2010. ENBD said the takeover of Dubai Bank did not impact the bank’s net profit or non-performing loans ratio “as on the date of acquisition.”

The bank merged with the sharia-compliant

institution at the behest of the government in October, after the authorities were forced to rescue Dubai Bank earlier in 2011. ENBD wrote down its investment in Union Properties by a further 750 million dirhams, it said yesterday. Union Properties, in which ENBD has a 47.6 percent stake, sealed a 3.8 billion debt deal with the bank, its chief executive told a local paper in January, with 1.1 billion of assets transferred to the bank and 2.7 billion dirhams of debt extended for five years. The board of directors have recommended a 20-percent cash dividend for 2011, the statement added. — Reuters

Award-Winning Ford Fusion registers best sales year ever

Mohammed Al-Qattan

KUWAIT: In five short years since introduction, Fusion sales steadily grew and in 2011 alone, 248,067 units were sold in North America, making it the best-selling year ever for the nameplate. Here in the GCC, Ford Fusion has drawn the attention of Ford customers including first-time Ford buyers. Total sales for the mid-size sedan in 2011 more than doubled with a growth of 134 per cent compared to 2010.

And the trend promises to continue as Ford’s mid-size nameplate continues to receive significant recognitions from industry experts and consumers alike.

Just recently the Fusion was named the 2012 US News Best Affordable Midsize Car for the Money. According to the report, “it won this award for its low long-

term ownership costs and high praise from auto reviewers, as well as its appealing driving experience.

These combine to make it a good value in its segment.” The Ford Fusion also got the title for the 2012 US News Best Affordable Midsize Car for Families “for its roomy interior, large trunk, good safety scores and family-friendly

tech features.”

“Since launching in the 2006 model year, Fusion has reinforced Ford’s commitment to the midsize sedan market,” said Samantha Hoyt, Fusion marketing manager.

“Recognized as a Best Buy every year since launch, Fusion is a key contributor to Ford’s car renaissance.” “Fusion’s success has been

equally encouraging in the GCC with its sales doubling year over year since its launch in our region,” said Hussein Murad, Ford Middle East’s director of Sales. “This nameplate helped Ford establish a strong foothold in the mid-size segment, becoming one of the most popular models in our showrooms from both retail and fleet perspectives. “Ford Fusion’s phenomenal sales performance in the Gulf is a mere reflection of the recognition and trust by our customers to the nameplate. Overall, we have made great strides in product improvements in terms of quality, smart and safety features which resulted to various accolades from industry experts - a further testament that we are doing it right and well,” added Murad.

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 .4330000 .3630000 .3000000 .2760000 .2960000 .0040000 .0020000 .0751050 .7317240 .3830000 .0720000 .7165140 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2771000 GB Pound/KD .4353240 Euro .3647190 Swiss francs .3018520 Canadian dollars .2766300 Danish Kroner .0490720 Swedish Kroner .0414680 Australian dlr .2960260 Hong Kong dlr .0357350 Singapore dlr .2193640 Japanese yen .0035580 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0752960 Bahraini dinars .7335810 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0737400 Omani riyals .7183320 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.598 5.337 3.154 2.436 3.341 213.250 35.672 3.580 6.336 8.873 0.271 0.273

.2805000 .4430000 .3700000 .3090000 .2840000 .3040000 .0070000 .0035000 .0765530 .7458310 .4000000 .0770000 .7303270 .0072000 .0500000 .2800500 .4396220 .3683920 .3051820 .2814570 .0495580 .0419850 .3012640 .0361190 .2223320 .0035650 .0057120 .0023550 .0030990 .0033830 .0762770 .7431340 .3961100 .0747000 .7276860 .0066160

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 74.150 76.402 722.230 738.540 75.715

Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 47.500 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.282 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.272 Tunisian Dinar 189.860 Jordanian Dinar 392.670 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.865 Syrian Lier 6.003 Morocco Dirham 33.814 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 277.950 Euro 370.650 Sterling Pound 431.930 Canadian dollar 268.420 Turkish lire 153.940 Swiss Franc 300.620 Australian dollar 277.000 US Dollar Buying 277.750 GOLD 315.500 159.000 81.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

COUNTRY

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal

SELL CASH

SELL DRAFT

302.400 740.540 3.610 282.900 546.900 45.400 50.600 167.800 48.130 371.500 36.600 5.840 0.032 0.195 0.245 3.690 394.890 0.188 94.330 46.500 4.280 236.900 1.804 49.500 723.280

300.900 740.540 3.328 281.400

222.400 46.144 370.000 36.450 5.660 0.032

723.100

306.000 4.200 9.240 75.820 278.400

Currency

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

278.350 282.160 438.700 367.070 303.835 737.105 75.760 76.405 74.185 391.815 46.135 2.317 5.662 3.076 3.313 6.523 682.780 3.640 9.110 5.860 3.625 92.380

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

443.00 3.70 3.550 5.815 2.650 4.250 3.200 76.35 740.05 48.20 394.50 728.00 77.25 74.70

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

303.58 282.11 308.57 370.10

440.39 3.60 3.310 5.640 2.351 3.540 3.070 75.78 740.53 46.15 396.07 723.54 76.77 74.34

278.300 3.061 5.650 2.345 3.320 6.595 75.875 74.370 739.900 46.063 443.800 3.190 1.550 372.100 283.500 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Currency

Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 440.800 278.400

Sterling Pound US Dollar

394.570 0.187 94.330 3.570 235.400

3.075 6.535 76.600 74.350 222.410 38.730 2.325 440.800

GOLD 1,800.350

10 Tola

Rate for Transfer

Bahrain Exchange Company

3.160 6.920 77.030 74.350 222.410 38.730 2.659 442.800 42.900 307.500 4.200 9.410 198.263 75.920 278.800 1.300

304.00 283.00 309.00 372.00

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

278.050 369.800 440.600 281.200 3.590 5.655 46.085 2.310 3.325 6.500 3.070 740.450 75.750 74.300

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

BUSINESS

LG to launch new Super Ultrabook series KUWAIT: LG Electronics (LG) showcased four new notebook models and an all-in-one PC at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 in Las Vegas. These new products will be available in Kuwait in March 2012. LG’s brand new Super Ultrabook Series, the Z330 and the Z430, offer powerful performance and sleek design unseen in ordinary Ultrabooks, while the P535 and the A540 establish a new standard for 3D notebooks. Lastly, the V300 is the ideal 23-inch all-in-one PC for entertainment, thanks to its immersive 3D display and InPlane Switching (IPS) -enabled wide viewing angle.

“At this year’s CES, LG showcased products that are not only new, but also establish categories defining new standards for personal computing devices,” said D Y Kim, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “Our new products feature a range of breakthrough technologies from LG, such as IPS display, glasses-free 3D and Super Speed Boot, that will noticeably elevate the personal computing experience. These technologies reflect our goal of satisfying various consumer demands, as well as our aggressive strategy for 2012.”

Z330 - The Z330 is the most compact product in LG’s newest Super Ultrabook Series, boasting vastly superior features above and beyond Intel’s Ultrabook requirements, while remaining attractive in both performance and portability. In terms of performance, LG’s proprietary Super Speed Boot technology enables rapid booting, roughly three times faster than other 13-inch notebooks in the market. Powered by the 2nd generation Intel CoreTM i7 processor, the Z330 requires less than 10

seconds to complete booting, while it requires a mere two seconds to recover from stand-by mode.

Equally important, the Z330 is equipped with the latest SATA3 Solid State Drive (SSD), which is more than 11 times faster than an ordinary hard drive.

The Z330 is also unrivalled in terms of compactness and portability, thanks to its Super Compact Clutch design which reduces the width of the bezel to minimal levels. In turn, the Z330 exhibits a 13.3inch HD display on a chassis whose size is equivalent to 12-inch notebooks. The Z330 boasts uniform slimness of 14.7mm throughout, not just at its

Gulf Bank announces 5th Al Danah winners KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its fifth Al Danah weekly draw on February 12, 2012, announcing a total number of ten Al Danah weekly prize draw winners, each awarded with prizes of KD 1,000. The 5th Al Danah Weekly Winners are: Abdullah Ali Al-Failakawi; Abdullah Haitham Ahmed; Salman Saleh Al-Attar; Bodour Bader Al-Awadhi; Ahmed Mohammed Al-Kandari; Mohammed Hamdan Abou-Zaid; Meshary Abdullah Al-Khaled; Mummadi Kuppuswamy; Nora Faisal Behbahani and Fahad Jaber Al-Sabah.

Gulf Bank encourages everyone in Kuwait to open an Al Danah account and/or increase their deposits to maximize their chances of becoming a winner in the upcoming weekly (KD1,000 each for 10 winners). Gulf Bank’s Al Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and

encourages them to save money.

Chances increase the more money is deposited and the longer it is kept in the account.

Al Danah also offers a number of unique services including the Al Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helps account holders deposit their money at their convenience; as well as the Al Danah calculator to help customers calculate their chances of becoming an Al Danah winner. To be part of the Al Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 55 branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance.

Customers can also log on to www.egulfbank.com, Gulf Bank’s website, to find all the information regarding Al Danah or any of the Bank’s products and services or log on www.e gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out more about Al Danah and who the winners are.

thinnest edge. The Z330 is also extremely light, weighing a mere 1.21 kg, making it lighter than most competing Ultrabooks in this class. Such attractive dimensions and weight are surrounded by a metallic cover with a gyro-brush line finish, completing the Z330’s urban, chic look.

Z430 - The Z430 is a 14-inch notebook of the Super Ultrabook Series, which boasts powerful performance in a sleek, compact chassis. Powered by the Intel Core i7 processor and equipped with SSD and HDD, the Z430 offers Super Speed Boot with 12 seconds booting time and large storage capacity of

up to 500GB. Such powerful features are packed into a superbly thin 19.9 mm thin chassis. The Z430 is the most compact 14-inch notebook available in the market, as its slim bezel enables the notebook to employ a 14-inch display panel in a chassis ordinarily used for 13-inch notebooks. The 1.50 kg Super Ultrabook’s design is completed by its modern, chic exterior that combines a metallic cover with a gyro-brush line finish.

P535 - A CINEMA 3D notebook designed to please style-conscious consumers looking for a comprehensive entertainment experience, the P535 builds on the sophisticated slim design philosophy of LG’s P-Series notebooks.

The 15.6-inch super-slim LED backlight display contributes to the thinness of the P535’s 24.1mm chassis and its weight of 2.2 kg, making the P535 up to 24 percent slimmer and 27 percent lighter than the closest competing 15-inch 3D notebooks.

Such a slim body allows the P535’s 15.6-inch display to be placed in a chassis normally reserved for 14-inch notebooks. The P535 is as powerful as it is stylish. Powered by the second generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 processor and NVIDIA’s latest GeForce GT 630M graphics card, the P535 boasts unbeatable performance, along with a wide display panel that exhibits superior CINEMA 3D capabilities. A540 - Powered by the second generation Intel(R) Core i7 processor with quad-core processors, the A540 offers consumers a full package of 3D entertainment through its glasses-free 3D display panel, the SRS premium sound effect and the 4.1 channel 3D sound.

Abu Dhabi developer swings to Q4 profit Sorouh projects lower capex in 2012 ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi developer Sorouh Properties, the emirate’s second largest developer by market value, swung to a profit in the fourth quarter, lifted by a rise in home and land sales. The company also reported a jump in full year profit yesterday, partly on lower impairments. Sorouh made a net profit of 92.6 million dirhams ($25.2 million) in the fourth quarter, against a net loss of 212.5 million dirhams in the prior-year quarter, Chief Financial Officer Richard Amos told reporters in a conference call. “The profit was driven by handover of 188 units at Sun and Sky towers, also national housing sales and a land sale in the fourth quarter,” Amos said. Two analysts

had forecast profit of 72 million dirhams and 108 million dirhams, according to a Reuters poll last month.

Sorouh earned a 2011 net profit of 334.7 million dirhams ($91.12 million), compared to 7.4 million dirhams in 2010, according to its financial statements. The developer took lower goodwill impairments of 117 million dirhams last year, down 28 percent over the previous year. Sorouh delivered 918 units in 2011 and expects to deliver close to 5000 units during 2012-13. It expects to spend 1.8 billion dirhams on its projects this year, down from the 2.8 billion dirhams of capital expenditure in 2011, Amos said. The firm is unlikely to seek

financing until the end of the year and forecasts further revenue growth this year, Amos said. Sorouh made a gain of 20.7 million dirhams on sale of investment property, it said.

Revenues in the fourth quarter totaled 1.2 billion dirhams, driven by sale and rental income.

Abu Dhabi’s property market fared better than neighboring emirate Dubai, which saw a collapse and the restructuring of its flagship firm Dubai World. However, Abu Dhabi too is now facing challenges as a huge supply of high-end homes are expected to enter the market.

Property prices in the emirate are expected to fall another 11 percent from here, a Reuters poll showed. — Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

business

Stocks succumb to pressure GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwaiti stocks succumbed to selling pressure yesterday, as concerns that the new government and Kuwaiti MPs might have weighed on the market in a broad-based selloff.

Traders were anxiously waiting to see who will be named the President of the Kuwaiti Parliament.

After a few tense hours of waiting, Ahmad Al Saadoon, a veteran politician and three -time speaker of Kuwait Parliament, has been elected as the new speaker.

Market Indices Global General Index (GGI) ended the day down by 0.44 percent, at 178.81 point. Market Capitalization was down for the day, reaching KD29.26bn. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 5,963.5 point, shedding 46 points (0.77 percent) from its previous close.

Market Breadth On the broader market for equities, decliners had a 68 to 17 advantage on the KSE. Daily Trading Activity Yesterday ’s per formance was accompanied by diminishing trading activity. Investors exchanged 773.27mn shares (-5.73 percent) at a total value of KD57.76mn (-5.87 percent). Gulf Finance House saw intense profit taking from investors, losing 7.35 percent on a volume of 103.52mn shares. Other non Kuwaiti stocks fell in tandem and the Global Non Kuwaiti Index recoiled by 201 percent.

Top Gainers and Biggest Decliners In terms of top gainers, Sokouk Holding Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 11.9 percent to its share value and closing at KD0.0235. On the other hand, share price of Industrial & Financial Investments Company retreated by 9.80 percent and closed at KD0.023,

making it the biggest decliners in the market for the day in a row.

Sectors Wise Stocks popped at the open, bouncing. But the run was shortlived, and the indexes soon turned to the red, where they’ve been for the better part of the month. A strong earnings report from Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana) failed to boost Global Food Index.

Americana realized a 3.90 percent growth in its 2011 earnings figures compared to 2010, at KD48.02mn.

This translates to an EPS of KD0.123.

The scrip closed flat at KD1.440.

Elsewhere in food sector, Danah Al Safat Foodstuff Company closed down by 3 percent, sending the Global Food Index tumbling by 0.12

percent. Shares of Coast Investment & Development Company, which have been on a surge lately, succumbed to the selling pressure yesterday, retreating by 5.08 percent. Al Imtiaz Investment Company also closed down by 3.33 percent at KD0.116. As a result, the investment sector index reported a 1.27 percent slide. Kuwait Finance House (KFH) the country’s largest Islamic bank, said yesterday its profit fell by 24 percent in 2011, as the lender put aside money to meet investment losses. Profit for the year fell to KD80.3mn from KD105.9mn in 2010, the lender said in a statement. KFH’s shares were up 1.2 percent at KD0.840. That’s help Global Banking Index to close in positive note, adding 0.12 percent.

Corporate News Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana) Board of Directors proposed to distribute a 65 percent cash dividend.

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Board of Directors proposed a 15 percent cash dividend and a 8 percent stock dividend.

Oil News The price of Kuwaiti crude slipped to record $115.65pb on Tuesday, the state -run Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said yesterday.

Kuwaiti crude decreased despite a rise in oil prices in global markets which was the result of approved EUR130bn bailout plan to save Greece from its sovereign debts.

Costs, property rights top issues for US firms in China SHANGHAI: Rising costs, an uncertain regulatory environment and intellectual property rights violations are among the top challenges for US companies in China, a survey showed. The annual survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai comes a day after US President Barack Obama told Chinese leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping in Washington that China must play by the same trade rules as other major powers. In a speech to the Chamber of Commerce in Washington on Tuesday, Xi insisted that Beijing had taken steps to address complaints over trade imbalances and intellectual property rights (IPR).

But the AmCham Shanghai survey showed that 69 percent of respondents felt China’s enforcement of IPR had either not changed or deteriorated over the past year. The reading was little changed from a similar survey last year. “Strengthening IPR enforcement and protection is needed, especially in industries like healthcare, in which IPR infringement is reported by companies as a significant business hindrance,” it said.

In 2010, China launched a campaign against intellectual property rights violations, but progress has been slow with copies of expensive brands of watches, handbags and computer software still widely available.

Asked about the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters that the government is making an effort to improve the environment. “Intellectual property rights protection fundamentally fits our own interests. On this issue, China’s efforts aren’t made under foreign pressure, but because it is an initiative that suits our own needs,” he told a

regular media briefing. “We also hope that foreign invested companies can recognize that China is a vast country and that these efforts will take time. But China’s determination is very clear.”

Operations in China remain profitable but fewer companies expect their sales to rise this year compared with a year earlier, according to the survey conducted on 315 US-based companies operating in China.

“The global economic downturn does play into it, but I also stress there is cost, there is competition and the rest,” Brenda Foster, president of AmCham Shanghai, told reporters. About 90 percent of respondents saw rising costs as a hindrance to businesses, while about the same number said finding skilled labor was a challenge. About 70 percent said legal and regulatory environments had either deteriorated or were little changed.

“China is a difficult place in which to do business, in part because the country’s legal framework is still in the process of being built,” the survey said.

It added that even if the law was fully developed, application and enforcement was uneven, especially in areas outside the major cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. A separate survey conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit on multinational companies showed in December that nearly half of the respondents were concerned they would have to give up IPR in exchange for market access, while 46 percent said the regulatory environment would have a significant impact on their China strategy over the next five years.

Last May, a survey by the European Union Chamber of Commerce showed a similar rise in corporate concern over IP protection. — Reuters

25

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

business

German GDP drops as France edges up Italy back in recession; Greece, Portugal in dire straits

AHMADABAD: An Indian worker removes the petiole from red chilies at Shertha village, near Ahmadabad, India yesterday. A worker earns around ten Rupees ( $0.20) for removing the petiole of 20 kilograms of red chili. — AP

Samsung shares up SEOUL: South Korean giant Samsung Electronics said yesterday it is considering spinning off its loss-making liquid crystal display (LCD) business, sending its shares to a record high. Samsung, the world’s largest maker of flat panels, memory chips and flat-screen televisions, made the announcement in a regulatory filing. It said no final decision has been taken.

Details were not given, but Samsung shares rose 5.1 percent to a historic high of 1,135,000 won ($1,012) as the potential spin-off is expected to strengthen its profitability. Samsung’s LCD business suffered losses in every quarter last year due to a supply glut. The possible spin-off sparked speculation that Samsung may

merge its LCD unit with Samsung Mobile Display, which produces organic lightemitting diode (OLED) displays for mobile devices such as smartphones.

Samsung Mobile Display, a 50-50 percent joint venture between Samsung Electronics and its affiliate Samsung SDI, controls more than 95 percent of the global OLED market. “If Samsung Mobile Display’s mainstay business is combined with the LCD business, synergy in the display panel business is likely to increase,” Koo Ja-Woo of Kyobo Securities told Yonhap news agency. Analysts said such a spin-off would help Samsung invest further in profitable businesses such as smartphones, non-memory chips and next-generation panels. — AFP

Japan Airlines orders 10 new Boeing Dreamliners TOKYO: Japan Airlines (JAL) yesterday said it had ordered 10 new Boeing Dreamliner aircraft as it looks to build on its recovery from bankruptcy and fight off the threat from an emerging budget sector. The announcement, part of a five-year plan, is in addition to an existing order for 35 Boeing 787 planes and is part of a capital expenditure program worth 478 billion yen ($6.1 billion). JAL said it expects to introduce the new planes from fiscal 2015 on medium to long haul international routes. “The overall purchase of the Dreamliner now stands at 25 firm orders of the 787-8, and 20 of the 7879 with twenty options, raising the total order of 35 Dreamliners to 45,” the airline said.

The Dreamliner made its first commercial flight in October-with JAL’s rival All Nippon Airways (ANA) - after a string of technical mishaps and years of delays that cost US-based Boeing billions of dollars in lost or cancelled orders. JAL, which is emerging from years of restructuring after filing for bankruptcy in 2010 in one of Japan’s biggest ever corporate failures, said it “intends to maximize the competitiveness of the super-efficient Dreamliner”.

“Equally efficient as the 787-8 but with more seat capacity, the unit cost per seat on the 787-9 is estimated to be lower,” the company said in a statement.

The airline said that it “acknowledges challenges posed by Japan’s low economic growth rate, heightened competition from Low Cost Carriers and the downside risks result-

ing from the European sovereign debt crisis”. Japan’s aviation market has long been dominated by JAL and ANA, but 2012 will see the launch of a number of new low cost carriers that are expected to provide competition to these established marques. JAL has joined forces with Australia’s Qantas and Mitsubishi Corp. to launch Jetstar Japan, with five routes slated to begin in July.

ANA last year set up budget airline Peach Aviation with a Hong Kong investment fund. Flights are scheduled to start in March. AirAsia Japan, a tieup between ANA and Malaysia’s AirAsia, will begin flying in August. JAL said it aims to save 50 billion yen in cost savings during the five-year period to March 2017. The carrier also said in the business plan that it will launch non-stop flights between Tokyo’s Narita airport and San Diego in December 2012 and to Helsinki in March 2013. During its restructuring, the company cut unprofitable routes, reviewed its fleet, and reduced fuel expenses. It also started using a new revenue management system to improve productivity.

Earlier this month, JAL reported nine-month profit of 146 billion yen ($1.86 billion at the current exchange rate), saying the strong yen helped boost its bottom line as more Japanese people went on holiday abroad.

For the year to March 2012, JAL now expects a net profit of 160 billion yen and operating profit of 180 billion yen on sales of 1.19 trillion yen. — AFP

TOKYO: Japan Airlines (JAL) new president Yoshiharu Ueki takes part in a press conference at JAL headquarters in yesterday. — AFP

BERLIN: Germany’s economy contracted slightly in the fourth quarter but both it and France, which eked out anemic growth, performed better than forecast suggesting the euro zone may skirt a recession even though its high debtors remain deep in the mire.

German gross domestic product contracted 0.2 percent, a slowdown from upwardly revised 0.6 percent growth in the JulySeptember period, data showed yesterday.

France fared better, growing by a strongerthan-expected 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter from the previous three months as companies invested more and consumers continued to spend. Figures for the euro zone as a whole are due at 1000 GMT and forecast to show its economy slipped by 0.3 percent quarter-onquarter although that could now come in stronger.

Germany’s figures were a little better than forecast and more forward-looking survey evidence suggests its downturn will be shortlived. The ZEW think tank’s monthly poll of economic sentiment jumped for the third month in a row on Tuesday, to its highest level since April 2011, reinforcing signs that Europe’s largest economy is returning to growth. “The first economic contraction since the end of the recession turned out to be weaker than expected, confirming that the German economy only took a growth pause and is not approaching a new recession,” ING’s Carsten Brzeski said.

France’s economy also beat expectations that it would shrink by 0.1 percent, growing by 0.2 percent, and economists said it too might avoid recession - defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. “We may see a contraction in the first quarter, but we already have indicators pointing to a recovery from the second quarter onwards,” said Michel Martinez, chief France economist at Societe Generale in Paris. Late last year, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi forecast a mild recession for the currency bloc. His latest assessment, given at a news conference following a monetary policy meeting last week. was that there was evidence of “a stabilization of economic activity at a low level”. Finland posted quarterly growth of 0.7 percent. The exception in the northern half of the currency bloc was the Netherlands

which subsided into recession, shrinking by 0.7 percent, following a third-quarter contraction of 0.4 percent. “The country data released so far this morning suggest that euro zone GDP contracted by rather less than expected in Q4 last year.” said Jonathan Loynes, Chief European Economist at Capital Economics. “Coupled with the recent improvement in some of the leading indicators, that may raise hopes that the region

BROMLEY: A job centre is pictured in Bromley, south-east England yesterday. Britain’s unemployment rate rose to 8.4 percent in the three months, which was the highest level for 16 years, official data showed yesterday. The total number of unemployed people increased by 48,000 over the quarter to reach 2.67 million. — AFP will expand again in Q1 and hence avoid a technical recession.”

PERIPHERAL MISERY Even if the euro-zone avoids recession, for its members at the epicenter of the debt crisis there is no chink of light. Italy’s economy contracted a steeper than expected 0.7 percent in the final part of last year, throwing the country into a recession expected to last for much of 2012. The International Monetary Fund forecasts a full-year contraction of 2.2 percent in 2012, while the Bank of Italy sees a more modest decline of 1.2-1.5 percent.

Qatar Airways increases Kuwait - Doha services KUWAIT: In a move to provide passengers with more flexible travel options, Qatar Airways launched additional daily flights between Kuwait and Doha earlier this month. Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, now operates six flights daily from Kuwait to its hub in Doha taking frequency up to 42 weekly services. The new daily flight QR149 departs Kuwait at 0540 (local) and will arrive in Doha at 0700 hrs (local) every day. The additional frequency will provide even more seamless connectivity for passengers travelling to a range of destinations, including flights to the United States, Europe, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and more.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “We have experienced spectacular customer response in the past year in Kuwait and thanks to our excellent connections our passenger

growth travelling through Doha has been growing annually exponentially.”

“As part of our growth strategy, we will continue to step up frequency on existing routes, which is a strong lever to facilitate development in the business and tourism sectors”, he added.

Qatar Airways has launched two new routes so far this year, to Baku (Azerbaijan) and Tbilisi (Georgia) respectively; with seven further destinations planned for 2012 including Kigali (Rwanda) from 21 March; Zagreb (Croatia) from 9 May; Perth (Australia) from 3 July; and Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Helsinki (Finland), Mombasa (Kenya), and Zanzibar (Tanzania). Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 104 aircraft from its Doha hub to over 110 key business and leisure cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North and South America and Australia.

Yahoo- Alibaba talks hit snags SAN FRANCISCO: Talks between Yahoo Inc and China’s Alibaba Group over the US Internet giant’s Asian assets have hit an impasse, throwing their plans for a $17 billion tax-free asset swap into question, according to sources briefed on the situation. The snag in negotiations came on the same day that activist investor Daniel Loeb, of hedge fund ThirdPoint, sought to install his own slate of directors on Yahoo’s board, further highlighting the turmoil engulfing the one-time Web pioneer.

Loeb, who has opposed Yahoo’s previous efforts to strike a minority investment deal with private equity, disclosed plans to nominate former NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker, along with himself and two others, for Yahoo’s board in a regulator y filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday. A collapse of the proposed Asian asset deal referred to as a cash-rich split-off - would mark the latest setback for an erstwhile Internet leader struggling to turn its business around and appease unhappy shareholders.

Yahoo, whose revenue slid by more than a fifth last year, brought in former PayPal President Scott Thompson as chief executive in January, five months after Carol Bartz was fired. Two people briefed on the situation described the deal as effectively dead in the water noting the unreasonable terms sought

by Yahoo during talks in Hong Kong and a disconnect between Yahoo’s negotiating team and its strategic stakeholders.

Alibaba Group, whose Chinese e-commerce unit Alibaba.com is listed in Hong Kong, and Japan’s Softbank Corp, which owns around 30 percent of Alibaba, planned to seek clarity on the matter

The government still has an official projections of -0.4 percent, considered unrealistic by all independent forecasters. With wrangling over a second Greek bailout still unresolved, data on Tuesday showed Greece’s economy shrank by a stunning 7 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter, much worse than a Q3 decline of 5 percent. The austerity measures demanded by its lenders are likely to make

from Yahoo’s Thompson, one of those sources said. “They (Yahoo) left town knowing how everybody felt ... Alibaba and Softbank are going to be reaching out to the new CEO to get clarity on what the heck happened,” said the source.

Yahoo appeared to see things differently. The company had not been informed that the tax-free deal was officially off the table, and it remained committed to continuing negotiations, according to one of the sources familiar with the matter. Yahoo representatives including Chief Financial Officer Tim Morse returned to the United States late on Monday after a week of negotiations in Hong Kong, and another call was set for this week, that source said. Yahoo and Alibaba officials declined to comment.

The sources said Yahoo and its Asian partners could still strike another, simpler and taxable, deal, but there was no agreement yet on the price at which Yahoo should sell.

One of the sources close to the matter said Yahoo was not going to revisit the price of the deal, even though Alibaba’s value may have risen while the talks were going on, and any increase could influence whether the deal on the table made sense for Yahoo.

None of the sources wanted to be named in this article due to the sensitive nature of the private talks. Yahoo shares closed down 4.7 percent at $15.36 on Tuesday, the stock’s biggest one-day percentage drop in 16 weeks. “I think the deal’s either dead or it’s going to take a lot longer to complete, which means we don’t have a near term catalyst; hence the sell-off,” said Brett Harriss, an analyst with Gabelli & Co. — Reuters

things even worse.

The latest figures also make it that much harder to reach its debt targets, calling into question the wisdom of cutting so deeply.

Euro-zone finance ministers have dropped plans for a special face-to-face meeting yesterday on Greece’s new international bailout, saying political party chiefs in Athens had failed to provide the required commitment to reform. Portugal, which many analysts expect to require bailing out for a second time too, suffered a 1.3 percent quarterly contraction in GDP, more than double the previous quarter’s 0.6 fall. — Reuters

News

in brief

Kingfisher delays results MUMBAI: India’s debt-laden and loss-making Kingfisher Airlines, which faces a severe financial crisis, said yesterday it has delayed the publication of its quarterly results because of “hardware problems.” The company had been due to release figures for its fiscal third-quarter to December on Tuesday, but a board meeting until late in the night failed to approve the accounts. “Certain sections of the company’s accounting IT system experienced intermittent hardware problems, “the airline said yesterday. The carrier said the board would meet again later yesterday and attempt to present the figures to the company’s auditor. “Efforts are on to complete the unaudited results,” it said. The Bangalore-based carrier, which has seen its passenger market share slump in recent months, is battling a cash-flow crisis that it says was caused by soaring fuel costs and high local sales taxes as well as a domestic price war.

Austrian economy shrinks VIENNA: Austria’s economy shrank slightly in the last quarter of 2011 as weak global demand hit exports and consumption at home fell, preliminary data showed yesterday. In the fourth quarter, the economy contracted by 0.1 percent after registering 0.2-percent growth in July-September, according to revised figures, the WIFO economic institute said in a statement.

“The gradual weakening of the domestic economy that has been seen since early 2011 continued in the fourth quarter,” it commented. On an annual basis, fourth quarter growth stood at 1.2 percent, compared to 2.5 percent in the third quarter, it added. For fullyear 2011, gross domestic product grew 3.1 percent, compared to 1.9 percent in 2010.

Turkey’s jobless rate falls to 9.1% ANKARA: Turkey’s unemployment rate fell to 9.1 percent in the three months to December, from 11 percent in the same period of 2010, official data showed yesterday. The number of jobless decreased by 382,000 people to reach 2.42 million on a 12-month comparison, the statistics institute said on the basis of a survey of some 95,000 people. Turkey’s economy had staged a spectacular recovery from the global crisis, growing 8.9 percent in 2010. The government expects growth of 8.0 percent for 2011. For 2012 however Ankara expects 4.0 percent growth, indicating a sharp slowdown owing to the effects of the euro-zone debt crisis.

Belgium faces mild recession BRUSSELS: Belgium’s economy is expected to shrink by 0.1 percent this year, the central bank said yesterday after forecasting growth of 0.5 percent just two months ago. The National Bank of Belgium also forecast a public deficit equivalent to 4.0 percent of gross domestic product in 2011 and 3.6 percent in 2012, above the 3.0 percent limit set by the European Union. The bank said it revised its growth forecast to take into account the austerity measures approved by the coalition government late last year. “The decisions announced in the federal government agreement regarding the budget and reforms of the labor market and pension system, significantly change the economic conditions,” the bank said in a statement.

26

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

BUSINESS

Euro-zone limp into recession Equities gain on recovery hopes LONDON: The rally in riskier assets like the euro and equities resumed yesterday on hopes a growing flood of money from major central banks will support growth as data showed the euro-zone’s debt-laden economy headed for a recession. A view that Greek political leaders and eurozone finance minister will find a way to secure a second bailout deal, and promises by Chinese leaders to keep investing in euro-zone debt also supported the positive sentiment. The euro was up 0.4 percent at $1.3172, retreating from a session high of $1.3191 and well off the Feb. 9 peak of $1.3322.

Economic output in the 17-nation euro area fell a widely-expected 0.3 percent in the last three months of 2011 compared to the previous quarter, and is likely to contract further in the current quarter to mark its second recession in three years. But the French economy posted a surprise expansion in the last quarter of 2011 and a slowdown in Europe’s biggest economy, Germany, was not

quite as bad as expected. “Activity remains close to very weak levels but at least the (European) economy doesn’t seem to be on a free-fall,”

said Annalisa Piazza, market economist at Newedge Strategy.

Marco Valli, chief euro-zone economist at UniCredit Research noted

ATHENS: An employee of the state -owned Labor Housing Organization (OEK) allegedly threatens to jump off the company building in Athens yesterday, after the government decided to shut down the organization and lay off its staff. —AFP

that forward-looking indicators like surveys of purchasing managers show that the economy is likely to stabilize or resume moderate expansion in the first three months of 2012. “We think that the fourth quarter of 2011 was the low point in the euro-zone business cycle.” US stock index futures pointed to a higher open for equities on Wall Street yesterday with the release of January factory output and capacity utilization figures later in the day expected to add to the signs of improvement.

FLOOD OF CASH Since late December the European Central Bank has moved to supply banks with large amounts of cheap money, the US Federal Reserve has committed to keeping rates low until 2014 and the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England have announced further policy easing to help the global economy recover.

The measures have underpinned demand for equities and helped lift the MSCI world equity index by over

Can Pakistan state airline fly through tough times? and widespread poverty also threaten to bring down the airline. PIA lost 19.29 billion rupees ($212.7 million) in the first nine months of 2011, almost double the losses in the same period in 2010.

The airline, like the Pakistani economy, has relied on bailouts to stay in the air, and is negotiating with the state for another rescue package. “Just like PIA has the potential to do well, Pakistan’s economy does too. But both haven’t because of mismanagement. In the end that is the story-mismanagement,” Salman Shah, a former Pakistani finance minister said. PIA officials declined to comment on the challenges facing the airline.

HUGE WORKFORCE WEIGHS DOWN AIRLINE Over the years, critics say, governments have manipulated state corporations like PIA for political and financial gain, giving jobs to so many supporters that the size of the workforce has become unsustainable in the face of mounting losses.

“We don’t have people in the right places in typical Pakistani fashion.

It’s about who you know not what you can do,” said a PIA pilot, who like other employees asked not to be identified for fear of being fired.

Today, PIA has a staggering employee to aircraft ratio of more than 450, more than twice as much as some competitors. In the first nine months of 2011, employee expenses drained 16 percent of

turnover. “Politically motivated inductions have been the major cause of the significant increase in human resource burden in this organization,” said the central bank.

“It cannot be corrected without taking drastic steps for rightsizing and increasing operational efficiency.”

That is unlikely in a country where political expediency and interests often undermine efforts to make everything from governments to corporations successful. Frustrations with those realities are palpable at PIA. Employees accuse supervisors of looking for kickbacks instead of trying to save the company. Some contracts are signed with companies for equipment they don’t even possess.

“Management’s concern is not with what planes and parts are good for the airline but what is good for them,” said a senior PIA engineer.

Things were not always so gloomy.

PIA used to be considered one of Asia’s elite, a model for other airlines, the first on the continent to offer a jet service. These days, flight cancellations and technical glitches are regularly reported on cable news channels, with irate passengers calling with a long list of complaints. It has become the butt of jokes on television comedy shows. In one sketch, a young man grows old at the airport waiting for a PIA flight to arrive with his relatives.

Pakistani television channel Geo News reported that the captain of an overbooked domestic flight

leader of the conservative party expected to lead the next government will settle some nerves by giving a commitment yesterday demanded by euro-zone ministers as a condition of bailout payments.

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said all outstanding issues would be resolved by the time of a conference call of ministers set for later. The ministers are next due to meet on Monday, but Greece has said it must initiate a debt swap deal with private sector bondholders by Friday if it is to meet a March 20 for 14.5 billion euros in debt repayments. Meanwhile oil prices gained as supply concerns in the Middle East sparked by tensions over Iran and disruptions in South Sudan outweighed worries about progress on the Greek debt deal and the current weakness in the global economy.

Brent crude was up 65 cents at $118.00 a barrel, having traded as high as $118.30 earlier in the session. US crude rose 87 cents to $101.61. —Reuters

Crude hits $118 Supply worry trumps Europe gloom

PIA suffering heavy losses; employees demoralized ISLAMABAD: On a recent Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, water flowed from the toilets through the aisles during the entire journey from London to Islamabad.

“What if it reaches some electrical wires and puts us in danger?” said one concerned passenger to another after flight attendants brushed off repeated complaints. “This could be a catastrophe.” PIA, like Pakistan, always seems to be on the brink of disaster. But now that seems closer than ever for the national flag carrier, once a source of pride for the country.

The airline is hemorrhaging hundreds of millions of dollars a year while being pummeled by competition from sleek Gulf giants like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. A quarter of its 40 aircraft are grounded because the airline can’t find enough money to buy spare parts. Flights are regularly cancelled and engineers say they are having to cannibalize some planes to keep others flying. “The situation has worsened to the extent of rendering this airline almost financially unviable,” said the State Bank of Pakistan in a report on the state of the economy.

In many ways the airline mirrors the way Pakistan-a strategic US ally often described as a failing state-is run. The same inefficiency, nepotism and corruption that critics say have prevented the government from tackling a Taliban insurgency, crippling power cuts, ethnic violence

nine percent for the year to date. The FTSEurofirst index of top European companies was up 0.8 percent at 1,073.32 points yesterday while, helped by gains in Asia the MSCI global index was up 0.6 percent. The gains in Asia were helped when central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan reiterated commitments by Premier Wen Jiabao that China was ready to play a bigger role in solving Europe’s debt problems.

Demand for stocks and riskier currencies, however, remains tempered by the ongoing risks from the eurozone debt crisis. “(The euro-zone) GDP figures were pretty much as expected so there’s no huge surprise there was no massive market movement,” said Nick Beecroft, senior markets consultant at Saxo Bank. “But they are part of what will become an important story in the second quarter as reality starts to kick in terms of collapsing growth in the euro-zone, which in itself hampers efforts to improve government deficits.” On Greece, a source told Reuters the

accommodated two passengers by making them travel in his aircraft’s toilets. A PIA spokesman denied the report. “I wouldn’t fly on PIA even if they gave me free tickets,” said businessman Younis Ibrahim, 40, who regularly flies from Pakistan’s commercial hub Karachi to Oman on Emirates. “They are never on time.”

Others have more serious concerns about the airline. Just before takeoff, one PIA aircraft had to abort because smoke started to rise in the cabin. “There was a strange smell.

We immediately told the crew and they had to put us on another plane,” said passenger Haroon Ali. With little financial muscle, PIA has few chances of improving its services and many of its best pilots and engineers are joining competing airlines. “People that PIA invested in decades in are leaving. This is what happens when you don’t have a culture of merit,” said a PIA engineer at Karachi airport. Demoralized pilots and engineers say the airline desperately needs to replace its ageing fleet. The European Union banned PIA from flying to the bloc for eight months in 2007 because of concern about maintenance and the age of some aircraft.

The ban was lifted after PIA addressed the concerns. The chances of purchasing new aircraft are slim given PIA’s financial predicament. “You can’t fly an airline like this,” said a senior PIA pilot. “You can run it into the ground, but you can’t fly it.”—Reuters

LONDON: Oil rose to $118 a barrel yesterday as real and threatened supply disruptions outweighed concern about the health of the global economy and Greece’s struggle to avoid bankruptcy. An explosion hit a pipeline in Syria yesterday, adding to earlier disruptions such as a strike in Yemen that has halted output at its largest oilfield and the seizure by Sudan of more of South Sudan’s oil in a dispute over payment issues. Brent crude was up 80 cents at $118.15 a barrel at 0908 GMT, having traded as high as $118.30 earlier in the session. US crude rose 86 cents to $101.60. “The oil market continues to be caught between a deterioration in the global economy and supply issues, including actual supply disruptions in Sudan,” said Jeremy Friesen, a commodity strategist at Societe Generale.

“I don’t think it’s realistic to expect that risks in the Middle East will disappear.” Oil is also drawing support from the prospect of disruption to Iranian crude supplies as a result of worsening tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iran is the second-largest producer in the Middle East and the European Union has banned Iranian crude exports from July 1, prompting buyers of its crude to look for alternative supplies. Supply risks far outweigh the euro zone’s debt problems and will probably keep Brent above $110, Friesen said.

Euro zone finance ministers have dropped plans for a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday on Greece’s new international bailout, saying party leaders in Athens failed to provide the required commitment to reform. Time is running out for Greece as it faces a chaotic default if it cannot meet 14.5 billion euros in debt repayments due on March 20 and its brinkmanship has forced some EU leaders to suggest Athens should leave the euro zone currency union. In a sign that the euro zone may succumb to a mild recession, figures on Wednesday showed Germany’s economy contracted slightly in the last three months of the year while France eked out an anaemic level of growth.

Even so, the latest indications from the United States, suggest a firm foundation for an economic recovery. Later, the latest weekly US oil supply report will be in focus. The US Energy Information Administration’s invento-

BEIJING: A security guard stands beside the Euro logo at the Euro exhibition at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing yesterday.

China’s Premier Wen Jiabao said his country was ready to increase its participation in efforts to resolve Europe’s debt crisis, after holding talks with EU leaders in Beijing. —AFP ry report is scheduled for release at 1530 GMT. Analysts expect crude oil stocks to rise by 1.5 million barrels. In a precursor to the EIA report, oil industry group the American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday crude stocks rose a more-than-expected 2.9 million barrels. —Reuters

Sarkozy eyes German austerity, reforms German boom casts shadow over French election PARIS: Germany’s booming economy has dominated the early exchanges in France’s presidential election campaign but President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist rival draw very different lessons from across the Rhine. While Sarkozy believes France must copy Germany’s painful budget cuts, wage restraint and labor market deregulation to boost prosperity, Socialist poll frontrunner Francois Hollande warns that such austerity could choke off a fragile recovery. He wants to emulate Germany’s investment in research, its support for small firms and its bigger role for trade unions in decision-making while keeping France’s generous welfare system. “Not everything in Germany’s economic model deserves to be copied,” Hollande’s campaign chief Pierre Moscovici said.

While French growth has stalled, Germany’s robust recovery stands in painful contrast.

Stripped of its AAA credit rating by Standard & Poor’s last month, Paris posted a record trade deficit last year. Unemployment is at a 12-year high. Over the border, joblessness is at 20-year lows and exports hit a record last year. Small wonder perhaps that a recent poll found that 62 per cent of voters thought France should take the German model as an example. “Germany has had huge success. That doesn’t make us jealous, that inspires us,” Sarkozy said in a television interview, pledging to learn from Germany’s export-led growth.

He praised the 2003-2005 Hartz reforms under former Social Democratic Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder that liberalized the German labor market, helping it to shake off the hangover of unification with former-Communist east Germany in 1990. Sarkozy plans to raise VAT to cut France’s high labor costs by shifting the tax burden from payrolls to consumption, copying a step Germany took in 2007. He also wants to let firms bypass sectoral wage deals and negotiate on a company basis- effectively burying the national 35-hour work week which the Socialists introduced in 2000. Accusing Sarkozy of “capitulation to Germany”, the Socialists say the Hartz reforms

generated underemployment and raised the number of working poor. With no national minimum wage, roughly one-fifth of German workers are in low paid jobs - a higher ratio even than in Greece. Hollande has vowed to renegotiate a fiscal discipline pact adopted by 25 European leaders last month, which Berlin made a condition of its support for euro zone bailouts. He wants to give more priority to growth and a larger role to the ECB. The Socialists aim to emulate German spending on research and support for small- and medium-sized companies that power exports-the Mittelstand. They cite studies showing non-price factors have given German goods the edge over French merchandise-technology, quality and product specialization. “The Socialists seem to be missing the lessons of Germany’s success: wage restraint and moving part of the supply chain to to cheaper countries,” said Gilles Moec, senior European economist at Deutsche Bank. “The lack of serious supply side reforms in their program is disappointing.”

WAGES CRUCIAL Many on the French left see Germany’s decade of wage deflation, accepted by trade unions to preserve jobs, as having sown the seeds of the euro zone crisis by helping make southern European countries less competitive. There can be little doubt that it has been instrumental in the divergent economic fortunes of France and Germany, its biggest trade partner.

While unit labor costs in Germany crept up by just 2 percent between 1999 and 2010, in France they leapt by more than 20 percent, OECD figures show, as productivity gains were pumped back into wage increases to fuel domestic demand.

French labor costs, which were a competitive advantage in the 1990s, have long since overtaken its neighbor’s. Germany’s federal statistics office said domestic wages averaged 29.20 euros per hour in 2010, 12 percent below France’s.

Non-wage labor costs such as health insur-

ance and welfare charges accounted for 49 euros per 100 in France, almost twice the 28 in Germany-something Sarkozy aims to address with the VAT changes he is seeking to rush through parliament. After ending the 1990s in trade surplus, France swung into deficit in 2000, the year it introduced the 35-hour week. Over the next decade, its trade deficit steadily grew while Germany’s surplus boomed-with most of this surplus coming from within the euro zone as its

President Nicolas Sarkozy goods became steadily more competitive against France and southern European nations. Germany accounted for nearly one-quarter of France’s 70 billion euro trade deficit last year-the second largest factor after China.

TOO MUCH SWAY Hollande argues that Germany has gained too much sway over the shape of the euro-zone. He wants to remould the Franco-German alliance with a new bilateral treaty next year to bring greater equality to the relationship driving

Europe, 50 years after the Elysee Treaty established regular summits between two countries.

Critics say he is imitating one of his mentors, former Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who tried to renegotiate the euro zone’s stability pact-its set of budgetary rules- after winning office in 1997.

Jospin won a symbolic victory which did little more than change the name to “stability and growth pact” and many observers believe Hollande may struggle to achieve more in the face of German intransigence. However, Socialists close to Hollande are watching carefully for signs of Germany loosening its wage restraint. They see signs that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is already trying to unpick some of the Schroeder’s reforms, such as favouring the introduction of a national minimum wage by sector. They are also hoping that elections in Germany in September 2013 usher in a left-leaning SPD-led government, which could pave the way to a more expansionary policy.

UNIONS’ ROLE Sarkozy says his proposed 1.6 percent rise in VAT to 21.1 percent will save companies some 13 billion euros a year in labor costs, easing the competitiveness gap with Germany. But some economists doubt the move will bring sufficient relief. “More consumption tax and less taxes on labor can help but it’s not a slam dunk. It’s too small,” Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman told Reuters. “There is nothing wrong with the proposal but it’s not going to solve the problem.”

Hollande has pledged to scrap that policy if elected and also wants to unpick Sarkozy’s landmark reform raising the minimum retirement age to 62. He believes France’s unions should have a more prominent role on the German model. Under German law, union members sit on the supervisory boards of bigger companies, leading to shared responsibility, fewer strikes and a tradeoff between temporarily shorter

working hours and job preservation-known as Kurzarbeit .

French industrial relations are much more combative, dating back to a landmark 1906 Charter of Amiens, in which unions vowed to take no part in politics and pursue class struggle. With one of the most generous welfare systems in Europe, French voters are quick to protest against any reduction in entitlements.

Millions demonstrated against Sarkozy’s pension reform while there was hardly any protest when Germany raised the retirement age to 67.”We need make our unions more responsible,” said one Hollande adviser, who requested anonymity because he works for a public institution. “In that respect, Germany can be a model.”

GLOBALISATION SPLIT France has yet to embrace globalization in the way that Germany did in the late 1990s, when companies ramped up direct investment in Eastern Europe and shifted part of their supply chains there. Berlin’s share of foreign investment in the region increased to almost 30 percent in 2004-2006. The French public debate is dominated by the fight to save old jobs rather than create new ones. A spate of corporate closures, from ferry operator SeaFrance to lingerie maker Lejaby, has caused an outcry. Politicians on all sides slammed carmaker Renault when it opened a low-cost plant in Morocco this month.

Studies show German offshoring not only boosted productivity of subsidiaries in Eastern Europe almost threefold compared to local firms, but also increased the productivity of the parent companies in Germany by more than 20 percent.

Both Sarkozy and Hollande have pledged to prevent the relocation of industrial production outside French borders, particularly in strategic industries such as the car sector. Hollande has promised tax breaks for firms which repatriate production or keep it in France and vowed to make companies which move production outside France repay any past state aid. —Reuters

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

FCC plans to nix wireless network, may jam GPS NEW YORK: Federal officials plan to kill a private company’s plans to start a national high-speed wireless broadband network after concluding it would in some cases jam personal-navigation and other GPS devices.

The Federal Communications Commission said it will seek public comment as early as Tuesday on revoking LightSquared’s permit after a federal agency that coordinates wireless signals, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, concluded that there’s no way to mitigate potential interference. When the FCC

gave LightSquared tentative approval last year to build the network, it said the company won’t be allowed to start operations until the government was satisfied that any problems are addressed. LightSquared and the FCC had insisted the new network could coexist with GPS systems.

Device makers, however, feared that GPS signals would suffer the way a radio station can get drowned out by a stronger broadcast in a nearby channel.

The problem is that sensitive GPS receivers, designed to pick up relatively weak signals from space, could be over-

whelmed by high-power signals from as many as 40,000 LightSquared transmitters on the ground. LightSquared planned to transmit on a frequency adjacent to that used by GPS. After conducting tests, the NTIA said Monday that it found interference with dozens of personal-navigation devices and aircraft-control systems that rely on GPS. The agency said that new technology in the future might mitigate the problems, but it would take time and money to replace GPS equipment already used extensively in the US. The NTIA, a branch of the Commerce Department,

also said adjustments to LightSquared’s network could cost billions of dollars and might not solve all of the problems.

Virginia-based LightSquared had no immediate comment Tuesday.

LightSquared had hoped to compete nationally with super-fast, fourth-generation wireless services being rolled out AT&T, Verizon Wireless and other traditional wireless companies. It hadn’t planned to sell directly to consumers.

Rather, it would have provided network access to companies including Leap Wireless, parent of the Cricket phone

service, and Best Buy, which planned to rebrand the service under its own name.

Making more airwaves available has been one of the FCC’s top goals.

Wireless companies have been clamoring for greater ability to feed consumers’ appetites for movies, music and games on a variety of mobile devices.

FCC spokeswoman Tammy Sun said the experience with LightSquared “revealed challenges to maximizing the opportunities of mobile broadband for our economy.” — AP

US Senate in new cybersecurity push ‘Bill to arm us for battle in war against cyber mayhem’

Popular racing game Ridge Racer

Relationship dramas, car wrecks and demons NEW CONSOLE GAMES BERLIN: This could be the last year gamers get to really enjoy their old consoles, with Nintendo releasing the successor to the Wii - the Wii U - and new models of the XBox and Playstation set for release at the E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles.

Perhaps as a kind of grand farewell, developers are releasing one last set of games for the old platforms, covering the whole range of possible tastes. If you like basic racing and sports games, there’s Ridge Racer Unbounded and Grand Slam Tennis 2. If you’re more interested in intrigues, there’s Catherine, a mix of psycho thriller and puzzle game focusing on fidelity and cheating.

The next installment of the popular racing game Ridge Racer is set for a March 2 release. This time the title is expanded with the word Unbounded.

Previous versions of the Namco Bandai game were smooth and fairly polished. But, this time, Finnish developers are sending racing enthusiasts into the underground world of illegal street racing. As such, the game is about more than clean driving: points are scored here for the most daring racing.

The game’s spectacular races are set in the fictional city of Shatter Bay, crafted by the programmers with all manner of destructible scenery. The game allows players to seek all manner of short cuts, even if it’s through a house or a shopping centre.

A variety of difficulty levels should provide challenges for all. Ridge Racer: Unbounded will be released for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360 and cost about 70 euros (92.50 dollars).

Electronic Arts’ Grand Slam Tennis 2 takes things down several notches.

Unlike Ridge Racer, characters are at the core of this game.

Indeed, the precise control players have over their tennis racket is supposed to create a very authentic playing experience. To achieve the proper stroke, whether a slice or a top spin, players have to be sure to move the right analog stick properly. Playstation gamers can opt to use the Move motion sensor control, but Microsoft owners won’t have that option, since Kinect controls aren’t supported by the game.

Nostalgic tennis fans can even use the game to stage historical matches in their original settings, like Wimbledon. Tennis legends who can be summoned up include Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker and John McEnroe.

Whereas the first version of the game had graphics that could seem cartoonish, this version has realistic HD graphics, which lend a sense of reality to the animation. Grand Slam Tennis 2 is set to be released February 9 for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360 and will cost about 60 euros.

Catherine mixes genres together in unexpected ways, leaving the protagonist, Vincent, to carry out a doomed affair with the game’s namesake. While this is going on, a series of young men turn up dead under mysterious circumstances in the neighbourhood.

The game is a mix of psycho thriller and relationship drama. Gameplay includes puzzles and jump-n-run elements: Every night Vincent has to climb and jump to escape his nightmares. The bizarre game was developed by the Japanese company Atlus. Catherine is set for a February 10 release for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360, and will cost about 50 euros.

On the same day, shooter game The Darkness II from 2k Games is also set for release. Two years after the events of the first installment, Jackie Estacado has become the boss of a New York Mafia gang. He’s managed to banish thoughts about the demonic powers of the Darkness from his mind. However, an unexpected attack from the mystical brotherhood quickly reawakens the evil inside him.

As in the previous version, The Darkness II focuses on the balance between light and darkness. That means, for example, players can destroy lamps to lure opponents out of the protection of darkness. There are also new role-playing elements that allow players to have some influence on the linear storyline of the game.

A dark and oppressive atmosphere makes The Darkness II a game only for horror fans with strong nerves. Lots of violence means that some countries are only making edited versions available for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360, with the price set at about 65 euros.

For the fantasy fans out there, Electronic Arts has Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning on tap. The world of the game is a creation of best-selling author Robert Anthony Salvatore. Freshly raised from the dead, the role-playing game’s hero starts his mission to reveal the secret of immortality. But that mission leads him into the middle of wars between various races and peoples.

LAS VEGAS: In this Jan. 10, 2012 file photo, industry affiliates examine various apps on Motorola tablets during the 2012 International CES tradeshow, in Las Vegas. The EU’s antitrust watchdog has approved Google’s $12.5 billion takeover of cell phone maker Motorola. — AP

WASHINGTON: US senators, warning of potentially catastrophic cyberattacks, introduced a bill Tuesday aimed at protecting critical infrastructure such as power, water and transportation systems.

The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 is the latest attempt by the divided US Congress to pass legislation aimed at securing government and private sector networks from foreign cyber espionage, criminal hackers and terrorist threats.

“The nation responded after 9/11 to improve its security,” said Senator Joseph Lieberman, an independent who co-sponsored the long-awaited bill. “Now we must respond to this challenge so that a cyber 9/11 attack on America never happens,” Lieberman said. “I can’t think of a more urgent issue facing this country,” said Senator Jay Rockefeller, a Democratic co-sponsor. “Hackers are stealing information from Fortune 500 companies, breaking into the networks of our government and security agencies and toying with the networks that power our economy. “The new frontier in the war against terrorists is being fought online and this bill will level the playing field,” Rockefeller said.

The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 would have the Department of Homeland Security determine what qualifies as critical infrastructure and require compliance with a set of security standards. The legislation defines as critical

infrastructure systems “whose disruption from a cyberattack would cause mass death, evacuation, or major damage to the economy, national security, or daily life.”

The bill would encourage informationsharing about cyber threats between US government agencies and the private sector and consolidate Homeland Security cybersecurity programs under a unified National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications.

“This bill would begin to arm us for battle in a war against the cyber mayhem that is being waged against us by our nation’s enemies, organized criminal gangs, and terrorists who would use the Internet against us as surely as they turned airliners into guided missiles,” Lieberman said.

Republican co-sponsor Susan Collins said the legislation is needed to “achieve the goal of improving the security of critical cyber systems and protecting our national and economic security. “Our nation’s vulnerability has already been demonstrated by the daily attempts by nation-states, cyber criminals, and hackers to penetrate our systems,” Collins said.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is to hold a hearing on the bill today. James Lewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described the bill as a “really significant piece of legisla-

tion” but said “key sections of it have been diluted.”

“The part that really counts is the ability to hold critical infrastructure to mandatory standards and that’s under tremendous industry pressure to have it hollowed out,” said Lewis, who is scheduled to testify before the committee. Lewis said the bill “has the best chance of any I’ve seen” of passage but he was “not optimistic.”

The introduction of the cybersecurity bill coincided with a visit to the United States by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is expected to succeed Chinese President Hu Jintao next year.

In an unusually blunt report issued in November, a US intelligence agency, the office of the National Counterintelligence Executive, said the Chinese are the world’s “most active and persistent perpetrators” of economic espionage.

While acknowledging the difficulty of proving state sponsorship, the report said “US private sector firms and cybersecurity specialists have reported an onslaught of computer network intrusions that have originated in China.” China has repeatedly denied state involvement in cyber espionage against Western governments and companies, including well-publicized attacks on Internet giant Google that sparked a row between Washington and Beijing. — AFP

subscribers stop cancelling cable NEW YORK: It’s become the routine in the cable industry that subscribers stream out the door every quarter, hanging up on cable in favor of service from satellite or phone companies.

But in the October to December quarter, Comcast Corp. nearly managed to stop that flow.

The country’s largest cable company yesterday said it lost 17,000 TV customers in the fourth quarter, the smallest number of defections in five years. It compares with a loss of 135,000 subscribers in the same quarter a year earlier. Comcast credits added TV channels and better customer service for the better retention.

Its stock jumped nearly 8 percent before regular trading.

The Philadelphia-based company added a net 336,000 broadband customers in the same period. That was the best fourth-quarter result in years.

Both cable and phone companies have been reporting declining numbers, since more than two-thirds of US households already have broadband.

The result indicates that Comcast keeps stealing broadband customers from phone companies.

Together, AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. added a net 51,000 broadband customers in the period. Comcast on Wednesday reported net income of $1.29 billion, or 47 cents per share, for the quarter.

That’s up 26 percent from $1.02 billion, or 36 cents per share, in the last three months of 2010.

Analysts polled by FactSet were on average expecting earnings of 41 cents per share. Revenue was $15.04 billion, up 55 percent from $9.72 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The increase was due mainly to the acquisition of NBC Universal, which closed a year ago. Revenue rose 3 percent when factoring in NBC Universal in the previous-year figure.

Analysts had forecast revenue of $14.94 billion. The cable provider said it was raising its annual dividend from 45 cents to 65 cents per share, and also authorized a new $6.5 billion stock buyback program.

The company intends to buy back $3 billion in shares this year. The dividend is worth $1.8 billion to shareholders annually.

Comcast shares rose $2.09 to $29.34 in premarket trading. In recent days, the shares have been trading at the highest level in four and a half years. — AP

NEW YORK: In this Jan. 17, 2012 file photo, attendees at the National Retail Federation listen to a discussion about Google Wallet, in New York. The EU’s antitrust watchdog has approved Google’s $12.5 billion takeover of cell phone maker Motorola. — AP

In Brazil, Google paves Facebook’s path to the top SAO PAULO: Facebook’s popularity in Brazil has exploded over the past year, and the company may have its biggest competitor to thank for it. In its recent initial public offering filing, Facebook said its number of active users in Brazil had nearly tripled in 2011, finally placing it ahead of Google Inc’s Orkut service as the No. 1 social network in the country.

“I can’t think of an example where Facebook has grown so quickly,” said Andrew Lipsman, vice president of industry analysis at research firm comScore. “It really just skyrocketed.”

In Brazil, the birthplace of co-founder Eduardo Saverin, Facebook found a market primed for growth, with rapidly expanding Internet access, increasing rates of computer ownership, and rabid demand for social media.

Much of the credit for that may belong to Google, analysts say. While a growing economy and easier credit gave Brazilians the ability to purchase computers and broadband connections, Google’s Orkut gave them a reason to do so in the first place.

“Until Orkut came along in 2004, Internet use in Brazil was stagnant,” said analyst JosÈ Calazans of market research firm IBOPEnielsen in S„o Paulo. “When people here started buying computers and going to Internet cafes, it was specifically to access Orkut. Now many of those people are moving to Facebook.”

Orkut offered Brazilians their first taste of social media, with a simple interface and Portuguese language option making it easier to use than competing sites such as Friendster and MySpace. In a highly social culture such as Brazil’s, where even business meetings end in hugs, the site became a national phenomenon.

“Everyone was getting on Orkut,” recalls Raquel Recuero, a professor who specializes in

social media at the Catholic University of Pelotas in Brazil. “You would add people you didn’t even know, and people would compete to see who had the most friends.”

Orkut’s rise coincided with an economic boom that lifted millions out of poverty, with many Brazilians gaining access to computers and the Internet for the first time. That turned into a double-edged sword, both expanding Orkut’s user base while alienating more-affluent early adopters.

“After the lower classes started to come on, there was a culture clash that happened within Orkut, which was amplified by the media,” said Recuero. “For instance, we would see reports on the news of criminals stalking their victims on Orkut. People started to rethink how they used the site and started becoming aware of concepts like online privacy.” Orkut’s failure to innovate in line with users’ expectations created an opportunity for Facebook to step in, offering new applications and games, as well as the ability to connect with people beyond Brazil. Over time, Brazilians came to see Facebook as a way for them to start their online lives over from scratch, helping lead to its widespread adoption.

Orkut still holds a very large share of the social networking space in Brazil, with more than 34 million users compared with Facebook’s 36 million, according to comScore.

Yet, its days may be numbered. “If you think back to the US, Facebook and MySpace were very competitive for a while going back to about 2009,” said comScore’s Lipsman. “You can co-exist for a while, but what tends to happen is that people tend to consolidate around one or the other.”

Facebook will try to maintain its momentum in Brazil, which it called a “key source of growth” in its IPO filing. — Reuters

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

End to children’s cancer drug shortage is unclear TRENTON: A severe shortage of a childhood cancer drug should ease before hospitals run out of it in a couple of weeks, a top federal regulator said Tuesday. But the companies that make the drug are giving few details about how they will find a long-term solution to end the problem.

Valerie Jensen, associate director of the Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortage program, said her team is working with the three makers of preservative-free methotrexate, which is used to treat the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL. The drug, which cures up to 90 percent of children with ALL, has been in very short supply in recent weeks in America because a leading maker of the drug shut down some of its factories late last year.

Hospitals have warned the FDA that treatments for children with ALL could be stalled if new shipments of the drug

aren’t received within a couple weeks.

That could lessen the chances of children being cured of the disease.

“We understand from all three companies that they will be starting to ship by the end of the month,” Jensen told The Associated Press. She noted that federal regulations bar the FDA from discussing plans of specific companies, as that’s considered proprietary information. The three manufacturers of the drug - Mylan Inc., Hospira Inc. and Sandoz Inc. - weren’t specific about how they plan to resolve the shortage of the cancer medicine: Mylan says it’s working on increasing manufacturing capacity, which includes getting approval for that from the FDA. The company has an emergency supply of small vials of methotrexate, and plans to ship larger vials at the end of the month.

Hospira temporarily boosted production to address the shortage issue, but then ran out of the active ingredient. It is still producing some of the drug, but is

trying to get more of the active ingredient.

Sandoz is aiming to ship some of the drug in late February. The company did not provide any details. APP Pharmaceuticals LLC, which makes a form of methotrexate with preservative, said it is working with the FDA to determine whether it could get approval for a preservative-free formula. The preservative-free version is needed by both children and adults when methotrexate is given in very high doses intravenously or by injection in spinal fluid.

Preservatives in the drug can cause potentially fatal respiratory and organ damage or, when put into spinal fluid, paralysis.

Dr. Peter Adamson, chairman of the Children’s Oncology Group, a network of 200-plus North American hospitals treating children with cancer, said FDA officials “have been reassuring in discussions that this is not going to be a prolonged shortage.”

Still, he said: “Until the drug is actually delivered, we can’t be sure.” Until late last year, five drugmakers in the U.S. manufactured the generic injected cancer medicine methotrexate, which is crucial for treating children and adults with ALL as well as children with other, less-common cancers.

Four of those companies made a preservative-free version. So, when one of the biggest makers of the preservativefree methotrexate, Ben Venue Laboratories Inc., recently shut down its four factories in Bedford, Ohio, possibly for a year, due to serious quality problems, the on-again, off-again methotrexate shortage that began in late 2008 quickly turned into a crisis. That’s because the other companies cannot quickly pick up the slack.

Methotrexate is just one of 283 drugs currently in short supply. Those include 27 new shortages reported this year and 215 that began in 2010 or 2011 and remain unresolved, according to Erin R.

Fox, manager of the University of Utah Drug Information Service, which tracks US drug shortages.

Multiple hospitals and cancer specialists contacted by The Associated Press say they still have just enough methotrexate to treat current patients.

But a January survey of 204 oncologists around the country found at least 40 percent believed that one or more patients in the past year had either died prematurely or suffered a tumor recurrence because of the cancer drug shortages. But the methotrexate shortage has gotten particular attention because it’s frightening parents.

The drug has been a mainstay of childhood cancer treatment for 40 years and it’s highly effective. In addition, for ALL, there is no good alternative treatment for spinal fluid injections. For the other cancers, the fallback drugs will not work as well, but it’s unclear how much worse children getting that second-best option will fare. —AP

How secure are labs handling world’s deadliest pathogens?

Lab safety, security under scrutiny with bird flu research

FAIRFAX: From left, the microprocessor controlled ankle/foot prosthetic, shock foot vertical loading pylon prosthetic and the flexible keel foot prosthetic, are seen at Orthotic Prosthetic Center, yesterday in Fairfax, Va. Medicare’s bill for artificial feet rose nearly 60 percent in recent years, although foot and leg amputations due to diabetes continued a dramatic decline. Medicare paid $94 million for artificial feet in 2010, according to research conducted for The Associated Press. — AP

Injured boomers beware CHICAGO: It happened to nurse Jane Byron years after an in-line skating fall, business owner Haralee Weintraub while doing “men’s” pushups, and avid cyclist Gene Wilberg while lifting a heavy box. “It” is that pop, strain or suddenly swollen joint that reminds active older adults they aren’t as young as they’d like to think.

Even among the fittest baby boomers, ageing bodies just aren’t as nimble as young ones, and they’re more prone to minor damage that can turn serious if ignored or denied. But not every twist or turn needs medical attention, and knowing when it’s OK to self-treat pays off in the long run, in dollars and in health. Costly knee replacements have more than tripled in people aged 45-64 in recent years and a study released last week found that nearly 1 in 20 Americans older than 50 have these artificial joints. But active boomers can avoid that kind of drastic treatment by properly managing aches and pains.

Injuries that need immediate treatment cause excruciating, unrelenting pain, or force you to immediately stop your activity and prevent normal motion. Examples are a swollen, bent elbow that won’t straighten, or a knee that collapses when you try to stand, said Dr. Charles Bush-Joseph, a sports medicine specialist at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.

Treatment for more run-of-the mill activityrelated injuries is less clear-cut. A good rule of thumb for lower-body injuries is this: “If you’re able to bear weight, it’s safe to self-treat,” at least initially. Even if taking a few steps is painful, just being able to put weight on an injury means it’s probably not a medical emergency, Bush-Joseph said.

The key for most injuries is what happens

over the next two to three days. If things start to improve - less pain, more range of motion then there’s often no need to see a doctor. But if pain or swelling don’t subside with self-help, then it’s time to make an appointment.

Common injuries in active boomers include: Tendinitis - painful inflamed tendons in the elbow, shoulder or knee. The condition is often caused by repetitive action, such as swinging a golf club or tennis racket, especially when not using the proper form.

Tears to the meniscus, cartilage that cushions the knee but that becomes more brittle with age and prone to injury, especially from sudden twisting. Tears often cause a “pop” sensation and a feeling like the knee is catching while walking. Back pain, often from arthritis or ageing discs in the lower spine. Impact exercise including running, and using the back instead of leg muscles to lift heavy weights can contribute. Most can be treated with things like ice to curb swelling immediately after the injury, hot pads or other heat treatment for pain, over-the-counter painkillers, and rest.

In some ways, Jane Byron exemplifies the best - and worst - ways to handle those injuries. At 51, the New York City cancer nurse is a self-described exercise “maniac.” Her daily workouts often include walking, biking, leg pressing 400-pound weights and stair-climbing at her gym. All that exercise has kept her extremely fit, and she rejects the idea that she might be overdoing it. So she had some choice words for the doctor who suggested she consider slowing down a bit when her right knee swelled up six years ago. His diagnosis was torn cartilage likely from a 1999 fall while inline skating. —AP

Malnutrition ‘puts 450 million children at risk of stunting’ LONDON: About 450 million children will be physically and mentally stunted over the next 15 years unless the world takes action to tackle malnutrition, a new report from Save the Children warned yesterday.

Every hour, 300 children die due to a lack of nutrients in their diet, while those who survive are permanently damaged in a way that impacts on their lives and the economic prospects of their countries, the British charity said.

The problem has become urgent due to volatile food prices, economic uncertainty, climate change and demographic shifts. In Asia, for example, where 100 million children are stunted, the report predicts that climatic changes to food yields will result in seven million more stunted children by 2050.

“The world has made dramatic progress in reducing child deaths, down from 12 to 7.6 million, but this momentum will stall if we fail to tackle malnutrition,” said the charity’s chief executive, Justin Forsyth.

He urged the British government to lead a push to reduce malnutrition with a world hunger summit later this year, taking advantage of the presence of many world leaders in London for the 2012 Olympic Games in July and August.

“Every hour of every day, 300 children die because of malnutrition, often simply because they don’t have access to the basic, nutritious foods that we take for granted in rich countries,” Forsyth said. “By

acting on hunger and malnutrition, world leaders have the chance to change this for millions of children across the world.”

Save the Children said there were some straightforward remedies, including fortifying foods with vitamins and minerals and promoting breastfeeding. But the scale of the challenge is highlighted in one case study. Nine-year-old Maritu from Ethiopia told the researchers that her meals consist of a small piece of flatbread with a basic sauce.

“We don’t eat anything else-I might get egg or meat once a year for special occasions. There isn’t enough, but my parents give me whatever is available,” she said. A child’s body adapts to the long-term lack of nutrients by giving priority to the needs of vital organs and functions rather than to physical or cognitive growth-and the damage is largely irreversible.

Malnourished children are more susceptible to disease and the report estimates that in countries where the problem is worst, malnutrition is the underlying cause for a majority of deaths by diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia.

The economic impact is also significant, with adults who were malnourished as children predicted to earn at least 20 percent less than the average.

In countries where half the world’s malnourished children live, one in six parents also said that their children were skipping school to work for food. — AFP

NEW YORK/CHICAGO: To reach his office in Galveston National Laboratory, where scientists study deadly pathogens such as the Ebola and Marburg viruses, director James Le Duc swipes his key card at the building’s single entrance, which is guarded 24/7 by Texas state police.

As he walks the hallways, more than 100 closedcircuit cameras watch him. Seven more locked doors stand between him and his destination.

Entering a research lab requires another card swipe and, for labs housing especially dangerous microbes, a fingerprint scan.

To keep deadly viruses from escaping, each lab uses negative air flow and dedicated exhaust systems. Workers wear full-body air-supplied suits. To test its security, Galveston ran an exercise with the Federal Bureau of Investigation simulating a would-be intruder and another, with the University of Texas, war-gaming a campus shooter. The facility passed both tests.

Galveston’s strict security underlines a littleknown fact about hundreds of labs working with bacteria and viruses that could make the 1918-19 Spanish flu epidemic - when as many as 40 million people died - seem like a summer cold. Many of the precautions it takes are not required by law.

“A lock on the door is the only specified requirement,” said Rutgers University virologist Richard Ebright. “There is no explicit requirement for guards, bio-identity checks, or video monitoring like 7-Elevens have. The rules require very strict paperwork but no real physical security.”

Labs whose experiments on dangerous pathogens are funded by the US government must follow specific rules to keep the microbes from escaping, but those rules are not enforceable for researchers working with private funds. Outside the country, security and safety requirements vary widely, experts say.

“It’s all subject to interpretation,” said a scientist close to the US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, which monitors research that might pose a bioterrorism threat. If a lab receiving US government funding violates the guidelines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can cut off the flow of money, “but it can’t shut you down,” the scientist said. “I don’t have a lot of confidence in our biosafety right now.”

Questions about biosafety - keeping dangerous microbes from escaping labs - and biosecurity keeping out bad actors intent on releasing or stealing the pathogens - are front and center for global health officials due to a growing controversy over experiments with the bird flu virus.

Scientists and government officials will meet today and Friday at the World Health Organization in Geneva to hash out the safest way to deal with the studies and address fears that lab-engineered viruses could either escape or be used as a bioterror weapon.

Last year, labs at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Erasmus MC in Rotterdam independently created mutant forms of avian influenza, known as H5N1, that can be transmitted directly among mammals. The natural strain can be caught

only through close contact with infected birds.

One immediate question is what level of safety should be required for that research. So far, it has been conducted at biosafety-level 3 labs. Under US guidelines, BSL-3 applies to agents that cause “serious or lethal disease” but do not ordinarily spread between people and for which treatments or preventives exist. BSL-4 applies to agents with no preventives or treatment.

The Wisconsin and Erasmus scientists received approval to conduct their experiments under BSL-3 conditions because, they argued, antiviral drugs can treat avian flu. Erasmus was subject to U.S. guidelines because its experiments were funded by the National Institutes of Health.

“The viruses generated here are sensitive to influenza antivirals” so they fit the BSL-3 criteria, said Rebecca Moritz of the University of Wisconsin’s Office of Biological Safety. There are “multiple physical barriers and the facilities are monitored at all times.” All lab workers there wear disposable jumpsuits and powered respirators in addition to scrubs, shoes, shoe covers, and double gloves, she said. Each time scientists leave the lab, they must remove their protective equipment and shower before putting on their street clothes. Erasmus does the same.

The labs said they have emergency and security plans for a wide variety of threats. Neither would provide specifics on those security measures on the grounds the details could aid any would-be attackers.

Such precautions are not foolproof, however.

According to a 2009 report by the Government Accountability Office, there were 400 accidents at BSL-3 labs in the United States in the previous decade. Some scientists therefore argue that the experiments creating contagious H5N1 mutants should be done only at BSL-4 facilities. “An escape would still produce the worst pandemic in history,” said Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota and a member of the NSABB, at a symposium at the New York Academy of Sciences this month.

“The risk of this agent, if in fact it can be readily transmitted between humans, is catastrophic,” he told Reuters. “Until we know how this virus actually acts in humans, I think you have no choice but to move this (research) to BSL-4.”

BSL-4 labs, like the one in Galveston, have all the BSL-3 precautions and are also in isolated facilities with dedicated exhaust, vacuum, and other systems to prevent escape. In addition, workers must wear what are essentially space suits.

But the BSL guidelines relate to biosafety, not security. The debate over H5N1 experiments has also raised the question of how secure BSL-3 and BSL-4 labs are. It has assumed a greater urgency as the number of known US BSL-3 labs has surged from 415 in 2004 to 1,495 in 2010.

Hundreds or thousands of BSL-3 laboratories may be unknown, however, because “no federal agency is required to track the number of biocontainment labs,” found a 2011 report by the National Research Council, an arm of the U.S. National

Academy of Sciences. Globally, BSL-3 labs have recently been built or are under construction in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, China, Brazil, and Mexico, among others, the NRC found. Yet “many countries have few or no regulations,” the NRC concluded.

BSL-4 labs are also proliferating. A 2011 workshop in Istanbul organized by the NRC was told that there are 24 BSL-4 facilities, including in Germany, Gabon, Sweden, Russia, South Africa and Canada. The United States has six, including Le Duc’s, which is part of the University of Texas Medical Branch.

“We are now in a proliferation race for BSL-3 and 4 labs,” said Laurie Garrett, the senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “Having such a facility is a mark of national sophistication. But the spread of these labs allows the unfettered proliferation of the world’s most dangerous microbes.”

Indeed, deadly microbes have escaped highsecurity labs. Between 1978 and 1999, just over 1,200 people acquired infections from BSL-4 labs around the world; 22 were fatal. Since then, lab workers have been killed by Ebola and SARS, or severe acquired respiratory syndrome. Thieves tried to steal animal pathogens from an Indonesian lab in 2007, the NRC workshop was told.

US research on dangerous human pathogens must follow safety guidelines set by the CDC. They may or may not be followed at labs elsewhere in the world, concluded the NRC workshop. In part, that is because BSL-3 and BSL-4 designations “have very wide interpretations,” said Ren Salerno, senior manager for cooperative threat reduction programs at Sandia National Laboratories, part of the US Department of Energy.

Although US government-funded research must adhere to biosafety guidelines, they “do not have the force of law,” said Ebright. “If you’re a private lab, privately funded, there is no requirement that you comply.” The CDC declined to make a spokesperson available to discuss biosafety and biosecurity.

Many labs in developing countries say they adhere to guidelines as tough as those applied to US facilities. If they receive US funding, lab personnel must pass an FBI security risk assessment, for instance. In Thailand, police check the background of all staff members and require fingerprints to access freezers containing microbes.

A BSL-4 lab in Australia employs a security staff of 10. It is housed in a fenced, isolated building and has infrared cameras to detect intruders. Gabon’s BSL-4 lab is surrounded by electric fences and has a guard on duty at all times. Only three people know the code to the freezer holding Ebola.

US biosecurity requirements are laid out in the 2001Patriot Act, which says that facilities storing “select agents” microbes and toxins that could be used as bioweapons - must develop and implement a plan to keep them secure. Such labs must also provide the government the names of everyone with access to the pathogens; none can be on a terrorism watch list. — Reuters

Roche warns of alien cancer drug WASHINGTON: The maker of the best-selling cancer drug, Avastin, is warning doctors and patients about counterfeit vials of the product distributed in the US but made abroad. Roche’s Genentech unit said Tuesday that the fake products do not contain the key ingredient in Avastin, which is used to treat cancers of the colon, lung, kidney and brain. The drug is a huge moneymaker for Roche, generating about $6 billion a year.

A spokeswoman said the counterfeit drug has been distributed to health care facilities in the US, though it’s unclear how many vials are in circulation or where they may be concentrated. The company is working with the US Food and Drug Administration to track down the counterfeit vials and analyze their contents.

“We’re still analyzing what it is, we know it doesn’t contain the active ingredient in Avastin,” said Genentech spokeswoman Charlotte Arnold.

Avastin is administered in doctor’s offices and hospitals.

“It’s an infused medicine and not something a patient would have in their hands, so it’s really health care providers who should be on the lookout,” Arnold said. The counterfeit products do not have “Genentech” printed on their packaging, which appears on all FDA-approved cartons and vials of the drug. Additionally, legitimate Avastin contains a six-digit lot number with no letters. All the packaging text should be in English.

The company believes drugs labeled with the following lot numbers may be fake: B86017, B6011 and B6010. In a related action, the FDA

said late Tuesday it has contacted 19 medical practices that may have purchased unapproved drugs, including counterfeit Avastin, from a company called Quality Specialty Products. The for-

eign supply company may also do business as Montana Health Care Solutions, the agency said.

“FDA has requested that the medical practices stop using any remaining products from these suppliers,” the FDA said in a statement.

Genentech said the suppliers listed by the FDA are not authorized to distribute Avastin.

Genentech was alerted to the problem by foreign health regulators and company officials believe the counterfeits were imported from

abroad, though they could not specify which country. Genentech packages Avastin at USbased manufacturing facilities and is based in South San Francisco. Its parent company, Roche Holding AG, is based in Basel, Switzerland.

Doctors who suspect they have received counterfeit drug should contact the FDA’s criminal unit or Roche’s quality assurance department.

Avastin works by choking off the blood supply that feeds tumors. It was the first drug of its kind approved by the FDA. The injectable drug was the 14th best-selling drug in the US in 2010, according to data tracking firm IMS Health. Drug contamination and counterfeiting has become a growing concern for US pharmaceutical companies as they have increasingly moved operations offshore. About 80 percent of the active ingredients used in US prescription drugs are now manufactured overseas, according to congressional investigators.

In 2008, a contaminated blood thinner called heparin was connected with dozens of deaths and hundreds of allergic reactions across the US after being imported from China. An FDA investigation concluded the drug had been intentionally contaminated with an ingredient that mimics heparin “to reduce the costs of production.”

Recent legislation introduced in the House of Representatives would give the FDA greater resources and authority to inspect foreign drug imports. Separate legislation would create a mandatory barcode system to monitor the authenticity of all prescription drugs moving through the US supply chain.— AP

H E A LT H

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Dar Al Shifa Hospital adopts cardiac MRI technique KUWAIT: Dar Al Shifa Hospital recently held a seminar that highlighted best practice methods on cardiac MRI along with the value of heart imaging. The event held in Safir Marina Hotel, included renowned cardiologists and radiologists across Kuwait, who shared insight as well as latest research findings.

Taleb Jeraq, Head of Higher Committee at Dar Al Shifa Hospital said: “We are glad to have hosted such informative events that demonstrate our leadership position. This interactive seminar is a core part of our overarching strategy of sharing leading insight, and understanding the dynamics of the latest technological advancements across our daily operations.”

“The cardiac MRI service at Dar Al Shifa Hospital is a new addition to the imaging center, which is showing a great potential for becoming the imaging investigation of choice for many cardiac patients,” added Mr. Jeraq.

Dr. Tariq Sinan, Consultant Interventional Radiologist & Head of Diagnostic Imaging Center at Dar Al Shifa Hospital provided his introductory remarks, and gave the floor to Dr. Ravi Mathai, Consultant Radiologist at

Dar Al Shifa Hospital, who shed light on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. During his presentation, Dr. Mathai highlighted that quantification with cardiac MRI is accurate, as it does not make geometric assumptions on ventricular shape. The procedure is used to diagnose and assess many diseases and conditions, including coronary heart disease, damage caused by a heart attack, heart failure, heart valve problems, congenital heart defects, pericarditis, as well as cardiac tumors.

Cardiac MRI has excellent inter-study reproducibility and it has proven to be the golden standard in measuring ventricular volumes, while its unrestricted field of view provides structural and functional flow information on the heart in one single test. The process is safe and noninvasive, and does not involve the use of ionizing radiation or nephrotoxic contrast agents. Cardiac MRI creates both still and moving pictures of your heart and major blood vessels. Doctors use cardiac MRI to get pictures of the beating heart and to look at its structure and function. These pictures can help them

KUWAIT: A Conference marking the occasion and discussing the latest innovative diagnostic developments in the field of Cardiac MRI was attended by renowned cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and radiologists. decide the best way to treat people who have heart problems Dr. Ahmed Alaadine, Consultant -Cardio Vascular Diseases, Interventional Cardiologist & Head of Cardiology department at Dar Al Shifa Hospital also mentioned the success that the Cardiac MRI service at Dar Al Shifa Hospital has achieved is attributed to the fruitful collaboration between the cardiology and radiology teams. Such initiatives also mark the quality and services that are on offer. During his presentation, Dr. Alaadine also discussed when patients should do proceed with cardiac MRIs. Dar Al Shifa Hospital continues to provide the best in the field of radiology, offering the bet latest CT scanning technology. Comprehensive check-ups are completed in a matter of seconds, using the world’s lowest CT radiation doses.

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Announcements Art painting exhibition PART- (progressive art realization troop) is conducting a Symposium, A study of Contemporary art and Painting Exhibition. On Friday 17th February 2012, at “Pravasi”auditorium Abbassiya From 6pm onwards. Contact: Mob:9951081490961048-99252190-66776364-94414470 Email: partofkuwait@gmail.com Treasure Hunt Please join Al-Kout and the British Playhouse Nursery for their first grand treasure hunt! Teams of 3 members each, ages 8 to 14, boys and girls, will face challenges to find the grand prize! Event Date: February 18th Location: Al-Kout Mall, Fahaheel Time: 2pm - 6pm. To register or for more info: q8bphunt@gmail.com Kuwait Improv Fun lovers of Kuwait unite. A get together by people who love to surprise, be surprised and just be about at anything are welcome to Kuwait Improv, a gathering, reminiscent of the famous American TV program Whose Line is it Anyway, informally organized by American School of Kuwait teacher Brad Manker. No histrionic talent required, but a willingness to share. Please contact:mankerb@ask.edu Tulu speaking classes Here’s a great opportunity for parents who always wished their children could learn Tulu. Tulu Koota Kuwait, in its objective towards promoting Tulu language and culture, is pleased to announce the opening of Tutu Speaking Classes “Tulu Siri” at Indian Public School Salmiya @ 11:30 am. For more details kindly contact Ramesh Kidiyoor97204716/99596457,Shalini Vijay 66502369,Tharendra P. Shettigar 66757979,Jayalaxmi Karkal - 66958848, Sathyanarayana Salian - 66585077,Vanitha Dias94996459. And our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org Email: info@tulukootakuwait.org

KMA commends IDF for health awareness initiative

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ead of Kuwait Medical Association (KMA) Dr Ali Al-Mukaimi said the Indian Doctors Forum (IDF) carries out scientific and social activities, that represent an important addition to the role of Indian doctors in the health care community of Kuwait.

He said, the role of Indian doctors is not limited to the treatment aspects, rather they had launched important health awareness initiatives and organiz-

Palpak 4th AGM Palakkad Pravasi Association of Kuwait (Palpak) is conducting its Fourth Annual General Body Meeting on February 24, Friday at Hiphop Auditorium, Fahaheel from 10 am. The main agenda include as following, annual report on the activities during the year of 2011, the audited accounts report for the year of 2011. All members of Palpak are kindly requested to treat this as an official Invitation and attend the said Annual Genera1 body meeting on time. For more details please contact President P.N.Kumar (99771830) and General Secretary Aravindha Shan (66535989).

Sadu weaving workshop This workshop is of four weeks duration, and it will be held twice a week. The morning group sessions are on Monday and Wednesday from 9am to 12pm. The evening group are on Sunday and Tuesday from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. A total of 8 sessions of three hours each. This workshop will be held from January 22nd to February 18th. For more Information kindly contact Sadu House at: info@alsadu.org.kw SaduWeaving@gmail.com 2243-2395 or 9959-7983 AWARE Desert Camp Every year the desert beckons us to go and enjoy its quietness and serenity. Join AWARE for an allday outdoor experience including: Camel rides, ATV rides, Sports, Hot buffet lunch, Arabian cultural displays. Families and children welcome on Friday 17th Febuary. Departure from Aware 9.45 am, return departure 4.30 pm. Registration deadline is Feb. 15. For more info call Aware 25335260/80 or www.aware.com.kw or email : info@aware.com.kw KALA, Kuwait-Medical Camp The preparations are in progress for the KALA Free Medical Camp in association with Indian Doctors Forum, sheduled to be conducted on 17 February 2012 at Khaitan Cermel School, Kuwait.

The camp is all set to start at 8.30 am and to comclude by 3 pm. KALA, Kuwait under the guidence of Indian Doctors Forum and under the auspices of Kuwait Medical Associtaion (KMA) is conducting this event for the benefit of people especially from labor camps. The consultation with the medical experts of IDF will be free and strictly through registration. Registration forms can be availed from any of the KALA, Kuwait units or from the website www.kalaonweb.com Filled application from should be handed over to the nearest KALA units or faxed/ e-mailed on or before February 10. For informations contact: 24317875 (KALA Office), 97124562 & 65806495 (Abbassya), 66180229 & 97234038 (Fahaheel), 99122984 (Salmiya), 66290980 (Farwaniya).

Music festival On March 1, 2012, the “Blend Music Festival,” a mellow acoustic get-together of several local musicians, will take place in Bayt Lothan, the official sponsor, host, and curator of the event. This event will be FREE of charge and open to everyone to attend. We hope to see you all there, and here’s to a great start to 2012! The “Blend Music Festival” will be the first of many concerts to be held; there are a handful of musicians on board, and more will be added to the sets at a later stage. Here is the program for March 1st: 1- Ali Sleeq with Gary Ruston & Kevin Owen = JAZZ; 2Hadi Sarieddine, Bader Nana, & Sarj = ROCK; 3Lewis Chapman - FOLK / ROCK.

ing health camps with concentration of chronic diseases including cancer. They also spread awareness on risk factors related to such diseases and they prepared guides about them.

Dr Al-Mukaimi lauded the outstanding success achieved by the Indian doctors, that was organized by the Indian Doctors Forum, where the awareness and cultural program for 2012 was launched on Feb 10, 2012 under the

Patronage of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was represented by Deputy Minister for Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah to attend the event.

The ceremony was also attended by former Health Minister Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, Indians ambassador to Kuwait, Dean of Medical College Dr Adel Al-Khader, Director General of Dasman Center for Diabetes Research Dr Kazim Behbehani

and other Health Ministry officials.

Dr Ali Al-Mukaimi affirmed the importance of the role of medical societies in developing the medical performance and open training fields and allow for professional communication between doctors.

He said Kuwait Medical Asssociation is keen on giving full support to medical societies and provide all success factors to them.

Releasing of health guide book for 2012.

Al Houda Hotels & Tourism Co franchises restaurant brands

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he Al Houda Hotels and Tourism Company under the flagship of the Bukhmaseen group has opened new avenues to franchise their restaurant brands.

The restaurant brands include Sakura specializing in Japanese cuisine, Rib Eye Steak House, Shabestan in Iranian, Al Noukhaza in Seafood, AyamZaman in Lebanese cuisines and also their International brands, Ruby Tuesday American casual dining and Peppes Pizza both operated by the National Arabic Company.

Al Houda participated in the hospitality exhibition HORECA Kuwait 2012 along with Crowne Plaza Kuwait, Holiday Inn Kuwait, and

National Arabic Company.Crowne Plaza Kuwait further had an open fresh Sushi counter opened throughout the exhibition there-

by attracting clients and investors alike. The restaurant names have already gained a strong foothold in the Kuwaiti local market

because of their quality and strategic locations. The franchise concept will gain a fresh threshold thereby promoting the brand access to viable and interested investors.

The franchise philosophy at Al Houda is to use the strength of their business model and culture to deliver lower risk and offer a successful business platform to selected investment partners. Al Houda has created a franchise structure that not only attracts qualified franchisees to the restaurant business but also offer support that allows to make solid returns on their investment. Al Houda has elected to strategically expand their

Arabian horse festival

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irst International Arabian Horse Festival Kuwait 2012 at Bait Al-Arab Kuwait State Stud under the auspicies of the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah.

Record nomination of over 400 entries for this festival Bait Al-Arab Kuwait State Stud has been authorized by the Hunting Equestrian Club to organize the 1st International Arabian Horse Festival in Kuwait in the month of February which is traditionally filled with exciting activities and festivals, including Kuwait National Day and Liberation Day. The event will include the 1st international Championship Show on 15 - 16 February 2012

(ECAHO B-Show) which is open to purebred Arabian horses which are registered in a WAHO recognized studbook. Because more than 60+ of all Arabian horses which are registered in the Kuwait Arabian horse studbook are of so called Straight Egyptian bloodlines, the 1st International Egyptian Event on 17 -18 February 2012 (recognized by the Pyramid Society USA) will be organized. The program includes 2 days of stud visits to well known private studs on 19 20 February 2012.

For more information please contact the show office via email: contact- baitalarab-kw.com or phone: 24713532.

Prathibha book release tomorrow

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rathibha Arts Club will host a literary function tomorrow at 10.30 am at New Mughalai Restaurant hall Fahaheel. The short story collection, Afaina Pookkunnu written by ten expat writers in Kuwait will be released in the function. Kaippattoor Thankachan, Babuji Batheri, Sathar Kunnil among others will felicitate the writers. The book, in Malayalam is published by Haritham Books.

brands in prime markets in the Middle East with well-qualified franchisees.

Hani Kafafi, the CEO of Al Houda Hotels & Tourism Co. says, “with the proven success record of the restaurant business along with solid financial backing, successful business experience, Al Houda delivers time and development commitment offering complete and total assistance to the franchisee to set up a franchise business model in terms of operational, marketing, culinary and training support.Al Houda also provides design guidance, training, operational support and a true partnership.

US Embassy announces Ask the Consul Program

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lease join the US Embassy on Wednesday February 22 at 14:00, as we launch a monthly, online question and answer session on consular issues on the US Embassy Facebook and Twitter pages. We invite anyone living in Kuwait who has consular questions to logon on to our social media pages on Wednesday at 14:00 to ask their questions. A dedicated Consular Officer will be on hand t&~ answer your questions directly through Facebook and Twitter. Through the #Ask the Consul program, we are excited to provide answers on a range of consular issues, including visa questions related to those seeking to study, work, and live in the United States. We can provide information on services for U.S. citizens such as notarials and passports as well as information on tourist visas, visa processing times, as well as the various visa classifications and their requirements. Anyone with questions on immigrant, nonimmigrant, or American citizen services may submit a question.

While we cannot discuss the status of individual visa cases in a public forum, we hope to provide as much clarification as possible.

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Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

President of MAA visits GUST

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ulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Research Committee invited Professor Paul Zorn, President of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) during his visit to Kuwait for a seminar entitled: Optimizing possibilities: Learning and Doing Mathematics in the USA Prof. Zorn during his visit to the universitywas met by Professor ShuaibShuaib, President of GUST, Dr. Robert Cook, VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Lee Caldwell, Dean of the College of Business Administration, Dr. Sabah AlQuaddoomi˝, Vice President for Academic Services,Dr. Ali Ansari, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Mohamed Musa, Head Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and

Margaret Combs, Director of Foundation Program Unit.

During the seminar, Dr. Wassim Daher, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at GUST and head of the department’s Research Committee, introducedProf. Paul Zorn and thanking Dr. Fahad Al-Zumai, VP of Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Robert Cook, VP for Academic Affairs, the GUST Finance Department, Dr. Ali Ansari, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Mohamed Musa, Head Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and FadwaNoury, Admin. Assistant in the Mathematics & ScienceDepartment for their efforts in making this event successful.He then handed over toProf.

Zorn to start his discussion on mathematics in the US. Prof. Zorndrew on his experience to

describe aspects of mathematical life in American colleges, universities and careers. He mentioned that “Statistics” is a growing field in United States and encouraged students to study it.He touched briefly on the history and activities of the MAA, one of the largest mathematical associations in the world and discussed how mathematics is taught and used in American colleges and universities, including his own and how it grows. Most interestingly, Prof. Zorn referred to the Arabic Numerals as good example noting the importance of Middle Eastern contribution to Mathematics. Prof. Zorn invited interested members from Kuwait to join MMA. Professor Zorn, a professor of mathematics at Saint Olaf College, attended the Washington University in Saint Louis, focusing on mathematics and English.

He did his PhD, in several complex variables, at the University of Washington, Seattle. In 1981 he joined St. Olaf as chair of the Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science. He has also taught at Purdue University. Zorn has served on many MAA committees and programs. From 1996 to 2000, he was Editor of MAA’s expository journal Mathematics Magazine. His latest textbook, Understanding Real Analysis, was published by AK Peters in 2010.

GUST faculty continuously go out of their way to provide opportunities like this for their students to benefit from, as they all understand and appreciate that education involves more than the classroom and textbooks, but also entails meeting people who have experience in the field and of course, practical application of everything you learn.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St., Block 4 in Da’aiyah.

Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday. Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca.

The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KOREA The Embassy of the Republic of Korea wishes to inform that it has moved to Mishref.

New Address: Embassy of the Republic of Korea Mishref, Block 7A, Diplomatic Area 2, Plot 6 The Embassy also wishes to inform that it will be opened to the public on the following office hours: Saturdays to Thursday Morning: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm Lunch Break: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on the following dates during the month of February 2012.

National Day of Kuwait - Feb 25, - Saturday.

Liberation Day of Kuwait - Feb 26, - Sunday. nnnnnnn

DPTM holds annual contest

D

esert Pioneers Toastmasters Club (DPTM) in Kuwait is one of the most popular and well, attended Toastmaster clubs.

Annual contests are held every year to showcase the talents honed by the toastmasters while attending regular club meetings. This annual contests provides an opportunity for all the contestants to increase their confidence level.

Our club held its 2012 scintillating 1st segment Annual Club Contest on January 31 in two categories, Humorous

Speech and Evaluation Speech. The contests were held at American Creativity Academy (ACA). Despite bad weather, due to rain, more than 50 people turned out; some of them participants, some of them family members and some of them guests.

A total of 20 contestants participated in the contest - only six participants qualified of which only 1st prize winner goes to Area Level. In Humorous Speech Contest, eleven contestants participated to qualify for best humorous speech.

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi

I

ndian Cultural Society proudly presents new concept of comedy play “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi” with

I

PC and all its branches are opening free Arabic language course for ladies accessible in beginners and advanced levels.

Class will commence on March 2, 2012. Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages. Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC branch: Rawdah: 22512257 / 97290278; Salmiyah: 25733263 / 97533263; Mangaf: 23723002 ext.

124/123; Jahra: 24558830 / 97533948; Khaithan: 24730137.

ment are:1) TM Anil Lobo - 1st Prize; 2) TM Surya - 2nd Prize; 3) TM Xavier - 3rd Prize.

DPTM would like to thank the Management of American Creativity Academy for providing the great venue with all facilities DPTM would also like to thank all its members for participating and organizing the event to become such a grand success. Without the help of club members and guests, it would have not been possible to hold such a successful event.

PAWS’ puppy of the month!

Bhagyashree & Akshay Ananad along with Krutika Sharma, Prairna & Navin Agarwal on 17th Feb, Friday, at 7 pm at Dr Kamil Al Rays auditorium American International School near Police station Maidan Hawally Kuwait.

ICS theme carries latest & novelty in concept & event. And now an out an out romantic comedy with film actor & actress first time in Kuwait.

Blockbuster Movie “Maine Pyar Kiya” fame Bhagyashree first time on stage in new look.

Bhagyashree hails from the royal family of Patwardhans from Sangli city in Maharashtra. Her father is Maharaja of Sangli. First film has given her big entry, super hit & life time achievement. Salman Khan also launched with Bhagyashree. is best known for her role in the 1989 film Maine Pyaar Kiya with Salman Khan.

The chief guest for the event will be Ambassador of India, Kuwait and the guest of honor will be prominent personalities from Kuwait. For more information log on to ics.kuwait@gmail.com

Free Arabic language course

Out of them three contestants were qualified for First, Second and Third Prize winners. You can witness the event in http://www.facebook.com/dptmclub.

Winners in humorous speech segment are: 1) TM Sukdeb Chatteerjee -1st Prize; 2) TM Satish Kumar -2nd Prize; 3) TM Pradeep Vincent 3rd prize. In Evaluation speech Contest, out of nine evaluators, again three contestants were qualified for First, Second and Third Prize. Winners in Evaluation speech seg-

PAWS, the Protecting Animal Welfare Organization, would like to introduce Chucky, our puppy of the month.

Chucky is about 8 weeks old, a male poodle terrier mix, a small sized dog.

Chucky was dumped like garbage in front of a Vet clinic, and was found screaming by the clinic staff, they informed PAWS for rescue. The little shaking puppy was brought to the shelter and needed 4 days to recover from his trauma in the private staff rooms. He needed the physical contact to somebody whom he could trust.

Fortunately and not surprisingly Chucky became within 1 week the most popular puppy for our volunteers because of his stunning character and his amazing personality. He loves the attention, loves to be carried around, loves to hunt the puppies which are triple his size, insists on getting his cuddles and will not stop asking for attention till he suddenly falls asleep .

Chucky needs a forever home in a loving family, kids would be great play companions, but he also needs training and education. He is an adorable little

monkey with a lot of temperament and deserves dog owners who are aware of their commitment. If you are interested to visit Chucky please inform info@paws-kuwait.org or visit our website www.paws-kuwait.org and fill in an

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy will move 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 from 26 January, 2012. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, e-mail:myankuwait11@gmai1.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES For emergency, please contact the Consular hotline at 65184433. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office and other attached agencies shall continue to operate and hold office in Jabriya until 15 March 2012. All your passports and other consular concerns will be processed at our new location, except of course labor issues.

Regular working hours of the Embassy shall resume in Faiha. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF RUSSIA Embassy of the Russian Federation invites all the Russian residents in Kuwait to visit the Consulate for registration and updating your database. This information is necessary for prompt notice, assistance and warning in case of emergency. The consulate reception hours: 10:00 - 13:00, Sunday - Wednesday. The Embassy is located in Kuwait City, Daiya, Block 5, Diplomatic campus, Plot 17. Tel: (+965) 22560427, 22560428. Fax: (+965) 22524969, e-mail: rusposkuw@mail.ru, consdepkuw@mail.ru Information also available on the website: www.kuwait.mid.ru nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” (+ 965) 972-79-206. nnnnnnn

application form.

Every dog or cat which is rehomed makes space for another helpless, abandoned, abused animal. Every adoption fee helps PAWS to treat and feed all the beloved rescued animals in our shelter.

EMBASSY OF VENEZUELA Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , request Venezuelan citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can update its contact list and assist Venezuelan citizens in cases of emergencies. Registration Information 25324367 or by email: embavenez@gmail.com. From Sunday to Thursday from 8.30am till 2 pm.

Balakrishna to visit Kuwait

P

rominent Telugu film Hero Nandamuri Balakrishna coming to Kuwait on 5th April 2012 for 2 days upon the invitation of Pravasaandhra Telugu Desam, NBK seva samithi. Nadamuri Balakrishna is popularly known as “Balayya” and “NBK” by his fans and admirers. He is the son of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu film legend Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao. He then starred in many critical and commercial

films and established himself as one of the leading contemporary actors of Telugu Cinema.

In addition to films, Balakrishna is associated with several philanthropic and social organizations activities. He campaigned for the Telugu Desam Party in the 2009 Assembly elections, and he is the chairman of the trust board of The Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute. Balakrishna will be the chief

guest in the “Musical Night” Program which will be organized by Pravasaandhra Telugu Desam, NBK seva samithi on 6th April evening. Social entrepreneur awardee Guttikonda Thakoor is convening and also participating in this program. For More details contact Pravaasandra Telugu Desam Officials Mulakala Subbarayudu, 55770769, Venkat Koduri, 97200952, Malepati Suresh Babu, Adusupalli Udaya Prakash, Pidikiti Srinivas

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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00:50 Animal Cops Houston 01:45 Untamed & Uncut 02:40 Buggin’ With Ruud 03:35 Wild France 04:30 Wildest Africa 05:25 Saving A Species 06:20 Escape To Chimp Eden 06:45 Dolphin Days 07:10 K9 Cops 08:00 Gorilla School 08:25 Animal Planet’s Most Outrageous 09:15 The Really Wild Show 09:40 Project Puppy 10:10 Dogs 101: Specials 11:05 Saving A Species 12:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 12:55 SSPCA: On The Wildside 13:20 Wildlife SOS 13:50 Clinically Wild: Alaska 14:15 Clinically Wild: Alaska 14:45 Animal Cops Phoenix 15:40 Saving A Species 16:30 Echo And The Elephants Of Amboseli 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Panda Adventures With Nigel Marven 18:25 Dogs 101 19:20 Cats Of Claw Hill 19:45 Extraordinary Dogs 20:15 Gorilla School 20:40 Wildlife SOS 21:10 Escape To Chimp Eden 21:35 In Too Deep 22:05 The Animals’ Guide To Survival 23:00 Beast Lands 23:55 Snake Crusader With Bruce George

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

Eastenders Doctors Lark Rise to Candleford Last Of The Summer Wine As Time Goes By Keeping Up Appearances Balamory Charlie and Lola The Large Family Bobinogs Buzz & Tell Fimbles Little Robots Nina And The Neurons Balamory Charlie and Lola The Large Family Bobinogs Buzz & Tell Fimbles Little Robots Nina And The Neurons Last Of The Summer Wine As Time Goes By The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Casualty Lark Rise to Candleford Keeping Up Appearances Last Of The Summer Wine The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors Casualty Lark Rise to Candleford The Weakest Link Eastenders Doctors As Time Goes By Last Of The Summer Wine Chimp Family Fortunes The World’s Toughest Driving Little Britain Keeping Up Appearances Survivors Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show The Weakest Link Chimp Family Fortunes

00:05 Bargain Hunt 00:50 What Not To Wear 01:40 Antiques Roadshow 02:35 James Martin’s Brittany 03:20 James Martin’s Brittany 03:45 Indian Food Made Easy 04:10 Indian Food Made Easy 04:35 Indian Food Made Easy 05:00 What To Eat Now - Autumn 05:30 What To Eat Now - Autumn 05:55 10 Years Younger 06:45 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 07:30 Indian Food Made Easy 07:55 Indian Food Made Easy 08:20 What Not To Wear 09:10 James Martin’s Brittany 09:35 Masterchef Australia 10:25 Bargain Hunt 11:10 Antiques Roadshow 12:00 Come Dine With Me 12:50 10 Years Younger 13:40 Masterchef 16:00 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 16:45 House Swap 17:30 Bargain Hunt 18:15 Antiques Roadshow 19:05 James Martin’s Champagne 19:30 James Martin’s Champagne 19:55 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 20:25 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 20:55 Indian Food Made Easy 21:20 House Swap 22:05 Masterchef

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

Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley New Yogi Bear Show Duck Dodgers The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo The Jetsons Puppy In My Pocket Popeye Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races The Flintstones A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Popeye Classics The Garfield Show Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Puppy In My Pocket The Scooby Doo Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Flintstones Duck Dodgers Tom & Jerry Kids Pink Panther And Pals Wacky Races Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Garfield Show A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Scooby-Doo And ScrappyLooney Tunes Puppy In My Pocket Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And ScrappyJelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Pink Panther And Pals Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

Years

00:40 Samurai Jack 01:05 Samurai Jack 01:30 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 02:20 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:45 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 03:10 Best Ed 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:25 Adventure Time 04:50 Generator Rex 05:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 05:40 Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:55 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 07:20 Powerpuff Girls 07:45 Angelo Rules 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:30 The Amazing World Of Gumball 08:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 09:15 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 09:40 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:05 Angelo Rules 10:30 Chowder 10:55 Adventure Time 11:20 Eliot Kid 11:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 12:00 Ben 10 12:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 12:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 13:15 I Am Weasel 13:40 Best Ed 14:05 Cow & Chicken 14:30 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:50 Eliot Kid 15:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 15:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 16:05 Courage The Cowardly Dog 16:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 16:55 Gumball 17:20 Adventure Time 17:35 Regular Show 18:00 Cow & Chicken 18:25 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 18:50 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:15 Angelo Rules 19:30 Total Drama World Tour 19:55 Hero 108 20:25 Sym-Bionic Titan 20:50 Adventure Time 21:25 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 21:50 Courage 22:25 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 22:50 Cow And Chicken 23:00 Ben 10 23:25 Ben 10 23:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog

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

RESTITUTION ON OSN ACTION HD

Destroyed In Seconds Rampage!

Dirty Jobs Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How Does It Work?

How It’s Made Dirty Jobs Mythbusters Gold Rush Swamp Loggers How Does It Work?

Cake Boss Border Security Auction Hunters Nasa’s Greatest Missions Nasa’s Greatest Missions Overhaulin’ Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Cash Cab Us Border Security Auction Hunters How It’s Made How Does It Work?

Cake Boss Surviving The Cut Spy Wars Ross Kemp On Gangs

00:40 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 01:35 Weird or What?

02:25 The Tech Show 02:50 Sci-Fi Science 03:15 Sci-Fi Science 03:40 Science of Star Wars 04:35 How Does That Work?

05:00 How Stuff’s Made 05:25 Kings of Construction 06:20 Prototype This 07:10 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 08:00 The Gadget Show 08:25 The Gadget Show 08:50 How Does That Work?

09:15 How Stuff’s Made 09:40 Sci-Fi Science 10:05 Sci-Fi Science 10:35 Science of Star Wars 11:25 Kings of Construction 12:20 Prototype This 13:15 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 14:05 Weird or What?

14:55 How Does That Work?

15:20 How Stuff’s Made 15:50 The Gadget Show 16:15 The Gadget Show 16:40 The Tech Show 17:05 Prototype This 18:00 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 18:50 Kings of Construction 19:40 Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention 20:05 Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention 20:30 Science of the Movies 21:20 Prototype This 22:10 The Gadget Show 22:35 The Gadget Show 23:00 Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention 23:25 Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention 23:50 Science of the Movies

00:00 KIM POSSIBLE 00:25 Fairly Odd Parents 00:50 Fairly Odd Parents 01:15 STITCH 01:35 STITCH 02:00 REPLACEMENTS 02:25 REPLACEMENTS 02:50 EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL 03:15 EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL 03:35 STITCH 04:00 STITCH 04:25 REPLACEMENTS 04:50 REPLACEMENTS 05:15 Fairly Odd Parents 05:35 Fairly Odd Parents 06:00 HANNAH MONTANA FOREVER 06:20 RECESS 06:45 TIMON AND PUMBAA 07:05 PHINEAS AND FERB 07:30 Good Luck Charlie 07:55 FISH HOOKS 08:10 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 08:35 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 09:00 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 09:15 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 09:25 HANDY MANNY 09:40 THE HIVE 09:47 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 09:50 RECESS 10:15 SO RANDOM 10:40 HAVE A LAUGH 10:45 HANNAH MONTANA FOREVER 11:10 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 11:35 JAKE & BLAKE 12:00 SONNY WITH A CHANCE 12:25 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 12:45 PHINEAS AND FERB 13:10 SO RANDOM 13:30 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 13:55 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 14:20 HAVE A LAUGH 14:30 PHINEAS AND FERB 14:55 PHINEAS AND FERB 15:20 MY BABYSITTER’S A VAMPIRE 15:45 FISH HOOKS 16:10 SHAKE IT UP 16:40 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 17:05 TIMON AND PUMBAA 17:30 Good Luck Charlie 17:55 FISH HOOKS 18:20 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 18:45 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 19:10 Good Luck Charlie 19:30 HAVE A LAUGH 19:35 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 20:00 HANNAH MONTANA FOREVER 20:25 PHINEAS AND FERB 20:50 SHAKE IT UP 21:15 FISH HOOKS 21:35 RECESS 22:00 SHAKE IT UP 22:25 SHAKE IT UP 22:50 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 23:15 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 23:35 SONNY WITH A CHANCE

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

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Special Agent Oso Little Einsteins Timmy Time Jungle Junction Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’s Circus Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Higglytown Heroes

09:30 Higglytown Heroes 09:45 Handy Manny 10:00 Special Agent Oso 10:15 Jungle Junction 10:30 Jungle Junction 10:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:10 The Hive 11:20 Handy Manny 11:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 11:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 12:05 The Hive 12:15 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 12:20 Mouk (Cema) 12:35 Mouk (Cema) 12:45 The Hive 12:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 13:20 Imagination Movers 13:45 Art Attack (Cema) 14:10 Imagination Movers 14:35 Special Agent Oso 14:45 Lazytown 15:10 Handy Manny 15:25 Jungle Junction 15:40 Imagination Movers 16:05 The Hive 16:15 Special Agent Oso 16:25 Little Einsteins 16:50 Lazytown 17:15 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 17:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 17:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:05 Mouk (Cema) 18:20 Handy Manny 18:30 The Hive 18:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:55 Imagination Movers 19:20 Lazytown 19:45 Art Attack (Cema) 20:10 The Hive 20:20 Special Agent Oso 20:30 Jungle Junction 20:45 Handy Manny 20:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:10 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:25 The Hive 21:35 Little Einsteins 22:00 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 22:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:25 101 Dalmatians 22:40 101 Dalmatians 22:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 23:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 23:20 The Hive 23:30 Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 23:35 A Poem Is...

23:40 Animated Stories 23:45 Mouk (Cema)

00:55 Style Star 01:25 Young, Beautiful & Vanished 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kendra 09:45 Kendra 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Fashion Police: 2008 Grammy Awards 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Ice Loves Coco 17:25 Ice Loves Coco 17:55 E! News 18:55 Fashion Police: 2008 Grammy Awards 19:55 Scouted 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Scouted 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner 01:30 The Haunted 02:15 A Haunting 03:05 I Almost Got Away With It 03:50 Cuff Me If You Can 04:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner 05:25 The Haunted 06:15 A Haunting 07:10 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 08:00 FBI Files 08:50 Forensic Detectives 09:40 Murder Shift 10:25 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 11:10 Real Emergency Calls 11:35 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

11:55 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 12:40 Disappeared 13:25 Murder Shift 14:15 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 15:00 Real Emergency Calls 15:25 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

15:50 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 16:35 Disappeared 17:20 The Prosecutors 18:10 Forensic Detectives 19:00 Murder Shift 19:45 Real Emergency Calls 20:10 Life Or Death: Medical Mysteries 20:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

21:20 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 22:10 Disappeared 23:00 Kidnap And Rescue 23:50 Fugitive Strike Force

00:00 Predator CSI 01:00 Wild Dog Diaries 01:55 The Real Serengeti 02:50 Shark Island 03:45 Leopard Queen 04:40 Built For The Kill 05:35 Nordic Wild 06:30 Squid vs. Whale 07:25 Expedition Wild 08:20 Monster Fish 09:15 The Real Serengeti 10:10 Shark Island 11:05 Leopard Queen 12:00 Built For The Kill 13:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 14:00 Expedition Wild 15:00 Monster Fish 16:00 Lion Army 17:00 Brutal Killers

EMMY WINNING COMEDY SERIES ENTOURAGE RETURNS FOR ITS EIGHTH AND FINAL SEASON EXCLUSIVELY ON OSN KUWAIT: The boys are back for the eighth and final season of the Emmy®-winning hit HBO comedy series Entourage on Monday, February 27th at 22:00 KSA on OSN comedy exclusively on OSN. Vince, Eric, Drama and Turtle have been through a lot over the years, chasing dreams, women and good times as if the party would never end. Through the highs and the lows, their friendship has kept them together. But is it time for them to grow up? This season, find out if each of the guys can compete on his own in the fast lane of high- stakes Hollywood. It’s time to fasten your seat belts for the eighth – and final – season of Entourage!

When we last left them, Vince had gone off the deep end after the guys’ failed attempt to stage an intervention for his excessive boozing and not-so-recreational drug use. Now, Vince is back from a stint in rehab and ready for a new pet project, while each of his crew deal with their own personal and professional challenges.

As Season 8 begins, super-agent Ari Gold and Mrs. Ari have recently separated; Eric has broken up with Sloan after a prenup debacle, and is running his own management company with Scott Lavin. Drama is shooting his animated series, Johnny’s Bananas, with Andrew Dice Clay; and Turtle is invested in the Avion tequila line and starting a new business venture.

There’s a lot more ups and downs in store for the boys from Queens this summer – but by the end of the series, will they achieve the successes they’ve always dreamed of? These and other burning questions will be answered in the new season.

18:00 Monster Crocs 19:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 20:00 Expedition Wild 21:00 Monster Fish 22:00 Lion Army 23:00 Brutal Killers

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:15 10:00 12:45 14:45 16:30 18:15 20:15 22:00

Restitution-PG15 Mirrors 2-18 Death Race 2-18 Lost In Space-PG15 Tracker-PG15 2012-PG15 Largo Winch 2-PG15 Tracker-PG15 The Next Karate Kid-PG Largo Winch 2-PG15 Jason X-18 Game Of Death-PG15

01:00 Desperate Hours: An Amber Alert-PG15 03:00 Make It Happen-PG15 05:00 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs.

Evil-PG15 06:45 The A-Team-PG15 09:00 The Spy Next Door-PG 11:00 Freestyle (2010)-PG15 13:00 Freakonomics-PG15 15:00 My Dog Tulip-PG15 17:00 The 19th Wife-PG15 19:00 Tomorrow, When The War Began-PG15 21:00 No Strings Attached-18 23:00 Let Me In-R

03:00 Friends 03:30 Friends 04:00 Dharma And Greg 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 06:00 Malcolm In The Middle 08:30 Friends 12:00 Malcolm In The Middle 12:30 Dharma And Greg 13:30 Just Shoot Me 14:00 Friends 16:30 How I Met Your Mother 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 The League 19:30 State Of Georgia 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 The Big C 22:30 American Dad 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Falling Skies Strike Back Justified Once Upon A Time Off The Map Good Morning America Eureka Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Falling Skies Once Upon A Time Tower Prep Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Look-A-Like Psych American Idol Necessary Roughness Off The Map

00:05 01:00 02:05 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00

Cold Case Luck Falling Skies Strike Back Once Upon A Time The Gates Cold Case Parks And Recreation Coronation Street Parenthood Inside The Actor’s Studio Falling Skies

11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Once Upon A Time Parks And Recreation Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Parenthood Smallville The Cape The Ellen DeGeneres Show Parenthood Psych American Idol Necessary Roughness Supernatural

01:00 Sniper: Reloaded-18 03:00 Wild Bill-PG15 05:00 Snow White: A Tale Of Terror18 07:00 Bustin’ Down The Door-PG15 09:00 Rocky II-PG15 11:00 Tremors-PG15 13:00 No Time To Fear-PG15 15:00 Rocky II-PG15 17:00 Odysseus: Voyage To The Underworld-PG15 19:00 The Alphabet Killer-18 21:00 Malibu Shark Attack-18 23:00 Storm Warning-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 05:45 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 PG15 20:00 22:00 18

12 Men Of Christmas-PG15 Woke Up Dead-PG15 A Guy Thing-PG15 Renaissance Man-PG15 Indian Summer-PG15 Knucklehead-PG15 Captain Ron-PG15 Mr. Wrong-PG15 12 Men Of Christmas-PG15 My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend-

01:15 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:45 PG 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

For Keeps-PG15 Raising Cain-PG15 Fierce Creatures-PG15 Khao Niao Moo Ping-PG15 Winning Time-PG15 Searching For Bobby Fischer-

Barry Munday-18 Team America: World Police-

Joueuse-PG15 The Sting II-PG15 Soapdish-PG Antwone Fisher-PG15 Nine-PG15 8 Mile-PG15

01:00 Jackass 3-R 03:00 Furry Vengeance-PG 05:00 The Devil’s Teardrop-PG15 07:00 Alabama Moon-PG15 09:00 By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama-PG15 11:00 Ice Age-FAM 13:00 District 9-PG15 15:00 Salt-PG15 17:00 By The People: The Election Of Barack Obama-PG15 19:00 The King’s Speech-PG15 21:00 No Strings Attached-18 23:00 Predators-18

00:00 Mars Needs Moms-PG 02:00 Turandot-PG 04:00 In Search Of The Titanic-PG 06:00 The Prince Of Dinosaurs-PG 08:00 Mars Needs Moms-PG 10:00 Legend Of The Guardians-PG 12:00 The Amazing Zorro-FAM 14:00 Alex & Alexis-PG15 16:00 The Muppets Take Manhattan-PG 18:00 Legend Of The Guardians-PG 20:00 Casper Haunted ChristmasFAM 22:00 The Prince Of Dinosaurs-PG

00:00 Passing Strange-PG15 02:30 Little Fockers-PG15 04:15 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 06:15 Coyote County Loser-PG15 08:00 Winnie The Pooh-FAM

09:30 13 Going On 30-PG15 11:30 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader-PG 13:45 South Solitary-PG15 16:00 13 Going On 30-PG15 17:45 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps-PG15 20:00 Resident Evil 4: Afterlife-PG15 22:00 Film Socialisme-PG15

01:00 02:00 02:30 04:30 06:30 07:00 10:00 11:00 15:00 16:00 21:30 22:00

Trans World Sport ODI Cricket Highlights Super League Super League ODI Cricket Highlights Snooker The Welsh Open Trans World Sports LIVE European PGA Tour Trans World Sport Live Snooker The Welsh Open Futbol Mundial Live Snooker The Welsh Open

01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 22:00

V8 Supercars V8 Supercars Speedway Intercontinental Le Mans Cup UFC Unleashed Live UFC Speedway Le Mans Series Highlights V8 Supercars V8 Supercars WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottom Line Le Mans Series Highlights Speedway WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Live Premier League Darts

00:30 European Tour Weekly 01:00 Asian Tour Highlights 02:00 Snooker The Welsh Open 05:00 European Tour Weekly 05:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 06:30 Top 14 Highlights 07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 Super League 10:00 World Cup Of Pool 11:00 World Pool Masters 12:00 Bass Fishing 13:00 Trans World Sport 14:00 ICC Cricket World 14:30 ODI Cricket Highlights 15:00 Asian Tour Highlights 16:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 16:30 Scottish Premier League 18:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 19:00 Futbol Mundial 19:00 ODI Cricket Highlights 19:30 ICC Cricket World 20:00 Super League 22:00 Trans World Sport 23:00 European Tour Weekly 23:30 European PGA Tour

01:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 02:30 European Tour Weekly 03:00 World Cup of Pool 04:00 World Pool Masters 05:00 US Bass Fishing 06:00 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 06:30 FIVB Beach Volley Ball 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 Asian Tour Highlights 09:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 09:30 European Tour Weekly 10:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 11:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 11:30 Top 14 Highlights 12:00 Snooker The Welsh Open 15:00 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 16:00 Futbol Mundial 16:30 Golfing World 17:30 European Tour Weekly 18:00 European PGA Tour 22:30 Golfing World 23:30 ODI Cricket Highlights

Classifieds THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR KLM JZR JZR UAE DHX QTR KAC MSR FDB ETD GFA KAC THY DHX FAH JZR JZR BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC IRA KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC IRA KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB GFA MSC JZR KNE RKM MEA MSR BAB JZR KAC GFA MSR FDB MSR UAL KNE GRF OMA GRF QTR KNE SVA KAC RJA KAC JZR LMU KAC QTR JZR JZR ETD KAC UAE RBG GFA SVA ABY JZR ALK JZR MSC JZR TAR FDB KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB JAI OMA AXB MSR KAC DHX MEA GFA LMU QTR UAE JZR AIC KLM JZR UAL BBC DLH

Arrival Flights on Thursday 16/2/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 138 DOHA 447 AMSTERDAM 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 853 DUBAI 370 BAHRAIN 148 DOHA 154 ISTANBUL 612 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 211 BAHRAIN 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 503 LUXOR 555 ALEXANDRIA 157 LONDON 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 352 COCHIN 617 AHWAZ 382 DELHI 302 MUMBAI 531 ASSIUT 332 TRIVANDRUM 284 DHAKA 605 ISFAHAN 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 55 DUBAI 213 BAHRAIN 9621 ASSIUT 165 DUBAI 789 JEDDAH 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 404 BEIRUT 610 CAIRO 436 BAHRAIN 201 DAMASCUS 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 621 ASSIUT 57 DUBAI 606 LUXOR 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 843 JEDDAH 93 KANDAHAR 645 MUSCAT 93 KANDAHAR 140 DOHA 745 JEDDAH 500 JEDDAH 552 DAMASCUS 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 407 ALEXANDRIA 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 535 CAIRO 357 MASHAD 303 ABU DHABI 118 NEW YORK 857 DUBAI 3555 ALEXANDRIA 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 127 SHARJAH 777 JEDDAH 227 COLOMBO 177 DUBAI 9623 SOHAG 177 DUBAI 328 TUNIS 63 DUBAI 502 BEIRUT 542 CAIRO 125 BAHRAIN 786 JEDDAH 618 DOHA 614 BAHRAIN 674 DUBAI 104 LONDON 774 RIYADH 561 AMMAN 61 DUBAI 572 MUMBAI 647 MUSCAT 389 KOZHIKODE 618 ALEXANDRIA 178 GENEVA 372 BAHRAIN 402 BEIRUT 217 BAHRAIN 409 ASSIUT 136 DOHA 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 981 CHENNAI 445 AMSTERDAM 239 AMMAN 981 BAHRAIN 43 DHAKA 636 FRANKFURT

Time 0:20 0:20 0:30 0:45 0:50 2:35 2:55 2:55 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:15 4:40 4:50 5:15 5:30 5:55 6:00 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:50 7:50 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:15 8:15 8:20 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:55 11:15 11:20 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:55 12:55 13:00 13:20 13:25 13:30 13:50 13:55 14:05 14:10 14:15 14:15 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 14:50 15:00 15:10 15:20 15:25 16:25 16:50 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:00 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 18:10 18:15 18:15 18:15 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:00 19:10 19:15 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:40 19:50 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:30 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:05 22:05 22:45 23:00 23:45 23:50

Airlines AXB UAL AIC JZR DLH KLM FDB UAE DHX MSR ETD QTR QTR THY JZR GFA JZR FDB KAC BAW IRA JZR KAC KAC JZR IRA KAC UAE ABY ETD FDB QTR GFA JZR KAC KAC KNE MSC JZR RKM MEA KAC KAC JZR MSR GFA MSR FDB KAC MSR KNE KAC KNE OMA UAL RJA JZR KAC LMU SVA KAC KAC QTR JZR QTR ETD JZR RBG GRF UAE GFA ABY SVA JZR BAB MSC JZR ALK FDB TAR JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC DHX KAC JAI OMA MSR KAC DHX KAC LMU MEA GFA FAH QTR KAC JZR UAE KAC KLM JZR JZR KAC KAC

Departure Flights on Thursday 16/2/201 Flt Route 394 KOCHI 981 WASHINGTON 976 GOA 530 ASSIUT 637 FRANKFURT 447 AMSTERDAM 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 771 ISTANBUL 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 200 DAMASCUS 54 DUBAI 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 606 MASHHAD 256 BEIRUT 671 DUBAI 551 DAMASCUS 534 CAIRO 604 ISFAHAN 101 LONDON 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 302 ABU DHABI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 356 MASHHAD 165 ROME 541 CAIRO 790 JEDDAH 9622 SOHAG 776 JEDDAH 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 220 BAHRAIN 622 ASSIUT 58 DUBAI 561 AMMAN 607 LUXOR 940 JEDDAH 673 DUBAI 746 JEDDAH 646 MUSCAT 982 BAHRAIN 641 AMMAN 124 BAHRAIN 617 DOHA 408 ASSIUT 505 JEDDAH 613 BAHRAIN 773 RIYADH 141 DOHA 238 AMMAN 135 DOHA 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 3564 ALEXANDRIA 82 BAGHDAD 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 511 RIYADH 266 BEIRUT 437 BAHRAIN 9624 ASSIUT 134 BAHRAIN 228 DUBAI 64 DUBAI 328 TUNIS 184 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 62 DUBAI 343 CHENNAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 171 BAHRAIN 351 KOCHI 571 MUMBAI 648 MUSCAT 619 ALEXANDRIA 543 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 675 DUBAI 410 ALEXANDRIA 403 BEIRUT 218 BAHRAIN 102 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 554 ALEXANDRIA 860 DUBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 445 BAHRAIN 188 DUBAI 528 ASSIUT 415 KUALA LUMPUR 411 BANGKOK

ACCOMMODATION Time 0:05 0:45 0:50 1:15 1:20 1:45 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:40 5:40 5:50 6:55 7:00 7:30 8:25 8:30 8:40 8:50 9:00 9:00 9:10 9:15 9:15 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:40 10:50 11:45 12:00 12:05 12:15 12:15 12:50 12:55 13:00 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:15 15:20 15:35 15:50 15:55 15:55 16:00 16:20 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:25 17:35 17:40 17:40 18:00 18:10 18:15 18:25 18:35 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:55 20:15 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:35 23:45 23:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

To let from March 1, 2012, 1 semi furnished big room with attached toilet from a 3 bed room spacious flat in B’neid Al-Ghar. Ideal for executives. Rent KD 75/- for single occupancy and KD 95/- for double occupancy.

Contact: 60914165. (C 3868) Sharing available for Christian family, C-A/C, room + bathroom, near Learners Academy, Abbassiya. Small family or two bachelors. Contact: 66265733 / 24346514.

(C 3869) 12-2-2012 Sharing accommodation available for decent executive bachelor in Abbasiya near United Indian School.

Separate toilet, bedroom & balcony with coolpex & AC, new building. Contact: 97208351. (C 3866) 9-2-2012 Immediate sharing accommodation available for a decent Indian Christian bachelor or couple near Salmiya Garden. Contact: 66884273 / 25657832.

(C 3862) Sharing accommodation available in C-A/C flat in Abbasiya for two Christian bachelors or couple from 15 Feb. Contact: 65625804.

(C 3863) 8-2-2012

FOR SALE Chevrolet Optra 2009 is on immediate sale for KD 2,350/- as expat leaving Kuwait. Showroom maintained and in excellent condition. Contact: 99754454.

(C 3867) 11-2-2012

SITUATION WANTED Diploma Engineer/ 16 years project sales experience (9 yrs in Kuwait) seeking suitable position from reputed companies. Contact: 55339596/ 99759183. (C 3860) 7-2-2012

SITUATION VACANT A Kuwaiti woman is looking to hire a driver. No residency transfer required. Contact: 99215511. (C 3872) 16-2-2012

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited for a Keralite C.S.I. boy (31, 5ft 7”) studied B.Com, presently well employed in own business seeks alliance from God fearing Keralite girl (C.S.I / Martomite) from India or residing in Kuwait. Contact: thjo53@yahoo.com with full details.

(C 3864) Orthodox parents in Kuwait invites proposals for their daughter (26 / 165 fair) B.Tech, B/B and currently working in Kuwait, from a well qualified/ employed Orthodox/ Marthoma boys.

Contact: invitesproposal@yahoo.com (C 3865) 9-2-2012 A proposal comes from a man, an Engineer, 50 years old seeks an Asian woman, decent, working, respectful preferable, who is coming recently to Kuwait. Email: bareer_96@yahoo.com

(C 3859) Orthodox well-settled parents invite proposals for their son, 28, 180cm, fair, MBA (Finance) from a reputed institution, employed in reputed bank in Kuwait from parents of professionally qualified God-fearing girls.

Contact: dr.matt32@gmail.com 7-2-2012

CHANGE OF NAME I, Medamalli Venkata Subbaiah, holder of Indian Passport No: F4933824, resident of S/o M. Subbaiah, Kuppavari Palli ( Village), Seetharampuram (Post), Rajampet (Mandal), Kadapa District, Andra Pradesh, have changed my name to Medamalli Sreenivas.

I, Anis s/o Ali Mohammed, holding Indian Passport No.E1091168, R/o 147/10 Najampura, Bohrawadi, Udaipur (RAJ ), have changed name to SHABBIR ALI MOHAMMED s/o Ali Mohammed in future be called and known by new name. (C 3873) I, Pappu Lal s/o Mohan Lal, holder of Indian Passport No. E5530889 hereby change my name to KAMALESH DEVRA. (C 3874) 16-2-2012

MISCELLANEOUS Original guaranteed Palestinian virgin olive oil, large black and green olives for sale. Tel: 66517417 Whole Floor or small villa needed for rent in Shaab, Mansoriya, Nozha, Abdullah Al-Salem or Shamiya. Direct contact with owner. Tel: 9989018-99169016 A camp for rent in Kabed including five tents with all services. Complete privacy + game arcade. Tel: 97177714 Size 36 air pressure gun for sale in addition to a scope, safety lock. Shooting range 350 meters +bag+25 shots.

Price KD 70. Tel: 97790478

No: 15361

A 3700 watt, 2012 model ASTRA generator for sale.

Japanese parts assembled in China with pressure and gas meters. Price KD 85. Tel: 60066891 For rent in Hawalli a one bedroom (4x4m) and a 7x3.5 m reception+ terrace, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. Tunis street, behind Al-Andalus pharmacy. Tel: 99683200 A 2008 white, 1600 CC Nissan Sunny. Price KD 1700. Tel: 99553221 A 2008 dark blue 6 cylinder Toyota Prado with Beige sued interior, low mileage, touch A/C, CD, cruise control, front and rear sensors for sale. Price KD 6650. Tel: 99275550 A 2009 white, 6 cylinder Toyota Prado with 40,000 mileage touch A/C, CD, cruise control, front and rear sensors for sale. Price KD 7850. Tel: 9747750855809093 A 2009 YUKUN Suburban GMC XL with low mileage and beige sued interior, electric seats, cruise control, super headlights, rear camera, remote recording and rear sensors. Price 8550. Tel: 99301914 For rent a two storey villa and a basement in Mangaf including 8 rooms, laundry room, yard, parking. Rent value KD 1000. Tel: 97996900 A storey and half for rent in Mangaf including two 3 bedroom apartments with 2 baths, reception, kitchen, driver room each. Tel: 66989887 For rent a ground floor in Qurain comprising of four rooms, large reception, 5 baths, maid room, courtyard, parking. Rent value KD 550. Tel: 66989887 A fully central air-conditioned two room annex in Mangaf with separate exit and shaded car parking for rent to expatriates. Tel: 67753557 For rent in Ashbelia: two apartments with 3 bedrooms, bath, kitchen and

maid room each plus a yard in between. Tel: 90001594 A 2005 Mini Cooper for sale. Tel: 99224855 A 2006 Lumina for sale with genuine factory paint.

Price KD 2100. Tel: 69945429 A 2009 Touareg for sale.

Price 6350. Tel: 96670777 Senior English teacher for Pakistani, bilingual schools, T.M.A., Ielts, Toefl, IBT K.S.S., social studies and math. Tel: 99577430 For sale: a 375 square meter house in Omariya, fully rented for KD 600.

Price KD 185,000. Tel: 66815590 Transportation ser vice available. Payment in advanced conditioned for all areas. Tel: 66678633 The smallest and most up to date recording device (2012 model) for sale.

Finger size, voice activated, records up to 600 hrs, made in Japan. Free delivery. Tel: 99773818

TUITION Business management teacher with doctoral degree for universities, institutions, corporate & all student levels. Over 10 years experience.

Call 66495951. (C 3817) Mathematics teacher, Intermediate and secondary Exams models, Easy method, Exams from past years with solutions. 97301901 English teacher (3) years experience, looking for a job and ready to start with all educational stages.

55963993 Mathematics teacher for Universities, Institutions, Foreign Schools, Administrative, American, English, Australian, Bahrain, Electric and Gulf Sciences, Algbra Prel, Mathematics, intermediate, gmat, sat college, math98, 110 pre calculus geometry. 97619261 A Syrian Arabic language teacher. Masters in methods of teaching and follow up of 10th grade and 11th grade students. 97934291

34

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 590

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) This is a good time to lead the way in a project, for your originality is unusually heightened. This is an excellent time to sway others to your cause through speeches or clever arguments; your thinking is most lucid and grasping. At this time, you may actively be concerned about the welfare of others in your business or people who work under you. Try listening to their needs before deciding for yourself how best to help them. You have an excellent opportunity today to gain new insight into an unresolved problem at work. You may not appreciate a secretive approach of someone you encounter. You may not care to work through their inner goings-on. Friendships are important and you find ways to build on your relationships at this time.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) If you give your best effort now, considerable success is yours!

Excitement! New discoveries, encounters and ideas should make this a day to remember. You will not have to look for them; they will find you. Perhaps an old problem can finally be resolved due to original thinking. The practical use of your time and energy will most certainly pay you well. This is a great time to be with others and to work together. You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job. Chuck the routine and leave part of your day open for surprises and new adventures. Expand your insights with some fascinating nonfiction this evening. You will soon meet someone who will broaden your perspective. There could be travel to new or unexplored places.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. An international organization based in Geneva that monitors and enforces rules governing global trade.

4. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance.

10. Either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye.

13. The rate at which red blood cells settle out in a tube of blood under standardized conditions.

14. (Greek mythology) Son of Daedalus.

15. The compass point midway between northeast and east.

16. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

18. Distinctive and stylish elegance.

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

20. The Creator.

22. Somewhat ill or prone to illness.

24. An officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer.

25. Type genus of the Aceraceae.

33. A deep bow.

36. A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue.

37. (computer science) The part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing.

38. A flexible container with a single opening.

40. A bachelor's degree in religion.

41. An associate degree in applied science.

42. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld.

44. (informal) Of the highest quality.

47. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984).

53. (Old Testament) The second patriarch.

56. The front limb of a quadruped.

57. A disease caused by deficiency of niacin or tryptophan (or by a defect in the metabolic conversion of tryptophan to niacin).

60. Jordan's port.

61. Relating to or characteristic of or occurring in the air.

62. A member of the Wakashan people living on Vancouver Island and in the Cape Flattery region of northwestern Washington.

65. A member of a Mayan people of southwestern Guatemala.

66. A master's degree in library science.

67. Involving the entire earth.

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

DOWN 1. English writer and a central member of the Fabian Society (1858-1943).

2. A male monarch or emperor (especially of Russia prior to 1917).

3. Predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin.

4. A member of the extinct Algonquian people formerly living in northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

5. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

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

7. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

8. One of the four pointed conical teeth (two in each jaw) located between the incisors and the premolars.

9. United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993).

10. An accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape.

11. English prelate noted for his pessimistic sermons and articles (1860-1954).

12. No longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life.

17. Green algae common in freshwater lakes of limestone districts.

21. A public promotion of some product or service.

23. A shade of blue tinged with green.

26. A strip of land projecting into a body of water.

27. The twelfth month of the civil year.

28. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

29. A digital display that uses liquid crystal cells that change reflectivity in an applied electric field.

30. A master's degree in business.

31. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

32. Thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord.

34. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

35. A flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion.

39. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

43. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

45. Liquid containing proteins and electrolytes including the liquid in blood plasma and interstitial fluid.

46. A branch of the Tai languages.

48. The formation of frost or ice on a surface.

49. A village of huts for native Africans in southern Africa.

50. Wild or domesticated South American cud-chewing animal related to camels but smaller and lacking a hump.

51. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

52. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

54. A large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel.

55. Affected manners intended to impress others.

58. A colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid.

59. The sound made by a cow or bull.

63. A metallic element of the rare earth group.

64. Unknown god.

Yesterday’s Solution

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Any need for a little give and take has found its day. Your mind is clear and alert and anyone should be able to grasp your point of view. Your abilities and expectations for success may be slowed down however. You may feel that further education or experience is just what you need. You may face criticism from co-workers or your boss, particularly about a project or idea of yours. You have a great amount of inner strength in light of obstacles that may suddenly appear. Do not hide beneath a shell but open up to the truth. You may enjoy making future plans or involving yourself in some writing or expanding your intellectual horizons—sign up for a class—start that book.

Planning a little country outing should be fun too.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

Today you may want to focus on the higher aspects of life—the big picture—pesky details are a waste of time. You may be drawn to the study of religion, philosophy or psychology. Just remember not to pontificate to others, or give the impression that you know all the answers—you may not realize the urge is present; it is the quickest way to lose converts. You may, however, find that someone wants to join you in your search for the meaning of life, so to speak. You may also find this a pleasant day of optimism. You enjoy good relations with family members and the relationships just keep getting better. Your financial position may improve because of your association with a relative. You have an opportunity to take part in some fun activities tonight.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Everything is positive this morning. You will be fast-thinking and ready for action today. You will be extremely busy for a while and there may be little time to think about your own personal agenda. This afternoon you will enjoy great success and attention through your profession. You have ideas and you find answers to most any problem that draws your attention. Others value you for your ability to make practical decisions. Clear decisions affecting others could be made now. You may be able to enjoy and value your own life situation today. You will be encouraging young people to move in positive directions. There may be more than one visitor in your home this evening. An emphasis on close relationships makes for a perfect ending to this day.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) If you are looking for a mate, relations with members of the opposite sex are strengthened during this time—it is a good time to ask favors from someone close or to do something for a team mate. This is a time when many projects come to an end—expect a sense of support and goodwill from those around you. Your discipline and organization has really been beneficial to all.

You are able to tackle tasks that require real organization. You find yourself in a very practical mood and working with, instead of against, yourself. Take the time to show your appreciation of a friend or loved one this evening—perhaps you can purchase some flowers on the way home from work. You can add to your savings account soon.

You will be happy with the new balance.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Mental stimulation from others is key for you right now; it’s a good idea to make every effort to cooperate as well as work out a compromise if needed. An ongoing project is successful and you continue to get new ideas on how to improve a project. This could be anything from advising to performing. You may spend a considerable amount of time and effort to improve finances and you may find yourself involved in some physical or manual activity. This is a time when the desire for material success and considerable monetary gain is great. You have an increased energy for work or play. Romance should be put on hold for a short while as there is some travel time coming up for you. However, this is an excellent time for taking part in social activities.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) This is a great day to get things done, whether you are alone or with others, especially if you lead. State your agenda logically and even those who may disagree with you will open up their minds to your ideas. Strongminded persons are attracted to you and you to them. This is a most favorable time to engage in intellectually stimulating leisure activities. Perhaps you will be able to entertain others this afternoon. You are particularly witty and make stimulating company.

This may involve business associates or family visiting from afar. You will find this a period of optimism and emotional stability, perfect for evaluating and modifying existing relationships, or perhaps to start a new one. This is an extremely creative stage in your life.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You will tend to experience abrupt changes in matters of fortune, good or bad, in a relatively short period of time. Avoid extravagance and take time to reexamine your path with this regard. Listen to the suggestions of a more experienced investor, perhaps a friend or associate. Make your plans today and execute tomorrow. At work today you may be completing unfinished business and clearing away the small stuff. Your mind is clear and fertile and going a mile a minute. You will enjoy communicating, you have plenty of things to say and may find yourself writing letters, playing mental games and working at puzzle-solving—anything to give your active mind some sort of creative vent. You are good at maintaining a balance in your life.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

This is one of those days when anything is possible. You have a tiger in your tank and a green light for all activities—particularly in groups. Be sure to include some physical activity in the day. Work off some of that energy with friends later—or at the noon break. There are opportunities now for success or financial growth that were not previously available. You face tremendous responsibilities in relationships with loved ones and may find it difficult to express your wants and desires openly to companions. Try to relax since anxiety can be paralyzing. These difficult situations will pass and you will have positive opportunities to try out your problem-solving abilities. You have a natural sense of where you can best serve others.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Energy, excitement and the opportunity for new discoveries rule the day. There are plenty of other days for routine and discipline.

Take advantage of a heightened perception of your vision and the world around you.

Your mental faculties are enlivened, making you readily receptive to all thoughts that impinge upon you. It’s best to rely on facts rather than feelings at this time, especially when an expensive mistake might be the outcome. There is an interest in the motivations and desires of friends and family. This is an excellent time to get to know someone better. Although this is a period that favors all types of relationships, talk among friends is usually serious. Your emotions are in balance, making sexual relations particularly meaningful.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

You appear perhaps more charming than usual. Now could be the time to make that date, apply for a particular job or otherwise make yourself known. Worry about your abilities may creep into the picture today and unfortunately, nobody around you is offering any encouragement. If you are involved in a leadership role, you may find that this anticipation is perhaps, the way your mind and body prepares itself for performance. You are able to handle any situation that may occur now. Your creative talents are exalted at this time and your talents may bring personal or career gains. You have an inner peace to your consciousness. You are cheerful and friendly to all, making you popular. This is an excellent time for love.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE STATE ST TAT TE OF KUWAIT K KUW WAIT A

112

Tel.: T e el.: 161

DIRECTORA DIRECTORATE ATE T GENE GENERAL ERAL OF CIVIL A AVIATION V VIA ATION T DEPARTMENT METEOROLOGICAL DEP D PARTMENT A DAY: DA AY: Y W Wednesday ednesday e

WWW .MET.GOV V.KW . W WWW.MET.GOV.KW

15/02/2012

Ministry of Interior

07:00

Time Issue T ime

Expected Weather Weather for the Next 24 4 Hours Partly cloudy to cloudy with light to t moderate south easterly wind, w with speed of 12 - 35 km/h k with a chance for scattered scaattered rain later on

BY Y DA DAY: AY:

website: www.moi.gov.kw

with speed of 15 - 35 km/h with a chance Partly cloudy to cloudy with light to t moderate south easterly wind, w k for scattered scaattered light rain

NIGHT:: BY Y NIGHT

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

No Current Warnings Warnin a gs

WARNING W ARNING A STATION ST TATION T

MAX. EXP EXP. P.

MIN.. REC.

KUWAIT KUW WAIT A CITY

20 °C

13 °C

24812000

KUWAIT AIRPORT KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

23 °C

09 °C

Amiri Hospital

22450005

NUWAISEEB NUW WAISEEB A

20 °C C

10 °C C

Maternity Hospital

24843100

WAFRA W AFRA A

23 °C

09 °C

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

SALMI

23 °C

10 °C

Chest Hospital

24849400

ABDALY ABDAL LY

25 °C

09 °C

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

ALIYAH JAL ALIY YA AH

22 °C

09 °C

Adan Hospital

23940620

FAILAKA F AILAKA A

20 °C

11 11 °C

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

PORT AHMADI POR RT

18 °C

14 °C

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

UMM AL-MARADEM M

19 °C

16 °C

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

WARBA BUBYAN W ARBA A A - BUBY YA AN

17 °C

12 °C

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

Ext.: 2627 262 27 - 2630

Fax: 24348714

Clinics

SFC. CHAR CHART T

15/02/2012 0000 UTC

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya Keifan

Temperratures Temperatures DA DATE AT TE

WEA WEATHER ATHER T

Thursday

16/02

24848075

Friday

24849807

Saturday

Shamiya

24848913

Sunday

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Fajr

05:07

MAX. Temp.

MA AX. T emp.

23 °C

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Sunrise S i

06 28 06:28

MIIN. IN Temp.

Temp.

MIN.

07 °C

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Zuhr

12:02

MAX. RH M

73 %

Asr

15:13

M RH MIN.

10 %

Sunset

17:37

MA AX. W ind MAX. Wind

Isha

18:55

TOT TAL AL RAI INF FA ALL L IN 24 HR. TOTAL RAINFALL

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

DAY DA AY

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

POLICE STATION

4 DA DAYS AYS Y FORECAST

Rabiya

Al-Madena

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction Direction Wind

Wind Wind Speed

partly cloudy to cloudy + scattered s rain

22 °C

12 °C

SE

20 - 45 km/h

17/02

partly cloudy

21 °C

09 °C

NW-VRB NW -VRB

06 - 28 km/h

18/02

raising clouds to increase + rai ising dust

22 °C

10 °C

SE-NW

25 - 45 km/h

19/02

dusty + scattered cl louds clouds

20 °C

09 °C

NW

25 - 45 km/h

PRAYER PR RA AYER Y TIMES

RECORDED D YESTERDAY YESTERDA AY AT AT KUWAIT KUW WAIT A T AIRPORT AIRPORT

unless All times are local time un nless otherwise stated.

Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry

SE E 32 km/h

about the Civil ID card is 1889988

00 mm

15/02/12 03:20 UTC

V1.00

T1.06

PHARMACIES

AIRLINES

ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22921555 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345

Central African Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia

00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044 00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689

36

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Shakira worried for injured dolphin hakira is worried about the plight of an injured dolphin. The ‘She Wolf’ singer is on vacation in South Africa and was left heartbroken when she looked out of her hotel room to see the sea-dwelling mammal beached and wounded. She wrote on her twitter page: “View from my hotel room. There’s a wounded dolphin stuck on the beach. I hope they can get him back in the ocean soon.” Since arriving in South Africa Shakira has become well acquainted with the animal kingdom, and during one day trip a friendly baboon decided to sit on her car. Tweeting in Spanish and English, she wrote: “Here join the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean, the southernmost point of Africa ... A baboon on our car! The animal kingdom is revolutionized today! Un babuino en el carro. El mundo animal, revolucionado. (sic)”However, not all of Shakira’s animal encounters have been friendly. During one outing, she was bitten by a sea lion as she tried to take the creature’s photo. In a post on her Facebook page, she revealed: “This afternoon I happened to see some sea lions and seals. I thought to myself how cute they were so I decided to get a bit closer than all of the other tourists and went down to a rock trying to pet them doing a baby talk while taking pictures... “Suddenly, one of them jumped out of the water so fast and impetuously that it got about one foot away from me, looked me in the eye, roared in fury and tried to bite me. “Everyone there screamed, including me. I was paralyzed by fear and couldn’t move, I just kept eye contact with it while my brother “Super Tony” jumped over me and literally saved my life, taking me away from the beast.”

S

Rumer Willis has been burgled

Lambert

T

questions Brown performances ountry singer Miranda Lambert doesn’t get why controversial R&B star Chris Brown was allowed to perform twice at the Grammys on Sunday. She tweeted on Monday: “He beat on a girl...not cool that we act like that didn’t happen.”

Brown beat up then-girlfriend Rihanna the night before the Grammys in 2009. He pled guilty to an assault charge and was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community labor. Lambert suggested Brown listen to her song “Gunpowder & Lead” about avenging

C

he ‘House Bunny’ actress - the daughter or Bruce Willis and Demi Moore - had more than $10,000 worth of items stolen, including construction tools, after the burglar entered her Hollywood Hills home by slicing through a gate lock with a blowtorchtype device, law enforcement officials told TMZ.com. Nobody was injured during the raid and no-one was in at the time of the burglary as Rumer’s home is currently unoccupied.

The incident caps a torrid few weeks for Rumer after she was said to be finding her mother Demi’s recently troubles “tough”, following the ‘Striptease’ actress’ hospitalization late last month after she suffered a seizure at a party. Rumer’s friend Zac Efron explained: “It’s tough, but I think she’s all right. “Me and Rumer have been friends for a long time. I know Demi is going through some personal stuff right now. I just wish her well. I hope she’s doing OK.” Demi - who is rumored to have gone to rehab for “eating disorder and addiction issues” - was recently said to be seeking advice from Michael Jackson’s former spiritual guru Deepka Chopra in the wake of her hospitalization.

domestic violence and “be put back in his place. Not at the Grammys.” She attended the Grammys in Los Angeles with husband Blake Shelton who was a double nominee.

Lambert joins a slew of others who questioned the move on social networks. The Grammy-winning singer is known for hits including “The House That Built Me” and “White Liar.” A message left seeking comment from a representative of Brown’s wasn’t immediately returned .

Minogue likes funny men ylie Minogue most values humor and creativity in her boyfriends.

The 43-year-old singer - who is dating Spanish model Andreas Velencoso - believes looks and a healthy sex life are important in relationships, but knows they are not enough for long-lasting love. Asked if she finds looks, humor or good sex most appealing in a man, she said: “Can I choose a combination of all three? “You definitely have to be able to laugh. I can’t imagine a relationship where you don’t get each other’s humor. “Looks are lovely but I think if you are attracted to someone you find what’s attractive in them anyway. “And in the bed department, that’s a bonus... “In recent times, let’s say I’ve gone for the Latio type. Andreas is Spanish, Olivier [Martinez] was French and I had another director boyfriend [Stephane Sednaoui] who was French. The common denominator is being creative and artistic.” The ‘All the Lovers’ hitmaker also revealed she and Andreas bond by playing golf together. She told Stylist magazine: “In my late 20s, I took up snowboarding and was heli-boarding after only two weeks but a couple of years ago I tried something a little safer i the form of golf. “My boyfriend is a keen - read borderline obsessive - golfer so I was roped in. Actually, I liked it, getting fresh air and spending time together.” To read more go to www.stylist.co.uk

K

ustin Bieber made a cancer-stricken girl’s dream come true after ‘marrying’ her. The ‘Baby’ singer surprised six-year-old Avalanna Routh who has battled deadly brain cancer since she was a baby - by flying her and her family from Boston to New York to meet him after reading her request on Facebook. The pair then spent the afternoon playing board games, eating cupcakes, and signing autographs for each other before deciding they would get ‘married’. When asked how long she had loved Justin, Avalanna - who has undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments - said: “Seven years. No - 80 years.” Justin - who is dating Selena Gomez - later wrote on his twitter page: “That was one of the best things i have ever done. she was AWESOME! Feeling really inspired now! (sic)” He then added: “#MrsBieber really inspired me.” Avalanna’s mother Aileen said the meeting had been a dream come true for her daughter. She said: “It was wonderful, just another fun moment.” Speaking of Avalanna’s cancer, Aileen added: “She’s beaten all the odds. It’s a very aggressive, rare disease, and she’s been in treatment for five and a half years.”

‘absolutely’ wants kids im Kardashian “absolutely” wants to have children but not for a few years. The 31-year-old socialite who has been romantically linked with former boyfriend Reggie Bush since splitting from husband Kris Humphries in October after just 72 days of marriage - still wants to have a family but not just yet as she wants to keep her curvaceous figure the way it is. She said: “Do I want kids of my own? Absolutely. But I don’t know if that’s what’s meant for me. Maybe I’ll just work, work, work, and not think about it.’ ‘[My sister] Khloe joked with me and said, ‘Will you be my surrogate?’” But for the moment Kim wants to keep her shape instead of having a baby she said: ‘I said, “I think I have a couple more years when I just want my body to myself. At 35, I promise I’ll consider it.”‘ Kim also admitted her public nuptials and the subsequent fall-out from the demise of her marriage - which has been the subject of speculation it was a fake union designed to boost ratings for her reality TV shows - has taught her to be more private about her personal life in future. She told the new issue of Allure magazine: “[The experience has] definitely made me want to be more private with my relationship, whenever I choose to get into one again. I’m not ready, but when that time comes, I’ll be more cautious about who I let my world open up to.”

K

Bieber

Kim

’marries’ a young fan

J

Brand

moves on with mystery woman

ussell Brand has moved on from Katy Perry with a mystery woman. The 36year-old actor - who filed for divorce from the ‘One That Got Away’ hitmaker in December, citing irreconcilable differences was spotted dropping a brunette beauty back at her apartment after she spent the night at his new Los Angeles home following a date at The Largo Theatre. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Russell is a single man again and starting to move on from Katy. “Like any guy, he had missed female company. He isn’t quite back to his old ways yet, but he’s very much back in the saddle.” Russell - who was known for his womanizing ways prior to meeting Katy - has reportedly been moving on from the former couple’s 14month marriage with more than one woman much to the shock of the ‘Firework’ singer. An insider recently said: “Katy discovered through her friends. One of the women told a friend of hers and it got back to Katy.” Despite Russell being legally entitled to half Katy’s $44 million fortune, he is believed to have told her he doesn’t want anything from her and wants their split to be as amicable as possible.

—Bang Showbiz

R

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

lifestyle M U S I C

&

M O V I E S

Jolie hopes her film draws notice to Syria A

ngelina Jolie on Tuesday premiered her film “In the Land of Blood and Honey” in Bosnia, where the fictional tale of a romance between a Bosnian Serb man and a Bosnian Muslim woman has shown a spotlight on the ethnic anger still left over from the country’s brutal conflict. Jolie, who arrived in Sarajevo with partner Brad Pitt to attend the screening, greeted the crowd of 5,000 in Bosnian, before acknowledging in English that it would bring back painful memories of the bloody 1992-95 war. As the film ended to a standing ovation, Jolie tearfully said, “To share this with you means the world to me.”

At an earlier press conference, Jolie said the movie was “heavy” but that she was happy with it because it shows what horrors can occur in the absence of a timely intervention. She said she hoped the film could serve as a “wake-up call” for the international community to pay more attention to atrocities and act to prevent them - including in Syria. “I am satisfied with what we made, I feel very strongly about it and I believe that its core issue which is the need for intervention and need for the world to care about atrocities when they are happening - is very, very timely and especially with things that are happening in Syria today,” she said.

The film, which has already been released in the US follows what happens when the man becomes an army officer and the woman is held in a military prison camp where rape occurs. Some Serbs have accused the film of demonizing them. “I think it is very important that this film is out at this time and ... if this film points the finger at anybody it is the international community,” she said. The distributor in the Serb part of Bosnia said he won’t show it there

because it portrays Serbs as the villains and they wouldn’t put up with that.

“There is simply no interest for this movie here, so I can’t sell any tickets,” Vladimir Ljevar told The Associated Press. “The fact that the Serbs are the bad guys in it is the reason why there is no interest. The film is lousy. I watched it. It has had bad reviews. It is unprofitable.” But Jolie rejected the claim that her film was anti-Serb. “I understand that it’s sensitive,”

she said. “But I also know that the Serbian people are intelligent and open-minded people. They will know the difference between what’s been forced upon them and what they feel in their own hearts.”

She said that “although it’s difficult, I hope that they see intention behind it.” Jolie noted she worked on the plot with people from both sides of the conflict. “We were trying to find humanity on all sides and yet we were addressing the horrors of some-

US actress and director Angelina Jolie, center, waves to reporters as she arrives at the Sarajevo International Airport in Sarajevo, Bosnia on Tuesday. — AP

thing that we felt we must show in a horrific way,” Jolie said. “That is not an easy balance to find in such a sensitive subject matter, so we did our best; that was very hard, the politics of this region are very complicated.” Thousands of women were raped during Bosnia’s war, which also included the notorious Srebrenica massacre in July 1995 and the 44-month siege of the capital, Sarajevo. Most of the rape victims were Muslim Bosniak women, often the target of mass rape used as a weapon of terror. Many of the victims were raped repeatedly. Some were brought back to their homes and dumped in front of their husbands. Other women were violated in their husbands’ presence as part of a shock campaign. Defying the unofficial censorship in the Serb part of the country, Ana Vidovic, a Bosnian Serb woman from Prijedor organized a private screening in her home Saturday after she got approval from Jolie. She told local media she was annoyed by claims there is no interest in the movie among Bosnian Serbs. “I am the public and as far as I remember, nobody asked me,” she said.

Jolie said Vidovic’s gesture meant very much to her team, so she wrote her a letter and approved the screening. “We will do that for anyone who wants to have a private screening. And we hope that we encourage the people to see it somehow,” Jolie said.

A group of Muslim Bosniaks who now have returned to their homes in the Serb part of the country say they are interested in seeing Jolie’s movie and plan to organize private screenings. Jolie said she made this film because “I just felt that this subject was important and I was really moved by it.” She said she may direct again. “If I can find something that means as much to me, I will try, but if this is the only thing I ever directed, I would be very happy.” —AP

Private funeral Saturday for Whitney Houston

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Review

British actor Jude Law waves at a press conference ahead of the Japanese premiere of his latest film “Sherlock Holmes, A Game of Shadows” in Tokyo yesterday. The movie will open in Japan on March 10. — AFP

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‘Undefeated’ inspires effortlessly

t seems impossibly feel-good, this tale of sacrifice and redemption, tragedy and triumph. It may also sound like the kind of uplifting football drama you’ve seen countless times before - and comparisons to both “Friday Night Lights” and “The Blind Side” will be inevitable. Still, the Oscar-nominated documentary “Undefeated” knocks you over with a power all its own; told in intimate, unadorned fashion, it comes from a pure place that’s irresistible. It isn’t trying too hard to inspire us - and that’s precisely why it does.

Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin, who directed, shot and edited the film, know well enough to get out of the way and let the story and the characters work their magic.

Their focus is the 2009 football team at Manassas High School in North Memphis, a predominately black school in a blighted part of town which hadn’t won a playoff game in its 110-year history. The filmmakers show us the boarded-up houses that are all-too common in the neighborhood, the random guys drinking out of paper bags in the middle of the day, but rather than depicting an urban stereotype, they reveal a vividly sad sense of place. Coach Bill Courtney hopes that by working with these kids and developing their strengths on the field, they’ll recognize the importance of being strong men off the field.

Or as he puts it: football doesn’t build character, football reveals character. A husband and father of four, he has devoted a ridiculous amount of hours over the past six-plus years to turning this team around from perennial cellar-dwellers to serious contenders in the division.

What’s mind-boggling is that he’s doing it all as a volunteer, which he can afford as the owner of a successful lumber company.

Courtney also happens to be white, which is simply never an issue. He gets through to these kids through the sheer force of his personality; portly and boisterous, he can be charming and demanding in equal measure, and he ends up becoming the film’s de facto

star. “Undefeated” also follows three of the Tigers’ main players. When we first meet Montrail “Money” Brown, he’s showing off his science fair project and humbly mentioning that he has a 3.8 grade point average. He lives in a modest house with his grandmother but has dreams of leaving town and going to college - and as a small offensive lineman, he realizes it won’t be football that gets him there.

The heavily recruited left tackle O.C. Brown, the team’s star, is Money’s opposite.

With speed and size on his side, he’s getting letters and visits from universities across the country. This endearing gentle giant knows enough to acknowledge: “I’m not the smartest kid in the world, so I think football is my way out.”

But the school’s coaches hope to give O.C. a boost academically by having him receive tutoring and live part-time at one of their houses: a mansion in the wealthy part of town, which will call to mind a certain Sandra Bullock movie which also happened to be based on a true story. Then there’s the hotheaded Chavis Daniels, a talented but troubled linebacker who spent time in a youth penitentiary before returning to the team as a junior. He’s prone to starting trouble even before the first snap, and his transformation from brawling hothead to unlikely leader might be the film’s most rewarding story.

But look out - just when you think you know this story and know these types of figures, and just when it feels like the filmmakers zoom in a few times too many as Courtney’s getting choked up during a big speech, “Undefeated” will sneak up on you emotionally with the power of a quarterback sack. That happens a couple times, actually, so bring tissues. You’ve been warned. And you don’t even have to be a sports fan to be moved.

“Undefeated,” a Weinstein Co. release, is rated PG-13 for some language. Running time: 113 minutes.

Three and a half stars out of four. —AP

In this film image released by The Weinstein Company, a scene is shown from “Undefeated.” — AP

op diva Whitney Houston will be laid to rest on Saturday after a private funeral service at the New Jersey Baptist church where she grew up singing in a gospel choir. Fans of Houston, who died Saturday aged just 48, will be denied the chance to say farewell in a mass outpouring as the singer’s family has apparently decided against holding a two-day public memorial in a Newark sports arena. “ The service will be held Saturday 12 noon (1700 GMT) at New Hope Baptist Church,” a spokeswoman at the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, which was handling preparations for Houston’s burial, told AFP. Houston was found unconscious in her bathtub on Saturday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton hotel as preparations were under way for the Grammy Awards, the highlight of the music industry calendar. Medics were unable to revive her. Houston, who possessed one of the greatest-ever singing voices and sold more than 170 million records, fought a long and public battle with substance abuse after her career and personal life went off the rails. Fans were awaiting autopsy results that may not be made public for up to eight weeks, as speculation rages that the singing legend may have died from a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol.

The autopsy was completed on Sunday but the results have been held back pending the completion of a toxicology probe. Houston’s funeral service will be held at New Hope Baptist Church, where she honed her singing craft, and where her mother, the acclaimed soul and gospel singer Cissy Houston, served as music director for decades. News reports said plans had been under consideration for a larger public service-possibly at the Prudential Center sports arena in Newark, a venue that would have allowed thousand of Houston’s fans to pay their last respects. In the end, however, the decision was made that “everything will be private,” the Whigham funeral home spokeswoman said, adding that Saturday’s church service, by invitation only, is “the only service being held.”

In a moving tribute, Houston’s legendary godmother Aretha Franklin paid tribute to her at

A crowd gathers outside of New Hope Baptist Church, Tuesday in Newark, NJ. (Inset) File photo shows singer Whitney Houston arriving at the 17th Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Beverly Hills, Calif. — AP photos a private concert in North Carolina on Monday.

Television footage showed Franklin seated at a piano singing her late goddaughter’s signature hit, “I Will Always Love You,” and asking the audience to pray for Houston’s family. The Newark Star-Ledger newspaper reported that the star’s body was brought to the Whigham funeral home late Monday in a 12-car procession under police escort from nearby Teterboro Airport.

Celebrity website TMZ said it learned from unnamed “family sources” that the singer died from a lethal combination of prescription drugs and alcohol. Los Angeles County assistant chief coroner Ed Winter would not speculate about the cause of death, but told reporters that some pill bottles were found in Houston’s hotel room.

“There weren’t a lot of prescription bottles,” he said. “You probably have just as many prescription bottles in your medicine cabinet.” Winter also said his office would try to get Houston’s medical records from her doctors.

“We have had no contact with DEA or see the need to do so at this time,” he added, referring to

the Drug Enforcement Administration. Fox News reported that six bottles of pills were found in the room where Houston died, among them the prescription anti-anxiety medication Xanax and other pain medication.

Houston’s songs were rocketing up the pop charts on Tuesday, in some cases a quarter-century after their initial release, as fans sought to recapture the magic of her iconic voice in the wake of her death. Amazon.com said on its website that seven of the top 10 bestselling music collections were recordings from Houston, while her “Greatest Hits” album was the top seller on iTunes. British music tracker Official Charts said sales from Sunday through to midnight on Monday were so brisk that seven of Houston’s recordings were “heading for the Top 40.”

Topping sales was “I Will Always Love You,” her cover of a classic tune by country star Dolly Parton. Houston’s smash hit version of the ballad, featured in the film “The Bodyguard” in which she co-starred with Kevin Costner, spent 10 weeks at number one 20 years ago.—AFP

Fukushima weighs heavy at Berlin film showcase T he Fukushima nuclear disaster has come under the spotlight at Berlin’s film festival with three films exploring its impact on Japanese society less than a year on. The 11-day festival, which prides itself on its generally edgier and more politically-overt line-up over other film showcases, was perhaps a fitting backdrop for the documentaries. “I’m more than happy to be here because the Berlinale has got a long history of showing all those political, socially conscious films,” Atsushi Funahashi, director of “Nuclear Nation”, told AFP. He said that although he was sensitized to the atomic question because his family had been affected by the 1945 Allied atomic bombing of Hiroshima, he was unsure at first how to tackle Fukushima. “First of all, I didn’t know what to do as a film-maker but I knew I had to do something,” he said, adding one of his motives had been the difference in data from international and Japanese officials. He focuses on the exile of residents of Futaba, where the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was based, to an abandoned high school 250 kilometers (155 miles) away.

The story homes in on a mayor whose town no longer exists as he tries to keep the community together. “No Man’s Zone” by Toshi Fujiwara journeys inside a 20-kilometre area which was evacuated after the disaster, as well as surrounding areas, to talk to “normal” people about how their lives were affected. With slow panoramic sweeps of battered buildings by the sea, thick

A handout picture released by Berlinale Film Festival shows a scene of the documentary film Nuclear Nation by Japanese director Funahashi Atsushi, presented at the International Film Festival Berlinale in the Forum section. —AFP piles of rubble, boats lying on their side and home despite the cost of repairing it and their crumpled cars, the film opens saying that experiences of having to stay in a refuge. “I had a images of destruction are “always difficult to very strange feeling that the people who were digest”. It intersperses lingering shots of cherry directly concerned were somehow very neglectblossom trees in the spring, cattle and green ed,” Fujiwara said. Meanwhile, in “Friends After landscapes with frank conversations with farm- 3.11”, director Iwai Shunji discusses the political, ers and fishermen who have lost their livelihood. social and economic state of the country with An older couple talk openly and animatedly new “friends” that include a nuclear plant engiabout how they want to keep their damaged neer, banker and journalists. —AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

lifestyle F A S H I O N

High collars, longer hems, sleeves NY Fashion Week

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sexy, sultry woman has emerged at New York Fashion Week, but one that seduces with her confidence, not bare skin. On Day 6 of the fall collection previews, the Valentine’s Day edition, a dark, romantic sensibility was conveyed on the runways through high collars, falling hemlines and long sleeves, sometimes very long, offset with sheerness for allure or a bit of leather for an edge. “This is about understated sexy,” said Tory Burch backstage ahead of her runway show. “The picture I had was a young woman, maybe unaware of her own sex appeal, and she gets on the back of a motorcycle with someone who her parents wouldn’t want her to be with.”

The evolution of the Burch muse went from prim Peter Pan collars to leather leggings hand-painted in navy, red and white.

Vera Wang, meanwhile, layered a jacket lined with snuggly boucle (nubbly yarn) over a feather-light chiffon gown, and said in her notes that the clothes reveal the female form “by smoky transparencies that allow a glimpse of skin and of delicate lingerie not meant to be hidden, but seen.”

From her seat at Badgley Mischka, model Coco Rocha said sexy is a state of mind. “It’s about a person and what they exude. If you have confidence and elegance, you don’t need cleavage.”

with a series of gowns with large tulle skirts in shades of rose, blue and silver.

One of the last dresses on the catwalk was rose-colored hammered satin gown that, again with cutouts, created the appearance of long gloves even though the model’s hands were bare.

Badgley Mischka

touches of boucle (nubbly yarn) and fur, offset by glitzy, substantial crystal-mesh embellishment. Wang described the look in her notes as “a sensual silhouette - long, narrow, leggy - extending from a high neckline, caught at peplumed hips.”

Peplum, a flounce or flourish of fabric attached to the waist or hips of a garment, is showing up frequently in lines for this and next season.

TORY BURCH Tory Burch’s Valentine’s Day gift to New York Fashion Week was a runway backstory of a sheltered - and well-dressed young woman - running off with a little bit of a bad boy. Burch’s muse never crossed a line, always remembering her bow-blouse and pearl-embellished roots, but she definitely gained an edge with slim pencil skirts and shiny gold thread woven into her tweed.

Burch singled out as the first piece headed to her personal closet a cropped peplum sweater, paired on the model with tight leather pants decorated with red, white and navy hand-painted stripes. Burch accessorized many outfits with the long, leather opera gloves that have graced many catwalks during this round of previews.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

VERA WANG Vera Wang was going for sensual with suggestive, sheer champagne-colored layers covering many of the models, showing nothing the audience shouldn’t see - or did they? There also were comforting, rich

OSCAR DE LA RENTA Jewels were everywhere on Oscar de la Renta’s runway at New York Fashion Week.

The fashion legend used blown up versions of actual jewelry as inspiration for his prints. He put jeweled headbands in his models’ hair and he embellished cardigans and coats with the sparklers for his fall collection that debuted Tuesday. As for colors, there was black, expected for the season, but also ice blue and light pink. “I used a lot of colors you would not associate with winter colors but today’s woman doesn’t dress for seasons,” he said. The rest of the runway was filled with the rich, luxury items one would expect from de la Renta. There was a silver arctic fox collar, Chantilly lace applique on a chiffon blouse, cashmere sweaters and a gown with a gold silk taffeta skirt. Rare for most designers, de la Renta listed in detail the jewelry his models wore: Russian gold, pearl and crystal earrings, a multi topaz crystal ring. The runway ended

BADGLEY MISCHKA Badgley Mischka channeled the look of the 1920s futuristic German movie “Metropolis” into New York Fashion Week.

The clothes were leaner and more angular than one often seen from designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka, who largely cater to the eveningwear needs of socialites and celebrities. E! red-carpet commentators Kelly Osbourne and Joan Rivers sat together in the front row. It was pretty - that’s what they do - but not in a flowery way. Badgley said he and his partner saw “Metropolis” this past fall and were struck by the sexy armor-like costumes.

They included in their collection many metallic fabrics, including the opening bronze-colored gown made of sequins and chiffon that had fringed shoulders and chains draped across an otherwise open back. There was also a tarnished-gold lame pajama top and pant combination and platinum lame brocade dress with a jeweled collar and cutouts on the shoulder.

Fall 2012 fashion from Tory Burch is modeled during Fashion Week, Tuesday in New York.-AP

Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Rodriguez stuck to his signature, structured style at New York Fashion Week.

The designer debuted a fall collection Tuesday that was colorblocked and architectural at the Lincoln Center tents.

Colorblocking, which refers to geometric chunks of bright color, has turned up on a number of runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week .He must be doing something right. He has dressed first lady Michelle Obama, and sitting in the front row was Golden Globe-winning actress Claire Danes, a few seats away from another Rodriguez fan, singer Gloria Estefan. She said the designer has dressed her for some of the most special moments in her life. “I love the stitching,” she said. “I love the construction, the materials he uses are great because they hold you in well. He just thinks of the woman when he’s designing these clothes, and sometimes that’s not always the case with other designers,” she said. Rodriguez sent separates and dresses down the runway, many models wearing black gloves that cut off between their wrists and elbows with stripes of white, orange or chartreuse. They wore boots with chunks of color, also green, white or orange. The tops had asymmetrical layers and lines, while others were made with a print of large, scattered chevrons (a pattern of V-shaped horizontal stripes). Rodriguez largely used traditional fabrics, wools, crepes and silks. But there were a few interesting choices: ostrich boots and a beaver coat and jacket. — AP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

lifestyle

Vera Wang

F A S H I O N

Narciso Rodriguez

Hitting a fashion show?

Crazy heels I

t’s a blustery day - February tends to be that way in New York - and Marian Kihogo, a fashion stylist and blogger from London, is dashing from one runway show to another, from the tents at Lincoln Center to studios and galleries scattered around Manhattan. As she strides by on her “architectural heels” by Nicholas Kirkwood for Peter Pilotto, the heels hollowed out for artistic effect, this reporter dares to suggest she might be more comfortable in running shoes.

She laughs. “Running shoes! That would be fashion suicide. I think the fashion powers-that-be would stone me!”

Photo shows the shoes worn by a guest.

An exaggeration? Maybe just a bit. Kihogo is merely giving a colorful rendition of an unspoken rule at Fashion Week: It’s all about the shoes.

And we’re not talking about the models. We’re talking about the audience. Never mind the snow, rain or sleet. Never mind the subway steps or those dashes for a cab. Never mind the long hours on one’s feet. Most Fashion Week regulars wouldn’t be caught dead without a pair of statement heels. It’s all a little intimidating for the uninitiated, who may find themselves panicking the first time they sit in the front row of a runway

show. For us, the command, “Uncross your legs!” induces something akin to terror.

That’s what the pack of photographers at the foot of the runway calls out to ensure their camera shots won’t be ruined by a dangling foot. But it’s also the moment that all eyes shift downward, and suddenly one’s feet feel naked. Scratch that. Bare feet would actually be better than a scruffy pair of booties with worn-down heels and cracked toes. (Sorry Aerosoles, they were lovely six years ago when I bought them.) Or, the Land’s End children’s rain boots your 11-year-old has grown out of, but still fit you. Now, we don’t mean to exaggerate. Sometimes you can find a pair of sneakers in the front row. Usually they’re studded, perhaps part of an overall grunge look belonging to some handsome and hip young man, or to a woman on crutches. Although, last year, this reporter witnessed a woman on crutches at a fashion show, the injured foot in an orthopedic boot, the other in ... wait for it ... a stiletto.

“Wow,” says an admiring Pamela Pekerman, who’s covering fashion for AfterBuzz TV, hearing the anecdote. “That’s going for it.” Pekerman thinks she’s found a happy medium - a pair of Brian Atwood heels in lavender that she bought on sale at Saks Fifth Avenue and swears are comfortable. “I could run for you right now, I really could,” she says. We’ll take her word for it. “I’ve seen a lot of crazy shoes here that belong in the circus,” Pekerman says. “People are wobbling around. But some girls, they just want to stick out.” As she speaks, one such woman teeters behind her, stepping rhythmically but gingerly across Lincoln Center Plaza and over to 65th Street, where we pray the traffic light gives her enough time to cross.

Pekerman does have one little secret - foot petals, basically soft pads you sneak into your shoes to provide a little cushioning. But some women, says one fashion insider, have another, darker secret. “I know from experience that there are plenty of flats tucked away in tote bags,” says Ken Downing, fashion director for Neiman Marcus, with a wink. “And sitting in the back seats of sedans.” Let’s face it, says Downing, “We all know what a beating Fashion Week can be on

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This combination photos, show the shoes worn by guests at Lincoln Center during Fall Fashion Week, in New York. At Fashion Week, crazy heels are de rigueur for the audience. —AP photos

Marian Kihogo, a fashion stylist and blogger from London, shows off a pair of her shoes during Fashion Week, in New York, Tuesday.

the feet.” Downing scans the front row of the Cushnie et Ochs runway show, where we’re sitting. There’s barely a flat in sight, but he points out a colleague, Roopal Patel, who’s wearing black hightop Louboutin sneakers with silver studs.

And she’s on crutches. She injured her knee two weeks ago. “It sent me into a panic - what was I going to wear to Fashion Week?” says Patel, fashion director of the online retail site modaoperandi.com. “Ninety percent of my closet is heels. Ballerina flats? Not my style.” But a colleague suggested the Louboutins “the perfect solution.” She’ll be wearing them to the upcoming shows in London, Milan and Paris. Downing, of Nieman Marcus, says there’s a good reason for all the dressing up. After all, the

fashionistas who form most of the audience at runway shows - buyers, stylists, major clients and of course celebrities - have rather a duty to, well, take one for the team. (Easy for him to say.)

“Listen,” Downing says, “footwear is a true indicator of style, and where fashion is, and where it’s going. We’re an industry of image. So it’s important that we do our part.”

And it’s not a burden, offers Patel - it’s a pleasure. “Fashion Week is like going back to school you want to pull out your new clothes and new shoes and show everyone,” she says. Even better: “You’re not the only one teetering on 140milimeter gold platform heels. Everyone is. It’s wonderful!” At a packed Fashion Week party a few nights earlier, Clement Z., as this stylist from Shanghai calls himself, is chatting with friends.

Your eyes gravitate down to his feet. How can they not? They’re brilliantly jeweled. He’s wearing what he calls his Aladdin shoes. —AP

Centrepoint unveils its Spring Summer 2012 collection!

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entrepoint, the popular shopping destination in Kuwait celebrates Spring Summer this year with a wonderful collection of products across Juniors, Splash, Shoe Mart and Lifestyle. Be it fashion clothing, shoes or accessories, kidswear or toys, or products that you’ll love to adorn your home with; Centrepoint has it all!

The new Spring Summer collection from Juniors seems to exude energy. The collection comprises cotton yarn dyed shirts, melange inserts, denim bottoms, cotton spandex hoodies, and convertible capris. ‘Juniors’ leads the trend pack, channeling themes for little girls with bright floral patterns in vibrant yellows, pretty pinks and fresh whites. The ensemble also rings in an exciting season for boys with hooded shirts, V-necks and sporty polo t-shirts dominating the line. Conveying a trendy and practical look, ‘Juniors’ collection features the essential nautical theme with traditional checks, prints and stripes in the classical hues of red, white and navy.

Spring has sprung and taking a sneaky peak into season’s hottest trends, the Splash wardrobe looks back at simpler times where fashion was straight to the point. Taking cues from the best of catwalks and the collection explores the choicest of trends coupled with the choicest of shape that

tures stylish pieces of arm-candy in warm tan hues and geometrical cuts. Stand out from the fashion crowd next season by sporting off Fiorelli bags. The clashing of the colors and prints works brilliantly well together to produce some stunning designs that fans of Fiorelli bags will love.

As thoughts of sunshine holidays are creeping

are classic yet bold and edgy, vivid prints, colors and designs. Mixed-message prints with micro patterns, graphic stripe blocking and decoinspired geometrics are available in key colors like orange, emerald, black, old gold, navy and white. Men wear the same trend in material like linen or silk, smooth or printed cotton in crum-

pled finishes with over-dyed effects and textured knit. Splash’s all new Spring Summer 2012 collection charts out four stages of life symbolized by style and trends of the season. It speaks of spotless relaxed clothes and an unstructured easy to wear collection in soft cotton fabrics.

Shoe Mart’s Spring Summer ‘12 collection brings an assortment of styles for all who are inspired by the on screen trend setters, symbolizing science fiction, urban fixtures and holiday inspired trends. The glamorous collection is an

assortment of bags, clutches, necklaces, scarves and jewellery. From color blocked clutches, patterned shoulder bags, to trendy sling bags and high-fashion inspired jewellery, this Spring Summer Collection is set to leave every woman in need of a revamped dresser. Patterns make a comeback this season with color blocking infused influences dominant in this range. For every evening outfit, there are envelope clutches that come in bright hues of blue, pink and green amalgamated with softer tones of beige and grey. A selection of clutches and purses embellished with flowers and bows along with pearl adornments adds an edge to the vibrant range.

Lifestyle couldn’t be far behind with its offerings! Adorned on the arms of fashionistas on London’s fashionable Oxford Street, Fiorelli’s new collection is a hit this season. The collection fea-

into our minds, Yankee Candle has introduced new fragrances to their range to complement the changing seasons.

So why not brighten up your summer with a new fragrance or gift for a friend. Your favorite shopping destination - Centrepoint once again has it all this season to surprise you and yet fulfill all your shopping needs! So stop by at any of our stores located at Al Rai, Hawally, Salmiya, Kuwait City, Fahaheel, Fintas and Jahra for an experience that will leave you spell bound!

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Jolie hopes her film draws notice to Syria

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

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Art lovers view a traditional Buddhist ‘Thangka’ painting at a Chinese cultural fair in Beijing on February 14, 2012. China’s leaders have recently agreed to guidelines aimed at preserving “cultural security” and expanding Chinese soft power. The country will strive to improve its citizens’ “sense of identity and confidence in Chinese culture”, according to a statement following a secretive annual four-day plenum in Beijing. — AFP

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David Redden of Sotheby’s holds a gold coin called the “Fifty Excelentes” .

collection of 37,895 Spanish coins including rare examples from the 15th century went on display Tuesday in New York for an auction organized by Sotheby’s next month. The collection includes coins from antiquity through modern era and feature the only remaining example of Europe’s most famous coin, called 50 Excelentes, commissioned by the 15th century monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella as gifts.

The coins are part from the Archer M Huntington collection and valued between $25 million and $35 million. They will be sold in a single batch in a sealed bid auction that ends March 8. The collection was put together a century ago by American railroad magnate and philanthropist Archer Milton Huntington, who also founded the Hispanic Society of America. “We put the entire collection on view,” said David Redden, Sotheby’s vice chairman and head of special projects. “It starts nearly from the beginning of coinage in the Iberian Peninsula.”

The collection, which is owned by the New York chapter of the Hispanic Society of America, was offered to the government of Spain before the auction but its bid was too low, Redden said. “This is not an easy time for Spain,” he said. “Nobody said, ‘no,’ but nobody is actually coming up with the money.”

Persons who have expressed an interest in the auction include Americans, Spaniards and other Europeans, he said. The collection is dominated by the nearly five-ounce (140 gram) solid gold 50 Excelente coin, which Redden called “arguably the most important and valuable European coin in existence.” It shows a profile of the monarchs on one side and a shield on the other side.

Other 50 Excelente coins were minted but disappeared for reasons that can only be guessed. “Such a large piece of gold, it’s attractive to try to melt it, unfortunately,” he said. The collection also includes a copy of the “Ides of March” denarius, which was coined by the ancient Roman politician Brutus in the year 4 BC to commemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar, in which Brutus conspired. Other coins in the collection were among the first minted in the New World as the Spanish colonized the Americas, and coins from the Muslim period in Spain. The coin collection is on display at Sotheby’s New York galleries. — AFP

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undreds of works by celebrated Dutch expressionist artist Karel Appel have been discovered in a British warehouse ten years after they went missing, the Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday.

Appel never recovered from the loss of his lifetime’s work of drawings, sketches and notebooks, which disappeared in Amsterdam in 2002, and died aged 85 in 2006. The 400 pieces were found by a British storage company when it cleared out the contents of a warehouse that it had bought before Christmas, the paper reported on its website. Intrigued staff from the unnamed business took the eight boxes of works to Bonhams auction house, who told them they were on the Art Loss Register’s (ALR) database of “most wanted” stolen art.

“After five weeks of intense negotiation with the logistics company a settlement was finally reached with the company agreeing to release their claim to the artwork,” said Christopher Marinello, ALR’s lawyer and chief negotiator. Appel, a leading member of the avant garde Cobra group, was awarded the UNESCO prize at the 1954 Venice Biennale. His works are known for their depictions of grotesque animals using thicklyapplied paint. The artist’s widow, Harriet Appel, said: “I am extremely happy that the Karel Appel Foundation have recovered the lost drawings and am impressed by the successful and professional way in which this case was handled by the ALR.”— AFP

A Sotheby’s employee organizes some coins.

David Redden of Sotheby’s talks about the Archer Huntington coin collection February 14, 2012 at Sotheby’s in New York. — AFP photos

A file picture taken on February 17, 1993 at the Palace Lange Voorhout in The Hague shows Dutch painter Karel Appel posing in front of one of his sculptures. — AFP