16 Jan

CR IP TI ON BS SU

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Pak turmoil deepens as court orders PM’s arrest

150 FILS

Serena scare as Federer coasts at Aussie Open

27

7

17

Lawmaker wants priority for Kuwaitis at clinics, hospitals

40 PAGES

NO: 15690

Luxury models dazzle Detroit auto show

No business as usual with Pakistan: Indian PM

7

www.kuwaittimes.net

RABI ALAWAL 4, 1434 AH

Mislem says opposition alliance a necessity

By B Izzak and A Saleh

in the

news

Saudis jail Egyptian for drug smuggling JEDDAH: A Saudi cour t yesterday sentenced an Egyptian rights lawyer whose arrest on drug trafficking charges in April sparked a diplomatic row with Cairo to five years in prison and 300 lashes. Ahmed Al-Gizawi was accused of trying to smuggle 21,380 capsules of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax, which is banned in Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking carries the death sentence. Another Egyptian arrested in the same case was sentenced to four years in prison and 400 lashes, while their Saudi partner was jailed for two years and will receive 100 lashes. The lashes are implemented at the rate of 50 per month. Cleanly shaved and dressed in a crisp white tracksuit, the lawyer murmured “I rely on God” under his breath as the judge read the verdict.

The judge then asked three men, one after the other, if they accepted the ruling and they all replied negatively. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said that Gizawi was held after he had earlier been sentenced in absentia to one year in prison and 20 lashes for criticising the Saudi government.

Iranians deny Thai blast plot BANGKOK: Two Iranians on trial for an alleged botched bomb plot against Israeli diplomats in Bangkok appeared in court again yesterday as their Thai lawyer protested their innocence. Mohammad Khazaei, 42, and Saeid Moradi, 29, are among five Iranians suspected of involvement in the Feb 2012 blasts, that followed attacks in India and Georgia and saw Tehran accused of a terror campaign. The pair have already pleaded not guilty at a court in Bangkok to charges including attempted murder and possessing explosives, their lawyer Kittipong Kiattanapoom told AFP. “They were not involved with the bombs nor did they aim to kill any innocent people, including police officials,” he said outside the court. Kittipong also said the men had not rented the suburban Bangkok house, where an apparently unintended explosion disclosed the supposed plot. He said Moradi, who lost both his legs in a subsequent blast, had been surprised to discover bombs in a cupboard of the property. The injured suspect had been trying safely to dispose of one device when it fell to the ground and detonated on the street, Kittipong added.

Max 15º Min 08º High Tide 02:09 & 15:41 Low Tide 08:43 & 21:03

MANAMA: Kuwaiti fans cheer their team prior to the start of Kuwait’s semifinal match against United Arab Emirates in the 21st Gulf Cup yesterday. UAE won 1-0. — AFP (See Page 20)

KUWAIT: In a surprising proposal, independent MP Nawaf Al-Fuzai yesterday submitted a proposal calling on the health ministry to give the priority to Kuwaiti patients to see doctors at public clinics and hospitals ahead of expatriates except for emergency cases. Fuzai, a lawyer by profession, said he made the proposal because Kuwaiti patients normally wait for a long time before they are examined by public doctors to the extent that sometimes they arrive at medical facilities very early in the morning and even before employees come to work in order to be able to see doctors quickly. The lawmaker said that expatriates in emergency conditions should be exempted from the proposal. Medical services are totally free of charge for Kuwaitis but expatriates are obliged to pay an annual health insurance fee of KD 50 per person regardless of age and on top of that pay for many other services like x-rays and other radiology services, hospital stays and others.

In other developments, the National Assembly’s financial and economic affairs committee yesterday approved a draft corporate law that has been in the Assembly for several years because of differences over the law with the previous Assembly. Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh said the bill provides better protection for public funds and is a major improvement for economic legislation. The current corporate law was issued in the early 1960s and under went a few amendments and was described as outdated and hindered efforts to transform Kuwait into a trade and financial hub.

Meanwhile, the constitutional court yesterday looked into another nine petitions against the amendment of the electoral law and several challenges to election results. The court decided to postpone the nine challenges until today to issue its ruling. On Sunday, the court looked into another eight challenges among around 56 challenges it has received against the results of election and against the amendment of the electoral constituency law.

The criminal court meanwhile set Feb 5 to issue its ruling against two former opposition MPs and a member of the scrapped Assembly on charges of insulting HH the Amir and undermining his authority. Khaled Al-Tahous, Falah Al-Sawwagh and Bader Al-Dahoum were accused of making statements at a public gathering on Oct 10 that were deemed to be offensive to the Amir. The men were detained for five days in October before they were released on bail. The public prosecution meanwhile released lawyer and writer Mohammad Abdulqader Al-Jassem yesterday after interrogating him on charges of undermining

Continued on Page 2

Armstrong admits doping to Oprah Cyclist apologizes to staff at Livestrong

BANGKOK: Iranian Saeid Moradi who had his legs blown off arrives at the court yesterday. — AFP

AUSTIN, Texas: Shamed cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted that he used performance-enhancing drugs, US media reported yesterday, as the sport braced for revelations in his first interview since being banned for life for doping. Armstrong, who has consistently denied drug-taking, on Monday recorded a two-and-a-half hour interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey at his home in Austin, Texas, where a media scrum gathered hoping for a glimpse of the fallen icon. His representatives refused to reveal what was discussed but the New York Times and USA Today newspapers both cited sources with knowledge of the taping that the seven-time Tour de France winner would admit using banned substances in his career. The Times added that he would also testify against high-ranking cycling officials who knew he was doping and may have helped him do it.

Winfrey told CBS yesterday she had not

planned to address Armstrong’s confession before the interview airs on her OWN network tomorrow but, “by the time I left Austin and landed in Chicago, you all had already confirmed it”. “So I’m sitting here now because it’s already been confirmed,” she added. Winfrey said the interview will now run in two parts over two nights because there is so much material. Winfrey would not characterize whether Armstrong seemed contrite but said he seemed ready for the interview. “I would say he met the moment,” she said.

The confession was a stunning reversal for a proud athlete and celebrity who sought lavish praise and used courtrooms to punish his critics. Armstrong, the most high-profile cyclist of recent years, was stripped of his career wins and banned for life last year after the US AntiDoping Agency (USADA) said he was at the centre of the biggest doping program ever Continued on Page 13

19 killed as Egypt train carrying troops derails CAIRO: A train carrying military conscripts derailed southwest of Cairo yesterday, killing 19 people and wounding 107, the health ministry said, highlighting the country’s chronic transport problems. The train was taking young recruits from south Egypt to a military camp in Cairo when two carriages went off the rails shortly after midnight in the Giza neighbourhood of Badrasheen, officials said. More than 60 ambulances were sent to the site of the accident, where rescuers extracted survivors and bodies from the twisted heap of metal on the side of the rails.

Prime Minister Hesham Qandeel was met with howls of outrage when he BADRASHEEN, Egypt: People inspect the wreckage of a train in arrived at the scene, with local residents Continued on Page 13 Giza yesterday. — AFP

AUSTIN: Talk-show host Oprah Winfrey interviews cyclist Lance Armstrong during taping for the show ‘Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive’ on Monday. — AFP

Hollande defends Mali offensive French prez backs clean energy at WEF DUBAI: French President Francois Hollande, on a visit to the Gulf, defended yesterday his country’s intervention in Mali, saying it had prevented the African country from being overrun by “terrorists”. Speaking to reporters in Dubai, Hollande said his government does not intend to keep forces in Mali, but will remain until security is restored and Islamist fighters eliminated.

Earlier, as he arrived at Peace Camp in Abu Dhabi - his country’s only military base in the region - Hollande said it will take at least another week before an African force is deployed in Mali.

The French intervention had allowed time for this force to be put together.

“France is at the forefront,” said Hollande.

ABU DHABI: France’s President Francois Hollande (left) meets “Had it not been there, Mali would have French naval commandos during his visit to the French naval been today entirely occupied by terrorists base ‘Camp de la paix’ (Peace Camp) in the Emirati capital yester- and other African countries threatened,”

day. — AFP

Continued on Page 13

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LOCAL

Arab media needs to focus on youth affairs Information ministers meet CAIRO: Kuwait’s Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah stressed the importance of Arab media cooperation on issues that affect the region’s youth. “We need to focus more on purposeful media, especially to the outside world, and there is a need to paint a positive picture on issues that affect us, particularly the Palestinian issue,” he said after attending a meeting of Arab ministers of information and media in Cairo.

Referring to ‘new media’, which refers to on-demand access through digital devices to information anytime and anywhere, he said this should focus on the youth and their potentials in developing the region.

Earlier in his speech to ministers, Sheikh Salman highlighted the need for media to deliver appropriate messages to the youth which they can comprehend. Youth account for 60pct of the Arab world, he added.

“Media has developed in many ways - like new media and electronic medic - and it is the task of Arab countries to best accommodate

their needs,” noted Sheikh Salman.

Sheikh Salman went on to highlight what he described as an “unfair portrayal” of the Arab world in foreign media, “which we - as Arab media outlets - have stood idle to.”

“This is why integrated revised strategies are needed to transmit a more realistic untainted picture to the outside world,” he said. The Palestinian issue and Syria were also addressed by the minister, who pledged Kuwait’s support of both and added that Kuwait would be hosting a UN-acknowledged donors’ conference for Syria later this month.

Earlier, the 44th meeting of the council of Arab ministers of Information started presided by the Yemeni information minister Ali Al-Omrani and attended by Arab League secretary general Nabil Al-Arabi.

Representing Kuwait at the meeting is its minister of Information Sheikh Salman AlSabah along with Kuwait’s ambassador to Cairo Dr Rasheed al-Hamad and Kuwait’s representative at the Arab League Jamal AlGhenaim. The meeting is poised to discuss

recommendations turned over to it by a twoday meeting, already concluded, by the executive office of the council of the information ministers, among which being the request from Bahrain that the Lebanese Media Group( owners of Manar TV and Nour radio station) be stopped from broadcasting its programs.

The meeting of the information ministers will focus on means of preventing signal interference on satellite TV, and radio channels and ways of giving support to the Palestinian cause through Arab media.

The ministers of information will moreover steer their attention to fighting the scourge of terrorism through the media and coordinating their efforts at augmenting the use of digital technologies in covering media events.

Prior to yesterday’s meeting was another which Al-Arabi organized for the ministers to acquaint them with the aspirations of the Arab people for a Pan-Arab media that addresses the concerns and frontburner issues close to the hearts of these people. —KUNA

Saudi clerics protest against appointing women to advisory body JEDDAH: Dozens of Saudi clerics staged a rare protest in front of the Royal Court yesterday against King Abdullah’s decision to appoint women to a body that advises the government on new laws, a sign of growing conservative unease at modest social reforms.

On Friday, King Abdullah appointed 30 women to the Shura Council, giving them a fifth of the seats in the consultative body - a move he promised to make in 2011.

The kingdom’s top religious authorities including the Grand Mufti accepted that decision, but the gathering of about 50 clerics outside the Royal Court suggested wider disquiet among conservatives in the world’s top oil producer.

A Saudi activist in touch with the clerics confirmed the accuracy of photographs showing them standing in a group as they demanded a meeting with King Abdullah and his top aide

Khaled al-Tuwaijri, seeking to offer them “advice”.

Tuwaijri, the Royal Court chief of staff, is believed to be King Abdullah’s right-hand man and is seen by many Saudis as a driving force behind the country’s cautious reforms.

“The clerics were in front of the royal court to address the king and Tuwaijri with regard to women in the Shura Council ... they waited for two hours but were denied access,” Waleed Abu al-Khair told Reuters by phone.

Saudi Arabia is a conservative monarchy, backed by religious scholars, that has little tolerance for dissent. It follows an austere Salafi form of Sunni Islam and allows clerics wide powers in society where they dominate the judicial system and run their own police squad to enforce religious morals.

Saudi Arabia is a patriarchal society in which women are not allowed to drive and need permission from their male guardians -father, hus-

band or brother - to go abroad or take certain jobs. This is the second time in two days that clerics, who have issued a religious edict banning any kind of public protest, have publicly expressed concern at decisions by the king.

“There is a contradiction ... The real Salafis do not do what these (clerics) are doing,” said Saudi political analyst Khaled al-Dakheel.

“Maybe we are now faced with a socio-political change in the society where we have the traditional Salafi school of thought that adheres to all its principles and now there is a new generation of Salafis emerging that hopes for different proposals. This requires examination,” Dakheel said. A close ally of the United States, Saudi Arabia escaped the kind of unrest that toppled leaders across the Middle East in the past two years thanks to a massive social spending package and the religious edict from clerics, banning protests. — Reuters

DUBAI: Under auspices of the deputy Dubai governor and the head of Dubai health authority Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the 10th GCC Ear, Nose and Throat Conference, the 3rd UAE ENT and Nasal Sinuses Conference and the 3rd Arab NET Conference jointly kicked off yesterday in Dubai with the participation of over 750 specialized doctors from all Arab countries.

Arab nations ‘most depressed on earth’

By Nawara Fattahova

Kites Team launches Public Heritage Festival KUWAIT: The Kuwait Kites Team yesterday launched the third Public Heritage Festival by flying 100 kites in Al-Salmi area skies, team leader Amer Bohamad said.

The kites carried the flags and photos of the GCC states, photos of old Kuwaiti flags, that of HH the Amir, the state logo, celebrities and national icons. He also explained that the festival that

began on Jan 15 will last till Feb 15.

Bohamad also said that the Kuwait Kites Team participated during the festivities marking the Kuwaiti constitution’s 50th anniversary by flying over 500 kites. He

said kite aficionados also intend to participate in the national celebrations next month where they will unveil new kites designed by the team members themselves.

NA panel prepares list of new companies KUWAIT: The chairman of the financial committee, Dr Yousuf Al Zalzalah, said the committee and the Minister of Commerce and Industr y, Anas Al Sabah, have agreed to prepare a draft decree of the companies to be sent to the National Assembly Council for approval.

This will be followed by an approval from the government after incorporating the amendments suggested by the committee on the basis of recommendations received during earlier discussions attended by the minister and observations made by other specialists.

On the other hand, the committee will today hold a meeting

which will be attended by Deput y Prime M inister and Minister of Finance, Mustafa Al Shamali. Dr Zalzalah said six different suggestions have been received regarding how to go about waiving off the interest on loans availed of by the citizens, and each pegged the cost of implementation differently.

The suggestion received by MP Nawaf Al Fazie involved a cost of KD 6.70 billion, that of MP Ask ar Al Enasi and others KD 4.583 billion, while the one made

by MP Saadoun Hamad and others will cost KD 4.583 billion.

Similarly, the suggestion made

by MP Essam Al Dabbous will cost KD 4.39 billion while that

made by MP Yousuf Zelzala will cost only KD 1.7 billion. Thus, MP Zelzala’s formula involved the least cost and is the one that will be mainly proposed. It was also recommended by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad during a meeting he held with NA Speaker Al R ashed and other MPs. A total of 131,000 citizens will benefit from this proposal, including those who availed loans before 2009 and, in particular those who availed loans since S eptember 2008, af ter which the Central Bank started super vising the banks more stric tly. The government will absorb the entire cost of interest cancellation.

KUWAIT: According to statistics published recently by the World Health Organization, the Arab nations are considered the most depressed on earth, with seven percent of the population suffering from depression. According to Dr. Khalid Al-Muhanadi, a Kuwaiti Psychiatric, the data is correct and the general atmosphere in which Arabs live Dr Khalid Al-Muhanadi increases the possibility of becoming depressed.

“The traditions and customs in the Arab world affect the personality of the individuals. For instance, if they made a mistake, they know that while God will forgive them, the society will not.

This leads to psychological diseases such as depression,” he told the Kuwait Times.

He also enumerated weather among the factors causing depression. “The extreme heat during summer in most Arab countries is very similar to the extreme cold weather in Europe. In both cases, people do not leave their houses most of the time, preferring to spend their time indoors. This affects their psychological status,” he explained.

During his long stay in different GCC countries, Dr. Al-Muhanadi noticed that the Arab people suffered various psychological diseases such as fear, anxiety or depression, and even made their religion stricter as a result of their fear about making mistakes.

Fear, anxiety and depression are general terms, and each has further stages and could range in intensity from light to medium to strong,” he pointed out.

“Psychiatric science and studies are still developing and we have reached a stage where we can predict diseases that may occur in a community. By analyzing people’s lifestyle, we may predict the disease they may suffer from in the future. People indulging in similar actions and picking up similar habits makes such predictions possible. Also we noticed that the ‘Complete Families’, by which I mean the strict families, account for a higher percentage of children suffering from anxiety and fear. They usually suffer from school phobia,” Al-Muhanadi added.

Regarding the effect of wars, Arab Spring, and other situations involving political instability, AlMuhanadi noted that all these definitely affect the individual and may lead to depression.

“Disasters make nations suffer from depression. The unstable political situation where there is no security in the country causes fear, anxiety and depression. As a result, the crime rate also increases and there are more divorce cases.

People feel that there is no social or family security. Various media also have to be factored in since they discuss the poor performance of the parliament. Any news announced or published in the media also has an impact. Following a regime change after the Arab Spring, people started suffering from trauma and depression similar to what one feels when somebody passes away,” he concluded.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LOCAL

Arab media needs to focus on youth affairs Information ministers meet CAIRO: Kuwait’s Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah stressed the importance of Arab media cooperation on issues that affect the region’s youth. “We need to focus more on purposeful media, especially to the outside world, and there is a need to paint a positive picture on issues that affect us, particularly the Palestinian issue,” he said after attending a meeting of Arab ministers of information and media in Cairo.

Referring to ‘new media’, which refers to on-demand access through digital devices to information anytime and anywhere, he said this should focus on the youth and their potentials in developing the region.

Earlier in his speech to ministers, Sheikh Salman highlighted the need for media to deliver appropriate messages to the youth which they can comprehend. Youth account for 60pct of the Arab world, he added.

“Media has developed in many ways - like new media and electronic medic - and it is the task of Arab countries to best accommodate

their needs,” noted Sheikh Salman.

Sheikh Salman went on to highlight what he described as an “unfair portrayal” of the Arab world in foreign media, “which we - as Arab media outlets - have stood idle to.”

“This is why integrated revised strategies are needed to transmit a more realistic untainted picture to the outside world,” he said. The Palestinian issue and Syria were also addressed by the minister, who pledged Kuwait’s support of both and added that Kuwait would be hosting a UN-acknowledged donors’ conference for Syria later this month.

Earlier, the 44th meeting of the council of Arab ministers of Information started presided by the Yemeni information minister Ali Al-Omrani and attended by Arab League secretary general Nabil Al-Arabi.

Representing Kuwait at the meeting is its minister of Information Sheikh Salman AlSabah along with Kuwait’s ambassador to Cairo Dr Rasheed al-Hamad and Kuwait’s representative at the Arab League Jamal AlGhenaim. The meeting is poised to discuss

recommendations turned over to it by a twoday meeting, already concluded, by the executive office of the council of the information ministers, among which being the request from Bahrain that the Lebanese Media Group( owners of Manar TV and Nour radio station) be stopped from broadcasting its programs.

The meeting of the information ministers will focus on means of preventing signal interference on satellite TV, and radio channels and ways of giving support to the Palestinian cause through Arab media.

The ministers of information will moreover steer their attention to fighting the scourge of terrorism through the media and coordinating their efforts at augmenting the use of digital technologies in covering media events.

Prior to yesterday’s meeting was another which Al-Arabi organized for the ministers to acquaint them with the aspirations of the Arab people for a Pan-Arab media that addresses the concerns and frontburner issues close to the hearts of these people. —KUNA

Saudi clerics protest against appointing women to advisory body JEDDAH: Dozens of Saudi clerics staged a rare protest in front of the Royal Court yesterday against King Abdullah’s decision to appoint women to a body that advises the government on new laws, a sign of growing conservative unease at modest social reforms.

On Friday, King Abdullah appointed 30 women to the Shura Council, giving them a fifth of the seats in the consultative body - a move he promised to make in 2011.

The kingdom’s top religious authorities including the Grand Mufti accepted that decision, but the gathering of about 50 clerics outside the Royal Court suggested wider disquiet among conservatives in the world’s top oil producer.

A Saudi activist in touch with the clerics confirmed the accuracy of photographs showing them standing in a group as they demanded a meeting with King Abdullah and his top aide

Khaled al-Tuwaijri, seeking to offer them “advice”.

Tuwaijri, the Royal Court chief of staff, is believed to be King Abdullah’s right-hand man and is seen by many Saudis as a driving force behind the country’s cautious reforms.

“The clerics were in front of the royal court to address the king and Tuwaijri with regard to women in the Shura Council ... they waited for two hours but were denied access,” Waleed Abu al-Khair told Reuters by phone.

Saudi Arabia is a conservative monarchy, backed by religious scholars, that has little tolerance for dissent. It follows an austere Salafi form of Sunni Islam and allows clerics wide powers in society where they dominate the judicial system and run their own police squad to enforce religious morals.

Saudi Arabia is a patriarchal society in which women are not allowed to drive and need permission from their male guardians -father, hus-

band or brother - to go abroad or take certain jobs. This is the second time in two days that clerics, who have issued a religious edict banning any kind of public protest, have publicly expressed concern at decisions by the king.

“There is a contradiction ... The real Salafis do not do what these (clerics) are doing,” said Saudi political analyst Khaled al-Dakheel.

“Maybe we are now faced with a socio-political change in the society where we have the traditional Salafi school of thought that adheres to all its principles and now there is a new generation of Salafis emerging that hopes for different proposals. This requires examination,” Dakheel said. A close ally of the United States, Saudi Arabia escaped the kind of unrest that toppled leaders across the Middle East in the past two years thanks to a massive social spending package and the religious edict from clerics, banning protests. — Reuters

DUBAI: Under auspices of the deputy Dubai governor and the head of Dubai health authority Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the 10th GCC Ear, Nose and Throat Conference, the 3rd UAE ENT and Nasal Sinuses Conference and the 3rd Arab NET Conference jointly kicked off yesterday in Dubai with the participation of over 750 specialized doctors from all Arab countries.

Arab nations ‘most depressed on earth’

By Nawara Fattahova

Kites Team launches Public Heritage Festival KUWAIT: The Kuwait Kites Team yesterday launched the third Public Heritage Festival by flying 100 kites in Al-Salmi area skies, team leader Amer Bohamad said.

The kites carried the flags and photos of the GCC states, photos of old Kuwaiti flags, that of HH the Amir, the state logo, celebrities and national icons. He also explained that the festival that began

on Jan 15 will last till Feb 15. Bohamad also said that the Kuwait Kites Team participated during the festivities marking the Kuwaiti constitution’s 50th anniversary by flying over 500 kites. He said kite

aficionados also intend to participate in the national celebrations next month where they will unveil new k ites designed by the team members themselves.

Panel prepares list of new companies KUWAIT: The chairman of the financial committee, Dr Yousuf Al Zalzalah, said the committee and the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anas Al Sabah, have agreed to prepare a draft decree of the companies to be sent to the National Assembly Council for approval.

This will be followed by an approval from the government after incorporating the amendments suggested by the

committee on the basis of recommendations received during earlier discussions attended by the minister and observations made by other specialists.

On the other hand, the committee will today hold a meeting which will be attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mustafa Al Shamali.

Dr Zalzalah said six different suggestions have been received regarding

how to go about waiving off the interest on loans availed of by the citizens, and each pegged the cost of implementation differently. The suggestion received by MP Nawaf Al Fazie involved a cost of KD 6.70 billion, that of MP Askar Al Enasi and others KD 4.583 billion, while the one made by MP Saadoun Hamad and others will cost KD 4.583 billion.

Lawmaker wants priority for Kuwaitis...

Continued from Page 1 Kuwait’s relations with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The accusations were based on an article Jassem wrote on his blog about two months ago and in which he warned the leaders of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates that protests in Kuwait could reach their countries.

Former MP and top opposition figure Musallam Al-Barrak is due to appear in court on Sunday for investigations in a case filed against him for insulting Jordan and the Jordanian monarch and questioning both countries’ relations. Barrak had been summoned by the public prosecution last week for the same case but he could not appear as he had severe cold.

Barrak had insulted Jordan and its king and claimed that the

special forces and riot police deployed in demonstrations in Kuwait were ‘Jordanian mercenaries’, which was vehemently denied by the interior ministry.

In a related development, leading opposition figure and former MP Faisal Al-Mislem yesterday called for forming a broad alliance of the opposition groups, saying an alliance is a necessity at this time.

Commenting on Monday’s protests in Sabah Al-Nasser, MP Abdulhameed Dashti expressed amazement at the practices of members of the annulled 2012 Assembly and the statements they make to the press where they condemn atrocities during the Sabah Al-Nasser demonstration although “they were the ones who called for, organized and provoked young people to take part in it”.

KUWAIT: According to statistics published recently by the World Health Organization, the Arab nations are considered the most depressed on earth, with seven percent of the population suffering from depression. According to Dr. Khalid Al-Muhanadi, a Kuwaiti Psychiatric, the data is correct and the general atmosphere in which Arabs live Dr Khalid Al-Muhanadi increases the possibility of becoming depressed.

“The traditions and customs in the Arab world affect the personality of the individuals. For instance, if they made a mistake, they know that while God will forgive them, the society will not.

This leads to psychological diseases such as depression,” he told the Kuwait Times.

He also enumerated weather among the factors causing depression. “The extreme heat during summer in most Arab countries is very similar to the extreme cold weather in Europe. In both cases, people do not leave their houses most of the time, preferring to spend their time indoors. This affects their psychological status,” he explained.

During his long stay in different GCC countries, Dr. Al-Muhanadi noticed that the Arab people suffered various psychological diseases such as fear, anxiety or depression, and even made their religion stricter as a result of their fear about making mistakes.

Fear, anxiety and depression are general terms, and each has further stages and could range in intensity from light to medium to strong,” he pointed out.

“Psychiatric science and studies are still developing and we have reached a stage where we can predict diseases that may occur in a community. By analyzing people’s lifestyle, we may predict the disease they may suffer from in the future. People indulging in similar actions and picking up similar habits makes such predictions possible. Also we noticed that the ‘Complete Families’, by which I mean the strict families, account for a higher percentage of children suffering from anxiety and fear. They usually suffer from school phobia,” Al-Muhanadi added.

Regarding the effect of wars, Arab Spring, and other situations involving political instability, AlMuhanadi noted that all these definitely affect the individual and may lead to depression.

“Disasters make nations suffer from depression. The unstable political situation where there is no security in the country causes fear, anxiety and depression. As a result, the crime rate also increases and there are more divorce cases.

People feel that there is no social or family security. Various media also have to be factored in since they discuss the poor performance of the parliament. Any news announced or published in the media also has an impact. Following a regime change after the Arab Spring, people started suffering from trauma and depression similar to what one feels when somebody passes away,” he concluded.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LOCAL

News

in brief

Security media appeal KUWAIT: The security media called upon shepherds and camel breeders in the desert to keep away from the express roads to ensure that the animals stay away from any road accidents. The precaution specifically mentioned Kabd Road, Al Mutlaa Road, Al Sabbiya, Al Abdaly Al Salmi and King Fahad Express Road. The cautionary statement underlined the importance of not letting any animals to venture astray into the path of oncoming vehicles, thus keeping them as well as the road users safe. They urged cattle owners to inform the police about the timings of animal crossing so that necessary precautions can be taken to close the road and use flashes when the cattle cross the road.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday in a ceremony at Bayan Palace, the newly accredited ambassadors of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Palestine, who presented HH with copies of their credentials. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Amiri Diwan Undersecretary Ibrahim Mohammad Al-Shatti and HH the Amir’s Office Director Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad.

Kuwait lawmaker calls for monitoring fundraisers 17 held in Sixth Ring Road assaults KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti lawmaker has called for a more vigilant monitoring of the funds raised ostensibly for acts of charity and benevolence. “The list presented by the United Arab Emirates of the names of the terror cell plotting to undermine security in the UAE and in other Gulf countries stresses the urgent need for strong control and monitoring in Kuwait,” MP Safa Al Hashem said.

“The ministries of interior and social affairs and labour must monitor the activities of the people and societies who engage in fundraising in Kuwait as well as the way massive funds are used or transferred,” she said in a statement published by Al Rai daily yesterday.

An iron fist must be used to deal with violators and all those who “plant the seeds of destruction”, the lawmaker, one of three women elected to the parliament in the December legislative elections, said.

“We have noted that some political figures and some expatriates have recently started raising and collecting funds without proper licencing from the competent ministry and without presenting evidence on the amount of funds,” she said. “We have also noted that some people place telephone calls to Kuwaiti homes to urge Kuwaiti nationals to donate money and they subsequently send delegates to collect the money without giving receipts that prove the donations,” she said.

Last month, security forces in the UAE arrested a cell of UAE and Saudi Arabian citizens which was planning to carry out militant attacks in both countries and other states.

In the same month, reports in the UAE said that an Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood cell was unearthed by the authorities and that it was “active in recruiting members in the country and collecting sensitive military information that posed serious threat to UAE security.”

Kuwaiti dailies said that the Muslim Brotherhood had a wide network in the Gulf and that it was raising money especially in Kuwait to fund its activities.

Meanwhile, seventeen people were arrested on Monday in connection with the violence that happened in the wake of a demonstration the previous night which left at least two policemen injured after protesters attacked patrol vehicles on the Sixth Ring Road.

According to sources who spoke to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity, four young men had been already

KUWAIT: MP Safa with students visiting the parliament . referred to the Public Prosecution to face charges for physically assaulting detective Mohammad Al-Wuhaib, while 13 others arrested by Farwaniya police “remain in custody pending investigations for taking part in an unlicensed gathering and ignoring police orders.”

Police are expected to summon more suspects in the coming days “as well as take legal action against former MPs who participated in the demonstration” featured in the Sabah Al-Nasser area, the sources added.

Meanwhile, father of officer Ahmad Al-Ghadhban who was hospitalized following the violence, spoke to Al-Rai about his son’s ordeal, explaining that “his patrol vehicle was cornered by two sports utility vehicles (SUV) before it was attacked by rock-throwing youngsters.” The attack resulted in damages to the patrol vehicle as well as injuries to officer Al-Ghadhban and his partner.

The officers were eventually able to drive away from the scene and head to the Traffic General Department “from where they were taken to the Military Hospital before later being discharged,” Qassim Al-Ghadhban further told Al-Rai. In other news, the Appeals Court ordered the release of

MEW sues nonpaying consumers

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water announced initiated taking legal action against 3400 consumers who failed to pay their bills, and will be filing an additional 600 cases next week for the same reasons. The ministry further explained in a statement yesterday that legal action was taken as a last resort “after defaulting consumers ignored two warnings calling on them to pay their dues in order to avoid prosecution.”

Companies law The parliament’s financial commit-

tee approved the companies law bill that was passed by the government through an emergency decree last November. The approval came during a meeting yesterday (Monday) which was attended by Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas AlSaleh.

In a statement released after the meeting, Minister Al-Saleh commended the amendments proposed by the lawmakers during the meeting, adding at the same time that the cabinet plans to present its own set of amendments soon “in order to achieve perfect results.”

Committee rapporteur MP Safaa

Al-Hashim in the meantime described the agreement as a “demonstration of cooperation between the [executive and legislative] authorities,” saying that discussions focused on nearly fifty articles of the law.

Meanwhile, Al-Hashim announced that Finance Minister Mustafa AlShamali is set to attend the committee’s meeting today which will discuss proposals to write off interests accrued on citizens’ loans in local banks. The lawmaker indicated that a request to allocate a session to discuss this issue could be made “if we did not find cooperation on the minister’s part.”

Boy Scouts visit soldiers in Kuwait

KUWAIT: Pfc. De’Marcus Salter, a 47th Transportation Company motor transport operator, explains features of a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle to international Boy Scout Yousef Abdel-Rahman, 12, Direct Service Troop 965, at Camp Arifjan.

CAMP ARIFJAN: Horns honked, sirens wailed and on the loudspeakers of armored vehicles you hear voices, voices of children. Boy Scouts of Troop 965 in Kuwait received a unique opportunity to visit Camp Arifjan, Jan. 12, 2013, and explore mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles with Soldiers of the 47th Transportation Company, deployed from Fort Bliss, Texas. The Boy Scout troop is comprised of expatriates located in Kuwait. The troop’s council is coordinated through Direct Ser vice and administered by the International Department of the Boy Scouts of America.

Staff Sgt. Pascual Romero, a squad leader with 47th, gave the Scouts an initial tour of the trucks and their features.

Romero said the experience was certainly different while being deployed, but was happy to show the Scouts around.

“As a noncommissioned officer in the Army, you have to take pride in your equipment,” said Romero, a Strawn, Texas, resident. “I enjoy any opportunity to show off our equipment and teach kids about the trucks.”

Mike Buist, a parent of scout Ryan Buist, originally from New Zealand, said this opportunity was unique and gives the Scouts a glimpse of the military beyond what they would normally experience.

“What a lot of the Scouts is about is taking young guys and teaching them the principles of being young men,” said Buist. “It shows what loyalty, espirt de corps, commitment are all about. For the younger guys it’s not so much about inculcating a desire to join the military, but a lot of the principles that are associated behind that are developed in these young guys.” Mike’s son Ryan said he enjoyed his experience on Camp Arifjan with the trucks.

“It’s been really, really fun,” said Ryan, 14. “We got to crawl all over the vehicles, sit in the driver’s seat, play with all of the controls, sit in the gunner’s seat and spin around. That was cool.”

a Kuwaiti man convicted of undermining the status of HH the Amir on Twitter. Citizen Nasser Al-Ansari has been in jail since February 2012 after he was sentenced to five years in prison by the Court of First Instance. The court on Sunday approved a request made by attorney Mohammad AlKhuraybet and released Al-Ansari on a KD1000 bail. The next hearing in the case was set for March 24, 2013.

Medicine prices KUWAIT: The Minister of Health, Dr Mohammed Al Haifi, said that prices of pharmaceutical products will be made uniform across all GCC states and will be implemented in Kuwait by this year end. He said it will be hard to implement the measure since the prices will be slashed, but expressed the hope that these will be reduced as happened in Saudi Arabia, though it is a large market. “However, we will reduce the prices as much as possible given the size of our market,” he said, adding the price reduction could hover between 20-25%. He said he expected the pharmaceutical companies to fight back but expressed the government’s determination to “force them as the market will be unified which will help us to reduce the prices.”

New phone transfer KUWAIT: A new system for transferring a mobile phone number from one telecom company to another has been entrusted to an international consultant who was tasked with supervising the project and ensuring its implementation by next April, sources at the Ministry of Communication said. They said the cost of the project will be absorbed by the three companies at the directions of the government which made it obligatory upon them to implement the project. The new system can accommodate 800,000 lines for those wishing to transfer their line from one company to another.

Traffic offences KUWAIT: A number of drivers who love to press on the pedal were taken by surprise when Hawally traffic personnel caught them on the Arabian Gulf Road and slapped 60 of them with fines. One of drivers was found driving at a speed of 200 km per hour, the top speedster who fell in the Traffic Department’s net.

The Hawally traffic department, armed with vehicle speed measuring radars, had set up a checkpoint to restrain over speeding on the roads. The drive was part of the Traffic Department’s ongoing campaign to ensure safety of road users and bring down traffic violations. Six vehicles were detained for various violations of rules. Traffic Department authorities emphasized that similar campaign will continue in all governorates at different times in order to keep the surprise element.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LOCAL

Big activities in store for IWG

A group picture of the board members of IWG. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

SAS chef David Harnoir

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The International Women’s Group (IWG) held its monthly meeting on Sunday morning at the Radisson Blu Hotel which was attended by most of the IWG members and featured a live cooking presentation.

During this meeting, DeNeece Tueller, wife of the US Ambassador to Kuwait, delivered a welcome speech, in which she appreciated the cultural and social activities of the group. “The activities and programs are excellent and I have enjoyed attending it. It is also a great opportunity to meet friends.

Today we will enjoy live demonstration of how to cook different dishes,” she noted.

Tueller also announced that she will be starting a cancer support group at her house in February. “We will be making presentations and talking on behalf of cancer patients from all nationalities. It will all be in English,” she

Ann, president of IWG.- 20122013 further said. The members are meeting regularly and hold different events and activities.

“These activities include various celebrations and events such as visiting traditional places and others.

In addition, it includes other cultural activities such as those presented by diplomat women from their country,” Narjis Al-

DeNeece Tueller, US Ambassador’s wife Shatti, Member of IWG and the PR and Media told the Kuwait Times.

“At the beginning of each season, we review the activities of the Group. We also take into consideration the suggestions and opinions of the members regarding the activities and programs. In February, we will have a special program about Kuwait and will select appropriate activities,” she

Cleav, Narjis Al-Shati, Jaky and Zahra Al-Hasawi

New assault at Psychiatric Hospital KUWAIT: In an incident which brought a feeling of deja vu, a man on Sunday assaulted the Director of the Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Abdullah Hamadi, complaining how his daughter could have left the facility without anyone’s knowledge.

Dr. Hamadi did not provide too many details about the latest incident, but complained that similar assaults happened in the past too but “proper legal

procedures were not taken to deter perpetrators.” He further told Al-Rai that he had made submissions about two complaints earlier which did not elicit “appropriate interest from the Health Ministry’s legal department.”

In other news, Dr. Hamadi announced that the ministry would appeal against an Administrative Court’s order which overruled the decision to appoint him as director of the Psychiatric Hospital.

Participants at the IWG evevnt.

added. Today’s cooking demonstration was presented by Chef David Harnoir who came up with grilled asparagus with poached egg, shallots and tomatoes. Then he also demonstrated how to make Um Ali, which is an Arabic sweet, and CrËme br˚lÈe from the French cuisine.

Al-Shatti stressed that the group aims to provide information about the Arabic sweets. “We have chosen Um Ali as it is a popular dish from Egypt and is easy to prepare,” she pointed out.

Al-Shatti also said that the IWG Kuwait chapter is a branch of the International Women’s Association residing in Denmark and has branches all over the world, where they organize similar programs and activities. “Here in Kuwait, the wives of newly arriving ambassadors will meet with the other members to exchange information about their country, tradition, food, culture and others,” she stated.

Al-Shati, Enem Baher Al-Oulom and Nazeha Hajjaj

Sabil, Cherly and Fado

Mentally unstable woman escapes psychiatric hospital Search for shooting suspects KUWAIT: A mentally unstable woman ran away from the Psychiatric Hospital where she was under treatment for severe mental disorders.

The young woman’s father reported the case at the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh police station after searching for his daughter in vain. The Kuwaiti woman reportedly escaped when she was left unattended briefly.

Attempted murder The father of a man who was run over and seriously injured later claimed that it was not a simple hit-and-run mishap but that his son was first attacked by a cleaver and then run over deliberately. The victim was brought to the Adan Hospital in a critical condition after an accident on the highway, reports said. Even as investigations were on to track down the driver, the victim’s father asked the police to register an attempt to murder case. Police are now waiting for the victim to regain consciousness before carrying out a forensic examination to verify the father’s claims.

Traffic dispute Detectives are looking to identify and arrest

two male suspects who fired at a vehicle after a traffic dispute on the Abdullah Port Road. A case was filed at the area’s police station where two Kuwaiti brothers claimed that following a squabble, a man fired three gunshots in their direction with one of the bullets hitting their car’s exterior.

Police confirmed the complainants’ story after finding traces of a bullet on their car. The suspects face charges that include attempted murder, shooting and possessing a firearm.

Robbery case In a rather mysterious instance, a man claimed he was robbed by a person who resorted to witchcraft to fool him. In his statement to the local police station officers, the Egyptian man explained that he was shopping in the area’s market when an Arab man approached him and asked if he could help him with financial problems he was going through.

The man further indicated that he found himself “voluntarily agreeing to take that person to a nearby bank,” where he withdrew KD600 and gave it to him along with his smart phone. The man told the police that he believed he fell

“under a spell” when he gave his money and phone to the suspect, and snapped out of it only after the suspect disappeared. What made the man’s claims sound even weirder was the fact that the man claimed it all happened on Oct 15 of last year. He said he did not report it earlier as he feared police would not believe his story.

Investigations are on.

Cheating husband A man, whom his wife suspected of being involved in a romantic liaison with her best friend and neighbor, physically assaulted her when she discovered her fears were true. The Iranian woman decided one day to follow her husband and eventually caught him meeting their neighbor by the beach. She clicked some photos and returned home.

When she confronted her husband with the pictures, it triggered a dispute that led to the man beating her and then driving her to her family’s home after telling her that their marriage was over.

The woman headed to the Salmiya police station afterwards and filed a case. Al-Rai

Kuwait Petroleum signs oil refinery deal in Vietnam KUWAIT: Kuwait Petroleum International said here yesterday that it had signed a partnership deal in the construction of the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Project (NSRP), the second refinery in Vietnam.

A statement by the company said that the fundamental project agreements were signed yesterday, which allows NSRP to proceed to negotiation of the financing documentation with international

lenders. The Project sponsors were Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (25.1 percent), Kuwait Petroleum Europe (35.1 percent), Idemitsu Kosan Company limited. (35.1 percent) and Mitsui Chemicals (4.7 percent).

With the capacity of 200,000 barrels per day (equivalent to 10 million tons a year), Nghi Son refinery would require an investment of approximately USD nine billion, and approximately USD five billion would be borrowed from interna-

tional lenders. Nghi Son refinery would import Kuwait export crude oil supplied by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) During the initial period, all fuel products will be carried out by Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and petrochemicals will be carried out by international buyers including Idemitsu Kosan Company Limited, and Mitsui Chemicals Incorporation.

Completion of financial documentation and construction commence-

ment are expected around July 2013. Construction is expected to complete in 2016.

NSRP Project is considered to be one the strategic projects for KPC which meet the strategic drivers for KPC long term strategy.

Also, strategically important for meeting the growing demands for refined and petrochemical products for rapid industrialization a nd modernization of Vietnam. — KUNA

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LOCAL

Al-Qurain seminar debates ‘extension’ of Arab Spring Focus on Syrian revolution

CBK participates in jobs fair KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait took part in the 8th Jobs Fair organized by the Vision media Group and the Management Group for Exhibitions and Conferences as per an initiative from the Management and Government Restructuring Program.

The decision to participate in the event came as part of the CBK’s “commitment to support efforts aiming to improve national human resources” and “taking the opportuni-

ty to communicate with Kuwaiti young men and women looking for job opportunities in the banking sector”, said Assistant General Manager - Human Resources Department, Huda Sadiq.

Minister of Cabinet Affairs and State Minister for Municipality Affairs, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, stopped by the CBK’s pavilion during his visit to the event which was held under his patronage at Al-Raya Ballroom in Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

KUWAIT: The chairman of service authority for British foreign ministry, Chriss Moxy, called upon the Assistant undersecretary for information technology at Ministry of Interior and chairman of supreme committee for implementing Kuwait Security System Project, Sheikh Mishaal Al Jaber Al Sabah, in his office yesterday morning. The technical consultant, Fareed Abdul Rahman Abdul Al Salem, was also present. All matters related to the project were discussed at the meeting.

Kuwait humanitarian aid reaches all parts of world CAIRO: Kuwaiti humanitarian aid has reached all parts of the world through various contributions, Chairman of Kuwait’s Al-Najat Charitable Society Ahmad Al-Jasser said yesterday. The Kuwaiti activities are not only confined to Islamic advocacy, but also include offering services in the fields of education, health, social care and refugees affairs.

In remarks to KUNA, on sidelines of opening the international scientific forum on teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, AlJasser called on all Arab nations to support Al-Azhar Center for Teaching the Arabic Language for Non-Arabic Speakers.

This center is offering its services to almost 50,000 students annually at Al-Azhar University of those enrolled in Islamic Shari’a studies or all other majors.

This would enhance the cooperation and communication between Muslims, especially those coming from non-Arabic speaking

countries, he affirmed.

Al-Jasser praised the Kuwaiti experience in establishing several centers for teaching Arabic Language for non-Arabs Speakers from which a large number of students are graduated annually. Such centers played a positive role in presenting a better picture of Arab and Islamic societies, while it was the reason of some Arabic learners converting to Islam. Kuwait Ambassador to Egypt Rasheed Al-Hamad praised the distinguished, deeprooted ties between Kuwait and Egypt.

He also stressed on the constricted relations between Al-Azhar University and the scientific and Islamic institutions in Kuwait.

There is a remarkable cooperation between Al-Azhar and The Kuwaiti office for charitable projects, Al-Hamad affirmed.

The forum kicked off under auspices of Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayib. — KUNA

Doha hosts Conference on rights DOHA: An Arab conference on supporting the capabilities of national institutions for protecting human rights in the Arab region kick-started here yesterday.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman of Qatarís National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Ali Al-Marri stressed the significance of the gathering as the first activity for the Arab Human Rights Network since it was established.

He hoped that the conference would be a firm launching point for proving the credibility of the network for the development of human rights in the Arab world.

He voiced confidence that such activities would enable Arab human rights institutions

to play a part in human and national development. For his part, Director of the UN Human Rights Training Documentation Centre for South West Asia and the Arab Region Ahmad Al-Obeid said the conference comes at a time when the Arab region requires more respect of human rights values.

Under the current Arab circumstances, national human rights bodies are required to play a real role in the promotion of human rights, he said.

Al-Obeid defended peopleís right and freedom of expression and opinion. The twoday conference aims to assess technical and knowledge support for participants and members of national human rights. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The seventh seminar of the 19th session of Al-Qurain Cultural Festival, held here Monday evening, discussed the revolutionary experiment of Syria as an extension of the Arab Spring events. Three papers by Dr Khaldon AlNabwani, Dr Asaad Mustafa and Abdulwahab Badrakhan were discussed at the event, moderated by Advisor to the Amiri Diwan of Kuwait Mohammad Abul-Hassan In his presentation, themed “Free people making history”, Dr Mustafa, former minister of agriculture of Syria and ex-governor of Hama, said the roots of the Syrian revolution date from 1963. On March 8, 1963, Maj Gen Zyad Al-Hariri made a coup attempt aiming to restore unity with Egypt but the reunification talks with Egypt stumbled several months later, he recalled.

Syria turned into an autocracy unrivalled in the world with the secret services tightening the grip on all opposition groups; the stifling atmospheres forced many intellectuals, investors and politicians to flee the country.

“The economic situation kept deteriorating, the prevalence of poverty reached serious levels, the unemployment rate hit 35 percent, and the average wages went as down as just a fifth of the averages in neighboring countries,” Dr Mustafa went on.

“The revolutions of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya catalyzed the eruption of the Syrian revolution and inspired the Syrian youth longing for freedom, justice and democracy to revolt,” he opined. He wondered why the world left the Syrian people alone in the face of the atrocities being committed by the regime over the last two years. Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Nabwani, professor of philosophy at the Paris-based French National Institute of Cultural Heritage, tackled “the Syrian revolution from a philosophical point of view.”

“There’s a basic feature in the revolution, which is the phenomenon of what we can call the citizen reporter. Many citizens turned to be reporters using their personal cameras or mobile phones to convey the events of the revolution to the outside world,” he said.

“This feature resulted from the state monopoly of the mass media and managed to break the news blackout imposed by the Syrian secret services. Such reporters were able to convey a very credible picture of what’s happening on the ground,” Dr. Al-Nabwani explained.

He stressed that the world must realize that the Syrian took to streets out of the quest for freedom, justice and democracy.

In his paper, themed “the Syrian crisis - risks of military intervention and complications of peaceful solution,” Badrakhan, a political analyst, the Syrian revolution was unique to other Arab

Steps to attract serious investors KUWAIT: In order to attract serious investors will high net worth, a recommendation was forwarded to the board of the Public Authority for Industry proposing that projects involving a capital of not less than KD5 million be accorded priority in granting a license at the West Shuaiba area. This was announced

by PAI General Director Barrak Al-Subaih who explained that the stipulation “aims to attract serious offers from investors who are financially capable to contribute to infrastructure works in the area.”

“The PAI, through this recommendation, aims to provide a financial solution to the Shuwaiba Industrial Area which remains unqualified when it comes to having a suitable infrastructure to sustain industrial development,” AlSubaih told Al-Rai on Monday. Meanwhile, AlSubaih denied allegations hinting that the proposal, which is set to be discussed today, ‘aims to benefit major investors’ while putting more hurdles in the way of small investments.

“Since the PAI is required to provide financial and technical solutions to achieve the desired industrial development, this requires providing solutions that achieve the main goal of encouraging national industry in the light of actual capabilities on the ground,” he explained.

Al-Subaih further indicated that the PAI is moving along “two parallel paths to achieve the development of Kuwaiti industry.” The first involves a plan to “improve and support small industries” while the second aims to “improve industries that require special financial solutions.”

“True development for the industrial sector requires adequate solutions, not old solutions for standing problems,” he added.

revolutions in the sense that it divided not only Syria but the Arab world and the international community too.

The crisis led to neutralization of the UN Security Council, rendering the council unable to act, he argues. He analyzed the internal structure of the Syrian regime as well as the domestic, regional and international complications, saying that the regime managed to manipulate such complications in its favor. “Last year the death toll of the Syrian conflict is four times that

events of the so-called Arab Spring; it reacted to, and interacted with the events.

“King Mohammad VI adopted bold decisions aiming to step up the political and constitutional reforms,” she said.

She cited as examples of the results of the royal decisions the formation of a constituent assembly tasked with amending constitution in collaboration with local non-government organizations, and the holding of a parliamentary elections in last November.

KUWAIT: The seventh seminar of Al-Qurain Cultural Festival in progress. of the previous year as the regime went fiercer and favored the military option to the peaceful one, thus prompting more protesters to turn to militancy,” he added.

The second part of the seminar dealt with “the extensions of the Arab Spring events to Jordan and Morocco.”

In his address to the session Jordan’s former minister of information Saleh Qallab said his country was able to avoid all forms of violence over the last two years thanks to its “genuine reforms.” The reforms led to upgrading the performances of the Higher Constitutional Court and the Higher Election Commission, and toughening the combat against corruption, he pointed out. Meanwhile, Dr. Omama Al-Kittai, professor of higher education at King Mohammad V University, made a presentation on “Morocco - the tip of the Arab Spring.” “The Kingdom of Morocco was not far from the

“ The elections brought the Justice and Development Party from the ranks of the opposition to power for the first time,” she added.

On his part, Dr. Abdullah Wold-Abah, professor of philosophy at Nouakchott University, made a presentation on “the revolution and reform - reading the Tunisian and Moroccan experiments.”

He commended the new constitution of Morocco for providing for giving more powers to the representatives of the people and enshrining the cultural diversification of the society. Organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) under auspices of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Al-Qurain Cultural Festival was opened by Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Sabah on Monday, January 7. — KUNA

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LOCAL kuwait digest

kuwait digest

Dealing with MB cells

Peaceful demo versus rioting

By Dr Bader Al-Daihani

By Dr Shamlan Yousif Al-Essa

T

R

egardless of whether one agrees or not with the organizers or the slogans and demands that they raise, peaceful demonstrations, protests, sit-ins and strikes are civilized way to express political dissatisfaction with the government’s decisions and policies.

They are sanctioned by the constitution as well international treaties. Laws in any democracy, just like those in Britain, France or the US, allow such protests after informing the interior ministries about their time and place so that security forces can ensure protection to life and public property and prevent them from wavering from their agreed upon course or lead to rioting or sabotage.

Hence, to claim that security forces in democratic countries use violence to disperse peaceful protests or that they fire at innocent unarmed people leaving their bodies to rot in the streets is completely untrue.

Such a claim is used by some people to justify their inhuman support to beating and suppressing people in protests like the ‘Nation’s Dignity’ processions and the bedoons’ demonstrations. Security forces in other countries protect the protestors and in case of any human rights violation, governments have to face severe criticism and are held accountable by parliaments.

Here, on the other hand, protestors are beaten with batons and face tear gas shelling for expressing themselves peacefully. All this while, the members of the ‘one-vote parliament’ have maintained a deafening silence. Some of them have even urged the security forces to deal with the protesters with a heavy hand. It does not happen in any respectable democracy anywhere in the world where MPs truly represent the country, defend citizens’ rights and hold the executive accountable in case of violation of the constitution or any international treaty.

We all agree that peaceful demonstrations and protests are different from rioting and attempts to sabotage. They do not involve attacking security personnel, assaulting them, blocking public facilities, smashing store and shop windows, assaulting public figures and celebrities, looting or arson. Since security forces have the power and are trained to restrain themselves, they are asked not to be instigated by any provocative acts and they are also asked to only gradually increase the force they use against the protestors even during riots.

This is done because the ultimate goal is to stop violations of the law, apprehend the violators, stop the riots and arrest the rioters so that they can be prosecuted instead of hurting, insulting or killing them. — Al-Jarida

kuwait digest

‘Do not be like them’

By Aziza Al-Mufarrej

A

fter facing disappointment at their failure to turn the polity back to four votes per voter system, and after being stunned by the decisiveness that they did not associate with His Highness the Amir, all that the boycotters were left with to do was to dream, hope and pray to Allah that the new Assembly fails so that they can claim victory.

It is not acceptable to oppose something and then do the same. In the past, we criticized the Majority Bloc in the annulled Assembly when it practiced tyranny and indulged in various malicious acts, including its refusal to lift immunity from those affiliated with the group headed

by Musallam Al-Barrak.

Those who boycotted the last Parliamentary election could not imagine how the Kuwaiti people would stand behind their leadership. They did not hope for such a huge participation and had not expected that a large percentage of Kuwaitis would vote to elect their MPs. However, they are still trying to remain in the illusion that only a small percentage voted because they need to satisfy their arrogance. That is why they claim that the new Assembly represents only a quarter of the people.

The former Majority Bloc tried its level best to impose its vision on Kuwait in its entirety. That is why we see them lurking in the hope that someday the Assembly would make some mistake and give them a chance to exploit it in its favor.

For that reason, the decision not to lift immunity from lawyer Nawaf Al-Fuzaie in the wake of a complaint filed against him by MP Walid Al-Tabatabae, known for his demonstrations, is not right. It is not acceptable to oppose something and then do the same. In the past, we criticized the Majority Bloc in the annulled Assembly when it practiced tyranny and indulged in various malicious acts, including its refusal to lift immunity from those affiliated with the group headed by Musallam AlBarrak. The same Assembly then rushed to lift the immunity from MPs Nabiil Al-Fadl and Mohammad Al-Juwaihel because they did not belong to the Bloc. We then termed such a stance as unfair.

The MPs are supposed to be representing all the people and despite that we find that they do not hesitate being unjust with anyone who does not agree with them. The incumbent MPs must not repeat the same mistakes since they have been chosen by Kuwaiti people who reposed complete faith in them, their ideas and conduct. They were not chosen because a party or group imposed them on the people. They did not elect them to appease a friend or a relative who asked them to do so.

The MPs elected in the 2012 elections won votes which were very precious. We want them to avoid all such mistakes and not repeat the wrongs committed by past assemblies. Our honorable MPs must cast aside any idea of avenging what happened in the past, and must serve the cause of justice and equality for all Kuwaitis.

In short, they must prove themselves to be the best heirs who took over from a bunch of worst predecessors.

That is all we want from them. — Al-Watan

In my view

Allegations of corruption

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

I

f the parliament had members who resorted to reason and logic while addressing subjects, the issue pertaining to bank loans would have been resolved a long time ago, or actually would never have been discussed in the parliament to begin with. As experts in the field have explained on many occasions, the issue is politically motivated and is being raised by politicians to gain some popularity.

There is no doubt that certain Kuwaitis are suffering due to financial troubles. They should be helped socially, and not from an economic standpoint. The society is under obligation to look after low-income citizens, and the state is bound by its constitution to look after financially vulnerable citizens. However, no one can be compelled to cover the expenses of people who spent more than they could afford.

Unfortunately, calls for writing off citizens’ loans are based on ‘errors’ committed by the government when it stepped in to save investors who suffered in the infamous 1982 Souk Al-Manakh stock market crash. Today, people call on the government to write off loans of “poverty-stricken

Unfortunately, calls for writing off citizens’ loans are based on ‘errors’ committed by the government when it stepped in to save investors who suffered in the infamous 1982 Souk AlManakh stock market crash. Today, people call on the government to write off loans of “povertystricken citizens,” just as the state wrote off traders’ hard debts 30 years ago.

citizens,” just as the state wrote off traders’ hard debts 30 years ago.

However, they ignore the fact that traders who suffered at the time were actually speculators and gamblers and those suffering today are not poor but squanderers. But that is not important when we consider the fact that the majority of citizens are situated in the middle. They were not among those who struggled in the Souk Al-Manakh crisis, nor have they defaulted on loan repayments. So why should the majority have to pay for the mistakes of some?

There a re people who use allegations of corruption and major thefts in order garner the public opinion in their favour on this issue. It is like trying to justify writing off citizens’ loans by pointing out corruption and waste of public funds. No, this is not a joke but based on actual remarks made by many among the opposition.

The exaggerated calls for combating corruption are aimed in the first part to promote the proposals to write off citizen’ loans, and justify it as a sort of compensation for the poor in exchange for “traders’ thefts” and “the government’s corruption.” — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

he discovery of an organisation in the UAE affiliated to Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and the interrogation of its members not only involves the Emirates regime, which is too strong to be jolted by such a development but also involves certain political aspects regarding inter-state relations among the GCC states as well as the ties that some of them have with Egypt. The handling of the religious parties currently active in the Gulf will also be a factor.

Most states reacted to the development from a security point of view and many GCC countries immediately sent security officials to the UAE to explore as to what extent any of their subjects or political organizations were involved.

It is no secret that Muslim Brotherhood is fairly entrenched in Kuwait and KSA while Qatar, which supports and finances MB, has no MB cells on its soil except for hosting its leader, Shaikh Yousif Al-Qaradhawi.

Thus, the GCC states find themselves in an unenviable position as they have strong relations with Egypt, its government and its people, but now that the Muslim Brotherhood is virtually in power, how do they deal with the Egyptian state? Will it be through the usual diplomatic channels or the frontal organizations of the MB? Though they have strong ties with Egypt, the GCC states are not used to the idea that one country defends the actions of a party in another.

In this regard, when the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal was asked to mediate to resolve the Egyptian-Emirates problem, he refused by saying, “Be it the Muslim Brotherhood or anybody else, we never interfere in other countries’ affairs.”

Moreover, the Emirates’ officials themselves wondered why such high-ranking Egyptian officials were concerned with the arrest of 11 Egyptian subjects while ignoring the cases of 350 others detained in the UAE on various charges.

They only focused on those 11 who were arrested for having illegally founded finance companies belonging to the MBs back in Egypt.

The question now is, “Will Egypt’s relations with some of the GCC states become any worse if the MB cells keep interfering in the GCC states’ domestic affairs?”

The problem is that MB cells started operating in the GCC states long before they assumed power in the aftermath of Jan 25, 2011 revolution. It started in 1948 in Kuwait and in the beginning of the 1950s in the KSA. The GCC states were allies to Islamic blocs during a period when they were not on good terms with nationalistic blocs in Egypt, Iraq, Yemen or elsewhere.

The GCC states’ stance towards the MB has been varied. The UAE declared war against them, the KSA has been cautiously watching the MB cells while Kuwait’s government is still hesitant and does not know how to deal with the presence and influence of the MB elements in the countr y in the form of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM).

Despite the PM’s statement that Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood contacts financed the cell in the UAE, the government has so far not made any cleardecision though this particular organization was opposed to it and joined the opposition.

As for Qatar, it believes that supporting and financing political Islam’s powers across the Arab world is in its own interest and it has already supported and financed the rebels in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. Even now, it is strongly backing and financing the Muslim rebels in Syria and ensuring media coverage and support for them.

It is clearly evident that the GCC states are not unanimous on the issue of how to deal with the ‘Political Islam Groups’ because they want to merely contain them rather than fight them. — Al-Watan

A safe haven for mismanagement

kuwait digest

Twin chances for minister

By Abdul-Aziz Al-Kandari

W

e have been increasingly feeling somewhat anxious and lost because we finally realize that we did not prepare for the harsh times that we are going through. We are like that student who is taking his final exam without having even opened his book, or like the patient walking into a pharmacy without being armed with an accurate diagnoses report. Millions were spent on studies which only yielded a lot of recommendations and were eventually put on the shelf.

Why are people so surprised when young people express their anger either on social networks or through public movements? Young men and women expressed their frustration spontaneously only after they saw corruption unfolding before their eyes and reaching unbearable levels.

We need to understand what young people want when we still have time to do so. Young people want freedom, dignity and proper law enforcement. They want an opportunity to make a living the way they want. They need to eat food fit for human consumption, better job opportunities, universities that create competent work force and roads that do not start withering a few years after these are laid.

They want effective measures to combat corruption.

They want to know how the massive state income is managed. They want a solution to the long pending problem of housing shortage at a time when the government still owns ninety five percent of the stateís lands. It is important to note as well that most of the demands being raised by our youth are actually their basic rights, but have turned into ëwishesí as a result of mismanagement.

We suffer a clear and undeniable case of mismanagement in Kuwait. It was proven in a study carried out by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as annual repor ts released by the Kuwait National Competitiveness Committee. People come after that and blamed the Muslim Brotherhood as the reason behind these problems in our country, instead of admitting that the problems were a result of governmental mismanagement. There are people among us who go as far as accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of ìplotting against our country,î and it is both shocking and sad to see such allegations mentioned by a veteran columnist in the local press.

Blaming the Muslim Brotherhood is a way to obfuscate the large scale mismanagements in our country.

Not to mention that a Kuwaiti who supposedly would be affiliated to the pan-Arab political movement remains in the end a part of the society that should not be accused of treason. Thankfully enough, Shiite MPs Adnan Abdulsamad and Ahmad Lari stood in defense

We suffer a clear and undeniable case of mismanagement in Kuwait. It was proven in a study carried out by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as annual reports released by the Kuwait National Competitiveness Committee. People come after that and blamed the Muslim Brotherhood as the reason behind these problems in our country, instead of admitting that the problems were a result of governmental mismanagement. of the supposed Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood activists in the parliament.

Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Makhtoum says in his book ëMy Visioní that, ìIf management in the Arab World was good, so would be the Arab politics. And if management was good, so would be the economy, education, media, state services, culture, arts and everything else.î I believe it hardly needs a genius to realize that our state departments have become a safe haven for mismanagement. — Al-Rai

By Hamad Al-Sarie

F

or the first time ever since he assumed responsibility for the office, the Minister of Interior took a round of the departments under him with a view to inspect them, only to discover that one of his charges, the airport, was not secured. There were no guards, and the one guard, a soldier who was found on duty, did not recognize the minister but still failed to ask him where he was going even though he was guarding a crucial check point.

The minister has now ordered setting up of an investigation committee to hold those in charge accountable but we will find that only those holding lower ranks will be punished while the top brass will not face any censure because as usual they will find a way out.

Your Excellency the Minister, you have a historical chance following the council of ministers’ appeal to extend military privileges till this year-end. That enables you to choose the best young men in the ministry to replace most of the incumbent leaders. Your Excellency, you have to concentrate on similar surprise checks and follow up on some of the cases, and you will find that many leaders are a failure but are still sticking to their posts.

Today, you have twin chances and you must not lose them. The first is that most of the leading figures are near retirement, and you must not renew their tenure. The second opportunity is that you must hold accountable anyone who is not doing his work well and retire him compulsorily.

The office of the general director has come in for a lot of discussion. Some of them have been told that their terms will not be renewed as they have reached sixty years of age, while others who have attained the same age have not been informed. Please ensure that no one is discriminated against.

Your Excellency, the Minister of Interior, there are midlevel managers waiting to assume responsibility in the upcoming period. If they were to feel that they will not make it good, as happened with most of us, they will ask for retirement in spite of being efficient.

Many leaders wish to retire but are waiting for being promoted to a higher position. Would you please be kind enough to promote such leaders who have completed the mandatory number of years in their posts so that they can retire gracefully and without holding any grudges? — Al-Anbaa

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

France strikes Mali town, to boost troop numbers

Push for Syria war crimes probe as 26 children die Page 8

Page 10

ISLAMABAD: In this Friday, June 22, 2012 file photo, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf waves in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of the country’s prime minister as part of a corruption case involving private power stations, officials said yesterday. —AP

Pakistan court orders PM’s arrest Cleric emerges as pre-election wild card ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the prime minister yesterday on corruption allegations, ratcheting up pressure on a government that is also facing street protests led by a cleric who has a history of ties to the army.

The combination of the arrest order and the mass protest in the capital Islamabad led by Muslim cleric Muhammad Tahirul Qadri raised fears among politicians that the military was working with the judiciary to force out a civilian leader.

“There is no doubt that Qadri’s march and the Supreme Court’s verdict were masterminded by the military establishment of Pakistan,” Fawad Chaudhry, an aide to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, told Reuters. “The military can intervene at this moment as the Supreme Court has opened a way for it.” However, the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) has a majority in parliament and lawmakers can simply elect another prime minister if Ashraf is ousted. In June, Ashraf replaced Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in a previous showdown between the government and the judiciary. Also, elections are due in a few months and President Asif Ali Zardari hopes to lead the first

civilian government in Pakistan’s 65 years as an independent nation that will complete its full term. But power struggles will distract the unpopular government from tackling an array of problems - a Taleban insurgency, economic stagnation and growing sectarian tensions triggered by bomb attacks and tit-for-tat shootings. The military, which sees itself as the guarantor of Pakistan’s stability, has long regarded the PPP-led government as corrupt, incompetent and unable to prevent the nuclear-armed country from falling apart.

Pakistan’s powerful army has a long history of coups and intervening in politics. But these days generals seem to have little appetite for a coup. Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani has vowed to keep the military out of politics. But many believe top military leaders still try to exert behind-the-scenes influence, and any moves by the military in the latest crisis could not happen without a green light from Kayani, arguably the most powerful man in Pakistan.

“Extra-constitutional regime change, or “outside of the political calendar” if you will, is only possible in Pakistan with the tacit nod of the military, on account of it being a long-time stakeholder in Pakistani poli-

tics,” said Shamila Chaudhry, an analyst at Eurasia Group. “The Qadri march was like a trial balloon. The military indirectly sent it out to see if it would work.”

Some politicians believe the military will try to dominate the caretaker administration that will oversee the run-up to the polls after parliament is dissolved, which is due to happen in March. An election date has yet to be announced. The protest by Qadri and his followers has also been seen by commentators as being orchestrated by the military to add to the pressure on Zardari’s government, although the military has denied any ties to the cleric.

Thousands of followers of the populist cleric camped near the federal parliament cheered and waved Pakistani flags as television channels broadcast news of the Supreme Court’s order to arrest Ashraf on charges of corruption.

“We don’t want any of those old politicians. They just take all the people’s money,” said 19-year-old student Mohammed Wasim. “We congratulate the whole nation (on the Supreme Court’s order). Now we have to take the rest of the thieves to court.”

Government officials said they were baffled by the arrest order, which came hours after Chief Justice

Iftikhar Chaudhry said elections should go ahead as scheduled. “This was totally unexpected,” an official in Ashraf’s office told Reuters. “The prime minister and two or three of his friends were watching Qadri speak on television and this suddenly happened.”

Pakistan’s stock exchange fell by more than 500 points, or nearly three percent, on news of the court order, due to fears over fresh political turmoil, which comes against a backdrop of militant bombings and tension on the border with India. Qadri, who played a role in backing a military coup in 1999, threatened to remain camped out near the federal parliament with thousands of supporters until his demands for the resignation of the government were met.

The fiery orator returned home from Canada less than a month ago to lead a call for electoral reforms to bar corrupt politicians from office that has made him an instant hit among Pakistanis disillusioned with the state. In a speech from behind a bullet-proof shield in front of parliament, Qadri praised the military and the judiciary, the country’s two other power centres. “(The government) has wasted and brought a bad end to our armed forces, those armed forces who are highly sincere, highly competent and highly capa-

No business as usual with Pakistan: India PM NEW DELHI: India’s prime minister said yesterday there could be no “business as usual” with Pakistan after a deadly flare-up in Kashmir as New Delhi halted a new visa programme and the fallout hit sports events. While diplomats have warned against allowing four recent cross-border killings to wreck a fragile peace process, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the beheading of an Indian soldier on January 8 “unacceptable”.

“It cannot be business as usual” with Pakistan, Singh said in his first public reaction to the attack which has caused outrage in the army’s ranks. “What has happened is unacceptable,” the premier added on the sidelines of an army function in New Delhi. “Those responsible for this crime will have to be brought to book.” India says two of its soldiers were killed by the Pakistani army on January 8, one of whom was decapitated and whose head is still missing. Pakistan denies that its forces were responsible for the killings and says that two of its own soldiers have died as a result of Indian firing. India’s foreign minister reflected a growing sense of frustration in New Delhi yesterday at Islamabad’s denial of responsibility, saying it only served to destabilise peace efforts. “Such actions by Pakistani army ... not only constitute a great provocation but leave us to draw appropriate conclusions about Pakistan’s seriousness in pursuing normalisation

of relations with India,” minister Salman Khurshid told a news conference. “It should not be felt that the brazen denial and the lack of a proper response from the government of Pakistan to our repeated demarches on this incident will be ignored ... or there would be be business as usual.”

Indian Kashmir’s chief military commander also cranked up pressure on Pakistan, saying a meeting on the border Monday between the two militaries to calm tensions was fruitless. “We accused them of carrying out the barbaric attack... we insisted that the head be returned,” Lieutenant General KT Parnaik said in the Kashmir garrison town of Akhnoor. The deadly exchanges erupted on January 6 along the militarised de facto border in divided Kashmir known as the Line of Control. After a total break in ties following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants, relations had been slowly improving. Recent talks had focused on opening up trade and offering more lenient visa regimes.

Yesterday India was meant to begin allowing Pakistanis over the age of 65 to obtain a visa on arrival at the border in Punjab. However the programme was put on hold until further notice only hours after Indian officials said it had come into force, although the delay was attributed to “technical” reasons. —AFP

ble and highly professional,” he said, alternating between Urdu and English.

“Even they can’t do anything because the political government isn’t able to deliver anything from this land. Judgments are being passed by our great, independent judiciary but the government is not ready to implement them.”

Qadri is demanding that the government dissolve the legislature and announce the formation of a caretaker government to oversee the run-up to elections.

One senior military officer, who said he was speaking in a purely personal capacity, said there was no appetite in the military to repeat the coups seen in Pakistan’s past, but added the stand-off could be resolved if the army played a role in the formation of a caretaker government as a “moderator”.

“We should try as far as possible to abide by the constitution and law in looking for change. The army chief has made this clear,” the officer told Reuters.

“But things seem to be moving beyond control,” the officer added. “It is totally incorrect to say the army is behind Qadri. But if he brings thousands of people to the streets and things get worse, there may be very few options.” —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

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

Egypt court delays rulings on charter, Senate CAIRO: Egypt’s top court postponed yesterday key rulings on the validity of the Islamist-dominated Senate and of the committee that drew up a controversial constitution approved by referendum last month.

It will rule on the constitutional panel on February 3 and has referred the legality of the upper house to its adivsory body, the official MENA agency reported.

Dozens of demonstrators had staged a sit-in in Cairo overnight outside the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) on

the banks of the Nile, as riot police formed a cordon around the building.

Two-thirds of the Senate, the 270member upper house known as the Shura Council, were elected in a vote early last year, with one third appointed by President Mohamed Morsi in December.

Following several lawsuits arguing there were irregularities in the mechanics of the election, the court is to decide whether or not the upper house-which was given temporary legislative powers after the dissolution of the lower house-

is legal. The court will also rule on the legality of an Islamist-dominated panel that drafted the country’s constitution which is at the heart of the nation’s worst political crisis since the overthrow nearly two years ago of president Hosni Mubarak.

The opposition argues that the panel failed to represent all Egyptians as it was boycotted by liberals, leftists and Christians. The charter has divided Egypt, pitting Islamist President Morsi and his backers against the opposition which

includes secularists, leftists and Christians as well as Muslims.

“No to Muslim Brotherhood terrorism,” read placards held up by protesters. “The Muslim Brotherhood constitution is void.

Mohamed Morsi is void,” they chanted.

In theory, the new constitution protects the Senate from dissolution until a new People’s Assembly is elected, adding further confusion to the legal chaos plaguing the country. The two cases were scheduled to be heard on December 2 but pro-Morsi protesters gathered in

front of the Supreme Constitutional Court preventing judges from entering the court and prompting the court to suspend its work.

The latest political crisis was ignited by a decree issued by Morsi granting him sweeping powers and making his decisions immune from judicial review.

He later backtracked on the decree but rushed through the constitution which critics say fails to protect key rights and allows for varying interpretations of Islamic law. — AFP

Sunni lawmaker killed in suicide bombing Essawi’s killing to further enflame tensions

ALEPPO: A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), shows people gathered at the scene of an explosion outside Aleppo University, between the university dormitories and the architecture faculty, yesterday. Fifteen people were killed and dozens of others injured in a blast that rocked Aleppo University, the top academic institution in northern Syria’s embattled city, said a monitoring group. — AFP

Explosions kill 52 at Syria university BEIRUT: Two explosions tore through one of Syria’s biggest universities on the first day of student exams yesterday, killing at least 52 people and wounding dozens, a monitoring group said. Bloodshed has disrupted civilian life across Syria since a violent government crackdown in early 2011 on peaceful demonstrations for democratic reform turned the unrest into an armed insurgency bent on overthrowing President Bashar Al-Assad. More than 50 countries asked the United Nations Security Council yesterday to refer the crisis to the International Criminal Court, which prosecutes people for genocide and war crimes. But Russia - Assad’s longstanding ally and arms supplier - blocked the initiative, calling it “ill-timed and counterproductive.”

Each side in the 22-month-old conflict blamed the other for yesterday’s blasts at the University of Aleppo, located in a government-held area of Syria’s most populous city. Some activists in Aleppo said a government attack caused the explosions, while state television accused “terrorists” a term they often use to describe the rebels - of firing two rockets at the school.

A rebel fighter said the blasts appeared to have been caused by “ground-to-ground” missiles. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said at least 52 people were killed and dozens wounded, but it could not identify the source of the blasts. “Dozens are in critical condition. The death toll could rise to 90,” the Observatory said in a statement, citing doctors and students.

State television - which did not give a death toll - showed a body lying on the street and several cars burning. One of the university buildings was damaged. Video footage showed students carrying books out of the university after one of the explosions, walking quickly away from rising smoke. The camera then shakes to the sound of another explosion and people begin running.

If confirmed, the government’s report of a rocket attack would suggest rebels in the area had been able to obtain and deploy more powerful weapons than previously used. The nearest rebel-controlled area, Bustan al-Qasr, is more than a mile away from the university. Activists rejected the suggestion that insurgents were behind the attack, however, and instead blamed the government. “The warplanes of this criminal regime do not respect a mosque, a church or a university,” said a student who gave his name as Abu Tayem.

The rebels have been trying to take Aleppo - once a thriving commercial hub since the summer, but have been unable to uproot Assad’s better-armed and more organised forces. International efforts to find a political solution to Syria’s civil war have similarly resulted in stalemate, even as the conflict’s death toll has surged above 60,000. The crisis has driven hundreds of thousands of people to flee the country, many to neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, where a fire at a camp in the country’s southeast killed a pregnant Syrian woman and her three children yesterday.

Inside Syria, neither the military nor the insurgents have been able to sustain clear momentum. The rebels remain poorly equipped and disorganised compared with Assad’s forces, despite winning support from some regional powers like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The government also benefits from superior air power, used to pummel rebel-held areas around Damascus and elsewhere. Rebel efforts to assault the capital also appear to have ground towards an stalemate. A witness in a rebel-controlled district of Damascus said yesterday the front line between the two sides was quiet. The streets were still full of civilians, the witness said, despite the sound of shells hitting nearby buildings. He said people were walking around, buying sweets and sandwiches. — Reuters

SANAA: A girl with her face painted in the colours of the Yemeni flag sits with a relative during a festival marking the second anniversary of the start of the revolution in Yemen yesterday, in the capital Sanaa. The Arab Spring which kicked off in Tunisia in 2010 with the death of Mohammad Bouazizi, spread to Egypt, Libya and Yemen, while Syrian is locked in conflict. — AFP

FALLUJAH: A militant posing as a construction worker killed a Sunni Iraqi MP and six others yesterday, wrapping his arms round the lawmaker before blowing himself up, as a political crisis engulfs Iraq.

The killing of Ayfan Saadun al-Essawi comes just two days after Finance Minister Rafa alEssawi, a fellow Sunni and a member of the same tribe and political bloc, escaped an apparent assassination attempt as his convoy passed near where yesterday’s attack took place.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but Sunni militants often target officials and high-profile individuals in a bid to destabilise the government and push the country back towards the bloodshed that raged from 2005 to 2008.

Essawi’s killing is likely to further enflame tensions, with Iraq already grappling with a political crisis pitting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against Essawi’s secular Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc.

Essawi, 37, had been inspecting a road being paved south of Fallujah when the attacker, who was dressed as a construction worker, came up to him. “The moment he stepped out of the car to check out this road between Fallujah and Amriyah, at this moment, there was a man,” said Sohaib Haqi, the lawmaker’s office chief. “He came to him, hugged him, said Allahu Akbar (God is greatest), and blew himself up.”

Fallujah hospital’s Doctor Assem al-Hamdani put the overall death toll at seven dead-Essawi, four of his bodyguards and two civilians.

Another six were wounded, including four of the lawmaker’s guards. Essawi was also a former

FALLUJAH: An undated picture at an undisclosed location shows Sunni Iraqi Member of Parliament Ayfan Saadun al-Essawi. Al-Essawi was killed in a suicide attack alongside six others in Fallujah, 74 kilometres West of Baghdad, yesterday. — AFP leader of the Sahwa, a collection of Sunni tribal militias that turned against Al-Qaeda and sided with the US military from late 2006, helping turn the tide of Iraq’s bloody insurgency. He was himself inducted into parliament after another Sunni MP, Khaled al-Fahdawi, was killed in a sui-

cide attack at Baghda’s Umm al-Qura mosque in 2011. One MP voiced fears the killing could further raise tensions. “It aggravates the political conflict,” independent Kurdish MP Mahmud Othman told AFP. “I hope these crimes and incidents will urge political leaders to meet and try to find a solution, because there is no other way.”

Weeks of anti-government demonstrations in Sunni Arab majority areas, supported by Iraqiya and other groups, have hardened opposition against Maliki, a Shiite.

The premier is at loggerheads with Iraqiya, which remains a part of his national unity government, over its accusations of Maliki acting in an authoritarian and sectarian fashion in the run-up to key provincial polls. Kurdish parties and powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose movement counts 40 members of parliament and five ministers among its ranks, have also publicly opposed Maliki.

The demonstrations in Sunni areas have decried alleged misuse of anti-terror laws to detain members of the minority community, and claim Sunnis are being targeted by the Shiite-led authorities.

In a bid to placate the demonstrators, a top minister publicly apologised on Monday for holding detainees for prolonged period without charge and said Baghdad had released 335 prisoners in the past week.

The crisis comes with barely three months to go before provincial elections, a key barometer of support for Maliki and his opponents ahead of a general election next year. — AFP

Kurdish rebel chief demands Paris murders solved soon

TEL AVIV: In this Monday, Sept. 12, 2011 file photo, Israel’s Labor party candidate and former journalist Shelly Yachimovich holds a ballot with her name before casting her vote in Tel Aviv, Israel. — AP

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox, an electorate divided JERUSALEM: Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, easily identified by their distinct black-and-white clothing, has traditionally voted as a bloc, but is increasingly looking across the spectrum to non-Orthodox parties.

Ahead of January 22 elections, its two main parties are campaigning hard, hoping to protect and maybe even increase the 15 seats they hold in the outgoing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ten of those belong to the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which traditionally represents Sephardic Jews-those of Middle Eastern origin-and five belong to United Torah Judaism (UTJ), which represents Ashkenazi, or European ultra-Orthodox.

Topping the agenda is preventing the next government from passing legislation that would force the ultra-Orthodox to serve in the army. The issue is a key priority for Avigdor Lieberman, the former foreign minister whose hardline secular nationalist Yisrael Beitenu is running on a joint list with Netanyahu’s rightwing Likud.

The ultra-Orthodox are firmly opposed to mandatory service, with Shas’s spiritual guide Rabbi Ovadia Yosef even threatening he would advise his flock to leave Israel if a law mandating military service was passed.

Until last year, a law was in force which allowed tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men to avoid being drafted by enrolling in religious seminaries called yeshivas.

Originally intended as a way to allow them to defer their time serving in the military or doing national service, the so-called Tal Law was struck down last year by the High Court, which said it had failed in its purpose.

The government has pledged to push through new legislation, prompting widespread concern among the ultra-Orthodox that they will be forced to enlist. “Some people are reluctant to vote and they will be responsible for the war which will break out here when the secular authorities force yeshiva students to join the army,” warned Yisrael Eichler, UTJ’s number two. The two parties also face other challenges. A traditional defender of the poor, Shas was part of a government which failed to keep a lid on the price of basic goods, which have soared in recent years, contributing to social unrest.

That could send some of Shas’s constituents into the arms of Labour, which has focused its platform on the economic discontent that spawned massive demonstrations in the summer of 2011.

Others could swing towards the hardline national religious Jewish Home, which combines religious values with a pledge to make Israeli society fairer for all.

The ultra-Orthodox number around 900,000, making up a sixth of Israel’s population, but only around half of them are old enough to vote. There are also thousands who boycott elections because their strict religious beliefs include opposition to Zionism and the state of Israel. — AFP

ISTANBUL: Jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan called on French police to solve the murders of three Kurdish activists quickly, his brother said, but he gave no indication their killing would disrupt nascent peace talks between him and Turkish officials.

The three Kurdish women, one a cofounder of Ocalan’s Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, were found dead in Paris on Thursday in execution-style killings regarded by many as an attempt to sabotage the fledgling peace moves.

Ocalan’s younger brother Mehmet, who visited him in his jail on the island of Imrali near Istanbul on Monday, said the PKK leader did not comment on the peace process but may make a statement later if Kurdish political party leaders visit him.

The dialogue, which media reports say yielded a framework for full negotiations, began after Ocalan called on hundreds of PKK inmates to end a hunger strike last November. His brother Mehmet had conveyed that appeal after a previous visit.

“He was very saddened by the massacre in France. He condemns it,” Mehmet Ocalan told reporters on his return from Imrali late on Monday. “They must solve this massacre right away.” “This massacre was a sign.

Hence he was very downcast. He sent his condolences to the families of the three Kurdish women who were killed,” he said, without clarifying what the sign was.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has said

initial evidence suggested an internal feud in the PKK or a bid to derail the peace talks may have motivated the killings. The PKK blamed shadowy elements within the Turkish state or foreign powers.

French investigators have given no indication as to who might be responsible for the deaths. Turkey disclosed in the New Year it had begun discussing with Ocalan how to end a conflict in which more than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK took up arms in 1984 with the aim of carving out a Kurdish homeland in Turkey’s southeast.

Ocalan was long held in virtual isolation after his capture in 1999. Access to him remains tightly controlled and his lawyers have not seen him for 16 months. Kurdish politicians have demanded improvements in his jail conditions. Erdogan said last week that such changes would be limited but that he would be given a television.

Asked about those reports, Mehmet said his brother had not requested a television.

“It was not his own demand. The prison governor convinced him and that’s why he accepted,” he said. One of the three women killed in Paris was Sakine Cansiz, a founding PKK member well-known to Kurdish nationalists and believed to be an important PKK financier in Europe. PKK fighters are based mainly in northern Iraq.

Turkey, the United States and European Union designate the PKK a terrorist organisation. — Reuters

PARIS: Kurds people carry the coffin of one of the three top Kurdish activists from a separatist group banned in Turkey shot dead four days ago in the French capital, yesterday in Villiers-le-Bel, outside Paris, during a rally to pay tribute to them. Kurdish activists have accused Turkey in the deaths of the three activists Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

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

Cuban dissidents cleared for travel under new law HAVANA: Cuba’s new, freer travel policy took effect yesterday and for some notable Cuban dissidents it turned out to offer greater freedom than they had expected. Well-known government opponents Yoani Sanchez and Guillermo Farinas were told they would be granted passports and allowed to come and go after years of being denied that right.

Under laws put into effect to slow migration after the 1959 revolution, Cubans were required to get an exit visa from the government and a letter of invitation from someone in their destination country, but the new policy drops both.

Farinas, who from his home in Santa Clara has staged numerous hunger strikes against government policy, said, to his surprise, he was visited at home by officials who told him he would be able to travel freely.

“I was really skeptical because there was an article in the new law that said those Cubans who threaten the public interest won’t be able to leave Cuba. I thought I was in that sphere, but it looks like not,” said Farinas, a psychologist. He said he would get his passport renewed soon and planned to go to Europe to pick up several prizes he had won but been unable to collect. They included the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2010.

Sanchez, well known internationally for her blog “Generation Y,” could not be reached, but posted her good news on Twitter. She said went to a Havana passport office on Monday, where “the functionary who attended me has assured me that when I have the passport I will be able to travel. I still don’t believe it!” she wrote. “When I am on the plane, I’ll believe it!” Sanchez said Cuban authori-

ties had denied her trips on 20 occasions. She said she expected to get a passport in early February. Fellow dissident Elizardo Sanchez, head of the independent Cuban Commission of Human Rights, said it remained to be seen if Farinas or Sanchez truly will be allowed to travel.

“Until they are on that airplane we can’t be sure of anything. It has happened in the past that people have arrived at the airport and the government has said no,” Sanchez told Reuters.

The new policy has prompted long lines at passport offices in recent weeks and did so again on Monday as Cubans queued up to apply for new passports or renew the ones they have.

Some did not realize it, but they will still face obstacles from many countries that will require them to get visas and letters of invitation. And in a country with an

average monthly salary of $19, money will be a problem for many.

Possibly because of that, lines at popular embassies such as Mexico and Canada were normal and the same was true at the US Interests Section, said spokeswoman Lynn Roche. “It’s all by appointment here, so we’re not seeing anything different,” she said. The United States does not have an embassy in Cuba because the two countries do not have formal diplomatic relations.

In line at the Mexican embassy in Havana’s Miramar district, 18-year-old Yaser Hernandez praised Cuban leaders for changing the travel laws. “It gives us the possibility of knowing other countries, other lands, to be able to know something beyond our own country. It’s a privilege for us Cubans, for all of us to have that possibility that our government has given us,” he said.

At the Havana airport, CubanAmerican Jesus Sanchez, 60, said the travel reform was important for US-Cuba relations, which have been mostly sour since the revolution. “I believe it’s a historic day.

The tensions that have been there for many years are thawing out,” he said. The irony of the changes, said John McAuliff, head of the New York-based Fund for Reconciliation and Development is that Cubans are now freer to travel to the United States than Americans are to Cuba. Most Americans must obtain a license from the US government to go to Cuba, which is 90 miles (145 km) from Florida. “Cuba now provides greater freedom of travel to virtually all of its citizens than does the US Our version of the expensive and bureaucratic white card (exit visa) is the expensive and bureaucratic people-to-people license restricted to group travel,” he said. — Reuters

Brazil urges Maduro to hold elections quickly Brasilia to Washington: Let us handle this SAO PAULO/BRASILIA: Brazil is urging Venezuela’s government to hold elections as quickly as possible if President Hugo Chavez dies, senior officials told Reuters on Monday, a major intervention

by Latin America’s regional powerhouse that could help ensure a smoother leadership transition in Caracas.

Brazilian officials have expressed their wishes directly to Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro, the officials said on condition of anonymity. Chavez has designated Maduro as his preferred successor if he loses his battle with cancer. “We are explicitly saying that if Chavez dies, we would like to see elections as soon as possible,” one official said. “We think that’s the best way to ensure a peaceful democratic transition, which is Brazil’s main desire.”

Chavez is in Cuba receiving cancer treatment and he has not been seen in

privately expressed fears that the government could bend the rules if it wants, especially if polls show Maduro might lose. The Supreme Court’s controversial decision to postpone Chavez’s inauguration last week reinforced concerns that loopholes could be used to keep the current government in power.

Venezuela’s government said Sunday that Chavez’s health has improved somewhat, though his lung infection still requires special care. Brazil’s stance on Venezuela is critical because it is by far Latin America’s biggest country and it enjoys growing economic and diplomatic clout in the region.

Its president, Dilma Rousseff, is a moderate leftist whose party has strongly supported Chavez over the past decade. Yet she is also perceived as neutral and democratic enough to be a credible broker in helping Venezuela

CARACAS: An opponent of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez holds up a sign that reads in Spanish, “Tell the truth,” during an outdoor gathering in Caracas, Venezuela. — AP public for a month, prompting speculation that he is near death. Venezuela’s constitution says a new election must be held within 30 days if the president dies.

Before leaving for Cuba, Chavez urged Venezuelans to back Maduro should the cancer leave him incapacitated, and Chavez’s backers and the opposition appear to be preparing behind the scenes for a possible new vote.

Yet some foreign officials in the region, and some activists in more radical Venezuelan opposition circles, have

chart a path forward if a political crisis erupts.

The Brazilians have also communicated their desire for quick elections via “emissaries” to main opposition leader Henrique Capriles. By clearly supporting a democratic solution now, they hope to dissuade Capriles and others from inciting civil unrest in the event Chavez dies, the officials said.

“We’re working very hard to ensure there’s peace,” the first official said.

Capriles, whom most assume would run

against Maduro in an election, has so far taken a relatively subdued tone despite the political uncertainty. He said last week that Chavez’s supporters would “win” politically if there was a violent confrontation.

On Monday, the opposition coalition urged the Organization of American States (OAS) to convene a session and give it the chance to address Chavez’s absence and recent events it said had “gravely affected the democratic order.”

“There is no (legal) interpretation that justifies the official line about ‘continuity’,” it said in a letter. OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza told reporters last week that the Washingtonbased organization “fully respected” the decision by Venezuela’s top court that backed the postponement of the president’s inauguration.

Brazil is keeping the United States apprised of its efforts, and is hoping to convince Washington to allow it to take the lead in managing a potential leadership transition in Venezuela. Chavez is one of the world’s most vocal anti-US leaders, and the Brazilian officials said they fear that any direct U.S. intervention in Venezuelan affairs could backfire.

Venezuela’s opposition is demanding that Chavez step aside and name a caretaker president while he recovers - but those complaints have so far been ignored by governments around the region, including the Rousseff administration.

Brazil’s push for quick elections in a post-Chavez Venezuela marks another important step in its emergence as a diplomatic heavyweight and champion of democracy in Latin America. Rousseff led a strong regional backlash last year when Paraguay’s Congress impeached and removed then-President Fernando Lugo.

Under Rousseff ’s predecessor and mentor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil also took a proactive role in trying to resolve a political crisis in Honduras following the ouster of former President Manuel Zelaya in 2009.

Previously, Brazil had been more shy about taking the lead in regional crises, preferring to emphasize the right of countries to determine their own fates long the bedrock principle of Brazilian diplomacy.—Reuters

Obama backs new gun reforms, Newtown grieves WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama pledged Monday to vigorously pursue “sensible” gun control but, a month after a school massacre traumatized America, questioned whether tough new laws could pass Congress.

Grieving relatives of some of the 20 children gunned down in their classes in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, meanwhile vowed there should never be a “next time” and added heartbreaking heft to the fight against gun violence.

Obama said that Vice President Joe Biden had delivered “common sense” reform recommendations after meeting gun control advocates, firearms lobby groups, mental health experts and software and movie industry officials.

The president said he would lay out his response to the American people lat-

er in the week, but backed a renewal of a ban on assault weapons, curbs on high capacity magazines and betterenforced background checks for gun owners. “My starting point is not to worry about the politics. My starting point is to focus on what makes sense, what works. What should we be doing to make sure that our children are safe?”

Obama said at a White House press conference.

He called on members of Congress, many of whom oppose greater gun control legislation, to examine their consciences over whether the carnage at an elementary school in Newtown should prompt a new approach.

Obama said he would “vigorously pursue” gun control measures early in his second term, both through legislation and executive actions, but left

CONNECTICUT: A memorial is displayed in a yard near the Sandy Hook Elementary School on the one-month anniversary of the mass shooting that left 26 dead, including 20 children in Newtown, Conn., Monday. — AP

some ambiguity over prospects for reform in a polarized political environment. “Will all of them get through this Congress? I don’t know,” Obama said.

David Keene, president of the top gun rights group the National Rifle Association (NRA) told CNN Sunday that an assault weapons ban was unlikely to make it through Congress.

The NRA opposes most of the White House’s likely proposals, and has instead called for armed guards at every US school. In Newtown, bereaved parents marked the one-month milestone of the day when gunman Adam Lanza went on a rampage with a fast firing semi-automatic rifle, killing 20 small children at Sandy Hook Elementary School and six adults. Nicole Hockley, whose son Dylan was among the six- and seven-year olds who perished, said: “I do not want someone sharing my experience and (to be) consoling another parent next time.

“I do not want a next time.” Nelba Marquez-Greene, mother of dead sixyear-old Ana, promised to turn the tragedy into a moment of “true transformation.”

“I put two children on the bus and only one came home,” she said. New York City Mayor and gun control campaigner Michael Bloomberg told a gun safety summit in Baltimore on Monday that improved vetting of prospective gun owners was simply “common sense.”

“We have laws on the books that require background checks when dealers sell guns. It’s time for the president and Congress to make that the law of the land for all sales,” he said.

In his news conference, marking the end this week of his first term, Obama put a surge in sales of weapons-including assault rifles and ammunition-down to a fear of new legislation.— AFP

Illinois double slaying called ‘brutal, heinous’ JOLIET: Police say the strangulation and attempted dismemberment of two Illinois men, allegedly at the hands of four young adults, is one of the most heinous cases they’ve seen. Three of the people arrested were playing video games when police arrived at a Joliet home, where the bodies of Eric Glover and Terrence Rankins were found Thursday. “ This is one of the most brutal, heinous and upsetting things I’ve ever seen in my 27 years of law enforcement,” Police Chief Mike Trafton said.

“Not only the crime scene, but the disregard for common decency toward human beings.”

Police said Glover and Rankins, both 22 and from Joliet, were lured to the home of 18-year-old Alisa Massaro and then robbed and killed. Officers discovered the bodies of Glover and Rankins on Thursday when they were called to the home, where they found Massaro playing video games with Adam Landerman, 19, and Joshua Miner, 24.

The three, who are all from Joliet, were arrested on first-degree murder charges. Bethany McKee, 18, of

Shorewood also faces first-degree murder charges. All are being held on $10 million bond and appeared in court Monday. “It’s demonic,” Rankins’ moth-

Alisa Massaro er, Jamille Kent, said. “This is evil.” Joliet is a city of about 150,000 people located about 40 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. Trafton said Massaro, Landerman and Miner were “very much surprised” when police walked in on them Thursday. McKee had left the house but police arrested her later in nearby Kankakee.

Kent said her son and Glover had been friends for five years. Family

members said they called police Thursday night after they hadn’t heard from the two since Wednesday.

“It’s just senseless,” Glover’s mother Nicole Jones said. “It’s hard for me to say the words.” Glover graduated from Joliet Central High School and had made the honor roll and participated in football, wrestling and track, his family said. Rankins, described as “a very outgoing, loving, fun person” by his mother, graduated from Joliet West High School.

Massaro’s father, Phillip Massaro, told The Herald-News in Joliet that he was in disbelief. “All I can say is it’s a terrible thing that happened, and I can’t believe my daughter had anything to do with it,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. I just don’t know what to say. I can’t really talk about it. I’m too devastated, and I can’t talk about it.”

Massaro’s lawyer, George Lenard, did not immediately return phone calls to The Associated Press for comment Monday. Charles Bretz, attorney for McKee, declined comment. Public defenders for Landerman and Miner could not be reached. — AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

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

France strikes Mali town, to boost troop numbers West African army chiefs to meet in Bamako STUTTGART: German codenamed Andreas Anschlag stands at court yesterday in Stuttgart, southern Germany. Anschlag and his wife are accused of spying for the Russian secret services in Germany for more than 20 years, in what is believed to be one of the biggest spy cases since the demise of the Cold War. — AFP

Germany puts alleged KGB spy couple on trial STUTTGART: A couple accused of spying for the Russian secret services in Germany for more than 20 years went on trial yesterday, in one of the biggest spy cases since the Cold War. The married couple, identified only by codenames Andreas and Heidrun Anschlag (“attack” in German), arrived in still divided Germany in 1988 and then 1990 respectively, posing as Austrian citizens of South American descent, federal prosecutors say.

They are accused of having obtained secret EU and NATO documents and allegedly were paid the equivalent of around 100,000 euros ($133,470) a year for their services.

Prosecutors say the couple set up a “middleclass existence” to cover up their activity for the secret services.

According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung weekly, even their own daughter had no idea about their double lives. On the sidelines of the opening of their trial at the higher regional court in the southwestern city of Stuttgart, a defence lawyer said the couple were Russian citizens.

According to the charge sheet cited by the Die Welt daily, the defendants secretly passed confidential documents bought from an offi-

cial in the Dutch foreign ministry to the KGB secret services in Moscow.

Prosecutors reportedly allege that the couple met the official, named as Raymond Poeteray, up to 30 times between 2008 and 2011 and paid him more than 72,000 euros for his leaked documents.

The documents reportedly included secret information on NATO forces in Europe in 2011 as well as operational details of the alliance’s missions in Afghanistan, Libya and Kosovo.

Horst-Dieter Poetschke, a lawyer for the couple, who were arrested in October 2011, said they hoped to be sent back to Russia as part of a Cold War-style spy swap. Poetschke said his clients-who face up to 10 years behind bars if convicted-would not speak during the trial, which is expected to last until the end of June. Influential news weekly Der Spiegel dubbed it “one of the most spectacular cases since the end of the Cold War.” When the first of the two defendants arrived in Germany, a year before the Berlin Wall fell, the Russian security services were still the Soviet Union’s KGB and President Vladimir Putin was a KGB operative in the East German city of Dresden. — AFP

BAMAKO: French warplanes hit a town newlyseized by Islamists in Mali as African troops yesterday prepared to join the offensive which has sent the jihadists fleeing from their northern strongholds.

France on Monday secured UN backing for its campaign launched four days earlier to halt a southward advance on the capital Bamako by Islamist fighters who have controlled northern Mali since April.

A contingent of 750 French troops has been sent to bolster Malian forces against the wellarmed rebels. Defence sources say the force will eventually rise to 2,500. Since the French air offensive was launched on Friday, the Islamists have fled three key towns under their control: Timbuktu, where residents have suffered some of worst abuses of the past 10 months, as well as Gao, also in the north, and Douentza in Mali’s centre.

Though driven from their strongholds by French Rafale fighter jets, the Islamists struck back Monday in the government-held south, capturing the small town of Diabaly some 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Bamako.

French planes hit Diabaly overnight, according to a security source who told AFP at least five Islamists were killed and many injured. A resident of a town some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Diabaly told AFP he had seen armed Islamists fleeing after the strikes.

President Francois Hollande, speaking from the French military base in Abu Dhabi, said the night’s strikes had “achieved their goal”.

France and other UN Security Council countries want to speed up the deployment of a UNmandated 3,300-strong west African intervention force in Mali, held up by disagreements among its contributors.

West African army chiefs will meet in Bamako later yesterday to plan the deployment. Nigeria, which will lead the force, plans to have 600 troops on the ground in Mali “before next week,” President Goodluck Jonathan said. Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo have also pledged troops.

But exper ts have warned it could take months before the African troops are fully operational. The 15-nation UN Security Council on Monday expressed its unanimous “understanding and support” for the offensive, France’s UN ambassador Gerard Araud said.

But the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,

of which Mali is a member, called Tuesday for an “immediate ceasefire, dubbing the offensive “premature” and urging all parties to return to the negotiating table.

So far the unrest has caused nearly 150,000 people to flee the countr y, while another 230,000 are internally displaced, the UN humanitarian agency said Tuesday.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has registered 144,500 refugees in neighbouring countries — 54,100 in Mauritania, 50,000 in Niger, 38,800 in Burkina Faso and 1,500 in Algeria, OCHA said.

The hold by Al-Qaeda linked armed Islamists on vast swathes of Mali’s northern desert had sparked fear in the international community

overnight along with extra troops, a spokesmen for the French forces told AFP. Belgium has said it will contribute two C-130 transport planes and a medivac helicopter to back up the French offensive, while Britain and Canada have offered troop transporters and the United States has pledged to share intelligence and provide logistical support.

A spokesman for the Ansar Dine (Defenders of the Faith) rebel group, Senda Ould Boumama, said their withdrawal from northern cities was a “tactical retreat” to reduce civilian casualties, in comments published on Mauritanian news website Alakhbar.

Meanwhile a leader of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO)

BAMAKO: French troops gather in a hangar at Bamako’s airport yesterday. French forces led an all-night aerial bombing campaign yesterday to wrest control of a small Malian town from armed Islamist extremists who seized the area, including its strategic military camp. — AP that the zone could become a breeding ground for terrorists. While France has made quick gains in eastern Mali, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said the situation is more difficult in the west where the rebels are better armed. Scores of French armoured tanks from a base in Abidjan arrived in Bamako

vowed revenge. “France has attacked Islam. We will strike at the heart of France,” warned Abou Dardar of the Al-Qaeda-linked group on Monday. And Afghanistan’s Taleban insurgents condemned France’s military intervention, warning that it would have “disastrous” consequences. — AFP

Nigeria’s oil thieves say govt leaves them no choice RECAK: A Kosovo Albanian woman pays tribute to her relatives during the 14th anniversary of the Recak massacre yesterday. In 1999, forty-five Albanian civilians were killed by Serb forces, in the village of Recak. The massacre, one of the bloodiest that occurred in the Kosovo crisis, led to massive international pressure on Serbia to stop their ethnically motivated killings of civilian Albanians and to a NATO led air campaign that ousted Serbian security forces from Kosovo. — AFP

German regional politician quits SPD BERLIN: A prominent regional politician who has been a member of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) for more than four decades has quit the party and joined its far-left rivals in a blow for the SPD days before a state election. Sigrid Leuschner, an SPD lawmaker in the Lower Saxony assembly for 19 years, said her decision to move to the Left Party was based on concerns that the SPD had become “devoid of substance”.

She also cited disappointment with Peer Steinbrueck, the SPD candidate for chancellor, who has slid in opinion polls amid outrage over lucrative speaking engagements and a series of gaffes.

Leuschner had been forced to cede her longtime voting district to the wife of former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder following an internal party vote last year. The defection is an embarrassment for the SPD before an election on Sunday in Lower Saxony that is seen by many as a trial-run for the federal vote eight months later.

Until recently, the SPD and Greens had been expected to win a majority in the state vote, ousting Christian Democrat (CDU) premier David McAllister, a loyal ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and generating much-needed momentum.

But recent surveys suggest the contest could be extremely close, with McAllister within shot of victory if his Free Democrat (FDP) coalition allies manage to make it over the five percent threshold for entering the state assembly.

Some have blamed recent SPD weakness in the state on Steinbrueck, a 66-year-old former finance minister whose acerbic style has not gone down well with voters since he was anointed Merkel’s challenger in September.

“If the SPD does lose in Lower Saxony after being ahead in the polls for the past year it will be blamed on Steinbrueck,” said Peter Loesche, emeritus professor of political science at Goettingen University.

But he rejected suggestions the SPD was doomed to defeat in the federal vote if they lose on Sunday. “A lot can happen in eight months. Much will depend on the economy.

If it holds up the SPD has no chance. But if ordinary people start feeling the euro crisis then things can change.”

Speaking on Monday night, Leuschner expressed disappointment over Steinbrueck’s comments that he would not be inclined to drink a bottle of wine that cost less than five euros. “You don’t make fun of poor people,” Leuschner said. The SPD voted in March of last year to give Doris SchroederKoepf, the 49-year-old wife of the former chancellor, a shot at the regional assembly seat that Leuschner had held. The 61-year old SPD veteran said she felt stabbed in the back by her party. Steinbrueck’s wine comments and his remarks in a newspaper interview two weeks ago that German chancellors were underpaid compared to bank managers have compounded his image problem in a party that has traditionally defended the poor.— Reuters

RIVER NUN: The wooden fishing boat navigating Nigeria’s mangrove swamps is powered by a generator balanced above its volatile cargo.

Shimmering crude oil fills its hull, almost indistinguishable from the polluted water in the creek.

Here and there on the banks, people coated in oil wade through greasy mud in patches of landscape blackened and stripped of the thick vegetation that makes Nigeria’s oil-producing delta so hard to police.

Plumes of grey or yellow smoke fill the air as men who will give only their first names go to work in an illegal industry that the government says lifts a fifth of the Nigeria’s output of two million barrels a day.

Oil ‘bunkering’-hacking into pipelines to steal crude then refining it or selling it abroad-has become a major cost to Nigeria’s treasury, which depends on oil for 80 percent of its earnings. Major General Johnson Ochoga, who leads a military campaign against bunkering that was stepped up last year under orders from President Goodluck Jonathan, told Reuters nearly 2,000 suspects had been arrested and 4,000 refineries, 30,000 drums of products and hundreds of bunkering boats destroyed in 2012.

Yet the complicity of security officials and politicians who profit from the practice, and the lack of alternatives for those who undertake it, cast doubt on the likelihood of success.

Forty-year-old Goodluck, who shares his name and tribe with the president, says he would much rather have got a respectable job, except that, despite the billions of petrodollars coursing through the region’s creeks over decades, there aren’t any.

“This refinery is the only thing I know that can ensure my survival, at least for now,” he told Reuters, sitting

under a small makeshift iron roof shelter from the boiling sun, his hands sticky with crude.

“Doing this you can make up to $60 in a day,” he said, gesturing with a nod towards oil drums full of homemade diesel shaded by smoked-blackened palm trees. Most of the stolen crude is shipped offshore, with the remaining 10 percent refined locally.

There is plenty of demand for the diesel, kerosene and gasoline Goodluck makes by boiling up stolen crude in a steel drum over a wood fire.

Nigeria’s legal refineries have been left largely defunct by decades of mismanagement and corruption, with the result that fuel stations in the world’s 12th largest oil producing country often run out of supplies.

Goodluck gets up at dawn in the traffic-choked city of Yenagoa, in Bayelsa state, a humid labyrinth of creeks, swaps and mangrove forests that is home to 2 million people, mostly subsistance fishermen.

Little of this fragile wetland environment has been untainted by oil.

Blackened mangroves that died slurping spilled crude from polluted waters blight the landscape. Local women dry out cassava on hot orange gas flares.

After breakfast Goodluck makes for the jetty where his boat is tied. On his way to his secret refinery, he also uses the boat to run a part-time paid ferry service. The plumes of dark smoke rising from sites dotted along the riverbank for miles around show he is not alone in depending on illegal refining, an activity in which he sees no wrong.

“Though it is illegal, the oil belongs to all of us. This is our own share,” he said, echoing the justification given by many locals who feel they have been left out of the oil riches flowing from underneath them.

Thieves often tap unguarded pipelines in broad daylight, hacking into them and connecting a hose to pump the oil onto a barge. They then

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, meets with visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. — AP

sell it either to international criminal networks or to local refiners like Goodluck. An amnesty for some 26,000 militants in the Niger Delta in 2009 ended an overt campaign of violence and sabotage against the oil industry that at one stage shut down nearly half of its production. But attacks on pipelines for theft have increased.

The environmental devastation wrought is huge, as damaged pipelines spew oil for days afterwards.

The waters of bunkering sites visited

by Reuters were coated in a thick film of crude. Decades of oil production have poisoned the waters of the delta, driving fishermen deeper into poverty and leaving some with few options for making a living.

“We know the crude oil theft is bad but we have been pushed to the wall to do it ... if not for the oil bunkering, we would have no shelter in this community,” said Sudouwei Eris, 51, adding that the government had not even provided a school to his village of Baberagbeme.

While many senior militants have received lavish payouts to end rebellions aimed at securing a fairer sharing of the delta’s oil wealth, many youths face long term unemployment and poverty. Chisco, 35, stands ankle deep in a polluted swamp, boiling up crude over a fire. He employs three people. “I was jobless, but I have a younger brother who read geology at university and he taught me the process,” he told Reuters, adding that it was hazardous work-”you can easily burn the whole refinery to the ground”. Godswill, who also declined to give his surname, teamed up with two of his friends to start a refinery site two years ago. His main job is maintaining a depot where crude oil is stored in a large hole that he dug in the ground.— Reuters

British woman wins religious discrimination case BRUSSELS: An employee who was asked by British Airways to remove a Christian cross from around her neck has won a religious discrimination case at Europe’s human rights court but three other claimants lost similar cases on yesterday.

The ruling by the European Court of Human Rights will mean private companies will have to reconsider how they treat their employees’ rights to express their religious beliefs in the workplace.

Nadia Eweida was sent home without pay from British Air ways in 2006 for wearing a necklace with a small silver cross that the company said violated its dress code. The court ruled that British

Airways’ request for Eweida to remove the cross “amounted to an interference with her right to manifest her religion”.

Reacting to the ruling, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter: “Delighted that principle of wearing religious symbols at work has been upheld - people shouldn’t suffer discrimination due to religious beliefs.”

Cameron had pledged to introduce legislation allowing individuals to wear religious symbols at work in response to Eweida’s case in July 2012.

However, Shirley Chaplin, Lillian Ladele and G ar y M cFarlane all lost appeals in which they argued that British courts had not protected their

rights to religious expression. Nurse Chaplin was told by her employers to remove a crucifix around her neck as it could cause injury if a patient pulled at it. The court ruled that the reason for asking her to remove the cross - protection of health and safety on a hospital ward - was “of a greater magnitude than that which applied in respect of Ms Eweida”. Both Eweida’s and Chaplin’s case were originally dismissed by British labour courts.

The t wo remaining cases pit gay rights against the right to religious freedom. McFarlane was dismissed from a national counselling service when his employers judged him unwilling to offer

sex advice to homosexual couples. The fourth claimant, Ladele, refused to officiate at civil partnership ceremonies for gay couples as part of her duties as a registrar.

Both lost their cases on yesterday.

Britain’s Equality and Human Rights Commission has suggested that the British courts’ interpretation of the law on the manifestation of religion and religious discrimination is too narrow, a position underlined by the European court’s ruling in the case of Eweida.

Commenting on the case, Londonbased employment law specialist Fraser Younson said the British courts fully protected the holding of religious beliefs

but not how they were demonstrated.

“These cases are about the extent to which an employee can manifest their religious beliefs at work,” he said.

In one previous case, the European court ruled that a French school could make its Muslim students remove their headscarves during sports classes for safety reasons.

In another, it found that an Italian state school did not violate the rights to religious freedom or education by displaying crucifixes in classrooms.

Rulings by the human rights court cannot be appealed and signatories must comply or risk exclusion from the Council of Europe. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

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

‘Militant atheist’ blogger stabbed in Bangladesh DHAKA: A self-styled “militant atheist” who is famed for his anti-religious blogs was fighting for life yesterday after he was stabbed in the capital of Muslim-majority Bangladesh, police and medics said.

Asif Mohiuddin, 29, was attacked on Monday night by three unidentified men near his office in Dhaka’s upscale Uttara district.

“We operated on him for more than

three hours. He is improving but still not out of danger. He has six deep cuts including two grave ones in the shoulder,” Haridas Saha, a surgeon at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, told AFP. “The nature of the cuts proved that the attackers wanted to murder him,” Saha said, adding that friends of Mohiuddin who were with him at the time of the attack blamed Islamic “fundamentalists”. Local police chief Rezaul

Islam confirmed the attack but did not comment on the motive.

“The attackers were lurking near his office. He was attacked as he was about to enter the office. Passers-by rushed him to a hospital,” Islam told AFP, adding police were investigating the motive. Mohiuddin’s blog http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blo g/realAsifM has been one of the most visited webpages in Bangladesh and is

known for its tirade against religions in one of the most conservative parts of the world.

His blog’s title page called the god “Almighty only in name but impotent in reality”.

In July last year, he ridiculed Muslims and the Quran in a satirical piece on “the mass conversion of supermen to Islam”. Ninety percent of Bangladesh’s 153 million people are

Muslims and Islam is the state religion.

Several other prominent Bangladeshi writers have also been attacked in recent years for their stand against Islam and Islamic groups.

Humayun Azad, a poet, novelist and literature professor, was attacked by members of an outlawed Islamic militant group for a satirical novel against fundamentalist groups in 2004. He later died in Germany.— AFP

New rape outrage in India as schoolgirl attacked Documents say India suspect is juvenile

COLOMBO: Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mohan Peiris, Lalith Weeratunga In this photo released by Sri Lanka’s Presidentís Office, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, center, swears in new Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, right, a retired attorney general and a legal adviser to the Cabinet, as Lalith Weeratunga, secretary to the president, second from right, watches in Colombo, Sri Lanka, yesterday. —AP

S Lankan leader replaces chief justice with ally COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s president yesterday swore in a trusted aide to replace the chief justice he fired, a move that could lead to a judicial crisis if lawyers and judges who say the move was illegal refuse to cooperate with the new head judge.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa swore in Mohan Peiris, a retired attorney general and a legal adviser to the Cabinet, after his nominee was approved by a parliamentary council yesterday, said presidential spokeswoman Anuradha Herath.

On Sunday, Rajapaksa dismissed Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake after a parliamentary committee found her guilty of having unexplained wealth and misuse of power.

Bandaranayake has denied the charges and accused the tribunal of not giving her a fair hearing. Courts have ruled in her favor, but the president and Parliament ignored the rulings.

Peiris has been prominent in defending Rajapaksa’s government from allegations of human rights violations and enforced disappearances.

Rajapaksa’s critics say appointing a confidante to the post of chief justice gives him control over the judiciary as well as Parliament, where more than two-thirds of the 225 members support him.

The critics also say replacing the chief justice is part of an effort to consolidate the government’s power in the hands of the president’s family.

Rajapaksa’s older brother is the parliamentary speaker, and two of his younger brothers hold the powerful positions of economic development minister and defense secretary. Rajapaksa’s eldest son is a lawmaker.

Many prominent lawyers have already said they still recognize Bandaranayake as the chief justice and have written to senior judges urging them not to recognize a new appointee.

Hundreds of policemen guarded the country’s main court complex in Colombo, the capital, on Tuesday in an apparent bid to prevent Bandaranayake from entering the courts. Bandaranayake, however, remained at home.

Lawyers supporting Bandaranayake protested her dismissal by blowing out candles in unison in front of the Supreme Court to symbolize what they called the death of the judiciary. They chanted, “Let’s rise against dictatorship.”

“The legal community is not ready to accept a puppet appointed by this authoritarian (president),” said Srinath Perera, a lawyer who took part in the protest.— AP

VASCO DA GAMA: Thousands protested in the holiday state of Goa yesterday after a seven-yearold girl was raped in a school toilet, sparking fresh outrage in India following a deadly gang-rape on a bus.

Crowds began gathering outside the Deepvihar High School in the city of Vasco da Gama on Monday night after news of the attack emerged, prompting police to arrest the headmistress on charges of neglect as well as appeal for calm.

A massive manhunt has been launched to trace the attacker, thought to be in his early 20s, who managed to get into the premises despite security guards posted at the school gate.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the youngster was raped after being dragged inside the toilet situated next to the headmistress’s office during a break in classes.

Police were alerted after the girl complained of pain and was given a medical examination.

The girl was taken to hospital and has since been discharged, a charity worker accompanying her told AFP. “She is fine now and recuperating at home,” she said.

The victim’s identity has been protected in line with Indian law.

Thousands of people surrounded the school on Monday night, shouting to demand the arrest of the headmistress and the perpetrator.

Demonstrations then spread to other parts of the city on Tuesday, with shops and businesses closing in protest. Police were due to hold a press conference on the incident in the late afternoon.

Goa’s Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar visited the spot to try and calm the tense gathering.

“We will not spare the accused and anyone involved in this crime,” he told the crowds, after which the headmistress was detained. She was later arrested for alleged negligence of duty, the police official said.

The case has been transferred from local police to the state crime branch, which has taken up the

VASCO: In this Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 photo, parents protest outside a school after news of the rape of a minor student in Vasco, in the southern Indian state of Goa. The seven-year-old girl was sexually abused inside the school premise Monday, police said. — AP help of a teacher to draw a sketch of the accused, seen loitering in the school compound.

The attack comes after the gang-rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi last month sparked nationwide protests and fuelled anger across India over the alarming incidence of sexual assault.

Five men and a teenager have been charged with the rape and murder of the 23-year-old woman, who died 13 days later in a Singapore hospital from horrific injuries.

Meanwhile documents presented yesterday in a hearing yesterday indicate that a suspect in the fatal gang rape of a young woman on a New Delhi bus in December was a juvenile at the time of the attack, a court official present at the hearing said.

Two principals from the suspect’s elementary school showed paperwork indicating that the suspect was a juvenile at the time of

the Dec. 23 attack, which would make him ineligible for the death penalty, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a gag order on the case.

A judge is expected to rule on the suspect’s age in a Jan. 28 hearing, the official said, adding that the suspect did not appear in court yesterday.

The suspect, who is not being identified by The Associated Press because he says he is 17, would face three years in a reform facility if convicted as a juvenile. A conviction as an adult could lead to his execution.

Five other men also have been charged in the case, which has put an international spotlight on sexual abuse against women in India. One of the five now says he is also a minor.

Figuring out the young suspect’s age could be complicated.

He is believed to lack a birth certificate - a common occurrence in

India, where many people are born at home. In such cases, school records are often used as proof of age or identity.

The principal of the suspect’s former elementary school, who testified at the hearing, said earlier that the suspect quit school in the third grade, about eight years ago.

He declined to provide details on the school’s records on the young man, but said few people from the school, in a rural, poverty-battered part of Uttar Pradesh state, have proof of their age.

“None of these people have documents,” said Shishu Pal Singh.

“If the parents say he’s 6 years old (when he is first brought to school), we list him as 6 years old. If he looks older, we may say he is 7.”

There are also medical tests that can indicate a person’s general age, though it’s unclear if the technology would be able to give a precise age. — Agencies

Japan, US fighter jets in joint drill

TOKYO: A man walks on a snow covered field at the park in front of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo yesterday one day after heavy snowfall hit Tokyo’s metropolitan area. Heavy snow in eastern Japan left a man dead and at least 900 people with injures. — AFP

One dead, 900 hurt in heavy Japan snowfall TOKYO: Heavy snow that blanketed eastern Japan over the holiday weekend left one man dead and 900 others injured, as Tokyo commuters yesterday took to the slippery streets.

A low-pressure system, dubbed a “bomb cyclone” by local press, dumped eight centimetres (three inches) of snow in nine hours, the heaviest snowfall in the region since January 2006, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It left 13 centimetres of snow in neighbouring Yokohama, while mountainous areas around Tokyo saw up to 30 centimetres. A 71-year-old man in Shiojiri city, Nagano prefecture, died after falling into an open drain as he cleared snow around his house, a fire service spokesman said.

National broadcaster NHK said at least 891 injuries had been recorded in Tokyo and the area around it, many of them elderly people who had slipped on snow-covered streets or motorists involved in accidents.

The operator of the Tokyo Skytree, a 634-metre (2,080-foot) tower in the capital that opened last year, said security guards were patrolling the base to keep

people away from possible ice falls. “We haven’t received any reports of damage or injury from falling blocks of snow,” said spokeswoman Ayumi Kimura, adding around 60 guards were in the area yesterday.

“We have confirmed snow has fallen in tiny chunks. But there has been a limited amount of snow that has fallen on the tower.” Major train services resumed operations in Tokyo, although many sections of road remained closed while crews cleared frozen snow.All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines cancelled a combined total of 37 domestic flights while dozens of other flights experienced delays. International operations were not severely affected by the snow, the airlines said. On Monday, Japanese airlines cancelled more than 460 domestic flights, mainly to or from Tokyo’s Haneda airport, where runways were temporarily closed as workers removed snow. Around 3,400 people spent the night at Tokyo’s Narita airport on Monday, a spokesman said after train services running to the outlying facility were suspended. They returned to normal yesterday, he added.— AFP

TOKYO: US and Japanese fighter jets yesterday carried out joint air exercises, an official said, days after Chinese and Japanese military planes shadowed each other near disputed islands in the East China Sea. The five-day exercise involves six US FA-18 fighters and around 90 American personnel, along with four Japanese F-4 jets and an unspecified number of people, the official said. The drill is being carried out over Pacific waters off the coast of Shikoku, the fourth largest of Japan’s islands.

It comes weeks after hawkish new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won an election landslide following campaign promises to reinvigorate Tokyo’s security alliance with Washington and take a more robust line against Beijing.

The exercise also comes as a stand-off between China and Japan over the sovereignty of the disputed East China Sea islands shows no signs of letting up.

Tokyo reportedly scrambled fighter jets on Thursday to head off Chinese military planes in an area adjoining the airspace of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which Beijing claims as the Diaoyus.A Chinese defense ministry official later said two J-10 fighters flew to the area to monitor two Japanese F-15 fighters that had trailed a Chinese Y-8 aircraft, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.

Yesterday, one Chinese state-owned Y-12 plane flew close to-but not inside-the airspace of the disputed islands, triggering the scrambling of Japanese fighter jets, the defense ministry in Tokyo said.

The row between Asia’s two largest economies over the uninhabited, but potentially resource -rich islands blistered in September when Tokyo nationalized three of them.

Chinese government ships have repeatedly gone to the archipelago’s territorial waters since then. Beijing insists it is simply patrolling islands it has owned since ancient times. Commentators say China wants to prove that Japan does not have effective control over the chain and

draw Tokyo into concessions.

On Sunday, Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force carried out the nation’s first military exercise designed to recapture “a remote island invaded by an enemy force”.

Some 300 troops took part in the 40minute drill with 20 warplanes and more than 30 military vehicles at the Narashino Garrison in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo.

Some 80 personnel from the SDF’s First Airborne Brigade rappelled from helicopters to demonstrate manoeuvres to counter an enemy invasion of a remote island.

In October Japan and the US dropped plans for a joint drill to simulate the retaking of a remote island, reportedly because Tokyo

did not wish to provoke Beijing further. There was no outward indication that the joint Japan-US exercise that began Monday and runs until Friday was aimed at China, and the area being used was a long way from any contentious zone.

The official said the drill had previously been staged from Iwakuni in the far west of Honshu, but had been moved to Miyazaki in the south of Kyushu out of consideration for people living near the base.

While the security alliance receives wide public support in Japan, there are tensions between bases and their host communities, particularly over noise and the risk of accidents, as well as associated crime.—AFP

SEOUL: A US flag flies at the US Embassy as protesters hold a rally denouncing a military alliance between South Korea, the United States and Japan, and demanding to start six party talks ahead of a visit by US officials in Seoul, South Korea, yetserday. —AP

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Hollande defends Mali offensive Continued from Page 1 he said. Since Friday, French forces have been supporting an offensive by Malian troops against Islamist rebels, who have controlled the north of the vast country since April. The military intervention has driven Islamists fighters from their strongholds in the north but the rebels Monday pushed farther into the government-held south, into the town of Diabaly, 400 km north of the capital.

Hollande said the French intervention has three objectives - “ending terrorists attacks,” as well as “securing Bamako where we have thousands of citizens and help Mali to restore its territorial integrity”. “France has no intention of staying in Mali,” he said. “But we have an objective, that is when we leave there should be security in Mali, a legitimate authority, an electoral process and no more terrorists threatening” the integrity of the country,” he added. Defence sources told AFP yesterday that France’s intervention force in the former colony will gradually increase in size to reach 2,500 troops.

As Hollande flew into the oil-rich United Arab Emirates early yesterday, his entourage on the presidential plane said some 700 soldiers at the French naval base in Abu Dhabi, along with six Rafale jets stationed there, were on standby to participate in the Mali offensive if needed. Soon after touching down in Abu Dhabi, Hollande held talks with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. Mauritania, Mali’s western neighbour, ordered its troops to seal the border to prevent Islamist fighters from escaping into its territory. Abdel Aziz raised the possibility of his country participating in operation “Serval” if it were asked, according to Hollande’s entourage.

The French president said following talks with UAE officials that the oil-rich state backs the intervention and will provide “humanitarian aid, as well as material, financial and possibly military support”. Belgium announced yesterday that it will contribute two C-130 transport planes and a medivac helicopter to back up France’s offensive. By a quirk of timing, Hollande’s trip to the UAE is also aimed at selling Rafale fighter jets such as those that have been involved in bombing Islamist rebel bases in Mali.

France is keen to make its first foreign sale of the Rafale, which has struggled to find buyers, to support a project that has cost tens of billions of euros. Plans for Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to accompany Hollande were scrapped but the high-powered delegation still includes government ministers and leaders of several blue-chip companies. Also on the agenda were to be energy cooperation, the Syrian crisis and

the impasse in the Iranian nuclear standoff, French officials said. Human Rights Watch has called on Hollande to bring up the issue of human rights in the Gulf country - both during private talks and publicly.

In Abu Dhabi, Holland also spoke at the opening session of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), calling for more investment in renewable energy projects to prepare for the post-oil era and to avoid global warming. “If we don’t spend... we will have a catastrophe,” Hollande warned. More than 500 French companies operate in the UAE, which invested nearly four billion euros in France last year. Failure to spend in developing renewable energy will increase demand for fossil energy and “make its prices unaffordable,” besides increasing risks of global warming, he said.

Organisers of the three-day summit, which is held simultaneously with the first International Water Summit, say that around $257 billion was spent on renewable energy projects around the world in 2011. But a report released yesterday by research company Bloomberg New Energy Finance revised the figure upward to $302.3 billion, adding that investment in 2012 dropped by 11 percent to $268.7 billion. The figure is five times that of eight years earlier.

Hollande said it is estimated that $300 billion of investment in sustainable renewable energy are needed this year but the requirement comes during times of economic crises.

He called for all countries to contribute and proposed establishing joint funds between oil-producing and consuming countries for the purpose. “France wants to make the transition in energy resources a national, European and global cause,” Hollande said.

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner stressed that the main contributions must come from developed nations whose energy consumption, and consequently emissions, are much higher than poor nations. “Responsibility lies on all, but not in equal shares... Developed nations’ contributions must be much higher,” she said, adding that Latin America and the Caribbean are responsible for only five percent of harmful emissions. Opening the summit, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, said Abu Dhabi is providing the platform to overcome the challenges facing the spread of renewable energy. Queen Rania of Jordan called for finding “sustainable solutions” to energy needs.

Without this “progress will be slow and uneven. Not just in this region, but everywhere.” “Today 1.4 billion people, one in five in the world, still cannot access grid electricity. For a billion more, access is unreliable,” she said. — Agencies

19 killed as Egypt train...

Continued from Page 1 shouting, “You have blood on your hands, Mr Hesham.”

His security quickly whisked him away, an AFP photographer said. The injured have been taken to local hospitals for treatment, the health ministry said. President Mohamed Morsi made a visit to the injured at the Maadi military hospital in Cairo, the same facility where his ousted predecessor Hosni Mubarak is being treated, state media reported.

Minister of Social Affairs Nagwa Khalil said the government will pay the families of those killed each 10,000 Egyptian pounds (around $1,520), and families of the injured 2,000 Egyptian pounds (around $300), MENA said.

The accident is the latest in a string of transport disasters plaguing Egypt, and comes just two weeks after a new transport minister was appointed. According to media reports, it is the fifth deadly train accident since Morsi was sworn in as Egypt’s first Islamist president in June.

Morsi’s tenure so far has been marked by political divisions over the role of religion in politics and freedoms, but the latest accident is a further test of how his government will deal with Egyptians’ everyday problems. In a message

on Twitter, the president’s Muslim Brotherhood said “sincere condolences go out to the families of the victims of the horrific train crash in Badrasheen, we pray for speedy recovery of the injured.” The spokesman of the armed forces also sent condolences on his official Facebook page.

Transport minister Hatem Abdel Latif, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, said an investigation will be launched into the accident. “We have to admit that the railway system is decaying. We will carry out investigations to know whether the accident happened because of defects in the train or rails or because of other reasons,” Abdel Latif was quoted as saying by the state owned Al-Ahram website. In November, nearly 50 school children were killed when a train smashed into their bus in central Egypt after a railway signal operator fell asleep, prompting protests and resignations. The railway network’s poor safety record stems largely from lack of maintenance and poor management. In Egypt’s deadliest railway tragedy, the bodies of more than 360 passengers were recovered from a train after a fire in 2002.

Egyptians have long complained that the government has failed to deal with the country’s transport problems, with roads as poorly maintained as railway lines. — AFP

Pakistani Rangers (in black) and Indian Border Security Force personnel (in brown) perform the ëflag offí ceremony at the Pakistan-India Wagah Border Post yesterday. — AFP

Armstrong admits doping to Oprah Continued from Page 1 seen in sport. The revelations against the Texan and reams of damning eye-witness testimony from former teammates plunged cycling into crisis, amid claims of complicity and cover-up, while big-name corporate sponsors dropped the rider after years of support.

Before taping, 41-year-old Armstrong personally apologized to staff members at Livestrong, the charity he founded in 1997 to support cancer survivors. “Lance came to the Livestrong Foundation’s headquarters today for a private conversation with our staff and offered a sincere and heartfelt apology for the stress they’ve endured because of him,” Livestrong spokeswoman Rae Bazzarre told AFP. The announcement that Armstrong had agreed to an interview sparked widespread speculation that he might finally confess to being a drug cheat after years of adamant denials and in the face of mounting evidence.

The New York Times, citing unnamed sources familiar with Armstrong’s situation, said he was planning to testify against officials from the International Cycling Union (UCI) governing body about their involvement with doping. But he would not testify against fellow riders, the report said. Armstrong was also in talks with the US Department of Justice regarding his possible testimony in a federal whistle-blower suit involving his former team, which was sponsored by the US Postal Service, the daily added.

A former teammate who was stripped of his 2006

Tour de France win, Floyd Landis, filed that suit against Armstrong and other team principals, alleging they defrauded the government because the riders were doping in violation of their contracts. Armstrong is believed to be willing to admit to doping and cooperate in other pending legal proceedings in order to pave the way for USADA to lift his lifetime ban so that he can return to competing in marathons and triathlons. His years of dominance on the Tour de France, the sport’s greatest race, raised cycling’s profile in the United States to new heights.

It also gave the Texan - diagnosed in 1996 with latestage testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lungs - a unique platform to promote cancer awareness and research. The Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised almost $500 million since its creation 16 years ago. In the wake of the allegations, several top sponsors such as sportswear giant Nike dumped Armstrong, and on November 14, Livestrong dropped his name from the foundation.

On the legal front, since the UCI effectively erased Armstrong from the record books, The Sunday Times of Britain has sued him for more than £1 million ($1.6 million) over a 2006 libel payment. It had paid Armstrong £300,000 to settle a libel case after publishing a story suggesting he may have cheated, and now wants that money, plus interest and legal costs, repaid. A Texas insurance company has also threatened legal action to recoup millions of dollars in bonuses it paid him for multiple Tour victories. — Agencies

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

ANALYSIS

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.

E MAIL :info@kuwaittimes.net Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Issues

Obama hits at GOP leverage

By David Lawder

C

ongressional Republicans, frustrated by the failure of earlier efforts to get President Barack Obama to agree to spending cuts, suddenly find themselves in a fight to keep their grip on the one tool they thought would give them better leverage: Their threat to block an increase in the government’s ability to borrow money next month. That became clear on Monday as Obama used the last news conference of his first term for his most dire - and least wonky - portrayal yet of the woes that would befall the nation if the debt ceiling is not extended.

Rather than dwell on the impact of debt default on credit ratings that many people don’t fully understand, Obama spoke instead of troops, retirees and air traffic controllers all being without their paychecks should Republicans make good on their threat. “If congressional Republicans refuse to pay America’s bills on time, Social Security checks and veterans’ benefits will be delayed,” Obama said. “We might not be able to pay our troops, or honor our contracts with small business owners.

Food inspectors, air traffic controllers, specialists who track down loose nuclear material wouldn’t get their paychecks. “....Markets could go haywire. Interest rates would spike for anybody who borrows money - every homeowner with a mortgage, every student with a college loan, every small business owner who wants to grow and hire.” Rather than try to explain how failing to raise the debt ceiling would impact borrowing, he compared it with eating “all you want” at a restaurant and then leaving “without paying the check”.

The escalation (and simplification) of Obama’s rhetoric is designed by his own acknowledgement to take the debt limit entirely out of play as a bargaining chip by making it too hot to handle and thus non-negotiable. Once having uncoupled it from the ongoing debate about spending, he can move on to the next controversy. That would mean negotiations about automatic spending cuts postponed for two months in January’s “fiscal cliff” deal and a less volatile debate at the end of March over continued funding of the government.

The United States scraped up against its $16.4 trillion debt ceiling on Dec 31 and is now employing special measures to meet its financial obligations. The Treasury Department said those steps could be exhausted by mid-February. In response, Republicans are arguing that use of the debt ceiling as a bargaining tool is routine and that the consequences of refusing to raise it manageable. Rather than prompting a default and an economic calamity decried by Democrats, these lawmakers say it will merely lead to a temporary shutdown of some government departments and programs - one that could jolt Obama into a meaningful deficit reduction deal.

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, said in an interview with Reuters last week that it would lead to “temporary disruptions,” that would be blamed on Obama for refusing to bring down spending.

“Republicans should use, will have to use, for the sake of the country, any leverage they have to accomplish that goal. And the debt ceiling is one of the things that can be effective in helping to reduce spending.”

To back up their case that the debt ceiling is a routine bargaining device, senate Republican aides sent the media a note showing numerous cases of spending restraint going back to the 1980s that were attached to debt limit increases. But lists compiled from the archives of Congress tend not to resonate with the public. And talk of shutting down the government - let alone actually going through with it - has proven counterproductive, even ruinous, to Republicans in the past. After the government shutdown of 1995, polls showed that the public overwhelmingly blamed Republicans rather than President Bill Clinton for the disruption, a response which helped Clinton battle his way to a second term in office in 1996.

Some say that the current back and forth is still just early jousting over the issue. “We’re still in the phase where you try to win the hearts and minds of voters before there’s any negotiations,” said Greg Valliere, chief political strategist at Potomac Research Group, which advises institutional investors on Washington politics. “Both sides are just digging in their heels.”

Obama and congressional Democrats are hoping the US business community will help them win the debt limit argument by pressuring Republicans to promptly approve an increase in borrowing authority. In recent days, US Chamber of Commerce officials repeatedly have warned that leading the government to a default on its debt could result in serious economic disruptions.

Meanwhile, John Engler, the head of the Business Roundtable, a trade group of company chief executives, has recently called for a five-year increase in the debt limit, divorcing it from the spending debate. With an inauguration address next Monday and the State of the Union address in February, Obama can be expected to keep hammering away on this theme. Republicans want deep cuts to the Medicare and Medicaid health care programs and savings from the Social Security retirement program. Democrats are resisting these, and will likely only offer modest savings by adjusting inflation assumptions. —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.

France faces tough, long fight in Mali

By Dominique Chabrol

F

rench forces intervening in Mali are facing a determined, experienced and well-armed foe and will not be able to quickly count on the backing of an organised African ground force, analysts said. France launched airstrikes on Friday to back the Malian army in an operation against Islamist rebels who had seized the north of the country and were threatening to advance on the capital Bamako. President Francois Hollande said the move was necessary to protect France’s 6,000 citizens in the former colony and prevent Mali’s vast desert north from becoming a haven from which extremists could strike at Europe.

French troops were arriving in Mali, with newspaper Le Monde reporting that the initial deployment of 550 soldiers would be boosted to 2,500. France announced quick gains in eastern Mali in the offensive, driving the Islamists from key positions, but the rebels launched a counter-offensive and seized control of a town in the government-held south. Sources in the French presidency admitted to being surprised at how well-equipped, armed and coordinated the rebels proved. “These are not novices, they have a good tactical sense, enjoy very strong mobility with 4x4s and have surface-to-air weapons systems,” French defence expert Pascal Le Pautremat said.

French Rafale fighter jets struck bases used by Al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Gao and Kidal, two of the main towns in northern Mali, and rebel stockpiles of munitions and fuel near Kidal, a stronghold of rebel group Ansar Dine (Defenders of the Faith). “Rear bases and logistical points must be hit,” Le Pautremat said. “But we can’t believe that victory is a given by sticking to the destruction of military targets. It will be necessary to occupy the ground in the long run, so to deploy men and resources.”

Analysts said France’s involvement could be over fairly quickly if the only objective is to stop the Islamists’ advance into the south. But if the goal is to completely retake control of the north, France could be looking at a “long-term operation” in Mali, said Bruno Tertrais of the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research. Tertrais said officials had already indicated that French forces could be in for the long haul. “When you say from the outset that it will last ‘as long as it takes’, that means you are ready for a long-term commitment if necessary,” he said.

France will be hoping to limit the involvement of its troops by putting the bulk of the on-the-ground burden on a planned west African intervention force. The force, authorised by the UN Security Council, has started to take shape, with Nigeria leading the intervention and providing around 600 soldiers.

Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal and Togo have all pledged about 500 troops. Benin and Ghana have also promised to contribute soldiers. Still, experts said that if the situation on the ground progresses rapidly, it may already be too late for an African force to play an effective role. “It will be difficult for these battalions to be operational before at least three months,” said General Jean-Paul Thonier, who commanded the European Union’s Artemis mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003. —AFP

France fights almost solo

By Claire Rosemberg

F

rance has won heaps of praise for its Mali offensive yet been left almost solo on the frontline as European Union partners instead look to join a lower-profile EU mission to train the Malian army. The London Times on Monday dubbed France’s decision to battle Islamist rebels “A Just Cause”, while European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso lauded the “courageous action of French troops” and EU president Herman Van Rompuy weighed in saying: “It is indeed urgent to stop them.” Unlike military intervention in Libya in 2011, waged jointly in a first phase by Britain and France, then by a NATO-led coalition of the willing, France went into action Friday with no apparent help from its friends.

“Only one and half countries are engaged, France and Britain,” said Jan Techau, director of the Carnegie Europe think-tank. “The rest of Europe seems very reluctant. “Not many European nations saw the same strategic urgency as France.” Various officials said France took the decision to go it alone. It was more “efficient” to kick off the campaign solo while in a next stage requesting logistical back-up, notably from Britain, said military sources in Paris. NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu dubbed the Mali offensive an operation “decided by the French government” and a wellinformed EU diplomat concurred, saying: “So far that’s what France has wanted and what fits with what everyone else thinks they can do to add value.”

But analysts also say time was too short for France to go for help to nations such as Belgium or Denmark, active during the Libya campaign, as Mali’s Islamist forces took the world by surprise, moving much further south than expected. “It’s not impossible that others might still join,” said Techau. A surprise offer by militarily-reluctant

Germany of logistical, medical or humanitarian aid for the French was “a significant move”, he said.

Britain’s offer of two C17 transport planes - one currently under repair was in “a logistical role only,” said a spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron. “It will not be a combat role.” Britain’s involvement will remain limited, a British official said, because Mali is a former French colony and “more within France’s sphere of influence”.

Germany “will not leave France alone in this difficult situation,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Though France might find itself by far the most heavily committed nation in Mali, it was unlikely to face opposition from its EU partners in its battle to defend the continent against Al-Qaeda led terrorists, analysts said. “There probably won’t be a single country that opposes the action,” unlike the splits that emerged within the 27-state EU during the Libya campaign, said Vivien Pertusot at Brussels-based IFRI think tank. Southern European nations Spain and Italy, who like France have economic links with Africa as well as a strong interest in keeping Islamist radicals across the Mediterranean at bay, could be tempted to join the military operation, he said. “But Spain is in the economic doldrums and Italy in an election campaign,” Pertusot said.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has pledged to accelerate the dispatch of a military training mission in Mali, which due to events may be launched early February. EU leaders in December approved a plan to send some 250 military trainers for the Malian army, backed by a protection force and other personnel, bringing the total of EU soldiers to be sent to the West African nation to 400-500. French General Francois Lecointre, due there in coming days, another source said. “But the logic behind the mission has changed,” said a military source. “How can it train Malian troops now engaged in combat?” —AFP

Move on guns creates risks for Obama

By Andy Sullivan

US

President Barack Obama appears ready to gamble in the debate over gun control. By signaling on Monday that he will ask Congress to ban military-style assault weapons, Obama is embarking on a high-risk strategy that is likely to further inflame tensions with Republicans at a time when feelings already are raw because of a series of running budget battles. At a White House news conference, Obama said he favored a “meaningful” assault weapons ban, stronger background checks for gun buyers and tighter controls on high-capacity magazine clips in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut, school massacre last month that brought the national debate over guns to the forefront.

The Democratic president essentially is betting that any blowback from an assault-weapons plan would not doom other proposals that some Republicans may find more palatable.

At the very least, Obama’s plan could make life more difficult for gun-friendly Democrats who are less enthusiastic about an assault-weapons ban.

Obama will need their backing to pass the package of gun-control measures he plans to introduce this week after the Newtown shooting that killed 20 children and six adults. During the news conference, Obama acknowledged that he is not likely to get everything he wants. “Will all of them get

through this Congress? I don’t know,” Obama said. “But what’s uppermost in my mind is making sure that I’m honest with the American people and with members of Congress about what I think will work.” Obama’s aggressive approach is likely to cheer gun-control advocates, who say that an assault-weapons ban could limit the scope of future attacks like the one

John Hudak, a fellow at the nonpartisan Brookings Institution. “If he pursues an assault weapons ban, it will fail and undermine his ability to get anything through Congress,” Hudak added. Obama is expected to reveal the details of his plan later this week after weighing proposals assembled

by Vice President Joe Biden. A White House aide said the three ideas out-

US President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks during the last news conference of his first term in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Monday. —AP in Newtown.

But some observers said that given the emotional nature of the guncontrol debate, Obama risks an overreach that could threaten other measures that enjoy broader political support. “If he tries to go too big on gun control, the narrative is going to turn too quickly against him,” said

lined by Obama on Monday would be the “bare mininum” of any proposal. Democratic Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia, who along with several other lawmakers met with Biden earlier on Monday, said he was not sure what Obama ultimately would recommend. “That is going to be the president’s call,” Scott said in a tele-

phone interview with Reuters.

“Everyone knows that a ban on assault weapons would be a legislative challenge.”

Public sentiment shifted in favor of increased gun-control measures after the Dec 14 shootings in Newtown but an assault-rifle ban is less popular than other proposals. A Pew Research Center pool showed 85 percent of Americans favor broadening background checks to private and gun-show sales and 55 percent back an assault-rifle ban. Other polls show similar results. The National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups fiercely oppose banning assault rifles, which are popular with the gun-buying public.

Republicans who control the House of Representatives are expected to oppose a ban and several members of the Democrat-led Senate who represent gun-friendly rural states also are leery of the idea.

“It’s hard to define what an assault weapon is and if we’re just defining it by what it looks like, that doesn’t do much for me,” Senator Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said on “CBS This Morning”. Other proposals appear to stand a greater chance of legislative success. Republicans could accept expanded background checks depending on the details, a Republican aide in the Senate said.

Biden told gun-control advocates this month that expanding the background-check system to cover private sales and gun shows would be

the single most effective way to reduce gun violence, said Vincent DeMarco, national coordinator of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence.

Obama also can take steps on his own to address gun violence. He could strengthen the database used to check the background of prospective gun buyers by directing federal agencies to provide more information to the FBI, which handles the program. He also could order the Justice Department to place a greater priority on prosecuting people who lie on their gun background checks. But Obama could anger members of Congress if he acts before they do. One newly elected Republican warned Obama on Monday that the president could risk impeachment if he used his executive power to tighten gun controls.

“If the president is allowed to suspend constitutional rights on his own personal whims, our free republic has effectively ceased to exist,” Representative Steve Stockman of Texas said in a statement. Gun-control advocates say that public anger could work in their favor as well. After years in which gun-rights advocates dominated the debate in Washington, they say the Newtown incident has shifted the discussion. “People’s feelings are so raw on this and they’re going to stay raw for a long time,” DeMarco said. “They want something to happen and they want something substantial.” —Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

S P ORT S Al-Attiyah’s hopes dashed

IOC to meet India officials

Swansea sign Lamah

CORDOBA: France’s defending champion Stephane Peterhansel took a huge step towards his 11th Dakar Rally win on Monday as his main rival Nasser Al-Attiyah struggled during the ninth stage, the longest of the race. Spaniard Nani Roma won the stage - his second of this year’s edition - leading in a Mini 1-2 with 47-year-old Peterhansel - six times champion on a motorbike and four times in a car - second and Argentinean Orlando Terranova third in a BMW. Al-Attiyah - the 2011 champion - had to stop several times during the stage in his Red Bull Buggy including just 4km from the finish line and saw his dreams of a second Dakar title dashed. Peterhansel now has a comfortable lead of almost 50 minutes over his nearest rival South African Giniel de Villiers. Earlier defending motorbike champion Cyril Despres stormed back into contention for this year’s title as the Frenchman won his first stage of this year’s renewal. The 38-year-old KTM star started the day over 24 minutes off the pace but finished the stage in second place overall as he came in 4min 03sec ahead of Spanish rider Joan Barreda on a Husqvarna. Despres put himself firmly into the mix for retaining the title as the fourtime champion trails team-mate Portugal’s Ruben Faria by 5min 23sec but admitted it had been about time he made an impression. —Agencies

MUMBAI: The International Olympic Committee has offered a lifeline to suspended India by inviting its government officials for a meeting at its Lausanne headquarters. The IOC banned the country after refusing to recognize the results of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections held on Dec 5 due to government interference, which led to a tainted official being named as its new secretary general.

Lalit Bhanot, who spent 11 months in custody last year following corruption charges and is on bail pending further investigations, was given the senior IOA post despite the IOC deeming the elections “null and void”. In a letter seen by Reuters sent to Randhir Singh, secretary general of the IOA during the previous regime, the IOC said the Indian body must be able to hold elections without interference while adhering to its own constitution and the Olympic Charter. “In order to start working closely together ... it is hereby proposed to hold a first joint meeting with you and a senior representative of the government of India as soon as possible,” the IOC letter said.

The IOC also warned Indian national sports associations against meeting with “illegitimate” individuals who were elected during the Dec 5 elections. “The members of the suspended IOA must not associate themselves with these illegitimate individuals or interact with them in any manner whatsoever,” the letter said. —Reuters

LONDON: Swansea City have signed versatile Belgium winger Roland Lamah on an 18-month loan from La Liga’s Osasuna, the Premier League club said yesterday.

Lamah, who was born in Ivory Coast before he moved to Belgium aged 15, is leftfooted but can play on either wing and said he was eager to begin his career under former Denmark and Barcelona great Michael Laudrup. “To play in the Premier League is a dream, and also to play under Michael Laudrup is fantastic for me,” the 25-year-old, capped five times by Belgium since 2009, told the club’s website. Lamah’s move is subject to international clearance but the winger should be available as early as Saturday for Swansea’s top flight clash at home to Stoke City. Swansea and Laudrup have had huge success signing players from less highprofile clubs in Spain. Striker Michu joined from Rayo Vallecano in July for just two million pounds ($3.21 million) but has gone on to be jointthird top scorer in the Premier League with 13 goals. —Reuters

Kiwis capitulate on ‘tour from Hell’ WELLINGTON: The Black Caps’ latest humiliation on their “tour from Hell” to South Africa shows the team is rudderless and has been woefully outclassed, New Zealand media said yesterday. “A mismatch of epic proportions” was the Christchurch Press’s take on New Zealand’s capitulation in the second and final Test in Port Elizabeth, where the hosts enjoyed a thumping innings victory. Former national coach David Trist said New Zealand’s players “will need counseling in some cases” after a similarly lopsided score in the opening Test, where the Black Caps managed only 45 runs in their first innings. “It’s been the tour from Hell, in more ways than one,” Trist told Radio New Zealand.

“Nothing has gone right really. It’s been a wake-up call for New Zealand cricket.”

Trist said the tourists had been unsettled by coach Mike Hesson’s controversial decision to sack Ross Taylor as captain before the tour and replace him with Brendon McCullum. “They were rudderless at the top, in terms of a new coach who looks out of his depth to

some degree, management around him that probably needs to be questioned and a captain (McCullum) who was caught in the perfect storm,” he said.

Trist called for an independent review, saying the Black Caps went to South Africa without adequate preparation.

“There have to be some serious questions asked by some independent people who are prepared to speak out and make sure that this kind of tour doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Fairfax Media’s Glen McLean said Black Caps fans were hurting over the “shocking” on-field displays, the Ross Taylor sacking and the bungling performance of New Zealand Cricket administrators. He said England’s upcoming tour of New Zealand could turn into a commercial flop if the team did not improve. “If the Black Caps’ present form continues, the tour could lose appeal early... with little sympathy likely to be afforded by a tired and frustrated public,” he said. A three-match one-day series between South Africa and New Zealand starts on Saturday.—AFP

India-Pakistan tensions hit Hockey India League NEW DELHI: Nine Pakistani players signed up for a new field hockey league in India are facing the heat after a flare-up along the border that reports suggest could also affect the women’s cricket World Cup. None of the Pakistanis featured in the opening match of the Hockey India League (HIL) in New Delhi on Monday, and officials declined to comment when asked if they will play in the four-week event. Trouble began on Sunday in Mumbai when the city’s franchise, which had enrolled four Pakistanis, was forced to cancel a practice session after protests from the right-wing nationalist Shiv Sena party. The entire squad, coached by Australian Ric Charlesworth, shifted base to New Delhi as league organizers speculated if Mumbai could host the six matches allotted to it, the first one scheduled for January 20.

“I have no idea what will happen, but it will not be easy to play the matches in Mumbai if the Pakistanis are there,” Mumbai Hockey Association official Ram Singh said. The 34-match HIL, sanctioned by the sport’s world governing body, features top stars

from around the world who will play for five city-based franchises till February 10. The cities in the fray are New Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Ranchi and Jalandhar. Tensions between India and Pakistan were heightened last week by a series of cross-border exchanges in disputed Kashmir in which four soldiers were killed. India says that one of its soldiers was beheaded.

Meanwhile, media reports yesterday said the women’s cricket World Cup, scheduled to be played in Mumbai from January 31 to February 17, could be affected due to Pakistan’s participation. The Pakistani women are due to play three matches in the preliminary league of the eightnation event and at least another four if they advance to the second round.

The Indian Express newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying Pakistan’s matches could be moved to Ahmedabad, which last month hosted a one-day international between the men’s teams of the two nations.

There was no immediate comment from the International Cricket Council on the report. —Agencies

No 1 Louisville thump UConn HARTFORD: Louisville passed its first test as the No 1 team in the country, beating Connecticut with a spirited second half. Next comes No 6 Syracuse on Saturday after a 73-58 win Monday night. There are a bunch of other tough games in the next few weeks, so it’s no wonder Cardinals coach Rick Pitino says it will be like “musical chairs” on top of the rankings.

But with star guards Russ Smith and Peyton Siva orchestrating the offense and defense, Pitino said there’s nothing wrong with staying on top for a while.

“You played a great schedule, so you’re very deserving of that,” he told his team about the No 1 ranking, the second in school history.

“Why don’t you hold on to that for a little while? It’s going to leave you, but you’re going to play for it at the end ... which is the most important thing. So hold on to it for a while.”

Point guard and Big East preseason player of the year Peyton Siva isn’t a fan of what comes with being No.1, but he’ll suffer through it for his teammates. “I don’t really like it, because it puts a big bull’s eye on your back,” he said. “But my team embraces it. They play with that chip on their shoulder like they should be No 1 and in the second half, we proved it.”

He was talking about the Cardinals’ victory over Connecticut. Connecticut, which shot 53.8 percent from the field in the first half, had just three field goals in the opening 13 minutes of the second half as Louisville went ahead 60-44. The Huskies, who went 9 minutes without a field goal at one stretch, had trouble moving the ball against the fullcourt pressure and 2-3 zone of the Cardinals. The Huskies had seven turnovers in the first 11 minutes of the second half, matching their total in the first half.

“In the second half, we came out and we put it all together,” Siva said. “The second half, I just tried to get everybody going.” Louisville shot 60.7 percent in the second half (17 of 28) and hit an even 50 percent for the game.

“They deserve the No 1 ranking,” Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie said. “They have talent. They play together. They play hard. Whoever’s open, they get the ball to. And they have those two amazing guards. Siva and Russ put pressure on our offense and defense the whole night.” Russ Smith had 23 points and Siva managed 11 in a foul-plagued 22 minutes for the Cardinals, who were playing just hours after they moved to the top of the poll.

The Cardinals (16-1, 4-0 Big East) won their 11th straight game. Omar Calhoun led the Huskies (12-4, 2-2) with 20 points while Shabazz Napier added 12, all but two in the first half. Ryan Boatright had 11 points and he and Napier both had six assists for the Huskies, who were coming off a win over then-No 17 Notre Dame that was their sixth in

WEST LAFAYETTE: Penn State guard Jermaine Marshall (left) and Purdue guard Terone Johnson go for a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind on Sunday, Jan 13, 2013. —AP seven games. The Huskies shot 25.9 percent in the second half (7 of 27) and were at 39.6 percent for the game. Calhoun gave his opinion of Louisville being No 1. “You ain’t going to play a team better than that,” he said.

Connecticut dropped to 2-7 all-time against No. 1 teams, with the last win over Texas on Jan 23, 2010.

NO 12 PURDUE OUTLAST OHIO In another development, Sam Ostarello had 22 points and 19 rebounds Monday night and No 12 Purdue defeated Ohio State 82-75 in triple overtime. Courtney Moses led the Boilermakers (14-2, 3-0) with 24 points. Her

layup late in the second extra period tied it at 68 after Ohio State had a 68-62 lead. All three of the Boilermakers’ Big 10 wins were in overtime. Ameryst Alston, who played all 55 minutes, had 24 points for Ohio State (10-7, 0-4), off to its worst Big 10 start. The Buckeyes played without Tayler Hill, out with an illness.

Hill is averaging 21.3 points, best in the conference. Drey Mingo’s basket gave Purdue the lead for good at 72-70 and Dee Dee Williams later made a 3-pointer to put Purdue up by five. Mingo finished with 17 points. Darryce Moore had 16 points and 12 rebounds and Raven Ferguson also had 16 points for Ohio State. —Agencies

Ichiro fired up after Yankees 2-year deal

Zain supports Gulf Cup with TV commercials KUWAIT: Zain Group, a pioneer in mobile telecommunications in 8 markets across the Middle East and North Africa, is proud to announce its support of the Gulf Cup football tournament taking place in Bahrain between 5 - 18 January, 2013. Zain has also enjoyed unprecedented interest in its Gulf Cup television commercial, which garnered over 300,000 views on YouTube in just one week, making it Zain Group’s

fastest viewed commercial on YouTube ever. The commercial was launched on 4 January, one day before it was aired on TV, and tellingly the majority of views are from mobile phones, reinforcing the growth in mobile broadband services and access to the Internet via mobile devices.

The commercial, which can be viewed at - www.youtube.com/zain- was shot in Bahrain, where the football tournament is

being hosted. The accompanying song’s lyrics and music were produced by Bashar Al Shatti. The song itself has proved popular in its own right with more than 2,000 downloads. The video was directed by Aziz al Jasmi and starred Abdulmuhsen Al Gaffas, an artist who proved his immense popularity in Zain’s Ramadan campaign in 2012.

Given that four countries in which Zain

Group has a presence are participating in the Gulf Cup - Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Iraq - the operator believed this to be an ideal sporting event to support, with the hope and expectation that the best team shall prevail. Zain Group has a long history of producing compelling advertising content, and the success of the latest Gulf Cup campaign helps to solidify this reputation.

TOKYO: Ichiro Suzuki feels a renewed sense of passion after finally signing a two-year contract to stay at the New York Yankees, the Japanese outfielder said yesterday. The 39-year-old, a career .322 hitter with 2,606 hits in 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), called the storied ‘Bronx Bombers’ a unique ballclub. “Re-signing for the Yankees has awakened a fresh determination in me,” the 10-times All Star told Japanese media after a workout in Kobe.

“This is a team that can select A-Rod as a pinch-hitter we’re talking about,” he added, referring to fellow future Hall of Famer Alex Rodriguez. Ichiro’s future with the Yankees had hung in the balance, the player unhappy that talks on a new deal were taking so long and threatening to negotiate with other clubs.

However, after agreeing terms on a deal worth $13 million over two years, Ichiro is expected to be the team’s starting right fielder this season.

“It is an absolutely unique team,” said Ichiro, who reportedly turned down more money from other MLB teams to remain in the Yankees pinstripes. “Being able to take my place alongside such players has been something I have thinking about.” Ichiro joined the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners last July and was 73for-227 (.322) in 67 games with New York, stealing 14 bases. He broke a string of MLB records since joining Seattle in 2001, including the single-season record for hits with 262 set in 2004 and having 10 consecutive 200-hit campaigns. Ichiro helped Japan win the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 and retain the title in 2009 but will not play in this year’s edition.—Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

S P ORT S

Clarke pulls out of Ryder Cup captaincy race Clarke’s exit leaves clear way for Montgomerie, McGinley ABU DHABI: Former British Open golf champion Darren Clarke has pulled out of the race to succeed Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. “I have been to see (Players Committee chairman) Thomas Bjorn and formally informed him I do not want to be considered for the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2014,” the Northern Irishman told reporters yesterday. “It was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. I have been agonizing over what to do since I showed a few glimpses of my old form in Thailand and Australia at the end of last year.”

Clarke’s withdrawal leaves the way clear for a two-horse race between former skipper Colin Montgomerie and Ireland’s Paul McGinley. The Players Committee

Paul McGinley of Ireland

meet in Abu Dhabi later and are expected to announce the new Ryder Cup captain.

Clarke, the 2011 British Open champion, was also a front-runner for the job until his odds lengthened last week when he hinted he wanted another shot at playing in the team he served five times between 1997-2006.

World number one Rory McIlroy re-iterated yesterday his plea for McGinley to be given the job for the 2014 edition of the biennial team event at Gleneagles, Scotland. “I have a very strong opinion about this,” said the 23-year-old Northern Irishman. “I really think Paul deserves it.

“He has been a great player and a great personality for the European Tour over the years. I also played under him at the Seve

Trophy in 2009 and I thought he did a great job. “From all the captains I’ve played under, I think he was the best.”

McIlroy seemed to be perturbed that several members of the 2012 Ryder Cup team were not on the Players Committee that decides the new skipper. “Myself, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Justin Rose have all voiced their opinion that they want Paul,” he said. “I would like to think our opinions are valuable to them and they make the decision based on that. I’m not even sure there is anyone sitting on the Players Committee who is even going to make the Ryder Cup team.” Olazabal led Europe to a remarkable comeback victory over the United States at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Illinois.—Reuters

Clippers down Grizzlies 99-73 Jazz stifle Heat as Miami’s road woes continue MEMPHIS: Reserves Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes each scored 16 points, and the Clippers easily routed the Memphis Grizzlies 99-73 Monday night with Chris Paul missing his first game this season because of a bruised right kneecap. The matchup between two of the best teams in the West wasn’t close much of the way.

While Paul watched from the bench, the Grizzlies were without their leading scorer: Rudy Gay was excused for his grandmother’s funeral

in Baltimore. Eric Bledsoe, starting for Paul, had 14 points, and Blake Griffin scored 10. Zach Randolph had 15 for Memphis, which lost its second straight. Wayne Ellington added 11 in a rare start, and Darrell Arthur had 10.

BULLS 97, HAWKS 58 Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 18 points and the Chicago Bulls held Atlanta to a franchise-low 20

points in the first half of a victory over the Hawks. Reserve forward Mike Scott scored 10 points to lead Atlanta as none of the starters reached double figures. Josh Smith and Kyle Korver had nine points each. Jeff Teague had a layup with 7.9 seconds left to prevent the Hawks’ lowest scoring total in franchise history.

Atlanta has lost five straight on the road and six of seven overall. The Bulls held the Hawks to just five points in the second quarter and led 48-20 at the break.

WIZARDS 120, MAGIC 91 Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading six players in double figures for Washington in a victory over the Magic for its third straight win. The Wizards were just 4-28 before their streak, but beat Oklahoma City, Atlanta and now Orlando - all at home - to nearly double their wins total. John Wall had 12 points and six assists in 20 minutes in his second game of the season after missing the Wizards’ first 33 with a left knee injur y.

Washington shot a season-best 56.1 percent, scored its most points and had its largest winning margin of the season. Jameer Nelson had 19 points and 12 assists to lead Orlando, and Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and 13 rebounds.

CELTICS 100, BOBCATS 89 Rajon Rondo scored 17 points with 12 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Celtics to victory over Charlotte. It was Rondo’s third triple-double of the season and the 26th of his career, including playoffs. Paul Pierce scored 19 and Avery Bradley added 16 for Boston, which won for a season-high sixth consecutive game. Kevin Garnett, who needed 13 points to tie Patrick Ewing for 16th on the NBA’s career scoring list, was 2 for 11 from the field and scored just seven points to go with his 10 rebounds. Hakim Warrick and Ramon Sessions had 16 points apiece for the Bobcats, who lost their third straight and their 23rd in the last 25 games since opening the season 7-5.

MAVERICKS 113, TIMBERWOLVES 98 Darren Collison led six players in double figures with 23 points and the Mavericks matched their season high with a third straight win in a victory against Minnesota. JJ Barea, who was injured in two previous trips to Dallas, led the Timberwolves with 21 points. The Timberwolves finished a 0-4 road trip that coach Rick Adelman missed for personal reasons. OJ Mayo and Elton Brand had 20 points each for Dallas. It was a season high for Brand. Mayo also had nine assists.

PHOENIX: Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (right) shoots over Phoenix Suns guard Michael Beasley during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix. —AP

NBA results/standings Washington 120, Orlando 91; Boston Memphis 73.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT NY Knicks 24 13 .649 Brooklyn 22 15 .595 Boston 20 17 .541 Philadelphia 16 22 .421 Toronto 14 23 .378

Indiana Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland

Miami Atlanta Orlando Charlotte Washington

Central Division 23 15 .605 21 15 .583 19 17 .528 14 24 .368 9 31 .225 Southeast Division 24 12 .667 21 16 .568 13 24 .351 9 28 .243 7 28 .200

100, Charlotte 89; Chicago 97, Atlanta 58; LA Clippers 99, Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 30 8 .789 Denver 23 16 .590 Portland 20 17 .541 Utah 21 19 .525 Minnesota 16 19 .457

7.5 9.5 10 12.5

1 3 9 15

LA Clippers Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento Phoenix

Pacific Division 29 9 .763 23 13 .639 16 21 .432 14 24 .368 13 27 .325

5 12.5 15 17

3.5 11.5 15.5 16.5

San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans

Southwest Division 29 11 .725 24 12 .667 21 17 .553 16 23 .410 11 26 .297

3 7 12.5 16.5

GB 2 4 8.5 10

THUNDER 102, SUNS 90 Kevin Durant scored 27 of his 41 points in the second half and Oklahoma City became the NBA’s first 30-game winner of the season with a victory over the Suns. Russell Westbrook added 36 for the Thunder, but it was Durant who took over in his fourth 40-point game of the season, scoring 19 in the fourth quarter and falling one shy of the season-high 42 he scored two games earlier against the Los Angeles Lakers. Oklahoma City won its fourth straight, the last three on the road to improve their NBA-best record to 30-8.

Durant scored 33 Sunday night in an 87-83 win at Portland. Shannon Brown scored 21 for the Suns. Marcin Gortat had 19 points.

JAZZ 104, HEAT 97 Al Jefferson scored 23 points, Gordon Hayward added 22 - including a jumper with 40 seconds remaining - and the Jazz held on to beat Miami. The Heat were down 21 points in the third quarter but fought back to pull within two behind a 32-point effort by LeBron James.

However, James was called for goaltending and an offensive foul on back-to-back possessions late, then missed a 3-pointer with Miami down six with 2:19 left. Chris Bosh added 16 points for Miami and Rashard Lewis had 13 off the bench.

KINGS 124, CAVALIERS 118 DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and the Sacramento Kings snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jimmer Fredette and Cousins both scored eight points in the fourth quarter for the struggling Kings, who had allowed nearly 118 points per game during the losing streak and had three losses of 20 points or more. Reserve Dion Waiters scored a career-high 33 points for the Cavaliers, who have lost three straight and eight of 10.—AP

ABU DHABI: World number one golfer Rory McIlroy (left) of Northern Ireland and Tiger Woods (right) of the US make a toast during a photocall ahead of the 20th Abu Dhabi Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club yesterday. —AFP

Woods, McIlroy face off ABU DHABI: The world’s two top golfers are meeting more and more often on the course, but neither No 1-ranked Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods are ready to call it a rivalry. The pair, set to meet at this week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, has established a blossoming relationship since playing together for the first three rounds of last year’s tournament and expressed a mutual respect for one another’s game.

But for a more heated rivalry to emerge, they both agreed they need to face each other on Sunday with a tournament at stake. It has yet to happen, although Woods did make a run at McIlroy in last year’s Honda Classic with a birdieeagle finish. “It would be similar to saying that I had a rivalry with Phil (Mickelson) two years into my career. That wasn’t the case. It takes time,” Woods said yesterday. “Over the course of my career, I’ve gone head-to-head against Ernie (Els) and Vijay (Singh) the most and that has happened over 17 years,” he said. “But it takes time. Certainly we’ve done it once at Honda. ... But we really haven’t had the amount of matches or head-tohead duels with Phil and Vijay and Ernie. But then again, it’s only been a few years. Let’s give it time and see how it pans out.”

Speaking Monday to The Associated Press, McIlroy agreed. “I don’t know if you can call it a rivalry yet because we haven’t battled each other down the stretch of a major,” McIlroy said. “It’s not like we have been playing in the final group of a tournament and we are battling each other.

Hopefully at some point that can happen this year and it would be great to be part of that.” McIlroy joked that that budding friendship would go out the window should that battle take place.

“He is going to try and beat my brains out. I know that,” McIlroy said. “I’m trying to do the same.

We are both trying to win a golf tournament.”

Woods and McIlroy are paired together for the first two rounds at Abu Dhabi starting Thursday. “We’ve certainly hit it off, and our relationship has grown and our friendship’s gotten better,” Woods said.

“We’ve just had a good time. Certainly give each other the needle quite a bit. That’s always fun.”

McIlroy said the relationship in many ways is built on mutual respect. “Before this time last year, we would say hello in passing but not really anything else. I think once Tiger sort of gets to know you and trusts you, I guess, and lets you in, then it’s great,” McIlroy said.

“It’s great to just spend time with him and pick his brain about a few things if I feel I need to, but it’s a relationship that’s definitely based on respect, because you know, he’s been a huge hero of mine growing up and he’s done some incredible things in golf. I think he respects me for what I’ve done on the golf course, too. So it’s good.” But when it comes to the golf course, McIlroy joked that that the friendship would go out the window should that encounter take place. “He is going to try and beat my brains out. I know that,” McIlroy said. “I’m trying to do the same. We are both trying to win a golf tournament.”—AP

Monte Carlo Rally opens the post Loeb title era MONACO: The mythical Monte Carlo Rally kicks of the 2013 season today which will see a new world champion crowned for the first time since 2003 as Frenchman Sebastien Loeb races a limited season after a record nine straight titles. Loeb will be present at the 81st and oldest rally on the circuit but he has already announced he will drive in only four races this season as he gradually moves away from the sport and onto other projects. “The idea (for the four rallies) came one day when we were discussing the future with Citroen,” explained Loeb who will also race in Sweden, Argentina and at his home Alsace rally.

“Four is enough. The two that I wanted to do were Monte-Carlo and France, but four is a good compromise. “I wanted to do Sweden as well, to see if I can try and stay on the road this time,” he told WRC.com.

Finland’s Citroen driver Mikko Hirvonen and Frenchman Sebastien Ogier of Volkswagen are two of the strongest challengers to Loeb’s mantle in what promises to be a wide open season in the absence of the Frenchman. “I can’t wait to get started,” admitted VW Motorsport boss Jost Capito. “Our goal at Monte Carlo is to gain as much experience as possible and get both our

cars to the finish,” he added. The Monte Carlo race is steeped in tradition as well as being one of the toughest with narrow mountain roads, unpredictable conditions and a necessity to drive both on asphalt, snow or ice, making tyre choices a decisive factor in winning. The race begins today following a special stage yesterday which decided the starting order for the race proper, which featured 18 specials across 468km. While Hirvonen is the veteran of the pack and championship runner-up to Loeb on four occasions, racking up 15 WRC victories, Ogier will benefit from the financial muscle provided by Volkswagen in which to launch a challenge and build on his seven wins.

Spaniard Dani Sordo is also one of the most consistent performers on the circuit as he returns to Chevrons Sauvages, after two seasons with Mini, and the 29-year-old is desperate to break his duck having finished 32 times on the podium without ever tasting victory. The race which culminates with five specials on Saturday features one of the toughest stages in the world as the drivers negotiate the Col de Bleine with dangerous, icy roads set to challenge the nerves of even the most experienced competitors.—AFP

Wales name Pretorius in Six Nations squad LONDON: Wales named South Africa-born forward Andries Pretorius in a 35-man squad announced yesterday for the 2013 Six Nations. The 27-year-old Cardiff Blues back-row was one of five uncapped players chosen by head coach Rob Howley for the defense of the Grand Slam champions’ Six Nations title. Pretorius, born in Nelspruit, qualifies on residency for Wales and became available for selection last month. The other uncapped players in the squad were Ospreys wing Eli Walker, Pretorius’ fellow Cardiff back-row Josh Navidi and locks James King (Ospreys) and Andrew Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Cardiff flanker Sam Warburton retained the Wales captaincy. Wales are currently without several second rows-Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Bradley

Davies due to injury.

Meanwhile outside-half Rhys Priestland and prop Aaron Jarvis are also sidelined ahead of the start of Wales’s title defense at home to Ireland on February 2.

Former Wales scrum-half Howley was able to recall full-back Lee Byrne, now with French club Clermont Auvergne, who has not featured in a Wales matchday squad since the 2011 World Cup, and Exeter prop Craig Mitchell. But the most heartening front row news for a Wales squad who lost all of their end-ofyear Tests was the return of star prop Adam Jones from injury. Former Wales captain Ryan Jones was also included, although he is doubtful to play against both Ireland and then France a week later because of a dislocated thumb. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

S P ORT S

Federer and Murray in cruise control at Open Ice-cool Murray crushes Haase in Australia

MELBOURNE: Serena Williams of the US gestures during her women’s singles first round match against Romania’s Edina Gallovits-Hall on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP

Serena battles injury; Azarenka powers on MELBOURNE: Five -time champion Serena Williams shrugged off an ankle injury to sweep into the Australian Open second round yesterday where she was joined by world number one Victoria Azarenka. Williams was coasting against Romanian Edina Gallovits-Hall in the first set when she landed heavily on her right ankle and went to ground, and needed extensive treatment. She returned to court with her ankle heavily restrapped and routed her opponent 6-0, 6-0, but was clearly in pain with her movement hindered.

In contrast, defending champion Azarenka, in the same side of the draw as Williams and scheduled to meet her in the semi-finals, was given a testing time by another Romanian, Monica Niculescu.

The Belarusian top seed, who beat Maria Sharapova in the final last year and is defending a Grand Slam title for the first time, came from 3-0 down in the second set to eventually prevail 6-1, 6-4. Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki was also pushed hard by Germany’s Sabine Lisicki. The Dane, who finished 2010 and 2011 as the world’s top-ranked player, has been struggling this year but dug deep to reel off six straight games in the third set to go through 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Elsewhere, seventh seeded Italian Sara Errani became the highest ranked casualty, crashing out to Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, while Japan’s ageless Kimiko Date-Krumm struck a blow for older women. The Japanese number one, aged 42, became the oldest female to win a main draw match at the Australian Open, upsetting 12th seed Nadia Pedrova 6-2, 6-0, 12 years her junior. In doing so, she surpassed Britain’s Virginia

Wade as the oldest main draw winner.

Wimbledon champion Wade won in 1985 when 40 years, 138 days. Fifteen-time Grand Slam winner Williams, 31, battled through the pain barrier against Gallovits-Hall and vowed to continue in the tournament as she searches for a sixth Australian crown.

“Oh, I’ll be out there,” she said when asked if she would be playing her next match on Thursday, against Garbine Muguruza of Spain. “I mean, unless something fatal happens to me, there’s no way I’m not going to be competing.

I’m alive. My heart’s beating. I’ll be fine.”

Fresh from claiming her 47th career title in Brisbane and with a rare calendar-year Grand Slam in her sights, she will ice her ankle and await the doctor’s verdict. An injured Williams will play into the hands of Azarenka, who six won WTA titles in 2012 but was forced to withdrew from Brisbane, where she was due to meet Williams in the semi-finals, with a toe injury. She showed little effect from the problem on Rod Laver Arena against Niculescu, but admitted she needed to yell at herself when she lost focus in the second set. “It was just kind of to bring me back into competition, because I felt like the first set was really flowing my way and everything was going well for me. I was executing what I wanted,” she said. “And then, I kind of miss-hit a few shots and she got really competitive. I felt like I was on the practice court a little bit, letting go a few things that I shouldn’t.” She next plays Eleni Daniilidou of Greece, with the other key player standing in the way of her title defense, Sharapova, in the other half of the draw.—AFP

MELBOURNE: Leading contenders Roger Federer and Andy Murray were fast out of the blocks with straight-sets victories in their opening matches at the Australian Open yesterday.

Federer, the record 17-time Grand Slam champion and chasing his fifth Australian title, made light work of his first outing of 2013 with a threeset demolition of Frenchman Benoit Paire. Third seed Murray was equally impressive in clinically dismantling Dutchman Robin Haase, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to progress safely to the second round.

Elsewhere as temperatures climbed on the second day of the year-opening major, former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro breezed in the next round and 2008 finalist JoWilfried Tsonga won an all-French contest in straight sets over Michael Llodra. Second seed Federer showed few signs of rustiness in his first match of the year as he demolished the 46thranked Paire 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in 1hr 23min on Rod Laver Arena. The 31-year-old Swiss maestro gave Paire little respite with six service breaks, while his own serve was rock-solid with no breaks conceded. There was little Paire could do to stop the cascade of winners off the racquet of Federer, who is bidding to become only the second man after Australia’s Roy Emerson to win five Australian Open titles.

“I’m very happy with the first round match, total control,” Federer said. “He can be a tricky opponent, but I guess his playing style doesn’t disturb me that much overall. “I’m happy I was able to play a clean match out there today.”

Murray was authoritative in his first match in Melbourne, needing just 1hr 37min to take apart the erratic Haase with eight service breaks and making just 20 unforced errors in the 25 games.

Much has changed in Murray’s life since his career-transforming victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in last year’s US Open final, and he is among the favourites at the year’s opening major tournament.

Murray said he didn’t notice anything significantly different in his first Grand Slam match

since his Flushing Meadows triumph last September, but that it would steel him should he make the final rounds of the Australian Open.

“I think when I would see the benefits of that is if I get myself deep into a Slam this year and you’re playing against the top players. That’s when I think you’ll draw on that experience and use it in the right way,” he said. Murray, 25, has twice been runner-up at the Australian Open. He is drawn to face Federer in the semi-finals and possibly defending champion Djokovic in the final.

“It was a good start and it was nice to win in straight sets, it was the hottest day of the tournament so far,” Murray said. “It took a little while

to get used to that and the court was playing much quicker and bouncier because of it.”

Tsonga beat compatriot Llodra 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in 1hr 46min on Hisense Arena, while big-hitting Canadian 13th seed Milos Raonic clocked a fastest serve of 199 km/h (158 mph) in his 3-6, 61, 6-2, 7-6 (7/0) win over Czech Jan Hajek. French 14th seed Richard Gasquet had few problems with Spaniard Albert Montanes, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1, and Croatia’s Marin Cilic ended Australian Marinko Matosevic’s tournament in straight sets. Wu Di was ousted in four sets by Croatia’s Ivan Dodig in over three hours after making history as the first Chinese man to play a Grand Slam match.— AFP

MELBOURNE: The family of Switzerland’s Roger Federer watch during his men’s singles match against Benoit Paire of France on the second day of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP

Improving American women making up for men’s decline MELBOURNE: For American tennis, it seems that when one door closes, another opens. The retirement of Andy Roddick, illness of Mardy Fish and injur y to John Isner meant that Sam Querrey is the only American to be seeded on the men’s side at the Australian Open. But in the women’s event, four American women including the Williams sisters are seeded, six have made the second round and 10 began the tournament ranked in the top 100.

With Madison Keys making it through to round two, the Americans are scheduled to have 11 in the top 100, their best representation since 2007. “It’s a big

plus for American tennis to have so many,” rising US player and 21st seed Var vara Lepchenko told reporters after her 6-4 6-1 win over Polona Hercog of Slovenia yesterday.

“We’re all trying to compete hard and do our best and improve out there and do as much as we can. “All the girls are looking up at each other and saying, ‘I’d been playing with her, I’d been competing with her, I’ve been playing on the same level,’ so we push each other and it gives a lot of confidence to others and everybody improves.”

When Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were winning most of

the grand slam titles in the early 1980s, the US dominated women’s tennis. The arrival of Steffi Graf and Monica Seles balanced affairs but Lindsay Davenpor t and Jennifer Capriati each won grand slams before the emergence of the Williams sisters. But in March 2009, things had got so bad for American women that only three Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Bethanie Mattek-Sands - were ranked inside the top 100. The outstanding performances of the Williams sisters had masked a void for a number of years but the emergence of a number of players from the juniors appears to be changing things.

Eight of the 11 are under 25 and three including Sloane Stephens, tipped to eventually become the world number one by Serena Williams, have yet to turn 20. “I t ’s tough following the Williams sisters,” said Jamie Hampton, who reached round two yesterday with a 6-2 6-4 win over 31st seed Urszula Radwanska of Poland. “We all played juniors and when one of us does well, the others look at it and think if she did it, I can do it. “I think we all have our own unique personalities and our own unique games. And all our games are very good and they’re all going to mature at different times.”— Reuters

Del Potro: winning slam ‘biggest challenge’

MELBOURNE: Wu Di of China plays a return during his men’s singles match against Ivan Dodig of Croatia on the second day of the Australian Open tennis tournament yesterday. — AFP

Wu and Date-Krumm make history for Asia MELBOURNE: Wu Di enhanced China’s growing stature with a historic appearance and Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm enjoyed a record-breaking victory at the Australian Open yesterday. Wu, the 21-year-old world number 186, went down to Croatia’s Ivan Dodig but he exited with his head held high as the first Chinese man to play a Grand Slam match. “I’m really happy, but I lost,” smiled Wu, when asked if he was pleased with the way he played, revealing that a motivational text message from women’s star Li Na had helped him prepare for the match. “The night before when I was going to bed, I got a text message from her.

She told me, ‘don’t be nervous and don’t think about tennis. Just go to bed’,” said Wu. “‘Your answer in the match will come tomorrow, not tonight. You will get your answer on the court’. “I was happy with the way I played, but not happy that I lost,” he added. China is increasingly in focus on the tennis circuit with the Women’s Tennis Association replacing Japan’s premier tournament with a new event in Wuhan next year-one of five on Chinese territory. Tennis Australia is microblogging updates from the Australian Open on Chinese social media sites, and for the first time, a group of Chinese children are performing as ball-

boys and girls.

Meanwhile, Date-Krumm entered the history books as the Australian Open’s oldest female winner at 42, as she crushed 12th seed Nadia Pedrova, who is 12 years her junior, 6-2, 6-0. “Of course I’m very happy to win today, but I don’t play for the record. Even when I’m losing, I’m still enjoying it. Of course, every time I lose, it’s mental, it’s tough,” she said. “But still I’m enjoying playing. Forty-two, it’s just a number.” Japan’s Ayumi Morita joined DateKrumm in the second round when she beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-3, 6-3.

Another Japanese, Go Soeda, also reached the next stage of the men’s draw with a four-sets win over Australia’s Luke Saville.

Peng Shuai followed fellow Chinese women Li Na and Zheng Jie into round two with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-0 victory over Rebecca Marino of Canada. “Today the sun was on the court, and the sun was really bright. On the court I felt a little bit dizzy,” said Peng. “But it’s good. It’s really exciting to play the first round. I’m just really happy I won today.” There was also success for Taiwan with Lu Yen-hsun reaching the second round of the men’s draw and women’s seed Hsieh Su-wei beating Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino in straight sets.— AFP

MELBOURNE: Juan Martin del Potro is not a member of the Big Four of men’s tennis, but with Rafael Nadal’s absence at this year’s Australian Open, he’s hoping he can crash the exclusive club. With Lleyton Hewitt’s loss in the first round on Monday, the 1.98 meter (6foot-6) Argentine is the only man besides Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic remaining in the draw with a Grand Slam singles title. The sixth-seeded del Potro eased into the second round yesterday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over French qualifier Adrian Mannarino in just 76 minutes. The Argentine got his breakthrough victory at the 2009 U.S. Open, but his career was temporarily derailed by a right wrist injury that required surgery in 2010 and knocked him off the tour for eight months. Since his return to tennis, he’s reclaimed his spot in the top 10, but hasn’t been past the quarterfinals of a major largely because of the Big Four. Last year, Federer knocked him out in the quarters at Melbourne Park and Roland Garros and Djokovic beat him in the quarters at the U.S. Open. In 2011, Nadal beat him in the fourth round at Wimbledon and Djokovic defeated him in the third round at Roland Garros.

After yesterday’s first-round victory at the Australian Open, del Potro said winning a second Grand Slam could be his “biggest challenge on this year.” “I’m trying to do that this year,” he said. “But (the Big Four) are playing really good tennis, and it’s not easy.” He has more of an opening in Melbourne with Nadal pulling out due to illness, but he’s in the same half of the draw as Murray and Federer, meaning he might have to play Murray in the quarterfinals, Federer in the semifinals and Djokovic in the finals to win the title. Del Potro has a 1-5 win-loss record against Murray, a 4-13 record against Federer and a 27 record against Djokovic.

“They are so far from me at the moment,” he said of the Big Four. “The last 33 Grand Slams (have been won by) the same names, the same players.” “I know how tough it is to win a Grand Slam,” he said. “But I know the way to win a Grand Slam, also.” If del Potro’s performance against Mannarino is any indication of his current level of play, he could well make a deep run in Melbourne. He beat the Frenchman in the first round at the Australian Open last year, as well, but needed four sets and three hours to do it. In yetserday’s match, however, he hit 24 winners and made only eight unforced errors. “I think I played really aggressive,” del Potro said. “I made a lot of winners with my forehand. I served well. I made a very good start to this Open.”— AP

MELBOURNE: Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro plays a return during his men’s singles match against France’s Adrian Mannariono on the second day of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. — AFP

Harrison says he could surprise No 1 Djokovic MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic was well aware of up and coming American Ryan Harrison, even stating that he knew how to beat the 20-yearold, but his second round Australian Open opponent is sure he may be able to give the world number one a surprise today. Two-time defending champion Djokovic will meet Harrison, for the third time in their careers, on Rod Laver Arena, and said after his first round victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu that he felt he knew the American’s game and how to beat him.

Harrison, however, underwent intensive training, physical conditioning and scientific physiological testing during the off-season in order to help take his game to the next level. He was told to lose weight in order to ensure he was more effective right to the end of long matches and how to manage his nutrition better and his first round win over Santiago Giraldo had given him confidence to press on against the Serb, he said. “It’s an opportunity. I have confidence in myself after all the work I have done during the off season,” Harrison told reporters ahead of the Djokovic clash.

“I feel different this year, mentally and physi-

cally I have put myself into a position where I feel that I’m going to go forward. “I know that I’ve got myself into a better condition where I will be stronger and faster than the last time we played (in the second round at Wimbledon last year). “On top of that I’m going to try and play my game... try to control my side of the net... and not get caught up in the hype of the situation and how good he is.” Women’s second seed Maria Sharapova, who recorded a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Russian compatriot Olga Puchkova in the first round, will meet Japan’s Misaki Doi on Hisense Arena and could set up a third-round clash with Venus Williams. Venus will meet France’s Alize Cornet on Rod Laver Arena before Djokovic meets Harrison, so the tall American will undoubtedly know that a victory over the Frenchwoman will guarantee one of the matches of the third round. Local hopes will be concentrated solely on the shoulders of women’s ninth seed Sam Stosur, who nervously battled into the second round after a disrupted buildup. The Australian meets China’s Zheng Jie, who beat the 28-year-old in the first round of the Sydney tournament the week before the seasonopening grand slam.— Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

S P ORT S African Cup Of Nations

Record TV audience underpins Nations Cup growth JOHANNESBURG: Africa’s premier soccer competition has come a long way.

From two matches in 1957, captured on grainy black-and-white newsreel footage, this year’s African Nations Cup will feature 32 matches and attract billions of global television viewers. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it was confident of exceeding the record 6.6 billion television viewers who watched last year ’s edition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. “ We believe there will be a jump again in the numbers even though Egypt, which is one of our largest markets, did not qualify for the tournament,” CAF’s marketing and television director Amr

Shaheen told Reuters ahead of the tournament’s kickoff in South Africa on Saturday.

The event has always been popular in Africa and now draws a global following thanks to the increasing number of players who enjoy high-profile careers such as Ivory Coast and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. It is a long way from the humble origins of the inaugural 1957 tournament, when just three teams competed. Old newsreel footage still exists of the first tournament when the Egyptians emerged as champions ahead of Ethiopia and hosts Sudan. All three, along with South Africa, were founder members of the African organ-

izing body in 1956 but South Africa were quickly expelled from the CAF ranks for their Apartheid policy.

SPORTS BOYCOTT South Africa were ordered to send a team that transcended racial barriers to the 1957 tournament but recently unearthed archive documents show the South Africans had no intention of defying government policy and were also concerned with the cost of sending their team by ship. Exclusion from the Nations Cup kicked off a global boycott that left South Africa in sporting wilderness for decades and it was not until 1996 when they finally made their

debut in Africa’s premier football tournament.

By then the finals had grown rapidly on the back of substantive, continentwide television exposure, first introduced in 1990. Hosts Algeria offered a free signal to national broadcaster of each African state, ensuring blanket coverage. In formative years, the tournament, older than its European equivalent, was slow in gaining a foothold but grew in the 1960s as more territories gained independence. In the first tournaments, pitches hardly had a blade of grass and match officials were shipped in from Europe. British army officer John Brooks took charge of the

1962 final.

With political emancipation and growing nationalism, African leaders quickly realized the value of a Nations Cup win in terms of prestige, profile, patriotic fervor and even tempering opposition. As a result most Nations Cup campaigns were government funded and many African countries still receive handsome grants from state coffers for their football expeditions.

Dictator Mobutu Sese Seko gave his players plots of land and cars after Zaire triumphed in 1974. Idi Amin often visited his Uganda squad to ensure they had the best possible conditions for success.— Reuters

‘Retiring’ Adebayor key to Togo’s Cup campaign

Algerian midfielder Sofiane Feghouli

Amazing support spurs Algeria’s star Feghouli JOHANNESBURG: Sofiane Feghouli, the footballer once touted as the new Zinedine Zidane, does not regret putting Algeria ahead of his native France. The wide midfielder from Spanish La Liga outfit Valencia has attracted the interest of Liverpool and is considered a key asset as former champions Algeria try to survive the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations ‘group of death’.

Title favorites Ivory Coast, former champions Tunisia and Emmanuel Adebayorinspired Togo complete the pool and Algeria face their North African neighbors first in a match set to have a vital bearing on the final outcome. Having played for his native France at age-limit level, Feghouli faced the dilemma of many young footballers born and raised abroad by parents from African countries. He had to decide whether to try and secure a place in the French senior team or switch allegiance to the homeland of his parents. Feghouli was called up but not used by then France manager Raymond Domenech before making his choice.

Algeria desperately wanted Feghouli and the persistence of leading official Mohamed Raouraoua paid off with the midfielder making his competitive debut in a Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia last year and scoring in a 2-1 victory. The Desert Foxes also won the return match and home and away victories over Libya ensured a return to the African football showpiece after missing out on the 2012 tournament in Gabon/Equatorial

Guinea. Feghouli describes Algerian supporters as “amazing” and the backing he got from them convinced him that he called the difficult choice between Les Bleus and the Foxes correctly.

“I made the right decision because every match in Algeria is like a World Cup final,” the 23-year-old told repor ters.

“Supporters of the national team are so passionate. I have not seen anything like it anywhere else. “The stadium where we play is full by noon-many hours before the kick-off-and playing in front of so many spectators is an amazing experience.

Utterly fantastic. “Once the referee blows his whistle it seems like the supporters are pushing you along and it gives you an incredible strength. It is truly inspiring for a young player taking his first steps in international football.”

After helping Grenoble gain promotion to the French Ligue 1 as a teenager, Feghouli moved to Valencia three years ago and this season scored three goals as the Spanish club advanced to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. While shying away from comparisons with France and Real Madrid legend Zidane, whose origins are also Algerian, the speed, skill and work rate of a star valued at 10 million pounds (12,025 million euros) has not gone unnoticed at Anfield. Like so many other rising African stars heading for South Africa, Feghouli will have the twin ambitions of helping his country lift the trophy and attracting the attention of scouts from major European clubs.— AFP

Gervinho bags brace as Ivory Coast flex muscles JOHANNESBURG: Gervinho bagged a brace and Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure were yellow carded as Ivory Coast flexed their muscles with a 4-2 win over Egypt four days before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off. The title favorites recovered from falling behind midway through the first half at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi to lead by two goals early in the second half, but needed a late Didier Ya Konan goal to seal success.

Lanky Lacina Traore, sporting an orange mohawk haircut, was the other scorer for the Ivorian Elephants while Mohamed Aboutrika and Mohamed “Gedo” Nagy were on target for non-qualifiers Egypt in a freeflowing game. It was the only warm-up for the Elephants before they face Togo on January 22 in Group D-labeled the group of death with former champions Algeria and Tunisia the other contenders for two quarter-finals places. Ivory Coast last played two months ago-whipping Austria 3-0 in Linzand there were some cobwebs visible with poorly-timed runs leading to nine offside calls while Boubacar Barry let a shot slip between his legs for a goal.

Drogba was booked for kicking the ball away after one offside decision and reigning African Footballer of the Year Toure for a late tackle, with his subsequent anger culminating in a tug of the referee’s shirt. Ivory Coast are heading for South Africa desperate to shed the “chokers” tag they have earned by failing to justify favoritism in the past four tournaments with two final losses after penalty shootouts the closest they came. Although Egypt have won the Cup of

Nations a record seven times, they failed to make the latest edition of the African football showcase, losing 4-3 overall to the Central African Republic in the first qualifying round.

Angola stretched to five matches an unbeaten run in warm-ups by defeating neighbors Botswana 2-0 at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto through goals from Liechtenstein-based Guilherme Afonso and captain Manucho. The Black Antelopes drew with Gambia and beat Rwanda and Cameroon at home last month and overcame defending champions Zambia in Soweto-encouraging results ahead of Group A dates with Morocco, South Africa and Cape Verde. Fears that Morocco playmaker Younes Belhanda from French champions Montpellier would miss the 22-day championship through injury were allayed after a suspected serious muscle tear turned out to be only a slight strain.

Belhanda is a key figure as the Atlas Lions seek a first African title since 1976 after recently appointed coach Rachid Taoussi ignored Adel Taarabt from English Premier League strugglers QPR and Qatarbased Houssine Kharja. The happiness of Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah after impressive warm-up victories over Egypt (3-0) and Tunisia (4-2) in Abu Dhabi was diluted when his post-match injury list rose to four stars. Defender Issac Vorsah and midfielders Albert Adomah, Anthony Annan and Mohammed Rabiu are receiving treatment five days before the Black Stars face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Group B opener.— AFP

PARIS: Any chance the tiny west African nation of Togo have of extricating themselves from the toughest of all the opening Africa Cup of Nations groups increased dramatically with Emmanuel Adebayor’s late change of heart to play. The talismanic Tottenham striker may only be 28, but he has retired more times than Frank Sinatra.

Two months ago he announced yet another withdrawal from the international scene, but not before he had scored the only goal in Togo’s shock friendly win over fellow qualifiers Morocco in Casablanca. Adebayor’s decision was based on the perennial issues of unpaid player bonuses, and team security. Security is an understandable issue for Adebayor, who was on the Togo team bus which came under machine gun attack days before the start of the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola from separatists seeking independence for the oil-rich Cabinda enclave.

Two members of the Togo entourage were killed. Adebayor only relented, apparently, following a little bit of gentle arm-twisting from his country’s President Faure Gnassingbe.

Needless to say, the lanky striker’s presence in South Africa was warmly received in the Togo camp.

“It’s very important to have him with us, he’s our best player and the captain of our team. Drogba and all the stars will be there and Adebayor too,” beamed Togolese Football Federation president Gabriel Ameyi.

The ‘will he won’t he’ Nations Cup soap opera took another twist last week, when reports emerged from Togo that he had had yet another change of heart, apparently upset at changes to the squad list announced by his country’s federation. Thankfully for the Togolese,

Spurs confirmed to AFP that he was indeed intending to join his country after playing in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers. While his New Year’s Day goal against Reading was only his second of the season for Tottenham he has proved a prolific scorer for the Sparrow Hawks.

Adebayor, who chose to play for his country of birth rather than Nigeria, proved his worth in a qualifier against Gabon as he snatched a late equalizer in Libreville and struck the opening goal in a 2-1 win in Lome. Togo’s fortune is Tottenham’s misfortune, even

though Spurs coach Andre VillasBoas had granted the player carte blanche over whether to stay in north London or travel to South Africa. Adebayor scored 18 goals in all competitions when on loan with Tottenham from Manchester City in the 2011-2012 season, and that showing was rewarded with a three-year permanent deal signed last August. He was introduced to the Premier League in 2006 when he moved from Monaco to Arsenal, staying with Arsene Wenger’s team until a 29-million-euro transfer to City in 2009.

But he fell out of favor there,

with coach Roberto Mancini preferring a system based around Carlos Tevez, and was loaned to Real Madrid in the 2011 January transfer window, before his switch to Spurs.

For Adebayor, who played at the 2006 World Cup, and his teammates the Nations Cup in South Africa represents an opportunity to draw a line under the horror of the Cabinda attack, which has scarred Adebayor for life. “I am still haunted by what I witnessed during this horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus. It’s a moment I will never forget and that I never want to relive,” he says.— AFP

Togolese player Emmanuel Adebayor

Qatar-based Msakni out to boost Tunisia PARIS: Youssef Msakni and all of Tunisia will be praying he can replicate in South Africa the influential contribution he made to last year’s Africa Cup of Nations. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder was on the mark twice in GabonEquatorial Guinea, his second Nations Cup appearance. His late goal enabled former winners Tunisia to win their opening game against Maghreb rivals Morocco, and he set his team on the path to victory over Niger in their second game. That was enough to ensure Tunisia made it through to the quarter-finals where they fell to an extra-time defeat by Ghana.

Tunisians have been raving about Msakni for several years, and he travels to South Africa intent to impress his new club, Lekhwiya. He joined the Qatari side from Tunisian champions Esperance on a four-year deal worth up to $15 million (11,225 million euros). He agreed terms

last June, and joined them on January 1. A number of heavyweight European sides were reportedly interested in securing his services, but he eventually chose the lucrative Lekhwiya deal which represented an Arab record transfer. “We were very interested in him and we were intent on buying him as we were convinced that he will be a major asset to the team on the pitch,” said Lekhwiya sporting director Ahmed Abbassi.

The Qatari side were alerted to Msakni’s capabilities by his performances at the 2012 Nations Cup, according to the player’s agent, Khalid Kasbi. “Lekhwiya were following the player since the last Africa Cup of Nations.

Youssef imposed himself on the African football scene and his abilities allowed the sums to keep rising,” Kasbi told Mosaique FM. “A lot of parties and a lot of teams wanted him. He had offers from everywhere, many of them well

known European clubs.”

According to reports, Msakni has a clause built into his contract allowing him to move to a European club if one makes an offer, leading Esperance coach Nabil Maaloul to suggest it’s only a matter of time before his recently departed star ends up at Paris Saint-Germain. The French capital side are owned by the Qatari Investment Authority, which also has a stake in Lekhwiya. “Youssef was contacted by Paris St Germain through me-I think in six months, one year or more, Msakni should go to Paris,” Maaloul told the BBC. “There are great coaches and great players in Qatar, and the championship there may enable him to improve.” With Tunisia drawn in a tough Group D with competition favorites Ivory Coast, Algeria and Togo, this is the perfect stage for the rising star of African football to enhance his growing stature.— AFP

Ivory Coast capable of great things: Drogba

Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba

LAGOS: Didier Drogba hopes to finally lead the Ivory Coast to a second Nations Cup triumph in South Africa after two close misses.

“We have a team capable of great things at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations,” remarked Drogba. “It would be great to win the trophy now. Honestly, we are getting tired of losing out each time. “We showed great solidarity against Senegal (in the qualifiers). We fought together, everybody gave of himself and this helped us to win. “And now everybody expects a trophy. We hope to give the cup to our country.” Drogba inspired the Elephants to reach the 2006 championship final against hosts Egypt and he was again instrumental as his country marched into the 2012 final against Zambia.

But on both occasions the two-time African Footballer of the Year ended up on the losing side with last year’s failure the more disappointing after he blasted a penalty over in regular time against shock winners Zambia. Drogba is the arrow head of his country’s ‘golden generation’ that includes Yaya and Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora and Emmanuel Eboue. And now, at 34, the tournament in South Africa is most likely to be the last hurrah for the big striker and he would wish to crown it with the ultimate victory. The

Ivorians will again be the tournament favorites as they were since 2006, when they qualified for a first World Cup. Besides the Drogba generation, younger players like Gervinho of Arsenal, Arouna Kone of Wigan and Salomon Kalou of Lille have come into their own in this very talented team. Yet, the hope of an entire country rests on the powerful shoulders of Drogba to inspire the Elephants to only their second Nations Cup triumph after beating Ghana on penalties in the 1992 final. In May, the charismatic striker made history when he netted the penalty that gave Chelsea an historic Champions League triumph, and he was voted the best Ivory Coast footballer last year.

However, against most expectations, he was beaten to the CAF Footballer of the Year award by compatriot Yaya Toure. In the twilight of his career, he has moved to China to cash in on his final years as a player, although rumors persist he could return to the big stage in Europe before hanging up his boots.

What is certain is that even though he now features in a backwater league, he has lost none of his predatory instincts. Goals in the high-profile 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Senegal and in a recent friendly against Austria proved that.— AFP

19

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

SPORTS

Strachan unveiled as Scotland manager Time to pay back fans: Strachan GLASGOW: Gordon Strachan was unveiled as the new Scotland manager yesterday and said his players should aim to repay the loyalty of their worldfamous fans after 15 years without qualifying for a major tournament. The former Scotland and Manchester United midfielder, who won 50 caps in the 1980s and 1990s, replaces Craig Levein after his sacking in November. “The fans are more famous than the squad now.

They’re famous all over the world. So I want to give something back to them,” Strachan told a news conference at Glasgow’s Hampden Park when asked about the unwavering support of the ‘Tartan Army’.

“We want to make a major tournament now,” added the 55-year-old exCeltic boss, who will get a first look at his new team on Feb. 6 for a home friendly against Estonia. Strachan will take over the reins of the national side for the remainder of their disappointing 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and will attempt to guide Scotland to the 2016 European Championship in France where 24 teams, not 16, will compete.

Scotland have not made a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, also in France, and are bottom of 2014 World Cup European qualifying Group A with two points after four matches, eight behind leaders Belgium and Croatia. Strachan said that although the format for the European Championship has changed to include eight more nations, the quality of play has gone through the roof. “The standard throughout Europe is incredible just now, it’s come on incredibly well in the last 20 years. So it’s harder to get to these things,” he said. “I know there’ll be rough times but hopefully there’ll be good times as well. If you’re successful you can make a nation happy and proud. I’ve got to try and do that with help from other people.”

Strachan, who last managed English second tier side Middlesbrough for an unhappy spell in 2009 and 2010, identified finding a system that suited the players as vitally important to Scotland’s chances of improving. “It’s not far away.

I’ve named a team that I’d like to play like but that’s not going to happen right

away,” said the former Coventry City and Southampton boss. “Look at Man United, their system is to win games of football. So we’ll try and win games of football,” he added, hinting that his preferred system was the classic 4-4-2 formation.

His old club Celtic showed that unfashionable football played by underdogs can still thrive in the modern fastpaced game when they stunned Barcelona last year in the Champions League group stages. “Celtic got a result against Barcelona because they played to their strengths,” said Strachan.

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan said Strachan’s “passion and desire” were key to the former international getting the job, while Strachan himself said the time was right. “I’ve had the experience and I like trying to make people better. I think it’s a great job. I can deal with this at this time in my life,” said Strachan, who also had lengthy playing stints at Leeds United and Aberdeen, where he won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983 under Alex Ferguson.—Reuters

GLASGOW: Gordon Strachan (center), newly appointed manager for Scotland’s football team, poses with a jersey bearing his name as he stands alongside Stewart Regan (left), Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association and Campbell Ogilvie, President of the Scottish Football Association following a press conference in Glasgow yesterday. — AFP

Barcelona warn Guardiola Barca wary of attempts to poach players away

Chelsea’s English midfielder Frank Lampard

Lampard wants end to Stamford Bridge blues LONDON: Frank Lampard believes Chelsea must translate their away form into home success if they are to challenge at the head of the Premier League table. Lampard and his team-mates provided an impressive response to their League Cup semi-final first leg loss to Swansea at Stamford Bridge by beating Stoke 4-0 in the Premier League at the Britannia Stadium last weekend.

European champions Chelsea are back on home ground at Stamford Bridge today when struggling Southampton visit in a game that could see Rafael Benitez’s side close the gap on top two Manchester United and Manchester City. The match marks Chelsea’s game in hand on the Manchester duo, and should they win the west London club will move to within four points of City, with United a further seven points clear.

In recent seasons, victory would almost be seen as a formality but successive home reverses-Chelsea lost to bottom club Queens Park Rangers before the Swansea defeattogether with continuing antagonism shown by home supporters to interim manager Benitez mean a home win cannot be guaranteed. But Lampard, who became the club’s second highest scorer after netting against Stoke, is adamant the side must get back on track at the Bridge. The 34-year-old midfielder, whose future is the subject of intense speculation amid reports he will not be offered a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season, said: “At the minute we are a better away team obviously but that has to change starting with Southampton.

“We have to start quicker, come out and get the passing and moving like we did at Stoke. The first 20 minutes they put us under pressure but once we moved the ball, we settled into the game and were different

class.” “We have been counter-attacking well away from home but I just think it’s a case of sustaining things when we’re attacking. We have to do it now.” John Terry made his return to the team as a second half substitute at Stoke and should start while Benitez must decide between Demba Ba and Fernando Torres for the striker role.

David Luiz should continue in midfield and the Brazilian believes Benitez deserved more credit for his recent efforts.

“Sometimes when you play at home the other team put everyone back and you don’t have a lot of space to play,” Luiz said. “Then you can make mistakes because you just want to score. We need to work hard to improve. “I think Rafa did a great job this week, he showed everybody what we had to do to win this game.” Southampton were given a major lift in their battle against relegation with victory at fellow strugglers Aston Villa that came from a disputed penalty.

Nigel Adkins’s side have now moved three places and two points clear of the relegation zone and a positive result at Chelsea will reinforce the view they are a club on the up.

However, they are likely to be without Luke Shaw, the highly rated teenage leftback who has caught the attention of Chelsea, after the boyhood Blues fan suffered a gashed knee at Villa Park. “We’ve got an excellent medical department and we will see what the diagnosis is,” said Adkins. “We’d like to think it’s nothing more than a very heavy challenge but we will wait and see. It’s quite a big blow he took to his knee.” Rickie Lambert’s penalty against Villa saw him score his ninth league goal of the season but the striker believes there is room for improvement. “I kind of hoped I would be on more. I’m going to try and push on,” he said.— AFP

MADRID: Barcelona have warned off former coach Pep Guardiola from trying to lure away any of their players when he finally decides which club he is going to coach next season.

Guardiola became Barca’s most successful coach leading them 14 trophies in four years before stepping down last May to take a year’s sabbatical, and there has been a buzz of media speculation in recent days on where he might return to work.

“For all Barca fans it will be tough to see Pep coaching another team but we will get used to it,” Barca president Sandro Rosell told Spanish radio station RAC.1. “I hope he focuses his attentions on other players, and not ours, when it comes to building his new project.” Rosell went on to say that recent unsuccessful approaches from Manchester City proved that it would be difficult to tempt players and staff away from the La Liga leaders.

Former Barca director Ferran Soriano and sports director Txiki Begiristain now work with the Premier League club. “I have confidence in our players and I don’t see any of them wanting leave,” he said. “There have already been offensives from City at all levels of the structures of our club but nobody wants to leave. They have tried to fish here but no one was biting.” Guardiola’s successor Tito

Vilanova, his former assistant, has guided Barca to the top of La Liga with an 11-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid, and they host Malaga in a King’s Cup quarter-final first leg today.

Pep Guardiola

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich have dismissed growing speculation ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is set to succeed Jupp Heynckes as the German giants head coach for the 2013/14 season. “It’s all nonsense, we will first of all talk with Jupp Heynckes, he is our one and only contact,” insisted Bayern’s media director Markus Hoerwick. Sky Italia on Monday reported the 41-year-old Spaniard, who won the Champions League title in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona, has decided to coach Bayern next season.

With Heynckes’ two-year contract to expire in June, rumors about Guardiola taking charge in Munich next season have been circulating for the best part of a year. German daily Die Welt contacted Guardiola’s agent Josep Maria Orobitg by phone on Tuesday morning but his reply was inconclusive.

“Guardiola, FC Bayern, do not talk, impossible,” was his brief reply before hanging up.

German magazine Kicker have reported Heynckes, 67, will decide his future this month, rather than in March as previously stated. Guardiola, who is living in New York with his family since resigning as Barcelona coach last year, has only said: “It would be disrespectful if I were to say something concrete to a club who currently employs a coach.”—Agencies

No better place to coach than England: Mourinho LONDON: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, whose position has come under scrutiny this season with the Spanish giants faltering, says England is the best place to be a coach and that he will return one day. Portuguese Mourinho guided Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League trophies in 2005 and 2006, the London club’s first top-flight titles since 1955, and his love for the English game has not diminished despite his sour exit in 2007.

“I was still a very young coach when I left Portugal to go to England. There couldn’t be a better place to go,” Mourinho said at a League Managers Association conference at England’s hi-tech training complex on Monday. “In England you feel the real passion for the game. I know that one day I will come back because English football means a lot to myself,” he added. The 49-year-old made his name when he took Porto to the 2004 Champions League title.

Following his Chelsea days he won the Champions League again with Inter Milan in 2010, as well as the Serie A title and Italian Cup for a rare treble, before he moved to Spain where he clinched the league in his second season.

However almost two-thirds of Real’s members believe Mourinho has a negative impact on

the club according to a survey published last week and, with the champions 18 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, speculation is rife about his future. Mourinho has been linked with jobs in France, at Paris St Germain, and in England to replace long-time United boss Alex Ferguson. “I feel everybody involved in the game should experience English football because it’s a special feeling. You really enjoy being a football professional there,” said Mourinho. “I know the history of football. I know what the English FA means to the world of football. I know that the FA Cup was the first competition organized in the world of football in the 1870s.

“I know what I felt when I had to go up the Wembley stairs to get the FA Cup,” he added, having won the world’s oldest competition in 2007. “The FA Cup represents the passion of football; it represents clean football; it represents the good smell of football.” Mourinho leads his beleaguered Real side in the King’s Cup quarter-finals later on Tuesday against Valencia knowing the vultures will circle if his side slip up.

Another shot at redemption will come in the Champions League next month when the ninetimes European champions take on Premier League leaders Manchester United in the last 16.— Reuters

Jose Mourinho

Fan anger mounts over Premier League tickets LONDON: Discontent among supporters over spiraling English Premier League ticket prices is mounting, as fans attempt to make their voices heard and even followers of sworn enemies join forces to call for change.

Opposition reached a head after champions Manchester City returned 912 unsold tickets priced at £62 ($100, 75 euros) for Sunday’s game at Arsenal, while fans brandished banners reading “Don’t price us out of our game” and “£62 and we’re still here”.

The protest, compounded by claims that fans were threatened with arrest if they did not take down their placards, came after supporters of Manchester United and Liverpool got together last week to express their anger at escalating costs. “We’re looking at working with the arch enemy Manchester United and others to put a bit of pressure on the clubs to

introduce a cap for prices on away tickets,” said Paul Martin, from Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly. “The rivalry will start to dwindle when the prices are driving local people away from the game.”

Having agreed a new domestic television deal worth a staggering £3.018 billion ($4.832 billion, 3.749 billion euros) last year, the Premier League’s financial health could scarcely be more robust. The league is the most popular around the world, with the top players commanding mammoth, sixfigure salaries every week. But a study by the High Pay Centre think-tank, quoted in British newspaper The Guardian, indicated that the fruits of success were not being shared with fans, as ticket prices in the top league rose by between 700 and 1,025 percent from 1989 to 2011.

As such, a knock-on effect on attendances might be expected-in Germany’s Bundesliga, where attendances are the highest out of Europe’s five major leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain), average ticket prices are the lowest. But despite the ire over prices for going to games in England, attendances in the Premier League are growing.

Seat occupancy rates have hovered above 92 percent since 2009 and according to Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, occupancy is up to 95 percent and may even reach a record high this season.

Fans, though, fear a vicious cycle whereby the more popular the product, the more expensive the tickets, the more costly it becomes to follow a club, and the more likely it is that supporters’ protests will fall on deaf ears. Supporters are disgruntled that fans of

high-profile clubs such as United, City, Liverpool and Arsenal are being forced to pay more to follow their team away from home than supporters of other sides. To counter price rises, fan groups the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) and Supporters Direct are set to launch a campaign calling for the introduction of a £20-£25 cap on the cost of tickets for visiting fans.

Scudamore said he sympathized with the complaints. “There is category pricing at Arsenal. Arsenal, when categorizing games and setting prices next season, will have to take that into account,” he told BBC radio.

“Arsenal clearly, along with every other club, want a full stadium and we at the Premier League would like every club to take up their away allocation.” The City fans’ protest received further publicity at the final whistle

on Sunday when television microphones picked up one of the assistant referees telling members of the visiting side, who won 2-0, to say “thank you” to their fans. Linesman John Brooks was caught on television telling City pair Joe Hart and Joleon Lescott: “They’ve paid 62 quid (pounds) ov—AFP

Match on TV (Local Timings)

English Premier League Chelsea v Southampton 22:45 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5

Serena battles injury; Azarenka powers on

Clippers down Grizzlies 99-73

17

16

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

India-Pakistan tensions hit Hockey India League

Page 15

MANAMA: Husain Al-Shasmmari (right) of Kuwait vies for the ball against Ali Al-Hajri of United Arab Emirates during their semi final match in the 21st Gulf Cup yesterday. UAE won 1-0. (Inset) Bahrain’s Faouzi Aaish (left) vies for the ball against Iraqís Ahmad Ibrahim Khalaf during their semi final match in the 21st Gulf Cup in Manama yesterday.— AFP

Kuwait crash out of Gulf Cup UAE, Iraq face off in finals MANAMA: Ahmad Khalil scored a last-gasp goal to guide the United Arab Emirates into the final of the Gulf Cup with a 1-0 victory over defending champions Kuwait yesterday. The all-impor tant goal came seconds into the final minute of regular time when the never-say-die Omar Abdulrahman initiated a move inches outside the penalty area on the left and sent Abdulaziz Sanqor through with a well-timed diagonal pass.

Sanqor did well to beat his marker M ohammed Frieh and

send a cross past the face of the goal to Khalil, who jabbed the ball low and to the right of Kuwait goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Khaldi. It was Khalil’s third goal of the championships and the UAE stands, packed with fans especially flown in by 21 chartered planes, went wild. The UAE, whose previous Gulf Cup victory came in 2007, will take on the winner of the second semi-final between Bahrain and former Asian champions Iraq in the final on Friday.

The first semi-final was a match

of two equal halves with the UAE dominating the first and 11-time champions Kuwait the second.

Both teams came close to scoring, with the UAE’s best chance coming in the 60th minute when a long-range free-kick by Khamis Ismael struck the crossbar and bounced back twice off the shoulder of Kuwait goalkeeper Khaldi.

Nine minutes later it was a close shave for Khaldi’s Emirati counterpart Ali Khaseif as Fahad Al-Ansari, Bader Al-Mut wa and Hussain Hakem all had their close shots

saved, the Emirati defense just managing to scramble the ball clear.

Kuwait had another chance in the 86th minute when second-half substitute Fahad al-Enezi covered the length of the ground but could not shake off his markers and his move went abegging. The UAE had been at their attacking best bet ween the 20 and 30th minutes when they created a flurry of chances with short and fluent passing and pleasing footwork inside the penalty area. Khalil first

tested Khaldi, swiftly followed by efforts from Abdulaziz Al-Balooshi and Omar Abdulrahman. At the other end, Kuwait ’s influential midfielder Mutwa continued to play a key role in conjuring most of his team’s moves with some deft and delicate passes, mainly to lone striker Yousef Al-Salman.

Salman’s first decent attempt at goal came as late as the 35th minute with a long-range effort and eight minutes later he was in the thick of action again, heading a well-taken Mutwa free-kick just

Armstrong back in the firing line

Autuori sacked

Armstrong falls from glory to ignominy AUSTIN: Lance Armstrong’s reported admission to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs means he will go down in history as the most brazen drug cheat the sport has ever seen. The disgraced American cyclist’s admission, reported Monday by USA Today, rewrites 14 years of deception and repeated denials that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win scores of international races, including the Tour de France seven times.

His years of dominance in the sport’s greatest race raised cycling’s profile in the United States to new heights and gave Armstrong a platform to promote cancer awareness and research. But the Texan’s world caved in further after his admission and he must now face the legal and financial consequences as well as the backlash from the cancer community and his own Livestrong charity, to which he apologized prior to the interview with talkshow diva Oprah Winfrey.

Richard Pound, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said he would have liked to see Armstrong face a proper interrogation panel and that the confession could backfire if critics aren’t satisfied with the platform he chose. “I would have preferred he did it in front of

‘Face The Nation’ or ‘Meet the Press’ and get some hard questions from people,” Pound told AFP from his home in Montreal, referring to prominent US Sunday television talkshows. “What he risks if he gets a softball outcome is people will be even more put off. His effort to redeem himself will have fallen on the rocks.” Once a symbol of perseverance in the face of incredible odds, cancer survivor Armstrong sensationally conceded defeat in his fight to contest the doping charges against him in August. The US Anti-Doping Agency published a damning report late last year that laid bare his guilt, claiming Armstrong was at the heart of “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.” “He was not just a part of the doping culture on his team,” said USADA. “He enforced and re-enforced it.” International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid told reporters he was “sickened” by the revelations, adding: “Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling.”

The decision to reportedly confess to Winfrey leaves Armstrong’s sporting legacy in tatters but for all his detractors, there remains some admirers, especially among his American fans. For

Armstrong’s supporters, the doping allegations pale in comparison to his battle with life-threatening cancer and the work of his charitable foundation, which he founded to help others living with the disease. Now, however, the cyclist is left with the tough task of explaining to those who stuck with him for many years why he lied to them for so long. Doctors had given Armstrong a less than 50 percent chance of survival when he was diagnosed in 1996 with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain.

He persevered through surgery and chemotherapy and returned to cycling but was little known in his homeland when he won his first Tour de France title in 1999. The Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised almost $500 million since it was created in 1997. But in the aftermath of the allegations, several top sponsors dropped Armstrong, forcing him to quit as chairman of Livestrong. Even in his glory days of cycling, many were skeptical of his powers. In 1999, a trace amount of a banned corticosteroid was found, which cycling officials explained by saying Armstrong was authorized to use a small amount of cream containing the drug to treat saddle sores. After his 2000 Tour triumph,

over the crossbar. But it was UAE who again came close to scoring just before half-time as Balooshi and Abdulrahman combined well just outside the Kuwait penalty area to create a chance for Khalil, but the latter could not shake off his markers and his shot crashed into the near post. The UAE and Khalil’s patience and perseverance paid off in the final minute, however, a just reward for a team mainly made up of players who took par t in the 2012 London Games.—AFP

BESANCON: This file photo shows Lance Armstrong during the 91st Tour de France cycling race in Besancon. Shamed cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted that he used performance-enhancing drugs, US media reported yesterday. —AFP French authorities probed his US Postal Service team but brought no charges.

Critics seized on the sportsman’s friendship with Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, who was banned by Italian authorities over doping in 2002. In 2004, a Texas promotions company balked at paying him a $5 million bonus for his sixth tour title because of doping allegations by European media. In that court case, former teammate Frankie Andreu and his wife, Betsy, testified that Armstrong told doctors during his cancer treatment that he had taken steroids and other performance enhancers.

Two books published in Europe, “L A Confidential” and “L A Official”, alleged

that he doped and in 2005, French newspaper L’Equipe reported that urine samples taken during the 1999 Tour that were later re-tested were positive for the blood-booster EPO. USADA chief Travis Tygart, who spent years investigating Armstrong and had to endure numerous death threats along the way, described those six samples as “flaming positive” in an interview last week. Armstrong fought back with denials and even court action, before briefly launching a comeback in 2009. But in the end, the sheer weight of evidence against him-including testimony from at least a dozen former teammates-proved too much to withstand.—AFP

DOHA: Qatar have parted ways with Brazil’s Paulo Autuori and named his assistant Fahad Thani as the new head coach of the national soccer team, the country’s football association said yesterday. The Qatar Football Association said in a statement on their website (www.qfa.com.qa) that they had mutually agreed to end the tenure of Autuori, who replaced fellow Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni last February. With three fixtures remaining, Qatar are in fourth place in Group A of the final Asian qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup, a point behind leaders Uzbekistan, and travel to South Korea on March 23 for their next match.

The top two sides qualify automatically for the finals in Brazil. QFA president Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al Thani thanked Autuori, who also managed Qatar’s Olympic side for five months, for his contribution. “The decision to appoint Fahad Thani came after close consideration of his coaching credentials, notwithstanding the fact that he has been working closely with the national team for quite some time, as Paulo Autuori’s assistant,” the president said. “Moreover, he has intimate knowledge of the national team and Qatari football in general and will be a great addition to our team.” Thani’s first task will be to oversee Qatar ’s opening qualification match for the 2015 Asian Cup at home to Malaysia on Feb 6.— Reuters

Business

Bank credit bounces back in November Page 22 Qatar Airways denies interest in SpiceJet Page 24

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Months after spat, Turkey, S&P fail on ratings deal

Adamant Obama refuses to negotiate debt ceiling Page 23 Page 25

ARRAS: Farmers take part in a partial blockade with some hundred tractors yesterday at the Grand place in Arras, in northern France, during a demonstration called by farmers local union FDSEA, to denounce all kinds of pressure affecting their activities. — AFP

US may lose top credit rating: Fitch Delay in raising country’s debt ceiling may prompt action LONDON: The United States could lose its top credit rating for the second time from a leading agency if there’s a delay in raising the country’s debt ceiling, Fitch Ratings warned yesterday.

Congress has to increase the country’s debt limit, which effectively rules how much debt the US can have, by March 1 or face a potential default.

There are fears that the debate will descend into the sort of squabbling and political brinkmanship that marked the last effort to raise the ceiling in the summer of 2011. The US Treasury Department warned then that it had nearly reached a point where it would be unable “to meet our commitments securely.”

“The pressure on the US rating, if anything, is increasing,” David Riley, managing director of Fitch Ratings’

global sovereigns division said at a London conference. “We thought the 2011 crisis was a one-off event .... if we have a repeat we will place the US rating under review.”

If that happens, Riley said there was “a material risk” of the rating coming down. If Fitch does move to downgrade the US, it will join Standard & Poor’s, which was so concerned by the dysfunctional nature of the 2011 debate that it stripped the US of its triple A rating for the first time in the country’s history.

Fitch already has a negative outlook on the US as the country’s debt burden has risen to around 100 percent of its gross domestic product, and has said it will make a decision on the rating this year, regardless of how the debt ceiling discussions pan out. The US govern-

ment reached its statutory debt limit of nearly $16.4 trillion at the end of 2012 but has engineered extraordinar y measures that should see it through February.

Another major ratings agency, Moody’s, also has a negative view on the US outlook. Riley’s comments come just two weeks after US lawmakers agreed a budget deal with the White House that avoided the so-called “fiscal cliff ” of automatic tax increases and spending cuts that many economists thought could plunge the US economy, the world’s largest, back into recession.

Relief that a deal was cobbled together, albeit at the final hour, is one of the reasons why sentiment in the financial markets has been buoyant in the first trading days of the new year. Many stock indexes around the world are

Arab Spring makes region $225bn poorer German growth slumps in 2012 as crisis bites WIESBADEN, Germany: The German economy, the powerhouse in Europe, turned in the weakest growth for four years last year when it was hit increasingly by the backlash of the euro-zone debt crisis, official data showed yesterday. Nevertheless, analysts believe the lull in growth will prove only temporary. And for the first time in five years, Germany was able to get its finances in order and achieve a modest public surplus thanks to record low unemployment and record low interest rates.

German gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by around 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing full-year growth to just 0.7 percent, the federal statistics office Destatis calculated in preliminary data. Taking into account that there were three fewer working days in 2012 than in 2011, GDP grew by 0.9 percent last year, the statisticians said. In 2010 and 2011, the German economy had expanded by 4.2 percent and 3.0 percent respectively.

The government’s forecast for 2012 had been around 0.75 percent.

Throughout the crisis, Germany has fared better than its European neighbors thanks to deep and painful economic reforms undertaken a number of years ago. But with many euro-zone members in recession, Germany has not been able to remain completely immune, with growth slowing sharply in the latter half of last year. After expanding by 0.5 percent in the first quarter, 0.3 percent in the second quarter and 0.2 percent in the third quarter, Destatis’ top statistician Norbert Raeth said GDP likely contracted by “around a quarter of a percentage point” in the period from October to December. Destatis is not scheduled to publish more precise fourth-quarter GDP data until next month.

Despite the weakness, however, Destatis president Roderich Egeler insisted that “overall, the German economy proved itself to be very robust.”

Growth was powered by strong exports and solid private consumption, while investment was weak. The comparative health of the German economy enabled it to get its finances in order. For the first time in five years, the overall state budget-which covers both the federal government, the regional and municipal authorities, as well as the social welfare administration-showed a bigger-than-expected surplus of 2.2 billion euros ($2.9 billion), equivalent to 0.1 percent of GDP. In 2011, the overall state budget had shown a deficit ratio of 0.8 percent.

“The end-of-year accounts are very pleasing,” said Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. “We have continued to keep house very well and used the positive economic environment to consolidate our budget. Our goal of presenting a budget next year without any structural new debt is within reach,” Schaeuble said. ING Belgium economist Carsten Brzeski predicted that Germany’s sound economic fundamentals “should ensure another solid growth performance in 2013.” Private consumption should remain stable and “financing conditions have never been more accommodative in Germany than at present,” he said.

UniCredit economist Andreas Rees said “it goes without saying that the sine qua non is a further calming of financial markets and additional progress in tackling the euro-zone crisis. —AFP

DUBAI: Ousting dictators doesn’t come cheap.

Between 2011 and 2015 the total lost economic output in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia is expected to amount to $225 billion. That is at least 10 percent of the cumulative GDP estimated by the International Monetary Fund in 2010 for those five years. The Reuters Breakingviews calculation of the loss for those countries is based on 2012 forecasts.

The estimates, both old and new, are imperfect. It’s also tricky to isolate the impact of the Arab uprisings from the effects of rising commodity prices and a slow global economy.

Still, the numbers are plausible. In relatively stable oil importer Morocco, where the Arab Spring has prompted tentative reforms, the cumulative GDP cut is a minimal 1 percent. For Jordan, where the regime is widely identified by analysts as the next most likely in the region to topple, the gap in cumulative expected GDP is 8 percent.

While the importance of economic issues in the Arab Spring is disputed, financial frustrations certainly fanned discontent. From that perspective, the revolutions still have years, or perhaps decades, to go before they improve absolute living standards as political instability has reduced medium-term growth prospects.

One hope is that the growth setbacks will be mitigated by a more even distribution of the wealth that is created. Egypt, Libya and Tunisia each previously enjoyed relatively high GDP growth but a disproportionate share of the riches were captured by too few. Another, greater hope is that better governance will eventually make the Arab Spring nations more productive and deliver a “democratic-dividend”. The worry is that untested governments will struggle to find their way. In Libya, powerful militia groups need to be reined in.

Tunisia’s Islamist government must find a consensus between conservatives and liberals.

And Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, currently facing a currency crisis, will struggle to recover without implementing initially unpopular economic reforms. In the meantime, the high economic expectations of the Arab uprisings will not be met. —Reuters

trading at multi-year highs.

“The ‘fiscal cliff’ bullet was dodged .... (but it’s) a short-term patch,” said Riley. Riley warned that the different arms of the US government still have a number of issues to address. As well as increasing the debt ceiling, they have to agree to spending cuts that were delayed as part of the ‘fiscal cliff ’ agreement and back measures to avoid a government shutdown, potentially in March.

Though short-term fixes are more likely than not, Riley said the US political environment is not as good as it should be for a country holding the

gold-chip AAA rating. The past few years, Riley said, have been marked by “self-inflicted crises” between deadlines. The major reason behind the lack of swift action in the US is that the Democrats control the White House and the Senate, while the Republicans have a solid majority in the House of Representatives. Both sides have differing visions of the role of the state in society and often varying political objectives.

Despite his cautious tone on the rating, Riley said the US has a number of huge advantages and that getting the country’s public finances into shape

will not require the same level of austerity that many countries in Europe have had to enact over the past few years, partly because the US economy is growing at a steady rate.

Other factors Fitch says support the US’ AAA rating are the country’s economic dynamism, lower financial sector risks, the rule of law as well as the global benchmark status of the country’s bonds and the dollar.

However it says these “fundamental credit strengths are being eroded by the large, albeit steadily declining, structural budget deficit and high and rising public debt.” —AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Saudi banks drag down index after weak Q4 MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s banks dragged down the bourse yesterday after fourth-quarter earnings from the sector missed most analysts’ forecast and other regional markets also fell.

The kingdom’s index lost 1 percent, down for a third session since Saturday’s four-month high.

Bank Al Jazira, which reported an 11 percent decline in fourth-quarter net profit on Monday, fell 3.6 percent, while Riyad Bank, which missed the average analyst forecast with a 4.1 percent quarterly profit gain, dipped 0.7 percent.

“Bank Al Jazira’s decline in non-interest income, due to lower Tadawul trading, resulted in slower top-line growth. This, coupled with increased provisions, led to the decline in profits,” Mahmood Akbar, banking analyst at NCB Capital, said in a note.

“Although the bank is rapidly growing its loan and net income, we remained concerned on its low return on equity, weak asset quality and high dependence on brokerage.”

The negativity extended to Al Rajhi Bank, the kingdom’s largest listed bank, which has yet to report its numbers. It dropped 2.9 percent. The exception was Saudi British Bank (SABB), which beat analysts’ average forecast with a 24.4 percent rise in Q4 net profit. The bank’s shares gained 1

percent. Away from the banking sector, Sipchem shed 2.3 percent after posting a 25.3 percent drop in fourth-quarter net profit earlier yesterday.

The petrochemical sector slipped 0.3 percent.

Elsewhere, Qatar ended lower for a third day in heavy selling as weak quarterly earnings disappointed investors.

Doha-listed National Leasing (Alijarah Holding Company) dropped 10 percent after the company reported a 11.8 percent fall in full-year net profit.

“People were expecting them to outperform 2011 but it missed estimates in the third-quarter and it’s hard to make up those numbers,” said Yassir Mckee, wealth manager at Al Rayan Financial Brokerage. “Some short-term investors are disappointed, but it’s a good stock for the long term.”

The firm’s board recommended a cash dividend of 20 percent or 2 riyals per share.

Qatar’s benchmark fell 1 percent, trimming January’s gains to 2.4 percent. Investors are cashing out after an early-year surge driven by dividend expectations.

The market hit a nine-month peak on Thursday. There will likely be renewed selling pressure after dividends are paid in February, Mckee added. Losers outnumbered gainers 16 to four. Qatar National Bank and Qatar Electricity

US retail sales rose solidly in December WASHINGTON: US retail sales rose solidly in December as Americans shrugged off the threat of higher taxes and bought automobiles and a range of other goods, suggesting momentum in consumer spending as the year ended.

Other data yesterday showed inflation pressures remained muted, with wholesale prices declining for a third straight month in December. That should allow the Federal Reserve to stay on its very easy monetary policy path to nurse the recovery. Retail sales increased 0.5 percent after rising 0.4 percent in November, the Commerce Department said. Economists polled by Reuters had expected sales to rise only 0.2 percent.

“That does suggest a resilient consumer in the face of the fiscal cliff debates.

It offers a favorable sign for fourth-quarter growth,” said Joe Manimbo, a senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions in Washington. Sales were up 4.7 percent from December 2011 and rose 5.2 percent for the whole of 2012.

So-called core sales, which strip out automobiles, gasoline and building materials and correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product, increased 0.6 percent after advancing 0.5 percent in November.

The second straight month of gains in core sales suggested consumer spending picked up in the fourth quarter after rising at a annual pace of 1.6 percent in the July through September period.

Some economists raised their forecasts for fourth-quarter GDP after the retail sales data. Last week, analysts slashed their already low growth forecasts in the wake of a wider trade deficit in November.

A second Commerce Department report showed business inventories rose a modest 0.3 percent in November, backing views restocking would not support growth in the last three months of the

year. Financial markets showed little reaction to the data.

Although an 11th hour deal by the US Congress avoided the worst of the socalled fiscal cliff, or $600 billion automatic government spending cuts and higher taxes, households will see reductions in their paychecks starting in January.Economists say this could keep consumer spending tepid early this year and a looming fight over raising the country’s debt ceiling could dent consumer sentiment.

“People are worried about slower spending in the first quarter with the implementation of higher taxes and uneasiness about the debt ceiling fight.

They will adjust their spending accordingly,” said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina. Economists estimate that the tax increases could shave as much as 1.2 percentage points off consumer spending in the first quarter. In a second report, the Labor Department said its seasonally adjusted producer price index slipped 0.2 percent last month as energy costs fell.

Wholesale prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, rose a modest 0.1 percent for a second month in a row.

Retail sales last month were up almost across the board, with receipts at auto dealerships rising 1.6 percent after increasing 2.7 percent in November.

Sales at service stations fell 1.6 percent, reflecting a 14 cent drop in gasoline prices at the pump. Receipts at gasoline stations declined 4.5 percent in November. Sales at building materials and garden equipment suppliers were flat after rising 0.8 percent.

There were gains in furniture sales, while sales at clothing retailers rose by the most since February. Receipts at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores rose, but sales at electronics and appliances shops fell. — Reuters

and Water both shed 0.7 percent, while Industries Qatar fell 1.5 percent.

In the UAE, Abu Dhabi’s measure rose to a fresh 19-month closing high, up 0.3 percent to 2,774 points. It failed to break strong resistance around 2,777 points, the previous peak of April 2011.

Heavyweights Etisalat and First Gulf Bank rose 0.6 and 0.4 percent respectively.

Developers also advanced, with Aldar Properties up 1.2 percent and Sorouh Real Estate adding 1.3 percent. Global market gains and signs of a gradual recovery in the UAE’s real estate sector have boosted investor confidence in local equities. “This year, we started the rally earlier and foreign investors are participating, while they weren’t last year,” said an Abu Dhabi-based trader who asked not to be identified.

“We’re still a bit early for profit taking - but institutional investors are taking a breather. Retail investors are rotating positions.”

Elsewhere, Cairo’s benchmark dropped 1.4 percent to finish at 5,657 points, down for a third session in the last four since the market found resistance last week. The index peaked at 5,884 points on Wednesday, which is near 5,896 points, the previous peak hit in October. —Reuters

MUMBAI: An Indian stock dealer monitors share prices on his computer screen during intraday trading in Mumbai yesterday. India’s Sensex index rose 0.40 percent or 80.41 points at 19,986.82, crossing the key 20,000 points mark intraday after two years, on optimism of a rate cut as inflation eased this week. — AFP

NBK ECONOMIC REPORT

Bank credit bounces back in November KUWAIT: Bank credit saw a noticeable increase in November following a large drop in October. This further bolsters credit growth in 2012, which has generally been stronger than the previous year. Growth has been largely driven by personal facilities while corporate credit has remained relatively subdued. Credit to the nonbank financial sector continued to weigh down on total credit.

Outstanding credit to residents rose

by KD 188 million in November following a large drop last month. Total credit is up a good KD 1.3 billion year-to-date (ytd) and year-on-year growth is now 5.2%. Personal facilities (excl. securities) increased by KD 117 million in November, mostly in installment loans, once again driving overall credit growth. This sector has added KD 963 million to outstanding loans ytd and is up 16.5% year-on-year (y/y).

Mild drops in the trade and industry sectors coupled with healthy increases in construction and real estate helped

Iran charters oil ship with Indian insurance NEW DELHI: A loophole in an Indian insurance scheme has allowed Iran’s state-run tanker company NITC to bolster oil exports by chartering a vessel insured by India’s state-run firms, industry and shipping sources said yesterday.

European Union and US sanctions to force Iran to curb its nuclear program cut Iran’s oil exports by more than half last year.

An EU ban on insuring vessels carrying Iranian oil was among measures that disrupted the flow to top Asian buyers, as the maritime insurance industry is mostly based in Europe.

National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) has for the first time chartered an Indian vessel covered under a scheme arranged by New Delhi through state-run insurers, sources said.

NITC has chartered the vessel the Omvati Prem, owned by Mumbai-based Indian shipper Mercator Ltd, and used it to carry an oil cargo that sailed from Iran in December for Indian refiner Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd , the sources said. The deal included cost, insurance and freight (CIF), they said.

India’s junior oil minister Panabaaka Lakshmi in a written reply to a question in parliament in November on the insurance scheme did not specify if Iran could charter vessels with Indian insurance cover for supplies.

Use of the scheme effectively transfers the liability for any damage or spill to India’s state-run insurers, and ultimately to New Delhi. When NITC uses its own vessels, the liability stays with its Iran-based insurer.

India established the scheme to keep some oil flowing after EU sanctions came into effect and disrupted shipping. The government arranged emergency cover that was meant for use by Indian flagged vessels chartered by local refiners. There was little appetite for Indian shippers for the scheme as the insurance was limited to $50 million, a fraction of the $1 billion coverage that a supertanker would typically have from reinsurers against personal injury and pollution claims.

Mercator was the only company to use the scheme. Before NITC chartered the Omvati Prem, MRPL had used the vessel-which can carry about 635,000 barrels-to import Iranian crude.

MRPL is India’s biggest buyer of Iranian crude and did not charter the vessel for this voyage due to commercial and technical reasons, one source said. Another shipping source privy to the deal said Omvati Prem discharged in Mangalore on Jan. 8. Mangalore Port’s website showed that the vessel arrived on Jan. 7. NITC has struggled to keep the flow of oil going to India as it lacks vessels of small enough size to dock at India’s Mangalore port. One of the sources said NITC had chartered the Omvati Prem for about two months. “Iran offered Mercator a better rate than MRPL, that’s why they have taken the risk of joining hands with NITC,” another shipping source said. — Reuters

reverse last month’s uncharacteristic decline in credit. Lending to non-bank financials, however, remains a drag on overall credit growth declining by KD 52 million on the month and by 16.7% ytd.

An increase in sight and time deposits caused both the narrow (M1) and broad (M2) measures of money supply to expand by KD 233 million and KD 150 million, respectively. M1 and M2 are up 17.1% and 5% y/y respectively.

Private deposits were up a KD 104 million in November. A strong increase in KD deposits, propelled by a sizeable gain in sight deposits, was behind the increase in private resident deposits.

Meanwhile, foreign currency deposits declined by KD 80 million.

Deposit rates on dinar time deposits fell between 2 and 4 basis points across maturities in November. The 1-month, 3-month-, 6-month and 12-month deposit rates averaged 0.61%, 0.84%, 1.07% and 1.31%.

Abu Dhabi’s Taqa reports N Sea shutdown DUBAI: Abu Dhabi National Energy Co (TAQA) confirmed the shutdown of one of its platforms in the UK North Sea, after discovering oil within a platform leg, however there was no environmental spill, the company said in a statement yesterday.

“TAQA can confirm that an indication of hydrocarbons was detected in one of the legs of the Cormorant Alpha platform in the northern UK North Sea on January 14,” said the statement on the company’s website. Cormorant Alpha handles approximately 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, of which 42,600 bpd are produced by TAQA. “It was hydrocarbons, ie oil, found in one of the platform legs. There has not been any gas release,” a TAQA spokeswoman in the UK told Reuters. As a precautionary measure the platform and all the pipeline infrastructure have been shut down, the statement said adding that there was no

leak into the environment. Around 160 people on board the platform and no incidents have been reported.

The installation is owned and operated by the UK arm of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Co, TAQA Bratani Ltd and is located 232 miles from Peterhead and 94 miles from Lerwick. The Brent system is jointly owned by 21 companies. It consists of part of the processing systems and structure on the Cormorant Alpha platform, operated by TAQA, as well as a 150 km pipeline connecting Cormorant Alpha to the BP operated Sullom Voe Oil Terminal in the Shetland Islands. TAQA owns a 24 percent share of that terminal.

The Brent System is responsible for transporting oil from around 20 North Sea oilfields, accounting for about 37 percent of the Sullom Voe Terminal input and around 8 percent of British offshore oil production. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals 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 .3730000 .3020000 .2830000 .2940000 .0040000 .0020000 .0761760 .7421590 .3880000 .0720000 .7275550 .0430000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2807500 .4513620 .3750820 .3035960 .2852720 .0502630 .0434880 .2960790 .0362120 .2292020 .0031550 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0764670 .7449910 .0000000 .0748870 .7295050 .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.235 5.141 2.902 2.235 3.222 231.000 36.499 3.537

.2840000 .4610000 .3820000 .3130000 .2920000 .3030000 .0067500 .0035000 .0769410 .7496180 .4060000 .0770000 .7348670 .0510000 .2828500 .4547380 .3778880 .3058660 .2874050 .0506390 .0438130 .2982940 .0364830 .2309170 .0031780 .0052210 .0022460 .0029130 .0035670 .0770390 .7505640 .4000710 .0754470 .7349620 .0070280

Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - transfer Irani Riyal - cash

UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

6.931 9.296 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 75.470 77.763 735.090 751.690 77.063

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 282.900 Euro 371.590 Sterling Pound 455.190 Canadian dollar 287.500 Turkish lire 159.130 Swiss Franc 306.830 Australian dollar 297.890 US Dollar Buying 281.700 GOLD 311.000 157.000 81.500

SELL DRAFT 301.68 290.56 308.94 379.39 281.55 455.89 3.25 3.553 5.166 2.230 3.243 2.898

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 282.650 286.870 454.355 370.475 306.160 748.310 76.930 77.585 75.335 398.440 43.553 2.212 5.144 2.900 3.506 6.913 693.345 4.230 9.375 3.975 3.305 92.855

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

77.200 748.000 45.500 399.500 733.000 78.500 75.350

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 46.200 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 43.552 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.320 Tunisian Dinar 181.170 Jordanian Dinar 399.270 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.899 Syrian Lier 3.075 Morocco Dirham 33.880

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

76.72 749.67 42.77 401.12 732.76 77.75 75.29

SELL CASH 300.000 289.000 311.000 380.000 282.850 458.000 3.750 3.800 5.400 2.600 3.550 2.980

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 301.000 749.950 3.910 290.100 553.800 45.900 51.500 167.800 45.080 381.000 37.080 5.470 0.032 0.161 0.242

SELLDRAFT 299.500 749.950 3.532 288.600

231.700 42.924 379.500 36.930 5.172 0.031

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

3.260 399.630 0.191 96.410 45.200 4.340 240.500 1.827 52.400 732.500 3.030 7.290 78.000 75.290 231.720 35.040 2.686 457.100 44.700 308.800 3.400 9.710 198.263 76.890 282.400 1.360

10 Tola

GOLD 1,765.300

Sterling Pound US Dollar

399.590 0.190 96.410 3.260 239.000

732.320 2.901 6.964 77.570 75.290 231.720 35.040 2.234 455.100 307.300 3.400 9.570 76.790 282.000

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 455.100 282.000

Al Mulla Exchange 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) 281.400 379.400 456.500 288.400 3.180 5.170 42.865 2.229 3.552 6.945 2.908 749.400 76.600 75.100

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Emerging firms to shape global economy: Study PARIS: Top companies from emerging markets are riding the rapid growth of their regions and will shape the global economy over the next decade, a study said yesterday.

The top 100 fast-globalizing companies from rapidly developing economies are outpacing their rivals from developed economies in terms of expansion, job creation and productivity, said the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study.

These companies, which it called global challengers, grew at an annual average of 16 percent from 2008 through 2011, four times the rate of their competitors in developed countries. Their average revenue hit $26.5 billion (20 billion euros) in 2011, compared to $21 billion for the non-financial companies listed on

the S&P 500 stock index.

“Global challengers are full-fledged competitors making game-changing moves,” said the study.

“They are the companies that will shape the global economy over the next decade” including in industries such as aircraft manufacturing, medical devices, mobile telephony and e-commerce.

These companies have benefited, and are in a position to continue to do so, from the fact that emerging markets have become the world’s economic engine with growing numbers of consumers with disposable income.

While these global challengers are increasingly being seen as competitors

by Western multinationals, the western companies often stand to gain from

partnerships, BCG said in the report entitled “Allies and Adversaries”.

“The battle is being played out foremost in other emerging countries,” Olivier Scalabre of BCG told AFP. Chinese and Indian companies are rapidly pushing into Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, he said.

“It is their top priority because that is where 90 percent of global economic growth is located,” said Scalabre. Chinese and Indian companies dominate BCG’s challenger list, but this dominance has gradually declined during the seven years in which the list has been compiled.

The list now features companies from 17 emerging nations, seven more than in 2006. The list includes companies such

as Brazil aircraft manufacturer Embraer, Chinese mobile telephone makers Huawei and ZTE, Indian pharma groups Dr Reddy’s and Sun Pharmaceuticals, Indonesia’s Golden Agri-Resources, Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas, Mexican mobile telephone operator America Movil, Russia’s Gazprom, and Thai energy company PTT, and Turkish Airlines.

But the companies on the list have no guarantee of success, and run the risk of being knocked off by newcomers, BCG said. Only seven companies have graduated upwards and off the list in seven years, including UAE’s Emirates airline, Mexican cement producer Cemex, and mining companies Vale of Brazil and AngloAmerican of South Africa.

Indonesian agribusiness group Wilmar International, Saudi oil giant Aramco, and SAB Miller of South Africa also graduated from challenger status.

A separate study by HSBC bank found that Western nations had largely failed to capitalise on the rise of the top emerging country China.

Countries which supply China have benefited most from its growth, while “Western nations, faced with internal discord, have failed to grab the opportunity,” the bank said.

Industrial exporters to China such as South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore have shared in China’s rise, as have commodities suppliers like Australia, Chile, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia, said HSBC. — AFP

Adamant Obama refuses to negotiate debt ceiling Foes trying to extract a ransom

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) smiles with Finance Minister Taro Aso (right) at a cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo yesterday. The Japanese government approved an extra budget that includes issuing $87.8 billion more debt to help pay for a massive stimulus package aimed at breathing life into the world’s third-largest economy. — AFP

Japan cabinet okays $147bn extra budget TOKYO: Japan’s Cabinet yesterday approved a 13.1 trillion yen ($147 billion) supplementary budget plan through March that includes military spending for border defense.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the plan, endorsed as part of the government’s economic stimulus package, includes 210 billion yen ($2.4 billion) for a military equipment upgrade to strengthen border defense. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday announced a 20 trillion yen ($225 billion) package of public works and other projects aimed at supporting Japan’s struggling economy and manufacturers. Critics say the stimulus would aggravate Japan’s massive public debt while fueling wasteful spending on unneeded construction projects.

“Our top priority is to get ourselves out of deflation and a high yen,” Suga told a news conference after the special Cabinet meeting that approved the budget bill.

The budget bill still requires parliamentary approval to fund part of the package. The government later this month will also compile a budget bill for fiscal 2013, which begins in April. Japan fell back into recession last fall due to weakening investment and demand

in Europe and China. Sales of Japanese products in China have been hammered by violent anti-Japan riots across China over a territorial dispute. The Defense Ministry’s request for the supplementary budget includes 60 billion yen to upgrade and purchase a missile defense system to “cope with a changing security environment,” the ministry said in a statement, citing North Korea’s missile development and growing activity in the seas and airspace around Japan’s territory “by neighboring countries.” The ministry is seeking about 43 billion yen to upgrade or modernize transport and monitoring aircraft for use in disaster relief efforts. Tensions have mounted since September when Japan’s central government purchased a group of East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but also claimed

by China. Beijing responded furiously to the purchase. The tiny, uninhabited islands surrounded by rich fishing grounds and suspected undersea mineral resources are known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. China has since dispatched maritime survey boats and warships to the waters almost daily, sometimes entering Japanese waters.

Chinese warplanes have recently started flying near Japanese airspace. — AP

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama yesterday rejected any negotiations with Republicans over raising the US borrowing limit, accusing his opponents of trying to extract a ransom for not ruining the economy in the latest fiscal fight.

At a White House news conference called to promote his position on the budget, Obama vowed not to trade cuts in government spending sought by Republicans in exchange for raising the borrowing limit. “What I will not do is to have that negotiation with a gun at the head of the American people,” he said. With an agreement to prevent the economy falling over a “fiscal cliff” barely two weeks old, Washington has already begun skirmishing over a new fiscal issue: the debt ceiling, which fixes a limit on how much the government can borrow.

The United States could default on its debt if Congress does not increase the borrowing limit, a prospect Federal Reser ve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned against in separate comments on Monday.

Obama has tangled repeatedly with Congress over budget and spending issues, and on Monday he said Republicans would bear the responsibility for the consequences of a default.

“They can act responsibly, and pay America’s bills or they can act irresponsibly, and put America through another economic crisis,” he said. “But they will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy.” Republicans want Obama to cut some spending to rein in the deficit before they agree to raise the debt limit again.

Obama must get “serious about spending and the debt limit is the perfect time for it,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said.

“The American people do not support raising the debt ceiling without reducing government spending at the same time,” said Republican John Boehner, the House of Representatives speaker.

The last debt ceiling fight, in 2011, upset world financial markets. Obama cast the borrowing issue as one that will affect many Americans and sensitive industries. “If congressional Republicans refuse to pay America’s bills on time, Social Security checks and veterans’ benefits will be delayed. We might not be able to pay our troops, or honor our contracts with small

business owners. Food inspectors, air traffic controllers, specialists who track down loose nuclear material wouldn’t get their paychecks,” he said.

Obama reminded Republicans than he won the November election partly on his approach to fiscal issues. The debt limit is one of a trio of deadlines looming around the end of February, including automatic deep spending cuts that were temporarily put off in the “fiscal cliff” deal, and the end of a stopgap government funding measure.

A number of Republicans have said they would be willing to allow a US debt default or a government shutdown to force the Obama administration to accept deeper spending cuts than the White House would like.

Obama’s unexpected news conference could have been a pre-emptive strike aimed at influencing strategy sessions among Republican lawmakers scheduled for later this week.

The Treasury Department warned on Monday that the United States will run out of ways to prevent a default in mid-February or early March if the $16.4 trillion ceiling on borrowing is not raised. Obama said he would agree to talk about steps to trim the US budget deficit, but made clear he wants to keep that discussion separate from the debt ceiling increase.

“The issue here is whether or not America pays its bills,” he said. “We are not a deadbeat nation. And so there’s a very simple solution to this: Congress authorizes us to pay our bills.”

He held to his position that deficit reduction should include measures to raise revenue and not come from spending cuts alone.

Republicans have rejected that approach, saying the “fiscal cliff” deal, which raised taxes for the wealthy while maintaining low tax rates for most Americans, should have put to rest any more discussion over tax increases.

Fiscal issues loomed large during what was the final news conference of Obama’s first term, which came a week before an inauguration ceremony that will launch his next four years.

Fights with Congress over taxes and spending have overshadowed much of his domestic agenda during most of the last two years, with the president facing legislative gridlock that shows little sign of abating.

Obama raised the specter of a severe setback

West is failing to cash in on rising China: HSBC SINGAPORE: Western nations have failed to capitalize on China’s economic rise as they struggle with their own problems, leaving others to benefit from the Asian giant’s insatiable demand, HSBC said yesterday. “The world economy is increasingly led by China. Those nations raising their China exposure have outperformed. Western nations, faced with internal discord, have failed to grab the opportunity,” the bank said. “We are rapidly moving away from an ‘old world’ dominated by Europe, the US and Japan to a ‘new world’ led

by China,” it said in a report entitled “The Great Rotation”.

Among the beneficiaries of the global shift are countries located close to China and far-flung exporters that supply the Asian giant’s demand for commodities, the report noted. South Korea’s exports to China currently account for 12 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), up from 3.5 percent in 2000, HSBC said. Malaysia and Singapore are also key industrial exporters to China while commodities producers like Australia, Chile, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia “have also shared in the spoils,” the bank added.

“And in demonstrating China’s ever-increasing connections with Africa, Angola is now China’s 14th most important source of imports ahead of India, France, Canada, Italy and Britain,” it said. Western countries, in contrast, have failed to exploit Chinese demand, it said. US exports to China account for a mere 0.7 percent of US GDP, with Canada, France and Italy “more or less” at the same level, HSBC said. — AFP

TOKYO: A businessman passes before a share prices board in Tokyo yesterday. Japan’s share prices rose 77.51 points to close at a 32-month high of 10,879.08 points at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but the benchmark Nikkei index gave up some early gains as the yen rebounded after Japan’s economy minister warned over the unit’s decline. —AFP

to the US economy if congressional Republicans persist with the threat of a debt default. “It would be a self-inflicted wound on the economy,” he said. “Even entertaining the idea of this happening, of the United States of America not

WASHIGTON: President Barack Obama (left) and former US Sen Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska), walk past each other during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. —AP paying its bills, is irresponsible. It’s absurd.”

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, top White House economic adviser Gene Sperling and Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett later held a conference call with three dozen business leaders to discuss the president’s fiscal plans and insist that Congress must raise the debt limit “without drama or delay,” a White House official said.

Participants included Honeywell International Inc CEO David Cote, Evercore Partners chairman Roger Altman, Goldman Sachs Group Inc chief executive Lloyd Blankfein, Marriott International Inc chief executive Arne Sorenson, AT&T Inc CEO Randall Stephenson, Xerox Corp chief Executive Ursula Burns, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty and Deloitte LLP’s US chief executive, Joe Echevarria. — Reuters

In crisis-hit Spain, hints of new competitiveness

SINGAPORE: Jurong port in Singapore. Close links to China are the key to future growth among exporters as economic power shifts rapidly away from the US and Europe, global banking giant HSBC said yesterday. — AFP

Younger Americans have more credit-card debt problems NEW YORK: American credit card holders in their late 20s and early 30s have more debt than older consumers, repay it more slowly and risk dying in debt if they don’t curb their spending habits, a new study showed on Monday.

Researchers that people born between 1980 and 1984 have on average $5,689 more debt than their parents had at the same stage of their lives, and $8,156 more than their grandparents.

“If what we found continues to hold true, we may have more elderly people with substantial financial problems in the future,” said Lucia Dunn, a co-author of the study and a professor of economics at Ohio State University. “Our projections are that the typical credit card holder among younger Americans who keep a balance will die still owning money on their cards,” she added in a statement.

Dunn, and Sarah Jiany, of Capital One Financial in McLean, Virginia and a coauthor of the study, analyzed two large monthly surveys which included data on borrowing and repayment, enabling them to estimate when Americans will be able to repay their credit cards. The findings were published in the journal Economic Inquiry.

“We have data on how they pay off cred-

it cards as well, which gives us a more complete picture of their debt situation,” Dunn said. “This allows us to estimate more precisely when Americans will be able to pay off their credit card debts.”

Working with data from 1997 to 2009, the researchers studied how 32,542 people aged 18 to 85 accumulated and repaid their credit card bills. They compared 15 fiveyear-period birth groups, such as people born from 1915 to 1919, the oldest group.

People born between 1985 to 1989 were the youngest studied.

The researchers also compared people in different age groups but with similar educations, incomes and marital status, and estimated that the payoff rate of younger credit card holders was 24 percentage points lower than their parents, and 77 points lower than their grandparents’ rates. “Credit is more readily available now, and there have been changes in interest rates and less stigma attached to having credit card debt, which may all make younger people today more willing to go into debt,” Dunn explained. The study also showed that credit card holders react to higher minimum payments by paying more than they have to. But Dunn said the results were a cautionary tale. — Reuters

MADRID: As a provider of financial security systems, Spanish tech company Realsec might easily have fallen victim to the country’s banking crisis and economic slump. Yet Realsec is currently enjoying double-digit growth in revenues thanks to new clients in Latin America.

Eighty percent of its revenues now come from overseas, compared with 20 percent in 2009. Staff numbers are up from 15 in 2007 to 32 now, and CEO Jesus Rodriguez is searching for new premises: his offices overlooking Real Madrid’s football stadium are getting too small.

“In 2007, Spain was our primary market, but that froze in 2009,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for our presence abroad, it just wouldn’t have been possible to keep going.” Realsec points to a glimmer of hope for the eurozone’s fourth largest economy, even though the International Monetary Fund expects Spain to remain in recession through much of 2013. As domestic demand has slumped, some companies have converted themselves into exporters.

Latin American markets have been a prime target for Spanish companies because of their language advantage, and giants such as Telefonica and Banco Santander have increased their exposure there to compensate for problems in their domestic market.

Spanish exports have shot up around 40 percent since 2009; and in the first 10 months of 2012 Spanish exports to Latin America rose 18.5 percent over 2011, more than for any other region.

In July last year Spain registered its first current account surplus - net money inflows from trade and other sources - since August 1998, and it posted another current account surplus in October. Net exports were forecast by the European Union to contribute 2.7 percentage points to GDP growth in 2012, compared with minus 4.4 percentage points for domestic demand. Spain’s export success is one of a few green shoots around Europe. In Ireland, some businesses are benefiting from falls in wage levels, while the country’s plunge in land prices has encouraged a new wave of foreign direct investment. In Italy, businesses have applauded the way the government loosened rigid employment rules in the hope that it will

lead to more investment and hiring.

None of these things mean Europe’s economic crisis is over. Governments are still grappling with how to encourage growth while paying down debt. But taken together, they offer some hope that the past few years of pain may be having some positive impact.

“Better exports reflect to a large extent an improvement in competitiveness - falling labour costs, better productivity, lower wages,” said Pier Carlo Padoan, chief economist at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Parisbased think-tank. Nevertheless, the OECD says the short-term outlook for the euro zone’s weaker economies remains poor.

“The euro area will be in recession till the end of the year, and unemployment is rising still,” Padoan said. Realsec’s domestic business was doing fine until 2007. Cheap credit fuelled a ballooning housing market, and the Spanish economy was growing faster than the rest of Europe.

That boosted business for financial institutions, which needed Realsec’s encryption systems for secure credit card payments and ATM transactions. More business came from the Spanish government, which wanted to secure online pension payments and benefit applications against hackers and wouldbe identity thieves.

But exposure to the banking sector made the company vulnerable to changes in the property market. So when talk began to circulate in 2007 that Spain’s housing boom might soon end, CEO Rodriguez started looking for new customers. He got advice and financial help from a government agency, PromoMadrid, and paid for a study into the feasibility of doing business in 22 Latin American countries. For the next two years, as the financial crisis accelerated, Rodriguez and three associates travelled to make contact with potential finance clients in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil.

“I realised we couldn’t have all our eggs in one basket,” he said. “We spent two years travelling in these countries. I’d visit a potential partner, talk to him, see if the information we’d been provided was really the situation on the ground. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Oil steadies around $112 on growth, US LONDON: Brent crude oil steadied around $112 per barrel yesterday on optimism that the euro zone economy may finally be stabilizing and that the United States may reach a deal to sort out its budget and debt crisis.

Brent futures are near the top of an $8 range seen over the last three months with investors encouraged by world economic trends, despite some negative data suggesting downward risks for global oil demand and prices. The German economy contracted by a larger-than-expected 0.5 percent in

the final quarter of 2012, data showed yesterday, but most economists expect it to recover in the months ahead, supporting the euro-zone.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke urged US lawmakers on Monday to lift the country’s borrowing limit to avoid a potentially disastrous debt default, warning that the economy was still at risk from political gridlock over the deficit.

Brent futures for February were unchanged at $111.88 per barrel at 1230

GMT. The contract, which expires on Wednesday, settled $1.24 higher in the previous session.

US oil was down 14 cents at $94.00.

“Optimism among investors is at a record high and the general market sentiment is positive so there is no reason for them to withdraw,” said Carsten Fritsch, senior oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

“There is no real risk of a sharp sell-off at this point.” The United States bumped into its borrowing limit on Dec 31, and is now

employing special measures to enable the government to meet its financial obligations. US lawmakers now need to thrash out a deal over the country’s debt and settle the budget to avoid drastic automatic spending cuts that have been postponed until March 1. Prices came under some pressure from expectations of a rise in US oil inventories on higher imports. A Reuters poll of analysts forecast crude stocks would show a rise of 2 million barrels for the week ended Jan 11.

Gasoline stockpiles were expected to have

risen 3.1 million barrels, from 233.1 million barrels the week before. The American Petroleum Institute (API) was due to release its report at 2130 GMT. EIA will issue its data on Wednesday at 1530 GMT. Worries about supply disruption from the Middle East have been giving oil prices a floor. A senior UN nuclear watchdog official said yesterday he was aiming for an agreement with Iran this week on a framework deal enabling his inspectors to investigate suspected nuclear bomb research. —Reuters

Qatar Airways denies interest in SpiceJet NEW DELHI/DOHA: Qatar Airways is not interested in buying a stake in Indian budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd or any other Indian airline, its chief executive said, quashing media reports that the Gulf carrier was in talks for a potential investment.

Shares in India’s SpiceJet Ltd rose by as much as 8.5 percent yesterday after the Times of India reported the budget carrier was close to selling a stake to a foreign carrier, which it said was most likely to be Qatar Airways.

In a statement yesterday, CEO Akbar alBaker denied it was involved in any discussions for a possible investment.“Qatar Airways categorically denies it is interested in investing in Spicejet or any other Indian airline,” CEO Akbar al-Baker said in a statement.

“This is pure speculation by individuals who deliberately want to spread such unfounded rumors to raise the stock value of their entities.”

Al-Baker said Qatar Airways would only look at investing in India once it believed that laws and regulations in the country had been “properly liberalized”.

SpiceJet said in a statement earlier in the day that it was premature to comment on

the possibility of selling shares to any investor, but that some interest had been shown after a recent rule change allowing foreign carriers buy stakes in local airlines. “(A) few investors have evinced interest in the company post government of India allowing FDI (foreign direct investment) in the civil aviation sector to foreign airlines,” SpiceJet said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

“It will be very premature to comment on the possibilities of any fresh equity issuance to such interested parties or confirm/deny names of any specific entity,” the company added. SpiceJet shares closed up 4.1 percent at 45.85 rupees on the Mumbai Stock Exchange. They surged 161 percent last year on expectations that the airline would eventually sell a stake to a foreign carrier.

In September India allowed foreign airlines to buy a maximum 49 percent stake in local carriers, opening the prospect of its battered airlines getting fresh funding.

Jet Airways, India’s second-largest carrier, is in talks with Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways to sell a stake, it said earlier this month, in what could be the first deal in the sector following the rule change. — Reuters

Tide of resource nationalism ebbs LONDON: For a decade, the oil industry has worried about rising resource nationalism in producing countries. Host governments have imposed tougher terms, demanded bigger exploration bonuses and extracted a higher share of revenues, in some cases expropriating foreign oil companies when they failed to develop new fields fast enough.

Now the wheel may be turning as the prospect of big new oil and gas finds from shale and in deepwater trigger a competition among potential host countries to attract investment.

Between 2002 and 2008, the oil and gas sector was characterized by a scarcity of deposits, giving host countries the whip hand. Now deposits are plentiful but there is a scarcity of capital and technology needed to exploit them fully, which has shifted the balance of power in favor of the major international oil companies and leading independents as well as oilfield services companies.

Britain and Argentina are just two examples of countries hoping domestic shale resources could transform their economies following the example of Texas and North Dakota, and willing to reduce their share of the revenues in order to develop new oil and gas resources.

“We’ve decided to give incentives for gas production,” Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez said in November. The country became notorious after expropriating Repsol’s stake in YPF earlier last year, but exploration and production terms are being softened to attract investment.

Domestic prices remain controlled, but firms will be allowed to sell new production at $7.50 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), up from the previous ceiling of $5.00, and almost twice the prevailing price in the United States, to spur development of the country’s giant Vaca Muerta shale deposits.

Britain’s government has promised to develop a “targeted tax regime” to stimulate the development of shale deposits. “With the shale gas industry at an early stage of development, the government believes that a targeted tax regime will help unlock investment,” according to Britain’s finance minister.

“The use of field allowances to encourage investment in the North Sea has demonstrated the effectiveness of a targeted tax regime in stimulating investment and production that would not otherwise have gone ahead” (“Government action to stimulate shale gas investment” Oct 8).

In October, Britain announced the successful completion of an offshore licensing round, an investment by Talisman to extend the life of ageing fields in the North Sea, and the development of big new fields by Shell-all after a series of changes to tax laws that would introduce more generous field allowances and tax rates for fields that are old, small or particularly deep, and would otherwise be marginal or uneconomic to develop.

Other countries, including Brazil, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, are also competing for investment by offering more generous terms than before.

Even Russia, which has been cited for the past decade as the ultimate example of resource nationalism, has expanded its cooperation with Exxon and BP, reversing a decade-long trend in which it was taking projects back from the international oil companies.

It is too soon to say whether these are isolated examples or part of an industry-wide trend. Fiscal terms in the main producing countries of the Middle East, with the largest and cheapest resources, remain very tough.

But as the industry shifts from developing existing fields to finding and developing new resources in new areas (Latin America, Africa, Arctic) and using new technologies (shale, offshore) fiscal terms will have to become more generous.

Exploration and development of new resources entails a much higher level of risk than continued production from mature fields, as Peter Nolan and Mark Thurber from Stanford University explain in a recent article “On the state’s choice of oil company: risk management and the frontier of the petroleum industry” (2012). “Frontier petroleum activities by definition are those characterized by the highest risk,” they write. “Over many decades, the industry has seen the frontier progress from exploration and development of onshore sedimentary basins through shallow offshore basins and into deep and ultra-deep water basins today ...

Emerging frontiers include the challenge of commercializing vast resources of unconventional oils and gas.” In mature fields, with low risk, the temptation for the government to toughen existing fiscal terms or even expropriate private operators (especially if they are foreign) is high. The objective is to extract as much rent as possible. The government may feel a national oil company can produce from these fields as well as one of the major international oil companies or a foreign independent. But with prospective new resources, the geological, technical and economic risks are much higher. The host government may need access to specialist technology and expertise, and may not have the capital required or the appetite for risk to try to develop the resources itself.

Foreign companies become the only option for development. The choice is between offering generous terms acceptable to foreign investors or not developing the resource at all.

Attitudes towards resource nationalism and openness to foreign investment therefore tend to match and amplify the industry’s underlying investment and pricing cycle.

Waves of expropriation alternate with periods in which foreign investment is welcomed, as the industry switches between developing existing resources and opening up new frontiers.— Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

British businesses urge Cameron to avoid EU isolation LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron must not risk jeopardizing Britain’s EU membership and damaging the weak economy, business chiefs warned ahead of the premier ’s key Europe speech later this week.

The Conservative premier was due to address the nation’s strained relationship with the European Union on Friday, having already stated that he wanted to renegotiate the conditions of its membership with the 27-country bloc.

Cameron is expected to seek the repatriation of certain powers from the EU and to back a referendum after 2015 on the nation’s proposed new relationship with Brussels-but will not call for a so-called “in-out” referendum.

Top business chiefs are concerned that Cameron’s plans could damage their valuable links with Britain’s main

trading partner, create uncertainty and hurt a economy which is expected to have shrunk once again in the fourth quarter of 2012.

“We must tread very carefully,” said John Cridland, director-general of power ful employers’ grouping the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

“The debate about our future in Europe in 2013 must be based on an informed, hard-headed analysis of where our longterm economic and financial interests lie and business will need to make its voice heard.

“We need global trade deals to drive growth and create jobs, especially when the domestic economy is growing more slowly than required.

“Businesses do not want the baby thrown out with the bathwater-not with 50 percent of our exports heading to

Europe.” Ten top business leaders-including Virgin tycoon Richard Branson and WPP advertising agency boss Martin Sorrell-have already called for “urgent” reform that did not require “wholesale renegotiation” of Britain’s position.

“To call for such a move in these circumstances would be to put our membership of the EU at risk and create damaging uncertainty for British business, which are the last things the prime minister would want to do,” they said.

“We need a strong reformed EU with Britain at the heart of it,” they added in an open letter in the Financial Times.

Economists have meanwhile cautioned that a referendum could have potentially “dangerous” consequences for Britain.

“It’s a very dangerous path,” said Professor Iain Begg at the London School of Economics.

“Referendum is such an unpre dictable instrument... It’s something that could go seriously wrong and risk pulling Britain out of the European Union and business leaders would find it a very worrying prospect,” he told AFP. “The biggest risk for Britain is the foreign investment channel drying up and thereby causing a reduction in Britain’s capacity to export in what is our biggest market-namely western Europe.”

For example, Japanese car manufacturers like Honda and Nissan could decide to cut their production in English car factories that produce vehicles destined for the EU market-and invest elsewhere.

Conservative veteran and former minister Michael Heseltine argued that the referendum would create uncertainty and dissuade investment. “If I was

responsible for inward investment into any of our European colleagues, it would give me the best argument I could dream of,” Heseltine noted.

“Why put your factory (in Britain) when you don’t know-and they can’t tell you-the terms upon which you will trade with us in future?”

Britain was a founding member of the EU single market, a tariff-free zone that is home to half a million people. Cridland added that it was necessary to stay “at the table” to fight for Britain’s economic interests-particularly on behalf of the City of London financial district.

“It’s essential we stay at the table to bang the drum for businesses and defend our national interest, particularly protecting our world-class financial services industry to maintain our competitiveness internationally.” — AFP

Months after spat, Turkey, S&P fail on ratings deal Turkey reacts angrily to junk rating

YANGON: A street vendor arranges newspapers on the roadside in downtown Yangon yesterday. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Asia after decades of economic mismanagement and isolation under army rule, but could become Asia’s next economic engine if it enacts vast reforms, the IMF said in November of 2012.— AFP

Myanmar opens door for foreign firms in telecom YANGON: Myanmar yesterday announced plans for a dramatic increase in telephone and Internet access as it opened the door for foreign firms to enter one of Asia’s last untapped markets. The communications and information technology ministry said it was launching tenders for two nationwide telecommunications service licenses, to be awarded in the first half of this year.

It said it wanted both domestic and overseas operators to compete in the sector, seen as having major growth potential in a country where mobile phones are the preserve of a tiny proportion of the population. The ministry said in a notice on its website the aim was to “make the telecommunications services available to the public at affordable prices, and to give the public the capability of choice”.

The move is part of a plan to expand telephone penetration to between 75 and 80 percent by 2016, from the current level of around 10 percent. Htay Win, chief engineer from the ministry’s mobile department, told AFP the tender was open to foreign firms because “their experience in other countries means they are more capable”.

Communications are seen as a key obsta-

cle to development in Myanmar, one of the world’s poorest countries. Mobile SIM cards cost from around $250 while the Internet is mainly the preserve of the urban elite.

Analyst Sachin Gupta, of Asian telecoms research at Nomura, said the target could be achieved if the terms and partners were right, but that the “devil will be in the detail”.

“Given the lack of infrastructure in the country, this will be an uphill battle, but upside could be significant too,” he said.

Companies are hungrily eyeing Myanmar after a number of international sanctions were eased or lifted in response to political reforms under a quasi-civilian government that took power in 2011.

Changes aimed at invigorating an economy ravaged by decades of military rule and mismanagement have also been set in motion, including unifying the country’s multiple exchange rates and passing a law to help smooth foreign investment. In a report in March Nomura called Myanmar “one of the last untapped telecom markets in the region”.

On Monday Taiwan’s leading smartphone maker HTC opened its first store in Myanmar to sell handsets with Burmese-language characters. — AFP

KARACHI: Pakistani stockbrokers chat as they sit under a share prices digital screen during a trading session at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) in Karachi yesterday. The benchmark KSE-100-Index closed at 16107.89, down 525.29 points at the end of the day. — AFP

UK inflation sticks at 2.7% LONDON: British inflation held at 2.7 percent for the third month running in December, while producer prices dipped below forecast as a rise in utility bills was offset by lower fuel costs.

Some analysts had feared a higher headline inflation number and financial markets yesterday took the figures as modestly reassuring for British consumers and for policymakers struggling to fend off recession. But the numbers were unlikely to make it any easier for the Bank of England to push ahead with more moves to stimulate growth.

The FTSE 100 share index ticked higher, having been flat, while the pound hit a session high against the dollar before trimming those gains.

“It’s a relatively good number. If you look at the core (inflation) as well that’s down to 2.4 percent,” said Deutsche Bank economist George Buckley.

“It’s still too high. It needs to come down further obviously,” Buckley said, suggesting slack in the economy could help bring down inflation over the course of the next year. “But for the moment it’s remained sticky.” The Office for National Statistics said utility prices rose 3.9 percent on the year while fuel costs fell by 0.2 percent. It said the biggest down-

ward pressure on the index came from a fall in transport costs as airlines cut fares.

Prices at the factory gates rose 2.2 percent on the year, below a Reuters poll forecast of 2.4 percent. Stubborn inflation, above the Bank of England’s 2 percent target since November 2009, is likely to have been a key argument against more quantitative easing at the bank’s monthly policy meeting last week.

Several analysts said higher food costs - up 13.4 percent from domestic producers would likely push consumer inflation back above 3 percent at some point this year. That would force central bank governor Mervyn King to write a letter to the finance ministry explaining why he is so far off target.

“Looking further ahead it looks likely that we’ll get another inflation overshoot in 2013,” said Commerzbank economist Peter Dixon.

“It’s entirely possible that by mid-year we’ll get a very sharp spike in inflation back above 3 percent.” High inflation has put pressure on consumer spending, which accounts for around two thirds of all expenditure in the British economy. The central bank’s latest quarterly forecasts, released in November, showed inflation peaking in the third quarter of 2013, falling below the target only a year later.— Reuters

ISTANBUL: Standard & Poor’s said yesterday it would no longer offer a full rating service for Turkey, ditching much of its work with the economically booming country eight months after a spat over a negative report.

The credit ratings agency said it had failed to reach a deal with Turkey and would in future only issue an “unsolicited” assessmentmeaning that it is not paid by the country to provide cover but does so anyway to meet investors’ needs.

More broadly, it also said that as of Feb. 14 it would withdraw all its ratings on individual sovereign Turkish debt issues, leaving only the rating on the sovereign’s overall credit-worthiness.

Turkey’s Treasury played down the move, noting it had reached deals with S&P’s competitors Fitch and Moody’s and did not expect the lack of a deal with S&P to affect markets.

The country responded angrily last May when S&P cut the outlook on its ‘BB’ sovereign credit rating to stable from positive. Prime Minister

Tayyip Erdogan warned Ankara may no longer “recognise” the agency, calling its decision “ideological”.

“We are converting our issuer credit ratings on Turkey to “unsolicited” as we no longer have a rating agreement with this sovereign,” S&P said in a statement.

“We will nonetheless continue to rate Turkey on an unsolicited basis because we believe that we have access to sufficient public information of reliable quality to suppor t our analysis .... and because we believe there is significant market interest in this unsolicited rating.”

S&P rates Turkey at BB, two rungs below investment grade.

Fitch has raised it to investment grade at BBB- and Moody’s just below investment grade at Ba1.

“The government is ... probably sending a non-too-disguised message that it sets little store in the S&P rating at BB,” said Timothy Ash, head of emerging markets research at Standard Bank.

“It has long argued that the current junk bond rating is unjustified

Burberry hails China rebound LONDON: British luxury brand Burberry Group Plc highlighted a rebound in Chinese demand as it beat forecasts with a 9 percent revenue rise after a particularly strong week in the run up to Christmas.

Shares in the 157-year-old seller of raincoats and leather goods, known for its camel, red and black check pattern, rose more than 4 percent after it said revenue in the three months to Dec. 31 reached 613 million pounds ($985 million). That topped analysts’ average forecast of 602 million pounds, according to a company poll.

Last September Burberry sent shock waves through the global luxury industry by warning of a broad-based slowdown in spending - particularly in China, which had been the driving force of a boom in demand for luxury goods. But it had already calmed investors with subsequent statements, saying for instance that sales had steadied in the final weeks of its second quarter.

Its latest figures showed double-digit underlying sales growth for Hong Kong and China in the third quarter, a significant jump from “marginally positive” growth in the second quarter.

“The better performance in China ... was we believe driven in part by an improvement in wider consumer sentiment, but also (by) self-help measures,” Chief Financial Officer Stacey Cartwright told reporters. Cartwright noted staff had focused on ensuring more store visitors departed with purchases and on cross-selling products, such as persuading a customer to buy a belt to match a new handbag. She said Burberry remained confident about the outlook for China. “We think all of the economic indicators continue to point to very nice growth out of that market and particularly within the luxury sector for the years ahead,” she said.

Shares in Burberry, up 18 percent in the last three months, were up 51 pence at 1,376p by 0956 GMT, restoring the price to pre-September levels and valuing the business at 6.09 billion pounds. “Burberry had a better Christmas than expected,” said Investec analyst Bethany Hocking, who expects consensus pretax profit forecasts for the current year to move up about 2 percent to 410 million pounds.

Burberry’s third-quarter retail revenue was up an underlying 13 percent to 464 million pounds, with scarves, men’s tailoring and accessories outperforming and the firm selling a higher proportion of goods from its top-end Prorsum and London lines. Comparable store sales growth reached 6 percent versus analysts’ consensus forecast of 2 percent and a second-quarter increase of 1 percent.

However, wholesale revenue - or sales through nonBurberry stores - at 120 million pounds was down an underlying 5 percent, with growth in the United States, from Asian airports and emerging markets more than offset by weaker European markets.

Burberry is now forecasting underlying wholesale revenue to fall by “a low to mid single-digit percentage” yearon-year in the second half, versus previous guidance for a broadly unchanged performance.

Cartwright said the reduced wholesale guidance reflected lower sales to small speciality accounts in Europe - which she defined as “Mom and pop, owner-run, multi-brand accounts in secondary, tertiary cities across markets like Italy.”

“There is a heightened concern on our part about the robustness from a credit perspective of some of those accounts in Italy,” she said. But she stressed that retail, as opposed to such wholesale business, represents 75 percent of Burberry’s total sales. “We always talk about retail being the leading indicator and wholesale being the lagging indicator, so (it’s) much more important to focus on the retail numbers,” she said. — Reuters

and unfair, and we would agree,” he said.

S&P says that less than 10 percent of its sovereign ratings are “unsolicited”, but these do include the United States and Britain.

Raw nerve It was the reasoning behind S&P’s move last May that appeared to touch a raw nerve. The agency cited Turkey ’s huge current account deficit - its negative balance of trade in goods and services, earnings on foreign investments and cash transfers such as workers’ remittances - as well as the heavy inflows of foreign capital which the country needs to pay for that gap. While the inflows continue, Turkey can live comfortably with its deficit. But if they dry up, the country could be in for “external shocks” such as a plunge of its currency which would push up inflation and interest rates, S&P warned at the time.

Turkey was Europe’s fastest growing economy in 2011 but its external deficit widened to almost 10 percent of national output at

the same time and the deficit remains the country’s main economic weakness even as growth slowed last year.

The deficit widened to $4.48 billion in November, the latest month for which data is available, from $1.96 billion a month earlier, although it came in just below a Reuters poll forecast for a deficit of $4.8 billion.

Turkish growth remains robust compared with debt-choked Europe and much of the Middle East, and state finances are strong.

The government is aiming for a budget deficit of just 2.2 percent of national output this year and state debt is seen at around 35 percent of GDP, well below most euro zone states.

“Most people will just ignore this,” Alex Perjessy, a senior emerging markets economist at AllianceBernstein, said of the end of the ratings deal with S&P. “Most people have ignored sovereign ratings on Turkey in the past few years given the ratings have not reflected Turkish fundamentals for some time.” — Reuters

Portugal proposes tax hikes despite outcry LISBON: Portugal’s government has published new tax tables that further cut the income of workers and pensioners - the bailed-out country’s latest austerity measures which critics say are deepening hardship and dooming hopes for an economic recovery.

The higher income tax rates, first announced in November, were published late Monday in the Government Gazette, which brings measures into law. The government is aiming to increase income tax revenue by 30 percent this year to help reduce the budget deficit to 4.5 percent of GDP from an expected 5 percent last year. The new tax rates come on top of previous increases in the sales taxes as well as pay cuts for government workers, reductions

in welfare entitlements and higher ticket prices on public transport. The latest measures also include a 3.5 percent surcharge tax on everyone’s earnings. Tax-deductible items such as mortgages and health care are also cut. The tax increases are particularly hard on Portugal’s middle class. A married couple with two children and a joint monthly salary of ?5,000 ($6,670), for example, will lose almost ?300 a month. Someone earning ?41,000 a year will pay 45 percent income tax compared with 35.5 percent previously.

In 2010, the deficit reached 10.1 percent of GDP, spooking investors who stopped lending Portugal money amid wider concerns about the fiscal health of some euro-zone countries. —AP

Idemitsu lines up consortium to build Vietnam refinery TOKYO: Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co said yesterday it and its partners planned to award a consortium including engineering firm JGC Corp a contract to construct the $9 billion Nghi Son refinery and chemical complex in Vietnam. Idemitsu, Japan’s third-largest refiner, said in a statement it had issued a letter of award for the consortium to construct the project. The refinery in Vietnam’s northern province of Thanh Hoa, 215 km (134 miles) south of Hanoi, is scheduled to begin commercial operations in the second quarter of 2017, with a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day. A final investment decision on the refinery is expected sometime between spring and June, Idemitsu officials said. Other members of the building consortium are Japan’s Chiyoda Corp, South Korea’s GS Engineering & Construction Corp , SK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd and Technip.

Idemitsu has a 35.1 percent stake in the project, and other investors are state oil and gas group Petrovietnam (25.1 percent), Kuwait Petroleum International (35.1 percent) and Mitsui Chemicals (4.7 percent). The refinery’s feedstock will be Kuwaiti heavy crude oil. With the 150,000-bpd Dung Quat oil refinery, Vietnam’s first refinery, the two refineries will meet Vietnam’s domestic oil product consumption of 350,000 bpd, with the limited possibility for product exports, Idemitsu said.

Other main facilities at the Nghi Son refinery and chemical complex are a 200,000 bpd crude distillation unit (CDU), a 105,000 bpd residue hydro desulfurization unit (RHDS) and an 80,000 bpd residue fluid catalytic cracking unit (RFCC). The aroma complex would also have capacity to make 700,000 tons per year of paraxylene, 240,000 tpy of benzene and 370,000 tpy of polypropylene. — Reuters

ATHENS: Women look at offers in a shoe shop in central Athens, on the first day of the winter sales in Greece yesterday. The euro-zone will shortly clear the next slice of bailout funding for Greece worth 9.2 billion euros, with Athens satisfying conditions for the payment, EU sources said yesterday.—AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Dewan to design mega Nakheel City in Basra BASRA: The province of Basra, Iraq, has placed the responsibility of designing the sprawling Al-Nakheel City - for which the foundation stone was recently placed, and which is set to be the benchmark in

planning, designing and developing sustainable contemporary urban cities that adhere to the local context- on Dewan Architects & Engineers, one of the region’s leading planning, architectural

and engineering consulting firms. As a modern urban development, the AlNakheel City is expected to provide world-class and modern sustainable living, working, and living solutions for the population of Basra and help alleviate the housing shortages in the province.

The decision for Dewan Architects & Engineers to participate and eventually be awarded this strategic project was based on the firm’s desire to actively participate in the active rebuilding of Iraq’s booming building sector, and the firm’s deep-rooted commitment to helping revive the architectural heritage of the country, which is home to mankind’s first urban settlements. The design phase, as well as the scheduling and prioritizing of the project’s construction phases, is expected to be finalized by December 2013; one year from the date of commencement as committed to the Governorate.

Mohamed Al-Assam, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Dewan commented: “As a major supporter of the construction efforts in the Iraqi housing sector, we are extremely pleased to be part of this significant project,

which will see the establishment of an integrated community within a nurturing and sustainable environment. We will utilize the vast expertise gained from working in the UAE, which has become a regional hub of world-class developments in the region, to ensure that all the governorate’s and other stake-holder’s objectives are met and exceeded.”

He added: “This project’s importance stems from the fact that the city of Basra not only represents the only marine gateway to Iraq, but that it also serves as the main axis of trade into the Arabian Gulf and the region. In addition it serves as the economic capital of Iraq, and is home to a number of cultural and historical monuments. In light of this, our designs will incorporate different elements that are consistent with the region’s cultural and historical elements. These requirements will blend seamlessly by utilizing design best practices in modern urban planning, ensuring that Nakheel City is designed to the highest creative and environmental standards without sacrificing the local context and cultural peculiarities of Basra.”

The Nakheel City is located 35 kilome-

Memac Ogilvy PR wins top regional social media award KUWAIT: Memac Ogilvy PR, the region’s leaders in the field of communications, shined at Middle East PR Association (MEPRA) awards ceremony scooping the ‘Best Use of Social Media’ award in the Middle East for its work on Qatar Coral’s #Ramadangram campaign.

Memac Ogilvy PR Qatar’s award winning campaign #Ramadangram was one of the first campaigns in the region to leverage social networking phenomenon, Instagram, via a campaign designed to increase engagement amongst young Qataris during the holy month of Ramadan.

Edmond Moutran, chairman and CEO of Memac Ogilvy Middle East and North Africa, said: “It’s always gratifying to have our work acknowledged by industry peers across the Middle East. This Award is a great reflection of the company’s talent and its commitment to delivering powerful, effective communication strategies and campaigns. This award reflects the creativity and market insight of our youngest office in the region as it sets a new Benchmark for regional digital performance.”

Saada Hammad, Regional PR Director, Memac Ogilvy PR MENA

said, “As clients continue to place social media campaigns at the forefront of their marketing and PR activity, we respond with break though

momentum in 2013 supporting our clients in award winning campaigns.”

The #Ramadangram campaign was leveraged on Instagram, Twitter

campaigns such as #Ramadangram, achieving truly measurable client results from our newest and youngest office in the region, Qatar.

We hope that we continue this

and Facebook engaging the residents of Qatar in a 7 days Instagram photography competition. Participants were asked to capture their best Ramadan moments and share them

via Qatar Coral’s Twitter page (@qatarcoral). Winning images were selected by a panel of judges at Qatar Coral and displayed on the company’s Facebook page.

The ‘Best Use of Social Media’ award under the Best Practice Technique category of the MEPRA Awards acknowledges excellence and creativity of the most effective social media campaigns that create brand-engaging platforms and opportunities.

Samer Abboud, Managing Director of Memac Ogilvy & Mather Qatar said, “We are delighted that our work has been recognized at the prestigious MEPRA awards. This award reflects our team’s passion, forward-thinking and in-depth market knowledge. We have great plans for Qatar as we aim to create award winning results for all clients seeking high standards of communication and integrated solutions that drive their business value.”

Memac Ogilvy PR is a part of Memac Ogilvy group established in Bahrain in 1984. Since then, it has grown from one person to more than 60, and expanded to include 16 offices across the region.

Gulf Bank’s senior management team and KFIC’s senior management team during the signing ceremony.

Gulf Bank signs deal with KFIC for purchasing vehicle loans KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced the signing of a white labeling agreement with Kuwait Finance and Investment Company (KFIC) for purchasing vehicle loans in the portfolio acquisition business, that will grow Gulf Bank’s asset book by KD 11.25 million within twelve months.

The signing ceremony took place on 19 December 2012, at Gulf Bank’s Head Office, and was attended by Aly Shalaby, General Manager Consumer Banking Group at Gulf Bank

Abdulmoghni Al-Abdulmoghni - Chief Executive Officer at KFIC and a number of senior management from both organizations.

Aly Shalaby, General Manager of Consumer Banking Group at Gulf Bank said: “We are very pleased to have completed the signing of this agreement with KFIC. This agreement displays Gulf Bank’s leading market position in forming strategic partnerships that are designed to increase its client base as well as diversifying the

Bank’s revenue streams. This project and our partnership with KFIC is the outcome of mutual trust in the effectiveness and efficiency of both organizations.”

Abdulmoghni Al-Abdulmoghni at KFIC said: “Gulf Bank is one of the strongest local banking institutions in Kuwait, and we are pleased to have signed this agreement with them. We, at KFIC, look forward to a mutually beneficial, long-term working relationship with the Bank in the future.”

ters to the of Basra city overlooking Khor Abd Allah, near the Faw and Umm Qasr seaports, in an area of natural water and creeks. The project’s location boasts a unique ecological and geographical environment, and the development will be promoted as an eco-tourism destination.

Covering a total built up area of 145 square kilometers, the new city will be able to accommodate and provide services to approximately one million people at the culmination of its 25 year development milestone.

It will include 100,000 medium and high-end housing units, a robust industrial zone and a hub for free zone activity, as well as a port and airport for private jets and domestic flights, all of which is aimed at supporting the economic development of the region.

Nakheel City will also provide high medical, advanced education and recreational cultural facilities, and will support regional tourism through the development of high-end tourist resorts. In addition, it will contribute to the revitalization of the river ports and industrial zone and boost business activities between itself and other ports.

Burgan Bank’s Al-Thuraya draw winner of KD 60,000 KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced Caroline Frances Flaherty as the lucky winner of the bi-annual Al-Thuraya Account draw.

The winner proudly took home a rewarding cash-prize of KD 60,000.

The bank congratulates Caroline Flaherty on winning the bank’s latest AlThuraya Account Draw. The draw is amongst the most innovative of its kind in Kuwait, as it allows the account holder to win up to 120,000 KD every year. The bank will continue rewarding its customers with a diverse array of benefits that are catered to their needs.”

Opening an Al-Thuraya account is simple; customers are required to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and obtain all the necessary details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center 1804080.

Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest commercial Bank based in Kuwait, with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institutions sectors, as well as having a growing retail and private bank customer base.

Burgan Bank has four majority owned subsidiaries: Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq), Jordan Kuwait Bank - JKB (Jordan) and Tunis International Bank - TIB (Tunisia), (collectively known as the “Burgan Bank Group”).

The Bank has continuously improved its performance over the years through an expanded revenue structure, diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base.

The adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has positioned it as a trendsetter in the domestic market and within the MENA region.

Burgan Bank’s brand has been created on a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment, excellence and progression, to remind us of the high standards to which we aspire. ‘People come first’ is the foundation on which its products and services are developed. Earlier this year, ‘Brand Finance’ - the international brand valuation company- rated Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook. The rating places Burgan Bank Brand at 2nd amongst the most valuable banking brands in Kuwait.

Excellence is one of the Bank’s four key values and Burgan Bank continually strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry. The Bank was re-certified in 2010 with the ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking businesses, making it the first bank in the GCC, and the only bank in Kuwait to receive such accreditation. The Bank also has to its credit the distinction of being the only Bank in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase Quality Recognition Award for twelve consecutive years.

Palestinians demand salaries as crisis bites RAMALLAH, West Bank: Hundreds of Palestinian government workers protested outside their prime minister’s office yesterday saying they had not received a full salary in almost three months amid a deepening financial crisis. A cash shortfall in the Palestinian Authority worsened after Israel imposed sanctions following the West Bank government’s successful bid to gain de-facto recognition of Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly in November. The demonstration in downtown Ramallah was the latest in a series of sporadically violent protests over cuts and tough austerity measures in the Israel-occupied West Bank.

“How can the world agree to this policy of collective punishment when our only crime was heading to the United Nations,” said the head of Government Employees’ Union, Bassam Zakarneh, at the protest. “Our government did not plan for this rainy day, and we think that it has not found any way to deal with this crisis.” Deprived of potentially lucrative land and infrastructure by Israeli restrictions and Jewish settlements, the West Bank’s economy depends on foreign aid.

But from a high of $1.8 billion in 2008, foreign aid plummeted to around $600 million last year, according to the Palestinian Monetary Authority. Despite the shortfalls, hiring has continued to rise in the Palestinian Authority’s swollen public sector, and efforts to improve tax and utility bill collections have only increased the public anger. Anti-austerity protests in September descended into violent clashes with police and calls for the downfall of the govern-

ment. Israeli officials have said a third Palestinian Intifada (uprising) may be in the offing. The West Bank was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians hope to make a future state in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Frustrated Palestinian officials said Arab countries had failed to deliver a $100 million monthly “safety net” promised before the UN statehood move and accused Washington of pressing its Gulf allies not to pay. “The US administration made clear threats before our moves at the UN that our success would mean a political and financial siege on Palestine and its people,” said Wasel Abu Yousef, a leader in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

“The Americans are pressuring Arab countries, and (the) strategy goes hand-inhand with the piracy being conducted by the Israeli government on our funds,” he told Reuters. The US consulate in Jerusalem did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Around $200 million in US budget assistance pledged by Washington in 2012 has been held up by Congress which is opposed to Palestinian moves that it says undermines Israel’s security.

Israel controls entry and exit points in the occupied West Bank and has repeatedly withheld customs duties it collects on the Palestinians’ behalf, a main source of government revenue, in response to Palestinian political moves it opposes. Israel said in December it was retaining the dues to cover millions of dollars of unpaid bills with local utility firms. —Reuters

Warba Bank: Draw to win one of 12 Mini Coopers tomorrow at 7:00pm KUWAIT: The grand closing ceremony of Warba Bank’s “La t7aty” campaign, which was launched in September, will take place tomorrow, with activities kicking off at 2:00pm. Twelve lucky customers will each win a new Mini Cooper at a special ceremony organized by the bank at 360 Mall. Winners’ names will be announced at 7:00pm tomorrow during the ceremony which will also include a range of activities and gift presentations for participants.

The distinctive “La t7aty” campaign has received a very positive response from customers. It gave customers who transferred their salaries during the campaign period an opportunity to qualify for the draw to win one of 12 Mini Coopers.

Commenting on the occasion, Adnan Salman Al-Salem, Chief Retail Banking Officer of Warba Bank, said: “Tomorrow,

we celebrate the closing of “La t7aty” campaign, the first event of its kind in Kuwait, where twelve lucky customers will each win a new Mini Cooper. The campaign is an extension of our promise to provide quality products and services to all customers and to give a distinct

character to all our services.”

“The distinctive campaign that was recently launched by the bank received a very positive response from customers,” added Adnan.

Over the course of the day, Simon Pierro, the “iPad Magician” will also enter-

tain spectators with three shows of digital magic for the first time in Kuwait.

Warba Bank is positioning itself in the market as a leading Islamic institution that offers an array of Sharia-compliant quality products and services to its customers. Warba Bank invites you to the

grand ceremony to share the success of this campaign.

Customers can learn more about ‘La T7aty’ and the bank’s multiple services by visiting Warba Bank or calling 182-5555.

Warba Bank, an Islamic bank established by virtue of Amiri Decree, was officially registered in the Central Bank of Kuwait’s list of Islamic banks on the 5th of April, 2010. The state of Kuwait, represented by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), owns 24% shares of the bank while the remaining 76% of shares, fully subscribed by the government, have been equally allocated among all Kuwaiti nationals. Warba Bank offers a range of customized Shariacompliant services and solutions which are available through the banks three divisions of Retail, Investment and Corporate Banking. Branching out in five strategic locations, Warba Bank has over 150 employees.

Adnan Al-Salem

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

technology

Race is on for EU’s $1.3bn science projects BERLIN: Call it Europe’s Got Talent for geeks.

Teams of scientists from across the continent are vying for a funding bonanza that could see two of them receive up to ?1 billion ($1.33 billion) over 10 years to keep Europe at the cutting edge of technology.

The contest began with 26 proposals that were whittled down to six last year. Just four have made it to the final round. They include a plan to develop digital guardian angels that would keep people safe from harm; a massive data-crunching machine to simulate social, economic and technological change on our planet; an effort to craft the most accurate computer model of the human brain to date; and a team working to

find better ways to produce and employ graphene - an ultra-thin material that could revolutionize manufacturing of everything from airplanes to computer chips.

The two winners will be announced by the European Union’s executive branch in Brussels on Jan 28. Initially, each project will receive Ä54 million from the European Union’s research budget, an amount that will be matched by national governments and other sources. Further funding will depend on whether they reach certain milestones within the first 30 months, but over a decade it could total Ä1 billion each.

Securing such vast sums will be made harder by the austerity measures imposed

Nissan Resonance concept hybrid-electric vehicle

by many financially drained European governments. Still, the senior EU official overseeing the so-called Future and Emerging Technologies Flagships program is confident the money will be made available and insists the investment is necessary if Europe wants to match the success the CERN labs on the Swiss-French border that have become the world’s premier center for particle research thanks to their $10 billion atom smasher.

“Supporting research and development is not a nice-to-have, it is essential because no investment means no chance for a better future,” Neelie Kroes told AP in an email.

“And especially during a crisis we all need

something positive to look ahead to. Just cutting public expenditure and austerity don’t bring new growth and jobs.” Kroes, whose title is European Commissioner for Digital Agenda, believes it will pay off. “By pooling resources across the EU and focusing on the two best projects we get a good shot at a manifold return on the investment,” she said. Switzerland, Norway, Israel and Turkey, which are not part of the 27-nation EU, are also partnering in the program.

One explicit aim of the program is to encourage scientists to address not just contemporary problems but also those that could arise in future. Climate change, ageing societies and a shortage of natural resources

Hyundai Genesis HCD-14 concept car

all loom large in predictions for Europe’s future. So far, solutions to these problems have been limited, partly because of their sheer scope. “The world of today has become so complex that it’s beyond our control,” said Dirk Helbing, a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH in Zurich. Helbing is the coordinator of the FuturICT team that aims to monitor the state of the planet in real time using growing mountains of data now at our fingertips.

Anybody will be able to tap into the system to explore possible future scenarios in much the same way as the meteorologists can now forecast the weather with a certain degree of accuracy. — AP

Volkswagon Cross Blue concept vehicle

Luxe models dazzle Detroit auto show DETROIT, Michigan: Stand-out styling, performance and luxury were on display Monday as global automakers sought to stake out ground in the high-profit premium car sector at the Detroit auto show.

From an ultrafast Bentley cabriolet to a completely redesigned Corvette, to a clutch of new BMWs and Audis, car makers were confident that lowervolume, higher-margin cars would find buyers in the coming year despite the slow global economy and the recession in Europe.

Auto makers are also increasingly taking aim at younger buyers no longer seen as bound to their parents’ brands and - according to Infiniti chief Johan de Nysschen - not wedded to the idea that only the Germans get it right. Despite the slowdown in Europe, manufacturers are optimistic that the rebound in the US market and the still-strong China market will be enough to keep them going. US sales are expected to rise five to 10 percent in 2013 after jumping 13 percent in 2012, the biggest

yearly gain since 1984. The Detroit Three carmakers are raking in huge profits again after years of painful restructuring and a renewed focus on the product side of their business.

Their Asian and European counterparts are also investing heavily in the United States, as they jostle for position in the highly competitive market amid a slowdown in China and Brazil and the collapse of European demand. “ The product is the best consumers have seen in a long time,” Jesse Toprak, an analyst with the automotive site TrueCar.com, told AFP. In China, the world’s largest market, last year’s double-digit growth is slowing, but could still hit five to six percent in 2013, according to BMW marketing chief Ian Robertson.

GM’s new Corvette was the most hotly anticipated debut of the show.

Dubbed the Stingray, a name Cor vette used for its iconic 1963 model, the quintessential 60-year-old American sports car nevertheless had an “Italianate” feel in its complete makeover, its first in eight years, said

one auto analyst. “The soul of our company is sitting right here in Corvette,” GM North America president Mark Reuss said. “This car is the reason I work at GM.” Daimler also offered a sneak peak at an entirely new car, the compact, stylish - and lower priced-Mercedes CLA coupe, which is aimed squarely at the youth market. “The CLA is a style rebel,” Mercedes design chief Gordon Wagener said.US luxury makers Cadillac and Lincoln - ever-aspiring to the ranks of the German luxepurveyors - also unveiled new wares.

Cadillac’s electric touring coupe the ELR was a fresh bookend to the ATS gas-engined sedan introduced last year, which pulled in the Nor th American Car of the Year award in this year’s Detroit show. Lincoln showed its MKC, a luxury compact sport utility vehicle billed as a concept car that looked not too far from production.

Luxur y wasn’t ever ything: the global battle is still on among the moderately priced cars which make up the bulk of sales, numbers

released Monday showed. Toyota regained the world sales crown lost when the 2011 Japanese tsunami devastated its supplies, as US rival General Motors saw its share of the global market shrink. The largest US automaker, where sales have been hit by the Europe downturn, fewer fresh offerings and a decision not to chase market share with costly incentives and fleet sales, shrugged off the bad news. “As I said last year, I didn’t necessarily want to be number one in sales as I wanted to be number one in profitability - that’s what we focus on,” GM chief Dan Akerson told reporters.

Meanwhile Honda laid out an aggressive goal of boosting its total sales by 50 percent to six million units in 2016. The Japanese automaker introduced a stylish new “urban SUV” concept car aimed at providing the flexibility, performance and function of a sport utility vehicle in a much smaller package. Toyota, meanwhile, offered a concept car, the Furia, which seeks to deliver the styling lines and some of the bells and whistles of pre-

mium level cars to the humble, longlived Corolla, to better fend off challenges from low-cost models from South Korean and US producers. “The Corolla Furia Concept is an early indicator of where our compact car design may lead in the future,” said

China tycoon Ma to resign as Alibaba CEO

US says Java still risky after security update WASHINGTON: The US Department of Homeland Security warned that a security update of Oracle Corp’s Java software for Web browsers does not do enough to protect computers from attack, sticking to its previous advice that the program be disabled. “Unless it is absolutely necessary to run Java in web browsers, disable it,” the Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team said on Monday in a posting on its website. The software maker released an update to Java on Sunday, just days after the government issued its initial warning on the software, saying that bugs in the program were being exploited to commit identity theft and other crimes.

Security experts have warned that PCs running Java in their browsers could be attacked by criminals seeking to steal credit-card numbers, banking credentials, passwords and commit other types of computer crimes. The Java software platform, created in the mid-1990s, enables developers to write one set of code that will run on PCs running on Microsoft Corp’s Windows, Apple Inc Macs and servers running on the Linux operating system. Security experts say the bugs only affect one part of the platform software that plugs into Internet browsers.

While some researchers have long complained the software was buggy, it started generating more public scrutiny last year after a security scare in August. “It’s not like Java got insecure all of a sudden. It’s been insecure for years,” said Charlie Miller, a computer engineer with Twitter who has previously worked as a security consultant to Fortune 500 firms and as an analyst with the National Security Agency. Java was responsible for 50 percent of all cyber attacks last year in which hackers broke into computers by exploiting software bugs, according to Kaspersky Lab. Public interest in the issue surged last week as the Department of Homeland Security advised the general public to stop using Java and consumers turned for information on how to implement the agency’s advice. — Reuters

Cadillac ELR

Acura MDX prototype

Lexus IS 300h

Toyota Corolla Furia concept car

Bill Fay, general manager of the Toyota’s US division.

“It blends a heightened emphasis on dramatic design and modern elements of high technology to generate curb appeal that will surprise a lot of people.” — AFP

2014 Maserati Quattroporte

Audi R8

Ford Atlas concept truck

SHANGHAI: High-profile Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma will step down as CEO of online retail giant Alibaba in May, but remain executive chairman, the company said yesterday. In a letter sent to employees of the company he founded, Ma, 48, said he would step aside as chief executive on May 10 but retain his post as chairman to continue proJack Ma viding strategic direction. “It’s not because I wanted to take things easy... it’s because I see that Alibaba’s young people have better, more brilliant, dreams than mine, and they are more capable of building a future that belongs to them,” Ma said in the letter posted Tuesday on Alibaba’s Chinese microblog. A source confirmed the details of the post to AFP. Ma did not name a successor but said Alibaba Group would announce his replacement when he formally relinquished the CEO role. “In the future, my responsibilities as chairman will focus on strategic issues under the guidance of our board of directors,” he said. “I will assist the CEO in the development of our culture and talent, as well as helping our team to strengthen our social responsibility efforts.” A spokeswoman for Alibaba, which is based in the eastern city of Hangzhou, said the company had no further comment. “His letter speaks for itself,” she said. In 1999, Ma convinced friends to fund him with $60,000 to start the Chinese online retailer after being knocked back by American venture capitalists, allowing him to build one of the world’s biggest trading sites. The company has made Ma one of China’s most wealthy people. Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of China’s 400 richest put him at 11th with a fortune of $3.4 billion in 2012. He sold a 43 percent stake in Alibaba to Yahoo! for $1 billion in 2005, but relations between the US Internet pioneer, which later struggled, and China’s top e-commerce player were stormy. In May last year, Yahoo! said it had agreed to sell its stake in Alibaba back to the company for more than $7.0 billion. Alibaba has since completed an initial repurchase of shares from Yahoo! and restructured its relationship. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Drug overdoses top AIDS as cause of homeless deaths Death rate from overdoses triples

SYDNEY: This file photo shows Warrmarn-Kija Aborigines performing. — AFP

Indians broke Australian isolation 4,000 years ago SYDNEY: Ancient Indians migrated to Australia and mixed with Aborigines 4,000 years ago, bringing the dingo’s ancestor with them, according to new research that reevaluates the continent’s long isolation before European settlement. The vast southern continent was thought to have been cut off from other populations until Europeans landed at the end of the 1700s, but the latest genetic and archaeological evidence throws that theory out.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, reported “evidence of substantial gene flow between Indian populations and Australia about 4,000 years ago”. They analysed genetic variations across the genome from Australian Aborigines to New Guineans, Southeast Asians, and Indians, including Dravidian speakers from the south.

“The prevailing view is that until the arrival of Europeans late in the 18th century, there was little, if any, contact between Australia and the rest of the world,” the study released Tuesday noted. However, analysis of genome-wide data gave a “significant signature of gene flow from India to Australia which we date to about 4,230 years ago,” or 141 generations back. “Long before Europeans settled in Australia humans had migrated from the Indian subcontinent to Australia and mixed with Australian Aborigines,” the study said. “Interestingly,” said lead researcher Irina Pugach, “this date also coincides with many changes in the archaeological record of Australia, which include a sudden change in plant processing and stone tool technologies... and the first appearance of the dingo in the fossil record.”

The study explained that although dingo DNA appears to have a southeast Asian origin, “morphologically, the dingo most closely resembles Indian dogs. “The fact that we detect a substantial inflow of genes from India to Australia at about this time does suggest that all of these changes in Australia may be related to this migration.” The predatory wild dingo (canis dingo) has grown into something of an Australian legend along-

VICTORIA: In a file picture, a dingo dog sits on a log at the Dingo Discovery and Research Centre at the Toolern Vale in rural Victoria, some 60 kilometers northwest of Melbourne. — AFP side kangaroos, but is often treated as a pest attacking sheep and cattle. They roam the outback, hunting alone or in packs, communicate with wolf-like howls and scavenge from humans.

The term is believed to have been picked up by early settlers from a similar sounding Aboriginal word for a tame dog. A common origin was also discovered for the Australian, New Guinean and Philippine Mamanwa populations, who had followed a southern migration route out of Africa beginning more than 40,000 years ago. The researchers estimate the groups split about 36,000 years ago when Australia and New Guinea formed one land mass. “Outside Africa, Aboriginial Australians are the oldest continuous population in the world,” said Pugach, a molecular anthropologist. Australia offers some of the earliest archaeological evidence for the presence of humans outside Africa, with sites dated to at least 45,000 years ago. — AFP

Coughs take longer to clear up than people think NEW YORK: Coughs usually take longer to clear up than people think, and the gap between how long people expect then to last and how long it actually takes may drive some patients to the doctor for antibiotics that won’t help, according to a US study.

Researchers in the US state of Georgia wrote in the Annals of Family Medicine that survey respondents tended to expect their cough to be gone in about a week, but a review of cough studies shows the hacking takes about three weeks to clear up.

The team, led by Mark Ebell from the University of Georgia in Athens, said they were concerned that patients’ unrealistic expectations could lead them to ask doctors for antibiotics that won’t speed their recovery,

but will fuel drug resistance, cost money and increase the risk of side effects. “Efforts to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use should target this discrepancy,” the authors wrote, referring to unrealistic patient expectations.

“We’re not trying to discourage people from getting care if they feel they need it, but at the same time we want to give them the confidence to give themselves care in situations when it’s appropriate,” said Ebell.

For the study, Ebell and his colleagues did a telephone survey of 493 adults in George about how long they’d expect a cough to last based on a hypothetical situation: if they had a 100.5 degree Fahrenheit (38 degree Celsius) fever and were bringing up yellow mucous.

Japanese scientists breed salmon from surrogates TOKYO: Japanese scientists have successfully bred a type of salmon using surrogate parents of a different species, in a breakthrough that could help preserve endangered creatures, the chief researcher said yesterday. Researchers froze the testes of the yamame salmon, a fish indigenous to Japan that lives its entire life in rivers, before extracting primordial germ cells and implanting them into otherwise sterile rainbow trout hatchlings.

These primordial cells, called spermatogonia, were used by the fish’s growing body to develop fully functional sperm in males and viable eggs in females, said Goro Yoshizaki at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. The eggs and sperm can be fused in vitro to produce a healthy yamame salmon, he said. “As far as these kinds of trout and salmon are concerned, I can say this methodology is complete, and we can recreate sperm and eggs, and individuals, of the original species any time,” Yoshizaki said.

“We have confirmed the technology can also apply to tiger pufferfish as well,” he said, referring to the popular-but poisonous-Japanese delicacy.

Yoshizaki and his team are already working on a project aimed at preserving endangered fish species and would like to see if the same process is also possible in amphibians. “I want to upgrade one class to another so that this technology can be applied eventually to reptiles and mammals,” he said. “But the hurdle is still high

BOSTON: Overdoses of drugs, particularly prescription pain-killers and heroin, have overtaken AIDS to become the leading cause of death of homeless adults, according to a study of homeless residents of Boston released on Monday. The finding came from a five-year study of homeless adults who received treatment from the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. But its broad conclusions apply to homeless populations in many urban parts of the United States, the study’s author and homeless advocates said.

The tripling in the rate of death by drug overdose reflects an overall rise in pain-killer abuse, said Dr Travis Baggett of Massachusetts General Hospital, the lead author of the study, to be published next month in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

“This trend is happening across the country, in non-homeless populations too,” Baggett said.

“Homeless people tend to experience in a magnified way the health issues that are going on in the general population.” The study, which tracked 28,033 homeless adults from 2003 through 2008, found that of those who died, 17 percent died of drug overdoses, while 6 percent died of causes related to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. That is a rough reversal of the trend found in a similar study 15 years earlier, when 6 percent of deaths were due to drug overdose and 18 percent due to AIDS. After the drug overdoses, the second- and third-leading causes of death in the most recent study were cancer and heart disease, which each accounted for about 16 percent of the deaths.

which make it easier for users to gain access to the drugs, he said.

Homeless people are significantly more likely to die in a given year than their peers in the rest of the population, with those aged 25 to 44 nine times more likely, and those aged 45 to 64 fourand-a-half times more likely to die, the study said. The decline in AIDS-related deaths reflected an overall decline in infection rates, as well as improvement in care and services for patients since the prior study, which was conducted during the peak years of the US AIDS epidemic.

Changes in treatment The rise in deaths related to drug overdoses prompted the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program to change the way it approaches care, said Dr Jessie Gaeta, the group’s medical director. “We have to become expert in integrating addiction services into the rest of medical care,” Gaeta said. “We have decided to take a very thoughtful and critical look at the way that we prescribe these opiods.” The nonprofit group is considering changes, including reducing the overall amount of pain-killers it prescribes and providing patients with another drug, naloxone, which can be used as an antidote to overdose, Gaeta said. Chronic pain, related to causes ranging from cancer to arthritis, is a common problem among the homeless and the group’s doctors continue to prescribe pain-killers to some of their regular patients, Gaeta said. They have stepped up their efforts to counsel those patients on properly using their drugs and also how to protect them from being stolen. The relationship between homelessness and drug abuse is a self-reinforcing one, advocates noted. Drug abuse can increase the odds of a person becoming homeless, by making it more likely that they lose a job or fall out with family members, and also makes it harder for the homeless to find shelter, as some agencies will not house drug users. “It’s easier to be clean and sober in a bed than on the streets,” said Donovan. — Reuters

Regional variations The study looked at a small slice of the roughly 2.3 million to 3.5 million Americans who go through a period of homelessness each year, according to data from the Urban Institute.

While drug abuse is not an uncommon problem among homeless people, the drugs most commonly used vary by region. Heroin and opiate pain-killers are the most available and most used drugs along the coasts, while methamphetamine is more common through the middle of the country and prescription pain-killers tend to be abused around large military bases, said Neil Donovan, executive director for the National Coalition for the Homeless.

“Fifteen years ago we were talking about homeless people drinking Listerine and that being a leading indicator, and now it’s Oxycontin and heroin and it’s a very different reality,” said Donovan, whose group was not involved in the study. Prescription painkiller abuse is somewhat more common in Boston than other cities due to the high concentration of hospitals and doctors,

Nuke fears contaminate sales for Japan farmers TOKYO: Mayumi Kurasawa’s seaweed company saw seven of its factories swept away by Japan’s 2011 tsunami.

Nearly two years later, sales continue to be eroded by consumer fears over nuclear contamination. “Our seaweed is checked every day, and I guarantee you that it’s safe,” she said during a recent visit to Tokyo to promote the company she works for, Kawashu. “But we are selling two-thirds less than before Fukushima.” Like many farmers in the Tohoku region in northeast Japan, Kurasawa is struggling to sell her produce to a wary population that remains unconvinced by reassurances of food safety.

The problem is the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in the region’s south, where reactors went into meltdown after cooling systems were swamped by the March 11, 2011 tsunami. The reactors spewed radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. Despite the Kawashu company’s production sites being 300 kilometers away from the nuclear plant, in Iwate Prefecture, it is struggling to sell its “wakame” seaweed.

“Many clients prefer produce from South Korea or from China over us.

They think it’s safer,” said Kurasawa.

Previously lauded for their quality, Tohuku products from wasabi, mushrooms, fruit and cereals to salmon and sake (rice wine) are now regarded with suspicion by many Japanese customers as a consequence of Fukushima.

Sales for Tohoku’s products have dropped 60 to 70 percent on average against pre-accident levels. In the aftermath of the disaster, the legal limit for radioactive caesium in Japanese foods was raised in line with international emergency procedures before returning to normal in April last year. This return to “normal” should have reassured consumers, but the stigma has lingered from temporary bans imposed on beef, milk, mushrooms, vegetables and rice from Fukushima prefecture after they were found to contain levels of radioactive caesium above government safety limits.

Faith eroded Public faith that certain foods were safe has also been hit by instances of fraud, in which wholesalers have attempted to sell Fukushima produce

under the labels of other regions. The products in question were found to not be dangerous, but the deception, along with doubts over government food screening measures cobbled together in the wake of the accident, has made life even harder for farmers.

Consumers and experts have also

radiation and most produce, plants and animals raised in other prefectures of Tohuku, pass inspections. “All products sold here are checked and healthy,” said Katsuyasu Ito, the chef of French restaurant “L’aurÈole” in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture. “But anxieties remain among consumers when it

bors, some of whom have had to pack up for good. “At the peak of the radiation in March 2011, I recorded 5 becquerels of radioactive caesium per kilogram on my chickens,” said Saito-well below the government limit. Like most of his counterparts, he has raised his animals on American corn, which

ISHINOMAKI: This file picture shows an aerial view of a frozen food factory (left) amid rubble and tsunamidevastated town of Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture. — AFP voiced suspicions that officials understated potential health risks due to worries about potential economic fallout and the complications of possible compensation. Food shops, skeptical about the government’s legal limit of 100 becquerels of radioactive caesium per kilogram for food, have begun their own testing regimens. The country’s largest supermarket chain, Aeon, has been enforcing zero-risk policy.

“If we detect radioactive caesium in a product over measurable limits, we stop procuring it from the area it is produced,” Aeon spokesman Norihito Ikkai said. “As a result, it enables customers to buy our products free from anxiety.” In the area around the power-station, the majority of produce is now well below the legal limit for

comes to Tohoku products.”

Economic consequences Exports have also been hit, falling 8.3 percent from 2010 to 451.1 billion yen in 2011, according to statistics from the agriculture, forestry and fishery ministry. “A total of 45 countries and areas restricted food imports from Japan following the nuclear plant accident, resulting in declines in shipments,” a ministry official said. “Generally, they are easing the curbs except for South Korea.”In the town of Soma, 40 kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, locally grown rice is often up to scratch but only locals want to buy it.

Masahiro Saito, a chicken farmer who has seen a 20 percent loss in his turnover, feels less unlucky than his cereal and vegetable-growing neigh-

explains why he and other farmers have suffered less than others in the region.

But the consequences of the nuclear accident are still being felt two years later on the overall economy, not just agriculture, and on the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the region.

The clean-up around Fukushima is expected to take decades and experts warn that some settlements may have to be abandoned.

Anecdotally, the pressures are mounting and stories of people whose livelihoods have dried up abound in the Japanese press. The Cabinet Office says up until last November 76 people in the region took their own lives in connection with the disaster. Of the deaths, 21 were linked to financial and livelihood issues and nine to employment issues, the government said. — AFP

Patients rarely told about medication errors: Study

TOKYO: Japanese chef Katsuyasu Ito of French restaurant Laureole cutting a fish, cultivated in the Tohoku region, which suffered damage by the March 11 earthquake last year, for a promotion of food products made from the Tohoku region. — AFP because the sets of genes are much more different between male and female mammals.” The study was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. — AFP

WASHINGTON: In what is likely to come as little surprise, a US study has found that patients and their families are rarely told when hospitals make mistakes with their medicines. Most medication mistakes did not harm patients, the researchers said in a report published in Critical Care Medicine, but those that did were more likely to happen in intensive care units (ICUs) with ICU patients and their families less likely to be told about errors. “For the most part, our findings were in keeping with what the existing literature tells us about the where and how of medication errors in a hospital,” said Asad Latif, the study’s lead author, in an email to Reuters Health.

“The most surprising finding was what we do about them, at least in the immediate time around when they occur,” added Latif, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Using a database of about 840,000

voluntarily reported medication errors from 537 US hospitals between 1999 and 2005, the researchers found that ICUs accounted for about 56,000, or 6.6 percent, of the errors. The rest happened in other units of the hospitals. The vast majority of the mistakes - about 98 percent - didn’t lead to a patient being harmed.

About four percent of the errors in an ICU, however, did harm a patient, compared with about two percent of errors in non-ICU wards.

That’s not surprising given the fragile condition of ICU patients and the more intensive treatment they receive, the authors noted. Of errors that may have led to patient deaths, 18 occurred in ICUs and 92 in non-ICU areas of the hospital.

In both types, errors of omission - failing to give a patient the medication - were most common.

Harmful errors most often involved devices like IV lines and mistakes in calculating medication doses. More than half the time, no actions were

taken after an error. In fact, only a third of the hospital staff who made the reported mistakes were immediately told about their errors.

“And the patient and/or their family is immediately informed when an error occurs barely two percent of the time, despite literature supporting full disclosure and their desire to be promptly informed,” Latif said. Research has found that instituting a blame-free reporting system in hospitals increases the number of reported mistakes.

Still, Latif said it would be premature for patients and their families to be concerned based just on their findings. “Studies like this give us the opportunity to find out how we are actually doing, compared to how we think we are doing,” he said. “They help us discover associations between the outcomes we are interested in and their potential causes and consequences.” — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Generic HIV drugs would ‘cut costs’ WASHINGTON: The first generic versions of some key HIV drugs will soon reach the US market, and according to a new study, their use could save nearly $1 billion a year, although they may be less effective than more expensive brand-name options. The report, published in the latest edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that in 2011, US spending on antiretroviral drugs totaled around $9 billion, mostly paid for by government sources.

“The programs that pay for these drugs are looking to save costs,” said Bruce Schackman, chief of the division of health policy at Weill Cornell Medical College and an author of the study.

A currently recommended treatment for newly diagnosed HIV patients is Atripla, a single daily pill sold by Gilead Inc that combines three brand-name antiretrovirals: Viread, known generically as tenofovir; Emtriva, or

emtricitabine; and Sustiva, or efavirenz. A generic version of lamivudine, which has a similar mechanism of action to emtricitabine, became available this month, while a generic version of efavirenz is expected in the relatively near future.

Gilead, which recently started selling a fourdrug HIV pill, has dominated the market with its combination pills, which make it easier for patients to adhere to treatment regimens. “For some patients, switching from taking one pill once a day to two or three pills once a day won’t make a difference. For others it will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” Schackman said.

The paper also noted that laboratory studies have found that lamivudine may be slightly less effective and more vulnerable to the development of drug-resistant viral strains than emtricitabine. The study showed that switching all HIV-infected patients in the

United States to the three-drug generic strategy would produce lifetime savings of $42,500 per patient.

In the first year alone, the nationwide savings would reach nearly $1 billion. However, the quality-adjusted loss of life expectancy could be as much as 4.5 months. “The switch from branded to generic antiretrovirals would place us in the uncomfortable position of trading some losses of both quality and quantity of life for a large potential dollar savings,” said Dr Rochelle Walensky of Massachusetts General Hospital medical practice evaluation center, the study’s lead author.

She suggested that clinicians and patients might be more amenable to generic drug regimens if they were assured that the savings would be redirected back to AIDS programs, reduced co-payment fees or coverage of treatment for other viral diseases such as hepatitis C infection. —Reuters

Mulla, Refa’ei announce teeth whitening product KUWAIT: The Mulla and Refa’ei Company announced their latest teeth whitening product, Extreme Smile, during a press conference held recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. During the

event, Managing Director Sabah Al-Mulla said that the announcement comes as “part of the company’s commitment to provide the local market with the top quality medical products”, while marketing

Director Dr Samer Abu Al-Hawa as well as Dr Amr Salamah spoke about the product’s effectiveness and safe use “which makes it a top customer choice in American and European markets”.

— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Dar Al-Shifa Hospital introduces extracorporeal shock-wave Lithotripter Machine KUWAIT: Dar Al-Shifa Hospital recently announced the arrival of the latest extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter, Sonolith i-sys, for the first time in Kuwait.

Developed by the European manufacturer EDAP TMS, Sonolith i-sys is used to ease the treatment of urinary stones in the kidney and ureters while allowing patients more comfort and ease during the treatment process.

Sonolith i-sys, the newest addition to the Urology department, includes the unique Visio-Track ultrasound localization system, which is a new feature based on Infrared stereo-vision technology that allows urologists to localize and track the stone in real time, using ultrasound examination. The machine brings many benefits to both the patients and the medical team.

The doctor imitates the familiar movement of ultrasound diagnostic scanning with the probe in his hand, maximizing the efficiency of the treatment by tracking the target accurately and minimizing the amount of X-ray radiations for both patients and the medical staff. Along with that, the shockwave generator DIATRON IV, uses EDAP TMS electro conductivity technology, which is the latest technology introduced in the market, with higher power, accuracy and consistency, because

Dr Rani Al Akoum of the automatic pressure regulator.

Equipped with a high-powered X-ray generator with dual motorized rotations and a touch screen interface, the Sonolith i-sys is the new standard of high-end lithotripters.

Dr Rani El Akoum, Dar Al Shifa Hospital’s Specialist of Urology and Andrology said: “Our world today is rapidly evolving and technology is providing more to us day after day. With the successful introduction of Sonolith i-sys machine to our Urology department, Urologists can now treat urinary stones on children as well as obese patients, bringing maximum power and efficiency with minimum pain and radiation to the patient. “

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Instructors attend ACK’s conference SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

W

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

Announcements

Shirva feast

S

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.

T

he Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) hosted a conference on the 9th and 10th of January under the title of “Challenges of Teaching English to Arab Students in Higher Educational Institutions”, aimed at enhancing the quality of education for students who face challenges in learning English as their second language. The conference was the first of its kind in the region, successfully gathering more than 100 instructors from various parts of the world. The conference was inaugurated

by ACK’s President, Professor Vishy Karri, where he welcomed all teachers, guests and members of the press. The conference then moved on with Dr. Tahar Labbassi’s opening presentation, the Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Tunis, on how instructors can tackle challenges when teaching English to Arab students by using certain materials and techniques to their aid.

The 2-day conference also consisted of nine total workshops providing instructors with a platform to discuss

ideas and solutions with regards to professional development, English spelling and much more. The overall success was due to the strong participation of instructors that were interested in finding and creating solutions for the difficulties faced when teaching English to Arab students. Dr. Raghad Al Kazemi Associate Dean of Student Affairs added that “English teaching is always a challenge when it comes to a nonEnglish speaking nation, especially in this part of the world, where students

excel in expressing themselves verbally, yet find it difficult to communicate in writing. This conference has been a success in bringing together the expertise in the region to deliver teaching methods required to benefit students.”

The “Challenges of Teaching English to Arab Students in Higher Educational Institutions” conference represents ACK’s educational role in the community and its responsibility to proactively contribute in bettering Higher Education standards in Kuwait.

Arabic courses

A

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.

India - Flag Hoisting Ceremony

O

n the occasion of the Republic Day of India, a Flag Hoisting Ceremony will be held at the Embassy of India premises at 9.00 am on Saturday, January 26, 2013. This will be followed by the reading of the message of Honorable President of India by the Ambassador, singing of patriotic songs, and an Open House Reception. All Indian nationals in Kuwait are cordially invited to attend the Ceremony.

Nabil Hammoud, General Manager

Marina Hotel celebrates its annual staff party

Nritta Dhyana silver jubilee

N

ritta Dhyana, a well-known school for Indian classical dance in Kuwait, will celebrate its silver jubilee on Friday (January 18) from 5.30 pm onwards at the Marina Hall, Abbassiya. During the celebration, Nritta Dhyana students under the guidance of its creative director Sujatha Rajendran will present a dazzling show of Indian classical dances. All dance lovers are welcome.

M

arina Hotel Kuwait held its annual staff party 2012 at Salwa Sabah Al Ahmed Theater and Hall. The event was filled with fun and entertainment which gave everyone the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy.

In his welcoming speech, Nabil Hammoud, General Manager, appreciated the team spirit that prevailed between

the hotel’s management and employees.

He reiterated the hotels vision and commitment of mentoring the employee’s skills and interests by ensuring a professional working ambience which includes efficiency and exceptional service towards guests.

Hammoud further thanked all the management and the employees for

their integrity and dedication for the year 2012 and encouraged the staff to aim higher by continuous improvement of 1% everyday.

The agenda for the evening had interesting programs special recognition awards were distributed by Nabil Hammoud in various categories for best performers of the year, the best supervi-

sors of the year and best employee of the year. The most awaited part was revealing of Mr. & Ms. Marina 2012 based on professionalism, team player and peer relationship fairly done by means of ballot by the hotel employees.

The event concluded with a lavish dinner buffet, employees and management were glad to be part of the celebration.

India participates in 3rd economic exhibition Xmas AT ICSK KHAITAN

T

he Indian Community School, Khaitan, had a weeklong wonderful and joyous Christmas celebration with spectacular programs presented by different classes. The school choir enthralled the audience with their melodious Christmas carols. The students of the Primary wing presented excellent skits depicting the message of Christmas. They also danced gracefully to the tunes of famous Christmas carols.

The nativity scene presented by the senior students depicted the story of Christmas. Santa Claus was welcomed to the stage with a thunderous applause. The school went into a jubilant mood as children sang and danced with their favorite friend, Santa. The program culminated with a message from the Principal to spread love, brotherhood and harmony. The school senate conducted an inter-house Christmas-tree decoration competition as a part of the celebration. Sahyog house won the first place in the competition. Also, ICSK, Khaitan Branch, observed the last two weeks of the year as the fortnight of selfless service. During this period, K. Gangadhar Shirsath, Principal of ICSK Khaitan, exhorted everyone to spread the message of love. He congratulated all the students who had carried out any act of selfless service during the fortnight. He also encouraged them to spread joy during the festive season through selfless service.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

A

n Economic Exhibition, organized by the Economic Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kuwait, was held on January 13, 2013 at Diamond Ballroom, Sheraton Hotel, Kuwait from 1000 hrs to 2000 hrs. The event was inaugurated by the Under Secretary Khaled AlJarallah. This is the 3rd year in succession that such an Exhibition has been organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Al-Jarallah visited the India pavilion which was decorated exquisitely with ëIncredible Indiaí posters.

A variety of brochures on Investment opportunities in India, tourism, including Medical tourism, etc. were displayed and distributed during the event. DVDs and CDs were played on various topics, including Indiaís vibrant economy, gem and jewellery and tourism.

ICSK Khaitan celebrates new year with ‘Senate Fest 2012’

I

n a novel way to usher in the New Year, the Indian Community School, Khaitan, held ‘Senate Fest’, a festival for the students on 31st December, 2012. The festival provided the students an opportunity to display their talents and also instilled in them a sense of service towards the institution.

Vijay Karayil, Honorary Secretary to the ICSK Board of Trustees, inaugurated the ‘Senate Fest’. The occasion was graced by Parent Advisory Council members, Ninan Joseph, the Parent representative to the Board of Trustees; K.J. John; Farah Zeba Yusuf; Reyana Mahesh and Abdul Salam.

The students of classes 6-10 put up various stalls for food-items,

games, mehandi-designing, hairdressing, hand-made craft items etc.

The renditions of the school choir added to the charm of the occasion.

The campus of ICSK Khaitan reverberated with the gaiety of the festival. The event was organised by the Senate members of the school under the guidance of the Senate advisors, Sushmeeta Prakash and Jose E.V. The Principal, Vice-Principal and all members of the staff appreciated the students for their sincere efforts in organizing the festival in a short span of time without sacrificing their studies. Senate Fest 2012 was, indeed, a befitting celebration of the past year and an apt welcome for the New Year.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Kuwait’s young leaders to develop ‘campaigns for change’

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 The 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-imenquiry@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. � � � ��� � �

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. � � � ��� � �

K

uwait Leadership Mastery (KLM), a program designed to teach leadership skills to young adults in Kuwait, has completed two seminars at Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) in West Mishref.

Nearly 60 participants have been assigned to one of seven leadership teams and each team is developing a Campaign for Change to help improve Kuwait. Teams include Education Reform, Business Development, Environment, Health & Nutrition,

Leadership, National Unity and Social Responsibility. KLM teams will present their Campaigns for Change on March 13, 2013 (the final KLM seminar). A panel of judges will evaluate the campaigns and award commemorative prizes for first, second, and third place winners. GUST business professor, Dr. John P. Hayes, received funding from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the US State Department to develop and lead the program. Dr. Hayes will teach two more KLM semi-

nars in 2013 before the participants graduate in April.

US Ambassador to Kuwait, Matthew H. Tueller, welcomed the KLM participants at the first seminar in November, and also spoke informally with participants. Team mentors, including local business professionals, also greeted the participants. The mentors are volunteering their time to coach the teams as they develop programs to help benefit Kuwait. Dr. Hayes discussed leadership traits and values

during the first seminar, and then taught goal setting skills during the second seminar.

Sheryll Mairza, founder of Operation Hope in Kuwait, was the guest speaker during the second seminar. She shared her experiences as an expat leader in Kuwait during the last 20-plus years.

Adel Al-Shemali, general manager of IKEA Kuwait, and Muna Al-Fuzai, columnist for the Kuwait Times, will speak at the third seminar on February 13, 2013.

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.

IES celebrates national math year

I

ndian Educational School (Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan), Kuwait organized a Mathematics Exhibition on Wednesday, 9th January 2013, to celebrate the National Year of Mathematics to mark the 125th birth anniversary of the Indian Mathematics wizard Dr. Srinivasa Ramanujan, as it was declared by the Prime Minster of India Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The proceedings of the day began with the recitation of the verses from the Holy Qur’an, a prayer in English followed by the lighting of the Ceremonious Lamp.

The Lamp was lit by the Principal T. Premkumar, Vice Principal Lalitha Premkumar, HoD of Mathematics(Senior Section) Beena Krishna, HoD of Science and Math (Primary Section) Vinita Maheshwari and other Math teachers. The privilege to extend welcome to all the guests of the day was vested in the Deputy Cultural Secretary, Miss Alishba John.

Beena Krishna briefed the gathering about the importance, and amazing hidden benefits of Math and various competitions that were held in connection with the National Year of Mathematics. The exhibition also proved to be an auspicious day for the release of the “Mathematics News Letter” designed by Daksh of class 11, and the logo designed by Arjun Sadananda of class 10. The logo was the one chosen to be the best among the several entries received by the Math Department.

T. Premkumar in his inaugural speech enlightened the children on the life history and accomplishments of Ramanujan and wished

Drama activist turns biopic drama to film

by Sunil Cherian

I

them all success in their attempt to attain expertise in the field of Mathematics. Ramachandran Menon, Chairman, Bhavan Group of Schools, Middle East, got impressed with the exhibits and showered his words of blessings on them.

Master David of class VII, a young genius of Bhavans, then demonstrated his skill by solving the Rubik’s Cube in just 45 seconds.

Another young genius Master Ryan of class II entertained the audience with a poem on multiplication table of 8.

The occasion unfurled the saga of accolade and achievements

accomplished by Bhavanites in the second level of National Mathematics Olympiad and numerous other competitions like Logo Making (classes 9 - 10), Poster Designing (classes 7 - 8) and Chart Making (classes 5 - 6). 72 proud gold medallists in the National Mathematics Olympiad of Bhavans were adorned with medals by the Principal and the Vice Principal in the Prize Distribution Ceremony.

Honours were bestowed on the virtuosic wunderkinds at Bhavans for their outstanding endeavours, and were ardently approbated by the audience.

t was a well appreciated play on the evening of the drama competition organized by Kerala Art Lovers’ Association a few months ago in Kuwait. The play, based on the life of Kunchan Nampiar, an 18th century satire poet, bagged the best actor award for Babu Chakkola who played the title character. Now the Mangaf-based dramatist Babu Chackola is on the mission of ‘immortalizing’ the character he played and the biopic by filming it.

The 1-hour tele-drama will be telecasted on Jaihind TV on March 27, 2013.

“The digitalization of a drama is a way of storing it for the future generations”, said Babu Chakkola who runs own business in Ahmadi.

“Considering the make-up, the efforts of everyone involved, the filming of a drama is a souvenir for the drama-team too”, added Chakkola who comes up with at least one drama project each year, usually presented by Kalpak Theater, Kuwait. Last year, other than the award winning Kunchan Nampiar, Chakkola acted in the lead role of the Kalpak produced epic St Paul.

The businessman-artiste is also credited with organizing a charity program in his native town Thrissoor in memory of late music director Johnson. The show is still hailed by many as a rare tribute to a musician who gave numerous soulful

melodies. The violinist-turned musician’s brother played violin in the concert conducted as part of the commemoration program. “It was a reunion of the old teammates who had associated with Johnson in his stage concert days”, Chakkola said.

The shooting of Kunchan Nampiar is scheduled for Feb 21 at Indian central School, Abbassiya.

Regi Bhaskaran of Kairali TV will do the camera and noted sound technician Varghese Perumattom will also join the team. Raju Chirackal is to direct the film which was originally directed by Prasannan when the play was first performed, Chakkola said.

Babu Chakkola

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:50 Animal Cops Miami 01:45 Tigers Attack 02:35 Untamed & Uncut 03:25 Wildest Arctic 04:15 Gator Boys 05:05 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 05:55 Call Of The Wildman 06:20 Cheetah Kingdom 06:45 Shamwari: A Wild Life 07:35 Wildlife SOS 08:00 The Really Wild Show 08:25 My Cat From Hell 09:15 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 10:10 Deep Into The Wild With Nick Baker 11:05 Wildest Arctic 12:00 Animal Cops Philadelphia 12:55 Call Of The Wildman 13:20 Wildlife SOS 14:45 Animal Precinct 15:40 Wildest Arctic 16:35 Cheetah Kingdom 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 18:25 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 19:20 Breed All About It 20:15 Monkey Life 20:40 Bondi Vet 21:10 Call Of The Wildman 21:35 Cheetah Kingdom 22:05 Wildest Arctic

00:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 01:20 Come Dine With Me 02:05 Antiques Roadshow 03:00 House Swap 03:40 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 04:35 House Swap 05:20 Come Dine With Me 06:10 House Swap 06:50 Antiques Roadshow 07:40 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 08:10 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 08:55 Fantasy Homes In The City 09:40 Bargain Hunt 10:25 Antiques Roadshow 11:20 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 12:40 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 13:25 Come Dine With Me 14:15 10 Years Younger 15:05 Bargain Hunt 15:55 Antiques Roadshow 16:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 18:05 Britain’s Dream Homes 19:00 Rick Stein’s Mediterranean Escapes 19:55 Rhodes Across Italy 20:40 Come Dine With Me

00:00 Business Edition With Tanya Beckett 00:30 Hardtalk 01:00 BBC World News America 02:00 Newsday 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 Newsday 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 BBC World News 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 Asia Business Report 06:45 Sport Today 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 Hardtalk 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 BBC World News 11:30 World Business Report

11:45 BBC World News 12:30 Hardtalk 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 BBC World News 15:00 GMT With George Alagiah 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 Hardtalk 18:00 BBC World News 19:30 World Business Report 19:45 Sport Today 20:00 BBC World News 20:30 BBC Focus On Africa 21:00 BBC World News 21:30 World Business Report 21:45 Sport Today 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 23:30 World Business Report 23:45 Sport Today

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 11:10 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:50 13:00 13:15 13:40 13:55 14:20 14:35 14:50 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:40 19:05 19:30 19:45 20:00 20:15 20:30 20:55 21:20

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 Duck Dodgers Popeye Top Cat The Flintstones Dastardly And Muttley Ha Ha Hairies Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Cartoonito Tales Moomins Dexter’s Laboratory Johnny Bravo Tom & Jerry Pink Panther And Pals The Garfield Show What’s New Scooby-Doo? Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry Tales The Looney Tunes Show Taz-Mania Moomins Pink Panther & Pals The Garfield Show Jelly Jamm Ha Ha Hairies Gerald McBoing Boing Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas

00:40 Chowder 01:30 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:20 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 06:55 Angelo Rules 07:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:00 Mucha Lucha 08:25 Johnny Test 08:45 Regular Show

09:05 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...

13:40 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 20:55 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

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

Flying Wild Alaska Man, Woman, Wild Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Border Security Auction Kings Auction Kings How Stuff Works How It’s Made Sons Of Guns Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Gold Divers Border Security Auction Kings How Stuff Works How It’s Made Flying Wild Alaska Man, Woman, Wild Ultimate Survival Border Security Auction Kings Discovery Saved My Life Gold Divers Mythbusters Sons Of Guns How Stuff Works How It’s Made Auction Kings Magic Of Science

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

Hannah Montana Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck My Babysitter’s A Vampire A.N.T Farm Phineas And Ferb Jessie Good Luck Charlie Doc McStuffins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Mouk Jonas So Random Hannah Montana Forever Sonny With A Chance Kim Possible Shake It Up Wizards Of Waverly Place Phineas And Ferb Austin And Ally Art Attack A.N.T Farm Suite Life On Deck Shake It Up Austin And Ally Jessie

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

00:20 Little Einsteins 00:50 Special Agent Oso 01:15 Lazytown 01:40 Jungle Junction 02:10 Handy Manny 02:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:55 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 03:00 Lazytown 03:25 Special Agent Oso 03:50 Imagination Movers 04:15 Handy Manny 04:40 Special Agent Oso 05:00 Timmy Time 05:10 Lazytown 05:35 Little Einsteins 06:00 Jungle Junction 06:30 Little Einsteins 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:45 Handy Manny 08:00 Special Agent Oso 08:15 Imagination Movers 08:45 Handy Manny 09:00 The Hive 09:10 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 09:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 10:05 Doc McStuffins 10:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:00 Mouk 11:15 Animated Stories 11:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 11:45 Art Attack 12:10 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 12:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 13:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 13:10 Doc McStuffins 13:25 Handy Manny 13:40 Jungle Junction 13:55 Timmy Time 14:05 The Hive 14:15 Mouk 14:30 Little Einsteins 14:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 15:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:00 The Little Mermaid 16:25 Art Attack 16:55 Zou 17:20 Handy Manny 17:35 The Hive 17:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 18:10 Doc McStuffins 18:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 19:10 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 19:35 Zou 20:05 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 20:25 Doc McStuffins 20:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:10 The Hive 21:20 Timmy Time 21:30 Mouk 21:45 Handy Manny 22:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:25 The Hive 22:35 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 23:00 Timmy Time 23:10 Animated Stories 23:15 A Poem Is...

23:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 23:30 Jungle Junction 23:45 Handy Manny 23:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

00:00 KSA 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 09:55 10:20 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:50 13:20 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:05 17:30 18:00 18:25 18:50 20:55 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:05 23:30

A SEPARATION ON OSN CINEMA

A.N.T Farm Good Luck Charlie Gravity Falls Suite Life On Deck Austin And Ally Phineas And Ferb A.N.T. Farm Good Luck Charlie Jessie That’s So Raven Cory In The House Kim Possible Hannah Montana Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana

00:00 00:55 01:25 03:15 03:40 04:10 05:05 06:00 07:50 08:20 10:15 12:05 13:05 14:05 York 15:00 15:30

16:30 Behind The Scenes 17:00 Giuliana & Bill 18:00 E! News 19:00 Fashion Police 20:00 E!es 21:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 22:00 Ice Loves Coco 22:30 E! News 23:30 Chelsea Lately

00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:30 Heat Seekers 01:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:20 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 02:45 Guy’s Big Bite 03:10 Guy’s Big Bite 03:35 Ultimate Recipe Showdown 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 10:30 Barefoot Contessa 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 18:00 Barefoot Contessa 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 The Next Iron Chef 22:10 Charly’s Cake Angels 22:35 Charly’s Cake Angels 23:00 Unique Sweets 23:25 Unique Sweets 23:50 Have Cake, Will Travel

00:40 01:30 02:20 03:05 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

Disappeared Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted Deadly Affairs Deadly Women Disappeared Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted FBI Case Files Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn FBI Case Files Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

FBI Case Files Disappeared Forensic Detectives Mall Cops – Mall Of America On The Case With Paula Zahn Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill American Greed I Almost Got Away With It

Programmes Start At 7:00am Kickin It Phineas And Ferb Almost Naked Animals Pokemon: BW Rival Destinies Slugterra Scaredy Squirrel Ultimate Spider-Man Pair Of Kings Phineas And Ferb Zeke & Luther Lab Rats Kickin It Mr. Young Pair Of Kings Zeke & Luther Kick Buttowski I’m In The Band Phineas And Ferb Pokemon: BW Rival Destinies Rekkit Rabbit Pair Of Kings Almost Naked Animals Lab Rats Slugterra Kickin It Scaredy Squirrel Phineas And Ferb I’m In The Band Rated A For Awesome Rekkit Rabbit Phineas And Ferb Ultimate Spider-Man Kick Buttowski Scaredy Squirrel

Dirty Soap Style Star E!es Behind The Scenes Extreme Close-Up THS E!es THS Behind The Scenes Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane THS Khloe And Lamar Married To Jonas Kourtney & Kim Take New Style Star THS

00:15 Kimchi Chronicles 00:45 Around The World For Free 01:40 A World Apart 02:35 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 03:30 Banged Up Abroad 04:25 By Any Means 05:20 Nomads 06:15 Food School 06:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 07:10 Delinquent Gourmet 07:35 Kimchi Chronicles 08:05 Around The World For Free 09:00 A World Apart 09:55 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 10:50 Banged Up Abroad 11:45 By Any Means 12:40 Nomads 13:35 Food School 14:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 14:30 Delinquent Gourmet 14:55 Kimchi Chronicles 15:25 Around The World For Free 16:20 A World Apart 17:15 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 18:10 Banged Up Abroad 19:05 By Any Means 20:00 Delinquent Gourmet 20:30 Kimchi Chronicles 21:00 Food School 21:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 22:00 Nomads 22:55 Food School 23:20 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 23:50 David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway

00:00 01:00 01:55 India) 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35

Animal Intervention Lost Sharks of Easter Island Wild India (aka Secrets of Wild Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals Swamp Men Hidden Worlds

SEASON OF THE WITCH ON OSN ACTION HD 06:00 06:30 India) 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

Hidden Worlds Wild India (aka Secrets of Wild Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals World’s Worst Venom World’s Weirdest Wild Case Files World’s Deadliest GPU Triumph of Life Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals How Big Can It Get World’s Weirdest Wild Case Files Monster Fish Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals World’s Worst Venom World’s Weirdest

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Payback-18 The Rite-18 Tank Girl-PG15 Restitution-PG15 Wild Bill-PG15 Go Fast-PG15 Season Of The Witch-PG15 Wild Bill-PG15 Boiler Room-PG15 Season Of The Witch-PG15 Deadtime Stories 2-18 The Silence Of The Lambs-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 PG15 08:00 09:00 11:00 PG15 13:00 15:00 16:45 18:30 21:00 23:00

A Separation-PG15 Hanna-PG15 Open Season 3-FAM Marion Jones: Press PauseMuhammad And Larry-PG15 A Separation-PG15 The Deep End Of The OceanGame Of Death-PG15 Eva-PG15 Riddles Of The Sphinx-PG15 John Carter-PG15 I’m Still Here-PG15 Chloe-R

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Community 02:00 American Dad 02:30 Weeds 03:00 New Girl 03:30 The Simpsons 04:00 Brothers 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 Brothers 08:30 New Girl 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 Brothers 13:00 Til Death 13:30 Samantha Who? 14:00 The Simpsons 15:00 Melissa & Joey 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 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 The Big C 23:00 The Ricky Gervais Show 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 Grey’s Anatomy 02:00 World Without End 04:00 Breaking Bad

05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Good Morning America Royal Pains Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House Royal Pains Grey’s Anatomy House Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street The Finder Warehouse 13 Awake The Carrie Diaries Breaking Bad

00:00 03:00 07:00 07:30 12:00 12:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 23:00

Grimm Six Feet Under Emmerdale Coronation Street Emmerdale Coronation Street Parenthood Emmerdale Coronation Street C.S.I. The Finder Warehouse 13 Awake Six Feet Under

02:00 28 Days-PG15 04:00 The Decoy Bride-PG15 08:00 Best In Show-PG15 10:00 The Marc Pease ExperiencePG15 12:00 The Decoy Bride-PG15 14:00 Elf-PG 16:00 The Marc Pease ExperiencePG15 18:00 Desperately Seeking SantaPG15 20:00 The Waterboy-PG15 22:00 The Legend Of Awesomest Maximus-18

01:00 Shanghai-PG15 05:00 The Adjustment Bureau-PG15 07:00 Lies In Plain Sight-PG15 09:00 Bright Star-PG15 11:00 George Harrison: Living In The Material World-PG15 14:30 An Invisible Sign Of My OwnPG15 16:15 Bright Star-PG15 18:15 The Insider-PG15 21:00 Would Be Kings-PG15 23:00 Evita-PG

01:00 03:15 05:06 07:06 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:15 17:00 18:45 21:00 23:00

The Flowers Of War-PG15 According To Greta-PG15 The Conspirator-PG15 Puss In Boots-PG Hop-PG Monte Carlo-PG15 Courageous-PG15 Restless-PG15 Hop-PG Real Steel-PG15 I’m Still Here-PG15 The Rum Diary-18

01:00 Micropolis-FAM 02:45 Battle For Terra-PG 04:30 The Ugly Duckling In The Enchanted Forest-FAM 06:00 Alpha And Omega-PG 08:00 A Fairy Tale Christmas-FAM 09:30 Cars 2-FAM 11:30 Olentzero Christmas Tale-FAM 13:00 Tom And Jerry & The Wizard Of Oz-FAM 14:30 Battle For Terra-PG 16:00 Marley & Me: The Puppy Years-PG 18:00 Cars 2-FAM 20:00 Little Secrets-PG 22:00 Tom And Jerry & The Wizard Of Oz-FAM 23:30 A Fairy Tale Christmas-FAM

02:00 Cricket Twenty20 05:00 Rugby Union Challenge Cup 07:00 Snooker Masters 11:00 Live Cricket Twenty20 14:00 Futbol Mundial 14:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 15:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 16:30 Live Snooker Masters 20:30 Futbol Mundial 21:00 Trans World Sport 22:00 Live Snooker Masters

01:30 Triathlon UK 02:30 Snooker Masters 06:30 ICC Cricket 360 07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 Cricket T20 11:00 Triathlon UK 11:30 Snooker Masters 15:30 Triathlon UK 16:30 Triathlon UK 17:00 PGA Tour Highlights 18:00 ICC Cricket 360 18:30 Cricket T20 21:30 PGA European Tour Weekly 22:00 Inside the PGA 22:30 PGA Tour Highlights 23:30 PGA European Tour Highlights

00:00 World Cup of Pool 01:00 Top 14 Highlights 01:30 Golfing World 02:30 Dubai World Cup Carnival 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 09:00 World Pool Masters 10:00 World Cup of Pool 11:00 Spirit of Yachting 13:00 Golfing World 14:00 Top 14 Highlights 14:30 Cricket T20 17:30 Futbol Mundial 18:00 Rugby Union European Challenge Cup 20:00 Spirit of Golf 21:00 Golfing World 22:00 Spirit of a Champion 23:00 World Pool Masters

00:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter The Smashes 01:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 03:00 UFC Unleashed 05:00 NHL 07:00 WWE Vintage Collection 08:00 WWE NXT 09:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 11:00 NHL 13:00 WWE SmackDown 15:00 WWE Vintage Collection 16:00 Prizefighter 19:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter The Smashes 20:00 UFC Unleashed 21:00 UFC

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 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 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00

American Pickers Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Storage Wars American Pickers Mud Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Storage Wars Mud Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Storage Wars American Pickers Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Storage Wars American Pickers Pawn Stars

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

ACCOMMODATION Accommodation available with a single lady for couples / ladies, near Canary Restaurant, Abbasiya.

Contact: 24346602/ 99254284. (C 4279) 8-1-2013

MATRIMONIAL Christian, Marthomite parents settled in South Africa, invite proposals from parents of professionally qualified youngsters aged between 29 and 32 years, well to do and respected Christian family background, for our daughter 28 years, Commerce graduate, working in South Africa.

Contact: Email: madhubina@gmail.com (C 4280) 9-1-2012

FOR SALE Mitsubishi jeep Outlander model 2012 dark silver colour 4 cylinder engine, km 17,000, 4x4 drive electronic gear (installment possible) cash price KD 3,850. Tel: 66507741.

(C 4282) 16-1-2013

Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 Prayer timings Fajr:

05:20

Shorook

06:44

Duhr:

11:57

Asr:

14:51

Maghrib:

17:11

Isha:

18:32

112 DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JAI THY JZR JZR QTR ETH GFA UAE ETD OMA QTR FDB MSR DHX THY JZR JZR BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC ETD KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB ETD GFA BAB IRA FDB JZR IZG MEA KNE MSR UAE IRM KAC CLX IZG FDB KAC IRC SVA QTR JZR

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 16/1/2013 Flt Route 574 MUMBAI 772 ISTANBUL 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 148 DOHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 138 DOHA 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 770 ISTANBUL 555 ALEXANDRIA 529 ASSIUT 157 LONDON 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 933 ABU DHABI 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 121 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 436 BAHRAIN 603 SHIRAZ 69 DUBAI 165 DUBAI 4175 TEHRAN 404 BEIRUT 470 JEDDAH 610 CAIRO 871 DUBAI 1190 MASHAD 382 DELHI 792 LUXEMBOURG 4167 MASHAD 57 DUBAI 672 DUBAI 6692 MASHAD 500 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 561 SOHAG

Time 0:30 0:35 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:45 1:50 2:35 2:45 2:50 3:01 3:05 3:10 5:15 5:30 6:00 6:35 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:55 8:05 8:30 8:40 8:40 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:55 10:05 10:40 10:45 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:10 12:45 12:50 12:50 12:55 13:15 13:30 13:50 14:10 14:10 14:30 14:45 14:50

KAC KAC QTR KAC JZR IYE UAE JZR ETD RJA GFA SVA KNE JZR QTR ABY UAL KAC JZR KAC BAB FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB KAC JAI AXB MSR ABY QTR ALK MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE JZR DHX FDB KLM AIC JZR GFA JZR QTR UAL DLH

788 284 134 538 787 824 857 357 303 640 215 510 462 777 144 127 982 542 177 786 438 63 166 618 102 674 774 647 61 614 572 389 606 129 146 229 402 136 221 307 859 135 372 59 417 975 239 217 185 6130 981 636

JEDDAH DHAKA DOHA SHARM EL SHEIKH/SOHAG RIYADH SANAA/DOHA DUBAI MASHAD ABU DHABI AMMAN BAHRAIN RIYADH MEDINAH JEDDAH DOHA SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES CAIRO DUBAI JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI PARIS/ROME DOHA NEW YORK/LONDON DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI BAHRAIN MUMBAI MANGALORE LUXOR SHARJAH DOHA COLOMBO BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI AMSTERDAM CHENNAI/GOA AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN FRANKFURT

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

Airlines JAI THY JZR JZR QTR ETH GFA UAE ETD OMA QTR FDB MSR DHX THY JZR JZR BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC ETD KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB ETD GFA BAB IRA FDB JZR IZG MEA KNE MSR UAE IRM KAC CLX IZG FDB KAC IRC SVA QTR JZR

Departure Flights on Wednesday 16/1/2013 Flt Route 574 MUMBAI 772 ISTANBUL 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 148 DOHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 138 DOHA 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 770 ISTANBUL 555 ALEXANDRIA 529 ASSIUT 157 LONDON 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 933 ABU DHABI 344 CHENNAI 855 DUBAI 121 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 436 BAHRAIN 603 SHIRAZ 69 DUBAI 165 DUBAI 4175 TEHRAN 404 BEIRUT 470 JEDDAH 610 CAIRO 871 DUBAI 1190 MASHAD 382 DELHI 792 LUXEMBOURG 4167 MASHAD 57 DUBAI 672 DUBAI 6692 MASHAD 500 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 561 SOHAG

Time 0:30 0:35 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:45 1:50 2:35 2:45 2:50 3:01 3:05 3:10 5:15 5:30 6:00 6:35 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:55 8:05 8:30 8:40 8:40 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:55 10:05 10:40 10:45 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:10 12:45 12:50 12:50 12:55 13:15 13:30 13:50 14:10 14:10 14:30 14:45 14:50

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

KAC KAC QTR KAC JZR IYE UAE JZR ETD RJA GFA SVA KNE JZR QTR ABY UAL KAC JZR KAC BAB FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB KAC JAI AXB MSR ABY QTR ALK MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE JZR DHX FDB KLM AIC JZR GFA JZR QTR UAL DLH

788 284 134 538 787 824 857 357 303 640 215 510 462 777 144 127 982 542 177 786 438 63 166 618 102 674 774 647 61 614 572 389 606 129 146 229 402 136 221 307 859 135 372 59 417 975 239 217 185 6130 981 636

JEDDAH DHAKA DOHA SHARM EL SHEIKH/SOHAG RIYADH SANAA/DOHA DUBAI MASHAD ABU DHABI AMMAN BAHRAIN RIYADH MEDINAH JEDDAH DOHA SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES CAIRO DUBAI JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI PARIS/ROME DOHA NEW YORK/LONDON DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI BAHRAIN MUMBAI MANGALORE LUXOR SHARJAH DOHA COLOMBO BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI AMSTERDAM CHENNAI/GOA AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN FRANKFURT

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

34

s ta rs CROSSWORD 71

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) ARIES Diplomacy is the word for today. Whether you are dealing with work or personal business matters, you seem to know just what to say to get what you think is a fair deal. It is not a sign of weakness to obtain some advice if you feel you need it. You could be seen by others as just the person to be put in charge of some project requiring a conservative mind. Be aware that someone may be out to irritate you on purpose today. Knowing this you can quite happily go on about your business. Marriage and other close relationships give rise to great expectations, as a new cycle gets underway in your life. This is a time to enjoy and appreciate your ties to others. You seek and promote harmony. You may be able to enjoy your own life circumstances today.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You may decide to share some important information with co-workers in order to review the issues and make the points clear in your own mind. However, be very careful with whom you share this information. Others value you for your ability to make practical decisions concerning group issues. Ideas and thoughts will have greater meaning and form.

You may be very articulate or forceful in speaking or communicating. People will understand just what you mean—this is a favorable time. You do best in jobs that offer you opportunities to interact with a variety of people, from a variety of backgrounds. This evening you might consider a romantic book or take in a movie. You will gain the attention of a loved one later tonight.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. 10 grams.

4. Dark brown mustelid of woodlands of Eurasia that gives off an unpleasant odor when threatened.

11. Stems of beans and peas and potatoes and grasses collectively as used for thatching and bedding.

15. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

16. Thick cushion used as a seat.

17. On or toward the lee.

18. American prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942).

19. A conversation between two persons.

21. United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946).

23. A long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head.

24. A river in southeastern Australia that flows generally northwest to join the Darling River.

25. A fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services.

28. A tiny or scarcely detectable amount.

29. A soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element.

31. A trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

32. The Japanese art of folding paper into shapes representing objects (e.g., flowers or birds).

34. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

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

40. The compass point midway between northeast and east.

45. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

46. A person of Iranian descent.

48. A farewell remark.

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

53. 100 bututs equal 1 dalasi.

54. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells.

55. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

57. A lake in northwestern Russia north of St. Petersburg.

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

59. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

60. Type genus of the Ranidae.

64. The cry made by sheep.

67. The sound made by a horse.

70. A member of the Circassian people living east of the Black Sea. 72. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

74. The syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization.

75. An ambitious and aspiring young person.

78. Wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills.

79. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

80. A genus of Pleuronectidae.

81. A small cake leavened with yeast.

DOWN 1. Lacking or deprive of the sense of hearing wholly or in part.

2. Bushy plant of Old World salt marshes and sea beaches having prickly leaves.

3. Intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death).

4. Coarse food (especially for cattle and horses) composed of entire plants or the leaves and stalks of a cereal crop.

5. United States inventor who manufactured the first elevator with a safety device (18111861).

6. A reptile genus of Iguanidae.

7. Hungarian playwright (1878-1952).

8. Naked freshwater or marine or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and locomotion.

9. A motley assortment of things.

10. A state in east central United States.

11. A state in the United States in the central Pacific on the Hawaiian Islands.

12. The mission in San Antonio where in 1836 Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged and massacred American rebels who were fighting to make Texas independent of Mexico.

13. Dormouse of southern Europe and northern Africa.

14. Transmissions that are disseminated widely to the public.

20. An associate degree in nursing.

22. Plant having a large slender white bulb and flat overlapping dark green leaves.

26. An informal conversation.

27. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

30. Any of several tropical and subtropical treelike herbs of the genus Musa having a terminal crown of large entire leaves and usually bearing hanging clusters of elongated fruits.

33. (informal) Roused to anger.

35. A midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region.

37. A South American shrub whose leaves are chewed by natives of the Andes.

38. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

39. A village in eastern Ireland (northwest of Dublin).

41. (used as a sentenced connector) Therefore or consequently.

42. A plant fiber used for making rope.

43. (Middle East) Usually small round bread that can open into a pocket for filling.

44. A (usually canopied) seat for riding on the back of a camel or elephant.

47. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

49. The organ stop having a tone of soft sweet string quality.

50. (dialect) A short straight stick of wood.

51. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off.

56. A Japanese cheer of enthusiasm or triumph.

61. A popular island resort in the Netherlands Antilles.

62. (Sumerian and Babylonian) A solar deity.

63. Squash bugs.

65. Little known Kamarupan languages.

66. A Loloish language.

68. The mother of your father or mother.

69. Conforming to truth.

71. A pointed tool for marking surfaces or for punching small holes.

73. Large brownish-green New Zealand parrot.

76. A metric unit of length equal to one billionth of a meter.

77. A bachelor's degree in religion.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Big changes affecting your career, status and reputation are likely now. Daring to be different gets you noticed and could get you ahead in ways you never expected. Mental development at high levels is a major theme in your life. This is a time to broaden your horizons both intellectually and spiritually. Education, publishing, broadcasting, legal and political interests offer opportunities—only if you are paying attention. This afternoon is a wonderful time to bond with your loved one or to take a risk and meet someone new. It is easy for you to act according to how you think you are expected to act—now would be a good time to become aware of a more realistic you. If you would not like to have yourself as your own best friend—ask why not!

Cancer (June 21-July 22) This is a great time to be with others and to work together. You may be asked to do a particular job. This is a good time for you to coax a better paycheck for yourself. You may realize some positive development to a couple of your professional goals at this time. Money matters are strong for the next few weeks. A visitor in your home this afternoon will compliment you on your creative style. Through this visit with a friend, you may find constructive ways to work out a trade for some skills. They help you and you help them.

Unsettled issues with a life partner could continue to be a sore point unless you do some deep analyzing and reevaluation of the circumstances; a compromise may be in order. The evening brings satisfaction.

Leo (July 23-August 22) There may be challenges, blocks and obstacles this month but you are learning how to weed through the unessential. Allocate duties and you will have help in solving problems quickly. If you do not have that authority, ask for it, for the good of the company.

Looking back over past events you will have a feeling of accomplishment—this will allow you to move forward. Looking at how the past fits in to your growth and achievements now, will gain you much satisfaction. Radical change is coming, not now, but in the near future and you will be ready for these changes. Although you may be feeling burdened with responsibilities just now, you should soon begin to have more time for your personal and family needs. Enjoy the evening.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) This is a time of ambition and responsibility, a time to keep your cool and pace yourself. Follow up on all the projects you have in progress now. Be as cooperative as you can in the workplace. Working with others should be easy today. In-depth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best. Your investigative skills are finely tuned. Ideas and interaction with authority figures are positive and upbeat. Science, philosophy or religion is likely to seem as if it holds the ultimate answers at this time in your life. True wisdom lies in discovering that there are no ultimate answers, only good questions. Ideological crusades can set your head spinning; distant journeys can stir your soul. Social connections are likely this evening.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) You may feel separated from the normal flow of energies around you today.

One good way to get a focus on your day is to write down your ideas. The powers of organization on a social scale—business, politics and such—seem to take on a larger than life aura as you enter into a new cycle. It is as if ambition and authority are answers in themselves, rather than only a means to an ideal objective. The evening brings with it opportunities to visit with family members that have been out of touch lately. Sharing ideas and making big plans for future activities may bring your energies back up to par. Conversations, picture albums and food all come into play before the evening has ended. Everybody has something encouraging to share.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) The workplace is full of activity. Much is accomplished today. You are entering a phase of emotional directness and impulsiveness now—one marked by forceful and powerful feelings. Sometimes this is good, but sometimes this is not so good; your job is to learn how to know the difference in your decision-making. This may also require a presence of mind and real patience in order to avoid flare-ups. Emotional beginnings, perhaps a fresh start is a positive step; a new outline or plan is in order. It is still a good time to travel— although you could experience delays. Be careful of your expenses; something you thought you wanted at this time, may hold no interest tomorrow. Any ongoing problem with a member of the family will be solved soon.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Work gets underway in productive ways. Good humor wins out over a confusing day. Good feelings and hard work come easily when you take time to move and exercise. Breaks for exercise can create some wonderful new zeal for better motivation in the afternoon. You can continue to focus on business affairs. One minute you feel you need emotional stimulation and another moment you want intellectual stimulation. It sounds as though you need to enjoy a night out on the town with a romantic partner! Something really cool comes your way this evening. If you are with a partner, get out and go to a play, enjoy some stimulating entertainment or a fun dinner out at a new restaurant this evening. Later there will be time for romance.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Career or vocational decisions and practical advice to others could wait a while.

Instead, you may find yourself feeling more private and just not in the mood to extend your energies. If you are put in a place to give advice, you might ask that the request be made after you have had an opportunity to refurbish your energy. If you are working, you will need to be taking your breaks so that whatever frustrations you feel from others do not accumulate in your own character. Someone close to you understands you and is supportive of your needs. You could stop a while to contemplate some new solutions and by this afternoon, you will be back in the swing of things. This evening you will do well in activities that include children, young people and home.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Interaction with others is the norm today. Some heavy workload has just been or will soon be completed. You have a couple of hours each day to just relax and enjoy. Stress can be addictive—it is time for you to enjoy a life with less stress. With your sense of humor, you will teach others to laugh and enjoy the art of living. Meditation brings self-awareness and that can set you free from being a prisoner of your own devices.

Discovering new and positive avenues of working and thinking is a plus and becomes natural now. A change in financial status is possible and can move in unexpected directions. This is a very nice day, filled with some renewed appreciation for all that is beautiful and fine. You enjoy a visit with an older person tonight.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Avoid risks with money or business today. There are delayed decisions at work and at home and if you do not rush things, magical things will happen.

Patience is the only way to handle today’s and tomorrow’s frustrating events. Do not be surprised if, after you have begun a project, there are interruptions. Starts and stops may be commonplace. Stopping when energies demand it may save you from making mistakes later.

Many people around you today will help you with your work if needed. Protect company secrets. Follow your intuition when you are in doubt. By the end of the day you will be very pleased at your progress. This evening would be a good time to work on your book or an art project, enjoy young people and talk to your family members.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 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

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

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

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Faiha

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

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

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

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

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LIFESTYLE M u s i c

&

M o v i e s

Matt Damon ‘thrilled’ for Ben Affleck’s movie awards triumphs

B

Camera crews film shutters opening for trading at a branch of HMV on Oxford Street in London, yesterday. —AP photos

British retail giant HMV faces the music of distress F

or generations of British music fans, HMV stores were the perfect place to while away a Saturday afternoon, browsing through racks of albums, new singles and the latest bargain. But now the group, the last major music and DVD specialist left on the British high street, has followed rivals into administration as it succumbs to the reality of the new Internet age and a shift to digital formats. HMV will continue trading while a buyer is sought, but the future looks bleak for the more than 4,300 staff in 239 stores across Britain and Ireland.

The company has been hammered for years on price and range by online rivals such as iTunes and Amazon, as well as the supermarkets, coupled with a sharp decline in physical sales coinciding with a boom in digital entertainment.

It has huge debts and in December it reported sales were down 13.5 percent, prompting the chain to warn that it could breach crucial banking agreements in January. The share price crashed, leaving the company valued on Monday at just over £5 million (six million euros, $8.0 million) — a far cry from the almost £850 million proposed in a 2006 private takeover offer.

HMV is the lone survivor of a desperate decade for the industry that has felled rivals Our Price, Tower Records, Virgin Music and Zavvi. It had sought to innovate, introducing a click and collect service, free open wi-fi in shops and ‘myhmv’, a personalised web-based service that connects to customers’ mobile phones when they enter a store and offers them tailored deals.

But critics say the company was too slow to

respond to the Internet. Kate Calvert, an analyst at Seymour Pierce brokers, said this week’s developments were “inevitable, with the declining footfall on the high street and the nature of the fact that their product categories are disappearing”. “HMV isn’t a brand that the youth of today think of,” she told AFP. Attempt to focus on audio equipment The first HMV opened on London’s Oxford Street in 1921 under the ownership of the Gramophone Company, which endowed it with its iconic trademark, the image of a dog listening to a gramophone-His Master’s Voice. It became part of music history in 1962 when Brian Epstein cut a demo for The Beatles in the shop studio, which led to the Fab Four signing with EMI, the record label which owned HMV until 1996. The group expanded rapidly in the 1980s, opening HMV branches in North America, Australia, Japan, the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore, buying the Waterstones book chain and moving into the live music business.

But the overseas stores were subsequently sold, except for eight in Hong Kong and Singapore, as were the book and live music units, leaving the company dependent on its core market-music, visual and games, as well as technology. HMV sought to reduce its reliance on music given the steady decline in CD sales, which fell by about 15 percent last year, while DVD sales fell by a slightly smaller amount, according to industry figures.

Digital sales of music, video and games grew in 2011 by 11 percent. HMV stores cleared space

for technology such as headphones, speakers, mp3 players and tablets, which made up a quarter of its sales, and were viewed as a major growth area for the company. But one of the main reasons HMV has survived this long is the support of its core suppliers, the film studios and record labels. They reportedly provided £40 million to the group last year, as well as taking an equity share and providing HMV stores with greater access to back catalogues and an option to buy stock on consignment.

Andy Heath, a record label boss and chairman of industry body UK Music, acknowledged that HMV had been “wounded very badly” by the Internet and said they struggled to respond because they were simply too big. He suggested that going into administration “gives it an opportunity for a very substantial rebirth”. Kim Bayley, the head of industry body the Entertainment Retailers Association, also said that while the latest development was “very sad”, all was not lost.

“We remain very positive that there’s a chance for a buyer out there, and that this is a viable business,” she told AFP. She cited HMV figures showing 170 million visited their stores last year, adding that three-quarters of the entertainment market was still physical, and HMV has a third of that market. “Some people have migrated online but a lot of people don’t want that, they like shopping,” she said. However, Calvert is not convinced. If someone wanted to buy it, “they would have done it already”, she said. —AFP

en Affleck is storming through the Hollywood awards season with his movie “Argo,” and no-one could be happier than his old friend Matt Damon.

“Argo,” which Affleck directed, produced and stars in, won best drama movie and best director awards at both the Golden Globes on Sunday and the Critics Choice last week. It is also nominated for seven Oscars. The story of the rescue of U.S. diplomats from Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has put Affleck back in the spotlight after a grueling period 10 years ago when he became tabloid fodder while dating Jennifer Lopez, and the couple starred in 2003 romantic comedy flop “Gigli.” Damon, with whom Affleck shared a screenplay Oscar for the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting,” talked with Reuters about his friend’s success.

Q: You must be so proud of Affleck.

A: “I’m just thrilled for him. I’m really happy. I’m not at all surprised, because I’ve known him for so long and I know how talented he is.”

Q: Ben went through a rough patch in the early 2000s when the media was merciless with him, his career and his personal life. Was it rough to watch from the sidelines?

A: “It was tough to watch him get kicked in the teeth for all those years because the perception of him was so not who he actually was. I always felt a knee-jerk need to defend him. It was just upsetting. It was upsetting for a lot of his friends because he’s the smartest, funnest, nicest, kindest, incredibly talented guy. And the perception of him was the opposite. So that was tough.”

Q: When did that perception change for better?

A: “It’s taken him a long time. It wasn’t one thing that got him out of the penalty box. He had to dig. He did a lot of really good work over a long amount of time. The last movie he did (“The Town”) was a great movie. And the movie before was a great too (“Gone Baby Gone”). Finally people now are ready to go, ‘Wow, he’s at the very top of the food chain.’”

Q: The two of you came up together in your careers, and won a screenplay Oscar together. How is it that you escaped the media scrutiny and he didn’t?

A: “Ten years ago he was in a relationship (with actress Jennifer Lopez) and he was on the cover of Us Weekly magazine every week. Nobody was more aware of it than him. I talked to him about it back then. He said, ‘I am in the absolute worse place you can be; I sell magazines not movie tickets.’ I remember our agent called up the editor of Us Weekly, begging her not to put him on the cover any

more: Please stop. Just stop! And she said, ‘My hands are tied. He’s still moving magazines all through the mid-West.

Sorry.’ So he was aware of what was happening as it was happening.”

Q: Do you think “Gigli” deserved to be vilified in that way that it was?

A: “There are a lot of movies that cost more and made less than ‘Gigli.’ But for some reason, people think ‘Gigli’ is the biggest bomb of the last decade and it wasn’t. There’s a narrative that gets attached to all this stuff and Ben knew it.

He had a millstone around his neck and that’s it.”

Q: As Ben goes through this awards season, what are you feeling?

A: “Now I’m just thrilled. I’m watching him go through it and it’s great. He deserves everything that he’s going to get. Just for going through what he went through, he deserves it. But he deserves it because he made a great movie.” —Reuters

Japanese film director Oshima dies at 80

N

Japanese director Nagisa Oshima arrives with his wife Akiko Koyama at the Festival Palace to attend the screening of his film “Gohatto” in competition at the 53rd International Film Festival in Cannes. —AP

agisa Oshima, a Japanese director known for internationally acclaimed films “Empire of Passion” and “In the Realm of the Senses,” has died of pneumonia. He was 80.

His office says Oshima died yesterday afternoon at a hospital near Tokyo. A former student activist from Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, Oshima debuted in 1959, often depicting social issues. Oshima quickly rose to fame as a leading Japanese “new wave” director.

Oshima stirred public indecency debate in Japan when he released “In the Realm of the Senses” in 1976. Two years later, Oshima won best director award at the Canne International Film Festival with “Empire of Passion.” Despite suffering a stroke in 1996, Oshima briefly returned to filmmaking in 1999 with “Taboo,” which became his last work.—AP

Natalie Wood

Wood may have sustained bruises before drowning death

A

Actors Jaimie Alexander and Johnny Knoxville arrive at the premiere of Lionsgate Films’ “The Last Stand” at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. —AFP

ctress Natalie Wood had bruising on her arms and wrists and scratches on her neck when her body was pulled from the Pacific Ocean in 1981, suggesting she was injured before she hit the water, according to a report released

by Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office on Monday. But the report, written in June 2012, said there was not enough evidence to say that her death was definitively “non accidental.”

The body of the “West Side Story” star, 43, was found floating in a Santa Catalina Island cove off the coast of Southern California in 1981 after she had spent a night of dining and drinking on the island and on a yacht with her husband, television star Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken. The case has been surrounded by mystery and suspicion for decades and Los Angeles homicide detectives reopened the investigation into Wood’s death in 2011.

In June 2012, authorities changed Wood’s death certificate to “drowning and other undetermined factors” from the original finding of accidental drowning, but did not explain why. The change was based on a 10-page document, drawn up

as an addendum to the original autopsy report, that said Wood died shortly after she entered the water. “The location of the bruises, the multiplicity of the bruises, lack of head trauma, or facial bruising, support bruising having occurred prior to the entry into the water,” the supplemental coroner’s report states.

“This medical examiner is unable to exclude non-volitional, unplanned entry into the water ... Since there are many unanswered questions and limited additional evidence available for evaluation, it is opined by this medical examiner that the manner of death should be left as undetermined,” it adds. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said on Monday the case was still open but declined to discuss any new evidence that may have been discovered.

The Sheriff’s Department has said that neither Wagner, now 82, nor Walken are suspects. Wood starred opposite James Dean in the classic 1955 film “Rebel Without a Cause,” and later in musical “West Side Story” and “Splendor in the Grass.” —Reuters

37

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

LIFESTYLE M o v i e s

&

M u s i c

Jodie Foster kicks open the closet door what it means for gays in Hollywood

J

odie Foster spoke frankly about her life as a lesbian Sunday night in a Golden Globes speech that thrust her into the center of the gay rights debate whether she likes it or not.

By deciding to address the subject of her sexuality in a spectacularly public setting, while also articulating a defense of personal privacy, she upended the casual way that other gay movie and music stars have been revealing their orientation in recent years.

They chose to nudge the closet door ajar by dropping the “g” word in interviews - like “The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons - or by tweeting pictures of their significant others lounging on a couch, as “Kyle XY” actor Matt Dallas did last week.

But Foster made coming out a big deal again, shattering her glass closet, while never actually saying the words, “I’m gay.” “When she decided to address her sexuality last night, however indirectly she did it, she was talking about gay rights at a critical moment,” Dustin Lance Black, the openly gay screenwriter behind “Milk,” said. “There is a case in that will be in front of the Supreme Court soon that will decide if gay and lesbian people will be allowed to marry. By coming out she sends a message to the country that we are everyone and everywhere.

We’re your friends, your neighbors and we’re the people who have been entertaining you for the last 47 years.”

The speech itself was fascinating, because it was raw, but also grudging. Some gay activists have long agitated for Foster to speak frankly about being a lesbian and at various points, her speech seemed to be a challenge to any group who would seek to exploit her celebrity for its own ends. My life belongs to me, she seemed to be saying. “I hope you’re not disappointed that there won’t be a big coming-out speech tonight because I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago back in the Stone Age, in those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and coworkers and then gradually,

proudly to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met,” Foster said, as her two sons, Charles, 14, and Kit, 12, looked on from the audience. “But now I’m told, apparently that every celebrity is expected to honor the details of their private life with a press conference, a fragrance and a prime-time reality show.”

Foster turned 50 last November and her discomfort with addressing her orientation

Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.

“What happens to them is at a certain point the culture moved past them and they find themselves standing out there in a semi-opaque glass closet.

Everybody in the world knew that she was gay and it was becoming an embarrassment.”

Foster tried to explain her hesitancy while accepting the Cecil B DeMille career achievement

This image released by NBC shows Jodie Foster, recipient of the Cecil B. Demille Award, during the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. —AP may have been entangled in a different era in which being openly gay was a barrier that prevented actors and actresses from getting A-list roles. Over the past half century, acceptance of gays and lesbians has accelerated dramatically. In a Pew survey conducted last October, 49 percent of respondents favored gay marriage, up from 39 percent four years earlier.

This greater tolerance has left stars like Foster and to a lesser extent people like CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who acknowledged that he was gay last summer after years of internet speculation, in an awkward position.

“It catches people like Jodie Foster in a bind,” said Larry Gross, the author of “Contested Closets: The Politics and Ethics of Outing” who is also vice dean at USC’s

award Sunday by saying that it was related to issues of personal privacy. She noted that she has been in the spotlight for half a century, but also implied that she was uncomfortable with the tabloid coverage of celebrities and their obsession to open their private lives to scrutiny in everything from prime time interviews to personal Twitter streams.

“If you had been a public figure from the time that you were a toddler, if you’d had to fight for a life that felt real and honest and normal against all odds, then maybe you too might value privacy above all else,” she said.

“Privacy. Someday, in the future, people will look back and remember how beautiful it once was.”

For the most part, the reaction among prominent members of

the gay community has been positive, but there are some who insinuate that the relative safety in which Foster chose to address the issue had been fought and paid for by earlier generations of gay performers who opened up about their homosexuality at a time when their professional lives could have been snuffed out.

Wilson Cruz, the openly gay star of the 1990s drama “My So Called Life” and now a strategic giving officer at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said he was heartened by Foster’s remarks, but also conscious of her place in the history of the gay rights movement. “I applaud anybody who opens up like that in a way that will affect million of people’s lives for the better,” he said.

“One thing I did take umbrage with for personal reasons is that I like to remember people who came out before it was safe.

People like Harvey Fierstein, Ian McKellen and John Gielgud who risked their careers and their lives to do so.”

To that end, activists and public relations experts say that they do not anticipate Foster will be riding the main float at Gay Pride festivals anytime soon. Instead, they expect that after Sunday’s air-clearing, the actress will remain fiercely protective of her privacy - something she had done since John W. Hinckley Jr. said that he had tried to assassinate former President Ronald Reagan to impress her while she was still a college student.

“I don’t expect her to be the cover girl for gay and lesbian causes,” Howard Bragman, vice chairman of Reputation.com, and a publicist who has helped over a dozen actors with their coming out announcements, said. “She may show up to a few events, but I don’t think she will be that involved, and that’s fine.” Bragman said that on the scale of coming out announcements, Foster’s ranked as a “duh.” Though she had never been explicit about her orientation, she hadn’t pretended to be a heterosexual. In fact, she had thanked her former partner Cydney Bernard as far back as 2007 at the Women in

Entertainment Breakfast.

An industry awards gathering, though, is not the same thing as coming out on national television to an audience of 14.8 million viewers. Reaction to Foster’s statements erupted almost immediately on Twitter and on other social media sites, with some griping about her decision to couple her speech about her “modern family” with a plea for privacy.

To Bil Browning, a gay activist and the editor-in-chief of The Bilerico Project, that misses the point. Given Foster’s iconic roles in films like “The Silence of the Lambs,” not to mention her longstanding refusal to address the gay rumors, she had no choice but to command a global platform when the time came for her big reveal. “Jodie Foster is somebody the gay community has always wanted to be an icon and

Hathaway to star in film adaptation of Shakespeare

A

‘Life of Pi’: Profitability is as stunning as its Oscar splash

T

he 11 Oscar nominations claimed by “The Life of Pi’ might have been surprising, but its success at the global box office - and the fact it will turn a significant profit - is stunning to many people.

Director Ang Lee’s lyrical epic has taken in $453 million at the worldwide box office since opening on Nov 21. It’s about to hit $100 million in the US, but the vast majority of that total - $357 million - has come from overseas.

Those are impressive numbers for a film without a name star, about a boy on a spiritual journey in a lifeboat, one that even Fox executives realized was anything but a sure thing at the box office. “At one point before the release, (Fox chairman) Jim Gianopulos gathered the troops,” Fox distribution chief Chris Aronson told TheWrap recently, “and told us, ‘We may or may not make money on this movie, but that’s fine, because it’s going to be a project that we’ll all be proud to have made a part of cinematic history.’

“He was very right about us being proud,” Aronson said, “and ‘Pi’ is going to make money.” Yann Martel’s novel, upon which the film is based, has sold 9 million copies since it came out in 2001. But it was for years considered all but impossible to film, since it takes place mainly at sea and a key character is a tiger, who shares the boat. Modern CGI and 3D technology made that possible, but that was a big part of why the production budget climbed to $120 million for producers Fox 2000, Haishang Films, Gil Netter Productions and visual effects specialists Rhythm and Hues.

Things didn’t always look so bright at the box office; pre-release projections from analysts had the film finishing below $70

million domestically. It opened to $30 million over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend but it leveled off after that. And then it took off oversees. Lee is from Taiwan, and his young “Pi” star Suraj Sharma is Indian, and the movie was filmed in those countries and Canada, so there was a degree of built-in appeal in Asia. But the movie’s theme of spirituality is certainly playing a role in its success - across a very broad range of countries..

It’s one thing, after all, to be a cross-cultural hit when you’re a superhero vanquishing aliens like in “The Avengers,” or Scrat chasing an acorn from Fox’s “Ice Age” movies. It’s something else to connect with audiences in some many different countries when addressing the meaning of life.

The No. 1 foreign territory is China, where the film finished its run with $90 million nearly as much as “Amazing Spider-Man” and Dark Knight Rises” managed combined - and India brought in another $13 million.

But those countries are a long way geographically and in terms of spiritual and cultural sensibilities - from the UK ($35 million), Germany ($18.7 million), Mexico ($14 million), France ($12 million) and Brazil ($10 million). And “Pi” still has plenty of momentum. It brought in $33.2 million from 67 overseas markets over the past weekend. It held the top spot in its second weeks in Australia, where its total stands at $15 million, and in Russia, where it has taken in a spectacular $25 million. And it still has a debut in Japan to look forward to at the end of the month. —Reuters

nne Hathaway will star in an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” an individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap.

Abi Morgan, who scripted “The Iron Lady” and “Shame,” will handle the adaptation, a modern-day retelling of the iconic play set in mid-20th century Italy. The project will be produced by Debra Hayward and Working Title, reuniting with the company behing “Les Miserables,” another individual with knowledge of the film told TheWrap.

Hayward, a former Working Title executive, left the company in June of 2011 to start her own production company, Monumental Pictures. She promptly signed a first-look deal with Working TItle, and “Shrew” will be the first film made under that agreement.

Universal and Working Title, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner’s British production outfit responsible for “Fargo” and “Billy Elliot,” have a longstanding production relationship dating to 1999. Their current first-look deal runs through 2015, meaning Universal would get first crack at distributing the film. The two companies have collaborated on such films as “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” “Atonement” and 2012’s “Les Miserables.”

Hathaway won a Golden Globe on Sunday for her performance as Fantine in that film, and she is considered the frontrunner for a Supporting Actress Oscar as well.

Hollywood and Broadway have adapted “The Taming of the Shrew” on several occasions, including Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me, Kate,” which originally appeared on Broadway in 1951 and was revived in 1952 and 1999, and a 1967 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles starred in a modern reimagining of the tale in 1999, Gil Junger’s “10 Things I Hate About You.” Universal, Working Title and Hathaway’s

representatives at CAA all declined to comment on the project. Hathway, who last year appeared in both “Les Miserables” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” has no projects currently in production. She will lend her voice to “Rio 2,” the sequel to Fox’s successful animated hit, which is in pre-production. —Reuters

Actress Anne Hathaway arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards. —AFP

‘The Hobbit’ receives Feb 22 opening date in China

“T

he Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will open in China on Feb 22, Warner Bros told TheWrap on Monday. By that time, there’s a good chance Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth epic will be closing in on $1 billion at the worldwide box office. It’s currently at $892 million worldwide, with the bulk of that - $608 million coming from international ticket sales.

Warner Bros. has known since last month that a date somewhere in mid- to-late February was likely for the release in China. There had been earlier concern that the run of “The Hobbit” would coincide or overlap with the debut of the Sony James Bond movie “Skyfall.” The Bond movie will open on Jan. 21, in advance of China’s Golden Week holiday festivities that begin Feb 9. Chinese officials are aggressively protecting their domestic film industry, in some cases by slotting major US films against each other to reduce their box-office impact. —Reuters

she came out in a big way and now some people still aren’t satisfied,” Browning said. “Would they have been satisfied if she had just posted a picture of her girlfriend on Instagram? Given her status, I don’t think she would ever have been allowed to just come out casually.”

Gay activists and chroniclers of the movement say that the “coming out” process that has so bedeviled public figures like Foster may soon be an anachronism. As younger actors step into the spotlight, they will do so having grown up in a society that allows gays to serve openly in the military and is weighing the legality of permitting them to marry. —AP

Lohan case returns to court over lying allegations

L

indsay Lohan is expected to be arraigned yesterday in a misdemeanor case over allegations she lied to police about a June traffic accident, though the actress is not required to attend the hearing.

Lohan is charged with reckless driving, lying to police about whether she was driving when her Porsche slammed into the back of a dump truck, and obstructing police from performing their duties. The accident occurred while Lohan and her assistant were on their way to shoot a beach scene for the television movie “Liz and Dick.”

Lohan told police that she wasn’t driving, but police suspect she was behind the wheel. The wreck sent her to the hospital briefly. The actress was on probation at the time for a 2011 necklace theft case and could be sentenced to 245 days in jail if a judge determines her conduct violated her probation. Her probation was revoked last month but she had yet to enter a plea on the new charges. Lohan’s publicist and longtime attorney Shawn Holley did not return messages Monday about the hearing.

The accident was not the only problem she encountered while shooting “Liz and Dick,” a film based on the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. A week after the accident, paramedics were summoned to Lohan’s hotel room when she was late to a shoot. Her publicist at the time attributed her absence to fatigue and dehydration. The film was expected to be a comeback opportunity for Lohan, who spent the past several years struggling with criminal court cases. Her performance, however, was panned by critics and fans. She also was arrested in New York after an alleged fight with a woman, but a criminal complaint hasn’t been drawn up. The district attorney’s office there said last week that its inquiry was ongoing. Although Lohan is not required to appear at yesterday’s hearing, she would have to appear when a probation violation hearing is scheduled. —AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

lifestyle F A S H I O N

Men’s

Models display creations as part of Giorgio Armani FallWinter 2013-2014 Menswear collection yesterday during the Menís fashion week in Milan. — AFP

fashion week DSquared2 offers military motifs and fancy suits

E

Models display creations as part of Dsquared2 Fall-Winter 20132014 Menswear collection yesterday during the Men’s fashion week in Milan. —AFP

very season the Canadian designing twins, Dean and Dan Caten, creators of the DSquared2 label, present their wears in a different runway setting. For next winter, the show theme is a 1940s jazz club complete with pretty girls and a trumpet blowing, white tuxedoed band.

The DSquared2 guy has just come home from the front and is looking for a good time. At first, he still sports his army private hat, crumpled military jacket, trim trousers and sturdy combat boots with thick crushed socks.

But he soon gets the swing of things and comes out on the dance floor in an impeccable sartorial double-breasted wide-lapeled suit, accessorized by an exaggerated bowler hat and slick footwear. He now wears his pants low-slung, and his shirt tails stick out from under his fancy cashmere crew-neck sweater. No matter what the current theme, you can’t spell DSquared2 without jeans. This round they come loose and worn out, but also carefully pressed to match the classic camel hair coats, and luxurious Astrakhan furs featured in the show.

The contemporary secret of the look is techno fabric, which allows an outfit to be ultra-light while maintaining its formal structure. The latest DSquared2 “Napoletano” jacket appears super tailored, but is in fact unlined, giving it the feel of a cardigan. Colors for the new winter collection presented yesterday, are mainly monochromatic: black, white, gold, red and green-military and not.

Favorite accessories include waistcoats, suspenders, pocket watch chains and a tuxedo bib. — AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

lifestyle F A S H I O N

Westwood pushes climate agenda through fashion

Models display creations as part of Vivienne Westwood Fall-Winter 2013-2014 Menswear collection during the Men’s fashion week in Milan.

—AFP photos

B

ritish designer Vivienne Westwood is never at a loss to speak her mind through fashion. This round, she chooses the Milan runway as her megaphone to call for climate revolution. “Climate revolution is the only means toward a sound economy. When the general public massively switches on to this fact we will win,” she said in her fashion notes, which accompanied her winter 2014 menswear collection previewed Sunday.

Models with puffed lips and painted black eyes looked like they had just come from fighting the designer’s battle, as they marched down the runway in low-crotched pants, a long-tailed morning coat, shiny orange fluorescent laceups and an oversized, wide-brimmed felt hat. Throughout the collection, revolutionary slogans calling for an end to the climate crisis were printed on white T-shirts. While asking others to get their economic priorities straight, Westwood made her own contribution to the cause. A special edition bag, produced in Kenya through the United Nations International Trade Center Ethical Fashion Program, was featured in the show. —AP

Jodie Foster kicks open door for gays

37

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2013

Picture taken yesterday of the snow covered city center of Utrecht, as a large part of The Netherlands has turned white overnight. —ANP

New cemetery endangers Egypt’s ancient necropolis

I

n this more than 4,500-year-old pharaonic necropolis, Egypt’s modern rituals of the dead are starting to encroach on its ancient ones.

Steamrollers flatten the desert sand, and trucks haul in bricks as villagers build rows of tombs in a new cemetery nearly up to the feet of Egypt’s first pyramids and one of its oldest temples. The illegal expansion of a local cemetery has alarmed antiquities experts, who warn the construction endangers the ancient, largely unexplored complex of Dahshour, where pharaoh Sneferu experimented with the first true, smooth-sided pyramids that his son Khufu - better known as Cheops - later took to new heights at the more famous Giza Plateau nearby.

The encroachment also reflects the turmoil of today’s Egypt, two years after the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Police, still in disarray since the revolution, do nothing to enforce regulations. Fired up by the sense of rebellion against authority, Egyptians feel little fear of taking what they want , sometimes to redress neglect or corruption by authorities, sometimes just for personal gain. Also, as the new Islamist rulers and their opponents struggle over the country’s identity, experts fear Egypt’s ancient monuments, which hard-liners see as pagan, could pay the price in neglect.

In the case of Dahshour, villagers say their cemeteries are full and authorities don’t give permits or land for new ones. So they took matters into their own hands and grabbed what they insist is empty desert to erect family tombs. “The dearest thing for us is burying our dead,” said Mohammed Abdel-Qader, a resident of nearby Manshiet Dahshour. “This land here is wide and flat, it’s a valley.

Where are the antiquities they talk about? ... We have no antiquities here.”

The problem is not just at Dahshour.

An explosion of illegal building the past two years is endangering Egypt’s ancient treasures around the country, authorities say. Locals living next to some of most beloved pharaonic sites - including the famed Giza Pyramids outside Cairo - are seizing land, building homes, laying farmland or selling off parcels, said Mohammed Younes, head of antiquities for Dahshour.

At the same time, looting has become more brazen in many places.

Just a few weeks ago, several guards at Dahshour were shot and wounded when they confronted thieves doing an illegal dig during the night, he said.

The cemetery expansion is the most dangerous encroachment yet because of how close it comes to the Dahshour monuments, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage site list, Younes said. Moreover, Dahshour is largely unexcavated, since the area

was a closed military zone until 1996.

What remains buried is believed to be a treasure trove shedding light on the largely unknown early dynasties.

“When you build something over archaeological site, you change everything. We can’t dig in and know what is inside,” Younes told The Associated Press. “This is the only virgin site in all of Egypt.” The area is part of the vast Memphis necropolis where pharaohs built their monumental funeral complexes stretching south from Giza in the desert along the Nile Valley. The construction started suddenly about two weeks ago, apparently when one villager added a new tomb in the desert on the edge of an existing cemetery, guards and residents said.

Word went out and hundreds of residents from at least four neighboring villages descended on the site to build tombs of their own, up a small desert valley.

Police did nothing to stop them nor did the military, still stationed nearby. The tombs are small complexes on their own, built mainly of cheap white bricks. Each is a walled court-

way through construction. Farther away is the Red Pyramid, in which Sneferu’s builders got the job right, producing the first smooth-sided

pyramid, evolving from the stepped structures built by earlier dynasties.

The state minister of antiquities Mohammed Ibrahim said in a state-

Egyptian archeologist Mohammed Younes, head of antiquities of Dahshour, talks to the Associated Press at his office in the ancient historic site of Dahshour.

Egyptian farmer and resident from the Dahshour village, Ali Orabi rests by his house in Egypt.

Photo shows the new construction site of the illegal expansion of a local cemetery is seen spreading toward Egypt’s first pyramids and temples at the ancient historic site of Dahshour, Egypt. —AP photos yard with multiple enclosed niches where multiple family members can be buried. Rows of them now cover several acres inside the UNESCOdefined antiquities zone of Dahshour, coming to within 150 meters (yards) of Sneferu’s Valley Temple. The site is the first known such valley temple, which later each pharaoh would build in connection with his pyramid.

Adjacent to the construction is the crumbled 3,800-year-old Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III, an area that has faced heavy looting over the past two years. Just beyond towers Sneferu’s Bent Pyramid, dating some 700 years earlier, with its distinctive bent sides believed to have been caused when the builders had to correct a too-steep angle of ascent half-

ment Monday that an order had been issued to remove the construction and the Interior Ministry, in charge of police, had been asked to carry it out.

“The financial resources of the ministry are not enough” to protect the sites, it said. The question is whether it will be implemented. Younes said the military would have to get involved since police have refused to act. He said past requests for orders to remove illegal construction at archaeological sites had been ignored.

“There is no deterrent,” he said.

He also worries that the rise of Islamists to power brings a dismissive attitude to pre-Islamic antiquities. He pointed out that pharaonic treasures a key part of the country’s identity are mentioned in the Islamist-drafted constitution only as “an afterthought,” just in terms of maintaining sites. In fact, the constitution doesn’t refer directly to pharaonic sites or Egypt’s ancient civilization at all, making only a vague reference to “heritage.” Some at the construction site said they were sure Islamist President Mohammed Morsi won’t order the removal of the

An Egyptian laborer works as his employer smokes a water pipe at the new construction site of the illegal expansion of a local cemetery that is spreading toward Egypt’s first pyramids and temples.

The local cemetery of the ancient historic site of Dahshour, Egypt.

modern cemetery because he was a believer and respects Islam’s ways.

Authorities may be wary of forcibly removing the construction and risking a clash with the villagers, who say they won’t go unless they are given a new site nearby and compensation for what they have already built. Ehab Eddin el-Haddad, one resident building a burial plot, said removing the tombs would require “killing these people, and it would mean a return to the old regime ... it would be the return of repression.” Nearby, workers slapped together bricks for a new wall and a heavy machine flattened the earth for construction. The villagers come from a string of nearby farming communities crammed amid the palm groves in the narrow, verdant strip of

the Nile Valley, where land is limited as Egypt’s population of 85 million swells. Residents said they were desperate for new space for burial plots, pointing to old family tombs they said were full. Authorities balked at issuing permits for new tombs or demanded exorbitant fees and bribes, several residents said.

“What can people do with their dead? They can’t throw them in the canal,” said Ali Orabi, a local farmer.

“There is death and there is birth, these things don’t stop ... You dignify the dead by burying them.” El-Haddad said nearby land had been set aside to expand the cemetery but after the revolution it was seized by armed local “thugs” who started building houses on it and selling off plots, a common problem with Egypt’s new lawlessness. Like many others, he resented the authorities’ concern over antiquities and tourism that the villagers say benefit only rich Egyptians, corrupt officials and foreign archaeologists, with no gains for the poor.

“Where is the gold that came out of this land? All smuggled out,” said elHaddad. “I’m not waiting for some half-naked foreigner to come take out what she finds in the cemeteries.

What do I get out of it? ... I want a place to be buried in.” Antiquities theft is believed to be big business in Egypt, fueled by post-revolution chaos, and press reports often accuse local officials of involvement, though few cases have gone to court. The fear is that looters could also use the construction as cover, even if the villagers are acting out of a legitimate need for land, said Monica Hanna, an independent archaeologist who has worked at Dahshour.

Hills nearby are dotted by pits from digs by thieves searching for treasure, mostly from last year. In the area in general, “there has been more looting than scientific excavation,” Hanna said.

Saleh Mohammed Shafei, a 77-yearold villager, acknowledged that “there are people who come and dig at night” - but said those like him who are building tombs had nothing to do with the thieves. “Where else would people go” with their dead, he said.

“These people are building because they’re forced to. These old tombs are filled, some three layers deep.” —AP