17 Jan 2012

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

At least 26 killed in Beirut building collapse

Pak PM found in contempt of court

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‘Artist’, ‘Descendants’ shine at Golden Globes

Giants stun Packers to reach NFC title game

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Court reinstates Mislem, Juwaihel in election race

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www.kuwaittimes.net

SAFAR 23, 1433 AH

Foreign observers to monitor elections

Max 20º Min 04º High Tide 05:25 & 17:51 Low Tide 10:51

By B Izzak

Israel rattled as hackers hit bourse, airline JERUSALEM: Hackers disrupted online access to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, El Al Airlines and three banks yesterday in what the government described as a cyber-offensive against Israel. The attacks came just days after an unidentified hacker, proclaiming Palestinian sympathies, posted the details of thousands of Israeli credit card holders and other personal information on the Internet in a mass theft. Stock trading and El Al flights operated normally despite the disruption, which occurred as Israeli media reported that pro-Palestinian hackers had threatened at the weekend to shut down the TASE stock exchange and airline websites.

While apparently confined to areas causing only limited inconvenience, the attacks have caused particular alarm in a country that depends on high-tech systems for much of its defence against hostile neighbours. Officials insist, however, that they pose no immediate security threat. “They have demanded an apology for Israel’s defensive measures,” Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said on his Facebook page, alluding to the conflict with Palestinians. “I am using this platform to send a clear message that ... they will not silence us on the Internet, or in any forum.”

The First International Bank of Israel (FIBI) and two subsidiary banks, Massad and Otzar Hahayal, said their marketing sites had been hacked but the Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Former MP Faisal Al-Mislem (center) celebrates with his supporters including former MP Waleeed Al-Tabtabaei (right) after a court allowed him to run for the upcoming National Assembly elections. (Inset) Supporters of controversial figure Mohammad AlJuwaihel (left) shower him with sweets after the court ruled in his favour too. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

12 more killed in Syria BEIRUT: Twelve people were killed yesterday in Syria where a peace plan monitored by Arab observers has failed to douse a 10-month-old struggle between President Bashar Al-Assad and his foes.

Arab foreign ministers will meet on Sunday to discuss the future of the mission sent last month to check if Syria was abiding by the agreement it accepted on

Nov 2. The Arab plan required Syria to halt the bloodshed, withdraw the military from cities, free detainees and hold a dialogue. Hundreds of people have been reported killed in Syria even since the monitors deployed on Dec 26 as proAssad forces tr y to crush peaceful protests and armed resistance to his rule.

Continued on Page 13

DAMASCUS: A freed Syrian prisoner (left) hugs his brother after being released from Adra Prison on the northeast outskirts of Damascus yesterday. — AP

Saudis doubt Iran oil blockade claim TEHRAN: Saudi Arabia yesterday expressed doubts over Iran’s claim it could block the main oil shipping route out of the Gulf and made clear it was ready to pump more oil after sanctions threatened to cut Iranian sales of crude. Brent crude rose above $111 on concerns about global oil supplies if sanctions freeze OPEC’s second biggest producer out of the market or push it towards military conflict, while Saudi Arabia said it would work to stabilise the price at $100. Israel, which has often said it could strike Iran to stop it developing nuclear weapons, called for tough new sanctions against Tehran to stop its nuclear program.

But it said that for sanctions to work effectively, all countries must join in - a subtle swipe at Russia and China which oppose the latest Western moves.

“Iran must be stopped and the good news is that Iran can be stopped with economic and diplomatic means once the entire international community gathers together with effective sanctions,” Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told the BBC. Tehran has been under a growing array of UN and unilateral sanctions for years, but a US bill that President Barack Obama signed into law on New Year’s Eve went far further than previously, aiming to stop countries paying for Iranian oil.

The European Union - Iran’s second biggest oil customer after China, buying some 450,000 barrels per day of its 2.6 million bpd exports - is also Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: The Administrative Court yesterday scrapped a decision by the Interior Ministry to bar opposition leader and former MP Faisal Al-Mislem from contesting the parliamentary elections and ordered the ministry to re-register him as a candidate for the Feb 2 elections. The court took the urgent ruling after Mislem filed a petition against the interior ministry’s decision as illegal and a breach of the constitution. However, the court set April 30 as the date to start hearing the case filed by Mislem against the interior ministry. The ruling was hailed by Mislem, opposition leader Ahmad Al-Saadoun and several opposition candidates, but a rally that was planned for yesterday to protest the interior ministry’s decision went ahead as planned.

Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said he totally respects the judiciary and its rulings and immediately ordered concerned authorities to implement the ruling by re-registering Mislem. In other rulings, the court re-instated three other candidates, including controversial pro-government figure Mohammad Al-Juwaihel, who was disqualified last week among 14 candidates. The court is expected to issue rulings regarding the remaining candidates in the coming few days.

Mislem was disqualified by the interior ministry after the appeals court convicted him last week and fined him KD 200 on charges that he revealed bank secrets. The case was filed against Mislem in 2010 by Burgan Bank weeks after he displayed a copy of a KD 200,000-cheque said to have been issued by former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to a former MP during a grilling of the former premier. The interior ministry considered the conviction as a lack of honesty and integrity, an issue that bars candidates from contesting the election under Kuwaiti electoral law.

Continued on Page 13

Iranians proud over win for ‘Separation’ TEHRAN: Iranians reacted with pride yesterday after an Iranian film, “A Separation”, won a major US prize - a triumph on the international stage that, for a moment, eclipsed geopolitical tensions. Its victory at Hollywood’s Golden Globes, where director Asghar Farhadi picked up the award for best foreign-language movie from pop star Madonna late Sunday, lit up Iranians’ messages on online social networks. This award “is the cause of pride for all Iranians all over the world”, said one Facebook user, Iman, 29.

“OMG...! I still can’t believe that Farhadi got the Globe from Madonna! Now I really envy him. Congratulations to everyone!” said another, Mehrdad, 33.

Amir Esfandiari , an official in the Farabi Film Foundation affiliated with the country’s culture ministry, offered congratulations to Farhadi and wished the film success as a possible Oscar candidate, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported. The Fars news agency said that the film will play for an extra week in a Tehran cinema. It had been shown in Iranian movie houses over the past Asghar Farhadi months.

Few Iranian media carried reports on the win yesterday, mainly because the Golden Globes took place well after newspaper deadlines. “A Separation” is Iran’s official entry for the Oscars next month, where another trophy - already tipped by many of the world’s leading film critics - would be a cultural coup for this country at a time it is facing an intense Continued on Page 13

in the

news Egypt tycoon gets retrial over killing

Beyonce gets fly named after her

CAIRO: Egyptian tycoon Hisham Talaat Moustafa, who was jailed in 2010 for the murder of a Lebanese pop singer, will be retried next month as sought by prosecutors who complained his 15-year sentence was too lenient, a court said yesterday. The Supreme Egyptian Criminal Court decided that it would begin the new trial of Moustafa for the murder of singer and former lover Suzanne Tamim from Feb 6. In May 2009, Moustafa, an associate of ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal who also sat on the policies committee of the former ruling National Democratic Party, was sentenced to death. A year later an appeals court overturned the conviction on procedural grounds and ordered a retrial. In Sept 2010, Moustafa was sentenced to 15 years in jail. But in November that year the prosecution complained the sentence was “too lenient” and demanded Moustafa be tried Hisham Talaat again. Also to be retried in the case is Mohsen Al-Sukkari, an associate of Moustafa who was sentenced to 25 years for the murder of Tamim, who was killed in July 2008 at her Dubai apartment. At the first trial, Moustafa was accused of having paid Sukkari, a former policeman, two million dollars to cut Tamim’s throat.

CANBERRA: A newly discovered horse fly in Australia was so “bootylicious” with its golden-haired bum, there was only one name worthy of its beauty: Beyonce.

Previously published results from Bryan Lessard, a 24-yearold researcher at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, were recently announced on the species that had been sitting in a fly collection since it was captured in 1981 - the same year pop diva Beyonce was born. He says he wanted to pay respect to the insect’s beauty by naming it Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae. Lessard said Beyonce would be “in the nature history books forever” and that the fly now bearing her name is “pretty bootylicious” with its golden backside. “Bootylicious” was the title of a song by Beyonce’s previous group, Destiny’s Child. It’s unknown if the rare species is a bloodsucker like many female horse flies. Lessard says he hasn’t heard from Beyonce, who recently gave birth to her first child, but he is a fan and hopes she will take his scientific gesture as a compliment. He also said the name was picked to help draw attention to the importance of his field and the need for more researchers to catalog and study insects.

MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina: Former Utah Gov Jon Huntsman waves as he leaves after announcing the suspension of his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination yesterday. — AFP (See Page 9)

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

LOCAL

Kuwait in constant spring since its independence Arab journalists at media center KUWAIT: “Kuwait has been in spring since its independence in 1961 and this could be seen through a mature and lively public participation on the one hand and a political leadership keen on giving its people the right to participate in decision making on the other.”

The remark was made by Editor in Chief of Egypt’s Al-Sabah Al-Arabi newspaper Hussein Shamardal, and carried sentiments shared by many other Arab media figures regarding the democracy in Kuwait and its upcoming elections, expressed at the 2012 elections media center.

Shamardal said Kuwait is the inspiration and pride of Arabs, even those with longer experiences with democracy such as Egypt.

This, he explained, is because the election process in the Gulf country is not tainted by forgery and is conducted in transparency.

Saying Kuwaitis should be proud of their achievements so far, he stressed they should not be overly disturbed by some of the loud voices and tug and pull at parliament. This, he stressed, is always present in a true democracy.

T h e n e x t d e ve l o p m e n t t h a t K u w a i t should aspire to, he believed, was allowing formation and recognition of political parties. “Political parties are a pillar of the

Kuwaiti democracy ‘oldest in Gulf region’ AMMAN: The Kuwaiti elections to be held on February is a prominent event, and the democratic experience in Kuwait is the oldest in the region, cherishing a great deal of integrity, a Jordanian parliamentary activist stated. Chairman of the Jordanian-Kuwaiti Friendship Committee, MP in Jordanian parliament, Reem Badran, expressed hopes that the coming Kuwaiti elections would fulfill the people aspirations, crowning accumulation of political achievements since 1962. The Kuwaiti parliamentary experience which started since the 60s of the last century, is considered the most important among the other Arab experiences, she affirmed.

She described the performance of the National Assembly as active, tackling issues concerning the Kuwaiti public, she stated. —KUNA

democratic political system.”

Alyoum Elsabe Editor in Chief Abdelfattah Abdelmenem meanwhile said Kuwait’s spring did not start on the heels of the wave of the so-called Arab spring of recent months, but actually started with the state’s announcement and adoption of its constitution in the early 1960s. The constitution divided the privileges and prerogatives of the ruler and pointed out the power of the people and gave citizens full rights.

Democracy is “what the people want and choose,” and this was Kuwait’s policy since 1962. Still, it would be better to have clearer division between the prerogatives of the executive and the legislative authority.

Imperative still is to allow political parties, which would counter tribal and sectarian sentiments that could be seen in Arab countries.

Kuwait’s is the best democracy in the Arab region; there is a strong parliament, MPs who say what they need and want to, a people with freedom of choice, and freedom of press and media. Kuwaiti women, too, are more involved and engaged in the political process than elsewhere in the region, he said.

Editor in Chief of Al-Ahram Amin Mohammad Amin for his part stressed that it

was very irregular for an Emirate to seek democracy, which was what Kuwait did since its independence and with its adoption of its constitution. He echoed the notion that occasional heated debate was not alien to a democratic system.

The editor said the experience now needs a little more maturity and political awareness on the part of the people, and it would be best half the representatives in the next parliament be young and female citizens, who would still seek counsel and guidance of veteran MPs as they work side by side. The younger candidates have much higher qualifications and much awareness of issues of our times and, therefore, must not be ignored.

From the Sultanate of Oman, head of the local news department at Al-Rouya paper Suad Al-Areimia said the Kuwaiti experience is very unique and attracts great attention.

The country’s democracy is older than that of others in the gulf and allows much more freedoms.

On women’s particular contribution to the political process, she said she believed women were more capable to address some issues than male counterparts, and societies are waking up to the fact that woman can play important roles in all fields. — KUNA

Top priority for justice, equality KUWAIT: Candidate of the Second Constituency for the 2012 National Assembly elections Dokhi Al-Hasban called for what he termed activation of rights stipulated by the Kuwait Constitution namely provisions that safeguard justice and equality and freedoms.

The Constitution ensures freedom of the press and publishing, which are also ensured by special laws for the press and audio-visual media, he said.

Freedoms of belief is also stipulated by the National Constitution, “however some parties seek to partition the Kuwaiti society on sectarian and ideological and tribal lines,” AlHasban stated.

He called for abiding by the constitutional provisions that ensure these basic rights, namely justice and equality, and urged for enacting a special legislation to subject civil servants to restrictions and supervision as to accumulation of financial wealth.

Judiciary must be totally independent and must not be affiliated to any other governmental departments, he said, on the occasion of the upcoming polls, expressing hope that the MPs of the new assembly would make efforts on such arenas.

He also made other calls at the level of human resources upgrading education and development. — KUNA

Candidates call for ‘rebuilding’ of Kuwait KUWAIT: Candidate of the Second Constituenc y for the 2012 National Assembly elections Dr. Salwa Al-Jassar affirmed the importance to restore the infrastructure of all the basic services that cover all areas in the state, in accordance to a specific mechanism and a balanced pattern.

In a press release, Al-Jassar said yesterday that she is interested to enable the role of Kuwaiti women in order to engage in the development programs of social, political, educational, economic and legislative nature, as well as emphasizing on their effective participation in society.

Also important is reducing unemployment by diversifying the activities, as well as the economic and investment opportunities, Al-Jassar said.

At fourth constituency, candi-

date Eid Shaman Al-Mutairi called on the government to adopt a new approach that targets the people’s aspirations with all its sects and denominations, especially in the next phase, with all its challenges.

Al-Mutairi urged in a press release the Deputy Premier and Interior Minister and Defense Minister Sheik h Ahmad AlHumoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to solve the stateless (Bedoun) issue.

He then pointed to the significance of forming a decision-making government that do justice to the people of Kuwait in order to resolve all their issues through applying the law on everyone, adding that “most of our issues such as housing, employment, education and health are the same since years without any solutions or government initiatives.” He called for the formation

of a special parliamentary committee to follow up on the development plans and monitor the performance of governmental institutions.

Meanwhile, fifth constituency candidate, Ali Hussein Reda affirmed that Kuwait is at a critical juncture attributed to difficult regional situations, and “we all are responsible to participate in the upcoming elections to bring out the national competencies.”

In a statement, Reda said he is competing in the upcoming elections under the slogan (We are all Kuwaitis, and we love Kuwait).

“We have to choose qualified candidates who aim to rebuild Kuwait and are loyal to the citizens,” he stressed. He also underlined the need to maintain national unity and the elimination of agitation of any kind. He also urged combating those who buy/sell votes. — KUNA

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Two expats facilitating the exit of containers loaded with alcohol from Shuwaikh Port were busted and their homes were searched where incriminating documents were found, leading to the confiscation of 1,500 cases of alcohol containing 20,000 bottles of spirits of different types imported from one of the Gulf states. The contraband was valued at more than KD 1 million.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah met at the Seif Palace yesterday Nobel Peace Prize recipient Tawakul Karman and Al-Qabas editor-in-chief Waleed Al-Nisf. Karman is visiting Kuwait on invitation from Al-Qabas daily.

Nobel Prize winner Karman applauds Kuwait’s democracy KUWAIT: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakul Karman arrived in Kuwait on Sunday after receiving an invitation from Al-Qabas daily, whose Editor-in-Chief Waleed Al-Nisf welcomed her at the Kuwait International Airport.

The VIP terminal soon turned into a press conference zone in which Karman answered numerous questions from reporters. Notably, she praised the Kuwaiti democratic experience, and hoped that “as many women as possible” are elected to the next Parliament.

She also expressed hope that one day a female citizen would be appointed prime minister in Kuwait.

When asked about the Yemeni uprising, Karman insisted that the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh is only the first step in the ongoing peaceful revolution. She also denied rumors which demanded the ousted president’s execution, clarifying that the people of Yemen demand a fair trial to Saleh “and all mem-

bers of his ousted regime are involved in killing peaceful protestors and stealing public funds.”

When asked to describe her feeling after winning the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, Karman insisted that the prize was won by “Arabs, Muslims, women and youth, especially the women and young people of Yemen.” “The prize represents a global recognition to the genuineness, peacefulness and rightfulness of Arab revolutions.” Tawakul Karman is a corecipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for playing a prominent role in the Yemeni public uprising to end the decade-long reign of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and has become a symbol of the Arab Spring. She is seen by the international community as the face of the Yemeni revolution and advocator of public freedoms in Yemen, which she has been endorsing since 2005 as a journalist, as well as human rights and political activist.— Al-Qabas

Karman ‘a role model for all Arab women’ KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah hailed Nobel laureate Tawakul Karman as a model for all Arab women, as she was received at Seif Palace yesterday.

HH Sheikh Jaber praised Karman’s achievement as being the first Arab woman to ever be awarded the accolade, as a result of her major democratic and humanitarian role in the support of freedoms, especially in her country, Yemen.

“This international recognition will have a positive impact on encouraging Arab women to support the society and development efforts in their nations,” he said. HH expressed hope Yemen would be able to overcome its current period of political turmoil, in order to take positive strides towards development and prosperity.

He also pledged Kuwait’s supportive stance of the Yemeni people.

For her part, Karman expressed her appreciation of the continuing support Kuwait provides to Yemen, carried out through the ages.

She also commended the democratic process in Kuwait, describing it as a “leading” one in the region. — KUNA

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

local

Positive developments in Kuwait-Iraq relations Stage set for Maliki visit

KUWAIT: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah addressing the press conference. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

State keen on fair Assembly elections Ministries devise joint plan KUWAIT: The government is keen on holding just and fair elections to allow the people to elect the right individuals into Parliament, said the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah. In a press conference held at the Ministry’s media center for the 2012 elections, Sheikh Salman said that the state is working very hard for the elections on Feb 2. He said that it took several steps within that frame: the establishment of an independent elections commission and a national committee that supervises election campaigns.

The Ministry of Information, said the official, devised a joint plan with other government ministries and institutions to put laws concerning all kinds of advertisements for election campaigns.

He also noted that the ministry was spreading awareness about illegal practices during the elections, such as vote-buying

and by-elections in cooperation with the Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS) and other organizations.

Sheikh Salman indicated that for the first time, candidates were allowed to show their campaigns on national television, revealing that 152, out of 175 hopefuls who applied for the (free of charge) ads, displayed their agenda during a three-minute video interface to be broadcast later this month.

Sheikh Salman also revealed that experts and lecturers were allowed to hold events at the center in an effort to inform the public about the importance of voting and elections. In regards to media coverage, Sheikh Salman affirmed that the ministry would be the official entity that would cover the elections, adding that 1,150 personnel would be covering some 564 committees and sub-committees on the election day. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah announced yesterday that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki will visit Kuwait soon upon an invitation from His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. “We hope the visit would achieve the desired outcome and build on what was achieved in last year’s visit,” Sheikh Sabah AlKhaled said in a seminar on the sideline of the first Kuwaiti-Iraqi Media Forum held here and attended by Information Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah.

He called for the continuation of the joint Kuwaiti-Iraqi meetings to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

“Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations witnessed great positive developments in 2011, including reciprocal visits at the highest levels. These visits and meetings resulted in several agreements on bilateral cooperation,” Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said.

The country’s top diplomat underlined that the Kuwaiti leadership is eager to set a roadmap to help Iraq fulfill the UN Security Council resolutions related to Saddam Hussein regime’s occupation of Kuwait.

With regard to maintenance of border markers between the two countries, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said Iraq had “done a lot of work to repair border markers and we are ready to help it complete this mission.”

He also unveiled that there is a Kuwaiti proposal for Iraq to invest compensations to Kuwait in projects in Iraq.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled added that Kuwait would provide Iraq with modern equipment to help search for human remains of missing Kuwaitis in a number of Iraqi areas, starting in 2012, noting that since 2004, the remains of 236 of Kuwaiti war prisoners were discovered.

He pointed out that Iraq has formed a com-

mittee to tackle the issue of the Kuwaiti archives stolen during Saddam Hussein’s regime occupation of Kuwait in 1990.

For his part, Information Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali said media shoulders great responsibility for promoting rapprochement and cooperation between nations.

He warned against “ill-intentioned” media outlets who try to stir up discord between countries. Sheikh Hamad, in this regard, proposed a code of honor to be adopted by Kuwaiti and Iraqi media. He also stressed the importance of exchanging visits to bridge the

gap in viewpoints between the two sides.

Sheikh Hamad called for the organization of cultural and artistic weeks in both nations to improve relations between the two peoples. The First Kuwaiti-Iraqi Media Forum, organized by the Arab Media Forum, kicked off here Sunday. The event is attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Iraq Ali Al-Momen and Iraqi Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Bahr Al-Uloom and a galaxy of Kuwaiti and Iraqi media people, including newspaper editors and managers of satellite channels, writers, journalists, poets and intellectuals. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and Information Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah addressing the press conference yesterday.

News

in brief

Al Khaldi wins Mercedes with Al Shabab account

Teachers’ increments stalled KUWAIT: Confirming previous stories on plans to pay increments approved to teachers (citizens only) by next May, the Finance Ministry recently asked the Ministry of Education (MoE) to assess the total cost of new increments paid, and report the details. On this regard, the Finance Ministr y ’s Assistant Undersecretary for General Budget Affairs, Abdul Wahab Al-Muzaini said that the MoE and the Finance Ministry should be in possession of such information soon to include new increments in the ministry’s 2012-2013 project.

KUWAIT: Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah AlSabah received at his office in Seif Palace yesterday, Afrah Jafar Mulla Ali who presented her doctorate thesis on Kuwaiti tales and their translation into Spanish from ideological and cultural perspectives to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Kuwait cooperates with Italy, UK in archeological missions KUWAIT: Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL) announced yesterday the signing of an archeological agreement with the British Department of Archaeology in Durham University.

The mission will carry out exploration for relics in the Kuwait’s Kathma area. Kathma is a historical region, rich in relics that date back to the times after the birth of Islam and the early years of the Islamic empire.

As part of the project archeologists will examine sites of the Islamic period, namely in the area of Jal Al-Zour and Kuwait Bay, NCCAL said in a press statement.

Ali Al-Yoha, Secretary General of NCCAL, signed the one-year agreement with the head of the mission from the UK Dr. Derek Kent. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Director of the Department of Antiquities and Museums of NCCAL Shehab Al-Shehab.

He pointed out that this would be the third cooperation accord between Kuwait and the UK. KCCAL also signed a contract with the Italian University of Perugia, to conduct archaeological excavations on the island of Failaka, to search for antiquities dating back to the late Islamic period.— KUNA

KOC contracts less in 2011 KUWAIT: A statistical report prepared by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) revealed that contracts signed by the company with the contracting and construction companies during the year 2011 amounted to KD 826 million in the field of oil drilling and discovery and production of oil and gas. Compared with the contracts signed by the company in 2010 which amounted to KD 2.9 billion, the contracts in 2011 were much less than the amount generated in 2010. In total there were 129 number of contracts signed by KOC in 2011 for projects to be executed during this year and next year and some of the contracts will last for more years to

come. The reason attributed behind the reduction of contracts signed is due to the postponement of several mega projects which KOC was planning to sign during last year.

Dealing with the polluted soil in the Southern Eastern fields of Kuwait, which estimated at billions of dinars, and the projects of replacing crude oil supply pipes also caused the reduction. Sources at KOC, blamed the drop in the contracts signed by the company during last year on political intervention in the oil sector. Al-Anbaa reported that political intrusion resulted in delaying some mega projects in the northern fields.

KTS inspects MoH transactions KUWAIT: As part of monitoring the ongoing election proceedings, observers from Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS) held an unscheduled visit to the Health Ministry to ensure that no candidate used influence to wrongfully issue medical retirement certificates, send patients to receive overseas treatment or issue disability reports. Sources added that KTS observers inspected MoH’s medical council and some other facilities before reporting on their level of commitment to ensure that elections’ integrity can be maintained by suspending decisions made.

‘Ethical role to play’ KUWAIT: Diplomatic sources responded to an Iranian warning against increasing oil production if western powers impose penalties on Iran, stating that GCC countries are used to hearing such declarations from a country that does not know peace and stability.

Sources pointed out that Iran began threatening to close Strait of Hormuz by warning the Gulf state.

They added that regarding oil production increase, “We have an ethical role to play in retaining oil flow.”

Pointing to consumer needs is the one which calls for more production, this is a demand and supply equation. It is natural to demand an increase under certain circumstances. Oil-producing countries will respond by increasing production.

New generators at Subbiya plant KUWAIT: Works are ongoing to install new generators at Al-Subbiya power plant, which will add 700 megawatts of power, boosting production to touch 1,300 megawatts. This was announced by the Ministry of Electricity Water (MEW) who added that the new generators will be set into motion in June. According to MEW sources, minister Salem Al-Othaina issued instructions to ensure that the generators are installed and ready to operate in summer so as to cope with expected high demand for power. The MEW also announced on Sunday that it has started connecting the Sabah Al-Ahmad City with the state’s electricity network.

KUWAIT: Hanan Al-Khaldi won the brand new Mercedes C class with Al Shabab’ s campaign from National Bank of Kuwait (NBK). The campaign aimed to reward Al Shabab customers who transferred their student allowances to NBK. “Banking with NBK is rewarding in every way,” said Al-Khaldi. “NBK is truly the best bank in the Middle East for its unique services and exclusive offers as well as valuable prizes,” she said.

“NBK is keen to provide youth customers with the best banking services and exclusive offers to cater to their needs. Al Shabab account is the first choice for youth who want to save money and organize their finances,” said Ahmad Al-Khader, NBK’s Assistant General Manager, Consumer Banking Group. “We congratulate Ms Al Khaldi for winning this exciting car. It is a great way to start off the new year.”

Al Khader added “NBK’s rewarding campaigns continue throughout the year. Now, we are offering Al Shabab customers a chance to win an all new 2012 Nissan Juke when they transfer their student

allowances to NBK.” Al Shabab is a youth account that caters to the various financial, social and lifestyle needs of college and university students between the ages of 17-23. Students can open an Al Shabab account by visiting any NBK branch in Kuwait.

Ahmed Al-Khader

MGRP urges companies to train national labor KUWAIT: Private sector companies wishing to participate in national labor training programs for 2012 will present training plans that focus on introducing new technologies and experiences to national staff, urged Abdul Aziz Al-Qassar, PR and Media Manager at the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP).

“The purpose of holding such training courses is to support national labor work in

the private sector,” said Al-Qassar underscoring that the program aims to nurture creative nationals that support and promote skills.

“Therefore, the MGRP will pay the maximum 75 percent of the training courses’ cost,” he added. He noted that all companies must meet the national labor percentage of staff, have an actual activity, in addition to other conditions that trainees be insured with the Social Security Institution. — Aldar

KUWAIT: Deputy Director of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Hisham Al-Waqyan and other dignitaries at the exhibition for honoring the winners of the Arab plastic arts competition yesterday.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

LOCAL

kuwait digest

kuwait digest

A personal decision

KD37 bn disappeared, but not returned

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

A

I’

m sure that most people who truly care about Kuwait are currently saddened following the arbitrary procedure taken recently by the Government against former MP Faisal Al-Mislem.

I know that it is hard to overlook such a violation to a lawmaker’s Constitutional rights, and the repercussions that it can create. In the meantime, we need to differentiate between two significant issues: the

This decision was based on no legal basis whatsoever. Even the court ruling, which the ministry said it based its decision on, found Al-Mislem not guilty of breach of trust charges.

Crimes against honesty and integrity, which automatically disqualify citizens from running in elections, are generally attributed to immoral action and devious behavior. court order which upheld Al-Mislem’s conviction, and the Ministry of Interior’s decision to revoke his candidacy for the upcoming elections.

I do not believe that the legal authority meant any personal harm against Faisal Al-Mislem. Article 110 of the Kuwaiti Constitution states that ‘a member of the National Assembly is free to express any views or opinions in the Assembly or in its committees. Under no circumstances can he be held liable in that respect’.

A circumstance is different than a motive. While a motive can be identified, circumstances have a more general and variable nature. Either way, the court found Al-Mislem guilty of committing an act outside Parliament, which was exposing confidential banking information. While the court ruling might be subjected to further debate (and can even be overturned), it is important not to question the true intentions of the court or judges, because the ruling was based on their own assessment of the situation.

Instead, the objection to the procedure taken against Al-Mislem should be made against the Ministry of Interior’s decision to cancel his nomination. This decision was based on no legal basis whatsoever. Even the court ruling, which the ministry said it based its decision on, found Al-Mislem not guilty of breach of trust charges. Crimes against honesty and integrity, which automatically disqualify citizens from running in elections, are generally attributed to immoral action and devious behavior.

Here we have to ask ourselves these questions: Has Al-Mislem committed an immoral act? Did he use the cheque to embezzle? Did he go to the trouble of obtaining it in order to achieve personal benefits? The answer is: he put his career and personal interests on the line in order to support what he believed as a national interest. The decision of the Ministry of Interior is malicious and personal. It gives the impression that the current Cabinet or the Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlSabah, is the same as his predecessor Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah: victims of true violators of the general system. —Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Dynamics of campaigns

By Mohammad Al-Khaldi

W

omen’s rights was the focus during previous elections. Suddenly, it has become ‘All roads lead to Rome.’ Everyone urged us to vote for female candidates as if they possess the ‘magic stick’ to solve all our problems. We hope to see new female candidates eliminate the use of un-parliamentary language. Nothing has changed. The youth have come to the fore, with everyone asking for them to be given a chance. What is the age of maturity for the youth in the eyes of new politicians? I want to know if I am one of them!

We hope to see new female candidates eliminate the use of un-parliamentary language.

Nothing has changed. The youth have come to the fore, with everyone asking for them to be given a chance. What is the age of maturity for the youth in the eyes of new politicians?

Netcha has said, “Present is a bridge through which time passes from the past into future. Human beings are a bridge too, with generations of humanity passing over each other.” Can this saying be taken literally to mean human beings being driven around like cattle to give someone else the chance to steal them.

How stupid!

I don’t know how social media like Twitter, Facebook and other websites achieve profits.

Everyone now and then hear that a part of their shares will be sold in millions. Never mind, people like me, will not be able to understand the financial world. I do understand that the candidate who pays a quarter million dinar for his election campaign, does not aim to serve Kuwait. I don’t know how but this is what has been happening because of ‘lambs’ who sell their votes for a ticket or sign a file on women’s handbags. — Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest

The great Australian mother

By Hamed Al-Hmoud

C

olumnist Ahmad Al-Sarraf dedicated a recent article to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine,’ and its hidden meanings. I am not sure what inspired him to write about it. It is perhaps a video that was recently uploaded on YouTube about an Australian young man of Iraqi origin who sang this song during a talent show held in Australia.

‘Imagine’ is considered one of the greatest songs ever created promoting love, peace and coexistence among people of the world. It acquired a special meaning after being selected by a man who was brought along with his brother to Australia. The two brothers were suffering from a disability when this woman found them at a shelter in Baghdad, and decided to take them back for treatment in Australia before being officially adopted.

Can you imagine the amount of love and great sense of giving that this Australian woman had when she volunteered to become a mother to two Iraqi children suffering from the agony of poverty and war? Can you try to imagine how brave, patient and inspired someone has to be so as to risk going to Baghdad and return to Australia with two physically challenged children. She spent several years of her life raising them with love and inspired them to discover and improve musical talent.

Many of my friends couldn’t hold back their tears when they watched the Iraqi-Australian young man rising above his disability and suffering, spreading the message of love and co-existence by singing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine.’ The video also showed footage of the young man’s life, growing up at his foster parents’ home in the Australian countryside. I’m not exactly sure how old the young man was when he was adopted, or what the reason

behind his disability is; whether a congenital disorder or a warrelated injury. I am not aware of when his foster mother went to

Years of the economic embargo imposed by UN sanctions were some of the toughest periods the Iraqi people have ever experienced.

This period might not be well-known for people around the world, but for sure, will always be engraved in the conscious of the people of Iraq. For Iraqis, this period meant living for thirteen years between dictatorship and extreme poverty created by sanctions that turned millions of Iraqis into poor people.

Baghdad and found him - it could be during Iraq’s economic embargo period that lasted from the 1990 invasion to Kuwait until the fall of Saddam Husain’s reign in 2003.

Years of the economic embargo imposed by UN sanctions were some of the toughest periods the Iraqi people have ever experienced. This period might not be well-known for people

around the world, but for sure, will always be engraved in the conscious of the people of Iraq.

For Iraqis, this period meant living for thirteen years between dictatorship and extreme poverty created by sanctions that turned millions of Iraqis into poor people. This situation is largely the reason behind the sectarian troubles Iraq suffers from today; as this period promoted sectarianism among Iraqis, making them more loyal to their social sectors than to Iraq when the tyrannical regime is ousted.

One thing I feel I need to point out about this story is that the Australian woman saved a Muslim child and gave him love that exceeded what his real mother could have ever given him. She chose to be his mother, and christened him Emmanuel.

He was probably raised in a Christian environment. I’m positive it was an open-minded and tolerant atmosphere. After all, he didn’t take part in a gospel carol competition, but sang a song during a talent show that promotes love and co-existence. I can’t help but wonder how intolerant people in Muslim countries will react to this story. I’m pretty sure some of them won’t appreciate the fact that the child was taken from a Muslim community and given a Christian name.

Maybe some would say that Emmanuel should return home to Iraq and pick a new Muslim name for himself. Even if that happens, it would remove all the values of love that he earned through his Australian mother., I believe the real question we should ask ourselves is how this Australian mother was able to help a Muslim child focus his energy on something positive such as improving his musical talents. The energy of millions of other Muslim children are wasted on sectarian conflicts. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Youth role models

By Dr Yaqoub Al-Sharrah

G

ood living conditions and access to the luxuries of life do not necessarily guarantee satisfaction among people enjoying them, or motivate them to become productive in society.

In Kuwait, we find this miserable situation in most aspects of life on social, demographical and cultural levels. This is why there is frustration among Kuwaitis with large bank accounts, who spend very little for essential subsidized food supplies.

Kuwait shares a trait with most countries around the world in which more than half of the population are young people. The increase in youth in the population affects social, geographical and political aspects of Kuwait.

Ambitions of young people must become the top priority.

Young people in Kuwait feel neglected by the Government.

They suffer from lack of ways by which their talents and capabilities are properly utilized, as well as a lack of suitable job opportunities and housing. These aspects are more important to young citizens than having their monthly pay raised.

When the state failed to address the demands of young citizens, and instead focused on struggles between members of the executive and legislative authorities, young citizens were left with little choice but to become part of this struggle - especially with the lack of opportunities in the social, eco-

nomic and political fields where they can utilize their capabilities.

This paved the way for young citizens to align themselves with sectarian-oriented groups, and practice politics without focusing on national integrity.

Today we are living a reality in which youths observe veteran politicians. They are not given the opportunity to invest their capabilities in serving their country in political, economic, and social fields.

The problem is that the politicians who young people follow are not necessarily honest when they talk about national unity. Their actions hint that they are more concerned with personal interests than the state. — Al-Rai

person sent me a long letter offering his services. The man claims to be a magician and that he can bring me a loved one in 48 hours, and can charm the heart of people to be with me!

He has the ability to make officials capable of facing their opponents and he listed many other services, which makes a wise person laugh, but can fool simple persons. Even educated ones can be fooled with such messages, especially those who have authority craze and corrupted persons.

The magician left his telephone number in the posted letter he sent, so I called him. A person answered my call and he was saying ‘God’ in every sentence he spoke. For the first time I thought that I called a religious shaikh and not a magician who promotes himself as the best magician in the Arab world.

Nevertheless, I bore all his silly claims and pretence of being a religious person.

“I am the secretary of one of the Kuwaiti Parliament candidates, and I want to make a deal with you that leads to my candidate winning the election,” I told him.

The magician told me that this is an easy thing to do, and comes under the chapter of ‘being accepted by others’. What I understood from his long silly talk, was that he will make people like the candidate that I pretended to support.

After talking to me for more than half an hour, I asked him about his fees. Then he swore that he does this only in service to humanity. Then he said we will talk about it once I take a decision.

To make things hard for him, I told him that the candidate I want to pass is only liked by his own mother, and nobody else likes him except for some of his aunts. So, I asked how will he make 10,000 voters like him?!

Here, the magician felt that I am making fun of him or at least thought that I am not serious. But he still continued. “I shall come to Kuwait, through you and at your expense, and shall do the necessary work for the candidate. You will see the result and my fees will be $30,000.” After I heard the figure, I reminded him that he said that he is doing it as a service to humanity. Then he said something in his dialect which I did not understand, but I think it was filthy abuse! Then he closed the line.

I don’t think that a candidate will use magic in order to reach the National Assembly but this is not strange, as such ideas might have been tried before.

Supposing that the use of magic is possible, then the first one to use it will be government, who wants its candidates to win. This never happened and will not happen.

Note: The greatest magic in Kuwait is the disappearance of KD 37 billion for the growth plan. Even if David Copperfield, who made the Statue of Liberty disappear, dug a big ditch, he will not be able to make such a figure disappear. Not even two billions of this figure. But Government magicians were able to hide it and swallow it, and the money will not surface again like the Statue of Liberty returned by David Copperfield. Our magicians do not return what they hide. — Al-Anbaa

kuwait digest

‘Sorry’ to the independents

By Gen Ahmad Al-Rujaib

V

oters should imagine themselves sitting in a theater, concentrating and waiting to hear what candidates will say as they appear one after the other on stage. Let us imagine what those candidates will say.

They will see and hear a candidate promise to fight corruption when he is a corrupt person by nature. They will see another candidate assure them that he will protect the law, when in fact he is the first one to violate it. They will see another candidate who will tell them that he will represent them, but does not represent anyone except himself and his interests and his group. Another one will say that he will reform education when he can hardly read and write. Some will claim they are independent, but eye the nearest group close to their desires. Some will present themselves as hating ‘Wasta’, and we shall see them running after officials to intercede in certain matters. Some will claim to propose a number of laws, but he cannot separate between the law, a decision and an internal memorandum. Another will tell the audience that he support growth, of course he means growing his bank account.

The audience will hear from different candidates who take the chance and ride the waves, like those who are using the youths, the stateless case, the Bahrain crisis or anything else happening in Kuwait to fool the public.

The response to everything that the candidates propose is the awareness of the voter, who listened to them and heard their proposals. Those voters will be responsible for electing one candidate or another.

To be fair, there are some candidates who are really honest and have logic in what they intend to do.

You cannot blame voters who are still not decided, especially in the second and third constituencies where candidates compete from all sections of society. In the other constituencies voters have already made up their minds, regardless of what the candidates propose in those constituencies. The tribal commitment in those constituencies have the highest shares. Therefore, 90 percent of voters there have already decided whom they will vote for. They are free to do so, and this is their Constitutional right.

In second and third constituencies, competition among candidates is at full scale and the battle on voting day will be a strong one. All ‘arms’ will be used in this battle - the ‘arms’ used on such occasions.

There will be payments, payees and payers. There will be supporters to those who serve the interests of the supporters. Supporters will use their family influence and financial influence to ensure that the one they support reaches the National Assembly. And “sorry” to the independent candidates. — Al-Anbaa

5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

Local

Arab summit to discuss regional war possibility Gulf states seek postponement

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Three GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states might oppose holding the next Arab Summit in Baghdad in March, and call for its postponement until the Syrian situation is resolved.

Sources added that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain would put forward the above-mentioned proposals by offering them for discussion with other GCC states to win support before taking them to the Arab League.

Furthermore, officials stressed that three advocates of proposals were confident that GCC states would approve them and call for

postponing the Summit.

“The summit will not be held at the expense of Arab aspirations,” stressed, sources noting that the current domestic Iraqi disagreements would negatively affect the summit, in addition to the fact that Iraq supports the Syrian regime.

Sources also noted that the summit will discuss the possibility of a regional war, in view of the Iranian nuclear program.

On another concern, the Arab League Secretary General, Nabil Al-Arabi said that a special delegation would visit Iraq next month to prepare for the summit which will be held on schedule.

Environmental award for Sheikha Amthal

KUWAIT: A fire broke out at the basement of a building in Farwaniya. In response to an emergency situation, the Farwaniya fire center, Ardiya and technical center tackled the flames. As firemen arrived at the scene, they found that the 10-storey building and basement was used as a carpentry workshop which contains timber and furniture. Heavy smoke billowed out of the scene. The building, which had a total number of 130 residents, was evacuated. Firefighters soon brought the fire under control. —Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

Man held for rape

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Hawally police arrested a citizen who has been accused of raping his female friend in his apartment. The victim explained to officials that she had paid him, an old friend, a visit, and he sexually assaulted her. She was taken for a medical examination while the police arrested the suspect.

In other news, Ahmadi police arrested a couple who were found in an inebriated state after being pulled over for speeding. Preliminary investigations

state that the two were on their way to a camp. Patrol officers chased the car that had been speeding at 180 kph. After the car was forced to halt, police cast suspicion on a poorly clad woman seated in the vehicle despite the cold weather.

Police soon discovered that they were drunk and arrested them. They were referred to the Criminal Investigations General Department.

Also, customs officials at Al-Shuaiba Port recovered a shipment of subsidized diesel fuel on Sunday before it was smuggled out of the country.

KUWAIT: The Euro -Arab Organization for Environment has chosen Chair woman of the Voluntary Work Center Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad AlSabah who is also a pioneering environmental activist to receive the Arab Women’s Leadership Environmental Award for 2011, among three other Arab women.

Head of the Organization Saleh Al-Museini said yesterday that Sheikha Amthal was chosen along with Saudi Academic Dr Majedha Abu’Ras, the first Saudi lady to specialize in environmental science, Egypt’s former minister of environment Dr Nadia Obaid and Moroccan Minister of Power and Minerals Ameena bin Khather.

He added that the four award recipients will accept their awards in an honorary ceremony that will take place at the Arab League headquarters, in the presence of Head of Arab Ministers Environment Council Saudi Prince Turki bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz and some Arab and International environment figures.

Sheikha Amthal’s active role in many environmental events and voluntary works have contributed greatly in naming her to receive such prestigious award.

The Euro-Arab Organization for Environment’s award is setup to encourage women leaders engaged in environmental, scientific research to exert more efforts in finding proper solutions to preserve environment and natural resources. —KUNA

Al-Arabi also began a tour to Oman and Bahrain to consult with Arab leaders on the changing dynamics of the Arab world.

Notably, the 2011 Arab Summit, that was due to be held in Baghdad was cancelled because of the ‘Arab Spring’ that overthrew several dictatorial regimes.

Al-Sayer’s closure The Court of Cassation yesterday upheld a verdict previously passed by the Court of Appeal ordering the closure of Al-Sayer Automobile company for three months. A client filed a case by accusing the company of commercial fraud by selling a vehicle

that had wheel and brake malfunctions. The verdict also fined four of the owners who were asked to pay a KD 8,000 fine.

Verdict on Wasmi case The Criminal Court yesterday deferred its verdict on the case filed against Kuwait University professor Dr Obaid Al-Wasmi till February 6. Notably, Al-Wasmi was accused of insulting the regime, blaspheming HH the Amir and insulting Kuwaitis by describing them as ‘dogs’ during a seminar held at the diwaniya of former MP Jamaan Al-Harbash. He may face imprisonment for a minimum of five years.

FAO chief hails Kuwaiti role ROME: Faisal Al-Hassawi presented yesterday his credentials as Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to its newly-appointed Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva.

Da Silva expressed appreciation to Kuwait’s active role in the FAO’s mission in facing food security and malnutrition issues through developing world agricultural sectors.

Kuwait is also concerned with other humanitarian issues, such as famine, and it strives to limit this problem by supporting

developmental plans around the world, he added during a warm-hearted credentialreception ceremony.

The FAO’s chief lauded the Kuwaiti leadership’s “positive role” which is depicted through its efforts and its cooperation with FAO’s various bodies to set world stability and food security. Al-Hassawi highlighted Kuwait’s excellent relation with FAO by saying that his country is a “firm believer” in the humanitarian mission of this organization, adding that Kuwait will always put forward all its capabilities to champion such mission. — KUNA

KFAED to sign irrigation contracts with Lebanon BEIRUT: Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development is due to sign today two contracts for launching an irrigation project to pump water from the Litani river and dig water wells in the Western Bekaa and Rashaya regions.

Nawaf Al-Dabbous, KFAED’s resident representative, said in a statement yesterday that these ventures would contribute in boosting development of

these rural regions—increasing agricultural production and creating jobs.

Up to 110 million cubic meters of water will be pumped from the Litani river to the south per year.

The contracts’ signing ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Neguib Miktai, KFAED’s Director-General AbdulWahab Al-Bader and other officials.

KFAED has given Lebanon 17 loans worth $500 million since 1966. —KUNA

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

local

Two brothers arrested for robberies in Farwaniya Drunk driver held in Taima

Skating rink closed on Jan 23

Omar Al-Samaraei

KUWAIT: The Ice Skating Rink will be shutdown on January 23, 2012 to begin preparations to host activities concerning the annual Layali February festival and National Day celebrations, announced a Touristic Enterprises Company(TEC) official said yesterday.

“The main skating hall has been handed over to the festival’s organizing committee to host activities that include religious seminars, poetry forums and music concerts,” said Acting Director of TEC’s Parks and Ice skating rink Department Omar Al-Samaraei.

He noted that the main hall will be closed until the end of February 2012, whereas the minor hall will be reopened on Feb 6. It will be usable only in the morning.

The exclusive day reserved for women on Tuesday will remain suspended during the period, Al-Samaraei added.

Kuwaiti people love freedom: Thai lawmaker KUALA LUMPUR: The people of Kuwait love freedom, justice and equality and also tolerate diversity of opinion and orientation, Thai Senate member Mohammaad Roshdi Boto said yesterday.

In remarks on occasion of the upcoming polls, he said the Kuwaiti people appreciate freedom of speech, and embrace the values of tolerance, rule of law, and ‘Shura’, all being advantages of democracy. The Kuwaiti democracy is an example within the Gulf region, and among Arab nations, he affirmed.

The lawmaker said he experienced all this first-hand during his ten-year stay in Kuwait, when he completed his high school and undergraduate studies.

The Kuwaiti Constitution of 1962 is also considered among the oldest in the region. The parliamentarian praised the Kuwaiti political system which cherishes independence of authorities and clear separation of their prerogatives.

This separation of duties of the executive, the legislative, and judicial authorities is not even considered an option in a large number of Arab and other nations, he said. The lawmaker hailed KuwaitiThai bilateral relations, describing them as distinguished and constantly improving on all levels, and called for new horizons for cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, and tourism in particular. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Farwaniya police arrested two brothers who have been accused of involvement in several robberies reported in the area. Investigations are ongoing after a report submitted by a shop stated that the two suspects ran away with the phone they were asked to check. Police identified the car’s owner through its license plate number. They discovered that it belongs to a GCC national who has a history in criminal conduct. He was soon placed under arrest, and admitted to committing theft along with his brother during interrogations. They were referred to higher authorities.

DUI, weapons possession A drunk driver was arrested in Taima and was charged with multiple felony counts after police recovered weapons from his vehicle.

The suspect, a GCC national, was pulled over in connection with reckless driving when his troubled behavior soon led patrol officers to realize that he was drunk. Meanwhile, an unlicensed handgun and some knives were found in the suspect’s car. He was referred to higher

authorities to face charges in connection with drunk driving, alcohol consumption and possession of unlicensed weapon.

Attempted murder A citizen pressed attempted murder charges recently against construction workers employed in his Jaber Al-Ahmad home. In a statement made to police, the citizen said that a dispute took place between him and the workers, deteriorating to the point where one of them allegedly attempted to injure him with a sharp object. He added that another worker tried to physically assault him, but he was able to escape the attack.

A case was filed for investigations.

Sexual assault A search is ongoing for a 25-year-old Arab man who has been accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl. The suspect reportedly began an online relationship with the 16-yearold victim, and meeting in person after two months. The suspect reportedly drove the victim to a remote location where he raped her.

The girl’s father reported the incident after she informed them about what happened.

Drugs found near border The banned drug hashish was found at AlNuwaiseeb Border Check point recently.

Officers were conducting a routine inspection when tracker dogs found an amount of hashish dumped near a wall. It is believed that the drugs were disposed of by some individual as he or she approached the checkpoint.

Fake charges A case was withdrawn shortly after it was filed at the Fahad Al-Ahmad police office.

Investigations conducted by police proved that sexual harassment charges pressed against a teacher were fake. A citizen had reported to police that an Arab teacher had molested his daughter at his home while giving private lessons. However, investigations revealed that the citizen had pressed fake charges in an act of vengeance over a payment dispute with the teacher. — Al-Rai, Al-Watan

Kuwait polls main crossroad on path for bolstering democracy BEIRUT: Upcoming parliament elections in Kuwait will constitute a major crossroad on path of bolstering democracy and safeguarding freedoms in the Gulf state, opined eminent Lebanese journalists.

The polls, due on Feb 2, would constitute a major station, aspired to “fold the chapter of internal political bickering that has hampered development in the country for a long period of time,” said Rajeh Khoury of the mass-circulation, An-Nahar.

Khoury criticized some trends within the Kuwaiti opposition camp for taking a non-constructive approach as to criticizing the executive leadership. This approach had resulted in “fall of governments

and holding recurrent elections in the last few years in Kuwait,” he said, expressing his views on factors that obstructed democracy in the Gulf country.

Another factor is external intervention, aimed at employing “irresponsible political practice for serving certain goals related to regional long-term objectives,” he added. Nevertheless, the experience of democracy in Kuwait will remain an example to be followed, and will continue to serve interests of Kuwait as well as interests of the political leaderships in the whole Arab Gulf.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, he continues, will remain

“the trusted custodian of the democratic practices in the country, namely with regard of safeguarding freedoms, encouraging growth and boosting the economy.”

He also praised HH Sheikh Sabah, further, for his prime role in ensuring an interactive relationship between the legislative and executive authorities, a relationship based on transparency, integrity and public services.

For his par t, the dean of Lebanese Journalists, Saeed Nasser Eddine, shed light on the prime role of the media during the electoral process in Kuwait. He also praised HH the Amir, whose era, has been distinguished with transparency and clarity, noting Sheikh

Sabah’s effort for strengthening Kuwait’s role at the democratic, political and economic levels.

Elaborating, Nasser-Eddine affirmed that the democratic system adopted by Kuwait has prevented spillover of the “Arab spring” events to this countr y.

George Pekasini of “Al-Mustaqbal” newspaper affirmed that democracy in Kuwait has been noticeably bolstered since HH Sheikh Sabah became the Amir of the country.

Since he has taken office, “we have witnessed establishment of new media establishments .. We have been able to read articles reflecting diverse views, and this is a result of bolstering freedoms of expression.” — KUNA

Jafar Islah’s art works on display

More surprises from VIVA in campaign KUWAIT: As the successful “Win a Car Every Week” campaign continues from the Kuwait Telecommunications Company VIVA, two winners have been announced by VIVA for the 14th and 15th weekly draws respectively.

Kumar Tamang and Jasser Al-Shammari were the lucky winners of a new BMW X1 2012 in the campaign that was the first of its kind in Kuwait.

The winners expressed their happiness for being the lucky winners of the new BMW X1 car as it is a dream come true and it has been made possible by VIVA. VIVA congratulated the winners and invited customers to participate in the ongoing campaign in order to be one of the many winners in the upcoming weekly draws. VIVA also reiterated its commitment to continuously provide unique and tailor made offers designed to better serve and reward its customers.

The offer is only applicable to prepaid customers where they can enter the draw through two options, the first option is to subscribe with 500 fils per day which gives them infinite minutes and SMS within VIVA network. For every 500 fils spent, the cus-

tomer is entitled 1 chance to enter the draw.

The second option for prepaid customers includes subscribing to BlackBerry KD 7 which gives them full and unlimited BlackBerry Services, where customers will gain fifteen points .

Customers are able to subscribe to both options in order to enter the draw to win a luxurious car, where their points will be accumulated and carried on to the next draw if they did not win. To increase their chances to win a new car every week, prepaid customers can subscribe to the ‘Flavor of the Week’ which will be a ‘special service’ for that week allowing more opportunities to win every week.

To subscribe, to ‘Infinite Calls and SMS’ offer, Send “1” to 535 in an SMS. Prepaid customers interested in the full, unlimited, local KD 7 BlackBerry offer can send an SMS with the number ‘2’ to ‘535’. For the full menu of the prepaid offers, send an SMS with the word “GO”, to number ‘535’.

To find out more about VIVA’s numerous competitive promotions, products and packages visit any of the twelve VIVA branches or visit our website at www.viva.com.kw.

Kuwait spends 2.2 % income on health KUWAIT: Kuwait’s spending on the health sector increased by 86 percent during the period between 2005 and 2010. However, it totaled to only 2.2 percent of national income, stated a recent report prepared by the Skills Consulting and Public Relations Company. This was held in cooperation with experts in local health and development fields. The report published by Annahar daily yesterday states that the government spent KD 877 million on the health sector in 2010, while it only spent KD 470 million in 2005.

The report, however, indicates that the quality of medical services provided during that period increased between five and 25 percent, according to studies held by Ministry of Health(MoH) statistics, reported Annahar.

In other news, Minister of Health and Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali has altered the pharmacy licensing law, according to which, a pharmacist must complete a minimum five years in the field after graduation before obtaining a license to open a private pharmacy, reported Al-Rai.

KUWAIT: The Contemporary Art Platform in Kuwait (CAP) announced the opening of Jafar Islah’s retrospective art exhibition at CAP exhibit halls in Shuweikh under the patronage of Amiri Diwan Minister, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The exhibition, which will be open from Jan 15 till Feb 23, comprises a display of rare drawings and paintings through which the career of Jafar is being reflected.

The founder of the Contemporar y Art Platform (CAP), Amer Huneidi, expressed CAPs pride in partnering with Jafar Islah to demonstrate the importance of Jafar’s work considered a cornerstone in the Kuwait art movement. Amer stated that in this art retrospective

CAP narrates the career of Islah through autobiographic materials, fifty never-before seen drawings and thirty paintings from the collections of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development among others.

“It has been among our priorities to muse on the works of Jafar Islah at the Contemporary Art Platform this year” said Huneidi. “ We aspire to present if only a glimpse of Jafar’s artistic vision, and his intricate humane nature of constantly embracing purity and joyfulness.”

In a brief overview of the artist s profile, Amer mentioned Jafar Islah’s worldwide renown in drawing and painting as he has pre-

viously exhibited his seminal art work in Jakarta, Bali, Seville, Florence and Cairo.

Huneidi however also spoke of Jafar’s capability of utilizing a number of other artistic mediums including large-scale sculpture and tapestry. He even designed a series of stamps commemorating Kuwait’s national independence in 1991.

“Jafar Islah’s developed worldview, humble demeanor, and spiritual understanding of life allow him to depict complex and controversial subject matters with a stunning if not surreal clarity” added Amer Huneidi. The exhibition will be open until Feb 23 at CAP exhibit halls in Industrial Shuwaikh area.

KUWAIT: Visitors evincing keen interest on Jafar Islah’s art works displayed at CAP exhibition halls.

— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Plans to improve municipality’s performance KUWAIT: A committee was formed to improve performance of Kuwait Municipality after review of the findings of a survey conducted by the Civil Service Commission concerning performance and mechanisms of operation at several state institutions, said Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Fadhel Safar yesterday.

Safar said the survey showed the points of strength and of weakness in the municipality’s performance, and most of those surveyed focused on services by municipal branches in the different governorates, as the forefront through which the municipality interacts with citizens.

“Accordingly, a committee was formed,

grouping the Director General of the municipality, his assistants, deputies, directors of branches, as well as the chief of supervision and inspection. We shall work as a team to remove hurdles and solve problems, as well as to encourage positive practices.” The minister pointed out several meetings were held to discuss processing of citizens forms and applications with focus on working on a single-booth or stop approach where citizens are no longer required to go to and from among the different depar tments, and where they can come at a later point in time to the same booth and receive their completed documentation and forms.

He also pointed out there is now an office to receive those who cannot come to the

municipality during the regular working hours, and there are also special services to those with special needs and start of operation of a service center at Hukooma Mall.

Meetings were held in three governorates so far, he said, and the next meeting is in Mubarak Al-Kabir in two weeks’ time, and AlJahra and Al-Ahmadi are to follow. On a different note, the minister said the “food and drugs authority ” proposal is still on the agenda of the utilities and service committee at the National Assembly.

The final draft of the bill in this concern is ready for review in parliament. Safar expressed hope this bill would be given priority befitting its importance in the next NA session.— KUNA

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

Pakistani court issues contempt notice against PM

Philippine chief justice impeachment trial starts Page 12

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SANAA: Yemeni protestors perform prayers at the funeral of a defected army solider, left, killed during recent clashes with forces loyal to Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa, Yemen yesterday.—AP

Qaeda in Yemen captures town south of capital Militants storm prison, free 150 inmates SANAA: A band of Al-Qaeda militants seized full control of a town 100 miles south of the Yemeni capital Sanaa yesterday, overrunning army positions, storming the local p r i s o n a n d f re e i n g at l east 150 inmates, security officials said. The capture of Radda expanded already significant territorial conquests by the militants, who have taken advantage of the weak central government a n d p o l i t i c a l t u r m o i l ro i l i n g t h e nation for the past year during an uprising inspired by Arab Spring revolts. Authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh recently agreed to step down, but he remains a powerful force within the country and a spark for ongoing unrest.

The group had previously taken control of a string of towns in the mostly lawless south. But its capture of Radda is particularly important because it gives the militants a territorial foothold closer than ever before to the capital, where many sleeper cells of the terror network are thought to be located. An Associated Press photographer who visited Radda on Sunday said the militants were armed with rocketpropelled grenades, automatic rifles and other weapons. He quoted residents as saying the black Al-Qaeda

banner has been raised atop the mo sque t hey captured over th e weekend. The opposition accused Sal eh, w ho is to step down th is month in line with a power transfer deal, of allowing the militants to overrun Radda along with two other towns in southern Abyan province captured previously - Zinjibar and Jaar - to bolster his claims that he must remain in power to secure the country against the rising power of Islamist militants.

Some tribal leaders also accused Saleh of giving the “green light” to the militants to overrun the city. “We are surprised by the silence of the s e c u r i t y fo rce s,” s a i d o p p o s i t i o n activist Abdel-Rahman al-Rashid, who lives in Radda. “They have not moved, which only means that this is all arranged to spark chaos.” The United States and its western and Gulf Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia long considered Saleh a pivotal ally in the fight against Yemen’s active Al-Qaeda branch, which has been linked to terror attacks on US soil and is believed to be one of the international terror organization’s most dangerous franchises. The US withdrew its support last summer and said Saleh should step down.

According to security officials, a

band of about 200 militants pushed into Radda yesterday from several points they had captured over the weekend, including an ancient castle that overlooks the town, a school and a mosque. They stormed the local jail and freed 150-200 inmates, including an unspecified number of militants loyal to Al-Qaeda. Some of the freed inmates joined the militants after they were given arms, according to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media. The officials said the Al-Qaeda fighters were led by Tariq Al-Zahab, a Yemeni whose sister was married to US-born Al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlak i, k illed in a US airstrike last September.

The fighters later threw up a security ring around Radda, preventing residents from leaving or entering, and killed two soldiers and wounded a third in clashes with army troops.

They also seized weapon caches and vehicles from the security headquarters. I n midday, clashes erupted bet ween Al- Qaeda militants and armed tribesmen, leaving one dead and two wounded, according to a member of al-Qayfa tribe which took part in the clashes. He also spoke on condition of anonymity because of

security concerns. Yesterday’s attack p rom p te d s tore s a nd s c hool s i n Radda to close. Thousands demonstrated in the provincial capital of Bayda to protest the perceived failure of security forces to protect the town, which has a population of about 40,000. Radda is part of Bayda province, a key transit route between the capital and Yemen’s southern provinces where Al-Qaedalinked militants have already seized control of a swath of territory and towns in Abyan province. Radda is only about 16 miles (25 kilometers) away from a main road that links Sanaa to eight provinces, raising the specter that taking the town could be a prelude to isolating the capital.

Al-Qaeda-linked militants began seizing territor y in the southern Abyan province last spring, solidifying their control over the town of J a a r i n A p r i l b e fo re t a k i n g t h e provincial capital, Zinjibar, in May. Abyan borders Bayda. Yemeni security forces have been trying unsuccessfully to push them out since then in fierce fighting that has caused many casualties on both sides. The conflict has forced tens of thousands of civilians from Zinjibar and the surrounding area to flee, many to the port city of Aden.—AP

Iran makes arrests for scientist killing: Speaker TEHRAN: Iran has made arrests over a scientist’s assassination last week blamed on Israel and the US, parliament speaker Ali Larijani said yesterday, vowing his country would avenge the death using “non-terrorist” tactics.

He did not specify how many people were arrested or when the arrests were made, or give any details on the suspects’ identities or nationalities.

“We have discovered some clues and some arrests have been made.

Investigations are ongoing,” Larijani told Iran’s Arabic-language broadcaster Al-Alam. Various Iranian officials

have blamed Israel and the United States for the January 11 killing of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a 32-year-old deputy director of Iran’s main uranium enrichment plant. Ahmadi Roshan died along with his driver after assassins on a motorbike fixed a magnetic bomb to his car.

It was the fifth such attack targeting Iran’s scientists in the past two years.

Four other scientists-three of them involved in Iran’s nuclear programmedied in the attacks, while one managed to escape. Iranian military commanders have said they are looking at

“punishing” those responsible. But Larijani said Iran would not resort to terrorism to take its revenge. “We will not hesitate in punishing the Zionist regime (Israel) so that it realises such actions have clear responses. There will definitely be a response but our action will be of a non-terrorist nature,” he said. On Saturday, the deputy chief of Iran’s joint armed forces, Masoud Jazayeri, said Iran was mulling a response to hold the US, Israel and Britain “accountable” for their perceived involvement in the attacks.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali

Khamenei, on Thursday blamed the US and Israeli intelligence services for the latest killing.

He said Iran would “continue with determination” its nuclear activities, which Western governments suspect mask a drive for a weapons capability despite Tehran’s repeated denials.

Washington has issued strongly worded denials of any role in the murders.

Israel, widely seen as the prime suspect, has neither denied nor confirmed involvement, in line with its policy of not commenting on intelligence matters.—AFP

New head ends volunteers in Saudi religious police RIYADH: The new head of the Saudi religious police said volunteers will no longer be allowed to serve in the force, in an apparent effort to reduce violations, media reports said yesterday. “From now on there will be no more volunteers” in the Commission for the Promotion of Vir tue and Prevention of Vice, Sheikh Abdullatif Abdel Aziz al-Sheikh, who was appointed to head the organization on Friday, was quoted as saying.

“Amongst my priorities in the coming period is to create strong ties between the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and all social categories,” said Sheikh, a moderate member of the country’s most powerful religious family. King Abdullah replaced the organization’s head Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Humain with Sheikh. The monarch, a cautious reformer, had appointed Humain in 2009 to head the “mutaween” which ensures the strict application of the country’s ultra-conservative version of Islam, as a step towards reforming it.

Humain hired consultants to restructure the organization, met local human rights groups and consulted professional image-builders in a broad public relations campaign.

The commission also investigated and punished some outof-control officers for misbehavior. It launched regular training sessions as well, including five-day courses on “skills to deal with witches and sorcerers,” and a three-day program on “skills to deal with tourists.”

This came after a number of cases outraged even Saudis and embarrassed the government. In 2002, the mutaween reportedly prevented firemen from entering an all-girls school that was ablaze because of the segregation-of-sexes policy, and blocked the girls from escaping because they were not wearing the obligatory veil. Fourteen girls were trampled to death and 50 hurt in a stampede after the fire broke out. And the arrest of an American businesswoman meeting a man in a Saudi Starbucks sparked a US complaint. The religious police prevent women from driving, require them to be covered from head to foot in black, ban public entertainment, and force all commerce, from supermarkets to petrol stations, to come to a halt at prayer times, five times a day. Although they fall under the interior ministry, they operate with great autonomy. They maintain a close alliance with both the courts-where all the judges are Islamic clerics-and the powerful Grand Ulema, the supreme council of religious scholars who define the Islamic rules governing life in the oil-rich Gulf state.— AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

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

Israel, Palestinians at odds on Quartet deadline JERUSALEM: Israel and the Palestinians are at odds over the Quartet’s deadline for proposals on borders and security, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday. His remarks to MPs came two days after Israel’s chief negotiator Yitzhak Molho held a third exploratory meeting in Amman with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat in a bid to restart direct talks which have been on

ice since September 2010.

“Erakat wants to abandon talks on January 26,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying by a spokesman, in reference to the three-month deadline set by the diplomatic Quartet of peacemakers from the United States, European Union, Russia and United Nations. On October 26, Quartet envoys said they were giving the parties three months to “come forward with comprehensive

proposals on territory and security.”

With the deadline looming, Palestinian officials have made clear they will not continue any form of talks after January 26 unless Israel freezes settlement construction and agrees to base any future talks on the lines which existed before the 1967 Six-Day War. But Netanyahu made clear Israel was working on a different schedule. “We are only counting talks from January 3

which means we have until April 3,” he said, referring to the date of the first face-to-face encounter between the two sides.

Both parties have been quick to make clear that the Amman meetings did not constitute a return to direct talks, although the two sides exchanged position papers when they first met on January 3. “We gave (them) a document with 21 points of consen-

sus in Israel,” Netanyahu said yesterday.

“I hope we can come on January 26 and continue talks.” The Palestinians say they have submitted their position on borders and security, but accuse Israel of failing to reciprocate. An official in the West Bank town of Ramallah told AFP earlier this month that the Israelis’ only proposal was “for a (Palestinian) state on provisional borders-which we totally reject.”—AFP

Car bomb attacks kill 11 people around Iraq Country also facing sectarian political crisis

BEIRUT: Lebanese Red Cross members, foreground, carry a dead body as rescue team, background, search for residents and dead bodies among the debris of a collapsed building, in Beirut, Lebanon yesterday.—AP

At least 24 killed in Beirut building collapse BEIRUT: At least 24 people were killed when an old six-storey building in the Lebanese capital collapsed, officials said yesterday, with several more people still trapped under the rubble. “Until now, 24 bodies have been recovered and we believe there are more buried under the building that collapsed Sunday evening,” Red Cross official Georges Kettaneh told AFP. A dozen people were also injured, none of them seriously. Civil defence chief General Raymond Khattar told AFP the bodies recovered by rescuers who worked through Sunday night and yesterday included those of seven Lebanese, six Sudanese, two Filipinos and two Egyptians.

Among the dead was a 15-year-old Lebanese girl, while those hurt included her grandmother as well as a 73-year-old Lebanese man, at least two Sudanese, an Egyptian and a Filipina. The building housed some 50 people, many of them labourers from Sudan and Egypt, Khattar said, adding that at least eight people were known to have escaped as the building came down.

A Syrian labourer employed at a building site nearby said debris started falling from the building in early evening before the entire block came crashing down.

“We saw small pieces of stone falling down but no one paid any attention at the start,” he told AFP. “Then large chunks of stone started falling and people began screaming for everyone to get out.

“Within minutes, the building was on the floor.” One resident who escaped with her mother said the building was

extremely run-down and the owner had warned tenants not to remain there shortly before it disintegrated. “It was like an earthquake,” another witness told the local MTV channel. Several anxious relatives of the victims remained at the site yesterday hoping for news of their loved ones. Many wept and others said prayers as rescuers painstakingly sifted through the rubble, aided by bulldozers.

“Where are all the political leaders?” shouted one woman. “They only show up when they want our vote.” Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, who visited the site on Sunday night alongside President Michel Sleiman, told reporters the owner of the building had been detained for questioning and a probe was underway. Charbel said it was essential to carry out a survey of similar buildings throughout the country, many of which were built illegally or had several storeys added without proper permits.

Bilal Hamad, the head of Beirut municipality, urged all residents to alert authorities should they suspect any danger in neighborhoods, adding that a team of experts would soon begin to inspect buildings across the capital.

“We will immediately deal with concerns over old buildings, some of which are ticking time bombs,” Hamad told a news conference yesterday evening. “I ask all residents, whether tenants or owners, to inform the municipality if they have any doubts about the safety of their building.” There was speculation that heavy rain may have contributed to Sunday’s disaster, making the building more prone to collapse.—AFP

BAGHDAD: Car bombs ripped through two Iraqi cities yesterday, killing at least 11 people, Iraq officials said, in the latest attacks targeting the country’s Shiites a month after the US military withdrawal. Violence has surged across Iraq since the last American troops left the country.

A string of bombings has left at least 150 people dead since the beginning of the year. Most of the attacks appear aimed at Iraq’s Shiite majority, suggesting Sunni insurgents are seeking to undermine the Shiite-dominated government.

Iraq is also facing a sectarian political crisis after the Shiitedominated government charged Sunni Vice President Tareq alHashemi with running death squads, issuing an arrest warrant against him just as the last U.S. soldiers crossed into neighboring Kuwait last month. The first blast yesterday morning struck a Shiite district outside of Mosul, a predominantly Sunni city some 225 miles (360 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, police and health officials at Mosul’s Al-Jomhouri hospital said. Eight people were killed an six wounded.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters. A few hours later, an explosives-laden car detonated inside an industrial zone of the predominantly Shiite town of Hillah, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Baghdad , killing three people and wounding 15, according to a local police spokesman, Muthana Khalid.

A member of the Mosul local council, Qusai Abbas, said the car bomb blew up near a group of houses where members of the

BARTALA: Iraqi security forces inspect the site of a blast in Bartala in the Nineveh province, north of Baghdad yesterday.—AFP Shabak minority have settled since being driven out of Mosul

by Sunni militants during fierce sectarian fighting a few years ago. The Shabaks are ethnic Turkomen and Shiite Muslims.

Most of them live in villages east of Mosul, the provincial capital of the ethnically mixed Ninevah province that is predominantly Sunni Muslim.

Mosul has been a hub for alQaida in Iraq in past years. Other Sunni insurgent groups have battled Kurdish militias for control over the city, Iraq’s third largest, killing thousands of civilians in suicide bombings and shootings.

Hundreds of Christians, Yazeedis and members of other minority

groups have been driven out Mosul in recent years as militants used violence and intimidation to tip the ethnic and religious balance into their group’s favor.

Abbas, who represents the Shabak community in the local council, said three children and four women were among those killed in yesterday’s attack. He said Iraqi security forces have failed to protect people from violence and blamed politicians “who want to stir up sectarian fighting again.”

“Some politicians are trying to use sectarian hatred to make political gains,” Abbas said. The government crisis taps into the resentments that have remained

Libya clashes end with prisoner swap, ceasefire

Israeli-US war games postponed JERUSALEM: The Israeli and US militaries have postponed large-scale war games, in part to avoid aggravating mounting tensions between the international community and Iran over its disputed nuclear program, Israeli defense officials said yesterday. The missile defense exercise, dubbed “Austere Challenge 12,” was scheduled for April to improve defense systems and cooperation between US and Israeli forces. The Israeli military confirmed in a one-line statement that the drill would be rescheduled for the second half of 2012, but did not disclose reasons for the postponement or any other details.

The defense officials who linked the deferral to Iran spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the decision-making process. They offered no other reasons for the delay. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said it was a “joint” decision with the US to defer the military exercise.

“The thinking was it was not the right timing now to conduct such an exercise,” he said. He refused to elaborate.

Thousands of American and Israeli soldiers were to take part in the exercise, which was designed to test multiple Israeli and US air defense systems against incoming missiles and rockets from places as far away as Iran. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last month that the drill exemplified unprecedented levels of defense cooperation between the two countries meant to back up Washington’s “unshakable” commitment to Israel’s security.

On Thursday, the top US military commander is due to arrive in Israel for his first

official trip since becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sept. 30. Iran is expected to be at the top of Army Gen. Martin Dempsey’s agenda for talks with the Israelis. Israel considers a nucleararmed Iran to be a threat to its survival and repeatedly has hinted it could take military action against the Islamic Republic should international sanctions fail to stop Iran’s nuclear development.

The Obama administration is concerned that Iran’s recent claim that it is expanding nuclear operations might prod Israel closer to a strike. Iran, which denies it is trying to develop nuclear weapons, has shown no sign it would willingly give up a project that has become a point of national pride.

Tehran insists its nuclear program is designed to produce energy, not bombs.

It has threatened to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the passage for onesixth of the world’s oil, should international sanctions block Iran’s petroleum exports. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the sanctions on Iran were not effective.

“The current sanctions have harmed the Iranians but not in a way that would stop their nuclear program,” he told Israeli lawmakers. “Without significant sanctions against the central bank and their ability to export Iranian oil, Iran will continue to progress with its nuclear plans.” The US has enacted a law banning transactions with Iran’s central bank, but it does not take effect until later this year.

Netanyahu’s comments were relayed by a meeting participant, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.—AP

raw in the country, despite years of effor ts to overcome them.

Minority Sunnis fear the Shiite majority is squeezing them out of any political input, and Shiites suspect Sunnis of links to insurgency and terrorism.

Al-Hashemi denied charges against him and fled to the autonomous Kurdish region, out of reach of authorities in Baghdad. On Sunday, a court in Baghdad ruled that al-Hashemi must stand trial on terror charges in Baghdad, rejecting his request to be tried in the ethnically mixed city in Kirkuk, where he believes he could get a fair trial, but would be in danger in Baghdad.—AP

CAIRO: Muslim Brotherhood member Mohammed Mursi and chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party talks during a press conference in Cairo yesterday, to announce the nomination of Saad Al-Katatni as speaker of Egypt’s new parliament. —AFP

Egypt Islamists nominate parliament speaker CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, which won a crushing victory in Egyptian legislative elections, yesterday nominated its secretary general to head the new parliament.

“We have decided to nominate Saad AlKatatni as the next speaker of the People’s Assembly (parliament’s lower house),” FJP chief Mohammed Mursi told a news conference.

A statement distributed to the press said the FJP was among six parties, including Islamist and liberal groups, that agreed the speaker’s post should go to the largest parliamentary bloc. Estimates show the FJP won more than 46 percent of the seats in the lower house which comprises 498 elected deputies and 10 appointed by the military ruling Egypt since the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak. The ultra-conservative Salafist Al Nur party is in second place with nearly 25 percent of seats while the liberal Wafd Party follows with nearly percent. The spokesman of the electoral commission, judge Yusri Abdel Karim,

told AFP yesterday that the final results would be announced on Friday or Saturday. The first session of the People’s Assembly is due next yesterday. Once elections for parliament’s upper house, or Shura Council, are concluded in February, the two chambers are to choose a 100-member panel to draft a new constitution. A new president is then to be elected by June under the timetable set by the military rulers who announced that candidates can register for the presidency from April 15.

The statement handed to the press Monday was signed by FJP, Al-Nur, the liberal Egyptian Social Democratic Party, the Nasserite Al-Karama party, the liberal Reform and Development party and the Salafist Building and Development party.

The statement said the newly elected People’s Assembly must carry out the goals of the January-February 2011 revolution that toppled Mubarak. The new parliament must “reflect national consensus between all its factions,” the statement added.—AFP

GHARYAN: Rival Libyan fighters who clashed in towns south of Tripoli have settled their deadly dispute through a prisoner swap and agreed to a ceasefire, local officials said yesterday. “Last night (Sunday) we carried out a prisoner swap... since then, the fighting has stopped,” Colonel Ahmed Omar Ibrahim Al-Fakhi of the Gharyan militar y council told AFP. “ We had captured around 24 fighters from Assaba. They had captured four of our men. We exchanged the prisoners in Gharyan,” he added. Doctor Ibrahim AlKarim, deputy head of central Gharyan hospital, said four people were killed and more than 50 wounded in the clashes which erupted on Friday.

Witnesses said the fighting broke out after a man from Gharyan was stabbed and stripped naked in a vegetable market between the adjacent towns of Assaba and Gharyan, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Tripoli. Fighters of The Mar tyrs Brigade of Ghar yan said they came under fire from Assaba while setting up a checkpoint near the market area. Intense fighting involving rocket and machinegun fire ensued.

“The people who attacked us from Assaba are loyalists of (ousted leader) Muammar Gaddafi,” said Mohammed al-Matati, a Gharyan fighter receiving treatment for burn wounds at the hospital. Ibrahim Omar Saadi, head of Gharyan civil council, told reporters that the towns had sent civil and military representatives to Tripoli where they negotiated a 48-hour ceasefire that came into effect at 5 pm on Sunday.

Ghar yan, he said, had passed on three demands to Assaba’s delegates. “We want them to hand over their weapons to the defense ministry... to hand over the murderers of five of our rebels who were killed on September 10... and to hand over to the government (former) Gaddafi soldiers,” in Assaba. Saadi accused Kadhafi loyalists of sparking the unrest. “ The fighting was between Gharyan revolutionaries and Gaddafi loyalists” in Assaba, he said.— AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

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

FBI seeks help finding Montana teacher’s body MONTANA: Authorities investigating the repor ted death of a Montana school teacher asked land owners in parts of Montana and North Dakota to check vacant farmsteads for signs of disturbed soil or matted grass, saying her body might be buried at such a site. As new details about 43-yearold Sherry Arnold’s mysterious disappearance emerged, law officers released the names of two men being held in the case and planned to hold a news conference at midday yesterday.

Lester Vann Waters Jr, 47, and Michael Keith Spell, 22, both of

Parachute, Colo., were in the Williams County Correctional Center in Williston, ND, awaiting extradition to Montana, authorities said. The FBI issued a statement late Sunday saying the body of the Sidney, Mont., woman might be buried in a “shelter belt,” or a line of trees that protects soil from the wind. The agency asked that property owners in three North Dakota counties - Williams, McKenzie and Mountrail - and in extreme northeastern Montana check vacant farmsteads for signs of disturbed soil or matted grass. Landowners who discover something unusual should not

disturb the area, but call authorities, the FBI said.

“Based on investigative evidence gathered over the last few days, it is believed that Ms. Arnold may be deceased,” FBI spokeswoman Debbie Bertram said in a statement. “Her body has not been recovered.”

Williams County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Garrison said Walters and Spell face aggravated kidnapping charges in Montana. Officials said Waters and Spell were brought to the Williston jail Friday. They declined to release where or how the men were taken into custody.

The jail is about 46 miles from Sidney, where officials say Arnold disappeared while on an early-morning run along a truck route on the edge of the oil boom town of more than 5,500 residents. Sidney school officials posted a statement online Friday saying they learned of Arnold’s death that day. The statement provided no details. In the days after Arnold disappeared, hundreds of residents, police, firefighters and others combed the town and surrounding countryside without success.

The only clue that has been publicly released was that one of Arnold’s

shoes was found along her running route. Arnold and her husband, Gary Arnold, have five children combined from prior marriages. Two live at home and attend the same school system where Sherry Arnold worked for the past 18 years. Sherry Arnold’s disappearance has taken a toll on the town, and “it’s not over,” Sidney Mayor Bret Smelser said Sunday. “ We’re angry. We’re frustrated,” Smelser told The Associated Press. “But our concern is with Sherr y ’s family and friends. And whatever support we can give to get them through this, that’s what we’ll do.”— AFP

Huntsman to quit GOP race: Campaign officials Romney leads in state polls

SOUTH CAROLINA: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney, holds up seven-month-old Ellen Whitaker as he campaigns at American Legion Post 15 in Sumter, SC, Saturday. —AP

Concerns about Romney’s faith quieter but not gone SOUTH CAROLINA: The second time around, the shock has worn off. The prospect of a Mormon president appears to be less alien to South Carolina Republicans who are giving Mitt Romney a second look after his failed White House bid in 2008. Still, worries about his faith persist in a state where one pastor jokes there are “more Baptists than people.” Voters preparing for the Jan. 21 presidential primary are weighing whether Romney ’s religion should matter so much when they cannot pay their bills and a Democrat many distrust occupies the White House.

“Although Romney’s faith is still a matter of some discussion, it is less of a political problem for him than it was in 2008,” said Jim Guth, a political scientist at Furman University in Greenville, in South Carolina’s conservative upstate. “Most Republicans have a generally positive view of Romney, even evangelical Christians.”

Four years ago, the Romney campaign directly took on suspicion about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Conservative Christians, including Protestants and Roman Catholics, do not consider Mormons to be Christian, although Mormons strongly do.

The former Massachusetts governor courted evangelical pastors and formed a national faith-and-values steering committee. Romney gave a major 2007 speech in Texas, modeled on John F. Kennedy ’s pivotal 1960 address on Catholicism, that promised “no authorities of my church or of any other church for that matter” would influence his policies. This time, Romney has no formal religion committee and rarely mentions his faith unless asked.

In an appearance Thursday in a motorcycle dealership in Greer, he said the election was about “the soul of America” and described the national debt as a moral issue. He called “America the Beautiful” a “national hymn.” (The music was, in fact, originally composed by a church organist for a hymn.)

The only direct mention of religion at the event came from the South Carolina state treasurer, Curtis Loftis. In a speech introducing Romney, Loftis noted that he was a Baptist. By contrast, at South Carolina barbecue joints and churches,

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been giving what evangelicals call personal testimony of how he accepted Christ at age 14.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, a social conservative and Roman Catholic who’s sometimes mistaken for an evangelical Protestant, recently asked an audience in Greenville to pray for his campaign.

“It’s a tough battle every day out there,” Santorum said. “And we need that hedge of protection.” Appeals like these are almost expected in a state where Christianity is so much part of daily life.

As Romney arrived in Columbia for the first time since his New Hampshire primary victory, churches around the state were welcoming families for the weekly food, fellowship and Bible study that is a Wednesday night tradition in evangelical churches throughout the South.

In 2008, 60 percent of Republican voters in the South Carolina primary identified themselves as born-again Christians, according to exit polls. Underscoring the focus on religion in this state, if not the skepticism about Romney’s faith, the second question from the audience at a town hall-style event in Hilton Head on Friday was whether he believes “in the divine saving grace of Jesus Christ?” His answer: “Yes, I do.” Oran Smith, president of the Palmetto Family Council, a conservative policy group based in Columbia, said the state “is sort of an evangelicalpermeated culture.” Smith said South Carolina “is strongly influenced by very large churches. Even for those who just go to church for the ritual of it, the values people preach have become part of people’s worldview.”

The Romney campaign is making a play for these votes with a focus on values, according to Mark DeMoss, a senior adviser to Romney and veteran public relations executive who represents evangelical pastors and ministries. The campaign released a new radio ad Friday that asserts, “Today Christian conservatives are supporting Mitt Romney because he shares their values: the sanctity of life, the sacredness of marriage and the importance of the family.”

A glossy brochure that began arriving in South Carolina mailboxes last weekend noting Romney has been a lifelong member of the same church. —AP

CHARLESTON: Jon Huntsman staked his presidential campaign on New Hampshire and his bid to become a legitimate competitor on distinguishing himself from front-runner Mitt Romney. But less than a week after a disappointing third-place finish in the GOP primary there, Huntsman decided to quit the race and back Romney. Huntsman will endorse Romney, officials said Sunday, because he thinks Romney is the best candidate to beat President Barack Obama in November. Campaign manager Matt David said Huntsman will announce his withdrawal at an event in Myrtle Beach, SC. Huntsman’s resume had suggested he could be a major contender for the Republican presidential nomination: businessman, diplomat, governor, veteran of four presidential administrations, an expert on China and foreign trade. But the former ambassador to China in the Obama administration found a poor reception for his brand of moderate civility that he had hoped would draw support from independents, as well as party moderates.

Huntsman was almost invisible in a race often dominated by Romney, a fellow Mormon. One reason was timing. For months, Romney and other declared or expected-todeclare candidates drew media attention and wooed voters in early primary states.

Huntsman, however, was half a world away, serving as ambassador to China until he resigned in late April. Nearly two more months would pass before his kickoff speech on June 22 in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. The former Utah governor had already acknowledged that expectations for him in South Carolina’s primary this week will be “very low.” Word of the Huntsman withdrawal came on the same day that The State, South Carolina’s largest newspaper, endorsed him for president.

Although Huntsman was viewed as having little chance of finishing strong in South Carolina, his endorsement of Romney could give the former Massachusetts governor, who leads in state polls, even more of the look of inevitability. The move comes as pressure has been increasing on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to leave the race to allow South Carolina’s influential social conservatives to unify behind either former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum or former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Santorum worked over the weekend at consolidating conservatives, trying to parlay into support in South Carolina the decision Saturday by an influential group of national Christian conservatives to back him. “I think it’s important that we eventually consolidate this race,” Santorum told reporters yesterday at a news conference in Columbia. He stopped short of urging Perry, who has shown little traction in South Carolina, to quit the race. “That’s up to the candidates themselves to decide,” Santorum said. To stand out in a crowded field, Huntsman positioned himself

as a tax-cutting, budgetbalancing chief executive and former business executive who could rise above partisan politics. That would prove to be a hard sell to the conservatives dominating the early voting contests, especially in an election cycle

WASHINGTON: This December 7, 2011 file photo shows Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman speaking during the Republican Jewish Coalition 2012 Republican Presidential Candidates Forum in Washington, DC. —AFP marked by bitter divisions between Republicans and Democrats and a boiling antipathy for Obama. Huntsman also tried to offer a different tenor, promising a campaign marked by civility. “I don’t think you need to run down somebody’s reputation in order to run for the office of president,” he said.

While Huntsman was often critical of his former boss - he joined those saying Obama had failed as a leader - and occasionally jabbed at Romney, he spent more of his time in debates pushing his own views for improving the economy rather than thumping the president or his opponents.

In light of his work in the Obama administration, Republicans seemed wary of Huntsman. While he cast his appointment in August 2009 as U.S. ambassador to China as answering the call to serve his country, his critics grumbled that he had in fact been working on behalf of the opposition.

Huntsman was conservative in matters of taxes and the reach of the federal government, but he was out of step with most conservatives in his support of civil unions for gay couples. On matters of science, he poked fun at his skeptical rivals in a pre-debate tweet:

Tanker carrying fuel arrives at iced-in US town

Canada’s Liberals back legalization of marijuana MONTREAL: Canada’s Liberal Party overwhelmingly passed a motion Sunday proposing the legalization of marijuana on the last day of its national convention, at which Michael Crawley was chosen as its new leader. The motion says that, if elected, a Liberal government “will legalize marijuana and ensure the regulation and taxation of its production, distribution and use, while enacting strict penalties for illegal trafficking, illegal importation and exportation, and impaired driving.”

Under the motion, the Liberals also promised an amnesty for all Canadians previously found guilty of simple or minimal possession of marijuana and to clear the offenses from their criminal records.

The motion passed with 77 percent of

the vote. The convention also decisively rejected a motion that called for studying the election of Canada’s head of state, thereby severing all official links with the British crown. Queen Elizabeth II is currently the country’s head of state.

With his election, Crawley, an energy industry entrepreneur, takes over the leadership of the once-mighty party in the lead-up to the next federal elections.

“I am re-energized by all of you,” Crawley said at the convention in Ottawa. “The party is clearly focused on the future.”

The Liberals, who governed the country of 34 million people for much of the last century, were reduced to a paltry 34 seats in May elections, forcing leader Michael Ignatieff to step down after losing his seat.—AFP

“To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.”

In the end, Huntsman didn’t seem to register, crazy or otherwise, with Republicans looking for an alternative to Romney or a winner against Obama. He was routinely at the bottom of national polls, barely registering at 1 or 2 percent, a reflection of the faint impression he made in the GOP debates. His campaign put all its emphasis on the New Hampshire primary, hoping that face-to-face politicking in the first-in-the-nation primary would pay off with a strong second-place finish or a surprise victory in Romney’s backyard. While other GOP candidates spent December in Iowa, the Huntsman campaign ignored its leadoff caucuses, where social conservatives were all but certain to give him short shrift.

Central to Huntsman’s New Hampshire strategy was its open Republican primary, which allowed independents to vote along with declared party members. He gambled that he could attract moderate voters, Republicans and independents alike, by presenting himself as a successful conservative leader who wasn’t interested in engaging in a culture war.

He called his third-place showing a “ticket to ride” to South Carolina, but his distant finish behind Romney and runner-up Ron Paul was widely regarded as lackluster.

Huntsman, 51, was born in Redwood City, Calif., and raised in Utah. His father, an industrialist and at one time a Nixon administration official, founded Huntsman Chemical Corp. in 1982. Now the Huntsman Corp., it reported revenues of more than $9 billion in 2010.

The younger Huntsman drifted a bit as a young man. He attended high school in Salt Lake City but dropped out to play keyboards in a band. He later attended the University of Utah, then dropped out to serve two years as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan, where he learned to speak Mandarin.

He returned to the University of Utah in 1981 and later worked as an intern for Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and as a staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He left college to join the Huntsman Corp. in 1983, the same year he married Mary Kaye Cooper. He studied international politics at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1987.

While he served in the administrations of both George H.W. Bush - he was ambassador to Singapore in 1992 - and George W. Bush, Huntsman first won elective office in 2004 as Utah’s governor. He was re-elected by a 3-1 margin in 2008, then resigned the following year to be America’s top diplomat in China.

Huntsman and his wife have seven children, including one adopted from India and one adopted from China.

Elliott reported from Washington.

Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Myrtle Beach, S.C., contributed to this report.—AP

ALASKA: A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter flies over the tanker vessel Renda while transporting personnel to the Coast Guard Cutter Healy Sunday.—AP

ALASKA: Crews worked to build a path Sunday over a half-mile (800 meters) of Bering Sea ice for the final leg of a Russian tanker’s mission to deliver fuel to a town isolated amid one of the most severe Alaska winters in decades. The tanker was moored roughly a half-mile (800 meters) from Nome’s harbor after a Coast Guard cutter cleared a path for it through hundreds of miles (kilometers) of a slow journey stalled by thick ice and strong ocean currents.

The tanker got into position Saturday night, and ice disturbed by its journey had to freeze again so workers could create some sort of roadway to lay a hose that will transfer 1.3 million gallons (4.92 million liters) of fuel from the tanker to the harbor in Nome. On Sunday, workers spent the morning walking around the vessel and checking the ice to make sure it was safe to lay the hose, which will take about four hours, said Jason Evans, board chairman of the Sitnasuak Native Corp.

With the tanker and the Coast Guard ice breaker sitting just offshore and poised to deliver the fuel, Evans said the bulk of the mission’s biggest challenges were now behind the crew. Still, the final job of transferring fuel from the ship to the town comes with its own hurdles: In addition to waiting for the ice to freeze, crews must begin the transfer in daylight, a state mandate. And Nome has just five hours of day-

light this time of year.

“In theory, it was possible and in reality, it now is done,” Evans said of the journey. A storm prevented Nome’s 3,500 residents from getting a fuel delivery by barge in November. Without the tanker delivery, supplies of diesel fuel, gasoline and home heating fuel were expected to run out in March and April, well before a barge delivery again in late May or June. The especially harsh winter has left snow piled up 10 feet (3 meters) or higher against the woodsided buildings in Nome, a former gold rush town that is the final stop on the Iditarod dog sled race. On Sunday, everything was covered in a layer of wind-blown snow and vehicles looked frozen in place, as though they haven’t been moved in weeks.

The tanker began its journey from Russia in mid-December, picking up diesel fuel in South Korea before heading to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where it took on unleaded gasoline. Late Thursday, the vessels stopped offshore and began planning the transfer to Nome, more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) from Anchorage on Alaska’s west coast. In total, the tanker traveled an estimated 5,000 miles (8,050 kilometers) going from Russia to South Korea, then toward Japan and to Dutch Harbor and Nome, said Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, commander of District Seventeen with the Coast Guard. — AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

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

Ship rescue ops suspended off Tuscany in rough sea ROME: Rescue crews say a rescue operation on a cruise ship that ran aground and capsized off Tuscany has been suspended after the Costa Concordia shifted a few inches (centimeters) in rough seas. Fears are mounting that if the ship shifts significantly, the 500,000 gallons of fuel may begin to leak into the pristine waters around the island of Giglio.

Fire department spokesman Luca Cari said the ship had shifted a few centimeters vertically and horizontally yesterday because of the seas. He said an underwater search for 16 people still unaccounted for from the 4,200 on board was suspended immediately. Six people were killed when the ship ran aground Friday. Costa has said the captain, who has been jailed, made an

unauthorized deviation from the ship’s planned course.

The captain of the cruise ship that capsized off Tuscany made an unauthorized, unapproved deviation from its programmed course, a “human error” that led to the grounding of the vessel, the chief executive of the ship’s Italian owner said yesterday. At least six people died in the incident. The comments from Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi ramped up the pressure on the captain, who already is under investigation by authorities for suspected manslaughter and as well as allegations he abandoned ship before the passengers were safe, violating the Italian navigation code. The Costa Concordia ran into a reef Friday night and capsized

into the port area of Giglio, sparking a frantic evacuation of the 4,200 people onboard. Coast Guard officials have expressed concern that the ship might slip off the rocks where it is currently perched. Yesterday, the rescue operation was called off as weather worsened and a sixth body was found.

Foschi said it wasn’t because the ship had shifted but because divers heard “sounds” coming from inside and didn’t know what was causing them.

Sixteen people remain missing.

Foschi said the company, which is owned by the world’s largest cruiseline, Carnival Corp., stood by the captain, Francesco Schettino, and would provide him with legal assistance. But he said the company disassociated itself from his behavior.

Costa ships have their routes programmed, and alarms go off when they deviate, the chief executive said in a press conference. “This route was put in correctly. The fact that it left from this course is due solely to a maneuver by the commander that was unapproved, unauthorized and unknown to Costa,” he said. Schettino has insisted he didn’t leave the liner early, telling Mediaset television that he had done everything he could to save lives. “We were the last ones to leave the ship,” he said. Foschi said the liner had passed all safety and technical tests in its 2011 evaluation. He added that the company’s main concern was the safety and well-being of the passengers and crew, as well as to ensure fuel doesn’t leak out from the

upended hull into the pristine waters off the island of Giglio.

There were 500,000 gallons of fuel on board, in 17 separate tanks, Foschi said. “There are no signs of pollution” to date, but officials are on high alert in case the ship suddenly shifts due to worsening weather conditions, Foschi said. Sensors have been put in place to track the movements of the ship.

Questions have been swirling about why the ship had navigated so close to the dangerous reefs and rocks that jut off Giglio’s eastern coast, amid suspicions the captain may have ventured too close while carrying out a maneuver to entertain tourists on the island.

Residents of Giglio said they had never seen the Costa come so close to the dangerous “Le Scole” reef area. —AP

Liberia prez vows to continue fighting graft Clinton attends swearing in ceremony

BUCHAREST: A riot police officer fires a tear-gas shell towards protesters in the center of Bucharest late on Sunday during a demonstration against the government’s austerity program and Romanian President Traian Basescu. —AFP

PM: Violence could destabilize Romania BUCHAREST: Romania’s prime minister warned yesterday that violent protests that left 59 injured over the weekend could jeopardize the country’s stability and chances for economic growth. Some of the around 1,000 protesters clashed with police in downtown Bucharest Sunday, after four days of demonstrations against the government’s austerity measures turned violent. Police used tear gas and flares to repel demonstrators hurling stones and firebombs.

Emil Boc called the violence “unacceptable,” and said it “cannot be tolerated.” He promised, however, that a controversial health law that sparked the protests will be redrafted. He urged Romanians to understand that tough austerity measures were needed to avoid a default. “We understand the hardships Romanians are facing ... The crisis has been harsher than we imagined,” Boc added.

In 2009, Romania took a two-year euro20 billion ($27.5 billion) loan from the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the World Bank as its economy shrank by 7.1 percent.

Romania imposed harsh austerity measures under the agreement, reducing public wages by 25 percent and increasing taxes.

A medical official said yesterday that 59 people suffered injuries in the disturbances. Alis Grasu of Bucharest’s ambulance services said that 23 people were briefly hospitalized and three are still in the hospital.

Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu said people smashed the windows of shops, banks and bus stations, and street lights were also vandalized. Anger has mounted in Romania over public wage cuts, slashed benefits, higher taxes and widespread corruption.

A police official said yesterday that about 250 people were fined for their conduct during the protests and 36 will be investigated for violence. Aurel Moise said that a contingent of the violent protesters were fans of a local football club, suggesting that they had come to cause trouble, rather than take part in the protest. Authorities urged peaceful protesters to distance themselves from troublemakers at any future marches. —AP

Spanish politician Fraga dies at age 89 MADRID: Politicians and public figures across Spain yesterday paid tribute to the late Manuel Fraga Iribarne, who founded Spain’s ruling conservative party and was the last surviving minister from Gen. Francisco Franco’s right-wing regime. The governing Popular Party issued a statement saying his death Sunday at age 89 “constitutes the loss of one of the fathers of the Spanish Constitution and a key person in the transition to democracy.”

“We all regret the death of Manuel Fraga, and in the history of Spain he stands as one of the great figures of the last century and of the one we are in,” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said after visiting the family home in Madrid where a wake was held for Fraga. King Juan Carlos sent a telegram of condolence to the family highlighting Fraga’s “loyalty to Spain” and describing him as “a great servant of the state.”

Fraga, who had been seriously ill for some time with respiratory problems, died at his house. His remains are to be taken to his native northwestern region of Galicia for burial today. In a career span-

ning 60 years, Fraga served as Franco’s information and tourism minister and as Spain’s interior minister after the dictator died in 1975. But the job he coveted most - being Spain’s prime minister - always eluded him. Still, his influence on the country remained lasting. Most Franco ministers quickly faded into obscurity after democracy was restored in 1978, but Fraga soldiered on. He helped write the country’s post-Franco, democratic Constitution that was passed in 1978.

Although he repeatedly failed to be elected prime minister, he nudged Franco loyalists toward the political center, founded what is now the Popular Party and groomed Jose Maria Aznar to replace him as leader of the Spanish right in 1989. In the post-Franco years, he ran his native Galicia region with a tight grip for 15 years and then settled into a seat in the Spanish Senate. The opposition Socialist party said it wished to express its “profound respect” for Fraga. “Democrats will always remember gratefully the work he did as a founding father of the Spanish Constitution in 1978,” the party said. — AP

VALENCIA: In this June, 21, 2008 file photo, founding Spanish Popular Party president Manuel Fraga, center bottom, is applauded by Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, left and former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, right in Valencia, Spain. —AP

MONROVIA: Liberia’s president thanked her bitter rival as she was sworn in yesterday for a second term, a move toward political reconciliation after he only days earlier agreed to accept her presidency. The 73-year-old Ellen Johnson Sirleaf addressed opposition leader Winston Tubman, who sat in the front row during the ceremony. The ceremony also attended by a nine-member delegation from the United States, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Tubman had called for a boycott of the November vote. Until this weekend, he continued to say he would not recognize Sirleaf and that he would lead a demonstration on the day of her inauguration. He changed his mind only after a private meeting with Sirleaf on Saturday. “We inaugurate a new beginning - a rebirth of our democracy,” Sirleaf told the crowd of thousands, as supporters blew horns. “Today we can say with conviction that our country has turned the corner. Liberia is no longer a place of conflict, war and deprivation. We are no longer the country are citizens want to run away from.”

Sirleaf became an international symbol of women’s empowerment when she became Africa’s first elected female head of state in 2005, just two years after the end of the nation’s disastrous 14-year civil war. Her popularity has continued to soar abroad, even as it plummeted at home due to endemic poverty and the country’s crippling unemployment.

Days before last year’s election, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, further underscoring the contrast between her image inside and outside the West African nation.

Tubman’s party accused the president of having done too little to end the country’s poverty. Liberia remains one of the world’s poorest nations, ranked nearly at the bottom of the United Nations’ index tracking development. Economists disagree, however, saying the country was on its knees when she took over. Nearly 80 percent of its schools were destroyed and almost all the roads were impassable. In the years since she took office, the country added nearly 3,500 miles of paved roads and people are earning double what they made when she was first elected, according to a report by the ministry of planning and economic affairs.

In an interview with The Associated Press last week, Sirleaf said that tackling youth unemployment and fighting corruption are her top priorities during her second term. In

her inaugural address, she directly addressed those who feel she has not done enough to lift them from poverty. “To all who have yet to feel the hands of progress touch your life, your time has come,” she said, as cheers erupted. “We have laid the foundations for peace and prosperity, and must now hasten our true mission: Putting people - especially young people - first. And lifting the lives of all Liberians.”

ment to prioritize the restoration of lights and running water because “in our world today to have a nation’s capital without electricity is a major set back.” The opposition also claims that Sirleaf did not do enough to open up to her critics. “In the cabinet I had presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates; throughout the government we had people from the opposition, maybe not in the numbers they wanted,” she said.

MONROVIA: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) attends yesterday a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new US Embassy in Monrovia with US Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas-Greenfield. —AFP And she responded to the opposition’s claim that she was not listening to the country’s disenfranchised youth: “The youth of Liberia are our future and they have sent us a message,” she said. “Let me say to them: We heard that message. It is our solemn obligation to ensure that their hope will not be in vain.” Thousands of people, many of them dressed in colorful ceremonial garb, gathered hours before the start of the ceremony in Liberia’s capital. The military fired two cannons yesterday and hoisted the flag at the presidency. Liberians are expecting more this term. Benedict Korlubah, a peace and conflict studies student of the University of Liberia said “given and judging from where we’ve come the government’s first priority should be peace and reconciliation.”

Fayia Kanteh, a pastor, wants the govern-

Medvedev submits reform bill after protests: Kremlin MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev yesterday submitted a bill to parliament that would reinstate the direct election of regional governors following mass protests calling for reform. Under the bill, Russian citizens would elect their regional leaders running independently or on a party ticket for a term of five years, the Kremlin said in a statement. In the current system, the Kremlin chooses new governors from a shortlist presented by the ruling party. The appointment is then rubber-stamped by the local parliament. The bill proposes instead that registered parties consult with the president on their candidates before their formal nomination-something that the opposition has criticised for allowing the Kremlin to filter out unwelcome candidates. “The parties will be able to nominate their candidates after consultations with the Russian president, the rules of which will be determined by the president,” said the statement. Independent candidates will not consult with the Kremlin but will have to gather signatures in their support, the bill said. Russia abolished direct gubernatorial elections in 2004 during Vladimir Putin’s presidency, in a move that was strongly criticised by the opposition. The posts have been filled by presidential appointment ever since.

Both Putin and Medvedev have defended the abolition of the elections in the past as a necessary measure to ensure stability against separatism and crime.

However the opposition has argued that the measure made regional appointees unaccountable and worsened corruption, while opinion polls have indicated that most Russian people want to elect their governors.

The proposal of returning the vote to the regions appeared after last month’s major protests in Moscow and across Russia. Outgoing President Medvedev, in his annual address to the parliament last month, said he plans to institute the reform as part of the agenda to modernise the country. But Maria Lipman of Carnegie Center said while reforming one of the most unpopular laws of the past decade is a step in the right direction, it will hardly have any effect on the disgruntled protestors. — AFP

“But I feel satisfied that we had an inclusive government in the first term; and in this term we will do the same.” Sirleaf is already negotiating with opposition leader Tubman. After their meeting Saturday, the former U.N. envoy to Somalia said “We have reached a point of the discussion where we can say the negotiation has gained fruition.”

Tubman said his Congress for Democratic Change party still did not think the president had won the election fairly, even though the international community felt the president won. “We realized that we couldn’t fight all of that, so we thought the best thing would be for us to negotiate our involvement in a government of inclusion,” he said. He said Sirleaf will be recognized by his party as the president, and that they have called off a planned demonstration yesterday. — AP

International monitors slam Kazakhstan election ASTANA: International election monitors said yesterday that Kazakhstan’s parliamentary election failed to meet the fundamental principles of a democratic vote. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said in its assessment of Sunday’s election that the vote lacked the conditions needed for genuine competition.

According to preliminary results, President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Nur Otan party won 80.7 percent of the vote. Two other parties - the businessoriented Ak Zhol, which avoids confrontation with the government, and the People’s Communist Party - got slightly more than 7 percent of the nationwide vote each, clearing the threshold to enter parliament.

That ends the total control of parliament once held by the president’s party, but concerns remain that the legislature will still not be a forum for real debate. “If Kazakhstan is serious about their stated goals of increasing the number of parties in parliament, then the country should have allowed more genuine opposition parties to participate in this election,” said Joao Soares, who led the short-term OSCE observer mission.

A more combative Communist party with a higher public profile was suspended by a court for six months in October for violating the law on public organizations, thereby ruling out its participation in the elections.

Another party, Alga, which has distinguished itself with its unwavering

criticism of the Nazarbayev government, has routinely been denied registration. Nur Otan has benefited from its association with Nazarbayev and overt state support.

“Official announcements of the elections and adver tisements for K azak hstan’s 20th independence anniversary were almost identical to Nur Otan’s campaign materials,” the OSCE said in its post-vote assessment.

“This effectively blurred the distinction between the state and the party.”

Positive factors noted by the OSCE were the competent administration of the election and legislation ensuring that at least two parties would enter parliament. Nur Otan had held all the elected seats in the previous 107member parliament.

However, the monitoring mission said in a statement that the vote counting was not transparent. “As a result, in many instances, it was not possible for observers to determine whether voters’ choices were honestly reflected,” it said.

The OSCE also repor ted its observers detecting at least a dozen cases of ballot-box stuffing Kazakh authorities have taken pains to convey the impression of a fully competitive and transparent election. Several previously little-known research institutes published exit poll figures Sunday night that very closely tracked the preliminary results later issued by the election commission. I t was unclear whether they had collected separate data. — AP

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

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

Sri Lanka ethnic Tamil party rejects war report COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s ethnic minority Tamil party rejected a government-appointed commission’s report on the country’s civil war because it lacked witness protections and failed to meet international investigative standards. The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission cleared government forces of deliberately targeting civilians, while saying isolated cases needed further investigation, and it accused the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels of routinely violating international humanitarian law.

Earlier last year, a UN -appointed panel

said serious abuse allegations on both sides were credible and warranted an international inquiry. Sri Lanka’s government appointed its own commission under pressure and with its report in hand, is expected to argue now that international inquiry is unnecessary. The Tamil National Alliance, the main political party representing the ethnic minority, said the report by the LLRC “failed to fulfill the expectations of the Tamil community, while also falling dramatically short of international standards.”

The party also said the “attitude of the

members towards witness protection reflected in the lack of concern when witnesses complained of threats, and in the failure to ensure confidentiality of in-camera statements after the LLRC concluded its work continues to severely undermine the safety of witnesses in tangible ways.”

In response to the commission’s report, the TNA said the “climate of hostility” in Sri Lanka towards those who accuse the government of war crimes “renders any accountability mechanism futile unless witnesses and victims are convinced that testimony

implicating senior government functionaries in crimes will not be met with reprisals.”

TNA also said the LLRC’s “methodology assigned relatively lower importance to victims’ perspectives” and also that it was “under-resourced and understaffed for the task of pursuing genuine accountability for violations during the last stages of the war.”

The party called on the international community “to acknowledge the consistent failure of domestic accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka and take steps to establish an international mechanism for accountability.”

It said the recommendations of the UN panel would “provide a useful and important starting point for further action.” The United States, last month, expressed concerns that the report did not fully address all the allegations of serious human rights violations.

The State Department called on the Sri Lanka to address those shortcomings but stopped short itself of supporting an international inquiry. The US has previously said that pressure would grow for an international probe if Sri Lanka should fail to investigate alleged abuses properly. —AP

Pakistani court issues contempt notice against PM Gilani ordered to appear before bench

NEW DELHI: Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers practice ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, India yesterday. —AP

India, China resume border talks in Delhi NEW DELHI: Indian and Chinese officials yesterday began fresh talks on sensitive border issues after discussions last year were cancelled over a speech in India by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Shiv Shankar Menon, India’s national security adviser, and Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo led the two delegations at the meeting in New Delhi, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The 15th round of the cross-border talks will last two days, and cover the range of long-standing territorial disputes and other issues, officials said.

“While working hard to develop itself, China is fully committed to developing long-term friendship and cooperation with India,” Dai wrote in The Hindu newspaper yesterday. “There does not exist such a thing as China’s attempt to ‘attack

India’ or ‘suppress India’s development’,” he said.

The 2,000-kilometre (1,200-mile) border between India and China has been the subject of talks since the 1980s after the two nations fought a brief but brutal war in 1962. Talks were cancelled in November after reports that Beijing objected to a scheduled speech in New Delhi by the Dalai Lama, who China’s Communist government labels a separatist.

The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

He later founded the government in exile in the northern Indian town Dharamshala after being offered refuge. Chinese infrastructure build-up along the border has become a major source of concern for India, which increasingly sees China as a longer-term threat to its security than traditional rival Pakistan. —AFP

JAVA: In this photo taken Jan 4, 2012, Muskar Warjo, right, whose father and grandfather were executed by Dutch troops in a massacre in the village six decades ago, talks to a reporter with his wife Dartem, left, during an interview at his home in Rawagede village, West Java, Indonesia. —AP

Indonesian village riven by massacre compensation RAWAGEDE: Relatives of men executed by Dutch troops in this tiny Indonesian village fought for six decades to get compensation that was supposed to heal wounds. Now that they have the money, it has ripped Rawagede apart once again. Only a few of the residents - most of them widows in their 80s and 90s - brought the case to court. But with hundreds killed, many more suffered.

Claiming part of the $270,000 was rightfully theirs, old friends and neighbors cajoled, bullied and intimidated the plaintiffs and their families until local officials jumped in, forcing them to part with half their cash.

“It’s not fair,” said Muskar Warjo, who lost his father and grandfather in the massacre that wiped out nearly the entire male population of Rawagede. “Our lawyers said the money belonged to us, that we could use it as we saw fit.”

Soldiers clinging to their retreating colonial empire arrived just before dawn on Dec 9, 1947 in search of a well-known resistance leader and after getting no help - led up to 430 boys and young men to a rice field and shot them one by one. It took 64 years, but in September a Dutch court ordered its government to apologize for the killings and to give each of the 10 plaintiffs $27,000. Three died during the course of the trial and the money went to their families instead.

Muskar, representing his mother after her death in 2009, said almost immediately after the verdict was handed down, mobs surrounded his home, the faces of people he’d known all his life, twisted with hatred and anger.

“There were hundreds of them, screaming, threatening to burn down my house if I didn’t give them some of my money,” said the 75-year-

old, his eyes brimming with tears. “In the end, I didn’t have any choice.” The court ruling has paved the way for similar allegations of war crimes during the Netherlands’ centuries-long rule in Indonesia - and raised the possibility of further compensation.

But good intentions went awry in this small farming village of 3,000 where - as in other parts of this sprawling, developing nation of 240 million - quick turns of fortune are rarely celebrated by those left behind, trying to eek out a living on as little as $2 a day.

In Rawagede, the jealousy even set siblings against each other. Muskar escaped the mob outside his house on Dec. 27 and - after a community decision to divvy up the cash - was escorted by local authorities to a neighboring village for his own safety until tensions eased. Still afraid, he decided to go instead to a relative’s house just outside the capital, Jakarta. Before long, however, Rawagede officials showed up in a van to bring him home. They said they could guarantee his safety, but in turn wanted him to sign a letter agreeing to part with his money, Muskar said.

In the end, his mother’s dream to replace their rickety, wooden shack with a new brick house remains just that, he said: a dream. Additional compensation in the works would benefit the community as a whole: the Dutch government promised three years ago to provide $1.2 million in “development aid” to build a school, hospital and market in Rawagede. But even that money has been caught up in a dispute. It remains stuck in The Hague because of a disagreement between two Indonesian foundations - both claiming to represent the villagers’ interests. —AP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court ramped up the pressure on the nation’s beleaguered government yesterday, beginning contempt proceedings against the prime minister for failing to carry out its order to reopen a corruption case against the president.

The court ordered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to appear before the bench on Thursday to explain his refusal to reopen the graft investigation, injecting fresh uncertainty into the political crisis threatening to engulf the country.

If the court convicts Gilani of contempt, he could serve up to six months in prison and be disqualified from holding office.

“The Supreme Court and the government are in an open clash now, and it seems fairly obvious the court is unwilling to back off,” said Cyril Almeida, a columnist for Dawn newspaper. The government already is locked in a bitter conflict with the army, and yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling boosted the sense the administration could fall, squeezed between the court and Pakistan’s powerful generals. The government is also grappling with an ailing economy and a violent Taleban insurgency.

“Once the Supreme Court, the army and the political opposition agree the government needs to go sooner rather than later, it seems very difficult for the government to stay on,” Almeida told The Associated Press. The escalating political crisis is likely a concern for the US, which is worried about instability in the nuclear-armed country and also needs the government’s help on the war in neighboring Afghanistan.

The Supreme Court has ordered the government to ask Swiss authorities to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari that dates back to the 1990s and involves the jurisdiction of the Swiss courts. The government has refused, saying Zardari has immunity, and supporters say the court is pursuing a vendetta against the country’s civilian leadership.

The government also is at odds with the army over an unsigned memo delivered to Washington last year offering the US a raft of

favorable security policies in exchange for its help in thwarting a supposed military coup. The army was outraged by the memo and pushed the Supreme Court to open an inquiry into the scandal against the government’s wishes.

Some observers believe the court’s pressure on the graft case is being orchestrated by the military to put maximum strain on the government.

Pakistan has long been plagued by tension between the civilian government and the army, which has seized power in three coups since the country was founded in

court initiated contempt proceedings against Gilani yesterday after the government failed to respond to an order outlining a series of punitive options the judges could take if the government did not reopen the case against Zardari.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told the court he had not received instructions from the country’s leaders on how to respond to the order.

Federal Law Minister Maula Bakhsh Chandio said the government would review the court’s action against Gilani and “obey the law and the constitution.” “This is

late that elections could be called earlier to try to ease tensions.

Gilani criticized the army last week for cooperating with the Supreme Court probe into the memo scandal. He has said the standoff is nothing less than a choice between “democracy and dictatorship.” Gilani’s comments followed a warning from the generals of possible “grievous consequences” ahead. Zardari has been vulnerable to prosecution since 2009 when the Supreme Court struck down an amnesty granting him and other leading political figures immunity from past graft cas-

ISLAMABAD: This handout photograph released by Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) yesterday shows Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (C) is flanked by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) as he arrives at the Primer Minister House to chairing parliamentary party meeting of coalition partners in Islamabad. —AFP 1947. The government has given the generals control over foreign and security policy, but the civilian leadership and the top brass have never seen eye-to-eye since Zardari and Gilani took office in 2008.

The head of the Supreme Court, Mohammad Iftikhar Chaudhry, has also clashed with Zardari. The

US Marines’ video: Perry urges no criminal charges WASHINGTON: Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry said Sunday it would be “over the top” to file criminal charges against four US Marines who urinated on dead militants in Afghanistan. The incident, captured in a video posted online that depicts American troops desecrating the bloodstained corpses of fighters, has appalled Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and embarrassed the Pentagon.

“These kids made a mistake, there’s not any doubt about it,” Perry, the governor of Texas who is trailing most of his rivals in the battle for the Republican nomination for the November election, told CNN. “But the idea that this administration would go after these young people for a criminal act is, again, over the top.”

The US military has launched a high-level investigation and the four Marines have been questioned, while US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have both expressed dismay at the acts and vowed that the culprits would be punished.

There are concerns that the video could be used as a recruiting tool for the Taliban and anti-American insurgents. Perry, a former US Air Force pilot, criticized what he described as President Barack Obama’s administration’s “disdain for the military... whether it’s the secretary of state or whether it’s the secretary of defense. “Did (the four US Marines) make a mistake? Absolutely. Should they be reprimanded and appropriately punished? Yes. But going after them as a criminal act I think sends a really bad message.”

Perry recalled how World War II era US general George Patton famously urinated in the Rhine river during his troops’ march into Nazi Germany, and, “although there’s not a picture, (British prime minister Winston) Churchill did the same thing on the Siegfried Line” to show contempt for the Nazis. The US military said the four Marines are from a sniper unit in the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and they were grilled by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service which is leading a criminal inquiry into the affair. —AFP

not a small or an ordinary thing,” he said outside the court. “This is a Supreme Court order.” The government has vowed to see out its term, scheduled to end in 2013, and oversee elections - something that has never happened in the country’s history. But the crisis threatens to upend that, and some lawmakers in Zardari’s party specu-

es. The court deemed the amnesty, which was granted in 2008, unconstitutional.

The court has zeroed in on one corruption investigation taken up by the Swiss government against Zardari that was halted in 2008 when Pakistani prosecutors, acting on the amnesty, told Swiss authorities to drop the case. —AP

Japan disaster builds international bridges ISHINOMAKI: Out of the tragedy of ruin wreaked by the tsunami that laid waste to large stretches of Japan’s northeast coast, a beacon of international friendship has risen. In a famously homogenous country where foreign faces are rarely seen outside the major cities, international volunteers have poured in to help the victims of Japan’s March 2011 earthquake disaster put their lives back together.

Ishinomaki has never been on the foreign tourist trail. A year ago it had a sprinkling of non-Japanese that included English teachers, but it was not a place that many outside Japan had ever heard of. However, in the ten months since huge waves crushed large areas of the city, washing away or badly damaging half of its 61,000 houses, thousands of people have offered to lend a hand, many of them from abroad.

“I’m doing volunteer work together with people from countries such as Singapore, Canada, Britain and the United States,” said Koichi Murai, a 29-year-old ski resort employee from northern Sapporo. “I know the country is providing money and instructions (for recovery) but it’s not moving very quickly,” said Murai, who plans to stay in the city for around a month. “On the other hand, volunteers can start to help quickly, which is an advantage.”

Across the disaster-hit northeast nearly 900,000 people have so far joined volunteer activities formally organised by local offices of the Japan National Council of Social Welfare, according to the council website.

On top of that, many other people, both Japanese and foreign nationals, have visited the devastated regions individually or in private groups to help local survivors from the disaster that claimed more than 19,000 lives.

“We have many local friends who don’t speak any English at all,” said Jamie El Banna, a 26-

year-old from London, who moved to Ishinomaki from Osaka in June to help out.

“We just communicate... heart to heart,” he said. El Banna, a former City of London worker who came to Japan in 2008, gathered a group of mainly foreign volunteers through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. “(In September) I had maybe 20 tents on the campground and I had to find somewhere to put people, in the end I went on Twitter and asked if anyone had a house that could sleep 20 volunteers.

“This old man who uses Twitter said ‘you can stay at my house if you want’.” El Banna said the rapid influx of foreign faces to a place he describes as “not really like Tokyo or Osaka” had been a bit of a shock. “At first people would say ‘Oh a foreigner’, but now when you know people and they are used to seeing you, it’s normal,” he said.

Keiko Sanjo, whose badly damaged house was repaired by volunteers, said she had been amazed by the response of people from other parts of the world. “I was so surprised to see many people not only from Japan but also from other countries come to visit us and help,” she said. Sanjo, a 39-year-old mother-ofthree, lost her parents to the tsunami. Her fisherman husband is out of work.

She has decided not to return to her parttime job at a fish processing factory but wants to use her newly-repaired home as the base for a new massage business. “I want to be at home to see my children all the time,” she said.

Nobuko Hashimoto, whose house was also put back together by volunteers, said the tragedy had brought her into contact with people she would never normally have met. “I did not have foreign friends before as there were few foreigners in Ishinomaki,” she said “But now I have many. They are my great treasure-the treasure of my life,” Hashimoto said. —AFP

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China’s Communist Party rewards village rebel leader BEIJING: A Chinese Communist Party member who led violent protests against land confiscation in Wukan has been rewarded by an appointment as village head, a unique move by Beijing as it grapples with thousands of such protests nationwide. On Sunday, Lin Zuluan, 65, was named the new party head of the Wukan village, state news agency Xinhua said. Democratic elections for Wukan’s village committee could follow, according to state media.

Ten days of protests over confiscated farmland and the death of a protest organizer in Wukan drew global media

attention as a dramatic rebuff to the stability-obsessed government. For a long time, the villagers of Wukan did not understand their rights, Lin said in a December interview, offering his explanation for the more than four decades of rule by Xue Chang, the village’s former Communist Party secretary.

“The main reason is that the villagers did not understand the meaning of democracy. Because they didn’t know, it was impossible to bring it up,” Lin had said. The Chinese government has not issued official estimates of

protests and other “mass incidents” since the mid-2000s. But a number of state-sponsored studies have estimated there were about 90,000 a year in recent years up to 2010. Some estimates put the number much higher.

Many times the police and local officials crack down hard on protesters.

But in the case of Wukan, the party has recognized that Xue was corrupt.

Villagers also accused Xue of colluding with businessmen and selling their land without compensation. Xue fled after large-scale protests by Wukan villagers in September. Lin had been

accused by the government of being an “illegal organizer” in the subsequent protests. But in late December he successfully brokered a deal with his accusers that led village representatives of Wukan to end the protests on the same day. Lin was also regarded by many villagers as a de facto head, though he took pains to emphasize he was not the leader of the protests, villagers said they looked to him for guidance. When government officials called him repeatedly to surrender, Lin said he disconnected his telephone and mobile lines. Lin served in the

army from 1964 to 1969 and later was a businessman in the Donghai township. He has three sons, aged 42, 40 and 39.

But Lin had said in the December interview he never aspired to be an official and that he will “absolutely not” participate in any elections. “At the appropriate time, I’ll exit,” Lin said at his home, located next to a twostorey home used to house dozens of foreign reporters. “Handling it this way is better. One factor is that I’m getting older, it’s better to prioritize contentment.” —Reuters

Philippine chief justice impeachment trial starts Trial sparks fears of constitutional crisis MANILA: The Philippines’ first impeachment trial of a Supreme Court justice opened yesterday, in a major battle of President Benigno Aquino III’s anti-corruption campaign targeting his detained predecessor and her allies. Chief Justice Justice Renato Corona was impeached by the House of Representatives last

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile promised his chamber would hold an impartial trial as the nationally televised proceedings got under way yesterday, attended by Corona, his wife and a dozen defense lawyers.

More than 300 left-wing activists demanding Corona’s conviction rallied outside the Senate,

Tupas told the senators. “We are here because one man - Chief Justice Renato Corona - has bartered away for the pot of porridge the effectiveness, independence and honor of the Supreme Court.” A defiant Corona led a rally by hundreds of employees and judges at the Supreme Court before the trial,

MANILA: Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, center, arrives to attend his impeachment trial at the Philippine Senate in Manila, Philippines yesterday. —AP month on corruption allegations as well as accusations that he tried to block prosecution of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has been detained on vote-rigging charges.

Corona’s trial before the Senate has sparked fears of a constitutional crisis pitting Aquino against the 15-member court, where 12 of the justices were appointed by his rival and predecessor, Arroyo.

a block away from dozens of Corona followers. Police anti-riot squads stood by to prevent any clashes. Rep Niel Tupas Jr, who leads a congressional team of prosecutors against Corona, said the chief justice was impeached due to eight acts of alleged corruption and improperly issuing decisions that favored Arroyo.

“We are not here to indict the Supreme Court as an institution,”

denying any wrongdoing and vowing to defend the high tribunal’s independence.

“I have not sinned against the president. I have not sinned against the people. I have not stolen from anyone,” Corona told his cheering followers. He expressed confidence he would be acquitted. Aquino, son of revered pro-democracy icons, has accused Corona of trying to derail

Police charge Lebanese as Bangkok ups security BANGKOK: Thai police charged a Lebanese man suspected of planning an attack in Bangkok after they raided a property yesterday and discovered chemicals that could be used to make a bomb. The United States has warned of a “serious” threat of a terrorist strike on tourist areas in Bangkok and a manhunt is under way for a second suspect who could be hiding in the Thai capital, prompting extra security.

The Lebanese man is accused of breaking weapons control law, deputy national police chief Pansiri Prapawat said, after a large amount of fertilizer and ammonium nitrate was found at an address rented by the suspect.

“We will conduct further investigation into whether he violated any other laws,” he told reporters. Ammonium nitrate is commonly used in agriculture, but mixed with other substances can make a bomb. Possession of the chemical requires a permit in Thailand.

Security has been stepped up around possible targets in Bangkok, including the Israeli embassy and the Khao San Road backpacker district, and at Suvarnabhumi airpor t, Thailand’s main air hub. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra again reassured the public that the situation was under control.”We continue to keep a close watch and we have also increased the security presence,” she told reporters.

Thai authorities allege the Lebanese man, who was detained on Thursday, has links to Hezbollah, an Iranian- and Syrian-backed Muslim Shiite group that is blacklisted as a terrorist organization by Washington.

When contacted, Hezbollah declined to comment on the case. The suspect, who is also believed to have a Swedish passport, was detained based on intelligence provided by Israel, according to Thai officials.

Police said Saturday the suspect had admitted during interrogation that a group was

planning an attack in Thailand, but that the plot had been called off. Israel would not confirm or deny a role in the arrest, but has urged its citizens to avoid Bangkok because of “a serious and imminent danger”. Thai authorities had repeatedly played down the risk and withheld information about any possible plot until after the United States warned Friday of a terrorist threat against tourists in the kingdom.

“Foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future,” the US embassy in Bangkok said in an emergency message posted on its website. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney wrote on Twitter yesterday that the US advice “still stands.” She has previously described the threat as “credible, serious and specific.” Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has expressed “disappointment” that the United States did not consult Thailand before issuing the alert.

The safety scare is another blow to the kingdom’s tourist-friendly image, which was badly dented last year by devastating flooding across much of the country, as well as rounds of rival political protests in recent years. In 2008 a nine-day blockade by protesters of Suvarnabhumi airport stranded tens of thousands of travellers, and the industry was badly hit again in 2010 during anti-government street demonstrations.

Bangkok ’s central shopping area was reduced to a battle zone during an army crackdown on the 2010 rallies, and more than 90 people were left dead. An eight-year shadowy insurgency continues to plague the country’s Muslim-majority deep south, but the rebels have never been known to attack outside the region. In the most prominent terrorist attack in Southeast Asia in recent history, 202 peoplemost of them foreign tourists-were killed in 2002 by bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali. —AFP

Arroyo’s prosecution and his reforms, which are aimed at battling pervasive corruption and poverty.

Aquino said he expected Corona to be convicted due to the strength of the evidence against him. The trial is the latest struggle in a political drama pitting Aquino against Arroyo, his predecessor whom he blames for a decade of corruption scandals that eroded public trust in government and held back foreign investors.

Corona served as Arroyo’s chief of staff before she appointed him chief justice shortly before her stormy, nine-year rule ended in 2010. Corona has accused Aquino of acting like a dictator by maneuvering to oust him to gain a rubber stamp Supreme Court. A Philippine regional trial court ordered the 64-year-old Arroyo arrested on Nov. 18 after she was charged with ordering the rigging of 2007 senatorial elections to favor her candidates. She has denied any wrongdoing and is detained in a government hospital while awaiting trial.

Arroyo also faces a slew of corruption allegations, which she denies. The Supreme Court lifted a travel ban on her in November, prompting her to try to leave the country in what her aides said was a trip aimed at seeking treatment for a rare bone disease.

Aquino’s justice secretary, however, defied the Supreme Court order and had airport authorities stop her from leaving, suspecting she was trying to escape from prosecution.

The country’s largest group of lawyers has backed Corona, accusing Aquino’s allies of improperly rushing his impeachment.

Aquino’s administration was endangering democracy by undermining the independence of the judiciary, said the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. —AP

US team in S Korea for talks on Iran sanctions SEOUL: A US delegation arrived in South Korea yesterday for talks on implementing new sanctions against Iran’s oil exports, amid mounting concerns over Tehran’s suspected nuclear weapons drive, a report said. The delegation led by Robert Einhorn, the State Department’s special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, will stay for three days in South Korea, a significant importer of Iranian crude.

Einhorn will meet deputy foreign minister Kim Jae-Shin today. He is accompanied by Daniel Glaser, the US Treasury’s deputy assistant secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes, Yonhap news agency said. Highly industrialised South Korea, which imports all its crude, is a close ally of the United States and 28,500 US troops are based in the country.

But in the first 11 months of last year, it imported 9.6 percent of its total crude needs — 8.16 million barrels-from Iran.

New US legislation signed by President Barack Obama last month targeted Iran’s central bank, which processes most of its oil sales. The legislation will effectively make foreign firms choose between doing business with the Islamic republic or the United States.

But the bill gives Obama some wiggle room, allowing him to grant 120-day waivers for institutions in a country that significantly cuts its other transactions with Iran. Seoul foreign ministry officials have said South Korea will ask for a temporary exemption from restricting crude imports in return for significantly reducing other transactions. Seoul last month added more than 100 names to a financial blacklist of Iranian firms and individuals. In a move to minimise fallout from the US sanctions, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik is now on a tour of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. —AFP

INCHEON: This picture taken on Sunday shows the partially sunken South Korean tanker about 30 kilometres off the western port of Incheon. —AFP

Vapor leak ‘likely’ cause of Korean ship explosion SEOUL: South Korea’s coastguard said yesterday a failure to remove fuel vapor from a tank was the “likeliest” cause an explosion which split a tanker in two on Sunday and killed at least five crewmen.

The 4,191-tonne South Korean tanker carrying 11 South Koreans and five Myanmar citizens partially sank about 30 kilometres (20 miles) off the western port of Incheon after discharging its cargo there.

The coastguard has rescued five crewmen and recovered the bodies of five more, including one South Korean, two Myanmar citizens and two unidentified victims. A search is still underway for the six missing.

“We believe that the fuel vapour that

remained in the tank is the likeliest cause of the blast, given statements from surviving crewmen and the company that owns the ship,” a coastguard spokesman told AFP. “Investigations are still underway to reach a final conclusion.” The crewmen told investigators that the explosion occurred while they were cleaning up fuel residue in the tank, the spokesman said, adding forensic experts were examining the ship. The vessel usually transported diesel but was carrying petrol on Sunday, he quoted officials of the owners as saying. The authorities were checking fingerprints to identify two victims whose bodies were badly damaged by the blast, he said, adding they were also considering DNA tests —AFP

YANGON: US Senator Mitch McConnell (L), the top Republican in the US Senate and a longtime force behind sanctions on Myanmar, addresses reporters following a meeting with Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi (R) at her residence in Yangon yesterday.—AFP

French FM meets Myanmar regime to gauge reforms NAYPYIDAW: France’s foreign minister held talks with Myanmar’s rulers yesterday during a visit to assess the regime’s reformist credentials as Western powers weigh a possible relaxation of sanctions. A nominally civilian government which took power last year has surprised even critics with a series of reformist moves, including dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, released from house arrest in late 2010.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said after his talks with President Thein Sein that he was confident the leader is a reformer.

“It’s a certainty. It’s enough to look at what he has done in the past few months,” he said, describing the president as a “wise man, completely determined.” A day earlier Juppe said France and the European Union would respond “positively and in concrete terms” to what he described as “significant gestures” by the regime. He later said initial changes could be discussed at the EU level in April, including an end to visa bans for regime figures and the granting of lower duties on certain exports to the European Union not subject to sanctions.

Juppe is the highest level French diplomat to ever visit the country also known as Burma, long criticized by the West for its human rights record and ruled outright by the military for almost five decades until last year. His visit coincides with a fact-finding trip by Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the US Senate and a long time force behind sanctions on Myanmar. The longisolated country is now welcoming not just advocates of engagement but also critics whom it will need to win over for any lifting of sanctions.

In a move hailed by the West, Myanmar on Friday released about 300 political prisoners, including several prominent dissidents, a day after signing a ceasefire with a major armed ethnic minority group. “We hope that these new developments will reinforce the process of democratization and national reconciliation,” Suu Kyi said after her talks with Juppe. But the acclaimed dissident said it was unclear whether the military was fully behind the changes.

“Certainly there is always a theoretical, and perhaps not so theoretical, danger of an army coup by those who do not approve of the process of democratization,” she said. “We hope very much that we will not come to that.” Friday’s prisoner release was the most significant yet by the new government, whose ranks are filled with former generals including Thein Sein.

Such an amnesty had been long demanded by the West and was hailed by the international community. France welcomed such an “important step” and the United States said it wanted to restore toplevel diplomatic ties.

It is not clear how many more political prisoners are still behind bars but some activists estimate about 1,000 remain locked up.

Juppe is the first French foreign minister in history to visit the Southeast Asian country, which gained independence from Britain in 1948, and the first French minister to visit since a popular uprising was brutally crushed in 1988. His trip follows landmark visits by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Foreign Secretary William Hague in recent months. —AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

NEWS 12 more killed in Syria Continued from Page 1 Random gunfire by pro-Assad militiamen killed five people, including a woman, and wounded nine in the restive city of Homs, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. A sniper later shot dead a 16-yearold girl there, it added. It said five soldiers were killed when they tried to change sides during a clash with rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib, adding that 15 soldiers had succeeded in defecting. The state news agency SANA said an “armed terrorist group” had shot dead Brigadier-General Mohammed Abdul-Hamid Al-Awad and wounded his driver in the countryside near Damascus.

Meanwhile, a member of Syria’s parliament has left the country to join the opposition against Assad’s regime, saying the Syrian people are suffering sweeping human rights violations. Imad Ghalioun, who represents the central city of Homs, told Al-Arabiya TV that the city, which has been one of the most restive in the uprising against Assad’s rule since March, is a disaster after months of being a focus of the regime’s fierce crackdown. “The Syrian people are living their worst period,” Ghalioun said late Sunday from Egypt.

“The people of Homs are under siege and the city is disaster-stricken,” he said. “There is no electricity, piles of garbage fill the streets ... The sounds of shelling all night terrify children.” He added that there are many legislators who support the uprising but have not said so publicly.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated a call for Assad to “stop killing, and listen to his people”. During a visit to Abu Dhabi, he said: “I hope the UN Security Council handles Syria in a coherent manner and with a sense of gravity,” but did not recommend any specific action. “The casualties have reached such an unacceptable stage we cannot let the situation continue this way,” Ban said. The harsh response to the uprising by Assad’s security forces has killed more than 5,000 people, by a UN count. The Syrian authorities say 2,000 members of the security forces have also been killed. The deaths of 32 civilians and soldiers were reported on Sunday.

The head of the Arab monitoring mission is due to report to an Arab League committee on Thursday before Arab foreign ministers gather to consider their next step on Syria. Qatar, which heads the committee, has suggested Arab troops step in, an idea that is anathema to Damascus and which Arab nations such as Iraq, Lebanon and Algeria are likely to oppose. The League could also refer Syria to the Security Council if it concludes that its own peace effort has failed.

The council has been paralysed so far because Russia

and China oppose any resolution that could lead to UN sanctions or Western military action against Syria. There is little Western appetite for any Libya-style intervention. The United States, the European Union, Turkey and the Arab League have announced economic sanctions against Syria.

On Sunday Assad proclaimed the latest of several amnesties for “crimes” committed during the uprising.

Some prisoners were released the same day and more yesterday, activists said.

Mohamed Saleh, an activist in Homs, said about 185 people had been freed there, though some had been freed on bail and would still face trial. Many more were expected to be released. Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory, also said some activists had only been freed on bail. Many more were still held because the authorities had brought new, more serious charges against them that were not covered by the amnesty. Kinan Al-Shami, of the Syrian Revolution Coordination Union, said hundreds of detainees appeared to have been released, but they represented only a fraction of at least 40,000 people he said had been jailed without charge since March, many of whom have been held in secret police buildings or makeshift prisons.

The movement to end more than four decades of Assad family rule began with largely peaceful demonstrations, but after months of violence by the security forces, army deserters and insurgents started to fight back, prompting fears of civil war. Assad, who retains the support of core military units, is backed by his own Alawite minority as well as some minority Christians and some majority Sunni Muslims who fear chaos, civil war and the rise of Islamist militancy if he is toppled.

The northern commercial city of Aleppo, like central parts of the capital Damascus, has mostly escaped the turmoil, but security forces stormed Aleppo University campus overnight in pursuit of students who staged an antiAssad protest on Friday. Activists said dozens of students were beaten in the raid, in which students belonging to a pro-Assad militia took part. Aleppo residents say that big Sunni merchants in the city still support Assad and that the authorities have recruited Sunni tribesmen from the countryside to patrol the streets.

The president, 46, who appeared in public twice in as many days last week, is eager to show that his people love him. SANA, the state news agency, reported on Sunday that a 10 km long letter, which it billed as the world’s longest, was being written and signed by Syrians across the country as a “message of loyalty to the homeland and its leader”. — Agencies

Saudis doubt Iran oil blockade claim Continued from Page 1 expected to agree to embargo Iranian oil at a foreign ministers meeting on Jan 23. The measures go far further than UN sanctions agreed by China and Russia and have helped cause a currency crisis in Iran where dollars are now a scarce commodity for Iranians seeking a safe haven for their vulnerable rial-denominated savings.

The new sanctions prompted Iran to threaten to close the Gulf to oil trade if it was prevented from selling its oil and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s senior military adviser reiterated Iran would act decisively to protect itself. “Iran would use any tools to defend its national interests, if it was exposed to any dangers,” Major-General Yahya Rahim-Safavi said, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. Israel - reputed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal said such talk was more evidence of the need to act quickly against Tehran. “A nuclear Iran would mean a new world order where a very dangerous terroristic regime has impunity and also can control oil flow and oil prices,” Ayalon said.

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey is to make his first visit to Israel on Thursday.

Israeli media say he will try to persuade his hosts not to “surprise” Washington on Iran. Saudi Arabia, Iran’s main rival for influence in the Middle East which would play a key role in replacing Iranian oil in the event of an embargo, played down Tehran’s talk of closing the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping lane for Gulf exports. “I personally do not believe that the Strait, if it were shut, will be shut for any length of time. The world cannot stand for that,” Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi told CNN. “I don’t think all these pronouncements are helpful to the international oil market or to the price of oil. It’s really disturbing.”

Iran’s warning to its Gulf Arab neighbours not to raise oil output to replace its crude appeared to have fallen on deaf ears. Naimi said Riyadh could increase production by about 2 million barrels per day (bpd) “almost immediately”. “Our wish and hope is we can stabilise this oil price and keep it at a level around $100,” Naimi said. The leader of China, Iran’s biggest oil customer was in Abu Dhabi yesterday, on a

six-day tour of the region where he hopes for greater access to its huge oil and gas reserves.

Although Beijing opposes further international sanctions on Iran, it has already cut its purchases of Iranian oil by more than half for the first two months of this year. A senior Iranian oil official denied reports that Iran’s exports to Asia were already suffering due to the intensified sanctions pressure, saying contracts were bring renewed on schedule. In addition to the confrontation with the United States over sanctions, Iran has accused it of being behind the latest murder of a nuclear scientist, blown up by a bomb attached to his car last in Tehran week, a charge Washington denies.

Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said “some people have been arrested” in connection with the assassination, the fifth such killing in the last two years. Larijani gave no further details but told state-run Arabic language al Alam TV Tehran was ready to deal with sanctions. “We are prepared for oil sanctions and have different scenarios, but we would not announce them in order to avoid alerting our enemies,” he said. — Reuters

Iranians proud over win for ‘Separation’ Continued from Page 1 Western campaign to isolate it politically. Iran’s government initially slapped a ban on the movie as it was being made because Farhadi voiced support for fellow filmmakers labelled by authorities as “anti-regime”. But, following an apology from Farhadi that permitted “A Separation” to be completed, Tehran has come to embrace the movie, strengthening support for it as it picked up award after award in international festivals.

The film recounts the story of a couple estranged because of differences over whether to leave Iran, who become embroiled in a nasty dispute with a domestic worker. The tale builds smartly to become an engrossing look at the societal pressures ensnaring all the protagonists as they navigate a minefield of lies. “A Separation” is seen to be a frontrunner for the best foreign-language Oscar at the US Academy Awards on Feb 26, with critics raving about its humanity and its sharp portrayal of the Iran that exists beyond the grim news headlines.

The attention it is earning, though, is also bringing into focus the trials of the overall Iranian film industry, which has become increasingly restricted in the past three years, since the disputed 2009 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Authorities in Iran this month dissolved the country’s main film industry guild, the House of Cinema, despite an outcry from sev-

eral renowned Iranian directors. The decision came after the government felt the guild was politicising certain events, such as allowing filmmakers to express critical views of the regime at its annual festival. The official reason given was that the House of Cinema had changed its founding statutes without consulting authorities.

Farhadi has voiced support for his colleagues in the guild, who are trying to have the dissolution reversed.

The row has added to other difficulties Iran’s cinema industry is encountering. One of Iran’s most famous filmmakers, Jafar Panahi, has been sentenced to jail and given a 20-year ban on making movies for a 2009 documentary he tried to film on the widespread unrest following Ahmadinejad’s re-election. Several documentary makers accused of working with the BBC, were also arrested late last year, then released.

One of Iran’s most prominent film directors said yesterday he hoped the award will help lift the spirits of the country’s artistic community. Abbas Kiarostami lauded the “unique success” of Farhadi and told AP it was a bittersweet moment after authorities ordered the closure of the House of Cinema. “I am hopeful that the award would partly help heal the frustration of people in the Iranian cinema industry,” said Kiarostami, whose films have won prizes including the Palme d’Or at Cannes. He also hoped the Golden Globe award would persuade authorities to be “more kind” to Iran’s film community. — Agencies

Court reinstates Mislem, Juwaihel in election...

Continued from Page 1 A number of former MPs and candidates had vowed they will withdraw from the elections race if the court did not repeal the disqualification of Mislem.

In a related development, head of the Kuwaiti Transparency Society Salah Al-Ghazali said that around 30 international observers, mostly Arabs, will be allowed to monitor the Kuwaiti elections for the first time at an official level. Ghazali said that five

of the monitors are due to arrive in Kuwait this week to discuss arrangements for the rest of the monitors. He said that after the government gave the green light to the Transparency Society along with the Kuwait Journalists Association and Kuwait Lawyers Society, around 300 people have volunteered to monitor the elections. Some of the volunteers underwent training on how to operate while others will be trained soon.

The foreign and local observers will have free access to polling sta-

tions to monitor if all procedures are in line with the law and to ensure that no violations take place. But Ghazali said the monitors will only report such violations without making any move or intervening. Ghazali said that the three local societies have been campaigning to encourage people to report violations in elections, especially vote-buying. The society has referred “10 serious cases of vote-buying claims to the interior ministry” to investigate them and then refer the cases to court, he said.

India reports TB strain resistant to all drugs MUMBAI: Indian doctors have reported the country’s first cases of “totally drugresistant tuberculosis,” a long-feared and virtually untreatable form of the killer lung disease. It’s not the first time highly resistant cases like this have been seen.

Since 2003, patients have been documented in Italy and Iran. It has mostly been limited to impoverished areas, and has not spread widely. But experts believe there could be many undocumented cases. No one expects the Indian TB strains to rapidly spread elsewhere. The airborne disease is mainly transmitted through close personal contact and isn’t nearly as contagious as the flu. Indeed, most of the cases of this kind of TB were not from person-to-person infection but were mutations that occurred in poorly treated patients.

What’s more, there’s a debate within the public health community about whether to even label TB infections as totally drug resistant. The World Health Organization hasn’t accepted the term and still considers the cases to be what’s now called extensively drug-resistant TB, or XDR. However, Dr Paul Nunn, a coordinator at the WHO’s Stop TB Department in Geneva, said there is ample proof that these virtually untreatable cases do exist.

The Indian hospital that saw the initial cases tested a dozen medicines and none of them worked, a pretty comprehensive assessment. A TB expert at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they do appear to be totally resistant to available drugs. “It is concerning,” said Dr Kenneth Castro, director of the CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination. “Anytime we see something like this, we better get on top of it before it becomes a more widespread problem.”

Ordinary TB is easily cured by taking antibiotics for six to nine months.

However, if that treatment is interrupted or the dose is cut down, the stubborn bacteria battle back and mutate into a tougher strain that can no longer be killed by standard drugs. The disease becomes harder and more expensive to treat. In India, doctors in Mumbai have reported a total of 12 patients who failed initial treatment and also didn’t respond to the medicines tried next over an average of two to three years.

Three have died. None of the others have been successfully treated.

The doctors detailed the first four cases in a letter to a US medical journal last month, blaming private doctors for prescribing inappropriate drug plans that sparked greater resistance in three of those four patients. “These three patients had received erratic, unsupervised second-line drugs, added individually and often in incorrect doses, from multiple private practitioners,” wrote the doctors from P D Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Center in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

One of the doctors, Zarir Udwadia, in a phone interview, said there is little hope for the surviving nine patients, all poor slum dwellers living in the community. He said he has detected one case of a mother passing the strain to a daughter living in close quarters. One of

MUMBAI: Mohammed Shamim Sheikh, who suffers from multi-drugresistant tuberculosis, is seen through an x-ray of his chest as he listens to a social worker at his home in a slum on the outskirts of Mumbai yesterday. — AP the patients was also infected with HIV, which typically results in faster death.

Udwadia criticized the testing and treatment methods of the Indian government’s TB program, which he says forces patients to turn to private doctors, many of whom do not understand how to properly treat TB or the risks of increasing drug resistance by prescribing the wrong drugs. “It was a given that this would happen,” Udwadia said. “They have had no help from the Indian TB system. They are the untouchables, so no one is making a fuss. They don’t have the power to vocalize. There’s going to be more family contacts. It’s going to spread for sure.”

India’s Health Ministry did not respond to phone calls and written requests for comment yesterday and last week. Dr. Nata Menabde, WHO’s representative in India, said a team of national experts started investigating the cases yesterday. She said the government is also working to improve laboratory diagnostics to help find more drug-resistant cases, and discussions are ongoing to identify ways to regulate TB treatment in the private sector. “Now there is a high urgency attached to these findings even though the knowledge about the existence of such cases is not new,” she said. “The political momentum is right because it has attracted the top level of attention, given the seriousness of the matter.”

Similar highly resistant cases have been noted before. In 2003, two Italian women died and there were 15 cases reported from Iran in 2009. That same

year, The Associated Press reported on a case of a Peruvian teenager who was infected at home but diagnosed while visiting Florida. He was successfully treated for a year and a half with experimental high doses of medicines not typically used for TB, costing about $500,000. Those resources are unthinkable in the developing world, where TB remains a menacing killer and where few hospitals can perform tests to find out which antibiotics might work. “For there to be another report coming out from India is no surprise at all. Indeed, in a sense, it’s surprising it’s taken so long,” said WHO’s Nunn. This is “yet another alarm call for countries and others engaged in TB control to do their jobs properly.”

Tuberculosis is an age-old scourge that lies dormant in an estimated 1 in 3 people. About 10 percent of those people eventually develop active TB, which kills roughly 2 million a year, according to WHO. Each victim infects an average of 10 to 15 others every year, typically through sneezing or coughing. If a TB case is found to be resistant to the two most powerful anti-TB drugs, the patient is classified as having multidrug-resistant TB (MDR). An even worse classification of TB - one the WHO accepts - is extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR), a form of the disease that was first reported in 2006 and is virtually resistant to all drugs. An estimated 20 percent of the world’s multi-drug-resistant cases are found in India, which is home to a quarter of all types of tuberculosis cases worldwide. — AP

Israel rattled as hackers hit bourse, airline Continued from Page 1 sites providing online services to clients were unaffected. Israel’s third-largest bank, Discount, said it had been spared attack, but that it was temporarily shutting down foreign access to its website as a precaution. The Tel Aviv bourse website could only be accessed intermittently, but screen-based trading was not hit. “There has been an attack by hackers on the access routes to the website,” said Orna Goren, deputy manager of the exchange’s marketing and communications unit. “The stock exchange’s trading activities are operating normally.” El Al said it had taken precautions to protect the company site and warned of possible disruptions to its online activity.

There was no claim of responsibility for yesterday’s incidents. However, the Islamist group Hamas, which governs the small Palestinian territory of Gaza, welcomed the attacks as a blow against the Jewish state, which it refuses to recognise. “This is a new field of resistance against the Occupation and we urge Arab youth to develop their methods in electronic warfare in the face of (Israel’s) crimes,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Gaza.

Israeli Information Minister Yuli Edelstein told a conference in Tel Aviv that the cyber attacks were part of a wider move to smear the country’s reputation and “threaten Israel’s economic stability and security”. “It’s another episode in the war our enemies are conducting as a campaign of delegitimisation to hit our pockets and lifestyle,” he said, in reported comments confirmed by his spokesman. “Israel must use all measures at its disposal to prevent these virtual dangers from turning into real threats and to prevent with all its force attacks against it and its institutions. Today it’s credit card theft and toppling Web sites, and tomorrow it could be theft of security information and harm to infrastructure.”

Israel opened an agency to tackle cyber attacks earlier this month. A founding member of the unit, Isaac Ben-Israel, said the country’s most vital systems were already protected, but that incidents like the ones seen recently would only increase. “As long as the systems are not guarded, any hacker anywhere in the world can break into them and do damage,” Ben-Israel said on Israel Radio. “I believe that, done right, in a year or two, we will be able to wipe out all these hackers’ threats.”

The attacks began earlier this month when hackers including a hacker who calls himself “0xOmar” - identifying themselves as group-xp, a known Saudi hacking group, claimed on an Israeli sports website to have gained access to 400,000 Israeli credit card accounts.

The group called it a “gift to the world for the New Year”

designed to “hurt the Zionist pocket”. Three days later, 0xOmar said he had published another 11,000 card details, but the links turned out to contain malware that infected anyone who downloaded the information.

Israeli authorities said 15,000 accounts were hacked in that episode and credit card information about 6,000 other Israelis was disclosed online a few days later by the same network.

Last week, an Israeli hacker identifying himself as a soldier in an Israeli intelligence unit retaliated by posting information online about hundreds of Saudis, Egyptians, Syrians and others. Yesterday, El Al Israel Airlines took down its website after hacker 0xOmar, who has been linked to the Saudi group, warned that both sites would be targeted by allied pro-Palestinian hackers, a person close to the company said.

Danny Dolev, professor of computer science at the Hebrew University, said yesterday’s attacks were unlikely to have any serious impact. “Most of these attacks appear right now to be on the surface, attacking only the websites that present information to the public, but happily it didn’t touch the internal information systems,” he told AFP. “Right now, these attacks don’t seriously damage any function, either economic or otherwise. “I hope that small incidents like that will continue for some time because it helps to raise awareness of the issue and many companies will take the threat more seriously,” he added.

Cyber security expert Ron Porat said Israel’s military and government sites were protected by an advanced level of security, with corporate and civilian websites more open to attack. “El Al and the Israeli Stock Exchange are some of the bodies that were well protected,” he told AFP, saying that even the best-defended online systems were at risk. “There is not one organisation in Israel and around the world that cannot be hacked - it’s a matter of effort,” he said.

But lone hackers like 0xOmar were unlikely to pose a threat to Israel’s critical infrastructure, he said. “This cannot be done by one person, it has to be a well-organised group of people like in a terror act or warfare,” he said. Meanwhile, hackers also brought down several government websites in Azerbaijan, Israel’s main Muslim ally. They hacked the interior and communications ministries, that of its governing party and the constitutional court, leaving threats and anti-Israeli messages. News of the hacking led to a linguistic counterattack at Israel’s state radio. Continuing its decades-long battle against the use of English words in its Hebrew broadcasts, the radio’s linguist insisted that reporters use a Hebrew word, “patzchan”, meaning a person who cracks something open, instead of “hacker”. — Agencies

14

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

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Issues

Iran tops agenda as Wen visits Gulf

By David Rosenberg hinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s six-day visit to the oil powers of the Gulf doesn’t include Tehran on the itinerary. When he addressed the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi he talked about alternative energy and when he got to Saudi Arabia the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that talks were devoted to Chinese investment in local infrastructure projects. But no one doubts that at the top of Wen’s agenda is Iran and how China can keep fueling its economy as Western powers step up sanctions and security threats to shipments grow.

Analysts say the premier’s top priority is to keep relations with the Saudis smooth even as China bucks the sanctions that Riyadh backs by continuing to buy Iranian crude.

“The whole agenda is non-Iran. But, of course, you can’t understand the trip without the Iranian context. It was a surprise that Wen was going at all. Usually the Chinese plan these trips a long time in advance,” Michal Meidan, a China analyst in London with the Eurasia Group, told The Media Line. “There is a real desire that relations with Saudi Arabia remain stable.” Wen’s tour comes as an economic noose is tightening around a defiant Tehran. U.S. President Barack Obama last month authorized a law imposing sanctions on those dealing with Iran’s central bank, its main clearing house for oil exports, and has enlisted Asian powers like Japan and South Korea to join the boycott.

European leaders are due to meet January 23 to weigh their own sanctions plan.

In response, Tehran has hinted it is ready to close the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow outlet through which the Gulf’s vast oil exports flow, and has warned Arab producers against stepping up production to compensate for banned Iranian oil. Two weeks ago it staged a high-profile naval exercise around the Strait. China hasn’t joined the Western sanctions effort - indeed, Beijing gave US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner a “No” when he visited last week to try to recruit China into the sanctions campaign but it realizes that its supplies of Iranian oil are no longer as secure as they once were. Analysts say it wants to make sure the Saudis will be able to open the taps if needed.

“It’s not only that China wants to consolidate trade relations with Arab gulf countries, but it’s a message to Iran that China has adopted an open-ended policy. They will rely not only on Iran but also on Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf countries. China is not in the Iranians’ pocket,” Yitzhak Shichor, an expert on China at Israel’s Haifa University, told The Media Line. “This visit is an attempt to inculcate a relationship with the Gulf countries and a signal to Iran to be careful,” he said.

Although China and Iran have extensive trade and investment ties that go beyond energy, analysts say bilateral relations are tepid. Chinese leaders were embarrassed when Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun visited Tehran at the end of December. There he urged the leaders to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and resume talks with the West on its disputed nuclear program. But soon after Zhai departed, Tehran announced it has begun uranium enrichment at an underground facility. Yet Beijing’s ability to maneuver with the Iranians is limited and decisions are taken with the needs of the country’s economy in mind.

Even if it relies more on petroleum from Saudi Arabia and Angola, China gets about 10 percent of its oil from Iran. It cut purchases in 2010, but increased them again last year. It has not signed a new supply contract with the Islamic Republic amid a dispute over terms, which means its purchases will drop by more than half in the first two months of the year. Already the world’s second-largest oil consumer, China it is a voracious and growing user of energy even as its economic growth cools off. Its crude imports slowed to nearly a third of their pace of 2010, but they nevertheless grew 6 percent. The Reuters news agency quotes analysts as saying that this year imports will grow between 5 percent and 7 percent, or 500,000-600,000 barrels per day.

Meidan said the ups and downs of Beijing’s imports from Iran are based on commercial considerations. The contract dispute right now is not an unofficial way of joining the boycott. Rather China is using the negotiations to win a lower price from its hard-pressed supplier. “If the Iranians are backed in corner, and Japan and South Korea start reducing crude liftings from Iran, the Iranians will have to cave in to Chinese demands,” she said. For the US, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, she explained. A widely observed boycott of Iranian oil could wreak havoc in the oil market, sending prices higher and putting the global economy at risk of recession. — Media Line

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Saudi Arabia’s automotive aspirations

By Rob L Wagner wo years ago, the Saudi Arabian government announced with great fanfare - and was met with some skepticism plans to manufacture automobile parts by 2013 and assemble cars by 2021. King Saud University engineering students, who designed an economical sport utility vehicle called the Ghazel, bolstered those plans with a tangible vehicle ready for production. Saudi economic analysts are optimistic that automobile manufacturing in the kingdom will help reduce the economy’s reliance on oil exports. Yet roadblocks persist.

Already the goal to manufacture car parts next year is in jeopardy as infrastructure and a trained labor pool are not in place.

It begs the question of whether Saudi Arabia can pull off a massive undertaking within its stated timetable or even come close to it. “It’s not realistic,” Asaad Jawhar, an economics analyst and professor at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz University, told The Media Line. Jawhar says manufacturing automobile parts is more likely to get underway within five years.

Saudis love their cars, purchasing an estimated 800,000 in 2011 with an expected one million cars to be bought annually by 2020. The Petroleum and Minerals Ministry and the Commerce and Industry Ministry are investing in research and development, design, vehicle assembly and infrastructure to create enough exports to help the kingdom wean itself from oil revenues. The ministries initiated the National Industrial Clusters Development Program to help achieve those diversification goals by focusing on five industries: automobile manufacturing, solar energy, plastics, home appliances and minerals processing. The most ambitious challenge is building cars.

Fayez Al-Sharef, chemical project director for Saudi Aramco, told Bloomberg News in October that he expects the nascent Saudi automotive industry to eventually create 100,000 jobs and produce a half-million cars every year. If the vision of self-sufficiency through diversification sounds familiar, it’s because Saudi Arabia has been down that road before and failed. Saudi Arabia has been looking since the 1970s for the magic export product that will minimize its dependency on oil. The government implemented an ambitious plan to develop its agricultural industry to become self-sustaining and provide every Saudi household with food grown within its borders.

Production of wheat and rice rose steadily, but so did the expensive proposition of building irrigation systems to bring groundwater to the crops. Between 1984 and 2000, Saudi

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Arabia spent an astronomical $83.6 billion to irrigate crops and build agricultural infrastructure. The project cost more than twice it would have to import foodstuff, according to the School of Oriental and African Studies at King’s College London.

However, the 1991 Gulf War put a severe strain on the Saudi budget and groundwater - its availability in the desert always an issue - was increasingly difficult to bring to the surface.

Efforts to maintain irrigation of 1.12 million hectares, the level irrigated in 2000, is almost an impossible task. The project could not be sustained. “The most important thing was not to rely heavily on oil, but to rely on agriculture and they (Saudi government) failed in agriculture,” Jawhar says. “And now they are trying to find another way of transforming technology.”

There are signs that creating an automotive industry could work. During the third quarter of 2011, nonoil exports rose by 34%, mostly in petrochemicals and plastics, according to the Saudi General Statistics Department. China was the biggest consumer of these products. Didier J Vigouroux, vice-president of the Automotive Cluster for the National Industrial Clusters Development Program, told The Media Line that a Saudi automotive industry is capable of matching petrochemicals and plastics as viable exports. “No one is thinking of giving up oil and gas, but to diversify from oil and gas,” Vigouroux says. “And petrochemicals are a logical continuation. New industries like automobile manufacturing would target the success of petrochemicals and plastics as a goal.”

The brightening picture in exports lays the foundation for developing parts manufacturing plants and ultimately automotive assembly. Isuzu Motors Ltd. has an assembly plant in Dammam for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The plant is expected to begin this year to produce about 25,000 vehicles annually for export to Asia. Vigouroux says any timetable to bring other automobile assembly plants online is flexible. “The only true assembly plant project in Saudi Arabia is the Isuzu plant, but as far as developing other plants we are still talking to certain companies,” he says.

Following its unveiling of the Ghazal sport utility vehicle, King Saud University inked an agreement with the South Korean engineering company Digm Automotive Technology to develop a car priced under $10,000. Saudi Arabia would export the car to neighboring Gulf countries and North Africa. Jawhar says that producing inexpensive cars makes sense. “Saudi Arabia should approach this step-by-step like Hyundai. They can succeed if they model after Korea. Korea produced small

and bad cars at first, but is now doing well,” he says. “By first producing [cheap] cars efficiently, they then build an institution.”

He notes, however, that exporting the Ghazal, or a similar inexpensive automobile, would not be competitive in foreign markets, but sell better domestically. “Perhaps there’s a market in Africa, but even there I’m not sure.”

However, a slow start to get the fledgling industry out of the gate may not only scuttle 2021 timetable for automobile production but also doom Saudi Arabia’s diversification plans.

While the Saudi government is financing production and logistics facilities through 20-year loans in the remote regions of Najran and Tabuk, the question remains whether employers can find competent Saudi labor. The government’s Nitaqat program requires that companies with more than 3,000 employees must employ Saudis for 30 percent of its workforce. A Saudi engineering consultant, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak for his client, told The Media Line that it would be difficult to fill factory jobs with Saudis. “With Nitaqat, assembly plants will have to fill unskilled labor positions with Saudis and I don’t see that happening,” he says.

“Which brings us back to how we always do things, and that’s hiring cheap foreign labor.” Jawhar says finding Saudis in the skilled labor market is another story. “The world doesn’t know that Saudis are learning fast,” he says. “Saudis between 20 and 25 years old with engineering education will be producing great cars with high technology 20 years from now.” Vigouroux agrees. “The right perspective to put on diversification is the significant desire to create employment for young Saudis coming out of universities,” he says. “This means creating new curriculum and the right kinds of training and work ethic.” But Vigouroux acknowledged that for 2012 Saudi Arabia’s automotive manufacturing infrastructure is minimal, although the know-how for developing automotive zones is available. “We are addressing investment issues and there some impressive botanical parks in Yanbu and Jubail where there is already an expertise for mapping and running industrial cities.” The key to overcoming infrastructure and labor issues is better cooperation between agencies. Jawhar observed that a successful automotive industry depends on two groups that historically have done a poor job developing marketable exports: the government and private business. “If the government heads this they will fail and the private sector has not taken [automotive manufacturing] seriously,” Jawhar says. “It’s a matter of trust between the two sectors that determines the outcome.” — Media Line

Myanmar seeks sanctions end with reforms

By Didier Lauras yanmar is striving for a quick end to Western sanctions with a dramatic series of reforms after decades of isolation, analysts say, and the strategy is beginning to bear fruit. The regime says it released 302 inmates considered political prisoners by the opposition in its latest amnesty on Friday, including some top dissidents, leading the United States to announce the restoration of full diplomatic ties. “It’s very significant that it’s like a blanket amnesty (with) no condition attached in the government’s announcement, unlike previous releases,” said Win Min, a US-based Myanmar analyst and pro-democracy activist. “It seems that the government finally realised that without such releases, Western countries would not revoke sanctions.”

Thein Sein was appointed President of Myanmar in March after the retirement of the junta chief, Senior General Than Shwe.

Since then, the scope of his apparently reformist moves has stunned outside observers. He was initially described as a faithful and obedient soldier of the feared regime leader. Previously prime minister, he has since become an ardent architect of ambitious reforms and accomplished what nobody dared to imagine a year ago. “We started from Ground Zero. We couldn’t expect much,” said Aung Naing Oo, of the Vahu Development Institute, a Thai-based think-tank. “I knew the changes were coming, I said again and again it would be excruciatingly slow but some of the changes are excruciatingly fast.”

In recent months, the government has resumed dialogue with ethnic rebel groups, on Thursday signing a ceasefire with a major armed ethnic Karen group

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involved in one of the world’s longest-running civil conflicts. Thein Sein has also reached out to political opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Hated by Than Shwe and detained for much of the past two decades, Suu Kyi was released in late 2010 a few days after a widely criticised election boycotted by her party, which has since legally rejoined the political process. She is now running for office in a parliamentary byelection in April that could lead to her entry to parliament in the capital Naypyidaw,

where foreign dignitaries have begun to flock to try and understand what is going on. Since early December, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Foreign Secretary William Hague have made landmark trips to the isolated country, with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe following on Saturday. Late last year Myanmar was also rewarded by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which made it chair of the regional bloc in 2014.

“It seems that Thein Sein really has in mind

Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi receives the insignia of Commander in the National Order of the Legion d’Honneur, one of France’s highest honours in recognition of her long struggle for democracy, from French foreign minister Alain Juppe (left) and French ambassador Thierry Mathou during a ceremony at the French Embassy in Yangon on Sunday. — AFP

to present the international community with a fait accompli, and very quickly,” said Renaud Egreteau, Myanmar specialist at the University of Hong Kong. “For 20 years, Western governments have hammered home that they would revise their positions only when Aung San Suu Kyi was in the game, all political prisoners were released, and inter-ethnic dialogue resumed,” he told AFP. “If these conditions exist on paper, the outside world will be forced to reconsider its approach, although the dominance of the army has not fundamentally changed.”

The main issue is the lifting of Western sanctions implemented by the United States and the European Union since the late 1990s. While the measures have hindered impoverished Myanmar’s economic development, they have been offset to some extent by rising trade and investment from China and other Asian nations. The latest amnesty has prompted Washington to make a move towards normalising relations, saying Friday that it was willing to exchange ambassadors with Myanmar, also known as Burma.

Experts point out, however, that there are important, albeit subtle, power struggles between the military, former military members and civilians. And exile organisations still express caution, such as Burma Campaign UK, which fears the released prisoners “are being treated as bargaining chips in a tit-for-tat process in getting sanctions lifted”. Could a section of the army organise a coup? Is Than Shwe really retired, or is he still in the wings? Despite a number of unknowns, observers are greeting the changes with cautious optimism after decades of repression. “You can’t say exactly where things are going, but things are happening and it’s good,” said Aung Naing Oo. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

sp orts

Gary Cahill signs with Chelsea LONDON: England defender Gary Cahill joined Chelsea from Premier League rival Bolton yesterday. The 26-year-old Cahill, who passed a medical on Saturday before watching from the stands as the Blues beat Sunderland 1-0, reportedly cost 7 million pounds ($10.7 million).

The fee was lower than would normally be expected for an England international because Cahill would have been able to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season when his Bolton contract expired. “Chelsea is a massive club,” Cahill said. “It is a club that looks to win trophies season in, season out, and it is a big opportunity for me to be a part of that. “Opportunities like this you can’t turn down.” While Chelsea is fourth in the Premier League after 21 of 38 matches and occupying the final Champions League qualifying spot, Bolton is next-to-last and fighting against relegation. — AP

NBA results/standings NBA results and standings on Sunday. Golden State 99, Detroit 91; Utah 106, Denver 96; San Antonio 102, Phoenix 91.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT Philadelphia 9 3 .750 NY Knicks 6 6 .500 Boston 4 7 .364 Toronto 4 9 .308 New Jersey 3 10 .231 Central Division Chicago 12 2 .857 Indiana 9 3 .750 Cleveland 5 6 .455 Milwaukee 4 7 .364 Detroit 3 10 .231 Southeast Division Orlando 8 3 .727 Atlanta 9 4 .692 Miami 8 4 .667 Charlotte 3 10 .231 Washington 1 11 .083 Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 11 2 .846 Utah 8 4 .667 Denver 8 5 .615 Portland 7 5 .583 Minnesota 4 8 .333 Pacific Division LA Clippers 6 3 .667 LA Lakers 9 5 .643 Phoenix 4 8 .333 Golden State 4 8 .333 Sacramento 4 9 .308 Southwest Division San Antonio 9 4 .692 Dallas 8 5 .615 Memphis 5 6 .455 Houston 5 7 .417 New Orleans 3 9 .250

GB 3 4.5 5.5 6.5 2 5.5 6.5 8.5 0.5 6 7.5

2.5 3 3.5 6.5 0 3.5 3.5 4 1 3 3.5 5.5

Retired basketball star Yao goes into politics SHANGHAI: Retired NBA star Yao Ming has added another line to his post-basketball resume politician - becoming a member of an advisory body to Shanghai’s legislature. Since the 31-year-old Yao announced last July that injuries had ended his career with the Houston Rockets, he has become a university student and set up a wine business to go with owning a professional basketball team in China.

Photos in official media on Monday showed Yao at the weekend closing ceremony for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Shanghai Committee. “There are about 142 members in the group,

and Yao is the youngest,” Kong Rong, who works in the service office of committee, was quoted as saying by the China Daily.

The advisory committee does not have any real power, but the newspaper said Yao is supposed to attend regular meetings, and can make suggestions for the advisory body and government departments. Yao was quoted as saying “raising proposals is very serious business, and I do not want to be hasty.”

It is common for sports figures to move into politics in China.

Olympic gold medal hurdler Liu Xiang is a member of both the Shanghai and national political advisory bodies. — AP

Despite divorce, Vonn finds success CORTINA D’AMPEZZO: By any measure, Lindsey Vonn’s impending divorce is not affecting her on the slopes. If anything, it’s motivated her.

She has won six times and holds a commanding lead in the overall World Cup standings well before the season’s midpoint.

One key to Vonn’s success predates her November announcement that she was separating from husband and personal coach Thomas Vonn. After Vonn lost last season’s overall title by three points to Germany’s Maria HoeflRiesch, she asked the US team to assign her a personal coach who would travel with her and arrange training sessions as she moves back and forth between speed and tech events. That person was Jeff Fergus. Says Vonn: “It’s great to have a coach that I can really rely on.” — AP

Millsap calls the tune as Jazz feast on Nuggets San Antonio Spurs stay perfect at home DENVER: Paul Millsap scored 14 straight points for Utah in the critical fourth quarter to carry the Jazz to a 106-96 triumph over the Northwest Division rival Denver Nuggets on Sunday. Finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds, Millsap’s devastating personal run in the final quarter gave Utah (8-4) their seventh win in eight contests.

The Jazz led 81-79 early in the fourth when their big power forward netted his own 6-0 run to stretch the lead and finished with 16 in the quarter to keep the Nuggets at bay. “My team mates did a great job of finding me, of going to me. There was a mismatch and we tried to expose it,” Millsap told reporters.

“Our team is very unselfish and they find the guy with the mismatch. You get in a zone like that, you get hot and start feeling it, guys just start looking for you.”

Denver was coming off a big victory over the Miami Heat on Friday, and were involved with a close battle all game but were unable to keep pace down the stretch.

Nene and Danilo Gallinari each recorded 18 points in the loss for the Nuggets (8-5). Gallinari also had the unenviable task of trying to guard Millsap. “In my opinion they kind of disrespected him by putting (Gallinari) on him,” Utah’s Al Jefferson said. “He had an advantage and he got hot. He was in the zone tonight.”

Jefferson added 18 points and 12 rebounds while Gordon Hayward had 19 for Utah. The win moved the Jazz into second place in the Northwest Division behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (11-2).

The San Antonio Spurs kept their perfect record at home intact by beating the banged-up Phoenix Suns 102-91 Sunday behind a 24 point, 11 rebound performance from Tim Duncan.

Tony Parker finished with 17 points and nine assists for San Antonio, who have won three straight and all of their nine games at home this season. The Spurs are winless in four games on the road.

The Spurs are off to their best start at home since the 2007-2008 National Basketball Association season when they won 13 straight. Marcin Gortat had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Suns who had several key players playing hurt on Sunday.

Steve Nash returned to the Phoenix lineup after missing the previous contest with a charley horse and finished with 20 points and 10 assists. Markieff Morris

added 14 points. Grant Hill, who also missed the last game with a sore right quad muscle, was back in the lineup for the Suns who have lost four consecutive contests. Hill played 23 minutes and had just four points. The Spurs were without Argentina’s Manu

Ginobili who has a broken left hand. San Antonio led by 10 points, 78-68, heading into the final quarter and by as much as 18 early in the third. Duncan helped seal the win by draining a 17-foot jump shot in the final minutes. — Agencies

DENVER: Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward (20) is fouled by Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) as Corey Brewer (13) looks on during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday in Denver. — AP

Wagner rallies to win Sony Open

TOKYO: Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge speaks as Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin (L) looks on at a press conference in Tokyo yesterday. Melvin and Wedge announced that the Athletics and Mariners will play for their opening Major League Baseball games at the Tokyo Dome stadium in March. —AFP

Oakland manager Melvin excited about Japan series TOKYO: Hideki Matsui or no Hideki Matsui, Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin is looking forward to opening the 2012 Major League Baseball season in Japan. The Athletics and Seattle Mariners open the regular season with a two-game series at Tokyo Dome on March 28 and 29. Many hoped the series would feature a showdown between Matsui and countryman Ichiro Suzuki but Melvin said the A’s likely wont be re-signing the 37-year-old free agent Matsui.

“Matsui was a great fit for us last year and we all loved having him on our team,” Melvin said at a press conference on Monday to promote the series. “But this year it doesn’t look like a fit for us based on the personnel we have going forward.” In his first season with Oakland last year, Matsui hit a career-worst .251 batting average and had only 12 homers and 72 RBIs in 141 games. Where he’ll play in 2012 is a major story in Japan with speculation on everything from a return to the New York Yankees, a return

to Japanese professional baseball or even retirement.

Seattle and Oakland had been scheduled to play here in March 2003 when Melvin managed the Mariners, but the series was scrapped because of the threat of war in Iraq. The A’s will be the home team in both games this time around. The teams will leave their spring training homes in Arizona on March 22 and return to Arizona on March 30. They will play preseason games against the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers of Japanese professional baseball on March 25 and 26.

“In 2003, I was supposed to be here in charge of Eric’s team,” Melvin said. “But we couldn’t make it so being able to come and play the Mariners is really special for us and I’m really looking forward to the series.” This will be the fourth Japan opener, following the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs (2000), the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay (2004), and Boston and Oakland (2008). — AP

HONOLULU: The mustache is here to stay.

Johnson Wagner hopes the same can be said of his golf game. Wagner usually doesn’t start a new PGA Tour with great expectations, only this year was different. For starters, he was expecting to catch plenty of grief for the mustache he grew on a whim over Thanksgiving, and he was right.

“I probably got ‘Magnum P.I.’ in Maui a hundred times,” Wagner said. “And I had never really watched the show. So I Googled images of Tom Selleck and I took it as a compliment.

Tom Selleck is a stud.” Wagner also was expecting to win early in the year, based on how hard he worked in the offseason and his unusual confidence level.

Right again. Trailing by two shots going into the final round, Wagner played bogeyfree over the final 12 holes and closed with a 3-under 67 on Sunday to win the Sony Open for only his third PGA Tour title. The perks were immediate. Wagner crossed off one of his goals by earning an invitation to the Masters, and this time he can enjoy it. The only other time he played Augusta National was in 2008, and he got in by winning the week before at the Houston Open. He also gets to book a return to Hawaii next year for a two-week working vacation, starting with the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. His other goals of getting into the top 50, getting into more majors, will take more work.

“I’ve worked very hard this offseason, and it’s just really nice to see it pay off so early,” Wagner said. Six players had at least a share of the lead in the final round, yet the final few holes lacked much drama. Wagner took the lead for good with a birdie from the greenside bunker on the short par-4 10th. He didn’t make any mistakes, and no one else made enough birdies in what turned out to be a winning recipe. Harrison Frazar took the outright lead with a birdie on No. 10, but had to settle for pars the rest of the way for a 67.

Charles Howell III was paired with Wagner and stayed with him until a three-putt par on the par-5 ninth. He birdied the last hole for a 69.

Sean O’Hair narrowly missed a 30-foot eagle putt on the last hole and shot 67, while Carl Pettersson overcame a double bogey on his

second hole with four birdies on the last six holes for a 67.

“My first top-10 as an American,” said Pettersson, the Swede who became a US citizen during the offseason. He started the final round two shots behind Jeff Maggert and Matt Every, both of whom fell apart early.

Maggert made two big par putts to start his round, but he put too much pressure on himself around the greens and it finally caught up with the 47-year-old when he started missing short putts. He shot 74.

Every ended a trying week, which began with him bumbling his way through two interviews over his PGA Tour suspension stemming from his arrest on a misdemeanor marijuana charge during his rookie season.

By Saturday evening, with a share of the lead, he said that “I’m just ready to get it over with.” His chances of winning were over quickly. He made bogeys on the opening four holes by failing to get up-and-down from a bunker on No. 1, driving into the water on No. 2 and three-putting on No. 4. But even after a threeputt from 4 feet on No. 6 for double bogey, he was still in the hunt, along with so many others. Wagner looked up at the leaderboard next to the ninth green and saw that the leaders coming back to the field, and that raised his hopes immediately. He made birdie from the bunker on the ninth, made birdie from the bunker on the next hole and then effectively put the tournament away with a 15-foot birdie putt from the fringe on No. 15, and a tee shot into the wind on the 16th that avoided trouble.

“He played fantastic, right down the stretch,” Howell said, who played alongside Wagner. “He hit a really good drive up 16, which he needed to hit. And then his shot on 17 to the middle of the green to make 3 there.

That was the last place I think he could have lost it. He played 18 with 5 to win. That must be a pretty good feeling, I don’t know. I’ve heard it is.” It was the second time Howell has been runner-up in the Sony Open, and the 13th time in his career. Frazar also was a runner-up for the second time at Waialae, having lost in a playoff to Ernie Els in 2004.

Now, Wagner is hopeful of a big year.

Somewhere in the offseason, when he was working out three times a week, flying to Florida to meet with his swing coach, and jotting down notes about his attitude and his goals, he decided not to settle for mediocrity.

He was confident enough to tell family and friends to expect a win early in the season.

And it was a message he shared with Johnny Harris, who runs Quail Hollow where Wagner often plays.

Before leaving for Kapalua, Wagner said he told him, “If I get into the Masters, are you going to sponsor my brother and I in a foursome down there for a couple of days?” Those who qualify for the Masters can play the course with members before the tournament.

“He was like, ‘You go do it and I’ve got you, podner,’” Wagner said. “So I’ll be going down to Augusta a few times.” And that mustache is going with him. — AP

HONOLULU: Johnson Wagner holds the trophy after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on Sunday in Honolulu, Hawaii. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

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Loeb begins quest for ninth WRC title MONACO: Sebastien Loeb will be aiming for an unprecedented ninth World Rally Championship title when the 2012 season kicks off tomorrow with the return of the Monte Carlo Rally.

After three years on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge circuit, the Monte Carlo Rally is back in the WRC and set to provide a spectacle with seven world champions and five former winners of the race in the field.

Loeb heads the lineup in his Citroen DS3 and is the overwhelming favourite for the season’s curtain-raiser, having recorded five victories in seven attempts in the principality, and the Frenchman was delighted to see the event

return to the WRC. “For me, it’s a no-brainer - the Rallye Monte Carlo has to be in the World Championship,” Loeb insisted. “It is the world’s most famous rally; you just can’t have a world championship without it!

“It’s also a rally where I have always done well,” he added. The Frenchman is not the only driver to have triumphed in Monte Carlo, however, with Francois Delecour, Sebastien Ogier, Mikko Hirvonen and Bryan Bouffier also having celebrated victories in the event.

New Citroen recruit Hirvonen, winner of the 2010 edition when it was part of the IRC circuit, admitted the unpredictable winter conditions

that are a staple of the opening rally makes it one of the toughest on the calendar.

“Monte Carlo has such a long tradition and the championship has to start from Monte Carlo but I have a kind of love and hate relationship with the rally,” Hirvonen said. “I mean I love it when I’m not there but when you’re up in the mountains with the wrong tyres doing icy downhill with the slick tyre then I hate it.

But it’s a real challenge and I’m very happy to start the season over there and really excited to be in the Citroen,” the Finn, a new teammate of Loeb, added.

The course includes 430 kilometres of timed

sections over 18 stages, with drivers departing from Valence on Wednesday and passing through the Ardeche, Haute-Loire, Vercors and Alpes-Maritimes regions before arriving in Monaco on Sunday.

The future of the sport was thrown into disarray when the International Automobile Federation (FIA) cancelled its contract with promoters North One Sport earlier in the month, but the Automobile Club de Monaco confirmed that Eurosport had agreed to step in and provide coverage for the season-opening event.

The 13-race season culminates on November 11 with the Rally of Spain. — AFP

Blackhawks edge Sharks, top Central Habs surprise red-hot Rangers CHICAGO: The Chicago Blackhawks beat San Jose 4-3 on Sunday to move clear atop the NHL’s hard-fought Central Division and end the Sharks’ eight-game point streak.

Jonathan Toews and Viktor Stalberg each had a goal and an assist, while Dave Bolland and rookie Andrew Shaw also scored for Chicago. Shaw’s goal was his fourth in seven games since being recalled from the the minor leagues.

Joe Pavelski, Jamie McGinn and rookie Tommy Wingels scored for the Sharks, who lost in regulation for the first time since Dec. 26. Wingels’ goal was his first in the NHL. CANADIENS 4, RANGERS 1 In Montreal, Max Pacioretty had two goals and an assist, while linemates David Desharnais and Erik Cole also had three points each as Montreal snapped a threegame skid with a win over New York.

Pacioretty opened the scoring 2:39 in and restored Montreal’s one-goal lead at 21 with his 15th of the season 3:54 into the second. The Canadiens scored three times in the middle period. Desharnais had a goal and two assists, and Cole had three assists on a line that combined for nine points as Montreal notched its sixth straight home win over the Rangers. John Mitchell scored in the first for the Rangers.

DUCKS 4, CANUCKS 2 In Vancouver, Jason Blake scored twice to lift Anaheim to its fifth win in six games, defeating Vancouver. Blake, who returned to the lineup on Jan. 4 after missing 34 games while recovering from a severe skate cut, also scored Friday. Bobby Ryan and Nick Bonino also scored for the Ducks, whose only loss in the stretch was an overtime defeat in Calgary. Cody Hodgson and Mason Raymond scored for the Canucks.

OILERS 2, KINGS 1, OT In Edmonton, Taylor Hall scored the overtime winner as Edmonton edged Los Angeles and snapped a five-game losing skid. Hall scored his 15th of the season on a power play after a terrific backhand pass from Shawn Horcoff. Josh Green scored in regulation for the Oilers. Justin Williams scored for the Kings.

CAPITALS 2, HURRICANES 1 In Washington, Dmitry Orlov broke a third-period tie with his first NHL goal lifting Washington past Carolina and into a tie for the Southeast Division lead. The rookie defenseman put in the rebound after a shot by Jason Chimera at 1:12. The Capitals have won seven in a row at home, moving them even with Florida for the top spot in the division. Alexander Semin also scored for the Capitals.

Jussi Jokinen broke his 25-game goalscoring drought for the Hurricanes, who welcomed back last season’s rookie of the year Jeff Skinner, who sat out 16 games with a concussion.

PENGUINS 6, LIGHTNING 3 In Tampa, Evgeni Malkin starred with three goals and two assists to lead Pittsburgh past Tampa Bay. James Neal added two goals, and Richard Park also scored for the Penguins. Malkin scored twice in a stretch of 1:49 midway through the third period to put Pittsburgh ahead 53 after the Penguins had blown a threegoal advantage earlier in the frame. He completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal with 56 seconds to play. Matt Gilroy, Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell scored for the Lightning, who have lost seven straight and dropped into last place in the Eastern Conference. — Reuters

MONTREAL: Yannick Weber #68 of the Montreal Canadiens body checks Carl Hagelin #62 of the New York Rangers during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on Sunday in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. — AFP

Sochi chief says delays won’t affect 2014 Games INNSBRUCK: The head of the organizing committee for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics has “no doubts” that all necessary construction work will be finished on time, despite reported delays at over 70 building projects.

“It has nothing to do with a real delay that could harm the games,” Dmitry Chernyshenko said yesterdayday while visiting the Winter Youth Olympics. “We are well on track 87 percent of the infrastructure has been done already.”

Chernyshenko said slowed construction works in the region would not affect the games because less than 15 percent of all building projects are directly related to the event. “The majority of the work has nothing to do with the success of the games,” he said. “All the competition and non-competition venues for the games are well on track. No doubts that we deliver that.”

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak acknowledged Sunday that more than 70 projects are behind schedule but denied the Olympics would be affected.

“We have 393 construction projects with a thousand subprojects,” Chernyshenko said. “Among them, some

paperwork for handover of the land of some permission still needs to be done ... The games’ delivery is well on track and this is always confirmed by the watchdog from the IOC.” Sochi will host its first ever World Cup Alpine skiing races from Feb. 8-12, and Chernyshenko said the city is ready for the test event. According to Chernyshenko, Russia is using the Olympics as an accelerator for a major development of the Sochi and Krasnodar region.”Sochi wasn’t developed since the middle of last century,” he said. “It was a smart solution to use the Olympic Games as an unmoveable deadline to redevelop ... the region.” “The amount of work that we are doing to create an all-year-round resort and a wintersports destination, it’s really huge.”

Two years ago, the International Olympic Committee urged Russian officials to speed up as construction delays could threaten their ambitious plans for the 2014 Games, which included building all new facilities. However, the IOC’s coordination commission for Sochi has since said the construction of venues had significantly quickened. — AP

LONDON: Victoria Veinberg Filanovsky of Israel performs with the hoop during the qualification round of the Rhythmic Gymnastics London 2012 Olympic qualifier, a part of the London Prepares series of test events, at the North Greenwich Arena in London yesterday. —AFP

Youth Games more than just ‘mini-Olympics’: IOC INNSBRUCK: Most athletes at the Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck will probably never experience traditional Games but in no way was the event here just a “miniOlympics,” IOC members and coaches said.

“Of course it will unearth new talents,” French chef de mission and 1992 Olympic freestyle ski champion Edgar Grospiron told AFP at the start of the competition in the Austrian ski resort.

“I’m delighted to see what freshness and enthusiasm these youngsters bring to life... the passion they have for their sport, but I’m not surprised because you don’t get to this level if you’re not passionate about what you do.” Over 1,000 athletes aged 14-18 are competing in 15 disciplines until January 22.

One figure skating coach waxed lyrical about his athletes’ Russian and Chinese competitors, some of whom have already won senior-level events, while athletes from various disciplines spoke admiringly of the high level of competition.

“There is no question that we will have athletes who will have gone through the Youth Olympics and whom we will see again at the Olympic Games,” Gilbert Felli, executive director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told AFP. This was already the case after the first Summer Youth Games in Singapore in 2010, with some athletes now preparing to go to London in July to compete in the senior event. Those taking part in the Youth Games (YOG) were the “athletes of the future,” he said.

Nevertheless, the likelihood that many YOG athletes would one day reach the Olympics was slim, and when asked at a press conference Friday how many would make it to the next Winter Games in Sochi, Russia in 2014, IOC President Jacques Rogge was brief: “not that many.”

“At this age, there are athletes who show a lot of promise but won’t go any farther because perhaps they have reached their maxi-

mum in terms of sporting ability, or made other choices in their life or their career,” said Felli. “With sport, you can never say, if you’re a teenage or junior (medallist), that you will automatically be a great champion.”

“There are so many factors to take into account, it’s almost impossible.” “But we are certain, almost certain, that all those who will reach the top will more or less have gone through here (the Youth Games),” the Swiss added with a grin.

Austrian Olympic Committee President Karl Stoss went so far as to predict that a third of athletes in Innsbruck could make it to Sochi.

“It’s a preparation, a build-up, they get a sense of the Olympic Games for the first time.”

For Grospiron, the youth event was “absolutely complementary” to the Olympics.

“There are also youngsters who maybe aren’t ready for their talent to be discovered now but who, thanks to the Youth Olympic Games, thanks to their participation, will progress faster and so will discover their talent a little later and will be ready for Olympic Games like the next ones in Sochi or the following ones in Pyeongchang in 2018.”

More important than the medals or the likelihood of future success for the YOG athletes, in the IOC’s view, was the young champions’ ability to inspire their peers to compete and do sports. “For us, the goal is to have athletes who are champions, in other words, athletes who understand what it means to be a role model, who understand what it means to be an ambassador,” said Felli. And in today’s social context, this was of particular importance, noted Stoss. “We should encourage young people to do sport. We shouldn’t always just complain about how bad our youngsters are, that they just hang about in the street or sit in front of the computer: we should also encourage and motivate them to move and that’s something we can do very well with such events.” — AFP

Brunel rings changes in first Italy squad ROME: Frenchman Jacques Brunel wasted no time in stamping his mark on his new role as Italy coach when he named his first squad yesterday ahead of the 2012 Six Nations. Out went stalwarts such as prop Salvatore Perugini, lock Carlos Del Fava and utility back Mirco Bergamasco whilst uncapped youngsters Alberto De Marchi, Luca Morisi, Angelo Esposito and Giovambattista Venditti all find themselves part of the 30-man squad.

Italy start their Six Nations campaign away to France on February 4 at the Stade de France before hosting England at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico a week later. Former Perpignan head coach and France assistant Brunel will reduce his squad to 24 players before leaving for Paris.

And he made several surprise selections, leaving out Mirco Bergamasco and Gonzalo Garcia, both of whom are coming back from injuries, in favour of Monte Parma centre Morisi and wingers Esposito, an academy player, and Venditti, of Aironi. There was no place either for scrum-half and utility back Pablo Cannavosio, who went to the World Cup under Nick Mallett but Australian-born Kris Burton was recalled after missing the global event in favour of Riccardo Bocchino, who has been dropped.

The biggest surprise of all perhaps was in the front row where experienced Aironi prop Salvatore Perugini has been overlooked in favour of his young club-mate De Marchi, 25, who was part of the pre-World Cup preparation squad but has never played for Italy.

Tommaso D’Apice, who went to the World Cup, will have the chance to add to his three caps, and earn his first in the Six Nations, as Fabio Ongaro is injured. South African-born Del Fava, who is another returning from injury, has been overlooked at second row in favour of compatriot Cornelius Van Zyl, who only made his debut for Italy in the World Cup warm-up test matches against Japan and Scotland.

The 29-year-old lock Antonio Pavanello, who earned five caps between 2005 and 2009, is called back and gets the chance to make his Six Nations bow. Another who could make his first appearance in the competition is flanker Simone Favaro, who has not played for Italy for two years, largely due to injury.

Although there is plenty of inexperience and many youngsters in the squad, Brunel has packed it with many of Italy’s most tried, tested and talented players. Leicester Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni will lead with front row while former captain Marco Bortolami is one of four locks.

Current captain Sergio Parisse, of Stade Francais, is in there was well as flanker Mauro Bergamasco, now back home at Aironi after several years in France.

Italy squad Forwards: Robert Barbieri (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais/FRA), Marco Bortolami (Aironi), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester/ENG), Lorenzo Cittadini (Treviso), Tommaso D’Apice (Aironi), Alberto De Marchi (Aironi), Paul Derbyshire (Treviso), Simone Favaro (Aironi), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing-Metro/FRA), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais/FRA, capt.), Antonio Pavanello (Treviso), Quintin Geldenhuys (Aironi), Cornelius Van Zyl ( Treviso), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso) Backs: Tommaso Benvenuti ( Treviso), Kris Burton ( Treviso), Angelo Esposito (Ruggers Tarvisium), Edoardo Gori ( Treviso), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont/FRA), Andrea Masi (Aironi), Luke McLean (Treviso), Luca Morisi (Monte Parma), Luciano Orquera (Aironi), Roberto Quartaroli (Aironi), Fabio Semenzato (Treviso), Alberto Sgarbi ( Treviso), Guilio Toniolatti (Aironi), Giovambattista Venditti (Aironi). — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

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India team gets flak from former greats NEW DELHI: Former India captains have called for tough measures to arrest the national team’s alarming losing streak, which now extends to seven straight losses in tests away from home. Former captain Sunil Gavaskar yesterday called for “a lot of soul-searching”, while another ex-skipper Sourav Ganguly said selectors must “change their policies” and inject fresh talent into the team.

On Sunday, India lost the third test against Australia inside two and a half days, going down to a 3-0 series deficit. The lauded batting lineup, including the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman, has struggled against Australia’s pace attack. A loss in the upcoming fourth test would make it consecutive 4-0 whitewashes in away test series, having been

dominated by England on a tour last year.

“We have many thinkers of the game, who need to be brought together to ensure that India does not face the same situation it has in the past few test matches,” Gavaskar said. “The players too need to take a long, hard look at themselves.

As batsmen, they need to look at the shots they played, as bowlers they need to see the length they bowled.” Ganguly, credited with several successes in away tours after taking over as skipper in 2000, called for an overhaul of the team. “It’s important that a steady influx of fresh talent is maintained and, here, the selectors will have to change their policies,” he wrote in his column in Hindustan Times. “They will have to take a tough stand on a lot of issues.”

“The selection committee, headed by

Warner tipped for captaincy PERTH: Australian coach Mickey Arthur has tipped big-hitting opener David Warner as a future captain of his country, after the 25-year-old drove the home side to victory over India in the third Test.

Warner was the catalyst for Australia’s innings and 37-run win at Perth’s WACA Ground, belting a 69-ball century on his way to making 180.

It was the second century in only five Tests for the former Twenty20 specialist and Arthur said the left-hander had already shown enough promise to suggest he is captaincy material. “Davey has leadership potential, there is no doubt about that,” he said. “He has the ability to lead any Australian team in any form of the game at some stage.

“When that is, I am not sure, it could be in two weeks or three or four years, but I know he has the ability to lead. “He has a very good cricket brain, leads by example and trains the house down.”

Arthur also believes Australia are on the path toward reclaiming the top ranking in Test cricket after taking the BorderGavaskar Trophy from India. The former coach of South Africa said the team, cur-

rently ranked fourth in the world, was progressing faster than expected just a few matches into his tenure.

“I do think we are a little bit ahead of where I thought we’d be at this time,” he said. “I’ve been hugely impressed with the players and I think Australian cricket is in a very healthy place. “We want to get back to number one and that journey has just started.”

At the same time, Arthur said Australia’s embattled rivals, India, face a challenging time as they seek to replace several celebrated-but ageing-senior batsmen in the near future. “There is no doubt you need to have some forward planning and identify some young players,” he said of the Indians.

“You need to find ways to get those young players into the system and the side and give them opportunities. “I am pretty sure they’ll make the right decisions going forward.” Arthur suggested spinner Nathan Lyon would return for the fourth Test in Adelaide and backed struggling number three Shaun Marsh to rediscover his best form in the final match. — AFP

Kris Srikkanth, will be the focus of attention, and if doesn’t stand up to expectations, people in India and elsewhere will start losing faith and that will be very harmful for the sport in the country.”

The brickbats also flowed in for captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, especially for his failure with the bat, after scoring only 106 runs in six innings in Australia. He is suspended for the final test in Adelaide due to repeated instances of slow over rates.

“With his technique, I don’t see Dhoni dqn score runs overseas. He has a strong bottom hand and is good on the subcontinent, where the ball does not bounce much. Of course, he will still get the odd scores because of his great eye and bat speed,” Gavaskar said. Former middle-order batsman Sanjay Manjrekar felt Dhoni was

only struggling along with others. “Dhoni looking really down on confidence as a batsman...pity for India is that he has a few others for company,” Manjrekar wrote on his twitter page.

Even as newspapers and television channels continued to dissect India’s poor performances abroad, The Times of India warned in article that declining television ratings and three-day tests could hit profits for stake holders like television channels and sponsors. “If eyeballs move away from cricket over a period of time, the value of the game will depreciate. Every stakeholder will lose and it will pull the game down the value chain,” it quoted ESPN -Star Sports’ head of sales Sanjay Kailash as saying. The Indian board is looking for a new domestic telecast partner after canceling its contract

with Nimbus Sports over payment issues.

But the Board of Control for Cricket in India president Narainswamy Srinivasan brushed aside the team’s recent struggles, boldly declaring that Australia was only winning because of home advantage, and would lose in India.

“England won 4-0 in England (in a test series against India). They came here within a month or two and they lost 5-0 (in onedayers). After our loss to England, I had said that we will beat them when they visit India,” Srinivasan said. “Next New Zealand is coming to India and it will be followed by England and Australia. We will beat these three teams on our own soil. They cannot beat us here, and we will feel very happy.”

The final test of the ongoing series will be held in Adelaide from Jan. 24. — AP

Away test failures puncture Dhoni’s leadership aura ‘It was a fairytale too good to last long’ NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s onematch ban means the India captain will have time for an introspective look as to where and when his Midas touch deserted him as his team mates battle to avoid a series whitewash against Australia in Adelaide.

Dhoni, who will miss next week’s fourth test after the ICC banned him because of India’s slow over rate in the third test defeat in Perth on Sunday, has enjoyed a fairytale rise from the cricketing backwaters of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.

In what seemed like a storyline straight out of a Bollywood script, he led teams to Twenty20 (2007) and 50-over (2011) World Cup victories and oversaw their rise as the number one test team in the world, thus convincing many he was India’s best captain ever.

His unflappable leadership, as much as his tactical brilliance and uncomplicated approach, impressed most, including a management institute in his home town Ranchi which wanted to do a brain-mapping of the Indian captain. It was a fairytale too good to last long and Dhoni met his Waterloo in England last year, a nightmare that returned to haunt him in Australia.

Dhoni’s brand of leadership, which earned him the nickname of ‘Captain Cool’, was ridiculed by a cricket expert who likened him to a clerk in an Indian bank - with no real passion or anger.

In England, where a 4-0 whitewash completed in August robbed the team of the top test status last year, Dhoni could at least blame it on injuries to key players.

In Australia, following two innings defeats that have left them trailing 3-0, he has no such luxury. For quite a while, Dhoni has not looked quite in command and the Perth test was a good case in study. The sheer rarity of the move to field an all-pace attack, axing off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to accommodate debutant pace bowler Vinay Kumar, baffled most.

“I’m surprised, a spinner could have exercised some control here,” former captain Ravi Shastri rued on air as the Indian pacers strayed their line and got hammered by Australian opener David Warner on the first day.

In a way, Dhoni met his comeuppance and incurred a one-match ban after India were found two overs short of target. It may not have been the case had one of his frontline bowlers been a

spinner.

He could not get the best out of his pacers either. Much of Ishant Sharma’s reputation is built around his excellent spell against former Australia captain Ricky Ponting in the 2008 Perth test but this time around Dhoni held him back, preferring Vinay Kumar’s military medium pace instead.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was disappointed by Dhoni’s announcement on the eve of the Perth test that he was focussing on 2015 World Cup and might quit test cricket next year.

“I wish he’s joking,” Ganguly told Aaj Tak chan-

Throughout the series, he and his slip colleagues stood way behind where edges dropped and he aimlessly shuffled slip fielders on occasions. In Perth, Dhoni briefly had Virat Kohli in first slip where the fielder dropped Warner before Sachin Tendulkar, original occupant of the position, returned from outfield.

“It’s a permanent position. This revolving door of first slip is rubbish,” former Australia captain Ian Chappell, a specialist slip fielder himself in his playing days, fumed. While the entire blame cannot be placed at his feet, Dhoni knows he deserves the lion’s share and had the candour

PERTH: Captains MS Dhoni, left, of India and Michael Clarke of Australia speak after Australia won the third day of their cricket test match. — AP nel. “And if he is really serious, then it is not sensible of him at all to make such a comment 24 hours before the start of an important test match,” he added.

Barring the half-century in the Sydney test, Dhoni has not enhanced his reputation with the bat either on this tour and has been average behind the stumps.

to admit it.

“I need to blame myself. I’m the leader of the side, the main culprit,” he said. While vice-captain Virender Sehwag takes over the captaincy temporarily for the Adelaide test, a lack of suitable alternatives mean India need Dhoni to come back firing for the three-test series in Sri Lanka in six months time. — Reuters

Vonn shares milestone WCup win with younger sister DUBAI: Pakistan’s cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq (R) warms up with teammate Taufiq Umar (L) during a practice session at the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai Sports City. —AFP

Misbah looks to improve Pakistan’s cricket image DUBAI: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq wants to start rebuilding the country’s cricketing image and remove the blot of spot-fixing with a good performance in the first test against top-ranked England. “You can just get your image back only by playing good cricket, by winning, by your good conduct in the field and out of the field,” Misbah told reporters on the eve of first of the three-test series yesterday. Three Pakistan players were sent to jail last year in England for conspiracy and cheating during a test at Lord’s in 2010.Misbah was handed the captaincy after that controversial tour and Pakistan has not lost a test series since, beating Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in their last three series. “The way we are doing things, the way we are playing for the last year and a half, I think we are on the right path,” Misbah said. The Pakistan captain also hoped this matchup will help improve both countries bury the spot fixing scandal once and for all. “We just want to play cricket in a good atmosphere ... build good relations with the (England) team,” Misbah said.

“Whatever happens on the field, just prove your performance on the field and nothing else.” England captain Andrew Strauss hoped there will be no controversy this time, and that both teams play the game in the “right way.” “It is important that we recognize our responsibilities (and) make sure that things don’t escalate into something more serious,” he said. England comes into the first test having won its last six test series, and Misbah said Pakistan will have to capitalize on any chances the visitors give them in order to spring a surprise.” We have to be on

top of our game all the time, that’s the key for us, if we just do that we have a chance,” he said.

Pakistan players have been hyping a new type of delivery from Saeed Ajmal, who took 50 wickets in 2010, that the offspinner has dubbed the teesra. However, Misbah tried to tone down the hype.

“The main thing is his offspinners and the doosra,” Misbah said. “First the batsman have to just think about that and then (Ajmal) sees if he survives the two then he can bowl the teesra.”England could win an ICC jackpot of $175,000 for topping test rankings by winning the series, or even losing by no more than a one-game margin.

But Misbah said England may be more keen to prove that its players can handle the slow subcontinent wickets. “They want to prove they are an even better team in Asia and (show) they can play well in these type of conditions,” he said.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium last year, but Misbah said the wicket looked much better than three months ago.Fast bowler Stuart Broad bruised his foot while batting in the nets on Sunday, but Strauss was confident his new ball bowler will be ready to go in Tuesday’s match. Like Misbah, Strauss will wait until the toss before deciding whether to play with two spinners after left-arm Monty Panesar did well in the warmup game against PCB XI. “It’s fantastic to see him back in England shirt again,” Strauss said. “You pick the side you think fits the conditions and allow you to win and that’s all we will do tomorrow.” — AP

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO: Lindsey Vonn finally got to share a World Cup victory with her little sister, a milestone that moved her into third place on the career wins list. The American ended a five-week winless streak Sunday with a dominating victory in the super-G, capturing her 47th career title. Vonn finished a massive 0.61 seconds ahead of rival Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, and Tina Maze of Slovenia was third.

Laura Kildow began a visit to Europe last weekend only to witness Vonn uncharacteristically miss the podium in two speed races because of a stomach illness. “I felt bad last week because I didn’t do very well,” said Vonn, the overall World Cup leader.

“It wasn’t a very good example of a World Cup weekend, but this weekend went much better.” Vonn’s victory moved her ahead of retired Austrian great Renate Goetschl on the career list. Only Austria’s Annemarie MoserProell (62) and Switzerland’s Vreni Schneider (55) have more.

“Records in skiing are really important to me,” Vonn said. “The history in our sport is something you can look back on when you’re career is over and really be proud of what you accomplished.” Vonn opened the weekend with a second-place finish in Saturday’s downhill, although she almost risked missing that race following a warmup mishap with her sister - which she hesitated to recount.

“Oh my gosh! She’s going to kill me,” Vonn said. “She thought it was going to be really cool to try to beat me and I didn’t know she was so close behind me, and she came up and clipped the side of me and totally went down.

“But she had the biggest smile on her face as she was crashing into the

woods. We were laughing about it this morning. She’s so small but she has absolutely no fear. I’m disappointed she’s not a ski racer because she would have been a great downhiller.”

The last of the top-ranked skiers to start, Vonn led at every interval and was more than a second ahead of Hoefl-Riesch at the last checkpoint.

While she lost nearly half of her lead over Hoefl -Riesch on the lower section of the course, Vonn celebrated when she crossed the finish line, hardly looking to see her time.

Vonn claimed her sixth career win in Cortina, moving within four of Goetschl’s record for victories in a single resort. She also tied Goetschl for the most super-G wins on the all-time

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO: Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, celebrates her second place after completing an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy. — AP

list with 17 “Renate has always been such a role model. I remember a few years ago racing together. She did so much in her career,” Vonn said.

“Cortina has always been a special place for me. I had my first World Cup podium here and I like the hill and the snow is always perfect - really dry, dense snow that’s really similar to the snow in Colorado where I grew up skiing.”

Vonn extended her lead in both the overall and super-G standings.

She holds a 291-point lead over Maze in the overall standings and stands 87 points ahead of Switzerland’s Fabienne Suter in the super-G. Vonn woke up early to keep tabs on the Denver Broncos in the NFL playoffs, although her team lost 4510 to the New England Patriots.

“I had my NFL app running and it was alerting me on the scores, but unfortunately it wasn’t alerting me very often of the Broncos score,” Vonn said. “It’s tough, but I still have one team in the mix -Green Bay.” While she’ll probably keep tabs on the Packers game, too, Vonn will head to Venice with her sister before next weekend’s races in Kranjska Gora.

“Normally I don’t get to do fun things like this, so we’re going to have some pizza, maybe some gelato, cruise around, go shopping, take a lot of pictures,” Vonn said. “I’ll update you guys on Facebook on how it went.”

After Venice, her sister is leaving to study in Florence, Italy. “I’ve gotten so used to having her around that it’s going to be tough to be alone, but I’m working on recruiting more friends to come over,” said Vonn, who announced in November her divorce from coach and chief adviser Thomas Vonn. “I hope she can come back some other weekend, and hopefully some of my other family members can come as well.” — AP

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

sp orts

Disgruntled men issue strike threats at Australian Open MELBOURNE: Male players at the Australian Open yesterday warned of future strikes over prize money and said a proposal to boycott the year’s first grand slam had been strongly endorsed but ultimately knocked down.

ATP members held a behindclosed-doors meeting on Saturday and backed a proposal not to play at Melbourne Park, Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky told Reuters in an interview. Former world number three Nikolay Davydenko later hinted that players might strike at Indian Wells in California in March, a mandatory ATP event they must attend.

“Some of the players were suggesting we’re not going to play here,” said world number 65 Stakhovsky, referring to Saturday’s meeting.

“There were enough (votes not to play) but it was just not right because

we’re here and the Australian Open would have no chance to change anything.”

Players have complained about prize money for years, saying purses for the four grand slams were too small in relation to the revenue they brought in and too lop-sided in favour of the top competitors who regularly advance to the later stages.

The matter came to a head at Saturday’s meeting and 32nd seed Alex Bogomolov Jr of Russia tweeted over the weekend of a possible strike at Melbourne Park.

Davydenko said the players would have another meeting in Indian Wells and told the ATP to act.

“The ATP should try to do something between now and Indian Wells,” the Russian said. The top players must compete in all the grand slams, eight Masters 1000 events, the season-end-

ing World Tour Finals and a handful of lower-tier tournaments. Stakhovsky said a majority of the leading players were sympathetic to the demands of the lower-ranked competitors.

“More than 80 percent of the top players are on the same page as the rest of the players, saying that grand slams are not paying enough and that some mandatory events are not having proper prize money distribution,” Stakhovsky added.

“We all have issues. My issue is Indian Wells and Miami are mandatory events and if I lose in the first round I am minus (earnings). I am not making money off these tournaments. “It’s four weeks spent in the United States, it’s airfares and hotels ... if you’re out in the first round you’re unable to pay your coach,” said the Ukrainian.

Some players, including world number four Andy Murray of Britain,

raised the possibility of a strike over the crammed tennis calendar after the rain-disrupted 2011 US Open. “You can’t just stand up and say we don’t play,” said Stakhovsky. “You have to have a certain strategy. “We have to say what we want, what we feel is fair for ... the ATP and the grand slams. We have to do some serious paperwork first, legal work.

“You never know but I’m confident we are going to change things.” The ATP declined to comment on the players’ meeting but last year announced total prize money would increase 20 percent from 2012-14.

That would include rises of 30 percent for the ATP World Tour Finals which are restricted to the top eight players. While Stakhovsky spoke of consensus among players, ATP Council vice-president Rafa Nadal suggested there was a rift at the top of the game

between himself and president Roger Federer. Nadal took a verbal swipe at Federer when talking to Spanish media on Sunday, saying the Swiss did not want to rock the boat while letting others take criticism for demanding change. Davydenko said secondranked Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic were behind a push for change but also questioned thirdranked Federer ’s commitment.

Federer, who last year dismissed talk of strikes as “nonsense”, brushed off the criticism and said he completely understood and supported the opinions of the players.

“I just have a different way of going at it. I’m not discussing it with you guys in the press room,” he told reporters. “(Strike) is such a dangerous word to use. That’s why I always say, ‘let’s try to avoid it as much as we can’.” — Reuters

China’s Li, Peng fire as Japanese falter Australian Open

MELBOURNE: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark hits a return against Anastasia Rodionova of Australia in their women’s singles first round match on day one of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP

Clijsters, Wozniacki romp into round two MELBOURNE: Defending champion Kim Clijsters and world number one Caroline Wozniacki stormed into round two of the Australian Open yesterday as the women’s favourites showed early form.

Third seed Victoria Azarenka and China’s Li Na, the French Open champion and last year’s runner-up, also both passed their first tests on a day of searing heat at Melbourne Park.

Clijsters saw off Portugese qualifier Maria Joao Koehler 7-5, 6-1, soon after Li won a tough first round match against Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-1.

And on a day when all the big guns came out firing, third seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka demolished Britain’s Heather Watson 6-1, 6-0, and 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone crushed Spaniard Laura Pous-Tio 6-1, 6-3.

In the last match on centre court, Wozniacki withstood an early barrage from Rodionova before turning the screws and cruising to victory 6-2, 6-1.

The top seeded Dane was at her counter-punching best, absorbing an early blitz of winners from Rodionova and preying on any mistakes to demoralise her opponent. Wozniacki has been criticised for not having any ‘killer’ shots, but her superb court movement and ability to get balls back into play were more than enough to defeat Rodionova, who grew ragged as the match went on.

Earlier Clijsters, who plans to retire this year, said recent injury problems were behind her as she returned to the scene of her 2011 triumph. Clijsters, who pulled out of this month’s Brisbane International with a hip problem, was forced to work hard in the early stages by the unknown Koehler, who was playing her first ever main tour match outside Portugal. But, when serving at 5-6, Koehler’s inexperience told and Clijsters attacked, quickly

racing to 0-40, then wrapping up the first set courtesy of a double-fault. Clijsters seized control and broke twice more in the second set to cruise to a comfortable win, keeping her on track for a potential fourth-round clash with Li. “I’m feeling good and I’m happy to say that (the injury) is all behind me,” the 28year-old world number 14 said. Like Clijsters, Li was also made to work hard in the first set before taking control in the second, later admitting she had suffered in the hot conditions.

“I was feeling at the end of the first set really the heat on the court,” Li said. “Also I was feeling no air. I couldn’t breathe. Like I was feeling like, what’s going on?” In the first match on Rod Laver Arena, Azarenka dominated Watson as she pressed her claims for a maiden grand slam win.

The Belarusian, who won last week’s Sydney International and is unbeaten in 2012, needed just 67 minutes to overwhelm Watson and move into a second round clash against Australia’s Casey Dellacqua. “I think it was a good performance,” Azarenka said. “There are a few things for me that I have to work on tomorrow to be better in my second round, but you know, I take what I get. I cannot complain.” The highest profile casualty on day one was 19th seed Flavia Pennetta, who fell to Russian qualifier Nina Bratchikova 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Pennetta injured her back in the season-opening tournament in Auckland and subsequently withdrew from Sydney last week.

She battled hard but eventually succumbed in one-and-a-half hours.

In other matches, eighth seed Agnieszka Radwanska came from a set down to beat colour ful American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-7 (10/12), 6-4, 6-2 in a match lasting three hours exactly. — AFP

Beaten Sania Mirza eyes Olympic gold MELBOURNE: India’s Sania Mirza yesterday said a gold medal at the London Olympics is her primary focus for 2012 as she makes a comeback from yet another serious injury. Mirza did not play in 2011 following the US Open after sustaining a knee injury, only returning to the court in Auckland two weeks ago.

It was just the latest in a string of injuries to have plagued the 25-year-old, including a chronic wrist problem that saw her miss large parts of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The world number 106 lost in qualifying in Auckland and failed again in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday, going down 6-4, 6-2 to Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova.

But Mirza, who was once ranked 27th in the world, was anything but downcast and said her main goal was the mixed doubles in London in July. “It was my second singles match in the last five months-obviously I’m always coming back from a surgery process, and I’m on that again and it’s never easy,” she said.

“Of course I’m disappointed but I will try to take as many positives as I can.”

“Not a lot of people know but I have extra-lax joints and I am double-jointed, because of which I’m more prone to get-

ting injured in my joints, and hence that’s what’s happened,” she added.

“I’ve had two knee surgeries and a wrist surgery-it’s not easy.” Mirza said she would be focusing on mixed doubles at the Olympics and would be paired with either Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes or Rohan Bopanna. “A medal’s a medal at the Olympics and it doesn’t matter whether you get it in singles, doubles or mixed,” she said.

“The fact that even though a lot of people say maybe it’s not a top priority, people are still going to play and they’re going to play to win a medal. “I’m in a great position to choose from three people are in the top 12 in the world (in doubles) and obviously the best team will be put forward.”

Mirza said she would have no say in who her partner will be in London, although she hinted she would prefer Bhupathi, with whom she won the Australian Open in 2009. “Me and Mahesh have won the Australian Open once and played the final once and we play well together but... anything can happen (between now and London) but we’re obviously going to try and get a medal in whatever we can. — AFP

MELBOURNE: Chinese pair Li Na and Peng Shuai led the Asian charge on the first day of the Australian Open yesterday, winning their first round clashes in stifling conditions under the beating Melbourne sun.

Fifth seed Li, who reached the final in Melbourne last year, overcame Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-1 at the Hisense Arena while Peng, seeded 16, saw off the challenge of France’s Aravane Rezai 6-3, 6-4.

But there was no fairytale result for veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm, who at 41 years and 109 days became the event’s second-oldest women’s singles player in the Open era.

China’s Li, who became Asia’s first grand slam singles champion when she won last year’s French Open, complained she could hardly breathe after coming through her opener.

“It ’s not easy,” said Li, who last week reached the final of the Sydney International.

“I’m not used to it. I came down from Sydney, but there it was only like 20 degrees. It was really tough today.” “I was feeling at the end of the first set really the heat on the court.

Also I was feeling no air. I couldn’t breathe.

Like I was feeling like, what’s going on?” she added.

The 29-year-old, who says she has rediscovered her hunger after a major slump following her breakthrough win at Roland Garros, said she was happy with her form coming into the year’s first grand slam.

“I was happy with what I was doing at the Hopman Cup and Sydney. Yeah, I think I (will) just continue,” she added. There was also a win in the first round of the men’s draw for Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun, who came out on top after a five-set battle against South Africa’s

Rik de Voest 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

And Taiwanese qualifier Chang Kai-chen made it through her first round women’s clash, beating Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-4, 6-2.

Japan’s Date-Krumm, the second oldest player to play women’s singles behind Australia’s

MELBOURNE: Li Na of China hits a return against Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan in their first round women’s singles match on day one of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. Li won 6-3, 6-1. — AFP

Beverley Rae, at 44, was well beaten 6-3, 6-2

by Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou. But the Japanese player, who came out of retirement four years ago, said she had no plans to quit-and could continue on the circuit for several more seasons. “Maybe I will play until 45 years or, I don’t know, 50, I don’t know, because when I started four years ago I never thought I would be playing for four years,” Date-Krumm added.

The evergreen, who iced her right leg and left ankle after the match, admitted she may have overdone her run-up to the grand slam after winning an ITF singles event in China and also reaching the doubles final this month. “For me it was a little bit too much, too many matches,” said Date-Krumm, currently ranked 79th. “ Today I did not have a good feeling because my body had no power and it was so windy. It was difficult to control the ball,” she said. Date-Krumm’s fellow Japanese Ayumi Morita was beaten 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 by 32nd seed Petra Cetkovska despite taking the first set.

“It was a tough match. It was very difficult conditions with the wind. I think I had many chances but couldn’t take them. I’m a little bit disappointed now because I wanted to win the match,” said Morita.

There was also defeat for India’s Sania Mirza, beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova.

Mirza, who was once ranked 27th in the world but has slipped to 106th, said: “It was my second singles match in the last five months-obviously I’m always coming back from a surgery process, and I’m on that again and it’s never easy,” she said. “Of course I’m disappointed but I will try to take as many positives as I can.” — AFP

Nadal, Federer play down Open feud MELBOURNE: Long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal sought to play down a rare public spat between them as both enjoyed crushing round-one wins at the Australian Open yesterday.

Federer said he was “completely cool” despite Nadal accusing him of not pushing hard enough for better players’ rights, while the Spaniard regretted his comments made to media earlier.

“Things are fine between us, you know. I have no hard feelings towards him,” Federer said. “He’s mentioned many times how he gets a bit tired and frustrated through the whole process, and I shared that with him. It’s normal,” he added. “But for me, obviously nothing changes in terms of our relationship. I’m completely cool and relaxed about it. He seemed the same way-or at least I hope so.” The short-lived row threatened to overshadow day one action at the year’s first grand slam, where women’s champion Kim Clijsters went through in straight sets alongside last year’s runner-up, Li Na of China.

And as temperatures soared to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit), Australian teen Bernard Tomic came from two sets down to beat Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the pick of the men’s action.

Nadal admitted he probably should not have taken Federer to task so publicly. He had complained that the ATP Player Council president was not speaking out on issues such as more prize money and an easier schedule.

“These things can stay, must stay in the locker room,” Nadal told journalists. “I always had a fantastic relationship with Roger. I still have a fantastic relationship with Roger. That’s what it should be, in my opinion. Don’t create crazy histories about what I said

yesterday, please.

“We can have different views about how the tour needs to work. That’s all.” Nadal also revealed he suffered sudden and crippling knee pain on Sunday which threatened to end his tournament, before recovering after intensive medical attention. The 2009 champion, who has had injury problems on his past two visits to Melbourne Park, put the emergency behind him to beat American Alex Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. Federer had an easy 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 workout against Russia’s Alexander Kudryavtsev, a player so obscure that he had to scour the Internet in an effort to learn about his game. “I heard a few things about him on the Internet

and I knew what to expect although I didn’t know his favourite shots or weaknesses,” he said. Nineteen-year-old Tomic had the performance of the day when he came from two sets behind to win 4-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 against Verdasco, who draped himself in ice packs and battled nausea in the hot afternoon sun.

“If it was someone else, I think they would have thrown in the towel,” Tomic said. “I don’t know how I found the energy today.”

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro saw off Adrian Mannarino in four sets, and China’s French Open champion Li also suffered in the heat during her 6-3, 6-1 win over

Kazakhstan’s Ksenia Pervak.

In the men’s draw Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych accounted for Albert Ramos in four sets, Stanislas Wawrinka beat Frenchman Benoit Paire in straight sets and American eighth seed Mardy Fish downed Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.

Spanish 10th seed Nicolas Almagro knocked out Poland’s Lukasz Kubot, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 and Germany’s Tommy Haas ousted American qualifier Denis Kudla in four sets. David Nalbandian went through when Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, who won last week’s Sydney International after coming through qualifying, retired in the second set with strained stomach muscles. — AFP

MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return against Alex Kuznetsov of the US in their first round men’s singles match on day one of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. Nadal won 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. — AFP

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

S P ORT S

US names 20-player men’s Olympic basketball pool NEW YORK: The United States added Blake Griffin of the Clippers and LaMarcus Aldridge of Portland yesterday to the 18 holdovers who hope to go for more basketball gold. The Americans announced a 20-player pool, a list from which the 12man squad will be chosen in June for the London Olympics.

Other than the two newcomers, the remaining players all represented the Americans at either the 2008 Olympics or 2010 world championship and have said they wish to be considered again.

Returning from the team that won gold in Beijing are: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo

Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Back from the reigning world champions are: Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Tyson Chandler, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook and Andre Iguodala.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo had planned to add Griffin to the national team in 2009, but he was hurt shortly after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick and those plans were scrapped. Aldridge was on the national team but withdrew from consideration for the 2010 worlds for personal reasons.

But both have a shot now if the

Americans decide to bolster the frontcourt on a team loaded with point guards and wing players. The final squad of 12 players and six alternates is due June 18, before the NBA finals will be completed in this lockout-delayed season, so there will be no time for a tryout camp. But USA Basketball needed to submit the list of all candidates by the end of this month so they could be entered in the drug-testing program. The Americans will have to decide how many point guards to keep from a list that includes Rose, the NBA MVP. Size could be a consideration for a potential matchup against a Spain team that boasts Pau and Marc Gasol, along

with Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka, which could help the two newcomers.

Whoever the Americans pick, they will have the unmatched athleticism that allowed them to end an eight-year Olympic gold medal drought in Beijing and a 16-year absence from the goldmedal podium in the world championship two years ago.

Colangelo assembled the original national team in 2005 after taking control of the USA Basketball program following the Americans’ poor performance a year earlier in Athens, when they managed only an Olympic bronze medal. That group committed to representing the

Americans for three years, but then all the players and the entire coaching staff signed on for a return after winning gold in 2008. None of those players competed in 2010, but the Americans won anyway with a young team led by Durant, the MVP of the world championship.

Colangelo then combined the best of both squads for the new pool.

Only Jason Kidd, who retired from international competition following a long career, Carlos Boozer, Tayshaun Prince and Michael Redd weren’t chosen from the 2008 team. Stephen Curry and Danny Granger aren’t back from 2010. — AP

Giants stun Packers to reach NFC title game Packers commit four turnovers in losing effort

MEXICO CITY: Christian Bermudez (R) of America, vies for the ball with Nestor Calderon (L) of Toluca, during their Mexican Football Clausura 2012 tournament, in Mexico City, on Sunday. — AFP

FA Cup Preview

Wolves and Birmingham contest FA Cup replay LONDON: Although Wolverhampton Wanderers could trade divisions with Birmingham at the end of the season, the relegation-threatened Premier League club will get a chance to put its local rival in its place when the teams meet in the FA Cup tomoorow.

The central England sides are set to replay a third-round match at Molineux after a 0-0 draw on Jan. 7 and Birmingham are the form side. While Wolves are just a point above the Premier League relegation zone, the Blues hover just outside the promotion playoff spots in the second-tier League Championship following a 6-0 win at Millwall at the weekend.

But Wolves showed they can still compete with in-form sides with a 1-1 draw at third-place Tottenham on Saturday and manager Mick McCarthy is looking for his team to carry that improved form into Wednesday’s match.

“We have been harder to beat in recent weeks, without a doubt,” McCarthy said.

“We’d been tough and determined as we always are and we were well organized. “I didn’t want any more heroic failures.” The chance for local bragging rights should mean neither side is complacent about a match that both might understandably place below league fixtures on their list of priorities, but McCarthy is still set to tinker with his lineup.

Steven Fletcher scored his ninth goal of the season at the weekend but is likely to be omitted tomorrow. “I did (rest Fletcher) last week against Birmingham amid much confusion about why I wasn’t playing my best player,” McCarthy said. “Well, I want him to play in the Premier League because it’s paramount we have a player there who is on a run and is scoring goals.

“I didn’t think having Sylvan EbanksBlake and Kevin Doyle against Birmingham was a downer anyway. Rest assured, Fletch will probably be getting a rest tomorrow.” Birmingham and its manager Chris Hughton are trying to get back into the Premier League and Wolves are fighting to stay there.

“It’s nice to get a point at Arsenal and Spurs but ... we can’t rest on our laurels with two good performances in North London,” McCarthy said. “We need to do it in the West Midlands as well.” Local pride will also play a big part in one of Tuesday’s five third-round replays, with Leicester hosting Nottingham Forest following the East Midlands rivals’ 0-0 draw.

Tensions already spilled over when 10 people were arrested at the original Jan. 7 meeting. Most were for public order offenses but police are also investigating reports of racist chants against fans of Leicester, a city with a large Asian population. Both sides are laboring in the League Championship, with Leicester mired in mid-table and Forest in the relegation zone after a 3-0 defeat against leader Southampton. Forest has not scored in six home games, so hope a change of venue will bring a change of luck.

“It’s frustrating as hell not scoring as many goals as we could score with the opportunities we create,” Forest manager Steve Cotterill said. “It was like that before I came here and it’s like that now.” After losing his opening match 1-0 to Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday, Mark Hughes aims for his first win as manager of Queens Park Rangers when the London side hosts third-tier Milton Keynes Dons.

Struggling Millwall hosts Dagenham and Redbridge, Brighton visits Wrexham, and Premier League struggler Bolton is at home against lowly Macclesfield. Bolton lost 3-0 to defending Premier League champion Manchester United on Saturday and is in the topflight relegation zone but manager Owen Coyle is hoping a game against fourth-tier opposition can provide a morale-boosting win.

“Our younger players are continuing to get better and that will stand us in good stead for the remainder of the season,” Coyle said. “The courage that was displayed in the second half when we took the game to Manchester United showed that we have the belief that we can win games.” — AP

Madrid, Ronaldo look to end Barcelona woes MADRID: Real Madrid needs Cristiano Ronaldo to recover his confidence against Barcelona when the two rivals start another “clasico” series Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

Ronaldo has scored only twice in 13 career games against Barcelona, with his last goal coming in April’s cup final to give Madrid its lone victory in the last 12 meetings over the Catalan club.

The Portugal forward has been struggling since coming under criticism for squadering a number of scoring opportunities in last month’s 3-1 league loss to Barcelona, and has just one goal so far in 2012.

Ronaldo is the league’s top scorer with 21 goals but was clearly frustrated Saturday as Madrid struggled to beat Mallorca 2-1 to maintain its five-point advantage over Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Barcelona rival and recent Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi continues to propel the Spanish champions, scoring twice in a 4-2 win over Real Betis on Sunday to take his overall goal tally this season to 33 goals - six better than Ronaldo. “Strikers live off of streaks,” Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said

on Monday. “Leo has always been a player who can make a difference, a decisive player. And he’s a player who grows in these types of games, which he loves playing.”

While Ronaldo is certain to start, coach Jose Mourinho must devise a tactical formation that can stop the 25-time cup champion without suspended defender Alvaro Arbeloa and injured midfielder Sami Khedira. Forward Angel di Maria trained for the first time in weeks on Monday but Pepe did not, which could leave Mourinho with a big hole to fill as the Portugal defender has played a key role in recent clasicos.

“You can’t play well every game,” Madrid forward Jose Callejon said after netting the winning goal against Mallorca. “It’s the little details that make the difference.” Barcelona will be without injured forwards David Villa and Pedro Hernandez and midfielder Seydou Keita at the Bernabeu, where the European champions haven’t lost in six matches.

“We’ll go there looking to score goals and try to play the best game possible,” coach Pep Guardiola said. “We know the rival we’re going up against well. We’ll try to play the most complete match possible.” —AP

SAN FRANCISCO: The New York Giants eliminated last year ’s Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers from the National Football League (NFL) playoffs with a stunning 37-20 road win on Sunday to reach next week’s NFC title game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Eli Manning had three touchdown passes, including two long strikes to Hakeem Nicks, and the Giants defense contained explosive Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to end Green Bay’s shot at becoming the first team in seven years to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

The Giants, who won the Super Bowl four years ago with an improbable run to the title as a wild card, are now one win away from returning to the NFL championship game on Feb. 5.

Green Bay had the NFL’s topscoring offense during the regular season, averaging 35 points a game as they went 15-1, but were unable to solve a suffocating Giants defense that produced four turnovers.

“Our defense has done well for us the last few weeks and that’s made a huge difference for us, to be able to count on that,” said Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.

“Today, not only the outstanding play, but the turnovers.”

The Giants forced three fumbles and a late interception to thwart the Green Bay attack. New York also had four sacks and Rodgers was victimised by eight drops from his receivers as Green Bay, who had first-round playoff bye due to their NFL-best record, looked out of synch.

“We didn’t do a very good job handling the football,” said Packers coach Mike McCarthy, whose team had 38 takeaways and 14 turnovers this season. “We

GREEN BAY: Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn (30) dives over New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross during an 8-yard touchdown reception in the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game Sunday, in Green Bay, Wis. — AP

didn’t play to our identity.” The AFC team in the Super Bowl will be determined Jan. 22 when the top-seeded New England Patriots host the Baltimore Ravens.

Manning completed 21-of-33 passes for 330 yards and was intercepted once, while Rodgers went 24-of-46 for 264 yards and one interception, well below the numbers he generated in setting an NFL record for best passer rating. The teams battled evenly until a 37-yard desperation heave

by Manning was hauled in by Nicks as time expired in the first half to give New York a 20-10 lead. Nicks, who also scored on a

66-yard touchdown catch-and run in the first quarter, made seven catches for 165 yards. “We’ve been through our share of ups and downs this season,” said Nicks. “I feel like we’re peaking right when we need to.

Everybody ’s healthy. We’re stronger.” A third-quarter field goal brought Green Bay within 20-13, as the Packer defense forced a pair of punts by New York. But momentum swung back to New York when the Giants stopped the Packers on fourthand-five from the 40 when linebacker Michael Boley registered his second sack of the game.

That stop led to a 35-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes for a 2313 lead midway through the fourth quarter. A fumble by Ryan Grant after a short pass from Rodgers gave New York the ball on the Green Bay 40.

Manning then led the Giants on another scoring drive, connecting on a four-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham to make it 30-13 and effectively close out the Packers.

“We had a championship-calibre regular season but didn’t play well today,” said Rodgers. “We got beat by a team that played better tonight.” —Reuters

Hughes ready to make a splash in transfer market NEWCASTLE: QPR manager Mark Hughes admits he is planning a series of signings during the January transfer window as he tries to lift his struggling side out of the Premier League relegation zone. Hughes got a first glimpse of his new team’s problems during their 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United on Sunday, as sloppy finishing and careless defending allowed the Magpies to steal the points.

QPR are languishing in the bottom three after nine games without a win and Hughes has already been linked with a host of players, including Chelsea defender Alex, Blackburn centre-back Christopher Samba and Sao Paulo striker Henrique.

Former Manchester City, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers and Wales boss Hughes confirmed he is searching the market for players who can improve his squad. “It’s fair to say we are in the market for good players if they become available and if they are attainable,” he said after Leon Best’s first-half goal condemned QPR to defeat on Sunday.

“We would like to think the players we are able to bring in would be the right quality, and I am sure they would be.” Asked about Samba, Hughes added: “It’s common knowledge we’ve put in a bid for Chris Samba. We have a number of players we would like to bring to the club. We’ll have to wait and see.” Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is hopeful key midfielder Yohan Cabaye did not suffer any lasting damage after finding himself on the wrong end of an X-rated tackle. The Frenchman left the pitch on a stretcher after being felled by QPR midfielder Shaun Derry’s 20thminute challenge.

Cabaye reacted furiously, although Pardew, who later revealed the injury did not seem as bad as was first feared, admitted that referee Chris Foy had probably got it right in only producing a yellow card. “It was a strong challenge, but Shaun Derry is a player who makes strong challenges.

The referee was right on top of it,” Pardew said.

“I thought it was borderline yellow or red, but I think probably it was a yellow. He seemed to get the ball. “There always controversy about tackling.

It’s very, very difficult for referees, so I am not

going to sit here and criticise that decision.

“But Yohan was upset. He felt it was probably a little bit over-exuberant, but the doc thinks he is going to be okay.” Hughes agreed with Pardew’s verdict but refused to be drawn on the current debate about two-footed tackles, which saw Foy criticised in some quarters for sending off Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany in the recent derby against Manchester United. “At the time, I thought it was a whole-hearted challenge,” Hughes said. “Obviously, there’s quite a debate at the moment in terms of the interpretation of challenges such as that, but whether or not the referee got that one wrong, I can’t comment, really.”— AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings) FA Cup Leicester City v Nottingham Aljazeera Sport +5 Rangers v Milton Keynes Aljazeera Sport +3 Aljazeera Sport +8

23:30 23:00

Spain Copa Del Rey Espanyol v Mirandes Aljazeera Sport +2

23:00

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Ivory Coast’s Cheik Ismael Tiote challenges Libya’s Walid Mhadeb AlKhatrushi (R) during a friendly football match in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi yesterday. — AFP

Giants stun Packers to reach NFC title game

Clijsters, Wozniacki romp into round two

19

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

India team gets flak from former greats

Page 17

BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Chilean forward Alexis Alejandro Sanchez fights for the ball with Real Betis’ goalkeeper Casto Espinosa on Sunday during a Spanish Cup football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. — AFP

Barcelona beat 10-man Betis Ninth win in 10 home games BARCELONA: Barcelona let slip an early 2-0 lead before struggling past 10-man Real Betis 4-2 in the Spanish league on Sunday after Lionel Messi scored his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season.

Three days before the Copa del Rey clash against Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s team appeared set to cruise to another home victory after Xavi Hernandez and Messi gave the hosts a two-goal lead after just 12 minutes.

But Ruben Castro scored the first goal by a visitor at Camp Nou stadium in the league this season, and strike partner Roque Santa Cruz made it 2-2 in the 52nd. Barcelona wasn’t able to regain control until Mario Alvarez left Betis a man down with his second booking in the 70th. Having set up two goals, Alexis Sanchez then scored the winner before Messi added a late penalty.

The Catalan giant’s ninth win in 10 home games still leaves it five points behind leader Madrid in the league standings. “Betis wanted the ball and played a good game,” Xavi said. “Their game plan was fantastic. We saw an wide-open game with chances for both sides, but in the end we showed the mettle necessary to pull it out.”

Madrid hosts Barcelona tomorrow in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. The two legs will take the number of “clasico” matches to nine in nine months. Barcelona has been dominant, with Madrid’s one win coming in the Copa final last season.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone won on his home debut as his new team beat Villarreal 3-0 thanks to Radamel Falcao’s double. Falcao broke through for a

dominant Atletico in the 40th minute, and then scored his 11th league goal from the penalty spot in the 51st after he was fouled in the area. Diego capped the win in the 80th.

Also, it was: Osasuna 0, Racing Santander 2; Athletic Bilbao 3, Levante 0; and Sporting Gijon 2, Malaga 1.

Madrid came from behind to beat Mallorca 2-1 on Saturday, while thirdplace Valencia fell 1-0 at home to Real Sociedad.

Also on Saturday, it was: Zaragoza 1, Getafe 1; Sevilla 0, Espanyol 0; and Granada 1, Rayo Vallecano 2. Guardiola said he didn’t think his team’s shaky showing Sunday would influence the match at the Santiago Bernabeu. “The fact is that we figured out how to win and played a great last half hour,” Guardiola said.

“There are things that we have to improve, but it is a different competition and a different rival. We will look to rest and then go play the best game we can.”

Barcelona paraded Lionel Messi’s third Ballon D’Or award and its recently won Club World Cup trophy with its fans before the game.

Betis, however, was undeterred by their host’s impressive home record and went out looking to take the game to the European champions. Following Espanyol’s example from its 1-1 draw last weekend, Betis played an attacking game to try and beat the best attacking side in the world.

The promoted side’s dare soon cost it dearly with Xavi celebrating his 400th league appearance by scoring. The goal came from Cesc Fabregas’ rebound off the post after Alexis had played the for-

mer Arsenal captain into the area.

The Chile international also set up Barcelona’s second goal two minutes later when he lofted in a cross for the charging Messi to redirect into the back of the net. Yet whereas most of Barcelona’s rivals would have rolled over, Betis continued to attack in waves while its pressure succeeded in shortcircuiting Barcelona’s passing game.

The strategy paid off in the 32nd when Castro turned Salva Sevilla’s pass beyond goalkeeper Victor Valdes to halve Betis’ deficit. Before that goal, Barcelona had outscored its league opponents at home 41-0.

Betis kept attacking after halftime, and Santa Cruz leveled with a precision shot from outside the area after catching Barcelona off-balance on the break.

“Keeping in mind that nobody had

scored here and that we had options to win when we were 11 against 11, well, we have to be proud,” Betis coach Pepe Mel said after his team had lost for the first time in four matches.

Barcelona finally reacted and claimed possession of the ball yet failed to break through Betis’ disciplined defense until it had an extra man following Mario’s exit. Alexis marked his strong overall performance with a hard blast from the right edge of the box in the 75th that goalkeeper Casto Espinosa got a touch on but couldn’t keep out of his net. “(Alexis) allowed us to stretch the pitch, he is a very fast player,” Guardiola said. “I have to congratulate him because he helped us a lot.” Messi scored from the penalty spot in the 86th after Jose Dorado had been penalized for handling in the area. — AP

Remy brace weakens Lille’s grip on title PARIS: Lille’s French title defence received a significant setback on Sunday as their 17-game unbeaten run came to an end in a 2-0 defeat at resurgent Marseille in which Loic Remy claimed both goals.

Rudi Garcia’s side had not been beaten in the league since a 1-0 loss at home to Montpellier on August 14 but Remy’s brace gave Marseille a win that lifted the victors up to sixth and left Lille seven points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Having won just once in their first 10 league games, OM have now reeled off five straight victories in all competitions and find themselves only two points behind third-placed Lille in the standings. “It’s a huge satisfaction, in terms of the week we’ve had,” said Marseille coach Didier Deschamps, whose side beat Caen in the League Cup quarter-finals today.

“Don’t forget we were playing a Lille team who were unbeaten away from home, even though they were missing some attacking players.” Lille were aggrieved by an early foul on Eden Hazard

by Alou Diarra on the edge of the hosts’ box that went unpunished, but that aside, Marseille were much the better team in the first half.

Goalkeeper Mickael Landreau came to Lille’s

rescue in the 21st minute, saving with his legs after Mathieu Valbuena had released Remy, while only an instinctive block from Aurelien Chedjou prevented Remy breaking the deadlock moments later. Benoit Cheyrou threatened twice in quick succession prior to the break, but Landreau parried his stinging drive and when Valbuena turned the loose ball back into the box, he could only find the side netting.

Hazard freed Ireneusz Jelen in the early stages of the second half, but his tame shot was saved

by Steve Mandanda. Deschamps introduced Brazilian forward Brandao from the bench moments later and he received a rousing reception from the OM fans despite facing rape charges in France over an incident near Aix-enProvence in March last year.

The first goal arrived in the 61st minute and Valbuena was the source, standing up a cross to the back post for Remy to crash home his eighth goal of the season-his sixth with his head and his fifth from a Valbuena assist.

Hazard came close to an instant response but after cutting inside the sliding Nicolas N’Koulou, he planted his left-footed shot straight at Mandanda. Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp

was present at Stade Velodrome to watch Remy and the former Lyon striker enhanced his reputation further in the 83rd minute when he beat Landreau to a loose ball before rolling home his second goal from 20 yards.

On Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed a memorable home debut as PSG coach after his side beat Toulouse 3-1 at Parc des Princes to preserve their three-point lead at the top of the table.

Brazilian forward Nene scored twice, either side of a fine goal by record signing Javier Pastore, which was his first strike in the league since October 29. “It was important for me as it was my first time at the Parc des Princes, so I am very happy,” said Ancelotti. “The whole team concentrated and defended as a unit. Pastore and Nene have quality in spades and play for the team.”

A 62nd-minute goal from Ligue 1’s top scorer Olivier Giroud was enough for Montpellier to beat fourth-placed Lyon 1-0 and remain on PSG’s tail in second place. At the other end of the table, bottom club Ajaccio overcame the first-half dismissals of Samuel Bouhours and Arnaud Maire to beat 10-man Auxerre 2-1 and record their fourth consecutive win in all competitions.— AFP

MARSEILLE: Marseille’s French forward Loic Remy (R) scores a goal next to Lille’s French defender Laurent Bonnart (L) during their French L1 football match Olympique of Marseille versus Lille at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille on Sunday. — AFP

IMF warns of euro-zone spiral as banks take cover Page 23

Kuwait equities return to bearish sentiment Page 24

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

Wen sees eventual end to economic downturn

Britain seeks major slice of offshore yuan market Page 25

Page 22

France brushes off S&P’s downgrade Paris wins Moody’s reprieve • Greek default fears grow PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkoz y secured a small boost from the Moody’s rating agency yesterday following a bruising downgrade last week of the way the country had been handling its economy and the wider European debt crisis.

Moody’s said yesterday it was maintaining France’s top triple A rating and stable outlook, just days after rival Standard & Poor’s downgraded the country’s debt over concerns that its economy and Europe’s ability to get a handle on its debt woes.

Markets seemed to shrug off the S&P downgrade, which had been expected for weeks.

Many analysts had predicted that France wouldn’t be overly punished for it, since the amount it pays to borrow was already among the highest of countries with the top-notch rating. Though Friday’s downgrades, which hit several countries that use the euro, seemed to be having little immediate effec t in the markets, they served as a reminder that the eurozone still has a long way to go to deal with its two-year debt crisis.

This week’s first hurdle was cleared as France easily sold about ?8.6 billion ($10.9 billion) of debt with very short maturities. Just over half of that was in 12-week bonds, for which investors demanded an interest rate of 0.165 percent, up from 0.023 percent at an auction two weeks ago.

Moody’s had said in October it was putting France on review, as

Sarkozy and other European leaders struggled to find solutions to Europe’s protracted debt crisis.

Moody ’s said yesterday it “will update the market during the first quarter of 2012 as part of the initiative to revisit the overall architecture of our sovereign ratings in the EU.” The country also sold 25week and 51-week bonds. There were no direct comparisons for those bonds in recent weeks, but the interest rates demanded were in the range of similar recent auctions. Meanwhile, Greece sent senior officials to Washington yesterday for meetings with the International Monetary Fund as it raced against the clock to break a deadlock in debt swap talks that has prompted new fears of an unruly default.

Barely a month after an injection of bailout funds helped avert bankruptcy, Greece is back at the centre of the euro-zone crisis as fears of a default and a subsequent euro-zone exit overshadow a mass credit downgrade of euro zone countries. Athens needs a deal with the private sector within days to avoid going bank rupt when 14.5 billion euros of bond redemptions fall due in late March. But talks with its creditor banks broke down without an agreement on Friday.

In Madrid, after visiting with Spanish King Juan Carlos ahead of his meeting with new Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Sarkozy did not address the downgrade but said, “Spain and France have a

ABU DHABI: Emirati men check a hybrid Lexus car during the Future Energy exhibition on the sidelines of the World Future Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday. — AFP (See Page 22)

lot to do so that Europe can get out of the repeated crises that it have been in for the last three years.” Spain was also downgraded Friday by S&P. Back in Paris, Sarkozy’s finance

minister, Francois Baroin, defended his country’s record. “Investments are rarely without risk,” he said at a conference in Paris on Monday.

“But if there’s an investment without any risk, it’s the investment in

the sovereign debt of our country, bonds among the most secure in the world.”

S a r k o z y ’s b u d g e t m i n i s t e r Va l e r i e Pe c re s s e s a i d s h e w a s o p t i m i s t i c t h a t S & P ’s k n o c k -

down would not lead to a rise in the country’s borrowing costs. A short-term French bond auction l a t e r o n t h a t d ay i s s e e n a s a test of the impact of the downgrade. — Agencies

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

business

Wen sees eventual end to economic downturn

Gulf states will benefit from Iran sanctions DUBAI: Gulf oil producers are unlikely to heed Iran’s warning. Tehran cautions of unpredictable consequences if Gulf producers increase production to replace its embargoed oil. But Saudi Arabia and its allies have strong incentives to fill any sanctions-supply gap.

Sunni-ruled Arab states stand to gain in the regional power struggle for political and economic superiority if their Shiite neighbor is weakened.

Western sanctions will hurt Iran’s economy, forcing Tehran to sell crude at a discount to Asian buyers. Their impact on global oil markets is less clear. If Iran can’t export its usual 2.5 million barrels per day, a key issue is whether Gulf producers-led by Saudi Arabia, which holds most of OPEC’s estimated 3.2 million barrels per day of spare capacity-will pump enough to offset any shortage.

Riyadh doesn’t want over supplied markets. But by pumping more in the event of a shortfall, Gulf allies could benefit from the current high prices at the start of a year where a slowdown in global growth could hurt oil revenues. Keeping markets well-supplied will also please the United States, which the Gulf depends on for its security, and soothe Asian buyers that provide its growth engine.

Sanctions provide Gulf producers a rare opportunity to take a bite out of Iran’s influence. Their rulers fears the rise of Shiite power, as illustrated by the harsh recent crackdown in Bahrain.

And a nuclear-armed Iran would permanently alter the balance of power in the region. So the Gulf’s indirect support of sanctions against Iran may hamper Tehran’s nuclear progress and

China banks on Mideast oil supplies ABU DHABI: Global economic confidence will return eventually, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday, sounding a moderately upbeat note on a tour of the Middle East whose oil supplies are critical to his country’s rapid economic growth.

“The dark clouds of the international financial crisis have yet to fully recede and social turmoil in some parts of the world has not calmed down,” Wen told an energy conference on the first visit to the region by a Chinese premier in two decades. “But the crisis will eventually pass and prosperity will arrive,” he told the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. China’s vice finance minister warned in December that the world economy was facing a worse crisis than it had in 2008, when Lehman Brothers collapsed.

China’s export sector is vulnerable to shrinking demand from Europe as euro nations slash spending to try to contain their debt burdens.

A top executive from the International Monetary Fund warned yesterday Europe could see a “downward spiral of collapsing confidence” unless more is done to resolve the deepening debt crisis.

Wen’s six-day visit comes as the United States works to impose a ban on Iranian crude over its nuclear program.

Iran, which is China’s third biggest oil supplier after Saudi Arabia and Angola, has denied that it is working on an atom bomb and has warned the West not to interfere in its affairs. Wen discussed North Africa and the Middle East during a visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh over the weekend, giving his most forthright endorsement yet to the changes sweeping the Arab world during a meeting with the head of an association of Muslim states.

“China respects the independent choices made by the countries and peoples in this region and supports your efforts in developing the economy based on your resource, endowments and strengths,” Wen told the energy conference in the capital of the UAE yesterday.

Despite anemic global growth, oil prices have remained above $100 per barrel since anti-government protests flared up in producing countries of North Africa and the Middle East in early 2011, while escalating tension over Iran’s nuclear program have recently pushed prices over $110. “As a permanent member of the UN security council and a responsible country China will continue to work with the rest of the international community to promote peace, stability and development in West Asia and North Africa,” Wen said. He met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Nayef at the weekend and will go to Qatar later this week after visiting the United Arab Emirates. — Reuters

ABU DHABI: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao addresses the opening session of the World Future Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday. — AFP

CONTEXT NEWS on Jan 15 warned its Arab neighbors not to raise crude output to replace Iranian oil in the event of an embargo by the European Union. l “The consequences of this issue are unpredictable. Therefore, our Arab neighbor countries should not cooperate with these adventurers and should adopt wise policies,” Tehran’s OPEC Governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi was quoted as saying in an interview with Iran’s Sharq daily newspaper. l Khatibi said Tehran would see any move to fill in for Iranian crude as Gulf Arab oil producers siding with Iran’s western opponents. l “If the oil producing Gulf states give the green light to replacing Iran’s oil these countries would be the main culprits for whatever happens in the region-including the Strait of Hormuz,” Khatibi added. lSaudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said on Jan. 14 that it was ready and able to meet any increase in demand, without making any reference to sanctions on OPEC rival Iran. — Reuters l Iran

Dana Gas could let its bondholders burn ABU DHABI: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, arrives to attend the opening session of the World Future Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday. — AFP

RBS to sell Middle East M&A business DUBAI: Part-nationalized Royal Bank of Scotland is in talks to sell its mergers and acquisitions business in the Middle East and cut some jobs as part of a global restructuring at the UK bank, its regional head said yesterday.

Simon Penney, RBS’ chief executive for Middle East and Africa, told Reuters the bank would focus on debt products, risk management and transactional banking. “We’ll be selling our M&A business in the region but everything else remains the same,” Penney said, adding that “less than five people will be leaving” as a result.

“It is a global decision to exit cash equities and M&A. We had some pretty good mandates live and we’ll see all deals closing. We will honor all client obligations but we won’t be originating any new business,” he said. RBS, 83 percent owned by the UK government, said last month it was working on four M&A deals in the region including Saudi Arabia-based Aujan Industries sale of a 50-percent stake to The Coca-Cola Company for $980 million.

its ability to support Shiite groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria.

Last year’s Arab uprisings reinforced the deep and long-standing rift between Iran and Saudi Arabia. OPEC’s latest forecasts for supply and demand suggest crude markets were well-balanced before the latest sanctions. That provides the Gulf with the cover it needs to raise production if Iran can’t export. Saudi insists its oil sales are purely commercial. But if it pumps more oil, few are likely to see it that way.

“There will be a limited impact in so far we won’t be generating M&A revenues from the region but with a regional team of 220 people, we will make sure nothing changes,” Penney said. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters earlier that the bank could complete the sale in coming months with close to five interested parties already eyeing the business.

Penney declined to comment on possible buyers of the business or on the time frame to close the deal. The move is part of a global shake up in which RBS plans to cut another 4,450 jobs bowing to pressure from the UK government.

Tom Emmet, RBS’ managing director and head of corporate finance and equity capital markets for the region, will leave as part of the shake up, one of the sources familiar with the matter said.

The lender hopes to close four acquisition deals in the region in 2012, including the Aujan sale, Emmet told Reuters in an interview last month.

RBS, Britain’s fifth biggest bank, said last week it would exit the investment banking are-

na, and cut jobs as it faces government pressure to shut down risky operations.

The bank aims to cut the balance sheet of its former global banking and markets business by 120 billion pounds ($184 billion) to 300 billion in the next three years under the plan.

Several European banks have unveiled plans to offload assets in the Gulf Arab region as they look to raise capital and exit non-core businesses to cope with the euro-zone crisis.

British lender Lloyds Banking Group is in talks to dispose of its operations in the United Arab Emirates, sources told Reuters last week, with Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank emerging as the frontrunner to pick up the business. ADCB bought RBS’ retail assets in the UAE in 2010 for about $100 million and last year hired a former RBS Mideast executive as its group chief operating officer. Meanwhile, French bank Credit Agricole said last year that it will close its regional mergers and acquisitions business and move the operations back to its Paris office. — Reuters

DUBAI: Dana Gas could let bondholders burn. With a $1 billion London-listed Islamic issue fast coming to maturity, the Gulf’s only listed natural gas company has been without a finance chief for more than one year and appears short of funding options. Dana has good assets in Egypt and Iraqi Kurdistan, but the small group of bondholders led by Blackrock have weak collateral. Short of an unlikely bailout, a painful restructuring looks on the cards.

The $920 million outstanding debt dwarfs the group’s equity, valued at $650 million. Difficult politics in both of the firm’s main markets make cashflows erratic. The Egyptian uprising has offset a possible improvement of Dana’s position in Iraq. At the end of the third quarter, it had $114 million in cash and was owed $405 million. Repayment of the Islamic bond is a long shot, even if the funding gap could be reduced to $660 million by the time the bond matures in October, according to Exotix, an investment bank.

That would assume Dana offloads its three percent stake in Hungarian oil

refiner MOL, something it doesn’t seem ready to do. Any equity issue would be massively dilutive to existing shareholders. Nor is the firm of major strategic value to the UAE emirate of Sharjah, where it is based.

Bondholders also appear to discount the possibility that Dana will find refinancing in time. Markets are tight and Dana has an unattractive low liquidity and distressed debt profile. Its five-year bond is trading at 74 cents on the dollar.

The company previously didn’t make good on a promised share buyback, and failed to list some of its assets as planned.

A default would actually improve Dana’s finances given that the assets backing the sukuk are marginal to the rest of the business, and aren’t worth the value of the bond. Dana’s silence isn’t helping matters. The only hope is that its largest shareholder Crescent Petroleum, a UAE-based private family business with over 20 percent of the shares, will make an effort to restructure, considering the reputational and financial risks it would face if it doesn’t. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2730000 .4240000 .3520000 .2900000 .2710000 .2840000 .0040000 .0020000 .0756750 .7372770 .3810000 .0710000 .7227670 .0040000 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2787500 GB Pound/KD .4269890 Euro .3545700 Swiss francs .2926200 Canadian dollars .2737140 Danish Kroner .0476790 Swedish Kroner .0401870 Australian dlr .2869450 Hong Kong dlr .0358840 Singapore dlr .2155670 Japanese yen .0036270 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0759230 Bahraini dinars .7396840 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0743530 Omani riyals .7243080 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

.2820000 .4350000 .3620000 .3020000 .2800000 .2940000 .0070000 .0035000 .0764350 .7446860 .4030000 .0780000 .7300310 .0072000 .0520000 .2808500 .4302060 .3572410 .2948250 .2757760 .0480390 .0404900 .2891070 .0361540 .2171910 .0036550 .0054540 .0024730 .0031310 .0033920 .0764950 .7452570 .3972420 .0749130 .7297650 .0064290

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

293.000 745.310 3.880 277.700 550.400 44.700 49.200 167.800 48.440 358.500 36.770 5.680 0.032 0.207 0.248 3.740 397.440 0.190 91.500 46.300 4.310 226.400 1.816 47.700 727.960

SELL DRAFT

291.500 745.310 3.368 276.200

218.300 46.443 357.000 36.620 5.430 0.031

10 Tola

76.310 280.200

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

278.500 275.585 436.990 366.765 298.040 737.505 75.800 76.445 74.225 392.025 46.238 2.441 5.241 3.106 3.401 6.331 683.150 3.675 8.935 5.865 3.370 92.510

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)

292.64 278.53 297.75 357.39

436.00 3.70 3.750 5.655 2.660 4.250 3.260 76.85 745.00 48.50 397.00 729.00 77.50 75.00

280.200 3.103 5.435 2.465 3.345 6.415 76.390 74.875 744.900 46.378 434.500 3.190 1.550 360.200 279.600 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

431.93 3.70 3.319 5.426 2.460 3.401 3.099 76.27 745.32 46.43 398.63 728.22 77.27 74.82

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 432.000 280.000

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Currency

727.780

296.100 4.900 8.990

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

Currency

397.120 0.189 91.500 3.410 224.900

3.115 6.390 77.090 74.830 218.320 37.820 2.457 432.000

GOLD 1,722.920

Rate for Transfer

Bahrain Exchange Company

3.250 6.790 77.520 74.830 218.320 36.820 2.658 434.000 41.500 297.600 4.900 9.220 198.263 76.410 280.600 1.290

295.00 280.00 304.00 360.00

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)

279.550 360.500 431.300 276.600 3.655 5.442 46.330 2.454 3.270 6.389 3.113 744.150 76.150 74.700

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

business

Saudi stocks make largest decline in 4 weeks MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index made its largest one-day decline in four weeks yesterday as falling natural gas prices weighed on petrochemical stocks, while most other regional markets also ended lower. The kingdom’s index fell 1.1 percent in its biggest drop since Dec. 13.

The US benchmark gas price fell to $2.60, its lowest level since September 2009, with a US shale gas boom and the prospect of similar developments in China helping to bring it down sharply.

Saudi petrochemical producers are supplied with subsidized gas at fixed prices, whereas rival producers in other regions typically pay the market rate, so a fall in global gas prices reduces Saudi producers’ competitive advantage. “Earnings are below expectations so far in banks and petrochemical companies and there are concerns about the future,” said Mohammad Omran, a Saudi-based independent

financial analyst. “The drop in the gas price is continuing mainly because of shale gas. Major (international) producers will have a big advantage and they will reduce gaps with the petrochemical producers in the region - this is negative for the industry.”

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) dipped 0.5 percent. Yanbu National Petrochemical Company (Yansab) slipped 0.7 percent to 42.7 riyals after reporting a fourth-quarter net profit of 664.8 million riyals ($177.3 million), at an increase of 20 percent from the year earlier period.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected an average net profit of 751 million riyals. “Lower petrochemical prices in the fourth quarter of 2011 impacted top to bottom profitability... we are encouraged by expected quarter-on-quarter margin improvement given pricing pressure,” Riyad Capital said in a research note, recommending a ‘buy’ rating with a target

price of 52.50 riyals.

In the UAE, Dubai Financial Market, the only listed Gulf Arab bourse, plunged to an all-time low, falling 10 percent.It dragged down the index, which closed 1 percent lower at a new seven-and-a-half year low.

“Volumes in Dubai are not going to pick up for the next 12 to 24 months and anything that has fundamental weakness could get pummeled,” said Amer Khan, fund manager at Shuaa Asset Management. “Once Abu Dhabi starts falling and people punish companies that have fundamental weakness, it causes a spillover in Dubai.”

Abu Dhabi-listed Dana Gas dropped to an alltime low as investors cut positions on worries the energy firm will face problems repaying an upcoming bond. Dana fell 8.1 percent, down for a fourth straight session. It has fallen 39 percent in the past two months. London-based investment firm Exotix

has issued a sell recommendation on Dana Gas saying it had “little confidence” in the firm’s ability to repay a $920 million debt that matures in October. It has been facing payment delays from its operations in Kurdistan and Egypt.

“They don’t have enough cash or make enough money to pay the bond - most of it is being held back as cash receivables,” says Haissam Arabi, chief executive and fund manager at Gulfmena Investments. “They still have the ability to borrow new debt against the old debt. There’s just uncertainty on the funding gap and investors don’t like it.”

Abu Dhabi’s benchmark dropped 0.8 percent to its lowest close since March 2009.

Aldar Properties and Sorouh Real Estate fell 2.6 and 2.9 percent respectively. Elsewhere, Oman’s benchmark slipped 0.2 percent, while Kuwait and Qatar ended near-flat. — Reuters

IMF warns of euro-zone spiral as banks take cover ‘No region would be immune to a catastrophe’

CAIRO: An Egyptian worker fills a customer’s tank as cars queue at a petrol station in Cairo yesterday amid fears of an oil shortage. — AFP

Competing for the Global Middle Class Booz & Company report KUWAIT: The time has come for senior executives to take the plunge and override their hesitancies about the idea of joining the race for the global middle class market share; without the loyalty of this key segment, they may be left out in the cold as their competitors vie for industry leadership. Thought leader Booz & Company explores the options.

In 2011, the worldwide economic phenomenon that is known as the global middle class included between 700-900 million people, all of whom had the purchasing power to become consumers of manufactured goods and services. There is one common denominator across each country in which this demographic can be found: they are all recovering from the global recession with an increasingly urbanized lifestyle.

The value chain of companies that provide this population with goods, services and infrastructure is becoming known as the global middle market.

Competing for their share are three different types of company - the local upstarts who are migrating into the domestic middle market as their customers become more prosperous; the global aspirants, who have already developed products for their domestic middle market, and who are looking to expand into the global equivalent, and the multinational incumbents intent on adapting their existing product lines to capture the attractive growth opportunities in emerging middle markets. “An intelligent approach will allow local upstarts and global aspirants to move up in the corporate chain. Transitional moves, such as joint ventures and regional expansion, aid their advancement by proffering the experience required to compete on a larger scale,” commented Ronald Haddock, a former partner at industry management consultancy, Booz & Company.

No matter which of the three categories they fall into, companies looking to tap into the lucrative global middle market can draw inspiration from Alfred P Sloan Jr’s reorganization of General Motors Company in the 1920s; by targeting the consumers in the middle finance -zone (those who were unable to afford luxury vehicles but wanted an option other than the ‘any color so long as it’s black ’ Model T Ford), he propelled GM past the competition to take the leadership spot among carmakers and held that position for the rest of the century.

Recognising the pace of development in the target markets is the first step towards claiming a stake and taking that all-important step up onto the leadership ladder. All industrializing countries follow an ‘arc of growth’, an evolutionary path of economic change that takes them from nascent to mature, with a critical stage of urbanization and economic momentum in between. Countries in the ‘momentum phase’ have large, relatively young populations and high economic growth rates, making them the seedbed of the emerging middle-class markets. “ The buying power, needs and desires of the middle class varies dependent upon nation and region, so obtaining a full understanding of the

local requirements in desired territories will prove highly beneficial to anyone wishing to successfully harness capital in that specific market,” said Edward Tse, senior par tner with Booz & Company and the firm’s chairman for Greater China. “Identifying the attributes that the targeted consumers value and adapting the product to meet them- or culling undesirable traits from the existing merchandise -is essential to winning customers.”

Considering the huge, indispensible source of sales volume presented by the global middle market, it’s no surprise that competition is already intense. Despite the number of active companies competing for consumer spending, several would-be contenders are being put off by myths that throw a negative light on the situation. “There’s talk that it’s too early to enter the middle market in emerging economies, when the reality is that it may already be too late as some industries are already becoming saturated with competitive rivals,” explained Bill Russo, a senior advisor with Booz & Company, based in Beijing. “Other companies claim that they can’t make money from emerging economies, but they have to consider that while prices are up to 40 percent lower than in developed nations, sales volume is potentially up to three times greater than in mature markets.”

This explains the motivation of Adidas to develop training shoes under the Reebok brand to sell for as little as 1 dollar across rural India, said Karl Nader, Principal at Booz & Company.

This is the case in the GCC, where multinationals that have been late in the game, face stiff competition from local brands as well as from established international competitors deeply rooted in the local market. These multinationals either fold or resort to inorganic growth options to bridge this gap. This is evidenced, by Carrefour’s challenges to compete effectively against Panda and Al Othaim in Saudi Arabia, and Coca Cola’s recent acquisition of a 50% stake in Aujan, a significant investment to bridge the gap with PepsiCo, added Nader. Russo goes on to explain that the attitude of assuming that success will come from the education of consumers, rather than the adaptation of products, will not bear fruit.

No matter how valued or desirable the merchandize is, most newly-minted middle-class customers will not be able to afford them. The final myth laid to rest is that entering the global middle market will be too disruptive to operations, to which he simply says that companies need to develop a business model that is suited to the task in order to succeed.

It may be that an alteration in the mindset of more conventional multinational corporation executives is required, in order for them to compete for the position of industry leader by cashing in on the benefits of the middleclass market. The opportunities in the global middle market may require additional effort in order to successfully reap the rewards on offer, but they’re most certainly worth it at the end of the day.

PARIS: European banks stowed record sums in the ECB for safe keeping yesterday as a top IMF official warned the euro-zone faced a “downward spiral” in the wake of a batch of stinging credit downgrades.

France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy received a boost when Moody’s declined to follow rival ratings agency Standard and Poor’s in stripping Paris of its triple-A status but headed for crisis talks in Spain with clouds gathering.

Euro-zone banks put 493.3 billion euros ($623.7 billion) on 24-hours deposit with the European Central Bank overnight Sunday, topping a record set on Friday of 489 billion euros and highlighting fears of a credit crunch.

Meanwhile, IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton warned Asian finance and banking chiefs meeting in Hong Kong of trouble ahead. “Europe could be swept into a downward spiral of collapsing confidence, stagnant growth, and fewer jobs,” he said. “In today’s interconnected global economy, no country and no region would be immune from that catastrophe.”

European leaders are due to meet on January 30 to agree a new fiscal pact to coordinate deficit reduction programs and attempt to reassure the bond markets that they are on top of the sovereign debt crisis. But Friday’s S&P downgrade of nine European economies and the impasse in talks between private lenders and debt-wracked Greece have raised fears that the markets will not be content to wait until governments provide answers.

Sarkozy, who saw France stripped of its top AAA credit rating, was to receive an award from King Juan Carlos in Madrid before holding a working meeting with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. S&P’s rival Moody’s gave Sarkozy some welcome relief yesterday when it said it would not follow suit but it also warned that it was still reviewing whether to maintain its “stable” outlook on France.

Spain and Italy were both hit by double downgrades in the S&P report card, piling pressure on governments and the euro in the run-up to the EU summit. The euro remained under pressure but edged up to $1.2680 in early London trading from $1.2677 in New York late Friday, when it plunged to a 17-month low at $1.2624 — a level last seen in August 2010.

European stock markets stabilized after opening slightly down but the true test of the effect of France’s humiliating downgrade will come on Thursday, when it conducts its first large-scale bond auction as an S&P AA+ economy. France will try to sell between 7.5 billion and 9.5 billion euros in bonds with maturities of between two and 28 years-and markets will be keen to see how much interest Paris will have to pay to find buyers. If Sarkozy’s government finds itself saddled with high yields in the wake of its downgrade it will call into question the credibility of his deficit reduction plan and plunge the eurozone into further turmoil.

Already, by slapping nine euro-zone members with downgrades and putting all the others bar Germany on notice that they are under scrutiny, S&P has undermined the European Financial Stability Facility. The EFSF is supposed to act as a bail-out fund to back-stop weak

economies but it owes its own credit-worthiness to its triple-A backers and now faces a downgrade of its own.

Many European leaders are furious over S&P’s decision and are scrambling to restore their credibility ahead of the January 30 summit-the latest in what is now a long line of emergency “save the euro” meetings. “Let there be no mistake: this is not a crisis of the euro as a currency,” the European Union’s internal market commissioner Michel Barnier told the Asian Financial Forum on Monday in Hong Kong.

“The euro is here to stay. In the last 10 years the euro has proven itself as a true world currency ... And despite the difficulties, it remains strong. “The real crisis the euro-zone faces right now is a crisis of confidence. Our political unity and our determination and our ability to rectify what is wrong ... are being tested,” he said.—AFP

PARIS: A trader works at a trading office in Paris yesterday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy secured a small boost from Moody’s rating agency yesterday following a bruising downgrade last week of the way the country had been handling its economy and the wider European debt crisis. — AP

KIPCO issues KD80m four-year bonds KUWAIT: Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO), the country ’s largest investment company, said yesterday that it had issued four-year local currency bonds worth KD 80 million ($286 million).

The issuance of the bonds is based on two tranches; one at a

fixed interest rate of 4.75 percent, representing 60.6 percent of the issue, and the other at a variable interest rate of two percent, above the discount rate announced by the Central Bank of Kuwait, Vice Chairman Faisal Al-Ayyar told a press conference.

He said the new issue comes as part of plans to continue the mobilization of funds on a regular basis in the debt markets, aiming to diversify the investor base and provide financial flexibility.

Government funds, banks, corporates and high net-worth individ-

uals were among the investor types who brought into the deal, which was completed after a road-show process lasting two weeks, the source added. KIPCO Asset Management, a unit of KIPCO, and NBK Capital were lead managers on the issue. — KUNA

Nigeria unions suspend nationwide fuel strike LAGOS: Unions suspended their nationwide strike yesterday, hours after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan partially reinstated subsidies to keep gasoline prices low and deployed soldiers in the streets to halt widening demonstrations.

Union leaders described their decision as a victory for labor, allowing its leaders to guide the country’s policy on fuel subsidies in the future while having gas prices drop to about $2.27 a gallon (60 cents a liter). However, many protesters joined the demonstrations with hopes of seeing gas

return to its previous price of about $1.70 per gallon (45 cents per liter), while also speaking out against a culture of government corruption in Africa’s most populous nation.

Deploying soldiers to the street stopped demonstrators from gathering yesterday. At one point they fired over the heads of protesters to disperse them. But the deployment of troops in a nation with a history of military coups did nothing to cool the populist rage that swept the country in recent days.

“This is a clear case of intolerance

LAGOS: An angry youth shout slogans at a protest in Lagos, Nigeria, yesterday. For the first time since protests erupted over spiraling fuel prices, soldiers barricaded key roads yesterday in Nigeria’s two biggest cities as the president offered a concession to stem demonstrations that he said were being stoked by provocateurs seeking anarchy. —AP

and shutting of the democratic space against the people of Nigeria which must be condemned by all democracy-loving people around the world,” read a statement from the Save Nigeria Group, which has organized massive demonstrations in Lagos.

The Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress told journalists yesterday in Nigeria’s capital Abuja they applauded the government’s recent promise to explore corruption in the country’s oil sector.

They described the six-day strike a success. “We are sure that no government or institution will take Nigerians for granted again,” said Abdulwaheed Omar, the president of the Nigeria Labor Congress.

But while Jonathan offered an olive branch to unions with the gas price relief, he used military power to make sure no one protested against the government yesterday. In a rare display of military might, soldiers took over major highways and road junctions throughout Lagos, home to 15 million people, and Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city.

In an early yesterday morning address aired on state-run television, Jonathan warned that provocateurs were using the gas-price protest to cause instability. “It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy have hijacked the protest. ... These same interests seek to promote discord, anarchy and insecurity to the detriment of

public peace,” Jonathan said.

Labor organizers had urged workers to stay home yesterday after Jonathan appealed to them over the possibility of insecurity in the country. At the Lagos headquarters of the Nigeria Labor Congress, some 50 protesters gathered anyway. Lawyer Bamidele Aturu led the crowd in chants and cheers, comparing the president to military rulers of the past who used soldiers to suppress dissent. “It’s very clear the revolution has begun!” Aturu shouted. However, those gathered looked warily at passing pickup trucks filled with soldiers. Yesterday, hundreds of people started marching toward Lagos’ Ojota neighborhood, where tens of thousands of protesters had gathered in recent days. However, soldiers had already taken positions there overnight, waving away wouldbe demonstrators. Two military armored personnel carriers were parked near an empty stage.

The crowd passed soldiers who slung their assault rifles over their shoulders, allowing them to pass.

But as they drew closer to Ojota, around 20 soldiers arrived in two pickup trucks to cut them off, bayonets affixed to their assault rifles.

They told the protesters to go back and some of them began to turn around.

Soldiers fired into the air and tear gassed the crowd to disperse it, leaving protesters running through the stinging gas as gunshots echoed down the highway. — AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

business

Kuwait equities return to bearish sentiment GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended yesterday’s session on a lower note on the back of the bad performance reported by services and food stocks.

Global General Index (GGI) lost 0.15 percent from its value, finishing at 177.53 points. Market Capitalization also went down by KD42.7mn, reaching KD29.0bn. In the meantime, KSE Price Index retreated by 0.13 percent, compared to Sunday’s session, closing at 5,762.8 points, Market breadth During the session, 103 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners with 55 equities declining against 21 that advanced.

Trading activates went down during the session, as volume of shared traded declined by 27.6 percent, with 270.5mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD20.8mn (-40.6 percent).

Investment sector accounted for 33.0 percent and 28.4 percent, respectively of the total volume and value of shares traded on the exchange during the day.

In terms of top gainers, Al-Dar National Real Estate was the top gainer for the day, adding 14.3 percent to its share value and closing at KD0.016. On the other hand, share price of Danah Al Safat Foodstuff was the biggest decliner in the market, shedding 7.4 percent and closed at KD0.100.

Sectors Five out of the eight sectoral indices ended the day on a lower note. Global Services Index was the biggest loser shedding 0.90 percent, after share price of

heavyweight, Zain dropped by 1.15 percent, closing at KD0.860.

However, National Ranges Company was the biggest decliner in the sector, shedding 7.1 percent, closing at KD0.013.

Global Food Index came second, with a daily retreat of 0.6 percent, on the back of a 7.4 percent drop posted by Danah Al

Safat Foodstuff Company. The scrip closed the session at KD0.100. Moreover, Global Real Estate Index closed the session down by 0.5 percent. Kuwait Real Estate Holding Company dropped by 7.0 percent, while, National Real Estate Company declined by 6.4 percent. On the positive side, Global Non Kuwaiti

Index added 1.0 percent to its value, after Egypt Kuwait Holding Company appreciated by 3.9 percent. Heavyweight Global Banking Index appreciated by 0.3 percent on the back of a 3.5 percent and 1.5 percent, gain witnessed by Ahli United Bank and Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait, respectively.

Brent gains as Iran warns Gulf exporters LONDON: Brent crude rose above $111 yesterday on worries over supply disruptions after Iran warned Gulf Arab neighbors of consequences if they raised oil output to replace Iranian barrels facing international sanctions.

Euro zone worries, together with comments from Saudi Arabia that it wants oil prices at around $100 a barrel, muted gains. The latest threat from Iran comes as top Asian buyers of Iranian oil-China, Japan and South Korea-tour alternative Middle East suppliers while the United States pressures nations to stop importing oil from the Islamic Republic.

Yet the price rise was capped on demand concerns after Standard & Poor’s on Friday cut sovereign debt ratings of nine of the euro-zone’s 17 countries and OPEC said in a report that the euro zone debt crisis threatens to slice oil demand in Europe and emerging economies.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said in an interview with CNN on Monday the world’s No 1 oil exporter-the only OPEC member with significant unused capacity-could increase oil production by about 2 million bpd “almost immediately” from current levels, noting it wants oil prices at around $100 a barrel. Brent crude futures traded 73 cents higher at $111.17 a barrel by 1158 GMT, after touching $111.67. US crude rose 70 cents to $99.40 a barrel.

Many US markets are closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. “The Iranian situation has taken a new twist,” said JBC Energy’s David Wech in a note to clients. “While the focus had been on Europe ... it now appears that Asian buyers will be the first to give in to US-led pressure and forego the purchase of Iranian crude.

“But this is a risky game as the region is the most import-dependent in the world, attracting over 16 million.” Iran has threatened to block the main Middle East oil shipping route, adding that any move to replace Iranian oil on the markets would “not be perceived as friendly,” the country’s

OPEC governor told a daily newspaper. Worries about the euro-zone prompted OPEC to slightly trim its 2012 world oil demand growth forecast by 10,000 bpd to 1.06 million bpd, citing “pessimistic” economic prospects.

In a report published yesterday, the cartel said a worsening in the euro zone’s debt crisis would further cut European oil demand and have a spillover effect on demand in emerging economies.

OPEC’s cut came as pressure piles on Athens to reach a deal with private creditors to help it reduce its debt ahead of a repayment in March. “You need to watch what will happen with the talks over the Greek debt because they broke down Friday. That could be more significant than the S&P downgrade,” Olivier Jakob from Petromatrix said. Standard & Poor’s cut ratings of countries last Friday, including topnotch France and Austria, and said it would decide shortly whether to downgrade the euro-zone’s bailout fund. Concern over shipments from two key African exporters, Nigeria and Sudan, was also supporting oil.

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan announced a cut in petrol prices to 97 naira ($0.60) a litre on Monday, partially reversing the effects of an end to fuel subsidies which had more than doubled the pump price to 150 naira from 65 naira.

The latest price gesture prompted unions to suspend mass protests to allow further negotiations with the government, but the strikes would resume pending further talks, the main labour unions said.

Sudan said it has started confiscating some oil exports from South Sudan that it believes it is owed to meet unpaid transit fees. Participants are awaiting data out of China due today to gauge the outlook for growth in the world’s second-largest oil consumer. According to a Reuters poll, China’s economy is on track to slow for a fourth successive quarter as global demand slackened. — Reuters

25

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

business

Natural gas price plunge aids families, businesses NEW YORK: The price of natural gas in the US is plummeting at a pace that has caught even the experts off guard. A 35 percent collapse in the futures price over the past year has been a boon to homeowners who use natural gas for heat and appliances and to manufacturers who power their factories and make chemicals and materials with it. The country is flush with natural gas as a result of new drilling techniques that have enabled energy companies to tap vast supplies that were out of reach not so long ago. The country’s natural gas surplus has been growing even as the country burns record amounts.

This winter ’s warm weather slowed the growth in demand, however, and created a glut.

In the Northeast, December was the fourth warmest in the last 117 years. Winter supplies are 17 percent above their five-year average. The natural gas futures price fell 13 percent last week, to $2.67 per 1,000 cubic feet (28.3 cubic meters).

That’s the lowest winter-time level in a decade.

“The market has been overwhelmed with gas,” says Anthony Yuen, a commodities analyst at Citibank. He and other analysts expect the price to average near $3 for all of 2012. If the weather stays mild, the price could even dip below $2, a level not seen since 2002.

Cheap natural gas is mainly a good thing for the economy: More than half of US households use natural gas for heat, and a quarter of the nation’s electricity is made from it. Falling heating and electric costs are offsetting the impact of high gasoline prices and enabling families and small businesses to spend on other things.

Residential gas and electric customers are saving roughly $200 a year, according to a study by Navigant Consulting.

For companies that make plastics, fertilizer and other chemicals derived from natural gas, the falling prices are nothing short of a windfall.

The same goes for makers of products from steel to bricks to beer. All use a lot of natural gas to heat their furnaces. U.S. manufacturers are

becoming more competitive globally as a result of the country’s cheap natural gas, industry officials say. Some industries aren’t cheering, though. With electricity prices falling, the profits of all electric power producers - whether they rely on coal, nuclear or wind - are shrinking.

Companies that drill solely for natural gas are earning less these days, too. That’s prompting some to hunt instead for oil, whose price is near $100 a barrel. Still, drillers aren’t reducing natural gas production as much as they would have during previous periods of low prices. They’ve found ways to produce the fuel at much lower cost so they can be profitable at much lower prices. And, in many cases, natural gas is a byproduct of oil drilling, which is so profitable that companies are going after every barrel they can find.

Analysts say in some oil and gas fields, drillers could give the gas away and still be hugely profitable just from selling the oil. The benefit of falling natural gas prices to homeowners is not as big as a major drop in oil and gasoline prices would provide. The average household’s annual gasoline bill is about $4,000, roughly double the average annual gas and electric bill.

Also, the fuel cost is only half of a customer’s bill. The rest is transmission and delivery charges, which don’t change along with fuel prices.

Homeowners are paying $10.18 per 1,000 cubic feet of gas on average, including transmission and delivery charges, according to the Energy Information Administration. Over a year, a customer will burn an average of 75,000 cubic feet (2,124 cubic meters), or about $760 worth.

The multi-year drop in natural gas prices caught most industry experts by surprise. In the middle of the last decade, natural gas looked to be in short supply. Production in the US was slowing, imports from Canada were rising and plans for importing liquefied natural gas from the Middle East and elsewhere were drawn up.

Natural gas futures hit nearly $15 in 2005.

Chemical and metals manufacturers were shut-

ting US factories and moving overseas, where gas was abundant and cheaper. Farmers in need of fertilizer were turning to inexpensive imports from Canada, Trinidad and Asia.

But over the next few years, drillers perfected

WASHINGTON: Range Resources site manager Don Robinson stands near the well head by the drill that goes into the shale at a well site for natural gas in Washington. The price of natural gas is plummeting at a pace that has caught even the experts off guard. — AP methods first tried in 1981 that now allow them to profitably extract gas trapped in shale formations - layers of fine-grained rock that in some cases have trapped ancient organic matter that

has cooked into oil and natural gas. Engineers combined the ability to drill horizontally into shale with a technique called hydraulic fracturing. Millions of gallons (liters) of water, sand and chemicals are pumped into wells to break rock and create escape routes for the gas. In doing so they unlocked natural gas deposits deep underground across the East, South and Midwest that are large enough to supply the US for decades.

This eventually turned the shortage into a glut, and reversed the fortunes of some industries. An ammonia plant owned by CF Industries in Donaldsville, Louisville, that was shuttered by its former owner in 2004 is running again.

Steel maker Nucor Corp is building a factory in Louisiana; Shell Oil Co is planning a petrochemical plant in Appalachia; and Dow Chemical is building a type of chemical feedstock plant it hasn’t built in the US since 1995. “A whole slice of American industry is benefiting,” says Steve Wilson, the CEO of CF Industries, which makes ammonia and other fertilizer ingredients. CF Industries, which is based in Deerfield, Illinois, has seen its daily natural gas costs fall from $6 million to $2 million over the past few years. The company is planning to spend more than $1 billion expanding its US plants.

While industrial customers are betting on low prices for years to come, things could change if demand increases sharply because of extreme weather or faster-than-expected economic growth, or if the US begins exporting gas. It’s also possible that natural gas drilling could be curtailed by environmental regulations designed to protect drinking water from hydraulic fracturing.

Legislators in New York and New Jersey have banned hydraulic fracturing temporarily, and the Environmental Protection Agency is studying it and may propose national regulations.

The most likely near-term scenario is that prices keep falling, according to Rusty Braziel, an analyst at Bentek Energy. “This ain’t the bottom,” he says. — AP

Britain seeks major slice of offshore yuan market Osborne: London, HK to launch forum

DAMANSARA, Malaysia: A newly-launched Proton Inspira car displayed at a Proton Edar showroom in Mutiara Damansara, Selangor. Malaysia’s state investment arm Khazanah Nasional said yesterday it had sold its 42.7 percent stake in Proton to leading car distributor and importer DRB-HICOM. — AFP

Malaysia sells stake in carmaker Proton KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s state investment arm Khazanah Nasional said yesterday it had sold its 42.7 percent stake in struggling national automaker Proton to leading car distributor and importer DRB-HICOM. The deal, worth 1.291 billion ringgit ($410 million), followed several years of speculation over the fate of Proton that had included talks with Volkswagen and General Motors on possible tie-ups.

The buyer must also offer to purchase the remaining Proton shares from other stakeholders, which could push the deal to as much as 3.02 billion ringgit, said Ahmad Maghfur Usman, a Kuala Lumpurbased analyst with OSK Research.

Khazanah’s managing director Azman Mokhtar said in a statement announcing the deal that the new Malaysian shareholder “will be able to bring Proton to the next level of strategic growth.”

“DRB-HICOM’s proposed strategy and business plan provides an effective platform to enhance Proton’s sustainability and meet its long-term growth needs,” he said. DRB-HICOM currently assembles Volkswagen vehicles at its facility in central Pahang state. The deal could let Volkswagen use Proton’s severely underutilized plant in Perak state, limiting

Proton’s costs at the facility, the analyst said. It may also help Volkswagen use Malaysia as a manufacturing springboard into the growing Southeast Asian market, where the German auto giant has traditionally lagged, he said. “It may also lead to a (technology) tie-up between the two carmakers,” he added. Proton was launched in the 1980s as part of a national industrialization push but has labored under an image of poor-quality and unimaginative models and has struggled to compete with imports. The carmaker has struggled to stay in the black and warned last year of a challenging outlook amid uncertainties in the global auto industry. Khazanah had previously said that Proton needed a strategic partner to raise its competitiveness and penetrate global markets.

Ahmad said separate negotiations to sell the Proton stake to Volkswagen and General Motors fell apart in 2007 due to the Malaysian government’s desire to keep the company domestically-owned.

Ahmad said Proton’s two other major shareholders are the country’s Employees’ Provident Fund and national oil giant Petronas, which each have about 10 percent of the carmaker. Small minority shareholders make up the rest. — AFP

UK wants more worker-owned firms to sustain economy LONDON: Britain will encourage greater worker ownership in companies to counter the “crony capitalism” that contributed to the 2007/8 financial crisis and tipped the country into recession, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said yesterday.

An “unrestrained economic elite” driven by short-termism and recklessness had brought the economy to the edge and had to be restrained by a more responsible capitalism, Clegg said in extracts of a speech released in advance by his office. Clegg, leader of the coalition’s left-leaning Liberal Democrats, said greater participation by employees would help rebalance a business environment “monopolized by a minority”.

“We now have an economy driven by immensely powerful vested interests ...

The remedy, put most simply, is a redis-

tribution of power,” he said. Firms with high levels of worker ownership had weathered the economic downturn better, had higher productivity and suffered from lower absenteeism, Clegg said.

He praised the model of the employee-owned retailer John Lewis, Britain’s biggest department store, saying he would like more companies to adopt its mutual structure as a way of creating a more sustainable economy.

Britain faces years of austerity to eradicate a record budget deficit following the financial crisis and risks a return to recession as its economy stagnates.

“We don’t believe our problem is too much capitalism. We think it’s that too few people have capital. We need more individuals to have a real stake in their firms. More of a John Lewis economy, if you like,” he said. — Reuters

HONG KONG: Britain said yesterday it will partner with Hong Kong to develop the City of London as a major offshore centre of trade in China’s yuan currency.

Finance minister George Osborne said Britain and Hong Kong had agreed to launch a joint private-sector forum to enhance cooperation and support China’s efforts to develop the offshore market for the yuan (renminbi). Osborne told a meeting of Asian finance officials and executives in Hong Kong the intention was to “establish London as a new hub” for the yuan (RMB).

“It’s clear that there is scope for the substantial expansion of the RMB market in the coming years,” he told the Asian Financial Forum in the southern Chinese banking centre. “I think London is perfectly placed to act as a gateway for Asian investment and banking to Europe and as a bridge to the United States.”

Hong Kong is currently the only officially designated offshore yuan trading centre, and is keen to expand the currency’s use in international transactions as an alternative to the greenback and the euro. China and Britain agreed in September to work towards the development of an offshore yuan market in London, the heart of European banking.

Osborne said establishing London as an offshore centre for yuan denominated settlements, in par tnership with Hong Kong,

would benefit China’s economic development as well as Britain’s.

The rapid growth of China’s economy provided opportunities that Europe needed to seize as it struggled to emerge from the

HONG KONG: British Treasury chief George Osborne speaks to media at the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong yesterday.

British and Hong Kong leaders said yesterday they will team up to develop London into an international trading center for China’s currency. — AP

Euro to stay despite crisis, downgrades: Barnier HONG KONG: The euro is here to stay as a global currency and the euro-zone will bounce back from its debt crisis, European Union Commissioner for the Internal Market Michel Barnier said yesterday.

Barnier repeated his surprise at ratings agency Standard & Poor’s decision last week to downgrade nine euro-zone states, saying the currency bloc’s 17 members had taken “giant steps” toward restoring confidence. “Let there be no mistake: this is not a crisis of the euro as a currency,” he told delegates to the Asian Financial Forum, a gathering of regional banking and finance chiefs in Hong Kong.

“The euro is here to stay. In the last 10 years the euro has proven itself as a true world currency... And despite the difficulties, it remains strong. “The real crisis the euro-zone faces right now is a crisis of confidence. Our political unity and our determination and our ability to rectify what is wrong ... are being tested.”

Standard & Poor’s downgraded nine euro-zone states Friday, including France and Austria, on concerns about high government debt levels and funding costs.

The agency said European policymakers’ response to the crisis, including the outcome of a summit last month, “may be insufficient to fully address ongoing systemic stresses in the euro-zone”.

But Barnier said ratings agencies needed to “take better account of the unprecedented efforts being made by governments” to overcome the crisis. He said he was “surprised time and time again by the timing agencies choose to make such announcements”, and called

for greater transparency in how they reached their decisions.

“I would like to have these ratings agencies signal that there was a problem five or six years ago, not now,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the forum. “I want to make sure that when they make these announcements they are fully taking into account the efforts being made by the governments.” Even so, he said he did not want to downplay the seriousness of the threat to European economic stability.

“We need to avoid another large credit crunch and disastrous consequences for the real economy,” he said, adding that the sovereign debt crisis was “spilling over” into the interbank lending market. The European Commission forecasts 0.5 percent growth in the euro area this year. — AFP

HONG KONG: European Union commissioner for the internal market Michel Barnier listens to a question at a press conference during the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong yesterday. — AFP

euro-zone sovereign debt crisis. Exports of goods from Britain to China leapt 20 percent in 2010, a measure of the importance of Asia to Britain’s long-term economic growth, Osborne said. “A richer, stronger Asia is an opportunity for the world, not a threat,” said Osborne, who is visiting Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo to strengthen business ties, especially in financial services, infrastructure and innovation.

He welcomed a recent decision of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to extend the operating hours of its yuan payments systems to accommodate European transactions, particularly yuan trades in London. The new London-Hong Kong Forum will examine other ways London and Hong Kong can streamline clearing and settlement systems, boost market liquidity and develop new yuan-denominated products.

It will initially be comprised of leading bankers from both centers, including HSBC Holdings, Standard Chartered, Barclays and Bank of China. Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said the forum would meet twice a year, starting in Hong Kong in May. “Banks and financial institutions in London are most welcome to make good use of Hong Kong’s offshore RMB platform,” he said. “The forum will focus on exploring ways to enhance linkages between Hong Kong and London.” — AFP

Bovis Homes sees profit rise in 2012 LONDON: British housebuilder Bovis Homes Group Plc expects a sharp rise in earnings this year, underscoring the effectiveness of its measures to boost profit margins and shift to the more economically buoyant southern parts of Britain.

“We should see ongoing growth in volumes, price and margins, and the benefit of compounding those three, your bottom line profit starts moving very quickly,” Chief Executive David Ritchie told Reuters.

A focus on margins is helping UK housebuilders recover their footing after several difficult years, supported by lower land prices, cost-cutting and a shift in product mix from apartments towards houses, which is lifting selling prices. Smaller builders such as Bovis have also been able to adapt more quickly to rocky trading conditions by retrenching out of the north and refocusing on the more prosperous south, as well as ramping up the number of sites it operates from.

This is enabling a profit recovery in the sector, despite flat conditions in the housing market overall and uncertainty around the general economic outlook which is keeping many speculative buyers at home.

Ritchie noted that market activity would remain depressed, but said the fortune of housebuilders was no-longer directly tied to the level of housing transactions. He added sales had held up in the autumn through to the end of December, a trend which had continued in recent weeks, echoing comments from larger peers Barratt Developments Plc and Persimmon Plc. “We’ve had two solid trading weeks in 2012 so far, and I would expect the next few weeks to be very similar. People appear not to be put off from buying a new home,” said Ritchie. The prospect for homebuyers in the UK however is more bleak, with the number of first-time buyers plummeting to a record low in 2011.

A lack of mortgage availability is constraining the market, a situation which is not expected to change radically in the short-to-mid term, despite government measures such as a mortgage indemnity scheme, expected to be launched in the Spring. — Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

business

Bahrain Air appoints Caesars Travel Co as GSA in Kuwait

Amjad Ahmed

Salah Al-Fulaij

Samer Khalidi

NBK Capital completes exit of Hanco in Saudi $140 million worth sale fetches significant return KUWAIT: NBK Capital announced yesterday the successful sale of its stake in Hanco, a leading fleet leasing and rental company in Saudi Arabia, in a deal valuing the Company at $140 million. The sale generated a significant return in excess of two times the initial investment for NBK Capital Equity Partners Fund I. The Firm’s private equity fund focused on providing growth capital to companies in the MENA region.

Established in 1976, Hanco is one of the largest fleet leasing and rental companies in Saudi Arabia. Since the Firm’s initial investment back in 2008, the Company witnessed record growth more than doubling its fleet size and revenue to become the second largest fleet leasing and rental company in Saudi Arabia.

Amjad Ahmad, Senior Managing Director at

NBK Capital stated, “our partnership with the Bin Suleiman Group was extremely productive and our complementary skills resulted in developing Hanco into an industry leader in Saudi Arabia.

This accomplishment is even more meaningful in the context of the global financial crisis that unraveled during our investment period.”

Samer Khalidi, Executive Director continued, “we are proud to have been able to contribute directly to further enhancing profitability through specific initiatives identified and championed by the team. Working directly with our partners and the Company’s excellent management team, we have contributed to direct profit enhancement of the business, which proved instrumental in attracting interest from financial and strategic investors.”

NBK Capital Equity Partners Fund I, managed

by NBK Capital as part of its Alternative Investments Group, is a $250.0 million private equity fund focused on acquiring strategic stakes in growth companies in the MENA region.

The Fund specializes in an active investment approach to create long-term sustainable value through financial, strategic, operating and corporate governance enhancements.

NBK Capital was established in July 2005 as a subsidiary of the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK),one of the region’s oldest and highest rated banks. NBK Capital focuses on four principal lines of business: Alternative Investments, Asset Management, Brokerage & Research and Investment Banking. With offices in Kuwait, Dubai, Istanbul and Cairo, NBK Capital’s team of more than 170 professionals offer superior products and services to clients and investors.

Banks’ deposits at ECB hit another record

Burgan Bank announces Value Account draw winner KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced Yousef Mohammed Mohammed Gouda as the winner of the Burgan Value Account draw. The lucky winner took home a rewarding cash prize equivalent to KD 4,000.

Haneen Al-Rumaihi, Head of Marketing at Burgan Bank said: “Understanding the growing dynamics of the expatriate community, the Value Account was specifically developed to cater to their needs in Kuwait, offering expats an array of banking services and benefits.”

Burgan Bank’s Value Account presents a range of features that are unique to the Kuwaiti market, and these include life insurance services from Gulf Insurance Company, along with a

credit card and an attractive range of exchange rates during remitting money back home from Al-Mezzeini Exchange Company. Also the quarterly draw entitles a lucky customer to win cash prize equivalent to KD 4,000.

Burgan Bank’s online banking also offers account holders the flexibility to transfer money, pay credit card outstanding amounts and much more.

Opening a Value Account is simple, customers are required to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and get all the details. Or simply call the Call Center 1804080 where Customer Service Representatives will assist with any inquiries. For further information visit www.burgan.com

FRANKFURT: Banks’ deposits with the European Central Bank have hit yet another record, data showed yesterday, suggesting ongoing tension in the financial system despite unprecedented liquidity injections. Banks in the eurozone put 493.3 billion euros ($623.7 billion) on deposit for 24 hours at the ECB overnight Sunday, topping the record set on Friday of 489 billion euros.

Since December new records for deposits have regularly been set, seen by some as a possible sign of market tensions since the money deposited earns interest of 0.25 percent, much less than the rate available on the interbank market. Thus, heavy use of the facility suggests banks favor parking the money at low interest with the Frankfurt-based ECB rather than take the risk of lending it to each other. The phenomenon appears particularly significant because it comes after euro-zone banks borrowed nearly half a trillion euros from the ECB last month in a brand-new three-year lending facility.

Concerns have been raised that instead of lending the money on to businesses, the banks have preferred to park the cash at the ECB instead for fear of possible default. ECB chief Mario Draghi last week insisted that the central bank’s liquidity measures were proving effective in tackling the debt crisis and had so far helped to avert a credit crunch. Standard and Poor’s, which Friday downgraded the debt of nine of the bloc’s nations, praised the ECB action for avoiding a collapse in market confidence and relieving the pressure on banks. — AFP

Retail group forecasts 3.4% growth for 2012 NEW YORK: The nation’s largest retail trade group expects a solid 3.4 percent increase in sales this year, below last year’s 4.7 percent increase as job woes weigh on shoppers.

Sales should reach $2.53 trillion in 2012, up from last year’s $2.45 trillion, boosted in part by higher prices across all goods, according to a report yesterday from the National Retail Federation.

The 3.4 percent bump would still outpace the 10-year annual average increase of almost 3.1 percent and would also mark a third consecutive year of recovery for consumer spending.

Sales slumped 3.5 percent in 2009 with the nation still deep in recession However, sales remain well below the more robust figures of 5.5 percent or more that the country would typically see in better economic times. “The forecast is a reflection of the economic conditions. Things have gotten modestly better, but we still have a long way to go,” said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the retail group, based in Washington, DC. The retail sales forecast, which excludes sales of autos, gas and restaurants, was shaped by a variety of economic headwinds. Consumer con-

fidence, while rising, is still below what would be considered healthy. The unemployment rate reached its lowest level in nearly three years in December. But it’s at a high 8.5 percent. And those that have held on to jobs are seeing paltry wage gains that are not keeping up with the rising costs of everything from food to clothing.

The value of the US home has yet to recover, with foreclosed properties dragging down prices everywhere. Consumer spending because it accounts for 70 percent of all US economic activity. And concerns are growing after a holiday season that produced solid sales increases but was marred by heavy discounting to get shoppers to spend. Merchants may have to keep cutting prices and also come up with new ways to get shoppers to spend.

Sales for the November and December period, which account for as much as 40 percent of total annual sales, rose a better-than-expected 4.1 percent, according to NRF’s measure, but business stalled in December. Furthermore, a report Thursday showed that retail exports to Europe sank in November far more than overall US exports did - offering yet more evidence that the economic crisis overseas has begun to

weigh on a recovering, but still fragile, US economy.

If European consumers are pulling back, that could directly affect hiring in the US just as the job market has shown recent signs of strengthening. Still, consumers increased their borrowing in November by the most in a decade, according to a recent report. That could be promising for the retail sector, Shay said, if consumers are growing confident enough to take on debt again.

It may also mean, however, that shoppers are using credit cards only because take-home pay has stagnated. The savings rate fell in November to the lowest level since the recession began, perhaps a symptom of working wages stuck at levels unlikely to revive the retail sector.

Retailers will have to wait and see. “We’ll see a conservative approach to ordering,” said Janet Hoffman, managing director of Accenture’s global retailing practice. She expects orders for the rest of the year will be either unchanged or there will be modest. The annual sales forecast was released as thousands of retailers gather in New York for the industry’s annual convention. — AP

KUWAIT: Caesars Int’l Travel was recently appointed the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Bahrain Air, the second flag Carrier from the Kingdom of Bahrain. “We are delighted to appoint Caesars Int’l Travel as our General Sales Agent for Kuwait and look forward to a further prospective market for Bahrain Air. Caesars Travel Group is one of the most experienced companies in the region as they provide good service which they have developed over the years, that’s one of the reasons, we have chosen Caesars Int’l Travel for our GSA”, said the CEO of Bahrain Air, Richard Nuttall.

Bahrain Air starting its operations to Kuwait from January, 26 with many destinations, Cochin, Calicut, Mumbai, Kathmandu and Khartoum with 4 weekly schedules. Further, Bahrain Air commencing its direct flights from Kuwait to Beirut and back. “Kuwait has always been, and will be, an important market for us and we look forward to rapidly establishing our presence in the Kuwait market. Our relaunching the Bahrain Air flights to Kuwait is after seeing the steady increase in demand on our destinations. With the introduction of flight to Kuwait, Bahrain Air is able to further its footprint in the GCC region,” said Richard.

Bahrain Air GCC network now covers Amman, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah and the airline is actively eyeing additional routes in the region and beyond to add to its growing route network. Effective January 26, 2012 Bahrain Air will offer 4 flights in a week from Kuwait to onward connections to Mumbai, Cochin, Kozhikode and Kathmandu. The airline is having its extensive GCC network. With this established network in the GCC, the passengers from India and Nepal will be able to take the advantage of convenient connections with most competitive and affordable fares. On board, Bahrain is offering free meals in economy class with an inaugural offer of 40 kg baggage allowance to select destinations. Santosh, Sales and Operation Manager for Bahrain Air, Kuwait said, “Kuwait is a very important market for Bahrain Air and an important addition to the airline’s growing Middle East network.

We do have some constraints with our operations to Kuwait before but at this point in time, our re-launching is to establish our presence in Kuwait market as we would like to work closely with the travel agents as they are our biggest strength

and we recognize the important role they play in our business”.

“It’s a great honor for Caesars Int’l Travel to represent Bahrain Air in Kuwait, the second flag carrier of Kingdom of Bahrain. I am confident that Bahrain Air’s 4 weekly operations to Kuwait will facilitate the passengers to take the maximum advantage in choosing their travel plans with an economy costing. Besides, the Beirut operations will be a feather in the cap of Bahrain Air as the Kuwaiti nationals, Lebanese nationals and the other expat population in Kuwait would be able to take advantage of these operations. Moreover, Beirut and Kuwait have the long term cultural relations and the trade between these two countries will further foster stronger relationships better than before”, said Chief Executive Officer, Caesars Travel Group, P N J Kumar.

Bahrain Air booking can be made online at www.bahrainair.net and through the GSA sales office in Kuwait on Tel. 22261027/22261028/22261029 as well as across the airline’s network destinations and through appointed travel agents.

Caesars Int’l Travel, GSA for Bahrain Air and a consortium of airlines representation is managed by Rajesh Reghunath, a veteran in the travel industry, having years of experience in the trade.

“Kuwait is blessed with the most tempting traditional Arabian cultures in the Gulf and started tapping the advantages by developing its world’s professional bilateral relations among the nations. To ease this process, Kuwait has introduced the open sky policy for all airlines in the world, having given the freedom to operate to Kuwait subject to DGCA policies which is helping the aviation arena of Kuwait to represent more airlines in Kuwait, giving access to the passengers for a wider platform of business and leisure. Having this mission in mind, Caesars Travel Management is exploring the possibilities of representing more leading airline’s representation in Kuwait, thereby, giving both nationals and expatriates in Kuwait a broader spectrum of travel arena with an affordable budgets. With the latest addition of Bahrain Air among our represented airlines, we are targeting through Bahrain Air to give the maximum benefit to passengers by offering the most competitive fares to its entire network which I am sure, they can think of traveling frequently” concluded the CEO, Caesars Travel Group, P N J Kumar.

CEO-Richard Nuttall, Raju Pillai, Senior Manager (Revenue Optimization and Planning) and Naeem Mahamoor- Marketing Manager from Bahrain Air with CEO P N J Kumar and Manager (Commercial & Marketing) Rajesh from Caesars Int’l Travel Co during the GSA assignment.

Jazeera Holidays announces winners of holiday packages to Beirut, Dubai and Cairo KUWAIT: Jazeera Holidays, the online holidays booking service by Jazeera Airways and Boodai Aviation, yesterday announced the grand prize winners of its ‘Holiday Packages’ promotion held from October 15th to December 30th for customers booking directly on the Jazeera Holidays website or at a Jazeera Airways sales outlet.

Each winner took home a free holiday package for two persons to Beirut, Dubai or Cairo.

Names of the winners: Mohammad Al-Zuhair won the holiday package for two including return tickets on Jazeera Airways and accommodation at the Raouche Arjaan Hotel in Beirut, • Kawthar Al-Serri won the holiday package for two including return tickets on Jazeera Airways and accommodation at the Bab El Shams Hotel in Dubai, • Fawazy Al-Otaibi won the holiday package for two including return tickets on Jazeera Airways and accommodation at the Kempinski Nile Hote in Cairo.

•

Jazeera Holidays is a one-stop online shop for all-round holiday service available on http://holidays.jazeeraairways. com. The service enables customers to book from thousands of hotels in the

Middle East while booking their flight in a single itinerary and in a single payment, all from the comfort of their home or office, 24-hours a day.

The service delivers the most convenient flights and hotel options for business and leisure travelers at the best prices. Customers can adjust their search results based on price, type of hotel and location. They can also choose their hotel directly from Google maps, to ensure they are totally in control of planning their perfect holiday.

Jazeera Holidays also held promotional drives at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), the Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) and the Arab Open University.

Universities students were invited to participate in online and interactive games to win vouchers for use when booking for their next trip through Jazeera Holidays. Draws were also held in each university for a chance to win a holiday pack age for two persons, including return tickets from Kuwait on Jazeera Air ways and a two -night accommodation in Beirut or Dubai.

Winners were: • Saad Dashti from the American University of Kuwait.

• Hassan Al Hashimi from the Australian College of Kuwait • May Al Shami from the Arab Open University.

27

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

China’s Internet population tops 500 million BEIJING: China now has more than 500 million people on the Internet and nearly half use weibos, microblogs similar to Twitter that can circumvent the country’s powerful censors, official data showed yesterday.

The weibos have become hugely popular platforms for people to vent their anger over perceived injustices or corruption and organize and spread news of protests, posing a challenge to government attempts to control information.

Almost 56 million Chinese-equivalent to nearly the population of Britain used the Internet for the first time in 2011, taking the country’s vast online population to 513 million.

China already had more Internet users than anywhere else in the world. The rise in the number of people using the weibos was particularly dramatic, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) figures show, jump-

ing to 250 million from just 63 million at the end of 2010.

“Chinese authorities are more and more concerned about the Internet because it’s such a decentralized medium and so difficult to control,” said David Bandurski, a Hong Kong-based researcher at the China Media Project. “Since 2005, the whole focus of control of information has shifted from traditional media to the Internet.”

China regularly blocks web content it deems politically sensitive in a vast censorship system dubbed the “Great Firewall of China” and is hugely concerned about the power of the Internet to influence public opinion. But weibo users have been able to get around the controls by re-posting information and images as fast as the authorities can take them down.

A weibo user is believed to have broken the news of a deadly highspeed train crash in July that provoked widespread condemnation of

the government-much of it onlineand raised doubts about the expensive rail project.

News of a rare revolt against Communist officials in the southern village of Wukan last month first emerged on weibos and rapidly attracted worldwide media attention, before coming to a successful end after authorities pledged to investigate residents’ grievances.

But in a bid to exert more control over microblogs, some cities such as Shanghai and Beijing now require weibo users to register under their real names, making it easier for authorities to track them.

Bandurski said some high-profile weibo users with huge followings had come under pressure recently as a result of a campaign to control the Internet.

“It is believed that they were issued with a number of warnings,” he said. CNNIC said that the number of people using more traditional communication tools such as

emails, web forums or blogs was falling as the weibos grew in popularity. Rural Internet use rose by 8.9 percent last year to 136 million people, but huge disparities still exist between rich and poor regions, the data shows.

While more than 70 percent of Beijing’s population used the Internet last year, only 24.2 percent of people went online in the southwestern province of Guizhou-the poorest in China.

The number of people surfing the web on mobile phones reached 356 million in 2011, up by nearly 53 million, the industry group said.

And whereas more than 30 percent of school children and students go online, only 0.7 percent of government and Communist Party cadres do, it added.

Overall, the group said that while the number of web users continued to rise in the world’s most populous country, the rate of growth was gradually slowing. —AFP

XINJIANG: Customers use computers at an internet cafe in Hami, northwest China’s Xinjiang region yesterday. China now has more than 500 million people on the Internet and nearly half use weibos, microblogs similar to Twitter that can circumvent the country’s powerful censors, official data showed. —AFP

Internet giants fight Web control in India ‘Not possible for companies to block content’

LAS VEGAS: An exhibitor demonstrates a Solowheel at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The one-wheeled device, which has no frame or saddle, uses footboards that fold out from the wheel and a gyroscope that helps keep the rider upright. —AP

Apple discloses suppliers’ list NEW YORK: Apple has disclosed a list of its suppliers for the iPhone, iPad and other popular gadgets for the first time amid growing criticism over labor and environmental practices, especially in China. The list for years has been strictly and fervently protected. Even a glimpse of an Apple iPhone or its components before a public release became a source of intrigue and controversy.

Investors have played a guessing game about which contractors would become Apple’s next supplier, or who was on the outs.

Apple disclosed its list of its suppliers responsible for 97 percent of its procurement expenditures worldwide. Some examples are Intel Corp, Broadcom Corp, Amphenol Corp and Sanyo Electric Co. The transparency may be a sign of changes coming to the Cupertino, California company in the post-Steve Jobs era under CEO Tim Cook.

The 2012 “Supplier Responsibility Progress Report” released Friday, documents 229 audits throughout its supply

chain last year by Apple Inc. That’s up 80 percent from 127 audits in 2010.

The audits found labor, health, health and environmental violations, including instances of underage labor and discrimination based on pregnancy. Apple also outlined its response to each of the violations that were uncovered, which included ending its relationship with repeat offenders and requiring companies to come up with measures to prevent them from occurring again.

The report was issued a day after distraught workers who make Microsoft’s Xbox video game consoles at Foxconn Technology Group climbed to the top of a six-story dormitory and threatened to jump to their deaths. No one did, but the incident highlights growing labor unrest in China.

Foxconn is a unit of Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. that makes iPads and iPhones for Apple. There was a rash of suicides at the massive Foxconn plant in 2010 in the city of Shenzhen. About 300,000 people work at the plant and industrial park. —AP

NEW DELHI: Internet giants Google and Facebook told an Indian court yesterday that it is not possible for companies to block offensive content that appears on their websites, in a case that has stoked fears about censorship in the world’s largest democracy.

Google and Facebook are among 21 companies that have been asked to develop a mechanism to block objectionable material, after a private petitioner took the websites to court over images deemed offensive to Hindus, Muslims and Christians.

At the heart of the dispute is a law passed last year in the country that makes companies

responsible for user content posted on their websites, requiring them to take it down within 36 hours in case of a complaint.

The case was originally filed in a lower court, but the companies have appealed to the Delhi High Court, challenging the lower court’s ruling asking them to take down some content.

“The search engine only takes you till the website. What happens after that is beyond a search engine’s control,” Neeraj Kishan Kaul, a lawyer for Google’s Indian unit, told a packed High Court hearing yesterday.

“If you use blocks, which is very easy for people to say, you will inadvertently block other

things as well. For example: the word ‘sex’. Even a government document like a voter ID list or a passport has the word ‘sex’,” he added. Siddharth Luthra, a lawyer for Facebook told the court it was not possible for the social network to “single out” any individual on the basis of religion or views and said the users should be held responsible for content they post.

Less than a tenth of India’s 1.2 billion population have access to Internet although its 100-odd million users make it the third biggest Internet market after China and the United States.

Internet users in India are seen nearly tripling to 300 million over the next three years.

Kaspersky Lab: Duqu and Stuxnet not the only malicious programs

LAS VEGAS: A member of the media tries on a Haier Brain Wave TV headset at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas. The headset, which measures brain waves with one sensor on the wearer’s forehead and another clipped onto an earlobe, can sense if the user wants something on a TV set to go up or down. Haier is selling the set in China, but has no plans to bring it to market in the US. —AP

Control a PC with body motions

US shoe seller says hacker compromised accounts. This photo shows a view of the online shoe seller Zappos.com. —AFP

US shoe seller says hacker compromised accounts WASHINGTON: US online shoe seller Zappos.com was notifying some 24 million customers yesterday that a hacker had gained entry to its computer network, but said credit card data was not affected. “We were recently the victim of a cyber attack by a criminal who gained access to parts of our internal network and systems through one of our servers in Kentucky,” chief executive Tony Hsieh said in a message Sunday. “We are cooperating with law enforcement to undergo an exhaustive investigation.”

Hsieh said the database with credit card or other payment data “was not affected or accessed.” A message sent to customers said that the hackers may have

accessed “one or more of the following: your name, e-mail address, billing and shipping addresses, phone number, the last four digits of your credit card number (the standard information you find on receipts), and/or your cryptographically scrambled password (but not your actual password).”

Zappos, which claims to have more than $1 billion in annual sales of shoes and other merchandise, said it had invalidated the current passwords of customers, requiring them to reset their accounts. The retailer operates as an independent unit of Amazon.com, which acquired Zappos in 2009 for $1.2 billion. —AFP

Despite the new rules to block offensive content, India’s Internet access is still largely free unlike the tight controls in neighboring China. Civil rights groups have opposed the new laws. But politicians say that posting offensive images in the socially conservative country with a history of violence between religious groups presents a danger to the public as Internet use grows.

The high court will resume hearing the case on Thursday, Justice Suresh Kait said. The judge was last week quoted by local media warning the websites of China-style controls if they did not create a means to curb material seen as offensive. —Reuters

LAS VEGAS: Don’t trash your keyboard and mouse just yet. But three companies at the International Consumer Electronics Show demonstrated depthsensing cameras that let you to control your computer by moving your hands or body.

Microsoft’s Kinect add-on for the Xbox 360 console has already popularized these cameras for gaming. Now, the technology is being set loose for use on other devices. However, like many gadgets shown at the annual Las Vegas-based extravaganza of phones, PCs and TVs, the cameras aren’t quite ready for the mass market. The companies showed off their cameras to give software developers and gadget makers a chance to work with the technology and incorporate it in their products.

For the rest of us, it’s a taste of what the future might hold.

WHY IT’S HOT: The cameras represent another challenge to the keyboard-and-mouse regime, which is already being eroded by touch screens.

If you’re in front of a depth-sensing camera, you don’t have to touch the screen to control it with your fingers or hands. ( This works with non-depthsensing cameras as well, but they’re not as good at figuring out what you’re doing.) At the PrimeSense booth, visitors could browse and play the contents of a digital video library with

hand gestures - basically, anything you’d do with a mouse today. The Israeli company’s camera goes into the Kinect and is now sold separately as the Asus Xtion.

BEHIND THE LENS: The cameras can tell how far away things are in their field of vision.

PrimeSense does this by sending out an invisible pattern of light, and registering how it’s deformed when it hits objects. SoftKinetics’ camera works almost like radar, but with light: it sends out infrared light and measures how fast it comes back. Where it takes longer, it figures out that that part of the image is further away.

THE DOWNSIDE: If you buy one of these now, there isn’t much you can do with it, unless you’re a software developer. The Asus Xtion comes with a few simple Kinect-like games for your PC. For all of these cameras, the depthsensing range is limited to about 12 feet, and at the far end of the range, accuracy is reduced. That means finger gestures may not be picked up from across the living room.

AVAILABILITY: Microsoft said it will start selling a “Kinect for Windows” camera starting Feb. 1st, for $249. Asus started selling the Xtion in December for $149. SoftKinetics, a Belgian company, started selling its camera around the same time for $499. —AP

KUWAIT: New information on the infections with the Duqu and Stuxnet Trojans confirms that one team is behind this family of malicious programs, and also permits the assumption that a single platform was used, which is flexibly adaptable to specific targets. Besides, this platform may have been developed long before the Stuxnet epidemic and used more actively than has been thought up to now. Such a conclusion was made by Kaspersky Lab experts based on detailed analysis of the drivers used for infecting systems with Duqu and Stuxnet, and also some malicious programs details of which are as yet unknown.

The platform, which has been dubbed “ Tilded” (because of the tendency of its creators to use files that start with the tilde symbol (~)), in the opinion of Kaspersky Lab’s experts was used for the creation of Stuxnet and Duqu, and also other malicious programs.

The connection between Duqu and Stuxnet was revealed during the analysis of one of the incidents with regard to Duqu. During the investigation of the infected system thought to have been attacked in August 2011, a driver was found that was similar to the one used by one of the versions of Stuxnet. Though there were clear likenesses between the two drivers, there were also some differences in the details, such as the date of signing of the digital certificate. Other files which it was possible to attribute to the activity of Stuxnet were not found, but there were traces of activity of Duqu.

The processing of the obtained information and the further search in the database of malicious programs of Kaspersky Lab allowed to reveal one more driver with similar characteristics. It was discovered more than a year ago, but the file was compiled in January 2008, a year before the creation of the drivers used by Stuxnet. In all the Kaspersky Lab experts found seven types of drivers with similar characteristics. It is noteworthy that for three of them there is as yet no information about specifically which malicious program they were used with.

Alexander Gostev, Chief Security Expert at Kaspersky Lab, said: “The drivers from the still unknown malicious programs cannot be attributed to activity of the Stuxnet and Duqu Trojans. The methods of dissemination of Stuxnet would have brought about a large number of infections with these drivers; and they can’t be attributed either to the more targeted Duqu Trojan due to the compilation date. We consider that these drivers were used either in an earlier version of Duqu, or for infection with completely different malicious programs, which moreover have the same platform and, it is likely, a single creatorteam”.

According to Kaspersky Lab’s experts’ version, the cybercriminals behind Duqu and Stuxnet several times a year create a new version of the driver, which is used for loading the main module of the malicious program. Upon planned new attacks, with the help of a special program several parameters of the driver are changed, for example like the registry key. Depending on the task such file can also be signed by a legal digital certificate, or remain without a signature at all.

Thus, Duqu and Stuxnet are separate projects, which were created on the basis of a single platform - Tilded which was developed around the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008. It is most likely that this project was not the only one, but the aims and tasks of the different variants of the Trojan program are as yet unknown. It cannot be ruled out that this platform continues to develop; moreover, the discovery of Duqu by security experts will mean further changes are being or will be made to the platform. The full version of the report of Alexander Gostev and Igor Sumenkov is available at Securelist.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Russian Mars probe meets inglorious end in Pacific The craft was loaded with 11,000 tons of toxic fuel MOSCOW: Russia vowed yesterday to expose the officials responsible for the failure of a Mars probe that the military said crashed into the Pacific Ocean after orbiting the Earth for more than two months. The 13.5-tonne Phobos-Grunt probe re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere late Sunday and was thought to have mostly burned up in an ignominious end to an ill-fated bid to relaunch Russia’s interplanetary program. It had blasted off November 9 on an ambitious mission to collect soil samples from Mars’ largest moon Phobos. But its booster rockets never triggered and the probe lost contact with ground control and spiraled into an uncontrolled descent.

“I’m taking personal control of the investigation into the reasons for the PhobosGrunt accident,” Russia’s former ambassador to NATO and recently appointed Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin wrote on his Twitter account. Rogozin said he expected the Russian space agency Roscosmos to name the “anti-heroes” responsible for the

latest in a series of space failures. “I am expecting Roscosmos’ promised report on the reasons for the accidents, the names of the anti-heroes and also its view on the prospects for developing the space sector up to 2030,” he wrote. He added he would attend a meeting with constructors on January 31. Russia’s military space forces said fragments of the probe were believed to have crashed Sunday into the Pacific Ocean, although there were no reports that its impact had been observed. Space forces spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin told Russian news agencies that the impact site was some 1,250 kilometers (800 miles) west of the island of Wellington off the coast of Chile. After remaining silent on the probe’s fate until yesterday afternoon, Roscosmos said in a brief statement that the probe “had ceased its existence” in a section covering “the southern part of the Pacific Ocean, South America and the Atlantic Ocean.”

Roscosmos had predicted 20 or 30 segments weighing no more than 200 kilo-

Warnings of ecological time bomb after Tuscan ship wreck ITALY: Fears rose of an environmental disaster from a wrecked cruise ship in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Italy yesterday as bad weather brought rescue work to a halt amid choppy seas. “This is an ecological timebomb,” Sergio Ortelli, mayor of the picturesque Tuscan island where the luxury Costa Concordia liner hit underwater rocks and keeled over on Friday with more than 4,200 passengers and crew aboard. Ortelli said there were 2,380 tons of fuel on the ship. “This is the second worry after human lives,” he said, as crews began putting down anti-spill booms.

“I hope that the fuel can be taken off the ship soon and maybe the ship can be removed too because it is hampering navigation,” he said. “We are monitoring constantly but there has been no spill so far,” he added. However Rodolfo Raiteri, the head of the coastguard diving teams searching for survivors, said the ship had shifted nine centimeters (four inches) and the divers had been called off for the time being. Fifteen people were still feared trapped in the wreckage after the disaster which left at least six dead. Famous for its sandy beaches and rustic charm, Giglio is a major holiday destination in the summer when the population swells from around 800 permanent residents to some 5,000 people and is dotted with exclusive villas. The island is also a major marine sanctu-

ary and popular for whale-spotting. Local officials are calling for new rules imposing strict limits on navigation in the area and in particular an end to the practice of “showboating” when cruise ships file past close to the island.

The owner of the ship, Costa Cruises, has been instructed by coastguards “to remove the wreck of the ship and avoid any spill of oil into the sea,” said Filippo Marini, head of the local coastguard press office. “We are putting in place booms right now but so far there hasn’t been any leak. There is maximum attention on the environmental problem. We are all working together to resolve this as soon as possible,” he said. Representatives of two ship salvage companies, US-based Titan Salvage and Netherlands-based Smit-the biggest European player in the industry, were already on the island waiting for a contract to begin operations.

One of the men, who declined to be named, said the contract could run into the millions of euros (dollars) but that the process of pumping fuel out of the tanks could only start later this week after all the equipment is in place. He also said the actual removal of the ship could take weeks and excluded the possibility that it could be cut up on site but said the details of how exactly the 114,500-tonne wreck could be taken off the shore were confidential. —AFP

grams (440 pounds) in total would survive the explosive re-entry and actually hit the Earth’s surface. It remained unclear how much of the probe burned up in the atmosphere and whether any fragments landed on Earth. “It could have broken into tiny pieces after an explosion with none of them reaching Earth, or if they reached Earth, they could have spread over a huge area,” said Igor Marinin, editor-in-chief of Space News magazine.

The unmanned $165 million vessel is one of the largest objects to re-enter the atmosphere since Russia brought down the Soviet-era Mir space station in 2001.

Sky gazers reported the gold-colored vessel emitting a bright orange glow as it circled the globe in an eastward direction between London to the north and New Zealand to the south. The craf t was loaded with 11,000 tons of toxic fuelenough to take it to Phobos-as well as a Chinese satellite it had been due to put in orbit around Mars under a landmark deal

with Beijing. The probe’s fatal end provides a bitter reminder for Russia of the prowess it has lost in the half-century since Yuri Gagarin’s historic first space flight in 1961.

“Five and half billion rubles and all the hopes of Russian space science for a revival... today burn up without any glory in the earth’s atmosphere,” space expert Vadim Lukashevich wrote on the website of the Echo of Moscow radio. “Russian cosmonautics de facto no longer exists. All that exists is the remains of the Soviet system.” The accident is one of the more highprofile mishaps in a year littered with unprecedented setbacks for the oncevaunted Russian space program. It struck less than three months after an unmanned Progress supply ship bound for the International Space Station crashed into Siberia. Russia also lost three navigation satellites as well as an advanced military satellite and a telecommunications satellite in the past year.—AFP

Carbon dioxide affecting fish brains SYDNEY: Rising human carbon dioxide emissions may be affecting the brains and central nervous systems of sea fish, with serious consequences for their survival, according to research released yesterday.

Carbon dioxide concentrations predicted to occur in the ocean by the end of this century will interfere with fishes’ ability to hear, smell, turn and evade predators, the research found. The Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies said it had been testing the performance of baby coral fishes in sea water containing higher levels of dissolved CO2 for several years.

“And it is now pretty clear that they sustain significant disruption to their central nervous system, which is likely to impair their chances of survival,” said Phillip Munday, a professor who reported the findings. In a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, Munday and his colleagues also detail what they say is world-first evidence that high CO2 levels in sea water disrupts a key brain receptor in fish. This causes marked changes in their behaviour and sensory abilities. “We’ve

found that elevated CO2 in the oceans can directly interfere with fish neurotransmitter functions, which poses a direct and previously unknown threat to sea life,” said Munday. The team began by studying how baby clown and damsel fishes performed alongside their predators in CO2-enriched water. They found that while the predators were somewhat affected, the baby fish suffered much higher rates of attrition. “Our early work showed that the sense of smell of baby fish was harmed by higher CO2 in the water, meaning they found it harder to locate a reef to settle on or detect the warning smell of a predator fish,” said Munday. The team then examined whether fishes’ sense of hearing-used to locate and home in on reefs at night, and avoid them during the day-was affected. “The answer is, yes it was. They were confused and no longer avoided reef sounds during the day.

Being attracted to reefs during daylight would make them easy meat for predators.”

The research also showed that the fish also tended to lose their natural instinct to turn left or right-an important factor in schooling behavior. —AFP

Biggest Losers offer tips for weight loss

Canada urges to conceal fetal sex over abortion fears MONTREAL: An editorial in a major Canadian medical journal yesterday urged doctors to conceal the gender of a fetus from all pregnant women until 30 weeks to prevent sex-selective abortion by Asian immigrants. A separate article in the same issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal warns that Canada has become “a haven for parents who would terminate female fetuses in favor of having sons” due to advanced prenatal testing and easy access to abortion.

“Female feticide happens in India and China by the millions, but it also happens in North America in numbers large enough to distort the male to female ratio in some ethnic groups,” said the editorial by interim editor-in-chief Rajendra Kale.

While few studies have been done to assess how frequent the practice may be among immigrant communities in Canada, the editorial points to research that suggests sex-selection is more common among immigrants from India, China, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines who already have at least one daughter.

It cites US census data from 2000 that shows malebiased sex ratios among US-born children of Asian parents, and a study of 65 Indian women in the US from 2004-2009 that showed 89 percent of them terminated pregnancies with female fetuses. Kale told AFP he believes that several hundred sex-selective abortions take place in Canada each year. “Should female feticide in Canada be ignored because it is a small problem localized to minority ethnic groups?

No,” said the editorial written by Kale, a Mumbai-born neurologist. “The solution is to postpone the disclosure of medically irrelevant information to women until after about 30 weeks of pregnancy.” Canada in 2004 outlawed fertility practices that would increase the likelihood that an embryo will be a certain sex, or that would identify an invitro embryo by sex for any reason other than to diagnose a sex-linked disorder or disease. Kale said the Canadian medical establishment needs to go further, and make express rulings that would ban fetal sex disclosure before seven months, when it is too late for an abortion.

He added that doctors should nevertheless “avoid painting all Asians with the same broad brush and doing injustice to those who are against sex selection,” but called for collective cooperation by women of all races. “The execution of a ‘disclose sex only after 30 weeks’ policy would require the understanding and willingness of women of all ethnicities to make a temporary compromise,” he wrote.

“Postponing the transmission of such information is a small price to pay to save thousands of girls in Canada.” The Canadian Medical Association, the country’s largest doctors’ group with 70,000 members, stressed that editorial viewpoints are not necessarily those of the CMA.—AFP

MICHIGAN: (Left) Mike and his father, Ron Morelli, talk about their experience on “The Biggest Loser” next to life-size photos of them before competing at a market in Grosse Point. (Centre) Helen Phillips exercises in Warren, Michigan, in December 2011 as she strives to keep off the weight.

(Right) Helen Phillips shows off the shirt she wore when starting on her way to winning the TV show “The Biggest Loser.” —MCT photos DETROIT: For almost all of her adult life, Helen Phillips made one New Year’s resolution-the same one every year: “I’m going to lose weight.” She would kick off the year with new gym shoes and workout clothes to match her motivation, but her enthusiasm would wear out before her new shoes.

Like many of us, she would end the year with no pounds lost or worse-far more gained than she had temporarily lost.

That all changed in 2009, when she became a contestant on NBC’s reality weight-loss show, “The Biggest Loser.”

Phillips proudly became half the woman she used to bedropping from 257 to 117 pounds-to become the season’s “Biggest Loser” and at age 48 the oldest person to earn that top spot. Others have lost big on the show, too, including Pete Thomas, 43, of Ann Arbor, Mich, who shed 185 pounds and was the biggest at-home loser in 2005; Ron Morelli, 57, whose entire South Lyon, Mich., family has gone from fat to fit since 2009, when he appeared on the show, and Carla Triplett, 40, of Detroit, who is 100 pounds lighter and still on her weight-loss journey.

These four “Biggest Losers” all now spend at least part of their time coaching, coaxing and encouraging others to lose weight. As many people make America’s most popular resolution this new year, Phillips, Thomas, Morelli and Triplett offer their stories and tips to help along the way. They all agree, however, that a key step toward reaching a healthy weight is to stop temporary dieting. Instead, decide to permanently change the way you live. Pete Thomas remembers when simply walking up a flight of stairs left him winded. He weighed 416 pounds. If you’d told him he’d run a marathon one day, he would have assumed you were out of your mind. But Thomas ran the Detroit Free Press marathon in 2006 and has run several half-marathons since then. He sees a triathlon in his future. He could not have envisioned it before being a “Biggest Loser” contestant, which he calls the start of his new life. He lost 83 pounds in two months on the show and lost 102 more pounds in nine months at home on his own.

“I feel amazing,” Thomas says. “I even think sharper. I’m not sluggish in my mind or my body. I feel like I could hike the Grand Canyon and then come back and dance all night.

You can’t do that if you’re carrying an extra person in your body.” Thomas now teaches weight loss through a program called “Lose it Fast, Lose it Forever.” He works as a motivational speaker and corporate wellness consultant and continues to speak on behalf of the reality show.

“Your biggest tool is your mind,” Thomas says. “Stop lying to yourself. If you were eating and exercising right, you

wouldn’t be overweight.” It’s also vital to enlist a team of supporters, he says. “The secret sauce to success is the teamwork,” says Thomas. He recalls being on the verge of quitting during the show only to look up and see his teammates pushing through their pain, which fueled his determination to keep going. “Motivation by nature is fleeting, but if you have a team of people pushing one another, you’re more likely to keep going.”

The first thing Helen Phillips had to do before she could lose weight was believe she could do it. She’d been fat so long and tried every conceivable diet-some more than once-that she had lost confidence in herself. “You just get to a point where you stop believing you can accomplish it,” says Phillips, 51, of Sterling Heights, Mich. She’d pretty much given up trying. “The Biggest Loser” showed her that she could succeed. “Right off the bus, they have you exercising,” Phillips recalls. “I didn’t even think I could exercise like that.

And I was doing it. That gave me confidence, and with each accomplishment I gained more confidence.”

The show also taught her something she tells others-set small, achievable goals. The thought of losing 100 pounds looked impossible to her. Instead of thinking of losing large amounts of weight, think about a smaller number.

Approach exercise the same way, she advises. “If you can’t walk three miles, decide that today I’m going to walk three blocks, then four, five,” she says. Pick one goal every day.

Phillips has made exercise a regular part of daily life. “I don’t let two days go by without exercising,” she says. Variety is important, says Phillips, who works out at least 1{ hours each time. She goes to two gyms, walks when weather allows and swims, shoots hoops and ice skates.

She recommends that people check with their doctor or a nutritionist to learn how many calories they should eat per day to maintain a healthy weight and to lose weight and then to meticulously keep an accurate count. “It really is calories in and calories out,” she says. “It can be done with support from others and control from yourself.”

You have to view doing daily exercise like taking your daily dose of medicine, says Ron Morelli, 57, of South Lyon. “I hate it, but I do it,” he says. “If your doctor told you (that) you had cancer and you need chemotherapy, you’d make time for chemotherapy,” he says. “I make time to walk on the treadmill. That’s just what I do-at least five of seven days.”

Doing so and eating healthier-fewer fatty foods in smaller amounts-helped Morelli go from 430 pounds when he started on “The Biggest Loser” to 275 today. He’d weighed even more before gastric bypass surgery, which he had in

1995. Before the surgery, his weight had hit 532 pounds.

Losing weight has become a family affair for Ron, his wife, Becky, 47, and their sons, Mike, 21, and Max, 19.

Together they’ve written a book about their story, “Fat Family/Fit Family: How We Beat Obesity and You Can Too” (Plume, $15), published earlier this year. In total, they’ve shed 650 pounds since the 2009 show-the same season as Phillips. “The key is never giving up,” Morelli says. “Don’t let a slip ruin the day or the week. There are days-like during the holidays-when you’re going to overeat. So what? Get over it.” In addition to preparing healthier meals at home, they’ve learned to make healthier choices when they eat out.

“Recently, we went to Frankenmuth and we didn’t go ... for the fried chicken,” says Morelli, a retired South Lyon councilman. “Before, that was the reason to go to Frankenmuth. But you find out, there are other things to do there.” Carla Triplett’s “ah-ha” moment came when she sat in a chair at Comerica Bank, where she’s a branch manager, and the chair broke. That’s when she knew she had to lose weight.

Triplett, 40, of Detroit was among the 2009 contestants, along with Morelli and Phillips. She was among the first contestants sent home from the weight-loss ranch.

That didn’t stop her, however. Since being on the show, she has lost 128 pounds and is still working toward her goal of 170 pounds. She weighs 289 — still not where she wants to be, but closer to her goal when she started the show at 379 pounds. She has become the spokeswoman for a healthy weight-loss campaign based at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit called “30 Days to Lose It.” The weekly Tuesday program resumes Jan. 10. The main thing she learned on the show was the importance of reading food labels.“You would think you’re eating or drinking a certain number of calories and not know you’re consuming three times that much because one package contains three servings,” she points out. “Being on the show made me more conscious of what I was putting in my mouth,” says Triplett. Triplett enjoys boxing and dancing because she discovered that by dancing vigorously, she can burn more calories than she does on an elliptical trainer.

Boxing also burns a lot of calories and both are fun, she says.

“People stop exercising because they become bored,” she says. “I box and dance because I enjoy doing those things.

Boxing also helped me get over the frustration of not being on the show.” To keep yourself motivated, Triplett advises hanging a photo of clothing you’d like to wear someplace very visible. “I’ll never be skinny, but skinny doesn’t equate to healthy and I can become healthier,” she says.—MCT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

H E A LT H

Conquering the chilly workouts of winter NEW YORK: The short days, the weak sun, and the warm beds of winter can wreak havoc on your fitness routine. As the outside temperature plummets, so too can the will to brave the elements for outdoor exercise. Experts say as long as you layer up, drink up and tune into how cold is just too cold it shouldn’t impact your fitness.

“Come with a different game plan for the winter,” advises Jessica Matthews, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise (ACE).”Motivation tends to wane a bit, so explore different activities, including things you can do in your own home. Have a flexible approach to your fitness routine as the weather changes.”

If you’re keen to exercise outside in all seasons, says Matthews, learn to dress for workout success.” Wear layers. That’s really important when it’s cold outside and make sure you’re not becoming wet. Heavy cotton soaks up sweat, so you might want to stick with wool or polyester: something water repellent.” Matthews suggests a first layer of lightweight synthetic. “The second can be a little heavier, but still avoid heavy cotton,” she said.

And don’t leave home without hat and gloves. Heat loss from the head alone is about 50 percent at the freezing mark, according to

ACE’s safety tips for cold weather.

Keeping hands and feet warm is crucial because in cold the body shunts blood away from the extremities to warm internal organs at the center. “In temperatures below zero, consider a scarf or face mask, kept loosely over mouth, to warm the air a little bit before it gets into your body,” Matthews said. Sometimes it’s just too cold outside. “Check the air temperature and wind chill factor before exercising in the cold,” Matthews said. “Data from the National Safety Council suggest that when the wind chill factor falls below -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 Celsius), a danger zone exists.”Hypothermia is a potentially fatal condition. Warning signs include light-headedness, dizziness and lethargy. “ Those are the beginning stages,” Matthews said. Most people are not likely to forget to layer up in the cold, but they will more easily neglect to hydrate. “It’s too easy to forget to hydrate in the cold, and it’s so important to stay hydrated in winter,” said Matthews.

“You are going to sweat.”She suggests drinking up to 20 ounces (0.59 liters) of water two or three hours before working out.

Deborah Plitt is a trainer with the Illinois-based equipment company Life Fitness, which recently broke

down the calorie burn of 30 minutes of winter activities, such as sledding (250 calories), ice skating (230 calories), shoveling snow (230 calories).

“Of course there’s a lot of wiggle room (in the calculations). It’s based on an average woman of 145 pounds (65 kilos),” said Plitt.

“And sledding and snow shoveling

depends on whether the snow is wet or fluffy.” Plitt said the point is to stay physically active, regardless of the weather, even if that means just taking the dog for a walk (125 calories). “They’re mixing things up; they’re enjoying what they’re doing,” she said. “And believe it or not you burn more calories when you’re shivering.”—Reuters

Magnesium-rich diet may lower stroke risk NEW YORK: People who eat lots of magnesium-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables, nuts and beans have fewer strokes, according to an international analysis covering some 250,000 people. But the authors of the study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, stopped short of recommending people take a daily magnesium supplement because their analysis focused on magnesium in food-and it may be another aspect of the food that is responsible for their finding.

“Dietary magnesium intake is inversely associated with risk of stroke, specifically ischemic stroke,” wrote lead author Susanna Larsson, a professor at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. The results suggest that people eat a healthy diet with “magnesium-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and whole grains,” she added. Larsson and her colleagues combed through research databases spanning the last 45 years to find studies that tracked how much magnesium people took and how many of them had a stroke over time.

In seven studies published in the past 14 years, about 250,000 people in the United States, Europe and Asia were followed for an average of 11.5 years. About 6,500 of them, or three

percent, had a stroke in the time they were followed. For every extra 100 milligrams of magnesium a person ate per day, their risk of an ischemic stroke-the most common kind, typically caused by a blood clot-fell by nine percent.

The median magnesium intake for US citizens included in the analysis was 242 milligrams a day. The United States recommends that men and women over age 31 eat 420 and 320 milligrams of magnesium daily, respectively. Most of the studies allowed the researchers to rule out other factors, such as family history.

But Larsson told Reuters Health in an email that she could not say whether other aspects of what the people ate partially or entirely explained the finding. More in-depth studies are needed before researchers can say that the magnesium was what actually reduced the stroke risk, she added. Other experts said the results were consistent with dietary recommendations.”It’s a diet that’s rich in fruits, vegetables and grains. Those are things that have low sodium, high potassium and high magnesium,” said Larry Goldstein, director of the stroke center at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. “It’s again the diet per se, not any one individual component of the diet.”—Reuters

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N Greetings

Happy birthday to Awad Abdullah Awad Al Saadi. Best wishes from father Abdullah Awad Al Saadi, uncles Rashad, Khalid, Nasar, Mansoor and Abdul Rahman.

BLS to host book writer

ILOA complimented by CBSE for excellent learning environment

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he British Ladies Society of Kuwait has invited Marita Phillips, author and playwright, to give a talk at their Library Session in Rumaithiya. The Library starts at 10am but Marita will be there just after 12 noon. Everyone is welcome to come & meet her, hear about her life as a writer, and to buy her book ‘The Dream Dealer’ on Thursday, January 19th.

Marita Phillips is the author of The Dream Dealer, a children’s book that was made into a musical and performed here in Kuwait (amongst other places in the world). Phillips will be visiting Kuwait this month to see another of her musicals, “Buzz: The Story of Glorybee,” performed at the opening of Bayt Abdulla.

Book Synopsis: What starts as an ordinary school playground with ordinary teenage tensions, gangs and cliques, takes a sinister turn when a stranger parks his Ice Cream Van outside the school gates. Nothing is the same again.

Twelve year-old Finn is a misfit at school and lonely at home. He is searching for his long-lost mother. In another part of town, hell-bent on his own mission, lives the charismatic Dream Dealer. Attractive but not wholly human, his unusual origins remain a mystery. With his apparently gormless side-kick Flake, he sets up his Ice-Cream Van by the school. However, when the adults aren’t looking, it’s not Ice Creams he’s selling but Ice Dreams! Most of the kids fall for the Dream Dealer’s artful ways. Finn resists until it seems only the Dream Dealer can help him find his mum.

As he finally accepts an Ice Dream he is faced with the choice of fulfilling his dream or saving the life of his enemy.

His decision leads to consequences nobody could have guessed.

For more info: info@theblskuwait.com

Upcoming events

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ndian Learners Own Academy was inspected by two dignitaries of CBSE on 28th and 29th of Dec 2011. S U Sorte, Joint Secretary CBSE, Delhi and K K Chaudary, Regional Officer/Joint Secretary CBSE Delhi, were given a warm welcome by the principal, staff and students of the institution. A special assembly was conducted to entertain the guests after which the infrastructure and facilities of the school were examined by them. Special interest was shown by them to observe various lessons taken for different classes.

They were very much impressed by the microteaching lesson plans enriched with beautiful and informative power point presentations and appreciated the efforts

taken by the faculties to prepare exclusive worksheets on various subjects. The different modalities adopted to implement the International curriculum were also recognized and appreciated by the inspectors.

It is a matter of pride and excellence to know from them that ILOA is the best school that they have ever inspected. It was a moment of delight and contentment to hear from them that “Although the school is 16 months old, we feel that it is 16 years old”. A meeting was conducted on 29th Dec 2011, for which around 71 parents of students from different classes were given an opportunity to interact with the CBSE Inspectors to express their views and opinions about the International cur-

riculum followed. The remarks given by the parents were fabulous and they explained the wonderful changes seen in their wards after joining the institution.

It was an experience of curiosity and excitement for the Editorial board to interview the officials on the 2nd day of inspection during which they expressed their sincere impression about the exceptional institution and its distinctive functioning.

Sorte said that he was proud to find the school unique having all the facilities and identified the students as active learners, who will no doubt grow up in future as special students. He also extended his best wishes to one and all at ILOA. Equally inspiring is the remarks of

Soap making at Aware centre

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ow do you take care of your skin? What is the history of soap? How was soap made and how is it made now in mass production? Why are we now returning to traditional methods of making soap? What are the ingredients used in ‘The Soap Box’ products

and is there a special reason for these ingredients? Join Yousef and Astrid for an in depth look at handmade soap. Yousef Al-Hadeedi holds a degree in business entrepreneurship and small business management. Astrid Al Hadeedi is a qualified Northern European nurse with

seven years experience in teaching health and fitness at the American University of Kuwait. The event will be held on Jan 17th at the AWARE Center at 7 pm. For more info: 25335260/80

Infoconnect expo to be held in Kuwait

From January 29th till February 4th Infoconnect will be held at the Kuwait International Fair Grounds Infoconnect is one of the most professionally organized trade shows in Kuwait, dedicated exclusively to the computer applications and information technology sector. The show ranks high on the popularity count, drawing in a large number of exhibitors as well as qualified business visitors at each of its editions. The line of products put on exhibit at the show is quite extensive and includes computer peripherals, IT security tools, software solutions, data warehousing systems and a host of other related services and accessories. The show draws in active participation from eminent professionals from both the public as well as the private sectors and the latest innovations and developments in the IT industry are closely looked into here. The show is held over a period of seven days at the Kuwait International Fairground and enjoys large scale media coverage too.

Comedy-play to be hosted with Indian celebrities

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he Indian Cultural Society of Kuwait (ICS) proudly presents a new concept comedy-play titled “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi”. The play will star wellknown Bollywood film celebrities Bhagyashree and Akshay Ananad for the first time in Kuwait. This latest romantic comedy will also feature other Bollywood actors such as Krutika Sharma, Prairna and Navin Agarwal. ICS is known for organizing cultural events and wonderful quality entertainment for music lovers in Kuwait! The event will be held on Friday, February 17th at 7pm the American International School (Dr Kamil AlRays Auditorium), Near the police station, Maidan Hawally. For more info: 9727-0386, 6703-0839 Email: ics.kuwait@gmail.com

Cinemagic schedule THE GREAT DICTATOR In Chaplin’s satire on Nazi Germany, dictator Adenoid Hynkel has a double... a poor Jewish barber... who one day is mistaken for Hynkel.

Thursday, January 19th at 7:30pm THE BEAT THAT MY HEART SKIPPED Should Tom (Duris) make like his thuggish father or pursue his dream of becoming a pianist?

Saturday, January 21st at 7:30pm

Mad Musicals 7 Kuwait Little Theater in Ahmadi will stage Mad Musicals 7 and Dick Whittington this season KLT continues from 14 17 February on to push the theatrical envelope with a whole new genre of show brought to you by Kristen Falcioni and Stephen Grimes.

GLEE-esque show choir This Valentine’s Day step into a musical Love Story performed by Vocal Rhapsody, KLT’s first ever GLEE-esque show choir. Vocal Rhapsody’s “Love Story” - is a show choir production with hit songs from artists such as Journey, Queen, Katy Perry and Meatloaf. It promises to be an exciting evening for all with some classic songs that everyone will enjoy. For contact: http://www.theklt.com Kuwait Boat Show Kuwait, in the cradle of one of the most ancient and mostcontested corners of the world, is best described as a city state. The burgeoning capital, Kuwait City, is like a magnet: indeed it has been attracting Bedouin people from the Arabian interior, in search of a sea breeze and an escape from recurring drought, for centuries. Today the metropolis is still an oasis in a land of desert plains, but rather more of the cultural and epicurean kind. Excellent museums; a corniche ornamented with combed beaches and extravagant restaurants; modern shopping complexes and marinas, and long and lazy retreats at new beach resorts mark the Kuwait City experience. The organizers of the Kuwait International Boat Show expect more than 100 marine companies to display their latest products, boats, yachts, super yachts, electronics, engines and thousands of boating accessories from major marine manufacturers.

The Boat Show encompasses more than 120.000 m2 of space, both on land and in water. Where: Souk Sharq Marina & Water Front Kuwait International Boat Show Timings: 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm Local exhibitors & for more info kindly contact Mr. Abdulla Al Manei (Exhibition Manager): 2538-7100 Ext: 172, 9978-8130, 2539-3872, 2539-8123, 9444-9102, a.almanei@kif.net

Chaudary, who stated that the school has an excellent learning environment and highly appreciated the volume of dedication and hard work put by the teachers under the dynamic leadership of The School Principal Asha Sharma. He was very much impressed by the well disciplined nature of the children and their keen willingness to learn and congratulated on the great team effort of sustained growth. At the end of second day of their visit, the entire crew of ILOA extended their heartfelt gratitude to the administrators for their valuation and appraisal.

THRONE OF BLOOD A ruthlessly ambitious lord, egged on by his wife, works to fulfill a prophecy that he would become Emperor. Thursday, January 26th at 7:30pm

World Hindi Day celebrated at India International School

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t’s a tradition of India International School to celebrate world Hindi day every year on 10thi January. To commemorate the significance of this day, to accentuate the importance of Hindi language at Global level, a well organized assembly was conducted in Hindi, under the auspices of Mrs.Alka and our smart team of assiduous students of class VIII. The programme began with a

traditional prayer song sung melodiously by our school choir. Thought for the day inculcated in the minds of our young budding personalities the need to identify themselves and be responsible for their own deeds.

A Humorous skit with amazing voice modulation was presented which left everyone in splits.

Followed by the skit, a musical song was presented to elevate the desire to reach the pinnacle of success.

Principal Mr.F.M. Basheer Ahmed addressed the gathering. In his eloquent Hindi speech, he instilled motivation & confidence in the minds of our talented students, to excel in the art writing, inspired them to surpass the previous records and carve a niche.

GREASE Good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they’re now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance? Saturday, January 28th at 7:30pm AKIRA A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psionic psychopath that only two kids and a group of psionics can stop. Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public’s interest in - and appreciation for - the art of film-making. Cinemagic movies are screened in the old Salmiya, on the roof on top of Alghanim Electronics and LG. Entrance is free of charge and includes refreshments, popcorn and much more.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF BRAZIL The Embassy of Brazil requests all Brazilian citizens in Kuwait to proceed to the website www.brazil.org.kw (Contact Us Form / Fale Conosco) in order to register or update contact information. The Embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the Embassy. The registration process helps the Brazilian Government to contact and assist Brazilians living abroad in case of any emergency. nnnnnnn

Inlaws Kuwait elects office bearers

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ndian Lawyers Society Kuwait also known as “INLAWS Kuwait”, a society of lawyers, legal consultants and law graduated Indians residing in Kuwait elected its office bearers for the year 2012 - senior lawyer Advocate Razak M Payyoli as President, Adv Anas Puthiyo as General Secretary, Adv Rehana Shafeer as Joint Secretary, and Adv Truman as Treasurer were elected unanimously in INLAWS Charter Meeting held

at Kuwait Continental Hotel.

Renowned businessman, Chairman and Managing Director of Shiyas Group Hamza Shiyas who is running several international law firms was elected as patron and senior lawyers Adv Jacob Varghese, Adv Ibrahim Deshmukh Bombay were elected as Advisory Board Members of INLAWS. Adv Thomas Varghese Lal, Adv Kunhi Muhammad, Adv Sathyajith Shah Pune,

Adv Pramod Kumar, Adv Aftakh Ayanoth, Adv Manoj Mathew, Adv Balakrishnan Nair, Adv Menny Nalpathaam kalam, Adv Anoop Vasu, Adv Thomas Stephan, Adv Ghouse Mohiyuddeen Tamil Nadu, Adv Lakshmi Hyderabad, Adv J K Alva Uduppi, Adv Gafoor Quilandi and many other lawyers attended the charter meeting.

Office bearers announced that Indians are the major population in

Kuwait and many Indians are not aware of the legal system and laws of Kuwait.

Hence one of the main objectives of INLAWS is to help the poor by providing legal assistance and legal service to the Indian community.

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 CYPRUS The Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus requests Cypriot 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 Cypriot citizens in cases of emergencies.

Registration information can be emailed to cyprusembassykwt@gmail.com or faxed to 22253227 or given by phone to 65906048 (Mrs Christine). nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF GERMANY The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application.

Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (Al-Babtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy. We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area - Block 6 - Street 9 Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

SMCA Christmas New Year Family Fest

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yro Malabar Cultural Association, Kuwait celebrated Christmas and New Year with colorful events in a sparkling family atmosphere at Delhi Public School, Ahmadi. 6th January 2012. The celebrations started with the arrival of Santas from all 4 areas of SMCA. All groups joined at the center of the venue to rock the audience with a mood of celebration. This was followed by the Baladeepthi Choir and Ramsa-the traditional evening prayer of Syro Malabarians. President Mr. Jacob Pynadath hoisted SMCA flag, 4 Area general conveners joined him in the ceremony, while more than 200 Baladeepthy Children sang the SMCA Anthem and Carols. It was fol-

lowed by 2 hours of colorful stage presentations from 4 areas of SMCA. Carol Singing, Dances, Skits and ballet invited big appreciation from the huge family gathering of around 3000. The Light and Sound Show ëPIRAVIí staged by Salmiya Area and directed by Babugi Bethery needs special mention.

At 6.30 pm the guests were given a ceremonious and traditional welcome.

The public meeting was presided over by the SMCA president Jacob Pynadath.

General Secretary Bijoy Palakunnel welcomed all dignitaries and members to the event. Head of Catholic Church in Kuwait & Patron of SMCA HL Camillo Ballin told about the importance of communion and peace in Christian life

Exhibition by Khaled Farhan

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haled Farhan is a young artist with international fame who represents the line of modern sculpture in its global dimensions. Farhan works on the plurality of raw materials such as stone and wood, iron and bronze. This exhibition contains a variety of artistic pieces in a variety of topics that combines his three-dimensional sculptures and two-dimensional paintings. In fact, Farhan seeks to find a continuous dialogue between these artistic dimensions within his artwork. The work of the sculptor highlights also the poetic and the aesthetic aspects of each artwork in a simple and artistic way.

When: January 16th - 26th, Where: Dar Al-Funoon Gallery, Al-Watiah-Behbehani Compound, House 28, Kuwait City, Exhibition Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 10am - 1pm & 4pm - 8pm (Fridays & Saturdays by appointment) For further info: 2243-3138

and he officially announced that the head of the Syro Malabar Church Major Archbishop is nominated by Rome as Cardinal. The audience accepted the news with big round of applause.

Vatican Nuncio HG Peter Rajic delivered the keynote address. Guest of Honor Bishop of Thamarasserry diocese HL Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil delivered the Christmas message and felicitated the Silver Jubilee Couples and gave mementoes to them.

The Abbasiya Area Faith Formation Classís Head Master Mathew Mattom was honoured specially with a memento as he was leaving Kuwait for good. Vicar General Rev. Fr. Mathews Kunnelpurayidom delivered felicitation

and released the 17th Anniversary Souvenir. The 4 area secretaries of SMCA joined the dais in cutting Christmas cake. Baladeepthy president Miss Anchu Varghese also addressed the gathering.

Treasurer Luis Neriamparambil said Vote of Thanks.

Trophies to the winners of SMCA arts festival were distributed during the event. Connexions Meadia presented a beautiful musical event which was lead by the famous play back singer Cicily and Idea Star Singer winners Antony.

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EMBASSY OF PERU Peruvian Permanent Expo will be temporarily closed from December 2lst 2011 to January 21st 2012. The Expo will reopen on January 22nd 2012 and offer once again “Peruvian Private Gastronomy Tasting Lunches” and much more like Peruvian culture, tourism, trade and great possibilities of investment. nnnnnnn

Salhiya Speaks Italian 2012 exhibition alhiya Complex and Sartoria Italia are proud to present the Salhiya Speaks Italian 2012 exhibition. The exhibition, under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Kuwait, presents the genius and Italian lifestyle and showcases the very unique Italian experience via art, fashion, leather goods, design, gastronomy and luxury conveyance. Salhiya Speaks Italian 2012 brings cultures together through art and style, building a bridge between Kuwait and Italy.

At the same time, the exhibition

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax- 25387719.

Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk

reaches out to the youngest generations to introduce them to the different art disciplines as a mean to express their own personalities. Be sure to book your tickets to the GALA Dinner with Charity auction taking place on January 19th which will include a sure to be amazing performance by local Kuwaiti talent Rahmani!

From 8 pm to 9 pm piano bar “Concertino”

Today Open from 10 am to 10 pm From 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm workshop by A. Faiani (Ceramic painter)

January 19 Open from 10 am to 3 pm 8 pm Gala dinner and a charity auction (Tel: 67639309)

January 18 Open from 10 am to 10 pm From 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm workshop by A. Faiani (Ceramic painter) From 8 pm to 9 pm piano bar “Concertino”

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” (+ 965) 972-79-206.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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00:50 Human Prey 01:45 Animal Cops Philadelphia 02:40 Wildest Africa 03:35 Dogs 101 04:30 Human Prey 05:25 Dogs 101 06:20 Animal Cops Philadelphia 07:10 Monkey Life 07:35 Wildlife SOS 08:00 Gorilla School 08:25 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 08:50 Talk To The Animals 09:15 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 09:40 Breed All About It 10:10 Must Love Cats 11:05 Dogs 101 12:00 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 12:55 Snake Crusader With Bruce George 13:20 Wildlife SOS 13:50 Miami Animal Police 14:45 Animal Cops Philadelphia 15:40 Wildest Africa 16:30 Monkey Life 17:00 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild 17:30 Talk To The Animals 18:00 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 18:25 Dogs 101 19:20 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 20:15 Snake Crusader With Bruce George 20:40 Breed All About It 21:10 Dogs 101 22:05 Wildest Africa 23:00 Big Five Challenge 23:55 Untamed & Uncut

00:10 Elephant Diaries 01:00 Untold Stories Of A Royal Bridesmaid 01:50 Monarch Of The Glen 02:35 Last Of The Summer Wine 03:05 Keeping Up Appearances 03:30 The Green Green Grass 04:00 Balamory 04:20 Tellytales 04:30 Bobinogs 04:45 The Roly Mo Show 05:00 Buzz & Tell 05:05 Tweenies 05:25 3rd & Bird 05:35 Nina And The Neurons 05:50 Balamory 06:10 Tellytales 06:20 Bobinogs 06:30 The Roly Mo Show 06:45 Buzz & Tell 06:50 Tweenies 07:10 3rd & Bird 07:20 Nina And The Neurons 07:35 Last Of The Summer Wine 08:05 Keeping Up Appearances 08:35 The Weakest Link 09:20 Eastenders 09:50 Doctors 10:20 Holby City 11:10 Mutual Friends 12:00 The Green Green Grass 12:30 Last Of The Summer Wine 13:00 The Weakest Link 13:45 Eastenders 14:15 Doctors 14:45 Holby City 15:35 Mutual Friends 16:25 The Weakest Link 17:10 Eastenders 17:40 Doctors 18:10 Holby City 19:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 19:30 One Foot In The Grave 20:00 New Tricks 20:50 Keeping Up Appearances 21:20 The Green Green Grass 21:50 Small Island 23:10 The Weakest Link 23:55 Holby City

00:00 00:50 01:45 02:35 03:00

Antiques Roadshow Masterchef Masterchef Masterchef 10 Years Younger

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

Fantasy Homes By The Sea Gok’s Fashion Fix Gok’s Fashion Fix Fantasy Homes By The Sea House Swap James Martin’s Champagne Bargain Hunt Masterchef Australia Masterchef Australia Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Come Dine With Me 10 Years Younger The Boss Is Coming To Dinner Fantasy Homes By The Sea House Swap Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow James Martin’s Champagne What To Eat Now - Summer What To Eat Now - Summer Indian Food Made Easy Antiques Roadshow The Boss Is Coming To Dinner Bargain Hunt

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

Johnny Bravo Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery Duck Dodgers The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals The Scooby Doo Show Tom & Jerry Dastardly And Muttley Top Cat New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Jetsons Duck Dodgers Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Garfield Show Pink Panther And Pals The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Puppy In My Pocket Looney Tunes Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Scooby-Doo And ScrappyScooby Doo Where Are You! A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas New Yogi Bear Show Pink Panther And Pals The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Dexters Laboratory

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

Years

04:25 Adventure Time 04:50 Generator Rex 05:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 05:40 Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:55 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 The Amazing World Of Gumball 17:10 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 The Cowardly Dog 22:25 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 22:50 Cow & Chicken 23:00 Ben 10 23:25 Ben 10 23:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog

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

00:00 00:25 00:50 01:15 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50

Connect The World Backstory World Sport The Situation Room World Report Anderson Cooper 360 Piers Morgan Tonight Quest Means Business Erin Burnett Outfront World Sport African Voices World Report World Report World Sport Talk Asia World Business Today Backstory News Special World One Piers Morgan Tonight News Stream World Business Today International Desk Global Exchange World Sport News Special International Desk Quest Means Business Piers Morgan Tonight

KIM POSSIBLE Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents STITCH STITCH REPLACEMENTS REPLACEMENTS EMPEROR’S NEW SCHOOL

A PERFECT GATEWAY ON OSN ACTION HD

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 06:20 RECESS 06:45 Good Luck Charlie 07:05 Suite Life On Deck 07:30 Suite Life On Deck 07:55 PHINEAS AND FERB 08:10 FISH HOOKS 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 09:48 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 09:50 Fairly Odd Parents 10:15 SO RANDOM 10:40 HAVE A LAUGH 10:45 HANNAH MONTANA 11:10 Suite Life On Deck 11:35 JAKE & BLAKE 12:00 JONAS 12:25 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 12:45 PHINEAS AND FERB 13:10 SO RANDOM 13:30 Suite Life On Deck 13:55 Suite Life On Deck 14:20 SHAKE IT UP 14:55 HAVE A LAUGH 15:00 Good Luck Charlie 15:25 PHINEAS AND FERB 15:50 FISH HOOKS 16:10 SHAKE IT UP 16:35 Suite Life On Deck 17:00 Suite Life On Deck 17:25 Good Luck Charlie 17:50 FISH HOOKS 18:15 Suite Life On Deck 18:35 HAVE A LAUGH 18:45 Suite Life On Deck 19:10 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 19:35 WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE 20:00 HANNAH MONTANA 20:25 PHINEAS AND FERB 20:50 SHAKE IT UP 21:15 FISH HOOKS 21:35 GOOD LUCK CHARLIE 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

00:40 The Gadget Show 01:05 The Gadget Show 01:35 Colony 02:25 The Tech Show 02:50 Building The Biggest 03:40 Mighty Ships 04:35 How Does That Work?

05:00 How Stuff’s Made 05:25 Engineered 06:20 Da Vinci’s Machines 07:10 Sci-Trek 08:00 Space Pioneer 08:50 How Does That Work?

09:15 How Stuff’s Made 09:40 Building The Biggest 10:35 Mighty Ships 11:25 Engineered 12:20 Da Vinci’s Machines 13:15 The Gadget Show 13:40 The Gadget Show 14:05 Sci-Trek 14:55 How Does That Work?

15:20 How Stuff’s Made 15:50 Space Pioneer 16:40 The Tech Show 17:05 Da Vinci’s Machines 18:00 The Gadget Show 18:25 The Gadget Show 18:50 Engineered 19:40 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 20:30 Nasa’s Greatest Missions 21:20 Catch It Keep It 22:10 Space Pioneer 23:00 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 23:50 Nasa’s Greatest Missions

00:20 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 00:35 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 00:50 JUNGLE JUNCTION 01:05 JUNGLE JUNCTION 01:15 LITTLE EINSTEINS 01:40 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 01:55 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 02:10 JO JO’S CIRCUS 02:30 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 02:45 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 03:00 JUNGLE JUNCTION 03:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 03:25 LITTLE EINSTEINS 03:50 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 04:05 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 04:20 JO JO’S CIRCUS 04:40 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 04:55 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 05:10 JUNGLE JUNCTION 05:25 JUNGLE JUNCTION 05:35 LITTLE EINSTEINS 06:00 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 06:15 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 06:30 JO JO’S CIRCUS 06:50 JUNGLE JUNCTION 07:00 JUNGLE JUNCTION 07:15 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 07:30 HIGGLYTOWN HEROES 07:45 HANDY MANNY 08:00 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 08:15 JUNGLE JUNCTION 08:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 08:45 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 09:10 THE HIVE 09:20 HANDY MANNY 09:30 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 09:45 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 10:00 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 10:15 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 10:25 TIMON AND PUMBAA 10:45 THE HIVE 10:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 11:20 IMAGINATION MOVERS 11:45 ART ATTACK 12:10 IMAGINATION MOVERS 12:30 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 12:45 LazyTown 13:10 HANDY MANNY 13:25 JUNGLE JUNCTION 13:40 IMAGINATION MOVERS 14:05 THE HIVE 14:15 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 14:25 LITTLE EINSTEINS 14:50 LazyTown

15:15 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 15:40 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 15:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 16:05 HANDY MANNY 16:20 HANDY MANNY 16:35 THE HIVE 16:45 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 17:00 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 17:15 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 17:30 HANDY MANNY 17:45 ART ATTACK 18:10 THE HIVE 18:20 HANDY MANNY 18:30 JUNGLE JUNCTION 18:45 HANDY MANNY 18:55 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 19:10 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 19:25 THE HIVE 19:35 LITTLE EINSTEINS 20:00 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 20:05 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 20:30 ANIMATED STORIES 20:35 HANDY MANNY 20:50 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 21:05 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 21:20 THE HIVE 21:30 MINI ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH 21:33 A POEM IS...

21:40 JUNGLE JUNCTION 21:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 22:20 JAKE & THE NEVERLAND PIRATES 22:35 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 22:50 LITTLE EINSTEINS 23:15 TIMMY TIME 23:25 HANDY MANNY 23:40 JUNGLE JUNCTION 23:55 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 Too Young To Kill 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 Scouted 10:15 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies 12:05 E! News 13:05 Kendra 13:35 Kendra 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Khloe And Lamar 17:25 Khloe And Lamar 17:55 E! News 18:55 THS 19:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Kendra 21:55 Kendra 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami

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

Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Nightmare Next Door Nightmare Next Door Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Mystery ER FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Killer Outbreaks Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Murder Shift Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Couples Who Kill Deadly Women

00:00 City Chase: Argentina 00:30 Master of Disaster 01:00 Banged Up Abroad 01:30 Is It Real?

02:00 Banged Up Abroad 02:30 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 03:00 Finding Genghis 03:00 Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photos 03:30 Deadliest Journeys 03:30 Is It Real?

04:00 Ultimate Traveller 04:30 My Brilliant Brain 05:00 Long Way Down 05:30 Secret Shark Pits 06:00 City Chase: Argentina 06:30 Megastructures 07:00 Banged Up Abroad 07:30 Master of Disaster 08:00 Banged Up Abroad 08:30 Is It Real?

09:00 Finding Genghis 09:30 Brilliant Beasts 09:30 Deadliest Journeys 10:00 Ultimate Traveller 10:30 Light At The Edge of The World 11:00 Long Way Down 11:30 Is It Real?

12:00 City Chase: Argentina 12:30 My Brilliant Brain 13:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 13:30 Alaskan Killer Shark 14:00 Treks In A Wild World 14:30 Megastructures 15:00 Deadliest Journeys 15:30 Deadliest Journeys 15:30 Master of Disaster

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ON OSN CINEMA 16:00 16:30 16:30 17:30 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 21:30 22:00 22:30 22:30 23:30 23:30

Eccentric Uk Is It Real?

Which Way To Graham’s World My Brilliant Brain Meet The Natives: USA Shark Nicole Extreme Tourist Afghanistan Hunter Hunted Treks In A Wild World Lockdown Deadliest Journeys Air Crash Investigation Deadliest Journeys Eccentric Uk Buffalo Warrior Which Way To Graham’s World Megastructures

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

A Perfect Getaway-18 Rage: Carrie 2-PG15 8 Mile-PG15 Legendary-PG15 You Got Served-PG15 Madso’s War-PG15 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 You Got Served-PG15 Ransom-PG15 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 Circle Of Eight-PG15 Planet Of The Apes-PG15

01:15 Camp Hope-PG15 03:15 Jack Goes Boating-PG15 05:00 Hachiko: A Dog’s Story-PG15 07:00 My Sassy Girl-PG15 09:00 Freestyle (2010)-PG15 10:45 Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides-PG15 13:00 Flash Of Genius-PG15 15:15 My Dog Tulip-PG15 17:00 Secretariat-PG15 19:15 At Risk-PG15 21:00 Unanswered Prayers-PG15 23:00 Brighton Rock-PG15

12:00 Two And A Half Men 12:30 Will And Grace 13:00 Melissa And Joey 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne 16:30 The Office 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 Modern Family 19:30 Parks And Recreation 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Weeds 22:30 The Ricky Gervais Show 23:00 Family Guy

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

The Killing C.S.I. Miami Breakout Kings In Treatment In Treatment The View Good Morning America Law & Order: Los Angeles Emmerdale Coronation Street The Martha Stewart Show The View Persons Unknown Breakout Kings Law & Order: Los Angeles C.S.I. Miami Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Body Of Proof Unforgettable Pan Am Top Gear (US) In Treatment In Treatment

00:00 01:00 02:00 05:00 06:00

C.S.I. Top Gear (US) Breaking Bad Surface C.S.I.

07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street House Top Gear (US) How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House C.S.I. How I Met Your Mother Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House Grey’s Anatomy Royal Pains Hawthorne In Plain Sight

01:00 Walled In-PG15 03:00 8 Mile-PG15 05:00 Ninja Assassin-18 07:00 Tracker-PG15 09:00 The Box-PG15 11:00 Spiderman 2-PG15 13:15 The Devil’s Teardrop-PG15 15:00 The Box-PG15 17:00 Blue Crush 2-PG15 19:00 Luster-18 21:00 Planet Of The Apes-PG15 23:00 The Haunting Of Molly Hartley-18

00:00 Return To Sleepaway CampPG15 02:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15 04:00 Nine Months-PG15 06:00 You Again-PG15 08:00 How To Go Out On A Date In Queens-PG15 10:00 Heart And Souls-PG 12:00 Cry Baby-PG15 14:00 I’ll Be Home For ChristmasPG15 16:00 Return To Sleepaway CampPG15 18:00 Wake-PG15 20:00 One Hot Summer-PG15 22:00 My Best Friend’s Girl-18

01:15 03:15 05:15 07:15 09:00 10:45 13:00 15:15 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Last Station-PG15 Divorces!-PG15 Exodus-PG15 Good Hair-PG15 Astro Boy-FAM Mary, Queen Of Scots-PG15 The Lovely Bones-PG15 Little Man Tate-PG Me And Orson Welles-PG The Headless Woman-PG15 Posse-PG15 Deliverance-R

01:30 Tomcats-18 03:15 Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale-PG15 05:00 Alabama Moon-PG15 07:00 Easy A-PG15 09:00 How To Train Your Dragon-PG 11:00 Get Low-PG15 13:00 The Perfect Score-PG15 15:00 My Last Five Girlfriends-PG15 16:30 How To Train Your Dragon-PG 18:30 Inception-PG15 21:00 Unanswered Prayers-PG15 23:00 American History X-18

00:00 PG15 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Haunting In ConnecticutCharlie St. Cloud-PG15 The Chaperone-PG15 Africa United-PG15 Strength And Honour-PG15 Saved!-PG15 The Chaperone-PG15 Charlie St. Cloud-PG15 Saved!-PG15 Soulboy-PG15 Oranges And Sunshine-PG15 Just Go With It-PG15

02:00 02:30 04:00 05:00 05:30

Powerboats Volvo Ocean Race Volvo Ocean Race Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Live Test Cricket

12:30 14:30 15:30 21:30 22:00

Live Cricket Twenty20 Trans World Sport Live Snooker Masters Powerboats Live Snooker Masters

00:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 00:30 Scottish Premier League 02:30 European Challenge Cup 04:30 Volvo Ocean Race 05:30 Live Test Cricket 12:30 World Hockey 13:00 World Cup of Pool 14:00 World Pool Masters 15:00 Test Cricket 22:00 Golfing World 23:00 Cricket Twenty20

02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:30 11:30 14:30 15:30 21:30 22:00

Volvo Ocean Race Highlights World Cup of Pool World Pool Masters US Bass Fishing FIVB Beach Volley Ball Golfing World Snooker Masters Live Cricket Twenty20 Golfing World Live Snooker Masters Futbol Mundial Live Snooker Masters

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

UFC The Ultimate Fighter V8 Supercars Championship V8 Supercars Championship Speedway Intercontinental Le Mans Cup UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE NXT WWE Bottom Line Speedway Intercontinental Le Mans Cup V8 Supercars Championship V8 Supercars Championship WWE Bottom Line WWE Vintage Collection Intercontinental Le Mans Cup Speedway FIM World Powerboats Powerboats WWE NXT WWE Experience UFC Unleashed UFC 142 Prelims UFC 142

00:50 02:20 03:55 05:30 08:00 09:40 11:35 13:15 14:55 17:00 18:45 20:40 21:10 23:00

Children Of The Damned The Outrage Point Blank Now, Voyager-PG Catlow-PG The Hucksters-PG The Prisoner Of Zenda-FAM Saratoga-PG The V.I.P.S-FAM Blackboard Jungle-PG The Last Time I Saw Paris-PG TCM Presents Under The...-U Little Women-FAM Sitting Target

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 23:00

Deep Sea Salvage Ax Men How The Earth Was Made Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Deep Sea Salvage Ax Men How The Earth Was Made Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Deep Sea Salvage Ax Men How The Earth Was Made Ice Road Truckers Ax Men Deep Sea Salvage Ax Men How The Earth Was Made American Restoration Pawn Stars Pub Dig

Classifieds TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR JZR THY UAE QTR OMA DHX MSR ETD RJA GFA KAC DHX FAH JZR KAC BAW KAC JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD FDB IRA GFA IRA JZR RKM MEA MSR MSR JZR KAC GFA KAC FDB UAL GRF QTR KAC SVA RJA KAC KAC JZR QTR KAC JZR ETD UAE QTR FDB GFA SVA ABY JZR ALK JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC JAI OMA MLR DHX MEA GFA QTR UAE JZR KAC KLM AIC JZR UAL AXB BBC DLH

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 17/1/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 539 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 138 DOHA 641 MUSCAT 370 BAHRAIN 612 CAIRO 305 ABU DHABI 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 544 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 201 BAHRAIN 529 ASSIUT 416 JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR 157 LONDON 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 503 LUXOR 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 352 COCHIN 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 301 ABU DHABI 55 DUBAI 605 ISFAHAN 213 BAHRAIN 619 LAR 165 DUBAI 310 RAS ALKHAIMAH 404 BEIRUT 623 SOHAG 610 CAIRO 201 DAMASCUS 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 512 TEHRAN 57 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 93 KANDAHAR/DUBAI 140 DOHA 546 ALEXANDRIA 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 562 AMMAN 284 DHAKA 257 BEIRUT 134 DOHA 678 ABU DHABI/MUSCAT 561 SOHAG 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 6058 AMSTERDAM 59 DUBAI 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 127 SHARJAH 777 JEDDAH 227 COLOMBO/DUBAI 177 DUBAI 614 BAHRAIN 63 DUBAI 542 CAIRO 744 DAMMAM 787 RIYADH 786 JEDDAH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 166 PARIS/ROME 104 LONDON 774 RIYADH 61 DUBAI 552 DAMASCUS 572 MUMBAI 647 MUSCAT 1405 COLOMBO/DUBAI 372 BAHRAIN 402 BEIRUT 217 BAHRAIN 136 DOHA 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 502 BEIRUT 443 AMSTERDAM 981 CHENNAI/HYDERABAD 239 AMMAN 981 BAHRAIN 389 KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE 43 DHAKA 636 FRANKFURT

Time 0:20 0:50 2:15 2:35 2:40 2:50 2:55 3:00 3:10 3:10 3:15 4:40 5:15 6:00 6:20 6:25 6:40 6:45 7:25 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:45 9:55 10:50 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:20 13:25 13:40 13:50 14:05 14:15 14:20 14:30 14:30 14:40 14:45 15:00 15:00 15:25 15:30 16:10 16:50 16:55 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:35 18:40 18:50 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:50 21:00 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:05 22:45 23:00 23:35 23:45 23:50

Airlines UAL AIC BBC RLB JZR PIA DLH KAC THY UAE OMA DHX MSR ETD QTR JZR GFA RJA JZR KAC FDB BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC UAE ABY ETD FDB QTR GFA IRA KAC IRA KAC JZR RKM MEA MSR KAC JZR MSR GFA FDB KAC KAC UAL KAC RJA SVA KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC QTR JZR ETD JZR QTR FDB GRF UAE GFA ABY SVA QTR JZR ALK FDB JZR KAC FDB KAC DHX KAC JAI OMA MLR KAC DHX MEA GFA FAH QTR JZR KAC UAE KAC KLM JZR KAC

Departure Flights on Tuesday 17/1/2012 Flt Route 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 976 GOA/CHENNAI 44 DHAKA 1003 KABUL 502 LUXOR 240 SIALKOT 637 FRANKFURT 283 DHAKA 773 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 642 MUSCAT 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 643 AMMAN 200 DAMASCUS 545 ALEXANDRIA 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 677 ABU DHABI/MUSCAT 256 BEIRUT 671 DUBAI 511 TEHRAN 561 AMMAN 560 SOHAG 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 302 ABU DHABI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 604 ISFAHAN 165 ROME/PARIS 618 LAR 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 311 RAS ALKHAIMAH 405 BEIRUT 624 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 551 DAMASCUS 673 DUBAI 982 BAHRAIN 613 BAHRAIN 641 AMMAN 501 JEDDAH 617 DOHA 786 RIYADH 743 DAMMAM 501 BEIRUT 773 RIYADH 141 DOHA 238 AMMAN 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 135 DOHA 60 DUBAI 82 BAGHDAD 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 511 RIYADH 6058 DOHA 134 BAHRAIN 228 DUBAI/COLOMBO 64 DUBAI 184 DUBAI 361 COLOMBO 62 DUBAI 343 CHENNAI 171 BAHRAIN 351 COCHIN 571 MUMBAI 648 MUSCAT 1405 COLOMBO 543 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 403 BEIRUT 218 BAHRAIN 102 DUBAI 137 DOHA 554 ALEXANDRIA 301 MUMBAI 860 DUBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 443 BAHRAIN/AMSTERDAM 528 ASSIUT 411 BANGKOK/MANILA

Time 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:00 1:05 1:10 1:20 2:40 3:15 3:50 3:55 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:55 6:55 7:00 7:10 7:30 7:40 8:25 8:40 8:55 9:00 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:30 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:40 10:45 11:45 11:50 12:00 12:15 12:50 12:55 13:30 13:40 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:35 14:40 15:05 15:20 15:35 15:35 15:45 15:50 15:50 16:15 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:10 18:15 18:25 18:35 18:55 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:55 20:20 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:50 21:55 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:05 23:35 23:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for decent Indian Christian bachelor or couple next to Salmiya garden.

Cable TV, landline facility available.

Contact 66884273, afternoon 2:30: 25657832. (C 3829) 16-1-2012 Full furnished single room with separate bathroom available with small Muslim family in 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms C-A/C flat in Hawally, Tunis Street, near Sadique roundabout behind Commercial Bank.

Contact: 97794619.

(C 3826) A two bed room central A/C flat with two bathrooms and large hall for rent. Most of the household furniture for sale including bedroom set with two cupboards, IKEA dressing table, Fridge, Two coffee tables, Dining table with 4 chairs, Two seater sofa, Kitchen cabinets etc. Call 65053439 12-1-2012

FOR SALE Toyota Camry 2007 model GLX, silver color, excellent condition very law mileage with interior wooden CD player, fog lamp, rear sensor, remote key etc, wanted price KD 3450. Contact: 60099305. (C 3830) 17-1-2012 Internet for sale, 3 DSL service for ready use, 3 months for KD 25, 1 Mbps speed and subscription periods with the ability to upgrade any time, valid before 29 February 2012.

Contact: 66203674. Email: francisappoline@gmail.com (C 3825) 15-1-2012 Mitsubishi Gallant 1998 for sale. Passing till November 2012. Owner wants to leave Kuwait for good. Please call 66372366.

Mitsubishi Nativa 2008, 66564 km, black color, excellent condition, KD 3,560/-, negotiable.

Contact: 60306273. (C 3827) 14-1-2012 Toyota Corolla 2012 model, gray color, alloys wheel, sensor, mileage 5000km, under warranty 3 years, price KD 4,950/-. Contact: 55522942.

(C 3818) Mitsubishi Lancer 2004 GLX, Price KD 850/-, Mitsubishi Box 2006, Price KD 2,000/-.

SITUATION VACANT Required house cook, Indian nationality - male, attractive salary. Contact: 99062666. (C 3822) 15-1-2012 A gift wrapping and gift basket designer with basic knowledge on flower arrangement required for a high end gifts shop.

Applicants must send CV to giftwrapq@gmail.com 12-1-2012

MATRIMONIAL Parents settled in US invite proposals for their daughter age 27 5”3”, completed Bachelors degree, doing Masters in Physio-Therapy in USA. Currently on vacation to Kerala, on short visit in Kuwait (Jan 21st to 25th) invite proposals from Christian parents of Doctors/MPharm/Engineer.

Contact: merlinfredin@gmail.com (C 3831) Parents settled in US invite proposals for their daughter age 27 5”4”, completed BPharm from India, doing MD, residency/rotation in New York. Currently on vacation to Kerala, on short visit in Kuwait (Jan 21st to 25th) invite proposals from Christian parents of Doctors/MPharm/Engineer.

Contact: merlinfredin@gmail.com (C 3832) 17-1-2012

TUITION

Business management teacher with doctoral degree for universities, institutions, corporate & all student levels. Over 10

No: 15331

years experience. Call 66495951. (C 3817) Business management teacher with doctoral degree for universities, institutions, corporate & all student levels. Over 10 years experience. Call 66495951. (C 3817) 16-1-2012 Mathematics teacher, Intermediate and secondar y 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 Senior Biology teacher for secondary stage. Biology for University students and foreign schools, sciences of intermediate stage and 10th grade physics.

A Syrian Arabic language teacher. Masters in methods of teaching and follow up of 10th grade and 11th grade students. 97934291

A Syrian Arabic Language teacher. Masters, for secondary, intermediate, religious institution, universities, and establishment of the elementary stage using the Aleppo method “the alphabet then the word”.

50513599 Islamic education teacher for elementary and intermediate stages.

Experienced in Kuwait curricula. Easy explanation, and summary of the subject, training for exams.

66292985 Syrian Arabic language teacher for elementary and intermediate stages.

Experienced in following learning difficulties, and those weak in reading and writing. 97264100

BABY SITTING Baby sitting available in Khaitan area, Kuwait.

Contact: 66436924.

(C 3819) 10-1-2012

SITUATION WANTED Accountant: young, smart, first class B.Com graduate, knowing Peachtree and Tally Accounting Software with 2 years experience in Kuwait looking for suitable job as Accountant. Contact: 65179245. (C 3828) 15-1-2012

34

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

stars CROSSWORD 560

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Charisma abounds! If you are looking for a job, do not mail in your resume! If ever you had a day to make a great first impression, this is it! Additionally, this is a great day for working with others. Your warmth can build confidence and help solve problems. Higher-ups are watching. You should experience all the benefits of this most powerful planet. Your energy is high and your creative juices are flowing, ready to be applied to the work at hand. If you give your best effort now, considerable success may follow and you may unconsciously help a close friend through your efforts. Also, this is a good time to lead the way on a project and you have lots of creative ideas that are easy for others to follow. Doing things with friends bring much joy.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Some out-of-focus type of feeling may have you thinking you have taken on more work than you can handle at this time. This day, however, is an excellent time to concentrate on one thing at a time and achieve many things. Unlike many workdays, you will not be likely to be interrupted so many times during the day and you will be able to accomplish quite a lot. You like pleasant surroundings in the home and you work to make that a reality . . . as a result, family evenings and family gatherings are popular. The need for emotional security is strong and you are careful to not pressure a partner into doing things just to please and satisfy you. Mental endeavors are favored as is communication with friends and loved ones. You enjoy stimulating conversations.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. (computer science) A computer that is running software that allows users to leave messages and access information of general interest.

4. Remote city of Kazakhstan that (ostensibly for security reasons) was made the capital in 1998.

10. Ancient Hebrew unit of liquid measure = 1.5 gallons.

13. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

14. Tall East Indian cedar having spreading branches with nodding tips.

15. A rapid bustling commotion.

16. The cry made by sheep.

17. The superior of a group of nuns.

18. A unit of length of thread or yarn.

19. A large fleet.

21. A (usually canopied) seat for riding on the back of a camel or elephant.

24. The compass point that is midway between north and northeast.

25. A genus of Ploceidae.

29. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

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

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

35. A genus of Pyralidae.

38. The branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.

39. United States labor organizer who ran for President as a socialist (1855-1926).

41. The use of bacteria or viruses of toxins to destroy men and animals or food.

42. A heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances.

45. Red pear-shaped tropical fruit with poisonous seeds.

47. Sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with gray furry ears and coat.

49. Being ten more than one hundred ninety.

51. Having help.

53. The bureau of the Treasury Department responsible for tax collections.

54. A mountain range in western Russia extending from the arctic to the Caspian Sea. 56. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

57. Relating to or accompanying birth.

60. Handsome tree of central and eastern North America having large bipinnate leaves and green-white flowers followed by large woody brown pods whose seeds are used as a coffee substitute.

63. An undergarment worn by women to support their breasts.

64. Hawthorn of southern United States bearing juicy acid scarlet fruit often used in jellies or preserves.

67. The 17th letter of the Greek alphabet.

68. An affirmative.

69. A mountainous region in central Italy.

70. Any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is the time to use your energy constructively; being slow to anger and worry is a good idea now. You have the energy to tackle most any problem. You can also teach your techniques to others and whether you realize it or not, because of your smooth manner, other people watch and learn from you. You have a great desire to succeed in all spheres of your life. Now is the time an ambitious project of yours is seen in a positive light. Working with partners in an open, honest environment can only bring good fortune to you now. This afternoon a relaxed early dinner is appreciated and you may decide to pick up something for you and those at home. This evening may be a good time to make new plans for the next vacation or a weekend adventure.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

Mental activity is stimulating and gives you new insight into the progress of business. Financial security and enjoying the finer things in life assume a high priority. You may uncover ways in which you can improve your savings. Positive things happen in the workplace when you find ways to introduce your ideas to superiors. This may mean composing a chart and perhaps a time schedule. Also, if a new investment opportunity should arise—go for it. Someone you once worked with may stop by to visit with you on your lunch hour. This afternoon you may find yourself working in groups—this proves quite positive. Your ego and need to relate are so well balanced that any love contact this evening is bound to be satisfying to both parties.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Your professional life improves little by little and this is one of those days where much can be accomplished. You are apt to enjoy considerable success at work. This is a good time to work on a project of a large or complicated manner. However, you should be cautious in trying to take over or trying to take control of a large enterprise that may require the aid of others. You have a great love for other people and a volunteer service may be introduced to you that you think you might really enjoy. There is a need to pace yourself in your activities so if you decide to say yes to this volunteer service, start out at a slow and steady pace. Family and friends want to help you organize or complete a special project around the house this evening; decorating, painting, etc.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This should be a busy day. The results of hard work and self-discipline are visible. You feel a deep sense of gratification in doing a job well—compliments flourish. Business dealings may be fruitful as well. Your power to effect a positive change in many areas of your life is greater than you imagine at this time. Interaction with friends is encouraged this afternoon—also, this is a most favorable time to engage in intellectually stimulating leisure activities. Any time today is favorable with regard to the interactions of family members. This is a time when relations with a spouse or business partner are on a solid ground. Expressing affections comes easily now and can do much for your disposition. You will soon find the right home for a lost animal.

Libra (September 23-October 22) DOWN 1. A small cake leavened with yeast.

2. Massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws.

3. A fraudulent business scheme.

4. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

5. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

6. Characteristic of a mob.

7. A lyric poem with complex stanza forms.

8. Any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids.

9. Malicious burning to destroy property.

10. Ground snakes.

11. The content of cognition.

12. The Hebrew patriarch who saved himself and his family and the animals by building an ark in which they survived 40 days and 40 nights of rain.

20. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

22. Beyond what is natural.

23. 4-wheeled motor vehicle.

26. How long something has existed.

27. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

28. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

30. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

32. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

33. A river that rises in western New Mexico and flows westward through southern Arizona to become a tributary of the Colorado River.

36. In bed.

37. A person of unquestioning obedience.

40. A burn cause by hot liquid or steam.

43. The largest island of the central Ryukyu Islands.

44. Treacherously cowardly.

45. The content of cognition.

46. A port city in western Kenya on the northeastern shore of Lake Victoria.

48. Toward the mouth or oral region.

50. (in Indian English) The number that is represented as a one followed by 7 zeros.

51. Before noon.

52. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

55. Type genus of the Anatidae.

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

59. A mountainous landlocked communist state in southeastern Asia.

61. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion.

62. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

65. A soft silvery metallic element.

66. A period of time equal to 1/24th of a day.

Yesterday’s Solution

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

This is a good workday—productive! The interaction with the public as well as co-workers is positive and it is a good time to work in groups. Your effervescent personality confers to you an almost magnetic quality.

You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job. You may also be sought after for your advice. Progressive people and idealistic groups or concepts play a more important role in your life now—a new cycle begins. Your energy at this time is best applied to work on matters of finance. This may mean filing an insurance claim or explaining a policy to a family member. Engaging in social activity, while fun, is best put off until a more relaxed time. This evening may mark a turning point in a relationship—think positive.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Today you may be feeling a bit antsy. This could be a time when your mode of living will change, or the weather has changed. You may want to find a different way to make a living or just do something to break the lack of variety in your life. Perhaps a cup of hot chocolate would bring about a balance. A hobby is on your mind and there may be others that like what you like. You might be interested in learning to fly a plane or possibly working in aviation or electronics. Writing is another hobby that can bring you much pleasure. Perhaps a hobby group with some of your co-worker friends could be enjoyed outside the workplace. Engaging in any type of social activity with co-workers will bring favorable results.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

You should find no problem in communicating with regar This day may be favorable for a lot of things—work may not be one of them. Ambition and self-discipline are important just now.

However, this period usually brings about good conditions and communication among co-workers, particularly with the opposite sex. Lectures, teaching, tutoring or anything else that depends on your communication skills will get rave reviews. There is not only a desire for outdoor, physical activity, but there will most likely be ample opportunities to partake in it. You should be careful of taking any undo risks or thrill seeking stunts. You have a desire to be with friends and to have a good time.

Engaging in any type of social activity should bring favorable results. A yearning for adventure stirs in you now.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Your interest in making money more through rational, intellectual process than with brute, physical action is heightened now. It helps that you are extremely communicative with the associates around you. This is an advantageous time to seek new ventures upon which to capitalize. You may daydream a golden opportunity for financial success. Take full advantage of your position today. It is an excellent time to solicit the help of others, though it’s important that you truly know the needs of your company or business before asking. Be sure to keep an open mind about all ideas or proposals—paying attention to the details involved.

Your thinking process is invigorated, making communications with friends easier. This is a good time for a healing.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Careful—your ego could come into play today, causing the temperamental side of you to show. Because of your sensitivity to others, however, you could be very influential. You may have to deal with change in the workplace just now. Change can be hard to contend with but sometimes it is absolutely necessary. This may be one of those days for change. To ignore change is to set yourself up for situations out of your control. It is better to control change than have change control you. Your confidence is high—you should be able to accomplish much. Your sense of humor is present this evening and may add to your other magnetic qualities. This evening is a good time to sit down to dinner with family, friends or a loved one—communication is good.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

In the professional realm, a collision of powerful energies spills into your life in unpredictable ways. The decisions and actions of today will have long lasting effects. Give yourself plenty of time before making any heavy-duty decisions or saying things you could regret. You see what is wrong and you know what to do. This means cooperation and organization, authority and discipline, responsibility—and all these things are what it takes to get you where you know you need to go. Close personal ties to other people are a focal point for your feelings—marriage and other partnerships could be a key arena for this. This evening signals a time of inner peace and smooth sailing in relationships. If you are romantically involved, this is a good time.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE STATE ST TATE T OF KUW KUWAIT K WA AIT

112

DA AY: Y Monday DAY:

Ext.: 26 2627 627 - 2630

Fax: 24348714 WWW .MET.GOV V.KW . W WWW.MET.GOV.KW

16/01/2012

Ministry of Interior

19:00

Issue T Time ime

Expected Weather Weeather for the Next 24 2 Hours

website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

BY Y NIGHT: NIGHT:

Cold with light variable wind, wi with ith speed of 06 - 22 km/h

DAY: BY Y DA AY:

Sunny Sunn ny with light variable wind, with w speed of 06 - 22 km/h

WARNING W ARNING A

No Current W Warnings aarnin ngs

STATION ST TATION T

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

Tel.: T e el.: 161

DIRECTORA DIRECTORATE AT TE GEN GENERAL NERAL OF CIVIL A AVIATION V VIA AT TION DEPARTMENT METEOROLOGICAL L DEP PA ARTMENT

24812000

MAX. REC.

MIN MIN. N. EXP EXP. P.

KUWAIT KUW WA AIT CITY

19 °C

1 °C 10

KUWAIT KUW WA AIT AIRPORT AIRPOR RT

18 °C

0 °C 04

18 °C

0 °C 06

Amiri Hospital

22450005

NUWAISEEB NUW WAISEEB A

Maternity Hospital

24843100

WAFRA W A AFRA

19 °C

0 °C 04

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

SALMI

17 °C

0 °C 03

Chest Hospital

24849400

ABDALY ABDAL LY

19 °C

0 °C 03

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

JAL ALIYAH ALIY YAH A

18 °C

0 °C 04

Adan Hospital

23940620

FAILAKA F AILAKA A

18 °C

0 °C 07

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

PORT AHMADI POR RT

17 °C

1 °C 10

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

UMM AL-MARADEM AL-MARAD DEM

17 °C

1 °C 14

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

WARBA W A ARBA A - BUBYAN BUBY YAN A

19 °C

0 °C 03

Clinics

SFC. CHAR CHART RT

16/01/2012 120 1200 00 UTC

4 DAYS DA AY YS FORECAST

4732263

Roudha

22517733

DAY DA AY

DATE DA AT TE

WEATHER WEA AT THER R

Adhaliya

22517144

T uesday Tuesday

17/01

Khaldiya

24848075

W eednesday Wednesday

Keifan

24849807

Thursday

Shamiya

24848913

Friday

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Fajr

05:20

Temp.

MAX. T M emp.

18 °C

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Sunrise

06:43

MIN. T M emp.

Temp.

05 °C

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Zuhr

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

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

Rabiya

Al-Khadissiya

Al-Madena

T emperatures Temperatures W Wind ind Speed

Wind Direction Direction Wind

MAX.

MIN.

sunny

20 °C

04 °C

VRB

06 - 22 km/h

18/01

partly cloud dy cloudy

20 °C

06 °C

NW -NE NW-NE

08 - 28 km/h

19/01

Mostly sunn ny sunny

19 °C

05 °C

NW

10 - 30 km/h

20/01

partly cloud dy cloudy

19 °C

06 °C

NW

12 - 32 km/h

PRAYER P PRA AY YER TIMES

RECORDED RECORDE ED YESTERDA YESTERDAY AY A AT T KUW KUWAIT WA AIT AIRPOR AIRPORT RT

1 1:58 11:58

MAX. M RH

73 %

Asr

14:54

MIN. RH

24 %

Sunset

17:13

MAX. W M ind Wind

Isha

18:34

TOTAL RAINFALL T OT TA AL L RA AINF FALL A L IN 24 HR.

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry

NW 36 km/h N

about the Civil ID card is 1889988

00 mm

16/01/12 14:12 UTC

All times are local time unless 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

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

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. Mousa Khadada 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

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

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

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

lifestyle A w a r d s

A

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt — AP/AFP photos

Jessica Alba

ngelina Jolie and Brad Pitt fully dressed their part as a glamorous Hollywood power couple at Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards: She in a body-hugging white strapless gown with a flash of red at the bustline by Atelier Versace that matched perfectly her lips and handbag, and he in a classic, bow-tie tuxedo by Salvatore Ferragamo. Individually, they oozed old-school, movie-star looks, but together, they were the buzz of the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif, setting a high bar for style. “There is mystery there. We know so much about everybody else that this couple is so exciting, and you love to see them,” said stylist Mary Alice Stephenson. “They are so elegant ... and she’s immaculate head to toe.

She’s so beautiful and icy, you love to watch her and you can’t take your eyes off her.”

Jolie led the march of stylish, seasoned veterans, who are mothers, moguls and - on nights like these - the best models around.

Stephenson called out Elle Macpherson in a strapless, tiered Zac Posen gown in ivory, Kate Beckinsale in a blush-colored beaded Roberto Cavalli, Reese Witherspoon in a red, corset like Posen, Nicole Kidman in a studded Versace and Salma Hayek in a bold, metallic Gucci.

Charlize Theron wore a dustyrose colored gown by Christian Dior Couture with a plunging neckline, high slit and big bow on the waist, and Heidi Klum was in a plungingback, blush-tone gown by Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein. She accented her look with a huge turquoise necklace. “It’s good for real women to see women who have a little age and maybe motherhood who can get their glam on

caviar-beaded gown by Naeem Khan that showed off an open back. Khan is one of Michelle Obama’s go-to designers for formal

occasions, and with open back and long sleeves from the designer’s spring collection at the Golden Globe Awards. One of her other favorites, Jason Wu, made the leap to the West Coast, dressing Michelle Williams in a blue velvet gown.

Williams’ biggest style statement, however, was her diamond garland headband by Fred Leighton for Forevermark. The blue gown that surely turned some heads was the Vera Wang worn by Sofia Vergara. It was the mermaid silhouette that’s becoming her signature, but the knife-pleated bodice and swirling sheared bias flange skirt were a little more fashion forward than the styles she’s worn before. Vergara said she so often wears Wang because of her gowns’ fit: “She’s like a genius now with my body.”

There were some new names making bold fashion statements at the Globes, reassuring the next generation of style watchers.

Jessica Chastain was at the ceremony for the first time wearing a highneck, pearl-covered Givenchy

Model Elle MacPherson

in a very sexy way,” Stephenson said. Hal Rubenstein, fashion director for InStyle, noted the prevailing sophistication and elegance. “It’s a very pretty night,” he said.

“Everybody wanted to look pretty and grown up. There wasn’t a slashed skirt. There was an understanding that fashion isn’t about being outrageous.”

Among his favorites were Julianna Margulies in a purple

Lea Michele Nicole Kidman

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

lifestyle A w a r d s

Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci.

The details, down to her thin gold belt and pearl-and-diamond earrings, were just right. Mila Kunis wore a one-shouldered black Dior.

Her makeup artist Tracey Levy said she looked a bit like Elizabeth Taylor, but even more like “a brunette Grace Kelly.” “She looked classic Hollywood, but youthful ... with an innocence but also a grown woman who is confident,” said Levy, who stuck to peach and coral Dior shades.

Zooey Deschanel wore a unique Prada dark-green halter gown with black and emerald glass pearls on the bodice and ivory pearls at the neck, and Rooney Mara, in a deep V-neck black gown with a bare, harness-style bodice. “It’s a Nina Ricci and it was the first one I tried on,” Mara said. “It was very comfortable.” Rubenstein thought Mara is playing her cards right in introducing herself to a broader audience.

“She’s doing a very savvy bridge between personal style and the

character she plays in ‘Dragon Tattoo.’”

First-timer Octavia Spencer wore a lavender, draped gown by Tadashi with a V neck and jeweled details. “We wanted to create something Grecian that highlighted her curves and vibrant personality,” said Shoji in a statement.

Rubenstein noted how many women went the purple route, including Emma Stone in Lanvin, Jessica Alba in Gucci and Shailene Woodley in an embroidered illusion column dress by Marchesa. Lea Michele wore one of the beaded, under-the-sea fantasy frocks from Marchesa’s spring runway.

Madonna, whose style has been all over the map in her long career, went back to her rock ‘n’ roll roots for this event in a wearing a dark green embroidered gown with cap sleeves by Reem Acra and a diamond-and-pearl cross by Neil Lane.

“I love it because I feel like I’m wearing chain mail and I’m ready to go to battle,” said Madonna. Claire Danes took very modern turn in a graphic black-and-white J Mendel gown with an open back, and Kate Winslet did the opposites-attract thing in a Jenny Packham gown with a black hammered silk satin bodice and ivory silk crepe skirt.

“There was not a real miss, definitely nothing cataclysmic,” said Rubenstein. “Those days of big goofs are few and far between now.

People are too smart, their stylists are too smart - and they all have good relationships with designers.”—AP

Madonna

Kelly MacDonald

Claire Danes

Leonardo DiCaprio

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The winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama Meryl Streep.

The winner for Best Director Motion Picture Martin Scorsese.

he black-and-white silent film “The Artist” led the Golden Globes with three wins Sunday at a show that spread Hollywood’s love around among a broad range of films, including best drama recipient “The Descendants” and its star, George Clooney. Wins for “ The Artist” included best musical or comedy and best actor in a musical or comedy for Jean Dujardin. Along with best drama, “The Descendants” won the dramatic-actor Globe for Clooney.

The dual best-picture prizes at the Globes could set up a showdown between “The Artist” and “The Descendants” for the top honor at next month’s Academy Awards. Other acting winners were Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, and Octavia Spencer, while Martin Scorsese earned the directing honor. “I gotta thank everybody in England that let me come and trample over their history,” said Streep, earning her eighth Globe, this time as dramatic actress for playing former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Williams won for actress in a musical or comedy as Marilyn Monroe in “My Week With Marilyn,” 52 years after Monroe’s win for the same prize at the Globes for “Some Like It Hot.” The supporting-acting Globes went to Plummer as an elderly widower who comes out as gay in the father-son drama “Beginners” and Spencer as a brassy housekeeper joining other black maids to share stories about life with their white employers in the 1960s Deep South tale “The Help.” “With regard to domestics in this country, now and then, I think Dr. King said it best: ‘All labor that uplifts humanity

In this image released by NBC, Thomas Langmann, at microphone, accepts the award for Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical for ‘The Artist’.

The winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture Octavia Spencer.

Laura Dern accepts award for Best Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical, for her role in ‘Enlightened’.

has dignity and importance.’ And I thank you for recognizing that with our film,” Spencer said.

Scorsese won for the Paris adventure “Hugo.” It was the third directing Globe in the last 10 years for Scorsese, who previously won for “Gangs of New York” and “The Departed” and received the show’s Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement two years ago. He won over a field of contenders that included Michel Hazanavicius, who had been considered by many in Hollywood as a favorite for his black-andwhite silent film “ The Artist.” Williams offered thanks for giving her the same award Monroe once won and joked that her young daughter put up with bedtime stories for six months spoken in Monroe’s voice.

“I consider myself a mother first and an actress second, so the person I most want to thank is my daughter, my little girl,

Winner for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture Christopher Plummer.

(From left) Producers Jim Taylor, Jim Burke and writer/Director Alexander Payne, Winners for Best Motion Picture - Drama ‘The Descendants’. — AP/AFP photos whose bravery and exuberance is the example I take with me in my work and my life,” Williams said. Dujardin became the first star in a silent film to earn a major Hollywood prize since the early days of film. He won as a silent-era star whose career unravels amid the rise of talking pictures in the late 1920s.

It’s a breakout role in Hollywood for Dujardin, a star back home in France but little known to US audiences previously. His French credits include “The Artist” creator Hazanavicius’ spy spoofs “OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies” and “OSS 117: Lost in Rio.” While the musical or comedy categories at the Globes offer recognition for lighter films amid Hollywood’s sober-minded awards season, the winners usually are not serious contenders for the Oscars. The last time the winner for best musical or comedy at the Globes went on to claim best-picture at the Oscars was nine years ago with “Chicago.”

This time, though, “ The Artist” and Dujardin have enough critical mass to compete at the Oscars with dramatic counterparts such as “ The Descendants” and Clooney. Both films have a good mix of laughs and tears. “The Artist” could be called a comedy with strong doses of melodrama, while “The Descendants” might be described as a drama tinged with gently comic moments. Directed by Alexander Payne (“Sideways”), “The Descendants” provided a more down-to- earth role for Clooney, who’s often known for slick, highrolling characters such as those in his “Ocean’s Eleven” heist capers and or the legal saga “Michael Clayton.”

Adapted from Kaui Hart Hemmings’ novel, “The Descendants” casts Clooney as Matt King, the scion of an aristocratic Hawaiian clan and a neglectful dad suddenly forced to hold together his two spirited daughters after his wife falls into a coma from a boating accident. Along the way, Matt uncovers a staggering secret about his marriage and comes to reevaluate the principles under which he’s lived his life. Charming audiences since it premiered last May at the Cannes Film Festival, “The Artist” tells the story of George Valentin (Dujardin), a big-screen superstar known for adventurous comic capers alongside his adorable dog, who’s always at his side on screen and in real life.

As talking pictures take over and the Depression hits, George loses everything his career, his marriage, his fortune and his home. Through it all, he has a guardian

Claire Danes accepts the award for Best Actress in a TV Series Drama for her role in “Homeland”.

In this image released by NBC, Howard Gordon, at microphone, and the cast and crew of “Homeland” accept the award for Best Television Series - Drama.

From second of left, Kayte Walsh, Gus Van Sant, Kelsey Grammer and the cast and crew of “Boss”.

The producing team, winners for Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece)” pose with the trophy.

Actor Jean Dujardin poses in the press room with the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy award for ‘The Artist’.

The winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical Michelle Williams.

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Director/writer Asghar Farhadi and actor Peyman Moadi pose in the press room with the Best Foreign Language Film award for “A Separation”.

angel in Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo, a supporting-actress Globe nominee and Hazanavicius’ real-life romantic partner). A rising talkies star, Peppy got her career going with help from George, and she now aims to repay the favor.

The only time silent films have won best-picture or acting Oscars was in the awards first year, for 1927-28, 16 years before the Golden Globes even started. At that first Oscar ceremony, when the transition to the sound era was just under way, the silent winners included the war story “Wings” as outstanding picture and the marital betrayal tale “Sunrise” as most unique and artistic picture, the only time that category was used. Janet Gaynor won as best actress for “Sunrise” and two other silent films, while Emil Jannings was picked as best actor for the silent films “The Last Command” and “The Way of All Flesh.”

Other than some short silent films and one silent foreign-language nominee in 1983, it’s been all talkies among contenders for top honors during Hollywood’s awards season in the 83 years since the first Oscars. “The Artist,” which led the Globes with six nominations, also won the musicalscore prize for composer Ludovic Bource.

Among its losses was for screenplay, a prize that went to Woody Allen for his romantic fantasy “Midnight in Paris,” the filmmaker’s biggest hit in decades. Never a fan of movie awards, Allen was a no-show at the Globes. Steven Spielberg’s “The Adventures of Tintin” won for best animated film, while the Iranian tale “A Separation” was named the foreign-language winner.

Ricky Gervais, who has ruffled feathers at past shows with sharp wisecracks aimed at Hollywood’s elite and the Globes show itself, returned as host for the third-straight year. He started with some slams at the Globes as Hollywood’s second-biggest film ceremony, after the Oscars. Gervais joked that the Globes “are just like the Oscars, but

(From left) Actresses Ariel Winter, Sarah Hyland, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara pose in the press room with the Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy award for ‘Modern Family’.

Actor Matt LeBlanc poses in the press room with the Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy award for ‘Episodes’.

The winner for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama Kelsey Grammer.

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without all that esteem. The Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. A bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought. Allegedly.

Nothing’s been proved.” He also needled early winners, saying the show was running long and stars needed to keep their speeches short. “You don’t need to thank everyone you’ve ever met or members of your family, who have done nothing,” Gervais said. “Just the main two. Your agent and God.”—AP

Producer Thomas Langmann and director Michel Hazanavicius pose in the press room for the Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy award for ’The Artist’.

Madonna accepts the award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture for “Masterpiece” from “W.E.”

MOTION PICTURES Picture, Drama: “The Descendants.”

Picture, Musical or Comedy: “The Artist.”

Actor, Drama: George Clooney, “The Descendants.”

Actress, Drama: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady.”

Director: Martin Scorsese, “Hugo.”

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist.”

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn.”

Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners.”

Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help.”

Foreign Language: “A Separation.”

Animated Film: “The Adventures of Tintin.”

Screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris.”

Original Score: Ludovic Bource, “The Artist.”

Original Song: “Masterpiece” (music and lyrics by Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry), “W.E.”

Kate Winslet accepts the award for Best Actress in a MiniSeries or TV Movie for her role in “Mildred Pierce”.

The winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Jessica Lange.

George Clooney accepts the award for best actor for his role in ‘The Descendants’.

Presenter Colin Firth

Presenter Harrison Ford

Presenter Ewan McGregor

Presenter Queen Latifah

TELEVISION Series, Drama: “Homeland,” Showtime.

Series, Musical or Comedy: “Modern Family,” ABC. Actor, Drama: Kelsey Grammer, “Boss.”

Actress, Drama: Claire Danes, “Homeland.”

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Laura Dern, “Enlightened.”

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes.”

Miniseries or Movie: “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS. Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Kate Winslet, “Mildred Pierce.”

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Idris Elba, “Luther.”

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story.”

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones.”

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award: Morgan Freeman. — AP

Director Steven Spielberg poses backstage with the award for Best Animated Feature Film for ‘The Adventures of Tintin’.

Presenter Natalie Portman Winner for Best Original Score - Motion Picture Ludovic Bource for “The Artist”.

The winner for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Idris Elba.

Presenters Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman

Morgan Freeman accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award as Sidney Poitier and Helen Mirren look.

Actor Morgan Freeman poses with the Cecil B. DeMille award.

Uggi the dog poses with the trophy for the Best Movie ‘The Artist’.

Jolie and Pitt grace the Globes in glamorous style

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A three-row harpsichord from the University of Michigan’s Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments lies in storage.

Steven Ball shows a violin.

File photo shows Steven Ball, director of the University of Michigan’s Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments, shows a book of Gregorian chants from the 17th century in storage in Ann Arbor, Mich. —AP photos

Silenced musical treasures languish in US A

massive cache of musical treasures that’s grown to include a fragile harp-piano, the pioneering Moog synthesizer and the theremin used for “The Green Hornet” radio show has been shuffled over the years from a theater to an unheated barn and now languish, rarely seen or heard, in a Michigan storage vault.

Spanning centuries and continents, the instruments worth at least $25 million by their chief caretaker’s estimate are packed and stacked in an out-ofthe-way storage room with waterstained ceilings. It’s hardly the environment envisioned for them when Detroit businessman Frederick Stearns gave the University of Michigan the base of the collection a century ago with instructions that the instruments be exhibited - not invisible.

“The only way I can characterize it is

have collections, such as costumes at his school and slide rules within the University of Colorado’s math department, that aren’t part of universities’ museums and risk being discarded.

Doing so would be an “irreversible decision to devalue ... the history of the institution itself,” he said in a recent paper. “Resources are tighter for everybody,” he said. “When the pie shrinks, administrators need to balance the needs of a lot of different

Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. For many reasons, the Stearns Collection has never had a permanent home. Less than 1 percent of the 2,500 items in the collection is displayed in exhibit cases at the university’s music school and nearby Hill Auditorium, but most of the keyboards, horns, drums, stringed instruments and other rare musical miscellany have had a nomadic journey. At

Horns in the University of Michigan’s Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments, sit on shelves.

Tut’s Tomb, because it’s been so forgotten about for so many years,” said Steven Ball, director of the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments. “The collection has been in a holding pattern for 112 years. This is a national treasure - it deserves the dignity of either being properly housed ... or to be dispersed in such a way that it could be.” Such “orphan” collections pose problems for many academic institutions, despite the prestige that comes with owning them. Kris Anderson, director of the University of Washington’s Jacob Lawrence Gallery, said he discovered a repository of nearly 1,000 forgotten paintings and other artwork spanning more than a century. He found out about the collection because its main basement storage space was being reused.

Anderson, a vice president with the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, said numerous campuses

A bust of Frederick Stearns. —AP Photos constituencies. ... You have to be willing to look for advocates in places you’d never before.”

That was the case with “The Gross Clinic,” a Thomas Eakins painting that Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson University agreed to sell in 2006 after 129 years of ownership to a museum being built in Arkansas by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. heiress Alice Walton. “We are not a museum,” university President Robert Barchi had said about the decision to sell the masterwork, which depicts an operation in progress by a famous surgeon, Dr Samuel Gross.

Protests erupted over the loss of what some argued was part of Philadelphia’s heritage and supporters raised $68 million to keep the painting in the city.

It’s now owned jointly by the Philadelphia

present, they’re in a vast room accessible by freight elevator in a building where workers manufactured classified optical and camera equipment during World War II. Cabinets are bursting with items, leaving many instruments stored on the floor. Along one narrow passageway is the 19thcentury harp-piano, one of only a halfdozen known to exist, as well as a large Swiss-made music box from the same era and a group of African and Asian instruments.

Another section houses several saxophones by inventor Adolphe Sax. Newer additions include the first commercially produced Moog synthesizer and the theremin, the electronic instrument that provided the insectlike buzzing on the “The Green Hornet” show produced in Detroit in the 1940s.

Their out-of-sight circumstances pain Ball, who has a copy of a letter Stearns wrote before donating about 940 instruments in the late 1890s. “Under no consideration whatever however would I turn the collection over the university except with the understanding that it should be immediately housed and installed,” Stearns wrote. “I would not consent to it being packed away for some future regent to mount to suit themselves or to neglect entirely.” His original donations were displayed in the outer lobbies of Hill Auditorium for decades, though Ball said the instruments were getting “baked to death” from sunlight through the windows.

In the 1970s, the collection - much at that point relegated to cabinets was cleared out of the auditorium and shipped to an unheated barn far from the central campus. There, hundreds of instruments were lost, stolen or destroyed, according to records Ball has reviewed. There was a later attempt to install the collection in a former fraternity house, but that building was lost in a swap between the music and engineering schools, Ball said. It’s been in its current off-campus room since the mid-1980s. University officials recently committed up to $400,000 to create a climate-controlled storage space for the collection.

Ball is grateful for that but said it underscores the bigger challenge: finding millions more and figuring out how the collection can be seen, heard and experienced.

“It’s a partial solution to a much larger problem, and that’s because the ideal museum is where everything is in the same environment,” he said. “The collection is a huge burden financially to try and operate it and staff it, let alone trying to get a site on the university master plan to try to get a building.” Even amid the struggle for space, Ball said the collection has received three or four major gifts of instruments since he came on board a few years ago, and grew by about 250 instruments in the past year.

“That’s the only way for the collection to move forward,” Ball said.

“That’s the only way for us to maintain our relevance.” Ball said his mission - and the university’s - should be to honor Stearns’ wishes and provide the instruments with a permanent, appropriate home, preferably one where barn critters have never roamed. “For them to deteriorate and no longer be able to give joy to eye or ear in any way, that’s perhaps the greatest tragedy,” he said. —AP

Nepalese people watch bulls fight during Maghesangranti festival in Taraka village, Nuwakot district some 80 kilometers from Kathmandu on January 15, 2012.—AFP

Bullfighting thriving in Himalayas

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half-tonne bull enters the ring, snorting and rearing, before running at full pelt towards a section of spectators, drawing screams of fear and delight from the frenzied crowd. It could be a scene from any Spanish arena but this is bullfighting Nepal-style, with thousands trekking deep into the Himalayan foothills to watch a centuriesold spectacle whose popularity is growing even as its appeal wanes in Europe.

Every year thousands of Nepalis come to see the animals fight at a festival marking Maghe Sankranti, the first day of the tenth month in the nation’s calendar when villagers celebrate an end to winter and usher in warmer weather.

Unlike its European cousin, there are no matadors-the beasts take on each other-and buffalo are preferred to traditional bulls, which are sacred in the Hindu-majority country. “Bull fights have been happening all around here for a long time. My grandfather used to say they have been going on for more than 200 years,” said Janak Raj Dhungana, who organises the fiesta in the village of Taruka, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of the capital Kathmandu. “The fights used to happen in different places around Nuwakot district. But six years ago we brought them all together for one big fight here.”

Seven pairs of bulls did battle in a ring overlooking the spectacular terraced hillsides, fertile valleys and terracotta tiled roofs of Nuwakot in front of a crowd of 5,000 perched on grass banks and muddy slopes on Sunday. This was not as lucrative as the Spanish circuit, with winning owners receiving prize money of 1,000 rupees ($12) from the village authorities and the losers getting half that. The buffalo are selected when they are calves and trained only to fight at the annual fiesta, being spared the ploughing duties their less tenacious siblings are reared for.

An important difference between European and Nepali bullfighting is the

absence of bloodshed in the Himalayan version-bouts only go on until one animal tires and gives up. The bulls-altogether more sedate creatures than the beasts of the Spanish corridas-square up, push and occasionally butt heads but none are killed. The closest the spectators came to seeing blood at this year’s festival was when a small section of the crowd fell through a safety barrier as one perky bull escaped its handler and headed into the spectators.

Serious injuries to the animals are rare as owners and handlers step in with bamboo prods to separate sparring bulls if one looks hurt. Nevertheless, the spectacle is not without its critics, most notably the Animal Welfare Network Nepal, which argues that bulls in the past have sustained broken bones. “We teach the animals how to fight starting from when they are small,” said Toya Prasad Dhakal, 48, from Taruka, who has been training bulls for 19 years. “I’m not at all worried about them getting injured. In all the time I’ve been doing this I’ve never seen an animal hurt.” It is said that Nepali bullfighting is centuries old, though it was only introduced in Taruka in 1900, by Jai Prithvi Bahadur Singh, a monarch of the ancient Bajhang kingdom in what is now western Nepal.

The bullfight has a much longer history in Spain, going back to the 16th century, but interest is falling. In a 2008 survey, only 23 percent of Catalans questioned said they were interested in the tradition.

Meanwhile its smaller-scale cousin in Nepal goes from strength to strength.

“The crowds are always in their thousands,” said Kathmandu-based student Saurav Pradhananga, who was in the crowd on Sunday. “You can get up to 15,000 coming to see the fights. They are really popular.”—AFP