8 Jan

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

Five accused in India rape case charged in court

Hagel tapped for Pentagon, Brennan for CIA

Suarez goal raises issue of sporting honesty

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Scientists film giant squid in Pacific depths

Rashed denies moves to amend the constitution

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www.kuwaittimes.net

SAFAR 26, 1434 AH

Second tweeter jailed, Munawer acquitted

Max 20º Min 07º High Tide 09:08 & 19:38 Low Tide 02:29 & 12:27

By B Izzak conspiracy theories

FANTASTIC FOURTH

A call to our MoI

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

U

nfortunately, the crime rate in Kuwait has skyrocketed. This, in my opinion, is a natural result of population growth. Kuwait being a small society, when once a small thing happens, everybody knows about it and people get scared. Especially with the latest series of bloodshed - the stabbing at Avenues - which shocked the whole nation.

Only two days after this sad news, another stabbing occurred at a gas station at a time when all of us were still under the shock of the death of the dentist Dr Jaber. Then, to cream up the crime cake, less than a week later, the son of the undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs was stabbed in a mysterious way at the seaside near the Scientific Centre. His stabbing led to many rumors. I blame the Ministry of Interior for triggering the speculations of the nation by not providing us with any details regarding the incident which happened at a very critical time.

Some rumours say that the son of the undersecretary was jogging by the seaside when he saw motorbikers riding on the pedestrian pavements. By the way, I myself see this ugly scene when I want to walk at the seaside. I see the bikers using the pavements and nobody telling them anything. Many times I myself wanted to approach them and ask them not to spoil the walking area and cause danger. There are kids and families on the pavement and these bikers come zooming and roaring on the bikes recklessly without any respect for the people.

My point is: Where are the police and the traffic department in such cases when these bikers use the area for racing? Why don’t we see our young and lovely policemen and policewomen walking in the markets, malls and at the seaside where there are many people. For instance, I lived in the United Kingdom for a while where I spotted a policeman or even two of them strolling up and down the streets. They could be seen in parks and the underground. They are everywhere. I have seen them even in Jordan.

Why can’t we do that in Kuwait? How many cadets graduate from the academy every year? We are proud of them. Why don’t we see them on our streets? They give a feeling of comfort to the nation. Why do we have to wait for a disaster to happen and then act?

Let’s see our policemen and policewomen amongst us!

ZURICH: Barcelona’s Argentinean forward Lionel Messi receives an unprecedented fourth FIFA Ballon d’Or award during a ceremony at the Kongresshaus yesterday. — AFP (See Page 20)

Bahrain upholds jail for uprising leaders DUBAI: Bahrain’s highest court upheld prison sentences against 13 leaders of the 2011 uprising yesterday, a defence lawyer said, a ruling that could stir up further unrest in the US-allied Gulf Arab state. The case has drawn international criticism from rights groups and come under scrutiny from US officials keen for acquittals to help restore calm in a country it counts as a regional ally against Iran. Bahrain, where the US Fifth Fleet is based, has been in political turmoil since a protest movement led by majority Shiites erupted in Feb 2011 during a tide of revolts against governments across the Arab world. Bahrain accuses Shiite power Iran of encouraging the unrest.

The sentences, originally handed down by a military court in June 2011 and upheld by a civilian court in September last year, range from five years in prison to life sentences. “This verdict is final, there are no more appeals possible, it is the last stage of litigation,” lawyer Mohammed Al-Jishi told Reuters by telephone from Manama.

Twenty uprising leaders had been sentenced but only 13 filed appeals. The remaining seven men had been tried in

absentia because they were out of the country or in hiding, Jishi said.

Bahrain’s main opposition Al Wefaq condemned the decision. “These judgments confirmed the rulings issued before by the military court which were condemned by the whole world. I think it is accurate to call these rulings political persecution,” Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman told Reuters. “It confirms that the Bahrain regime is refusing to take its chances to reform and seems to be deepening its own human rights crisis,” said Brian Dooley, director of the Human Rights Defenders Program at US-based group Human Rights First.

“This unjust decision will confirm the view of many that the judiciary is more concerned about toeing the government’s line than upholding the rule of law and the rights of all Bahrainis,” said human rights watchdog Amnesty International’s Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

“In order to maintain any credibility at all the Bahraini authorities must release these 13 people who have been imprisoned simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly,” she added in a statement.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Ali Al-Rashed denied yesterday that there are moves underway to amend the constitution as was reported by a local daily, saying that he had not received any proposal for the amendment. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Assembly’s office, Rashed said that he had not heard of any plan to amend the constitution or any proposal to that end, adding that “the prevailing political situation in the country is not suitable for the amendment of any article in the constitution”.

Rashed’s comments came after the liberal Al-Jarida newspaper cited sources as saying yesterday that the government was planning to amend several articles in the constitution which has not undergone any amendment since it was issued in 1962. Al-Jarida said that one of the amendments was to increase the Assembly’s membership to between 60 and 75 from the current 50, making the appointment of the crown prince exclusively in the hands of HH the Amir and providing more protection to the prime minister against grillings.

The criminal court meanwhile sentenced a second opposition youth tweeter for two years in jail yesterday for allegedly insulting the Amir through his Twitter account. The sentence was issued against Ayyad AlHarbi just a day after a similar verdict was issued against opposition tweeter Rashed Al-Enezi, also for the same reason. The court however acquitted Osama Al-Munawer, a member of the scrapped 2012 Assembly, from charges of abusing the Amir’s status through remarks he made at an opposition rally on Oct 13.

All the verdicts are not final and must still go to the court of appeals and the court of cassation to become final, but the two tweeters will remain in jail throughout the period unless the court of appeals decides to free them. A large number of opposition activists and former MPs face trial on almost similar charges and the verdicts are expected within the next few weeks.

The criminal court meanwhile postponed until Feb 18 the next hearing in the case of the storming of the Assembly building in Nov 2011 in which 70 opposition activists including 11 former MPs face charges of illegally storming a public building and assaulting policemen. The postponement came after defense lawyers insisted that the court must hear the testimony of around 20 witnesses who include former Assembly speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, former opposition MP and deputy speaker of the scrapped Assembly Khaled AlSultan and others.

In the meantime, the Progressive Movement strongly lashed out at the excessive use of force by the special forces against opposition demonstrators on Sunday night. The movement said the regular use of repressive methods against protesters indicates to a plan involving a gradual coup against the constitution. It called for the immediate release of all detainees and called on opposition groups to launch a joint political program to confront the undemocratic attitude of the government and its oppressive security measures. Rights activists said that more than 70 demonstrators were arrested and that most of them were freed except 17 who remained in police custody until late yesterday.

US gov, Google chief in North Korea SEOUL: Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt began a controversial private mission to North Korea yesterday that will include an effort to secure the release of an imprisoned American. The trip comes after North Korea carried out a long range rocket test last month and as the reclusive state continues work on its nuclear testing facilities according to satellite imagery, potentially paving the way for a third nuclear bomb test. Footage from North Korean state television showed Richardson and Schmidt at the Pyongyang airport yesterday evening.

“We are going to ask about the American who’s been detained. A humanitarian private visit.” Richardson said.

The delegation comprised Schmidt, his daughter, Richardson, Richardson’s longtime aide on North Korea, KA “Tony” Namkung and Google executive Jared Cohen, according to South Korean news media, and it arrived in Pyongyang on a flight from the Chinese capital, Beijing.

The mission has been criticised by the White House due to the sensitivity of the timing. The United States does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea and the isolated and impoverished state remains technically at war with South Korea. South Korea is in the midst of a transition to a new president who will take office in February, while Japan, another major US ally in the region, has a new prime minister. A US official said the trip’s timing was particularly bad from the Obama administration’s point of view because it comes as the UN Security Council ponders how to respond to North Korea’s Dec12 missile launch.

“We are in kind of a classical provocation period with North Korea. Usually, their missile launches are followed Continued on Page 13

PYONGYANG: Former New Mexico Gov Bill Richardson (left) and Executive Chairman of Google Eric Schmidt disembark from an airport transfer bus after arriving at Pyongyang International Airport in North Korea yesterday. — AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwait pins hopes on ‘investment on youth’ CP honours Kuwaiti athletes

KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah honored Kuwaiti athletes and spor ts figures for their achievements and accomplishments in the field, during a ceremony held under his auspices yesterday. Upon his arrival at the ceremony’s venue, His Highness Sheik h Nawaf was received by Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem AlHmoud Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait’s Public Authority for Youth and Sport (PAYS) Faisal Al-Jazzaf, and high ranking officials in PAYS and organizing committees.

After playing the national anthem several opening speeches took place delivered by HH the Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman and Al-Jazzaf.

Later, His Highness the Crown Prince handed out honorary plaques to sports officials including Chairman of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of Kuwait Football Association Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Sabah, President of Kuwait and Asian, Shooting Federation Sheikh Salman Al-Hmoud

Al-Sabah, President of the Asian Swimming Federation Sheikh Khaled Al-Bader Al-Sabah, President of the Asian Bowling Federation Sheikh Talal Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, President of the Asian Tennis Federation Sheikh Ahmad Jaber AlAbdullah Al-Sabah and President and Deputy President of the Judo Federation Obaid Zayid Al-Enezi.

Also President of Asia International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Faisal Al-Qenai, Media Representative and Arab Sports Honorary Mohammad AlMesnad, Executive Member of Director of International Federation Representing the Asian Gymnastics Continent Saif Edan Abu Adil, President of the Militar y Spor t Federation Humaid Dahal Al-Enezi and President of the Sports National Guard Federation Saleh Jamaan Mohammad.

Athletes honoured included Fehaid Al-Dihani, who won two bronze medals for Kuwait in the Sydney 2000 Olympics trap shooting and 2012 London Olympics double trap shooting respectively, and owner of the Arabian horses stables Awad Mubarak Ali. After that, His Highness the Crown Prince honored players

Dow Diamond sponsor of Investment Forum KUWAIT: Dow in Kuwait yesterday announced its diamond sponsorship of the 2nd Kuwait Investment Forum ‘Investment in Energy’, which will be held in Kuwait on Jan 12 and -13.

Drawing on its experience of 18 years in Kuwait, Dow will be at the core of industry discussions, addressing the benefits and challenges of investing in Kuwait. As one of the largest foreign investors, and the largest private employers of Jamel Attal Kuwaiti nationals, through its JVs, in the petrochemicals industry in Kuwait, Dow has continuously strived to support Kuwait’s economic development and prosperity. “This forum is an ideal platform for us to express our support for investment in Kuwait which has a tremendous amount of potential thanks to a healthy mix of abundant natural resources and a pool of human capital”, said Jamel Attal, Managing Director, Dow Kuwait. “Dow is a company that provides solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges and this forum will offer the added benefit of allowing us greater insight into and understanding of Kuwait’s needs,” he added.

Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (PIC) of Kuwait have partnered on five industry-leading joint ventures: EQUATE Petrochemical Company, MEGlobal, The Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC), The Kuwait Styrene Company (TKSC) and EQUATE Marketing Company.

The exclusive event will bring together Kuwait’s policy makers, business leaders, financiers and international economic figures and will highlight the unique investment prospects created through the government’s drive for economic diversification. Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

For 17 years, Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (PIC) of Kuwait have shared one successful milestone after another, partnering on six industry-leading joint ventures: EQUATE Petrochemical Company, MEGlobal, Equipolymers, EQUATE Marketing Company, The Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC), and The Kuwait Styrene Company (TKSC). As the largest foreign investor, and the largest private employer of Kuwaiti nationals, through its JVs, in the petrochemicals industry in Kuwait, Dow has consistently promoted economic development and prosperity. Dow and PIC’s joint ventures combine Dow’s strong existing asset base, technology position and market presence. Dow’s partnership with Kuwait’s noted NGO, LoYAC is in line with Dow’s commitment to the communities in which it operates. LoYAC is known in Kuwait for its inspired, innovative youth education and activities program, such as Dow’s sole partnership of the F1 Schools Challenge, support of LoYAC’s award winning Drama Club and other youth developmental programs in Kuwait and abroad.

from the Kuwaiti Sports Disabled Club, including former players.

Finally, His Highness the Crown Prince was presented with a token of appreciation marking his attendence of the occasion.

In his speech at the event, HH the Crown Prince conveyed greetings of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the attendance, underlining HH’s keenness to foster youth activities, which comes out of the political leadership’s belief that the youth are “hope for the future and of the nation’s pillars.”

HH Sheikh Nawaf also paid tribute to retired athletes, urging at the same time sportsmen and women to wield utmost efforts in order to have the name of the beloved homeland; Kuwait, be proudly present in all sport arenas under the leadership of HH the Amir.

In this regard, HH extended appreciation for effor ts made by Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheik h Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud AlSabah and Director General of the Public Authority for Youth and Sport (PAYS) Faisal Al-Jazzaf.

On his part, Sheikh Salman said

that Kuwait’s most valuable wealth lies in the minds and souls of youth, terming them the “everlasting and most successful investment.

“Their vast potentials and energy are ought to be invested in as directed by HH the Amir and HH the Crown Prince in order to meet developmental ambitions and turn it into a tangible reality,” the Minister noted, stressing baselines to be followed in this regard, which included the need for creativity, encouragement of the sense of belonging, the need for competition, the need to serve others, the importance of movement and activity, the urge to feel important and the desire to delve into new experiences.

PAYS Director Al-Jazzaf said that “sport is a basic element and principle of noble competition, as well as a major factor in achieving closeness among peoples.

“No sport without youth and no youth without sport. Out of this concept, Kuwait; leadership and people, truly believe in the significance of sport, and this is one of the main reasons this event is held.

“The clearest proof of such belief was what shooter Fehaid Al-Deihani

accomplished in the 2012 London Olympics, snatching the bronze medal and crowning efforts of the Kuwaiti Shooting Federation and all other sport bodies.

Al-Jazzaf went on to say that “PAYS is supervising some 22 sport-related projects, the most current is being in its finishing phase, including the Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium, which will open next February.

“These projects and accomplishments would not have been realized if it wasn’t for the support of HH the Amir, HH the Crown Prince and HH the Prime Minister, in addition to all state bodies.”

At the end of his s peech, AlJazzaf urged athletes to unite and relinquish standoffs in manifestation to the esteemed desire of HH the Amir. —KUNA

Cabinet holds weekly session KUWAIT: The Cabinet held yesterday its weekly session chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Following the meeting, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs and State Minister for Municipal Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said the meeting reviewed the letter addressed to HH the Amir from Mohamed Yousef Al-Magariaf, Chairman of Libya’s General National Congress. The letter tackled means of fostering bilateral relations.

The Cabinet also reviewed two letters addressed to HH the Amir from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; the first thanking HH for hospitality he and the delegation accompanying him were received in while in Kuwait, pointing at the same time to his content over positive progress in Kuwaiti-Iraqi relations. The second letter enclosed Ban’s appreciation for the USD-20-million-pledge by the State of Kuwait to aid the Syrian people and for accepting to host the first international donors’ conference for Syria, which will be held on January 30, 2013.

The Cabinet then took note of some of the projects carried out by the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) within the framework of the state’s development plan. PACI Director General Musaed Al-Asousi and senior officials of the authority detailed the Cabinet with 17 projects under development, including the Geographic Information System, or GIS. The Cabinet decided to circulate these projects on relevant governmental bodies in a bid to benefit from them.

Meanwhile, Minister of Oil Hani Abdulaziz Hussein briefed the Cabinet with the petrochemicals and refinery complex projects, located in Vietnam and China respectively, which, according to the Minister, go parallel with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s (KPC) strategy to provide a safe outlet for Kuwaiti oil and secure suitable alternatives to benefit from the domestic oil output, which would in turn buttress national economy.

The Cabinet then discussed National Assembly affairs and topics on the agenda for the next parliamentary session, including housing, traffic congestion and providing jobs for Kuwaitis, tasking each minister to head a team to follow up on these issues and more, so as to forward reports on them to the Cabinet before submitting them to parliament for discussion.

The Cabinet then discussed a number of political affairs in light of regional and international developments. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The Cabinet session in progress.

Medical emergencies on the rise

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The Medical Emergency Department’s Public Relations head Yaqoub Al-Yaqoub said yesterday there was rise in the total number of medical emergencies dealt with in 2012 compared to 2011. Total number of cases dealt with and sent to hospitals by medical emergency technicians in 2012 amounted to 53,898 cases compared to 47,114 in 2011.

Medical emergencies continuously develop the performance of technicians to provide the best services for every citizen and expat. The administration has increased rescue centers and the number has reached 35 centers. In spite of a shortage of ambulances, medical emergency technicians are always looking to provide the best services.

The administration has updated the communication system to be compatible with the field situation and to achieve administrative goals, which is to reach to the casualty site in a period that does not exceed eight minutes. Every citizen and expat can help the patient until the ambulance arrives by following the instructions of medical emergency men who give instructions to the caller.

The medical emergency department is the first government organization to get the ISO quality certificate since 1996 and there are continuous visits from the British ISO specification authority to double check on the formalities taken by the department. The most dangerous cases are road accidents, which reached 9,959 cases in 2012 compared to 8,816 in 2011.

Al-Yaqoub pointed that there are many

reasons for the increase in road accidents and the most important one is lack of awareness by drivers to drive safely. He demanded a voluntary national campaign to reduce percentages of road accidents in which all concerned authorities participate.

He added that internal diseases were rising, reaching 15,739 cases in 2012 compared to 12,632 in 2011. The reason of the increase is due to the wrong eating habits and lack of exercise. Also there was an increase in reparatory cases which reached 5,713 in 2012 compared to 4,594 in 2011. Al-Yaqoub said that cases of falling from high places should be noted, including children who fall while playing and laborers falling while working. The number of such cases in 2012 reached 2,951 compared to 2,564 in 2011.

Yaqoub Al-Yaqoub

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

LOCAL

Premier’s Iraq visit on hold KUWAIT: Clouds of uncertainty hover over a planned visit of Kuwait’s Prime Minister to Baghdad in view of the current political and security-related unrest in Iraq, a local newspaper reported yesterday quoting sources close to the Kuwaiti government.

HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah is set to head an official Kuwaiti delegation which was scheduled to visit Iraq this month-end. However, the sources who spoke to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity indicated that finalization of the date for the anticipated visit was being delayed due to unrest in Iraq “which seems to be moving towards further unrest.”

Meanwhile, the sources indicated that Kuwait was currently in a state of ‘diplomatic alert’ to host the Syria donors’ conference set to take place on January 30, 2013.

The event is set to feature at least sixty nations and organizations, while Kuwait hopes to collect $1.5 billion, according to the sources.

Separately, the sources announced that Kuwait received an official invitation to take part in the Arab economic summit slated to take place in Riyadh on Jan 21. Meanwhile, a ranking Iraqi MP Sunday commended the “historic strategic” relations with Kuwait in all domains. Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, head of the National Alliance bloc, which forms a majority in the House of Representatives, made the remarks during a meeting with Kuwait’s Ambassador in Baghdad Ali AlMomen during which they discussed security, economic and investment cooperation.

Meet to tackle traffic woes KUWAIT: A seminar under the slogan “congestion solutions” will be held on Jan 21 and 22, 2013 at Regency Hotel to propose solutions to the traffic problem in Kuwait.

Zeina Nazer, Executive Director of the group Annova Advisory Limited and the Secretary General of the Association of Arab Intelligent Transportation Systems, said the government is required to reschedule the timing of work in Zeina Nazer ministries to reduce the traffic jams that cause significant traffic congestion in Kuwait.

Nazer is an internationally renowned expert in the field of systems planning, implementation and management of intelligent transportation and has more than 18 years experience in the design, management and implementation and development of intelligent infrastructure in Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia, the United States and New Zealand.

Nazer has contributed to providing a variety of consulting services to clients from the public sector in the field of transport plans and similar services in the field of partnership between the public and private sectors in a number of countries in the developed world and the countries of the Middle East and Asia.

KUWAIT: Officials pose for a group photograph at the UN House in Misref. — Photo by Joseph Shagra

Major role for corporations to help labor force in Gulf Kuwait hosts symposium

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: A three-day regional symposium on the role of corporations in promoting social responsibility towards labor in the Gulf Council Countries (GCC) was inaugurated yesterday at the UN House in Misref.

The symposium organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in cooperation with the Ministry of Awqaf and the Embassy of The Netherlands, was inaugurated by Muneera Al-Fadhli, the Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development, who represented Thikra Ayed Rashid, the newly appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Labor.

She said the symposium was very important for the GCC countries since it will benefit not just the corporations or company’s CSR but especially the citizens and expatriate laborers.

“We appreciate all the government and non government organizations’ efforts to make this symposium possible. It is through the development of public private partnerships in humanitarian and social economic developments projects that we all succeed. The role and participation of civil society cannot be ignored and we pray for the success of the three-day regional symposium.”

Iman Ereiqat, Chief of Mission, noted that the regional forum will shed light on the need for cooperation between the government and the companies in fulfilling their responsibility to towards the society, especially with regard to national and expat labor forces, in addition to domestic helpers.

“The UNGC initiative was founded to urge companies to adopt a number of values and principles regarding human rights, labor standards, the environment and combating corruption,” Ereiqat mentioned.

She stressed that the forum will focus on the UN charter of human rights and will respect all human rights as per international standards. It will make sure that companies are not involved in human rights violations.

“When it comes to work standards, the charter asserts that companies must respect the rights of workers in forming labor union, eliminate all forms of forced labor and child labor, and also eliminate any discrimination at work place.”

Ahmad Abdullah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Awqaf General Secretariat and representative of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, said the symposium comes at a time when the Arab governments and peoples are in need of unity.

Al Ahli Bank launches new-look website KUWAIT: Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, in a bid to provide the best to its clients, launched its new-look website www.eahli.com, after applying new easy-to-use features for an enhanced online experience.

Othman Tawfiqi, Head of Delivery Channels at ABK, explained about the developments applied to the website “At ABK we embrace technology to commission state-of-the-art applications and features on our website, so the end product to reach our customers is a user-friendly, smooth and seamless website, surely one of the

most developed. Services provided online are tailored to meet clients’ banking needs, which they can even enjoy on their smart phones.”

Tawfiqi added “in the new version of the website we developed the operating system, so our clients can easily complete their transactions, search for information about products, services and branches, in addition to a section where we have latest news about the Bank and its offers, and all this with a clean and modern look”.

Mr. Tawfiqi concluded “For our

clients who wish to stay updated with their accounts and complete their bank work from anywhere, they can always download the application on their smart phones. Moreover, to facilitate Android users, we are now preparing to launch the new version of iAhli application especially for them.

For more information about the latest news and offerings from Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait , you can visit www.eahli.com and even talk to any of our account managers via Ahli Chat, or call Ahlan Ahli on 1899899.

PIC passes 9 million-hour mark

KUWAIT: Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria Alexandar Olshevski is seen inaugurating the new Bulgarian visa application centre on sunday. The centre which will be open on weekdays from 9am till 5pm is located on the 12th floor of Nassar Tower in Kuwait City. Dimitar Dimitrov, First Secretary and Consul of the Bulgarian embassy was also on hand for the occasion. The visa centre which is launched as partnership between the Bulgarian embassy and the international outsourcing visa service provider VFS Global, aims to improve the services for visa applicants. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) Board Member and Deputy Managing Director Abdullah Alswailem said yesterday that thanks to exerted efforts by its employees the company has been working nine million hours with no occupational hazard-related casualties reported due to its full application of precautionary and safety measures.

In a PIC press release, Alswailem made his remarks during a company’s ceremony marking Contractors Day, adding that higher management of the company were keen on following up safety procedures which resulted in these achievements and hours in an industrial environment full of dangers due to production, storage, and transfer operations.

In the statement, Alswailem noted that such accomplishment needs to be taken into considerations, particularly in Contractors Day occasion, notably the opportunity to exchange views and experiences to empower such relation between the company and contractors. Alswailem also said that he is proud of PIC numerous awards and recognition based on international standards in environment, safety, and health fields.

“We work hand to hand with contractors to ensure safety and with environmental awareness to avoid accidents, which calls for additional efforts in coordination and applying tasks,” Alswailem added. —KUNA

“It is very important here to highlight the role played by the General Secretariat of Ministry of Awqaf, especially in funding many social development activities. Last year, the Ministry of Awqaf spent about KD5 million in funding activities and programs here in Kuwait and abroad.

The programs covered people with special needs and institutional development.

We also assist in areas of health and education in addition, of course, to help build a Mosque and teaching how to read Quran,” he added.

Addressing the inaugural event, Nicolas Beets, Ambassador of The Netherlands, told the participants how CSR was important for business in the 21st century, especially the effect of their business activities on people, the environment and business operations.

The Dutch envoy noted that as the world faces the impact of global economic crisis, it is vital nowadays to focus on the role of CSR and encourage companies to adopt CSR policies in their work.

“I believe that the better labor regulations, CSR policies and their implementation by the more successful states will enable continued economic growth and social progress in the years ahead,” he mentioned.

According to Ambassador Beets, who

appreciated the efforts of the Kuwaiti government in safeguarding the rights of workers, the symposium will provide a platform for greater cooperation and networking between the government of Kuwait and the rest of GCC countries as well as business sector and international organizations.

“Companies today make conscious choices to find a balance between people, planet and profit, bearing in mind new market opportunities, growth and innovation. The Dutch government has given high priority to Corporate Social Responsibility since 2008,” he said.

“CSR is a wide-ranging concept that requires the state, the business community and the non-profit sector to work together to develop solutions for complex problems.

“Companies that want to become involved in the social arena need freedom to act and choose suitable partners to help them do so, especially if they want to demonstrate the credibility often demanded of them,” he emphasized.

The Dutch envoy also reiterated the need for companies to have a comprehensive understanding of their core business and address the environment in which they operate.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

LOCAL Local Spotlight

In my view

New labour law and minister

Consumer protection

By Muna Al-Fuzai

By Labeed Abdal

muna@kuwaittimes.net

local@kuwaittimes.net

K

I

completely agree with MP Mishari al-Husseini who has called for the establishment of a new government agency for protecting the consumers from fraud and commercial cheating.

We surely need such an agency to save the consumer from such cheating that has been happening currently. Also, the consumer needs to be protected from increase in prices at the hands of the merchants and service providers in Kuwait.

The problem is that the government bodies which are expected to exercise control are too slow. On top of it, the decision making process is not transparent enough in its dealing with the public.

MP al-Husseini expressed concern lately about the predicament facing the consumers who have been spending their hard-earned money on buying goods at exorbitant prices. The government is not doing anything to stop or control the inflation which has its origins in the greed of many merchants.

The National Assembly is working on a draft law for the establishment of a consumer protection authority.

This authority will protect citizens and residents from fraud and deceit indulged in by some merchants or service providers who have chosen to be corrupt.

The Ministry of Trade and Commerce in Kuwait is not seen as proactively trying to protect the people from the negative impact of increase in prices or catching those who endanger people’s lives and health by selling expired food items like meat.

The problem is that the government bodies which are expected to exercise control are too slow. On top of it, the decision making process is not transparent enough in its dealing with the public. Sometimes we watch on T V the people who confiscate large amounts of meat unfit for human consumption but we have no idea what happens next, except that we see that the shops in question have again resumed business. We are left to wonder whether someone was actually penalized at all or did a wasta link work to extricate the crook shopkeeper out of a tough situation.

The same thing applies to those who sell cosmetic items and make up material. I always wonder when I see those sales men in local markets as to why anyone would trust them and buy something from them, particularly body and facial creams. Also, one wonders how the municipality or the Ministry of Trade allow the sale of such items.

I believe we need a new agency for consumer protection but we need to invite NGOs and the youth to be part of this agency as volunteers. We need to have a media channel, perhaps in conjunction with the private channels or through newspapers, for increasing public awareness. We need to educate the consumers about their rights and what they should do and whom should they call if they indeed become a victim of such crimes.

The idea proposed by MP al-Husseini is good but needs to be developed further to serve everyone’s interests in an even better way.

kuwait digest

Plans on to impose VAT

By Dr. Terki Al-Azmi

T

he government is studying a plan to impose a value added tax on fees collected from utilization of public services, according to a recent report published by Al-Jarida newspaper. The move should come as no surprise, considering the fact that enforcing taxes has been part of the government’s strategic thinking for more than a decade now.

On Dec 26, 2007, then MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim warned against “passing an incomplete law” during a parliamentary session when the parliament had discussed a draft law for taxes.

A couple of weeks ago, AlQabas repor ted that “a Kuwaiti team is visiting Jordan to view the latter’s taxation experience.”

The government has been trying to find a way to enforce taxes, but the question is when and how, and also who are going to be affected by it?

The value added tax, or VAT in short, has been in operation in many countries which collect taxes on goods in proportion to the increase in the price of the product at each phase till it reaches the consumer.

As a result, the rate of VAT varies, and could reach five percent, for example. In Europe, travelers are asked to fill a VAT form which enables them to see a refund of the amount they paid right at the airport before they leave.

In Kuwait, the circumstances are entirely different.

We are not living in an industrial country, but in fact are classified as a ‘consumer state’ while a majority of our citizens are indebted with loans and premiums.

Under these conditions, enforcing the value added tax in Kuwait would be a mistake. The government should first consider supervising the work performance and

efficiency of the state departments that provide services to citizens and residents in order to make sure that the law is applied strictly there.

Only after both, the citizens and the residents, feel that the governmental performance is approaching the same level as it is in advanced countries, that the government should consider enforcing VAT. Also, it must not be enforced on people with a limited income.

Citizens and residents in Kuwait complain of poor ser vices provided by the state departments and projects being delayed as a result of mismanagement for which no state official has ever been held accountable. How come the concept of taxes can even be considered under such circumstances? Would senior officials and merchants be required to pay taxes when the government cannot even hold them accountable for their mistakes?

The government is urged to study the living conditions of both citizens and residents when it comes to their monthly income vis-‡-vis their living expenses, rents and premiums that they have to pay each month.

Such a study is necessary in order for the government to have a better idea about whom to tax.

I think it goes without saying that a majority of people in Kuwait are not yet ready to pay taxes, no matter how hard the government tries to educate them about the need to increase national income.

Meanwhile, the government should monitor the prices in Kuwait and improve the quality of services, besides holding accountable those responsible for mismanagement which is blamed for the projects being stalled. —Al-Rai

The value added tax, or VAT in short, has been in operation in many countries which collect taxes on goods in proportion to the increase in the price of the product at each phase till it reaches the consumer. As a result, the rate of VAT varies, and could reach five percent, for example.

kuwait digest

Let’s learn right lessons

By Arwa Al-Waqian

V

iolence in Kuwait has reached alarming proportions and has become widespread. The murder of dentist Dr Jaber Samir at the Avenues mall the other day must not go in vain. It acted almost as a trigger since many other instances of violence including someone being lynched to death, another stabbed to death and still other cases of manslaughter were reported in its immediate aftermath.

A deeper investigation into the crimes showed that the criminals involved were bedoons and non-Kuwaitis, which indicates that these categories of people are angry and eager to settle scores as if the law of the jungle was prevailing in the country. In order to trace back the origin of the problem, one should ask, “What are the bedoons’ demands? Why are they indulging in violence? Why do they show such blatant disrespect for the law?”

Some might justify the violence that these people indulge in by saying that they do not have access to a decent living. Others believe they do this on purpose to bring more pressure and pose a threat to the government so that it grants them nationality. A third party, namely some former MPs, have asked them to get rid of their original citizenship documents and promised to help them acquire Kuwaiti citizenship.

Bedoons have indeed become a time bomb that can go off anytime now. Violence is spreading more than ever.

What is the reason for it?

Well, young people have limited means of entertainment and need avenues to safely vent their pent up energies during their leisure time. Right now, the only avenue they have is a game of football despite the fact that the rent for playgrounds have gone up significantly. The only other thing that they can do is to go strolling around shopping malls, rioting and annoying girls.

Therefore, the government should wisely consider both sides of the problem. It should, on the one hand, solve the bedoons’ problems as soon as possible by providing them with documents that will enable them live smoothly, receive a good education and medical care, and marry. On the other hand, the government should build a special racing track for the youth. Evening clubs

should be opened in the schools so that youth can practice various sports freely. More recreational projects and resorts should be opened specially for them.

In addition, we need to see more effective policing at various shopping malls and public places so that they can keep closer eye and ensure law and order, ending the culture of young men hassling girls. The interior ministry must also own up its share of the blame as some of its men are more focused on stalking girls and particularly tracking their traffic violations, instead of ensuring protection of those who really need it.

A shopping mall of the magnitude of the Avenues must not depend mainly on expatriate security guards who are unarmed and do not even carry weapons for selfdefence. The mall also lacks any health clinics to provide even the simplest of first aid, a factor that contributed to the death of Dr. Jaber, who could have been saved if trained staff had moved in to stop the bleeding till medical help arrived.

Well, that happened as fate had intended but we need to make sure that such crimes and incidents do not happen in the future. We also hope that we will always remember what happened so that we learn the right lessons from it. — Al-Jarida

Some might justify the violence that these people indulge in by saying that they do not have access to a decent living. Others believe they do this on purpose to bring more pressure and pose a threat to the government so that it grants them nationality.

kuwait digest

Time ripe for major changes

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

W

e are into the New Year now and I challenge any politician to tell us what exactly are we headed towards? The quick paper mixing which started last June and continues till date has kept everyone in a state of wonder. One only hears responses like, “we don’t know...nobody knows.”

Last year, the New Year day was just like the last day of the year, and I think the last day of this New Year will be just like its first, as far as growth was concerned or the complex political situation in Kuwait, or even the way law and justice stand in out country.

Nothing has changed during the three National Assembly Councils. The 2009 Assembly was dissolved, the February 2012 Assembly was announced void, bringing back the 2009 dissolved council, which was then dissolved constitutionally, and led to the birth of December 2012 council.

Three governments - or were there four or five governments? - were formed which resigned and then came back. As a matter of fact, people have stopped keep a count.

Dissolving a National Assembly Council and the government resigning, only to come back once again, has become a sort of routine. People had hoped that some urgent changes would come into effect but unfortunately that did not happen.

The country remained on the boil, politically. Only the faces changed. Same players assumed new places.

But the over all political structure remained as it was.

Law is being implemented just as poorly as it used to happen earlier. Nothing has changed.

A complex Kuwaiti saying goes: “Everything was changed politically, but in reality nothing has changed.” The situation remains as it was, and anyone affected “should go bang his head into a wall.”

I promise you that the first day of the current year will turn out to be very much like the last day of this year. The solution lies in a political decision, a comprehensive one that can take us from political theories to implementation on the ground. —Al-Anbaa

uwait’s new labor law, number 6 of 2010, had many grey areas to begin with and, as the experience over the years showed, now has several areas that should be a cause for alarm.

Historically, the law came into effect in 1964, and has been amended many times since then to address the menace of visa trade that some misleading companies or employers indulge in, and to make it more user friendly.

The way the law has been applied since 2010 till date has not made any real change nor has brought any major relief to the employees.

Although the documentation processing work has been computerized, yet protecting the rights of the employees remains difficult. In most cases, the grievance redress mechanism remains ineffective and takes a long time. As they say, justice delayed is surely justice denied.

The establishment of a new labor authority to overcome many chronic problems related to this issue, including the tactic adopted by some employers to declare an employee as ‘absconding’ and then use it as a weapon against him, will help in better implementation of the law. Similarly, if the government chooses to control all sponsorship related matters, instead of leaving it to some greedy sponsors, and launches a fight against human trafficking, it would help greatly.

The implementation of the law needs serious monitoring and a follow up. Efforts to rebalance the society demographically, since growing numbers of Kuwait are rendering the Kuwaitis to become a minority in their own country, need to focus on tough punishments to irresponsible employers who are causing such a mess in the society. Their commercial registrations must be cancelled and they should be made to pay compensation to their innocent victims.

The new government must not allow the old cycle of things to continue. We need more transparency and real measures aimed at combating corruption in the Social Affairs and Labor Ministry in order to usher in some real change and provide real remedies to the people.

Furthermore, I do not find it inadvisable to seek more cooperation and assistance from International Labor Organizations to set our house in order.

kuwait digest

Amir’s rights, authorities

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

I

am not overly concerned about the draft law proposed by MPs to penalize a person who makes remarks which smack of undermining the Amir’s rights and authorities. I do not think it would be passed by the parliament, or accepted by the cabinet even if that happened.

Further, assuming that it was to be passed by both these authorities, I do not believe His Highness would approve it. What I am concerned about is the primary law with penalties that MPs are trying to make stricter. It is the law number 31 for the year 1970, and concerns an amendment to the Penal Code which prohibits under article 25 any act prejudicial towards the Amir’s rights and authorities.

First of all, it is important to explain the difference between the Amir as the head of the state, and between the person of HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, the current Amir of the State of Kuwait. It is the difference between the Amir as the head of the state and the head of all authorities, and between the Amir’s person.

The constitution describes the Amir as the head of the state whose person is immune and inviolable, and he has to be referred to as His Highness the Amir of Kuwait. But the constitution itself and its explanatory note use the stand alone term ‘Amir’ when referring to the head of the state and his authorities. This is a clear indication that the constitution refers to the Amir as a position, the head of the state and authorities, instead of the Amir’s person.

The Amir is the head of the state, and the chief commander of the three (executive, legislative and judicial) authorities. A law passed by the parliament becomes effective only after it is signed by the Amir. Moreover, the parliament holds its inaugural session as per the orders of the Amir, who also has the right to dissolve it and call for new elections. Verdicts released by courts around Kuwait bear the Amir’s name. Meanwhile, the Amir selects ministers who become directly responsible to him for their actions.

Given the vast powers that the Amir has, how can we immunize his rights and authorities as suggested by article 25 of the law number 31 of the year 1970, which MPs are currently trying to amend in order to introduce tougher penalties? If that article is enforced properly, it means that no one will be able to criticize any minister because ministers are appointed by the Amir, and it is through them that he practices his authorities.

Moreover, it would mean that criticizing or debating a court verdict would become a criminal act since verdicts are issued on behalf of the Amir. Even laws passed by the parliament would not be subject to debate or rejection since they are signed by the Amir.

Article 25 of the law number 31 of the year 1970 is unconstitutional. I dare anyone to enforce it strictly because if that were to happen, the entire democratic system in Kuwait would stand annulled. In that case, no one would have the right to criticize a minister, voice objection to a political decision or express an opinion regarding a court order because all of these fall under the rights and authorities of the Amir which the aforementioned article - that was approved by a forged parliament - protects. — Al-Qabas

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

LOCAL

Concern over session’s impact on authorities’ relationship Lawmakers coming under pressure KUWAIT: Thursday’s parliamentary session devoted to discuss the security situation in Kuwait could leave a negative effect on the relationship between the legislative and executive authorities. These concerns were echoed by parliament and Cabinet insiders quoted in a report published yesterday. One of the main concerns pertains to the request to hold the session behind closed doors. “In this case, the Cabinet and the Interior ministry in specific would be wasting a golden opportunity to address the public directly and assure the people about their security plans and procedures to combat crime,” said the sources that preferred to remain anonymous.

The sources further told Al-Qabas about their belief that the session “is sure to see some heated debate” which might be sparked by “unsettled business” between a number of lawmakers and the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah.

There are other factors, too, which the

51 police officers disqualified

KUWAIT: The ambassador of the Union of Myanmar in Kuwait, Ko Ko Latt recently held a special reception at Crowne Plaza to celebrate his country’s 65th National Day. The ceremony was attended by diplomats, dignitaries and the media.

KUWAIT: New medical testing procedures introduced at the Saad Al-Abdullah Police Academy resulted in 51 noncommissioned officers failing to graduate from a First Lieutenant course set for later this month, a local newspaper reported yesterday quoting security sources.

Speaking to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity, the sources explained that the new tests included a “triple cardiac examination,” which included tests for blood pressure, electrocardiography (ECG), and myocardial tests carried out at the Police Hospital in Qurtoba, as well as at the Chest Hospital. The tests also included examinations to detect blood diseases such as anemia, in addition to the Criminal Evidence General Department test.

The 51 officers who failed their medical tests were part of a batch of 450 noncommissioned officers “among whom are officers who have served for ten years and possess college degrees.”

The sources further added that the number of disqualified officers could increase.

The new tests were made mandatory by a committee formed by Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud last September, which reportedly found ‘favoritism’ in testing through a loophole “protecting doctors from accountability if errors were found in the medical report.”

Five injured in road accidents

By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: A car accident in Abdaly, opposite the health clinic, left a 34-year-old Bangladeshi with a fracture in the left thigh. He was taken to the Jahra Hospital.

A 21-year-old Kuwaiti man who suffered serious head injury in a car accident on Abdaly road near kilometer 11 milestone was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Jahra Hospital.

A 17-year-old Kuwaiti youth and a 39-year-old Egyptian expat were injured in a car accident in Farwaniya, opposite the Farwaniya Hall. Both were taken to the Farwaniya Hospital.

A 22-year-old Kuwaiti man received facial injuries in a car accident in Farwaniya under the Al Omariya Bridge. He was taken to the Farwaniya Hospital.

A 27-year-old Egyptian expat was stabbed repeatedly when a group of people indulged in a scuffle at Hasawi’s bloc 2. He was taken to the Farwaniya Hospital and admitted to its intensive care unit.

sources believe could determine the course of the anticipated session. “Some MPs are working with an objective to remove the stigma of being described as ‘parliamentary decorations,’” the sources said, referring to lack of people’s confidence in a house boycotted by traditional opposition groups.

“Some MPs might find that the best way to do that is by engaging in a confrontation with the Cabinet,” they suggested while recognizing at the same time that the true measure of lawmakers’ competency was “the level of legislative work.” The sources also believed that lawmakers were coming under pressure “as they anticipate the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the singlevote law,” and are looking forward to “improve their popularity.”

“The easiest way to achieve this would be by enforcing populist laws,” they said.

In this regard, the government insiders reiterated the Cabinet’s stance against laws which were in conflict with the national interest and

state budget, such as writing off the interest accrued on loans. “Squander of public funds could hurt development plans which the current government is more serious about compared to the previous cabinets,” they said.

Separately, the parliament’s legislative committee studied an amendment proposed by the government to the Penal Code, forcing tougher penalties against the use of weapons with blades in fights or mugging crimes. Under the proposed amendment, such crimes could even attract capital punishment.

“This penalty according to the government will be in line with the unbelievable situation that Kuwait was going through where murder cases as a result of stabbing were on the rise,” said a panel member, MP Nawaf Al-Fuzai’, following Sunday’s meeting which featured representatives from the interior and justice ministries.

The committee gave the government a two weeks’ period to provide its remarks to the proposed amendments, Al-Fuzai’ added.

Liquor haul in Shuwaikh

By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: Customs authorities at the Shuwaikh port confiscated 300 cartons of liquor concealed in an incoming container, sources said. A customs officer detected the liquor, which, as per the documents available with the customs, belonged to a local organization. The owners were being summoned for interrogation.

Jahra detectives arrested three members of a gang, all of them bedoons, who specialized in stealing vehicles and then used them for rob expats. The gang was arrested in Sulaibiya.

During the interrogations, the suspects revealed that they were responsible for theft of no less than ten vehicles which they used and then disposed of in far flung areas after cannibalizing valuable parts from them and selling them in the scrap market. They also confessed using those cars in robbing expats. The total number of robberies committed by the gang was around 25. Some of the expats who were robbed were able to recognize the culprits. They showed the police the spot where they used to dump the stolen cars.

Drug trader Drug enforcement agents arrested an Asian expat for possessing heroin after they received a secret tip-off.

After receiving preliminary information about the suspect being involved in the drug trade, the agents made necessary investigations and followed all legal protocols before arrested the expat. A search of his person yielded a bag containing about 250 grams of heroin. He confessed that he was trading in such drugs. The contraband and the man were referred to the concerned authorities.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

LOCAL

Four-member gang held for spate of car thefts Stabber’s accomplice held KUWAIT: Farwaniya detectives nabbed four suspects who were responsible for twelve thefts reported by car owners in the area.

The complainants had reported that they found their cars with their windows smashed and items missing from inside after they left them parked outside shopping malls. The suspects were arrested when the suspects broke into a car parked at a police-monitored zone. Three of the suspects were surrounded by the officers, thwarting their bid to escape. During the interrogation, the three admitted to their role in 12 reported thefts, and also provided the identity of their fourth accomplice who, too, was arrested.

The suspects were taken to the proper authorities to face charges.

Hawally arrest Hawally police arrested the second suspect in a case in which the son of a senior government official

was stabbed and seriously injured.

The suspect was arrested on the basis of information provided by his accomplice. The first suspect in the case, identified as a security officer, had turned himself in shortly after the incident which happened on the Gulf Road last weekend. The second suspect, an 18-year-old Egyptian, was detained after police issued a warrant empowering officers to break into his parents’ Salmiya apartment.

The action was taken on the basis of the first suspect’s testimonies. The two were among a group of bikers who attacked citizen Mohammad AlFalah, the son of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Adel Al-Falah, after he confronted them when they drove on the pavement where he was jogging.

The two suspects remain in custody pending legal procedures.

Forgery case The border security officers

foiled an attempt by a stateless resident who borrowed her friend’s passport and tried using it to exit the country.

The woman who had covered her face with a veil was placed under arrest after female personnel at the Salmi border checkpoint discovered that she was carrying a Gulf country’s passport that actually belonged to a different person.

The woman explained during investigations that she planned to leave the country in order to obtain citizenship of another Gulf state before returning back to Kuwait.

She was charged with forgery and put behind bars pending trial.

Armed robbery Investigations are on in search of a male suspect who committed an armed robber y at a shop in Salmiya recently.

The incident took place at a baqala (small grocery store) adja-

cent to a building used as a head office by the Ministry of Electricity and Water’s labor union. The suspect reportedly ran away with KD100 and phone credit recharge cards which he had stolen at knifepoint. Detectives are using descriptions given by the shopkeeper in their attempt to identify and arrest the suspect.

Drug overdose A man was pronounced dead inside his Salmiya apartment on Sunday. He is believed to have died of a drug overdose. Paramedics and police rushed to the scene following a report about a Kuwaiti man found unconscious inside his apartment. The body was taken to the forensic department to confirm the cause of death, which, as per the preliminary tests, happened due to a drug overdose. Drug paraphernalia were also recovered from the scene.

Zain entrepreneurship program seeks innovative ideas KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced the launch of the “Zain Great Idea” competition and Entrepreneurship Program seeking innovative business ideas, as part of the organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program which has the mission to support the national entrepreneurial endeavors of the youth.

In a press release Zain said, “We are keen to encourage and support the future leaders of Kuwait’s business community and to bring out their innovative and creative side.

Our CSR mission is aligned with the country’s agenda to enhance the economic and national development of Kuwait.”

For this program Zain has partnered with Brilliant Lab (BL), a startup accelerator services company whose main aim is to help foster the growth of entrepreneurs and new family ventures in Kuwait and the GCC.In addition,Zain has established a strategic partnership with Madrid’s IE Business School as our educational partner, notably ranked the world’s best business school by Forbes.

Zain will provide the participating entrepreneurs with the chance to participate in a four-step program. Participants will compete to be one of the thirty-five finalists who will gain a chance to get trained at IE Business School, byexperts in the field of venture capitalism and startups. The participants will acquire extensive knowledge on how to develop a solid busi-

ness plan as groups, and will get the chance to participate in a venture day in Spain, where they will pitch their ideas and businesses to international investors.

Upon their return to Kuwait, the entrepreneurs will follow-up with Brilliant Lab through attending one-to-one consultations, focusing on their individual businesses.They will attain guidance in developing and consolidating their own business plans. All entrepreneurs will showcase their businesses at Zain’s Demo Day, where they will be exposed to various financial and investment opportunities from local firms.

Brilliant Lab’s global program acceleration model has an association with IE Venture Lab at IE business school - Madrid, Spain to help talented individuals from the Gulf develop themselves.

The Zain Great Idea program will provide entrepreneurs with the correct business educational tools, qualified mentors and cutting-edge international events where they can get new experiences that will help with their growth. Zain said, “The “Zain Great Idea” initiative is part of our CSR strategy that aims to encourage entrepreneurship and to support the youth. We will remain committed and involved with society on many different levels. Supporting the talent in youth is just one of them. Our organization is proud that such a strategy is in synchrony with Kuwait’s plans to enhance the country’s economic and national development.”

Kuwait to host conference for aiding Syrian people NBK’s Executive Management with a group of new recruits

NBK attracted 300 Kuwaiti graduates in 2012 KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has recruited more than 300 Kuwaiti graduates of both genders during 2012 as part of its commitment to providing distinctive career opportunities to ambitious young Kuwaitis.

“NBK maintains its leading position as one of the country’s largest employers in the private sector,” said Shaikha Al-Bahar, NBK Kuwait Chief Executive Officer.

“Investing in our human resources is investing in our future. NBK is committed to support-

ing talented young Kuwaiti nationals and empowering them to realize their potentials”.

Al-Bahar added: “NBK will continue its efforts to provide career opportunities for nationals and to support the country’s aim to encourage young Kuwaitis to assume roles in the private sector.” Aiming at developing the skills of young Kuwaitis, NBK also offers several training and developing programs.

NBK employees are annually enrolled in professional training and development programs

KUWAIT: The Director of Reform Establishment, Lt Gen Khalid Al Dayeen, honored the Establishment employees who participated in the unified GCC inmates’ week held at the Marina Mall and Souq Sharq. Al Dayeen expressed gratitude and appreciation for their efforts which helped in improving performance and implementing the principles of human rights.

especially designed and provided by world renowned institutions.

NBK training programs include NBK Academy, the Summer Internship Program and the first of its kind in the region the NBK High Fliers Program in collaboration with the American University of Beirut.

As an acknowledgment for its contribution to Kuwaitisation, NBK was recently awarded “The Localization Award” for the second consecutive year from the GCC Council of Ministers.

UNITED NATIONS: United Nations has chosen Kuwait as venue for the international conference of donors for Syria because of its longtime experience in philanthropic work and balanced stance toward the strife in this country, the Permanent Delegate of Kuwait to the UN has affirmed.

His Highness the Amir’s immediate acceptance of the UN call for hosting the convention emanates from humane and moralistic duties to alleviate hardships of the brotherly Syrian people, added Ambassador Mansour Ayyad AlOtaibi, in an interview with Kuwait News Agency, late on Sunday. “ The United Nations concluded that Kuwait is the best state to host this conference because it has long experience in humanitarian action and support for activities of the UN and because it has taken a balanced stand toward the Syrian crisis, aimed at halting violent action immediately and starting a political process that could meet aspirations of the Syrian people and safeguard Syria’s sovereignty and territorial sanctity,” stated Al-Otaibi regarding the upcoming conference, due to be held in Kuwait in the end of this month.

Kuwait is currently engaged in intensive efforts in preparation for the crucial conference, aimed at securing donations for the Syrian people, many of them have been relocated, lost their homes or have become refugees in neighboring countries due to the ongoing violence between the regime forces and armed opposition groups. The State of Kuwait, authorities and associations have been giving aid to these refugees.

UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon toured Syrians refugees’ camps in Turkey and Jordan, in middle of the past month, following a visit to Kuwait. Sensing enormity of tragic and squalid conditions of the refugees, ki-Moon cabled HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, urging him to mastermind convention of an international conference to secure assistance for these Syrians. HH the Amir instant acceptance of the UN chief call to hold the donors’ convention was on basis of humane and moralistic duty, ambassador AlOtaibi said in the remarks to KUNA.

Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi Affirming that preparations for holding it are currently proceeding, particularly by a recently-formed national commission, AlOtaibi expressed hope the UN would succeed in garnering $1.5 billion to secure necessary relief supplies and other aid for the Syrians.

The UN in a declaration in Geneva on Dec 19 called for securing this sum to help them.

Ambassador Al-Otaibi expected that representatives of up to 40-50 countries would take part in the convention, to be inaugurated by HH the Amir and chaired by the UN chief.

Keen on ensuring success of the conference, HH the Amir declared acceptance of hosting it at the GCC summit, held in Manama last month.

Elaborating further on Kuwait’s efforts at this level, the diplomat noted that Kuwait had donated $20 million, $10 million of which were earmarked for UN agencies involved in aiding the refugees and Syrians in need for help. Moreover, more than $15 million was raised in a donation campaign.

Number of dislocated Syrians in their country has exceeded two million. Those who have taken up refuge in neighboring countries and Egypt have reached 600,000.

Al-Otaibi expressed hope “these horrific figures” would prompt the international community exert further efforts to stop the acts of violence and push for holding conciliation dialogue among the Syrians. — KUNA

KALD organizes conference on learning difficulties KUWAIT: Kuwait Association For Learning Difficulties (KALD) in collaboration with Fawzia Sultan Educational Company (FAWSEC) and the Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA), presents the 2nd Int’l conference on Learning Difficulties and Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder: Assessment & Intervention” to be held over two days on Feb 1 and 2 at the American University of Kuwait. This second conference is offered based on the success of the first version in 2011, which attracted huge attendance amongst the education sector in Kuwait and abroad.

The conference aims to provide current information and research on the following topics: * The importance of diagnosis and physiological-educational evaluation in defining the interventions, both therapeutic and educational that would enable students with learning difficulties to achieve academic success and a better quality of life. * The importance of cultural and ethical criteria in the evaluation process in addition to the current protocols and the implementation of the best therapeutic practices. * The importance of public education, specifically parents, through providing information and strategies to better understand the needs of LD children at home, at school, and socially.

This second conference gathers an elite group of 67 professionals,

experts and lecturers from Kuwait and the MENA region as well as India, USA and United Kingdom who will provide lectures, workshops, and symposia around three strands: Parents, teachers and specialists where each strand is divided into several topics intended to cover the vital issues related to the conference theme.

Commenting on the conference, the Chairwoman of KALD and the president of the conference, Amaal Al-Sayer, stated that “KALD is a nonprofit organization established to help students with learning difficulties and to support them academically, psychologically and socially through awareness, training, and entertainment programs directed towards the students, their families and their schools.”

Al-Sayer added that “Based on KALD’s Commitment to its goals, it has launched- The 1st Int’l Conference on Learning Disabilities and AttentionDeficit/ Hyperactivity: The future Unites Us- in 2011 with great success.

Consequently, The great achievement of the first conference motivated us to plan a second conference on Feb 1st and 2nd 2013 in which we’ll also enjoy enthusiastic participation from within Kuwait and from abroad.”

Psychological centers and educational organizations will be given the chance to provide information to the attendees about their services through an exhibition that will be held in the public hall in conjunction with the conference.

Chairwoman of KALD Amaal Al-Sayer

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

Hagel draws fire as Obama revamps security team

Syria opposition, West reject Assad ‘peace plan’ Page 8

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NEW DELHI: A Delhi police van, background, believed to be carrying five men accused in a gang rape arrives at the district court, in New Delhi, India, yesterday. The men, who were set to appear in court yesterday, are accused of the Dec. 16 gang rape on a woman, who later died of her injuries, that has caused outrage across India, sparking protests and demands for tough new rape laws. — AP

Five accused of rape charged in court Indian lawyers refuse to represent the accused NEW DELHI: Five men accused of raping and murdering an Indian student were read the charges in a near-empty courtroom yesterday after the judge cleared out lawyers for bickering over whether the men deserved a defence.

The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died two weeks after being gang-raped and beaten on a moving bus in New Delhi, then thrown bleeding onto the street. Protests followed, along with a fierce public debate over police failure to stem rampant violence against women.

With popular anger simmering against the five men and a teenager accused in the case, most lawyers in the district where the trial will be held refuse to represent them. Before the men arrived for a pre-trial hearing yesterday, heckling broke out in a chamber packed with jostling lawyers, journalists and members of the public after two of the lawyers, Manohar Lal Sharma and V. K. Anand, offered to defend the men.

“ We are living in a modern society,” declared Lal Sharma, defending his decision.

“We all are educated. Every accused, including those in brutal offences like this, has the legal right ... to defend themselves.”

One woman lawyer prodded V. K. Anand in the chest, saying: “I’ll see how you can represent the accused.” Unable to restore order, presiding magistrate Namrita Aggarwal ordered everyone to leave except the prosecution, and set police to guard the entrance.

She said the trial would now be held behind closed doors because of the sensitivity of the case. Reuters video images showed the men stepping out of a blue police van that brought them from Tihar jail and walking, their faces covered, through a metal detector into the South Delhi court building.

The court was across the street from the cinema where the victim watched a film before she was attacked on her way home.

Aggarwal gave the men copies of the charges,

which include murder, rape and abduction, a prosecutor in the case told Reuters.

Police have conducted extensive interrogations and say they have recorded confessions, even though the men have no lawyers. If the men, most of them from a slum neighbourhood, cannot arrange a defence, the court will offer them legal aid before the trial begins.

Two of them, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta, have offered to give evidence against the others - Mukesh Kumar, Ram Singh and Akshay Thakura - possibly in return for a lighter sentence.

Mohan, describing what he called a heinous crime, said: “The five accused persons deserve not less than the death penalty.” The case has sharpened long-standing anger against the government and police for a perceived failure to protect women.

A male friend who was assaulted with the woman on Dec. 16 said on Friday that passersby left her unclothed and bleeding in the

street for almost an hour and that, when police arrived, they spent a long time arguing about where to take them.

The woman lived for two weeks after her attack, dying in a Singapore hospital where she had been taken for treatment.

Aggarwal said the next hearing would be on Jan. 10. The case is due to move later to another, fast-track court set up since the woman was attacked to help reduce a backlog of sex crime cases in Delhi.

Legal experts say the lack of representation for the five men may give grounds for appeal if they are found guilty. Convictions in similar cases have often been overturned years later.

Some legal experts have also warned that previous attempts to fast-track justice in India in some cases led to imperfect convictions that were later challenged.

The sixth member of the group alleged to have lured the student and a male friend into the private bus is under 18 and will be tried in

a separate juvenile court. The government is aiming to lower the age at which teenagers can be tried as adults, acknowledging public anger that the boy will face a maximum threeyear sentence.

The victim was identified by a British newspaper at the weekend but Reuters has opted not to name her. Indian law generally prohibits the identification of victims of sex crimes. The law is intended to protect victims’ privacy and keep them out of the glare of media in a country where the social stigma associated with rape can be devastating.

The dead woman’s father repeated yesterday that he wanted her identified and said he would be happy to release a photograph of her. “We don’t want to hide her identity. There is no reason for that. The only condition is it should not be misused,” he told Reuters. He said he was confident the trial would be quick and reiterated a call that the perpetrators be hanged. — Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

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

Libyans at odds over post-Gaddafi charter TRIPOLI: Libyans paid with their lives to end the 42-year dictatorship of Moamer Gaddafi, but nearly 15 months after he was killed by rebels they remain at odds over a democratic constitution to replace it.

There is not even consensus on who should draw up the charter. Some want the 200-member General National Congress elected in July to appoint a panel to carry out the task. Others want fresh elections to a constitutional convention.

The GNC came to power with a mandate to appoint a government and oversee the drawing up of a new constitution, but the mechanics of that process remain the subject of intense debate.

GNC chief Mohammed Megar yef told civil society groups in December that the assembly would make its deci-

sion after broad consultations with the public, without setting a time frame for the process.

He recalled that the provisional constitution, as amended just days before the GNC’s election in a bid to head off a federalist boycott, stipulates that the charter should be drawn up by an elected convention with equal representation for each of the three historic regions, Tripolitania, the Fezzan and Cyrenaica.

Abu Baker Bueira, a leading pro-federalism personality, said his camp wanted a qualified committee to be elected directly by the people in free and fair elections. “We don’t know how far we’ll go but we are against the notion of selecting those people by appointment,” he told AFP. There are no members of the federalist movement in the congress

because they boycotted the last election, but many Libyans support the idea of a decentralised system of government. “Before deciding one way or the other, the assembly determined that there should be a national dialogue... and whatever the decision, we hope to do this transparently, taking into consideration the citizens’ opinion” Megaryef said. The International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for Libya, Claudia Gazzini, said there was wisdom in that approach. “It is better to take things calmly and consult people rather than rushing the process and alienating public opinion,” she said.

But others say it would be folly for Libya to prolong the political and legal uncertainty while it is still struggling to rein in the former rebel militias that are the legacy of the armed uprising that ousted Gadhafi in October 2011.

“I think they are leaning towards an elected committee because they don’t want to take responsibility for the results,” an international electoral observer based in Tripoli told AFP. “An elected committee is the least logical-it makes no economic or political sense-but it seems the most likely,” added the observer, speaking on condition of anonymity. “By delaying the constitution, you prolong legislative uncertainty because laws are not based on the constitution. Instead you have interim laws and that affects everything, the economy, investment.”

Hassan Lamin, an independent GNC member from the city of Misrata, insisted that the assembly should bite the bullet and draw up a new constitution itself as quickly as possible.

“The national assembly is passing laws... and it is neglecting its priority.

There is no excuse for this delay,” said Lamin, adding that he was considering freezing his membership of the assembly in protest.

Whoever draws up the constitution will have to decide a host of key issues, including not only the system of government but also the country’s official language or languages, which could include Berber as well as Arabic, and the status of women and ethnic minorities. In a country where conservative Muslim values run deep, there is little doubt that Islam will be a major plank of any new charter, but its drafters will have to decide just how big. “There is broad consensus that the new constitution should draw heavily from Islamic sharia law, but also consensus on the need to avoid extremism,” said the Washington-based National Democratic Institute. — AFP

Syria opposition, West reject Assad ‘peace plan’ President’s speech was full of ‘empty promises’

SAMARRA: Iraqi’s gather during a demonstration in the city of Samarra yesterday calling for the release of prisoners and criticising premier Nuri al-Maliki’s government. Maliki’s Shiite-led government has faced two weeks of angry protests in Sunni-majority provinces, with demonstrators complaining of their community being targeted by the authorities. — AFP

Iraq troops fire in air to disperse Sunni protesters BAGHDAD: Iraqi troops fired shots in the air to disperse Sunni Muslims rallying against Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki yesterday in another day of protests threatening to upset the fragile cross-sectarian government.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Sunni strongholds across Iraq for more than two weeks, increasing fear that turmoil in neighbouring Syria may help tip Iraq back into sectarian violence a year after the last US troops left.

In the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi troops fired shots over hundreds of protesters trying to gather in a public square, and in the Sunni heartland province of Anbar, at least 5,000 more people took to the streets peacefully. “Security forces opened fire and used batons to disperse demonstrators,” said Atheel al-Nujaifi, governor of Nineveh province, which includes Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of the capital Baghdad.

He said one demonstrator had been hit by a security forces vehicle and others had been wounded. Ghanim al-Abid, a protest organizer in Mosul, told Reuters, that at least four people had been wounded by security forces.

Demonstrators have blocked a major highway leading through the remote Anbar desert to Syria’s border since late December when Maliki’s forces arrested bodyguards protecting Finance Minister Rafaie al-Esawi, a leading Sunni figure.

The bodyguard arrests touched off protests by tens of thousands of Sunnis

who feel sidelined by Maliki, a Shi’ite Islamist who Sunni Iraqis say is amassing power and who they see as deeply under the influence of Shi’ite non-Arab Iran.

The protests are increasing pressure on Maliki over Iraq’s power-sharing deal amoung Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurdish blocs, which have been locked in a slow-burning crisis since the last American troops left in December 2011.

Sunni demands range from fixing failing public services to amending anti-terror laws they say are abused to target their community. Maliki has made some concessions such as releasing some detainees, but protests continue daily.

Many Sunni politicians and tribal leaders sense a chance in the crisis in neighbouring Syria, where mainly Sunni rebels are fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad, an Iran ally whose minority Alawite sect has roots in Shi’ite Islam.

Should Assad fall, a Sunni regime could come to power in Syria, weakening the influence of Iran in the region’s Shi’iteSunni power balance. That would embolden Iraq’s own Sunni minority, many of whom feel alienated since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein and the rise of Iraq’s Shi’ite majority.

The Sunni protests erupted a day after President Jalal Talabani left Iraq for medical treatment following a stroke. A veteran Kurdish statesman, Talabani has long been a moderating influence amoung Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurdish factions. — Reuters

WEST BANK: A man checks from a minibus the level of the water in a flooded street in front of the Israeli separation barrier at the Qalandia checkpoint in the Israeli occupied West Bank, yesterday. — AFP

DAMASCUS: A defiant speech by President Bashar Al-Assad calling for peace in Syria on his terms has met rejection by the opposition and internationally, with only his ally Iran yesterday backing his stance.

Assad’s plan was “detached from reality,” a US State Department spokeswoman said, while Britain said Assad’s address was “empty” and France said it was an attempt “to justify the repression of the Syrian people”.

The office of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Europe’s position remained that Assad should step down to permit a political transition. And Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi told CNN he would endorse any decision by the Syrian people to put Assad on trial before the International Criminal Court for war crimes.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition noted that Assad had ruled out any dialogue with the rebels, making negotiations impossible. Only Iran, which is supplying money, militar y advisors and, according to the United States, weapons to Assad’s regime threw its weight behind its ally.

“The Islamic republic... supports President Bashar al-Assad’s initiative for a comprehensive solution to the country’s crisis,” which rejects “foreign inter ference,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said in a statement on his ministry website. Assad, in his first speech in seven months, on Sunday outlined his vision for a way out of the 21month conflict that has shattered his country, killed more than 60,000 people according to the UN, and created a well of instability exploited by Islamic jihadists and fuelled by regional rivalries.

Any resolution of the conflict had to be purely Syrian, Assad saidthough he called those Syrians ranged against him “not a loyal opposition but a gang of killers.” He stated that most of the anti-regime fighters were foreigners, and said: “The one thing that is sure (is) that those who we face today are those who carry the Al-Qaeda ideology.”

DAMASCUS: Raja Nasir (R), secretary of the of Syrian opposition’s National Coordinating Body for the Forces of Democratic Change (NCB), and Hassan Abdel Azim (L), head of the NCB answer journalists’ questions during a press conference in Damascus, yesterday the day after Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad made his first speech in seven months. The opposition Syrian National Coalition noted that Assad had ruled out any dialogue with the rebels, making negotiations impossible. — AFP But while his plan calling for an speech, another 91 people were Syrian war is slipping ever deeper end to violence, dialogue with killed across Syria, the British-based into bloodshed with fears of lasting opposition elements he deemed watchdog the Syrian Observatory sectarian fractures. Although the acceptable, and a vow to stand fast for Human Rights said. Combat toll has climbed sharply in the past against those he branded “terror- continued unabated yesterday out- six months, and the rebels have ists” and their foreign backers drew side Damascus, where troops are grabbed swathes of rural territory, wild applause from his Damascus bombarding rebel positions. Five the war has become a grinding audience, it offered little realistic people, including four members of impasse punctuated by shelling, prospect of ending what has the same family, were killed in regime air strikes and by car bombs shelling on Kfar Batna to the east, set off by an increasingly radibecome a civil war. calised insurgency.

“His initiative is detached from the Observatory said.

Efforts by the joint UN-Arab In the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, reality” and was another attempt “to cling to power,” US State one soldier who had defected was League peace envoy, Lakhdar Department spokeswoman Victoria killed in fighting near a local politi- Brahimi, have made no more headNuland said. British Foreign cal security branch office. The way than those of his predecessor, Secretary William Hague said the United States and Europe, which Kofi Annan, who resigned in frusspeech was full of “empty promises” have declared the National tration. Pope Benedict XVI yesterCoalition the “legitimate represen- day renewed his call for a ceasefire and would “fool no one”.

“Bashar al-Assad’s remarks show tative” of the Syrian people, are and dialogue to halt the “endless once again his denial of reality in pressing Assad to leave power as slaughter” and civilian suffering in which he has shut himself away to the first step to any process to Syria.

The conflict, he said, “will know justify the repression of the Syrian restore peace in Syria.

But with Russia and China block- no victors but only vanquished if it people,” French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said ing any UN-approved international continues, leaving behind it nothyesterday. On the day of Assad’s action against Assad’s regime, the ing but a field of ruins.” — AFP

Egypt army foils bid to attack Coptic church CAIRO: The Egyptian army foiled a bid early yesterday to attack a Coptic church in the Rafah border town with Gaza as the minority Christian community began celebrating its Christmas, MENA news agency reported.

“Army units foiled an attack against the Rafah church at 1:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday) and seized a car packed with explosives and weapons near the church,” the official news agency said.

Another car carrying masked men sped away as the patrols seized the explosives-packed Toyota vehicle, MENA said. Egypt’s Coptic minority celebrates Monday its first Christmas under Islamist rule and amid a climate of fear and uncertainty for their future, although President Mohamed Morsi has pledged to be the “president of all Egyptians.”

In September, residents and officials reported that several Coptic families from Rafah had fled from the Sinai peninsula town that borders the Gaza Strip after receiving death threats from Islamists.

Egyptian security sources suggested, meanwhile, that the planned attack could have been aimed at a military camp under construction near the church which has been targeted in the past by

Islamist militants.

They said the church has been lying abandoned for the past two years after it was torched in the aftermath of the countrywide uprising that toppled the regime of former president Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the planned attack but one security source said the perpetrators were “probably radical Islamists whom security forces have been tracking for months.”

Morsi, who hails from the powerful Muslim Brotherhood, visited the Sinai peninsula in October to meet with and reassure Coptic families, telling them that “your security is our security”. Egypt’s Copts, who make up six to 10 percent of the country’s population of 83 million, have regularly complained of discrimination and marginalisation and have also been the target of numerous sectarian attacks.

One of the worst incidents of violence occurred on January 1, 2011 when 23 people were killed in an attack on a Coptic church in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

Sinai, a scarcely populated peninsula home to lucrative tourist resorts in the south and shadowy Islamist militants in the north, is a

major transit point for arms smuggling to Gaza which is ruled by the Islamist Hamas group.

Security in the desert and mountainous region collapsed after the uprising that toppled Mubarak.

Since his downfall, several militant attacks have targeted police and soldiers, including a brazen August 5 ambush on an army outpost that killed 16 soldiers.

The military launched a wideranging campaign after that attack to flush out militants, but drive-by shootings have continued.

And on Friday security officials announced the seizure in Sinai of US-made anti-tank and surface-toair missiles destined for Gaza, where militants have said they would acquire more weapons to use against Israel. — AFP

TRIPOLI: Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan (C-R) and Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali (C-L) takes part in a joint meeting yesterday in Tripoli. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

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

Hagel draws fire as Obama revamps security team Counter-terrorism czar Brennan to head CIA WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will nominate controversial former Republican senator Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon and hardnosed counterterrorism czar John Brennan to head the CIA. The second term revamp to two pillars of Obama’s national security team is expected to win ultimate Senate approval, although Hagel has been strongly criticized by fellow Republicans for previous positions on Israel and Iran.

Obama will announce the nominations in the East Room of the White House at 1:05 pm (1805 GMT), with Brennan replacing David Petraeus at the CIA after he resigned due to an extramarital affair and Hagel taking the place of retiring Pentagon chief Leon Panetta.

“Brennan has the full trust and confidence of the president,” a White House official told AFP. “Over the past four years, he has been involved in virtually all major national security issues and will be able to hit the ground running at CIA.” Brennan, 57, was selected because of his “career of service and extraordinary record” and will make “an outstanding director of the CIA,” the official added. Administration appointments are often tense affairs in the United States as the confirmation hearings provide senators with opportunities to turn away unwanted candidates or score cheap political points, or both.

Hagel, 66, a decorated Vietnam veteran who is known for a fiercely independent streak and a tendency to speak bluntly, is expected to get particularly rough treatment. Despite the fact that he is a fellow Republican, heavyweights in his party have accused him of hostility toward Israel and naivety on Iran, auguring a tough nomination process ahead.

The top Republican in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, was fulsome in his praise of Hagel when he gave up his Nebraska Senate seat in 2009. However, speaking on the eve of his nomi-

nation, McConnell was far more circumspect, saying only that he was committed to giving his former colleague “a fair hearing like any other nominee.”

Although Hagel had a mostly conservative record as a senator, some Republicans have never forgiven him for his outspoken criticism of expresident George W. Bush’s handling of the Iraq war. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, pointing to Hagel’s calls for direct US negotiations with Iran and for Israel to negotiate with Hamas, said he would be “the most antagonistic defense secretary towards the state of Israel in our nation’s history.”

Another Republican senator, John Cornyn of Texas, said he would oppose the nomination, charging it would be the “worst possible message we could send to our friend Israel and the rest of our allies in the Middle East.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Hagel will have to manage major cuts to military spending while wrapping up the US war effort in Afghanistan and preparing for worst-case scenarios in Iran or Syria.

Brennan may get an easier ride but is sure to face questions over his support for the use of certain “enhanced interrogation techniques” under the Bush administration.

The 25-year Central Intelligence Agency veteran is an Arabic-speaking Middle East expert who once told reporters when asked about his work ethic: “I don’t do down time.” Trained as a spy, Brennan rose quickly as a counter-terrorism analyst and manager in the Near East and South Asia branch of the agency’s intelligence directorate. By 1995, he was executive assistant to George Tenet, the agency’s deputy director at the time who later became the agency’s longestserving director.

He also served as interim director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center from 2004 to August 2005. Republicans have already showed

Fewer gun buyers seen in US mass shooting states

Chuck Hagel their ability to derail Obama’s preferred cabinet choices. Unyielding opposition from Graham and two other top Republicans, senators Kelly Ayotte and John McCain, forced UN envoy Susan Rice to abandon her ambition to become the next secretary of state.

Rice, a longtime member of Obama’s inner circle, had been a favorite to succeed Hillary Clinton as the nation‘s top diplomat. But her role as administration defender over the attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya in Benghazi on September 11 drew her into a furious row with Republicans keen to dent Obama after his re-election victory.

Rice folded her bid on December 13 and asked Obama not to pick her. A week later the president nominated Senator John Kerry, who is expected to face little Republican resistance, not least because his Senate seat in Massachusetts will now be up for grabs. — AFP

Hillary Clinton to be back at work WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will return to work today after a month-long absence caused by a series of health scares, including a blood clot in her head, the State Department said.

Clinton has been sidelined for four weeks, since she was taken ill on her return from a trip to Europe on December 7, and briefly hospitalized for a few days in New York last week.

But the State Department’s schedule for the week ahead released late Sunday revealed the top diplomat will meet at 9:15 am (1415 GMT) today with her assistant secretaries in Washington. The talks will be closed to the press.

A series of other meetings is planned through the week, including talks at the White House today with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, which will also most likely not be open to TV cameras. The high point of the week is set to be Thursday, when Clinton will host visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the State Department and welcome him for a working

Hillary Rodham Clinton dinner. It has been a rare between her skull and her absence for the normally inde- brain. Clinton left hospital late fatigable Clinton, who in her Wednesday after three days four years in office has traveled of treatment, and headed to almost a million miles, visited her home in Chappaqua, 112 countries and spent close New York, as doctors who to 400 days in a plane. Last prescribed her blood thinners week, State Department said they expect her to make spokeswoman Victoria Nuland a full recovery.

“She’s looking forward to said Clinton was “raring” to get back to work after being treat- getting back to the office,” ed in a New York hospital for a Nuland said on Thursday. “She blood clot discovered in a vein is very much planning to do so next week.” Nuland said behind her right ear.

The 65-year-old diplomat there had been an outpourwas admitted to New York ing of support for Clinton Presbyterian Hospital on from well-wishers around the December 30 after a scan world. “I think you could call revealed the clot in the space the number of goodwill mes-

sages a tsunami,” she said. It is unlikely that Clinton, the most-traveled secretary of state ever, will undertake any more foreign travel in her last weeks in the job. Her doctors have advised her against any international trips for a while, and Clinton is due to step down towards the end of the month. President Barack Obama has named veteran Massachusetts senator John Kerry as her successor, and he is set to sail through his confirmation hearings due later this month. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told CNN Sunday that he would back the Democratic Kerry to be the next secretary of state, even though he was against Obama’s choice of former Republican senator Chuck Hagel to replace Panetta.

“Senator Kerry has a lot of different views than I do. We’re on the opposite ends of the political spectrum, but I respect him. I think he’s a thoughtful man. I think he’s in the mainstream,” Graham said. Clinton first fell ill with a virulent stomach virus, which caused her to become dehydrated and faint, leading to a

Opposition plans protests over Chavez inauguration CARACAS: A top Venezuelan opposition leader called yesterday for street protests if the government delays the inauguration of ailing President Hugo Chavez, who has suffered complications following his latest round of cancer surgery. Julio Borges, national coordinator of the opposition Justice First party, also promised to file complaints with unspecified international organizations, if the constitutionally-mandated January 10 swearing-in ceremony does not take place. “People should get ready to protest and rebel against what will be a failure to uphold the constitution,” said Borges. “We are preparing a real campaign, which will involve going to institutions, countries, embassies and organizations outside of the country to let them know that authorities are trying to twist the constitution due to an internal problem.” The opposition move came as it emerged as all but certain that illness

will keep Chavez from being sworn in to a new six-year term on Thursday. Chavez was re-elected on October 7 despite his debilitating battle with cancer and the strongest opposition challenge yet to his 14-year rule in Venezuela, an OPEC member with the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Since then, Chavez has undergone a fourth round of surgery in Cuba and, according to the government, developed a “serious pulmonary infection” that has led to a “respiratory insufficiency.” In the wake of word that Chavez was suffering complications, Vice President Nicolas Maduro called the swearing-in ceremony a “formality” and said the 58-year-old’s inauguration can be indefinitely delayed without him having to give up the powers of the presidency, even on a temporary basis.

With a pocket-sized constitution in hand, Maduro argued Friday that the charter provides “a dynamic flexibility”

CARACAS: Opposition deputy Edgar Zambrano (R) and the chairman of Venezuelan bishops’ conference, Monsignor Diego Padron, walk before a meeting of the country’s clergy in Caracas yesterday. The Catholic church in Venezuela warned the government yesterday it would be “morally unacceptable” to override the constitution amid an intensifying crisis over President Hugo Chavez’s health. — AFP

that allows the president to take the oath of office before the Supreme Court at some later date.

The position was reaffirmed Sunday

by Venezuelan Attorney General Cilia Flores, who argued in a television interview that Chavez, who has not been seen in public in weeks, “could be sworn in upon his return in front of the Supreme Court.” However, according to the opposition’s Borges, that would be unconstitutional. “The constitution established a clear rule,” he said. “When the president-elect cannot show up at his inauguration and his absence is absolute, then another popularly elected person must step in. In this case, it is the National Assembly speaker.”

Borges made his comments after leaders of an opposition coalition made up of 19 parties, including Justice First, met in Caracas Sunday to analyze the situation and plot strategy in the run-up to Inauguration Day. The coalition has maintained that Chavez’s current mandate expires on January 10, and if he fails to present himself at the swearing-in ceremony, the speaker must assume power. The group plans to address to issue in a statement to be released yesterday afternoon. Under the constitution, new elections must be held within 30 days if the president dies or is permanently incapacitated either before he takes office or in the first four years of his sixyear term. The National Assembly speaker runs the country in the interim.

On Saturday, Chavez’s allies staged a show of unity, re-electing Diosdado Cabello of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) as parliamentary speaker. Cabello’s re-election was intended in part to answer persistent rumors of a power struggle within the regime during Chavez’s more than three-week absence, the longest stretch in his 14-year presidency. — AFP

concussion. The blood clot is believed to have resulted from her fall. But her illness was viewed with suspicion by her fiercest right-wing critics, who claimed she had been faking it to avoid testifying about the findings of an inquiry into the September 11 attack on a US mission in Libya. Democratic strategist James Carville, who is a close friend of the Clintons, slammed such allegations on Friday as “inhumane, idiotic behavior.” — AFP

WASHINGTON: People who lived in the two states that saw the most deadly US mass shootings in 2012 were less enthusiastic about buying new guns at the end of the year than in most other states, according to an Associated Press analysis of new FBI data.

The latest government figures also reflect huge increases across the US in the number of background checks for gun sales and permits to carry guns at the end of the year. After President Barack Obama’s re-election in November, the school shooting in Connecticut last month and Obama’s promise to support new laws aimed at curbing gun violence, the number of background checks spiked, especially in the South and West. In Georgia, the FBI processed 37,586 requests during October and 78,998 requests in December; Alabama went from 32,850 to 80,576 during the same period.

Nationally, there were nearly twice as many more background checks for firearms between November and December than during the same time period one year ago. Background checks typically spike during the holiday shopping season, and some of the increases in the most recent FBI numbers can be attributed to that. But the number of background checks also tends to increase after mass shootings, when gun enthusiasts fear restrictive measures are imminent.

“It’s a fear there will be a crackdown,” said Thomas Wright, who runs Hoover Tactical Firearms near Birmingham, Alabama. Wright said he took on more employees to handle the sales crush after 20 young students were shot to death in Newtown, Connecticut. “We used to have what was called our wall of guns. It’s pretty much empty now.” Every high-capacity magazine in his store was sold out.

The government’s figures suggested far less interest in purchasing guns late in the year in Connecticut and Colorado, where 12 people were shot to death in a movie theater. Background checks in those two states increased but not nearly as much as in most other states. The numbers of checks in Colorado rose from 35,009 in October to 53,453 in December; checks in Connecticut went from 18,761 to 29,246 during the same period. Only New Jersey and Maryland showed smaller increases than Colorado in December from one month earlier. In Connecticut, people were

having second thoughts about whether it’s a good idea to have a gun in the home after the Newtown shooting, the governor’s criminal justice advisor, Michael Lawlor said. The gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, first shot and killed his mother at their home using weapons she had legally purchased before he drove to the school. Lanza shot his way into the building and carried out the massacre before killing himself as police arrived.

Lawlor also said that, in Connecticut, it can take months to obtain a permit to buy a handgun. A federal background check doesn’t always indicate a new gun is purchased, but the firearms industry uses these numbers as an indicator of how well the gun business is doing.

After the Colorado shootings, the FBI conducted 1.5 million background checks across the country in August, compared to 1.2 million checks in June. Yet the Connecticut shootings energized gun buyers more: Background checks surged in December to nearly 2.8 million, compared to 1.6 million in October.

Even before the Colorado and Connecticut shootings, the gun industry was strong. Sales were on the rise - so much that some manufacturers couldn’t make guns fast enough. Major gun company stocks were up, and the number of federally licensed retail gun dealers was increasing for the first time in 20 years.

Many attributed the surge to Obama, whom the gun lobby predicted would be the most anti-gun president in American history. After the Colorado shooting, during the final months of the presidential campaign, Obama and Congress expressed no interest in new gun laws. But just days after the Connecticut shootings, Obama said new gun laws would be a top priority.

“Gun owners are scared,” said Dudley Brown, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a Colorado group that promotes gun rights. People in the business are calling this rush to buy guns after the Newton shooting a “banic,” meaning people are panicked that Obama would ban guns, said Bill Bernstein, owner of the East Side Gun Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee saw among the highest increase in gun checks at the end of last year, with 91,922 background checks in December, up from 59,840 in November.

Bernstein said sales after the Connecticut shooting “went on steroids.” — AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

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

Dutch Patriot missiles head for Turkey’s Syria border VREDEPEEL: The Netherlands’ Patriot missile batteries yesterday began their journey to fellow NATO member Turkey where they are to defend civilians near the border from a possible Syrian attack.

Around 160 vehicles carrying the missiles and equipment for 300 Dutch support troops left the Bestkazerne military base in Vredepeel in the southeastern Netherlands on Monday morning, an AFP correspondent reported.

The convoy is headed for Eemshaven

port in the north of the country from where it will sail for Turkey and is expected to arrive around January 22. The US and Germany are also sending Patriot surfaceto-air missiles to southeastern Turkey following a request from Ankara because of the threat of the deadly 21-month civil war in Syria spilling over.

The Turkish request came after repeated cross-border shelling from Syria, including an October attack that killed five civilians. The Dutch Patriots

and support troops will be tasked with defending the city of Adana, population 1.5 million, which lies around 100 kilometres (over 60 miles) from Syria.

Mission commander Lieutenant Colonel Marcel Buis told journalists that 30 Dutch troops would fly out on Tuesday to begin setting up and the remaining 270 troops would fly out on January 21.

The US began deploying its Patriots on Saturday, while the German missiles are to arrive in Turkey on January 21. Syria’s

allies Iran and Russia oppose the Patriot deployment, fearing that it could spark regional conflict also drawing in NATO. “This is a purely defensive mission,” General Tom Middendorp, the Netherlands top military officer, told journalists. “We do not know whether the missiles will cross the border but what we do know is that Syria has deadly offensive weapons at its disposal and has already deployed them on a grand scale,” he said.

“We want to prevent what could

amount to large numbers of casualties among innocent civilians.” Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen last month rejected Iranian accusations that the West was preparing another world war by deploying Patriots near the border with Syria.

“The mission is purely focussing on threats coming from Syrian territory, the mission does not encompass possible threats from other countries,” Middendorp said. —AFP

Ghana’s Mahama sworn in after dispute vote Pledges to build nation’s economic success ACCRA: Ghana’s John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as president yesterday at a ceremony attended by thousands in the capital but boycotted by the opposition, which has challenged the election results.

Mahama, who initially became head of state following the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills in July, pledged to build on the west African nation’s economic success in a

average Ghanaians, African heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

He added later that “nevertheless, there’s still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done ...

Bridges, schools and hospitals must be built ... We must continue to invest in our agricultural sector and grow our economy.”

Observer groups hailed the polls as another successful election in the

were especially high in the polls in the country of some 24 million people, with the newly elected president in charge of a growing stream of oil revenue.

West Africa’s second-largest economy and a longtime producer of gold and cocoa, Ghana started pumping oil in 2010 and now produces 105,000 barrels per day. With oil flowing and Ghana’s economy growing at

ACCRA: Ghanaian President John Mahama is sworn-in by Chief Justice Georgina Wood (R) at Independence Square, Accra yesterday. Mahama has been sworn-in into office despite a court challenge by the main opposition New Patriotic party, citing alleged voting fraud resulting in the absence of party officials at the swearing-in ceremony attended by nine heads of state. —AFP speech after taking the oath.

The writer and Afrobeat music fan from the country’s north who recently published a well-received memoir pledged to improve the country’s infrastructure. “We as a country have inherited a powerful legacy, and we are beneficiaries of a mighty history,” the 54-year-old Mahama, dressed in a flowing white robe, told a crowd of

country viewed as a stable democracy in turbulent West Africa. The party of main opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo has however alleged the vote was stolen and challenged the results in court.

Official results from the December 7 elections showed Mahama with 50.7 percent of the vote compared to Akufo-Addo’s 47.7 percent. The stakes

a rate of 14.3 percent in 2011, how Mahama invests the country’s boom money will be closely watched.

While it is considered a lower middle-income country by the World Bank, Ghana continues to struggle with infrastructure development.

Rural areas are plagued with potholed roads and most people rely on fresh water sold in sachets.

Though high-rise malls and apartments are being constructed across the capital Accra, Isaac OwusuMensah, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, said Mahama will be judged on how much he improves lives for Ghanaians in the far-flung reaches of the country.

“The primary issue that will guide everybody in the run-up to the next four years is how the economy is being managed,” Owusu-Mensah said. “If they don’t utilise (the oil revenue) quite well, there’s going to be a big problem.”

Besides managing the increasing revenue, Mahama must also be mindful of the court challenge to his election. Akufo-Addo, who lost to Mills by less than one percentage point in 2008, has yet to concede defeat.

He has filed a challenge with the supreme court alleging an array of voting improprieties and asking he be declared the winner. Hearings are expected to be held soon. The NPP boycotted the swearing-in, and some members of the party called upon former president John Kufuor, a member of the party, to stay away from the ceremony.

A small crowd of opposition supporters were reported to have gone to his home early yesterday in a bid to block him. Kufuor, widely respected for having stepped down after his two terms of office despite his party narrowly losing 2008 elections, defied such calls and attended the ceremony.

Perry Okudzeto, a spokesman for the opposition party, said on Sunday that “we are challenging the legitimacy of that election and the winner of which is being sworn in tomorrow.

“We don’t see why we should be part of the swearing in of an ill-elected president.”

The venue for the inauguration was richly symbolic as it commemorates Ghana’s status as the first subSaharan African nation to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957.

Some 12 African heads of state were said to be in attendance. —AFP

Australia bracing for ‘worst ever’ fire danger SYDNEY: Australians were bracing yesterday for what officials warned could be the worst fire danger day ever seen, as police searched for some 100 people still missing in ravaged Tasmania.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged Australians to be vigilant in coming days, with scorching temperatures predicted in several states and hundreds of blazes already raging. The danger was most acute in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, with the mercury expected to hit 43 degrees Celsius (109 F) in Sydney today.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell sounded a grim warning about the forecast record heat and high winds, with a large amount of grass and vegetation ripe for burning due to bumper spring rains.

“Tomorrow is not going to be just another ordinary day,” said O’Farrell. “Tomorrow will be perhaps the worst fire danger day this state has ever faced.” Thousands of firefighters and about 70 aircraft were on standby, with some 90 blazes already burning — 20 out of control-and catastrophic conditions forecast for regions south of Sydney.

Introduced after the 2009 Black Saturday firestorm in Victoria which claimed 173 lives, a catastrophic rating means fires will be uncon-

trollable, unpredictable and very fast-moving, with evacuation the only safe option.

Extreme conditions were also expected in Victoria state today, with fires already burning there.Some 13 million of Australia’s 23 million people live in Victoria and New South Wales. The prime minister called on those in danger zones to plan ahead and decide in advance whether they would evacuate or stay and defend their property if fire struck.

“These are extreme events... we live in a country that is hot and dry and where we sustain very destructive fires,” Gillard said. “This is the time to be vigilant, and I do particularly want to pass that message to the people of New South Wales as the temperature gauge starts to rise.”

Wildfires destroyed more than 100 homes on the southern island of Tasmania over the weekend and police were hunting for some 100 people still unaccounted for. “That’s not to say that there’s 100 people that have come to harm, it’s just to say that we really need to focus on those people as a priority,” acting police commissioner Scott Tilyard told reporters.

“Until we’ve had the opportunity to do all the screening that we need to do ... we can’t say for certain that there hasn’t been a human life or

more than one human life lost as a result of these fires.”

No bodies had been uncovered in searches of the worst-hit areas, with 245 properties examined including 90 badly damaged or destroyed buildings. Tilyard said it would be some time before there was any certainty on fatalities, with police working through about 500 missing person reports.

Police said initial investigations of the Tasmania fires suggested that they ignited accidentally as residents who narrowly escaped the fire front described darkness as it approached.

“As the fire came through, what had been a really bright red sky turned absolutely pitch black,” survivor Del Delagarno told ABC radio.

Her home was one of just six in the seaside town of Boomer Bay still standing. “It was if it was the darkest midnight you’ve ever seen-it was absolutely horrendous,” she added.

Wildfires are a fact of life in vast but sparsely populated and arid Australia, particularly in the hot summer months between December and Februar y. As well as in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, fires were burning in the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory, and South Australia and Queensland states. —AFP

BERLIN: In this Nov. 25, 2011 file picture former German president Christian Wulff and his wife Bettina dance at the Berlin Media ball. According to German media reports yesterday the couple is separating. —AP

N Irish militants seen hijacking flag protests BELFAST: Pro-British militant groups are instigating riots that have rocked the Northern Irish capital Belfast in the past month, a police officers’ representative said on Sunday as officers came under attack again.

The violence stems from protests over the removal of the British flag over Belfast City Hall. It has been among the province’s worst since a 1998 peace accord ended 30 years of conflict in which Catholic nationalists seeking union with Ireland fought British forces and mainly Protestant loyalists.

Fireworks, bottles and bricks were flung at officers for a fourth successive night on Sunday although a police spokeswoman said the trouble was not on the scale of the previous night, when police came under attack with petrol bombs and gunfire.

By Sunday, 70 people had been arrested, including a 38-year-old man detained on Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder over the shooting. Police had said that members of pro-British militant groups helped to orchestrate and had taken part in the first wave of violence in early December. The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) said the recent attacks showed this was now clearly the case.

“What it quite clearly demonstrates is the fact that paramilitaries have hijacked this flags protest issue and they have now turned their guns on the police,” federation chairman Terry Spence told BBC radio.

“It is very clear that there are leading members of the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) who are exploiting this and are organising and orchestrating this violence against police officers who are out there trying to uphold the law and prevent anarchy on our streets.”

Both the UVF and Northern Ireland’s other main loyalist militant group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, ceased hostilities in 2007 and decommissioned their stocks of weapons following the signing of the

peace deal. At least 3,600 people were killed in the 30 years of violence before the 1998 peace deal.

In scenes that recalled that earlier strife, pro-British loyalists began rioting in early December after a vote by mostly nationalist pro-Irish councillors to end the centuryold tradition of flying Britain’s Union flag from the city hall.

Analysts said that, although the violence was worrying, the small numbers of protesters indicated they might be unable to develop any strength.

“Clearly the violence is a step up in terms of what’s happened more recently but they’re simply not getting people out on the street,” said Peter Shirlow, a professor at Queen’s University who has spoken with protesters in recent days.

“Protestants are annoyed about the flag but they’re even more annoyed about the violence. There’s no stomach for this, that mass mobilisation is just not there anymore.”

The police federation’s Spence said, however, that it was the most challenging time for police in a decade. Church leaders and community workers held talks behind the scenes on Sunday to try to quell the violence.

Militant Irish nationalists, responsible for the killings of three police officers and two soldiers since an increase in tensions from 2009, have also not reacted violently to the flag protests, limiting any threat to the 15 years of peace.

The British-controlled province’s first minister, Peter Robinson, said on Friday that rioters were playing into the hands of nationalist groups who would seek to exploit every opportunity “to further their terror aims”.

The moderate nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) party said on Sunday that shots had been fired using a ball-bearing gun at the house of one its councillors in Belfast, shattering windows. —Reuters

LAGOS: A bus conductor passes a burnt out commercial bus in Magidun, a town near Ikorodu, in Lagos, Nigeria, yesterday. Witnesses said local men who had been stealing fuel from a nearby pipeline raided the area yesterday morning after a confrontation with security forces. They attacked a bus with axes and machetes, later throwing gasoline on it and setting it ablaze. It was unclear if there were any injuries in the attack. —AP

Rebels and C African leaders head to talks BANGUI: Delegations representing Central African Republic’s government and the rebels who now control much of the country’s north headed yesterday to hold peace talks in Gabon, though already there are concerns about what will happen if those negotiations fail. This week’s meetings in Libreville, Gabon, come a month after fighters from several armed groups began their rebellion against a government that has wielded little power over its vast and sparsely populated north.

While the rebels have halted their advance toward the capital of Bangui, a city of 700,000 people, they now hold a dozen communities.

The rebellion has posed the greatest threat to President Francois Bozize’s presidency since he himself seized power in 2003.

Bozize already has offered up the possibility of a coalition government, a proposal the rebels have dismissed. A rebel spokesman has said the fighters want Bozize gone, a stipulation that could derail talks altogether.

Some residents of this nation of 4.4 million have little faith the government will be able to reach a lasting agreement with the rebels, especially given that multiple peace accords already have been signed over the years with multiple groups. “Even if the rebel leaders reach an agreement with the Bangui government, their people on the ground will not get their piece of cake,” said Henry Yenzapa, 42, a history professor at the University of Bangui. They’re just carrying out a formality in Libreville in order to

return, and the Central African crisis will never be resolved.” While the rebels had vowed to halt their advance pending the negotiations, residents said two communities were seized over the weekend. In the capital the presence of regional troops who have been sent from Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Chad to help stabilize the country has reassured residents. South Africa also has said it is sending several hundred soldiers to help support national forces here. “The military aid provided

by the (10-nation) Economic Community of Central African States reassures us that the rebels are not going to continue their advance in the direction of Bangui,” said Patrick Bangui, a 27-year-old student.

Meetings are to begin today, with high-level discussions due to take place later in the week. The shaky rebel alliance, Seleka, is made up of four rebel groups all known by their French acronyms - UFDR, CPJP, FDPC and CPSK. —AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

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

Afghan policy debate fueled White House, Pentagon mistrust WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s first year in office was marked by creeping mistrust between the White House and the Pentagon over Afghan war policy, with repeated requests for more troops fueling the suspicions, retired General Stanley McChrystal said in a new book.

McChrystal, who became the top US commander in Afghanistan during those months, said Obama was elected at a time when General David McKiernan, then head of international forces, was seeking 30,000 more troops to stave off a Taleban resurgence, a request that had been on hold since the previous summer. “It created an unwelcome dynamic,” McChrystal wrote in his new memoir, “My Share of the Task.” “In the eighth year of the war in Afghanistan, a new president found himself facing a time-sensitive decision.” “The next 10 months saw the emergence of an unfortunate deficit of trust between the White House and the Department of Defense, largely arising from the decision-

making process on Afghanistan,” he wrote.

“To me it appeared unintentional on both sides. But over time, the effects were costly.” The rising mistrust ultimately played a role in McChrystal’s resignation. In June 2010 the general stepped down after Rolling Stone magazine ran an article entitled “The Runaway General,” in which it quoted members of McChrystal’s staff disparaging top White House officials and allies. McChrystal was summoned back to Washington, where he resigned.

An investigation by the Department of Defense Inspector General concluded that not all of the events described in the Rolling Stone article had occurred as reported and there was insufficient evidence to conclude any Defense Department standards had been violated.

Rolling Stone stood by its story.

McChrystal, while expressing surprise about the “tone and direction” of the article, said he accepted responsibility for it and never had any question about the

necessary response. “I knew only one decision was right for the moment and for the mission. I didn’t try to figure out what others might do, no hero’s or mentor’s example came to mind. I called no one for advice,” wrote McChrystal, who now teaches leadership at Yale University and heads a leadership consulting group.

The memoir, which was released on yesterday, offers McChrystal’s first assessment of the events that led to his resignation. It depicts a US military in Afghanistan struggling to find a strategy for success at a time of Taleban resurgence and an inexperienced White House skeptical of the war and sensitive to criticism.

The general portrays himself as wellmeaning but slow to understand the administration’s political sensitivities and undercut by his failure to grasp the dynamics of the situation. He wrote that he wanted to operate as independently as possible of political or even policy pressures. “I found ... the demands of the job

made this difficult,” McChrystal said. “The process of formulating, negotiating, articulating and then prosecuting even a largely military campaign involved politics at multiple levels that were impossible to ignore.” His memoir hits the shelves at a new time of transition in the war whose strategy he helped to devise, with Afghan President Hamid Karzai due to visit Washington this week for talks with Obama. The two countries are trying to hammer out a deal on the nature of any US troop presence after 2014, when most combat forces are due to leave and hand over security to the Afghan army and police. The administration is currently studying a residual force of between 3,000 and 9,000 troops to conduct counterterrorism operations and training once most combat troops are withdrawn, a US official said. That is lower than the preliminary range of 6,000 to 15,000 troops that officials said was initially put forward by Marine Corps General John Allen, the

head of international forces. Some defense analysts have warned that those troop numbers are likely to be too small to fulfill the mission.

The current debate over troop numbers echoes the one that McChrystal describes in his book after Obama took office in 2009. The president, who had promised during the election to refocus on Afghanistan and send two additional brigades, found himself facing a request for 30,000 US troops.

The president initially agreed to send 17,000 troops, but the Pentagon soon had to ask for 4,000 more, who were needed for support, making it look as if officials hadn’t done their homework. Obama ultimately approved the additional troops after announcing a new strategic direction for the war that called for US forces to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and to pursue a counterinsurgency-style strategy in Afghanistan. But the damage had been done. — Reuters

2012 deadliest year in Karachi for two decades 2,124 killed in Karachi last year

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s attorney general, Palitha Fernando (C) arrives at the Supreme Court Complex for a hearing into a challenge against parliament’s attempt to impeach the country’s chief justice, Shirani Bandaranayake in the capital Colombo yesterday. — AFP

Verdict against S Lanka chief justice quashed COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan appeals court yesterday quashed a guilty verdict reached by lawmakers against the countryís chief justice in a much-criticized impeachment hearing, a move that could intensify a monthslong dispute between Parliament and the judiciary.

A parliamentary committee last month found Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake guilty of possession of unexplained wealth and misuse of power and declared her unfit for office. Bandaranayake denied the allegations and challenged the committeeís verdict, saying she had not been given a fair hearing.

The ruling by three appeals court judges declared the committee’s hearing unlawful and its verdict null, and deemed any further action on the impeachment, including a debate and vote, illegal. The appeals

courtís decision followed a Supreme Court ruling last week that said the parliamentary committee did not have the authority to investigate Bandaranayake. Parliament was to start a two-day debate on the committee’s verdict tomorrow, followed by a vote on whether to impeach the chief justice.

The impeachment move was heavily criticized by lawyers, judges and opposition politicians who saw it as the culmination of a long dispute between the judiciary and Parliament, which is effectively controlled

by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The critics viewed the proceeding as an effort to undermine judicial independence and concentrate more powers with the president.

With Rajapaksa’s ruling party controlling more than two-thirds of Parliament’s 225 seats, it was expected to easily win an impeachment vote. — AP

China newspaper dispute sparks petition, protest BEIJING: A dispute over censorship at a Chinese newspaper known for edgy reporting evolved yesterday into a political challenge for China’s new leadership as prominent scholars demanded a censor’s dismissal and hundreds of protesters called for democratic reforms.

The scholars and protesters were acting in support of the Southern Weekly in its confrontation with a top censor after the publication was forced to change a New Year’s editorial calling for political reform into a tribute praising the ruling Communist Party. Rumors circulated that at least one of the newspaper’s news departments was going on strike, but they could not be immediately confirmed. Protesters, including middle school students and white-collar workers, gathered outside the offices of the newspaper in the southern city of Guangzhou to lay flowers at the gate, hold signs and shout slogans calling for freedom of speech, political reform, constitutional governance and democracy. “I feel that the ordinary people must awaken,” said one of the protesters, Yuan Fengchu, who was reached by phone. “The people are starting to realize that their rights have been tak-

en away by the Communist Party and they are feeling that they are being constantly oppressed.” Political expression in the public sphere is often viewed as risky in China, where the authoritarian government frequently harasses and even jails dissidents for pro-democracy calls. Another protester, Guangzhou writer and activist Wu Wei, who goes by the pen name Ye Du, said the protest marked a rare instance in which people were making overt calls for political freedom since large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations were crushed in a military crackdown in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989. “In other cities, we’ve seen people march, but most of the time they are protesting environmental pollution or people’s livelihood issues,” Wu said. “Here they are asking for political rights, the right to protest. The Southern Weekly incident has provided an opportunity for citizens to voice their desires.”

The protest came as 18 Chinese academics signed an open letter calling for the dismissal of Tuo Zhen, a provincial propaganda minister blamed for the censorship. The scholars included legal professors, liberal economists, historians and writers.— AP

GUANGZHOU: A protester holds aloft a banner which shows freedom of speech near the headquarters of Southern Weekly newspaper in Guangzhou, Guangdong province yesterday. A dispute over censorship at the Chinese newspaper known for edgy reporting evolved yesterday into a political challenge for China’s new leadership as prominent scholars demanded a censor’s dismissal and hundreds of protesters called for democratic reforms. — AP

KARACHI: Pakistan’s financial hub Karachi saw its deadliest year in two decades in 2012, with around 2,000 people killed in violence linked to ethnic and political tensions, raising fears for elections due this year.

Karachi, a business centre with a population of 18 million, is the beating heart of the nucleararmed country of 180 million. It accounts for 20 percent of GDP, 57 percent of tax revenue and elects 33 lawmakers to the federal parliament.

Yet enormous waves of migration have tightened resources and exacerbated a fight for identity and control that has only become deadlier in the five years since the main ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) took office in Islamabad.

Trapped in the middle are ordinary people who one day leave home, never to return alivevictims of faceless gangs condemned by political parties yet linked to ethnic and political factions, and who escape with impunity.

“My son went to pay his respects at his father’s grave, but he never came back. We found his mutilated body in a bag,” says Shahida, sobbing uncontrollably in her damp home, lit only by a naked bulb hanging from a cracked ceiling. Faysal, 16, was her only son. When he vanished last month from their home in a rubbish-strewn alley in the working class district of Lyari, her world collapsed.

He was shot in the head, and there were drill marks on his head and stomach, says Faysal’s uncle Mohammed Hussein. “We don’t know who did it and why... I don’t have a reason to live any more,” his mother cried. According to the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, 2,124 people were killed in Karachi in 2012, the worst year since records began nearly 20 years ago.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) says 1,800 people died in targeted killings in the first nine months of 2012. In 2011, it put the number at 1,000, which was then the deadliest in 16 years.

Karachi has all the ingredients of an explosive cocktail-gang warfare, land grabbings, drugs, Islamist extremism, political rivalries, ethnic tensions, extreme poverty and a mushrooming population owing to migration.

Police insist killings related to ethnic and sectarian disputes accounted for only 20 percent of the murders, but rights activists say a shortage of law enforcement officers is part of the problem. “Karachi is becoming a city where controlling violence is becoming increasingly difficult because of an insufficient police force, which is less than 30,000 for around 18 million people,” says Zohra Yusuf, HRCP chairwoman.

Pakistan is scheduled to hold elections by the end of May, which will mark the first democratically elected transition of power ever in the country, dominated for decades by military

KARACHI: In this photograph taken on December 13, 2012, Pakistani mother Shahida Baloch (C) cries with other relatives as she holds a picture of her only son Faysal, 16, who was killed in violence last year, at her residence in Karachi. Around 2,000 people were killed in Karachi in 2012 in the deadliest violence linked to ethnic and political tensions in more than 20 years, raising fears for scheduled general elections this year. — AFP rulers. No date has yet been set for the polls, but failed to dislodge his men from Lyari.

“Sometimes they call us drug mafia, someparties are disputing the boundaries of constituencies and accuse each other of distorting times they call us land mafia, sometimes gangtheir respective voter list to inflate their chances sters, they give different allegations because we are their main obstacle to the project to control of success.

“I am very fearful about the coming elections, Lyari,” he told AFP. Outside Lyari, ethnic tensions said Fateh Muhammad Burfat, a criminologist at between Mohajirs and Pashtuns who have Karachi University. The different groups “will try migrated to ecape military operations, Taleban to show their power and there is only one way to insurgency and mass unemployment, are blamed for much of the violence. The MQM show power here-it is violence.”

When British colonial rule ended in 1947, and vents about alleged Talibanisation, pointing to Pakistan was created out of the poorly devel- suicide and bomb attacks linked to the Talibanoped western sliver of India, Karachi became a led insurgency dominated by ethnic Pashtuns. capital overnight and the destination of tens of “The major criminals, these suicide bombers, thousands of Indian Muslims, known as these Taliban extremists, whoever they are, are Mohajirs. Today their party, the Muttahida here and have access to local criminals,” comQaumi Movement (MQM) controls most of the plains Khawaja Izhar ul-Hasan, a provincial cabicity-apart from Lyari, a bastion of support for the net minister from MQM. “Now they are like one mafia, from mobile PPP, and areas home to new migrants, ethnic phone snatching on the street to bank robbery, Pashtuns from the northwest.

For the past three or four years, Lyari has seen everybody is connected.” The Awami National clashes blamed on two rival groups: one histori- Party (ANP), the main Pashtun party, accuses the cally close to the PPP but now fed up with the MQM of power politics and stigmatising an party leadership, and the second accused of entire ethnic group.

“MQM wants to occupy and control the being an MQM auxillary.

“Land in Karachi is very precious and grab- whole city,” said Bashir Jan, ANP secretary generbing is the bone of contention, the mother of all al for southern province Sindh, of which Karachi conflicts,” says Zafar Baloch, number two in the is the capital, who says he has survived three PPP. In the spring, a police operation tried but assassination attempts since 2007. — AFP

Dead Nepal journalist ‘buried alive’: Police KATHMANDU: A group of Maoist former rebels have been arrested over the death of a journalist during Nepal’s civil war, with one of them confessing that the reporter was buried alive, police said yesterday.

The arrests of the five men, whose detention came days after a Nepalese soldier was held in Britain on charges of torture, are the first in Nepal for crimes committed during the decadelong conflict that ended in 2006.

The five men, all middle-ranking cadres, have been charged with the abduction and murder of Dekendra Raj Thapa, a radio reporter and human rights activist who died in 2004.

Lachhiram Gharti, one of the accused, had confessed to taking part in the murder, Binod Sharma, an inspector in the western district of Dailekh, told AFP. “He confessed to us that they kidnapped (the victim) under the pretext of a discussion on water supply and took him to a local school,” Sharma said.

“They tortured him by repeatedly beating him and when he fell unconscious, he was brought to Gharti’s home. “Gharti told us that he gave a glass of water to him. After drinking it, he again fell unconscious... so they dug a pit and buried him alive.”

Thapa’s wife Laxmi, who has two teenage daughters and an 11-year-old son, told AFP she had almost given up hope of getting justice over his death. “But now the accused have been arrested and I hope that justice will prevail,” she said. The arrests follow the appearance in a British court on Saturday of Nepalese army colonel Kumar Lama, currently serving as a United Nations peacekeeper in South Sudan, who is charged with two counts of torture.

The 46-year-old stands accused of inflicting severe pain or suffering on two men when he

was in charge of a barracks during the conflict in 2005. More than 16,000 people died in the civil war between Maoist rebels and government forces, and more than 1,000 are still missing.

There are allegations of killings and torture on both sides, and rights groups say little has been done to bring justice to victims and their families. — AFP

KATHMANDU: Nepalese women shout slogans outside the residence of Nepalís Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai during a protest, in Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. The protesters demanded the government to crack down on crimes against women and that authorities do more to protect women in Nepal. Placard reads as “Government should become responsible.” — AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

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

Statue built to reformer whose death sparked Tiananmen BEIJING: A statue of former Chinese Communist Party chief Hu Yaobang, a reformer whose death sparked the Tiananmen Square democracy protests, has been set up in a coastal city, state media reported yesterday.

The bronze image, depicting Hu looking into the distance, was unveiled Sunday on Dachen island at Taizhou in the central province of Zhejiang, according to a brief article in the China Youth Daily newspaper.

Hu in 1956 had issued a call for the

agricultural development of the island when he was first secretary of the Communist Youth League, the paper reported. But Hu remains a sensitive figure in China nearly 24 years after his death in 1989 and is a symbol for those who hope China’s new leaders will pursue more political openness.

He was dismissed as party head in 1987 after he allowed students in Beijing to hold protest marches calling for democratic reforms. Those rallies erupted again after he died, culminating in a massacre

on the night of June 3-4. Joseph Cheng, a political analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said it was rare for a statue of Hu to be set up and he knew of only one other.

“He is still controversial,” Cheng told AFP. “The reformers would like to appeal to Hu Yaobang as part of their campaign to appeal for reforms.”

Hu is credited with playing a major role in leading the Communist Party out of the chaos of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution by rehabilitating hundreds of purged offi-

cials and initiating a period of relative openness and reform.

Hu Deping, Hu Yaobang’s son, said in November that reining in the ruling party’s unchecked power was the only way to modernise China. His comments in the respected Economic Observer weekly came on the eve of China’s once-a-decade power transition, which saw Vice President Xi Jinping assume the party reins from President Hu Jintao.

Xi is also set to replace Hu as president during a meeting of the legislature, the

National People’s Congress, in March, which will complete the highly choreographed leadership handover.

Hong Kong newspapers reported last year that Hu Deping had discussed political reforms with Xi and that during the talks Xi pledged to advance change.

Cheng cautioned, however, that the appearance of the statue did not indicate a full rehabilitation.

“There is a bit of tolerance from the part of the leadership,” he said. “This doesn’t amount to a change of verdict.” — AFP

Philippine army, police kill 13 suspects in clash Gunmen open fire on 50 soldiers, police

LAIZA: In this photo taken December 15, 2012, and released yesterday, by Free Burma Rangers, Kachin rebels display the ammunitions they seized from Myanmar soldiers in Laiza, northern Myanmar. Ethnic Kachin rebels in Myanmar accused government troops of launching two artillery attacks Sunday against the city that serves as their headquarters, but no casualties or significant damage were reported. — AP

Indonesia’s anti-terror squad criticized for deaths JAKARTA: Indonesia’s US-funded police anti-terror squad has killed seven suspected militants recently, reviving allegations that the force is not trying to take suspects alive - a trend that appears to be fueling the very extremism the predominantly Muslim country is trying to counter.

Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said Sunday that no shots were fired against officers during three related raids Friday and Saturday in eastern Indonesia, but that the suspects in at least one of the locations had explosives that were “ready” to be detonated.

He said that officers from the anti-terror squad, known as Densus 88, had followed procedures because the suspects were endangering their lives, but gave few details.

Haris Azhar, chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, an independent human rights group, said it appeared that the suspected militants were victims of “extrajudicial killings” and called for an independent investigation. He said Densus 88’s tactics were driving militancy because they added to feelings among some Muslims that they were under siege.

“I’m worried about the deteriorating public sympathy for police who continue to use violence,” he said, alleging that some suspects in the past have been shot in front of their children. “There has never been any evaluation of Densus’ actions. It seems the police brutality has contributed to the growing of terrorism.”

Indonesia has struggled against militants seeking a Muslim state since its independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, some of the militants came under the influence of al-Qaida while waging jihad in Afghanistan.

On their return to Indonesia, they carried out four major bombings against foreign targets between 2002 and 2009.

Densus 88 was established after the first of those attacks - the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists - with American and Australian financial and technical assistance, which it still receives. It has been instrumental in the arrests of hundreds of militants over the last 10 years and is credited with reducing

the threat of further attacks on Western interests in the country. Small groups of militants, however, have continued to attack police officers and Christians.

Since the squad’s establishment, Densus officers have killed more than 70 suspects.

Like in other countries, some Indonesian militants have blown themselves up when police officers have approached them and show a willingness to go down fighting, making apprehending them especially dangerous. Police figures show that militants killed 10 officers in 2012 around the country.

“They are different to conventional criminals,” Amar said. “We can’t take any risks because they will show no hesitation to kill law enforcers.”

Taufik Andrie, research director for the Institute for International Peace Building, said it appeared that police officers hunting down militants suspected of being involved in the murder of their colleagues were not interested in taking prisoners.

“It is a cycle of violence, with each side looking for revenge,” Andrie said. “There is a suspicion that some policemen are of the mind that the best kind of de-radicalization is through killing people.”

Indonesia has won praise for arresting and convicting terrorists through its legal system. It executed three militants convicted in the Bali bombings and sentenced many others to long prison sentences. But there has been a high level of recidivism, and the country’s counter-extremism and de-radicalization programs have been patchily carried out with limited success.

The way in which the killings by Densus 88 are used to rally support for extremism was on display Sunday at a public meeting of radicals in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital.

While those present didn’t need fresh reasons to despise or distrust the state, speakers held up the killings of the seven suspects as just the latest example of police brutality.

“Oh, Allah, they have killed your servants, so destroy them,” said Son Hadi, from Jama’ah Ansharut Tauhid, a radical group whose members have been accused of suppor ting terrorism but remain free to organize. “Beware of this war on Islam.” — AP

DENPASAR: Lindsay June Sandiford (2nd R) of Britain arrives at a court in Denpasar yesterday. Indonesian prosecutors recommended a 15-year prison term on December 20, 2012 for the British grandmother accused of trafficking in cocaine on the resort island of Bali. Sandiford, 56, was arrested at Denpasar airport in May with 4.79 kilograms (10.6 pounds) of cocaine stashed in the lining of her suitcase. — AFP

ATIMONAN: Philippine army special forces and police killed 13 suspected criminals in a fierce gunbattle in a northeastern province in the latest recent violence in the country. A police officer was wounded in Sundayís shootout, which raged for about 20 minutes in the coastal town of Atimonan in Quezon province, about 140 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Manila, the capital, according to the police and the army.

The gunmen, who were riding in two black SUVs, opened fire on more than 50 army soldiers and police when they were flagged down at a highway checkpoint, sparking the firefight, said Lt. Col. Monico Abang, who led the army platoon in the clash. More gunmen fired from a third vehicle, which turned around and fled, he said.

Two gunmen jumped out of one of the SUVs and fired from a roadside canal. The rest stayed in the two vehicles, which were raked by gunfire from troops in a sparsely-populated stretch of the highway, Abang said. The area was closed off to traffic and then reopened late Sunday, with the two bullet-riddled SUVS still partially blocking the dark highway.

Quezon provincial police chief Valeriano de Leon said 11 gunmen died at the scene of the clash. Two others died while being brought to a hospital, he said, adding that government forces recovered two assault rifles and 12 pistols used by the gunmen. ìThey rolled down their windows and started firing, so we had to retaliate,î Abang said by cellphone from the scene of the clash. ìThey were clearly outnumbered and outgunned.î A police colonel was shot in the hand and foot and taken to a hospital, de Leon said.

Abang said the army and police had set up the checkpoint after an informant told police that gunmen involved in illegal drugs, gambling and kidnapping for ransom would pass through Atimonan in mountainous Quezon, where communist guerrillas have a presence.

An initial investigation showed that the gunmen were likely members of a gun-for-hire group operating in provinces south of Manila, Abang said. One dead gunman had a police identification card and investigators were trying to confirm his identity, he said.

The shootout followed two other deadly shootings that have revived calls for tighter gun

QUEZON: In this photo released by the Philippine National Police Quezon Provincial Director’s Office, Quezon provincial police chief Valeriano de Leon, right, looks at the bullet-riddled vehicle of suspected criminals after a shootout with army and police at a checkpoint along a road in the town of Atimonan in Quezon province, about 140 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Manila, Philippines Sunday. —AP control in the Philippines, where there are more tial spokeswoman Abigail Valte told reporters than half a million unlicensed firearms, according that President Benigno Aquino III, a known gun enthusiast, would study gun-control proposals to police estimates.

A man who reportedly was drunk and high on with other officials. Among the proposals is a call drugs killed eight people before being gunned by anti-gun groups to ban the carrying of down by police on Friday in Kawit town in Cavite firearms by civilians outside their homes.

The proliferation of firearms has long fueled province, 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Manila. A 7-year-old girl died a day after being hit crime, political violence and Muslim and commuin the head by a stray bullet while watching fire- nist rebellions that have raged for decades in works with her family on New Yearís Eve outside parts of the Philippines. Previous attempts by their home in Caloocan city, near Manila, despite authorities to clamp down on unregistered a high-profile government campaign against weapons have yielded few results in a country powerful firecrackers and celebratory gunfire by where several politically powerful clans and families control private armed groups in provincial Filipinos to welcome 2013.

Earlier Sunday, before the shootout, presiden- strongholds outside Manila. — AP

Crashed US drone found in Philippines MANILA: A US drone believed to be used for reconnaissance was recovered yesterday in waters off the central Philippines, police and naval authorities said.

Fishermen found the 3.65 metre (12-foot) drone floating off Masbate island and dragged it to shore, said provincial police chief, Senior Superintendent Heriberto Olitoquit.

They initially thought they had hauled in a bomb and alerted police, Olitoquit said.

“A technical evaluation determined that the object is one unmanned aerial vehicle,” Olitoquit told reporters.

Olitoquit said the drone had been turned over to the Philippine Navy, which would conduct a thorough investigation.

“It appears to have been floating for quite some time,” Captain Rommel Galang, deputy commander of naval forces in the area, told AFP. “We will first study this drone but initially it appears to be a UAV used largely in reconnaissance.” He said it had inscriptions and a serial number that “indicate it is an American drone”. Galang said the US embassy had been informed of the discovery and local authorities would eventually turn it over to them.

In an interview with AFP last year, President Benigno Aquino confirmed US drones were allowed to fly across the Philippines for reconnaissance purposes, but were not allowed to conduct strikes.

The Philippines is a close American ally and has long relied on its former colonial ruler for help in dealing with its many security threats. The United States is also the Philippines’ biggest supplier of military hardware.

About 600 US forces have been rotating in the southern Philippines since 2002 to help train local troops to deal with Islamic militants. However, Masbate, where the drone was found, is many hundreds of kilometres (miles) from the Muslim insurgency-wracked southern regions and no US troops are known to operate there.

One major security problem in Masbate is the support there for communists who have been waging a decades-long rebellion that continues to claim dozens of lives every year.

The US embassy in Manila released a statement yesterday saying it was looking into reports of the drone’s recovery, without confirming the plane belonged to the United States. “We are aware of reports that an apparently US-made unmanned aerial vehicle was recovered in the waters off of Masbate this weekend,” the statement said.

“The recovered vehicle appears to be of the sort that is used as an air defence target in training exercises. This type of vehicle is not armed and not used for surveillance. We are trying to confirm this interpretation and to determine how and when it may have landed in the sea.” — AFP

Indonesia province moves ahead on straddling ban LHOKSEUMAWE: Authorities in Indonesia’s Aceh province are pressing ahead with a proposed Islamic law that would ban female passengers from straddling motorbikes despite reported opposition from the central government.

Aceh introduced a version of Shariah, or Islamic law, in 2009, after it gained autonomy from the government in a 2005 peace deal to end a long-running separatist war there. The Aceh laws regulate women’s dress and public morality, require shops and other places to close at prayer time, and are enforced by a special unit.

Punishments can include public caning.

Yesterday, authorities in northern Aceh distributed a notice to government offices and villages informing residents of the proposed law, which would apply to adolescent girls and women. It states that women are not allowed to straddle motorbikes unless it’s an “emergency,” and are not allowed to hold onto the driver.

Suaidi Yahya, mayor of the Aceh city of Lhokseumawe, said a ban was needed because the “curves of a woman’s body” are more visible when straddling a motorbike than when sitting sideways with legs dangling. “Muslim women are not allowed to show their curves, it’s against Islamic teachings,” he said, declining to give details of what the punishment would be for violators. Last week, Home Ministry officials told local media they would try and block the law because it was discriminatory. While

rare in the West, riding sidesaddle on a motorbike is common in much of Southeast Asia, particularly for women wearing skirts. There appears to have been no studies on which is safer, straddling or riding sidesaddle, though many women say they feel more secure and comfortable straddling.

Nurjanah Ismail, a lecturer on gender issues at the Ar Raniry Islamic Institute in Aceh’s capital, Banda Aceh, criticized the proposed law. “There is no need to question this practice, let alone regulate it, because people do it for safety,” she said.

“Women sitting in that way cannot be considered bad or in violation of Shariah. Islam is beautiful, so do not make it difficult.”

It is unclear how popular the Shariah provisions are with locals in Aceh, which while devout by Indonesian standards is a far cry from parts of Pakistan or the Middle East. Enforcement of the laws is patchy and mostly targets young men and women.

Caning, when applied, typically is aimed at causing humiliation rather than pain.

Since 2005, many other regions in Indonesia have issued Shariah-inspired bylaws that ban such things as alcohol or tight clothing, alarming rights activists and others who value the country’s secular heritage. The government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, which relies on the support of Muslim political parties, has not spoken out against the laws, much less challenge them. — AP

LHOKSEUMAWE: An Acehnese woman straddles on a motorbike on a road in Lhokseumawe, Aceh province, Indonesia, yesterday. Authorities in Indonesiaís Aceh province are pressing ahead with a proposed law that would ban female passengers from straddling motorbikes despite reported opposition from the central government. — AP

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

Bahrain upholds jail for uprising leaders

US gov, Google chief in...

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

The men who received life sentences - 25 years in Bahrain - included rights activist Abdulhadi AlKhawaja, leader of the opposition Haq movement Hassan Mushaimaa, who has advocated turning the kingdom of Bahrain into a republic and Abduljalil Al-Singace, a member of the same group. Ibrahim Sharif, leader of the opposition Waad party and the only Sunni among those convicted in the case, is serving a five-year sentence.

The hearing was attended by a number of foreign diplomats, Jishi said, highlighting fears that the outcome could have an impact on unrest in the island kingdom. Several protesters gathered in front of the court yesterday in support of the uprising leaders, Wefaq said via Twitter.

The Sunni ruling Al-Khalifa family, backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and police from the United Arab Emirates, put down the uprising with martial law. Thousands were arrested and military trials were conducted during the martial law period. Washington has called on its ally to talk to the opposition, but unrest has continued. Police and demonstrators clash almost daily and each side blames the other for the violence. The main charges the convicted men faced were “forming a

terrorist group with intent to overthrow the system of government”, as well as collaboration with a foreign state.

The men deny all charges, saying they wanted only democratic reform in the Gulf Arab monarchy.

In September, a prosecution official said six of the men were guilty of having “intelligence contact” with Iran and its Lebanese Shiite militant ally Hezbollah. The protest leaders are viewed by some Bahrainis as popular heroes whose release could reinvigorate the democracy movement, which demands parliamentary powers to legislate and form governments. Bahraini Shiites say they face discrimination, a charge the government denies.

Hours after the Court of Cassation’s ruling, hundreds of protesters gathered in the Shiite village of Malkiya in support of the prisoners, in response to calls for demonstrations by activists on social networking websites. “We demand the release of all prisoners,” chanted the protesters in Malkiya, witnesses said. “The people want to overthrow the regime.” The demonstrators hoisted a large banner bearing the pictures of the 13 defendants.

The US said it regretted yesterday’s decision and expressed concern that it would further restrict freedom of expression and compromise the climate for reconciliation. “We have repeated-

ly voiced our concern about these cases, both publicly and privately and at the highest levels, and urged the government of Bahrain to abide by its international obligations,” US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, adding that US embassy observers were at the trial. “We call on the government of Bahrain to investigate all reports of torture, including those made by the defendants in this case, as it is pledged to do, and to hold accountable any who are found responsible.”

Britain, another Western ally of Bahrain, said it was “deeply dismayed”. “At the time these individuals were sentenced, repor ts which were acknowledged by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry suggested that some had been abused in detention, denied access to legal counsel and were coerced into confessing,” Middle East Minister Alistair Burt said in a statement. “I call on the government of Bahrain to meet all its human rights obligations and guarantee its citizens the fundamental liberties to which they are entitled.” A statement from French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said: “We had hoped for a lenient verdict that might create a climate of reconciliation between all parties.” — Agencies

by nuclear tests,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “During these periods, it’s very important that the international community come together, certainly at the level of the UN Security Council, to demonstrate to North Korea that they pay a price for not living up to their obligations.”

Richardson, a former ambassador to the United Nations, has made numerous trips to North Korea. The reasons for Schmidt’s involvement in the trip are not clear, though Google characterised it as “personal” travel.

Schmidt did not respond to requests for comment. Richardson’s efforts to seek the release of Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American tour guide who was detained last year will mark the latest in a series of high-profile visits to free detained Americans in Pyongyang. Richardson told CBS television last Friday that he had been contacted by Bae’s family and that he would raise the issue while in North

Korea.

Nolan Barkhouse, spokesman for the US embassy in Beijing, said Sunday that Richardson’s trip was unrelated to the authorities in Washington. “They will not be carrying any messages from the US government,” Barkhouse told AFP, adding: “They will not be accompanied by any US officials.” Asked about the trip, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said only: “We have noticed relevant press reports.”

Pyongyang’s most notable success was securing a visit from former President Bill Clinton in 2009 to win the release of two American journalists. Last year, Jared and Schmidt met defectors from North Korea, a state that ranks bottom of Reporters Without Borders annual survey of Internet and press freedom. Media reports and think tanks say that officials from the North Korean government went to Google’s headquarters in 2011, something the US technology giant declined to comment on. — Agencies

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

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Issues

Doubts raised about Myanmar reformist rulers

By Martin Petty

U

nprecedented aerial attacks on ethnic Kachin rebels

by Myanmar’s military have raised doubts about whether the retired generals in a government hailed for its reforms have really changed their harsh old ways. Assurances by the quasi-civilian government that it wants a peace deal with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and that the military is exercising “maximum restraint” are starting to ring hollow as jets and helicopter gunships take to the air. The 18-month conflict is back under the spotlight, with UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon voicing concern last week about reports of air strikes in Kachin State. The US State Department said they were “extremely troubling”.

Western countries that suspended most sanctions as a reward for political, social and economic reforms after the new government took power in March 2011 are now in a tricky spot. Questions have been raised about the sincerity, or authority, of the former soldiers who had convinced them of their “irreversible” course of liberalisation when they ended nearly half a century of military rule. “Sceptics had warned the international community not to get too caught up in all the excitement of the changes going on,” said Christopher Roberts, a Myanmar expert at the Australia National University. “This escalation is enough to spark a debate on whether sanctions were removed too soon.”

The United Nations has repeatedly demanded humanitarian access to an estimated 70,000 people displaced by fighting that resurfaced in June 2011, ending a 17-year truce agreed after decades of bloody battles. The number of casualties is unknown, but they are estimated to be high on both sides. The KIA says it is under attack in seven areas and that the military wants to seize its headquarters in Laiza, close to the Chinese border. It says the military has been using air strikes since Dec. 24 to try to weaken the rebels and force them to the negotiating table -claims the government strenuously denies.

Despite 11 rounds of peace talks, the KIA is the only ethnic minority army that has not agreed to a ceasefire with the government and won’t stand down until it is offered a political deal. It says the current, army-drafted constitution won’t guarantee their rights and wants it changed first.

State peace negotiators have a three-stage plan starting with a truce before any political dialogue, followed by a parliamentary congress in which permanent deals offering unspecified guarantees and concessions are signed.

The two sides have a bitter history and deep distrust.

Political leaders are determined to ensure their people are treated fairly and get a share of the vast mineral resources they have long accused the military of looting. “It’s difficult to cease fighting while not knowing what will happen after,” said KIA vice commander-in-chief, Major-General Gun Maw. “What should we do after a ceasefire? That’s the answer we’re looking for,” he told the 7-Day News journal.

The decision to use air power against ethnic militias, a tactic unheard of even under military rule, runs counter to reformist President Thein Sein’s assurances that troops were acting only in self defence. Official Myanmar newspapers have said air support was used on Dec. 30 to thwart KIA fighters who had occupied a hill and were attacking logistics units of the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s military is known. The former junta heavyweight has twice publicly ordered the military chief, a protege of reviled former dictator Than Shwe, to ensure troops don’t launch any offensives. The recent escalation has raised questions about him that are almost impossible to answer in a country where the inner workings of the leadership in Naypyitaw remain highly secretive.

Zaw Htay, a president’s office spokesman, said on Friday troops were responding defensively to KIA aggression and destruction of transport and power infrastructure and the army was committed to protecting the civilian population. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, now a lawmaker, has always urged a cautious approach to the changes. While lauding Thein Sein for his leadership, she has repeatedly said the role the military plays in Myanmar will dictate the country’s future.

Thein Sein and his loyalists appear to be driving the reforms but the extent to which he controls the Tatmadaw remains unclear. Diplomats and analysts say either he is insincere about peace or the military is acting independently. “He’s just Mr Nice Guy, the human face to the world and he has no authority to tell the army what to do,” said Bertil Lintner, a journalist, author and expert on Myanmar’s ethnic conflicts, who recently visited Kachin State.

“Fundamentally, nothing has changed, it’s the same people in power, they’re just much more clever at managing things.” —Reuters

All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait.

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

In Washington, compromise’s embers flicker

By Liz Sidoti

E

very election year, they become the popular ones, the celebrities with the power to hire or fire politicians. Then, when actual governing begins, they become the forgotten ones - jilted wallflowers watching as the leaders they elected are devoured into a political system dominated by extremes. These middle-ofthe-road American voters feel betrayed, and many grow cynical. Why, they wonder, did they bother to cast ballots at all?

It’s always a dramatic fall for the ideological center of the country, independents and moderates in swing-voting states and regions that hold outsized sway in determining the balance of power in Washington. One minute, every candidate promises to represent your interests. The next, freshly elected lawmakers carry the water of their parties’ far wings and ignore the wishes of everybody else.

Now, after Republicans and Democrats alike reluctantly shunned their core supporters and reached a bipartisan compromise to avert a fiscal crisis, there’s a reasonable question to ask: Did American lawmakers actually - for a moment, at least - listen to the regular Joes and Janes pleading for a gridlocked Washington to get something, anything, done?

Nobody on the spectrum’s far ends was truly happy with the “fiscal cliff” accord. Conservatives were apoplectic that Republicans agreed to tax increases on the wealthiest Americans. Liberals complained that President Barack Obama gave in on too much. It was an ugly fight. But, in an often deadlocked capital, the result was attractive: significantly bipartisan votes in both chambers of Congress on a hard-fought and important matter. In modern Washington, that’s become almost extinct.

In the end, our political leaders sided not with their party’s most passionate backers but with everyone else. The ones who are anything

but hard-core partisans. The ones whose voices are usually drowned out by the extremes that drive political discourse. The ones who are desperate for Republicans and Democrats to come together to tackle at least some of our problems.

It’s these voters who played a pivotal role in giving Obama a second term while leaving Republicans in power in the House and Obama’s fellow Democrats in control of the Senate. These voters chose to keep the same people in charge at a challenging time. These voters overlooked their lack of faith in hyperpartisan Washington ever getting its act together. And these voters sent this crop of leaders back to the capital with an urgent directive: “Work it out!”

Post-election polling seems to concur. One survey from McClatchy/Marist found that a whopping 74 percent of adults thought it was more important for government officials to “compromise to find solutions,” rather than “stand on principle even if it means gridlock.”

Just 21 percent preferred sticking to principles.

While Democrats were most strongly in favor of compromise (83 percent), majorities of independents (77 percent) and Republicans (63 percent) agreed.

Within hours of the election, Obama and House Speaker John Boehner - the highestranking elected officials in their respective parties - each suggested they got the message, separately signaling a desire to seek bipartisan compromises to fix the nation’s ills, starting with our fiscal health. But that was quickly forgotten, and the typical politicking was back.

The legislative debate was initially driven by the bases of the Republican and Democratic parties demanding that any deal to avert the socalled “fiscal cliff” include elements purely in line with their core principles. Weeks of stalemate ensued. But ultimately, after an especially nasty and personal negotiation period, those in posi-

tions of power in the White House and Congress chose problem solving for all, rather than party orthodoxy for some.

Compromise is a part of this nation’s fabric, as much so as the divisiveness that makes it necessary. From its start, America has seen pragmatic periods with people with dissenting viewpoints coming together to find workable solutions. As recently as the 1980s, Ronald Reagan, the Republican president, and Tip O’Neill, the Democratic House speaker, showed how deals can get done across the aisle. And in 1990, President George H W Bush compromised with himself and agreed to the Democratic majority’s demands to raise taxes.

In doing so, he violated his “read my lips” pledge as a way to reduce the national deficit.

Yet, lately, Washington has become a town of no compromise in a country that wants it.

Republicans and Democrats alike have allowed themselves to be held hostage by their loudest backers, the ones who help them get re-elected. Gerrymandering has exacerbated the problem, with lawmakers redrawing congressional lines to make House districts Republican and Democratic bastions. That gives lawmakers little reason to deviate from the party line.

In this environment, reaching across the aisle sometimes has become a fatal act.

Republicans, specifically, have been targeting their own in primaries, casting anyone with a history of working with Democrats as not sufficiently conservative. To suggest that we’re entering a new era of feel-good compromise governing is, of course, overstating things. And “grand bargains” of the sort Obama and Boehner had initially sought may not happen anytime soon. After all, it takes time for a political system to transition out of an age as toxic as this.

Yet, to the voters in the middle, there’s reason to see hope in the “fiscal cliff” deal. It suggests that a divided government can actually

accomplish something - and that lawmakers are starting to realize they actually have to listen to the people who elected them, even when Election Day isn’t around the corner.

Exhibit A: Paul Ryan, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin and the GOP’s 2012 vice presidential nominee, who voted for the deal that most of his House GOP colleagues and the tea party opposed. “The American people chose divided government. As elected officials, we have a duty to apply our principles to the realities of governing,” Ryan said. Obama, too, suggested the average voter won out: “While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our country.”

But, as he faces the reality of a GOP-led House and a long second-term to-do list, Obama also made clear that his stomach for compromise only goes so far. Boehner signaled he was done privately negotiating with the president, and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell suggested the GOP would stand firm on its demand for spending cuts during the next fiscal debate, this one over raising the nation’s debt ceiling.

That issue is among the many coming up that are likely to require bipartisan solutions: guns, immigration, Social Security, Medicare and the tax code. How much each side is willing to give on them will determine whether the fiscal agreement is kindling a new season of compromise, and whether independents, moderates and other voters in the center will continue to influence lawmakers when they’re actually governing, not just when they campaign. For these voters, the “fiscal cliff” deal was a first step toward what they expect from their government - cooperation that begins when negotiations start and doesn’t end as the latest one did, with a frantic deal to avert catastrophe struck by a handful of resentful partisans in the dead of a contentious Washington night. —AP

Indian women hope rape will spark change

By Muneeza Naqvi

P

reeti Singh worries each time her 20-year-old daughter has a late night at the hospital where she’s a medical student. If her daughter has to stay late, Singh tells her to wait for daylight to come home. “I was brought up with the fear that once it’s dark you should be at home,” says Singh, a 43-year-old kindergarten teacher in Bangalore, India’s technology hub.

“I can’t shake that fear.” Across India, women tell similar stories. Now there is hope for change.

For decades, women have had little choice but to walk away when groped in a crowded bus or train, or to simply cringe as someone tosses an obscene comment their way.

Even if they haven’t experienced explicit sexual abuse themselves, they live with the fear that it could happen to them or a loved one. The gang rape and beating of a 23-yearold university student on a moving bus in India’s capital has taken sexual violence - a subject long hidden in the shadows of Indian society and thrust it into the light.

Following the Dec 16 attack in New Delhi, which resulted in the woman’s death, hundreds of thousands of Indians - both men and women - poured onto the streets of cities across the country, holding candlelight vigils and rallies demanding that authorities take tougher action to create a safe environment for women. “At least now people are talking,” says Rashmi Gogia, a 35-year-old receptionist in

a New Delhi law office.

AP journalists interviewed women across India, from the northern cities of Lucknow and Allahabad, to Bangalore in the south, and from the eastern cities of Patna and Gauhati to Ahmadabad

Bangalore. “For too long, women have been made to feel guilty for these things.” Like every woman in India, Singh has her own rules for her daughter’s safety. “We make sure she messages us when she reaches (the hospital) and when

In this Dec 22, 2012 file photo, Indian students hold placards and shout slogans during a protest rally in Gauhati. —AP in the west. The outrage sparked by the heinous attack has given women at least a measure of hope that the country of 1.2 billion people will see meaningful improvement in how women are treated, though most realize any change is likely to come slowly.

“These protests have at least given women the confidence to talk about sexual violence,” says Singh, the kindergarten teacher in

she leaves for home,” she says.

Women who were willing to talk about an unwelcome touch or a crude remark they’d experienced said they had learned to ignore it.

Most said they convinced themselves to shrug off these routine assaults and humiliations to avoid angering their attackers, or for fear of bringing shame upon themselves and their families. “What can you do?

You have to work, you have to com-

mute,” says Yasmin Talat, a 20-yearold graduate student and career counselor in Allahabad whose parents do not allow her to go out alone after 7 pm. “Sometimes I do get angry and say something,” she says, “but I’m also scared. You never know what could anger these men.”

Aparna Dasa, a 35-year-old saleswoman at a Gauhati department store, said whenever she gets into a crowded bus men try to hold her hand as she grasps the overhead support bar. “They try and touch at every opportunity.” “When I’m on a crowded bus and someone says something bad to me, in my heart I want to give him a tight slap, but I’ve learned to ignore it,” says Gogia, the New Delhi receptionist.

“What’s the use? All the blame always comes back to the woman.

“We stay silent from a sense of shame,” she adds, “or are made to stay silent.”

The harassment and violence faced daily by millions of Indian women is a deeply entrenched part of a culture that values men over women.

The mistreatment starts early with sex-selective abortions and even female infanticides that have wildly skewed India’s gender ratio.

India’s 2011 census showed that the country had 914 girls under age 6 for every 1,000 boys. Indian movies and television shows routinely trivialize women.

In the often suggestive songs and dances of Bollywood films, it’s not unusual for the leading man and a gang of his buddies to chase

a coyly reluctant actress, touching, pulling and throwing themselves on top of her. On television, the most popular soap operas show the ideal Indian woman as meek, submissive and accepting of her traditional role inside the home.

Any discussion of sexual violence has so far been taboo. In the past, politicians have said that women should dress modestly and not stay out late to avoid rape and molestations. But following the New Delhi gang rape, a usually lethargic government machinery has responded more quickly, and with more empathy than before.

Perhaps sensing the intensity of public anger - some activists and protesters have demanded that all rapists be chemically castrated, given the death penalty or even lynched in public - the government has vowed to enlist more women police officers and toughen sexual assault laws.

The public outpouring of anger and support has made many women across India feel like their fears and concerns are finally being heard. Ranjana Kumari, director of the Center for Social Research and a longtime women’s rights activist, said the fact that boys and men had joined the protests “gives us hope”.

“Then it becomes everyone’s issue, and not just a women’s issue,” she said. But no one imagines that change will be quick. “The process is gradual,” Kumari said. “Extremely patriarchal societies don’t change in short bursts. But this movement will certainly not go to waste.” —AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

S P ORT S Kaymer, Garcia, Lawrie to play in Qatar Masters

Warne, Samuels charged after Big Bash bust-up

QATAR: European Ryder Cup trio Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia and Paul Lawrie will compete at this month’s $2.5 million Qatar Masters, organisers said yesterday. Kaymer, who holed the putt that ensured Europe retained the Ryder Cup against the United States in Illinois in September, has a good record in the Middle East having won the Abu Dhabi Championship three times. “I’m playing well after a slow start to last season and it was great to finish the year with a trophy in South Africa,” the German said about his win in last month’s Sun City Challenge.

“The excitement of the Ryder Cup was amazing. I may never experience a moment like that again. I’m still proud I was able to come through for my team mates,” Kaymer told the official tournament website (www.qatar-masters.com). Scot Lawrie will be defending the Qatar Masters title he won 12 months ago. The Jan. 23-26 tournament is part of the European Tour’s Middle East swing which also includes next week’s Abu Dhabi event featuring world number one Rory McIlroy and 14-times major winner Tiger Woods and the Jan. 31-Feb. 3 Dubai Desert Classic. —Reuters

MELBOURNE: Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels face losing a hefty chunk of their lucrative fees for playing in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 competition after a heated row in a match on Sunday night ended up with bats and balls being thrown. The West Indies all-rounder and former Australia test spinner had a heated verbal altercation before Warne threw the ball and hit Samuels on the arm, accidentally he later claimed.

Samuels reacted by throwing his bat down the wicket in the general direction of Warne and the umpires were forced to step in to restore order. Cricket Australia (CA) have charged Warne with four offences, including a breach of the rule that forbids throwing “the ball at or near a player or official in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner”.

Samuels, who has been charged with two offences, ended up on the winning side as the Melbourne Renegades beat the Melbourne Stars to clinch a home semi-final in the Big Bash league in front of a record crowd of 46,681 at the MCG. His evening came to a painful end, however, when he top-edged a Lasith Malinga bouncer into his own face and left the field covered in blood. Samuels has been the subject of controversy in the competition already this season when Darren Lehmann, coach of the Brisbane Heat, questioned the legality of his bowling action. —Reuters

Lampard’s contract in doubt LONDON: Chelsea have told Frank Lampard’s agent that the England midfielder will not be offered a new contract with the European champions at the end of the Premier League season, media reported yesterday.

“Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup, then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory, that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract at the club,” Lampard’s agent Steve Kutner told the Daily Mirror.

“Nothing since has changed in any respect.” Lampard, 34, scored both goals against Everton in a 2-1 league win at the end of December and Chelsea fans have chanted ‘Sign him up’ throughout recent matches. He became Chelsea’s joint second highest goal-scorer of all time on Saturday when he converted a penalty in a 5-1 FA Cup third round victory at Southampton.

The goal put him on 193 career goals for the West London club, level with Kerry Dixon and behind Bobby Tambling who scored 202 between 1959 and 1970. Lampard joined Chelsea in 2001 and his contract runs out at the end of the season in June.

The club’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich appears set on him going, however. Lampard said after the Everton game that there had been no talk about a new contract over the past few weeks. He could now be tempted to see out his career in the United States, following the example set by former England captain David Beckham at the Los Angeles Galaxy. —Reuters

Bobcats slip past Pistons AUBURN HILLS: Kemba Walker had 20 points and seven assists, Ben Gordon scored 18 points and the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Detroit Pistons 108-101 in overtime Sunday night for just their second win in 21 games.

Ramon Sessions added 15 points, Michael K idd- Gilchrist scored 11 and Bismack Biyombo had 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Bobcats. Tayshaun Pr ince scored 21 points to lead Detroit, which snapped a fourgame winning streak. Greg Monroe had 18 points, 14 rebounds and six assists and Rodney Stuckey also scored 18 points.

Walker’s driving layup with 7.8 seconds left in regulation tied the score at 96-all, sending the game to overtime. Then, he and Tyrus Thomas had four points each for Charlotte in the extra period. Prince’s jump hook with 2:02 left had given the Pistons a 96-94 lead.

Shane Watson

Watson plans to put bowling duties on hold MELBOURNE: Injury-plagued all-rounder Shane Watson is set to put his bowling duties on hold and concentrate on his batting when he makes his return to the Australia team, coach Mickey Arthur said yesterday.

The burly 31-year-old has struggled with injuries and missed the third test against Sri Lanka in Sydney after sustaining a calf strain during the second test in Melbourne. Watson also missed test matches last season due to injuries and it might have convinced him to give up bowling for the time being, Arthur said.

“Watto wants to come back as a batsman. He wants to come back into the team with a primary focus of batting,” Arthur told reporters in Sydney. “He feels every time he bats and then he gets injured bowling, he just loses a bit of momentum with his batting.”

The retirement of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey from the middle order means Australia will have quite an inexperienced batting order for upcoming test series. The decision on when to resume bowling will be left up to Watson, who has played 38 tests for Australia at a batting average of 37.

“Once he feels his body is going well and that he feels he’s cemented his bat-

ting position, we will then take another look at how we want to go with Shane in terms of bowling,” Arthur said.

“And that’s a decision that only Watto can make. We’ll be working very closely with him on that, because obviously Shane bowling a couple of overs is really good for us.

“Shane Watson absolutely loves bowling. He still wants to bowl, but his primary focus right now is to make the team as an out-and-out batsman.” A floater in Australia’s top and middle order since his 2005 test debut, Watson boasts a better average as an opener but had to come down to manage his bowling workload.

Now set to drop his bowling for the foreseeable future, Arthur did not rule out the option of Watson opening the batting for Australia again. “I guess if he’s not bowling it’s worth the consideration,” Arthur said. “I still maintain that number four was a really good fit for Shane Watson but that was (with) Shane Watson bowling some overs as well.

“We’re lucky in that I think Watto can bat anywhere from number one to six in our order and has had some success there. “Who knows? Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t (open) but it’s probably too early to discuss it.” —Reuters

Nuggets 112, Lakers 105 In Los Angeles, Ty Lawson had 21 points and 10 assists, Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points and hit a big 3-pointer with 13.8 seconds left, and Denver won for the fifth time in seven games.

JaVale McGee scored 17 points for the Nuggets, who showed no signs of weariness after a home win over Utah one night earlier.

Despite two last-minute 3-pointers by Kobe Bryant, Denver maintained a lead throughout the fourth quarter of its second win in 12 days over the Lakers.

Br yant scored 29 points and D wight Howard had 14 points and a career hightying 26 rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost three straight and four of five.

Heat 99, Wizards 71 In Miami, LeBron James scored 24 points, Miami had an edge in rebounding and closed with a 21-0 run over the final 7:07 to beat Washington. The Heat, beaten on the boards by a total of 38 rebounds over the previous three games, this time enjoyed a 50-39 advantage. Udonis Haslem led them with 12 rebounds.

James extended his streaks of scoring at least 20 points to 32 consecutive games this season, and 53 in a row including last year’s playoff run. The Wizards, last in the NBA in points and shooting, hit 36 percent. They lost their fifth game in a row and fell to 0-13 on the road against Eastern Conference teams.

Grizzlies 92, Suns 81 I n Phoenix, Zach R andolph scored 21 points and Rudy G ay added 20 to lead Memphis. Tony Allen scored 11 and Marc Gasol had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won three of their last five games.

PJ Tucker scored a career-high 17 points and M arcin Gor tat added 12 points and rebounds for the Suns. Guards Goran Dragic and Sebastian Telfair combined for just 12 points and seven assists.

Phoenix has lost eight of nine and 15 of 20 dating to November 28. Despite shooting in the mid-30 percent range for the bulk of the game, Phoenix trailed 71-65 when Markieff

LOS ANGELES: Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (left) goes up for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard defends during the first half of their NBA basketball game. —AP Morris converted a three-point play 31 seconds into the four th quar ter. But G asol scored four points, including a fallaway 17footer, and Gay added a 21-foot jumper to key a 10-3 run that put the Grizzlies ahead 81-68.

Thunder 104, Raptors 92 In Toronto, Russell Westbrook scored 23 points, Kevin Durant had 22 and Oklahoma City won for the 17th time in its last 20 games.

Serge Ibaka had 19 points and eight rebounds and Kevin Martin scored 16 as the Thunder

enjoyed a winning start to a stretch that sees them play 11 of 13 on the road. Oklahoma City came in having played an NBA-low 12 road games this season and improved to 9-4 as visitors. Nick Collison had 10 points and eight rebounds to help the Thunder win for the fifth time in eight games since their season-high 12-game winning streak.

Alan Anderson scored 17 of his careerhigh 27 points in the second quarter and Amir Johnson had 19 for the Raptors, who lost their second straight after winning eight of nine. —AP

NBA results/standings Oklahoma City 104, Toronto 92; Miami 99, Washington 71; Charlotte 108, Detroit 101 (OT); Memphis 92, Phoenix 81; Denver 112, LA Lakers 105.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT NY Knicks 23 10 .697 Brooklyn 19 15 .559 Boston 16 17 .485 Philadelphia 15 20 .429 Toronto 12 22 .353

Indiana Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland

Central Division 20 14 .588 18 13 .581 16 16 .500 13 23 .361 8 27 .229

Southeast Division Miami 23 9 .719 Atlanta 20 12 .625 Orlando 12 21 .364 Charlotte 9 24 .273 Washington 4 28 .125

GB 4.5 7 9 11.5

0.5 3 8 12.5

3 11.5 14.5 19

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 26 7 .788 Denver 20 16 .556 Portland 18 15 .545 Minnesota 15 15 .500 Utah 17 18 .486

LA Clippers Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento Phoenix

Pacific Division 27 8 .771 22 11 .667 15 18 .455 13 21 .382 12 23 .343

4 11 13.5 15

San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans

Southwest Division 27 9 .750 21 10 .677 20 14 .588 13 21 .382 8 25 .242

3.5 6 13 17.5

Aussies have plenty to ponder SYDNEY: Australia wrapped up a home series sweep over supine sub-continental opposition for the second season in a row on Sunday but captain Michael Clarke admits they are a work in progress as they embark on their toughest ever year of test cricket.

Fragility in the top order, the retirement of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey from the middle order and injuries to the pace bowling unit mean there is plenty to ponder ahead of a tour to India and backto-back Ashes series.

Clarke, ever the realist, was more than aware that any joy at the 3-0 triumph over Sri Lanka, which Australia secured at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, had to be tempered by memory of the 10 defeat to South Africa that preceded it.

“It probably sums up where we are as a team,” he told reporters after the fivewicket victory at the SCG. “On our good days, we’re very good and we can cut it

with the best, the number one team in the world, South Africa.

“But on our poor days there’s a lot of areas we need to improve, both individually and as a team, so I think what you’ve seen of the Australian cricket team this summer probably sums up where we’re at. “We’re fighting to get better every day, that’s the positive. I think we are improving slowly as a group but we know the next 12 months is huge for us.

“We’ve got a lot of tough cricket in conditions that are generally tough to play in, so we need to keep trying to get better.” The loss of Hussey, who retired after Sunday’s victory, will probably be more keenly felt than that of Ponting, who had not been at the peak of his powers for a couple of years.

“I don’t think someone will be able to come in and replace him,” Clarke said of Hussey. “He hasn’t played as many tests as Ricky Ponting but for the time he’s been

here he’s been unbelievable like Punter was his whole career. “He’s won a lot of games for Australia ... we’ll never be able to replace him but what it does do is present an opportunity to somebody else.”

Australia could conceivably start the first Ashes test at Trent Bridge in July with a top and middle order in which only Clarke and Phil Hughes have any experience of Ashes cricket.

Shane Watson is the other more experienced batsman likely to play a part but his test season was wrecked by injury and his status further clouded by the continuing debate over whether he is an allrounder or just a top order batsman.

Before the double-header against England, Australia will first embark on the always tricky trip to India to face a team desperate to show that last year’s humiliating 4-0 defeat Down Under was an aberration.

Although Australia’s batsmen saw off

Sri Lanka’s pop-gun pace attack easily enough, the way they struggled sometimes against spinner Rangana Herath did not augur well for the four-test series in February and March.

“It will be really tough, especially in the second innings in the subcontinent, where it is generally very tough to play spin bowling,” said Clarke. “I think we’re improving. There are areas we need to continually get better at.

“Spin bowling is probably one of those areas. In a couple of months time we’re going to be faced with conditions that do spin a lot so there’s no better place to get better than in the subcontinent.”

The pace bowling department is in ruder health after test returns for 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc as well as the emergence of another new talent in Jackson Bird.

Bird was named Man of the Match for

7.5 8 9.5 10

the Sydney test and has earned comparisons with Glenn McGrath after taking 11 wickets at an average of 16.18 in his first two tests.

Those comparisons may be premature but the 26-year-old did not look out of place on the test stage and joins young guns Pat Cummins and James Pattinson, who both missed the Sri Lanka series through injury, as a genuine contenders for a test place.

Clarke backed his pace bowlers by naming four against Sri Lanka in the final test and they vindicated his decision by bowling out the tourists twice. “I’m really happy with the way we finished this summer in regard to the test format and I was really proud of the boys the way we fought it out against the number one test side in the world,” said Clarke. “I think we can take a lot from that series and I think we’ve shown a lot of improvement this series.” —Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

S P ORT S

Wilson stands tall as only rookie QB left NEW YORK: This was always going to be one of those once in a decade quarterback classes, even before Russell Wilson announced his arrival from what is arguably the loneliest outpost in the NFL. Everyone expected big things out of Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck. Wilson was more of a pleasant surprise, catapulted from third-round obscurity to what passes for football stardom in a city far removed from the media spotlight.

Now he’s the only rookie quarterback left in the playoffs. Next thing you know, he’ll get some Subway commercials of his own - or maybe something even better.

A rookie quarterback winning a Super Bowl? The way Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks have been playing, the notion is no longer so unimaginable. On a Sunday that was painful for RG3 and brutal for Luck, it was the undersized and once-unappreciated Wilson who emerged a star. He played with the calmness and efficiency of a veteran, rallying the Seahawks from a 14-0 deficit against the Washington Redskins almost before

he had a chance to fasten his chin strap.

And if you didn’t know enough about him before, one look at Wilson racing downfield to block for Marshawn Lynch on the goahead touchdown should get everyone excited about this kid. “Marshawn always tells me, ‘Russ I got your back,’” Wilson said. “I let him know I have his back, too.”

What was billed as a matchup of young stars turned into a mismatch of sorts when Griffin reinjured the knee he sprained a month ago and limped noticeably from the first quarter on. He wasn’t coming out, and coach Mike Shanahan wasn’t taking him out, a pair of decisions that will be debated.

Football is a game of pain, and Griffin played on. But a running quarterback who can’t run is not exactly a recipe for playoff success, and he struggled mightily.

When the night finally ended for him late in the fourth quarter, he lay crumpled on the turf at FedEx Field after fumbling and then collapsing with his leg twisted around him in a frightening moment for anyone watching. Among those who were watching was Wilson, who went to a knee

and prayed for his fellow rookie.

“He’s a tremendous football player,” Wilson said. “I just prayed he was all right.”

Just how bad the injury is won’t be known until Griffin gets an MRI on Monday. He said after the 24-14 loss that he wasn’t sure himself whether he had further injured it.

But the dreadlocked rookie star made it clear that standing on the sideline watching the game wasn’t an option. He carried the Redskins into the playoffs, and they weren’t going to play without him. “I had to go out there and do what I could to help the team win,” he said. “Period.”

It was a disconcerting end to a spectacular season for Griffin, whose personality and promise got him sandwich shop commercials even before he started winning games for the Redskins. He and Luck started the year as the most talked about pair of quarterbacks coming into the NFL in years, and both lived up to their billing by carrying their teams into the playoffs.

Luck, though, couldn’t overcome a Baltimore defense fired up by the pending retirement of Ray Lewis. Luck was pressured

all day, and his receivers dropping six passes didn’t help as Indianapolis was eliminated 24-9 by the Ravens.

And while Griffin looked as though he would pile up some points for the Redskins by opening the game with two touchdown drives, he felt the knee go while planting to pass on the second drive and was never the same. By halftime, his team was barely clinging to the lead, and he faced a talk with Shanahan about his immediate future.

On that, both agreed. He had gotten them this far, and deserved the chance to take them even further. “He said, ‘Trust me, I want to be in there. I deserve to be in there,’” Shanahan said. “I couldn’t disagree with him.”

Almost lost in the debate over whether Griffin should have stayed in was that Wilson still had some work to do to bring the Seahawks back. He did it on a fourth-quarter drive that Lynch capped off a 27-yard, broken-field run - with Wilson barreling ahead of him to block at the goal line.

That’s hardly surprising because the quarterback that even Seattle didn’t really seem to want when training camp opened - the

Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to a lucrative offseason deal to be their No. 1 - always seems to flourish when it matters most.

Wilson doesn’t play with the proverbial chip on his shoulder because he felt slighted in the NFL draft, but the whole team plays that way because Seattle wasn’t even in the postseason discussion when the year began.

“I don’t know,” Wilson said when asked if he had felt left out of the rookie quarterback discussion. “The goal is to win a lot of games and help my football team win games. That’s all I know.”

Something else Wilson should know is he’s two wins away from being the first rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks will have to do it on the road, but they’re peaking at just the right time and are just slight underdogs in Atlanta next Sunday.

Who knows, soon there may be a lot of people ending their sentences with a “Go ‘Hawks!” the way Wilson likes to end his. If it sounds a bit collegiate, just remember he is still a rookie quarterback. Only now there’s something different. He’s the only one left. —AP

Game on, but when will the NHL drop the puck?

NEW YORK: Now that a tentative deal is done, one big question remains: When is the puck finally going to drop on the long-delayed hockey season? Few answers emerged Sunday after a wild finish to 16 hours of hard negotiating produced the agreement that will ultimately end the NHL lockout and get the players back to work.

There was no announcement regarding whether there will be a 48or 50-game season and when it will begin. Those details are expected in the next few days along with a plan for team owners to vote on the deal.

delayed schedule to start later this month.

On the 113th day of a management lockout and five days before the league’s deadline for a deal, the bleary-eyed sides held a 6 a.m. news conference to announce there will be a season, after all.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and union head Donald Fehr both appeared drained, wearing sweaters and not neckties, when they stood side by side at the hotel and announced labor peace.

“We have reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective

Jets defenseman Ron Hainsey, a key member of the union’s bargaining team. “Players obviously would rather not have been here, but our focus now is to give the fans whatever it is 48 games, 50 games - the most exciting season we can.”

With much of the money from its $2 billion, 10-year contract with NBC back loaded toward the Stanley Cup playoffs in the spring - and now perhaps early summer - the league preferred to time the dispute for the start of the season in the fall.

Management made its decision knowing average regular-season

ALBERTA: Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini speaks to reporters in Edmonton.

The NHL and the players’ union agreed earlier Sunday to the framework of a 10-year labor contract that will allow a delayed schedule to start later this month. —AP The board of governors could meet in person within a few days or hold a vote via conference call.

Both the league and the players’ association are working on a memorandum of understanding, which could be completed by Tuesday.

Once it is reviewed, the players’ ratification process can also begin.

Knowing how long the wait was to get to this point, a few more days of anticipation shouldn’t be too much to take. Regular-season hockey games could be played within the next 10 days.

When representatives from the NHL and the union walked into a Manhattan hotel on Saturday, they knew they were running out of time to save the season. After hours and hours of tense talks, the sides finally achieved their elusive deal early Sunday morning, finding a way to restart a sport desperate to regain momentum and boost its prominence.

Ending a bitter dispute that wiped out a large part of the hockey season for the third time in less than two decades, the league and its union agreed to the framework of a 10-year labor contract that will allow a

bargaining agreement, the details of which need to be put to paper,” Bettman said. “We’ve got to dot a lot of Is, cross a lot of Ts. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but the basic framework of the deal has been agreed upon.”

The stoppage led to the cancellation of at least 480 games - the exact length of the curtailed schedule hasn’t been determined - bringing the total of lost regular-season games to a minimum 2,178 during three lockouts under Bettman.

The agreement, which replaces the deal that expired Sept. 15, must be ratified by the 30 team owners and approximately 740 players.

“Hopefully, within just a very few days, the fans can get back to watching people who are skating, and not the two of us,” Fehr said.

Fehr became executive director of the NHL Players’ Association in December 2010 after leading baseball players through two strikes and a lockout. Players conceded early on in talks, which began in June, that they would accept a smaller percentage of revenue, and the negotiations were about how much lower.

“It was a battle,” said Winnipeg

attendance rose from 16,534 in 200304 to 16,954 in 2005-06 and only seven teams experienced substantial drops.

Flyers chairman Ed Snider told The Associated Press he was glad a partial schedule had been salvaged.

“I’m thrilled for our fans, I’m thrilled for all of our people that work around our sport that have been hurt by this,” he said. “I’m thrilled for the players, for the owners. I’m just sorry it had to take this long. The great thing is, we don’t have to look at it for hopefully 10 years, or at worst eight, and that’s good stuff.”

Still, the lockout could wipe out perhaps $1 billion in revenue this season, given about 40 percent of the regular-season schedule won’t be played. And while the stoppage was major news in Canada, it was an afterthought for many American sports fans.

“They could have gotten here a lot sooner,” said Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based sports business consulting firm Sportscorp Ltd. “They didn’t hear a hue and cry from the fans, especially in the United States, when hockey wasn’t played. That’s very distressing. That indicates there’s

a level of apathy that is troubling. In contrast, in the NFL when there was a threat of canceling a preseason weekend, the nation was up in arms.”

At downtown Detroit’s Rub BBQ Pub, manager Chris Eid said he was “ecstatic” when he heard the news.

He said the settlement was a big topic of conversation among his afternoon customers. “Everyone misses hockey,” Eid said.

Hockey’s first labor dispute was an 11-day strike in 1992 that led to 30 games being postponed.

Bettman, a former NBA executive under David Stern, became the NHL commissioner in February 1993. He presided over a 103-day lockout in 1994-95 that ended with a deal on Jan. 11, then a 301-day lockout in 2004-05 that made the NHL the first major North American professional sports league to lose an entire season. The NHL obtained a salary cap in the agreement that followed that dispute and now wanted more gains.

“It was concessionary bargaining right from the beginning,” Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan said.

“As the players, you kind of understand that and you accepted that. As much as you didn’t want to, we understand that the nature of professional sports has kind of changed with the last couple CBAs starting with football and basketball.”

This deal was reached with the assistance of Scot Beckenbaugh of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a veteran of the 2004-05 NHL talks, then Major League Soccer’s negotiations in 2010, and NFL and NBA talks the following year. Beckenbaugh spent Friday walking back and forth between the league’s office and the hotel where players were staying, meeting with each side to set up the final talks.

“Fans throughout North America will have the opportunity to return to a favorite past time and thousands of working men and women and small businesses will no longer be deprived of their livelihoods,” said George Cohen, the FMCS director.

Sam Flood, NBC Sports’ executive producer, said his production team was “counting the seconds until the season begins.” NBC announcer Mike Emrick said players will have more pressure because of the shortened schedule. “The effect of even a twogame losing streak will be four,” he said. The NHL’s revenue of $3.3 billion last season lagged well behind the NFL ($9 billion), Major League Baseball ($7.5 billion) and the NBA ($5 billion), and the deal will lower the hockey players’ percentage from 57 to 50 - owners originally had proposed 46 percent.

This was the third lockout among the major US sports in a period of just over a year. A four-month NFL lockout ended in July 2011 with the loss of only one exhibition game, and an NBA lockout caused each team’s schedule to be cut from 82 games to 66 last season. —AP

Padraig Harrington

I’ll still be playing at 70, says Harrington LONDON: Gloria Grahame stole the show in the 1955 hit film Oklahoma with the tune “I’m just a girl who can’t say no” and 58 years on the same sentiments, albeit the male equivalent, are true of Padraig Harrington.

As far as golf is concerned Harrington has seen and done it all, but at the age of 41 he still loves the game as much as he did when he started out as a rookie professional in 1995.

“I have conversations with a lot of sports people and if I talk to a soccer player and he tells me he’s 32 and he’s retiring I scream at him,” the triple major champion told Reuters in an interview.

“Whether I scream at himself physically or I’m screaming inside my head, I’m saying ‘Don’t do it!’ “I’m not a guy who can just say no. You are retired for a long time and I tell you what, I’ll still be playing competitive golf when I’m 70.”

The Irishman captured the British Open title in 2007 and 2008, the US PGA Championship in 2008 and featured in six European Ryder Cup teams from 19992010, winning the biennial event four times. Has his enthusiasm and desire dipped after all these years travelling the globe in pursuit of golfing glory? Not a bit of it.

“I love playing, I’m fascinated by the game,” said Harrington after signing a new multi-year deal with his club manufacturers Wilson Golf. “I have a young attitude, I’m physically stronger than I’ve ever been and I just love it, love it.

“Regardless of what anybody else thinks, I’ve got to think the best is yet to come that’s what keeps me going, that’s what gets me up in the morning.”

Harrington won the elite four-man Grand Slam of Golf event in Bermuda in October to end a two-year victory drought but he is less than pleased with his lowly 59th position in the world rankings.

His last competitive outing was a joint ninth-place finish at the DP World Tour

Championship in Dubai at the end of November and he cannot wait to return to the European Tour at the Volvo Golf Champions event in South Africa that starts on Thursday.

“Over the last five weeks you’d be hard pressed to find somebody who’s done more time, more practice, more anything on their game than I have,” he said. “If anything I’m still trying to keep a balance on things. I might be doing too much practice, thinking about golf too much, playing too many tournaments.

“I love everything about golf and I’m fascinated by everything about it,” said Harrington. “Logically I know this isn’t going to happen but every day I’m hoping to find the secret to this game.”

Widely recognised as one of the best in the world from six to eight feet range when he was in his pomp in 2007 and 2008, Harrington has been trying to unlock the secret of his recent poor form on the greens.

“I’ve been putting extra emphasis on my putting in the last five weeks,” he explained. “It is normally one of the strongest parts of my game but it’s been weak for the last two years and I’ve been trying to bring it back up to speed.

“Last year I hit the ball from tee to green better than I’ve ever hit it but I didn’t hole the putts at the right time. If you look at any player playing well, I defy you to name anyone playing at the top of the game who is not holing their share of putts.

“Sometimes that’s saving pars, sometimes that’s even saving bogeys.

Obviously you’ll have the odd birdie putt here and there but it’s the amount of momentum that a good putt can give to a round or if you miss, the lack of momentum it can cause,” said Harrington.

“Last year there were lots of things that were really good about my game ... but after most of my rounds I felt I played better than my score suggested.” —Reuters

Play scrapped at Kapalua, Tuesday finish planned

HAWAII: Marc Leishman prepares to tee off on the first hole during the first round at the Tournament of Champions PGA golf tournament. —AP

HAWAII: Mother Nature again turned nasty at the PGA Tour’s season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Sunday, forcing play to be abandoned for a third consecutive day due to strong gusting winds.

A little more than an hour of the already long-delayed first round was possible before officials halted the action at the Kapalua Resort, scrapping the scores and aiming for a Tuesday finish to an event trimmed to 54 holes. Thirty-six holes are planned for yesterday with a two-tee start for the 30-man, winners-only field, followed by 18 holes the following day.

“We tried,” Slugger White, the PGA Tour’s vice president of rules and competition, told reporters. “We were on the edge when we started out at 11:10 and we were probably okay for

about 30-45 minutes.

“And then the bottom fell out. We were having gusts out there of about 48 miles per hour.

Balls were blowing off the green and we couldn’t even get a ball to come to rest on the 12th green when we stopped. “It started off bad and got worse. We washed the round out today and we’re going to try again.”

As high winds continued to batter the Hawaiian island of Maui, chaotic scenes were the order of the day after Rickie Fowler struck the first shot in the re-scheduled opening round when he teed off at the par-four first.

Fellow American Matt Kuchar, who hit the first shot on the 10th hole, had a lengthy conversation with rules officials after his ball was twice blown off his tee before he eventually set off. Scott Stallings was not quick enough to

mark a one-foot putt at the 12th before his ball was blown seven feet away. His cap followed suit soon after.

Fellow American Ben Curtis reached the green in regulation at both the 10th and 11th but completed those holes in a combined five over par. He had watched in shock as his ball, after settling, was blown off the back of the 11th green.

Englishman Ian Poulter, Kuchar’s playing partner, tweeted: “Well we tried to get it done even if it took a while over shots today as the balls were moving. No one likes penalty shots for no reason.” Before teeing off, Poulter had told Golf Channel: “This is going to be crazy golf.

You’ve just got to suck it up.”

Jason Dufner was the early leader at one under after five holes with compatriots Fowler

and Kuchar (also after five holes) among a group of 12 players knotted at level par when play was suspended.

Plans to play 36 holes on Sunday were swiftly dashed when the re-start of the opening round was pushed back four hours as winds continued to gust well above 40mph (64.4 kph) across the Plantation Course.

The PGA Tour’s season-opening event had already been cut to 54 holes because of unplayable conditions over the first two days, forcing officials to prepare for a Tuesday finish.

“You just can’t play in this,” said White. “You can hardly walk in it, much less play golf. “We’re going to go off in split tees tomorrow from 7.10 local (1730 GMT ) and try to play 36 holes tomorrow, finish early Tuesday morning for a 54-hole event.” —Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

S P ORT S

Kuwait Cricket honors Indian Test cricketer Dinesh Karthik KUWAIT: Kuwait Cricket, the apex body of cricket in Kuwait had an honor to felicitate Indian Test wicket Keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik who had been to Kuwait for a brief visit. In a grand ceremony arranged by Kuwait Cricket at its Sulaibiya ground, approximately 175 school boy cricketers, Kuwait’s women cricket team and many other cricket lover’s thronged to witness their favorite cricketer for autographs and a highly inspired Dinesh acknowledged the requests of his fans by posing for photographs with the school children and his fans.

Having completed 10 years of International cricket, Dinesh in his brief speech nourished some fond memories of his school days in Kuwait where he learnt the basics of cricket from his father Krishnakumar who himself was a first class cricketer from Chennai.

Kuwait has always been a favorite & lucky destination for Dinesh Karthik as we recollect that during one of his previous visit to Kuwait, he was forced to cut short his vacation to join the Indian squad at Sri Lanka for the final of the Asia Cup where he was declared Man of the Match for his excellent batting display. Again, during his recent visit on January 5th, he was called to rush back to

Delhi to join the Indian team for the third & final ODI against Pakistan.

It took just one season for Dinesh Karthik to transform from a wicketkeeper batsman for Tamil Nadu to a serious contender for a berth in the Indian squad. Karthik has shown his ability to attack under pressure, and improvise, on it. As a 17-year-old playing his first season in 2002, he showed glimpses of his batting talent and his impressive showing in the Under-19 World Cup in Dhaka — including a whirlwind 70 in a must-win game against Sri Lanka — two vital hundreds in the Ranji Trophy knock-out and an improved showing behind the stumps resulted in him emerging as a contender for the national squad.

He was picked in the Indian one-day squad, as replacement for Parthiv Patel, in August 2004, and made his debut in a NatWest Challenge game against England where he pulled off a superb stumping. Shortly afterwards, he was called up to make his Test debut against Australia in the fourth Test at Mumbai in 2004. Dinesh has represented Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab & currently is a member of Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Asad Baig, Director General, Kuwait Cricket presented Dinesh Karthik a memento on behalf of Kuwait Cricket.

Li comes in from the cold to triumph in hot Sydney

Maria Sharapova

Sharapova out to settle a few scores in Melbourne MELBOURNE: World number two Maria Sharapova must be feeling like she has been down this road before. Last year the Russian arrived at the Australian Open without any match practice after struggling to overcome a nagging ankle injury sustained at the 2011 year-ending WTA Championships. The problems forced her out of the Brisbane International, the only tournament she had been scheduled to play before the season’s first grand slam.

Twelve months later, the four-times grand slam winner is again entering Melbourne lacking match practice after pain in her collar bone caused her to skip Brisbane, won by Serena Williams. Not that Sharapova seemed too concerned.

“It’s much more important for me to be healthy and to be ready than to try to go out and play a few matches,” the 25-yearold said after her withdrawal in Brisbane.

“I’ve always built my career around the fact that it’s very important for me to go into something like the Australian Open believing and knowing that I’m healthy, that I’m confident. “I don’t exactly need to play five tournaments in order to feel that way.”

Despite coming into last year’s Australian Open cold, Sharapova made it to the final, although she was blown away by Victoria Azarenka in just 82 minutes. An error-strewn performance left some observers questioning whether it was the beginning of the end for the Florida-based Russian, who burst onto the scene as a 17year-old in 2004 by winning the Wimbledon title.

A career-threatening shoulder injury required reconstructive surgery in 2008 and recurrent injuries since were starting to take their toll as a new generation of young

players began to match her power.

Instead, Sharapova silenced her critics and had one of the most successful years of her career. She won the French Open title to complete a career grand slam, became the first Russian woman to carry her country’s flag at an Olympic opening ceremony in London, where she won the silver medal, and made the semi-finals of the US Open.

Her only blip at grand slam events in 2012 was when she was beaten by Germany’s Sabine Lisicki in the fourth round at Wimbledon. She also won titles in Stuttgart and Rome and made the final at the season-ending WTA Championships, Indian Wells, Miami and Beijing.

Her Brisbane pullout meant she was one of the first players to arrive in Melbourne to begin practicing on Rod Laver Arena. Local media reported that while she appeared to be periodically flexing her shoulder, the intensity in her ground strokes was as powerful as ever. The question remains whether that practice against hitting partner Vladimir Voltchkov will be enough for her to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup for the second time.

Aside from Williams’s dominance in Brisbane, a big concern for Sharapova will be her recent form against the American and Azarenka. She will probably need to beat at least one of them to clinch the title in Melbourne. The Russian had a 2-4 record against world number one Azarenka last year, three of those losses coming in finals.

Against Williams, the most dominant player in the women’s game, she had an 03 record, which included a 6-0 6-1 loss in the Olympic final on the Wimbledon grass courts. Sharapova will doubtless be anxious to settle a few scores at the year’s first major. —Reuters

SYDNEY: China’s Li Na was forced into a dogfight in the heat before overcoming dogged American Christina McHale 7-6 7-5 to reach thesecond round of the Sydney International yesterday.

The former French Open champion, runner-up in Sydney last year and winner in 2011, took almost two hours to dispatch her the 33rd-ranked opponent in 30-degree temperatures.

Fourth seed Li only arrived in Australia a day earlier, having beaten Klara Zakopalova to win the Shenzhen title, where the temperature outside hovered just above freezing.

“I was playing in China, so I have to (get) used to the heat,” Li said of her decision to play Sydney and Shenzhen as she prepared for the Australian Open. “I couldn’t come straightaway to Melbourne. I needed some matches in the heat conditions, otherwise I don’t know what I can do in Melbourne.”

Adjusting to the heat on Monday, coupled with the long flight from China, the 2011 Australian Open runner-up said she had found the match against McHale mentally tough. “Yes, very tough because in China it was like five, six degree, but here it’s over 30,” said the 30-year-old, who was playing an opponent 10 years younger. “And the jet lag, time change, I was feeling today very tough. I (told) my team ... my legs (feel) like 200 kilos. I couldn’t move.

“Yesterday the coach said (the

most) important match is today, because today is really not for technique, it’s challenging for your mind to show how strong you are on the court.”

Li will face Ayumi Morita in the second round after the Japanese qualifier upset former top-10 player Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 1-6 6-3 6-3.

While Li struggled acclimatising, tournament organisers will be keeping an close eye on weather conditions today.

Sydney is expected to hit a maximum of 43 Celsius as Australia swelters in a heatwave that has sparked raging bush fires. Warm northwest

winds are also expected to increase on-court temperatures closer to 50.

Officials will provide shading, ice towels and additional water and sports drinks for the players, while staff will work shorter shifts to try to mitigate the effects of the heat. —Reuters

SYDNEY: Australia’s Samantha Stosur plays a backhand shot to China’s Zheng Jie at the Sydney International Tennis tournament. —AP

Djokovic bids to extend supremacy MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic returns to the Australian Open seeking his third consecutive trophy at Melbourne Park, where memories of last year’s gut-wrenching final against Rafa Nadal still linger around Rod Laver Arena’s blue centre court.

Last year’s record-breaking epic of five punishing hours and 53 minutes secured Djokovic his fifth grand slam title while establishing the 25year-old as tennis’s indisputable iron man.

The marathon match would also serve as a portent for the year ahead for the steely-eyed Serb, who came under siege from his ‘Big Four’ rivals but emerged from an attritional season with his world number one ranking intact.

If 2011 was the year Djokovic soared into the stratosphere on the back of three grand slam titles and an astonishing 41-match winning streak, he as brought gently back to Earth in 2012.

After winning his third Australian Open, Djokovic would add no further major titles last year, with the spoils shared by Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Federer, who shattered Djokovic’s Wimbledon defence in the semi-final on the way to his 17th major crown, would even prise the number one ranking away from the Serb before losing it again less than four months later.

Djokovic would taste further disappointment with a semi-final loss to Briton Murray at the

London Olympics, where he was also upset by Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the bronze medal match.

Murray, a good friend off the court, would later quash Djokovic’s US Open title defence in a gruelling five-set final. Rather than sulk in the shadows with the spotlight trained elsewhere, Djokovic responded by thrashing a succession of opponents to win his next tournament at the China Open. He then exacted partial revenge for his US Open defeat by edging Murray for the Shanghai Masters title.

Federer’s failure to defend his Paris Masters title effectively handed the number one ranking back to Djokovic, but there was little debate over whether the Serb had earned it, as he stormed to victory in the season-ending ATP Tour Finals.

The straight-sets win in the final over Federer gave him his sixth title for the season and was all the more impressive amid worries about his seriously ill father.

“I didn’t really know how I would follow up after my incredible 2011, but I believed that I have to use the time where I’m playing the best tennis of my life,” Djokovic said after winning his career-best 75th match of the year.

“It was a fantastic year, where I’ve had to face a lot of difficulties off the court as well.” Djokovic suffered a shock loss to young Australian Bernard Tomic when still jet-lagged at the team-based Hopman Cup in Perth last week, and was

involved in a freak injury scare when a hoarding holding back autograph-hunters toppled and struck him in the knee.

He has otherwise enjoyed a sound lead-in to the year’s first grand slam, winning an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, and helping guide Serbia to within one victory of the team-based Hopman Cup title.

Few would dare discount him at Melbourne Park, where he has reigned supreme for two years and enjoys a boisterous reception from the host city’s prominent Serbian community.

There will also be no fear of a rematch with Nadal, the man who drove Djokovic to the brink of physical and mental exhaustion in the final, with the Spaniard pulling out after a virus stalled his recovery from a long-term knee injury.

The Rod Laver Arena crowd can look forward to further moments of pure theatre from Djokovic, however, who muttered prayers to the heavens in the final throes of the Nadal classic before celebrating victory by tearing his shirt off his chest and roaring like a man possessed.

“I love the Australian Open. That court brings back the best memories of my career,” Djokovic, who won his maiden grand slam title at Melbourne Park in 2008, said at the Hopman Cup. “Obviously I know I can work on a few more things and adjustments to get it to the best possible level. “But I am where I aim to be, where I want to be in this moment.” —Reuters

Arkansas State top Kent State MOBILE: Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin threw for 213 yards and a touchdown as the Red Wolves beat Kent State 17-13 in college football’s GoDaddy.com Bowl on Sunday.

JD McKissic caught 11 passes for 113 yards, and his connection with Aplin made up for an otherwise lackluster offensive per formance by Arkansas State, which relied more on a stingy defense.

Kent State was driving late in the game when quarterback Spencer Keith tried to scramble on fourth down and was stopped a few yards short of the marker with 52 seconds left. Neither team scored a touchdown in the second half.

Kent State took a 7-0 lead on Dri Archer’s 16-yard touchdown run and the margin could have been worse, but Arkansas State linebacker Nathan

Herrold picked off a tipped pass in the end zone to end a promising drive for the Golden Flashes.

David Oku rushed for a tying 10-yard touchdown with 5:40 remaining in the second quarter, and then Aplin hit McKissic for a 31-yard touchdown minutes later to push the Red Wolves ahead 14-7.

Kent State responded with a 42-yard field goal by Freddy Cortez just before halftime. The teams traded field goals in the third quarter, but neither team could score in the fourth.

The Golden Flashes put together one last drive in the final minutes, with Keith completing a clutch 15-yard pass over the middle on fourth down with less than two minutes remaining. He was headed for another fourth-down conversion just four plays later, but was tripped on a scramble deep in Arkansas State

territory and the Red Wolves began to celebrate on their sideline.

It was a disappointing end to an otherwise breakthrough season for Kent State. The Golden Flashes set a school record with 11 victories, including a 10game winning streak that lasted nearly three months. But they dropped their last two games, including a double-overtime loss to Northern Illinois on Nov. 30 in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

One reason Kent State was able to win 11 games was a dynamic rushing attack that averaged more than 250 yards per game. But the duo of Archer and Trayion Durham didn’t have a particularly good game against the Red Wolves. Archer, who missed much of the second half with an apparent injury, led the Golden Flashes with 77 yards rushing while Durham added 68. —AP

Ryan Aplin

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

S P ORT S

Suarez goal raises issue of sporting honesty LONDON: Never far from controversy during his career, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez’s winner in an FA Cup match on Sunday re-ignited the morality debate in sport - should the honesty card be played in the heat of battle?

Suarez’s goal, aided by a clear handball, against plucky minor league opponents Mansfield Town in a third round tie brought accusations of cheating against the Uruguayan.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers staunchly backed his player and even Mansfield boss Paul Cox said it had been “instinctive” and Suarez had not done anything wrong in the 2-1 away win.

The handball was judged accidental by referee Andre Marriner and his assistants but Suarez, banned for eight matches last season for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, was again greeted by unwanted headlines yesterday.

“Caught red-handed again”, “cheated” and “Suarez ‘stole our FA Cup glory’” were just some of the accusations laid at the striker’s feet. Suarez was also pilloried for a handball on the goal-line that prevented Ghana’s Dominic Adiyiah from scoring a winner in the last minute of a 2010 World Cup quarter-final.

ever played professional football - and anyone who plays in the future - would do in the same situation.”

Suarez’s goal revived memories of France’s controversial World Cup playoff victory over Ireland in Paris in 2009 when Thierry Henry handled the ball before setting up William Gallas’s winner that put the French through to the 2010 finals.

The striker later acknowledged he had handled but absolved himself from blame when he said: “I’m not the ref. I played it, the ref allowed it.” Some sports have a reputation for honesty more than others. Golfers routinely penalise themselves for rule infringements, as do snooker players, but there is no such thing as a perfect world.

In other sports, a reputation for upholding the spirit of the game does not always make you popular. Former Australia cricketer Adam Gilchrist was renowned for his honesty at the crease, walking (back to the pavilion) when he thought he had made contact with the ball before being caught, even if the umpire had not given him out.

His moral stance, once the norm in the game but now a rarity, was not always appreciated by team mates, though.

Suarez, then an Ajax player, was sent off but Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty - and Uruguay triumphed in the shootout after extra time to make the semis. Unabashed, Suarez said he had usurped Diego Maradona by pronouncing “the hand of god now belongs to me”.

Just how honest should sportsmen be on the field of play? Is it up to the match officials to spot incidents of cheating or must players own up when they clearly know they have gained an advantage from an infringement?

Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen, in his column in the UK’s Daily Telegraph newspaper, said no footballer would ever ask a referee to disallow his goal, by whatever means it came by, and opined that the “outrage” was in part down to Suarez now being an “easy target”.

“What exactly was Suarez supposed to do? Run to the referee and tell him it hit his hand? His team mates would go berserk and his manager would not be too impressed either,” Hansen wrote.

He added: “From Suarez’s reaction, he expected it to be disallowed and when it was not, he has decided to get on with the game. It is not like he ran off celebrating. He did exactly what anyone who has

Winning, at all costs and by whatever means, is the often watchword of professional sport.

The UK Independent newspaper’s chief sports writer James Lawton said “doing the right thing”, and owning up to having infringed the rules, would not have occurred to Suarez. “He confirmed his status as arguably the most dazzling but troubling enigma ever to arrive in English football,” Lawton wrote yesterday.

“Once again, and after one of the most brilliant phases of his extraordinary career, he showed that for some men, however uncomplicated their gifts, doing the right thing, as opposed to simply gaining any kind of advantage, is the most difficult of challenges.” Moments of honesty do win you friends and admirers.

In 1997, Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler won plaudits when he asked referee Gerald Ashby to change a penalty awarded to his side in a Premier League match against Arsenal at Highbury.

Fowler said he had not been fouled

by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman but Ashby did not reverse his decision.

Fowler nevertheless took the subsequent penalty, which was saved, only for Jason McAteer to score from the rebound as Liverpool won the game 2-1.

Afterwards, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said it had been a “great gesture” by Fowler who was handed a UEFA Fair Play award by European football’s governing body.

In 2001, Italian Paolo Di Canio was commended by FIFA after passing up the opportunity to score a winner for West Ham United at Ever ton in December 2000 by catching the ball because goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was lying injured.

Another striking moment of honesty came earlier this season when Lazio’s Miroslav Klose scored an early goal against Napoli but the referee changed his mind after initially awarding the goal after the Germany forward said he had used his hand. The spirit of fair play can badly backfire though - as seen in a Champions League game in November.

Shakhtar Donetsk striker Luiz Adriano was banned for one game for unsporting behaviour after he scored as his team tried to play the ball back to Danish side Nordsjaelland’s goalkeeper following an injury. Shakhtar backed UEFA’s decision, saying they “believed fair play is a fundamental part of football”. But just what constitutes fair play in sport remains open to debate. —Reuters

Real seek Cup boost against Celta Vigo MADRID: Real Madrid’s unconvincing 4-3 win at home to Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday was hardly the per fect preparation for Jose Mourinho’s troubled side with a 2-1 King’s Cup deficit to overturn against Celta Vigo tomorrow.

To add to a series of poor performances on the pitch, Mourinho has angered Real fans by dropping captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas for the last two league matches and, not for the first time this season, they made their feelings clear by roundly whistling the Portuguese at the Bernabeu. Casillas, a graduate of Real’s youth

academy who has been with the club since he was a boy, was given a rousing ovation when he came on to replace Antonio Adan after the reserve keeper was sent off in the sixth minute.

The anti-Mourinho protest and the backing for Casillas was the latest evidence that all is not well at Real and failure to get past Celta in Wednesday’s last 16 second leg at the Bernabeu would leave the Champions League as the only competition they can realistically hope to win this season.

The Spanish champions are a daunting 16

MADRID: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal (centre) celebrates his goal with teammates Mesut Ozil from Germany (left) and Raphael Varane from France (right) in this file photo. —AP

points behind unbeaten leaders Barcelona after 18 of 38 matches and face Manchester United in the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition when it resumes next month.

The relegation of club hero Casillas to the bench has prompted speculation in Spanish media that Mourinho may be trying to provoke Real president Florentino Perez into sacking him so he can cash in on a lucrative payoff.

The former Chelsea manager, who has made no secret of his desire to coach in England again at some point, said after the Sociedad game he did not mind being whistled by Real’s own fans as long as they got behind the team.

“This season in the (La Liga) championship, compared with last year, we are having a bad time of it and it seems normal to me to whistle and this is how I like to live,” Mourinho, who turns 50 later this month, told a news conference.

“I do not like to always be in a comfortable situation or be a hero forever,” he added. “If I was whistled for the decision to leave out Iker, fine.

And if I was whistled for bad performances in the league then I accept it. “Perfect that they whistle when they hear my name and that they help the team during the match as they have done, perfect.”

Real’s players did show some fight in the second half against Sociedad, when Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice to put the game beyond the Basque club, and Mourinho said more of the same should see them through to the last eight of the Cup. “Celta play well, are confident, are winning 21, but my experience in these two and a half years is that the fans like the Cup, the excitement of winning and going through,” he added. “I have a feeling that if we play with the same effort as today in two days, the team and the fans will be ready and we can go through.”

Barca, the King’s Cup holders, kept up their relentless pace at the top of La Liga with a 4-0 thrashing of city rivals Espanyol on Sunday and will protect a 2-0 advantage when they host second-division Cordoba on Thursday.

Coach Tito Vilanova returned to the bench on Sunday for the first time since last month’s throat operation and the club have said he will alternate his work with his treatment over the coming weeks.

If they make it through to the quarter-finals, Barca will play the winners of the tie between Malaga and third-tier Eibar, who drew 1-1 in the first leg at Eibar. If Real manage to get past Celta, they will meet Valencia or Osasuna, with Valencia holding the upper hand after they won last month’s first leg in Pamplona 2-0.

On the other side of the draw, Atletico Madrid have a 3-0 lead going into their second leg at city rivals Getafe, while Sevilla are virtually assured of a place in the last eight after they thrashed Mallorca 5-0 in Palma in the first leg.

Real Zaragoza lead La Liga rivals Levante 1-0 and Real Betis and second-division Las Palmas are level at 1-1. —Reuters

Darren Bent

Bent gunning for Bradford League Cup semi-final BRADFORD: Darren Bent will hope to keep his place in Aston Villa’s starting XI for today’s League Cup semi-final first leg at Bradford City after his goal-scoring return in the FA Cup. The England striker had been sidelined for five matches with a hamstring injury but he made an immediate impact against former club Ipswich Town on Saturday by scoring the equaliser as Villa came from behind to win 2-1.

Villa have been bedevilled by injuries in recent weeks but coach Paul Lambert was also able to welcome back Charles N’Zogbia and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who made a substitute appearance after overcoming a thigh problem.

N’Zogbia, who had not started a game since the end of September, caught the eye in a withdrawn striker’s role, and Lambert said he was enthused by the contribution of his attacking players.

“That was the really pleasing thing, to have the players back from injury,” he said.

“That finish is Darren Bent down to a tee. It was top-class. But I thought his overall game was very good; his whole work ethic and the way he played.

“I thought his whole general game was very good, considering he only really trained with us yesterday (Friday), so it was a big, big effort from him. “Charles N’Zogbia is certainly a talent, there is no two ways about it.”

Villa have been sucked into the Premier League’s relegation scrap in recent weeks after a run of four games without victory and Tuesday’s game represents an opportunity to inject some excitement into what has been a difficult season.

Lambert provided an indication of his priorities in the game against Ipswich by making seven changes to the team that had drawn 2-2 at Swansea City in their previous league game.

“We left out a few lads to give them a

break and I was delighted with everyone that came in,” he said. “I thought it was a massive effort.” Fourth-tier Bradford are bidding to take a third consecutive Premier League scalp, after disposing of Wigan Athletic in round four before recording a famous penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

Success in the two-legged tie, which concludes on January 22, would take the Yorkshire club into a major domestic final for the first time since they beat Newcastle United after a replay to claim the 1911 FA Cup. Bradford lost 2-0 to Barnet on Saturday, leaving them eighth in League Two, but manager Phil Parkinson said the distraction of Tuesday’s game was not to blame. “I can’t fault the lads’ effort throughout the game,” he said. “The way they applied themselves and focused on this game was commendable, but for all of our dominance, we have to make the keeper work more.” —AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

Gulf Cup Qatar v Oman Dubai Sports 1 Kuwait Sport Saudi Sports 1 Abu Dhabi Sports 2 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 8

16:15

Bahrain v UAE Dubai Sports 1 Kuwait Sport Saudi Sports 1 Abu Dhabi Sports 2 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 8

19:15

KBC Bowling Championship KUWAIT: Under auspices of and in attendance of the Kuwaiti Banks Club (KBC) deputy chairman of board, Mahmoud Bastaki, KBC’s sports committee chairman, Khalil Al-Bloushi, the social committee chairperson, Reem Al-

Waqian and the assistant manager, Abbas AlBloushi, KBC’s 14th Bowling Championship annually held for bankers, recently kicked off at the COSMO Bowling Center.

Nine bowling teams representing member

banks (Kuwait Central Bank, NBK, GB, ABK, Boubyan Bank, AUB, BB, CBK and KFH) are taking part in the competition.

The first day competitions witnessed the winning of AUB by seven points over NBK, ABK

defeated Burgan Bank by 7 points, Gulf Bank defeated CBK by seven points and finally Kuwait Central Bank defeated Boubyan Bank 5-2.

The second week of the championship due

to start Saturday, Jan 12 will witness matches between Boubyan and KFH, NBK and Burgan Bank, Gulf Bank and Central Bank and CBK versus AUB that will start at 4 pm at the Cosmo Bowling Center.

19

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

SPORTS

Africa Cup of Nations grows into global event JOHANNESBURG: The Africa Cup of Nations has grown from an insignificant three-team event to a competition contested by 16 countries which attracts a global TV audience running into hundreds of millions.

AFP takes a journey from the 1957 tournament in Sudan to the 2012 tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, explaining how Egypt won a recod seven titles, Cameroon and Ghana four each, and 11 other countries also experienced glory.

hosts Tunisia 3-2 in extra time with Frank Odoi the match-winner. The Black Stars boasted a formidable attack that put five goals past DR Congo and four past Ivory Coast.

1957 South Africa withdrew rather than field a multiracial team, leaving Diab Al Attar to score all the goals as Egypt outclassed Ethiopia 4-0 in the final.

1970 Once again Ghana got to the final and once again they lost 1-0 with Hassabou El Saghir scoring after just 12 minutes for hosts Sudan. Ivory Coast hammered Ethiopia 6-1 for a winning margin that has been equalled, but never bettered.

1959 Egypt triumphed at home in another three-team tournament with the format changed to round-robin. The victory margins were similar to two years before with Ethiopia conceding four goals and Sudan suffering a 2-1 loss.

1962 Ethiopia used home advantage and two goals from Menguistu Worku to topple Egypt 4-2 after extra time in the final of a tournament that attracted Tunisia and Uganda for the first time.

1963 Hosts Ghana conquered Africa at the first attempt with a 3-0 victory over Sudan. The number of contenders rose to six and a 6-3 win by Egypt over Nigeria created a record for the number of goals in a game that still stands.

1965 Another six-nation event and another title for Ghana, who edged

1968 Ethiopia hosted the first tournament to feature eight teams and semifinals and although Ghana reached a third consecutive final it was DR Congo who took the honours with a 10 win courtesy of a Pierra Kalala goal.

1972 A first and only title for Congo Brazzaville came from a 3-2 win over Mali in a Yaounde final won and lost in seven second-half minutes when the ‘Red Devils’ scored three times with Michel M’Bono bagging a brace.

1974 The only time the final was replayed brought a second triumph for DR Congo, who overcame Zambia 2-0 in Cairo after a 2-2 stalemate two days before. Mulamba Ndaye was the toast of Kinshasa, scoring twice in both games.

1976 The second and last tournament decided by a mini-league with Morocco ending one point ahead of Guinea after the teams drew 1-1 in the final fixture of a tournament in Ethiopia.

1980 Nigeria used home advantage to lift the trophy for the first time by walloping Algeria 3-0 before an 80,000 crowd with Segun Odegbami the architect of victory with early and late openinghalf goals.

1990 Algeria defeated Nigeria in the opening and closing matches to claim a maiden title. After dishing out a 5-1 hiding first time round, the final was decided by a solitary goal from Cherif Oudjani. ` 1992 The Africa Cup is expanded to 12 teams, but goals were scarce in Senegal with Ivory Coast pipping Ghana 11-10 on penalties in the final after scoring only four in five matches and conceding none.

1982 Ghana collected a fourth title by pipping hosts Libya 7-6 on penalties in the first final settled by a shootout.

Teenager Abedi Pele came on as a substitute to launch a career that developed him into an African superstar.

1994 Zambia reached the final less than a year after most of the national team was killed in a plane crash off Gabon, but there was no fairy tale ending as Nigeria came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to an Emmanuel Amunike brace.

1984 Cameroon burst on to the African scene with a 3-1 victory over Nigeria in their first final appearance. Midfielder Theophile ‘Doctor’ Abega, who died last year, was the Indomitable Lions’ star in Abidjan.

1996 The first 16-team finals and this time there was a fairy tale end with the first appearance of South Africa after decades of apartheid-induced isolation culminating in a 2-0 final win over Tunisia with Mark Williams netting twice.

1986 Cameroon made the final again, but lost on penalties to hosts Egypt after a goalless decider before 100,000 spectators in an intimidating Cairo Stadium cauldron.

1998 South Africa made the final again, but Egypt became party poopers as they scored twice within 13 minutes in Ouagadougou via Ahmed Hassan and Tarek Mostafa, then erected a barricade to emerge 2-0 victors.

1978 A third title for Ghana with Opoku Afriyie scoring in each half to earn a 20 win in Accra over Uganda, who have not qualified since. Tunisia walked off when Nigeria equalised in the thirdplace contest.

1988 A third consecutive final for Cameroon and a second title as tbey proved too good again for Nigeria, but it was closer than in 1984 with an Emmanuel Kunde penalty proving the lone goal in Casablanca.

2000 Cameroon defied the odds to pip co-hosts Nigeria in Lagos after a dramatic decider in which the visitors surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 before winning 4-3 on penalties.

2002 Another Cameroon triumph after another shootout. There were no goals in a tight Bamako final against an emerging Senegal side inspired by ElHadji Diouf, and the Indomitable Lions held their nerve come penalties time.

2004 After a disastrous first round exit when they staged the 1994 Cup of Nations, hosts Tunisia made amends to pip Morocco 2-1 in the first allNorth Africa final witb Ziad Jaziri snatching the second-half winner.

2006 Ivory Coast boasted a host of stars led by striker Didier Drogba, but fell at the final hurdle to hosts Egypt, whose goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary made several brilliant shootout saves to earn victory after 120 goalless minutes.

2008 Egypt defied the odds to retain the title, thrashing title favourites Ivory Coast 4-1 to reach a final of few chances in which Cameroon kept the defending champions at bay until Mohamed Aboutrika netted 13 minutes from time.

2010 Egypt became the first nation to win three consecutive titles. The Luanda final against Ghana was another solitary-goal affair with ‘super sub’ Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagy snatching a late winner.

2012 Zambia confounded the pundits in Libreville with an 8-7 shootout win over Ivory Coast, who did not lose in six outings nor concede a goal, but once again found favoritism too heavy a burden.—AFP

Ivory Coast try again to justify favoritism

Marseille’s forward Andre Ayew of Ghana

Ghana winger Ayew out of African Cup of Nations ABU DHABI: Marseille winger Andre Ayew will not play at the African Cup of Nations after being excluded from Ghana’s squad by coach Kwesi Appiah for not reporting to a training camp to have an injury assessed.

Appiah said in a statement yesterday that he had decided “to work only with the players currently in camp” and Ayew wouldn’t be considered for the final 23-man squad because of uncertainty over the extent of the hamstring injury he sustained with his French club.

Ghana’s coach wanted the 23-year-old Ayew, one of the country’s best players and an African footballer of the year nominee last year, to report to the pre-tournament camp in United Arab Emirates by Saturday to see Ghana’s medical team. He was then given an extended deadline to arrive by late yesterday.

Appiah said the player had still not reported to the camp in Abu Dhabi by yesterday and would not arrive in time to have his fitness assessed before Wednesday’s deadline for squads to be named for the Jan. 19-Feb. 10 African Cup in South Africa.

“Unfortunately, Andre failed to report to camp and indicated that owing to the treatment he was receiving from his doctor he would report to camp on Wednesday,” Appiah said. “In line with my vision of taking only fit players for the Africa Cup of Nations, I have decided ... to work only with the players currently in camp.”

Appiah said he had “personally explained

the rationale behind the decision to Andre” and “will continue to count on him in future matches if he is fit.” There was no immediate reaction from the player.

Ayew was Ghana’s player of the year for 2011, is one of the team’s playmakers and the son of Abedi Pele, the West African nation’s greatest and most respected footballer.

Appiah said Ayew did not report to the camp despite being released by his club to meet the Saturday deadline set down by FIFA for internationals to join up with their national teams ahead of the Cup of Nations. Ayew had told the GFA he was being treated by his own doctor, Appiah said. “All the players were given the deadline of Saturday to report to camp in Abu Dhabi,” Appiah said in his written statement. “Unfortunately Andre did not turn up despite being released by his club and air tickets provided by the GFA for him to travel from France.”

Ayew’s absence will hamper four-time African champion Ghana in its attempt to end a 30-year wait for a continental title. Ayew has already appeared in three African Cups and scored two goals in last year’s tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea before Ghana was beaten narrowly in the semifinals by eventual winner Zambia.

Ghana is grouped with Congo, Mali and Niger at the tournament in South Africa and opens its tournament against Congo on Jan. 20. Ghana is a leading contender to win the title.—AP

Italy pledges action on football racists MILAN: Italian interior minister Annamaria Cancellieri yesterday called for “more incisive” action to be taken to end the abuse of non-white players by racist fans. Cancellieri was speaking after AC Milan’s Kevin-Prince Boateng last week responded to racist chants by a small group of fans during a friendly against fourth division side Pro Patria by storming off the pitch.

He was followed by his team-mates, prompting a global outpouring of applause for the German-born Ghanaian international’s stance against racist supporters.

Sepp Blatter, the president of world football’s governing body FIFA, hit out at Boateng’s decision to force the suspension of

last week’s friendly, setting him at odds with AC Milan owner-president, Italy’s former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Both FIFA and UEFA have previously warned against players walking off the pitch in protest, and Blatter said: “Walk off? No. I don’t think that is the solution.” Cancellieri said Boateng’s stance was a “nice gesture” but told Radio 24 yesterday that a “more comprehensive strategy” needed to be put in place to avoid games being decided by “a minority of racists”.

“This episode drew attention to a phenomenon which is unfortunately widespread and, as such, we have to be more serious about dealing with it,” Cancellieri said.—AFP

JOHANNESBURG: The situation is all too familiar for the footballers of Ivory Coast less than two weeks before the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in South Africa. For the fifth consecutive tournament, captain Didier Drogba and a star-packed squad must carry the burden of favouritism, which they failed to justify in Egypt, Ghana, Angola and Gabon/Equatorial Guinea.

They have come agonisingly close twice, losing penalty shootouts to hosts Egypt in Cairo seven years ago and to Zambia in Libreville last year, and the other two attempts ended in semifinals and quarter-finals exits.

South Africa 2013 represents the last throw of the Africa Cup dice for ageing Drogba, who blazed a regular-time penalty well over the crossbar to help Zambia achieve a maiden title.

Converting a shootout spot kick was little consolation to the man who has achieved so much in his career, and who says this will be his last appearance at a competition first played 56 years ago in Sudan.

Ivory Coast have conquered Africa once, defeating Ghana in Dakar 21 years ago in another final settled by penalties, but that was long before the emergence of Drogba, Kolo and Yaya Toure, Didier Zokora and Emmanuel Eboue.

These stars are known as the ‘golden generation’ of Ivorian football, but the best any of them has managed so far is silver when it comes to the post-final medals’ presentation.

“Coming to South Africa for the 2013 Cup of Nations will be special for me,” Drogba told Ivorian reporters. “We have twice come so close to winning this tournament.

“But that does not mean that we can afford to slow down and assume that if we wait long enough the title will be ours. We have learnt from our failures and we are coming this time to win the title and nothing else.”

and nothing to lose, but tradition suggests potential trouble for the title favorites.

Ivory Coast have lost two of three previous Africa Cup meetings with Algeria, lost the only meeting with Tunisia, and have managed only one win in three meetings with Togo, a team used to carrying a rank-outsiders tag.

“It is unquestionably the most difficult group and we got three fearsome opponents,” admits Didier Drogba

The first round draw for the African football showpiece, which begins on January 19, ends on February 10, and offers a place at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil to the winners, was not overly kind to the Ivorian ‘Elephants’. Not only have they been put in Group D wth former champions Algeria and Tunisia and a Togo team with all to gain

Ivorian coach Sabri Lamouchi.

“We were favourites before the draw and still are. Now we must deliver on the pitch.”

While Ivory Coast are undoubtedly the team to beat, there are many other teams capable of collecting the $1.5 million first prize, including Zambia, Algeria, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia.

Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo should not be written off either, leaving Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Ethiopia, Niger and Togo as the five teams without realistic ambitions of going all the way.

Winners and runners-up in the four mini-leagues advance to the quarter-finals and Group A should be a three-way fight between Angola, Morocco and South Africa despite the shock elimination of Cameroon by Cape Verde.

Mali and Ghana came third and fourth respectively at the 2012 finals and are the obvious choices to progress from Group B, but DR Congo pose a threat if only because they are coached by wily Frenchman Claude le Roy. Zambia and Nigeria appear too powerful in Group C for Ethiopia, back in the big time after a 31-year absence, and Burkina Faso, the only country to be eliminated three times without securing a point at the Cup of Nations.

The opening-day clash between Algeria and Tunisia is sure to have a vital bearing on the Group D outcome with the Maghreb neighbours boasting rising stars in Sofiane Feghouli of Valencia and Youssef Msakni of Esperance.

Usually staged biennially, the Africa Cup is being played in successive years for the first time since 1963 because of a move to uneven-number years, designed to avoid every second tournament being hosted six months before a World Cup.—AFP

Shooting tourney on target KUWAIT: Officials at the Shooting Sports Club said that Sheikh Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah Ladies tournament is ready to start under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa AlFahad. The tournament will be held from Jan 10-12, 2013 with the participation of UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, in addition to Kuwait. The higher organizing committee under the chairmanship of President of the Arab Shooting Federation and Vice-president of KSSC Engineer Duaij Al-Otaibi made sure that all preparations have been met to ensure the success of the tournament.

Secretary General of Arab and Kuwait Shooting Federations, Obaid Al-Osaimi said Kuwait’s technical and administrative success at the local, regional and international levels, “makes us work harder in order to maintain our levels and improve on them.

He said Kuwait female shooters have enough experience as they participated in many important tournaments and were able to achieve good results.

Kuwait Shooting Sports Club established workshops at various levels in a way that reflects Kuwaiti youth ability to organize and manage such important events.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s female shooters continue their training in preparation for this event, as shooter Mariam Irzouqi said, she along with her teammates are all geared up for the tourney and will exert all efforts to win it as it carries a dear name to Kuwait and the shooting community “Sheikh Fahad Al-Salem,” who contributed to Kuwait’s development from the very beginning.

Irzouqi said the tournament will witness the participation of an elite group of Gulf shooters in the shot-

Obaid Al-Osaimi awards Mariam Irzouqi in this file photo. gun and fire arms events, as they compete at the Asian level and have good results at the Arab level.

The closing ceremony will take

place on Saturday Jan 12, 2013 at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex at 4 pm and all are welcome.

Ghana winger Ayew out of African Cup of Nations

Bobcats slip past Pistons

19

15

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

Game on, but when will the NHL drop the puck?

Page 16

List of Ballon D’Or winners ZURICH: List of Ballon d’Or winners since its inception in 1956 after Lionel Messi was named the 2012 winner here yesterday:

ZURICH: Barcelonaís Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receives the FIFA Ballon díOr award from FIFA President Joseph Blatter (right) during the FIFA Ballon díOr awards ceremony.—AFP

ZURICH: German footballing legend Franz Beckenbauer (right) receives the Presidential award from FIFA President Joseph Blatter during the FIFA Ballon díOr awards ceremony.—AFP

ZURICH: Vicente del Bosque, national soccer coach of Spain (right) is awarded FIFA Menís World Coach of the Year during the FIFA Ballon díOr Gala. —AP

1956: Stanley Matthews (ENG) 1957: Alfredo Di Stefano (ESP) 1958: Raymond Kopa (FRA) 1959: Alfredo Di Stefano (ESP) 1960: Luis Suarez (ESP) 1961: Omar Sivori (ITA) 1962: Josef Masopust (CZE) 1963: Lev Yachine (USSR) 1964: Denis Law (SCO) 1965: Eusebio (POR) 1966: Bobby Charlton (ENG) 1967: Florian Albert (HUN) 1968: George Best (NIR) 1969: Gianni Rivera (ITA) 1970: Gerd Mueller (GER) 1971: Johan Cruyff (NED) 1972: Franz Beckenbauer (GER) 1973: Johan Cruyff (NED) 1974: Johan Cruyff (NED) 1975: Oleg Blokhine (USSR) 1976: Franz Beckenbauer (GER) 1977: Alan Simonsen (DEN) 1978: Kevin Keegan (ENG) 1979: Kevin Keegan (ENG) 1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER) 1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER) 1982: Paolo Rossi (ITA) 1983: Michel Platini (FRA) 1984: Michel Platini (FRA) 1985: Michel Platini (FRA) 1986: Igor Belanov (USSR) 1987: Ruud Gullit (NED) 1988: Marco van Basten (NED) 1989: Marco van Basten (NED) 1990: Lothar Matthaeus (GER) 1991: Jean-Pierre Papin (FRA) 1992: Marco van Basten (NED) 1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA) 1994: Hristo Stoichkov (BUL) 1995: George Weah (LBR) 1996: Matthias Sammer (GER) 1997: Ronaldo (BRA) 1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) 1999: Rivaldo (BRA) 2000: Luis Figo (POR) 2001: Michael Owen (ENG) 2002: Ronaldo (BRA) 2003: Pavel Nedved (CZE) 2004: Andrei Shevchenko (UKR) 2005: Ronaldinho (BRA) 2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) 2007: Kaka (BRA) 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) 2009: Lionel Messi (ARG) 2010: Lionel Messi (ARG) 2011: Lionel Messi (ARG) 2012: Lionel Messi (ARG)

ZURICH: US forward Abby Wambach (left) receives the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award during the FIFA Ballon díOr awards ceremony. —AFP

Messi takes his seat in pantheon of greats ZURICH: Lionel Messi added yet another record to his stellar list of achievements over the past 12 months yesterday when he won an unprecedented fourth, consecutive, Ballon d’Or at a FIFA gala in Zurich.

The accolade seals Messi’s status as the greatest player of his generation after he saw off Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta for the prize. Messi received a vote share of 41.60 percent to 23.68 for Ronaldo and 10.91 for Iniesta.

Messi and former French star, UEFA president Michel Platini, had prior to Monday been the only players to win three straight Ballon d’Or awards while Dutch greats Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten both won the accolade on

three occasions. Spain’s Vicente del Bosque was named coach of the year for 2012, seeing off competition from Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola.

Messi’s success crowned another landmark year for the Argentine who is already the top scorer in La Liga for the ongoing season with 25 goals, having also broken Gerd Mueller’s 40-year record for the most goals in a calendar year.

He finished 2012 with an astonishing 91 goals in all competitions. But Messi has insisted his scoring records will mean nothing if Barcelona do not go on to take the La Liga title off Real or fail to win the Champions League.

“It is incredible to receive this prize once again and it’s impressive it makes it four in a row. I would like to share this with my Barca teammates - particularly with Andres, who is here with me,” said the ever unassuming Messi.

“I am proud to be able to train alongside him every day.

I am also thinking of my teammates in the Argentina squad,” he went on. “Thank you to all those who voted for me, skippers, coaches and national coaches.

“Thank you too to my family, my friends and of course my wife and son, who is the best thing that ever happened to me,” said the 25-year-old from Rosario, who in November became a father to son Thiago.

Beforehand he had said winning for Barcelona outweighed any personal glory. “It’s nice to beat records but the win for the team is what is important. My goals are to win titles with the team, the Spanish league, Spanish Cup or Champions League is more important than any personal records.” Barca coach Tito Vilanova had already eulogised his player in advance of Messi’s win.

“Leo’s great quality is that he plays as if he is still a child,” Vilanova opined. “He was always good as a youngster and you didn’t need to be a coach to say that. It was a joy to see him play as a 15-year-old and that continues now.”

Portugal captain Ronaldo at least has the consolation of having won in 2008 before Messi’s hegemony began while Iniesta can for his part bask in the knowledge that he has won a World Cup and two Euros - including Euro 2012 whereas Messi still has to replicate such achievements at

international level. Until he can lift top honors with Argentina, some observers will insist he cannot be classed as the greatest player ever, moving ahead of Pele and Diego Maradona.

“I don’t think it was my best year as I always say that titles you win with the team are more important,” said Messi, noting Barca merely netted the Spanish Cup in 2012. “ The Spanish league, Spanish Cup or Champions League is more important than any personal records,” Messi also stressed and with Barca and himself setting their individual and collective sights stratospherically high - yet so often reaching their goals - last year was something of a disappointment.

Messi himself admits an outstanding ambition is World Cup glory - in Pele’s homeland in 18 months time - but his form in an Argentina shirt has not always quite reached the effervescent heights he touches dressed in Barcelona’s ‘blaugrana.’

“I still have this dream and that is to be a world champion and lift the Copa America with the national side,” said Messi recently. “And I know I’ll do it, I’m convinced I will.” If the historical comparison with Pele and Diego Maradona remains academic in the eyes of many fans, nobody can argue today that Messi is the best in the contemporary game.

His dribbling skills and inventiveness may also be the preserve of fellow finalist Andres Iniesta while the finishing of third finalist Cristiano Ronaldo is almost on a par with that of the Argentine.

But Messi’s ability to combine metronomic goalscoring with all-round creativity gives him the edge, while he can also point to three Champions League winners’ medals to Ronaldo’s one from the latter’s Old Trafford days.

Messi has also won the FIFA Club World Cup twice and is Barca’s leading scorer with 283 goals in all competitions even before his career reaches the half-way mark.

Only Michel Platini had previously won the Ballon d’Or accolade for three years running but Messi surpassed the Frenchman as well as Cruyff and another Dutch superstar Marco van Basten, both three-time winners.—AFP

ZURICH: Pia Sundhage (right) former coach of the Women’s soccer team of the United States, receives the award for the FIFA Womenís World Coach of the Year from Luiz Felipe Scolari (left) during the FIFA Ballon díOr Gala.—AP

ZURICH: Former Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo (right) poses with Fuleco (left) mascot of the 2014 Soccer World Cup, during the FIFA Ballon díOr Gala.—AP

Business

Bahraini Islamic banks complete rare merger Page 22 US, China leave feeble Europe in their wake

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

Celebrate New Year with a great offer from MBMC

Page 23 Toyota crowned world’s No 1 car Page 26 manufacturer Page 25

CAIRO: Egyptians walk in front of the Egyptian Stock Market in the capital Cairo. A top International Monetary Fund official resumed talks yesterday with Egyptian government on the $4.8 billion loan agreement frozen last month because of political unrest in the country. — AFP

Egypt steeped in economic woes Cairo reopens talks with IMF on $4.8bn loan CAIRO: A rising budget deficit, falling foreign exchange reserves and a sliding currency are adding to the woes of Egypt’s fragile government even as it battles a raft of political and social problems. It is against this background that Cairo resumed talks yesterday with the International Monetary Fund for a $4.8 billion loan, which many see as a prerequisite for the country’s recovery.

Islamist President Mohamed Morsi has set a tough task for his government, headed by Prime Minister Hisham Qandil, which he fine-tuned in a Sunday reshuffle that saw the appointment of 10 new ministers including that of finance.

The government must “accelerate efforts to revive the economy and growth, attract investment, strengthen exports, promote tourism, create new jobs and improve public services,” Morsi said last month. Egypt’s economic indicators however paint an “alarming picture”, said economist Ahmed El-Naggar of the AlAhram Centre for Studies. “Previously tourism brought $13 billion every year, now it is around $8.8 billion.”

Egypt’s unemployment has grown to 12 percent in two years, he said, adding that official estimates are far less than the actual figures in a country where 40 percent of the population lives on $2 or less per day. And the latest sign of concern is the fall in Egyptian pound which has dropped to around 6.4 pounds to the dollar, a record low.

The central bank has acknowledged that its foreign exchange reserves have reached a “critical minimum” level. The reserves fell to $15 billion from $36 billion in two years and are enough to cover only three months of imports.

Egypt is reported to have extensively used its reserves to support the pound and to secure vital imports such as wheat and fuel. Planning Minister Ashraf Abdel Fattah al-Arabi has declared in the media that the budget deficit could rise to 50 percent — 200 billion pounds ($31 billion) — in the fiscal year 2012-2013 “if strict economic measures are not implemented”.

Given the bleak economic scenario, securing the $4.8 billion IMF loan is now

considered by many as essential to fuel a recovery.

The talks began anew yesterday in Cairo with Massod Ahmed, IMF representative for the Middle East and Central Asia. Discussions will focus on “the most recent economic developments, their policy plans for addressing Egypt’s economic and financial challenges, and possible IMF support for Egypt in facing these challenges,” the Fund said on Sunday. Finance Minister Al-Morsi Al-Sayyed Hegazi, an academic specializing in Islamic finance, said during his inauguration that he is “ready to finalize consultations with the IMF to conclude such a loan”.

The IMF package is expected to unlock other international funding and support for undertaking difficult reforms in Egypt.

But the IMF program is expected to come with austerity measures, especially a revision of costly state subsidies for fuel and/or several low priced food items.

Parliamentary elections scheduled in about two months could also influence the ability to carry out reforms amid fears of social tensions. In December, Morsi sus-

pended tax rises on a range of products, including alcohol and cigarettes, amid a dire political crisis “so as not to increase the burden on citizens.”

The tax hikes, also affecting steel, cement and other products, were part of budget efforts Egypt had agreed to make to secure the IMF loan. “ The next few months are going to be critical in terms of foreign exchange reserves and trying to turn around the foreign direct investments in Egypt,” said Angus Blair, head of the Signet Institute in Cairo.

“I would hope that the new finance minister might come with a more creative economic plan, but the issue is he will have to work in an environment which is very much limited.”

Aside from Egypt’s economic problems, the country was rocked by mass political protests in November after Morsi adopted extensive powers which he later repealed. Tensions are still simmering, with the secular-leaning opposition calling for mass protests against the countr y ’s new constitution adopted last month. — AFP

Bank of America in $10bn-plus settlement CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: Bank of America Corp. says it will spend more than $10 billion to settle mor tgage claims resulting from the housing meltdown.

Under the deal announced yesterday, the bank will pay $3.6 billion to Fannie Mae and buy back $6.75 billion in loans that the Nor th Carolina-based bank and its Countrywide banking unit sold to the government agency from Jan. 1, 2000 through Dec. 31, 2008. That includes about 30,000 loans.

Its shares edged up 14 cents to $12.25 in premarket trading after the announcement. CEO Brian Moynihan said the agreements were “a significant step” in resolving the bank’s remaining legacy mortgage issues while streamlining the company and reducing future expenses. Bank of America bought Countrywide Financial Corp. in July 2008, just before the financial crisis.

Countrywide was a giant in mortgage lending, but was also known for approving risky loans.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which packaged loans into securities and sold them to investors, were effectively nationalized in 2008 when they nearly collapsed under the weight of their mortgage losses.

Bank of America’s purchase of Countrywide originally was lauded by lawmakers because the bank was viewed as

stepping in to eliminate a bad actor from the mor tgage market. But instead of padding Bank of America’s mortgage business, the purchase has drawn a drumbeat of regulatory fines, lawsuits and losses.

Bank of America said that the loans involved in the settlement have an aggregate original principal balance of about $1.4 trillion. The outstanding principal balance is about $300 billion.

“Fannie Mae has diligently pursued repurchases on loans that did not meet our standards at the time of origination, and we are pleased to have reached an appropriate agreement to collect on these repurchase requests,” Bradley Lerman, Fannie Mae executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.

Bank of America also said that it is also selling mortgage servicing rights on about 2 million residential mortgage loans. The loans have an aggregate unpaid principal balance of approximately $306 billion.

The transferring of the servicing rights is expected to take place throughout the year. In addition, the bank will pay $1.3 billion to Fannie Mae to settle loan servicing compensatory fee obligations. Bank of America said its fourth-quarter will include various items related to the settlement and other matters, but that it expects “modestly positive” earnings for the period. — AP

View of a Bank of America branch in New York’s Times Square. — AFP

UAE markets track global drop; KSE up MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Markets in the United Arab Emirates fell yesterday as declines on global bourses spurred local investors to cash in some of their early-year gains. Other Gulf markets were mixed in muted trade, while Egypt’s bourse was closed for a national holiday. Kuwait’s benchmark index climbed 0.1 percent to 6,022 points.

Dubai Bellwether Emaar Properties dropped 0.3 percent and telecom operator du and Dubai Financial Market each fell 0.9 percent.The emirate’s benchmark dipped 0.1 percent, easing from Sunday’s nine-month high to trim 2013 gains to 4.3 percent.

It rose 19.9 percent in 2012 to be the top performing Gulf market last year and with the bulk of these gains made in the first quarter, investors have upped their market exposure in the hope of history repeating itself.“We’re seeing the return of retail investors that were neutral or out of the market over the previous six months,” said Marwan Shurrab, vice-president and chief trader at Gulfmena Alternative Investments. Fourth-quarter corporate earnings will determine whether the rally can be sustained, he added. Abu Dhabi’s measure fell 0.2 percent, easing from Sunday’s 18-month high, while Qatar’s index climbed 0.4 percent to its highest finish since May 6.

“An improvement in the global economic sentiment is the main driver of the rally in equities over the past few weeks - headline or policy risks still exist but are waning,” said Shakeel Sarwar, head of asset management at Securities & Investment Co (SICO) in Bahrain.

He said a US deal to stop the world’s top economy falling over the so-called “fiscal cliff”, an improving eurozone outlook and lessening fears of a slowdown in China have bolstered Gulf investor confidence. “The correlation of Gulf markets with international markets has dramatically increased over the past few years,” said Sarwar. “At the same time, the correlation with oil prices and revenues has fallen - this seems to be an anomaly, but is expected to continue as long as global headline risks such as euro disintegration persist.”

World equities and oil prices eased yesterday as some investors booked profits after last week’s strong gains, but optimism over the global growth outlook limited the falls.

Oman’s bourse fell 0.2 percent, easing from Sunday’s seven-month high, after the government said it would double natural gas prices for some industrial consumers by 2015. Oman Cement Co fell 1.4 percent, Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles Co slid 2 percent and Construction Materials Industries and Contracting Co dropped 3.5 percent.

“The reaction in the market is always severe in the beginning,” said Adel Nasr, United Securities brokerage manager. Buying from local asset managers and pension funds drove Oman’s recent rally, Nasr said. “High volumes are supporting, which is a sign new money is coming in.

We might see more profit-taking tomorrow, after that the market will start to bounce back,” he added. The Saudi index rose 0.2 percent to a 15-week high. —Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

BUSINESS

Bahraini Islamic banks complete rare merger Consolidation in Gulf banking sector DUBAI: Three Bahraini Islamic banks have completed their merging into a single entity, a statement from the transaction adviser said yesterday, marking a rare successful consolidation in the Gulf Arab banking sector.

The joining of Capivest, Elaf Bank and Capital Management House concludes more than a year of negotiations between the lenders and the authorities, Kuwait Finance House’s Bahraini arm said in the statement.

Shareholders had given their approval to the tie-up at the end of June.

The combined institution will have total assets worth over $400 million and total equity of around $340 million. By comparison, Ahli United Bank, Bahrain’s largest bank, had total assets of $29.6 billion at the end of June.

While small in nature, the merger is a rare example of a successful consolidation of Gulf Arab banks. Although the commercial rationale for consolidation is largely accepted, Gulf bank mergers are uncommon because main shareholders, often powerful local families, are reluctant to cede control and can demand exaggerat-

ed valuations.

Bahrain Islamic Bank and Al Salam Bank said in February 2012 that merger talks between the two to form Bahrain’s biggest Islamic bank by assets had collapsed because of disagreement on pricing.

If the tie-up had been completed, the combined entity would have held assets worth about $4.5 billion. Also advising on the threeway merger were Deloitte and law firms Trowers & Hamlins and Elham Ali Hassan and Associates. —Reuters

Japan’s JX cuts 2013 Iran term volumes by 10%

NICE: People walk by a Virgin Megastore shop, yesterday in Nice. The chain, which currently employs 1000 workers in France, is planning to file for bankruptcy. —AFP

Oman to double natural gas prices by 2015 MUSCAT: Oman will double natural gas prices for some industrial consumers by 2015, with a rise of 33 percent for 2013 alone, Oman’s minister for financial affairs told Reuters on Monday in a rare Middle Eastern move to slash fuel subsidies.

The Omani government and some major industrial consumers have agreed that gas prices will rise from $1.5 per million British thermal units (mmbtu) in 2012 to $2/mmbtu in 2013, Darwish Al-Balushi said. In 2014 prices will rise to $2.5, then hit $3 in 2015 with further rises expected in years beyond that, he said.

Gas-hungry industry has flourished in the Middle East on fuel priced at a fraction of international levels but its future growth is in doubt unless more sources can be developed.

Omani gas production has risen sharply over the last decade and the non-OPEC oil producer remains a net gas exporter. But rampant demand growth at home means it must tap trickier and more costly gas deposits to maintain exports of liquefied natural gas while satisfying its own gas needs.

Key to Oman’s quest to boost production is the Khazzan project. Developer BP has been haggling with the government over how much it can sell any gas produced and the sales price increases announced for the next few years should help make BP’s business case.

Rock-bottom gas prices prevalent in the Middle East are a remnant of when gas was

a plentiful by-product of the region’s oil fields and Saudi consumers still only pay $0.75/mmbtu.

According to industry estimates total upstream conventional gas production costs are around $3/mmbtu, but the cost of projects like BP’s tight gas project are thought to be much higher.

Although some big gas users in the region fear that higher feedstock prices could harm their competitiveness, even Oman’s plan to double prices by 2015 should not make Omani industry uncompetitive on the global market.

Thanks to an unmatched revolution in North American shale gas production, the price of gas for US industrial users tumbled from highs of around $13 per mmbtu in 2008 to a record low of about $3 per mmbtu in April 2012, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The slump in US prices has worried many petrochemical producers in the Gulf, but US prices have already rebounded and the EIA expects industrial consumers be paying over $5/mmbtu again in 2013, far more than Omani industry will have to pay by 2015.

With the region’s cheap gas now largely accounted for, Saudi Arabia could follow Oman’s lead on gas prices too this year, although the price rise is likely to be small to protect Saudi industry’s huge advantage, especially over competitors in Asia some of which have to pay well over $10/mmbtu. —Reuters

PARIS: Air France chairman Alexandre de Juniac addresses reporters during a press conference held in Paris yesterday. —AP

Air France launches offer to fight low-cost rivals

TOKYO: Japan’s biggest refiner, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, has cut contracted imports of Iranian crude this year by more than 10 percent from 2012 volumes, an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said yesterday.

JX Nippon had a term contract for an estimated 83,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2012, and the cut would slash to less than 75,000 bpd the volumes JX will lift in 2013, according to a Reuters calculation. Japan, the world’s third biggest oil consumer, is slashing imports of Iranian crude after the United States and the European Union targeted oil sales with sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Washington renewed in September waivers on Iranian sanctions for Japan and 10 European countries, and their upcoming renewal in six months from September requires further cuts in the countries’ purchases of the OPEC nation’s crude oil.

Asked if JX Nippon’s reduction in volume of the January-December term contract with Iran was 10 percent, the industry source said: “It’s 10 percent and plus.” The source declined to be named, as a term contract binds buyer and seller to confidentiality. Japan’s imports from Iran are likely to be capped at roughly 160,000 bpd in 2013 and may possibly be cut further, Yasushi Kimura, president of the Petroleum Association of Japan, told reporters last month.

That would be at least 15 percent lower than the average of 187,212 bpd for the first 11 months of 2012, according to calculations based on the trade ministry’s monthly data. Kimura also serves as chairman of JX Nippon Oil. Other Japanese buyers have not yet started talks with Iran, as their contracts run from April to the following March. For the term contract with Iran ending in March 2013, Japanese refiner Cosmo Oil Co cut volumes to about 15,000 bpd from about 40,000 bpd in 2011/12, another industry source familiar with the matter told Reuters yesterday. —Reuters

ing Air France regional low-cost hubs in Marseille, Nice and Toulouse in southern France, “are a long-term offer” according to the airline’s deputy director at Orly, Florence Parly.

Air France has found through a study that on short and medium-haul flights, 40 percent of its passengers do not check in bags at present. The so-called MiNi offer, which does not include frequent-flier credits, is not limited to a specific time period, but customers who buy tickets will have to pay a surcharge if they subsequently seek to check in luggage, and cannot request specific seats via the airline’s website.

The fares also complement a strategy by Air France-KLM simultaneously to raise standards for passengers who pay more for business and “Premium Economy” seats.

Commercial director Christian Boireau said that the airline expected to sell more than one million tickets at prices which would vary from 49 to 69 euros, and noted yesterday that the company’s website was quickly saturated.

De Juniac said: “Our forecasts show that we will make money. The business plan is viable.” The plan was integrated in the carrier’s Transform restructuring strategy so “it will not by itself require additional cost-cutting measures,” he said. —AFP

PARIS: French airline Air France launched yesterday an offensive to compete with low-cost carriers, offering flights from four French hubs to 58 destinations in Europe and around the Mediterranean at fares starting from 49 euros ($64) for passengers who travel with carry-on baggage.

“Air France aims to adapt to the changes in purchasing behavior and the new expectations of travellers, while at the same time attracting new customers,” it explained in a statement. It said that the program was aimed at the 60 percent of clients for whom the lowest price was the most important factor. The new offer is part of a restructuring plan presented a year ago which is designed to save Air France two billion euros by 2015, chairman Alexandre de Juniac told a press conference.

Low-cost tickets went on sale yesterday for flights beginning on February 6, and were expressly “aimed at clients who might be tempted by low-cost airlines,” de Juniac said. Although the group posted strongerthan-expected quarterly results in late October, it is under severe financial and cost-cutting pressures and is trying to fight against competition from budget European carriers such as EasyJet and Ryanair.

The new fares, which apply to flights from Orly airport south of Paris and grow-

China fund mulls buying stake in Daimler: Report SHANGHAI: China’s sovereign wealth fund is considering buying a four to 10 percent stake in German automaker Daimler, the website of the official People’s Daily newspaper said at the weekend.

The potential purchase comes as China Investment Corp. (CIC), which had more than $480 billion from the wealth fund under management at the end of 2011, seeks bargains in Europe’s weak economy, said the website, quoting unnamed sources. But a source with knowledge of the matter dismissed the report, saying it was “not true”. Chinese media reported nearly a year ago that Daimler had been in contact with CIC regarding a possible deal.

The Financial Times newspaper valued a pur-

chase of four to 10 percent of Daimler at 1.8 billion to 4.5 billion euros. A spokeswoman for CIC, declining to be named, said: “Our consistent policy is that we do not comment on any particular project.”

Daimler, which produces luxury MercedesBenz cars as well as trucks, plans to sell 300,000 cars in China in 2015, about two-thirds of which will be from local production, the company said last month. The German firm also refused to be drawn on the report, with a spokeswoman saying they “generally do not comment on media speculation.”

“New investors are always welcome because a balanced shareholder structure is in our interests,” the spokeswoman told AFP. The speculation

boosted Daimler on the DAX market of leading German stocks, with shares gaining 1.36 percent.

In October last year, CIC bought a 10 percent stake in the company that controls London’s Heathrow airport, according to Spanish construction group Ferrovial, one of the vendors.

Last January CIC bought a stake in British utility company Thames Water. CIC was established in 2007 to invest some of China’s massive foreign exchange reserves, the world’s largest at $3.3 trillion at the end of September last year. China’s sovereign wealth fund suffered a 4.3 percent loss on its overseas investments in 2011 due to the weak global economy. It was the first loss since 2008, when CIC was hit by the global financial crisis. —AFP

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 Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

.2740000 .4490000 .3650000 .3020000 .2830000 .2930000 .0040000 .0020000 .0764870 .7451940 .3880000 .0720000 .7305310 .0430000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2817500 .4517580 .3673460 .3038720 .2851720 .0492470 .0430120 .2950490 .0363510 .2288230 .0032030 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0767400 .7476450 .0000000 .0751530 .7321030 .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.211 5.137 2.900 2.216 3.217 232.630 36.517 3.529

.2840000 .4630000 .3770000 .3140000 .2920000 .3020000 .0067500 .0035000 .0772560 .7526840 .4060000 .0770000 .7378730 .0510000 .2838500 .4551250 .3700840 .3061370 .2872980 .0496140 .0433330 .2972480 .0366220 .2305290 .0032270 .0051920 .0022350 .0029220 .0035750 .0773120 .7532170 .4014850 .0757140 .7375600 .0069950

Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - transfer Irani Riyal - cash

UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

6.915 9.293 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 75.497 77.790 735.350 751.960 77.091

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 283.000 Euro 372.850 Sterling Pound 457.610 Canadian dollar 289.810 Turkish lire 159.010 Swiss Franc 309.630 Australian dollar 299.330 US Dollar Buying 281.800 GOLD 311.000 157.000 81.500

SELL DRAFT 300.85 291.14 310.89 372.10 282.55 457.78 3.28 3.561 5.131 2.221 3.219 2.902

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar terling 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

Selling Rate 281.850 283.480 456.305 373.085 309.060 746.190 76.715 77.365 75.125 397.310 44.735 2.213 5.144 2.900 3.496 6.847 691.380 4.270 9.370 3.695 3.370 92.045

SELL CASH 300.000 289.500 310.000 372.000 283.500 457.500 3.7500 3.690 5.450 2.500 3.550 3.000

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

SELL CASH 299.900 752.600 3.850 290.100 555.800 46.100 50.400 167.800 47.500 373.300 37.210 5.510 0.032 0.162 0.243

Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

3.310 401.040 0.191 96.180 45.800 4.350 238.400 1.833 51.500 735.100 3.040 7.280 78.280 75.560 231.510 35.340 2.695 458.000 44.300 309.200 3.400 9.630 198.263 77.160 283.400 1.370 GOLD

10 Tola 1,771.560

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Bahrain Exchange Company

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee

77.700 751.000 47.300 402.000 735.000 77.800 76.000

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 46.700 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 43.980 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.321 Tunisian Dinar 181.640 Jordanian Dinar 399.350 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.899 Syrian Lier 3.076 Morocco Dirham 33.811

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

77.00 752.33 43.81 402.54 735.36 78.02 75.56

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 456.000 283.000

Al Mulla Exchange

SELLDRAFT 298.400 752.600 3.538 288.600

231.500 44.153 371.800 37.060 5.138 0.031

Currency 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) 282.550 371.600 455.700 288.400 3.250 5.126 43.970 2.217 3.533 6.910 2.903 752.400 76.950 75.400

401.000 0.190 96.180 3.230 236.900

734.920 2.905 6.931 77.850 75.560 231.510 35.340 2.220 456.000 307.700 3.400 9.490 77.060 283.000

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

BUSINESS

Japanese car sales slump in China on island row TOKYO: Japan’s top three automakers said yesterday annual sales in China last year slumped as a consumer boycott sparked by a nasty Tokyo-Beijing territorial row took a heavy toll.

Nissan-which has the most exposure to China of the three-said sales in the world’s biggest vehicle market last year fell 5.3 percent to 1.18 million units.

“The Sino-Japanese territorial disputes that began in September have seriously affected Nissan’s sales and marketing activities in China,” it said in a statement.

Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker, said its China sales in 2012 fell 4.9 percent to 840,000 vehicles, although it forecast a recovery this year, announcing an annual

sales target above 900,000 units.

Honda, meanwhile, said sales in China declined 3.1 percent last year to 598,576 vehicles, its second straight annual decline, after the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster battered Japanese manufacturers’ results. A long-standing diplomatic dispute flared badly in mid-September after Tokyo nationalized East China Sea islands also claimed by Beijing, sparking huge protests across China and boycotts of Japanese products.

The row over the Tokyo-controlled islands, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, hurt Japanese automakers with operations in the country while boosting demand for other foreign brands.

Japan’s top three carmakers, which all have manufacturing facilities in China, scaled back production as sales slumped. Despite predictions of a bounce back this year, there are plenty of uncertainties that may slow a recovery including new governments in China and Japan, said Tatsuya Mizuno, auto analyst at Mizuno Credit Advisory. “It appears that Japanese auto sales are on course to recover in China, but no one knows when the dispute will flare up again-nothing has been resolved,” Mizuno said. “There is also concern about the future of the Chinese economy. The prospects for a full recovery of Japanese cars in China are still obscure.”

Earlier yesterday, a Japanese industry

group said the number of vehicles sold in Japan last year soared 26.1 percent from 2011, staging a recovery from the twin natural disasters which set off the crisis at Fukushima, the worst nuclear accident in a generation. Annual sales of cars, trucks and buses, excluding mini vehicles-four-wheel vehicles with engines under 660 cc-came in at 3.39 million units in 2012, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said. In 2011, Japan’s domestic vehicle sales dropped 16.7 percent after the disaster damaged factories and crippled automakers’ supply chains, forcing companies to shutter plants and halt production. By category, sales of passenger cars totaled 3.01 million units in 2012, up 26.3 percent on-

year, while truck sales climbed 24.4 percent to 363,685 units. Bus sales gained 12.1 percent to 11,938 units, the industry data showed.

However domestic auto sales in the last month of 2012 slipped 3.4 percent to 214,429 units, the data showed, partly due to the expiry of government subsidies aimed at bumping up sales of eco-friendly cars. December’s results marked the fourth consecutive monthly decrease, the association said. “It is difficult to cite any decisive factor for the decline in monthly sales... but the end of subsidies still matters the most,” an association official said. Sales of minivehicles gained 30.1 percent last year to 1.98 million units. — AFP

US, China leave feeble Europe in their wake ECB policymakers to focus on growth

ABIDJAN: IMF Chief, French Christine Lagarde (left) holds a meeting with Ivory Coast National Assembly President Guillaume Soro before addressing yesterday in Abidjan, the members of Ivorian National Assembly. Lagarde is on a two-day visit in Ivory Coast. — AFP

Discord rife over ECB’s next interest rate move LONDON: The European Central Bank will keep interest rates unchanged this week, economists forecast in a Reuters poll, but they cannot agree on the chances of a cut in the next few months due to a murky economic outlook.

While a large majority said the Governing Council will hold the main refinancing rate at a record low 0.75 percent at its Thursday meeting, there was no consensus over its next move, reflecting a similar split among policymakers themselves. A wafer-thin majority - 38 out of 73 analysts polled over the last few days - said the ECB will remain on hold for the next three months. The majority shifts to a 25 basis point cut by the end of June, but by a margin of only one respondent.

There are two schools of thought.

In one are those who point to poor economic data for the fourth quarter that signal a deepening euro-zone recession. They argue that this warrants another cut, no matter how limited its effect may be as rates are already near zero.

With the sovereign debt crisis festering, there are few signs of an early turnaround for the euro zone economy, although business surveys last week suggested the recession may at least have passed its nadir. On the other side are those who say ECB President Mario Draghi has shown no inclination to repeat last July’s rate cut. Instead he seems to be waiting for the results of the bank’s program to buy the bonds of troubled euro zone governments - which has yet even to start.

That means the most likely outcome is that the ECB stays on the sidelines, at least for now. “The Council’s divided, the outlook’s uncertain,” said Alan Clarke, economist at Scotiabank. However, he said policymakers usually reach consensus rapidly once the economic outlook becomes clearer. “It

doesn’t unduly disturb me there’s a split, because as the euro zone’s demonstrated in the last year or two, things can change just like that,” he said.

Clarke thinks the ECB is more likely to stay on hold. The Governing Council is already pessimistic about the economic outlook, so data would have to worsen yet more for members to swing behind another rate cut.

The euro-zone economy has shrunk for three consecutive quarters, with GDP down 0.6 percent year-on-year in June-September 2012. A flash estimate for the fourth quarter is due on Feb. 14.

The Reuters poll was conducted before global regulators gave banks four more years and greater flexibility to build up cash buffers so that they can use some of their reserves to help struggling economies to grow.

Disagreement among the forecasters merely reflects the split among the ECB’s own policymakers. Board member Yves Mersch was quoted last month as expressing his opposition to cutting the refi rate any further, saying he had not heard Draghi making any departure from the current policy line.

However, Governing Council member Jozef Makuch said the bank had a “very serious debate” last month about cutting interest rates. There was similar debate among survey respondents over the meaning of Draghi’s comments at the December meeting that the Council had a wide-ranging discussion on interest rates.

“The markets over-interpreted the dovish comments by Mario Draghi in December,” said Lena Komileva from G+ Economics. She forecast a cut in the second quarter, but added: “While the ECB’s bias will remain dovish over the next 12 months, the decision to cut rates again will depend on the will of a small minority of core euro-zone countries rather than the euro-zone majority.” — Reuters

Air Berlin CEO steps down FRANKFURT: Air Berlin’s chief executive stepped down yesterday, handing over the task of bringing Germany’s second largest airline back into profit to strategy chief Wolfgang Prock-Schauer.

Hartmut Mehdorn, who has served as CEO on an interim basis since September 2011, put the loss-making group on a strict cost-cutting path and brought Etihad on board as a major investor, with the Gulf airline taking a 29.12 percent stake in Air Berlin.

Air Berlin has not made an operating profit since 2007, after a hasty expansion drive led to heavy debts. Under Mehdorn, the former head of Germany’s railway company, it has been cutting routes and seats, and postponing plane orders. It has also agreed to sell its frequent flyer programme to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad.

Adding to the airline’s woes are reports on Monday that the opening of Berlin’s new airport will be delayed again to at least 2014, since Air Berlin plans to use the new airport as a hub for more profitable intercontinental flights.

Shares in Air Berlin were down 2.8 percent at 1.51 euros at 0906 GMT. “Air Berlin is facing huge challenges,” Prock-Schauer said in a statement yesterday. “ We must continue to push our process of change forward rapidly to become lean and smart.”

Prock-Schauer has until now held the post of chief strategy and planning officer at Air Berlin. He previously held the CEO positions at India’s Jet Airways and later British Midland International (BMI).

Lufthansa sold BMI to British Airways owner IAG in 2012. — Reuters

LONDON: The economies of the United States, China and much of the developing world have decoupled from Europe, leaving it to wallow in various stages of recession and fiscal disarray.

That is one reason why the key economic event of the coming week will be a European Central Bank meeting almost totally focused on how far policymakers will go to boost growth.

Although there are some signs that a bottom may have been reached in the euro-zone’s recent economic decline, the pattern of moderate US and Asian growth book-ending feeble Europe is firmly in place for the moment.

Manufacturing surveys published just a few days into 2013 laid out the divide starkly.

The United States and China both came in above the 50 index level that designates growth while the euro zone languished in recessionary territory for the 17th month in a row.

The December US jobs report last Friday also did nothing to dispel the idea of recovery, although the prospect of more wrangling over the US budget still casts a shadow. The dollar has even begun to rise on the distant prospect of an exit from years of stimulus.

“From a growth outlook, it is quite hard for Europe to disappoint,” said Michael Metcalfe, responsible for global macro strategy at State Street Global Markets.

He argues that one of the main risks to the current global economic consensus is that there is too much gloom attached to Europe.

Most discussion about what the ECB will do at its meeting on Thursday centers on whether it will cut interest rates, something the bank’s policymakers discussed last month before opting to hold the refi benchmark at a record low 0.75 percent. It is an open question among economists

about how much use a cut in the refi rate would be. Cutting the deposit rate from zero, meanwhile, would effectively mean charging banks for parking their money. Part of this refi rate cut talk is because inflation expectations are seen fairly well anchored and because the ECB’s own forecasts suggest the euro-zone economy will shrink 0.3 percent this year.

“The economic data would support a rate cut,” said Sarah Hewin, head of Europe research at Standard Chartered Bank.

The consensus of a Reuters poll in December, however, was for no cut in the first quarter. ECB Executive Board members Yves Mersch and Peter Praet have both dampened expectations of a cut in the main refi rate.

Joerg Asmussen, another ECB board member, also said late last month he would be “very reluctant” about the ECB cutting its deposit rate - now at zero - any further.

Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz argues that those against cutting rates have an upper hand at ECB at the moment because ECB President Mario Draghi needs support for his new bond-purchase program, a backstop to deter investors from selling off debt in countries such as Spain and Italy. “The commitment to potentially unlimited bond purchases is the key policy tool of the ECB,” Schulz wrote in a note.

“To ensure its credibility ... Draghi will have to ensure maximum support for it in the Governing Council, which gives hawks a disproportionate weight and will probably prevent another rate cut to support the economy.”

Friday brings China’s latest inflation data, once a clear worry for the authorities and financial markets, both of whom feared the economy was growing too fast. The fact that it is no longer

News

in brief

Nakheel issues $33m sukuk DUBAI: Dubaiís Nakheel issued an Islamic bond worth 121 million dirhams ($32.94 million) yesterday, the third tranche of a sukuk that forms part of the developerís billion-dollar restructuring plan. The bond will go towards part settlement of trade creditor claims against the company worth around 5.3 billion dirhams. This tranche takes the total amount of sukuk issued to 4.15 billion dirhams, Nakheel said in an emailed statement. The first tranche was issued in August 2011, part of the companyís $16 billion restructuring plan. Nakheel was hit by a property slump in the Gulf Arab emirate after it overstretched itself building islands in the shape of palms and other ambitious projects. The developer, which is owned by the Dubai government, said apart from the sukuk and related profit payments it has also paid around 10 billion dirhams to various trade creditors and contractors since November 2009.

Iraq oil exports slip to 2.34m bpd in Dec BAGHDAD: Iraq’s oil exports fell to 2.34 million barrels per day (bpd) in December from 2.62 million bpd in November due to a slowdown in Kurdistan exports, rough weather and technical problems with a Single Point Mooring terminal, a government oil adviser said yesterday. Iraq shipped 2.02 million bpd from the southern oil hub of Basra, down from 2.194 million bpd in November, said Abdul-Ilah Qasim, an energy adviser to the Iraqi government.

Iranian oil export revenues down 45% DUBAI: Iran’s oil sales revenues have slumped by 45 percent since last March and are likely to remain low over the next three months, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi told a parliamentary budget committee yesterday, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

Qasemi has typically played down the impact of Western restrictions on oil sales but he told Iranian MPs yesterday that sales volumes had fallen by 40 percent over the last nine months while earnings had dropped by 45 percent, ISNA quoted the spokesman for the budget and planning committee as saying.

Ryanair passenger numbers up 2% DUBLIN: Ryanair said passenger numbers grew 2 percent in December year-on-year, as it carried 4.8 million passengers. Europe’s largest low-cost airline also said yesterday its load factor - a measure of the proportion of seats sold rose to 81 percent from 79 percent a year ago.

BERLIN: CEO of Air Berlin, Hartmut Mehdorn, attends a news conference in Berlin. —AP

cause for undue concern reflects both the impact of slowing global demand and steady efforts by Beijing to cool things down without a “hard landing” that would have rippled across the world.

Japanese bank Nomura reckons that year-onyear Chinese consumer prices rose 2.2 percent in December, slightly higher than November’s 2.0 percent, but way below the peak of 6.5 percent in August 2011.

This would sit well with growth expectations of around 7.7 to 7.8 percent for the year, two full percentage points below growth around two years ago. A soft landing, if you like.

“You had inflation taking off, overheating in real estate and the authorities tightening policy,” said Standard Chartered’s Hewin. “(Now) inflation has essentially bottomed out.

(The Chinese) authorities are not worried about overheating, nor are they concerned about a hard landing.”

There is relatively little due from the United States in terms of economic releases, but plenty of issues to chew on. One is just how widespread the belief is at the Federal Reserve that stimulus should be coming to an end - a surprising discovery in last week’s minutes.

The other is the budget. Potential economic disaster was averted at the start of the year with an agreement between the White House and Congress over taxes, avoiding the “fiscal cliff” that threatened huge automatic budget austerity. But the agreement left many things to be dealt with later. “In our view, it leaves the door wide open for another debt ceiling fiasco in a matter of weeks, and installed a new “mini-cliff” for government spending in two months,” Credit Suisse said in a research note. — Reuters

Banque Saudi Fransi Q4 net profit jumps RIYADH: Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), the lender partowned by Credit Agricole, posted a 22.2 percent jump in its fourth-quarter net profit citing higher operating income, it said in a bourse statement yesterday. The kingdom’s fifth-largest bank by market capitalization said it made 808 million riyals ($215.5 million) in the three months ending December 31 compared with 661 million riyals in the same period a year earlier.

Saudi banks have enjoyed successive years of expansionary government budgets, ample liquidity and improving corporate loan demand.

TOKYO: Heads of Japan’s three economic organizations, Hiromasa Yonekura (center), chairman of Keidanren (the Japan Business Federation), shakes hands with Yasuchika Hasegawa (right), chairman of Keizai Doyukai (the Japan Association of Corporate Executives), and Tadashi Okamura (left), chairman of the Japan and Tokyo Chambers of Commerce and Industry as they hold a press conference after a New Year’s party at a Tokyo hotel yesterday. — AFP

Japan business lobbies back PM Abe TOKYO: Major business lobbies in Japan yesterday backed the efforts of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to revive the faltering economy and urged him to commit to a Pacific-wide free trade deal.

“The landslide victory of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by... Abe shows people’s desire for the government to restore the economy as they have a sense of stagnation,” Chairman of the Japan Business Federation Hiromasa Yonekura told a press conference of three major business lobbies.

“It is very reassuring that he is aggressively tackling the issue of rebuilding the economy. We want to fully support him,” said Yonekura, also the chairman of Sumitomo Chemical.

The endorsement is the latest vote of confidence in Abe by Japan’s business community. Stocks have soared since his victory last month and the sky-high yen has tumbled as investors back his tough talk on forcing aggressive monetary easing measures from the Bank of Japan.

Japan is stumbling into its fifth recession in two decades, a period that has been marked by stagnation and debilitating deflation. Yasuchika Hasegawa, head of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, said it was too early to say whether or not Abe’s fiscal largesse, which has seen pledges of huge new stimulus spending, would pay dividends, but the signs were good so far.

“The market reacted positively even before the launch of the Abe administration,” he said. “This is a good sign and I hope he will steadily carry out policies to avoid a fracturing of the economy,” said Hasegawa, also

Takeda Pharmaceutical’s CEO. Abe earlier on Monday pledged he would look to revive the slowing economy with much-clamoredfor reform of regulations and by backing innovations that would help manufacturers regain their edge. “I will set up a conference on industrial competitiveness, so as to mobilize wisdom of both the government and the private sector,” he said. He also said he will create two other public-private joint conferences, on regulatory reforms and technological innovations, calling them “the key to industrial competitiveness”.

Business chiefs welcomed the moves but said they would like Abe to make an early announcement committing Japan to participation in a US-backed Pacific-wide free trade deal, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“I strongly hope that Prime Minister Abe visits the United States soon and express Japan’s will to join the talks,” Yonekura said.

Abe said his government will concentrate resources on potential growth areas including one that is linked to “clean and potentially self-sufficient energy generation” and agriculture. “I believe agriculture is a growth area,” Abe said.

“In agricultural trade, price levels are going up. But to my regret, Japan has not expanded its share despite the fact that we have safe and delicious food. I want to transform our agriculture into an industry that can export to the world,” Abe said.

The TPP is a touchy matter for Japan’s cosseted farmers, who object to any liberalization of the market and provide the backbone of rural support for Abe’s LDP. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

BUSINESS

Successes, challenges and policies Women entrepreneurs in MENA DUBAI: The Chicago Booth UAE Alumni Club is hosting their Annual Middle East Conference on 16 January 2013 at Dubai’s Ritz-Carlton DIFC. The event ? entitled ‘ Women Entrepreneurs in MENA: Successes, Challenges and Policies’ ? is organized in collaboration with the Ideation Center, Booz & Company’s signature Middle East think tank.

Beginning at 3:00pm, the conference will comprise three discussion panels entitled Research on Women Entrepreneurs; Success Stories; and Policies for Women Entrepreneurs.

Top level speakers The event will see attendance by a number of prominent experts on entrepreneurship in the MENA region, and feature highly-acclaimed entrepreneurs and pioneers of the female economic empowerment. Keynote addresses will be given by a slew of industry leaders, including Dr. Karim Sabbagh, Senior Vice President at Booz & Company, Dr Nasser Saidi, Former Chief Economist of DIFCA and former Executive Director of Hawkamah Institute, Dr. Leila Hoteit, Principal at Booz & Company and

Chicago Booth UAE Alumni Club in Dubai and Booz & Company’s Ideation Center set out to empower the Third Billion in the Club’s Annual Middle East conference. With a staggering 1 billion women expected to enter the global economy in the coming decade, the conference entitled ‘Women Entrepreneurs in MENA: Successes, Challenges and Policies’ “ aims to provide insight into this group’s potential and challenges in the region.

Nadereh Chamlou, Senior Advisor MENA at the World Bank.

tries. However, despite enormous economic contributions and real success stories, female entrepreneurship remains under-explored and inadequately covered in the MENA region due to cultural norms, barriers of doing business, and relatively low participation of women in entrepreneurial activity. Thus, MENA economies need to understand the challenges specific to women’s entrepreneurship, provide a more enabling business environment, and promote entrepreneurship with a particular focus on eliminating gender-specific barriers through policy instruments that are effective in raising entrepreneurship rates among women.

Goal of the conference “The conference aims to highlight key findings of international and regional research on women entrepreneurship; discuss some first-hand experiences of pioneering female entrepreneurs in MENA; and, address current gaps in policy and execution and suggest key steps in defining the way forward to empower women entrepreneurs in the MENA region,” said Dr. Sabbagh.

Why this conference topic Indeed, today, according to the Ideation Center’s landmark publication The Third Billion, women are among the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs in a number of coun-

Dr Karim Sabbagh

Dr Leila Hoteit

Chicago Booth Alumni in UAE The conference is one of several initiatives organized each year by

Booth UAE Alumni Club advocating the interests of its members and the university, providing continuing educational opportunities, promoting the exchange of ideas between club members and the community and encouraging the development of a strong and diverse association of MENA-area alumni. According to Mark Corusy, President of the Booth UAE Alumni Club, “We are most grateful for the support of the Ideation Center as well as all the other conference sponsors to enhance awareness of this critical topic and guide the club’s longer term mission and social responsibility efforts focused on entrepreneurship and education.” Everyone is welcome to attend and may register through boothuaeconference.eventbrite.com.

Booz & Company is a leading global management consulting firm focused on serving and shaping the senior agenda of the world’s leading institutions. Our founder, Edwin Booz, launched the profession when he established the first management consulting firm in Chicago in 1914.

Today, we operate globally with more than 3,000 people in 58 offices around the world.

Canadian-Chilean mining lease void: Pakistan court ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court yesterday declared invalid a lease for one of the world’s richest deposits of gold and copper held by a Canadian-Chilean consortium that includes Vancouver-based giant Barrick Gold.

Barrick, the world’s largest gold producer, and Chile’s Antofagasta Minerals, each own a 37.5 percent share, as the Tethyan Copper Company, in the largest Foreign Direct Investment mining project in Pakistan. Their plan was to build and operate a copper and gold open-pit mine at Reko Diq in the Chagai district of the southwestern province Baluchistan, the most deprived part of Pakistan, rife with Taleban, sectarian and separatist violence.

Barrick and Antofagasta say the proposed plant could produce 600,000 tons of copper and 250,000 ounces of gold a year, but in 2011 work came to a standstill after the local government refused to renew the consortium’s mining lease.

The provincial government in Baluchistan is also the sleeping

partner in the Reko Diq project with a 25 percent stake.

Reasons for the dispute are murky, but some analysts suggest that China, a close Pakistan ally, is also interested in the deposits. Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday declared “not valid” the initial 1993 exploration agreement between the Baluchistan government and Australian mining group BHP, since BHP Billiton.

It said the agreement ran counter to Pakistan’s mineral development act and mining concession rules, and therefore to transfer it to the Canadian-Chilean consortium is also “illegal, void and non est”.

Experts say mining in Baluchistan is dominated by small companies focused primarily on marble and granite, which waste up to 80 percent of mined minerals because of poor blasting techniques.

They also call for more transparent polices to allow business to flourish. — AFP

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, talks with business leaders during Japan’s business organizations joint New Year’s party in Tokyo yesterday. Asian stocks cooled off yesterday as some investors sold shares to lock in profits following recent rallies. —AP

Asian markets lower as profit-taking offsets data HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly fell yesterday as last week’s gains prompted profit-taking, overshadowing Friday’s Wall Street rally and upbeat US job creation figures.

The yen rose slightly against the dollar and euro, although it remains under pressure on expectations the Japanese central bank will further loosen monetary policy.

Tokyo-which on Friday hit its highest level since before the quake and tsunami of March 2011 — slipped 0.83 percent, giving up 89.10 points to 10,599.01. Sydney shed 0.14 percent, or 6.5 points to 4,717.3 and Seoul was flat, dipping 0.68 points to 2011.26.

Hong Kong finished flat, dipping 1.34 points to 23,329.75, but Shanghai closed up 0.37 percent, or 8.37 points, at 2,285.36, with traders optimistic about upcoming data, including inflation and trade figures, due out of Beijing soon. “With the major indexes having run up so far so fast, alarm bells have sounded about technical overheating,” an equity trading director at a foreign brokerage told Dow Jones Newswires.

“Some players want to take some cash off the table... but demand remains strong overall, and this does not look like a tipping point in terms of a more profound sell-off.” Traders cashed in after shares jumped last week in the wake of the deal in Washington to avert the fiscal cliff of tax hikes and spending cuts that economists had warned would tip the United States into recession.

Providing some buying support was news out of Washington on Friday showing the world’s biggest economy added 155,000 jobs in December.

While the figure is not huge and was in line with expectations, it does show some confidence. In addition the latest ISM index on the service sector showed unexpected growth in December, the fastest in 10 months, led by new orders and employment.

Wall Street closed higher on the news. The Dow finished up 0.33 percent and the Nasdaq was flat, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.49 percent to its highest close since December 31, 2007.

On currency markets the dollar eased against the yen after hitting its strongest point against the Japanese unit in more than two years last week.

The greenback stood at 87.74 yen in early European trade compared with 88.15 yen in New York late Friday. The euro was at 114.43 yen and $1.3038 from 115.19 yen and $1.3067. Oil prices were lower with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February, shedding 41 cents to $92.68 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for February lost 25 cents to $111.06. Gold was at $1,654.50 at 1120 GMT compared with $1,628.82 late Friday.

In other markets: • Singapore slipped 0.22 percent, or 6.96 points, to 3,218.26. Property developer Keppel Land gained 0.24 percent to Sg$4.13 while United Overseas Bank dropped 0.81 percent to Sg$19.64.

• Taipei fell 0.65 percent, or 50.90 points, to 7,755.09.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was 0.99 percent lower at Tw$100.5 while leading integrated circuits design house MediaTek Inc dropped 1.31 percent to Tw$301.5.

• Manila surged 1.23 percent, or 73.46 points, to 6,044.91.

The index finished above the 6,000 for the first time thanks to growing confident in the economy, with many expecting the Philippines will see its credit rating lifted to investment grade.

San Miguel rose 3.13 percent to 108.70 pesos and Megaworld jumped 8.8 percent to 3.33 pesos.

• Wellington closed 0.24 percent higher, adding 9.80 points to 4,084.84.

Ryman rose 2.4 percent to an alltime high of NZ$4.80, while Telecom was up 0.69 percent at NZ$2.195 and Air New Zealand was flat at NZ$1.31.

• Jakarta eased 0.40 percent, or 17.64 points, to 4,392.38. Miner Aneka Tambang fell 0.74 percent to 1,340 rupiah and car maker Astra International slid 1.27 percent to 7,750 rupiah.

• Kuala Lumpur was flat, edging up 1.58 points to 1,694.16.

Genting rose 2.0 percent to 9.70 ringgit while UMW Holdings was up 2.0 percent to end at 12.46. British American Tobacco slipped 2.2 percent to 60.14 ringgit.

• Bangkok was also flat, nudging down 1.34 points to 1,415.32.

• Mumbai was down 0.47 percent, or 129.14 points, to 19,691.42. — AFP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

BUSINESS

Toyota crowned world’s No 1 car manufacturer While Toyota celebrates 75 years

Toyoda Standard Sedan AA 1936 Bertel Schmitt

First Toyota car Nagoya KUWAIT: Toyota regained the lead in global car sales over General Motors Co, with Volkswagen AG poised to move past GM and push the US automaker into third place for the full year 2012.

Toyota managed to be crowned as the world’s number one car manufacturer with nearly 9 million units delivered in the year 2012 while coinciding with its 75 years celebration.

There are a lot of things that come to mind when you think of Toyota. The world’s largest automaker is known for its production capabilities, its vast range of products offered around the world, its bulletproof reliability, its advances in hybrid propulsion and other technologies... but heritage might not be the first on the list. That may not be perfectly fair, though, since Toyota has been around for longer than most automakers. In fact, this year the Japanese auto giant celebrates its seventy-fifth anniversary.

Over the course of this past three quarters of a century, Toyota has progressed from building the first automatic loom through the rickety cars for which it was initially known to some of the most dependable and technologically advanced cars ever to hit the road.

CEO MNSS Mubarak Al-Sayer said: “ The fact that Toyota has been crowned in 2012 as the No 1 car manufacturer coinciding with its 75 years celebration is only a reflection of Toyota’s determination to make its cars even better, while continuing to give customers the best possible product. This is the common goal of over 300,000 Toyota staff members worldwide. And in Kuwait Toyota Al-Sayer MNSS has launched The Reassured Campaign- to assure customers that we will continue to provide the utmost service that makes owning a Toyota is the best investment decision they have ever made, while taking our customer’s satisfaction to higher levels with no match”.

Mubarak Al-Sayer added: “I thank all the customers in Kuwait who continued to buy Toyota & Lexus cars inspite of the high Japanese currency the yen”.

Toyota: A 75-year Histor y of Heritage and Technology Toyota Motor Corporation , abbreviated TMC, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota employed 300,734 people worldwide, and was the third largest automobile manufacturer in 2011 by production behind General Motors and Volkswagen AG. Toyota is the eleventh largest company in the world by revenue. In July 2012 the company reported that it had manufactured its 200 millionth vehicle.

Corporate governance Toyota headquarters in Toyota City, Japan Toyota is headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi. Its Tokyo office is located in Bunkyo, Tokyo. Its Nagoya office is located in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya. In addition to manufacturing automobiles, Toyota provides financial services through its Toyota Financial Services division and also builds robots.

The characters of the founding family ’s name “Toyoda” in Japanese, which translate to “fertile rice paddies” in the same in Chinese language as well.

History Toyota started in 1933 as a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works devoted to the production of automobiles under the direction of the founder’s son, Kiichiro Toyoda. Its first vehicles were the A1 passenger car and the G1 in 1935. The Toyota Motor Co was established as an independent company in 1937. In 2008, Toyota’s sales surpassed General Motors, making Toyota number one in the world.

In 1924 Sakichi Toyoda invented the Toyoda Model G Automatic Loom. The principle of Jidoka, which means that the machine stops itself when a problem occurs, became later a part of the Toyota Production System. Looms were built on a small production line. In 1929, the patent for the automatic loom was sold to a British company, generating the starting capital for the automobile development.

Toyoda Standard Sedan AA 1936 Vehicles were originally sold under the name “Toyoda”, from the family name of the company ’s founder, Kiichir Toyoda. In April 1936, Toyoda’s first passenger car, the Model AA was completed. The sales price was 3,350 yen, 400 yen cheaper than Ford or GM cars.

Since “Toyoda” literally means “fertile rice paddies”.

The newly formed word was trademarked and the company was registered in August 1937 as the “Toyota

“Hybrid Synergy Drive” and in Lexus versions as “Lexus Hybrid Drive.”

Cumulative sales of TMC hybrids in Japan reached the 2 million mark in October 2012. As of 31 October 2012, cumulative sales of TMC-produced hybrid vehicles worldwide reached 4.60 million units.

As of October 2012, there are 19 TMC-produced hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid vehicle model available in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world, and the carmaker plans to launch 20 new hybrid models by the end of 2015.

Besides the three generations of Prius liftback, Toyota’s hybrid lineup includes the Camry Hybrid (1st and 2nd generation), Toyota Highlander Hybrid (Kluger Hybrid in Japan), the Toyota Auris Hybrid, Toyota Yaris Hybrid (Europe only).

The Lexus RX 450h is the top selling hybrid of the Lexus brand.

Until September 2012, The Prius liftback was the top selling new car in Japan for 16 months in a row.

Lexus also has their own hybrid lineup, consisting of the GS 450h, RX 400h/RX 450h, the LS 600h/LS 600h L, Lexus HS 250h, Lexus CT 200h, andLexus ES 300h.

Cumulative sales of Lexus brand hybrid vehicles worldwide reached the 500 thousand mark in November 2012, with the Lexus RX 400h/RX 450h as the top selling Lexus hybrid with 259 thousand units, followed by the Lexus CT 200h with 122 thousand units.

1957 Toyota Crown Motor Company”.

Sports Sponsorship For development of society via sports and cultural activities Toyota is contributing to rich social development such that all people can help one another for the future of humankind. Some steps Toyota is taking for this goal are carried out by the promotion of sports events, such as FIFA Club World Cup presented by TOYOTA, the World Championships, and more.

FIFA Club World Cup presented by TOYOTA The FIFA Club World Cup presented by TOYOTA is a

automatic with buttons for power and economy shifting, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota, and Toyota-produced Lexus and Scion automobiles, consistently rank near the top in certain quality and reliability sur veys, primarily J D Power and Consumer Reports although they led in automobile recalls for the first time in 2009.

Worldwide presence The Camry is assembled in several facilities around the world including Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, India, Vietnam and the United States.

Toyota has factories in most parts of the world,

Visual events sports sponsorship soccer tournament to determine the top club team from more than 300,000 club teams in the six continents. Participants in this tournament are seven teams including the host country along with the six club teams representing each continent. The first competition took place in Brazil in 2000 as the FIFA Club World Championship.

manufacturing or assembling vehicles for local markets. Toyota has manufacturing or assembly plants in Japan, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Canada, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, Colombia, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Brazil, Portugal, and more recently, Argentina, Czech Republic, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, Egypt, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, the Philippines, and Russia.

The Toyota Way Toyota’s management philosophy has evolved from the company’s origins and has been reflected in the terms “Lean Manufac turing” and Just I n Time Production, which it was instrumental in developing.

Toyota’s managerial values and business methods are known collectively as the Toyota Way. In April 2001 Toyota adopted the “Toyota Way 2001,” an expression of values and conduct guidelines that all Toyota employees should embrace.

Toyota has introduced new technologies including one of the first mass-produced hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles, of which it says it has sold 2 million globally as of 2010, Advanced Parking Guidance System (automatic parking), a four-speed electronically controlled

Electric technology Toyota Prius, flagship of Toyota’s hybrid technology, and the best selling hybrid car in the world Hybrid electric vehicles Hybrid Synergy Drive, Hybrid electric vehicle, and Toyota Prius Toyota is one of the largest companies to push hybrid electric vehicles in the market and the first to commercially mass-produce and sell such vehicles, with the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997. The company eventually began providing this option on the main smaller cars such as Camry and later with the Lexus divisions, producing some hybrid luxury vehicles. It labeled such technology in Toyota cars as

Plug-in hybrids

Plug-in hybrids Production version of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid.

Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid The production version of the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid was released in Japan in January 2012, followed by the United States in late February, and deliveries in Europe began in late June 2012. A total of 21,600 Prius PHVs have been sold worldwide through October 2012.

Toyota in motorsports Toyota has been involved in many global motorsports series. They also represent their Lexus brand in other sports car racing categories. Toyota also makes engines and other auto parts for other Japanese motorsports including formula Nippon, Super GT, formula 3 and formula Toyota series. Toyota also runs a driver development programme known as TDP (Toyota Young Drivers Program) which they made for funding and educating future Japanese motorsports talent. Toyota’s nationwide driver hunt of drivers for Etios Motor Racing (EMR) Series ended up with selection of 25 drivers, who will participate in the race in 2013.

Philanthropy Toyota is supporter of the Toyota Family Literacy Program along with National Center for Family Literac y, helping lowincome community members for education, United Negro College Fund (40 annual scholarships), National Underground Railroad Freedom Center ($1 million) among others Toyota created the Toyota USA Foundation.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

BUSINESS

Celebrate the New Year with a great offer from MBMC

A

l Mulla and Behbehani Motor Company (MBMC), the official distributor for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles has unveiled a tempting New Year offer on the outstanding 2013 Dodge Charger, setting 2013 off to cracking start.

Customers can now avail of the stunning 2013 Dodge Charger at an unbelievable price of only KD 7999. The 2013 Dodge Charger provides the ultimate combination of dramatic Dodge heritage styling, award-winning premium interiors, the reassurance of an IIHS “Top Safety Pick”: and full-size spaciousness with best-in-class fuel efficiency and world-class handling and performance.

This great offer also comes with free registration and insurance and MBMC gives the highest trade-in value to customers wanting to exchange their old car for a new Dodge Charger. MBMC’s easy and flexible financing options have proved especially popular, with customers benefitting from the advantage of the competitive finance packages.

Maher Abu Shabaan, MBMC’s

Deputy GM of Sales and Marketing said: “This is an outstanding offer for the New Year that can be combined with excellent finance packages to suit individual customers and help spread the payments.

We’re expecting a great deal of interest.”

The 2013 Dodge Charger is a modern, four-door coupe that combines rear-wheel-drive muscle-car power, sports-car handling and leading-edge technology to deliver a thrilling driving experience with improved fuel efficiency.

As the first American sport sedan to feature an eight-speed automatic transmission - the 2013 Dodge Charger with the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine delivers best-in-class fuel economy in rearwheel-drive - up to 31 mpg.

Compared with the five-speed automatic, the results are quicker acceleration, seamless shifts, improved performance and class-leading fuel efficiency. And all this comes with the roominess of a full-size sedan, and the style only the brand’s iconic Charger can deliver. American muscle-car styling is evident in the Dodge Charger. The coupe-inspired

flydubai widens Saudi network with new Ha’il destination KUWAIT: flydubai, Dubai’s innovative lowcost airline, has added another destination in Saudi Arabia to its network, with two flights a week to Ha’il.

Flights to Ha’il, an oasis city in Nejd in the north west of the country, will commence on 13 February 2013. The city contributes to a large percentage of the Kingdom’s wheat, date and fruit production. flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “As we remain committed to better serve the Saudi market, we are grateful to the authorities for their continuous support of flydubai. The start of this service reaffirms our commitment to serve regional airports with direct flights to Dubai. We look forward to serving passengers from Ha’il, which is becoming increasing important to the Kingdom’s economy.” flydubai first launched services to Saudi Arabia in November 2010, and now serves R i y a d h , J e d d a h , A b h a Ya n b u, D a m m a m , Gassim, Tabuk and Taif and in addition to Ha’il. flydubai’s network now spans more than 50 destinations in 32 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and Central & Eastern Europe.

Flight information Flights to Ha’il will operate twice a week and will commence on 13 February 2013. FZ885 departs Dubai Terminal 2 on Wednesday at 1510hrs, and on Friday at 1935hrs landing in Ha’il Regional Airport on Wednesday at 1640hrs, and on Friday at 2105hrs local time. The return flight, FZ886, departs on Wednesday at 1740hrs, and on Friday at 2205hrs arriving in Dubai on Wednesday

at 2040hrs, and on Saturday at 0105hrs.

Round trip fares from Dubai to Ha’il start at AED 1,000 and fares from Ha’il to Dubai start at SAR 1,040.

Fares include one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg and one small laptop bag or hand bag. Checked baggage starts at AED 50 ($14) for 20kgs. A seat with extra legroom costs AED100 ($28) extra.

“The Dodge Charger is a bold looking car and its handsome exterior looks, powerful yet frugal engines and MBMC’s outstanding value for money offer is just the cherry on the cake for customers looking for a family sedan with sports car characteristics. Our hot pre-summer offer means customers can enjoy the sportiness, comfort and luxury of this great car without getting hot under the collar.”

Dodge Charger line-up delivers performance and value The 2013 Dodge Charger SE, SXT and Sport models feature the lightweight, 292 horsepower 3.6litre Pentastar V6 engine for up to 31 mpg highway (with eight-speed transmission). With the legendary 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine under the hood, the 2013 Dodge Charger R/T models deliver 370 horsepower and up to 25 mpg on the highway with innovative four-cylinder mode Fuel Saver Technology. Dodge Charger models also offer up technology, performance and valuepacked feature packages to help customers equip their sports car to their exact needs.

Qualitynet first in region to launch steam gaming engine with Valve that the new gaming server KUWAIT: Qualitynet, Kuwait’s will provide a higher level of No 1 total solutions provider experience to the online gamhas partnered up with Valve, ing community. “Gamers will an entertainment software experience faster service, and technology giant, to mirimproved latency and rapid ror online gaming content response time”, said Mustafa that will be hosted locally in Al-Najjar.

Kuwait by Qualitynet. This new Valve is an American methodology will give some entertainment software and of the best Grade of Service to technology company foundthe online gaming community ed in 1996. In addition to crein Kuwait and the region. Also, Mustafa Al-Najjar, ating several of the world’s it speaks highly of the commitment shown by international GM - Network Services most award-winning games such as the Half-Life, Counter distribution houses to the local Strike, and Team Fortress, Valve is also a develand regional markets of the Middle East.

Mustafa Al-Najjar, GM - Network Services, oper of leading-edge technologies including Qualitynet stated, “Our core importance lies in the Source game engine and Steam, the preproviding the best grade of service to our cus- mier online gaming platform. Some of the tomers; to each and every segment in the mar- top publishing companies such as Activision, ket. This has been our focus from the day we Bohemia Interactive, Funcom, Konami, Sony started, and this is our focus as the leading Online and Warner Brothers host their games Internet Services Provider in Kuwait”. He added with Valve.

Burgan Bank announces names of daily winners of Yawmi Account

The right quality for IKEA products KUWAIT: Known for the right quality of furniture ,IKEA prides itself in the basic fundamental that encompasses the Swedish furnishing stores vision of the perfect home. That is why it is still crucial that though products sold at the store maybe of the lowest prices due to economies of scale and flat pack transportation but will never be compromised when it comes to the right quality.

The determining factor for any customer

styling and fastback design create a modern statement of power with all the versatility of a four-door sedan.

With a contemporary design to back up its power, sports-car handling and cutting-edge technology, today’s consumers will appreciate the added function, convenience and interior capacity of a full-size passenger car with American rearwheel-drive muscle-car genes.

The Dodge Charger has achieved 5-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 5-star rating is the highest rating for safety by the Administration and measures vehicle safety performance in three categories, including front, side crashes and rollover crashes.

In addition, Dodge Charger was named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) - its highest rating. IIHS recognizes vehicles with outstanding crashworthiness in front, side, rollover and rear crashes. The Dodge flagship sedan received “good” ratings, the highest achievable, in all four categories.

Maher Abu-Shabaan, Assistant GM - Sales & Marketing, MBMC says:

here, is the way in which the products will be used. To make sure that all IKEA home furnishing products meet the expectations and requirements of the customers as well as all the mandatory standards and norms, the products are pre-tested over in the IKEA Test Laboratory.

IKEA has a fully accredited test lab in Almhult (Sweden) which tests both textiles and furniture. Some 50,000 tests are carried out in accordance with current norms and standards each

year. For several years in succession the IKEA Test Lab has been accredited for its quality system and test methods in accordance with the international standard ISO 17 025. In some cases where no EU-standard exists, Mobelfakta (Swedish Furniture Research institute) is adapted to ISO Standards.

The IKEA Test Lab examines almost all types of products and materials used in the IKEA range. At IKEA great emphasis is laid on the functionality of products and their safety as well. Thus ultimately IKEA adheres to Swedish and all other industry standards on product safety and quality ensuring that the customer comes back not just for low prices but for the right quality products that the Swedish retailer has to offer.

IKEA products must meet the customers’ demands not only in terms of design, function and price, but also with regard to safety, stability and durability. To take one example, a tabletop is usually subjected to a great deal more wear and tear than a bookshelf. That’s why a table-top may require four coats of protective lacquer, while two are generally enough for a bookshelf. In this way IKEA saves on materials, and customers can buy their bookshelves at a lower price.

The quality of IKEA products is also evident in the guarantees the IKEA Store provides for a wide range of its products ranging from 5 years on most of its sofas to 25 years on kitchens and much more. Ultimately the goal of IKEA is to adhere to all safety standards and ensure that the customer comes back not just for low prices but for the good quality product that this Swedish store offers.

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the four lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000.

The lucky winners for the daily draws took home a cash-prize of KD 5,000 each, and they are: ● 1. Rashed Khaleel Ibrahim Rashed ● 2. Ahmad Abdulredha Hussain Saleem ● 3. Mohammed Mohsen Mohammed Alshamery ● 4. Shabbir Hussein Shamun Ali The newly re-launched Yawmi Account is better, easier and faster than any day before.

With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account. Customers are also required to deposit KD 100 or equivalent only to enter the daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD 10. The newly

designed Yawmi account has been launched to provide a highly innovative offering along with a higher frequency and incentive of winning for everyone. Today, the Yawmi account is a well understood product, where its popularity can be seen from the number of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances to becoming a daily winner. The more customers deposit, the higher the chances they receive of winning the draw.

Opening a Yawmi account is simple, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and receive all the details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on the Yawmi account or any of the bankís products and services. Customers can also log on to Burgan Bankís www.burgan.com for further information.

KIB joins Visa campaign ‘Win Big Box From Visa’ during DSF KUWAIT: Kuwait Int’l Bank (KIB) announced its participation in Visa Int’l campaign “Win the big box from Visa” which was launched at the beginning of Dubai Shopping Festival on Jan 3rd, and ongoing until Feb 3rd, 2013. The chance is open for all of KIB’s Visa cardholders to enter the big draw by simply using their cards issued by KIB to settle their payments in different Dubai malls and shopping centers during the festival in accordance to terms and conditions. The more they purchase their chances will grow to enter the draw on the big prize in addition to winning spontaneous daily prizes allocated by Visa

through its big draw box in Dubai Mall.

Commenting on the campaign, Dima AlMelifi, Head of Credit Cards Unit at KIB said: “Considering the popularity of Dubai Shopping Festival amongst our customers’ base, we wanted to give them an exclusive opportunity to shop and win simultaneously”. Al-Malifi invited all of KIB Visa cardholders to benefit from the campaign by using any of their cards of Visa Maisara Classical or Gold, Visa special and Visa platinum. KIB is keen to participate in all of Visa int’l comprehensive campaigns as a gesture to award its customers of Visa cardholders.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

technology Post-smartphone era coming LAS VEGAS: The era of the smartphone is rapidly becoming a post-smartphone era, a key tech industry analyst said Sunday ahead of the opening of the world’s biggest technology show.

Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at the Consumer Electronics Association, told a gathering that the smartphone has become so successful it is become a hub for people’s digital lives, and less of a communications device.

“I think we are entering a post-smartphone era,” he told journalists ahead of today’s opening of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

He said 65 percent of time spend on smartphones now is is “non communication activities” such as apps for health, entertainment or other activities.

“We have moved away not only from telephony but from communications being the primary part of these devices,” he said.

“So it is not just a communications devices, it is a hardware hub around which people build services... the smartphone is becoming the viewfinder for

your digital life.”

DuBravac said this is among the key trends being watched as tens of thousands gather to show off the latest wares in global trillion-dollar technology sector.

Another trend is the high-density screens which are being developed for smartphones, tablets, computers and bigger devices such as televisions.

“This has implications for the Web generally,” he said.

Because people have higher-quality screens, “We are going to demand high resolution images, and that will have an impact on a variety of Internet services.

“We see it happening at the smartphone level. But this is a shift that is happening across all screens.”

Still, DuBravac said the so-called ultra-HD televisions touted by some makers has been slow to catch on because of high costs.

Only around 1.5 million of these TVs are expected to be sold annually by 2016, he said. “We are not expecting this to be a technology that ramps very quickly,” he noted. — AFP

LAS VEGAS: Diego Romeu of 3M Touch Systems uses an 84 inch touch table during a press event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the 2013 International CES yesterday in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs from Jan 8 to 11 and is expected to feature 3,100 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. — AFP

Global technology industry uneven as mobile surges A tale of two sectors

This undated photo provided by Lego shows ‘Reptar,’ a robotic snake that is one of 17 possible creations available in the new $350 Lego Mindstorms EV3 platform that will have the ability to talk to iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches through Bluetooth wireless connections. — AP

New Lego robotics kit talks to iPhones LAS VEGAS: Lego bricks are getting cozy with the iPhone and other Apple devices in the latest incarnation of the Mindstorms robotics kit.

Lego was set to announce yesterday that a new, $350 Mindstorms EV3 kit will have the ability to talk to iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches through Bluetooth wireless connections. That means Lego builders can use the devices as remote controls for their robots, or create simple programs that are then sent to the robots to control their actions.

Lego said the kit will go on sale in the second half of the year. It was announced as the International CES gadget show begins in Las Vegas this week.

Remote control was already possible with Android smartphones and the most recent Mindstorms kit, the NXT. Apple devices didn’t work because the “brain” of the kit - a juice-box-sized electronic brick - lacked a

chip that would identify the Lego gadget to Apple devices.

Also new in the Mindstorms EV3 kit is a “two-eyed” infrared sensor that can pick up signals from a small infrared remote and locate it. In the kit, Lego includes the blueprints for a snake robot that uses its eyes to sense if someone is close to its head, in which case it strikes.

The EV3 will also be the first Mindstorms kit to be available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Russian. Previous kits have been in English, Japanese and a few other European languages.

As with earlier kits, the EV3 includes four motors and five different sensors. The new brick is compatible with earlier sensors and motors and is “more hackable than ever,” according to Lego. The first Mindstorms came out in 1998. Suggested age for the EV3 is 10 and up. —- AP

LAS VEGAS: The global tech industry has become a tale of two sectors, with mobile devices surging at the expense of older electronics that are struggling, a forecast showed yesterday. A survey presented ahead of the International Consumer Electronics Show, the biggest trade show of its kind, projects modest growth of four percent for the industry expected to generate 2013 sales of $1.1 trillion.

But half of the revenues will come from mobile connected devices-smartphones, tablets and mobile computers, according to the forecast by the Consumer Electronics Association and GfK Research.

The industry has been buffeted by the huge shift to mobile, but also by sluggish global economic conditions, especially in recession-hit Western Europe.

The report said 2012 sales, which a year ago were expected to rise five percent, ended up falling one percent, dragged down by weakness in Europe.

Western Europe is expected to contract again in 2013, while North America will see tepid

growth, and the chief drivers of tech growth will be from big emerging markets like China, the forecast said.

Steve Bambridge of GfK said that with many big economies in recession it will be hard to rev up tech sales.

“We’re no longer talking about double digit growth,” he told reporters in Las Vegas at a preview to the big electronics show that starts Tuesday.

“Were talking about a recovery in growth but a much more modest recovery.”

Steve Koenig of the CEA said tablets were the clear star of 2012 and that sales are expected to jump another 50 percent in 2013.

“Tablets were a must-have item for both Western Europe and the US,” he said, calling the devices probably the biggest growth item in the history of the industry.

But he said the surge in tablets and smartphones has meant people are forgoing other devices like laptop computers, small televisions for the bedroom or kitchen, or even digital cameras, since many of these functions can now be

done on a tablet or phone.

“A lot of these old technologies are turning into apps,” Koenig said. “We may end up seeing the whole hardware industry turn negative because it’s all going into the cloud, into services.”

Video game sales are flat or declining, he said, while mobile computers may be gaining some traction with new form factors: “Convertible” or “hybrid” computers that can function as tablets may erase memories of the failure of “ultrabooks,” according to Koenig.

While many consumers are using tablets instead of a second television, Koenig said interest is growing in “jumbo” TVs with screens of 60 inches (152 centimeters) or larger. “More and more sales are starting to happen at this super jumbo size,” he said.

But so-called ultra HD televisions remain slow to capture the market because of the steep price tags of several thousand dollars, according to the CEA/GfK forecast, which showed the segment capturing just five percent of the US market by 2016. — AFP

Lenovo to release giant 27-inch ‘coffee table PC’ LAS VEGAS: Dismayed that family members are spread out over the house, each with a separate PC or tablet? Lenovo has something it believes will get them back together: a PC the size of a coffee table that works like a gigantic tablet and lets four people use it at once. Lenovo Group Ltd., one of the world’s largest PC makers, is calling the IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC the first “interpersonal computer” - as opposed to a “personal computer.”

At first glance, it looks like a regular all-in-one machine in the vein of the iMac: It’s a 27-inch (685.8-millimeter) screen with the innards of a Windows 8 computer built into it, and it can stand up on a table.

But you can pick it up off the table, unhook the power cord and lay it flat for games of “Monopoly.” It’s big enough to fit four people around it, and the screen can respond to ten fingers touching it at the same time.

As a tablet, it’s a monstrosity. The screen is the size of eight iPads stitched together, and it weighs 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). It’s almost as homebound as a flat-panel TV. The Table PC will include plastic “strikers” for “Air Hockey,” and joysticks that attach to the screen with suction cups for other games, including multiplayer shooter “Raiding Company.”

In a demonstration at the International CES on Sunday, photos and videos could be rotated with fingers. Spreading five fingers at once on the screen cleared the screen of clutter, while squeezing them together brought the photos and videos back.

Lenovo, a Chinese company that owns IBM Corp.’s former PC business, said the Table PC will go on sale this summer starting at $1,699.

The Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC. — AP Microsoft Corp. pioneered the idea of a table PC with the Surface, a PC with a 30-inch (762-millimeter) touch-sensitive screen released in 2008. It was designed for store displays and other commercial applications. The concept is now called PixelSense, as Microsoft started using the “Surface” name for an unrelated tablet computer last year.

More recently, Sony Corp. released the Tap 20, an all-in-one PC that can also be laid flat. But it’s smaller than the Lenovo model, at 20 inches (508 millimeters) diagonally, and doesn’t have as much table-oriented software as the Table PC. —-AP

US nuclear lab removes Chinese tech over security fears LONDON: A leading US nuclear weapons laboratory recently discovered its computer systems contained some Chinese-made network switches and replaced at least two components because of national security concerns, a document shows.

A letter from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, dated Nov. 5, 2012, states that the research facility had installed devices made by H3C Technologies Co, based in Hangzhou, China.

H3C began as a joint venture between China’s Huawei Technologies Co and 3Com Corp, a US tech firm, and was once called Huawei3Com. Hewlett Packard Co acquired the firm in 2010.

The discovery raises questions about procurement practices by U.S. departments responsible for national security. The U.S.government and Congress have raised concerns about Huawei and its alleged ties to the Chinese military and government. The company, the world’s second-largest telecommunications equipment maker, denies its products pose any security risk or that the Chinese military influences its business.

Switches are used to manage data traffic on computer networks.

The exact number of Chinese-made switches installed at Los Alamos, how or when they were acquired, and whether they were placed in sensitive systems or pose any security risks, remains unclear. The laboratory - where the first atomic bomb was designed - is responsible for maintaining America’s arsenal of nuclear weapons.

A spokesman for the Los Alamos lab referred enquiries to the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, which declined to comment.

The Nov. 5 letter was written by the acting chief information officer at the Los Alamos lab and addressed to the NNSA’s assistant manager for safeguards and security. It states that in October a network engineer at the lab - who the letter does not identify - alerted officials that H3C devices “were beginning to be installed in” its networks.

The letter says a working group of specialists, some from the lab’s counter intelligence unit, began investigating, “focusing on sensitive networks.” The lab “determined that a small number of the devices installed in one network were H3C devices. Two devices used in isolated cases were promptly replaced,” the letter states. The letter suggests other H3C devices may still be installed. It states that the lab was investigating “replacing any remaining H3C network switch devices as quickly as possible,” including “older switches” in “both sensitive and unclassified networks as part of the normal lifecycle maintenance effort.” The letter adds that the lab was conducting a formal assessment to determine “any potential risk associated with any H3C devices that may remain in service until replacements can be obtained.”

“We would like to emphasize that (Los Alamos) has taken this issue seriously, and implemented expeditious and proactive steps to address it,” the letter states.

Corporate filings show Huawei sold its stake in H3C to 3Com in 2007. Nevertheless, H3C’s website still describes Huawei as one of its “global strategic partners” and states it is working with it “to deliver advanced, cost-efficient and environmental-friendly products.

The Los Alamos letter appears to have been written in response to a request last year by the House Armed Services Committee for the Department of Energy (DoE) to report on any “supply chain risks.”

In its request, the committee said it was concerned by a Government Accountability Office report last year that found a number of national security-related departments had not taken appropriate measures to guard against risks posed by their computer-equipment suppliers. The report said federal agencies are not required to track whether any of their telecoms networks contain foreign-developed products.

The Armed Services committee specifically asked the DoE to

evaluate whether it, or any of its major contractors, were using technology produced by Huawei or ZTE Corp, another Chinese telecoms equipment maker. ZTE Corp denies its products pose any security risk.

In 2008, Huawei and private equity firm Bain Capital were forced to give up their bid for 3Com after a U.S. panel rejected the deal because of national security concerns. Three years later, Huawei abandoned its acquisition of some assets from US Server technology firm 3Leaf, bowing to pressure from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The committee evaluates whether foreign control of a U.S. business poses national security risks.

In October, the House Intelligence Committee issued an investigative report that recommended U.S. government systems should not include Huawei or ZTE components. The report said that based on classified and unclassified information, Huawei and ZTE “cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence” and pose “a security threat to the United States and to our systems.”

William Plummer, Huawei’s vice president of external affairs in Washington, said in an email to Reuters: “There has never been a shred of substantive proof that Huawei gear is any less secure than that of our competitors, all of which rely on common global standards, supply chains, coding and manufacturing.

“Blackballing legitimate multinationals based on country of origin is reckless, both in terms of fostering a dangerously false sense of cyber-security and in threatening the free and fair global trading system that the US has championed for the last 60-plus years.”

He referred questions about H3C products to Hewlett Packard.

An HP spokesman said Huawei no longer designs any H3C hardware and that the company “became independent operationally from Huawei” several years prior to HP’s acquisition of it. He added that HP’s networking division “has considerable resources dedicated to compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements involving system security, global trade and customer privacy.” —-AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Martian rock from Sahara desert unlike others LOS ANGELES: Scientists are abuzz about a coal-colored rock from Mars that landed in the Sahara desert. A yearlong analysis revealed it’s quite different from other Martian meteorites.

Not only is it older than most, it also contains more water, tests showed. The baseball-size meteorite, estimated to be 2 billion years old, is strikingly similar to the volcanic rocks examined on the Martian surface by the NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity, which found water-bearing minerals.

“Here we have a piece of Mars that I can hold in my hands. That’s really excit-

ing,” said Carl Agee, director of the Institute of Meteoritics and curator at the University of New Mexico who led the study published online Thursday in the journal Science.

Most space rocks that fall to Earth as meteorites come from the asteroid belt, but a number can be traced to the moon and Mars. Scientists believe an asteroid or some other large object struck Mars, dislodging rocks and sending them into space. Occasionally, some plummet through Earth’s atmosphere.

Short of sending a spacecraft or astronaut to the red planet to haul back

rocks, Martian meteorites are the next best thing for scientists seeking to better understand how Earth’s neighbor transformed from a tropical environment to a frigid desert.

About 65 Martian rocks have been recovered on Earth, mostly in Antarctica or the Sahara. The oldest dates back 4.5 billion years to a time when Mars was warmer and wetter. About half a dozen Martian meteorites are 1.3 billion years old and the rest are 600 million years or younger. The latest meteorite NWA 7034 - nicknamed “Black Beauty”- was donated to the University of New Mexico by an

American who bought it from a Moroccan meteorite dealer last year.

Researchers performed a battery of tests on the meteorite and based on its chemical signature confirmed that it was blasted to Earth from Mars. At 2.1 billion years old, it’s the second-oldest known Martian meteorite that formed from a volcanic eruption.

There’s also evidence that it was altered by water. Though the amount released during heating was small 6,000 parts per million - it was still much more than other Martian meteorites.

Scientists said this suggested there was

interaction with water near the surface during a time when the planet was mostly dry and dusty.

More tests are under way to determine how long the rock floated in space and how long it had been sitting in the Sahara. University of Alberta meteorite expert Chris Herd said the find was welcome since most Martian rocks that rain on Earth tend to be younger. And the latest find does not appear to be too contaminated, he said. “It’s fairly fresh. It hasn’t been subjected to a whole lot of weathering,” said Herd, who had no role in the research. — AP

Atom smasher hiatus sets stage for more discovery $10bn proton collider will reopen in 2015

TEHRAN: A bird flying in front of buildings in the polluted skyline of the Iranian capital Tehran. Air pollution in Tehran has left 4,460 people dead in a year, an Iranian health official said in reports Sunday, with another sounding the alarm over high dose of carcinogens in domestically-made petrol. — AFP

To keep fitness, resolutions set realistic goals NEW YORK: To stick to that New Year’s resolution to get fit in 2013, experts advise, find a workout that is challenging but doable.

Donna Cyrus, senior vice president of programming for Crunch, the national chain of fitness centers, said January is when too many people overcommit.

“People say ‘I’m going to go to gym every day. Then they can’t achieve that. Their muscles feel like they’re dying, and when they stop, they stop,” she said. “We know it happens in about two weeks.”

Instead, Cyrus said, pick just three classes a week and commit to that for a month; then work your way to four.

“Get yourself a realistic goal,” she said. But realistic does not mean mind-numbing.

Challenge is essential, according to Gregory Chertok, sports psychology consultant with the American College of Sports Medicine.

That is why adults prefer difficult crosswords over children’s jigsaws.

“Activities that are not challenging are not sustainable” he explained. “The attention of even the seemingly laziest of people is sustained when engaged in challenging activities.” People tend to set lofty goals without planning for the inevitable obstacles, he added.

“Many hopeful exercisers I’ve spoken with will set goals beyond their physical and emotional capabilities,” he said. With the new year comes this new-found dedication but you are who you are. People don’t plan for laziness or fatigue or predict their desire for junk food.”

To navigate the ups and downs, Chertok suggests making a list of the tangible, immediate benefits of your workout, from the afterglow of accomplishment to the reassuringly sore muscles, as well as whatever goals you covet in the long term.

“Oftentimes just having visual evidence of the impact of your workout can give you a powerful feeling,” he said. To keep body and mind guessing, Chertok suggests switching up your routine every two months or so. “Life requires a bit of change to keep one’s interest peaked,” he explained.

Jessica Smith, Florida-based group fitness instructor and co-author of “The Thin in 10 Weight-Loss Plan” book believes success lies not in the grand gesture, but in the baby steps taken every day.

“Break your resolution down into small bite-sized steps,” she said. “One of the main reasons most people give up on their resolution is that it’s too overwhelming to make a major change.” Adding 10 minutes of activity to your day may not sound like much, she said, but small, simple changes have more of a lasting impact than big ones that aren’t manageable in the long run.

Tamal Dodge, a yoga instructor in Venice, California, and creator of the “Element: Intro to Yoga” DVD, agrees the best way to stay committed is to not go overboard. “Try not to commit to a total life style change overnight,” he said. “This leads to burn out.”

Instead, he said, make a smaller resolution, such as to work out for 30 minutes three times a week, and make that non-negotiable. “If you can fit in more, that’s great,” he said. Chicago-based Pilates instructor Lara Hudson proposes pegging that New Year’s resolution to Valentine’s Day. “Valentine’s Day is the perfect date to focus on reaching your New Year’s goal,” said Hudson, creator of the “10 Minute Solution: Tighten & Tone Pilates” DVD. “It’s almost exactly six weeks.

You can achieve a lot in that time if you put your mind to it.” To keep yourself accountable, Fitness Magazine Senior Fitness Editor Jenna Autuori-Dedic advises booking your workouts with a friend.

Not only does fitness become an appointment, she said, but going with a friend makes it easy to try new things. And while fitness clothes don’t make the workout, Autuori-Dedic said taking advantage of the plethora of outfit choices available today can lift the exercising spirit.

“When I started working out, I wore boys’ boxer shorts,” she said. “If you’ve gotten Christmas money, invest some in workout apparel.” You’re more likely to go to exercise, she notes, if you feel you look good. — AP

Mozambique doctors strike over pay MAPUTO: Mozambican doctors launched a strike yesterday over pay and working conditions after talks broke down with the government, the country’s doctors association said. Union leaders said the initial action was for five days, but it would continue beyond that if they had reached no agreement.

The health ministry however warned that the law did not allow such an action and that striking doctors would have their pay docked.

“We’re on strike for five extendable days until the government meets our demands,” said association head Jorge Arroz. “The strike is the ultimate tool by which the doc-

tors can be better ser ved, though we ensure that emergency services are functioning. There will be no manifestation in the streets. We shall stay in our houses,” he told AFP. The health ministry has already warned that the law in Mozambique does not allow essential public service workers to go on strike. The stoppage was also illegal because the association could not act as a union, authorities said.

The country does not have a medical workers’ union. Spokesman Mouzinho Saide told reporters yesterday that striking doctors would have their wages cut for every day they failed to work. — AFP

GENEVA: The world’s largest and most powerful atom smasher goes into a 2-year hibernation in March, as engineers carry out a revamp to help it reach maximum energy levels that could lead to more stunning discoveries following the detection of the so-called “God particle.”

With the reopening of its $10 billion proton collider in early 2015, the stage will be set for observing more rare phenomena - and unlocking more mysteries, said James Gillies, chief spokesman for the European particle physics laboratory known as CERN. The Large Hadron Collider under the SwissFrench border will operate for two more months then shut down through 2014, allowing engineers to lay thousands more superconducting cables aimed at bringing the machine up to “full design energy,” Gillies told The Associated Press on Friday.

Physicists at the European Center for Nuclear Research, known by its French acronym CERN, won’t exactly be idle as the collider takes a break. There are still reams more data to sift through since the July discovery of a new subatomic particle called the Higgs boson - dubbed the “God particle - which promises a new realm of understanding of the universe.

For the next two months, the Large Hadron Collider will be smashing protons with lead ions, then undergo several weeks of testing before it shuts down. The collider launched in September 2008, but had to be switched off just nine days later when a badly soldered electrical splice overheated, causing extensive damage to the massive magnets and other parts of the collider some 300 feet (100 meters) below the ground.

It cost $40 million to repair and improve the machine. Since its restart in November 2009, the collider has performed almost flawlessly and the power produced has been ramped up to evernew record levels, creating a treasure trove of new data to sift through.

But because of the 2008 accident, the collider could only run at an energy level far below what it was designed to do. To fix that, Gillies said, engineers over the next two years will install

Competition hits liver transplant SAN FRANCISCO: More competition between medical centers that perform liver transplants may mean sicker patients get lower-quality donor organs, according to a US study. When more than one center has patients on the same donor list, the centers have an incentive to get organs for as many of their own patients as possible, wrote researchers, whose report appeared in Liver Transplantation.

So doctors are more likely to take the first available organ when their patient is at the top of the transplant list, whether or not that pairing has the best chance to succeed, rather than risk the organ will go to another center. “ There is the question whether competition decreases the ability of a center to better match donor and recipient characteristics,” wrote John Paul Roberts, from the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues.

They analyzed data on more than 38,000 liver recipients who had transplants from non-living donors between 2003 and 2009. The transplants were done at 112 medical centers in 47 so-called distribution areas some covered by only one center and some that relayed organs to multiple transport centers.

Roberts and his colleagues found “clinically important differences” showing patients who received organs were initially worse off, with a higher risk of dying or having their transplant fail, in areas that had more medical centers in competition for the same organs.

For example, 10 percent of patients who received organs at centers with no competition had the worst scores for liver disease severity pre-transplant, compared to more than 28 percent of those in the highcompetition distribution areas. Areas with high competition also transplanted more organs that were considered at higher risk of failing, according to the new findings.

Although that might not be the best way of distributing organs on a society-wide scale, it could be considered a plus for the people who otherwise wouldn’t get an organ or for livers that would otherwise be considered too low quality and be discarded.

“If you’re a sick, high-risk patient... then it’s in your interest that somebody will take more of a risk on you.

The alternative is not surviving,” said Michael Charlton, a liver disease researcher from the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center in Rochester, Minnesota.

Competition does increase access for patients, he said. So people who are very sick and turned away by a center that’s the only place for transplants in its distribution area might have better luck elsewhere if they can afford to travel.

“The practice, in terms of choosing patients who can undergo liver transplantation and accepting organs that are already listed for transplantations, varies significantly between centers,” said Charlton, who wasn’t involved in the study, to Reuters Health.

But he cautioned that the way researchers measured competition - comparing the market shares for each transplant center in a given area - doesn’t account for the effect of a center’s reputation for good outcomes.

In that situation, a popular, higher-volume center would experience less competition from other centers and might also have better transplant records, so pure competition might not be the only explanation for outcomes. — Reuters

10,000 redesigned superconducting cables that connect between the magnets. That will vastly improve its capacity to simulate the moments after the Big Bang nearly 14 billion years ago.

“It will bring you more collisions. Which means that the more collisions you have, the more likely you are to see rare events,” he said.

“The Higgs particle was just one of many on the wish list that we’d like to find, so higher energy increases your discovery potential.” — AP

Expectant dads’ mental health linked to kids’ behavior: Study

T

he mental health of a child’s mother during pregnancy is widely considered a risk factor for emotional and behavioral problems later in the child’s life.

Now a new study finds that the father’s mental health during the pregnancy also plays a role.

The study of nearly 32,000 children in Norway, reported yesterday in Pediatrics, is the largest yet to suggest that a risk for future mental health problems in young kids may be identified early on by examining the prenatal mental health of the fathers. It found that children whose fathers scored highly for psychological distress, depression and anxiety at week 17 or 18 of the baby’s gestation had higher levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties at age 3, including disruptive behavior, anxiety and problems getting along with other children.

Information was collected from fathers who answered questions on a screening questionnaire about their mental health status during the pregnancy. Mothers later answered questions about their children’s development and difficulties.

Even after controlling for factors such as the father’s age, marital status, physical ailments, alcohol use, cigarette smoking and the mother ’s mental health status, researchers found the same association between expectant fathers’ mental health and problems developing later in the child, says lead study author Anne Lise Kvalevaag of Helse Fonna Hospital in Haugesund, Norway.

The data collected did not address how or why this association exists, but several “possible mechanisms” could be at work, she says. One possibility is a genetically

transmitted risk to the child, she says. Or depression in the father could affect the mental health of the mother in such a way that the neonatal development of the child is affected. Another possibility: The father’s prenatal mental state could predict his mental state after the child’s birth, which “may also account for some of the associations found,” she says.

Only 3% of the fathers in the study had high levels of mental health problems, so these findings don’t mean that every child with a depressed father will have problems, says James Paulson, an associate professor of psychology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. “But when this is viewed across a large population, the effects of prenatal paternal distress are a substantial public health problem.” Paulson, who studies depression in families, was not involved in the new study.

In the past decade, “Researchers have learned that paternal postpartum depression presents many of the same risks to developing children that are well-documented in maternal postpartum depression,” says Paulson. The new study “found that depression in fathers during pregnancy poses risks that are similar to postpartum depression-a finding that mirrors what we know about depression in pregnancy for mothers, but which hasn’t previously been documented in fathers.

“For parents and physicians, the message should be clear,” says Paulson. “We need to be aware of depression (in) both parents from the time a pregnancy is realized. This study suggests that physicians should screen for depression early and often, and make the appropriate referral as soon as it’s detected.” — MCT

Saturated fats tied to falling sperm counts in Danes: Study COPENHAGEN: Saturated fats, like those found in rich cheeses and meats, may do more than weigh men down after a meal - a Danish study also links them to dwindling sperm counts. Researchers, whose report appeared in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that young Danish men who ate the most saturated fats had a 38 percent lower concentration of sperm, and 41 percent lower sperm counts in their semen, than those who ate the least fat.

“We cannot say that it has a causal effect, but I think other studies have shown that saturated fat intake has shown a connection to other problems and now also for sperm count,” said Tina Jensen, the study’s lead author from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, the Danish capital.

The research is not the first to connect diet and other lifestyle factors to sperm production and quality. In 2011, Brazilian researchers found that eating more grains such as wheat, oats or barley - was associated with improved sperm concentration and mobility, and fruit was also linked to a speed

and agility boost in sperm. But that study and most others looked at these associations using data on men seeking fertility treatments, which may not be representative of all men.

For their study, Jensen and her colleagues surveyed and examined 701 young Danish men who were about 20 years old and getting checkups for the military between 2008 and 2010. They were asked about the food they ate over the prior three months, and then asked for a semen sample. The researchers then broke the results into four groups, depending on how much of the men’s energy intake came from saturated fats, and compared how much sperm the men in each group produced. The men who got less than 11.2 percent of their energy from saturated fats had an average sperm concentration of 50 million per milliliter of semen and a total sperm count of about 163 million. That compared to 45 million sperm per milliliter of semen and a 128 million count in men who got more than 15 percent of their energy from saturated fats. — Reuters

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Giant squid filmed in Pacific depths: Japan scientists TOKYO: Scientists and broadcasters said yesterday they have captured footage of an elusive giant squid roaming the depths of the Pacific Ocean, showing it in its natural habitat for the first time ever. Japan’s National Science Museum succeeded in filming the deep-sea creature at a depth of more than half a kilometre (a third of a mile) after teaming up with Japanese public broadcaster NHK and the US Discovery Channel. The massive invertebrate is the stuff of legend, with sightings of a huge ocean-dwelling beast reported by sailors for centuries. The creature is thought to be the genesis of the Nordic legend of Kraken, a sea monster believed to have attacked ships in waters off Scandinavia over the last millennium. Modern-day scientists on their own Moby Dick-style search used a submersible to descend to the dark and cold depths of the northern Pacific Ocean, where at around 630 metres (2,066 feet) they managed to film a three-metre specimen.

After around 100 missions, during which they spent 400 hours in the cramped submarine, the three-man crew tracked the creature from a spot some 15 kilometres (nine miles) east of Chichi island in the north Pacific. Museum researcher Tsunemi Kubodera said they followed the enormous mollusc to a depth of 900 metres as it swam into the ocean abyss. NHK showed footage of the silver-coloured creature, which had huge black eyes, as it swam against the current, holding a bait squid in its arms. For Kubodera it was the culmination of a lengthy quest for the beast. “It was shining and so beautiful,” Kubodera told AFP. “I was so thrilled when I saw it first hand, but I was confident we would because we rigorously researched the areas we might find it, based on past data.”

Kubodera said the creature had its two longest arms missing, and estimated it would have been eight metres long if it had been whole. He gave no explanation for its missing arms. He said it was the first video footage of a live giant squid in its natural habitat-the depths of the sea where there is little oxygen and the weight of the water above exerts enormous pressure.

Kubodera, a squid specialist, also filmed what he says was the first live video footage of a giant squid in 2006, but only from his boat after it was hooked and brought up to the surface.

“Researchers around the world have tried to film giant squid in their natural habitats, but all attempts were in vain before,” Kubodera said. “With this footage we hope to discover more about the life of the species,” he said, adding that he planned to publish his findings soon. Kubodera said the two successful sightings of the squid-in 2012 and 2006 were both in the same area, some 1,000 kilometres south of Tokyo, suggesting it could be a major habitat for the species.

The giant squid, “Architeuthis” to scientists, is sometimes described as one of the last mysteries of the ocean, being part of a world so hostile to humans that it has been little explored.

Researchers say Architeuthis eats other types of squid and grenadier, a species of fish that lives in the deep ocean. They say it can grow to be longer than 10 metres.

NHK said it and the Discovery Channel are scheduled to air special documentaries on the find later this month.

Bone fractures may point to osteoporosis Winter falls

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TOKYO: This video image, taken from footage by NHK and Discovery Channel shows a giant squid, up to eight metres (26 feet) long, against the backdrop of dark oceanic depths at a depth of 630 meters (2,067 feet) in the sea near Ogasawara islands, 1,000km south of Tokyo. — AFP

f you’re unlucky enough this winter to slip on an icy surface and break a bone, you may need to do more than just treat the injury. If you’re 50 or older, ask your doctor for a bone-density test, advises the National Bone Health Alliance, made up of 47 health care organizations.

It says only 20% of people who break a bone get a test or treatment for osteoporosis. More than 2 million incidents a year in the USA are linked to osteoporosis, a chronic illness in which bones become brittle. “If the break is due to osteoporosis and you don’t do anything about it, you’re likely to fracture again,” says David Lee, executive director of the alliance. Genetic factors are the biggest contributors to bone health, but smoking, too much alcohol, and not enough physical activity also play roles, as do having low levels of calcium and vitamin D. Bone mass remains generally stable until age 50, Lee says.

Women lose 2% to 3% of bone during the first five years after menopause and then at a rate of about 1% per year. Men lose bone more slowly, with the most dramatic bone loss occurring after age 70. A misunderstanding about the disease “is that it’s a little old ladies’ disease.” Lee says about half of women and a quarter of men over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. And about half of those who do will later break another bone. But second fractures can be prevented, he says. “People break bones, go to the emergency room, get the fracture fixed and are sent home,” says Ethel Siris, director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

“The fracture fixers are good at what they do, but their job is not to prevent the next fracture.”

That’s up to you and your family physician, Siris adds. Despite recent concerns about long-term use, these treatments have been shown to strengthen bones and lower fracture rates, she says. They include:

* Bisphosphonates. Physicians used to recommend patients with osteoporosis stay on the drugs (which include Fosamax, Reclast and Actonel) once they start. But a rare, atypical femur fracture and several other problems in some patients has changed that. In May, the FDA required drug manufacturers to update the label to include an “Important Limitation of Use” statement: “The optimal duration of use has not been determined. All patients on bisphosphonate therapy should have the need for continued therapy re-evaluated on a periodic basis.” Now, patients whose bone density improves might be told to “take holidays” from the drugs. * Calcium and vitamin D. Studies in 2012 linking high calcium levels to an increased risk for heart disease recommended people get most of their calcium from their diet. Siris says more research needs to be done to confirm those studies and that people shouldn’t stop taking calcium (and vitamin D) if they don’t get enough from daily intake of dairy products, kale, broccoli and fortified fruit juices.

“But taking more isn’t necessarily better,” she says. According to the National Institute of Medicine, women ages 50 and older need 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily; men need 1,000 milligrams a day until age 71, then 1,200 milligrams a day. Depending on how much sunlight exposure you get, you might also need to take a vitamin D supplement. Some people suffer from side effects of bisphosphonates (nausea, irregular heartbeat) and calcium supplements (nausea, constipation, increased heart rate) and stop treatments on their own. Kaiser Permanente orthopedic surgeon Rick Dell says a new program of testing and monitoring patients has led to a 40% reduction in the expected number of hip fractures. “We keep an eye on patients, and when they don’t refill a prescription we know,” Dell says. “When that happens we call the patients and give them a nudge.” —MCT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

India - the global destination for education SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Greetings

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irthday to Abdul Jabbar Abdullah. May Allah shower all his blessing on him and give him happiness, long life and prosperity.

Blessings from his wife Mumtaz Begum, daughters Shamsath Begum, Safah Begum, Nishath Begum, soninlaw Barkath All and Elahi.

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ndia is fast becoming a global destination for education. Indian education is at par with any major institute in the world. Students studying in India are increasingly getting global attention and job offers and this is a good yardstick of the quality.

In the years from 5th-13th century AD, eastern India’s ancient university of Nalanda was home to foreign students from as far away as China. Thousands of years later, history spills over to the modern-day India, which continues the tradition of being a centre of educational excellence and a lodestone for students from all over the world.

Indian system of education since time immemorial has been sailing magnificently on the winds of hope, moral coherence and ethical values with the principal objective of making all of us good human beings as opposed to mere knowledge banks. As of today, ‘Indian Education’ is an immaculate mÈlange of our conventional ideals of education, blended with infrastructural and technological boom, catering to the demands of modernization India is today recognized as a world centre for education. Indian entrepreneurs are making waves throughout the world. Their ideas, technical knowledge and entrepreneurship have yielded unprecedented growth in income, employment and wealth. The credit goes to the sound and practical educational foundation they have received in India.

People from all over the world come to India because the cost of education here is very competitive, when compared to similar educational institutions around the world. However, it is the fast integrating world economy and corresponding

rise in mobility of students that have made studying in India an attractive option. There are a large number of Non Resident Indians as well as foreign students who apply every year to Indian universities and colleges. For all those who wish to study in India, it is very important to get prior and correct information about the courses that they would like to undertake, the university they want to apply to and how to go about the application procedure. For an international student, it is also important to know the accommodation facilities, weather conditions, food habits and cost of living in the city in which he or she intends to study.

India Education Exhibition 2013 being held in Kuwait on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th January, 2013, at the Ramada Hotel in Riggae, from 10.45am to 8.30pm is a one-stop information event for learning about the variety of professional and vocational courses that NRI and Kuwait students can pursue in reputed institutions of higher learning.

Students, along with their parents will get an opportunity to personally interact with college administrators and professors, to know about the variety of educational programs available in India.

The exhibition displays attractive options available to NRI and other students from Kuwait and beyond to obtain undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in various disciplines, including medicine, engineering, business management, marketing and communications, arts and science, hospitality & hotel management and Allied Health Sciences.

This exhibition will have nearly 12 leading Indian exhibitors with more than 75 institutions under them offering near-

ly 200 and above programs. All the participating institutes are recognized by the AICTE, UGC and respective government bodies in India.

International Schools / Universities / Deemed Universities / Engineering Colleges / Medical Colleges / MBA & Management / B -Schools / Distance Education / Pharmacy & Nursing / Bio Informatics / Information Technology / Colleges offering Higher education in Arts & Science / Hotel Management & Catering Technology / Post Graduation & Research / Diploma Studies/ International Schools /Unique and specialized programs etc., The exhibition offers free educational counseling / registration & admissions from school education to research programs NRI - Students (School & College), Parents, Graduates, Post Graduates, Professionals, Faculties, Staffs, Department Heads, School & College Principals, Managers & Management & Administrative Officials, Directors, Chief Executive Officers, Business Executives, Job Seekers, Consultants, Corporate, Financial Investors & Consultants, Entrepreneurs, Counselors, Chartered Accountants, Housewives & others.

The exhibition is organized by Indus Fairs & Events (India) Pvt. Ltd, and Response Events and Exhibitions, Kuwait.

Indus group established in the year 1995 is engaged in organizing trade shows and exhibitions in India and Abroad. The exhibition has become an annual affair and quite popular among the NRIs in Gulf region.

The visitors will get an opportunity to interact with the faculties / officials of the

leading educational institutions, get updated information, fee structure, eligibility criteria and programs which are currently in high demand. Some of the institutions are also offering spot admissions. Information about personality development, communication skills and demanding IT courses and programs will be available at the venue, for which students otherwise would have to travel a distance and spend time and money.

India is fast becoming a major economic power in the world today. And if its growth trend continues for some more years, it would soon be playing a major role in the world economy along with China. This in itself has been a major cause of attraction for many international students. Moreover, India’s successful evolution into the world’s largest democracy has also been a major magnetic force for scholars around the world.

However, apart from knowing India well, there are other advantages that are attracting students to study in India, including: Low Cost: The cost of education in India is quite low as compared to many other countries of the world.

Quality Education: Quality of education is not uniform throughout the length and breadth of the country.

However, there are some educational institutes in India that provide world class education. The government of India is also speeding up the efforts to establish more institutes that can offer quality education in India.

Financial Assistance: Various scholarships, education loans and other financial aids are now available for studying in India today.

Pavendar Kazhagam holds special monthly meeting

Announcements

Shirva feast

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hirva Welfare Association Kuwait (SWAK) will be celebrating their Shirva Parish feast-2013 here in Kuwait. On this occasion there will be a mass offered at 9.15 am on February 8, 2013 at the Holy Family Cathedral. Kuwait and the celebration / gettogether with a of variety entertainment programme will he held from 4:30 pm - 9 pm on the same day at the Indian Community School, Salmiya. SWAK members or their children who would like to participate in the variety entertainment programme and show their talent are requested to contact any of the SWAK committee members listed below to avail the opportunity before January 10, 2013. Likewise if any of members children have excelled in academics or any other extra curricular activities in the past 1 year will be appreciated and hence are requested to inform any of the SWAK committee members listed below before the 10th of January.

Last date for enrollment in the talent show is January 15, 2013.

Arabic courses

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WARE will begin Winter 1 Arabic language courses with new textbooks and curricula on from December 2, 2012 until January 24, 2013. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind. The environment is relaxed & courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. For more information or registration, please log-on to our website.

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he Pavendar Kazhagam held its special fourth monthly meeting (Kalam-4) at Rhythm Hall, Abbasiya on 4th January 2013. The meeting started with lunch.

The Chief Guest was Dr. Ambalavanan.

President Dr Neelamani, Secretary Rajasekaran, Treasurer B.Sekar welcomed the chief guest and the welcome address was given by Ramesh Kumar. The pro-

gram was anchored by Abuthakir. 2013 calendar was also released at the meeting. Kavi Arangam, Devi Ravi, Abu Thakir, Kavi Sekar, Murugesan, Makesh, Thara, Thandayuthabani and B Sekar all spoke

MahaQuizzer Middle East

Charity show

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ahaQuizzer, the annual solo quiz conducted by the Karnataka Quiz Association (KQA) simultaneously across several Indian cities debuts internationally on 1st Feb 2013 in Kuwait. The MahaQuizzer Middle East-Kuwait is being organized by National Institute of Technology, Calicut Alumni Association. This is a solo open general written quiz contest for public, irrespective of age, nationality or affiliation. The quiz will be from from 2 pm to 3.30 pm at centers in Salmiya and Fahaheel. Separate prizes will be awarded for ladies, children & schools. Registration closes on January 24th, 2013. For free online registration visit, http://www.nitcaakuwait.org

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n the occasion of New Year Hangama 2013, which will be held tomorrow from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am at Carmel School, Khaitan. Rak Dance Academy is conducting dance competition in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi. The winners will be rewarded.

Goan Culinary Club

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he Goan Culinary Club - Goa encourages you to log on to their website where you can find a video of Odette and Joe Mascarenhas sharing their thoughts on Goan cuisine. These videos were recorded at the launch of the Goan Culinary Club in Goa on March 3, 2012. Thanks to support from all at the Goan Culinary Club, we have made great progress in six months.

on the occasion. Jaya Parvathi rendered beautiful songs. Kids also participated in this special monthly programme. The programme ended with a vote of thanks

by Natarajan.

Children’s friendship circle

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ome and be a part of our new world created just for you. With lots of fun, games, trips and gift. We meet 3 days in a week and exchange our views and ideas. We make friends and learn sharing caring and a lot more.

Our club offers you an extensive list of activities and opportunities to learn new skills and explore new interests like arts and craft, yoga, cooking, language (English and Arabic), The Holy Quran.

Registrations have begun since Jan 6, 2013.

Children between the ages of 2 and 8 are welcome to join us. Timings will be from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. For more information contact Al Muthana Nursery.

Basketball Academy

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he new Premier Basketball Academy offers coaching and games every Friday and Saturday from 10 am onwards for 6 to 18 year olds, boys and girls. Located in Bayan Block 7, Masjed Al-Aqsa Street by Abdullah Al-Rujaib High School. Free Basketball and Tee Shirts for all participants, with certificates and special awards on completion of each 6 week course. Qualified and experienced British and American Coaches, Everyone Welcome.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

CONGRATULATIONS

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ongratulations Valerian and Lavina Noronha on your 25th wedding anniversary. It’s been 25 years of togetherness for both of you and on this special day we wish you many more years of love and happiness. May your life always be filled with love, joy and happiness. May all your dreams come true and may this silver jubile turn into gold.

Lots Love from sons Vinston Loyd, Vivian Lionel, Viron Lessley, and best wishes from friends K. Raghu, M. Balakrishan, M. Panneerselvam and U.K. Sivakumar.

KMRM Yuvajyothi bagged the trophy in the Christmas carol competition held by Thanima Kuwait. St George Universal Syrian Orthodox came second and Logos came third.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

McDonald’s Kuwait kick starts ‘My McDonald’s’ photography contest

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cDonald’s Kuwait announces a one month photography contest called “My McDonald’s” starting on Jan. 10. 2013 till Jan. 26.

2013. The competition, that is open to all individuals in the State of Kuwait, will be a platform to showcase their creativity and talent by using either their smartphones or digital cameras to capture what the McDonald’s brand means to them.

“We encourage our customers to take a snapshot of their favorite part of their McDonald’s experience; be it the interior/exterior of our 68 restaurants, their family time experience at McDonald’s, or our vast range of products. We want to see our brand through the eyes of our customers.” commented George Khawam, Marketing Director of McDonald’s Kuwait.

In order to be eligible for the smartphone contest, users can submit up to two photos taken with their smartphone per week on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, to mymcdonalds@mcdonalds-kuwait.com. They must submit with the photo their name, contact number, and type of camera they used in order to be eligible. Once they have been submitted, all photos for that week will be posted on the McDonald’s Arabia Instagram page under the hashtag #mymcdonaldskw and in the album titled “My McDonald’s Kuwait” on the McDonald’s Arabia Facebook page. From Sunday to Tuesday, members of the community can then use

the like feature to vote for their favorite photos on Instagram and Facebook. On Wednesday of that week, the three most liked photo will be announced and the photographers for those photos will win Nikon D5200 DSLR cameras. The weekly contest then resets for the following week and users are allowed to submit another two photos to be eligible to win the prize for that week. For digital camera users, the competition will run month long and users can only submit two photos from Jan. 10 to Jan. 26 2013. At the end of the month there will be a grand prize where all the photos submitted throughout the month will be judged by prominent Kuwaiti photographers Abdul Aziz Al Asousi, Majed Al Zaabiand and Faisal Al Bisher. Three photos will be chosen for a grand prize and will win 2000 KD for first, 1000 KD for second, and 500 KD for third respectively. The winners of these prizes will be announced at an award ceremony on February 2nd 2013.

Khawan stated further, “What makes our photography competition different is that not only are we engaging our audience by allowing them to decide who the winners of the weekly smartphone contest will be, but also that we are collaborating with some of Kuwait’s finest photographers to professionally judge the digital camera submitted pictures for the grand prize.” For rules and regulations visit: http://www.mcdonaldsarabia.com/kuwait/en/home.html

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department.

All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF CANADA he Embassyof Canada in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada†should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca†or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca.

The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei 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 open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00†until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday.

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The 5th Art Exhibition of the Egyptian community was opened in cooperation with capital education zone under the slogan “our happiness is in our gathering”.

The exhibition was held at the art center for education and training in Khaldiya in the presence of secretary general of the Egyptian community council Dr. Azmi Abdel Fattah, senior director of Art Education in the zone Suhaila Al-Farisi and other officials.

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on short-stay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database. Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform the Kenyan community residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that the Embassy has acquired new office telephone numbers as follows: 25353982, 25353985 - Consular’s enquiries 25353987 - Fax Our Email address: info@kenyaembkuwait.com. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, Al-Salaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk. � � � ��� � �

EMBASSY OF PERU The Embassy of Peru is located in Sharq, Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Al Arabiya Tower, 6th Floor. Working days / hours: SundayThursday /9 am - 4 pm. Residents in Kuwait interested in getting a visa to travel to Peru and companies attracted to invest in Peru are invited to visit the permanent exposition room located in the Embassy. For more information, please contact: (+965) 22267250/1.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

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

Animal Cops Miami After The Attack Untamed & Uncut Wildest Africa Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari Bad Dog Call Of The Wildman Cheetah Kingdom Wild Africa Rescue Wild Africa Rescue Wildlife SOS The Really Wild Show America’s Cutest...

Cats 101 Crocodile Hunter Wildest Africa Animal Cops Philadelphia Call Of The Wildman Wildlife SOS Shamwari: A Wild Life Shamwari: A Wild Life Animal Precinct Wildest Africa Cheetah Kingdom The Really Wild Show Cats 101 Deep Into The Wild With Nick Deep Into The Wild With Nick My Cat From Hell Monkey Life

00:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 01:20 Come Dine With Me: South Africa 02:15 Antiques Roadshow 03:10 House Swap 03:55 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 04:25 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 04:50 House Swap 05:40 Come Dine With Me 06:30 Antiques Roadshow 07:20 House Swap 08:10 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 08:35 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 09:00 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 09:45 Bargain Hunt 10:30 Antiques Roadshow 11:25 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 12:45 Come Dine With Me 13:35 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 14:00 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 14:25 Fantasy Homes In The City 15:10 Bargain Hunt 15:55 Antiques Roadshow 16:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 18:10 Britain’s Dream Homes 19:00 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 19:50 Rhodes Across China

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:00 04:30 04:55 05:20 05:45 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:30 07:55 08:10 08:35 08:50 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:20 10:45

Taz-Mania Pink Panther And Pals Moomins Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Puppy In My Pocket Wacky Races Looney Tunes Duck Dodgers Dastardly And Muttley Dexter’s Laboratory Wacky Races Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Moomins Looney Tunes Tom & Jerry Tales Dexter’s Laboratory Baby Looney Tunes Jelly Jamm Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Ha Ha Hairies Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Puppy In My Pocket Wacky Races Looney Tunes

11:10 Duck Dodgers 11:35 Popeye 12:00 Top Cat 12:25 The Flintstones 12:50 Dastardly And Muttley 13:00 Ha Ha Hairies 13:15 Gerald McBoing Boing 13:40 Jelly Jamm 13:55 Baby Looney Tunes 14:20 Bananas In Pyjamas 14:35 Moomins 14:50 Dexter’s Laboratory 15:20 Johnny Bravo 15:45 Tom & Jerry 16:10 Pink Panther And Pals 16:35 The Garfield Show 17:00 What’s New Scooby-Doo? 17:25 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries 17:50 Tom & Jerry Tales 18:15 The Looney Tunes Show 18:40 Taz-Mania 19:05 Moomins 19:30 Scooby Doo And The Ghoul School 21:00 Bananas In Pyjamas

00:40 Chowder 01:30 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 01:55 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:20 Foster’s Home For...

02:45 Foster’s Home For...

03:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 04:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 04:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Powerpuff Girls 05:40 Generator Rex 06:05 Ben 10 06:30 Ben 10 06:55 Angelo Rules 07:00 Casper’s Scare School 07:30 Casper’s Scare School 08:00 Mucha Lucha 08:25 Johnny Test 08:45 Regular Show 09:05 Total Drama Island 09:30 Total Drama Island 09:55 Ben 10: Omniverse 10:20 Young Justice 10:45 Thundercats 11:10 Adventure Time 12:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 12:50 Foster’s Home For...

13:15 Foster’s Home For...

13:40 Courage The Cowardly Dog 14:30 Powerpuff Girls 15:20 Angelo Rules 16:10 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 16:35 Young Justice 17:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 17:20 Johnny Test 18:00 Level Up 18:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 18:50 Adventure Time 19:15 Regular Show 19:40 Mucha Lucha 20:05 Total Drama Island 20:30 Total Drama Island 20:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 21:20 Young Justice 21:45 Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge 22:10 Grim Adventures Of...

23:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 23:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 23:50 The Powerpuff Girls

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

The Ellen Pakkies Story Snapped: Women Who Kill Crime Stories The Ellen Pakkies Story Death By Email Snapped: Women Who Kill Crime Stories The First 48: Missing Persons The FBI Files Psychic Detectives Psychic Detectives Crime Stories Cold Case Files The First 48: Missing Persons Crime Stories Snapped: Women Who Kill The First 48: Missing Persons

16:00 The FBI Files 17:00 Psychic Detectives 17:30 Psychic Detectives 18:00 Crime Stories 19:00 Cold Case Files 20:00 The First 48: Missing Persons 21:00 Snapped: Women Who Kill 22:00 Crime Stories 23:00 Murder On The Social Network

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

Gold Rush Deadliest Catch Gold Divers Mythbusters Border Security Auction Kings Property Wars How Stuff’s Made How It’s Made Sons Of Guns Sons Of Guns Mythbusters Is It Possible?

Secret Service Secrets Border Security Auction Kings Property Wars How Stuff’s Made How It’s Made Gold Rush Deadliest Catch Gold Divers Border Security Auction Kings Property Wars Ultimate Survival Secret Service Secrets Mythbusters Sons Of Guns Sons Of Guns How Stuff’s Made How It’s Made Auction Kings Property Wars Flying Wild Alaska Man, Woman, Wild Ultimate Survival

00:40 Solving History With Olly Steeds 01:30 Mythbusters 02:15 Street Customs Berlin 03:05 How We Invented The World 03:50 World’s Top 5 04:40 Sci-Trek 05:30 1,000 Places To See Before You Die 06:20 Chasing Classic Cars 06:45 Chasing Classic Cars 07:10 Solving History With Olly Steeds 08:00 Sunrise Earth: Viewer’s Vote 08:55 How We Invented The World 09:40 World’s Top 5 10:30 Sci-Trek 11:15 Solving History With Olly Steeds 12:05 How Do They Do It? 12:30 Street Customs Berlin 13:15 How We Invented The World 14:05 World’s Top 5 14:50 1,000 Places To See Before You Die 15:35 Chasing Classic Cars 16:00 Chasing Classic Cars 16:25 Mythbusters 17:10 Sci-Trek 18:00 River Monsters 18:50 Wild Fisherman: Norway 19:40 1,000 Places To See Before You Die 20:30 Chasing Classic Cars 20:55 Chasing Classic Cars 21:20 Risk Takers 22:10 Sci-Trek 23:00 River Monsters 23:50 Wild Fisherman: Norway

00:00 00:55 01:25 02:20 03:15

Scouted Style Star E!es THS Behind The Scenes

03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 THS 05:05 E!es 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 Giuliana & Bill 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 10:15 THS 12:05 Married To Jonas 12:35 Married To Jonas 13:05 Ice Loves Coco 13:35 Ice Loves Coco 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:30 Behind The Scenes 17:00 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 18:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 19:00 THS 20:00 A-List Listings 20:30 Giuliana & Bill 21:30 Giuliana & Bill 22:30 Fashion Police 23:30 Chelsea Lately

00:15 World Cafe Asia 00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:30 Heat Seekers 01:55 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 02:20 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 02:45 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 03:10 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 03:35 World Cafe Asia 04:00 World Cafe Asia 04:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:50 United Tastes Of America 05:15 Unique Eats 05:40 Chopped 06:30 Iron Chef America 07:10 Unwrapped 07:35 Unwrapped 08:00 Iron Chef America 08:50 Kid In A Candy Store 09:15 Unwrapped 09:40 United Tastes Of America 10:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:55 Cooking For Real 11:20 Hungry Girl 11:45 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 12:10 United Tastes Of America 12:35 Unwrapped 13:00 Iron Chef America 13:50 Tyler’s Ultimate 14:15 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 14:40 Everyday Italian 15:05 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 15:30 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 15:55 Hungry Girl 16:20 United Tastes Of America 16:45 Chopped 17:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:15 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 19:40 Tyler’s Ultimate 20:05 Guy’s Big Bite 20:30 Chopped 21:20 Iron Chef America 22:10 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 22:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:00 Guy’s Big Bite 23:25 Guy’s Big Bite 23:50 Ultimate Recipe Showdown

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

01:25 03:05 04:40 06:20 07:50 09:15 10:45 12:15 14:40 14:45 16:35 18:10 20:35 22:00 23:50

THE CRAZIES ON OSN ACTION HD

00:15 00:45 01:40 02:05 02:35 03:00 03:30

Disappeared Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted I Married A Mobster I Married A Mobster Blood Relatives Disappeared Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted Undercover Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Undercover Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Undercover Disappeared Forensic Detectives Mall Cops ‚Äì Mall Of America On The Case With Paula Zahn Stalked: Someone’s Watching Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Deadly Affairs Deadly Women

Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert Body And Soul Tryst Bulletproof Johnny Be Good A Dog’s Breakfast Rage It’s A Mad Mad World Chattahoochee Where Angels Fear To Tread A Star For Two Bound For Glory Thunder Alley Follow That Dream Kid Galahad

One Man & His Campervan Adventure Wanted Bondi Rescue: Bali On Surfari Danger Beach Danger Beach Meet The Amish

04:25 Market Values 04:50 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 05:20 Somewhere In China 06:15 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 06:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 07:10 One Man & His Campervan 07:35 One Man & His Campervan 08:05 Adventure Wanted 09:00 Bondi Rescue: Bali 09:25 On Surfari 09:55 Danger Beach 10:20 Danger Beach 10:50 Meet The Amish 11:45 Market Values 12:10 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 12:40 Nomads 13:35 Food School 14:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 14:30 One Man & His Campervan 14:55 One Man & His Campervan 15:25 Adventure Wanted 16:20 Bondi Rescue: Bali 16:45 On Surfari 17:15 Danger Beach 17:40 Danger Beach 18:10 Meet The Amish 19:05 Market Values 19:30 The Best Job In The World 20:00 One Man & His Campervan 20:30 One Man & His Campervan 21:00 Food School 21:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet

00:00 Megacities 01:00 Secrets Of The Cross 02:00 Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) 03:00 Which Way To 04:00 Engineering Connections 05:00 Hunter Hunted 06:00 Untamed Americas 07:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 08:00 Megacities 09:00 Secrets Of The Cross 10:00 Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) 11:00 Untamed Americas 12:00 Engineering Connections 13:00 Hunter Hunted 14:00 Untamed Americas 15:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 16:00 Megacities 17:00 Secrets Of The Cross 18:00 Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) 19:00 Convoy: War For The Atlantic 20:00 Fight Science 21:00 Hunter Hunted 22:00 Alaska Wing Men 23:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr

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

00:00 02:00 04:15 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:15 14:00 16:00 18:15 20:00 22:00

In The Womb Africa’s Deadliest The Living Edens Fish Tank Kings Caught In The Act Swamp Men Wild Chronicles Wild Chronicles The Living Edens Fish Tank Kings Caught In The Act Shark Men Python Hunters Animal Intervention Lost Sharks of Easter Island Zambezi Fish Tank Kings Caught In The Act Shark Men Python Hunters Animal Intervention Monster Fish Fish Tank Kings Caught In The Act Shark Men Python Hunters

D.E.B.S-18 Constantine-PG15 True Justice: Blood Alley-PG15 True Justice: Urban Warfare The Eagle-PG15 Mission: Impossible II-PG15 True Justice: Angel Of Death The Eagle-PG15 Mission: Impossible III-PG15 True Justice: Angel Of Death The Crazies-18 Game Of Death-PG15

01:00 Life In A Day-PG15 03:00 Ghost Machine-PG15 05:00 Pina-PG15 07:00 The Warrior’s Way-PG15 09:00 Life In A Day-PG15 11:00 Sammy’s Adventure: The Secret Passage-FAM 13:00 Nothing Like The HolidaysPG15 15:00 Feed The Fish-PG15 17:00 13-PG15 19:00 The Lincoln Lawyer-PG15 21:00 Contagion-PG15 23:00 Meet Monica Velour-R

00:00 Wilfred 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 01:30 Community 02:00 Unsupervised 02:30 Weeds 03:00 Two And A Half Men 03:30 Two And A Half Men 04:00 Hope & Faith 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Til Death 06:00 Samantha Who? 06:30 Seinfeld 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Hope & Faith 08:30 Last Man Standing 09:00 Til Death 09:30 Samantha Who? 10:00 Melissa & Joey 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Seinfeld 12:30 Hope & Faith 13:00 Til Death

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO ON OSN MOVIES HD 13:30 Samantha Who? 14:00 The Simpsons 15:00 Melissa & Joey 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 16:30 Seinfeld 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 New Girl 18:30 The Simpsons 19:00 Melissa & Joey 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Community 22:30 American Dad 23:00 Weeds 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 22:00 23:00

00:00 03:00 04:00 07:00 07:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:00 19:00 22:00 23:00

Justified Revenge Sons Of Anarchy Burn Notice Homeland Good Morning America Covert Affairs Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Smallville Covert Affairs Revenge Burn Notice Smallville Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Grey’s Anatomy Pillars Of The Earth Homeland

Grimm Six Feet Under Burn Notice Emmerdale Coronation Street Burn Notice Emmerdale Coronation Street Parenthood Emmerdale Coronation Street C.S.I. Grey’s Anatomy Pillars Of The Earth Six Feet Under

00:00 Analyze This-PG15 02:00 Happy Gilmore-PG15 04:00 The Breakfast Club-PG15 06:00 How The Grinch Stole Christmas-PG 08:00 The Family Stone-PG15 10:00 It’s Kind Of A Funny StoryPG15 12:00 The Breakfast Club-PG15 14:00 In Her Shoes-PG15 16:15 It’s Kind Of A Funny StoryPG15 18:00 Zookeeper-PG15 20:00 High Fidelity-PG15 22:00 Love And Other Drugs-R

00:00 02:00 04:15 07:15 09:00 10:45 12:15 14:15 15:45 17:15 PG15 19:00 21:00 23:30

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00

Brighton Rock-PG15 The Natural-PG John Rabe-18 The Weather Man-18 Alabama Moon-PG15 B-Girl-PG15 Jane Eyre-PG15 My Enemy’s Enemy-PG15 B-Girl-PG15 Justice For Natalee Holloway-

09:00 Teen Spirit-PG15 11:00 Call Of The Wild-PG15 12:45 The Tree Of Life-PG15 15:15 Three Inches-PG15 17:00 Teen Spirit-PG15 19:00 Red-PG15 21:00 Something Borrowed-PG15 23:00 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-R

01:00 Queen Of The Swallows-FAM 02:45 Pacific Pirates-PG 04:30 The Adventures Of Scooter The Penguin-FAM 06:00 Freddy Frogface-PG 08:00 The Three Bears: Dreadful Dangers-FAM 10:00 Horrid Henry-PG 11:30 Looney Tunes: Back In Action13:00 Supertramps-FAM 14:30 Pacific Pirates-PG 16:00 The Fairy Tale Tree-FAM 18:00 Horrid Henry-PG 20:00 Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate-PG 22:00 Supertramps-FAM 23:30 The Fairy Tale Tree-FAM

00:00 02:00 04:00 05:45 08:00 10:15 12:00 13:45 15:45 18:00 20:00 22:00

Nomads-PG15 Jack And Jill-PG15 Josie And The Pussycats-PG15 Courageous-PG15 The Way-PG15 Melinda And Melinda-PG15 Jack And Jill-PG15 Miles From Nowhere-PG The Way-PG15 Big Miracle-PG My Week With Marilyn-PG15 Wuthering Heights-18

01:00 02:00 02:30 10:30 11:00 14:00 15:00 21:30 22:00

Trans World Sport ICC Cricket 360 Live Test Cricket ICC Cricket 360 Live Cricket Twenty20 Trans World Sport Test Cricket Futbol Mundial Cricket Twenty20

00:00 04:00 05:30 07:00 10:00 15:00 16:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 22:00 23:00

Live PGA Tour The Ryder Cup Official Film Volvo Ocean Race Highlights Cricket T20 PGA Tour Trans World Sport Cricket T20 ICC Cricket 360 Inside the PGA Top 14 PGA Tour Highlights Volvo Ocean Race Highlights

00:00 00:30 02:30 03:30 04:30 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 13:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Top 14 Highlights Top 14 Golfing World World Pool Masters World Cup of Pool Extreme Sailing Trans World Sport Golfing World Extreme Sailing Extreme Sailing World Pool Masters World Cup of Pool Top 14 Highlights Pro 12 Golfing World Extreme Sailing Extreme Sailing Extreme Sailing PGA Tour Golfing World Trans World Sport World Pool Masters

00:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00

UFC UAE National Race Day Series UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed NHL WWE NXT WWE Bottom Line

Best Laid Plans-PG15 Catch Me If You Can-PG15 When A Man Loves A Woman

The Beaver-PG15 Elevator Girl-PG15 Henry’s Crime-PG15 Certain Prey-PG15

09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

V8 Supercars Highlights V8 Supercars Highlights NHL WWE Experience European Le Mans Series European Le Mans Series Prizefighter UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Unleashed UFC

00:15 01:30 02:45 04:00 05:15 06:30 08:00 09:15 10:30 11:45 13:00 14:15 15:30 16:45 18:00 19:15 20:30 21:45 23:00

Randy Jones’ Strike Zone World Class Sports Fishing Trout Unlimited On The Rise Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife World Class Sports Fishing Randy Jones’ Strike Zone Cowboys Randy Jones’ Strike Zone Cowboys Realtree’s NASCAR Outdoors Dream Season: The Journey Western Extreme Bow Madness Realtree’s NASCAR Outdoors Dream Season: The Journey Western Extreme Bow Madness Realtree’s NASCAR Outdoors Cowboys

00:55 03:10 04:35 PG 06:30 08:00 09:55 11:50 FAM 13:55 15:35 17:40 21:05 PG 23:00

The Prize-PG Westworld The Year Of Living Dangerously-

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00

Tom Thumb-FAM Mogambo-PG Rhapsody-FAM The Wonderful World Of The...The Harvey Girls-FAM The Champ-PG Ben-Hur-PG The Year Of Living DangerouslyDiner

American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Cajun Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Storage Wars Mud Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Cajun Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Pawn Stars Cajun Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Pawn Stars

00:05 Empire Girls: Julissa And Adrienne 01:00 Jerseylicious 02:00 Videofashion News 02:25 Videofashion Collections 02:55 Big Rich Texas 03:50 Big Boutique In The City 04:20 Jerseylicious 05:15 Glam Fairy 06:10 Chicagolicious 07:05 Clean House: New York 08:00 Videofashion News 08:30 Videofashion News 09:00 Videofashion Daily 10:00 Open House

Classifieds TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

ACCOMMODATION

SITUATION VACANT

Accommodation available with a single lady for couples / ladies, near Canary Restaurant, Abbasiya.

Contact: 24346602/ 99254284. (C 4279) 8-1-2013

Required cook for house, good knowledge of cooking all kinds of food, good salary, good facilities, full time or part time. Phone: 23901053, 66519719.

(C 4273)

FOR SALE

Looking for a part time cleaning lady, 1-5pm 6 days/week.

Contact: 96942874. (C 4274)

Toyota Camry GLX full option model 2011 white metallic color, sunroof, alloy rim, rear sensor, cruise control, CD wooden interior etc. (installation possible) 28,000 km, cash price KD 4,450/-. Contact: 66507741.

(C 4278) 7-1-2013 Ford Mondeo, maroon color, model 2003, very good condition, price KD 800, kilometer 200,124. Phone: 99839184. (C 4276) 3-1-2012

GOVERNMENT WEB SITES

SITUATION WANTED M.A in English Literature having two years job experience, looking for a suitable job in HR & Admin.

Please contact: 66342097.

(C 4270) 6-1-2013 TUITION Learn Holy Quran in perfect way, private tuition available for elders and children by Hafiz-E-Quran.

Contact: 66725950.

(C 4262) Tuition available for Web Designing & Professional Graphic Designing. Learn to create your own website just in 3 months. Flexible schedule, join us to build your career as Web Designer. Call 60078629, 22403408.

(C 4264) 25-12-2012

Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

1889988

112 Prayer timings Fajr:

05:19

Shorook

06:43

Duhr:

11:54

Asr:

14:46

Maghrib:

17:05

Isha:

18:27

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines KLM JAI THY JZR JZR QTR GFA PIA UAE ETD OMA QTR FDB MSR RJA DHX THY JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE KAC ABY QTR FDB ETD IRA GFA TMA JZR MEA MSR UAE KAC FDB KNE SVA KAC QTR JZR KAC KAC QTR JZR

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 8/1/2013 Flt Route 411 AMSTERDAM 574 MUMBAI 772 ISTANBUL 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 148 DOHA 211 BAHRAIN 239 SIALKOT 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 138 DOHA 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 642 AMMAN 170 BAHRAIN 770 ISTANBUL 503 LUXOR 416 JAKARTA 157 LONDON 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 332 TRIVANDRUM 855 DUBAI 362 COLOMBO 121 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 605 ISFAHAN 213 BAHRAIN 213 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 610 CAIRO 871 DUBAI 514 TEHRAN 57 DUBAI 472 JEDDAH 500 JEDDAH 546 ALEXANDRIA 140 DOHA 561 SOHAG 562 AMMAN 284 DHAKA 134 DOHA 325 NAJAF

Time 0:30 0:30 0:35 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:50 1:55 2:35 2:45 2:50 3:01 3:05 3:10 3:15 5:15 5:30 5:55 6:25 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:55 8:05 8:15 8:40 8:45 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:45 9:55 11:00 11:20 11:55 12:45 12:50 13:45 13:50 14:10 14:30 14:30 14:45 14:50 14:55 15:10 15:30 16:25

UAE ETD RJA JZR GFA SVA JZR QTR ABY UAL KAC JZR RBG KAC SYR BAB FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB JAI AXB MSR ABY IRA QTR ALK MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE JZR QTR FDB DHX QTR KLM AIC KAC JZR GFA JZR UAL BBC DLH

857 303 640 327 215 510 777 144 127 982 542 177 3553 786 341 438 63 166 618 742 104 674 774 647 61 572 393 618 129 619 146 229 402 136 221 307 859 135 6130 59 372 6057 415 981 678 239 217 185 981 43 636

DUBAI ABU DHABI AMMAN NAJAF BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH DOHA SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES CAIRO DUBAI ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH LATAKIA BAHRAIN DUBAI PARIS DOHA DAMMAM LONDON DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI MUMBAI KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA SHARJAH LAR DOHA COLOMBO BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM AMSTERDAM CHENNAI MUSCAT AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DHAKA FRANKFURT

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

Airlines AIC PIA AXB BBC UAL DLH JAI KLM KAC THY PIA FDB UAE OMA ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR GFA RJA THY KAC JZR FDB BAW KAC KAC KAC ABY UAE FDB ETD QTR GFA IRA KAC KAC JZR TMA MEA KAC JZR JZR MSR JZR UAE FDB KAC KNE

Departure Flights on Tuesday 8/1/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA 206 LAHORE 390 MANGALORE 44 DHAKA 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 573 MUMBAI 411 AMSTERDAM 283 DHAKA 773 ISTANBUL 240 SIALKOT 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 643 AMMAN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 560 SOHAG 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 101 LONDON 513 TEHRAN 561 AMMAN 122 SHARJAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 604 ISFAHAN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 776 JEDDAH 223 DUBAI 405 BEIRUT 785 JEDDAH 324 AL NAJAF 326 AL NAJAF 611 CAIRO 176 DUBAI 872 DUBAI 58 DUBAI 673 DUBAI 473 JEDDAH

Time 0:05 0:10 0:15 1:00 1:10 1:20 1:30 1:45 2:25 2:55 3:10 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:10 4:50 6:05 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:35 7:45 8:15 8:25 8:45 9:20 9:25 9:30 9:45 9:55 10:00 10:05 10:30 10:40 10:45 11:30 11:50 12:15 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:00 13:35 13:45 13:50 14:15 14:30 15:05 15:10

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

SVA KAC KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR ETD JZR QTR UAE RJA GFA JZR SVA ABY JZR QTR RBG JZR UAL FDB BAB SYR FDB OMA JAI KAC KAC AXB ABY MSR IRA DHX ALK MEA ETD QTR GFA KAC FDB JZR UAE DHX KAC KLM QTR QTR GFA JZR KAC QTR

501 617 677 141 773 741 238 304 538 135 858 641 216 184 511 128 266 145 3554 134 982 64 439 342 62 648 571 351 343 394 120 607 618 171 230 403 308 137 222 301 60 554 860 373 205 415 147 6131 218 528 411 6057

JEDDAH DOHA MUSCAT DOHA RIYADH DAMMAM AMMAN ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA DUBAI AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI RIYADH SHARJAH BEIRUT DOHA ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN LATAKIA DUBAI MUSCAT MUMBAI KOCHI CHENNAI KOZHIKODE SHARJAH LUXOR LAR BAHRAIN COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN MUMBAI DUBAI ALEXANDRIA DUBAI BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DAMMAM DOHA DOHA BAHRAIN ASSIUT BANGKOK DOHA

15:45 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:55 18:15 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:00 19:05 19:10 19:25 19:30 19:35 20:40 20:55 21:10 21:10 21:15 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:50 21:55 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:25 23:50 23:50 23:55 23:59

34

stars CROSSWORD 63

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19)

Others may have good intentions and want to steer you in the direction they believe is best for you, but you are the only one who has to live your life. It’s okay to ask for an opinion or some friendly advice, but make sure you’re aren’t solely reliant upon others to make your decisions. Life can present you with some difficult choices, but experiencing the struggle helps you learn and grow.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Don’t be surprised if thoughts of love consume you this week.

Just don’t forget you do have responsibilities to tend to and although it would be nice to forget about that and live in romantic bliss, it’s probably not realistic. There is a need for you to creative in a fiscal situation in order to swing the results in your favor and come out a winner. Both love and money promise to bring a little excitement to your life right now.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. Strong woody fibers obtained especially from the phloem of from various plants.

5. A narrow zigzag ribbon used as trimming.

11. The arch of bone beneath the eye that forms the prominence of the cheek.

15. (Sumerian) Water god and god of wisdom.

16. Agile long-legged rabbit-sized rodent of Central and South America and West Indies.

17. Armor plate that protects the chest.

18. Leather covering the toe of a boot or shoe and reinforcing or decorating it.

20. Fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malt and hops.

21. An Iranian language spoken in Afghanistan.

22. (informal) Someone who is a detective.

24. Alligator-like reptile of Central and South America having a more heavily armored belly.

26. A flammable colorless gaseous alkene.

28. A family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in southeastern Asia.

30. (Scotland) A slope or hillside.

33. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

34. Decapod having eyes on short stalks and a broad flattened carapace with a small abdomen folded under the thorax and pincers.

36. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code.

39. Related to or located at the back.

42. Ash-colored or anemic looking from illness or emotion.

44. A public promotion of some product or service.

47. Small evergreen trees or shrubs with aromatic leaves.

50. Immeasurably small.

52. Typical geese.

53. The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another.

54. A town in north central Oklahoma.

55. (possibly Roman) Goddess of horses and mules and asses.

57. Report or maintain.

58. A collection of objects laid on top of each other.

60. The amount of money needed to purchase something.

63. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

67. A white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves.

71. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

72. Not in good physical or mental health.

73. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off.

74. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

75. A statement that deviates from or perverts the truth.

76. A public place in ancient Greece or Rome devoted to the training of wrestlers and other athletes.

77. A young woman making her debut into society.

DOWN 1. The 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

2. Small buffalo of the Celebes having small straight horns.

3. Having an oblique or slanting direction or position.

4. (British) System of signalling by hand signs used by bookmakers at racetracks.

5. A ridge that forms a seam between two parts.

6. A class of proteins produced in lymph tissue in vertebrates and that function as antibodies in the immune response.

7. Filaments from a cobweb.

8. European strong-scented perennial herb with gray-green bitter-tasting leaves.

9. Goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment.

10. Enchanter's nightshade.

11. Aristocratic Italian family of powerful merchants and bankers who ruled Florence in the 15th century.

12. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

13. The basic unit of money on Malta.

14. The seventh month of the Hindu calendar.

19. (Assyrian) Chief god of the Assyrians.

23. An associate degree in nursing.

25. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

27. An informal term for a father.

29. A port city in southwestern Iran.

31. A member of the people inhabiting an area of northern Mongolia and eastern Siberia.

32. Departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal.

35. A system of one or more computers and associated software with common storage.

37. A complex red organic pigment containing iron and other atoms to which oxygen binds.

38. A series of things depending on each other as if linked together.

40. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

41. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

43. Whitish fibrous membrane (albuginea) that with the cornea forms the outer covering of the eyeball.

45. The basic monetary unit of most members of the European Union (introduced in 1999).

46. Something of sentimental value.

48. Fit or ready for use or service.

49. A fabric with prominent rounded crosswise ribs.

51. Serving cart for serving tea or light refreshments.

56. Strike with disgust or revulsion.

59. (Norse mythology) Goddess of old age who defeated Thor in a wrestling match.

61. Not widely known.

62. In the Roman calendar.

64. Set down according to a plan.

65. (of a young animal) Abandoned by its mother and raised by hand.

66. An Arabic speaking person who lives in Arabia or North Africa.

68. Of southern Europe.

69. A health resort near a spring or at the seaside.

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

Although confrontations aren’t your favorite pastime, dealing with issues is a necessary part of life. If the chance to clear the air with someone arises, Gemini, it would be best for you to take that opportunity. You may feel uneasy about it initially, but you will soon see a conversation where everyone involved is allowed to share their feelings can work wonders. Once all parties have had a chance to express themselves you should be able to find a workable resolution.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Wake up your enthusiasm, Cancer, as the universe promises to bring excitement to you this week. The potent energy of the new Moon in your opposite sign in a few days jolts the vibes around you to step out of the doldrums of daily routine. Even though you like consistency in your life stepping out of your regular ways momentarily can reinvigorate your energy and renew your purpose.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Flexibility is your theme for the week, Leo, as arrangements and circumstances can change without a moment’s notice. If you want to achieve your desired outcome you may have to accommodate someone else’s schedule which you probably aren’t used to doing. Although you may feel awkward about changing your plans for another it can be all you need to do to get what you want. A minor inconvenience may very well be the only thing standing in between you and success.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

It can be quite a challenge to step out of what is accepted by society at large and walk your own path. However difficult it may be, Virgo, you have the ability to conjure up your own homemade solution to a problem. Although others may think it would be good to stay within the realm of normality, you don’t have any qualms about stepping outside those boundaries. Don’t be afraid to challenge social norms, Virgo, and do what you feel is right.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security right now, Libra, as the universe promises to send plenty of activity and excitement your way.

The new Moon is in your zone of home and family and recharges the energy around you. Take advantage of this short reprieve because in a few days time you will be run off your feet with obligations to fulfill across the board.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Rectifying a family matter will be front and center on your mind this week. Leaving an issue to fester is no way to deal with life’s problems, especially not with something so important as family. It may not take much more than a simple conversation to get things moving in the right direction and there is no reason you should continue to put it off.

You can’t choose your family, but even if you could issues would still arise to be dealt with. Bury the past where it belongs so you can move forward without taking any emotional baggage along with you.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Don’t get ahead of yourself, Sagittarius. Not every situation in life requires an immediate resolution and in fact certain issues are better handled over time. You may be able to clearly tune into the big picture and see what the future should look like, but not everyone has that ability.

Take a few steps back to ensure that you’ve covered all your bases and set yourself up for success. It may not take much time to do, but it will allow everyone else to catch up to you.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

People get used to doing things in the same way all the time and find it very difficult to step out and try a different method of operation. If you conjure up a different way to handle things you need to speak up and be heard. There may very well be a better way to handle a situation than the current status quo, but if you don’t share your ideas and make suggestions you’ll never know what impact you could have had.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

With action planet Mars influencing your life it may be tough to catch your breath. The amount of activity you have to handle right now seems impossible, but with a solid plan and strict time management you can surely handle it all. Organize your thoughts and a plan of action to conquer all and still retain your sanity. Try different methods of task completion like handling the least time consuming activities first and the more time intensive tasks later on.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Although you want to be there for everyone else if you’re not in tip-top shape emotionally and physically there isn’t much assistance you can offer. Make it a point to put your own needs atop your priority list and handle nothing until all of your obligations to yourself are met. It will be much easier and more effective to offer a helping hand after your mind is clear of the stress of completing your own agenda on time.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

23915883 23715414 23726558

Sabhan

24742838

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Al-Helaly

22434853

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Al-Faiha

22545051

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

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

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Hawally

ST TAT TE OF KUW K WAIT A

Te el.: 161

DIRECTORA AT TE GENERAL GEN OF CIVIL AVIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT DA AY Y: Monday

Ext.: 26 2627 - 2630

Fax: 24348714 WWW.MET.GOV V..KW

07/01/2013

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

19:00

Issue Time

Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours BY Y NIGHT:

Cold with light to moderate freshening gradually at times south westerly to westerly wind, with speed of 15 - 40 km/h with a chance for blowing dust

BY Y DA AY:

Cool with moderate becoming light gradually north westerly to light variable wind, with speed of 12 - 35 km/h with a chance for blowing dust

WA ARNING

No Current Warnings arnin a

22 °C

11 °C

KUW WA AIT AIRPOR RT

22 °C

07 °C

NUW WA AISEEB

22 °C

12 °C

WAFRA A

24 °C

08 °C

SALMI

22 °C

08 °C

ABDAL LY

23 °C

07 °C

JAL ALIY YA AH

22 °C

07 °C

25623444

FAILAKA A

22 °C

10 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

20 °C

14 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

22 °C

18 °C

W Hawally

22630786

WARBA A A - BUBY YAN A

19 °C

08 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

ST TATION T

SFC. CHART

07/01/2013 1200 UTC

4 DA AY YS FORECAST Temperatures DA AY

DA ATE T

WEA AT THER

Tuesday

08/01

cool + blowing dust

Wednesday e

09/01

Thursday

10/01

Friday

11/01

temperature will decrease + raising dust

MIN.

20 °C

07 °C

NW-VRB

12 - 35 km/h

fair + scattered clouds

24 °C

08 °C

S-W

15 - 40 km/h

partly cloudy + raising dust

17 °C

07 °C

NW

20 - 40 km/h

14 °C

03 °C

NW

25 - 45 km/h

PRA AY YER TIMES

AY AT KUW WA AIT AIRPOR RT RECORDED YESTERDA

Fajr

05:19

MAX. Temp.

06:43

MIN. Temp.

21 °C 08 °C 91 %

24884079

Sunrise

Firdous

24892674

Zuhr

11:55

MAX. RH

Asr

14:47

MIN. RH

28 %

Omariya

24719048

Sunset

17:06

MAX. Wind

N Khaitan

24710044

Isha

18:28

TOT TAL AL RA AINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

NW 25 km/h 00 mm

07/01/13 14:15 UTC

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

23900322

Wind Speed

Wind Direction

MAX.

Ardhiya

V1.00

T1.06

PRIVATE CLINICS Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

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

Dr. Salem soso 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

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

Kaizen center 25716707

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

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

22545171

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

KUW WA AIT CITY

Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Al-Shuhada Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

MIN. N. EXP P.

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

22418714

Ahmadi

MAX. REC.

Fintas

Al-Madeena

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 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Gibson arrested, suspected of DUI

P

Heidi Klum will not get married again T

he supermodel endured a difficult 2012 after splitting from her husband Seal last January. The couple famously renewed their wedding vows every year on their anniversary after first tying the knot on May 10, 2005, on a beach in Mexico but Heidi insists she is no done with the institution. Speaking to the new US issue of Marie Claire magazine, she said: “I don’t think [I’ll get married again], no, no. I wanted to keep the memory of [mine and Seal’s] wedding alive every year. That’s why I thought it would be fun to get married over and over. But now I don’t think it’s that important. I’m not angry about anything, but I don’t think I will. Maybe if I’m with someone for 15 or 20 years, and we do it in our old age as a fun thing to do ... But I don’t have the urgency anymore.” Although the separation has been difficult, Heidi insists she, Seal and the four children they raise together, Leni, seven, Henry, six, Johan, five, and two-year-old Lou, have been

able to deal with what has happened and are all happy. The 39-yearold German beauty explained: “Did I wish for this to happen to my family? No. But everyone is healthy. We’re moving on with our lives. If someone got [very sick] - god forbid - that would be a real problem.

It’s not what I wanted. It’s not what anyone wanted. But it’s not a real problem.” Heidi is now dating her bodyguard Martin Kristen, and she has revealed she likes to keep things exciting in the bedroom by dressing up and experimenting. She cheekily said: “It’s good to make an effort to dress up sometimes - to do things outside of the norm ... If you are wild and crazy (in the bedroom), bring it on so the other person is well aware that you have little devil horns that come out every once in a while.”

Claire Danes will be a working mother

T

he ‘Homeland’ star gave birth to her first son, Cyrus, on December 17, but doesn’t plan to stay at home with him for too long. She told Us Weekly magazine: “I’ve always wanted to have kids, but I’m glad I didn’t until now. When I was thinking about [working and being a mother] originally, I was really nervous about it. “I think I would make a lousy stayat-home mom. It just wouldn’t suit me. I feel so fortunate, in that I’ve had this arrow-straight focus that I wanted to act.”

Claire who is married to fellow actor Hugh Dancy, 37, added she feels “lucky” to have such a great partner who helped guide her through her pregnancy. The 33-year-old actress who was in a six-year relationship with Australian musician Ben Lee and dated actor Billy Crudup before she met Hugh added: “Hugh was just the right partner for me. I got very, very lucky. “There’s only so much credit you can take when it just sort of works, you know? And obviously we work hard at maintaining our relationship - that is central to both our lives but at the same time, it’s just this kind of ease that I can’t really account for.”

Kelly Osbourne: Overdose was turning point in life

K

elly Osbourne knew she had to “get her head together” after she tried to overdose. The 28-year-old TV host has previously been open about her dependence to prescription drug Vicodin, and at her lowest point she took what she thought were enough pills to kill her. Kelly - whose parents are Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne said: “It’s just that I didn’t want to change because I’d cocooned myself into this little bubble of self-medicating and numbing myself and I can’t lie, I thought, ‘I’ll take a few more of these and wont’ wake up tomorrow, I’ll be dead.’ “I woke up the next day and was like, ‘[how could you have] actually thought that about yourself, you need to sort yourself out.’

“So I told my mum and that day I went to rehab.

Once I got my head together, it all just started to fall into place.” Kelly who has battled weight issues since she was a teenager, but has lost 60 pounds over the past two years - has now beaten her demons and learned to be healthy and to love herself for who she is.

Speaking on UK TV show ‘Lorraine’, she added: “I had to learn to love myself, and once I kind of got there - because every girl has a problem with something about themselves - I started to realize I had to look after myself a little bit better. “And then one pound started to drop, then it was five pounds, and I never thought I’d be the kind of girl to get up every day and goes to the gym. I just never thought that was me. I would wake up and eat crisps for breakfast. For me it’s not about being skinny, it’s about being healthy, it’s about leading a healthy lifestyle and making sure you take care of you.” Kelly added there are no shortcuts to being healthy and losing weight, other than to put the hours in at the gym. She warned: “There is no secret, it’s working out and its eating right. I’m committed to not eating certain things, but also to never denying myself anything either. I still have cheat days but you know, I’ll make up for it by doing an extra 15 minutes in the gym, it’s now an everyday part of my life.”

olice in Los Angeles have arrested “Dharma and Greg” actor Thomas Gibson on suspicion of driving under the influence. Officer Cleon Joseph says the 50-year-old Gibson was arrested early Sunday after he drove through a barricade set up to keep cars off the course of a night run through downtown. He was booked and released on $15,000 bail. Gibson is known for his roles in the television shows “Criminal Minds. He also played one of the titular characters on the sitcom “Dharma and Greg.” A call to his representative was not immediately returned.

Bieber visits bedside of fan with leukaemia

J

ustin Bieber has visited the bedside of a fan battling leukaemia. The ‘Baby’ hitmaker surprised seven-year-old Millie Flamm in her hospital room at the Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday evening when he heard she was too ill to attend his concert later that night. Friends and family of Millie launched an online campaign urging the 18-yearold pop star to visit after she was forced to sell her tickets two weeks prior to the gig due to her suffering from a relapse in her cancer fight. Her mother, Amanda Flamm, revealed her daughter “lit up” when Justin walked into the room and hugged her. He then performed his song ‘Baby’ for her and gave her his guitar pick as a memento from his visit. Amanda told local newspaper the Deseret News: “All of a sudden it pulled through and we were able to do a really intimate little meeting with just her and us and Justin and it was incredible and he was so sweet to her. “He walked in and her whole face just lit up. She is squeezing on to it [the guitar pick] with all her might and will not let it go.” Justin posted a photo of himself and Millie cuddling on his Instagram account, adding the caption: “Look at this bundle of joy... I love her.” After he gave her a kiss on the cheek and left, Millie gushed to her mother: “You are never going to wash my face again!”

Brooke coming to UK for TV shows

B

rooke Hogan is coming to the UK with her father Hulk Hogan to film four wrestling TV shows. The sexy blonde star is visiting Britain for the first time and will join her legendary grappler dad for the ‘TNA IMPACT’ tapings in Manchester and London. Brooke, 24, shot to fame with her dad, brother Nick and mother Linda on reality TV series ‘Hogan Knows Best’ and is now the Vice President in charge of the company’s female wrestling division, who are known as The Knockouts. Hulk - who is the General Manager of ‘TNA IMPACT Wrestling’ - has promised fans he and his girl are going to “tear it down” for the recordings which take place at the Manchester Arena on January 25 and at London’s Wembley Arena on January 26. He said: “I am so excited. I had an awesome experience when I came to Britain last year with TNA. Manchester and London get ready ... we’re going to tear it down!” The TV recordings are part of the ‘Road To Lockdown’ live tour which hits the UK and Ireland later this month and also includes dates in Dublin (January 21), Glasgow (January 23) and Nottingham (January 24). Singer Brooke was recently praised by TNA President Dixie Carter for her tireless work with the company’s female wrestlers. Dixie said: “She’s incredibly intelligent, she’s a big star in her own right, and we need somebody to help us give the wrestlers more exposure. “She is not going to wrestle, she will continue to pursue her music, but one of the things she is doing is shining the light on The Knockouts that they deserve.”

Hurley starts healthy 2013 regime

E

lizabeth Hurley has started her new health regime for 2013.

The 47-year-old actress is giving up sugary foods and reducing her coffee intake after over-indulging over the Christmas holidays and she is ready for her New Year’s changes. In a series of posts of her Twitter page, she wrote: “My 2013 health kick starts.

Yes! Long, fast walk with dogs and zero sugar or anything with white flour ... And a bit less caffeine ... And more vegetables.” As well as overhauling her diet and exercise regime, Hurley is also having a clear-out of her home. The model has managed to fill two vans with unwanted items from her home in Gloucestershire, South West England, but it seems some of her unneeded things are also unwanted by others. Hurley - who is engaged to cricketer Shane Warne - tweeted: “I’ve attoned for the mass consumerism of Xmas by sending 2 full vans of unwanted furniture, bedding, clothes, toys etc to charity shops ... And there’s a lot more to go ... my house breathing a sigh of relief ... I had masses of videos-and no one would take them. Was told to take them to a dump. Seems such a shame. (sic)” —Bang Showbiz

37

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

LIFESTYLE M o v i e s

&

M u s i c

Schwarzenegger says film violence not linked to school shooting

A

rnold Schwarzenegger may be one of the world’s biggest action stars but the former governor of California says violence in films is entertainment and should not be linked to tragic events like the Connecticut school shooting in which 20 children died. The star of films such as “The Terminator,” “Predator” and “True Lies” told a press conference before the opening of his new movie, “The Last Stand,” on Jan. 18th that “one has to keep (the two) separate.” “(This is) entertainment and the other thing is a tragedy beyond belief. It’s really serious and it’s the real deal,” Schwarzenegger, 65, told reporters. The actor, who will star in his first leading role in the film since serving as California governor for seven years, said the tragedy in which a gunman killed 20 children and six staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec 14, is about more than just guns.

“We have to analyze how we deal with mental illness, how we deal with gun laws, how we deal with parenting,” he said. In “The Last Stand,” Schwarzenegger plays a retired Los Angeles policeman who becomes a border town sheriff who must stop a violent drug lord from crossing the border. The film, with its violent scenes, is the type of movie that National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre recently cited as a contributing factor to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. But Schwarzenegger said that gun laws and mental health guidance need reform, not Hollywood.

“How can we do better with gun laws?” asked Schwarzenegger. “If there are any loopholes, if there’s a problem, let’s analyze

In this undated photo, actor Brad Pitt in his role as Austrian mountaineer and former Nazi party member Heinrich Harrer reclines on a mountain ledge during the filming of “Seven Years in Tibet.” —AP

Brad Pitt tweets to Chinese that he’s coming

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rad Pitt is now on China’s version of Twitter, and his mysterious first tweet has drawn thousands of comments. The actor’s verified Sina Weibo account sent the message yesterday: “It is the truth. Yup, I’m coming.”

That was forwarded more than 31,000 times and

netted over 14,000 comments, many expressing surprise. He gathered more than 100,000 followers.

The IMDb.com movie website says Pitt was banned from ever entering China because of his role in the 1997 “Seven Years in Tibet.” The gov-

Arnold Schwarzenegger it ... Are we really dealing with the mental problems the right way as a society?” In terms of parenting, the former politician alluded to the Connecticut killer Adam Lanza’s mother, Nancy, who was also shot and killed by her own son on that tragic day. “Does a mother need to collect guns and take her little kids shooting?” he asked.

“Everything has to be analyzed; no stone unturned,” he added. “I think that’s what we owe to our people.” —Reuters

ernment was upset about the film’s portrayal of harsh Chinese rule in Tibet. His later film “Mr & Mrs Smith” with Angelina Jolie was popular in China. Former NBA star Stephon Marbury who now plays for China’s professional basketball league is prolific on Weibo and has over 779,000

‘Zero Dark Thirty,’ ‘Silver Linings’ get box-office boost

“Z

ero Dark Thirty” made the most of its expansion this weekend, running up a very strong $45,834 per-screen average from 60 locations in 11 US cities. Kathryn Bigelow’s tale of the hunt for Osama bin Laden brought in $2.75 million, after expanding from five locations in two markets this weekend in the wake of several nominations from the Producers Guild (PGA) and Writers Guild (WGA). Its overall total after three weeks is $4.4 million. Sony plans to go wide next week, after Thursday’s Oscar nominations.

The Weinstein Company’s “Silver Linings Playbook,” which also earned nominations from the PGA and WGA, appeared to have received a boost, too. It

dropped just 11 percent - the best of any film in wide release - and brought in $3.6 million from 745 screens, a $4,847 per theater. It has now brought in $34.6 million over its eight weeks.

“We think we’re positioned very well for the long haul,” Erik Lomis, Weinstein’s head of distribution said. The studio plans to go wide with the dark comedy from David O. Russell on Jan. 18, the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.

Sony Classics’ “Amour” averaged $21,199 after taking in $63,596 from three screens. The overall gross for Michael Haneke’s dark and unsparing look at old age and death, a front-runner in Oscar’s Best Foreign Language race, is now $315,011 after 17 days.—Reuters

Rohan Marley, son of late Reggae musician Bob Marley, displays the USD 799 One Foundation speaker system from the House of Marley at a press event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the 2013 International CES on January 6, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs from January 8-11 and is expected to feature 3,100 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. —AFP

Females dominate UK film’s ‘rising star’ shortlist

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ctresses dominated the shortlist for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ Rising Star awards yesterday, taking four of the five places. Juno Temple, who appeared in the 2007 drama “Atonement”, and Andrea Riseborough, best known for her leading role in Madonna’s biopic of Wallis Simpson “W.E.”, represents British interests on the list.

They are up against US actress Elizabeth Olsen of the acclaimed 2011 drama “Martha Marcy May Marlene”, and Sweden’s Alicia Vikander, who starred in Danish period drama “A Royal Affair” and last year’s adaptation of the novel “Anna Karenina”. Suraj Sharma is the youngest on the list at 19 and the sole male representative, having been picked from 3,000 hopefuls to star in Ang Lee’s recent 3D picture “Life of Pi” despite no previous acting experience.

The Rising Star Award is handed out on Feb 10 at the main BAFTA prize ceremony, Britain’s top film accolades. It is the only category voted for by the public, who can cast their votes at ee.co.uk/bafta. Previous winners of the award aimed at spotting stars of the future include James McAvoy, Eva Green, Shia LaBeouf and Kristen Stewart.—Reuters

Musical of film ‘Diner’ postponed until fall

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he musical based on the film “Diner” has postponed its Broadway opening. Producers said late Sunday night that the Kathleen Marshall-directed show with songs by Sheryl Crow will make its debut on Broadway in the fall, instead of the spring. Producer Scott Zeiger in a statement says a four-week workshop of the show in November got good feedback and that early fall dates work better for all involved.

Set in Baltimore on Christmas 1959, the story explores the lives of a circle of friends in their early 20s, all set to vintage rock ‘n’ roll and doo-wop. Barry Levinson, who wrote and directed the 1982 film, adapted it into the new musical. The film starred Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Paul Reiser, Tim Daly, Daniel Stern and Ellen Barkin. —Reuters

From left, actress Sarah Hyland, actor Chris Colfer and actress Rebel Wilson arrive at the premiere of the feature film “Struck By Lightning” at the Chinese 6 Theatre in Los Angeles, Sunday. —AP

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

lifestyle T R A V E L

Southern California close-ups:

From West Hollywood to Wilshire Hector Gomez plays with plastic hoses at the ‘Penetrable’ sculpture at LACMA on Wilshire Blvd.

Billboards stand tall above Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood.

The city of West Hollywood in collaboration with the Museum of Neon Art presents On Route-66 Lights, vintage and contemporary neon on historic Route 66 is a special Art on the Outside project in celebration of the City of West Hollywood’s 25th Anniversary of Cityhood.

Shaun Manuain, left, and Keith Maitland, visiting from Australia, enjoys food at Mel’s Diner along Sunset Blvd.

Customers stand in line outside the Whisky A Go-Go along Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood.

So get on Wilshire downtown and roll east to west, past the old Art Deco Bullocks Wilshire building, occupied

by Southwestern Law School, 3050 Wilshire Blvd.

MOCA westside branch at the Pacific Design Center is seen.

By Christopher Reynolds

Architecture and Design Museum (6032 Wilshire Blvd.).

S

To market, to mall Farmers Market, at 3rd and Fairfax, was born in 1934 as a dirt lot where farmers sold goods from trucks. Now the grounds include about 40 restaurants and dozens of shops, some local, some national, and a few produce merchants. Next to the market is the Grove, which has upscale retail, movies, a grassy patch and cavorting fountains for kids.

When you’re done, cut through the Farmers Market, cross Fairfax Avenue and claim your room (often less than $200) at the Farmer’s Daughter, a playful hotel. One corner of the lobby celebrates guests who have competed on “The Price Is Right,” which films at neighboring CBS. (For ticket info, check www.cbs.com/daytime/the(underscore)price(underscore)i s(underscore)right/tickets.)

et an out-of-towner loose to roam the Los Angeles area between West Hollywood and Koreatown and what can you expect? A food-truck overdose, perhaps. Or the bold suggestion that we extend our subway system westward. (Hey, we’re working on it.) Or maybe just your basic Asian-Russian-Latino-gay-vegetarian-barbecueautomotive-modernist-tar-pit-chili-dog weekend. In other words, it’s a trip worth taking, and a great way to catch the city in the act of reinventing itself, from the Japanese department store that’s now a car museum to the Jewish avenue that’s now a skateboarder haven.

Here are the makings of eight great days in West Hollywood, the Miracle Mile, the Fairfax district, West Hollywood, Koreatown and a few neighboring territories.

(This is the 10th installment in our yearlong series of Southern California Close-Ups, each piece a micro-itinerary covering a different region of Los Angeles and Orange counties.)

The heart of WeHo West Hollywood is what you get when you place a 1.9square-mile neighborhood between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, fill it with a booming gay population and an enduring community of Russian immigrants, then give it cityhood (which happened in 1984). Along WeHo’s Santa Monica Boulevard, which used to be part of Route 66, you’ll find scores of nightclubs and restaurants with names such as Fubar and Mother Lode. Farther west, the Troubadour nightclub (9081 Santa Monica Blvd) is where Jackson Browne, Elton John, Carole King, Steve Martin, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor and others played big gigs early in their careers.

Dan Tana’s steakhouse (9071 Santa Monica Blvd) goes back to 1964. And if you believe every story about the original Barney’s Beanery (8447 Santa Monica Blvd), then Jim Morrison was ejected for public urination, Janis Joplin had her last drink in the dining room, and Quentin Tarantino wrote much of “Pulp Fiction” here in his favorite booth. For peace, quiet and pumpkin pancakes, Hugo’s Restaurant (8401 Santa Monica Blvd) is a better choice. And if you want to sleep near the action for less than $200 a night, check out the Ramada Plaza Hotel (8585 Santa Monica Blvd). But beware of Halloween, New Year’s Eve and the annual Gay Pride festival and parade (June 8-10 in 2012).

WeHo goes bonkers on those days.

Rockin’ on Sunset In the ‘70s, they say, the Led Zeppelin guys rode motorcycles through one or more Sunset Strip hotel lobbies.

Now that you’re here, you realize they were probably just looking for parking. The Sunset Strip has action and popculture history, so people come. It’s where John Belushi overdosed in 1982 (Chateau Marmont hotel, 8221 Sunset Blvd), where River Phoenix overdosed in 1993 (in front of the Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd) and where photographer Helmut Newton was killed in a car crash (leaving the Chateau Marmont, 2004). You start the day at the Chateau Marmont, a 1929 landmark. The hotel offers closely guarded privacy to its guests, mostly working showbiz folk paying $415 or more a night. But nonguests are welcome to dine in the lobby-adjacent restaurant or Bar Marmont (if they leave their cameras behind). Pay $19 for a salad Nicoise in that dining room by the lobby, admire the arched doorways and peek at the half-hidden naughty French postcards behind the mirror.

Pretty soon you’ll feel like European nobility going gently to seed or Led Zeppelin between gigs. While away the day browsing along Sunset at Boot Star (8493 Sunset Blvd), Cigar Lounge (8420 Sunset Blvd.) or maybe Book Soup (8818 Sunset Blvd). Soon you’ll find your way to the nightclub of your choosing (two dozen are listed at www.thesunsetstrip.com), but give extra consideration to whoever is playing at Whisky a Go-Go (8901 Sunset Blvd.) or the Viper Room. Both are within two blocks of your last stop for the night, the London West Hollywood (1020 N San Vicente Blvd), a 200-room oasis of British style, often less than $350 a night.

Art and tar The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (5905 Wilshire Blvd.) sprawls along Wilshire on the Miracle Mile like a small college designed by an architect with a multiple-personality disorder. (The buildings have gone up piecemeal for five decades.) For a dose of order, step into the grid of 202 street lamps out front (“Urban Light” by Chris Burden, 2008). They go on at dusk and stay on till dawn. Inside the museum, give yourself plenty of time. Current shows include “California Design 1930-1965,” which is up through March 25.

For lunch, try Ray’s, which opened this year in the entrance area. Or grab grub from one of the many food trucks lined up along the curb. If you have a child, march east across that grass to La Brea Tar Pits, which are part of the Page Museum (5801 Wilshire Blvd). When you see a family of mock mammoths-one of them apparently doomed-standing at the edge of the still-bubbling goo, you have arrived. But don’t miss the indoors part of the museum. The Page people have thrown open their paleontology lab (like an open kitchen, but with more bones and less meat). They’ve also put together displays to make a kid’s jaw drop. The foot bones of 500 golden eagles. A wall of 404 dire wolf skulls. A mechanical saber-toothed cat about to take down a sloth. Still not sated? Cross Wilshire and check out the smaller Craft and Folk Art Museum (5814 Wilshire Blvd.) and

Fairfax’s ethnic eats Canter’s Deli (419 N Fairfax Ave) stays open all night, goes back to 1931, anchors the Jewish business district along North Fairfax and is as old school as LA gets. But it has a rock ‘n’ roll life too. In the 1960s, Frank Zappa and the Doors used to hang out on Tuesday nights at Canter’s Kibitz Room lounge. And since the late 1980s, the Kibitz Room has been regularly booking rock bands. Get a bite.

And on your way out, look closely among the Jewish markets and thrift shops and you’ll spot a growing number of streetwear and skate-wear shops, including Supreme (439 N Fairfax Ave), the Hundreds (8909 Rosewood Ave) and Diamond Supply Co (415 N Fairfax Ave). Head south on Fairfax for dinner. Just below Olympic Boulevard is Little Ethiopia’s restaurant row. In Messob (1041 S. Fairfax Ave), a framed portrait of the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie gazes down from above the bar while you tear off bits of spongy flatbread, or njera, to use as a tasty tool to capture your meat or vegetables.

La Brea, Melrose Brace yourself. Your first stop is the original Pink’s (709 N La Brea Ave), a hot dog haven founded in 1939 by Paul and Betty Pink. It opens at 9:30 am Arrive much later and there’s likely to be a long line. Order the chili dog ($3.45), admire the wall of fame (Steve Martin, Quincy Jones), sit in the rear patio and watch your meal vanish. Now on to Melrose Avenue, between Fairfax and Highland, where retailers showcase edgy displays and bizarre goods.

Japanese dinosaur suit? A fake camera made of felt? That’ll be $50 and $16.50, respectively, at Japan LA Pop Culture Shop (7320 Melrose Ave).

Edible crickets? Two-inch mink penis bone? Human vertebra? Just $3, $6 and $35, respectively, at Necromance (7220 Melrose Ave). For $2 on Sundays, browse stalls of antiques, collectibles, art and crafts at the Melrose Trading Post (7850 Melrose Ave.) in the Fairfax High School parking lot. For more genteel shopping, there’s no end to the boutiques and such between Fairfax Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard-on Beverly and Robertson boulevards, on Melrose and on 3rd Street. And for dinner, hit the French contemporary Hatfield’s (6703 Melrose Ave.) and try the croque-madame (yellowtail sashimi, prosciutto, quail egg and brioche).

K-Town Koreatown was born in the 1970s as Korean immigrants settled in the area along Olympic and Wilshire boulevards between Vermont and Western avenues. It has grown into an equal-opportunity night-life zone, frequented by USC and UCLA students and grads, lighted by electronic billboards and fed by all-you-can-eat barbecue joints and trendy food trucks. For dinner, try Soot Bull Jeep (3136 W. 8th St), where the interior may remind you of jail but the short ribs and Spencer steaks (which sizzle on a grill at your table) will emancipate your taste buds.

Afterward, have a beer at Crazy Hook (the Korean-flavored pirate bar and grill at 3250 Wilshire Blvd, No. 102) or HMS Bounty (the English nautical mutineer bar and grill at 3357 Wilshire Blvd). Or mellow out at the 24-hour Wi Spa (2700 Wilshire Blvd), where sauna, massage and other spa services are offered on separate floors for men and women, with a co-ed floor above that includes more sauna rooms, a kids’ zone and casual restaurant. Sweat at 128 degrees while prone on a bed of tiny clay balls, then cool down in a 41-degree “ice sauna” for $15 to $25 a person.

For $10 to $15 more-attention, budget travelers! — you can spend the night in a recliner or on floor mats and pillows in a communal sleeping area.

Wilshire on wheels It’s LA’s grand boulevard, a 16-mile shrine to all things automotive and a collector of immigrant cultures. So get on Wilshire downtown and roll east to west, past the old Art Deco Bullocks Wilshire building (occupied by Southwestern Law School, 3050 Wilshire Blvd); past the former Ambassador Hotel (3424 Wilshire Blvd), where Robert F. Kennedy was killed in 1968 and legions of kids go to school; past the sleek, green Wiltern theater (3790 Wilshire Blvd), a 1931 marvel.

Hang a left at Fairfax, park and step into the Petersen Automotive Museum (6060 Wilshire Blvd), a former department store that houses scores of gleaming cars and exhibits on car culture, freeway history and roadside architecture. Take a minute on the front sidewalk: This is where, in early 1997, 24-year-old rapper Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death in one of the most infamous drive-by shootings in LA history. It remains unsolved.—MCT

People enjoy the night at The Grove in Los Angeles, California.

Wilshire Vermont Metro station is seen in Korea Town.—MCT photos

Mario Robles leaps off a platform after taking photos outside the George C Page museum on Wilshire Blvd.

For edgy displays and bizarre goods visit Necromance store on Melrose Avenue.

A group of women walk by a limo along Sunset Blvd.

Famous Pink’s hotdog is a must stop on La Brea Ave.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

lifestyle T R A V E L

Five spots

to hit in the next three months

W

ith the start of the New Year, you’re bound to be making resolutions and trying to change patterns.

Didn’t travel much last year? Didn’t take a vacation at all? Make a positive change right now by planning a trip in the next few months! With must-see spots for the next three months in mind, the members and editors of VirtualTourist.com were polled, and here are their “5 Spots to Hit in the Next 3 Months.”

1.See the northern lights in Norway NASA has predicted that the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere (October 2012-April 2013) will be the brightest northern lights display in 50 years. Aurora Borealis, the scientific term for the northern lights, occurs when energetic particles are flung out from the sun and hit the magnetic field around Earth, and this year’s conditions suggest some of the best sightings since 1958. As the phenomena’s name suggests, the display is most commonly seen in a zone within a certain radius of the North Pole, in an area including Iceland, northern Scandinavia, northern Canada, Alaska, and some parts of Siberia. Troms and Finnmark in Norway are located above the Arctic Circle, with relatively mild winters and long winter nights, so both are ideal locations for viewing the northern lights. However, a lack of storms does not mean you should pack light-the average temperature in Troms in January is 24 degrees Fahrenheit, so remember your gloves or mittens. Also, make sure to avoid the full moon and places with lots of lights, as these will interfere with your viewing.

2.Valapariso, Chile & Chilean Patagonia Stretching 4,270 km (2,653 mi) along the Pacific Ocean, Chile’s length and range of latitudes (from subtropical to subantarctic) create incredible biodiversity and a variety of natural settings to see and enjoy. The next three months are Chile’s summer, so the climate is the most temperate it will be all year-the average high in Valapariso is 71 degrees Fahrenheit in January. It is also the best time of the year to visit Chilean Patagonia, with Torres del Paine National Park in splendid form and the region’s famous winds the most manageable they will be all year. While the obvious motivation to visit Chile in the next few months is its mild season, there are more pressing reasons for visiting its natural setting as soon as you can.

Due to Chile’s energy needs, the country has approved projects to build and operate five dams in Chilean Patagonia, as well as resurrecting power lines that will cause the longest clear-cut in history. Since both the President and Chilean Supreme Court have approved the decision, it seems inevitable that the building will commence and large areas of Patagonian forest area will be flooded for the operation of the dams. In addition to seeing the nation’s Southern regions while they remain intact, the country also has some unique events coming up: for New Year’s Eve, Valparaiso will be hosting its traditional fireworks, and attempting to make a Guinness World Record with over 20 tons of fireworks. In the Patagonian region, the Teatro del Lago in Frutillar, the largest theater in the country, will be hosting its “Festivales Musicales” from Jan 27 through Feb 5.

3.San Juan, Puerto Rico For those members trying to escape the season’s cold weather, San Juan, Puerto Rico, is hot on their list. With all the sun of the Caribbean, but none of the hassle, Puerto Rico is only two hours and thirty minutes from Miami. Since it’s a US territory, visiting Puerto Rico does not require a passport for U.S. citizens or a change of currency. While Havana may be at the top of some travel lists, San Juan offers similar colonial architecture, colorful building facades, and cobblestoned streets, but a much cleaner and more modernized atmosphere. In addition to the balmy weather and beaches, there are many activities for visitors

in the next few months. First, the Christmas season extends much longer in Puerto Rico than in other countries - many households don’t exchange presents until Three Kings Day, or Jan 6 — so there are parades and festivals celebrating the holidays long into January.

The Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian, occurring a week after Three Kings Day in the third week of January, is often compared to Mardi Gras. Located along San Sebastian Street in Old San Juan, the street becomes filled with stalls selling a variety of local foods and rum drinks, in addition to music, arts and crafts shows, and crowds of fun-lovers. For those who love to watch athletics, the Puerto Rico Open is held the first week of March; it’s the only official PGA stop in the Caribbean. For those who will miss the event, you can try the Trump International course yourself at the Gran Melia.

4.Rome and Pompeii, Italy Members also mentioned that this period of the year is a great time to visit landmarks that are typically swarmed with tourists in the summer months. Few destinations in the world see as many visitors as Rome and Pompeii, so it makes sense this “off-season” is an ideal time to visit these popular landmarks. With average temperatures in January around 50 degrees F, it’s still quite temperate and great for walking and exploring Rome’s sights. If visiting the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are on your agenda, VirtualTourist members strongly suggest getting your timed tickets online before your trip, which allows you to go straight to the security check line. Another tip: the Vatican website also offers tours, and many members recommend this for first-time visitors, since the numerous oneway routes through the museum can be frustrating and confusing.

Further to the south, Pompeii is a site that must be seen to be believed, but is accordingly filled with visitors during the summer months. In our poll, one VirtualTourist member recalled her “blissful” visit to Pompeii in February, when she had the ruins more or less to herself for a whole hour. Visits to these sites are usually crammed and stressful, so the word “blissful” is proof enough this is a great time to visit!

From November 1 to March 31, the site is opens at the same time, 8:30 am, but closes two hours earlier than during the summer months, at 5:00 pm.

5.Sri Lanka Located just off the coast of India, the island of Sri Lanka has been a fly-over country for most travelers, due to its extensive history of civil unrest. However, the country has been stable for the last four years, and has become a popular destination for budget conscious travelers.

For travelers looking for a safari experience, Sri Lanka offers just as much amazing wildlife as Africa, but is more budget-friendly. Wild elephants, leopards, and spotted deer are just a sample of the mammals you can see in one of the island’s fourteen national parks. Along with the ecological diversity and lush landscape, the country also has six archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The capital of Colombo is an interesting mix of colonial architecture, Buddhist and Hindu temples, and friendly locals. Colombo is a great spot to visit in the next three months, as the city hosts some unique upcoming festivals. Duruthu Perahera, the Buddhist event celebrating the day the Buddha visited Sri Lanka, will be a great day in January to witness rituals and celebrations at the Buddhist temples in Colombo. In March, the Sri Lankan Balloon Festival draws participants from all around the world to fly hot-air balloons around Colombo, creating a great spectacle and fun festivities.

With the heavy holiday travel season almost behind us, we hope you can take advantage of some of the great travel deals in the New Year and checkout at least one of these VirtualTourist member recommended destinations!—MCT

Leopards at Yala National Park are just a sample of the mammals you can see in one of the Sri Lanka’s fourteen national parks.—MCT photos

Crowds take to the streets in Old San Juan.

Northern Lights are seen over Tromso.

Pitt tweets to Chinese that he’s coming

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

37

Indian visitors watch a heart shape kite fly during the International Kite festival on the lawns of Priyadarshani Park in Mumbai yesterday. Kite enthusiasts from different countries are participating in the day-long festival.—AFP

tells story of repression P

ainted on scraps of clothing with carved soap, cigarette lighters and even syringes, Htein Lin’s artworks were his lifeline during years in Myanmar jails-and the spark for an extraordinary love story. “These paintings were really dangerous and also precious,” said the 46-year-old former student protest leader, who produced more than 200 works during his six-and-a-half years in jail under the junta. “I really wanted to tell the government that locked me up for nothing: ‘You might have put me behind bars but you cannot imprison my creativi- A visitor looking at paintings by Myanmar artist Htein Lin. ty’,” he said. Htein Lin was arrested in 1998 and writhe with color, depicting anything imprisoned on the basis of an intercepted from contorted figures to abstract letter from a former “comrade” naming designs. him as potentially still interested in oppoHeld first in Mandalay prison and then sition activity. at Myaungmya, close to his hometown in Jail was fraught with hardship such as the Irrawaddy delta region, the artist was beatings, solitary confinement and unsan- able not only to receive the occasional itary conditions, but it also became his batch of smuggled paint, but also to “studio”. Using any material he could get sneak the collection out. The paintings his hands on Htein Lin-who had previous- are “strongly entwined with my life”, Htein ly focused on performance art-channeled Lin told AFP in Yangon on a recent rare his creativity to express the injustices that visit to Myanmar, where political changes were a part of life during decades of miliunder a reformist government have raised tary rule. With names like “Shadow of hopes of a new era of openness. After he Hope”, “Back from the Chain Gang” and was freed in 2004 the artist came to the “Self Torture for 6 Years”, the paintings attention of then-British ambassador Vicky Bowman, who visited him and persuaded him to let her take the paintings for his own security.

“When we met, she told me that these paintings were dangerous for me to keep and I should give them to her if I trusted her. So I gave them all to her I really felt like I was giving her my whole life,” he said. The meeting, the first of many as the pair catalogued the works, was to kindle a love affair between the diplomat and the dissident. “She became my life,” said the artist. The pair married in 2006 and live in London with their daughter. Bowman was able to smuggle the paintings out of the country and the collection is now in Amsterdam at the International Institute of Social History. In March Myanmar saw its first exhibition of works from former

detained dissidents, and organizer Tun Win Nyein, himself an ex-political prisoner, hopes the country will one day have its own museum devoted to prison art.

“We want to show the next generation what people went through for the country,” he told AFP. Htein Lin said each painting tells the story of the people around him in prison-from the fellow political or criminal prisoners who donated their uniforms for canvasses, to the guards who helped smuggle in materials. One piece, a geometric design called “Map of Rat”, was inspired by a guard who smuggled a batch of paintings out of prison but on seeing the images mistook them for escape plans and destroyed them. On another occasion his jailers became suspicious and searched his cell, but failed to spot artwork under their noses.

“They were looking for something particular, with a frame, a portrait or something,” he said. A trained lawyer, Htein Lin said he hopes the political reforms in his homeland mean he will one day be able to exhibit all his prison art in Myanmar. He has so far resisted all offers to buy the

paintings-even those from celebrity fans. “The last one who wanted to buy these paintings was the singer Bono from U2. But I explained to him that I have to bring all these paintings back to the country one day,” he said.

“This was part of history. We should not forget.”—AFP

File photo shows Myanmar artist Htein Lin speaking during a projection of his paintings at a hotel in Yangon. —AFP photos

Artist Htein Lin posing for photos in front of some of his paintings during an exhibition at a hotel in Yangon.