30 Jan

CR IP TI ON BS SU

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

Passenger plane crash kills 21 in Kazakhstan

Dutch Queen Beatrix announces abdication

Pak boycotts ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, US dramas

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Champions Zambia dumped out of Nations Cup

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NO: 15704

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UN eyes $1.5bn for Syria refugees at Kuwait meet

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www.kuwaittimes.net

RABI ALAWAL 18, 1434 AH

NGOs pledge $182m • US promises another $155m KUWAIT: Charity organisations pledged $182 million yesterday for Syrians affected by their country’s deadly conflict, as the United States promised another $155 million ahead of a donors conference in Kuwait. The announcement was made during a meeting hosted by the International Islamic Charitable Organisation of Kuwait, state news agency KUNA reported. IICO head Abdullah AlMaatuq said the funds would go toward aiding millions of Syrians displaced at home or who have fled to neighbouring countries.

Today, a UN-sponsored International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria opens in Kuwait, aiming to raise $1.5 billion for around five million Syrians facing hardships from their country’s 22-month conflict. About 77 local, regional and international charity organisations will take part in the conference, which will also be attended by Syrian ally Iran.

Yesterday, US President Barack Obama announced an extra $155 million to aid refugees fleeing what he said was “barbarism” propagated by the government of President

Max 19º Min 10º High Tide 01:05 & 14:29 Low Tide 07:44 & 19:48

Bashar Al-Assad. That will take to $365 million US humani- help internally displaced Syrians and those who sought tarian help for Syrians. The meeting, to be attended by UN refuge in neighbouring countries before the middle of chief Ban Ki-Moon, will be opened by HH the Amir Sheikh June 2012. Asked whether some of the money might reach Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who local reports say will the Syrian regime, he said each donor country will deterwould announce a pledge of $500 million. mine how the money it donates should be Iran will be among 59 nations attending, distributed and through whom.

Kuwait’s foreign minister said. “The UN secreThe funds are needed to finance a major tary general has sent out invitations to all UN humanitarian mission inside Syria and to countries and 59 nations are coming... Iran provide aid for hundreds of thousands of will be represented by the deputy foreign Syrians who have sought refuge in neighminister,” Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah bouring countries. The UN refugee agency told a press conference. He said neither the said yesterday that there has been a steep Syrian regime nor the opposition Syrian rise in the number of Syrian refugees during National Coalition have been invited. King the past few weeks and that their number has Abdullah II of Jordan and Lebanese President Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled surpassed 700,000. UN humanitarian operaMichel Sleiman, both of whose countries are housing tions director John Ging warned that the United Nations refugees, will attend, the minister said. In addition, 13 UN will be forced to cut already reduced food rations to hunagencies involved in the humanitarian and relief field and dreds of thousands of Syrians unless a huge cash injection 17 non-governmental organisations will take part. Sheikh is found. The United Nations says more than 60,000 people Sabah said funds pledged at the conference will be used to have been killed in Syria’s uprising. —AFP

Looting in Timbuktu as donors pledge millions

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US govt warns of hack threat to network gear

68 found executed in Syria river

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah waves after hoisting the flag at a ceremony yesterday at Bayan Palace. — KUNA (See Page 2)

Prosecution frees Barrak, other ex-MPs

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The public prosecution yesterday released former opposition MPs Mussallam Al-Barrak, Khaled AlTahous, Falah Al-Sawwagh and Khaled Shukhayer after interrogating them for taking part in unlicensed demonstrations, Shukhayer said on his Twitter account.

The prosecution also interrogated Ahmad Sayyar AlEnezi, a poet, over the same accusations. All of them were released without bail. Barrak, Tahous and Sawwagh are on trial for allegedly insulting HH the Amir at public rallies staged by the opposition in October.

Authorities insist that demonstrations without a license from the interior ministry are illegal and punishable by law while the opposition insists that peaceful gatherings and demonstrations are allowed under the Kuwaiti law and constitution.

Meanwhile, the opposition is holding a meeting late today to assess the latest developments in the country at the diwaniya of former speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun, former opposition MP Ali Al-Deqbasi said on Twitter.

The opposition has been holding regular meetings over the past few months to coordinate their actions.

In other developments, the government and the National Assembly yesterday agreed on 18 topics that will be accorded priority in debate over the next few months, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah said. He said the two sides will meet next week to determine the exact dates for debating the issues which were accorded priority status after discussions between the assembly and the government.

Head of the assembly financial and economic affairs committee MP Youssef Al-Zalzalah said yesterday the panel will not back down towards the debt relief scheme which was approved by the committee on Sunday. The committee had unanimously approved a draft law calling on the state to waive all the interest on bank loans taken by Kuwaiti citizens between Jan 2002 and April 1, 2008. The bill stipulates that citizens who will not benefit from the debt relief are entitled to get a grant of KD. 1,000 that will be deposited in a special fund that will pay the citizens’ unpaid bills for public services. The government has vowed to reject the bill.

Meanwhile, MP Essam Al-Dabbous asked the finance minister if the imposition of a premium over the declared interest rates by the central bank is legal, adding that local lenders add up to 4.0 percent over the official interest rates for loans being repaid in installments.

ALEPPO: The bodies of at least 68 young men, all executed with a single gunshot to the head or neck, were found yesterday in a river in Aleppo city, adding to the grim list of massacres committed during Syria’s 22-month conflict. The gruesome discovery came as international envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi was scheduled to brief the United Nations Security Council in New York. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 65 bodies were found in the Quweiq River, which separates the Bustan al-Qasr district from Ansari in the southwest of the city, but that the toll could rise significantly.

A Free Syrian Army officer at the scene, Captain Abu Sada, said at least 68 bodies had been recovered and that many more were still being dragged from the water, in a rebel-held area. A senior government security source said many of the victims were from Bustan al-Qasr and had been reported kidnapped earlier. He accused “terrorists”, the standard regime term for people fighting to overthrow President Bashar Al-Assad, of the killings and spreading propaganda to deflect responsibility. “It has been confirmed that a number of the victims had been abducted by armed terrorist groups and their families had made repeated attempts to negotiate their releases.

Continued on Page 13

ALEPPO: A Syrian man stands next to the bodies of executed men on the side of a canal in this northern city yesterday. — AFP

Egypt army chief warns of collapse CAIRO: Egypt’s military chief warned yesterday the political crisis sweeping the country could lead to the collapse of the state, as thousands defied curfews and the death toll from days of rioting rose to 52. “The continuing conflict between political forces and their differences concerning the management of the country could lead to a collapse of the state and threaten

future generations,” General Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi said in a speech to students at a military academy. Sissi, who is also defence minister, warned the political, economic, social and security problems constitute “a threat to the country’s security and stability,” according to his Facebook page.

He also vowed to defend vital infrastructure, including the Suez Canal, as

CAIRO: A police officer holds the Egyptian national flag during clashes with anti-government protesters (background) near Tahrir Square yesterday. — AP

medics reported another three people killed in the violence sweeping Egypt, pushing to at least 52 the death toll from five days of clashes. The army is already deployed in the canal city of Port Said, where the worst of the bloodshed occurred in rioting triggered by death sentences passed on 21 supporters of a local football club over deadly football riots last year. At the weekend, President Mohamed Morsi imposed a month-long state of emergency and curfews on the worsthit provinces of Port Said, Ismailiya and Suez.

On Monday, the Islamist-dominated Senate ratified a law granting the armed forces powers of arrest. But thousands of demonstrators defiantly flooded the streets of the three Suez Canal cities on Monday night, witnesses said. They chanted slogans against Islamist rule, “Fall, fall the rule of the guide”, referring to the supreme head of the Muslim Brotherhood from which Morsi hails.

Analysts warned there was no quick fix for the crisis and that Morsi would have to make concessions to opposition liberal and leftist factions and protesters demonstrating against deteriorating living conditions. “This crisis will not pass easily,” said Mustafa Kamel ElSayyed, professor of political sciences Continued on Page 13

Iraq approves maritime deal with Kuwait BAGHDAD: Iraq yesterday approved a deal with Kuwait regulating the use of a shared waterway through which most of Baghdad’s oil exports flow, which Iraq had accused its neighbour of attempting to cut off. Control of the Khor Abdullah waterway is one of several outstanding issues between Iraq and Kuwait remaining from now-executed dictator Saddam Hussein’s Aug 1990 invasion of the state. Ali Al-Alaak, cabinet secretary general, told a news conference that ministers approved the deal to regulate navigation in the Khor Abdullah, voicing hope that it would clear the way for talks on other unresolved disputes between Kuwait and Iraq. “The agreement opened the door to discuss other unresolved issues between Iraq and Kuwait,” Alaak said. He said the Kuwaiti parliament had approved the deal.

The Khor Abdullah waterway serves as Iraq’s entrance to the Gulf, through which the vast majority of its oil exports flow. In 2011, Baghdad began voicing concern that a Kuwaiti plan for a massive port would strangle its shipping lanes in the narrow waterway, but Kuwait has insisted the port will not affect Iraq. Kuwait began construction on the container port in 2007 but Baghdad only raised objections to it in May 2011, a month after HH the Amir laid the foundation stone.

An Iraqi Shiite militant group, Ketaeb Hezbollah, had previously threatened to target firms working on the port project. The issue is one of several the two countries are trying to resolve that remain from Saddam’s 1990 invasion, with Iraq seeking in particular to end disputes in order to exit United Nations Security Council restrictions resulting from the assault.

Baghdad pays five percent of its oil and gas revenue into a special United Nations fund that pays compensation to Kuwait for its invasion and seven-month occupation of the state. — AFP

LOCAL

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

Amir attends flag-hoisting ceremony

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sponsored and attended a flag-hoisting ceremony yesterday morning at Bayan Palace. The ceremony was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, along with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, senior

sheikhs, the Deputy Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Also present at the ceremony were Acting Parliament Speaker Mubarak Al-Khurainej, ministers, senior

state advisors and officials, and senior Army, Police, and National Guard officers. His Highness was hailed upon arrival to the venue with cheers by the officers and fire department staff, and was met with a 21-Gun Salute. The Amir hoisted the flag after playing the National Anthem of the State of Kuwait. —KUNA

Anniversary celebration in Ahmadi KUWAIT: Ahmadi Governorate launched yesterday its celebrations of the Seventh Anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s proclamation of power.

In a big ceremony on this occasion, Governor of AlAhmadi Sheikh DrIbrahim Al-Duaij AlSabah hoisted the national flag on the Governorate’s premises.

During the ceremony, Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim congratulated HH the Amir on the 7th anniversary of his taking office, conveying to his highness congratulations in his name and residents of Ahmadi Governorate.

Sheikh Ibrahim AlDuaij wished HH the Amir long well-being to continue the development march for the Kuwait and its people.

Al-Ahmadi celebrations coincides with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah launch of the country’s celebrations of the national days in a ceremony attended by a large number of the state officials at Bayan Palace Tuesday. The national days celebrations comprise the 52nd National Day of Kuwait Independence, the 22nd Liberation Day and the Seventh Anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber AlSabah’s assumption of the leadership of the country.— KUNA

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

LOCAL

Need to increase public awareness on ‘freedom’ Twitter case sparks debate

By Ben Garcia

NBK Kuwait Chief Executive Officer Shaikha AlBahar and KALD Chairman Amal Al-Sayer

Conference on learning difficulties KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) sponsors the International Conference of the Difficulties of Learning Disorders, Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit for the second consecutive year. The conference will be held on Feb 1 and 2 at the American University in Kuwait (AUK) and organized by the Kuwaiti Association for Learning Differences (KALD).

“NBK’s sponsorship is part of its ongoing drive to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities”, said Shaikha Al Bahar, NBK Kuwait Chief Executive Officer. “NBK endeavors to shoulder its social responsibilities and share with the various private and public sector institutions and departments the burdens and responsibilities of broader national efforts towards social advancement”.

Al Bahar recently received KALD Chairman Amal Al Sayer and expressed utmost support for the conference.

Al Bahar added “NBK’s sponsorship and support comes in line with the bank’s customary and ongoing spirit of corporate citizenship as well as the vital role it plays in supporting all students, youths and educational issues.”

KALD is a social welfare association that collaboratively works towards helping students with learning differences in private schools in Kuwait, and works towards identifying and developing the capabilities of these students and to support them academically, psychologically and socially through awareness, training, and entertainment programs for the students, their families and their schools.

Cell phones banned during exams

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: As the exams season began, the Ministry of Education issued a decree banning the use of mobile phones by students during the exams. The decision came after several cases across different schools and grades in which students were found cheating using their cell phones.

This decree will be applicable to both, the public and private schools. The teachers are well aware about the decision and some schools have already banned the students from using phones while writing their exams.

“I completely agree with this decision as the student could not possible need to use a phone during the exam.

In the past, students did not have mobiles as it was expensive. Even with mobiles becoming affordable, these were not very suitable for use in cheating. But with the booming modern technology, students improved their cheating techniques using smart phones and especially applications like WhatsApp. I think such norms are applicable all over the world,” Majida Abdeen, a teacher at an Arabic private school, told the Kuwait Times.

There are different ways of cheating. “Some students use their phones to save the information there in order to use it during the exam. Others use the phone to call their relatives to dictate them the information from a book using the headset or the WhatsApp messenger,” she added.

During her long experience as a teacher and as an invigilator, Abdeen witnessed different ways of hiding the mobile. “The female students wearing a hijab hide the headset under the scarf so that we do not get to see it. The boys hide it in their socks. In the university where I was also a controlling teacher for some time, I caught some students hiding the mobile under their Abaya,” explained Abdeen.

The teachers personally frisk the students to ensure that they are not hiding a mobile. “If we are unable to detect a well hidden cell phone, we warn them that they would not be allowed to finish their exam if they were caught cheating. In fact, many students were actually caught and banned from writing the exam. We usually take away the stdeunts’ phones when they enter the classroom and return these later,” she pointed out.

“The students betray a strange behavior or fidget when they are cheating. Sometimes we catch them as they are nervous, move their hands so much and are unable to keep them on the desk, or are found moving their head up and down many times. These are all signs that a student could be trying to cheat, and leads us to catch them red handed,” concluded Abden.

On his part, Hasan Abdulbari, a teacher in a public school, also faced many students employing different technologies to cheat. “The decision is not new and we have been already implementing it in the past after we caught some student using phones to cheat. Besides mobiles, there are also other tools such as certain kind of watches in which many cheating cards and other information can be saved. Also there are some calculators in which information can be pre-fed. There are other more developed calculators which can save the info in their memory to be used later for cheating,” he stated.

The invigilators do check the students personally when they enter the class room lest they are carrying mobile phones.

“Some students are innovative in their cheating ideas.

They come with two or three phones and let us catch one while retaining others for cheating.

The teacher should be well conversant with the new technologies to know that students can be pretty innovative. Sometime we also check the students with a detector similar to the one used at the airports, which can detect the hidden mobiles,” Abdulba said.

KUWAIT: Following the conviction of two Twitter users in Kuwait earlier this month, what does it mean for Kuwaitis in political terms? On Jan 6, 2013, a Kuwaiti court sentenced Rashid Saleh Al-Anezi to two years in prison for insulting the country’s ruler on Twitter. Few days later, another court ruling sentenced Ayyad Al-Harbi for a similar offense. “It is a setback for the freedom of speech in Kuwait which is guaranteed by the constitution,” a Kuwaiti activist, who spoke with the Kuwait Times on the condition of anonymity, said.

However the activist argued that the Kuwaiti lower court handed down a sentence based on Kuwait’s penal code. “So basically they are correct in sentencing them as the court followed the law. I think the government did not abuse its power since it also follows the penal code,” he said.

“Now we have a situation and the parliament can either amend the penal code or repeal it altogether or replace it with a law that is more freedom-friendly. When we are talking about a situation like these two particular cases, we cannot put the blame solely on the government because it is the parliament that made the law and it has the authority to change (the law) with the authority of the people.

During the last year’s elections, freedom was not a top priority issue. If people had voted for MPs who advocated freedom, probably the situation would have been very different,” he added.

Another lawyer, Atty Mishari AlAyyada, commented that the offense was committed in public domain which, being a libelous offense, could lead to prosecution.

“If an offense is committed in public, then they are liable just as other people would have been if they had committed a libelous offense. There is no doubt about that,” he added.

An environment and human rights activist said there was a need to increase public awareness when it comes to the importance of freedom and liberty. “How many people in Kuwait vote for candidates advocating freedom and liberty? Why is there lack of awareness about the importance of freedoms in Kuwait?

Schools could be one of the factors, because they do not give priority to such concepts in the educational institutions,” he said.

After the sentences, the US State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, was quoted in some newspapers as criticizing the jail sentence awarded to the activists for remarks expressed on the social networking site. She had called on the Kuwaiti government to “adhere to its tradition of respect for freedom of assembly, association, and

expression.”

In June 2012, a man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of endangering the security of the state by insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the Sunni Muslim rulers of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on social media.

Two months later, authorities in Kuwait detained Sheikh Meshaal AlMalik Al-Sabah, a member of the ruling family, over remarks on Twitter in which he had accused the authorities of corruption and called for political change. Opposition led public demonstrations about local issues are common in a state

that allows the most dissent in the Gulf. Kuwait has avoided Arab Spring-style mass unrest that toppled three veteran Arab dictators last year, but tensions have intensified between the hand-picked government, in which ruling family members hold the top posts, and the elected parliament and opposition groups.

Kuwait is a historically open society with lax free speech laws, compared to its neighbors. Freedom House’s annual Freedom of the Press report listed Kuwait as “Partly Free,” the only Gulf country that was not listed as ‘Not Free.’

Mishari Al-Ayyada

No grant on national holidays this year KUWAIT: The government is unlikely to pay grants to citizens on the national holidays, but instead plans to focus on “improving the quality of public services without taking any steps that result in waste of public funds,” according to Cabinet insiders quoted by a local newspaper yesterday.

“The government is going to focus on efforts to improve the quality of services provided to citizens through measures that do not result in wastage of public funds.

It will avoid practices which address current problems at the expense of sustainable development,” the sources which spoke to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity said.

These statements came on Monday following the cabinet’s weekly meeting in which the government agreed to increase the financial allocations for those Kuwaitis who are sent for treatment abroad as part of the state’s ‘treatment overseas’ program. The sources also noted that a social security law “which benefits a large part of the society” is going to be announced soon.

The insiders’ statements seem to imply that the government remains adamant in the face of efforts by the MPs to pass a debt relief bill which calls on the government to purchase citizens’ bank loans, then reschedule their repayments and also write off all the interest.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

LOCAL in my view

kuwait digest

New clean up campaign

Israeli role in Syria

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By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed

he war in Syria is also a concern for Israel, and its results may be as significant as the October 1973 war. The fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime could change the political map and perhaps threaten the existing balance of power formulated after the disengagement agreement signed by President Hafez Al-Assad and Israel, under Henry Kissinger’s auspices, during the October war.

Syria is the second largest neighboring country to Israel after Egypt, and despite the Golan Height’s stability, Syria has never signed a peace treaty-citing Lebanon as a factor in its decision-and is the only neighboring country

With the fall of Bashar Assad, Israel fears the unknown and as a result is keenly monitoring what is happening on the war fronts in Syria on a daily basis.

These Israeli concerns alone are justified and expected, but it would be going too far to attempt to redraw the Syrian map. I do not think that it would be erroneous to say that Israel supports the idea of establishing an Alawite state that Assad is planning along the Mediterranean coast, or several other mini-states for that matter. with a sizeable arsenal of chemical and biological weapons.

During the first year of the Syrian revolution, Israelis did not believe that Assad’s resilient regime would collapse. However, since early last year, the Israelis have begun to believe that Assad’s fall is now inevitable. With the Syrian president’s downfall, the Israelis will lose a “wise enemy” and a loyal guard, but just as strong as their fear is their growing appetite to influence the final result.

With the fall of Bashar Assad, Israel fears the unknown and as a result is keenly monitoring what is happening on the war fronts in Syria on a daily basis. These Israeli concerns alone are justified and expected, but it would be going too far to attempt to redraw the Syrian map. I do not think that it would be erroneous to say that Israel supports the idea of establishing an Alawite state that Assad is planning along the Mediterranean coast, or several other mini-states for that matter. Israel does not care about a civil war inside Syria, but rather encourages it, and a war between the Syrians would be expected if Assad tried to fragment the country and take over a particular region.

Israel is always interested in preoccupying its Arab neighbors in civil wars, and it is surely interested in dismantling Syria into small Kurdish, Alawite, Christian, Druze and Sunni mini-states. But isn’t Israel afraid of the presence of Al-Qaeda in a collapsed Syria? The idea itself is scary but Al-Qaeda is the bogeyman of the West, not Israel. Al-Qaeda has avoided confrontation with the Israelis despite its numerous anti-Semitic rants. Israel knows that none of Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, or even the previous Palestinian red factions such as Abu Nidal and the Popular Front, are threatening its security; they are merely a nuisance. The balance of power is always in Israel’s favor as the Jewish state always wins the war in the end.

Israel has fortified itself through building secure borders; it has constructed a long fence separating it off from the West Bank and will build a similar structure with Egypt. It will also build the “Great Wall of Israel” in the Golan Heights, separating it from Syria.

Tel Aviv has not released any information or suggestion regarding the situation in Syria, but we know that this is the most serious affront on its borders and that it directly affects Israeli security. Therefore, it is impossible for Israel to stand still, but little has been said so far.

However, after his return from Russia, Israeli president Shimon Peres previously said that the Israelis were against any form of foreign military intervention but would support the proposal to send Arab troops to enforce peace in Syria. Peres certainly knows that international intervention would take one week to topple Assad’s regime, whereas Arab intervention would make the war last for years. The absurd notion of sending Arab troops-also recommended by Arab League-doesn’t identity which Arab troops in particular, or how they would be sent.

I imagine that Israel has influenced Western and Russian stances in dealing with the events in Syria. It is probably behind the decline in their interest and threats towards the Assad regime. For the Israelis, there are four possibilities to end the Syrian tragedy: Firstly, the regime could fall with an alternative, exhausted ruling system being established by the opposition in its place, on what remains of Syria’s destroyed and scorched land. The second possibility is for the regime to fall while the civil war continues and without a strong central government to replace it, in a manner similar to Somalia. The third possibility is that Assad and his entourage will flee to the coast and declare the establishment and annexation of an Alawite mini-state, thus ensuring the continuation of inter-Syrian conflict. The final possibility, which is unlikely to happen, is that the situation will remain as it is and Assad will stay in Damascus while the opposition fight against him; with no visible end to the deadlock.

All of these possibilities would serve Israel. The only option that would have been contrary to Israeli interests was the proposal of international intervention a year ago, overthrowing Assad’s regime and establishing a new one based on democracy with international support. Israel knows that this would have made Syria a stronger neighbor, given that it has a population three times larger than Israel’s and especially if its regime were endorsed by a popular mandate.

kuwait digest

Education level deteriorating

By Dr Yaqoub Al-Sharrah

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he sorry state of affairs in the field of educa- educational system which are responsible for its tion in Kuwait and the need to improve it has gradual deterioration. These studies have proved been a subject of debate for years now. It is that reform measures over the past ten years have not surprising that the situation has forced many failed to accomplish anything substantial. Kuwait families to enroll their children in English and ranks 92nd in terms of quality of education in priAmerican schools, which are generally believed to mary schools worldwide, according to international assessments. The same assessments also say provide the best education in the country.

Having different options in the educational field that applied education which helps create labor is a positive thing that means an option available forces skilled to contribute towards economic for anyone to select whatever educational system development does not receive the required attent i o n i n Ku w a i t ’s e d u c a they like. But what is the t i o n a l s ys te m . Th i s i s b a s i s to a s s e s w h i c h by the fact that a s c h o o l i s d o i n g b e t te r The only way we can adjudge proven majority of Ku w a i t because it adopted a particular educational systhe educational level of any University graduates end up taking desk jobs in the tem? There are many factors which determine the school or university is through public sector, while a very l i m i te d m i n o r i t y s e e k s process of assessing the knowing how much its stuwork in the already unstaquality of educational sysdents advance in terms of ble industrial market. The tems. In the Arab region, 2009 World Bank report is there are no field studies or sur veys to make that knowledge and skills. This level c o n s i d e r e d o n e o f t h e deduction. Instead of any is associated with the quality most critical towards our educational system as it empirical evidence, there of educational services, and indicates a lack of attenis a general belief in the tion to the risks resulting superiority of the can easily be determined if from the failure to American and the human European universities vis- quality standards are followed. i m p r o v e resources. These mainly ‡-vis the local ones. Also, mean students. it is a fact that it is relaThe government and parliament are both tively easier to enroll in foreign colleges. The only way we can adjudge the educational level of any required to undertake serious and transparent school or university is through knowing how much efforts to address the deterioration in the educaits students advance in terms of knowledge and tional levels. They must adopt a clear program skills. This level is associated with the quality of which addresses all issues affec ting different educational services, and can easily be determined branches of the educational field. Without such efforts, Kuwait’s educational level will compare if quality standards are followed.

A number of studies conducted locally and out- poorly when compared to the state’s financial side Kuwait have detailed the flaws in the country’s resources. —- Al-Rai

By Iqbal Al-Ahmad

he Minister of Social Affairs and Labor sent several employees belonging to various departments to face questioning by the immigration department detectives following suspicions about certain violations.

It had recently come to light that records of a number of companies were fudged in the database to artificially bloat the number of workers required by a these companies. The employees were referred to the detectives after they came under surveillance to check forged transactions of work permits.

Minister Thekra Al-Rashidi asked high ranking officials to question these employees before referring them to the public prosecution.

There is no doubt that the news was heartening and boosts our confidence in Minister Al-Rashidi. The Social Affairs Ministry needed a clean up campaign as some employees were benefitting from people’s need to get their transactions processed. The employees were illegally furnishing these and charging a fee for the service. The menace is widespread and not limited to the Ministry of Social Affairs. The practice forces many honest citizens to simply give up and pay or their business will come to a stop and the transactions will simply not happen. I noticed in the past few days a campaign being run by a Kuwaiti youth under the slogan “The National Campaign to Fight Bribery,” following an incident that made him break his silence.

When a social ministry employee visited a project to estimate the number of laborers needed and sought a bribe, Mandoob asked him how much to make sure that he understood him right. The answer was, “Your manager determines the amount he wants to pay.” The youth began a campaign on Twitter and elicited a great response. Even members of Parliament interacted with him as did the social affairs ministry officials. This reflects the seriousness of moves by the ministry to fight this epidemic. Many Twitter users joined the campaign and began to volunteer to chase the bribe takers.

The team coordinated with some detectives and the social affairs ministry and designated phone numbers at which the citizens can call when asked to pay or accept a bribe. Any employee thus reported is liable to be put under surveillance to verify the authenticity of the claim. Information will be kept secret and whistle blowers will remain protected as hey will not be asked to appear in public.

We, as columnists and journalists, as well as those wishing to remove the menace of bribe not only from state ministries but everywhere, must interact with the national campaign to fight bribe and help the Ministry of Information and all other ministries. We are all hit by this bribery culture, starting with a telephone recharge card to a certain percentage of a tender. Only then we will be able to achieve what even the laws could not.

We concede that there are many honest employees who reject such illegal practices and fight them, and insist that the law must be implemented. They do not allow any violation in their work and reject all types of bribes and they deserve our praise.

If you become a victim of extortion or someone asks you to pay a bribe no matter what post he holds, or if your transactions are halted because you refused to pay, all you have to do is call the numbers mentioned below, and the complaint will be handled in secret. The employee will be placed under surveillance and your complaint will be conveyed to the concerned authorities. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

The unnecessary celebration

kuwait digest

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

A word to be said

By Ali Mahmoud Khajah

‘A

n elected cabinet’ is the latest demand of the ment has no clear political identity. Would we want a opposition, but no one has gone deeper into government without one, too? its details. Because we, I for certain, do not Had we applied the same formula to the annulled want to repeat the same mistake as we did when we February parliament, we would have faced the same raised the slogan of ‘We Want Them to be Five’ in the problem. The majority of that parliament comprised context of electoral constituencies without under- small groups with different beliefs like the Salaf, standing the inherent disadvantages related to Muslim Brotherhood, the Popular Bloc and some indedemography. It resulted in three failed parliaments pendents like Al-Shaye and Al-Adsani. In such a sceand many socio-political problems that we are still suf- nario, the cabinet formation must consider these small fering from. groups and consequently Let us test the latest come out without a true demand about an elected Let us test the latest demand identity, too.

Cabinet and make an The second theory about an elected Cabinet and means that the cabinet assessment using two theories. The first idea is that the be directly elected by make an assessment using two would head of the state himself the people. According to forms the Cabinet, provided theories. The first idea is that our current political system, he sticks to the formula of this means that some candithe head of the state himself dates would control certain current parliament. The second idea would involve forms the Cabinet, provided he ministries by, for instance, direct elections. In that, the making Khalid Al-Tahous people would elect the sticks to the formula of current the minister of social affairs, Cabinet as part of the paras Minister of Interior, parliament. The second idea Askar liamentary elections. Of Khalid Al-Sultan of Awqaf or course, such a change would involve direct elections. Abdul Hameed Dashti as would require some constiFinance Minister. Just imagIn that, the people would elect ine the mess we would be in tutional amendments.

The first idea would if those who make the the Cabinet as part of the par- then mean that the head of the most number of Wastas sucstate forms the cabinet in ceed in retaining their minliamentary elections. conformity with the parliaistries for life. ment election results. Will The problem with the this be applicable to the current parliament that has current opposition activists is that they make demands no majority or clear affiliation to certain blocs, except without discussing or going into details and presume in the case of the National Islamic bloc which only that their demands are the only ideal solutions and forms one tenth of the total strength of the House? that all those who oppose the government must The other nine tenths, such as Faisal Al-Duwaisan, adopt these demands as well, otherwise they would Askar Al-Enezi, Nawaf Al-Fuzai or Adnan Al-Mutawwa, be accused of treason and alienated by other opposihave no clear affiliations. In other words, this parlia- tion members. —Al- Jarida

T

he Al-Sabah family has been a strong believer in the Arabic saying - ‘If it had lasted for your predecessor, it wouldn’t have reached you.’ The saying has stayed engraved on the Seif Palace’s main gate for nearly a century now and the state’s ruler can read it every time he enters the building to exercise his powers.

‘If it had lasted for your predecessor, it wouldn’t have reached you.’ The saying signifies the fact that power must always come to an end. Rulers and regimes are finite, and the only things that stay are the land and the people.

When His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah assumed power, ‘murals’ unfortunately started appearing in Kuwait. I wrote an article criticizing it even then, especially since Kuwaiti citizens still have bad memories of such a practice, given our experience with Saddam Husain’s murals. The murals were soon removed as per the directions of HH the Amir if I recall correctly, and Kuwait returned to emerge even more beautiful when Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad returned to his rightful place, the Kuwaitis’ hearts.

Today, there are unconfirmed reports suggesting that the Ministry of Information plans to hold an unprecedented official ceremony to celebrate the anniversary of HH the Amir’s coronation. This tradition, much like the murals, is unusual in Kuwait as well as for the ruling family which believes in the saying quoted above.

There is no such tradition in democratic countries where people rule themselves, which - at least according to our constitution - includes Kuwait. Democratic countries celebrate the achievements of their governments, and have no place for immortalizing individuals.

There is no doubt that there are roles, services and achievements of the state credit for which must go to the Amir. It includes all Amirs who ruled the state, including HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah whose most recent decision to amend the electoral law speaks volumes. But at the end of the day, they are still achievements of an official, and are natural and expected roles for the leader whom everyone looks up to as a role model and someone who inspires hope.

Celebrating the Amir’s coronation is unnecessary because it will neither be in line with the history of Kuwait’s ruling family, nor with Kuwait’s democratic system that needs to be solidified and not questioned.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: An artist’s impressions of the new airport project.

Kuwait airport development ambitious, eyes LEED gold Passenger capacity to be increased to 25 million KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works is executing a mega venture to expand Kuwait International Airport to enhance its capacity to serve 25 million passengers per year by 2024, up from the current 8 million passengers. First phase of the project includes establishment of more gateways and apron plots to accommodate more than 50 aircraft, with a future plan to build up to 100 aprons and a huge parking lot, with surrounding greenery. According to the plan, details of which were made available by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, passengers are to walk towards the main building and their designated terminals through shaded, pleasing greenery-roofed paths.

The path provides full view of a large green and naturally-lit space which brings a feeling of calm and tranquility.

The pathways serve the added purpose of reducing foot traffic within the building. The planned expanded airport will be able to serve giant aircraft, including 280-As. Kuwait International Airport is planned to significantly increase capacity and establish a new regional air hub in the Gulf. The project’s strategic aims will

be matched by a state-of-the-art terminal building, which will provide the highest levels of comfort for passengers and will set a new environmental benchmark for airport buildings.

The overall design is rooted in a sense of place, responsive to the climate of one of the hottest inhabited environments on earth, and is inspired by local forms and materials.

The terminal has a trefoil plan, comprising three symmetrical wings of departure gates. Each facade spans 1.2 km and all extend from a dramatic 25meter-high central space. The terminal balances the enclosure of this vast area with a design that is highly legible at a human scale; for simplicity and ease of use, there are few level changes.

To future aid orientation, the building is planned under a single roof canopy, punctuated by glazed openings that filter daylight, while deflecting direct solar radiation. The canopy extends to shade a generous entrance plaza and is supported by tapering concrete columns. The fluid, organic forms of columns draw inspiration from the contrast between the solidity of the stone and movement of Kuwait’s traditional dhow sailing

President Obama announces $155 Million for the Syrian people For nearly two years, the Assad regime has waged a brutal war against the Syrian people-murdering innocent men, women and children, in their homes, in bread lines, and at universities.

In the face of this barbarism, the United States has joined with nations around the world in calling for an end to the Assad regime and a transition that leads to a peaceful, inclusive and democratic Syria, where the rights of all Syrians are protected. We’ve worked to isolate Assad and his regime; impose sanctions that starve the regime of funds; recognize the Syrian Opposition Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people; call for accountability for perpetrators of atrocities; and provide humanitarian relief to Syrians in need.

The relief we send doesn’t say “Made in America,” but make no mistake-our aid reflects the commitment of the American people. American aid means food and clean water for millions of Syrians.

American aid means medicine and treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients in Damascus, Dar’a and Homs. It means immunizations for one million Syrian children. American aid means winter supplies for more than half a million people in Aleppo, Homs and Dayr az Zawr. And we’re working with allies and partners so that this aid reaches those in need.

Today, we’re taking another step. I’ve

approved an additional $155 million in humanitarian aid for people in Syria and refugees fleeing the violence. Here, I want to speak directly to the people of Syria. This new aid will mean more warm clothing for children and medicine for the elderly; flour and wheat for your families and blankets, boots and stoves for those huddled in damaged buildings. It will mean health care for victims of sexual violence and field hospitals for the wounded. Even as we work to end the violence against you, this aid will help address some of the immediate needs you face each day.

This new commitment will bring America’s total humanitarian aid to Syria to $365 million-making us the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people. Today, I also call on the international community to do more to help these Syrians in need, and to contribute to the latest UN humanitarian appeal. We’re under no illusions. The days ahead will continue to be very difficult. But what’s clear is that the regime continues to weaken and lose control of territory. The opposition continues to grow stronger.

More Syrians are standing up for their dignity. The Assad regime will come to an end.

The Syrian people will have their chance to forge their own future. And they will continue to find a partner in the United States of America.

—Embassy of the United States-Kuwait

KUWAIT: The KIB employees who completed one of the institute’s specialist banking courses.

KIB employees complete IBS courses in banking KUWAIT: A selected group of employees from Kuwait International Bank (KIB), one of the leading Islamic banks in the Kuwait, was recognized in a special ceremony held at Kuwait’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry by the Institute of Banking Studies, for completing one of the institute’s specialist banking courses during the period 2011-2012.

Commenting on the occasion, Salem Qabazard, the Executive Manager of KIB’s Human Resources Department said: “The Institute of Banking Studies is a premier educational facility in Kuwait that has continuously supported the development of our employees. We recognize that our employees are at the core of our operations,

and we are committed to providing them with exceptional training opportunities, both locally and internationally, to further develop their professional growth, and thus, the strategic growth of KIB. It is this vision that will enable us to continue to offer our customers with Islamic banking services of the highest quality standards .”

Additionally, Qabazard expressed his gratitude to the Institute of Banking Studies for the large role it has played in supporting Kuwait’s banking sector, in addition to offering KIB employees with the fundamentals of banking and finance, which will enable them to add value to the bank’s operations as they continue to progress leading them to be successful leaders at KIB.

boats. The project targets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold. It aims to be the first passenger terminal in the world to attain this level of environmental accreditation. The concrete structure provides thermal mass and the roof incorporates a large expanse of photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy.

The site has flexible master plan, with the terminal strategically located to anticipate and enable future expansion.

The airport will initially accommodate 13 million passengers per year, with the flexibility to increase to 25 million passengers and to accommodate 50 million passengers with future development.

The design plan has stand flexibility to accommodate between 30-51 contact stands in the first phase. This is in addition to sufficient landside area to allow parking, GTC, and high-end landside facilities such as offices and DGCA headquarters and hotels. The 60m span roof canopy minimized walking distance below 600m from center to end points of a terminal.

Site area is a landside area of approximately 150 ha and an airside area of approximately 360 ha. The total building

footprint is 140,000 meters square, and building height is up to 39 meters.

The planned terminal building comes in four levels above ground, and one underground. The concrete shell roof structure consists of 78 perimeter and 12 internal structural bays. A typical bay comes in 45m glass facade protected by canopy. The concrete structure provides thermal mass and the roof incorporates a large expanse of photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy.

As for check in and baggage handling, the plan comes with 120 Check in desks for 13 million passengers per year (MAP), 180 Check in desks for 25 MAP, and a 13 MAP baggage handling system will be able to handle a peak of 2,930 bags per hour, and a 25 MAP baggage handling system will be able to handle a peak of 5,390 bags per hour. The integrated baggage system incorporates screening, dynamic storage, and sorting.

As for access to the airport, the new terminal will have a new landside access sequence from the south as a new road connects from the King Faisal Motorway 51 and the 7th Ring Road. There are also plans to establish a metro linking the airport to Kuwait City Centre. — KUNA

New post office system implemented KUWAIT: The director of mail traffic at the post office sector of Communications Ministry, Khalid Al-Qabas, said the ministry has begun implementing the new post office system (IPS) which would help track the posts and ensure faster mail flow.

He said the ministry applied this system at the sorting and parcels department at Kuwait Airport under the supervision of an international expert who also trained several employees.

Al-Qabas said the ministry was waiting for a response from the company supervising the study of privatization of the postal sector during next April. He said the shift towards privatization would be gradual and would continue under the government’s supervision till it was fully privatized.

Al-Qabas said Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate would be the first one to implement the IPS system as it has smaller post offices. The various pros and cons of the new system would be studied before implementing it across the country.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

LOCAL

Finest elements of boating lifestyle on display Yacht Show at Marina Crescent

KUWAIT: Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homoud Al- Sabah and other dignitaries at the Kuwait Yacht Show.

KUWAIT: Organized by PH7 Events, the first edition of the Kuwait Yacht Show was officially inaugurated at Marina Crescent on Monday under the patronage of Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homoud Al- Sabah, Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs and in the presence of dignitaries and VIPs representing various private and public sectors corporations. The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a tour of the show taking in both on-land and in-water displays where the visitors gained a valuable insight in to the latest offerings within the local marine industry.

Commenting on the opening PH7 Managing Director, Zeina Mokaddam, said “Today is just the beginning, but it also a monumental day because holding an annual yacht show of international stature in Kuwait is a long-held dream for all, and now it is finally

materializing in 2013.” The show is designed to showcase the marine industry encompassing all areas from leisure to luxury lifestyle, and Mokaddam confirmed that the first edition of show arrives in line with the growth that the marine leisure sector in Kuwait has witnessed over recent years. She continued: “No longer is it necessary for locally-based yacht owners to look beyond our own shores for the finest in marine sales and support” Mokaddam praised headline sponsors, Wataniya Telecom and Burgan Bank, for their initiatives in supporting the show while commenting that both are held as leading examples of private sector companies with the vision to promote leading events which reflect positively on the economy and help in promoting Kuwait.

Talking about their decision to sponsor the Kuwait Yacht Show, Public Relations Manager

Man sues govt for wrongful conviction

at Wataniya Telecom Fatima Dashti emphasised the company’s commitment to support and encourage any effort that celebrates the high status of Kuwait today and in particular this one which also reflects Kuwait’s proud heritage. “Wataniya is showcasing its latest services and products on our booth at the exhibition. As part of the on-land display Wataniya is hosting a VIP lounge where a team of service professionals will welcome customers and respond to their queries”.

Additionally, Bashir Jaber, Burgan Bank’s Assistant General Manager - Corporate Communications, said: “Kuwait has probably the most vibrant maritime market in the Arab World. Kuwaitis are dedicated to experiencing many sea-related adventures and with new products meeting their needs, the industry in Kuwait has grown to a new level. With the current rapid development of the marine industry

across the country, the expectation is for more power boats, large and small, to make their home in this nation where sand and sea are inextricably linked.”

The show offers visitors a chance to explore the finest elements of the boating lifestyle, to view the industry’s newest brands and models, and to shop for boats and marine accessories.

It is the first of its kind to gather under one roof everything that is needed for a unique marine experience. The on-land showcase features boats, marine accessories and high-end products, whilst the on-water display features luxury yachts.

The Kuwait Yacht Show is certain to attract the crowds by providing something for all boating, fishing, watersport, diving and travel enthusiasts. In doing so it will place Kuwait on the international marine-sector map as a yacht show of distinction.

The Kuwait Yacht Show witnesses the gathering of an elite group, with participants including leading figures in the Kuwait marine industry. Amongst them are: Thunayan AlGhanim from Al-Ghanim Marine, dealers of Bombardier Recreational Products;Ahmad AlAmiri from Seas & Deserts, dealers of Azimut, SeaRay, Boston Whaler, and other marine brands; Adel Al-Summait from Al-Boom Marine, dealers of Gulf Craft and many othermarine brands; Eduard Assaf from Sea Pros, dealers of Ferretti, Riva, Regal, Bertram; Mohamad Karam from Karam Group, dealers of Suzuki Marine; Omar Al-Kadi from Power House Company, dealers of Robalo Boats; Fahed Al Gharib from Power Boat Centre, dealers of Benelli Jet Skis, Haloul Boats, Charn Boats, Majed Al Sabeih from Al Sabih Marine dealers of Hella Marine, Ocean Kayaks, Cressi, Baltic, Magna Power, Marine AGM Batteries and Maxwell.

Al-Othaina opens VIVA booth at InfoConnect exhibition

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man is suing two ministries and seeking KD300,000 in damages for having to spend one full year in jail for crimes he never committed.

Lawyer Mohammad Al-Majedi said in a statement on Monday that his client was arrested in July 2001 when he was still a student and taken to spend a five-year jail sentence in a drugs related case in which he was convicted in absentia. The jail term was in addition to one year sentence for failing to comply with the court orders. The man was released on parole after spending a year in jail during which he managed to memorize the Holy Quran and that qualified him for the early release. It was then that the man discovered that his passport which had been missing prior to his arrest had been forged. “The real perpetrator impersonated my client and that led to wrongful sentencing,” the lawyer explained. The lawsuits were filed against the undersecretaries of both the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice who are accused of “destroying [the plaintiff’s] future”.

Search for thief Search is on for a male suspect accused of stealing KD70,000 from his company, according to his Kuwaiti employer. The case was filed at Al-Sharq police station.

The company owner claimed to have discovered that his employee disappeared at the same time when he found out about the theft. The Iranian national’s name was circulated at all border outlets to prevent a possible escape bid.

Serviceman collapses A military man who fell into a coma during a training operation at the Shuwaikh Port recently was hospitalized. He was rushed in an ambulance to the Military Hospital and admitted to its intensive care unit. An investigation was opened to determine the circumstances behind the incident.

KUWAIT: VIVA Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Badran with Eng SalimMutheeb Al-Uthainah, Minister of Communications and Minister of State for Housing Affairs.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s fastest-growing telecom operator, VIVA, launched its booth during the inauguration ceremony of the I nfoConnec t Exhibition, under the patronage of Eng. SalimMutheeb AlOthaina, Minister of Communications and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, where it presented customers and visitors of the exhibition with its latest offers and promotions.The InfoConnect 2013 Exhibition is being held at theKuwait Fair Grounds in Mishref, Hall 6, and will last

until Feb 2.

VIVA’s executive management also welcomed Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Football Federationand renowned football player Bader Al-Mutawaat its booth and showcased VIVA’s latest products and services.

Commenting on the event, VIVA Chief Executive O fficer, Eng. SalmanBin Abdulaziz Al-Badran said: “We are very proud and excited to be part of this high-

KUWAIT: Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Football Federation with VIVA Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Salman Bin Abdulaziz AlBadran. ly anticipated annual event, and are keen to underpin our role as the leading telecoms operator in Kuwait that continuously offers the latest and the best of the technology world. With the largest booth at the exhibition, VIVA tends to cater to as many customers and visitors as possible, and address their needs and require ments with the diverse promotions and offers we have available at our booth.”

VIVA is keen to continuously present a differentiated and unique experience,

and therefore, has launched a special promotion for its postpaid customers, where all new customers (voice and data) will be eligible to enter a draw to win a brand new Range Rover HSE Sport 2013.

Prepaid customers were also presented with an exciting prize draw, and can still participate in the ‘Win a Car Every Week’ campaign, the longest on-going campaign of its kind, where it will be presenting winners with a Dodge Challenger SE and KD10,000 every week.

Boubiyan branch managers praise ITQAN Academy role KUWAIT: A number of branch managers at Boubyan Bank praised the role played by the Bank’s ITQAN Academy that aims at developing their personal capabilities and enhancing their expertise by obtaining the MBA program at Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST), as part of the bank’s endeavours to invest in its human resources being the key pillar for its success and realization of its objectives.

Adel Al-Hammad, GM - Human Resources Group stressed that the program’s objective is to develop the skills of branch managers being the basic line for contact with customers and the public in order to reflect the true image of Boubyan Bank, as these courses aim at enhancing their skills in a way that will be positively reflected on customer service quality which is one of the priorities in its plans, and thus Boubyan becomes a pioneer institution creating highly qualified and experienced bankers able to push the Bank forward ahead of its competitors in the region.

Al-Hammad pointed out ITQAN Academy represents a qualitative leap in the area of professional training and development and that the this Agreement includes organizing a training program for Boubyan branch managers with high-level content encompassing many technical skills they need, whether financial or technological, in addition to specialized courses in management, team leadership and teamwork under the supervision of a professional training team accredited by

international institutions. On their part, a number of branch managers highlighted that the expertise they obtained during the past period since the program launch, though being a short period, has remarkably contributed to enhancing their expertise and personal capabilities, which was reflected on their performance, especially knowing that they are considered the first line for the Bank’s contact with customers.

as the professionalism of the Academy’s cadre and their expertise in the area of training, in addition to the noticeable development in the way of utilizing teaching aids that rival the most prestigious international training programs,” he added, noting that he advises all his colleagues to join these programs which manifest the management’s care to develop branch managers’ level on the academic side.

Ahmad Al-Sabah, which stresses the activation of Development Plan starting from youth in order to develop our beloved Country through this section of society, which is the corner stone for achieving progress and attaining its due international position.

Ahmad Al-Radhan, (Manager Consumer Banking Group) emphasized that the Academy is considered a professional international

interests of work.

Meanwhile, Khaled Al-Shammari (Manager - Consumer Banking Group) highlighted the bank’s attempt to solicit more customers, shareholders and investors through the mechanisms applied in linking economic and social objectives, which the Bank strives to realize. He noted that Bank’s endeavours to spread Islamic banking culture through the courses organized at

leadership programs to develop the managerial skills of the bank’s staff.

On his part, Abdullah Al-Salem (Manager - Consumer Banking Group) stated that the MBA program provided by the bank in cooperation with GUST through some of the most efficient lecturers of high-level certificate holders (PhD) and specialized masters realizes many objectives, mainly those related to the professional and administrative

Musaab Al-Shaalan

Khaled Al-Shammari

Abdullah Al-Salem

Ahmad Al-Radhan

Abdul-Aziz Al-Duwailah

On the other side, Abdul-Aziz AlDuwailah, Manager - Consumer Banking Group said that staff’s joining of the Academy is one of the strategic objectives through which the Bank tries to develop its human resources, especially considering that the Academy represents an advanced academic model through its cooperation with one of the most prestigious universities in the Middle East, namely GUST. “ The lectures we have taken reflect the Academy’s level and how it keeps pace with the most advanced training programs, as well

Meanwhile, Musaab Al-Shaalan (Manager - Consumer Banking Group) mentioned that Human Resources plan included a clear line for enhancing the academic and practical expertise of branch managers, which is “a brand new banking approach, according to our follow-up of the practices of other banks.”

He also added that Boubyan Bank’s efforts through ITQAN Academy to develop its young national cadres forms a practical application of the address of H.H., the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-

center that gives distinguished staff the opportunity to continue their academic study while keeping their career progress, which is a “a unique blend” that maintains the balance between academic development and job duties of branch managers.

Al-Radhan advised all his colleagues to join these distinguished programs provided by ITQAN Academy which aim at self-development and manifest the management’s care to develop and prepare branch managers on the academic side in a way that realizes their personal objectives and serves the best

ITQAN Academy, specially amidst the rapid growth of Shari’ah-compliant banking business around the world. Al-Shammari pointed out that the academy was established to give a practical example for a new era in human resources training and development by offering a brand new model in the private sector, in addition to being an internationally accredited training academy, advising all the bank’s staff of different academic and job profiles to join the academy, which provides specialized courses in the area of business administration and constructive

development of branch managers, and enables them to acquire more knowledge that contribute to improvement of customer service.

Al-Salem added that this kind of programs aim at upgrading the performance levels of branch managers, raising their productive efficiency and acquainting them with the latest updates in the industry, especially considering that they include a variety of programs like advanced accounting, ways of corporate budget assessment, computer software and other programs that help us achieve the sought objectives.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

Activists warily welcome US migration reform push

Confirming North Korean N-test almost impossible Page 12

Page 10

ALMATY: Standing in thick fog, Kazakh Interior Ministry officers and paramedics crowd near the site of the plane crash some 30 km outside the Kazakhstan’s commercial capital of Almaty yesterday. — AP

Kazakh air crash kills 22 Rescuers recover plane’s flight recorder ALMATY: All 21 people on board a domestic flight in Kazakhstan operated by SCAT airline died yesterday when their jet crashed on approach to Almaty airport in thick fog, officials said. “According to preliminary information, there were 16 passengers on board-including one child-and five crew members,” the emergencies ministry said in a statement. Both the airline and the prosecutor general’s office had initially put the toll at 20 dead before revising it up by one. Television footage of the crash site showed the wreckage in a snow-covered field a few kilometres (miles) away from the financial centre’s main airpor t. The

Canadian-made plane crashed just a few hundred metres (yards) from a major highway linking the airport to nearby cities.

The Interfax news agency said flights continued from Almaty airport even after the accident and that some jets flew directly over the Bombardier CRJ-200’s wreckage.

The airline said the jet had made one approach to the airport and was about to rise again for a second approach when it suddenly veered off course and plunged to the ground.

“On behalf of the Kazakh people and myself, I express the deepest sympathies to the relatives and loved ones of those who

died,” Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said a statement released by his office. The veteran Kazakh leader relayed his concerns about the recent spate of accidents affecting the aviation industry by appointing First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev-one of the most powerful people in government in charge of the probe.

SCAT said no further comment would be made until recovery workers had found and deciphered the “black box” flight data recorders. Officials said they located the first of the two devices a few hours after the crash. The Kazinform news agency reported

that officials from both the interior and transportation ministries had travelled to the site of the crash.

Interfax said the plane was produced in 2000 and had last undergone scheduled repairs in June 2011. It added that the jet was then certified to fly until its next scheduled maintenance in September. The Kazakh emergencies ministry added that the pilot had more than 18,000 hours of flight experience-including about 1,000 hours flying the CRJ-200.

It was the second deadly aircraft accident to strike the fast-developing Central Asian nation in just over a month. In

In recaptured Mali city, Islamists hunted down SEVARE: It was payback time yesterday in the newly liberated town of Gao in Mali, with residents hunting down and beating suspected Islamist extremists who had not fled with their brothers-in-arms as Malian and French military forces closed in and retook the town. Malian troops bundled the men into an army truck, their hands bound behind their backs. For the better part of a year, the al-Qaidalinked extremists had banned music, insisted women cover themselves and began carrying out public executions and amputations in the towns of northern Mali that they controlled.

Now the Islamists’ control of the cities has slipped, with the provincial capitals of Gao and Timbuktu coming back under government authority in quick succession with the arrival of French and Malian troops. They also may have lost control of a third key city, Kidal. France, the former colonial ruler, began sending in troops, helicopters and warplanes on Jan 11 to turn the tide after the armed Islamists began encroaching on the south, toward the capital. French and Malian troops seized Gao during the weekend, welcomed by joyous crowds. They took

Timbuktu on Monday. The Islamists gave up both cities and retreated into the desert. But not all of them left.

Members of a youth militia, the Gao Patrolmen, went houseto-house hunting down suspected Islamic extremists in Gao. Abdul Karim Samba, spokesman for the group, said men were scouring the town for remnants of the extremist Islamist group k nown as the Movement for Unity and Oneness of the Jihad, or MUJAO. “ They are the Islamists who have gone into their homes to hide, so we’ve been rounding them up to hand them to the military,” he told The Associated Press. Yesterday, Tuareg fighters from a secular rebel group said they also were now in charge of Kidal. The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad - Azawad is the Tuareg’s name for their homeland - appears to have taken advantage of the French-led military offensive to assert themselves in Kidal. Phone lines were down there, making it difficult to independently confirm the group’s claim. The loss of Kidal would mean the Islamists no longer control any of the northern provincial capitals that they had seized last April.

On its website, the NMLA said it is ready to work with French troops and fight terror organizations. However, it said it would refuse to allow Malian soldiers in Kidal and the other towns under its control in northeastern Mali, following allegations that the troops killed civilians suspected of having links to the Islamists.

Timbuktu Mayor Ousmane Halle said yesterday he hopes to return home in the next 48 hours from the capital but that the Islamists had destroyed part of the airport’s runway before leaving, making it hard for planes to land. Halle had a message for Iyad Ag Ghali, the leader of the extremist group, Ansar Dine, which imposed strict Sharia law in Timbuktu last year and forced thousands to flee in fear.

“In one of the meetings I had with Iyad Ag Ghali, he told me that the whole world knows he is the master of Timbuktu. But today it’s me that is the mayor of Timbuktu, and he is on the run like an animal,” Halle told AP. To help battle the Islamists in their desert hideouts, a US military official says the Pentagon is considering setting up a drone base in northwest Africa to increase intelligence collection.

The official says the US signed

an agreement Monday that would set the rules for greater American military presence in Mali’s neighbor to the east, Niger, which would be the most likely location for any new drone base. The official in Washington spoke on condition of anonymity because no final decision has been made.

African and Western nations yesterday pledged more than $450 million to fund an Africanled military force to continue the fight against the Islamist extremists in Mali. The promises of money and equipment were made in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa at a conference held by the African Union, which said $960 million is needed to fund the Mali campaign.

The French military operation has so far met little resistance though experts warn it will be harder to hold on to the towns than it was to recapture them from the Islamists. France’s defense minister said the job was not yet done. “The operations are not finished, and we need to work alongside African troops and Malian troops until they take over,” Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the French parliament yesterday afternoon. — AP

December, 27 people were killed when their plane crashed in bad weather.

Aviation disasters remain a scourge across the former Soviet Union due to ageing hardware that often has not been replaced since before the fall of the Soviet regime.

SCAT operated three CRJ-200s in its small modern fleet until yesterday’s accident.

Each plane can carry up to 50 passengers and is operated for small and medium-haul flights by major Western airlines. Privatelyowned SCAT was established in 1997 as the Special Cargo Air Transport company and has developed a solid safety reputation in Kazakhstan. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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

Phone video of S Africa massacre pressures cops Officer boasts of shooting miner ‘at least 10 times’

MOGADISHU: A Somali soldier guards the front gate of the presidential palace following a suicide bomb attack yesterday. — AP

Suicide bomber kills 2 near Somali palace MOGADISHU: A suicide bomber blew himself up near the Somali presidential palace yesterday, killing at least two soldiers in a strike apparently aimed at the country’s leaders, a palace guard at the scene said.

Officials working in the palace and guards said Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was abroad at the time of the blast and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid, whose house was near the site of the explosion, was safe.

The blast was the first this year in Mogadishu, where security has improved greatly since Al-Shabaab - Islamist rebels allied to Al-Qaeda - were driven from the capital by African peacekeepers in late 2011. The group - which wants to impose its strict version of Sharia or Islamic law - is fighting to topple Mohamud, whose election last year was the first such vote since warlords ousted military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

“The man blew up himself near a wall between the Ethiopian embassy and the Somali PM’s residence,” Ahmed Ali, a Somali soldier at the presidential palace told Reuters. The two buildings are inside a sprawling compound that also houses the presidential palace. “One guard died there and then. Another died of his wounds.

They were all the guards of the PM,” said Ali. “The man was an Al-Shabaab defector. He had a gate pass, an identity card of the

national security.” Guards at the palace who declined to be named said the blast partially damaged a small room made of iron sheets where the prime minister’s guards are stationed, but little else was damaged.

Buildings and cars within the compound were untouched.

Ousted from urban centres The guards said the bomber was known to them, and frequently visited the palace.

When he came by yesterday morning, the guards took the suicide bomber through a routine inspection and found he was clad in an explosive jacket. The guards tried to prevent him from detonating his device, but it went off - killing one instantly and wounding two others. Al-Shabaab was not immediately available for comment on the attack.

The group fled to southern Somalia after quitting Mogadishu but in late September Kenyan troops forced it to withdraw from the port of Kismayu, its last major urban stronghold in the Horn of Africa nation.

That appears to have ended it as a quasiconventional military force, though AlShabaab remains a threat and has vowed to step up suicide bombings and hit-andrun attacks. On Jan 17 the group said it had executed a captive French agent after a French commando mission to rescue him failed. — Reuters

ANKARA: A group of Turkish Kurds walk with a black wreath as they stage a protest to condemn the conviction of two young brothers, Lokman and Zanyar Moradi, of Kurdish origin in Iran, outside the Iranian Embassy yesterday. The banner reads: “No to death penalty. Freedom for Lokman and Zanyar!” — AP

Kurdish militants set for Turkey ceasefire ISTANBUL: Kurdish militants will halt hostilities with Turkey in February according to the timetable of a fledgling peace process aimed at ending 28 years of insurgency, a report in a mainstream newspaper said yesterday. As an initial confidence-building step, around 100 fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrilla group will hand in their weapons and leave Turkey, the Hurriyet said.

Turkish intelligence officials began talks with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in late 2012 and preliminary talks have also been held with PKK members in northern Iraq, where most of the group’s several thousand militants are based, it said. More than 40,000 people have been killed in fighting since the rebels took up arms in 1984 with the aim of carving out a Kurdish state in southeastern Turkey. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Ankara, the United States and European Union, has since moderated its goal to one of autonomy. The conflict is the chief domestic problem facing Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan after 10 years in power. “According to the timetable on the table, the PKK will announce its decision to halt hostilities in February right after an official call by Abdullah Ocalan,” the paper said. Hurriyet, which is regarded as authoritiative on security-related matters, did not identify its sources and there was no immediate comment from Turkish officials or the PKK. The militants have announced unilateral ceasefires in the past but these have been ignored by Turkish security forces. Under a framework discussed with Ocalan, all PKK fighters will eventually disarm after the withdrawal from Turkey and in return the government will improve the rights of Kurds, who make up some 20 percent of Turkey’s population of 76 million. As part of

those reforms, Turkey’s parliament last week passed a law allowing defendants to use Kurdish in court in a move seen aimed at breaking a deadlock in trials of hundreds accused of links to the PKK. Northern Iraq talks planned Only Erdogan and a few officials are believed to have first-hand knowledge of the peace framework. They have not disclosed details of the plan, nor have they denied reports on it by media close to the government. With next year’s local and presidential elections in mind, Erdogan has limited time and is keen to keep the process under wraps due to fears of a nationalist backlash against talks with a group reviled by most Turks.

A more senior delegation from the MIT national intelligence agency, possibly including its head - Hakan Fidan, was due to travel to Arbil in northern Iraq for more talks with the PKK in the coming week, the liberal Radikal daily reported. Among those expected to take part in those talks was Sabri Ok, a senior figure in the PKK who had also participated in peace talks in Oslo.

Those negotiations unravelled in 2011 when recordings of them were leaked to Turkish media.

The planned withdrawal of PKK fighters from Turkish territory is expected to be monitored by representatives of non-governmental organisations. The militants previously withdrew from Turkish territory on Ocalan’s orders after his capture in 1999, as part of moves towards peace. However, several hundred militants are estimated to have been killed by security forces during that withdrawal. In an apparent bid to ease PKK concerns that the same would happen this time, Erdogan promised this month that it would not. — Reuters

JOHANNESBURG: A cell phone video broadcast this week of the police shooting of 34 miners in South Africa last year has piled more pressure on the security forces, showing officers bragging about the killings and undermining claims that they fired in self-defence. Reuters television footage of some of the killings at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine showed a dozen striking miners being cut down in a hail of police bullets. The images of the bloodiest security incident since apartheid shocked the world, and dented the reputation of Nelson Mandela’s “Rainbow Nation” and the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which faces an election next year.

Since then the pay strikes have abated, but turmoil in the sector has continued, with the world’s biggest platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum Ltd, infuriating miners and the ANC alike with plans to mothball mines accounting for 3 pct of South Africa’s workforce.

Most of the Marikana victims died in and around a small cluster of rocks - a ‘koppie’ in Afrikaans about 400 metres (yards) away from the main confrontation, out of sight of reporters and television cameras.

It is here that multiple witness reports have spoken of police officers gunning down miners as they surrendered, or shooting them in the back as they fled. The cell phone footage from the koppie, aired on Britain’s Channel 4 television, shows a police officer lying on the ground behind a rock with his pistol drawn. The images were shot by a colleague, also lying in the grass, with the barrel of his sidearm regularly moving into the frame.

“Don’t shoot him” The first officer indicates that a miner is on the move in front of them. A voice can then be heard shouting: “Wait, don’t shoot him, don’t shoot him.” Gunfire is then heard, and the video cuts to the body of a man in jeans lying in the

grass. Moments later, another officer can be heard off-camera boasting about killing the man. “I shot him at least 10 times,” the officer says. Channel 4 said the body had been identified and the man had been shot 12 times. Police spokesman Dennis Adriao declined to comment on the latest footage, which was submitted by police to an inquiry into the killings in the city of Rustenburg, 120 km (70 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, according to inquiry officials. Ian Farlam, the retired judge heading the probe, said the footage had been viewed by the inquiry in November and cautioned against reading too much into it.

“The commission is of the view that it is premature to draw conclusions from the video

footage that is included in the broadcast,” he told the inquiry, according to local media. The police have said they resorted to lethal force after coming under fire from some armed miners. Post mortem reports indicated 14 of the Marikana victims had been shot in the back.

The Farlam inquiry is due to wind up in the middle of the year. Its findings are likely to be damning of the security forces and could have implications for President Jacob Zuma as he heads for an election due in just over a year.

Anglo American Platinum, which has announced plans to lay off 14,000 workers and close two mines, said yesterday that talks with the government and unions to mitigate the fallout had been “constructive”. — Reuters

MARIKANA: A file photo shows police surrounding fallen miners after they opened fire during clashes near a platinum mine in Marikana.— AFP

Weapon history takes time to find Mozambique army called to battle floods MAPUTO: Mozambique’s military has been called in to help tackle severe flooding that has killed 48 people and is likely to spread to the country’s central and northern regions, officials said yesterday.

The armed forces have begun helping with cleanup operations in the devastated southern town of Chokwe, which has borne the brunt of the flooding caused by heavy rains. “We can confirm the army is helping support the affected people,” said Benjamim Chabualo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence told AFP. Soldiers have also been involved in rescue efforts and the navy has ferried people by boat to reach areas isolated by flooding. According to UN figures around 250,000 people have been affected by the floods and 146,000 people are being housed in temporary shelters. Water levels have begun to recede in the south of the country, but the situation remains critical, and the centre and north are expected to be hit by fresh rain.

In Chokwe many homes have been completely inundated, and the flood surge has left in its wake piles of rubbish, mud and the detritus of lives destroyed. “In Chokwe families have begun cleaning their homes and (the national civil protection unit) will help the municipality to clean the city,” civil protection spokeswoman Rita Almeida said.

Even as the floods ebb in some places, residents faced a tough slog to get clean food, water, shelter and avoid a legion of risks.

“The rains over southern Mozambique have ceased for the time being, and the floodwaters are slowly receding. However, many have lost everything in the floods,” according to a UN situation report. At least 48 people have died, some electrocuted by severed power lines trailing in the water, some crushed by collapsed buildings and some attacked by crocodiles At temporary shelters aid agencies are feeding approximately 70,000 people. While tens of thousands of people have made their way to government camps, many more have not. “We know there are a great many people affected who did not turn up at these centres,” said Rita Almeida, Mozambique’s national disaster management institute. Some may have gone to the houses of family and friends, others, in more remote regions, remained stranded.

Helicopters are airlifting food and medical supplies to isolated areas. “We are lifting supplies to places. where neither boats or vehicles can enter,” the Director-General of Mozambique’s Disaster Management Institute (INGC) said on national radio. “We are doing all in our power to get food to people where they need it.” The entire south and centre of the country is still on red alert for floods although authorities say water levels on main rivers are gradually dropping.

Authorities are monitoring the central Sofala and Zambezia provinces which have been registering rains. “The forecast is it could keep raining for the next 48 hours and that the rain is moving north,” Almeida said. “We appeal to people to take precautions, particularly in houses made of material that is vulnerable to floods.” Some residents have refused to leave their homes out of fear of looting. “If they stay on top of houses they can’t benefit from aid. They prefer staying until the water goes down,” Chokwe mayor, Jorge Macuacua told AFP. — AFP

WASHINGTON: In the fictional world of television police dramas, a few quick clicks on a computer lead investigators to the owner of a gun recovered at a bloody crime scene. Before the first commercial, the TV detectives are on the trail of the suspect. Reality is a world away.

There is no national database of guns. Not of who owns them, how many are sold annually or even how many exist. Federal law bars the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from keeping track of guns. The only time the government can track the history of a gun, including its first buyer and seller, is after it’s used in a crime. And though President Barack Obama and numerous Democratic lawmakers have called for new limits on what kinds of guns should be available to the public and urged stronger background checks in gun sales, there is no effort afoot to change the way the government keeps track - or doesn’t - of where the country’s guns are.

When police want to trace a gun, it’s a decidedly low-tech process. “It’s not CSI and it’s not a sophisticated computer system,” said Charles J. Houser, who runs the ATF’s National Tracing Center in Martinsburg, W. Va. When police trace a gun, the search starts by sending all the information they have about the gun including the manufacturer and model - to an office worker in a low-slung brick building just off the Appalachian Trial in rural West Virginia, about 90 miles northwest of Washington. ATF officials first call the manufacturer, who reveals which wholesaler the company used. That may lead to a call to a second distributor before investigators can pinpoint the retail gun dealer who first sold the weapon. Gun dealers are required to keep a copy of federal forms that detail who buys what gun and a log for guns sold. They are required to share that information with the ATF if a gun turns up at a crime scene and authorities want it traced. Often, gun shops fax the paperwork to the ATF. That’s where the paper trail ends. In about 30 percent of cases, one or all of those folks have gone out of business and ATF tracers are left to sort through potentially thousands of out-of-business records forwarded to the ATF and stored at the office building that more closely resembles a remote call center than a law enforcement operation. The records are stored as digital pictures that can only be searched one image at a time. Two shifts of contractors spend their days taking staples out of papers, sorting through thousands of pages and scanning or taking pictures of the records.

“Those records come in all different shapes and forms. We have to digitally image them, we literally take a picture of it,” Houser said.

“We have had rolls of toilet paper or paper towels ... because they (dealers) did not like the requirement to keep records.” The tracing center receives about a million out-of-business records every month and Houser runs the center’s sorting and imaging operations from 6 a.m. to midnight, five days a week. The images are stored on old-school microfilm reels or as digital images. But there’s no way to search the records, other than to scroll through one picture of a page at a time. “We are ... prohibited

from amassing the records of active dealers,” Houser said. “It means that if a dealer is in business he maintains his records.” Last year the center traced about 344,000 guns for 6,000 different law enforcement agencies. Houser has a success rate of about 90 percent, so long as enough information is provided. And he boasts that every successful trace provides at least one lead in a criminal case. “It’s a factory for the production of investigative leads,” Houser said of the tracing center.

A 1968 overhaul of federal gun laws required licensed dealers to keep paper records of who buys what guns and gave ATF the authority to track the history of a gun if was used in a crime. But in the intervening decades, the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups lobbied Congress to limit the government’s ability to do much with what little information is collected, including keeping track on computers.

“They (lawmakers) feel that the act of amassing those records would in essence go a step toward creating an artificial registration system,” Houser said. What the ATF can do is give trace information to the law enforcement agency that asked for it and in some cases uses the data to help point them in the direction of other crimes. Houser said the “manually intensive process” can take about five days for a routine trace. In some cases, completing the trace can mean sifting by hand through paperwork that hasn’t yet been scanned.

In more urgent situations, including the immediate aftermath of a mass shooting in Connecticut last year, ATF agents run a trace within about 24 hours. Oftentimes, that involves sending agents to the gun dealer that first sold the weapon to quickly find the paperwork listing its original buyer. Despite having access to millions of records about gun purchases from dealers that have gone out of business, the ATF isn’t allowed to create a database of what guns were sold to whom and when.

ATF does keep tabs on how many guns are manufactured and shipped out of the country every year, but only gun makers and dealers know for sure how many are sold. There are also strict limits on what the agency can do with the gun trace information. And that’s just the way the gun lobby and Congress want it.

Various laws and spending bills have specifically barred the ATF from creating a national database of guns and gun owners. And due to the efforts of lawmakers, including former Rep Todd Tiahrt of Kansas, ATF agents who trace the history of a gun can’t share that information with anyone but the police agency that asked for it. As it stands now, local law enforcement doesn’t have access to regional data about gun traces. So if the police commissioner in New York City is trying to figure out where the guns are coming into the city from whether they’re going to New Jersey first or upstate New York, for example - that data is not available because of an amendment introduced by Tiahrt, said Mike Bouchard, a former ATF assistant director for Field Operations. ATF can tell police where most crime guns are traced from, by state. —AP

This photo shows Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) processed firearm transaction documents from firearms dealers no longer in business. — AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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

Dutch Queen Beatrix abdicates Eldest son set to be king

SANTA MARIA: A relative of a victim weeps by flowers put in front of the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, southern Brazil yesterday where a blaze Sunday early morning left a death toll of over 230. —AFP

No alarm, only 1 exit in Brazil nightclub fire SANTA MARIA: The nightclub Kiss was hot, steamy from the press of beer-fueled bodies dancing close.

The Brazilian country band on stage was whipping the young crowd into a frenzy, launching into another fast-paced, accordion-driven tune and lighting flares that spewed silver sparks into the air.

It was another Saturday night in Santa Maria, a university town of about 260,000 on Brazil’s southernmost tip. Then, in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, it turned into a scene of indescribable horror as sparks lit a fire in the soundproofing material above the stage, churning out black, toxic smoke as flames raced through the former beer warehouse, killing 231 people. “I was right there, so even though I was far from the door, at least I realized something was wrong,” said Rodrigo Rizzi, a firstyear nursing student who was next to the stage when the fire broke out and watched the tragedy unfold, horror-stricken and helpless. “Others, who couldn’t see the stage, never had a chance. They never saw it coming.” There was no fire alarm, no sprinklers, no fire escape. In violation of state safety codes, fire extinguishers were not spaced every 1,500 square feet, and there was only one exit. As the city buried its young Monday, questions were raised about whether Brazil is up to the task of ensuring the safety in venues for the World Cup next year, and the Olympics in 2016. Four people were arrested for questioning, including two band members and the nightclub’s co-owner.

Rizzi hadn’t even planned on going out that night. He was talked into it by friends and knew dozens at the club. He said the first sign of a problem was insulation dripping above the stage. The flames at that point were barely noticeable, just tiny tongues lapping at the flammable material.

The band’s singer, Marcelo dos Santos, noticed it and tried to put out the smoldering embers by squirting water from a bottle. The show kept going.

Then, as the ceiling continued to ooze hot molten foam, dos Santos grabbed the drummer’s water bottle and aimed it at the fire. That didn’t work either, Rizzi said. A security guard handed the band leader a fire extinguisher. He aimed, but nothing came out; the extinguisher didn’t work.

At that point, Rizzi said, the singer motioned to the band to get out. Rizzi calmly made his way to the door - the club’s only exit - still thinking it was a small fire that would quickly be controlled. The cavernous building was divided into several sections, including a pub and a VIP lounge and hundreds of the college students and teenagers crammed in couldn’t see the stage. They continued to drink and dance, unaware of the danger spreading above them. Then, the place became an inferno.

The band members who headed straight for the door lived. One, Danilo Brauner, went back to get his accordion, and never made it out. The air turned dense and dark with smoke; there was no light, nothing pointing to the single exit. Rizzi found himself clawing through a panicked crowd that surged blindly toward the door.

“I was halfway across the floor, I could see the door, but the air turned black with this thick smoke,” he said. “I couldn’t breathe. People started to panic and run toward the door. They were falling, screaming, pulling at each other.” The manager, meanwhile, was outside dealing with a drunk and belligerent young man. No one there had any inkling of the desperate scene unfolding just beyond Kiss’ black, sound-proof double doors, said taxi driver Edson Schifelbain, who was in his car, waiting for passengers. A security guard poked his head out and said there was a fight. A fraction of a second later, someone inside yelled “Fire!” The manager opened the doors and it was like opening the gates of hell, Schifelbain said.

Young men and women, mouths and eyes blackened with soot, clothes tattered, tumbled out screaming and crying. Some ran right over his taxi and two other cabs parked nearby, breaking mirrors, windshields, bashing in the doors. Horrified, he realized his cab was in their way, but couldn’t move it because there were bodies hunched over

it, collapsed in front of the tires, everywhere.

“The horror I saw in their faces, the terror, I’ll never forget,” he said. Two girls gasping for air climbed into his car, and as soon as he was able, he sped the six miles (10 kilometers) to the university hospital. “One of them was crying all the way, screaming, ‘My friend is dying,’” he said. “I did what I could. I don’t know what happened to those girls.”

Inside the club, metal barriers meant to organize the lines of people entering and leaving became traps, corralling desperate patrons within yards of the exit. Bodies piled up against the grates, smothered and broken by the crushing mob. Rizzi was stuck, unable to move, taking in gulps of smoke, feeling the gaseous mix burn his lungs. He was within seconds of passing out, he said, when the whole frenzied mass suddenly lurched forward.

The gates gave way, and everyone toppled over.

Rizzi was lying on top of two or three people, several more heaped on top of him. He stuck out his hands, smacking them against the sidewalk and door. Someone pulled him to safety. “To get out, I climbed, I pulled people’s hair. I felt other people grabbing me, hitting me in the face,” he said. “It’s hard to describe the horror. But once I was outside, I recovered, and started pulling out the others.”

Soon, he said, the street was a sea of bodies. This was the scene 24-year-old Gabriel Barcellos Disconzi found when he arrived about 3:30 am, an hour after fire broke out. Wakened by a phone call from friends, the club regular immediately started pulling out bodies as smoke spewed so thick that entering the building was unthinkable.

Using sledgehammers and picks and their bare hands, he and other young men broke down the walls. Born and bred in Santa Maria, the outgoing young lawyer had dozens of friends and acquaintances inside. “It was all so fast, there was no time for anything, no time for crying over a friend,” he said. “It was dead people over here, living over there. Body after body after body.”

Both Rizzi and Disconzi were there when they broke into one of the bathrooms and found a tableau of nearly indescribable desperation: It was crammed with bodies, tangled and tossed like dolls, piled as high as Rizzi’s chest. In the darkness and confusion, concert-goers had rushed into the bathroom thinking it was an exit. They died, crushed and airless in the dark. “I’ll never forget the wall of people,” Rizzi said.

Disconzi helped load them into a truck. Just the dead jammed into that bathroom filled an entire truck, he said. By this time, the city was waking up to the dimension of the tragedy unfolding at its heart. Doctors, nurses and psychologists began arriving, giving immediate assistance - checking eyes and respiratory passages, stabilizing the burned, resuscitating those whose hearts had stopped or lungs had failed because of the smoke.

The living they loaded into ambulances. The mounting number of dead went into trucks. At Charity Hospital, the region’s largest, “it was a war scene,” said Dr Ronald Bossemeyer, the technical director.

“Trying to give care, comfort the living, and keep family members who started to arrive from overwhelming everything - it was madness,” he said, choking back tears. “The wounded, the doctors, people running with saline, with oxygen.

We’ve never seen so many patients.” As families waited, nurses and technicians ran back and forth, bringing an earring, a shoe, a wallet, anything that could help identify those still living, Bossemeyer said.

As doctors were at work saving those who could be saved, a group of mothers was calling around to check on one another. Elaine Marques Goncalves woke up to that terrible question: Do you know where your child is? With a jolt, she realized two of her sons, Gustavo and Deivis, had not come home the night before. “I knew they’d gone to a club, but I didn’t know which one,” she said.

Trying to keep calm, she joined the multitude pressing for news outside the hospital. —AP

THE HAGUE: The Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix announced Monday that she is ending her reign after 33 years and passing the crown to her eldest son, who has long been groomed to be king but who will have to work hard to match his mother’s popularity. The widely expected abdication comes at a time of debate over the future of the largely ceremonial Dutch monarchy, but also as calm has descended upon the Netherlands after a decade of turmoil that saw Beatrix act as the glue that held together an increasingly divided society.

“Responsibility for our country must now lie in the hands of a new generation,” Beatrix, one of Europe’s longestserving monarchs, said in the simple, televised speech announcing her abdication. The queen, who turns 75 in just a few days, said she will step down from the throne on April 30. That same day, her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, will be appointed king at an inauguration in Amsterdam. He will be the Netherlands’ first king since Willem III died in 1890.

Willem-Alexander is a 45-year-old father of three young daughters, an International Olympic Committee member, a pilot and a water management expert. Over the years, he has struggled to win the affection of this nation of 16 million, but his immensely popular wife, the Argentine-born Maxima, has helped him gain more acceptance ever since she brushed away a tear during their wedding in 2002.

They are a hard-working couple: Willem-Alexander regularly gives speeches at water conferences, sharing his low-lying nation’s centuries of experience battling to stay dry, while soon-tobe Queen Maxima, a former investment banker, has carved out a career as a microfinance expert. Together, the pair has often been seen cheering on Dutch sportsmen and women at Olympics from Beijing, to Vancouver and London.

“He’s known as ‘Mister Water,’ isn’t he?

He seems like a reliable person, just like his mother,” said Desiree Hoving, an Amsterdam resident. “I don’t really have an emotional response to him, but I do think it’s nice that Maxima is going to be queen.” Despite regular public appearances, Willem-Alexander is also fiercely private, giving reporters and photographers brief, choreographed glimpses of his family in return for being left in peace the rest of the time.

“He and Princess Maxima are fully prepared for their future roles,” Beatrix said. “They will serve our nation with

South Africa thieves steal dreadlocks JOHANNESBURG: A Zimbabwean man was recently robbed of his dreadlocks at a South African night club to feed a growing demand for human hair extensions, a local paper reported yesterday. The Times said Mutsa Madonko had his long locks that he has grown for 10 years, cut off while partying at a Johannesburg club. Natural dreadlocks are sold as hair extensions for anything between 200 rand ($22, 16 euro) and 2,500 rand ($204, 278 euro) depending on the length, said The Times.

The extensions are weaved into clients’ own hair. They are worn by both men and women.

Synthetic extensions have been used for years, but the Times report suggests demand for 100 percent human hair dreadlocks is growing in South Africa. One hair stylist in downtown Johannesburg John Wushe told the paper that dreadlocks “are becoming very popular. On a busy day we get 10 people (wanting) to extend their hair.” Globally, the fad for human hair extensions has spawned a multi-million dollar industry, with Indian and Brazilian hair the most popular among women. —AFP

Potential UN headquarters attacked in Libyan capital TRIPOLI: Unknown assailants threw an improvised explosive yesterday at an empty building the United Nations had considered as a possible headquarters of its Libya mission in Tripoli, causing minor damage but no injuries, a mission spokesman said.

There are heightened concerns about Islamist militant attacks in North Africa after a hostage crisis in Algeria and the start of French military operations against jihadist rebels in Mali earlier this month. Radhia Achouri, spokeswoman for the UN Support Mission in Libya, recounting yesterday’s incident, said a second, similar homemade explosive was later found and removed without problem by Libyan police, who were now investigating the matter. On Monday, the British embassy in Tripoli said it was aware of reports of a potential threat against it, days after London urged British nationals to leave the eastern city of Benghazi due to a “specific and imminent threat” against Westerners. —Reuters

dedication, faithfully preserve the constitution and bring all their talents to the monarchy.”

Despite her popularity, Maxima has always carried an air of controversy because her father was an agriculture minister in the military junta that ruled Argentina with an iron fist in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

In a move that may curtail possible protests, the Royal House said that Maxima told Prime Minister Mark Rutte that her parents will not attend the inau-

“Bea.” Well-wishers immediately gathered outside the palace Monday. One of them, Laura Dinkshof, took along a homemade orange banner. “We hope the queen will see it,” she said. “It says we were very happy with our queen and we wish her a nice retirement and that we have trust in our new king.” Rutte, a staunch monarchist, said that ever since her coronation in 1980, Beatrix - the nation’s oldest-ever monarch - “applied herself heart and soul for Dutch society.”

Beatrix succeeded her mother,

THE HAGUE: Front pages of Dutch and foreign newspapers featuring the announcement of Dutch Queen Beatrix’s abdication are displayed yesterday. —AFP guration. In her brief, prerecorded speech from her Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Beatrix said she was, “deeply grateful for the great faith you have shown in me in the many years that I could be your queen.”

The queen’s departure is sure to bring about an outpouring of sentimental and patriotic feelings among the Dutch, most of whom adore Beatrix. In everyday conversation, many of her subjects refer to her simply by the nickname

Juliana, as head of state, and her reign has been marked by tumultuous shifts in Dutch society and, more recently, by personal tragedy.

Observers believe Beatrix remained on the throne for so long in part because of unrest in Dutch society as the country struggled to assimilate more and more immigrants, mainly Muslims from North Africa, and shifted away from its traditional reputation as one of the world’s most tolerant

nations. Beatrix was also thought to be giving time for her son to enjoy fatherhood before taking the throne.

The abdication also comes at a time of trial for Beatrix. A year ago, she was struck by personal tragedy when the second of her three sons, Prince Friso, was left in a coma after being engulfed by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.

And even in a job that is mostly symbolic to begin with, the previous government stripped her of one of her few remaining powers: the ability to name a candidate to begin Cabinet formation after the election of the national parliament.

Beatrix’s reign began in difficult economic times and there were riots in Amsterdam at her inauguration, as thousands of demonstrators protesting the city’s housing shortages fought pitched battles with police just a few hundred meters (yards) from the downtown palace where she was crowned.

But throughout her tenure she was a calming influence on society, particularly in the aftermath of the 2002 assassination of populist politician Pim Fortuyn and the murder two years later of filmmaker Theo van Gogh by a Muslim extremist. Personal tragedies have exposed a softer side of the queen and brought her closer to her subjects. The 2002 death of her Germanborn husband, Prince Claus, took a toll on her, and it was apparent how deep her reliance on the quiet man had been: she was filmed leaning heavily, almost hanging, on Prince Friso’s arm as they entered the church for her spouse’s funeral. In another blow, a deranged loner tried to slam a car into an open-topped bus carrying members of the royal family as they celebrated the Queens Day national holiday in 2009. The driver killed seven people who had gathered to watch the royals, a brazen attack that shocked the nation.

Friso, who had been such a support after Claus’ death, remains in a coma.

Late last year, the Royal House said he showed “very minimal” signs of consciousness.

“I think it’s a good time for her to leave, with all that happened in her life recently,” said 44-year-old Bert Duesenberg of The Hague as he stood at the queen’s palace gates. “I also think that Alexander is ready to take over, and he has to do that. It is good news, and it’s time for the change.”—AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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

35,000 NYC-area buildings in flood zone NEW YORK: Twice as many homes and businesses in and near the city would be in flood zones under new maps that may force more property-owners to buy flood insurance, complicate post-Superstorm Sandy rebuilding for some and confront others with the choice of building higher or paying considerably more for insurance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency released the revised maps Monday. They’re preliminary but will likely become a basis for changes to building laws and insurance requirements in coming years.

“What we’re trying to do is provide the means, immediately, for people who want to move forward now to be able to do so,” city Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said. And for everyone else, he said, the information provides “time to think and plan what kind of changes they would want to make.”The maps represent one of the first concrete signals of how officials will carry out vows to rebuild smarter after Sandy and what that will mean for property owners.

Under the new maps, Jim Donovan’s home in Brooklyn’s Gerritsen Beach

neighborhood needs to be 11 feet above sea level to avoid flooding in the socalled “100-year” storm - one so strong it’s given a 1 percent chance of happening in any given year. Donovan, whose basement took on more than seven feet of water during Sandy, says he thinks his ground floor clears the 11-foot mark, but he’s concerned for neighbors whose homes sit lower.

“Where are these people going to get the money from to raise their homes?

And if they don’t raise their homes, then how are they going to get insurance?

And if they can’t get insurance, what happens to their mortgage?” said Donovan, a construction manager. “... It’s complicated, to say the least.”

Overall, the flood zones now cover 35,000 more homes and businesses, sweeping up more of the coastline and reaching farther inland. In Brooklyn, for example, the Seagate, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach neighborhoods are now included alongside already designated areas like Coney Island.

While the expansion is striking, after Sandy, “it’s good to have a map like this,

to be guided accordingly,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz. And the maps- available on FEMA’s website - so far address only Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and suburban Westchester County. Maps for the rest of the city are expected next month. Long Island’s maps were updated in 2009.

The current flood maps for the city date to the 1980s. A revision was already planned before Sandy, but the Oct. 29 storm “created an urgency for us to do it,” said Michael Byrne, who’s overseeing FEMA’s Sandy response in New York state.

The storm devastated sections of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens, swamped lower Manhattan and flooded some areas that had been expected to stay dry.

A roughly two-year review is expected before new maps become official. The impacts vary by property, depending on topography and the present height of a building’s ground floor. Some “might already be safe ... but there are going to be plenty of cases where people have to bring their homes up higher,” said Jon Janowicz, a FEMA official working on the mapping project.

The costs aren’t immediately clear and likely will vary depending on the type of building and other factors. Officials said they were working to determine what government help might be available. For many property owners, the difference between the old and new flood lines is three to six feet. That means new construction eventually will probably have to be set three to six feet higher than what is currently required, since the city is expected to revise building laws to reflect the new zones.

That’s not likely to happen for a couple of years, but city officials are working on a plan to allow and encourage Sandy-damaged property to be rebuilt at the new level, Holloway said. Some new projects were already being revised in anticipation of the new maps. Developers of a massive Ferris wheel, outlet mall and hotel on Staten Island, for instance, began planning after Sandy to move the project up a few feet.

But higher elevation requirements could be another hurdle for people struggling with whether to fix their properties, Staten Island Borough President James

Molinaro said. Some of his constituents’ mortgages were under water before their homes were; some have older homes that might not withstand being lifted, he said.

“It’s not as simple as you might think: ‘OK, we’ll get the house, we’ll pick it up, we’ll put four studs underneath, and you’re in compliance,’” he said. The new maps may have expensive effects even for properties that weren’t inundated by Sandy. An expanded flood zone means more owners may have to buy flood insurance; it’s generally required for properties with federally backed mortgages.

And those who already have flood insurance could pay substantially more for it if their properties sit below the new flood levels. Under changes to the federal flood insurance program last year, owners of a $250,000 home with a ground floor three feet below the flood level would pay $9,500 a year, compared with $1,410 for a house at the flood line, according to FEMA, which administers the flood program. The increases are to be phased in over five years for existing buildings, after new maps are formally adopted. —AP

Activists warily welcome US migration reform push Hispanics say drive is ‘heavy on enforcement’ PHOENIX: Proposed changes to US immigration law unveiled on Monday could be the answer to the prayers of illegal immigrants like Maria Duran, but she is waiting to see the details. A bipartisan group of Republican and Democrat senators announced “tough but fair” steps that they hoped could be passed by

legal status to immigrants who register with the government and pay a fine and any back taxes.

They will also have to learn English, continue to pay taxes and demonstrate a work history in the United States to apply for legal permanent residency. However, many of the details still need to be worked

“It’s really heavy on enforcement.

That has always been one of the wedge issues in the community for activists,” said Gaby Pacheco, a campaigner in Florida who was brought to the United States from Ecuador at the age of eight. While the government’s own figures showed arrests on the southwest border at a 40-year low

NEWARK: Immigrants hold flags while waiting for a naturalization ceremony to become US citizens at the district office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on January 28, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. —AFP Congress this year to give 11 million illegal immigrants a chance to eventually become American citizens.

Activists like Duran, who sat up all night with others at a prayer vigil for immigration reform outside the capitol building in Phoenix, Arizona, were pleased but cautious.

“It’s the best moment for immigration reform in years, but we need to see more details,” said the 50year-old homemaker, who left Mexico to live in the United States 28 years ago, but still does not have legal status. The proposed steps are part of the first concerted drive for comprehensive immigration reform since a similar overhaul was defeated by Republicans in Congress in 2007. It would offer probationary

out and the proposal also seeks to ensure as a first step that the porous border with Mexico is secure and that foreigners in the United States temporarily return home when their visas expire.

Some activists were encouraged by the level of bipartisan support from the four Democrat and four Republican senators who put forward the proposal. They include Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, and John McCain, a veteran Arizona Republican. But they also worried that the proposal made tightening enforcement - including adding agents and surveillance systems to the southwestern border - a precondition for all other measures in the package.

in 2011 and deportations at a record high, Pacheco said, “I don’t think Republicans are ever going to be satisfied with enforcement measures.”

‘Amnesty’ or ‘earnesty’?

For Juana Garcia, a 27-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico working in agriculture, reform could ease the fear she and her husband have of deportation and being separated from their five children - all of whom were born in the United States and therefore have citizenship. The pair are seasonal workers who drive to Wisconsin to work the crops there before returning to Florida’s strawberry fields and orange groves - all the while worried that they will be pulled over for a traffic stop and

detained.

Garcia, speaking in Spanish, said she has no problem with provisions requiring immigrants to pay fines and back taxes before getting a green card. But she said that while immigrants want to learn English, they may need help finding time or child care to attend classes after laboring in the fields all day. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican whose support for her state’s tough crackdown on illegal immigrants in 2010 made her a major White House antagonist on the issue, gave the proposal a cautious welcome.

“I am pleased that there is expressed recognition of what we have been saying in Arizona: immigration reform will not succeed unless and until we have achieved effective border security,” Brewer said in a statement. However, it met with a decidedly mixed response from other Republican leaders nationally, who said that while they supported some kind of immigration overhaul, they were unclear if this was the right one. “My understanding is it’s basically just saying that we’re going to give everybody amnesty,” said Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. “But we do need immigration reform that recognizes the fact that we have a lot of people already here, that are necessary to be here, that are hard-working, law-abiding people that would add to the country,” he added. “We should figure out a way for those people to have a way to stay.”

Some others in the party, which lost Hispanic votes in the November election that gave President Barack Obama a second term, saw support for the measure as way of building bridges to Latinos, who are the country’s fastest-growing ethnic group.

“There’s no question about it. We’ve got to deliver a better message to Hispanics and immigrants... a segment of people we lost badly,” said Chad Connelly, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, adding that legislation could find support if it involved better border security and assimilation measures. “I’ve heard some people say this is more like ‘earnesty’ than ‘amnesty. ‘Earnesty,’ as in earning their way to citizenship,” he added. —AP

NEW SOUTH WALES: This photo shows the Bruxner Highway covered with floodwaters caused by torrential rains in Lismore, northern New South Wales, Australia yesterday. —AP

Army called in as deadly floods batter Australia SYDNEY: Australia ramped up its military response to deadly flooding in the country’s northeast yesterday, as troops prepared for a massive clean-up operation following storms which killed four and left thousands of homes swamped. Heavy rains and flooding triggered by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald have inundated the states of Queensland and New South Wales, with the most recent fatality a three-year-old boy killed by a falling tree. Tens of thousands of people have been left isolated or displaced by the torrents, but after rivers peaked in most areas late yesterday waters began to drop gradually and troops started to prepare for a mammoth recovery effort.

“We’re planning to have some troops on the ground hopefully within the next 24 hours. It looks like waters will recede and we’ll be able to gain access,” Brigadier Greg Bilton told reporters. “We are working closely with the district disaster coordinator to ensure that we have a series of tasks where we can make a viable and sensible contribution to the clean-up and assist the start of that recovery process.”

The sugar-farming town of Bundaberg was devastated as the swollen Burnett River peaked at a record 9.6 metres (32 feet), with officials saying some 2,000 homes and 300 businesses had been flooded. Queensland Police Minister Jack Dempsey said about 7,500 residents had been displaced by the floodwaters, with 1,000 people plucked from the roofs of their homes in daring evening rescues after the river broke its banks late on Monday.

“We did have a situation of fast-rising floodwaters and people being very rapidly isolated on ever-diminishing islands of ground,” Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said four military helicopters, 100 troops and three transport aircraft had been

deployed to the emergency, with the evacuation of 131 patients from Bundaberg’s hospital to state capital Brisbane a priority.

Some of the most dramatic footage from the floods in Queensland showed a toddler being winched to safety in a bag from the back of a truck. Robin Collie, 22, who is four months pregnant, said yesterday she felt “sick” as her sobbing 14-monthold son Luke was lifted from her arms by a helicopter rescue team.

She had been driving to the town of Biloela in northeastern Queensland when her utility truck hit a submerged tree and stalled in rising floodwaters. Luke was too small to fit into the rescue harness and had to be zipped into a waterproof equipment bag. “The worst part was seeing him go up in the bag,” she told Seven News. “(I felt) sick, it’s your baby, it’s your life. Putting him in a bag and zipping it up, God, above water that could carry him away.” There was limited flooding in Brisbane itself, but the deluge damaged water treatment plants and Newman warned that some of the city’s reservoirs could dry up overnight if people didn’t restrict their use to drinking, cooking and washing.

Insurers had already received some 6,100 claims from Queensland worth Aus$72 million ($75 million), according to the Insurance Council of Australia. Cyclone Oswald brought wild storms to neighbouring New South Wales overnight, with floodwaters isolating 41,000 people and prompting authorities to order 2,100 people to evacuate from the town of Grafton.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said the worst appeared to be over yesterday evening, though towns downstream would face significant inundation in coming days. “Now we are in recovery mode,” said Murray Kear, commissioner of the NSW State Emergency Service. —AFP

India sees push for police reform after rape outcry

NEW DELHI: Six men enact a mock hanging yesterday during a protest demanding the death penalty for the six men accused of a fatal gang rape of a young woman in New Delhi last month. —AP

NEW DELHI: Sixteen-year-old Seenu was walking to her grandmother’s house along a quiet street in northern India when a group of men dragged her into a car, took her to a secluded field and raped her in turns.

They filmed the act on their mobile phones and forced a pill into her mouth. She woke up an hour later, naked, bloodied, disoriented. The sun was just beginning to set as she put on her jeans and made her way back home.

When her father-a gardener belonging to the “untouchable” or Dalit community which lies at the bottom of India’s caste system-found out what had happened to his only daughter, he killed himself. Over the days that followed, Seenu (not her real name) and her mother made several trips to the nearest police station, defying threats from her upper-caste attackers, some of whom she knew.

Finally, when the Dalit community in her village held public protests and piled pressure on the police, the first arrest was made-two weeks after the gang-rape. Since then, seven more

men have been arrested. Now living at her grandmother’s home with six police officers as protection ahead of a court appearance next month, Seenu told AFP that rape victims like herself have problems reporting the crime “because police don’t respect them”. “It makes me so angry. Why don’t the police listen? Why don’t they do their job? Why do they have to humiliate the girl or treat her like it’s her fault she got raped?” she said, speaking softly so the officers did not overhear.

Sex crimes a low priority for mostly male force The gruesome gang-rape and murder of a student in New Delhi on December 16 last year prompted nationwide protests and a public outcry over how police handle sexual assault cases. A beleaguered central government announced several safety measures earlier this month, including more night-time patrols by police in Delhi and the presence of at least a dozen female officers at every police station. India suffers from a massive shortfall in the number of police on

duty, currently employing only 129 officers per 100,000 people, according to data published in 2010 by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

This compares to 227 officers per 100,000 people in the United States.

Also, in many cases police have been found displaying the same sexist prejudices prevalent in Indian society, leading them sometimes to encourage rape survivors to marry their attackers.

Last week, a judge at a Delhi court ordered police to pay 25,000 rupees ($470) as compensation to a 13-yearold rape survivor, for refusing to file a complaint and pushing her to settle the case with the alleged rapist.

J S Verma, a former chief justice of India heading a government commission looking into sex crime, lambasted the police on Wednesday for their apathy and “low and skewed priority of dealing with complaints of sexual assault”.

Police reform no cure-all Stung by the hail of criticism, police officials in Delhi recently revived a “gender sensitisation” programme that origi-

nally ran from 2008-2011, enrolling all personnel on the course in a bid to improve their handling of women.

Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar promised that the force had been “jolted,” leading it to “look at offences against women in a totally different way”. The government’s plans to improve policing also include measures to recruit more women, who make up just 6.5 percent of the force, according to figures in the National Crime Records Bureau.

Maurice Nagar police station could be a model for the future. Located near a sprawling university campus, the recruitment of women has long been a priority and a female officer is required to be present at all hours. The khakiclad guards outside are female, the officer who registers complaints is female and many of the officers on duty, zipping in and out of traffic on motorbikes are female. But even here an officer, Nazma Khan, dismisses the notion that police reform is a panacea.

“These crimes happen because of people with a messed-up mentality, who are everywhere,” she told AFP. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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

China appoints new Tibet governor BEIJING: China appointed a new governor for remote and restive Tibet yesterday, naming a hardline ethnic Tibetan in a signal that the government has no plans to ease up on its tight control on the Himalayan region.

Losang Gyaltsen, 55, was elected at the end of the annual meeting of Tibet’s largely rubber stamp regional assembly, and replaces previous governor Padma Choling, according to an announcement by the official Xinhua news agency. Losang Gyaltsen is a former mayor of Tibetan capital Lhasa and once taught Marxist theory, according to his official biography. His name is also spelled Losang Jamcan in English.

He reports to Tibet’s top official, Communist Party chief Chen Quanguo, a position which traditionally has always been held by a Han Chinese rather than an ethnic Tibetan. “He’s rather hardline, but all officials at that level are the same,” said prominent Tibetan writer Woeser. “There will be no real change in Tibet.”

China has defended its iron-fisted rule in Tibet, saying the mountainous region suffered from dire poverty, brutal exploitation and economic stagnation until 1950, when Communist troops “peacefully liberated” it. A post in Tibet is one of the most challenging positions for Communist Party officials, but can also be a route to higher

office if they are judged to have performed well.

President Hu Jintao served as party boss in Tibet from 1988-1992, while rising star Hu Chunhua, recently appointed party chief in booming Guangdong province and seen as a possible future president, has some two decades of Tibet experience.

Speaking to Tibet’s legislature yesterday, the new governor, Losang Gyaltsen, said the government would “resolutely struggle” against exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who China accuses of promoting violent separatism, charges he denies.

“We will unswervingly protect the unity of the motherland and ethnic

harmony ... and maintain harmony and stability in Tibet,” the China News Service quoted him as saying.

“Harmony and stability are the basic guarantee of Tibet’s development and prosperity,” he added. China has tightened already strict controls in Tibet since an upsurge in self-immolations

by Tibetans protesting Chinese rule over the past two years, though most of the burnings have happened in heavily Tibetan areas outside of what China calls the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Almost 100 Tibetans have set themselves alight since the protests began in 2009, most of whom have died.

Despite expectations for improve-

ment, the crackdown inside Tibet could become even worse once Chinese Communist Party boss Xi Jinping becomes president in March as he seeks to cement his rule, said an overseas Tibetan rights advocate. “I wouldn’t be surprised if at the beginning of his tenure things might get worse before they get better, because he will want to stamp his authority early on,” said Kate Saunders of the International Campaign for Tibet. Xi’s late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberalminded former vice premier, had a close bond with the Dalai Lama before the monk fled into exile in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule. —Reuters

Confirming North Korean N-test almost impossible Could DPRK fake a nuke explosion?

SEOUL: North Korea appears all set to detonate an atomic device, but confirming the explosion when it takes place will be virtually impossible for outsiders, specialists said yesterday. The best indication of a test will be seismic tremors and abnormal radiation in the air, but even that can be masked if North Korea wants to. In all likelihood the first word of the test will come from Pyongyang itself, just as it happened when the

Defense Ministry said yesterday it believes North Korea has nearly completed nuclear test plans, confirming satellite analysis last week by the USKorea Institute, a research group at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Its satellite images of the Punggye-ri site - where the previous two nuclear tests were conducted reveal that the North Koreans may have been sealing the tunnel into a

nuclear explosion, rarely triggers the same wave patterns as natural quakes. North Korea can also try to deceive and give the impression that it exploded a nuclear device by simply exploding sophisticated conventional weapons that would trigger the same seismic waves as ones produced by a nuclear test, said Chi Heoncheol, an earthquake specialist at the government-funded Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral

PYONGYANG: In this photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center) delivers opening remarks at the Fourth Meeting of Secretaries of Cells of the Workers’ Party of Korea in North Korea. —AP country conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

Last week, North Korea warned a third nuclear test is planned to protest toughened international sanctions meant to punish it for firing a long-range rocket in December.

The world sees the launch of a ballistic missile test banned by the UN while Pyongyang says it is only shot a satellite aboard the rocket into orbit as part of a peaceful space development program.

The US, South Korea and their allies pressed the North to scrap its nuclear test plans, saying that will only worsen the country’s decadesold international isolation. The threats have placed scientists and experts in South Korea on high alert as any test is likely to aggravate the already high tensions on the divided Korean peninsula. South Korea’s

mountainside where a nuclear device would be detonated. In the event of such an underground nuclear test, earthquake monitoring stations in South Korea can detect seismic tremors accompanied by low-frequency sound waves. While earthquakes trigger seismic waves they don’t produce sound waves.

But this is at best a strong indication of the test and not an absolute confirmation. An earthquake expert at the state-run Korea Meteorological Administration said his office aims to find out the magnitude of the tremor, the time it started and the exact location on the map within 10 minutes of the explosion. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to media.

Experts also note that an artificial earthquake, such as created by a

Resources.

By raising tensions this way, North Korea may hope to wrest concessions or aid in return for promises to scale back its unproven nuclear capability.

“Even if they bring truckloads of highpowered conventional explosives, put them (into an underground tunnel) and explode them, they will generate the same seismic wave and sound wave,” Chi said. Only difference is no radioactivity would be detected from the explosion of conventional weapons, he said. The best course for scientists would be to collect air samples to look for increased radioactive activities but the process could take days. Even if the wind is favorable and assuming North conducts the test at Punggye-ri in the country’s northeastern corner - it will take more than one day for airborne radioactive isotopes like xenon to reach South

Korea, according to an official at the government-run Nuclear Safety and Security Commission.

The official, who requested anonymity citing the sensitive nature of the subject, acknowledged it may be impossible to confirm a test if the wind doesn’t blow southward or if North Korea plugs the underground tunnel so tightly that no radioactive gas escapes. South Korea confirmed increased radiation levels following the North’s 2006 nuclear test but didn’t find anything in 2009.

And if North Korea decides to conduct a so-called subcritical test, there would be no release of radioactivity at all. A sub-critical test only works on the properties of plutonium but stop short of creating a critical mass, the point at which a selfsustaining nuclear reaction occurs.

Such an experiment requires a “very difficult technology” that only a few countries like the US, Russia and England have acquired, said nuclear expert Whang Joo-ho of Kyung Hee University. “I believe North Korea’s technology has not reached to that level,” Whang said. North Korea said its upcoming atomic explosion will be a “high-level” test and many analysts said that refers to a device made from highly enriched uranium, which gives the country a second source to manufacture bombs in addition to plutonium.

Whether North Korea detonates a uranium- or plutonium-based device, there won’t be much difference in how easily scientists can detect tests.

The only difference is they produce different radioactive gases, Whang said. He also said a uranium-based test explosion means North Korea’s nuclear stockpile can continue to be enlarged at a time when there is no evidence of continued production of plutonium at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex.

North Korea watchers in South Korea are speculating diverse dates for a possible nuclear test, with some predicting that could happen as early as this week and others choosing the days just before the Feb 16 birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. There is no way to find out when North Korea would conduct a nuclear test, said analyst Shim BeomChul at the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul. US spy satellites “can detect objects 15 centimeters (5.91 inches) in size on the ground but they cannot detect what’s happening underground.” —AP

Fourth Briton jailed in Bali over drugs DENPASAR: A British man arrested in connection with a drugs trafficking ring on the Indonesian resort island of Bali was yesterday sentenced to six years in jail for possession of cocaine.

Julian Ponder, 43, is among four Britons arrested on drugs charges last year including Lindsay Sandiford, a grandmother who was sentenced to death last week for her part in what authorities said was a “huge international syndicate”. Presiding judge Gunawan Tri Budiono told Bali’s Denpasar court that Ponder was guilty of possessing 23.04 grams (0.8 ounces) of cocaine with a street value of $6,000, found in the bedroom of his luxury Bali villa.

“The defendant has been proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing a crime of drug possession,” he said, adding that in addition to the jail term Ponder was fined 1.0 billion rupiah ($103,000). The sentence was lighter than the seven years’ jail recommended by prosecutors. Judges are not obliged to follow the guideline and Sandiford was sentenced to death despite a recommendation of a 15-year jail term.

Ponder was arrested after receiving a package from Sandiford in a police sting mounted after she was caught with five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine hidden in her suitcase on a flight from Bangkok to Bali in May. He was initially also accused of trafficking over the $2.4 million drugs haul,

but earlier this month prosecutors dropped the more serious charge.

Defence lawyer Arie Budiman Soenardi told reporters after the trial that he would advise Ponder not to appeal against the sentence on the possession charge which under Indonesian law is punishable by life imprisonment. “(The sentence) is quite light, not far from what the prosecutors had asked, so we will soon advise our

client to accept it,” he said.

Another judge on the three-man panel, Anak Agung Anom Wirakanta, admonished Ponder for contravening the government’s anti-narcotics efforts, but noted that he had “confessed to his crime and apologised to Indonesians”. Ponder, dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt and black jeans, appeared tense during the trial but visibly relaxed after the verdict was read

BALI: Julian Ponder of Britain listens to his lawyer (not pictured) from a holding cell before his drugs possession trial at a court in Denpasar on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali yesterday. —AFP

out, his shoulders dropping in relief.

He refused to comment on the court’s decision but only said: “I’ve got to consult my lawyer, thank you” to the reporters who swarmed around him. Ponder, from Brighton in England, was the last of the four Britons arrested in connection with the drugs haul to face a verdict and sentence. Rachel Dougall, with whom Ponder had a six-year-old daughter, was sentenced to one year in jail for failing to report Ponder’s crime and Paul Beales received four years for possession of 3.6 grams of hashish.

Like Ponder, both were cleared of drug trafficking. However Sandiford, 56, was sentenced last Tuesday to death by firing squad. The authorities said she was at the centre of the drugs ring but she argued that she was coerced and faced threats that her children would be harmed.

Sandiford is appealing against the sentence.

British rights group Reprieve said Sunday that she is also suing the British government for allegedly failing to support her appeal against the death penalty.

Indonesia enforces stiff penalties for drug trafficking, but death penalty sentences are commonly commuted to long jail sentences. According to prison authorities there are 36 foreigners and 56 Indonesians on death row in Indonesia. —AFP

SINGAPORE: Pedestrians walk down a street in downtown financial district in Singapore yesterday. —AFP

Singapore envisions 30% population jump SINGAPORE: Have more babies to build the ranks of Singaporeans and get set for a construction boom but accept heavier congestion and more foreign workers as the crowded Asian city-state grows into a global centre with 30 percent more people. That is the vision for Singapore set out yesterday by the long-ruling government, just days after it lost a seat in parliament in a by-election defeat that reflected rising discontent over soaring costs and an influx of immigrants. The white paper on population, released after months of public consultation, seeks to address concern about affordable housing, good jobs and quality of life while trying to boost a chronically low birthrate as the workforce ages rapidly in the wealthy country of 5.3 million people.

By 2030, the population could grow to between 6.5 million and 6.9 million, the government said, stressing the importance of keeping Singaporeans as “the core of our society”, supporting a dynamic economy and meeting infrastructure needs. “Many Asian cities are modernising rapidly, and catching up on us,” it said.

“Singapore must continue to develop and upgrade to remain a key node in the network of global cities, a vibrant place where jobs and opportunities are created.”

With a stern, technocratic approach, the People’s Action Party (PAP) has built up Singapore from a post-colonial outpost into a major business hub during its five decades in power. Since suffering its worst election showing in history in 2011, the government has sought more input from citizens and has ramped up social spending, restricted lowerskilled foreign workers and taken steps to cool property prices. But Saturday’s by-election defeat may be a harbinger of the public reaction to its latest plan for the economy and society.

“This will be very negatively perceived and ultimately I believe have to be reworked to be politically viable,” said Bridget Welsh, an assistant professor of political science at Singapore Management University. “Singaporeans feel a sense of betrayal with the larger share of the population comprised of foreigners and a dilution of Singaporean identity.” Immigrants now make up nearly 40 percent of the population, up from about 25 percent in 2000, fuelling concern about the cost of living, overcrowding and threats from cheaper labour on an island with less than half the area of London. Singapore, with a land mass of 714 square km, is already more densely populated than Hong Kong, which has 7.1 million people squeezed into an area of 1,104 square km.

While the overall number of foreigners is set to rise, the government projections point to an even tighter immigration policy, Credit Suisse economist Michael Wan said, with the data showing the inflow would have to slow to 45,000 to 55,000 a year, down from more than 100,000 a year between 2006 and 2012. The tighter curbs on foreign workers would dampen economic growth and less productive companies would “start to get weeded out as restructuring bites”, he said. Singapore’s trade-driven economy has been in the doldrums since last year, hurt by slowing demand for electronics that has been exacerbated by the strong Singapore dollar and measures making it harder for companies to hire low-wage foreign workers.

Up to 2020, the white paper said, the economy will expand at an average rate of 3-5 percent if productivity can be raised by 2-3 percent each year and overall workforce growth stays at 1-2 percent. But economic growth is more likely to average 3-4 percent over the whole period, it said. “If we do too little to address the demographic challenge, we risk becoming a steadily greying society, losing vitality and verve, with our young people leaving for opportunities elsewhere,” the government said. “But if we take in too many immigrants and foreign workers, we will weaken our national identity and sense of belonging, and feel crowded out of our own home.” The growth in population will involve persuading citizens to raise their fertility rate from 1.2 babies per woman to closer to the replacement level of 2.1, while handing out citizenship to more foreign-born professionals, it said. Construction, public transport, property and healthcare are sectors most likely to benefit from the government’s initiatives and a rising population, brokerage DBS Vickers said in a report in mid-January on its expectations for the white paper. “Policy makers are playing a catch up game to increase housing supply over the next few years,” it said.

Beyond raising stamp duties to make it more expensive for foreigners to buy property, the government is selling more land for development and accelerating construction of public housing. Other measures include higher spending on housing grants, subsidised childcare and cash gifts for newborns as part of an enhanced marriage and parenthood package called “Hey Baby”. “Will Singapore sink? I think Singaporeans will adapt quickly,” Lim Boh Keow, 51, who runs a dumpling stall in a food court. “There is no choice. We citizens don’t get the chance to give our views. Even the first train every morning is packed.” —Reuters

China’s army at ‘high risk’ on corruption TAIPEI: China’s armed forces are battling a major corruption problem, with little political oversight and no whistleblower mechanism to counter graft, watchdog Transparency International said yesterday. China, which has the world’s largest active military, scored as a “high-risk” country on a new global index on defence establishment corruption launched by the Berlin-based organisation at a press conference in Taiwan. “The Chinese military acknowledges that there is a major corruption issue through its various promulgations, and it has put a variety of measures in place to limit this major concern,” said Mark Pyman, director of the organisation’s Defense and Security Programme.

However, he said a lack of transparency means it is uncertain how effective these measures are, as the military does not allow the level of scrutiny required to ensure an anti-graft campaign is succeeding. “There are many areas where China is weak in its protec-

tions against corruption in its defence sector, and it has very low oversight of defence and armed forces policy and no effective whistleblower system,” Pyman said.

One of the major problems in China is the absence of private military defence contractors, meaning less scope for competition, Transparency International said in a report accompanying the index. Pyman said the armed forces’ corruption problem was also manifested in the thousands of militarylinked enterprises engaged in profit-oriented business.

“What is positive is that the Chinese military has been taking corruption seriously,” said Pyman. “For example, they have been making big efforts to close down or transfer the ownership of these enterprises.” The organisation also said in its report that the centralised structure of the Chinese state apparatus made the defence sector more prone to corruption.—AFP

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

Limitations set on Saudi religious police powers RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has set new limitations on the powers of its notorious religious police, charged with ensuring compliance with Islamic morality but often accused of abuses, its chief said yesterday. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice “once had much expanded powers, but with the new system... some of these powers, such as interrogating suspects and pressing charges,” will be restricted to the police and public prosecution,

Sheikh Abdullatif Abdel Aziz Al-Sheikh told AFP. The religious police may still arrest those carrying out “flagrant offences such as harassing women, consuming alcohol and drugs, blackmail and the practice of witchcraft,” Sheikh said of the new law approved by the cabinet.

However, the cases of such people will be referred to the police and brought to justice, as the religious police will no longer have the right to determine charges against them, he said.

The religious police will also continue to prevent women from driving, ban public entertainment and force all businesses, from supermarkets to petrol stations, to close for prayers five times a day.

Relatively moderate Sheikh, appointed last year, has raised hopes that a more lenient force will ease draconian social constraints in deeply conservative Islamic country.

Two weeks into his post, Sheikh banned vol-

Egypt army chief warns of collapse Continued from Page 1 at Cairo University. Sayyed said a new element had emerged on the scene: “A group of young anarchists (nicknamed as the Black Bloc) who are ready to engage in violence with the police.”

But judicial sources said the prosecutor general had ordered the arrest of members of this shadowy militant group, who present themselves as defenders of protesters opposed to the president and his Islamist supporters. “Inquiries have shown that the Black Bloc is an organised group which carries out terrorist actions,” said the prosecutor general’s spokesman Hassan Yassine.

In this dire context, Sissi recognised the army had a difficult task and did not want to confront citizens who have the right to protest, while insisting “protests must be

peaceful”. Opposition groups and disgruntled Egyptians accuse Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists of monopolising power and say the revolution failed to reach its goals of social justice. The violence has gained momentum since Thursday, on the eve of the second anniversary of the uprising that toppled veteran president Hosni Mubarak and exploded on Saturday in Port Said after the death sentences were announced.

Rioters attacked police stations and the prison where the defendants were being held, sparking clashes with security forces that left 42 people dead at the weekend.

Although the capital was calm yesterday, the political dimension of the conflict hung heavily over Egypt and the crisis looked set to deepen.

The National Salvation Front, a coalition of

mainly liberal and leftist movements, called for countrywide protests on Friday after rejecting an offer from Morsi to hold talks.

“We will not participate in dialogue that is empty of content,” leading dissident Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters after a meeting of the NSF. The bloc wants the formation of a national salvation government and the amendment of the Islamist-drafted constitution, before it agrees to any talks. It called “on the Egyptian people to take to the streets in all Tahrir Squares (across the nation) on Friday to stress the sanctity of the blood of the martyrs and achieve the goals of the revolution.”

The unrest highlights a deep split between Morsi’s mainly Islamist allies, and an opposition of leftists, liberals, Christians and Muslims calling for freedoms and the separation of the state from religion. — AFP

68 found executed in Syria river Continued from Page 1 An AFP correspondent saw at least 15 bodies already on a truck, which Abu Sada said would be taken to a hospital for identification. Meanwhile, people were gathering at the bank seeking lost relatives. “My brother disappeared weeks ago when he was crossing (through) the regime-held zone, and we don’t know where he is or what has become of him,” said Mohammed Abdel Aziz, as he looked at the mud-covered bodies one by one. The 129-km river originates in Turkey to the north and flows to the southwest of Aleppo, traversing both regime and rebel-held areas.

“This is not the first time that we have found the bodies of people executed, but so many, never,” an FSA fighter, Abu Anas, said as he examined the body of a boy of about 12 with a gunshot wound to the back of the neck.

In video filmed by activists and published by the Observatory on YouTube, the cameraman walks along the river, less than two metres wide, and films some 50 bodies that have been pulled onto the concrete path. Most have their hands are tied

behind their backs and pools of blood trail from their heads. They wear civilian clothing and their faces are white and bodies bloated.

In another video, dozens of men gather in the streets, some wearing medical gloves and several brandishing Kalashnikovs. “Jews would not have done this.

Their only crime was that they were residents of Bustan al-Qasr and they were Sunni Muslims,” a man cried out as he looked down at several of the bodies laying on the pavement waiting to be identified.

In the background, a banner read: “We hold the so-called civilised and Islamic world responsible for these crimes.”

Elsewhere in Aleppo province, seven young children were among eight civilians killed in air strikes on the town of Safireh, the Observatory said, giving an initial toll of 37 people killed yesterday. The bloodshed came as rebels captured a vital bridge across the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzor city, largely severing an army supply route to Hasakeh province further north. The nearby regime security headquarters and a smaller bridge were also captured, prompting retaliatory air strikes on the critical

crossings. “These gains in Deir Ezzor are very important because this strategic city is the gateway to a region rich in oil and gas resources,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

The regime still controls Deir Ezzor military airport, but troops have abandoned the vast territory stretching from the city to the Iraqi border in the east, including the border town of Albu Kamal and its small military airbase. “If the rebels continue to progress and gain control of what is left of military-held positions... it will be the first major city to fall into the hands of the rebels,” Abdel Rahman said.

The advance came a day after Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported that Assad had said the army was gaining the lead. The rebels’ “playground is limited to some border areas with Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, and some pockets in the countryside of the capital, which are being dealt with,” Assad said, not mentioning the Iraqi border. UNArab League envoy Brahimi is scheduled to brief the Security Council, where heavyweights Russia and the United States have found no common ground for a transition plan to end the brutal conflict. — AFP

unteers from serving in the commission, which enforces the kingdom’s strict Islamic rules. Later, he went further, prohibiting harassment and threatening “decisive measures against violators”.

In June, Sheikh came out strongly against one of his men who ordered a woman to leave a mall because she was wearing nail polish. The woman had defied the orders as she filmed her argument with the policeman and posted it on YouTube. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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Issues

For Reps, world turned ‘upside down’ on immigration

By John Whitesides

W

hat a difference one brutally disappointing election can make. At this time last year, Republican US presidential contenders were competing to act tough on immigration to win favor with the party’s conservative base. Eventual nominee Mitt Romney led the way by advocating “self-deportation” - a plan that essentially called on the government to make life so miserable for the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants, most of whom are Hispanics, that many would leave on their own. But since Democratic President Barack Obama’s decisive victory over Romney in November with the support of more than seven in 10 Hispanic voters, the game has changed.

Many Republicans now see gaining favor with the fast-growing Hispanic voting bloc, which accounts for 10 percent of the US electorate and is growing, as a matter of political survival. Some remain critical of any plan that would give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. But next-generation Republican leaders including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, 41, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement - are desperate to remove the issue as a liability for the party.

That is why a plan announced on Monday by a bipartisan group of eight US senators including Rubio is widely seen as the best hope in years for a comprehensive immigration overhaul even though it is similar to a 2007 plan that was shot down by conservative Republicans despite being backed by Republican President George W Bush. But now, “the politics on this issues have turned upside down,” said New York Democrat Chuck Schumer, another senator in the bipartisan group crafting the immigration plan. “For the first time ever, there is more political risk in opposing immigration reform than in supporting it,” Schumer said.

Compared with the bitter, uncompromising politics that have clouded Capitol Hill in recent years, the news conference held by the senators on Monday was practically a festival of love. There was Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona - who lost the presidential race to Obama in 2008 and is a frequent critic of the administration - heaping praise on the Democratic president for supporting immigration reform. There was Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, giving credit to Bush for backing immigration changes when many Republicans did not.

During the news conference, Rubio and Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey, another member of the group, made a point of explaining parts of their plan in Spanish, a symbolic reach-out to those who could be affected by it. The changed dynamic on immigration reflected how “the election was a real wake-up call to Republicans. They have had their eyes opened on Hispanics,” said Steven Schier, a political scientist at Carleton College in Minnesota. Asked why he thought this immigration bill might succeed, McCain said: “Elections. The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens.” Republican strategist Ana Navarro said McCain - whose state borders Mexico and is about 30 percent Hispanic - could be an important voice to other Republicans on the immigration bill. “Nobody can talk to other Republicans with the authority that John McCain can about what it means to move the Latino vote,” Navarro said.

The group of senators behind the immigration plan - which also includes Republicans Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado - said they hoped for quick action. But even if successful, Congress’ revamping of the immigration system is likely to take most of 2013. Congress also will be wrestling with budget issues and Obama’s ambitious gun-control proposals in the next few months. “Today is an important first step in what is going to be a significant and complicated journey,” Rubio said.

The plan would create what the senators called a “tough but fair” path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants after undefined improvements to border security and a crackdown on people who have overstayed their visas. The plan faces some hurdles in the Senate. But the big question will be whether it can clear the Republican-led House of Representatives, which is dominated by conservatives adamantly opposed to anything resembling “amnesty” for illegal immigrants. One rising star among House conservatives - Paul Ryan, the Budget Committee chairman who was Romney’s vice presidential nominee - already has voiced support for Rubio’s immigration efforts. Others seem to be loading up to attack such a plan.

“When you legalize those who are in the country illegally, it costs taxpayers millions of dollars, costs American workers thousands of jobs and encourages more illegal immigration,” Representative Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, said in a statement. Many conservatives said they would wait for the final proposal, which will be developed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the final measure will require far more input than it has received so far. “All members must have an opportunity to debate and amend any legislation that comes to the floor. This effort is too important to be written in a back room and sent to the floor with a take-it-or-leave-it approach,” McConnell said. “It needs to be done on a bipartisan basis and include ideas from both sides of the aisle.” —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.

Sunni discontent, Syria fears feed Iraq unrest

By Patrick Markey

A

cross Iraq’s western desert, thousands of Sunni Muslims block highways, chant and pray in protests against Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki that grow more defiant by the day. Their demands are many, but the old Iraqi flags from Saddam Hussein’s era and Sunni tribal colours fluttering among them are a clear message to Maliki: Enough, our time has come again. In Iraqi cities like Ramadi and Fallujah, where tribal ties are strong, many Sunnis have harboured a sense of marginalisation ever since Saddam’s fall and the Shiite majority’s empowerment.

But the pent-up Sunni anger that erupted a month ago has many worried that Iraq is heading for an explosion of Shiite-onSunni violence that will divide it along sectarian faultlines. Already protests are becoming volatile. Iraqi troops shot five people in clashes in Falluja on Friday, illustrating the room for miscalculation with sectarian hardliners and Islamist insurgents trying to steer unrest into crisis. Just outside Ramadi, Sunni men sleep in tents and pray along a blockaded highway, wrapping themselves in old three-star Iraqi national flags, chanting slogans and waving migwars, the wooden mace that Iraqis used to fight the British in the 1920s. Defiant banners hung on tents call out: “No to Maliki’s Justice” and “I will not leave until I get dignity”.

In fiery speeches from clerics and tribal leaders, talk of reforms mixes with calls to topple the Shi’ite-led government and the more radical demand to split away an autonomous Sunni region in Anbar province along Iraq’s western flank. “This is just the culmination of years of injustice against us,” said Munim Al-Mindeel, a farmer sitting outside a tent decorated with antigovernment banners. “Of course this was

bound to happen. All pressure brings explosions in the end.”

The turmoil has erupted at a risky time.

War in next-door Syria, where mostly Sunni rebels are battling President Bashar AlAssad, is feeding the ambitions of Iraqi Islamists eager to see the rise of a Syrian Sunni regime across Anbar’s border. Anbar, a vast desert heartland of mostly Iraqi Sunnis where Al-Qaeda once fought American forces, makes up a third of Iraq’s territory, and adjoins Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

A year after the last US troops left, the protests are fast evolving into the most dangerous test yet for Maliki and the OPEC country’s precarious post-war settlement sharing power among Shiites, Sunni Arabs and ethnic Kurds. Four suicide bombings in recent weeks delivered a reminder of how Al-Qaeda and Sunni militants want to inflame tensions. Divisions in Sunni ranks between moderates, Islamists and tribal leaders or sheikhs make ending the crisis even more challenging. “We are in a state of hyper-volatility, even for Iraqi standards, which invites more chances to miscalculate, overreach, overreact,” said Ramzy Mardini at Beirut’s Iraq Institute for Strategic Studies.

After defeating a vote of no confidence last year, Maliki looked to have shored up his position among the complex alliances of Shiite parties, Kurdish parties and the Sunnibacked Iraqiya party, which are all split into rival factions. But the Sunni protests have opened up another front for the Shiite leader just as he struggles with a dispute over oil with the autonomous Kurdistan region. With provincial elections in April seen as a test for the 2014 parliamentary ballot, politicians across the sectarian and ethnic divides all have scope to put pressure on Maliki, lawmakers say.

Maliki has appointed a top Shiite to negotiate, and has freed hundreds of Sunni

detainees. But his concessions look to have come too late for protesters who are turning against Sunni politicians seen as having been co-opted by the government, lawmakers and sheikhs say. In Ramadi, the tribal leaders want reform of laws they see as unfairly targeting Sunnis: Iraq’s Antiterrorism law and the Justice and Accountability law, which aims to weed out members of Saddam’s outlawed Baath party.

The so-called debaathification is sensitive for both sects: Shiite leaders want guarantees that senior supporters of Saddam will not return to power, Sunnis say they are being denied benefits and jobs where former Shiite Baathists are left alone. “What did I do to be deprived of a pension?” said one former Baath party member at the Ramadi protest camp. “Why do I have to be deprived of my dignity for one thing I did?” Those demands are especially sensitive in Falluja and Ramadi, where tribal leaders took up arms against American troops after the invasion. Sickened by Al-Qaeda’s tactics, they later turned against insurgents to join with US forces.

The Sunni protests erupted in December after authorities arrested the bodyguards of Sunni finance minister Rafaie Al-Esawi, a Fallujah native, on terrorism charges. It was a move Sunni leaders believe was part of a campaign against their sect. “We’ll have no choice but to ask for a new government if they keep on ignoring us,” Sheikh Hameed AlShook, an Anbar tribal leader, said in his Ramadi compound, fringed by date palms.

“Everything indicates the government wants to cancel out the Sunni identity.”

Anbar’s sheikhs and lawmakers worry that if they are seen to be sidelined, the protests will fall under the control of hardline clerics and Islamists seeking to promote a more radical agenda, including calls for an autonomous Sunni region. The Iraqi Islamic Party, part of

the Muslim Brotherhood, has been a prime mover in a drive to create a Sunni entity along the border with Syria, by force if needed, senior Sunni sources say. Under the constitution drawn up after the US-led invasion, each province or group of provinces can create a federal region if it wins enough votes in a referendum. “Radical Islamists want to come to Baghdad, they want to start from scratch, to go back to before 2003,” said one Sunni Iraqiya lawmaker.

Al-Qaeda’s local wing, Islamic State of Iraq, is also regrouping in the deserts of Anbar, and sending some fighters to join Syria’s rebels, Iraqi security officials acknowledge.

While moderates called for calm after Friday’s deadly clashes, in Fallujah, small groups of protesters waved the black jihadist banner of Al-Qaeda. The group had claimed a suicide bombing that killed a top Fallujah lawmaker days earlier. Maliki, sensitive to Shiite worries about former Baathists and Sunni Islamists, warned about protests being hijacked by “remnants of the former regime and al Qaeda and those with a sectarian agenda”.

Increasingly, though, for the Shiite leadership, Syria’s crisis is a key factor in Iraq’s own stability. Should Assad fall it would weaken the sway of Shiite Iran, Syria’s main regional ally and a key supporter of Shiite Islamist parties in Maliki’s coalition. Sunni states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have backed Assad’s foes. After any Syrian collapse, Iraqi Shiite officials see Islamist fighters turning their weapons back on Baghdad. Their worst case scenario is a Sunni population in revolt against Baghdad and becoming a magnet for jihadists.

“Everyone is asking where are we heading, no one knows,” said one influential Shiite leader. “Our biggest fear is that the regime in Syria collapses, then an Iraqi Sunni region will be announced next day, and fighting will erupt.” —Reuters

Egypt crisis may force Morsi to concede

By Mona Salem

A

fter winning a tug-of-war with the opposition over Egypt’s new constitution in December, Islamist President Mohamed Morsi faces a fresh crisis, one that is hard to pass without him making concessions. The gravity of the crisis was highlighted yesterday by Defence Minister General Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, who warned if the current situation persists it could “lead to a collapse of the state”. Egypt has been rocked by rioting since Thursday night which has killed at least 52 people, forcing Morsi to impose emergency and night-time curfews in the worstaffected provinces of Port Said, Ismailiya and Suez Canal.

On Saturday, violence exploded in Port Said after a court sentenced to death 21 supporters of a local football club for their involvement in a deadly soccer riot last year.

Forty-two people have died so far in Port Said. Sissi, also Egypt’s military chief, urged all parties to bury their differences and find a solution to the country’s “political, economical, social and security” problems. The military faced a tough task, he said, as it did “not want to confront Egyptian citizens who have a right to protest” but it also had “to protect vital institutions”.

On Monday, the senate ratified a law granting the armed forces powers of arrest and allowing them to “support the police

in maintaining order and protecting vital installations until the end of parliamentary elections and whenever the National Defence Council (headed by Morsi) requests it”. In November, Morsi had a showdown with the main opposition National Salvation Front over the Islamist-drafted constitution. But the president came out on top with the charter being adopted through a referendum in December, despite mass demonstrations by his adversaries.

This time, however, the situation is more complicated.

“This crisis will not pass easily,” said Mustafa Kamel El-Sayyed, professor of political sciences at Cairo University. The tussle over the constitution had “put liberals and leftists on one side and Islamists on the other, with the people not really being involved,” he said. “But this time the people are part of it, protesting over the deterioration of their living conditions.” And also this time, according to Sayyed, a new element has emerged on the scene. “A group of young anarchists (nicknamed as the Black Bloc) who are ready to engage in violence with the police,” he said.

The mysterious Black Bloc comprises masked youngsters present-

ing themselves as the defenders of protesters opposed to Morsi. They express readiness to counter Islamists who they say have previously attacked the protesters. “Without any concessions on the part of the president and the Muslim Brotherhood from where he comes, there will be no solution,” said Abdallah Essennawi, a columnist with the independent Al-Shuruq newspaper. “The solution to the crisis cannot be achieved by using security forces as they are exhausted and the army does not want to confront civilians,” he said. General Sissi’s declaration was “a clear warning to Morsi, and to some extent to the opposition”.

Morsi “would have to make concessions and accept a key demand of the opposition which is to form a national unity government led by a heavyweight personality like Mohamed El-Baradei,” he said, referring to the head of the opposition National Salvation Front. But Sayyed does not foresee “Morsi making concessions” on his own, saying the “army would be forced to intervene indirectly and discreetly to dictate policy measures, including formation of a national unity government” to stabilise Egypt. Fahmi Howeidi, an editorial writer close to Islamists, went further. “It would be brave on the part of Morsi to initiate early presidential elections along with the legislative poll” in spring, he wrote in Al-Shuruq. —AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Ferdinand becomes latest Turkish signing LONDON: Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand joined Bursaspor on loan yesterday as the Turkish championship continued to swell its ranks with players from Europe’s more prestigious leagues.

Premier League bottom side QPR said in a statement the 27-year-old centre back had joined Bursaspor, seventh in the Turkish league, until the end of the season.Ferdinand, who made 49 appearances for the west London club after joining from Sunderland in 2011, is the latest player to move to a championship that was previously shunned by big names.

Wesley Sneijder signed for Galatasaray from 2010 Champions League winners Inter Milan earlier this month and has been joined at the league leaders by former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who ended his brief spell at Shanghai Shenhua on Monday.— Reuters

Beckham training at Arsenal: Wenger LONDON: David Beckham has been training with Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has confirmed, but the Gunners manager rejected reports he could sign the former England midfielder.

“He called me. He has asked to come here and to work on his fitness.

He has not done anything for a long, long time,” Wenger said of Beckham, who is without a club after leaving Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of last Major League Soccer season.

“It’s purely for fitness. There’s no speculation about signing or anything.”

Where Beckham, who made his name with Manchester United and has also played for Real Madrid and AC Milan, continues his career has still to be decided. The 37-year-old, who won 115 England caps, was a key figure in the successful bid to bring the Olympics and Paralympics to London last year. And if his football career is now over, he could yet find himself with plenty of offers of promotional work. Beckham also played a prominent role in the delegation sent to Singapore which helped to secure the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for London and if he does not continue his football career, there are many avenues for the future.

With Wenger playing down the possibility of Beckham signing on a permanent basis he was asked what benefit there is for Arsenal. —AFP

Hamburg ready to splash cash to keep Korea’s Son BERLIN: Bundesliga side Hamburg say they will need to go their financial limits if they want to fight off interest from England’s Premier League and keep hot-shot South Korea striker Son Heung-Min. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are both reported to be interested in signing the talented Korean, who scored a superb goal in Hamburg’s 3-2 north German derby win over Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Hamburg’s director of sport, Frank Arnesen, has said he will need to substantially raise the 20-year-old Korean’s contract if they want to stop him being lured to England.

“He’s a great talent, therefore I don’t have a problem with the fact we’ll have to pay him accordingly,” said Arnesen. “I am sure we can satisfy him financially, but we have our limits.”

Son’s contract expires in 2014 and Hamburg, who are ninth in the Bundesliga, are eager to extended his deal sooner rather than later to prevent losing him on a free transfer in 18 months.—AFP

Raikkonen eyes another title Webber hits back at Marko criticism

Kuwait outstanding in Qatar drag race KUWAIT: Kuwait’s participation in the drag race that was held in Qatar was outstanding, though it was not up to what was hoped for, due to the fierce competition among participants. The race witnessed the participation of highly technical race teams, and despite that Kuwait was able to leave a good impression.

Kuwait participated with two cars, one is Pro Mod car owned by Sheikh Duaij AlFahad Al-Sabah and the other is Chevy Camry by Bader Khorsheed.

Qatar Care and Motorcycle Race Club witnessed the fastest time recorded in the drag race during the last day competition, which was attended by the chairman of the Board of Kuwait Motor Racing Club Sheikh Ali Al-Fawaz Al-Sabah and secretary Fahad Al-Allaj.

Mushari Al-Thafiri took 10th place in the general category out of 15, and he was third in the (N) group.

Sheikh Ali Al-Fawaz Al-Sabah lauded the efforts of Al-Thafiri and his performance awaited by the Quarter Mile Fans, and hoped Al-Thafiri continues on such performances and build on them.

Sheikh Ali Al-Fawaz Al-Sabah

LONDON: Kimi Raikkonen set his sights on a championship challenge with Lotus after the Formula One team unveiled their new car yesterday. “It’s clear from working with them that they are racers,” said the 33-year-old Finn, the 2007 world champion with Ferrari who made an impressive comeback last season after two years in rallying.

“You can see in their history that they’ve won championships. Nothing I saw last year made me think that another championship was impossible,” he said of the former Renault and Benetton team. “The team have beaten everyone before, there’s nothing to say they can’t do it again.” Raikkonen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season and finished third overall in the championship with seven podiums. Team principal Eric Boullier said great things were possible for Lotus, who finished fourth overall last year, with the pairing of Raikkonen and Frenchman Romain Grosjean.

“Our ambitious plan to turn ourselves into one of the top teams in Formula One is coming to fruition and now we need to harness this with strong and regular podium results,” he said.

Renault won championships in 2005 and 2006, while predecessors Benetton took drivers’ titles with Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995. The original Lotus team, whose name lives on with the current Enstone outfit even if

there is no direct connection, won seven constructors’ crowns between 1963 and 1978.

Meanwhile, Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber has hit back at criticism from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko by accusing the Austrian of having his own agenda at the world championship-winning team.

“Look, everyone at this level has their own agendas and it’s been evident for a long time now that I’ve never been a part of Marko’s,” Webber said in a Q+A on his personal website (www.markwebber.com). Austrian Marko, who is close to Red Bull’s billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz and Germany’s triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, was quoted earlier this month as saying Webber could win races but struggled to handle the pressure of a championship challenge.

“It seems to me that Webber has on average two races per year where he is unbeatable but he can’t maintain his form throughout the year,” he said in Red Bull’s house magazine Red Bulletin.

Marko added that Webber’s form fell “easily into a downward spiral” if something went against him and suggested that losing out to Vettel in the 2010 title race had been a huge psychological blow. The Austrian, whose career as an F1 racer ended when he was blinded in one eye, was also quoted by

Germany’s Sport Bild as saying Vettel had beaten Webber in all four years of their partnership and that would not change.

“The statistic speaks for itself. There is no reason to think the balance of power will change,” he added. Webber, who enjoys a good relationship with team principal Christian Horner, has been at Red Bull for longer than Vettel and will be starting his seventh - and possibly final - season with the British-based team, with the first race in Melbourne on March 17.

The 36-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, said he was in good shape after having surgery last month to remove a 40-cm titanium rod in his right leg.

Webber broke his leg after colliding with a car in a cycling accident in Tasmania in 2008.

“The surgery went very smoothly and my recovery was exceptional. I had a few weeks off from my normal training schedule but I was able to ease myself back into it by the first week of January and now I’m back into it properly,” he said. “I didn’t really know what to expect from having it removed, apart from my own peace of mind, but I’m very happy that some of the niggles and pain I’ve sometimes experienced with my training over the past three years already seem to be a thing of the past.”— Reuters

Rally Driver Yazeed Al-Rajihi

LONDON: In this file picture taken on March 27, 2011 Crusaders’ player Sean Maitland (R) avoids a tackle from Sharks’ player Odwa Ndungane (L) on his way to scoring a try during the Super Rugby match at Twickenham Stadium, southwest of London. As stated in a story released yesterday New Zealandborn Sean Maitland was set to join the ranks of Scotland’s ‘kilted Kiwis’ after he was handed a Test debut for the Calcutta Cup Six Nations clash away to England at Twickenham on February 2, 2013. — AFP

O’Driscoll returns for Ireland opener LONDON: Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll was among several senior players restored by Declan Kidney to the starting XV when the coach named his side yesterday for Saturday’s Six Nations opener away to Wales in Cardiff.

Also taking the field at the Millennium Stadium will be full-back Rob Kearney, openside flanker Sean O’Brien and hooker Rory Best. Together with star centre O’Driscoll, they formed a quartet of experienced players who missed the whole of Ireland’s end-of-year international campaign in November through injury.

The 34-year-old O’Driscoll has been captain in 84 of his 120 Ireland Tests. But for the first time, when fit, since replacing Keith Wood as Ireland skipper in 2004, O’Driscoll has been relieved of the captaincy by Kidney with leadership duties passing to No 8 Jamie Heaslip instead.

O’Driscoll will be alongside longtime

Brian O’Driscoll

Leinster and Ireland team-mate Gordon D’Arcy in midfield, with Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray the half-back duo. Meanwhile, Kearney is set to form what should be a dynamic back three with wings Craig Gilroy and Simon Zebo, who both starred in November.

“It was a tight call because there’s so much competition. Fergus McFadden and Keith Earls have been playing well, so it’s testament to the way Craig and Simon have been playing that they’re selected,” Kidney said yesterday.

In all there were four changes to the side that beat Argentina by the convincing margin of 46-24 last time out, with Chris Henry dropped to the bench as O’Brien and Peter O’Mahony returned to the back-row.

“We felt that in terms of a mix in the back row this was the best combination, but there was certainly plenty to talk about following Chris’s performances in the autumn,” Kidney said. Ireland have lost their last three matches against Wales, a run that includes a 2011 World Cup quarter-final defeat in New Zealand and a 23-21 reverse on the opening day of last season’s Six Nations But although Wales, due to name their side on Thursday, are the defending Grand Slam champions, they have lost their last seven Tests.

Ireland (15-1) Rob Kearney; Craig Gilroy, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Simon Zebo; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jamie Heaslip (capt), Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony; Donnacha Ryan, Mike McCarthy; Mike Ross, Rory Best, Cian Healy.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, David Kilcoyne, Declan Fitzpatrick, Donncha O’Callaghan, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O’Gara, Keith Earls. — AFP

Al-Rajihi scores fastest time in Qatar Rally KUWAIT: Saudi rally driver Yazzed Al-Rajihi gave a great performance during the opening round of Qatar Rally, as he scored the fastest time during the first day of competition with his Ford Fiesta 2000. Al-Rajihi later suffered several punchers in the tires leading to his withdrawal from the first day of competition, after taking second

place behind Qatar’s Al-Atiyya.

Al-Rajihi faced two punchers in the first and second rounds and continued to drive on them before replacing them with spares. When he faced the third puncher, he drove on it until the front suspension system was damaged and caused him to withdraw, as rules stipulate.

On the second day, Al-Rajihi

rejoined competition with the super rally system after accepting penalties for being unable to participate in the remaining three stages of the first day.

Despite that Al-Rajihi was able to finish sixth in the general standings and an all important 8 points as the tournament got started.

Al-Rajihi said he was glad to

get 8 points in the Middle East Championship, and being able to be aggressive with enough speed to compete for first place.

He said the “punchers forced me to withdraw from first day competition, but was able to rejoin on the second day. The competitions just started and I will try to make up for lost time during the second round in Kuwait Rally.

Kuwaiti teen prepares for challenging rounds at Reem International Circuit KUWAIT: Kuwait’s driving prodigy Zaid Ashkanani will be looking to build upon his impressive first half of the season in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East when he returns to action for the 7th and 8th rounds in February (6th and 7th) at the Reem International Circuit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Making his championship debut the teenage driving star has taken the leading one-make series by storm currently leading the Michelin Silver category with 98 points and is poised to finish amongst the best drivers in the region.

Commenting on his performance in the series thus far he said: “This entire experience has been a dream for me. It’s one thing to be confident in your abilities but it’s another to actually put them to the test and be able to deliver solid results.

“It’s real racing so competition and rivals are fierce. I’m just thrilled that I have the privilege to compete on the Middle East’s greatest circuits in one of the all-time greatest race cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. “The first six rounds of the championship have already taught me so much by exposing me to such a high calibre of Middle Eastern racing. No matter what the final outcome, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East has added to my lifetime experience and will fundamentally strengthen my overall driving skills.”

Ashkanani attained his first podium position in Round 3 and currently stands 4th overall in the series trailing behind 3rd placed team Al Nabooda veteran driver Karim-Al Azhari by 19 points. In close pursuit in 5th position is Saudi

Falcons’ Faisal Binladen with 85 points and the first female driver to ever race in the Middle East, Denmark’s Christina Nielsen who managed to collect a total of 82 points during the first half of the season.

Speaking ahead of the 7th and 8th rounds in Saudi Arabia, Ashkanani said: “Everything in this championship is a completely new experience for me. With every round I am always excited to see what the next circuit offers and the Reem International Circuit is no exception. I can’t wait to get back out on the track and race in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the host nation for such incredible drivers like Abdulaziz AlFaisal and Faisal BinLaden. There will be a lot of fans

attending the rounds in Reem and they will be rooting for the Saudi Falcons to deliver a victory.

I hope to win their respect and show them that I can challenge the quickest drivers in the region.”

Walter Lechner, Manager of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, said: “Zaid’s introduction to his racing career has been phenomenal. He shows real talent and promise and if he continues to prove this level of dedication and commitment he could definitely go on to become one of the regions’ most prominent racing stars of the future.”

The series returns for Rounds 7 and 8 at the Reem International Circuit, Saudi Arabia on the 6th and 7th February.

Zaid Ashkanani prepares for Reem Circuit.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Ravens, 49ers settle into New Orleans for Super Bowl NE W ORLE A N S : B a l ti m o re R avens players flew into New Orleans on Monday for the Super Bowl, settling into a river front hotel three blocks from the San Francisco 49ers, their rivals in Sunday’s title game. Thousands of fan s from a c ross t h e U n i te d States are expected to flock into the “Big Easy” as well this week ahead of the National Football League championship showdown at the Louisiana Superdome.

Eight years after the Superdome b e c a m e a s ce n e o f h o r ro r a s refugees fled to the damaged stadium from the flooding and devastation of Hurricane Katrina only to find no relief, the first Super B ow l t h e re s i n ce t h e d e a d l y storm will try to signal that the city famous for its Mardi Gras party is having fun again.

“I t ’s our biggest global moment,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “You have a city that’s going to be on the world stage dramatically changed.” Parades and parties began last week for the Carnival in which Mardi Gras is the centerpiece, but for the players it will be business as usual while their suppor ters frolic in the French Quarter, near both team’s hotels. “ We’re not going to New Orleans for nothing else but to bring a (championship) ring back to Baltimore,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis told a crowd of supporters at a harborfront pep rally in Baltimore on Monday before the team flight. Lewis announced late in the season that he was retiring after the campaign and the man whose enthusiasm and energy has powered the Ravens for years

could see his career conclude with a victory in the Super Bowl.

The 49ers made a point of not gawking like tourists when they departed their plane late Sunday, no recording the sights or showing any sign it was anything other than an ordinar y road trip, although it could change their lives.

“We’re not down here to have a good time,” offensive tackle Joe Staley said. “We’re here to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.” San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh, will challenge his brother, Ravens coach John Harbaugh, in the first Super Bowl matchup pitting brothers against each other as coaches. Even they are all business. “We want to come down here and it’s a business trip,” said 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. “It’s not nec-

essarily to have fun. It’s to win a football game. We have to stay focused throughout the week and try to accomplish the goal we set in training camp.”

Jim Harbaugh was a fan at the 1990 Super Bowl in the Superdome when the 49ers routed Denver 55-10. It was the fourth of five Super Bowl triumphs by the 49ers, who have never lost in the Super Bowl. “ The organization has a tremendous histor y and we’re proud of it,” Harbaugh said. “This is new business and our team is focused on winning a championship.”

The 49ers will train and practice at the New Orleans Saints facilities in the suburbs while the Ravens will work out at Tulane University in the city. —AFP

NEW ORLEANS: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is surrounded by reporters during media day for the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game yesterday in New Orleans.—AP

Nets rout Magic 97-77 for eighth straight home win Obama honors NBA Champions Miami Heat

SAN DIEGO: Tiger Woods holds up the trophy after winning the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at the Torrey Pines Golf Course, Monday, in San Diego. Woods closed with an even-par 72 for a four-shot victory. — AP

Tiger wins at Torrey Pines for 75th crown LA JOLLA: World No. 2 Tiger Woods captured his 75th career title on Monday, winning the US PGA Farmers Insurance Open by four strokes for his record-setting eighth career triumph at Torrey Pines.

Despite struggling in windy conditions Monday, Woods showed flashes of the form that has brought him 14 major titles, four shy of the all-time record of 18 won by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods won his most recent major crown at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines and has also won the PGA event staged at Torrey Pines seven times. No other PGA player has won so many times on a single course. Woods, who also has won PGA events seven times at Bay Hill and Firestone, moved closer to the all-time record of 82 triumphs set by the late Sam Snead. A fog delay that wiped out almost all play on Saturday led to the Monday finish, with darkness halting Woods’ final round on Sunday after seven holes. His 11 holes on Monday in the wind took four hours and disrupted his game. “In the end I just started losing my patience,” Woods said. “It was so slow out there.”

Woods completed a final-round par 72 Monday despite going three-over in the closing stretch, finishing 72 holes on 14under par 274. Fellow Americans Brandt Snedeker, the 2012 winner, and Josh Teater shared second on 278.

Woods had two bogeys and a double bogey between the 14th and 17th holes, but the 37-year-old golf legend managed a par at the par-5 18th to close out the victory. “It got a little ugly toward the end,” Woods said. “I started losing my patience with slow play and lost my concentration there a little bit.”

After missing the cut in his season opener at Abu Dhabi, Woods collected his first

victory since last July at the US PGA National at Congressional. Taking the $1.08 million top prize at the $6.1 million event is a good omen for Woods.

In all six prior years when Woods won the PGA event at Torrey Pines, he won at least four tournaments that year. In five of those six years, he won a major title that year. “I would like to win eight, nine times a year,” Woods said. “That’s not a bad thing.”

Woods appeared set to threaten the tournament victory margin record he set in 2008 when he won by eight strokes but poor tee shots in the final holes swiped some of the magic from his dominating performance.

“I had an eight-shot lead,” Woods said. “I just needed to stay upright.” Woods seized the lead after Friday’s second round, never played a stroke on Saturday, then stretched his lead to six strokes by playing six-under over 25 holes on Sunday.

Opening with five pars Monday in breezy conditions, Woods saved par at the par-5 ninth after going way right off the tee near a spectator fence and saved par at the par-3 11th thanks to a bunker shot that rolled across the green to stop within inches of the cup.

Woods birdied the par-5 13th for an eight-stroke edge. But Woods made his first bogey of the round at the 14th, then lost his ball in dense brush after going left off the 15th tee on his way to a double bogey.

Woods parred the par-3 16th but took another bogey at the par-4 17th before coming home with a par.

“I started losing my patience and consequently I made a few mistakes,” said Woods.

“I played pretty well through 13, built myself a nice little lead and made a few mistakes coming home but had a big enough cushion that it was fine.” — AFP

Westwood targets opening win in Dubai DUBAI: He’s got a new caddie and a new home in the United States. Lee Westwood hopes those changes translate into victories this year, starting with the Dubai Desert Classic which begins tomorrow.

The seventh-ranked Englishman has been a runner-up in Dubai three times, including last year when he led after three rounds but lost to Spaniard Rafael CabreraBello. Westwood missed a seven-footer on 17 that could have tied, and one on 18 to force a playoff.

After missing the cut at the US PGA Championship last year, Westwood split from coach Pete Cowen and temporary caddie Mike Waite. Mike Kerr, normally on the bag for Alvaro Quiros, took over.

Westwood also moved to Florida with his family in December after rejoining the US PGA Tour in 2012.

The move to Florida, Westwood said, has allowed him to play much more golf in the offseason - he was out last week with Luke Donald - than he’s done in the past when England has been frigid.

“I feel like I’m coming out running,” Westwood said, adding that his short game and putting have shown the most improvement. “Hopefully, I will come out and be competitive,” he said. “We’ve seen recently some of the best players struggling to find their competitive edge. I feel like I’m play-

ing well and I have a chance.”

Westwood, though, has yet to replace Cowen and isn’t looking to overhaul his swing like Tiger Woods has done in the past. For the Englishman, it’s just more practice which means he “doesn’t feel rusty at the moment.”

“I haven’t really changed coaches but done away with a few,” he said with a smile.

“That is a big difference. I’m not going to another coach and trying a new method.

I’m not making any big changes as such.”

Westwood, who turns 40 this year, said it seemed “like the right time” to move to the United States. He said his two children, who were 8 and 11, were young enough to make the adjustment to a new school, and the new location allows him to play more on the U.S. tour without being away from his family for long periods.

“I played the PGA Tour last year and really enjoyed it and fancied a new challenge with the family,” Westwood said. “Fancied making a move and being somewhere warm.” And with every new season, Westwood has to contend with questions of whether this might be the year he finally wins a major. He finished tied for third at last year’s Masters but fared poorly in the other three. Time was of the essence, he acknowledged, but he wasn’t about to let his age influence his play. — AP

NEW YORK: Deron Williams had 20 points and nine assists, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Orlando Magic 97-77 on Monday night for their eighth straight home victory.The Nets rebounded from their first two-game losing streak under P.J. Carlesimo, finishing off a four-game sweep of the Magic, who dropped their sixth straight.

Brook Lopez scored 16 points and Joe Johnson had 13 for the Nets, who tied a franchise record with their 11th victory in January and can break it when they host the NBA champion Miami Heat today.

Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Magic, who lost for the 17th time in 19 games. Their last two losses had each been by two points, but they were blown out of this one early. Routed by Memphis and Houston to end their four-game road trip, the Nets quickly got back on track at home against an overmatched opponent. But now comes a difficult stretch, with Chicago following Miami into Barclays Center on Friday and the improving Los Angeles Lakers visiting next Tuesday.

The Nets completed their first four-game sweep of the Magic since 2003-04, the season before Orlando drafted Dwight Howard.

Brooklyn led by at least 20 points in all four games and is now 17-0 against teams that were under .500 when they played them.

Both coaches were quick to point out that Jameer Nelson didn’t play in any of the first three meetings, but he made no difference thanks to another strong night from Williams, who set the tone with 13 points in the first quarter.

The Magic cut a 16-point halftime deficit to seven after three quarters, but the Nets responded with the first nine of the fourth quarter to push it back to 16. Brooklyn outscored Orlando 23-4 to open the final period.

Orlando starting forward Arron Afflalo was out with a strained left calf and Hedo Turkoglu was ineffective after missing nine games while getting back in shape after a broken left hand.

J.J. Redick, who tied a career high with 31 points Sunday against Detroit while making eight 3-pointers, finished 2 of 13 from the field but set a career high with 10 assists. Nelson was 3 of 12 for nine points.

The Nets closed the first quarter with a 10-2 run for a 30-20 lead. Williams was 5 of 6, hitting three 3-pointers, and the Nets made 11 of 17 shots (65 percent). They came out with the first eight points of the second, opening a 38-20 cushion on Andray Blatche’s jumper with 9:17 left in the half. Down 56-40 at the half, Orlando trimmed it to 70-63 after three but had to keep four starters on the floor the entire period. They rested to start the fourth and the Nets clobbered the Magic’s below-average bench, with Keith Bogans hitting two 3-pointers in the 9-0 run to start the fourth, and though the starters came back less than 90 seconds in, the momentum was gone. Bogans finished with 12 points.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama honored the Miami Heat for winning the 2012 NBA Championship title after falling short just a year before. “Everybody doing their part, is what finally put the Heat over the top,” Obama said, as he welcomed the team to the White House Monday to celebrate their victory.

The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the NBA Finals last June. The president also recognized the franchise’s work off the court. He thanked them for supporting military service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Obama

said one of the things he’s proudest of is that many of the team members- including LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade- “take their roles as fathers seriously.”

“For all the young men out there who are looking up to them all the time, for them to see somebody who cares about their kids and is there for them day in and day out, that’s a good message to send,” Obama said.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the team hopefully will serve as an inspiration to the nation of what can be done “when you come together and sacrifice your egos for a greater goal” and “hard-hat work ethic.”

James, who presented Obama with an autographed basketball, said the team including members that hail from Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Ohio and South Dakota were honored to be in the executive mansion.

“We’re in the White House right now, which is like, like ‘mama I made it,’” James said, as the audience laughed and cheered. The crowd of well-wishers included actress Gabrielle Union, UN ambassador Susan Rice, US Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson. The Heat last visited the White House after winning the 2006 title.— AP

BROOKLYN: Orlando Magic’s Jameer Nelson (C) drives against Brooklyn Nets Brook Lopez (R) during their NBA game at the Barclays Center on Monday in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.— AFP

NBA results/standings Golden State 114, Toronto 102; Memphis 103, Philadelphia 100; Sacramento 96, Washington 94.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB NY Knicks 27 15 .643 Brooklyn 27 18 .600 1.5 Boston 21 23 .477 7 Philadelphia 18 26 .409 10 Toronto 16 29 .356 12.5 Central Division Chicago 27 17 .614 Indiana 26 19 .578 1.5 Milwaukee 23 19 .548 3 Detroit 17 27 .386 10 Cleveland 13 32 .289 14.5 Southeast Division Miami 28 13 .683 Atlanta 25 19 .568 4.5 Orlando 14 30 .318 15.5 Washington 11 32 .256 18 Charlotte 11 33 .250 18.5

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City34 11 .756 Denver 28 18 .609 6.5 Utah 24 21 .533 10 Portland 22 22 .500 11.5 Minnesota 17 24 .415 15 Pacific Division LA Clippers 33 13 .717 Golden State 27 17 .614 5 LA Lakers 19 25 .432 13 Sacramento 17 29 .370 16 Phoenix 15 30 .333 17.5 Southwest Division San Antonio 36 11 .766 Memphis 29 15 .659 5.5 Houston 25 22 .532 11 Dallas 19 25 .432 15.5 New Orleans 15 29 .341 19.5

Super Bowl coaches bristle at Obama’s comments NEW ORLEANS: President Barack Obama’s comments that he would “think long and hard” before letting a son play American football were shrugged off by Super Bowl coaches on Monday but there was some agreement from players that the game needed to evolve.

Obama’s stance came in an interview with the New Republic, published on Sunday, where he was asked how he squares his love of the game with rising awareness of the impact of repeated head injuries on football players.

“I’m a big football fan, but I have to tell you if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football,” said Obama. “And I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence,” he said. San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was dismissive of Obama’s comments.

“Well I have a four-month old, almost five-month old son, Jack Harbaugh, and if President Obama feels that way then there will be a little bit less

competition for Jack Harbaugh when he gets older,” he told reporters.

Brother John Harbaugh, coach of the Baltimore Ravens, the other team in Sunday’s Super Bowl, said he didn’t agree with Obama and stressed the game had much to offer. “Football is a great game ... It’s challenging, it’s tough, it’s hard. There is no game like football. It’s the type of sport that brings out the best in you. It kind of shows who you are.

“I think it’s a huge part of our educational system in this country. And it’s going to be around for a long time,” he said. The 49ers’ outside linebacker Aldon Smith said players were well aware of the risks involved. “I think the game has been like it always has. It’s a physical game. Everybody plays hard. Guys get hit sometimes and that’s what we all know coming into the game. “We all signed up for it. It’s not like we signed up and thought we were going to play tennis,” he said.

Concerns over the risk of brain injury from repeated concussions suffered by players in the

NFL are growing with hundreds of former players involved in legal action against the league.

The NFL, America’s most popular television sport and a $9 billion a year industry, has introduced tougher rules and regulations regarding the treatment of concussion. Ravens center Matt Birk said he understood Obama’s concerns and felt the game was beginning to change.

“I have three sons and I think anyone who is a parent can relate to that. Certainly it is a dangerous game and we’re finding out more and more, every day, the long-term effects that this game can have. “I think it’s a joint effort with the (NFL) commissioner, with coaches, with players, with everybody, everybody that wants to watch and make this game as safe as it can be. I think we’re making strides in that,” he said.

San Francisco cornerback Tarell Brown agreed.

“It’s definitely a dangerous sport, but at the end of the day the league is doing a great job of putting in place things to help players with safety,” he said. — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

S P ORTS

Bruins upend Hurricanes 5-3 Johnson earns first NHL shutout in debut NHL results/standings Boston 5, Carolina 3; Columbus 2, Dallas 1; Phoenix 4, Nashville 0; Edmonton 4, Colorado 1; Los Angeles 3, Vancouver 2 (SO).

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division New Jersey Pittsburgh NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia

W 3 3 2 2 2

Boston Ottawa Montreal Buffalo Toronto

4 3 3 2 2

Tampa Bay Winnipeg Carolina Washington Florida

4 3 2 1 1

L OTL GF GA PTS 0 1 11 7 7 2 0 15 14 6 2 1 18 18 5 3 0 14 16 4 4 0 13 18 4 Northeast Division 0 1 17 11 9 1 1 16 10 7 1 0 13 7 6 3 0 13 15 4 3 0 14 17 4 Southeast Division 1 0 24 13 8 1 1 15 14 7 3 0 14 18 4 3 1 11 19 3 4 0 8 19 2

Western Conference Central Division Chicago 6 0 0 22 13 12 St. Louis 5 1 0 24 13 10 Detroit 2 2 1 11 16 5 Columbus 2 3 1 11 19 5 Nashville 1 2 3 10 18 5 Northwest Division Edmonton 3 2 0 15 14 6 Vancouver 2 2 2 16 19 6 Minnesota 2 2 1 13 15 5 Colorado 2 3 0 10 13 4 Calgary 1 2 1 11 15 3 Pacific Division San Jose 5 0 0 23 8 10 Anaheim 3 1 0 15 14 6 Los Angeles 2 2 1 11 14 5 Dallas 2 3 1 12 14 5 Phoenix 2 4 0 21 20 4 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

BOSTON: The Boston Bruins remained unbeaten and opened the season by earning points in five straight games for the first time since 1990 when they beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in the NHL on Monday.

Zdeno Chara had a goal and two assists, Nathan Horton had a goal and an assist, Tyler Seguin had an empty-net goal and an assist and Brad Marchand scored a short-handed goal for the Bruins.

David Krejci scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:50 left after Horton rang the post.

Rookie defenseman Dougie Hamilton’s cross-ice pass found Krejci in the left circle and he snapped the puck past Cam Ward for his first goal of the season.

Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner scored 50 seconds apart late in the second period to help the Hurricanes erase a two-goal deficit, but their two-game winning streak ended. Anton Khudobin stopped 29 shots in his first start of the season for the Bruins.

Also, the Los Angeles Kings beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in a shootout, the Phoenix Coyotes blanked the Nashville Predators 4-0, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1, and the Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Dallas Stars 2-1.

Jeff Carter scored Los Angeles’ first power-play goal of the season and added the only score in the shootout to help beat Vancouver. Defenseman Slava Voynov tied it with 43.2 seconds

left in regulation for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who have won two straight after a winless start. Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots for the Kings, including all three Vancouver attempts in the shootout. Chad Johnson earned his first NHL shutout in his Phoenix debut.

Johnson, called up from Portland of the AHL last week after Mike Smith was hurt, had 21 saves in a game dominated defensively by a Coyotes team that entered the

game allowing an NHL-high 20 goals in five games.

The Predators were shut out for the second time in three games and have scored just 10 times in six games this season.

Devan Dubnyk made 37 saves and Edmonton scored all of its goals on the power play to defeat Colorado.

Ales Hemsky, Jordan Eberle, Shawn Horcoff and Nail Yakupov, into an empty net, scored on the man advantage for the Oilers. The

Avalanche have lost two in a row to start a four-game road trip.

Columbus ended a four-game losing run when it beat Dallas.

Czech veteran Vinny Prospal scored the winner from a hard angle at 1:22 of the third period, pumped his fist, glided across the ice on one knee and celebrated as if he had just scored the tiebreaking goal in the Stanley Cup finals. Instead, he just helped Columbus take a step toward respectability.—AP

GLENDALE: Colin Wilson #33 of the Nashville Predators skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena yesterday in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Predators 4-0.— AFP

Football in cold, snow ‘not logical’ CANBERRA: West Indies bowler Andre Russell (L) delivers the ball to Australia’s Usman Khawaja (R) during the cricket match between the West Indies and the Prime Minister’s XI squad at Manuka Oval in Canberra yesterday. — AFP

Wayward Windies lose tour opener Down Under CANBERRA: All-rounder James Faulkner grabbed four wickets for 54 and hit an unbeaten 44 to help the Australian Prime Minister’s XI defeat the West Indies in their tour opener at the Manuka Oval yesterday.

Tasmanian Alex Doolan topscored for the Australians with 87 and Usman Khawaja made 69 out of a total of 333 for six. The West Indies never gave up on the massive run chase despite losing opener Kieran Powell to cramps when he was unbeaten on 92 off 97 balls and threatening to go on the rampage.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, returning to the side after more than a year after a public dispute with the West Indies board, made a steady 63. But it was beefy bowler Andre Russell, who had injured a knee fielding and gone off for treatment, who almost saved the game.

He put on a dazzling display of power batting to keep the tourists alive in the dying overs. Russell was finally caught by Jono Dean on the boundary off Faulkner tr ying to clear the stands again. He smashed 54 off 24 balls, including five sixes and three fours. West Indies captain Darren

Sammy holed out for just three, the tail failed and the ninth wicket fell 23 runs short of the target. The PM’s side rattled up early runs after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat.

The West Indies attack often looked rusty and speedster Tino Best went for 84 for one wicket off his 10 overs despite regularly breaking 150 kilometres per hour.

Spinner Sunil Narine limited the damage and picked up two wickets, including that of Ponting, for 32 runs off his allotted overs Local boy had Dean raced to an impressive 51 off 40 deliveries, including two sixes and eight fours before he was caught off Dwayne Bravo. Khawaja was also finding boundaries off some wayward bowling and looked composed on his way to 69 off 81 balls. Ponting however was bowled for 15 runs from a straight one off Narine in the first day-night game at the Manuka Oval in Canberra following the installation of lights. The West Indies play the first of five one-day internationals at the WACA in Perth on Friday and wrap up the tour with a T20 match at the Gabba in Brisbane on February 13. — AFP

CANBERRA: Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard (C) walks out onto the pitch with West Indies team captain Darren Sammy (R) and Prime Minister’s XI team captain Ricky Ponting (L) of Australia at the start of the cricket match between the West Indies and the Prime Minister’s XI squad at Manuka Oval in Canberra yesterday. — AFP

PARIS: A scheduling change away from winter football could be coming to Europe, according to Bayern Munich chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge. Rummenigge, who is also chairman of the 207-member European Club Association that lobbies for the rights of European clubs, told France Football magazine that it makes no sense that European clubs play in mid-winter.

“Everywhere, be it Germany, France or England, summer is the best period of the year. And that is the season we don’t play,” Rummenigge said in today’s edition. “In deepest winter, when it is very cold and snowing, we play nearly all the time in conditions that are disagreeable for both players and spectators. It is not logical.”

Rummenigge told France Football that FIFA and UEFA are “seriously thinking” about an overhaul of the football calendar so European leagues would open in January and wrap up at the end of autumn. FIFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

“My sense is that we are heading straight in this direction,” the former West Germany international was quoted as saying of possible Januar y-autumn European leagues.

Asked whether football’s traditional summer

break could be abandoned, Rummenigge replied: “It’s completely possible, even if this idea does not thrill our friends in South America.”

A sweeping overhaul of league and international schedules for the world’s most popular sport would likely be far more complex than Rummenigge’s comments suggested, perhaps impossible.

The suggestion that club football could monopolize the calendar and that FIFA’s principal source of income, the World Cup, and UEFA’s European Championship could be tacked on at the end of the year, when club football is finished, won’t likely thrill officials at either of those governing bodies.

There are also major financial, broadcasting, geographical, sporting and cultural obstacles to any drastic overhaul - not least the issue of whether Europeans would attend and watch football in summer months when many of them traditionally sun themselves on beaches.

Rummenigge said one “advantage” of modifying the calendar would be that club and international football could be separated entirely so players aren’t called up by their countries when their clubs are still playing.

“In future, there could be two phases: one for club competitions, the other for qualifying matches or finals of the World Cup or the Euros,” he was quoted as saying. “For one month, national teams would be completely free to call up their players.”

FIFA’s plans for the 2022 World Cup to be held in host Qatar ’s scorching summer months are also feeding debate about football’s international calendar. Some in football, including UEFA President Michel Platini, have appealed for the flagship tournament to be moved to the Gulf state’s somewhat cooler winter months. But that could punch a hole in the European club season as it now stands.

Rummenigge suggested that any change in scheduling for Qatar could be used to make permanent changes to football’s calendar. “It is clear that there will soon be negotiations to examine what can be done.

My point of view is that an eventual change to the calendar shouldn’t be viewed critically but more as an innovation that could improve the general context,” Rummenigge was quoted as saying. “Changing the calendar carries risks but it is also an opportunity.

The issue of the calendar will become more important the closer 2022 gets.” — AP

Pakistan W Cup women’s team sleep in stadium

N Zealand board supports Ryder’s continued exile

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s women cricketers in India for the World Cup are staying in the stadium premises instead of a hotel for security reasons, the International Cricket Council said yesterday.

The entire squad is living in the club house of the Barabati stadium in the eastern city of Cuttack where Pakistan are due to play its matches in the eight-nation tournament starting tomorrow.

“I can confirm the team is staying at the Barabati stadium,” an ICC spokeswoman told AFP from Cuttack. “The ICC considered all options and the best security for the teams, and we have chosen to use the Barabati stadium club house.”

Cuttack was added as a last-minute venue after the right-wing nationalist Shiv Sena party threatened to disrupt Pakistan’s matches in Mumbai, where the entire tournament was originally scheduled to be played. Matches in group B-featuring Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa-were shunted to Cuttack, where Pakistan will remain if they qualify for the second round. But the Pakistani team will still have to travel to Mumbai if they make the final at the Brabourne stadium on February 17.

Pakistan team manager Ayesha Ashar said the entire squad was happy with the arrangements made at the Barabati stadium.

“The arrangements are more like we get in Pakistan,” Ashar was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. “We are happy with the facilities provided to us by the organisers.”

Pakistan open their campaign against Australia at the Barabati stadium on Friday. —AFP

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s cricket board will continue to support Jesse Ryder during his rehabilitation from personal issues after the burly batsman ruled himself out of playing against England in the upcoming series.

Ryder, who stood down from national duties last year after breaking a self-imposed alcohol ban, had been in solid form for Wellington in New Zealand’s domestic competitions but has opted to continue his exile.

New Zealand host England in three Twenty20 matches next month, before three one-day internationals and three tests through March, but Ryder will instead put himself up for auction for the Indian Premier League, which starts in April.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson and team manager Mike Sandle met with the 28-year-old on Tuesday and it was “agreed” he would continue with his personal plan, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.

“New Zealand Cricket wants to continue to support Jesse and we are happy with the positive progress he has made to date,” Sandle said in the statement.

“Today’s meeting was part of ongoing communication with Jesse and we will continue to keep in touch with him and offer support and assistance.”

Ryder, an explosive opening batsman who has struggled with alcohol and weight problems, wanted to play a full season of domestic cricket before contemplating a return to the national team, his manager told local media this week.

New Zealand head into the home series against England a lowly eighth in test rankings after being trounced 2-0 in their two-match series away to South Africa. — Reuters

Australia board play straight bat to Warne twitter rant SYDNEY: Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland has defended the organisation following a scathing attack aimed at them by spin great Shane Warne, who panned the board in a series of Twitter rants.

Sutherland added that he was prepared to meet with Warne and discuss the 43-year-old’s criticism of CA’s player rotation policy and his claim that “rubbish” decisions were turning Australian cricket into a “big joke”. After venting his

initial anger on Monday, Warne reiterated his views a day later. “As I said last night we need cricket people running the team & who understand cricket & what’s required at the top level, not muppets,” he tweeted yesterday.

Warne questioned the logic of having former rugby union international Pat Howard as the board’s high performance manager but Sutherland threw his weight behind the former Wallaby back. “I have every confidence

in Pat Howard and his team, and what they’re doing,” Sutherland told local media yesterday. “Personally I find it a little bit disappointing to read about that (Warne’s criticisms) in the fashion that I have.

“Ideally you’d like to be able to sit down with Shane and understand a little bit more deeply his opinions.”

Australia won all three tests in a recent series against Sri Lanka but were held 22 in the subsequent one-day interna-

tionals after resting skipper Michael Clarke for the first two matches.

The hosts, however, lost both Twenty20 internationals and were left debating the merits of a controversial rotation policy CA has introduced to manage injuries and the workload of their frontline players.

While Warne insisted Australia needed to field their best 11 players every time they stepped out, fast bowling great Dennis Lillee has backed CA’s

approach.

“He’s 100 percent in agreement with the selection panel with managing the load and development of players,” Sutherland said of Lillee, who captured 355 wickets in 70 tests.

“Who’s right here? “You’ve got Shane Warne saying one thing, Dennis Lilleesaying another. It’s not a black and white issue.” Warne retired from test cricket in 2007 after taking 708 wickets in 145 tests.— Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

S P ORT S

Celtic readjust focus after cup heartache GLASGOW: Joe Ledley has urged his Celtic teammates to put the disappointment of their League Cup semi-final defeat to one side and focus on what else they can achieve this season.

The Hoops were humbled by St Mirren in Sunday ’s semi-final at Hampden with Danny Lennon’s side winning 3-2 to book a place in March’s final against Hearts. The defeat ended the Parkhead club’s hopes of a first domestic treble since Martin O’Neill achieved the feat in his first seasoan in charge of the Parkhead side in 2001.

But, having booked a place in the last 16 of the Champions League and with another Scottish Premier League title win looking likely, the Welsh midfielder knows there is still plenty for Celtic to look forward to.

“We’ve got the SPL, the Champions League and the other cup as well,” said Ledley, whose side take on Kilmarnock in the league today. “We just need to concentrate on those, take it game by game and rebuild and go again.

“We’ve had a fantastic achievement already to get into the last 16 of the

Champions League and hopefully we can get a fantastic result against Juventus and go from there. “We know it’s going to be difficult but hopefully we can achieve it.” Celtic manager Neil Lennon slated his players after the defeat to St Mirren and accused some of his players of acting like spoiled kids.

But Ledley hopes to use the Hoops SPL match against Killie at Parkhead today to get back to winning ways. “The manager told us he wasn’t happy with the performance and the individuals,” the Welsh international said.

“ We expected that and we knew within ourselves he would be disappointed. “We need to do better as a team. The treble was something we wanted to achieve and we can’t do that now. “We now need to rebuild and we are lucky we have got a game today and hopefully we can now go out there and perform better. “We just need to pick ourselves up.”

Celtic will hope to welcome back keeper Fraser Forster following a neck injury that has kept him out of their previous three matches and James Forrest

may feature after returning to training.

Yesterday, Motherwell will look to move up to second if they can pick up a win against Dundee United, whose manager Peter Houston left the club on Monday.

Elsewhere today, Hearts will look to build on their League Cup semi-final win when they host Dundee at Tynecastle, St Johnstone welcome Aberdeen to McDiarmid Park, Ross County take on Hibernian at Victoria Park and League Cup heroes St Mirren have a tough task as they take on second top Inverness Caledonian Thistle. —AFP

Lionel Messi, Ronaldo lead AP player rankings Barcelona move into first place in team rankings

Mario Balotelli

Balotelli joins AC Milan ROME: Mario Balotelli’s chequered career at Manchester City was set to come to an end yesterday when the English champions agreed to sell the temperamental Italian striker to AC Milan for a reported 20 million euros.

“Mario Balotelli to Milan, the player will come tomorrow for his medical and sign his contract,” the in-house Milan Channel announced. City paid Inter Milan £22 million (25.7m euros, $34.5 million) for the Italy striker in August 2010, but his time at the club has been peppered with controversy both on and off the pitch.

Now the Premier League club will receive 20 million euros (£17.1m, $26.9m)— 4 million euros a year for five years-plus a possible 3 million euros in bonuses. The fee is significantlly lower than the 33 million euros initially demanded by City. Balotelli, 22, will sign a four-and-a-half-year contract, with an annual net salary of 4.5 million euros, keeping him with Milan until the summer of 2017. The striker, who scored three times for Italy on their run to the final of Euro 2012, returns to his home country in a bid to relaunch a career that has gradually lost momentum this season.

He has scored just once in 14 Premier League appearances this season, as well as once in the League Cup and once in the Champions League. As recently as last Friday, City manager Roberto Mancini had insisted that Balotelli would not be leaving England this month.

“For two years it’s always the question.

It’s not true. Mario’s staying here. We haven’t had any requests about Mario or any other player,” Mancini said.

“Mario has another three years on his contract. “We don’t have enough players, we are 18 players now and we can’t sell any players. But now Balotelli is set to depart after a two-and-a-half-year spell at City that will be better remembered for a plague of controversial incidents.

At the beginning of this month, he was pictured apparently having a bustup with Mancini during a training session, while in December he tried to take his club to court to contest their decision to fine him for his poor disciplinary record last season before eventually dropping his appeal.

Balotelli was also caught up in numerous off-field incidents, including having to escape from his own house in October 2011 after starting a fire caused by letting off fireworks in his bathroom. — AFP

LONDON: Lionel Messi’s four-goal burst ensured that he and Barcelona returned to the top of the Associated Press Global Football rankings this week. The romance of England’s FA Cup, however, produced some unlikely names in the Top 10 teams and a previously unknown striker at No. 9.

Thirteeen out of 18 panelists placed Messi at No. 1 on their list of Top 10 players, with Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo in second place after his hat trick. With 10 points for the top position, Messi earned 176 points, followed by Ronaldo with 159.

Sampdoria striker Mauro Icardi, a 19-year-old Argentine who is becoming a fixture in the AP Top 10 as one of the most promising players in European club football, was third with 90 points.

Icardi, a product of Barcelona’s youth academy, scored four times in Sampdoria’s 6-0 rout of Pescara in Serie A. “The youngster from Rosario scored four times against Pescara and showed why Cesare Prandelli hopes to see him turn his back on his native coun-

try and represent the Italian national team,” Leonardo Bertozzi of ESPN Brazil said.

Eurosport’s Cedric Rouquette said 2013 has started just like the previous four years with Messi slightly ahead of Ronaldo “at the summit of world football.” “Thrill of the week, however, was Icardi’s four goals,” Rouquette said. “Even if his goals were not technically difficult or inventive, a player needs superior talent to always be in the right place at the right time.”

James Porteous of the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong also had Messi at the top and Ronaldo just behind. “Just hours after Ronaldo scored his 19th hat trick for Real Madrid, Messi scored four against Osasuna as the world’s two best players continued their remarkable scoring form,” Porteous said.

Barcelona moved back into first place in the team rankings this week with 157 points, well clear of Real Madrid’s 115. Bayern Munich was again in third place despite a successful Bundesliga season which sees it 11 points clear at the top.

AP Global Football Rankings Players: 1. Lionel Messi, (5), 176 points.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, (1), 159.

3. Mauro Icardi, 90.

4. Edinson Cavani, (10), 68.

5. Javier Hernandez, 43.

6 Olivier Giroud, 42.

7. Jakub Blaszczykowski, 37.

8. Mario Mandzukic, 36.

9 Matt Smith, 35.

10 Stephan el Shaarawy, 28.

Cahill urges Chelsea to keep playing for Rafa LONDON: Gary Cahill believes Chelsea’s second-half fight-back in the weekend FA Cup draw at Brentford confirmed Rafael Benitez has the full backing of the dressing room.

Benitez’s side will attempt to close the gap on second-placed Manchester City when they return to Premier League action at Reading today following two frustrating cup fixtures.

Their failure to beat League One Brentford came after Chelsea’s League Cup semi-final exit at Swansea. And the visiting supporters at Brentford’s Griffin Park made no attempt to disguise their criticism of Benitez, who has failed to win over the Chelsea fans following his unpopular appointment as interim manager last month.

Cahill acknowledges the tension among between manager and supporters but insists the way the side rallied after trailing Brentford at the break underscores the unity in the squad.

“There is a lot of pressure from the fans but we needed to just try to do the job,” the centre-back said. “In the end, we grafted it out on a horrible day and we now need to show our quality at home.

“It was the character we needed to dig in and just get the result we needed,” Cahill added. “Obviously we wanted the win but at least we have taken it back to the Bridge and hopefully we can finish the job there.

“Everyone was aware how important the game was. Ideally we would have gone in at half-time a couple of goals up but that wasn’t the case.

“There were a few words said in the dressing room from Rafa (at the break) and then between the players themselves. “Everyone knew we were below par. We spoke about that and we needed to do something about it in the second half.” Benitez and his players will be well aware they will have to deliver an improved performance if they are to

claim victory over Brian McDermott’s fast-improving Reading side. Chelsea lie 11 points behind league leaders Manchester United and while Benitez admits his side’s title hopes are fading fast, he believes a run of victories could transform the picture at the head of the table.

“If you win two or three games in a row in the Premier League you never know what can happen,” Benitez said.

“Obviously it still depends on the others, but we have to do our job and win some games in a row and I’m sure we will be closer,” the former Liverpool manager added. “Realistically, it will be difficult but not impossible.”

Reading come into the game on the back of four successive victories including the comfortable FA Cup victory over Sheffield United that set up a fifth round meeting with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Their priority, though, is survival and successive league wins against West Brom and Newcastle have lifted McDermott’s team to third bottom, just one point off safety going into the latest round of matches.

“The form has been excellent and all the lads have done really well,” said Reading left-back Nicky Shorey.

“Hopefully, we can keep that going.

“To be honest, the Chelsea game is just another game. It’s another chance to get three points on the board and help us with our survival bid.” Recent signing Daniel Carrico is again expected to be left on the sidelines as he acclimatises to English football. “Putting him in against West Brom was a tall order, we’ve got to get him up to speed,” explained Reading manager McDermott. “He was Sporting Lisbon captain, you can see in training he’s a good player and he just needs time. He needs time to train and to adjust. When he gets that, he’ll be a good player for us.” — AFP

Bayern earned 104 points, almost twice as many as fourth-place Borussia Dortmund. Manchester United was fifth with 57 points. Napoli was in sixth place, and the next three slots are filled by teams with the unlikely names of Bradford, Luton and Oldham. All three lowly English clubs - Luton is not even in the Football League - overcame Premier League opposition in domestic cup competitions, beating Aston Villa, Norwich and Liverpool, respectively.

“My top 10 teams are dominated by lower league sides after a week of cup upsets in Britain,” Porteous said. “Bradford kicked it off by reaching the League Cup final, while Luton, Oldham and Leeds were among those teams taking down Premier League opposition in the FA Cup.” Matt Smith, a 6-foot-7-inch forward, scored twice in Oldham’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool and earned himself ninth place in the player poll, ahead of AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy, whose consistent performances this season will likely give earn him a permanent place in the Italian national team. “A couple of shoutouts this week to lower, lower English players for goals in big FA Cup upsets,” Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis PostDispatch said. “Matt Smith’s two goals against Liverpool deserve attention. This may well be the high point of Smith’s career, and I salute it.” Edinson Cavani, one of many bright young South Americans playing in Serie A, has been a regular in the AP Top 10 and is in fourth place in the latest survey with 68 points, clear of Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud, who finally seems to be settling into the goal-scoring rhythm manager Arsene Wenger hoped he would produce at the start of the season.

Two Bundesliga players, Poland midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski and Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic, filled seventh and eighth places.

BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi scores during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs C.A. Osasuna at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Sunday. — AFP

Teams: 1. Barcelona, 157 points.

2. Real Madrid, (1), 115.

3. Bayern Munich, (5), 104.

4 Borussia Dortmund, (4), 57. (tie) Manchester United, 57.

6. Napoli, 56.

7 Bradford, 48.

8. Luton, 41.

9. Oldham, 36.

10. Athletic Bilbao, 28.— AP

Rodgers issues stark warning to youngsters LONDON: Liverpool’s “soft” young players must work harder or they risk ending up playing in the same league as Oldham Athletic, who knocked them out of the FA Cup, manager Brendan Rodgers has warned.

The seven-times cup winners were roughed up by the third-tier side in a 3-2 defeat on Sunday that prompted the Liverpool manager to question whether some of his young charges had the desire to succeed at the top.

“It hurts deeply and it makes things clear, we need a group that’s hungry in every single game,” Rodgers was quoted as saying in British newspapers yesterday. “If they don’t have that hunger, they will find themselves playing in League One and regretting the opportunity they missed. “Oldham may not have been a big game for one or two of them but they will learn quickly they have to have the right mentality for every single game, because if they don’t, they won’t be here, it’s as simple as that.

“They are a talented group, but let us be clear...we don’t have world-class young players. So they must come in with the intention of working hard with intensity every day. That is the only way they will succeed.”

With daunting Premier League trips to Arsenal and Manchester City coming up, Rodgers chose to make several changes to his side for Sunday’s fourth-round clash, including dropping Steven Gerrard to the bench.

In came defenders Sebastian Coates, 22, and Jack Robinson, 19, to join the 19-year-old Andre Wisdom in a makeshift backline, while 18-year-old Raheem Sterling started in a for-

ward line that was strong on paper but ineffective on the day. The centre back pairing of Coates and Martin Skrtel came in for particular criticism after being out-muscled by Oldham’s two-goal hero Matt Smith, a 23year-old, who was playing university football two years ago.

Skrtel has been a mainstay of Liverpool’s defence but was dropped for their last Premier League outing against Norwich City and may struggle to stay in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s trip to Arsenal.

“The boy Smith hadn’t scored a goal at home in two years and he’s come up against two big units we have at centre half (Skrtel and Coates),” Rodgers said.

“He is a boy who has come out of university football and he looks like Didier Drogba.

“We have seen it before with (Christian) Benteke, who after our game against Aston Villa (when he scored twice in a 3-1 win) has disappeared. That’s the resilience and steel we need to have and we have to do it consistently.

“Going to places like Oldham, you know what you’re going to get. It’s not a Premier League game; it’s a game where you have to roll your sleeves up and fight and, as I said, it was too soft. “One or two were too soft, it’s as simple as that. I’m talking in general, about the physicality around the team, not just Martin Skrtel. I would expect all the players to react, not just him.” Liverpool are seventh in the Premier League and seven points behind Tottenham Hotspur who occupy the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot.— Reuters

PARIS: Picture taken on December 16, 2012 shows Lyon’s Brazilian midfielder Michel Fernandes Bastos during the French L1 football match Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs Lyon (OL), in Paris. French top flight outfit and title contenders Lyon have loaned their Brazilian attacking midfielder Michel Bastos to German side Schalke 04 until the end of next season with an option of a permanent move, the German club said yesterday on their website. — AFP

19

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

SPORTS

Platini hits out at World Cup 2022 graft claims PARIS: European football chief Michel Platini yesterday hit out at claims that FIFA’s awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was tainted by corruption and collusion involving top figures in the game.

France Football magazine alleged in a 16-page investigation that the designation of football’s most prestigious tournament to the tiny Gulf state had “the whiff of scandal” about it and suggested it should be re-awarded.

Platini himself was said to have attended a “secret meeting” at the French presidential palace in Paris with then-premier Nicolas Sarkozy, Qatari prince Tamin bin Hamad alThani and a representative of the

then owners of Paris Saint-Germain.

At the November 23, 2010 meeting-some 10 days before a vote on the 2022 hosts-it was alleged that Platini was urged to back Qatar as part of a deal for a proposed Qatari buy-out of PSG and the creation of a new television sports channel.

PSG were eventually bought by Qatar Sports Investment in June 2011. BeIn Sport, a subsidiary of Doha-based satellite channel AlJazeera, launched last year and took the television rights to show live French football from French broadcaster Canal+.

Platini said in a statement to AFP that “to believe that my choice went to Qatar 2022 in exchange for deals

between the French state and Qatar is just pure speculation”, denouncing it as a fabrication.

“I don’t rule out taking anyone to court who questions my integrity in this vote,” he added. To back up its claims, France Football, which dubbed the affair “Qatargate”, quoted what it said was an internal email in which FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke allegedly said that the tiny Gulf state had “bought the 2022 World Cup”.

Valcke subsquently claimed a misunderstanding and insisted that the tone of the email was “light-hearted”.

Former FIFA media chief Guido Tognoni, who was kicked out of the organisation in 2003, was also quot-

ed as saying he believed there were “strong suspicions” that members were compromised over the 33.75million-euro ($25 million) Qatari bid.

Key figures in making Qatar’s case included the now-banned former Asian football chief Mohammed Bin Hammam, FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona of Argentina and Ricardo Teixeira, who quit Brazil’s football federation and FIFA over graft claims.

Platini added: “As I’ve always stated, president Sarkozy would never have asked me to vote for Qatar 2022 because he knows that I’m my own man. “I made my choice with complete independence following a simple logic... opening up countries who have never organised major

sporting events.

“With the same concern for transparency, it was me who revealed to the media that a few weeks before the vote I was invited to dinner by Nicolas Sarkozy.”

FIFA said it had no comment to make but a spokesman pointed out its ethical commission, headed by exUS prosecutor Michael Garcia, was to conduct a “wide-ranging inquiry” into the awarding of the 2018 edition to Russia and 2022 to Qatar.

Competition organisers told the publication that it won the bid “by respecting from beginning to end the highest ethical and moral standards, such as they were defined in the rules and regulations”. —AFP

Rodgers demands Liverpool rally after Cup calamity ‘Arsenal’s season beginning to gather momentum’ LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has called on his players to bounce back from their humiliating defeat by Oldham and keep their slim hopes of making the top four alive by beating Arsenal in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium today.

The Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier League One side Oldham on Sunday, which left Rodgers furious with the younger players in his squad who let him down.

Facing Arsenal will be a tough ask, however, considering Liverpool are yet to beat a team in the top half of the table so far this season. “Sunday hurt, very much so,” said Rodgers. “It is bitterly disappointing when you lose such a game.

“As a manager it has to give you greater motivation to push on. “If we are going to progress we have to make sure the players are hungry in every game.

We need to do better against teams in the top half. There’s no doubt in big

games we want to do better.

“It is a very important game. It is a game we go into, if you put Sunday aside, with confidence. It is a tough game but one we will look to try and win and one we are capable of winning.”

Rodgers is set to restore Steven Gerrard to his starting line-up having brought the Liverpool skipper on as a substitute against Oldham and he warned his younger players they must learn from the Reds legend or face up to playing in the lower tiers of English football.

“They won’t have a greater role model to follow. If they are clever and bright enough they will learn from him; if not they might find themselves playing in League One. They will regret the opportunity that they had playing with worldclass players.”

Jose Enrique (hamstring), Glen Johnson (hamstring) and Pepe Reina (thigh) are all set to return at the

Emirates. Meanwhile Theo Walcott believes Arsenal’s season is beginning to gather some momentum after the Gunners followed up the 5-1 league victory over West Ham with a hard-fought 3-2 FA Cup win at Brighton.

Walcott himself has been in fine form, scoring in three successive matches including the late winner at Brighton that took his goals tally for this season to 17.

The England international accepts the visit of Liverpool will provide a stern examination but believes Arsene Wenger’s side, who currently lie sixth, are now ready to step up the pressure on the top four.

“It’s going to be an intense game against Liverpool,” Walcott said. “Both teams are fighting for that fourth position and are very close together. But I think the way we played at home the other day against West Ham shows that we are strong enough to beat them.”

And he added: “Yes the momentum (is growing). It has been up and down, there have been patches of brilliance, but we need to do it in every game. “We have tended to start slowly and then wake up and that’s something we need to get out of our system. It’s concentration.”

Walcott recently agreed a new longterm deal with Arsenal and is showing signs of developing an effective understanding with striker Olivier Giroud. “I’m definitely enjoying my football,” Walcott said. “I think the last two years have been strong as well but I’ve always enjoyed my football, no matter what. I always listen to the right people and always enjoy every time I get a chance to play.”

Walcott started on the bench at Brighton along with Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere but all three are expected to feature against Liverpool from the kick-off, along with recalled full-backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs.— AFP

Alex Ferguson faces Hernandez headache MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has revealed Javier Hernandez is leaving him with a dilemma as to whether he drop the Mexican striker for the visit of Southampton today.

Hernandez, 24, has scored 14 goals so far this season despite not being a regular starter for the Premier League leaders.

But he has had to battle with Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck for a place in United’s line-up. Hernandez scored two goals as United knocked Fulham out of the FA Cup on Saturday but may find himself on the bench when the Saints come to Old Trafford, with van Persie likely to return for the Premier League fixture. The Dutchman was rested for the Cup tie but Ferguson cannot be expected to leave the league’s top scorer out of a match where United’s lead at the top might be cut to two points by kick-off if champions Manchester City beat bottomof-the-table QPR on Tuesday.

“He got a break in the summer, got the little rest and shown the benefit,” Ferguson said of Hernandez. “It’s a terrible dilemma when I’ve got that lad there. Sometimes I leave him out to bring in Robin van Persie, but as I explain to him, we regard him so highly. “He’s a fantastic professional, unbelievable attitude to the game, never stops running or working and every training session’s the same, so I’m really pleased for him.” With van Persie, Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck performing impressively in attack, comparisons have been made with United’s forward options during their Treble-winning campaign of 1999.

Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led the line that year when United won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and Ferguson admits his current

crop are just as good.

“The four in ‘99 were fantastic players,” he said. “You couldn’t possibly criticise any of them, they were fantastic, but we’ve got four players today who are equally as good.” United midfielder Anderson reckons they have a team capable of repeating that same hat-trick of trophies in the one season. “Of course,” the Brazilian said when asked if he thought United could complete the Treble this season. “We have unbelievable players.

“I know the boss has two or three teams.

He doesn’t play 11 players all the time, he changes players and I think he has an unbelievable squad.” New Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino will be handed a welcome lift if Adam Lallana can prove his fitness ahead of the Argentine’s second game in charge since his appointment following the controversial dismissal of Nigel Adkins. Lallana, the Saints captain, has been sidelined with a knee ligament injury suffered in the clash with Reading in early December but the midfielder returned to training last week to put himself in contention for an Old Trafford recall.

Pochettino took his squad, currently four points clear of the relegation zone, to Barcelona for some warm weather training last week and the manager said: “It was a very good week of work and a good atmosphere. “We’ve got to know the players very well and the players have got to know us well too, not just my staff, the technical staff involved with the club too, so overall it was a very positive experience.” He added: “We definitely respect Manchester United and what they’re doing in the league right now, they’re an amazing team, but we’re going with a mentality to win and we’ll see how the game proceeds.” —AFP

Mourinho’s friend central to Cape Verde fairytale PORT ELIZABETH: One of the first tasks for Cape Verde coach Lucio Antunes after leading his little known team to the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals was to phone friend Jose Mourinho and wish him a happy 50th birthday.

The Real Madrid coach was likely to be the one doing the congratulating after Antunes - who also has a job as an air traffic controller - safely guided his highflying team from the small island nation to the last eight of Africaís top tournament with a stirring comeback against Angola.

Antunes’ achievements in South Africa are starting to be nearly as special as those of Mourinho and a victory over one of the title favorites, Ghana, in the quarterfinals on Saturday would rank high in the category of great football upsets.

Antunes has been at the heart of Cape Verde’s fairytale at its first major tournament, backing up his outspoken and

charismatic character with tactically astute coaching and planning in draws against former champions South Africa and Morocco, and then masterminding a late victory over the Angolans when he sent Heldon Ramos on as a substitute to score a dramatic winner and steal a come-from-behind 2-1 win.

And more than his coaching ability, heís clearly a motivating force for his squad and appears to have a passionate love of his small country of only 500,000 people. Spread out over a collection of islands off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde was virtually unknown in footballing circles before it qualified for the African Cup for the first time under Antunes with an aggregate victory over Cameroon.

In African football, foreign coaches often bring temporary expertise or experience but generally no deep-rooted connection with the team and country they take charge of. Not Antunes.—AP

RUSTENBURG: Nigeria midfielder Victor Moses (R) celebrates after scoring against Ethiopia yesterday during a 2013 African Cup of Nations Group C football match at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg. (see page 20)— AFP

Togo take on Tunisia in winners-take-all showdown NELSPRUIT: He probably wasn’t aware of it at the time, but substitute Dove Wome’s goal in the third minute of injury time in Togo’s 2-0 win over Algeria could prove priceless. Togo take on Tunisia here today in a winners-takes-all Africa Cup of Nations Group D encounter.

With Ivory Coast, playing alreadyeliminated Algeria simultaneously in Rustemnburg, already assured of top spot, the Nelspruit game will determine who joins the Elephants in the quarterfinals. Togo and Tunisia are tied on three points, but Wome’s goal helped give the Togolese the upper hand on goal difference, one of the criteria to split the teams in the event of a tie.

That means coach Didier Six’s side will go through at the expense of the 2004 champions should yesterday’s late night game end in stalemate, with Tunisia joining fellow north Africans Morocco and Algeria on the Nations Cup scrapheap.

Although one point will suffice, Six insisted his team would be going all out to secure all three. “I don’t have a team which plays defensive football, the spirit of my players on the pitch is to win. Yes, mathematically, we need only one point, but the reality of our football is not to be content with that. We’ll be going for the win.” Six marvelled that the little west African nation were still in contention for a quarter-finals place after their opening 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast and the victory over Algeria. “This is an extraordinary day for Togo. We must not hide from the reality that this is the group of death, and now we have a chance to progress.”

The inexperienced French coach knows his team captained by Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor will have their work cut out to contain Tunisia.

“The Tunisians have solid experience, they’ve been to many Nations Cups.

We’ll do our best to succeed, but it’s going to be hard.” Tunisia’s not-so-secret weapon is their talented midfielder Youssef Msakni, who kept his country in contention for a ticket to the last eight when scoring the 90th-minute winner over Algeria.

Asked at a press conference how he planned to deal with Msakni’s impact, Six commented: “It’s not just about focusing on one player like Msakni. All teams have players to watch out for-we’ve got Adebayor. Tunisia will want to stop him, he’s dangerous, like Msakni.”

The sandy pitch at Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium has come in for intense criticism, but the Togo coach brushed off any suggestions that it could be a factor.

“Have you been to (Togo capital) Lome lately?” he asked the assembled media.”Just look at the pitch in Lomethis is much much better than the one at the national stadium there.”

He reported all his squad in good shape, although Wome picked up a knock in the Algeria game. However, he should be fit to play if picked. Tunisia, swept aside 3-0 in their second game by Ivory Coaat, will once again have to cope with the absence of key striker Issam Jemaa, out of the tournament with a knee injury sustained against Algeria.

Coach Samir Trabelsi refused to be too downhearted by the Ivorian defeat.

“The result may mean we played badly, but I believe we played better in the second half. We paid for our mistakes and failed to take our chances.

“It’s not over yet, there is still a game to go. We hope to qualify, we have to win our last game.” Whichever side finishes runners-up in Group D will cross swords with the winners of Group C in Nelspruit Sunday. — AFP

Bruins upend Hurricanes 5-3

17

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

Balotelli joins AC Milan

18

Togo take on Tunisia in winners-take-all showdown

Page 19

Defending champions Zambia out NELSPRUIT: Zambia became the first Africa Cup of Nations’ defending champions to be knocked out in the first round for 21 years after a nerve-wracking 0-0 draw with Group C table toppers Burkina Faso yesterday.

The titleholders’ third straight stalemate left them emu-

lating Algeria, who failed to reach the quarter finals as reigning champions in 1992. Zambia missed out after Nigeria nabbed the runners-up spot in Group C courtesy of their 2-0 win over Ethiopia in the match being played simultaneously in Rustenburg. That left the Nigerians level

on five points with Burkina Faso, but in second on goal difference. As surprise winners of the mini-league, the Burkinabe’s reward is a quarter-final clash with Group D runners-up, either Togo or Tunisia. Collins Mbesuma joined Southampton’s Emmanuel Mayuka in the Zambia

attack, the Orlando Pirates forward replacing captain Christopher Katongo with talismanic goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene taking over the skipper’s’ armband. Coach Herve Renard made one more change, bringing in Hichani Himonde for veteran defender Joseph Musonda. Burkina’s captain Moumouni Dagano was on the bench for the second time, with Benjamin Balima taking the Qatari-based striker’s place.

Daouda Diakite was between the Burkinabe posts with first choice keeper Abdoulaye Soulama suspended for his red card in the Ethiopia rout, and Florent Rouamba came in for Aristide Bance. Alain Traore’s deadly left foot, already the author of three goals for Burkina Faso, tested Mweene with a well struck 30m freekick in the opening seconds.

That unhapppily was to be his last impact on the game as in the eighth minute the Burkinabe star was stretchered off with an untimely left thigh injury. Bance stepped in to replace the stricken Lorient player.

Renard was forced into an unscripted change himself, with Musonda in for the injured Davies Nkausu. Playing in their orange ‘away’ strip Zambia had a great chance to open the scoring in the 17th minute when a defensive blunder by Mady Panandetiguiri let in Mbesuma but his shot went straight into the grateful hands of Diakite. After the restart on the heavily-criticised sandy pitch Renard made a tactical switch, bringing on attack-minded Mulenga Mukaka for Isaac Chansa.

Approaching the hour, Mbesuma’s header off a corner went flying over the crossbar as Zambia began to put the Burkinabe backline under pressure. Hard as they tried Zambia could not find the all important goal, leaving them with a humiliating early trip back home, and Burkina Faso three games away from the title. — AFP

Africa Cup of Nations standings Group A S Africa C Verde Morocco Angola

P W D 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 0 3 3 0 1

L 0 0 0 2

G GA 4 2 3 2 3 3 1 4

P 5 - qualify 5 - qualify 3 1

Group B Ghana Mali DR Congo Niger

3 3 3 3

2 1 0 0

1 1 3 1

0 1 0 2

6 2 3 0

2 2 3 4

7 - qualify 4 - qualify 3 1

Group C B. Faso Nigeria Zambia Ethiopia

3 3 3 3

1 1 0 0

2 2 3 1

0 0 0 2

5 4 2 1

1 2 2 7

5 - qualify 5 - qualify 3 1

Group D I. Coast Togo Tunisia Algeria

2 2 2 2

2 1 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 1 1 2

5 3 1 0

1 2 3 3

6 - qualify 3 3 0

Nigeria reach last eight RUSTENBURG: Chelsea midfielder Victor Moses converted two late penalties to give Nigeria a 2-0 win over Ethiopia yesterday and a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals.

Moses calmly slotted spot kicks into the corner of the net on 79 and 90 minutes to earn the Super Eagles a lasteight showdown with title favourites and Group D winners Ivory Coast on Sunday.

It was a sad exit for bottom team Ethiopia, back in the big time after 31 years, as they finished the game a man short because goalkeeper Sasay Bancha got a late red card.

Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw reacted to a 4-0 hammering from Burkina Faso in Nelspruit four days ago by making eight changes-the most by a team so far in the competition. Bancha was the third goalkeeper chosen for the Walias Antelopes in three games with Jamel Tassew sent off during the opening round against Zambia and Zerihun Tadelle found wanting against the Burkinabe.

Nigeria made three changes as they sought maximum points and a guaranteed place in the knockout stage-a regular occurrence for the Super Eagles with only two first round exits in 16 previous appearances.

The two-time champions had the better of a goalless first half before a big, lively crowd in this north-western mining town with a mass of Ethiopians on one side of the ground and almost as many Nigerians on the other.

Despite having far more of the ball, the Eagles only threatened to break the deadlock from set pieces with Efe Ambrose, the Celtic full-back returning after a one-match ban, heading wide when unmarked at the far post off a free kick.

Ikechukwu Uche was also off target with a header and came even closer from another header off a Moses corner that the partly unsighted Bancha pushed away and the ball was cleared.

While Nigeria came forward patiently and favoured getting the ball out wide, Ethiopia adopted a more direct approach on the odd occasion they attacked as they tried to play passes over the defence to danger man Salahdin Said. Nigeria were looking equally ineffective in the second half as they tried to break down the Walias Antelopes defence until a crude Alula Girma tackle on Moses earned them a penalty 12 minutes from time.

Moses recovered, took his time, and calmly stroked the ball low into the right corner of the net as Bancha dived in the opposite direction. Ethiopia almost equalised before Bancha fouled Moses to concede a second spot kick and pick up a red card. Addis Hintsa went into goal as the east Africans had used their three subsitutes and Moses converted the kick.— AFP

Business

Kuwait inflation may average 3.5% this year Page 22 French court suspends Peugeot 8,000 job cuts Page 23

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

India’s CB in first rate cut in nine months

BMW Individual Pearl models now available in Kuwait Page 26 Page 25

ATHENS: A farmer speaks to comrades next to parked tractors in node Nikaia, some 380kms north of Athens and 1km before the National Highway Thessaloniki-Athens yesterday. Protesting farmers moved their tractors near the national highway yesterday morning threatening to block the traffic in Greece’s North-South axis. — AFP

Gulf surpluses to shrink, growth to slow Kuwait to post huge surplus, Saudi 2013 budget surplus to fall DUBAI: Most Gulf Arab oil exporting countries’ budget surpluses will shrink this year when heavy government spending and lower crude oil prices trim their economic growth rates, a Reuters poll showed yesterday. Across the Gulf, governments have boosted spending on welfare as unrest gripped the Arab world. They are also spending more on development projects to try to cut their reliance on oil.

Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy, raised its 2013 budget by 19 percent to 820 billion riyals ($219 billion). Actual expenditures are forecast to be some 27 percent above that, the International Monetary Fund said in October. The result of such spending will be lower budget surpluses, even if oil prices stay high. The latest Reuters poll of 17 analysts, conducted this month, found them cutting their 2013 budget balance forecasts for five of the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. But apart from Bahrain, whose public finances will sink deeper into the red in 2013, GCC countries are still expected to maintain substantial surpluses.

In Saudi Arabia, the fiscal surplus should halve to 7.1 percent of gross domestic product this year from an estimated 14.2 percent in 2012, the poll showed. The 2013 forecast is below the 8.9 percent predicted by the previous Reuters survey in September.

Kuwait is projected to post the largest surplus, of 20.0 percent of GDP for its next fiscal year, which will start in April. That is below an estimated 25 percent of GDP for the current fiscal year, when a political crisis delayed spending on development projects. “For the GCC as a whole, the fiscal surplus could halve over the next couple of years, but it should still be fairly high. We are still talking about 5 percent of GDP overall and in some countries even bigger,” said Daniel Kaye, senior economist at National Bank of Kuwait. “Given the uncertainties in the global economy as well as domestic pressures, governments will want to keep spending at fairly elevated levels in order to support growth.”

But the world economy should perform slightly better this year because recovering growth in Asia will gradually overpower the political and economic malaise in the

West, according to a Reuters poll published last week. Oil and gas revenue provides most of the budget income of Gulf states, and analysts predict it to be slightly lower in 2013 because of a slightly softer outlook for the world oil market. “The average oil price is forecast to decline in 2013 as the oil market becomes less tight with rising production from outside the GCC,” said Giyas Gokkent, chief economist at National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

“The GCC oil output path in the near term will depend on whether Iranian sales further decline or not,” he said, in reference to the impact of international sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program. Since September’s poll, Brent crude has held relatively steady between $107 and $116 per barrel. A separate Reuters survey this week showed analysts believe oil prices will average $110 per barrel this year.

That is too low for small Bahrain, which relies on crude from an oil field it shares with Saudi Arabia. Analysts estimate it needs a higher average oil price to balance its budget, by far the highest level in the Gulf.As a result, the budget gap of Bahrain,

which has been hit by political unrest since early 2011, should widen to 4.5 percent of GDP in 2013 from an estimated 2.7 percent last year, the poll showed.

Lower oil prices are expected to hit the GCC’s economic growth rates in 2013, but growth should remain quite strong thanks to robust consumer and government spending. “The GCC region does not need to increase their production to make up loss in other parts,” said Selim Cakir, chief economist for Turkey and Gulf countries at BNP Paribas. “Non-oil activity will remain robust...Nevertheless we think GDP will slow down slightly. We are not pessimistic about growth prospects, we just think it’s a natural correction of the past year’s high oil growth numbers.”

Saudi economic growth should ease to 4.0 percent in 2013 from 6.2 percent last year, below an average of 4.9 percent seen over the past five years, the poll showed. In the UAE, which has been recovering from a corporate debt crisis, growth is expected to decelerate to 3.0 percent from an estimated 3.5 percent in 2012. In a September poll growth was predicted to be 3.5 percent this year. —Reuters

US consumer confidence plunges on higher taxes WASHINGTON: US consumer confidence plunged in January to its lowest level in more than a year, reflecting higher Social Security taxes that left Americans with less take-home pay. The Conference Board said yesterday that its consumer confidence index dropped to 58.6 in January.

That’s down from a reading of 66.7 in December and the lowest since November 2011.

Conference Board economist Lynn Franco said the tax increase was a key reason confidence tumbled and made Americans less optimistic about the next six months.

Congress and the White House reached a deal on Jan. 1 to prevent income taxes from rising on most Americans. But they allowed a temporary cut in Social Security taxes to expire. For a worker earning $50,000 a year, take-home pay will shrink this year by about $1,000.

The survey was conducted through Jan. 17, at which point most people began to realize their paychecks were lighter.

Taxes are rising at a time when wages and salaries are barely growing. The combination is expected to hurt consumer

spending and slow economic growth.

Many economists predict economic growth slowed in the October-December quarter to an annual rate of around 1 percent.

That would be much weaker that the 3.1 percent rate in the JulySeptember quarter. Most economists don’t expect growth to pick up much in the first quarter of 2013. The decline in confidence comes as the economy is signaling improvement elsewhere.

A recovery in housing market is looking more sustainable and is expected to strength this year.

Auto sales reached a five-year high of 14.5 million in 2012.

Analysts expect sales will climb even higher this year, to 15.5 million.Stocks are also near their alltime highs. The Standard and Poor’s 500 has more than doubled from its low in 2009 and is just 4 percent shy of its record high set in 2007.

Still, the job market remains sluggish. Employers have added an average of about 150,000 jobs a month for the past two years.

That’s enough for a gradual decline in the unemployment rate which remains high at 7.8 percent. — AP

BOCHUM: A Mercedes SLS is displayed during the CAR-Symposium in Bochum, western Germany yesterday. Automotive distributers and major car companies discuss about the future of the automotive industries. — AFP

Foreign funds lift Dubai to new high MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Dubai’s index hit a 34-month high yesterday as foreign investors bought into the emirate’s economic recovery, while Egypt’s bourse slumped to a 2013 low after the army said political strife was pushing the state to the brink of collapse. In Dubai, bluechips led gains. Emaar Properties climbed 3.7 percent and top bank Emirates NBD (ENBD) surged 8.6 percent to a 15-month high.

Du, Dubai’s third largest stock by market value after Emaar and ENBD, slipped 0.6 percent. The telecom operator’s shares are off-limits to foreign institutions.

“People have realised there is economic recovery in Dubai and at the same time we have more and more foreign money that wants to invest in emerging and frontier markets,” said Sebastien Henin, portfolio manager at The National Investor.

“For the first time in ages, we have smart money moving into the region - this is targeting the bluechips and in Dubai and Abu Dhabi you don’t have so many quality names, so they are targeting Emaar, Air Arabia and Emirates NBD.” Foreign funds are wary of buying Abu Dhabi stocks because of uncertainty over the UAE capital’s property sector, Henin said. “There’s more confidence in the revival of Dubai,” he said. Passenger flows through Dubai’s main airport rose 13.2 percent in 2012, a bullish indicator for the tourism sector, which is vital for the emirate’s economy.

Dubai slid into recession in 2009 as a property bubble burst, but is now recovering, although it faces nearly $50 billion of debt maturities between 2014 and 2016, according to a Standard Chartered report in November. Dubai’s index climbed 1.8 percent to its highest close since April 2010, although it remains 71 percent below a 2008 peak.

“The rally has been very strong - we should expect profit taking in the coming days or weeks, but the recovery story will still be intact,” said Henin. “I don’t think investors are buying for Q4 results - they have a long-term view.”

Egypt’s main share index dropped 2 percent to its lowest finish since Dec. 31. It has fallen 3.4 percent in two sessions since the government declared a state of emergency in three cities on the Suez Canal. The Army head yesterday said one of the main goals of deploying troops was to protect the waterway that is crucial to Egypt’s economy and world trade.

“The chaos in the country now makes it imperative for the market to go down - how can we invest in a country with no security?” said Nader Ibrahim, managing director at Archer Consulting in Cairo. “Neither the president nor the opposition can control the streets.”

Property developer Palm Hills, which fell 1.7 percent, is the most active stock, accounting for nearly a fifth of all shares changing hands on the main benchmark.

In Oman, Bank Muscat rose 1.5 percent to a nine-month high after it proposed a 40 percent dividend. Three of the four most traded stocks were banks - Bank Muscat, plus Bank Nizwa, which rose 0.9 percent, and Bank Sohar, which fell 0.6 percent. “Foreign investors like Bank Muscat’s dividend and it triggered huge buying in the stock and others such as Bank Sohar and Bank Nizwa,” said Adel Nasr, United Securities brokerage manager. “There’s positive momentum in the market results have been pretty good and government spending will help listed companies perform better. It’s a promising year unless something happens politically - from a fundamental point of view we’re in good shape.” — Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Eurogroup mulling Russian bailout input for Cyprus

Kuwait inflation may average 3.5% in 2013 NBK ECONOMIC REPORT KUWAIT: Inflation in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) ticked up to 2.3% year-on-year (y/y) in November, from 2.1% in October. The slightly higher rate in November came from some month-on-month increases in clothing, household goods and services, and transportation.

Although the inflation rate has edged higher in the past 2 months, it remains modest, averaging 3.0% 11 months into the year. Core inflation, which excludes food and beverage prices, stood at 1.8% y/y in November.

Food prices were up 4.0% y/y in November, up from 3.8% in October.

The general picture remains similar to the previous month, as most subcomponents saw modest increases relative to the sharper rates we saw in 2010 and 2011.

Prices for clothing and footwear climbed 3.7% y/y in November, compared to 3.1% in October. Prices for readymade garments (ie store-

bought clothing), a sub-component of this segment, went up 5.6% y/y, causing much of the upward inflationary pressure here.

Data for transport and communication prices showed a 2.6% y/y increase. Prices also went up 1.1% m/m, acting as one of the drivers in the slight uptick in the headline inflation rate in November. Price inflation in this segment came primarily from a 5.5% increase in personal transport equipment (cars).

Prices for “saloon” (sedan) cars went up 5.4% y/y, while price for other vehicles was up 9.3% y/y. It is worth noting here that prior to September 2012, prices of salon cars hadn’t changed in more than 2 years.

Higher price pressure in this segment and the clothing segment are likely a reflection of strong and steady consumer spending.

Similar to recent trends, the inflation rate in a handful of the segments remained below the 2%

mark. Household goods and services went up 1.9%, up from 1.1% in October and thus also responsible for some of the m/m increase in headline inflation. Similarly, education and medical care also recorded a 1.9% y/y increase, close to its 1.7% in October. In general, these subdued pressures in most segments highlight a continued source of downward pressure on inflation in Kuwait.

As consumer price data for 2012 comes to a close, we discern that lower than expected food price inflation and low pressures elsewhere have resulted in tamer inflation rates for the second half of the year, as we now expect inflation to average 2.9% for 2012. Some of the upside pressures (healthy consumer spending, higher international food and commodity prices, etc.) may still transpire later, but we generally expect inflation to remain modest through 2013, averaging 3.5%.

NICOSIA: Eurogroup finance ministers are studying the possibility of involving Russia in a bailout deal to rescue a Cyprus economy teetering on the brink of ruin, Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly said yesterday.

Shiarly told state radio that the European Union was trying to ascertain whether Russia was able to participate with international lenders in a financial aid package for Cyprus and how much it could contribute.

Officially Nicosia has only requested that a 2.5 billion euro loan payment received in 2011 from Moscow and scheduled to be paid back in 2016 — be extended by five more years.

Shiarly said he expected a “positive outcome” on the repayment issue next month. Eurogroup finance ministers made no decision on a rescue package for Cyprus at a meeting in Brussels last week because negotiations on bank recapitalisation are continuing. The total

amount is expected to reach 17.5 billion euros, but disagreements over conditions attached to the aid have prompted the EU to postpone a deal until after a presidential election next month.

Germany has also cast doubt over the bailout, criticizing Cypriot banks as being havens for tax evaders and money launderers for Russian oligarchs. A bailout decision is expected in March but Cyprus would need to wait longer for its first tranche of money as any deal must go through the various European parliaments.

On March 1, a new Cyprus government will be sworn in following February 17 presidential elections in which communist incumbent Demetris Christofias will not stand. Christofias is seen as an obstacle to agreeing more reforms-such as privatizing state-owned utilities-that the EU and International Monetary Fund have been insisting upon. He also tried to avoid a bailout deal with international

Al-Danah’s first quarterly draw for 2013 KUWAIT: Gulf Bank advises all its Al Danah customers to increase the deposits in their accounts by 31 January 2013, and prospective customers to open an account by the same date, to increase their chances of winning one of the major cash prizes of KD25,000, KD 125,000 and KD200,000 in the first Al Danah quarterly prize draw for 2013. The first Al Danah quarterly prize draw will take place and the winners will announced on 28 March.

For 2013, Gulf Bank has expanded the Al Danah draws, adding new opportunities for customers to win.

These include draws each working day for two prizes of KD1,000 per winner, and two new major cash prizes awarded each quarter, in addition to the usual draw, which continues as before.

The second quarterly draw, for cash prizes of KD25,000, KD125,000 and KD250,000 will be held on 27 June, and the third quarterly draw will be on 26 September for prizes of KD25,000, KD125,000 and KD500,000. The final draw will be on 9 January 2014 and will be for KD50,000, KD250,000, as well as announcing the Al Danah millionaire for 2013, who will receive the grand prize of KD1 million.

Al Danah offers its customers the biggest cash prizes in Kuwait while simultaneously encouraging them to save money. Customers can increase their chances of winning by keeping as much money as they can in their Al Danah account for as long as possible. New customers can open an Al Danah account by either visiting one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, or by calling the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance.

Burgan Bank offers for card holders at Hotel Missoni KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday a new partnership with Hotel Missoni Kuwait to offer its customers special discounts on various services. The bank’s credit card holders will receive a 15% discount when booking for accommodation, along with another 25% discount in the following restaurants Choco CafÈ, Cucina “Italian Award Winning Restaurant as well as Luna restaurants, located on the 18th floor with stunning view on the Arabian Gulf.

Burgan Bank continues to offers a variety of services and benefits to its credit card holders, to suit the needs of its diverse customer base. To find out more about Burgan Bank’s banking serves as well as the latest promotions, customers are required to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch or contact the call center on 1804080.

lenders, preferring to opt for a five billion euro loan request from Russia which never materialised.

Shiarly said the government would be able to cover its financing needs until April without needing additional loans. Cyprus has been seeking a bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund since June when its two largest banks sought assistance after exposure to toxic Greek debt.

Despite its small 17.5 billion euro recession-hit economy, there are fears that if Cyprus is allowed to default then it could trigger another crisis in the eurozone and risk the spread of contagion.

A forecast by Cyprus University economists predicts the austerity burdened economy austerity could shrink by an unprecedented 3.9 percent of GDP in 2013, higher than the government’s own prediction of 3.5 percent. —AFP

TAQA seals $1.4bn financing for Morocco plant ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi National Energy Co, the stateowned firm which recently bought some of BP’s North Sea assets, sealed a $1.4 billion financing for the expansion of its power plant in Morocco.

Jorf Lasfar is the largest coal-fired power plant in the Middle East and North Africa and the first independent power producer (IPP) in Morocco, supplying 40 per cent of the Kingdom’s electricity output, TAQA said in a statement. The financing is the largest in over a decade for an international project in Morocco with Japanese and Korean export credit agencies participating for the first time in Moroccan project finance, the utility and energy firm said.

Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) are providing direct loans and loan guarantees for more than 50 percent of the total project debt. Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP), BNP Paribas, SociÈtÈ GÈnÈrale and Standard Chartered Bank were the mandated lead arrangers for the credit facilities.

The lenders are funding some 75 per cent of the total project costs with TAQA committing around $400 million in equity funding.The 16-year, multi-currency nonrecourse debt, maturing in 2028, totals around $1.3 billion with working capital and other facilities amounting to $100 million.

“TAQA’s commitment to meet Morocco’s energy needs was not conditional on financing, as the project is already 80 per cent complete,” Abdulla Saif Al-Nuaimi, vice chairman of TAQA said.

“But this financing shows that, for the right deal with the right structure, significant non-recourse funds can be attracted to the Middle East and North Africa at competitive rates.”

The expansion of Jorf Lasfar will increase Moroccan power generation capacity by more than 10 percent.

Construction of the plant began in September 2010, with TAQA providing interim funding. The expansion is now approximately 80 percent complete and overall costs remain within the $ 1.6 billion budget. The two new units are scheduled to be commissioned in December 2013 and April 2014.

TAQA, owned 75 percent by the government of Abu Dhabi has investments in the energy and power sector from India to the Middle East and Canada. The firm has been active in recent months buying BP’s North Sea assets for $1.3 billion and a 53.2 percent operating interest in an oil block in Iraqi Kurdistan in separate deals.

It also raised $2 billion from a two-part bond sale in December. —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 .4410000 .3750000 .3010000 .2770000 .2910000 .0040000 .0020000 .0762440 .7428190 .3900000 .0720000 .7282020 .0430000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2808500 .4438270 .3779820 .3031630 .2792300 .0506590 .0434520 .2928280 .0362190 .2274640 .0030890 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0764950 .7452570 .0000000 .0749130 .7297650 .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.192 5.241 2.885 2.221 3.309 230.340 36.424 3.539

.2840000 .4540000 .3830000 .3120000 .2890000 .3010000 .0067500 .0035000 .0770100 .7502840 .4050000 .0770000 .7355200 .0510000 .2829500 .4471460 .3808080 .3054300 .2813180 .0510380 .0437770 .2950180 .0364890 .2291650 .0031120 .0052900 .0022310 .0029070 .0035820 .0770670 .7508290 .4002120 .0754730 .7352220 .0070120

Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - transfer Irani Riyal - cash

UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

6.948 9.486 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 75.337 77.625 733.790 750.370 76.927

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 282.400 Euro 377.290 Sterling Pound 448.450 Canadian dollar 285.400 Turkish lire 159.590 Swiss Franc 304.970 Australian dollar 298.500 US Dollar Buying 281.200 GOLD 311.000 157.000 81.500

SELL DRAFT 298.39 284.21 308.74 382.60 281.75 447.67 3.18 3.565 5.231 2.219 3.281 2.888

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

Selling Rate 282.250 285.310 450.050 377.280 301.730 747.250 76.825 77.475 75.230 397.875 42.694 2.227 5.236 2.885 3.540 6.948 692.360 4.125 9.540 3.970 3.320 93.365

SELL CASH 297.000 284.000 308.000 381.500 282.500 448.500 3.750 3.800 5.400 2.600 3.450 2.970

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 297.800 750.480 3.990 284.000 554.200 46.000 51.800 167.800 43.140 383.400 37.090 5.420 0.032 0.161 0.245

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

3.200 399.910 0.191 94.920 46.400 4.340 239.400 1.828 52.100 733.020 3.000 7.280 78.060 75.350 229.460 33.790 2.688 447.000 44.900 308.000 3.400 9.780 198.263 76.940 282.600 1.360 GOLD

10 Tola 1,766.550

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Bahrain Exchange Company

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee

77.200 748.700 46.750 403.000 733.000 78.500 75.600

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 43.700 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 42.468 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.318 Tunisian Dinar 182.550 Jordanian Dinar 398.870 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.895 Syrian Lier 3.069 Morocco Dirham 34.230

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

76.78 750.20 42.33 401.40 733.28 77.80 75.34

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 445.000 282.200

Al Mulla Exchange

SELLDRAFT 296.300 750.480 3.545 282.500

229.500 42.342 381.900 36.940 5.240 0.031

Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 281.700 381.700 446.200 281.750 3.140 5.236 42.315 2.215 3.540 6.928 2.888 750.200 76.750 75.250

399.870 0.190 94.920 3.300 237.900

732.840 2.889 6.925 77.630 75.350 229.460 33.790 2.228 445.000 306.500 3.400 9.640 76.840 282.200

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Japan cabinet approves $1.02tn annual budget TOKYO: Japan’s cabinet yesterday approved a $1.02 trillion annual budget with boosts in defense and public works spending amid a festering territorial row with China and a renewed assault on deflation. The cabinet approved a 92.61-trillion-yen ($1.02 trillion) budget for fiscal 2013, with revenue estimated at 43.10 trillion yen and new bond issuance at 42.85 trillion yen-the first time in four years revenue will have been greater than new bond issuance.

The budget is down from the 92.9 trillion yen allocated in the fiscal 2012 initial budget, the first decrease in seven years. But the cabinet approved a $52 billion mil-

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (center), along with Finance Minister Taro Aso (right) and Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki holds a cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP

Irish banks at mercy of global paymasters LONDON/DUBLIN: Ireland’s banking recovery could yet be derailed by its international creditors.

The European Central Bank’s refusal so far to give Dublin any relief on the 30billion euro cost of bailing out Anglo Irish Bank is a major setback for government ambitions to exit an EU-IMF bailout this year and give the euro zone its first postcrisis success story.

The failure to agree a deal on Anglo Irish also overshadows the country’s banks.

Nearly all nationalised in the wake of a property crash and with their liabilities guaranteed by taxpayers, the fortunes of Ireland’s lenders are tied to the state and they need Dublin to strike a deal with the ECB to ensure they too can make a return to full market funding. “ The country is crying out for progress on a deal,” said Jeremy Masding, CEO of rescued mortgage lender permanent tsb.“That would give a huge boost to the country’s confidence.”

As reported by Reuters, the ECB rejected Ireland’s preferred solution for restructuring the cost of propping up Anglo Irish because it amounted to “monetary financing” of the government.

Under the current arrangement, Dublin must pay 3.1 billion euros a year until 2023 to service a promissory note it issued to underwrite Anglo Irish. Finance Minister Michael Noonan had proposed converting the note into long-term government bonds that would be taken up by the Irish Central Bank.

Ireland’s creditors at the EU, the ECB and the IMF have also shelved a parallel plan to rid the Irish banks of loss-making mortgages that track the ECB borrowing rate, three sources close to the talks have told Reuters.

A deal on these tracker loans, which was meant to be part of the overall deal on Anglo Irish, would have given a huge boost to the local banking sector. Tracker mortgages typically charge an interest rate of about 1.8 percent - below the 3-4 percent banks pay to fund themselves in the market.

The proposal to remove about 36 billion euros of such tracker loans from Allied Irish Banks (AIB) and permanent tsb and put them in to a separate vehicle has been abandoned, amid disagreement over how to value the mortgages and fund their removal.“The technical paper is dead, and it’s not coming back,” said one source. Neither AIB nor permanent tsb would say how much their tracker books were costing them.

Goodbody’s Stockbrokers in Dublin has estimated that AIB was losing about 400 million euros annually on its 17.7 billion euros portfolio of trackers.Permanent tsb has a 22.5 billion euros book of trackers, suggesting a higher annual cost.

Irish officials are scrambling to come up with a fresh proposal on the Anglo bill that will be palatable to the ECB. But a deal on the tracker mortgages looks more remote, with officials aiming to resolve them as part of efforts to have Europe’s permanent bailout fund, the

ESM, take over its equity stakes in bailedout banks.

The possibility of the ESM taking over Irish bank stakes looks slim, however, as European states start to back away from a June 2012 pledge to deal with bank legacy costs.

For permanent tsb, a return to profitability will only be possible once its tracker mortgages, which account for 68 percent of its overall lending book, are removed.

“Certainly until that happens we’re looking at significant losses as a result of legacy lending issues for some years to come,” said Masding, who took over as CEO last year after more than two decades with Britain’s Barclays.

Just as Ireland is the posterboy for sovereign austerity, so its banks have started showing that there is life after crisis. Bank of Ireland, 15 percent stateowned, has been leading the charge, issuing an 1 billion euro covered bond late last year, and then getting new investors to buy a 1 billion euro contingent convertible bond from the state in January.

The more challenged AIB, which is 99.8 percent state-owned, followed up with a 500 million euro covered bond sold this week that was more than four times oversubscribed.

Banks are also upping their lending targets with KBC Ireland planning to roll out a branch network in Ireland, despite having to cough up 400 million euro to cover losses for 2008 to 2012.

The latest data from the Central Bank on mortgage arrears shows that while one in nine are still more than three months in arrears, the pace of deterioration is abating with a 6.3 percent increase in the third quarter compared to a 7.1 percent rise in the second quarter.

And while property prices outside the capital are still falling, sellers of Dublin real estate and loans say the market, already down 60 percent since the boom, has improved.

One vendor said he turned down an offer of 24 million euros for a property in Dublin’s financial district late last year and got an offer of 28 million five weeks later.

“People who waved goodbye to Ireland in 2010 are now getting back in, they’re afraid they’re missing it,” he said.

But a failure to get a reduction on the cost of bailing out Anglo Irish, currently equivalent to nearly a fifth of Ireland’s annual economic output, could sap momentum.

Irish voters, fed up at having to swallow higher taxes and spending cuts to help pay for the banks, had been assured of a deal and if none materialises, the government could struggle to survive long enough to push through further austerity this year. “If it doesn’t happen, the oxygen would be sucked out of some of the buoyancy,” said John Reynolds, head of KBC Ireland and president of the Irish Banking Federation.“Doggedness and stamina do need periodic injections of oxygen.” — Reuters

itary budget, a boost in both financial and personnel resources for the first time in years.

The budget plan is 40 billion yen, or about 0.8 percent up on the previous year to 4.75 trillion yen, defence ministry officials said.

Excluding some monies related to US bases, it is the first rise in the pacifist nation’s military spending in 11 years, they said.

The ministry will also increase the number of troops by 287, aiming specifically at “improving readiness of units to ensure intelligence, warning and surveillance and safety in the southwestern region”, it said.

The Tokyo-controlled Senkaku

islands, which China claims as the Diaoyus, are included in this designation.

The boosted military budget plan came after hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scrapped Japan’s long-term basic defence program, adopted in 2010 under the thrifty centre-left Democratic Party of Japan.

Beijing has repeatedly sent vessels to the area, prompting calls in Japan for more measures to defend the islands, which are believed to sit atop sizable mineral reserves. Meanwhile, public works spending rises for the first time in four years, growing by 712 billion yen to 5.29 trillion yen. Abe, who

took office in December, has pledged to pull Japan out of years of deflation by active government spending coupled with aggressive monetary easing by the Bank of Japan.

Abe’s government announced a $226.5 billion stimulus package earlier this month. In the fiscal 2013 budget, the issuance of new government bonds decreases by 1.4 trillion yen from the preceding year to 42.85 trillion yen. The government is planning an $86 billion bond sale to pay for the stimulus, stoking fears about spending by Tokyo, which already owes creditors cash equal to twice the size of its economy. — AFP

French court suspends Peugeot job cuts plan Renault gearing up for talks PARIS: A French appeal court has suspended a restructuring plan involving 8,000 job cuts at carmaker Peugeot Citroen as sought by the CGT union at parts subsidiary Faurecia, the lawyer for the workers Fiodor Rilov said yesterday.

The decision was taken as French automakers and trades unions sat down for what promised to be tough talks on plans presented as crucial for the companies’ futures. The CGT union had argued before the court that PSA Peugeot Citroen executives had not fulfilled their legal obligations to inform staff representatives and in particular the European works committee of plans that would affect the future of employees.

But a spokesman for PSA, which has announced the closure of a factory, told AFP that “the project was not suspended today because we are in a negotiating phase” which included a meeting scheduled with staff representatives.

“The only obligation is that Faurecia must consult its works committee,” he said.

Meanwhile, French rival Renault, which plans to eliminate 8,260 jobs by the end of 2016, was also gearing up for talks with trades unions on how to make it able to compete better on global markets. The company has warned that the future of two production sites could be at stake.

Surplus production capacity, especially in Europe where auto markets have slumped heavily, is a major challenge for French auto manufacturers. Unions want Renault to redistribute the amount of work done at plants in France, Romania, Spain and Turkey, and workers downed tools at a plant in Douai, northern France to press such demands.

“They want these sites to compete against each other, that’s sick,” said FO union representative Jean-Marie Ravry. He accused Renault exec-

utives of “blackmail” with threats to close down factories and lay off workers, some of whom blocked access to a plant in Flins, west of Paris.

Renault also wants workers to be ready to move from one plant to another, to set a standard of 1,603 hours of work per year in all factories, and to reform time allowed for training and early retirement. Another meeting took place at PSA’s headquarters in Paris on how to preserve jobs at two plants and on an additional 3,600 positions threatened by restructuring plans.

One union put some distance between itself and the militant CGT union which has lead shutdowns at an historic PSA factory in Aulnay-sous-

Bois, north of Paris, which the automaker has said will be closed as part of the plan.

“Negotiate not block: that is in the worker’s interest. We will give away nothing and continue with unions (excluding the CGT),” tweeted Tanja Sussest of the SIA union which claims the most number of members at the Aulnay site. But CGT representative Jean-Pierre Mercier said that almost 450 workers had declared themselves on strike there, and called for a demonstration in front of the PSA headquarters. One of their demands is to extend holiday time for senior workers so those who have been with the company the longest can retire. — AFP

SANDOUVILLE: Workers of the Sandouville plant of Renault carmaker stand in front of the factory as they protest against job cuts yesterday in Sandouville.—AFP

German confidence edges up: Survey FRANKFURT: Consumer confidence in Germany has risen for the first time in three months amid burgeoning optimism that Europe’s biggest economy has put the worst of the debt crisis behind it, a poll found yesterday.

Market research company GfK said its household confidence index was forecast to inch upwards to 5.8 points in February from 5.7 points in January, a statement said.

“It is the first time in three months since the index has gained slightly in value,” GfK said. The January figure was revised upwards from an original reading of 5.6 points.

GfK said that both consumers’

income expectations and their willingness to spend picked up sharply and their economic expectations were also on the rise. “The current calm on the financial markets is making Germans more confident at the start of this year,” the statement said. “Despite a difficult fourth quarter, consumers expect the economy to pick up again during the course of the year.”

The headline consumer confidence reading is based on responses from about 2,000 households on their expectations about pay and the economy as a whole in the coming months, as well as their willingness to spend money. Other

recent confidence indicators-such as the ZEW investor confidence index and the Ifo business climate index-have risen sharply recently on hopes that Europe’s top economy will bounce back from a dip in growth at the end of last year and boost prospects for the euro-zone as a whole. “German consumers have taken some comfort from the latest calm on financial markets, as well as the improvement in business confidence,” said ING Belgium economist Carsten Brzeski. “If the latest improvement of business confidence really leads to the expected rebound of the economy, the labor market should remain

Mubadala to launch $2bn refinancing next week DUBAI: Abu Dhabi state investment fund Mubadala expects to cut the cost of a $2 billion refinancing it will unveil next week by promising banks that take part a share of more lucrative work in future. An existing loan taken out in 2010 will be replaced with a three -year, multi-currency facility, Kelly Thomson, Mubadala’s head of structured finance, told a conference in Dubai yesterday.

Banks taking part will be regarded

by Mubadala, which is arranging the deal itself, as relationship lenders, Thomson said, meaning they will be chosen for future work.

Given the potential future benefit, pricing on such relationship deal is often lower than it might otherwise be. Thomson said pricing on the new loan was “a bit vicious”, to Mubadala’s advantage, adding banks will be able to contribute to the facility in dollar,

euros or pounds.

The new loan will be one of eight debt financings Mubadala will look to close in 2013 for itself and sub sidiaries, Thomson said. Mubadala owns stakes in global companies such as General Electric and private equity firm Carlyle.

The largest of these will be for the expansion of Emirates Aluminium’s smelter, expected to see around $4 billion raised through a combination of bank loans, financing from expor t credit agencies and a bond offering.

Emal is a joint venture bet ween Mubadala and Dubai Aluminium.

O thers include funding for the London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, which is due to reach financial close in the first quarter, and a loan for a joint venture to develop a calcined petroleum coke production facility in Zhenjiang, China. — Reuters

almost unharmed, boding well for private consumption this year,” the expert said. The GfK reading “is another small piece of evidence that domestic demand should be an important growth driver in 2013,” Brzeski concluded.

Annalisa Piazza at Newedge Strategy agreed. The rise in the GfK index “confirms the recent resilience in confidence,” she said.

“Recent business confidence indicators support the idea of a modest recovery in activity in early 2013, most likely in the second quarter.

Today’s Gfk survey confirmed the relatively rosy picture for business expectations,” she said. — AFP

Inflation in advanced economies steady PARIS: Inflation in advanced countries was steady at 1.9 percent in the 12 months to December compared with the rate in November, the OECD reported yesterday.

The main components of the monthly indicator published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development were also “broadly stable,” the organization said.

Energy price inflation was 2.9 percent and food price inflation 2.1 percent. If the prices of food and energy were excluded from the calculation, 12-month inflation was 1.5 percent in December. The 12-month data was stable for Canada, showing an increase of 0.8 percent, and in Britain with 2.7 percent for the third month running. Inflation slowed in the United States to 1.7 percent from 1.8 percent, in Italy to 2.3 percent from 2.5 percent in November and in France to 1.3 percent from 1.4 percent. But in Germany it edged up to 2.1 percent from 1.9 percent. In the euro-zone, inflation was steady at 2.2 percent, but in Japan consumer prices showed a fall of 0.1 percent following a drop of 0.2 percent in November. The OECD also published data for some countries which are not among its 34 members. In China, inflation rose to 2.5 percent from 2.0 percent, in Brazil to 5.8 percent from 5.5 percent and in the Russian Federation to 6.6 percent from 6.5 percent. Inflation was stable in Indonesia at 4.3 percent and in South Africa at 5.7 percent. — AFP

DP World sees 2012 profit in-line with forecasts

BOCHUM: Brazilian Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance (right) and Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO talk during the CAR-Symposium in Bochum yesterday. Automotive distributers and major car companies discuss about the future of the automotive industries. — AFP

DUBAI: Dubai port operator DP World, the world’s third largest port operator, yesterday said it expected 2012 profits to be in line with analysts’ forecasts despite a 1.4 percent drop in consolidated container volumes for the year.

DP World said terminals in which it owns majority stakes handled 27.1 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) for 2012, compared with 27.5 million TEU in 2011, it said in a statement yesterday. The port operator, one of the more profitable assets of conglomerate Dubai World, posted

a 2.4 percent rise in gross volumes to 56.1 million TEU from 54.7 million TEU in the prior year. The gross volumes include all terminals in which DP World owns a stake. The company, which recently disposed stakes in some of its non-core assets, described the second half of 2012 as “challenging”. However, the firm said it expected profits for the year to be in line with analyst expectations. Analysts on average forecast earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA) of $1.3 billion and net profit of $486 million for 2012,

according to Reuters data. “After a strong start to the year we had a challenging second half,” DP World’s Group Chief Executive Mohammed Sharaf said in the statement.“Our tight focus on cost management and higher quality revenue mean we still expect to achieve EBITDA in line with expectations for 2012. Lower net financing charges will benefit reported profit before tax.”

DP World, which operates more than 60 terminals across six continents, has in the last several months sold stakes in Russian container termi-

nal Vostochnaya Stevedoring Co, British-based Tilbury Container Services and operations in Belgium. It has also quit its venture in Yemen.

The port operator reported a slight decline in its consolidated terminal volumes for the third quarter. It also posted flat profits for the first half of 2012 as growth in its Gulf operations offset tough global trading conditions.

Shares of DP World climbed 20.7 percent in 2012 on Nasdaq Dubai and have risen 11.1 percent year-to-date.

The company is also listed on the London Stock Exchange.— Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

BUSINESS

Kuwait customer satisfaction up 2% in 2012 Kuwaitis most critical and least loyal consumers since 2010 KUWAIT: Service Hero, Kuwait’s first and only customer satisfaction index (SHCSI), yesterday announced that Kuwaitis and males are still the most critical and least loyal customers in Kuwait for the third year in-a-row, scoring lower in customer satisfaction and loyalty levels than females, Arabs and non-Arab consumers.

Based on data collected surveying close to 10,000 consumers online over a three-month period on a yearly basis since 2010, the Service

Hero Customer Satisfaction Index (SHCSI) showed only a slight increase of 1% in customer satisfaction levels for Kuwaitis and an improvement of 2% for males.

Service Hero President Faten Abu-Ghazaleh said: “The slight increase indicates that companies have started to enhance the quality of their customer satisfaction experience. However, the extent of change hasn’t created a significant difference, as these demographics remain the most

disgruntled customers.”

More positively, non-Arabs scored highest in customer satisfaction this year at 7.95, a 7% increase since 2010, which is the biggest leap between all demographic groups.

Abu-Ghazaleh added: “These results reflect the change in service quality companies are providing, and how non-Arabs have been receptive to them.”

Results also show that while the overall loyal-

ty score for Kuwait has stayed at 31% over the past three years, it has shifted dramatically for some groups. Kuwaitis and the most educated customers are the least loyal demographic groups based on the Net Promoter Score (NPS).

NPS is calculated when consumers are asked whether they would recommend a company to a friend or family member. The more satisfied and loyal customers are, the better the chances to turn them to brand “ambassadors” of the company.

More positively, NPS scores shot up for Non Arabs, females and older customers.

These groups remain the most loyal customers, and those who are likely to promote the companies and services they are satisfied with.

When it comes to age group, the least satisfied customers are still those between ages 30-49. This age group is also the one that shows least loyalty, scoring an average of 29% in NPS, which is among the least loyalty levels. Customers aged 50+ still remain the most satisfied, though the decrease in satisfaction levels is notable in the past three years.

For the first time, the SHCSI added education level as a new demographic point to the data to help provide better and more insightful understanding to the data collected. Based on this new information, consumers with the highest dissatisfaction were from two education levels - either those with a very low education level or those holding masters or PhD degrees.

Abu-Ghazaleh said: “This demonstrates that the more sophisticated a customer, the more difficult it is to satisfy their needs.

And the reverse is also true, low educated customers require a different ser vice approach to be satisfied. Once companies understand this, then they can adjust their offering to ensure the meet the needs of their most demanding customers.”

Customers most unsatisfied with call centers, value for money and speed: The online survey asked consumers to rank companies on eight major service dimensions, which include staff behavior, quality of products, speed, reliability, location, value for money, website, and call center. Scores show an overall increase of 2% across all service dimensions, and the highest score of 7.86 since 2010. Location, staff and website remain the highest scoring service dimensions, and speed, call center and value remain the lowest.

Ser vice Hero President Faten AbuGhazaleh said: “ Value for money has

improved the most in the last three years, with a rise of 5%. This is a clear indication that there has been a change in not just the fees of products and services, but the overall offering given by companies. Value for money still being one of the lowest service dimensions means companies have still not completely been able to improve their fundamental services to meet with look-andfeel components like location, staff and website.”

Quality monitoring This year more than 14,000 real customers ranked the customer services they were receiving for around 400 companies across 17 industry categories in the online survey. Assessments were vetted out to close to at 9616 after data quality checks were conducted.

Service Hero has put security measures to ensure authenticity and data integrity with a 95 percent confidence level and an error margin of only plus or minus five, allocating a minimum number of votes per category based on Kuwait’s population and category population. The index follows international standards of market research and implements the research protocols of the European Society for Opinion and Market Research (ESOMAR).

Service Hero, licensed and operated by Khayal Consultants, has recruited an Advisory Council comprising of four academic institutions as well as leading business professionals. As a neutral panel of experts, their function is to supervise the assessment and results to ensure fair and empirical findings. The Advisory Council of academic sponsors and independent members this year includes: Dr. Carol Ross of the American University of Kuwait, Mohammad Al-Bader of the Australian College of Kuwait, Dr. Hassan El-Sady of the Gulf Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Nabil El-Hilali of Kuwait Maastricht Business School, Abdulmajeed Al Shatti, exChairman of the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Dr. Reinhold Leichtfuss Senior Partner and Managing Director of Boston Consulting Group, Nauman Sehgal, Chief Operating Officer of Noor Investment Company, and Yann Pavie, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GulfMerger.

Service Hero will be announcing the top performing companies as ranked by customers in an awards ceremony next month.

During the event, Kuwait’s best companies in customer service as voted by customers will be revealed and awarded.

No hurrah for Latvia’s euro-zone drive RIGA, Latvia: Unfazed by the euro-zone crisis, Latvia is poised to pass key legislation tomorrow paving the way for a request for EU approval of its entry as the zone’s 18th member on January 1, 2014. But very few Latvians are cheering.

Many are worried the currency switch could bring even more hardship to this exSoviet republic of two million people, still recovering from the world’s deepest recession in 2008-9, which saw a cumulative slump of 25 percent. A December survey by DNB bank showed just eight percent of respondents backed rapid euro adoption: 42 percent preferred to wait, while 41 percent opposed the move outright. The remaining nine percent were undecided.

With the national currency, the lats, already pegged to the euro, centrist Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis argues that joining the troubled monetary bloc will rev up the economy by easing trade and exchange with Latvia’s main trade partners, which are already members.

To sway public opinion, authorities have launched a high-profile campaign pushing the benefits of adopting the euro, a move the opposition has branded as propaganda.

“Everything has a flip-side, which the advocates of euro adoption fail to mention,” contends Iveta Grigule, a member of parliament with the opposition Greens’ and Farmers’ Alliance (ZZS).

“Prices will rise... this has happened in all EU countries that switched to the euro. We aren’t an exception.” Latvia’s northern neighbour Estonia, which was the first ex-Soviet state to join the eurozone, in January 2011, saw inflation leap five percent that year. After a three-percent hike in 2010. Prices in the country of 1.3 million rose 3.9 percent last year, according to Bank of Estonia figures.

Fellow ex-Soviet Baltic neighbour Lithuania is aiming to adopt the currency in 2015. In Latvia, anti-globalist and extreme right-wing groups have become the most vocal opponents to the euro switch, and their

shared “Euro No” website casts the European Union as a successor to the Soviet Union.

Despite the eurozone’s own ongoing battle for survival, analysts in Riga-in concert with the government-insist Latvia’s entry will boost investor confidence and growth. “Our base scenario assumes that Latvia will join the euro area in 2014, which will support confidence and thus promote growth somewhat,” Swedbank, the country’s largest bank, said in a January 16 assessment. In Valmiera, an industrial town 110 kilometres (70 miles) north of Riga, the prospect of the switch leaves most underwhelmed. “It will change nothing whether we join the eurozone or not,” Anete Kurpniece, manager of Dodam, a small office providing everything from translations to souvenirs, told AFP. “In effect, we already use the euro anyway-the exchange rate (1 lat = 1.43 euros) is fixed and we take euro payments from foreign clients,” she added. Near Valmiera’s 13th century castle ruins, at the cosy Liepziedi un Rozmarins trattoriam, its co-owner Atis Zentins, is similarly unfazed.

“We let foreigners pay in euros if they don’t have any lats,” he says, speculating that the only impact on his business might be to make his payments to Italian suppliers go through slightly faster. But at the Valmieras Stikls glass fibre factory, the town’s major employer and one of Latvia’s largest exporters, the mood is more upbeat. “I think our business will benefit from eurozone membership,” chief financial officer Dainis Senbergs told AFP, noting that dealing in euros would be easier for “customers outside Europe, in the USA and Asia.” “Saying no to the eurozone would damage the perception of Latvia among foreign investors,” he warned. Latvian lawmakers are expected to pass key legislation Thursday paving the way for Riga to request a European Commission green light for membership of the eurozone.

Both the European Commission and European Central Bank are set to deliver their verdicts by the middle of the year. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

BUSINESS

India’s CB in first rate cut in nine months Bid to kick-start flagging economy

Ernst & Young sponsors CFA Awards Kuwait: Ernst & Young sponsored the 5th Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charter award ceremony in Kuwait. The Charter Award Ceremony is the flagship event for the CFA Kuwait Society and is one of the key events in the country’s financial sector’s calendar, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the CFA Institute.

Waleed Al Osaimi, Office Managing Partner, Ernst & Young Kuwait said: “We are pleased to support the 5th CFA Kuwait Charter Award Ceremony. The Institute has played a prominent role in the professional development of the industry and we are proud of the association. Many of our own professionals are either charter-

holders or pursuing the CFA program. As an organization, the CFA charter is a professional qualification that we encourage and support our people to pursue. We see this as part of our commitment to furthering the cause of financial education in the industry.”

In addition to distributing the charters to the new charter holders, the event included presentations by renowned industry speakers. The event featured Mr. Faisal Al Ayyar, Vice Chairman of KIPCO (Kuwait Projects) Group, the evening’s distinguished guest and Dr. Marc Faber, author and publisher of The Gloom, Boom & Doom Report, who was the key speaker.

Billionaire duo shortlisted for $4bn Polyus stake buy MOSCOW: Two Russian billionaires have been shortlisted to buy a stake in Polyus Gold, sources said, in a deal which could pave the way for a merger with rival Polymetal to create a national gold mining champion.

Sources close to the matter said retail boss Zelimkhan Mutsoyev and fruit juice magnate Gavriil Yushvayev wanted to buy tycoonturned-politician Mikhail Prokhorov’s $4 billion stake in London-listed Polyus Gold International Ltd. The proposed deal has gone before the UK Takeover Panel, which is evaluating whether the proposed buyers of the 38 percent stake are acting independently or form a “concert party” that would control more than 30 percent of Polyus, a level that would force a mandatory offer to buy out minorities. Also under scrutiny is the buyers’ relationship to tycoon Suleiman Kerimov, who owns 40 percent of Polyus - Russia’s top gold miner.

If approval is forthcoming, the deal could be done in the first quarter, sources said, describing the review as a delicate process with an uncertain outcome.

“It’s not approved, not final,” one source familiar with the process said on Tuesday. A second added: “It all looks quite suspect to the regulator - that’s why everything is (coming out) as it is.” Sources say Kerimov, one of Russia’s class of powerful business ‘oligarchs’ who enjoys good relations with the Kremlin, sees the deal as a springboard to building a national champion by merging Polyus with Polymetal International Plc. He is flush with cash after raising $3 billion from the sale to a Chinese sovereign wealth fund of bonds convertible into shares in Uralkali, which became the world’s No 1 potash producer in a 2011 merger he masterminded, they note. “I think Kerimov has in mind creating the largest gold company in the world ... like Uralkali is the largest fertilizer company,” said Andrey Tretelnikov, an analyst at Rye, Man and Gor in Moscow.

An all-Russian merger would secure control over 77 tonnes a year of gold output, shoring up the country’s financial security amid concern that indebted nations are waging “currency wars” that will debase the value of paper investments. That output would be enough to cover annual gold buying by Russia’s central bank, which holds the world’s fourth-largest gold and forex reserves. Its nearly 1,000 tonnes of bullion is worth 10 percent of its half-trillion-dollar hoard.

Industry watchers say, however, that gold

mergers have a history of failing to create value. There are no obvious operational synergies between Polyus and Polymetal, whose main producing assets are thousands of miles apart. Shares in both companies have rallied in London since news last week that British regulators were reviewing the sale of Prokhorov’s stake. Polyus was valued at $10.6 billion at the close of trading on Monday, and Polymetal at $6.8 billion.

Kerimov, a 46-year-old native of the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, has ploughed some of his $6.5 billion fortune back into his home region as owner of soccer club Anzhi Makhachkala.

Prokhorov, owner of the US Brooklyn Nets pro basketball team, placed third behind Vladimir Putin in last year’s presidential election and is seeking to scale back his business interests as he focuses on politics.

His exit would drive a final nail into the coffin of hopes that Polyus might do an international merger. No comment was available either from Prokhorov’s investment holding Onexim or from Kerimov’s vehicle Nafta Moskva. Kerimov has a track record of bringing in Russian “minigarchs” to help execute deals without falling foul of takeover rules, and the proposed Polyus deal fits that pattern. Mutsoyev is a 53-year-old lawmaker for the ruling United Russia party who started out after school as a dump truck driver before going into business in the 1980s and building a fortune estimated by Forbes magazine at $1.5 billion.

Mutsoyev’s family controls the Regions Group of shopping centres and he joined Kerimov as a co-investor in the $24 billion merger that created Uralkali in 2011.

Yushvayev, 55, is a former co-owner of juice and dairy firm Wimm-Bill-Dann, now part of PepsiCo, whose net worth has been estimated at $1.2 billion. Neither could immediately be reached for comment. Another of Kerimov’s co-investors in Uralkali is Alexander Nesis, who is also a shareholder in Polymetal.

That connection has stoked speculation of an eventual Polyus-Polymetal merger.

Shareholder sources at Polymetal have however played down talk of a tie-up, arguing Polyus is over-valued and has a history of poor operational management of its Siberian gold projects. Polyus produced a record 1.68 million troy ounces of gold last year and has forecast output growth of up to 7 percent or between 1.7 and 1.8 million tonnes this year. — Reuters

MUMBAI: India’s central bank cut interest rates yesterday for the first time in nine months and reduced the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve as it tried to boost investment and kick-start the flagging economy.

Responding to demands from the government and business leaders for lower borrowing costs, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a cut of 25 basis points. But it played down the prospect of deeper interest rate cuts while inflation remains too high for comfort.

“Inflation pressures appear to have peaked. Economic activity has slowed and it needs new investment,” RBI governor Duvvuri Subbarao said in a statement, which he read on television.

He added that there was “limited” room for large cuts this year. “There is an increasing likelihood of inflation remaining rangebound around current levels going into 2013-14. This provides space, albeit limited, for monetary policy to give greater emphasis to growth risks,” Subbarao said. “Only if inflation eases more than we expect, there is room for monetary policy easing,” he told reporters later in the day.

Economists had widely expected the cut that will see the benchmark repo rate, at which the RBI lends to commercial banks, fall to 7.75 percent.

The bank also cut its cash reserve ratio by 25 basis points to 4.0 percent. Subbarao said the move would inject 180 billion rupees ($3.3 billion) into the banking system, encouraging commercial banks to lend.

Analysts said yesterday’s moves would provide a trigger for investment and growth, but future rate cuts would depend on whether the government continues a recent pro-market reform drive and efforts to cut subsidies.

MUMBAI: A journalist speaks on his cellphone outside the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) headquarters during the third quarter monetary policy review meeting in Mumbai yesterday. India’s central bank cut its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 7.75 percent, aiming to boost flagging growth in Asia’s thirdlargest economy. —AP

“Tuesday’s moves are a beginning,” Shubhada Rao, chief economist with private Yes Bank told AFP. The RBI will eye the federal budget later next month to decide on a future course of action, she said.

Goldman Sachs’ chief India economist Tushar Poddar said he expects the RBI to cut rates again by 25 basis points when it next meets in March. “The RBI has correctly emphasized the greater risks to growth rather than inflation at this point,” Poddar said in a note to clients.

After the polic y decision, some domestic banks said lending rates would be lowered but did not say how soon. Indian shares rose after the rate cut but retraced to close down 0.56 per-

cent at 19,990.9 points.

The Congress-led government has introduced a series of measures since September to encourage foreign investment in key sectors and reduce its subsidies, which have led to a ballooning fiscal deficit.

The Prime Minister’s top economic adviser C Rangarajan told CNBC-T V18 the RBI’s moves would “provide a stimulus to economic growth” and rates may dip further if inflation continues to ease. Inflation eased to a three-year-low of around seven percent in December but is still above the bank’s comfort zone of around five percent.

China, South Korea and Brazil have all cut interest rates to shield their economies from the

Oil above $113 ahead of US, China data LONDON: Brent crude oil held above $113 yesterday as traders awaited data to gauge the strength of the economies of the United States and China, the world’s largest oil consumers.

Sentiment was boosted on Monday after business spending data from the United States helped reinforce the belief that a recovery was taking root. Adding to the positive mood yesterday, a poll by market research group GfK showed German consumer morale rose for the first time in four months.

Brent crude was down 11 cents at $113.37 a barrel by 1308 GMT, while US crude gained 13 cents to $96.57. “Growth and recovery news in the United States and Europe are on the positive side this morning. We haven’t seen an impact on the crude market so far,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodity analyst at SEB in Oslo. “The sentiment and the technical analysis are still clearly bullish.”

Markets were awaiting the outcome of a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting as well as first estimates for fourth-quarter gross domestic production (GDP) in the United

States today. The Federal Reserve has said it expects to keep short-term interest rates exceptionally low to help support the economy. Official data on China’s growth outlook due Friday will also be closely watched.

But following gains that took Brent prices to their highest level in three months last week, traders said some decline could occur in the coming days. “We are gradually seeing a small retracement... In the absence of new bullish news, prices could slip a little bit,” Christopher Bellew, a trader at Jefferies Bache, said. Persistent tension in the Middle East and Africa also supported oil. Iran said on Monday it had launched a monkey into space, seeking to show off missile systems that have alarmed the West because the technology could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead. Also on Monday, suspected Islamist militants attacked an oil pipeline in northern Algeria, killing two guards and wounding seven other people, a security source told Reuters.

In Egypt, the head of the military warned political conflict could lead to the collapse of

the state and said protecting the Suez Canal was one of the main objectives of the army deployment to cities shaken by violence. But, OPEC Secretary-General Abdullah al-Badri said the world oil market should remain well supplied in 2013 and that the OPEC does not need to trim back its oil output.

Oil prices continued to be underpinned by the closure of Hess Corp’s New Jersey refinery, news of which boosted US gasoline futures by more than 2 percent on Monday.

The loss of the plant, the latest in the region to fall victim to poor profits, tightened the supply outlook for the US northeast, which is likely to have to rely more on imports and supplies from the Gulf Coast, according to analysts. Traders were now eyeing data on US crude and oil products stockpiles for clues on demand. A Reuters survey, taken ahead of weekly inventory reports from the American Petroleum Institute and the US government’s Energy Information Administration, forecast crude stocks had risen by 2.6 million barrels on average for the week ended Jan 25. — Reuters

IMF tells Romania to push on with reforms BUCHAREST, Romania: The International Monetary Fund has called on the Romanian government to implement deeper structural reforms and to apply for more European Union develop-

ment funds to help economic growth. Romania is borrowing rescue loans from the IMF, and the two sides this week agreed to extend the €5 billion ($6.72 billion) aid scheme by three months

to June to give the government more time to meet its reform commitments.

Erik de Vrijer, the IMF’s chief of mission for Romania, said yesterday that one key problem is a lack

S&P raises Austrian rating outlook to ‘stable’ VIENNA: Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s raised its outlook on debt issued by Austria to “stable” from negative yesterday, and affirmed its sovereign credit rating at “AA+”, one notch below the top level, saying the country would not be harmed by the European debt crisis.

Austria, a member of the euro-zone, has developed particularly influential economic links in former Soviet countries in eastern Europe and its banks have expanded eastwards.

“We expect that Austria’s economy will continue to buck the negative impact of the European sovereign debt crisis and that the government will stick to its 2012-2016 financial plan,” an S&P statement said. “We also expect the domestic banking industry will increase capital from the current levels, which we view as weak, containing risk from banks’ generally low capitalization and their large exposure to Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European countries,” it added.

S&P underscored the country’s “stable governance and predictable economic poli-

cies as well as its wealthy, diversified, and competitive economy.”

But the agency warned that it could still lower its ratings for Austria if the government relaxed efforts to reduce a net general government debt ratio that S&P said was “in excess of 80 percent of GDP,” or gross domestic product. In mid January, the government estimated that Austria’s total debt would hit a record high level of 75.4 percent of GDP but also forecast that it would fall in 2014 and stand at 70.8 percent in 2016.

S&P said yesterday that it did not expect to raise Austria’s sovereign debt rating to the top AAA level in the near term, “because we consider that a fiscal improvement stronger than under the current fiscal plan is currently improbable.”

The agency had taken the top rating away from Austria in January 2012, amid a series of other downgrades. Meanwhile, Austria’s economy grew by grew by 0.6 percent last year, higher than expected, after an expansion of 2.7 percent in 2011, the central bank said on January 18.—AFP

effects of the euro-zone debt crunch. Indian business leaders and the government have for months been calling for lower lending rates to help the economy, which grew at an annual rate of just 5.3 percent in the quarter to September.

The central bank yesterday lowered its growth estimate for the fiscal year ending March to 5.5 percent from its earlier forecast of 5.8 percent.

It said it now expects inflation to ease to 6.8 percent by the end of the fiscal year, against its earlier forecast of 7.5 percent. Until yesterday the RBI had kept rates unchanged since April last year, saying inflation needed to fall further and government spending needed to be curbed. — AFP

PEPPER PIKE: A new home is constructed in Pepper Pike, Ohio. US home construction surges 12.1 percent in December to end best year since 2008. The US economy is a study in contrasts. The housing, banking and auto industries are surging back to health and that has helped push the stock market to a five-year peak. Higher prices for homes and stocks tend to make people feel wealthier and spend more. —AP

of economic growth. “Growth is lower than what it could be even though what it could be is lower than what it should be,” he said.

Economic growth nudged slightly above zero in 2012, a year of political instability when the country had three prime ministers and Parliament sought to impeach the president. The IMF forecasts growth of 1.5 percent this year.

De Vrijer said that besides more reforms of the economy, Romania could tap more EU structural funds, money that is earmarked for development and infrastructure projects.

“Progress in structural reforms is difficult and susceptible to delays ... but if the government succeeds in doing the things we agreed, it will get high marks,” he said at the end of a visit which began on Jan. 15. He urged the government to appoint professional managers to run stateowned companies.

Some such companies could be privatized “to try and attract capital and know-how.” Critics claim large state companies are inefficient due to cronyism and a lack of accountability about the way they are managed. —AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

BUSINESS

BMW 6 Series Pearl

Unique BMW 7 Series and 6 Series Pearl celebrate the region’s ‘Jewels of the Sea’ BMW Individual Pearl models now available in Kuwait KUWAIT: Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive, the BMW Group importer in Kuwait, has welcomed the BMW Individual Pearl to its showrooms.

This exclusive collection of customised models is the latest creation from BMW Group’s bespoke optioning programme - BMW Individual, which enables customers to tailor their vehicle to a bespoke design that suits their individual style by using a range of premium materials, paints and interior trims.

The shallow and warm waters of the Arabian Gulf are famous for creating the world’s most precious Pearls - the source of inspiration for creating the BMW Individual Pearl. Paying an ode to the rich heritage of pearls in the Middle East, the BMW Individual Pearl models are exclusive to the region.

BMW Individual designers transferred the

mystery, elegance and beauty of the Pearl to a total of 88 BMW 7 Series and 6 Series Gran Coupé models. Commenting on the BMW Pearl, Alexander Eftimov, Director Sales & Marketing, BMW Group Middle East, said: “Customers in the Middle East enjoy individualisation where they can own something that stands out and is unique, and the BMW Pearl is something that is one of its kind, exclusive and very special. We are meeting this demand by providing customers with a top-of-the range BMW that includes a selection of unique and very premium materials, paints and interior trims options. The cars are very exclusive and examples of what can be produced within our BMW Individual programme.”

The BMW Individual Pearl features an exclusive Frozen Matt Brilliant White exterior colour that reproduces the unique shimmer of the

finest Arabian pearls. On the interior, this is coupled with the BMW Individual finest Merino Amaro Brown leather with newly developed white piping, a headliner in Amaro brown Alcantara and the BMW Individual wood trim in Ash Grain White. An elegant ‘Pearl’ designation on the chrome trim adorns the rear of both models as well as the door entry seals.

Established in 1991, BMW Individual was the first of its kind in the premium automotive industry. The programme launched with the aim of leading the trend towards more individuality by concentrating on customers looking for madeto-measure solutions and making tougher demands on their BMW in terms of distinction design and function. The BMW Pearl models are the embodiment of luxury and style and are now available from Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive.

BMW 7 Series back seat

BMW 6 Series Pearl Interior

GE opens facility to help boost output in Iraq’s oil and gas fields

FA Society Kuwait congratulates new charter-holders 62% rise in new charter-holders in Kuwait KUWAIT: Last night the President and Board of CFA Society Kuwait, the local society of CFA Institute, the world’s preeminent association of investment professionals, hosted its fifth Annual Charter Award Ceremony. Nineteen new charterholders were handed their CFA charters by the chief guest Faisal Al-Ayyar, Vice Chairman of the KIPCO (Kuwait Projects company) and Rafik Hafez, President of CFA Society Kuwait, in the presence of over 200 guests and society members.

Over the last five years, CFA Society Kuwait has grown its number of new charterholders by 62%, making it one of the largest CFA societies in the Middle East region. There are now 115 CFA members and charterholders in Kuwait, comprising portfolio managers, analysts, chief investment officers, chief executive officers, investment advisers, and senior financial consultants.

To earn the CFA designation, candidates must pass all three levels of the exam (successful candidates often report dedicating in excess of 300 hours of study

per level); meet the work experience requirements of four years in the investment industry; sign a commitment to abide by the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct; and become a member of CFA Institute.

Congratulating the new charterholders, Rafik Hafez, President of CFA Society Kuwait, said: “As we welcome 19 new charterholders into CFA Society Kuwait, we are proud of our continued growth as a centre for financial and investment excellence in Kuwait. Our ongoing efforts and commitment is underpinned by our firm belief in the importance of invest-

ment professionals securing the very best international financial qualification.” He added: “Despite challenging market conditions, it is very encouraging to see that financial professionals in Kuwait continue to dedicate themselves to the ethics,

rigour, tenacity, and analytics at the core of the CFA Program.”

Commenting at the event, Faisal AlAyyar, Vice Chairman of the KIPCO (Kuwait Projects Company) said: “I am delighted to have been asked to speak at the CFA charter presentation because it gives me an opportunity to address future business leaders and share with them some of the

lessons I have learnt in my career. I would like to congratulate all those people receiving their CFA charters this evening.”

Looking at the year ahead Hafez concluded: “The year ahead will be interesting for CFA Society Kuwait as financial markets in the GCC continue to grow and mature.

Charterholders will hear from a range of global experts from a variety of professional and educational institutions, where issues and topics affecting both the global and regional markets will be reviewed and discussed. In addition to that, CFA Institute will be hosting its annual Middle East Conference in Dubai in March, ahead of the next set of examinations in June.”

Guests at the ceremony were also given an outlook presentation from legendary investment advisor, fund manager and author Marc Faber - Editor and Publisher of “The Gloom, Boom & Doom Report”. Faber reviewed various discussions of current issues and trends with global and regional economies and financial markets and the outlook for the investment scene.

BASRA: Underlining its commitment to help strengthen Iraq’s energy infrastructure, GE Oil & Gas (NYSE: GE) has established a new technology and service center near Basra City, in the heart of the oil-rich North Rumaila region. The facility, which was opened earlier this month, brings the latest GE technology and expertise to local customers to help boost production in the Rumaila oil field.

In addition to being a base for the supply of pressure control equipment to Iraq’s drilling and production sector, the new center provides a wide range of services including installation and maintenance, testing, inspections, repair and storage. Future services will include complete non-destructive testing capabilities, machine, welding and heat treatment, blasting and painting and API certification and recertification.

Rami Qasem, president and chief executive officer for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey of GE Oil & Gas, said: “The new Basra center provides a broad spectrum of solutions under one roof and is situated locally to meet our customers’ demands for rapid drilling and production support. Through our investment in strengthening our local presence, we are able to significantly improve our delivery time for products and services, while also giving us a base for training and developing a local work force.

“The center not only builds on our long-term commitment to the country but also complements the government’s focus on promoting job creation and nurturing the technical skills of the Iraqi professionals. The center supports our global strategy to be closer and more responsive to our customers, wherever

Rami Qasem, president and chief executive officer for the MENAT of GE Oil and gas. in the world that we do business.”

Rumaila is one of the largest oil fields in the world, and its continued development is a key to Iraq’s long-term economic growth. More than 250 production wells currently are operating in the field, located near the Kuwaiti border in southern Iraq. The oil produced from the field represents about 40 percent of Iraq’s total oil production.

In addition to supplying equipment and services, GE continues to increase its in-country presence. As part of its plans for expansion in Iraq, GE opened three offices in Baghdad, Erbil and the southern oil and gas hub of Basra, building on its 40-year history of operations in the country.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

technology

Researchers warn of widespread networking gear bugs BOSTON: Bugs in widely used networking technology expose tens of millions of personal computers, printers and storage drives to attack by hackers over the regular Internet, researchers with a security software maker said. The problem lies in computer routers and other networking equipment that use a commonly employed standard known as Universal Plug and Play or UPnP. UPnP makes it easy for networks to identify and communicate with equipment, reducing the amount of work it takes to set up networks.

Security software maker Rapid7 said in a white paper to be released Tuesday that it discovered between 40 million and 50 million devices that were vulnerable to attack due to three separate sets of problems that the firm’s researchers have identified with the UPnP standard. The long list of devices includes products from manufacturers including Belkin, D-Link, Cisco Systems Inc’s Linksys division and Netgear. Representatives for Belkin, D-Link, Linksys and Netgear could not be reached for comment on Monday evening. Chris Wysopal, chief technology

Apple unveils new iPad with doubled memory NEW YORK: Apple yesterday unveiled a new iPad with twice the storage capacity as the existing model in an effort to score business with companies that share large amounts of data.

Apple’s new iPad will have a capacity of 128 gigabytes compared with the current model, which comes with different memory capacities but has a maximum of 64 gigabytes.

“With twice the storage capacity and an unparalleled selection of over 300,000 native iPad apps, enterprises, educators and artists have even more reasons to use iPad for all their business and personal needs,” said Apple senior vice president of marketing Philip Schiller in a statement.

Apple quoted several web application developers who said the additional memory capacity would allow businesses to better serve clients in conceptual design, music recordings and sports strategy.

Apple’s move to expand its iPad following comes as the company faces tough questions from Wall Street over its growth prospects.

Company shares lost about 12 percent of their value last week after the company reported earnings that showed lower profit margins and smaller anticipated growth than expected.

The new iPad model will go on sale on Feb 5, with a suggested price of $799 for the iPad with WiFi capacity and $929 for iPad with Wi-Fi and cellular capacity. Apple shares were 1.1 percent higher in early trading. — AFP

officer of security software firm Veracode, said he believed that publication of Rapid7’s findings would draw widespread attention to the still emerging area of UPnP security, prompting other security researchers to search for more bugs in UPnP. “This definitely falls into the scary category,” said Wysopal, who reviewed Rapid7’s findings ahead of their publication.

“There is going to be a lot more research on this. And the follow-on research could be a lot scarier.”

Rapid7 has privately alerted electronics makers about the problem through the CERT Coordination Center, a group at the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute that helps researchers report vulnerabilities to affected companies. “This is the most pervasive bug I’ve ever seen,” said HD Moore, chief technology officer for Rapid7. He discussed the research with Reuters late on Monday. Moore, who created a widely used platform known as Metasploit that allows security experts to simulate network attacks, said that he expected CERT to release a public warning about the flaw yesterday. A spokesman for

the CERT Coordination Center declined to comment.

A source with a networking equipment maker confirmed they had been alerted that CERT was going to issue an advisory yesterday and that companies were preparing to respond.

The flaws could allow hackers to access confidential files, steal passwords, take full control over PCs as well as remotely access devices such as webcams, printers and security systems, according to Rapid7.

Moore said that there were bugs in most of the devices he tested and that device manufacturers will need to release software updates to remedy the problems. He said that is unlikely to happen quickly. In the meantime, he advised computer users to quickly use a free tool released by Rapid7 to identify vulnerable gear, then disable the UPnP functionality in that equipment.

Moore said hackers have not widely exploited the UPnP vulnerabilities to launch attacks, but both Moore and Wysopal expected they may start to do so after the findings are publicized. Still, Moore said he

decided to disclose the flaws in a bid to pressure equipment makers to fix the bugs and generally pay more attention to security. People who own devices with UPnP enabled may not be aware of it because new routers, printers, media servers, Web cameras, storage drives and “smart” or Web-connected TVs are often shipped with that functionality turned on by default. “You can’t stay silent about something like this,” he said. “These devices seem to have had the same level of core security for decades. Nobody seems to really care about them.”

Veracode’s Wysopal said that some hackers have likely already exploited the flaws to launch attacks, but in relatively small numbers, choosing victims one at a time. “If they are going after executives and government officials, then they will probably look for their home networks and exploit this vulnerability,” he said.

Rapid7 is advising businesses and consumers alike to disable UPnP in devices that they suspect may be vulnerable to attack. The firm has released a tool to help identify those devices on its website. — Reuters

Google unveils detailed N Korea map with gulags SEOUL: Weeks after its chairman Eric Schmidt’s secretive visit to North Korea, Google has rolled out a detailed map of the isolated state that even labels some of its remote and infamous gulags. Until now North Korea was pretty much a blank canvas to users of Google’s “Map Maker”, which creates maps from data that is provided by the public and fact-checked in a similar process to that used by Wikipedia. “For a long time, one of the largest places with limited map data has been North Korea. But today we are changing that,” Jayanth Mysore, a senior product manager at Google Map Maker said in a blog posting on Monday.

Mysore said the North Korea section had been completed with the help of a “community of citizen cartographers” working over a period of several years. “While many people around the globe are fascinated with North Korea, these maps are especially important for the citizens of South Korea who have ancestral connections or still have family living there,” he added. With the two countries still technically at war, decent maps of the North are almost impossible to come by in South Korea.

The people least able to benefit from the Google publication will be the North Koreans themselves, who live in one of the most isolated and highly censored societies on the planet. The North has a domestic Intranet, but it is cut off from the rest of the world, allowing its very limited number of users to exchange state-approved information and little more. Access to the full-blown Internet is for the super-elite only, meaning a few hundred people or maybe 1,000 at most, experts estimate.

The Google version offers a detailed map of the capital Pyongyang, showing hospitals, subway stops and schools.

Outside the capital, the detail is sketchier, but noticeable on an overview of the country are a series of city-sized, greycoloured areas which, when zoomed in on, are identified as

sprawling re-education camps. In the largest gulag of all Camp 22 near Hoeryong near the North’s northeast border with China - Google Map Maker identifies a number of units including an armoury, a food factory and a guards’ restroom.

As many as 200,000 people are estimated to be detained in the North’s vast gulag system, many under a guilt-by-association system that punishes those related to someone perceived as an enemy of the state. Google has helped cast a light on the location of these camps before, through its popular Google Earth satellite imagery service. Groups and individuals involved with human rights research on North Korea have used the satellite pictures to confirm the location of known camps and uncover the existence of new ones.

The release of Google’s new North Korea map came just weeks after Schmidt returned from a controversial trip to Pyongyang as part of a US “humanitarian” mission. On his return, Schmidt said he had told officials in the North that the country would never develop unless it embraces Internet

freedom. Schmidt’s trip was criticised by the US State Department, which said it was ill-timed in the wake of the North’s recent banned rocket launch.

South Korean officials yesterday welcomed the Google map initiative. “We think that this could be an opportunity for the world to know more about North Korea and an opportunity for the North to open itself more,” a unification ministry spokeswoman said. And the concept also drew praise from some of the South Koreans, cited by Mysore, with family roots in the North. “It sounds great. I’ll be happy to see the map of my hometown,” said Lee Nak-Ye, who heads an association for Koreans who moved from North to South.

Lee, 80, left his home in the eastern port city of Hamhung when the 1950-53 Korean War broke out and can “only dream” of reuniting with the relatives he left behind. “I’ll tell other friends at the association about this,” Lee said. “Most of them are too old to learn how to use the Internet thing though.” — AFP

Microsoft retools Office for touch screen, Web use SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft’s retooled version of its Office software is hitting the market as the company tries to extend one of its key franchises beyond personal computers. Yesterday’s debut comes six months after Microsoft previewed the new-look Office, which includes popular word processing, spreadsheets and email programs. The revamped Office boasts touch controls, just like the redesigned version of the Windows operating system that Microsoft Corp. released three months ago. The company, which is based in Redmond, Washington, is trying to ensure that its products retain their appeal at a time when people increasingly rely on smartphones and tablet computers instead of PCs.

The online push reflects Microsoft’s recognition that people want access to documents and email on whatever Internet-connected device they might have, wherever they may be, whether it’s at work, home or a store while running errands.

Yet Microsoft still isn’t trying to get Office on the largest number of devices possible. Office 2013 doesn’t include an option that works on Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPad or smartphones and tablets running the Android software made by Google Inc. That leaves out the majority of smartphones and tablets sold in the past two years. The company believes Office 2013 is currently best suited for Windows devices, said Chris Schneider, Microsoft’s senior public relations manager for Office.

Microsoft is trying to become a bigger player in the mobile market with its own operating system for smartphones and tablets.

Office 2013 is the first overhaul of the software suite

in three years. The bundle of programs has become a staple on desktop and laptop computers, providing a rich vein of revenue for Microsoft. The company has reaped most of its Office sales from licenses allowing buyers to install the suite of programs on individual machines, a very lucrative strategy. The Microsoft division anchored by Office generates about $24 billion in annual sales, accounting for nearly one -third of Microsoft’s total revenue.

Revenue in the Office division fell from the previous year during the three months ending in December, partly because many prospective buyers have been awaiting the latest version. In one of the biggest changes, Microsoft has tailored Office 2013 so it can be peddled primarily as a program that’s used over Internet connections. All information is automatically stored in Microsoft’s data centers, allowing for access to the same material on multiple devices. The content also can be stored on the hard drives of devices.

Microsoft is offering Office 2013 in a $100 annual subscription package, called 365 Home Premium, which includes online access on up to five Windows devices or Mac computers. The fee also provides 20 additional gigabytes of storage on Microsoft’s SkyDrive to supplement the 7 gigabytes that the company gives away to accountholders for free. Subscribers also will get 60 minutes of free international calls on Microsoft’s Skype service for Internet phone calls and video chats. College students and teachers will be able to buy Office 2013’s online product for $80 for four years, which works out to about $1.67 per month.

The online push reflects Microsoft’s recognition that people want access to documents and email on whatever Internet-connected device they might have, wherever they may be, whether it’s at work, home or a store while running errands. “The technology needs to be able to move with you,” Schneider said. It’s the first time that Microsoft has tried to persuade consumers that a recurring online subscription is the best way to buy and use Office. Microsoft had previously sold online Office subscriptions primarily to small businesses. Office will still be sold under a onetime licensing fee that allows the software to be installed on a single machine. The fees start at $140.

Microsoft’s decision to reshape Office into an online service makes sense, although it may take customers a while to sign up for the subscriptions, said Edward Jones analyst Josh Olson. He suspects major companies that rely on Office probably will be among the last users to make the switch. “This is a good innovation, but the uptake may be slow to begin because it is so different,” Olson said. — AP

HP Kuwait highlights latest innovations and technologies against counterfeits KUWAIT: HP announced earlier yesterday as part of their ongoing fight against counterfeits, new product innovations and technologies that will build further leadership momentum around printing and workflow solutions. The event was in the form of an interesting panel discussion with speakers from HP, Microsoft and Sheikha Rasha Naif Al Jaber Al Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director of IPR at the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The event was well attended by HP’s customers, partners and key media representatives.

“Awareness is key when it comes to fighting counterfeit products and it’s our constant endeavor to update customs, law enforcement authorities, our channel partners and our valuable customers on the latest products and technologies that help spot suspicious printing supplies.” said Omar Draghmeh Managing Director, HP Kuwait. “Our focus is always to give customers the quality and reliability they can count on. Our new labels on cartridges feature sophisticated holographic properties as well as a new Quick Response (QR) code which customers can easily validate using a web-enabled smartphone or online via a new HP web page. We are investing heavily to protect our partners, distributors and customers across the Middle East region.”

Officials from the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce, Microsoft and HP discussed the challenges posed by counterfeit goods and piracy to Kuwait and the wider Middle East region. The participants affirmed that education and increased vigilance, as well as evolving tech-

nologies including HP Mobile Authentication and Software Authentication will help protect consumers and businesses against fake merchandise.

HP’s Mobile Authentication technology enables customers to verify the authenticity of their cartridge prior to purchase through the validation of coded security labels on both inkjet and LaserJet cartridges.

Subsequently, customers can also validate cartridge authenticity by using the HP Software Authentication solution installed in HP printers.

The HP Anti-counterfeit Programme EMEA is making great progress in the fight against counterfeiting of its print cartridges and in protecting end-users and HP channel partners from falling victim to this illegal activity. All over EMEA, over the last four years, HP has conducted nearly 1,000 investigations, resulting in over 800 enforcement actions (raids and seizures by authorities) and nearly 9 million units of counterfeit products and components seized, thus preventing them from being sold in the EMEA marketplace and beyond.

The HP ACF Programme encourages the reporting of information on suspicious printing supplies products or offers, no matter where the information comes from.

Every lead is acknowledged and assessed and further action is taken as appropriate. There are several reporting channels through which suspicions can be reported to the Programme. Details of suspicious printing supplies can be sent in any language via the ACF e-mail address (acf.emea@hp.com).

Samsung acquires NeuroLogica SEOUL: South Korea’s Samsung Electronics said yesterday it had bought US medical imaging firm NeuroLogica, as it seeks to explore new growth sources by expanding into the health sector. Samsung did not disclose the value of the deal but said it had bought a full stake in the Massachusetts-based firm, which makes medical devices including CT scanners. “Samsung plans to leverage its global brand awareness and world-leading technology in consumer electronics, IT and commu-

nications with NeuroLogica in order to expand medical imaging business,” the company said in a statement.

Samsung Electronics - the world’s top maker of smartphones, memory chips and flat-screen TVs - is the flagship unit of the Samsung group. The group in 2010 vowed to spend $20 billion over the following 10 years on five “new growth” areas including light-emitting diode technology, medical devices, biotech drugs, electric-vehicle batteries and solar panels. — AFP

— Photos by Joseph Shagra

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

For most children’s migraines, placebos as good as pills

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drug-free placebo pill prevents migraines in children and teens just as well as most headache medicines, according to a US study. Researchers published in JAMA Pediatrics found that only two drugs known to help migraineplagued adults reduced the frequency of children’s headaches better than a placebo. Even in those cases the effect was small - a difference of less than one headache per month compared to the dummy pills. According to data from the Cleveland Clinic, about 2 percent of young children and 7 to 10 percent of older children and teenagers up to age 15 get migraines.

No drugs have been rigorously tested and approved for preventing migraines in children, so

Chinese genes boost peril from flu: Study PARIS: Nearly a quarter of ethnic Chinese have a tiny genetic variant that boosts sixfold their risk of falling gravely ill when infected with flu, a study published yesterday said.

Researchers in China and Britain looked at Chinese hospital data from the 2009-2010 pandemic of H1N1 influenza. Patients who had the minute variant were six times likelier to be treated for severe infection compared with patients who had a different genetic type, they found.

The variation focuses on just a single change in the code of a key gene in the immune system.

The IFITM3 gene-for “interferon-induced transmembrane protein-3”-determines how cells fight the influenza virus. The single code change is called rs12252, and it comes in three variants, also called genotypes: CC, CT and TT. Around 24 percent of Han Chinese have the CC genotype, but their numbers were disproportionately high among those who were badly affected by flu, the investigators learned.

Among those who were treated for serious symptoms and whose genetic code had been sequenced, 59 percent had the CC genotype. “The CC genotype was estimated to confer a sixfold greater risk for severe infection than the CT and TT genotypes,” said the paper, appearing in the journal Nature Communications.

Risk of dying from flu is also “probably” higher for the CC genotype although the probe did not specifically address this question, said Andrew McMichael, who partnered Tao Dong at the University of Oxford in the British side of the investigation.

Between 25 and 50 percent of cases of severe infection required assisted breathing, he noted in an email exchange with AFP. The vulnerability of the CC genotype also probably applies to all strains of the flu virus, and not just H1N1, said McMichael.

Only 0.03 percent of northern Europeans have the CC variant, and they too are disproportionately more at risk than other genotypes. This sub-group accounted for 5.3 percent of hospital admissions for all strains of flu, previous research has found. The study calls for urgent work to see whether genetic screening could be useful for Chinese, or other Asians, who could be most at risk.“It might help at the time of admission to hospital to help predict the course of infection and therefore treatment, but this needs to be assessed very carefully by our Chinese colleagues in future studies,” said McMichael. — AFP

doctors have to rely on medicine for adults, experts said.

“All the drugs in our analysis have been found effective in adults with migraine headaches, but few were beneficial among children,” wrote study leader Jeffrey Jackson from the medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and colleagues.

“This suggests there may be something different about pediatric migraines or that the response to treatment differs between children and adults.”

In the study, Jackson and his colleagues looked at 21 trials comparing headache drugs to each other or to placebos. They found that only topiramate (marketed as Topamax) and trazodone (Oleptro and Desyrel) significantly reduced the frequency of

headaches in children and teens who got regular migraines.

Other adult headache prevention medicines, including flunarizine, propanolol and valproate, were of no help. “Parents should be aware that our medication choices aren’t as good as they should be,” said Jennifer Bickel, a neurologist and headache specialist at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, Missouri, who was not part of the study.

Placebo pills alone led to a drop in children’s headache frequency from between five and six headaches per month to three per month, which might have to do with the effect of seeing a doctor and being reassured the pain isn’t due to anything

serious, Bickel said. She said there is the least research on the one percent of children who are most severely affected by migraines, those with chronic daily headaches.

For those youth, “we don’t have any evidence to suggest that the medications are enough,” she said.

According to a report from the US Food and Drug Administration published in the same journal issue, two drugs - almotriptan malate (Axert) and rizatriptan benzoate (Maxalt) - are approved to treat, but not prevent, headaches in children and teens.

For children who get headaches once a week or less, Bickel said the pain can be treated with overthe-counter painkillers, or even just wait it out in a quiet place. — Reuters

UN agency warns of new global bird flu threat Cambodia reports two new deaths ROME: The UN food agency yesterday warned the world risked a surge in bird flu outbreaks unless countries strengthen their monitoring against dangerous animal diseases despite economic hardship. “The continuing international economic downturn means less money is available for prevention of H5N1 bird flu and other threats of animal origin,” Juan Lubroth, chief veterinary officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said in a statement.

“Even though everyone knows that prevention is better than cure, I am worried because in the current climate governments are unable to keep up their guard,” he was quoted as saying.

The Rome-based agency warned large reservoirs of the H5N1 virus still exist in parts of Asia and the Middle East where the disease has become endemic.

“Without adequate controls, it could easily spread globally as it did at its peak in 2006, when 63 countries were affected,” the agency said. The virus killed more than 300 people between 2003 and 2011, as well as forcing the culling of 400 million domestic chickens and ducks and causing an estimated $20 billion (15 billion euros) in damages.

The FAO also cautioned of the growing threat from Peste des Petits Ruminants, or PPR, a highly contagious disease that affects sheep and goats. FAO said the virus, for which a vaccine exists, had wrought havoc in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was spilling over into southern Africa.

Among the prevention measures against animal diseases recommended by FAO are improved general hygiene, market and border controls and health inspections in farms and markets, as well as equipment and training for laboratories.

Two Cambodian girls have died from bird flu, health authorities said yesterday, raising the toll from the deadly infection in the kingdom to four so far this year. The victims, a 17-month-old girl and a nine-year-old girl, from the southern provinces of Kampot and Kampong Speu, died Monday in hospital, the World Health Organization said in

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian vendors cut chickens for sale at a market in Phnom Penh yesterday. Two Cambodian girls have died from bird flu, health authorities said yesterday, raising the toll from the deadly infection in the kingdom to four so far this year. — AFP 26 cases of H5N1 since 2003 with all but three of the vica joint statement with the Cambodian health ministry.

Tests on the girls, whose villages had recorded recent tims dying. The virus has killed 364 people worldwide since deaths among poultry, confirmed they had contracted the a major outbreak in 2003, according to WHO statistics.

It typically spreads from birds to humans through direct H5N1 strain of avian influenza, the statement added. Last week Cambodia said two people-a 15-year-old girl and a contact, but experts fear it could mutate into a form easily 35-year-old man, had died from the H5N1 strain contracted transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigwhile preparing infected chicken. Cambodia has recorded ger a pandemic. — AFP

Smog envelops swathes of China again BEIJING: Residents across northern China battled through choking pollution at extreme levels yesterday, as Beijing was plunged into toxic twilight for the fourth time this winter.

Visibility was reduced to around 200 metres in parts of the capital, where mask-wearing pedestrians made their way through a murky haze, despite warnings from authorities to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. In a Beijing city office visited by AFP, up to 20 workers worried that the pollutants could penetrate indoors took extra precautions, wearing gas-mask style protective headgear at their desks.

State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) gave the smog’s second day huge airplay, showing vehicles using full headlights in midmorning to light their way through the noxious cloud over huge swathes of northern China.

More than 100 flights were delayed or cancelled at Zhengzhou Airport in Henan, said CCT V, adding that the haze would last until Thursday.

In the eastern province of Shandong, almost 2,000 passengers were stranded at Qingdao’s main airport after it shut with 20 flights cancelled as visibility dropped to 100 metres,

according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Beijing’s winter of smog has sparked an Internet outcry and anger from state media.

The China Daily reiterated its calls for firm action yesterday, directing them at the capital’s newly-installed mayor Wang Anshan, who formally took over on Monday. “What do Beijing residents expect of their new mayor?” asked the newspaper in an editorial. “Of all the things that need improving, cleaner air will be at the top of many people’s wish list.” Wang was quoted by Xinhua as saying: “The current environmental problems are worrisome.” The Beijing News went as far as to suggest banning or regulating next month’s traditional and hugely popular New Year fireworks in the capital. Pollution readings spiked last year after the city’s skyline lit up with explosions. Celebrity bloggers-including real estate tycoon Pan Shiyi and reform-minded investor Xue Manzi, who have a combined 24 million followers on China’s microblogging sitescalled for legislation against pollution.

The US embassy’s air quality index (AQI) reading for Beijing stood at 457 and “hazardous” at 5pm on Tuesday, after having reached 517, or

“beyond index”, at 6am. The index rates a reading over 150 as “unhealthy”, above 300 as “hazardous”, while anything over the upper limit of 500 is regarded as “beyond index”.

Meanwhile, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Centre gave the figure as 406, indicating the capital’s air was “severely polluted”. The toxic air follows an extreme bout of pollution earlier this month, when state media said readings for PM 2.5, particles small enough to deeply penetrate the lungs, peaked at 993 micrograms per cubic metre, almost 40 times the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit.

At the height of the smog, many residents rushed to buy face masks and air purifiers, and doctors at two of Beijing’s major hospitals said the number of patients with respiratory problems had increased sharply during the period.

China’s pollution problems are blamed on the country’s rapid urbanisation and dramatic economic development. But experts have raised questions over China’s will and ability to tackle car and coal use, which are seen as key causes of the phenomenon. — AFP

MARSEILLE: French professor Erwann Loret poses with samples of a vaccine against AIDS yesterday in his laboratory in Marseille, southern France.

Clinical trials of a vaccine against the AIDS virus (HIV-1) will begin next month in Marseille with fifty infected volunteers, announced yesterday the Public Assistance Hospitals of Marseille (AP-HM). — AFP

Can pneumonia be reliably diagnosed without x-rays?

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QINGDAO, China: People walk on a smog-covered road in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province yesterday. Residents across northern China battled through choking pollution as air quality levels rose above index limits in Beijing amid warnings that the smog may not clear until tomorrow. — AFP

octors may miss some cases of pneumonia if they rely solely on their patient’s medical history and symptoms without also taking x-rays, according to a European study.

Dutch researchers, who published their findings in the European Respiratory Journal, found that of 140 patients who had their pneumonia diagnosed by x-ray, doctors initially thought only 41 of them had the severe lung infection. “That’s worse than flipping a coin,” said Richard Watkins, who was not involved in the study but has researched how doctors diagnose pneumonia. “I think that’s an argument for doing chest x-rays.”

People with pneumonia may have a cough, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills or chest pain. Under some circumstances, the infection can put patients into an intensive care unit and even turn fatal.

In 2009, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that about 1.1 million Americans were hospitalized with pneumonia, and about 50,000 died of it.

According to researchers led by Saskia van Vugt from the University Medical Center in Utrecht, most doctors use their best judgment in deciding who has pneumonia, because it’s not possible to give everyone an x-ray

to check for signs of the infection.

Little was known, however, about how accurate doctors were with their diagnoses, the researchers wrote. For the study, van Vugt and her colleagues used information collected between October 2007 and April 2010 on 2,810 adult patients of doctors in 12 European countries.

All of the patients came to the doctor with a cough, but only 72 were initially diagnosed with pneumonia. All of the patients were then given a chest x-ray to see how accurate the doctors’ diagnoses were.

Of those 72 initial diagnoses, the xrays showed that 31 did not have pneumonia. In the rest of the group, the researchers found the doctors missed 99 cases. Overall, the doctors correctly diagnosed fewer than a third of pneumonia cases. While catching only 29 percent of pneumonia cases seems alarming, Watkins said there may be differences between how doctors Europe and in the United States diagnose the illness. It’s common, for example, to have US doctors order xrays if they suspect pneumonia, he said.

In fact, joint guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of American and American Thoracic Society call for an x-ray to diagnose pneumonia. — -Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Will preventive medicine save money? Think again Promise of ‘smart’ prevention that targets only high-risk people NEW YORK: It seems like a no-brainer. Since about 75 percent of healthcare spending in the United States is for largely preventable chronic illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, providing more preventive care should cut costs.

In a report released on Tuesday, the non-profit Trust for America’s Health outlined a plan “to move from sick care to health care” by putting more resources into preventing chronic disease rather than treating it, as the current system does. There is a strong humanitarian justification for prevention, argued Trust Executive Director Jeffrey Levi in an interview, since it reduces human suffering.

But the report also makes an economic argument for preventive care, highlighting the possibility of reducing healthcare spending-which in 2011 reached $2.7 trillion, just shy of 18 percent of gross domestic product-by billions of dollars.

And that has health economists shaking their heads.

“Preventive care is more about the right thing to do” because it spares people the misery of illness, said economist Austin Frakt of Boston University. “But it’s not plausible to think you can cut healthcare spending through preventive care.

This is widely misunderstood.”

A 2010 study in the journal Health Affairs, for instance, calculated that if 90 percent of the US population used proven preventive services, more than do now, it would save only 0.2 percent of healthcare spending. Some disease-prevention programs do produce net savings.

Childhood immunizations, and probably some adult immunizations (such as for pneumonia and the flu), are cost-saving, found a 2009 analysis for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The vaccines are cheap, and large swaths of the population are vulnerable to the diseases they prevent.

The cost of providing them to everyone is less than that of treating the illnesses they prevent.

Counseling adults about using baby aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease also produces net savings. The counseling is inexpensive, the aspirin even cheaper and the costs of heart disease, which strikes one in three US adults, are enormous. Screening pregnant women for HIV produces net savings, too. Those, however, are exceptions.

One big reason why preventive care does not save money, say health economists, is that some of the best-known forms don’t actually improve someone’s health.These low- or no-benefit meas-

ures include annual physicals for healthy adults.

A 2012 analysis of 14 large studies found they do not lower the risk of serious illness or premature death. But about one-third of US adults get them, said Dr. Ateev Mehrota, a primary-care physician and healthcare analyst at RAND, for a cost of about $8 billion a year.

Similarly, some cancer screenings-including for ovarian cancer and testicular cancer, and for prostate cancer via PSA tests-produce essentially no health benefits, causing the US Preventive Services Task Force to recommend against their routine use. The task force bases its recommendations on medical benefits alone, not costs.

The second reason preventive care brings so few cost savings is the large number of people who need to receive a particular preventive service in order to avert a single expensive illness.

“It seems counterintuitive: If you provide care to prevent all these expensive diseases, it should save money,” said Peter Neumann, an expert on health policy and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. “But prevention itself costs money, and some preventive measures can be very expensive, especially if you give them to a lot of people who won’t benefit.”

If preventive care could be provided only to those who are going to get the illness, it would be more cost-effective. “But in the real world, the number needed to screen or to treat in order to prevent one case of illness can be huge,” said BU’s Frakt, who blogs at theincidentaleconomist.com.

Currently, many people who do not benefit from a preventive service receive it, paying something for nothing. Studies have calculated those numbers, which can be surprisingly high. For instance, 217 high-risk smokers would have to undergo a CT lung scan for one to be spared death from lung cancer, according to a database of studies maintained by Dr. David Newman, an emergency physician at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. One hundred postmenopausal women who have had a bone fracture would have to take drugs called bisphosphonates in order for one to avoid a hip fracture.

By comparison, only 50 people with heart disease must be treated with aspirin for one to avoid a heart attack or stroke, making this a good buy.

The numbers of people who need to be treated for one to benefit are so high because so few will get the disease the preventive is meant to avert.

It’s like treating every house for termites, said Neumann, co-author of the Robert Wood

Johnson report: The vast majority would never have gotten infested in the first place, so the thousands spent to avoid the infestation is money for nothing. The failure of many preventive services to improve health, plus the large number of people who have to receive preventive care for one to be spared an illness he or she would otherwise get, limit the economic savings.

A better gauge of the value of preventive medicine is bang for the buck; that is, not whether it reduces healthcare spending but whether it buys more health than treating the disease does. “We don’t ask whether cancer treatment or heart disease treatment saves money,” said Dr Steven Woolf, professor of family medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond. “But it is reasonable to ask how to make our healthcare dollar go further.” On that score, screening for hypertension and for some cancers (such as colorectal and breast) are good investments, he said, at less than $25,000 per year of healthy life. In contrast, such common treatments as angioplasty cost $100,000 or more per healthy year of life.

There are two glimmers of hope in this bleak picture. For preventive medicine to help rein in the nation’s soaring healthcare spending, it should be provided someplace other than doctors’ offices. “Some of the most common chronic, preventable diseases might be best addressed outside the clinical setting,” said the Trust’s Levi, such as through wellness programs at YMCAs and health education and screening programs at houses of worship. “But that requires Medicaid to be more flexible in who they’ll reimburse.”

It also requires a more expansive definition of preventive medicine. The Trust suggests such steps as extending bus lines to parks so people without cars can go someplace pleasant for physical activity and other “community-based” efforts.

These strategies save more money in healthcare spending than they cost.

For instance, at a program in Akron, Ohio, profiled in the new report, physicians and others coordinate care for patients with Type 2 diabetes.

It reduced the average cost of care by more than 10 percent, or $3,185 per year, largely by reducing pricey emergency-room visits. And at Boston Children’s Hospital, an asthma program that sends community health workers into patients’ homes to reduce the environmental triggers of asthma has saved $1.46 in healthcare costs for every $1 invested. It has reduced asthma-related

hospital admissions by 80 percent and asthmarelated emergency department visits by 60 percent, reports the Trust.

The other promising approach is to target preventive care at those most likely to develop a chronic disease, not at low-risk people. Such “smart” prevention increases the chances of pre-

venting expensive diseases and saving money. In contrast, unthinking expansion of preventive medicine is the wrong prescription, say experts.

“If you start giving preventive care to more people, many of whom won’t benefit from it, it’s going to be very, very expensive,” said Tufts’ Neumann. — Reuters

Pfizer Q4 net jumps on nutrition business NEW YORK: Pfizer Inc’s fourth-quarter profit more than quadrupled, despite competition from generic drugs hurting sales, because of a $4.8 billion gain from selling its nutrition business.

The world’s biggest drugmaker said yesterday that its net income was $6.32 billion, or 85 cents per share, up from $1.44 billion, or 19 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding one-time items, the Viagra maker would have had a profit of $3.51 billion, or 47 cents per share - 3 cents more than analysts surveyed by FactSet were expecting. The New York-based company’s stock rose 4 cents to $2688 in premarket trading. Revenue fell 7 percent to $15.1 billion, mainly due to generic competition to cholesterol blockbuster Lipitor. Analysts expected $14.35 billion.

Lipitor, which had reigned as the world’s top-selling drug ever for nearly a decade, got US generic competition in December 2011 and now has generic rivals in many major markets. The drug had been bringing Pfizer nearly $11 billion a year before then, down from its peak of $13 billion a year.

In the fourth quarter, Lipitor sales plunged 91 percent in the US and 71 percent worldwide, to $584 million. A dozen other medicines also had lower sales due to generic competition. But key newer drugs had double-digit sales increases, including fibromyalgia and pain treatment Lyrica, at $1.13 billion, painkiller Celebrex at $750 million, and the Prevnar 13 vaccine against meningitis and other pneumococcal infections, at $993 million. Altogether, Pfizer’s prescription drug revenue fell 9 percent in

NEW YORK: A sign for Pharmaceutical company Pfizer Incorporated headquarters is displayed on 42 Street in New York. — AFP the quarter, to $12.89 billion. The animal health business, which Pfizer is planning to spin off, saw revenue increase 6 percent, to $1.17 billion. The consumer health business, which sells Centrum vitamins, had revenue jump 16 percent, to $936 million.

Pfizer said this year it expects earnings per share of $2.20 to $2.30, excluding onetime items, and revenue of $56.2 billion to $58.2 billion. Analysts are expecting $2.28 per share and revenue of $57.55 billion. For the full year, net income was $14.57 billion, or $1.94 per share. That was down from $10.01 billion, or $1.27 per share, in 2011.

Revenue totaled $58.99 billion, down 10 percent from $65.26 billion in 2011, before generic competition slashed sales of Lipitor and schizophrenia drug Geodon. — AP

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

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SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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 ECC organizes Omra trip for Egyptians

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ecretary general of the Egyptian Community Council (ECC), Dr Azmi Abdul Fattah congratulated all Egyptians on the second anniversary of the January 25 revolution urging everybody to consolidate and unite for the best of Egypt as a whole. On this occasion, Abdul Fattah announced that the council would organize its annual Omra trip pointing out that it would last eight days in the period of February 21 till 28.

Shirva feast hirva Welfare Association Kuwait (SWAK) will be celebrating their Shirva Parish feast2013 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 / get-together 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.

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Goan Culinary Club

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he Goan Culinary Club - Goa encourages you to log on to their website where you can find a video of Odette and Joe Mascarenhas sharing their thoughts on Goan cuisine. These videos were recorded at the launch of the Goan Culinary Club in Goa on March 3, 2012.

Thanks to support from all at the Goan Culinary Club, we have made great progress in six months.

Basketball Academy he new Premier Basketball Academy offers coaching and games every Friday and Saturday from 10 am onwards for 6 to 18 year olds, boys and girls. Located in Bayan Block 7, Masjed Al-Aqsa Street by Abdullah Al-Rujaib High School. Free Basketball and Tee Shirts for all participants, with certificates and special awards on completion of each 6 week course. Qualified and experienced British and American Coaches, Everyone Welcome.

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APAK Xmas-New Year celebration ngamaly Pravasi Association Kuwait (APAK) will conduct its Christmas and New Year celebrations on February 1, 2013 Friday at Abbassiya United Indian School Auditorium from 5:30 pm - 10 pm. The meeting will be chaired by the Advisory Board Chairman Jacob Pynadath in the presence of President Bacon Joseph, Secretary Martin Kurian, Treasurer Sajeev Paul and other famous personalities in Kuwait. Various programs will be followed like Christmas Carol and Orchestra by the members and children to make the event colourful. All Angamaly constituency residents residing in Kuwait are kindly requested to attend with their family, friends and neighbours to make this event a memorable one.

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TAITRA to lead Taiwan Trade Mission to Kuwait

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he grand opening ceremony of TAITRA’s new trade center in Kuwait in Mazaya Tower 2, Sharq on January 20, 2013 symbolized a landmark in TaiwanKuwait trading relationship.

The opening ceremony at the Crystal Ball Room of Sheraton Hotel was hosted

by Chairman of Taiwan Trade Center, PhD. Chih-Kang Wang and Kuwait TAITRA Director Mike Tang. A number of guests, including members of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kuwait Free Trade Zone, Public Authority for Industry and Commerce and other large enterprises in Kuwait attended the ceremony with enthusiasm.

Over the past decades, TAITRA has been promoting trade and has an information network comprising about 1,200 trained specialists stationed at its headquarters in Taipei and 57 overseas branch offices. The branch office here in Kuwait City, Mazaya Tower 2, Sharq, will in fact be the 57th.

In his opening speech, Chairman Wang

mentioned, “Kuwait is among the top 15 trading partners of Taiwan. Taiwan exports to Kuwait mainly electrical equipments, cars, auto parts, and construction materials. On the other hand, Taiwan imports almost 80 billion US dollar worth of oil from Kuwait annually. From these numbers, we can see that we share a very close trading partnership. Although the global economic crisis had a big impact on the world market in the past few years, the Taiwan-Kuwait trade and economic relationship has increased recently.”

Taipei Commercial Representative in Kuwait, Dr. Liu, stated, “I recall my two years’ experience in witnessing the enhancement of the bilateral relations between Taiwan and Kuwait. These ties are not just to serve the complementary needs of energy supply and technology exchange between two sides, but also because of the mutual belief and trust to build a prosperous, people-loving government. Now, the Taiwan Trade Center is ready to provide you an even more con-

venient service, which I have confidence will contribute a great deal and benefit our two countries.”

Mr. Gazi Abu Nahl, the Chairman of the World Trade Center Association (WTCA), which has over 330 members in the world, was also present on this occasion. He said Kuwait will become one of the most important international trading hubs in the GCC region and TAITRA’s establishment will help provide Taiwan trading access throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Chairman of Kuwait Free Zone, Mr. Mansour Ashkonani, added, “Tonight is the night when Taiwan and Kuwait will change the Global Trade in the region. Taiwan is the manufacturing hub and location for many of the world’s leading international mega brands that make a difference in the global economy. Kuwait and Taiwan enjoy a warm and strong relationship and we will strive and continue to support TAITRA in all possible ways to expand its success.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the label ‘Made

in Taiwan’ matters,” he said.

Since the Taiwanese companies joining this mission belong to different industrial sectors, the local buyers will have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of high-quality products. Among the items to be presented include the following: Consumer Electronics & Electrical Products, Hardware & Building Materials, Auto Parts & Accessories, Machinery, Medical and Health, Food and Beverages, and Textiles and Leather.

Lastly, Chairman Wang asserted, “With the close partnership in trade between the two countries, we are committed to continuing and even speeding up our efforts in serving the market. We are proud and honored to announce that our newest, the 57th office - the Taiwan Trade Center, Kuwait City - is officially open as of today.

The new branch office will not only help Taiwanese companies promoting the Kuwaiti market, but also assist Kuwaiti enterprises seeking business opportunities in Taiwan.”

Lowest prices for quality products at IKEA

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temming from its basic fundamental that encompasses the Swedish furnishing store’s vision of the perfect home, IKEA Kuwait is keen on fulfilling the social ambition to create a better everyday life for the many people in their homes through providing affordable products without compromising on the quality.

This concept is successful through sharing a basic product range in all parts of the world which enables other ‘economies-of-scale’. From an IKEA perspective the advan-

tages are the opportunities this presents to coordinate operations and cut costs; production-steered product development and bulk purchases of long series result in a reduction of the fixed costs per product. In addition, sharing a basic product range reinforces the range identity and strengthens the IKEA trademarks. Not only that, but the availability, size and characteristics of the raw materials often have a decisive effect on the design. Less expensive raw materials are always considered when this benefits the consumer which IKEA is keen on constantly searching for, to satisfy consumer pockets. In line with IKEA’s ambition to provide well-designed, good-function

home furnishing products at the lowest possible cost, IKEA products are purchased from a number of carefully selected independent suppliers. Mainly these factories are strategically located in economies with low costs and overheads and with good access to raw materials. These production facilities are constantly audited and upgraded to secure the highest production output thus reducing the fixed cost per produced unit. Administration, logistics and transportation is the heart of IKEA operations. A reliable and efficient supply of millions of cubic meters of IKEA products all over the globe takes wellfunctioning administration, logistics and transportation apparatus. Cost-effective solutions and methods are always a priority; and new developments within business technologies are always sought after and adapted at IKEA operation. Even though the geographical spread of IKEA stores is very wide and suppliers are also widely spread around the globe, coordinating all this is a major task and that’s where IKEA logistics and transportation operations comes in with a dense and farreaching network of IKEA stores, suppliers, distribution centers, local service centers, warehouses, conveyors and more, ensuring goods flow from thousands of supply locations reaching individual IKEA stores around the world. Stacking many flat packs as possible on each full pallet and standardizing the sizes of the pallets themselves are two ways of making the distribution of IKEA products efficient and cost-effective.

The effective exchange of ideas and hard-earned experience is the key to the continuing success of the IKEA concept in the future. Most of the development within the essentials of the IKEA concept is done locally, on the factory floor, in the purchasing office, or at the IKEA store to keep reducing costs so that the customers can enjoy quality products at affordable prices and could appreciate IKEA’s vision in creating a better everyday life for the many people.

Ernakulam District Association football team

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rnakulam District Association, Kuwait formed new foot ball team. Team Sponsor PN Jaya Kumar (CEO, Ceasers Travels Group) released new jersey for the team by handing over to Nivil Ali, Team manger. EDA president Roy Yoyaki, General Secretary Madhu Warier, General Coordinator Geo Mathai attended the function.

EDA Foot Ball team is playing in the KEFAK (Kerala Expatriate Foot Ball Association Kuwait) ìDistrict Foot Ball Leagueî in Kuwait. EDA Team win the first match against Kozhokode district team by 2-0 margin at Surra Foot Ball stadium.

MahaQuizzer Middle East - Kuwait on Feb 13 ahaQuizzer Middle East - Kuwait, the solo written quiz competition organized by National Institute of Technology Calicut Alumni Association Kuwait chapter (NITCAA Kuwait) in association with Karnataka Quiz Association (KQA), Bengaluru will be held on 1st February, 2013 from 2:00 pm to 3.30 pm at Indian English Academy School (Don Bosco), Salmiya and Fahaheel Al Watanieh Indian Private School (DPS), Ahmadi simultaneously. The registered participants should report at the test centers chosen by them before 1.30 pm as informed by the organizers. Participants, please note that the Reporting Desks at the test centers will start functioning from 1:00 pm. We have an overwhelming No. of 296 persons of 6 Nationalities registered for the test. This includes 196 children from 13 schools. The participants will be attempting 100 questions in 90 minutes. Participants are advised to visit the website www.nitcaakuwait.org for further details.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Christmas and New Year celebrations

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unique celebration, on the occasion of Christmas and New Year 2013, was conducted by the residents of Building No. 105, Block 3 of Mangaf at Royal Mugalai Auditorium Fahaheel on January 18 which was as remarkable as the Onam Celebration conducted by them on September 7, 2012. This celebration marked the beginning of a series for the residents of Building No. 105.

This function was well-attended by over 40 families

residing in Building No. 105 overwhelming barriers of caste, creed and culture. It began with a welcome note presented by Salmon - the pioneer of the entire program, followed by melodious prayer songs by the singers. The program was made remarkable by the well-organized games for the categories - children, ladies and couples and the lively ‘Ganamela’ of jubilant music which followed added further vigor to the evening and got the people

swaying to its beats. A delicious buffet of a wide variety of food followed by mouth-watering sweet dishes was arranged which left the attendees hungry for more of such celebrations! The eventful day was concluded by the Thanksgiving Note of Johnson wishing all the attendees a bright and successful year ahead and with the final note to all to be geared up for the next celebration which would be “Onam”.

W H AT ’ S O N

KromOzone sponsors Kuwait Bike Show in Marina Crescent

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ue to its ongoing commitment to maintain a constant channel of communication with the youth who are keen on a distinct driving experience, KromOzone from Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons Automotive have sponsored the 9th Kuwait Bike Show at Marina Crescent on January 25-26, 2013.

Throughout the years, the event has attracted hundreds of motorbike and unique car fans, a factor that marks the event as the ideal place to be and see the newest, latest and most distinct rides.

In an effort to add more excitement to the much-awaited event, KromOzone organized a competition through its social media channels. The fun-filled competition received a positive response as many participants took a photograph of unique cars before uploading them on KromOzone’s Instagram account.

One of the cars that KromOzone displayed was the all-new 2013 Chevrolet TrailBlazer that was specially customized

by KromOzone’s skilled team of technicians and quality accessories, elements that showcase KromOzone’s ability to reflect a drivers’ personality and character into their prized vehicle in an innovative and modern way. The all-new TrailBlazer comes in LT and LTZ trim levels. Available in two and four-wheel-drive configurations, the TrailBlazer is pow-

ered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that generates 239 hp with variable valve timing matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission that delivers an optimal balance of power, performance and fuel efficiency. All these features allow for a

powered truck proves to be the ultimate answer for any terrain, be it for rough rides in the desert, leisurely outings or a convenient tool for moving large objects. Available in two and four-wheeldrive configurations, the 2013 Silverado

specialized in accessorizing all car makes. The center offers customers a wide range of accessorizing options including rims, door accessories, headlights, sound systems, bumpers and grills, body paint and much more high

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smooth and controlled drive in rough terrain without requiring drivers to press the brake pedal.

The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado was also displayed in the event, showing off its amazingly accessorized exterior as well as interior. A beloved choice amongst the youth in Kuwait, the high-

is powered by a 4.8-liter engine that generates 335 hp, 5.3-liter engine that generates 365 hp and 6.0-liter engine that generates 403 hp. The 2013 Silverado comes in regular, extended or crew cab versions.

KromOzone is one of the largest and most famous centers in Kuwait that is

quality, innovative accessorizing options for cars’ interior and exterior. Due to its excellent service and products, KromOzone is considered as the ideal location for all car lovers who seek to add a personal touch to their drive, in addition to its variety of accessorizing options.

Investments, Portfolio Manager of Foreign Investments, and ultimately Executive Director of Foreign and Domestic Portfolios. In 1998, Al-Qadhi

Ibrahim A Al-Qadhi was selected to become the Executive Director of the Supervision Sector at the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) where he spent ten years and represented the CBK in various regional and interna-

tional organizations including IIF and IFSB. Following that, Al-Qadhi went on to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Clearing Company (KSC)

Khaled Al-Khattaf until he was elected Chairman of the Board of Boubyan Bank in April 2009.

Once he succeeded in coaching the bank to bypass its financial crisis, AlQadhi resigned from the bank’s chair-

manship in March 2012 to become fully-dedicated to his work with the Kuwait Clearing Company as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in addition to his position as a member in the Kuwait Capital Market Committee which had started in 1999 and continues to the present date”.

Khaled Al-Khattaf concluded his statement by saying: “The appointment of Al-Qadhi underlines the strong belief of the Board in the capabilities and talents of the citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and in their abilities to lead regional organizations, of which GIC is an example”. He wished Al-Qadhi all the best of success in running the corporation.

Ibrahim Al-Qadhi expressed his sincere appreciation to the board for its decision to select him as the Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Investment Corporation. He added that he will do his utmost to help strengthen GIC to prosper further and achieve the seminal goals for which it was created.

ICSK Amman marks Republic Day

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epublic day marks India’s adoption of a republic constitution of India. It is also celebrated as the National Festival of India. To express the deep love and gratitude for the native country India, the students of ICSK, Amman celebrated the 64th Republic day. A special assembly was conducted to commemorate this occasion.

The assembly commenced with the recitals from the Holy Quran followed

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. nnnnnnn

Gulf Investment Corporation appoints new CEO

ulf Investment Corporation, GIC, announces that its Board of Directors has appointed Ibrahim A Al-Qadhi as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation effective February 4, 2013.

Commenting on this appointment, Khaled Al-Khattaf, the Chairman of the Board stated that “The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Ibrahim Al-Qadhi as the new CEO of GIC since he has diverse capabilities and an accumulated experience that spans over thirty years, sixteen of which were in the field of investment and fourteen years in banking”.

The Chairman of the GIC Board added that “After graduating with honors from the Business School of Kuwait University majoring in Finance in early 1983, Ibrahim Al-Qadhi started his professional career at Kuwait Investment Company, KIC, where his tenure lasted sixteen years and where his responsibilities included Head of the Asian

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on short-stay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database. Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. nnnnnnn

by the school prayer. An inspiring thought “The one who doesn’t love his country, cannot love anyone in this world” enlightened and awakened the minds of the students. A few students were dressed up as freedom fightersMohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Bhagat Singh, etc... was spectacular. This reminded the saga of sacrifice of the Indian freedom struggle.

The speech on republic day aroused patriotism in each and every youth. The Indian culture, the army, navy and air force strength of Indian was displayed in all its colours and imagination. The most striking feature of the students clad is the flag colours of India, unfurling the flag, dancing and celebrating this momentous occasion was enigmatic.

The students sang patriotic songs and recited a lovely poem as a tribute expressing their love for the great

nation. The PowerPoint presentation, Educating children all about the national integration of India was splendid indeed. Principal Rajesh Nair in his address wished the students and under his wise leadership made them realize the true meaning of patriotism towards our country India, which will be forever etched in the minds and treasured in their lives. Finally the assembly concluded with the singing of the Indian National Anthem.

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. nnnnnnn

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.

Kuwait Carnatic Music Forum Thyagaraja program

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Stills from ‘The Earth, A Reminiscence’ a drama presented by NIT Calicut Alumni Association during the Alumni Show competition last Friday at Carmel School. The drama, written by Sunil Cherian and directed by Sunesh Kumar won the 1st prize.

n January 31, 6:30 pm onwards, NJ Nandini disciple of Bombay Jayasree who sang the title song in the Oscar nominated movie Life of Pi and winner of Ragarathnam program Amrutha TV classical music competition; accompanying artistes: Kanchi Kamakodi Pitham asthana vidwan Karunagappalli S Balamurali on violin; Kanchi Kamakodi Pitham asthana vidwan Perunna G Harikumar on mridangam; Gireesh Sundareshan on ganchira; Vazhappalli G Anil kumar on ghatam; and Manoj Mavelikkara on morshankh will perform. Full day classical music program on Feb 1 9 am - 4.30 pm. Participants: music students and devotees. Pancharathna keerthanaalapanam at 5 pm at the Indian Community School Salmiya (senior girls). All are welcome.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:50 Animal Cops Phoenix 01:45 Attack Of The Giant Jellyfish 02:35 I’m Alive 03:25 Wildest Islands 04:15 Wildlife SOS 05:05 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 05:55 Call Of The Wildman 06:20 Animal Battlegrounds 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 101 10:10 Animal Airport 11:05 Wildest Islands 12:00 Animal Cops Philadelphia 12:55 Call Of The Wildman 13:20 Wildlife SOS 14:45 Animal Precinct 15:40 Wildest Islands 16:35 Animal Battlegrounds 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Dogs 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 Animal Battlegrounds 22:05 Wildest Islands 23:00 Sharkman

00:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 01:20 Come Dine With Me 02:10 House Swap 02:55 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 03:20 House Swap 04:05 Come Dine With Me 04:55 Antiques Roadshow 05:45 House Swap 06:30 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 06:55 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 07:25 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 07:50 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 08:15 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 09:00 Fantasy Homes In The City 09:50 Bargain Hunt 10:35 Antiques Roadshow 11:30 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 12:45 Come Dine With Me 13:35 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 14:25 10 Years Younger 15:15 Bargain Hunt 16:00 Antiques Roadshow 16:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 18:10 Britain’s Dream Homes 19:00 Rick Stein’s Mediterranean Escapes 19:50 Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey 20:45 Come Dine With Me 21:35 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 22:25 Antiques Roadshow 23:15 Bargain Hunt

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 09:30 09:45 10:30 10:45 11:30 11:45 12:30 13:00 13:30 13:45 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:30 18:00 19:30 19:45 20:00 20:30 21:00

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 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:40

BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News GMT With George Alagiah Impact With Mishal Husain Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News BBC Focus On Africa BBC World News

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 Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show What’s New Scooby-Doo? Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry Tales The Looney Tunes Show

00:40 Chowder 01:30 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:20 Foster’s Home For...

02:45 Foster’s Home For...

03:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 04:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 04:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Powerpuff Girls

05:40 Generator Rex 06:05 Ben 10 06:55 Angelo Rules 07:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:00 Mucha Lucha 08:25 Johnny Test 08:45 Regular Show 09:05 Total Drama Action 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

00:15 01:10 02:05 03:00 03:55 04:20 05:15 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 21:55 22:25

Flying Wild Alaska Man, Woman, Wild Ultimate Survival Mythbusters Border Security Auction Kings How It’s Made Sons Of Guns Mythbusters Ultimate Survival You Have Been Warned Border Security Auction Kings How Stuff Works How It’s Made Flying Wild Alaska Man, Woman, Wild Ultimate Survival Border Security Auction Kings NASA’s Unexplained Files Finding Bigfoot Mythbusters Sons Of Guns How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Auction Kings Magic Of Science Time Warp Mythbusters

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 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40

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 Los Angeles So Random Hannah Montana 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 Phineas And Ferb Shake It Up Austin And Ally Jessie A.N.T Farm

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 23:20 23:45

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 Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana

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 17:05 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 Timmy Time 20:15 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

00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00am KSA 07:00 Kickin It 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 07:50 Almost Naked Animals 08:15 Pokemon: BW Rival Destinies 08:40 Slugterra 09:05 Scaredy Squirrel 09:30 Ultimate Spider-Man 09:55 Zeke & Luther 10:20 Kick Buttowski 10:45 I’m In The Band 11:10 Rated A For Awesome 11:35 Iron Man Armored Adventures 12:00 American Dragon 12:25 Kick Buttowski 12:50 Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge 13:20 Pair Of Kings 13:45 Zeke & Luther 14:10 Kick Buttowski 14:35 I’m In The Band 15:00 Phineas And Ferb 15:25 Pokemon: BW Rival Destinies 15:50 Rekkit Rabbit 16:15 Pair Of Kings 16:40 Almost Naked Animals 17:05 Lab Rats 17:30 Slugterra 18:00 Kickin It 18:25 Scaredy Squirrel 18:50 Phineas And Ferb 19:40 Mr. Young 20:05 Slugterra 20:30 Zeke & Luther 20:55 I’m In The Band 21:20 Rated A For Awesome 21:45 Rekkit Rabbit 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Ultimate Spider-Man 23:05 Kick Buttowski 23:30 Scaredy Squirrel

BENDING THE RULES ON OSN ACTION HD

00:00 00:55 01:25 03:15 03:40 04:10 07:50 08:20 10:15 12:05

Holly’s World Style Star THS Behind The Scenes Extreme Close-Up THS Behind The Scenes Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane THS Khloe And Lamar

13:05 Married To Jonas 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New York 15:00 Style Star 15:30 THS 16:30 Behind The Scenes 17:00 Giuliana & Bill 18:00 E! News 19:00 Fashion Police 20:00 THS 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 02:45 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 08:00 Iron Chef America 08:50 Kid In A Candy Store 09:15 Unwrapped 09:40 United Tastes Of America 10:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:55 Cooking For Real 11:20 Hungry Girl 11:45 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 12:10 United Tastes Of America 12:35 Unwrapped 13:00 Iron Chef America 13:50 Tyler’s Ultimate 14:15 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 14:40 Everyday Italian 15:05 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 15:30 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 15:55 Hungry Girl 16:20 United Tastes Of America 16:45 Chopped 17:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:15 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 19:40 Tyler’s Ultimate 20:05 Guy’s Big Bite 20:30 Chopped 21:20 Iron Chef America 22:10 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 Jones 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:15 14:40 15:30 Jones 16:20 16:45 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:40 20:05 Jones 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 Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite Murder Shift Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Murder Shift Disappeared Forensic Detectives Street Patrol True Crime With Aphrodite Stalked: Someone’s Watching Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill American Greed I Almost Got Away With It

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 City Chase: Argentina 05:20 A World Apart 06:15 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 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 City Chase: Argentina 12:40 A World Apart 13:35 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 14:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 14:30 Exploring The Vine 14:55 Kimchi Chronicles 15:25 Around The World For Free 16:20 A World Apart 17:15 Long Way Down 18:10 Banged Up Abroad 19:05 City Chase: Argentina 20:00 Exploring The Vine 20:30 Kimchi Chronicles 21:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 21:30 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 22:00 A World Apart 22:55 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 23:20 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 23:50 Reverse Exploration

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40

Animal Underworld Sea Strikers Great Migrations Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy

THE DARKEST HOUR ON OSN CINEMA 05:35 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Sahara Great Migrations Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals I, Predator World’s Weirdest Hunter Hunted World’s Deadliest GPU Wild Mississippi Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals I, Predator That Shouldn’t Fly Hunter Hunted Monster Fish Dangerous Encounters World’s Deadliest Animals I, Predator

00:00 The Speak-18 02:00 RoboCop-PG15 04:00 True Justice: Vengeance Is Mine-PG15 06:00 Tank Girl-PG15 08:00 Bending The Rules-PG15 10:00 Biker Boyz-PG15 12:00 The Presence-PG15 14:00 Bending The Rules-PG15 16:00 The New Daughter-PG15 18:00 The Presence-PG15 20:00 The Rite-18 22:00 Fading Of The Cries-18

01:00 03:00 PG15 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 12:30 15:00 17:00 19:00 PG15 21:00 23:00

Feed The Fish-PG15 The Deep End Of The OceanGreener Mountains-PG Elevator Girl-PG15 Feed The Fish-PG15 Princess Lillifee-FAM Another Year-PG15 Stolen Lives-PG15 33 Postcards-PG15 When Love Is Not EnoughThe Darkest Hour-PG15 Hall Pass-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Angry Boys 02:00 American Dad 03:00 New Girl 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 06:00 Samantha Who? 06:30 Seinfeld 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 New Girl 09:30 Samantha Who? 10:00 How I Met Your Mother 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Seinfeld 13:30 Samantha Who? 15:00 How I Met Your Mother 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 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Angry Boys 22:30 The Big C 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Good Morning America Royal Pains Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House House Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street The Finder Warehouse 13 Awake The Carrie Diaries

07:00 16:30 19:00 20:00 21:00

Emmerdale Coronation Street The Finder Warehouse 13 Awake

00:00 Reginald D Hunter Live-18 02:00 The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou-PG15 04:00 The Winning Season-PG15 06:00 Morning Glory-PG15 08:00 Scooby-Doo-PG 10:00 Cars 2-FAM 12:00 The Winning Season-PG15 14:00 The Family Stone-PG15 16:00 Cars 2-FAM 18:00 Zookeeper-PG15 20:00 Paul-PG15 22:00 The Switch-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:45 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Butcher Boy-PG15 The King’s Speech-PG15 Shanghai-PG15 The Eagle-PG15 Relative Stranger-PG15 Bright Star-PG15 Waiting For Superman-PG15 Relative Stranger-PG15 Certified Copy-PG15 Fish Tank-PG15 Posse-18 Fear-18

01:00 The Ides Of March-PG15 02:45 Moneyball-PG15 05:00 Bobby Jones: Stroke Of Genius-PG 07:15 Lord Of The Dance-PG 09:00 Water For Elephants-PG15 11:00 Moneyball-PG15 13:15 Gandhi-PG 15:30 Ways To Live Forever-PG15 17:00 Water For Elephants-PG15 19:00 The Lincoln Lawyer-PG15 21:00 The Darkest Hour-PG15 23:00 Spread-R

01:00 Emperor’s Secret-PG 02:45 Jelly T-PG 04:30 The Adventures Of Don Quixote-FAM 06:00 The Search For Santa Paws-PG 08:00 Tom Tom & Nana-FAM 10:00 Marco Antonio-PG 11:30 The Adventures Of Don Quixote-FAM 13:00 Cher Ami-PG 14:30 Jelly T-PG 16:00 Battle For Terra-PG 18:00 A Venetian Rascal Goes To America-FAM 20:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2-PG 22:00 Cher Ami-PG 23:30 Battle For Terra-PG

01:00 City Center Races 01:30 PGA European Tour 06:00 Adventure Challenge 07:00 Dubai World Cup Carnival 11:30 Futbol Mundial 12:00 Anglo-Welsh Cup 14:00 Adventure Challenge 15:00 Cricket Twenty20 18:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 20:00 The Ryder Cup 21:30 Trans World Sport 22:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights

00:00 WWE Experience 01:00 Futbol Mundial 01:30 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights 03:00 Cricket T20 06:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 07:00 Trans World Sport 08:00 Top 14 10:00 Adventure Challenge

10:30 Adventure Challenge 12:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 13:30 City Centre Races 14:00 ICC Cricket 360 14:30 Futbol Mundial 15:00 Trans World Sport 16:00 Adventure Challenge 17:00 Top 14 19:00 Adventure Challenge 21:30 PGA European Tour Weekly 22:00 Inside the PGA 22:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 23:30 Trans World Sport

00:00 World Cup of Pool 01:00 Dubai World Cup Carnival 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 09:00 World Pool Masters 10:00 World Cup of Pool 11:00 Top 14 13:00 Top 14 Highlights 13:30 Golfing World 14:30 World Pool Masters 15:30 World Cup of Pool 16:30 HSBC Sevens World Series 19:30 Top 14 Highlights 20:00 Anglo-Welsh Cup 22:00 Spirit of a Champion 23:00 World Pool Masters

00:00 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 16:00 19:00 22:00 23:00

WWE Bottom Line V8 Supercars Highlights UFC Unleashed UFC Countdown NHL WWE Vintage Collection WWE NXT V8 Supercars Highlights NHL WWE SmackDown WWE Vintage Collection Prizefighter UFC UFC Countdown WWE Experience

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 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

American Pickers Pawn Stars Storage Wars Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Storage Wars Unlocked American Pickers Mud Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Pawn Stars Storage Wars Mud Men Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Storage Wars Unlocked American Pickers Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Storage Wars Unlocked American Pickers Pawn Stars American Restoration Mud Men Pawn Stars Storage Wars Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Swamp People

01:30 03:30 05:05 06:50 08:20 09:20 10:50 12:30 14:05 16:15 18:25 20:20 22:00 23:45

Knightriders Piranha Traces Of Red Gate II Lights! Action! Music!

Bermuda Grace Hannibal Brooks Marked For Murder Charge Of The Light Brigade Yentl Viva Maria!

The Tenth Man Alice Welcome To Woop Woop

Classifieds WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

112 Kuwait

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (24/01/2013 TO 30/01/2013)

SHARQIA-1 CHINESE ZODIAC (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) RACE 2 (DIG) (HINDI) QUARTET (DIG) DJANGO UNCHAINED (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

SHMUHALAB-1 ART OF SUBMISSION (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) ART OF SUBMISSION (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-1 QUARTET (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

A360º- 1 3ALA GOSETY 3ALA GOSETY 3ALA GOSETY 3ALA GOSETY 3ALA GOSETY NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 3:15 PM 6:00 PM 8:45 PM 11:30 PM

MUHALAB-2 SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) DJANGO UNCHAINED (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) DJANGO UNCHAINED (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

FANAR-1 CHINESE ZODIAC (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) GREAT EXPECTATIONS (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

360º- 2 THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-1 QUARTET (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) ART OF SUBMISSION (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

360º- 4 3ALA GOSETY 3ALA GOSETY SABOBA (DIG) 3ALA GOSETY 3ALA GOSETY NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

12:30 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:30 PM 1:00 AM

MARINA-2 GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

360 º-10(VIP-2) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.1 3ALA GOSETY GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) 3ALA GOSETY GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) 3ALA GOSETY NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

MARINA-3 SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) CHINESE ZODIAC (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) DJANGO UNCHAINED (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.2 TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) SABOBA (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG)

NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.3 THE LAST STAND (DIG) ART OF SUBMISSION (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) ART OF SUBMISSION (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) ART OF SUBMISSION (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.4 QUARTET (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) GREAT EXPECTATIONS (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:45 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

BAIRAQ-1 GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) CHINESE ZODIAC (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) SABOBA (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

BAIRAQ-2 SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) TEXAS CHAINSAW (DIG) SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

BAIRAQ-3 DJANGO UNCHAINED (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) DJANGO UNCHAINED (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) DJANGO UNCHAINED (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

PLAZA THE LAST STAND (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) RACE 2 (DIG) (HINDI) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) LAILA GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) NO FRI SILENT HILL: REVELATION (DIG) NO FRI GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG)

3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 11:00 PM

FOR SALE

SITUATION WANTED

Required used car in good condition.

Contact: 96955168. (C 4290) 28-1-2012

PhD holder with 12 years R&D experiences seeking academic, research or consultancy positions in the area of IT/ software engineering, image analysis, data mining and applied machine learning and pattern recognition. Available for appointments between 2-15 Feb 2013. Please call 9729-8545 for details.

(C 4292) 29-1-2013

Jeep Tawareq, 2005 model, white color, six cylinders, price KD 3,300. Contact: 66104141. (C 4289) TUITION Notes/Study materials/ Tuitions Acc. To your requirements for graduation & post graduation students & all other levels including “0”, as level, IGSE, GMAT etc study materials were prepared by well experienced Indian teacher.

Economics, Finance, Accounts, Income Tax, Management, Marketing, Company law, Histor y, Science etc notes were prepared to make your study easier. Contact: 99315825/ 99838117. (C 4291) 29-1-2013 SITUATION VACANT

3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM

Wanted part time maid in Salwa, salary KD 80, 8 am to noon, six days per week.

Contact: 96942874.

21-1-2013

MBA Finance, B.Com & ACCA (Fundamental) with 5 years of Accounts experience in Kuwait, looking for suitable position in well established company or MNC. If anyone has any opportunity or can refer me to any company I would be thankful. Please contact: 55829223 or Email: acconline@ymail.com (C 4284) 27-1-2012

Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

1889988

Prayer timings Fajr:

05:17

Shorook

06:39

Duhr:

12:01

Asr:

15:03

Maghrib:

17:24

Isha:

18:44

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 UAE KAC ABY QTR FDB ETD GFA BAB IRA JZR MSC MEA KNE MSR IRM UAE KAC CLX IZG FDB IRC SVA QTR JZR KAC KAC

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 30/1/2013 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 855 DUBAI 344 CHENNAI 121 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 436 BAHRAIN 603 SHIRAZ 165 DUBAI 2403 ASSIUT 404 BEIRUT 470 JEDDAH 610 CAIRO 1190 MASHAD 871 DUBAI 382 DELHI 792 LUXEMBOURG 4167 MASHAD 57 DUBAI 6692 MASHAD 500 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 561 SOHAG 788 JEDDAH 284 DHAKA

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 11:20 11:30 11:55 12:10 12:45 12:50 12:50 12:55 13:15 13:30 13:50 14:10 14:30 14:45 14:50 14:55 15:10

QTR KAC JZR IYE UAE JZR ETD RJA GFA SVA KNE JZR QTR ABY UAL KAC JZR KAC BAB FDB KAC MSC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB KAC JAI AXB MSR ABY QTR ALK MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE JZR FDB DHX KLM AIC JZR GFA JZR UAL QTR DLH

134 538 787 824 857 357 303 640 215 510 462 777 144 127 982 542 177 786 438 63 166 2405 618 102 674 774 647 61 614 572 389 606 129 146 229 402 136 221 307 859 135 59 372 417 975 239 217 185 981 6130 636

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 SOHAG DOHA NEW YORK/LONDON DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI BAHRAIN MUMBAI MANGALORE LUXOR SHARJAH DOHA COLOMBO BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM CHENNAI/GOA AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA FRANKFURT

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 19:15 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 UAE KAC ABY QTR FDB ETD GFA BAB IRA JZR MSC MEA KNE MSR IRM UAE KAC CLX IZG FDB IRC SVA QTR JZR KAC KAC

Departure Flights on Wednesday 30/1/2013 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 855 DUBAI 344 CHENNAI 121 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 436 BAHRAIN 603 SHIRAZ 165 DUBAI 2403 ASSIUT 404 BEIRUT 470 JEDDAH 610 CAIRO 1190 MASHAD 871 DUBAI 382 DELHI 792 LUXEMBOURG 4167 MASHAD 57 DUBAI 6692 MASHAD 500 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 561 SOHAG 788 JEDDAH 284 DHAKA

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 11:20 11:30 11:55 12:10 12:45 12:50 12:50 12:55 13:15 13:30 13:50 14:10 14:30 14:45 14:50 14:55 15:10

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

QTR KAC JZR IYE UAE JZR ETD RJA GFA SVA KNE JZR QTR ABY UAL KAC JZR KAC BAB FDB KAC MSC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB KAC JAI AXB MSR ABY QTR ALK MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE JZR FDB DHX KLM AIC JZR GFA JZR UAL QTR DLH

134 538 787 824 857 357 303 640 215 510 462 777 144 127 982 542 177 786 438 63 166 2405 618 102 674 774 647 61 614 572 389 606 129 146 229 402 136 221 307 859 135 59 372 417 975 239 217 185 981 6130 636

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 SOHAG DOHA NEW YORK/LONDON DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI BAHRAIN MUMBAI MANGALORE LUXOR SHARJAH DOHA COLOMBO BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM CHENNAI/GOA AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA FRANKFURT

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 19:15 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

stars CROSSWORD 85

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) Messages from home and or work can be at cross-purposes and straightening them out may require you to step in the middle and mediate.

Quicker resolutions, even if not complete, are preferable to endless bickering and pettiness. Don’t take it personally and don’t let it confuse you, just try to stay objective. Putting your feelings into words only enhances them, so don’t be afraid to say what you mean from the heart. Your words will not fail you, and backing them with your emotions makes them seem all the more reliable.

Honesty pays off now so take a risk and vocalize how you really feel.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You come across assertively, competitively, and energetically now, so much so that you may arouse others’ animosity. You don’t want to slow down or accommodate other people’s needs, and resent it hotly if your own desires have to take a back seat to others’ will and wishes. This is a time for positive, decisive action on your part, forging ahead, taking the initiative. Feelings and internal visions can get a bit mixed up right now. Emotional miscommunication, either unintended or on purpose, may get in the way of how you really feel. Misunderstandings can snowball, so be ready to cut loose and try again later. Avoid long term commitments if possible, try to keep things open for negotiation at a later time.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A light touch or stroke.

4. Display excessive cordiality (towards).

12. Consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree.

15. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

16. A mountain peak in the Andes in Peru (21,709 feet high).

17. A health resort near a spring or at the seaside.

18. Small often spiny insectivorous mammal of Madagascar.

20. Large ornamental tropical American tree with bipinnate leaves and globose clusters of flowers with crimson stamens and sweet-pulp seed pods eaten by cattle.

21. An associate degree in applied science.

22. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

25. A colorless toxic flammable liquid used in the synthesis of nylon.

29. (Hinduism or Buddhism) A sacred word or syllable repeated in prayer or meditation.

32. An Indian side dish of yogurt and chopped cucumbers and spices.

35. A doctor's degree in musical arts.

37. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agriculture and patron of scribes and schools.

41. Psychoactive substance present in marijuana.

42. Fiddler crabs.

44. Constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic.

46. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

48. A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood.

50. Either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye.

51. A river that rises in northern Colombia and flows generally eastward to the Orinoco in central Venezuela.

53. Affect with wonder.

55. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

56. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

58. Indian chief and founder of the Powhatan confederacy of tribes in Eastern Virginia.

61. Being two more than ninety.

63. The academic world.

71. The state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by.

72. Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of.

75. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

76. A run that is the result of the batter's performance.

77. A mountain peak in the Andes in Bolivia (21,201 feet high).

78. Automatic data processing in which data acquisition and other stages or processing are integrated into a coherent system.

79. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

80. A parenteral cephalosporin (trade name Claforan) used for severe infections of the lungs or throat or ears or urinary tract.

81. Inflammation of the urethra of unknown cause.

DOWN 1. The specified day of the month.

2. In bed.

3. An unofficial association of people or groups.

4. Minor or subordinate.

5. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

6. A hard brittle blue-white multivalent metallic element.

7. A member of the North American Indian people of Oregon.

8. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off.

9. Pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness.

10. Slightly open.

11. Cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel.

12. Port city on southern Honshu on Osaka Bay. 13. Remote and separate physically or socially.

14. A river of southwestern Africa that rises in central Angola and flows east and then north (forming part of the border between Angola and Congo) and continuing northwest through Congo to empty into the Congo River on the border between Congo and Republic of the Congo.

19. A large number or amount.

23. An informal term for a father.

24. Of or relating to Oman or its people.

26. Relating to the Urdu language.

27. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

28. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series).

30. A member of the Semitic speaking people of northern Ethiopia.

31. The back side of the neck.

33. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

34. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

36. Someone who is morally reprehensible.

38. Enthusiastic approval.

39. 1,000 baiza equal 1 riyal-omani.

40. Of time long past.

43. Of or relating to or characteristic of the Republic of Chad or its people or language.

45. A major god.

47. Wild sheep of northern Africa.

49. Any of a group of antidepressant drugs that inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase in the brain and so allow monoamines to accumulate.

52. (computer science) A measure of how densely information is packed on a storage medium.

54. (New Testament) The sages who visited Jesus and Mary and Joseph shortly after Jesus was born.

57. Small depression under the shoulder joint where the arm joins the shoulder.

59. An oil port in southern Iraq.

60. A city in west central Mexico.

62. The civil and religious leader of a Muslim state.

64. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

65. A public area set aside as a pedestrian walk.

66. An inactive volcano in Sicily.

67. One of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse.

68. Characteristic of false pride.

69. Acute lung injury characterized by coughing and rales.

70. Chevrotain somewhat larger than the kanchil.

73. The United Nations agency concerned with international maritime activities.

74. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

You are very congenial and cooperative now and more interested in the similarities than in the differences between yourself and others. This is a very good time to let people know you care about them: send a card, write a note of appreciation or even a love letter! If you can say it then you can have it, so don’t hesitate to voice your desires and you can get whom you want. Chances are you’ll be hearing news that make not only your heart go pitter pat but the person of your desire as well.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your physical energy and get-up-and-go are put in focus this month in a way that showcases your ability to sustain efforts and makes an impression of robust strength that engenders admiration and trust. It means, however, that you will be committing yourself to a rhythm which you will likely have to repeat. Making assumptions now just makes more trouble for everyone including you! Be very clear about your goals, especially if you’re involving others. The simpler communications are at this time, the better for everyone.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Quickly passing notoriety may come you way, an unexpected word from without that lets you know they’re watching you, and not always when you’re expecting it. When you raise your flag, anyone can see it, and often does, but not often with import. You’re entering a period of emotional change now: feeling two ways at once without getting too deep into either polarity is possible. Your personal charm and attractiveness has a positive effect on others at this time. People see you as a loving and lovable person, and as someone who is aware of their needs and feelings, which can benefit you at this time. Others are willing to help and cooperate with your goals and ambitions.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Your way of thinking at present can be affected by tension or radical changes in your immediate surroundings. You will change your way of thinking by freeing yourself from taboos or other unconscious beliefs that could exist deep inside you.

Your ideas won’t be totally understood nor accepted by people around you, and they could provoke disagreements and changes in the way you communicate. Change the WAY in which you say what you need to say today. Choose your words and tone carefully to avoid setbacks. You could be feeling a lot needier than usual today. You may feel the need to care for others or to have them care for you - perhaps on a very private level. You have needs and you sense the needs of others: fitting the two together well makes it work. Scratch my back honey I’ll scratch yours is a good motto for today.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) Good luck comes in threes so be on the lookout for those omens today. And as the day wears on, each successive omen could herald better and better things. But you must remain aware - alert to what the Universe is saying. A Taurean or Libran friend may be instrumental in the outcome of these omens and the corresponding events. This is a good time to assert your own needs and desires, to communicate to others what you really want. You are sharp, clear, decisive, and articulate. Your daily life is steady and stable, although not particularly exciting or unusual at this time.

This is an excellent time to make steady, practical progress in your life.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

If you’re concerned that your resources seem to be dwindling away, you need to investigate alternative methods to stretch your dollar further. This is not an occasion for visiting the most expensive restaurants or purchasing those high ticket items in fashion stores. If someone close to you seems to be putting some distance between the two of you don’t try to force yourself on them. They’re likely to be dealing with some personal problems that they prefer to keep as private as possible. Give them the distance they need and they’ll be back in your life full tilt soon.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You have to be frank in your dealings with someone who would otherwise consider you to be scheming and underhanded. Just don’t hold back from expressing your true feelings today. Removing any sense of distrust of a work colleague will help cement your relationship and prove that you are indeed above board. Frustrations and obstacles in your relationships with others arise at this time. You feel like others do not really understand you and do not cooperate with you, and that to do anything right, you have to do it yourself. This can be a very self defeating attitude, try to look outside your own perception and see how you can find some win win situations.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Lots of verbal networking coming your way and a good time to separate out important input from laggers and hot air makers. It’s also a good time for brainstorming with those who may be able to offer you some helpful alternatives to current methods. Listen, take what seems to make sense and store the rest as it may come in handy later. A significant personal encounter or confrontation can happen today.

You cannot, and probably will not want to, be alone now with the energy that surrounds you at this time. Reach out to people and to get others’ input or counsel if you aren’t really sure of how to deal with a situation. Listen to your partner or a friend who can give you an objective view point on the issue.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Your high level of emotional energy continues with the focus still on relationships today and this will quite likely be reciprocated by anyone you choose to shower your affection upon this weekend. There’s some truly great exchanges of ideas with others likely today. Emotional expansion is what the energy is about for you at this time and for some time to come, when you just naturally attach yourself to larger issues, bigger feelings, and a more open heart. Travel broadens the mind even if only in your imagination. Just consider the people you might meet, even if you only fantasize about them it might be enough to manifest a reality.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You are alert, mentally sharp and clear, and your ability to comprehend new concepts is heightened. Also, you can verbalize and articulate your ideas very well at this time. Intellectual curiosity is high as well. This is a good time to make plans and strategies or begin a course of study. Your intimate relationship may be a bit askew at this time. Personal freedom and the need for a little adventure are the issues causing your disconnection. Take some “me time” and do something new and exciting on your own. Prove to yourself that you can still move through the world as an individual and you’ll feel far less smothered by your personal relationship.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 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

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Salem soso

22618787 General Surgeons

Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

22666300

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

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 Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

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

Neurologists 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

Endocrinologist Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

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

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 30, 2013

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Sanders’

wife files for divorce in LA

Poehler working on ‘non-linear’ book

R

upert Sanders’ wife has filed for divorce five months after it was revealed the director had a brief affair with actress Kristen Stewart.

Liberty Ross, Sanders’ wife of more than nine years, filed for divorce Friday in Los Angeles citing irreconcilable differences. Ross’ filing cites irreconcilable differences for the couple’s breakup. They have two children, an 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

The model-actress is seeking joint custody of the children and spousal support from her estranged husband, who directed Stewart in “Snow White and the Huntsman.” TMZ, which first reported the filing, stated that Sanders also filed divorce paperwork but it was not available on Monday. Stewart, who has been dating “Twilight” co-star Robert Pattinson, apologized for her fling with Sanders in July after it was revealed by US Weekly.

A

my Poehler is working on a book that appears to be a little bit of everything. The star of “Parks and Recreation” and former “Saturday Night Live” performer has an agreement with It Books for an “illustrated, non-linear diary” with stories both true and invented.

Jokes, candor and life lessons are promised. It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced Monday that the book is currently untitled and scheduled for 2014. It’s the first book for Poehler, who recently hosted the Golden Globes ceremony with Tina Fey, her good friend and author of the million-selling “Bossypants.”

David’s daughter

loves pie and mash

D

Winstone reconciles with Alfie

J

Pratt and Montag want to have a baby in Britain

S

pencer Pratt and Heidi Montag want to move to Britain and start a family. The couple - collectively known as ‘Speidi’ - have fallen in love with the UK since flying over to appear on reality TV show ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ and have hinted they may settle down and start a family in the British countryside.

Speaking about her admiration for Duchess Catherine - previously known as Kate Middleton - Heidi

said: “I could totally live here. We didn’t like the boring British people we were in the house with but since we’ve been out we’ve really fallen in love with the country. “I want to be posh like Princess Kate or Victoria Beckham.” Heidi, 26, admits having children would be “a dream”, but the couple - who have been married for four years - have put off starting their own family because Spencer, 29, is not yet ready. Heidi told the Daily Star newspaper: “For me, having children is the greatest experience in life but Spencer doesn’t want them. My priority is my husband so now I choose our life instead of that experience.” However, Spencer may be softening towards the idea, revealing: “I think we could well end up having children, and they could be born in Britain. When Heidi keeps saying to me, ‘Ooh, I love you’, it’s hard not to give in.

“Right now with the economy in a state it’s not the best time. It’s a challenge for us to even have good dinners and a good life. My sister is still helping out my sister, who is 30 years old has kids. Things will be different when I can secure the future for us.”

aime Winstone and Alfie Allen have rekindled their romance.

The couple - who split in 2010 following a two-year engagement - have decided to give things another go after realising they still had feelings for each other. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “We always thought Alfie and Jaime would end up together again. It was more a question of when than if. “They were young the first time around and big things were happening for both of them. They had a lot to deal with. Now they’re both really serious about making a go of it. This time it’s going to be for keeps.”

Alfie, 26, and 27-year-old Jaime reportedly split because the “spark had gone” from their romance. Jaime was most recently dating photographer Tom Beard and has previously spoken about how her boyfriends are always wary of her father, hardman actor Ray Winstone. She said: “It was sometimes hard for boyfriends to come and meet my dad. Some of them were nervous.

It was when they would try to impress him that it became cringey. I mean, he’s not this big tough guy at home, though you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him. That’s why it’s great with Tom - he’s very confident and he doesn’t feel like he needs to impress anyone. We’re a good balance, and I think that’s important - you don’t want a situation where someone is dependent or feels insecure at the other person’s success.”

avid Beckham’s daughter loves pie and mash like her dad. The soccer superstar has a huge appetite for the traditional London meal and he has been taking 18-month-old Harper to his favourite restaurant, Tony Lane’s Pie & Mash Shop in Waltham Abbey, Essex, since the family relocated back to Britain. Owner Tony told the new issue of heat magazine: “Harper sits in her high chair and loves the pie and mash. She eats it all - sausage and mash, pie and mash, whatever they fancy giving her that day. All his lads love it, too.” David always orders the same dish, two pies, two portions of mash and liquor sauce, a parsley gravy that eels are cooked in. The 37-yearold sportsman also sometimes brings his wife Victoria, 37, and their sons Brooklyn, 13, Romeo, 10, Cruz, seven, with him, but the former Spice Girl usually just has a mug of tea.

David - who is now living in exclusive London district Chelsea with his family after leaving club Los Angeles Galaxy - also gets Tony and his staff to deliver food to him when he can’t make it to the restaurant, which he has been frequenting for years. Tony added: “David doesn’t ask for a special table and is treated like everyone else. I think that’s what he likes about the shop. We’ve delivered pie and mash to his family all over the place ... When he phones us, he just says, ‘Usual order.’ He always gives the girls a tip.

“What’s extraordinary is ... he can eat anywhere in the world but he likes coming here.” David is currently training with English Premier League side Arsenal while he waits to sort out his next soccer move.

The Who

T

he legendary rock band are huge fans of the ‘Bad Romance’ singer and are very impressed by her theatrical stage shows and the personas she adopts Guitarist Pete Townshend said: “What Lady Gaga has done is created an iconic figure who is someone we can get inside.

She’s a story and it’s fascinating to watch - she’s like a space oddity.” The Who - who famously had hits with rock operas including ‘Tommy’ and ‘Quadrophenia’ themselves - also praised the Spice Girls, after they had a dressing room next to them when both groups performed at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in London last year. Singer Roger Daltrey, 68, said: “It was a great day. We were in the

Brook still friends

K

think Lady Gaga is a ‘space oddity’

with Cipriani

elly Brook has reportedly been meeting up with her exboyfriend Danny Cipriani. The glamour model and rugby player are said to still be friends, despite their split, and were spotted out together at London’s Rose club on Sunday evening , as well as out for dinner together at Nozomi restaurant in Kensington, central London, last week. A source told The Sun newspaper: “They’ve been meeting up for the past six weeks. They went to dinner in Kensington just last week. Danny left in a car, with Kelly’s best pal, actress Preeya Kalidas, so not to arouse any suspicions. “Friends say she still cares a lot for Danny.” The couple called it quits on their 20-month relationship in 2010 after a series of rows and Kelly, 33, is currently dating former rugby player Thom Evans - who admitted he was “overwhelmed” when he first met the brunette beauty. Kelly and Thom - who got together in December 2010 - suffered heartache in May 2011 when the ‘Piranha 3D’ star suffered a miscarriage. Kelly recently confessed she would consider walking down the aisle with her 28-year-old boyfriend as she feels more settled dating someone more mature. She said: “I had an issue with marriage when I was dating a 20-year-old boy. But now, I’m dating a 28-year-old man and there’s definitely potential there for marriage I think.” —Agencies

dressing room next door to the Spice Girls and listened to them warm up - and singing really well. So all those that don’t think they can sing - they can. They were a joy.” The rockers also welcome advances in technology - such as computer apps and programs - which have made it easier for people to make music and express themselves creatively. Pete, 67, added to The Sun newspaper: “The machinery of making music means more people can do it now. The technology has made it easier to make music without being profoundly gifted.”

37

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Karachi Fashion Week

Pakistani models present creations of designer duo, Faisal and Shabana, during Karachi Fashion Week, in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday.

—AP photos

Romanian fashion designer implicated in Dutch art heist R

omanian police investigating the spectacular October theft of seven masterpieces from a Rotterdam museum searched the home of a fashion designer on Monday and arrested his assistant, a police source said.They searched the home of Catalin Botezatu and were also “interrogating him in the framework of the inquiry,” the source said.

His assistant Petre Condrat was detained on charges of receiving stolen goods, bringing to four the number of people arrested in

Romania over the heist.

Botezatu, 46, who has taken part in several Fashion Weeks including New York, was questioned by the prosecutor’s office dealing with organized crime, which would decide whether to charge him.

Three Romanians arrested last week in connection with the theft of the masterpieces, including works by Monet and Picasso, claimed their innocence in court on Friday. The men, charged with conspiracy and aggravated theft, have been linked

to at least two of the artworks-a Matisse and a Gauguin-which they allegedly tried to sell in Romania.

Their defence lawyers told the court at a bail hearing that they were innocent even though one of them twice visited the museum where the seven masterpieces, estimated at between 100 and 200 million euros ($135 million and $270 million), were stolen. However, the court denied the suspects bail.

Botezatu’s name did not come up during that hearing. Eugen Darie

This photo taken in Rotterdam on October 17, 2012, shows a painting by Camille Pissarro hanging in the Kunsthal museum at the place where a Henri Matisse was stolen on October 16. —AFP

told the court he visited Rotterdam Kunsthall museum at around the time of the theft last October but never laid eyes on the stolen paintings he and his co-defendants allegedly tried to sell.

“I didn’t see the paintings,” he said. “I only looked at bronze statues.

I am innocent.” Fellow suspect Radu Dogaru also told the court he had nothing to do with the heist, one of the most spectacular in the art world in the last 20 years, even though prosecutors say he was present when two of the works were offered to a Romanian businessman in the presence of an art expert.

Mihai Alexandru Bitu, the third suspect, also denied involvement. His lawyer, Daniela Dede, told AFP that her client “just received a call from his co-defendant Dogaru who asked him to find a buyer for some objects.

He didn’t know it was these paintings.”

The suspects, all in their 20s, have been detained for questioning since their arrest on January 22. Under Romanian law, they can be held for 29 days. The heist gripped The Netherlands and the art world as police apparently struggled to piece the crime together, despite putting 25 officers on the case. Dutch police released grainy security camera footage of the theft, which took place around 3:00 am. The footage showed two apparently young males entering and leaving the museum in central Rotterdam within barely 90 seconds. The works stolen include Picasso’s “Tete d’Arlequin”, Monet’s “Waterloo Bridge” and Lucian Freud’s “Woman with Eyes Closed”. —AFP

RBS 6 Nations Championship appoints Tissot as official timekeeper

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he new three year partnership will see Tissot become the ‘Official Timekeeper of the RBS 6 Nations Championship’ from 2013 to 2015.

In the frantic, high intensity environment of international rugby, where timing is everything, Tissot will work with the RBS 6 Nations on the provision of live on-screen match timing graphics to its Championship broadcast partners.

As part of the new partnership, every referee officiating at an RBS 6 Nations match will also use an exclusive tactile Tissot T-Touch Expert, which is the brand’s iconic timepiece, to assist them in performing their match duties with the ultimate in accuracy and style.

In addition, Tissot will be presenting a countdown clock on the official RBS 6 Nations website (www.rbs6nations.com) which provides a countdown to the very first match of the 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship - Wales v Ireland in Cardiff at 1.30pm (GMT) on 2nd February next.

Commenting on the new partnership, Francois Thiebaud, President of Tissot, said: “Tissot is very proud to, once

again, be the Official Timekeeperof the RBS 6 Nations Championship, the greatest annual rugby championship in the world. The sport of Rugby demonstrates many of the core values which we share at Tissot, such as teamwork, respect, discipline and a love for sports. These Championships are therefore the perfect platform for Tissot to be showcasing their timing expertise in an exciting, international environment, which at the same time represents the brand’s spirit perfectly. We cannot wait to get started”.

John Feehan, Chief Executive of the RBS 6 Nations, said: “We are delighted to welcome back Tissot as our Official Timekeeper. We greatly valued our relationship with Tissot when they were our timing partner back in 2004 &2005 and it is great to have them back again within our very select family of Championship sponsors.Their passion for sport in general and for rugby in particular has impressed us greatly and we look forward to another very productive and successful partnership with them”.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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Randy Travis to enter drunken-driving plea

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ountry music star Randy Travis is expected to enter a guilty plea this week in a drunken-driving case in North Texas, where he was arrested over the summer naked after crashing his Pontiac Trans Am. Details of the plea agreement will be released following Travis’ court appearance tomorrow in Sherman, Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown said Monday. He said the singer will plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge that is punishable by up to two years in jail and a $4,000 fine.

His defense attorney, John Nix, said a

sentence of probation is expected and that Travis is “looking forward to putting this behind him and moving on.”

Authorities have said a Trans Am registered to the 53-year-old singer veered off a roadway near Tioga, a town north of Dallas where the entertainer lives, and struck several barricades in a construction zone the night of Aug 7.

Investigators said Travis was found naked and combative at the scene, and his blood-alcohol level was more than 0.15. The legal limit for driving is 0.08.

He walked out of jail the next morning wearing scrubs, no shoes and a

University of Texas baseball cap. Travis also had faced a charge of retaliation for allegedly threatening officers, but that charge is no longer on file with the court. Travis’ lawyers have previously said the singer has a great deal of respect for law enforcement and has stopped drinking alcohol. The August accident was among a string of recent run-ins with the law for Travis.

Police in suburban Dallas cited Travis following an Aug 23 incident in a church parking lot in which he allegedly intervened in an argument involving a woman he knows and her estranged

husband. Nobody was hurt. He pleaded not guilty to simple assault in that matter and has a jury trial scheduled for March. Travis also was arrested last February in Denton County, northwest of Dallas, for public intoxication. That case is no longer on file with the county court and appears to have been dismissed.

This file photo provided by the Grayson County, Texas, Sheriffís Office shows Country singer Randy Travis. — AP

TV veteran developing news show for Fuse T

File photo shows American gospel singer and author Cissy Houston posing for a portrait in New York.—AP

Whitney Houston’s

mother has words for Bobby Brown C

issy Houston has a few words, and a few more, for Bobby Brown. In “Remembering Whitney,” the mother of the late Whitney Houston writes that from the start she had doubted whether Brown was right for her daughter. And she thinks that Whitney might not have ended up so “deep” into drugs had they not stayed together. “I do believe her life would have turned out differently,” Houston writes. “It would have been easier for her to get sober and stay sober. Instead she was with someone who, like her, wanted to party. To me, he never seemed to be a help to her in the way she needed.”

“Remembering Whitney” came out Tuesday, two weeks short of the first anniversary of Houston’s death. She drowned in a hotel bathtub in Beverly Hills, California, at age 48. Authorities said her death was complicated by cocaine use and heart disease.

During a recent telephone interview, Houston said she has no contact with Brown and didn’t see any reason to, not even concerning her granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina. She reaffirmed her comments in the book that Whitney Houston would have been better off without him. “How would you like it if he had anything to do with your daughter?” she asked.

A request to Brown’s publicist for comment was not immediately returned Monday. Houston said she wanted the book published so the world would not believe the worst about her daughter. Cissy Houston, herself an accomplished soul and gospel singer who has performed with Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, describes Whitney as a transcendent talent and vivacious and generous person known affectionately by her childhood nickname, “Nippy.” But she acknowledges in the book that her daughter could be “mean” and “difficult” and questions at times how well she knew her. “In my darkest moments, I wonder whether Nippy loved me,” she writes. “She always told me she did. But you know, she didn’t call me much. She didn’t come see me as much as I hoped she would.”

But, “almost always,” Whitney Houston was “the sweetest, most loving person in the room.” Brown is portrayed as childish and impulsive, hot tempered and jealous of his wife’s success. Cissy Houston describes a 1997 incident when Whitney sustained a “deep cut” on her face while on a yacht with Brown in the Mediterranean. Whitney insisted it was an accident; Brown had slammed his hand on a table, breaking a plate. A piece of china flew up and hit

Whitney, requiring surgery to cover any possible scar. The injury was minor, the effects possibly fateful. “She seemed sadder after that, like something had been taken away from her,” Houston writes.

For years, Whitney’s drug problems had been only a rumor to her mother, who writes that concerns expressed by record executive Clive Davis were kept from her by her daughter and others. But by 2005 she had seen the worst. Houston remembers a horrifying visit to the Atlanta home of Brown and Houston, where the walls and doors were spraypainted with “big glaring eyes and strange faces.”

Whitney’s face had been cut out from a framed family picture, an image Cissy Houston found “beyond disturbing.” The next time Houston came to the house, she was joined by two sheriff’s deputies who helped her take Whitney to the hospital.

“She was so angry at me, cursing me and up and down,” she writes. “Eventually, after a good long while, Nippy did stop being angry at me. She realized that I did what I did to protect her, and she later told people that I had saved her life.” Brown and Whitney Houston divorced in 2007, after 15 years of marriage. When she learned that her daughter was leaving Brown, Cissy Houston was “extremely relieved” and “thanking God so much I’m sure nobody else could get a prayer in to Him.” Houston has no doubt that if Whitney were alive she would still be singing and making records. Houston said during her interview that she has seen “Sparkle,” a remake of the 1970s movie that came out last summer and featured Whitney as the mother of a singing group struggling with addiction. Although Cissy Houston doesn’t like movies about “drugs and all that kind of stuff,” she was impressed by “Sparkle.”

“I thought she was great in it and all the kids were great,” says Houston, who adds that the “whole movie was hard to get through.” The book, too, was painful and her grief continues. She writes that sometimes she hears a doorbell ring and thinks it’s Whitney, or sees a vase in a different place and wonders if her daughter is around. Some nights, Cissy Houston wakes up crying, not sure at first where she is. “But then I get up out of bed, wipe my eyes, wash my face, and lie back down to my sleep. Because that is all I can do,” she writes. “I am so grateful to God for giving me the gift of 48 years with my daughter. And I accept that He knew when it was time to take her.” — AP

Clooney, Bird mysterious Disney project gets new title

George Clooney

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rad Bird and George Clooney’s top secret collaboration is getting a new title, Walt Disney Studios said Monday. Previously known as “1952,” the live action film has now been dubbed “Tomorrowland.” It will hit theaters on Dec 19, 2014. The aura of mystery that surrounds the project is to be expected given that the script is being written with Damon Lindelof, who was behind “Prometheus” and “Lost,” two projects that toyed frequently and effectively with audiences’ expectations. There’s also an added level of intensity, because Bird has been ver y much in demand after reviving the Mission: Impossible franchise with 2011’s “Ghost Protocol.”

Speculation on what exactly the film is about erupted last week, after Bird tweeted an image of a box that he said had been found in the Disney archives. Among the objects were photos of Walt Disney from the 1950s, a vinyl record, lots of fading accordion folders, a book on the history of NASA and a copy of “Amazing Stories” magazine. “ The box...opened,” Bird tweeted. Its not clear if the Bird project is enmeshed in the history of the iconic studio, but the new title could be a reference to one of the theme lands at Disney’s theme parks. Moreover, Disney himself was a futurist - so are the photos of the studio chief a hint that he may be a plot point in the story?—Reuters

he Fuse television network has turned to news vet- if you’re involved in the industry in any way - and that eran Rick Kaplan, who has run CNN and MSNBC means anybody with a headset - this will be the place and produced programs like “Nightline,” to develop where you will want to go,” Kaplan said. Kaplan’s tastes a music news program aimed largely at people some 40 run to the Eagles, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. years younger than him. “Fuse News” is set to debut Feb Now he’s learning about electronic dance music, and 6 at 8 pm Eastern time with pre-Grammy Awards cover- even liking some of it. Liz Walaszczyk, a 28-year-old proage. The half-hour show, originating from Fuse’s studios ducer and contributing correspondent on “Fuse News,” is gently introducing her boss to bands like across from Madison Square Garden in the Xx. And he’s introducing her to the Manhattan, will be repeated at midnight. news. Walaszczyk, who booked bands for “A lot of people are covering music in Carson Daly’s NBC show before joining different ways,” said Mike Bair, president of Fuse, said that she finds blogs like MSG Media, Fuse’s corporate ownership.

Pitchfork and Stereogum helpful but that “But not a lot of people are covering it there’s a void in serious music journalism. deeper and in a respectful way. We Kaplan is teaching her the importance of thought there was a real opportunity for detail in every question asked and picture us.” Fuse, available in some 70 million selected for her stories. homes, is overshadowed by MT V, but “I hear his voice and I think, ‘This man unlike its competitor has kept its focus on has spoken to so many legends,’” she said. music and is looking for a signature show.

Co-anchors for the show are Alexa Chung Kaplan, 65, walked through a busy newsand Matte Babel. Former Gawker writer room with TVs tuned to a Fuse countdown Elaine Moran and Jack Osbourne are conof sexy rap videos one recent afternoon. tributing correspondents. Yes, the news The 47-time Emmy winner had most Rick Kaplan producer who once worked with Walter recently produced Katie Couric’s “CBS Evening News” and Christiane Amanpour’s stint on ABC’s Cronkite is telling Ozzy’s kid what to do. Kaplan brushed Sunday morning and has formed his own consulting aside a question about whether some people in the television news business might consider his current gig a company.

Bair reached out to Kaplan through a mutual friend to comedown. “Oh, God no,” he said. “By no means. People gauge interest, and the idea intrigued Kaplan. “While who say that don’t get it. It’s a great privilege to be asked he’s not in the target audience for Fuse (the network’s to do this program. It’s the only serious program in this median age is around 27), I think he also saw the oppor- (music) industry. It’s a serious attempt to report on music tunity,” Bair said. A whiteboard in Fuse’s office already in a credible way.”

He said he’s having a blast. “In many ways, what Fuse lists story plans for the first month. The collapse of the traditional music industry has made for many changes is attempting to do with this show is more cutting edge ripe for examining. One future story will talk about than what any of the networks are doing,” he said. “We’re bands scalping tickets to their own concerts, another not starting a magazine show. We’re not tinkering with about the sound quality issues behind the resurgence of the evening news.” The show will also have studio guests vinyl. If “Fuse News” was on the air last week, it wouldn’t and music performances. Kaplan has hired Audrey treat the story about Beyonce lip-synching at the inau- Gruber, a former CBS News and CNN producer, to evenguration as a joke, but rather look into how widespread tually take over for him when the show is up and runthe practice is, Kaplan said. “I want it to be a place where ning. — AP

In this undated publicity photo released by Lucasfilm Ltd & TM, director George Lucas directs actor Anthony Daniels, who plays the robot C-3PO, in ‘Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones,’ on location in the Tunisian desert.— AP

Lucasfilm pushes pause on 3-D ‘Star Wars’ prequels T

he force isn’t with the 3-D versions of the “Star Wars” prequels.

Lucasfilm said in a statement Monday that it ’s postponing the scheduled 3-D releases of “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones” and “Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” this

Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Aamir Khan attended Bollywood film director and producer Subhash Ghai’s birthday celebrations in Mumbai on January 28, 2013. — AFP

fall to instead focus its efforts on “Star Wars: Episode VII.” The Walt Disney Co confirmed Friday that J.J. Abrams, creator of the TV series “Lost” and director of 2009’s “Star Trek” movie, will direct the seventh installment of the franchise, set for a 2014

release. Disney bought “Star Wars” maker Lucasfilm last month for $4.06 billion.

“Episode I - The Phantom Menace” was released in 3-D last February and earned $22.4 million domestically its opening weekend. The original prequels were released from 1999 to 2005.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

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Bieber strips down voice, heartache on ‘Believe Acoustic’

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ustin Bieber is stripping down. Musically, that is. The Canadian pop phenomenon showcases his vocal and song-writing talents with a new acoustic album, out yesterday, that also features three new tracks including a heartbreak ballad thought to be about his former girlfriend Selena Gomez.

“Believe Acoustic” sees Bieber, 18, change up the arrangements of songs from his fourth charttopping album “Believe,” released last June, singing with only a guitar or piano-driven melody.

Uptempo songs such as “Boyfriend,” and “Beauty and the Beat,” which roped in electronic sounds with fast-paced dance beats, are slowed down as the singer uses his vocals to manipulate the vibe of the song. “Believe Acoustic” sees Bieber return to his acoustic roots five years after he was discovered on YouTube, singing on the streets of Canada accompanied only by a guitar.

It was released following Bieber’s failure to pick up a single Grammy nomination this year, despite having a chart-topping album and a sold-out world tour. Bieber often performs acoustic versions of his hits, most recently at the American Music Awards in November, where he delivered a stripped-down version of dance song “As Long As You Love Me.” The teen singer released “My Worlds Acoustic,” in 2010, featuring alternative versions of tracks from his debut studio record “My World.”

But most ears now are turned to new track “Nothing Like Us”, which follows Bieber’s widely

File photo shows Justin Bieber accepts the award for favorite album - pop/rock for ‘Believe’ at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards, in Los Angeles. — AP reported split from former Disney Channel star Gomez. It features Bieber singing a raw and emotion-filled ballad over a piano melody, with lyrics such as “Girl, why would you push me away?/Lost in confusion, like an illusion...But that is the past now, we didn’t last now.”

Simple love songs Bill Werde, editorial director of Billboard music magazine, who interviewed Bieber a few months ago, said the song was “directly about Selena” and that fans were anticipating the singer sharing “his feelings about something this personal.” The new

track is not dissimilar to the heart-break odes written by country-pop darling Taylor Swift or British soul-pop singer Adele. Werde said he hoped people would take notice of Bieber’s song-writing and vocal production skills on the new album.

“Some of the best songwriters that are working out of our pop space are the ones that can take these very, very specific feelings that you would expect a teenager or a young adult to have and then sing and write about them in a way that makes them universal,” Werde told Reuters. “That’s a skill that needs to be respected. It’s not easy to write great, simple love songs.” The other new songs are “I Would,” a sweet love song, and “Yellow Raincoat,” a mellow survival song with the singer crooning softly “cause the fame and the money and the girl will drive you crazy...I’m thinking maybe just put on my raincoat.” Bieber may not be winning Grammys just yet, but the singer could make chart history if “Believe Acoustic” reaches No. 1 in the Billboard 200 album chart next week. The singer will become the youngest artist to have five No. 1 albums under his belt, and one of few artists, including The Beatles and Jay-Z, to have a No. 1 album each year for four consecutive years. Bieber, who surpassed Lady Gaga earlier this month to become Twitter’s most-followed person, will make his television hosting debut on “Saturday Night Live” on Feb 9, the night before the Grammy awards. Bieber told Billboard he would not be attending the Grammy awards ceremony in Los Angeles. — Reuters

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ cashing in on awards buzz at box office “A

rgo” may have seized the awards momentum with its Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild wins over the weekend, but the box office mojo - what’s left of it for the Oscar contenders - is with “Silver Linings Playbook.” The Weinstein Company’s oddball comedy and Sony’s “Zero Dark Thirty” are the only Best Picture Oscar contenders that still have significant play left. “Silver Linings Playbook” was still adding screens this past weekend - 118, giving it a total of 2,641 - and took in $10 million over the three days.

That’s a terrific hold - off just 7 percent from the previous weekend - and raised its overall domestic total to more than $70 million. That comes one week after it shot up by 114 percent after going wide and into 2,523 theaters on Jan. 18. “We think we have $25 million to $35 million left” to make at the box office, the Weinstein

Company’s head of distribution Erik Lomis told TheWrap Monday. “It’s clear the word of mouth has caught on for this picture.”Besides being included in the Best Picture discussions, Jennifer Lawrence’s two recent Best Actress wins, at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, have gone a long way toward raising consciousness about the film outside of New York and Los Angeles, where it opened 11 weeks ago. Since that time, it’s been a gradual platform rollout for the David O. Russell-directed dark comedy, with two decisions made along the way working out very well at the box office. The biggest was to shift the date of the film’s wide release from Nov 21, just before Thanksgiving, to after the Oscar nominations on Jan. 10. The second decision was to expand on the second weekend, rather than the first weekend, after the nominations came out.

Now, with the other Oscar contenders fading at the box office, “Silver Linings Playbook” still has some steam. It wasn’t easy when the other Oscar contenders were out there and scoring-and surprising well - at the box office.

“We hung in there,” Lomis said, “and now we’re in good shape and we think we’re in a great position to build.” He said that company would try to pick up 30 or 40 more screens for “Silver Linings” this week, and that the focus would turn to the South and Midwest, where word of the film is still spreading.

‘We did some surveying specifically in small towns this past weekend and the numbers were really encouraging,” he said. The film received an 80 percent recommend, Lomis said, from audiences that broke down 60 percent female and primarily in the 25-49 age group. “That’s right in the wheelhouse of where we think we can grow with this picture.

“Zero Dark Thirty,” like “Silver Linings Playbook,” is also showing some staying power. After putting up an eyepopping $24 million in its first weekend of wide release on Jan. 11, it’s dropped 35 and 38 percent over the past two weeks while staying in 2,946 theaters. The $9.8 million it took in over the weekend upped its domestic total to nearly $70 million, but the controversy over its portrayals of torture has subsided, and the lack of a big awards win isn’t helping.

While the Oscar contenders have lost some box office momentum, they should play steadily up until the Oscars on Feb 24. The studios’ marketing and distribution units did a great job finding their films’ audiences early.

“Lincoln,” “Argo,” “Life of Pi,” “Django Unchained” and “Les Miserables” have far exceeded pre-release expectations, but they’ve all peaked domestically.

“Lincoln” and “Argo,” for example, were both expected to top out at around $60 million domestically. “Lincoln” passed that back in November and now stands at $167 million. DreamWorks’ historical drama is rolling out in foreign territories for Fox now, while domestic distributor Disney dropped 265 screens last weekend to 1,909 locations. It still took in $3.8 million, a not-bad 29 percent drop from last week, but fell out of the top ten.

“Argo” has been in the marketplace the longest of the Oscar contenders, having been released back on Oct 12, and after 16 weeks is largely played out. It did get an Oscar nomination bump, albeit a small one, rising 59 percent and then 117 percent in the two weeks following the announcement, after adding 319 locations and then 135 the next week to peak at 756. But Warner Bros. dropped it to 635 theaters and it took in $1.8 million - just a 19 percent drop from last week-over the past weekend, raising its overall US total to $117 million.

“We know there’s a lot of interest in this movie and we’re trying to pick up 50-60 theaters,” Warner Bros. executive vice president of distribution Jeff Goldstein told TheWrap Monday. “But remember, we’re pretty much played out and we’ll be bringing the picture back into theaters where we’ve already played. That said, if I can get 100 more theaters, I’d be really excited.” Even “Django Unchained,” Quentin Tarantino’s highest-grossing film ever, is having its most significant box-office impact overseas now. Weinstein lowered its domestic screen count by 509 locations over the weekend and had it in 2,007 theaters, down from a high of 3,010. It still took in $5 million, but that was overshadowed by the $42 million it brought in for Fox in its second week overseas. Of course, all of the studios are biding their time, hoping for that best of all box office boosts, a Best Picture Oscar. — Reuters

US police probe Brown fight with rapper Ocean L

os Angeles police are investigating a fight between singer Chris Brownstill on probation for beating girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 — and rapper Frank Ocean, a spokesman said Monday.

Ocean wants Brown-who has apparently reunited with Rihanna in recent monthsto be prosecuted over the weekend altercation, reportedly over a parking place at a recording studio, according to the LA Times newspaper. “It’s a misdemeanor battery investigation. And it’s ongoing so I can’t say anything more,” LA County Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore told AFP when asked about the reported incident.

The alleged fight happened Sunday

talks hot look, new tour

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File photo shows Taylor Swift at the People’s Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. — AP

night at a West Hollywood recording studio. Police responded to a report of six men fighting. Witnesses told them that Brown and Ocean were involved in a brawl over a parking spot. In comments to the LA Times, Whitmore said: “Chris Brown is a named suspect in a battery report,” adding, of Ocean: “The victim is desirous of prosecution.” Ocean, who has four nominations for next month’s Grammys, later tweeted about the incident, saying: “Got jumped by chris and a couple guys. lol,” adding: “cut my finger now I can’t play w two hands at the grammys.”

There was no immediate reaction from Brown, who was sentenced to five years probation, a year-long domestic violence

program and 180 days of community service after assaulting Rihanna on the eve of the Grammys in 2009. A photo of Rihanna’s bruised face triggered shock and anger at the singer.

Although he remains on probation, Brown has been repeatedly praised by the judge in the case for complying with the terms of his sentence. The former couple were photographed being clearly intimate and affectionate with each other in public last month, at a an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks in Los Angeles.

The Grammys, the music industry’s biggest awards showcase, are on February 10. — AFP

Pakistan boycotts ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, US dramas

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Taylor Swift aylor Swift has been turning heads with her new, sexy wardrobe, but the 23-year-old says it’s just a reflection of getting older. Swift has people buzzing about her recent red carpet choices, which have included plunging necklines and shorter skirts. “As far as wardrobe, we have been operating from a different place,” Swift said. While her choices may be demure compared with the Kim Kardashians of the world, for Swift, a former teen sweetheart, it’s raised eyebrows, and she acknowledges that it’s been a bit of a shock for some people who are accustomed to seeing her wear long dresses. She recalled how her decision to wear shorts at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards caused a stir.

“It was like, ‘Gasp, Taylor wears shorts.’ And I thought it was hilarious,” she said, adding: “I’m not going to be like taking my clothes off or that sort of thing.” Swift’s new look is a reflection of her overall maturation, with her latest album, “Red,” selling more than 3 million copies since it was released last fall and producing two smash singles, “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which is nominated for record of the year at next month’s Grammy Awards. “I’m so happy about (my) three nominations - it’s so unreal,” Swift said in a phone interview Monday from Paris.

Swift said she’s especially happy with the success of songs like “I Knew You Were Trouble,” a dance-infused song that takes her further from her country realm than ever before. “The fans have been so good to me this year,” she said. “I wanted to make a genre-defying record, I wanted to make an album that was hard to pin down, and hard to box in.” Swift said fans should expect more surprises during her upcoming tour, which kicks off March 13 in Omaha, Neb. She’s partnering with Diet Coke for the tour, and she’s signed on to be a pitchwoman for the beverage.

While a recent op-ed piece in The New York Times questioned whether pop stars should be endorsing soft drinks with society’s push toward a healthier lifestyle, Swift, who noted she’s become more health-conscious, said the beverage is part of her life. —AP

File photo shows Rihanna and Chris Brown attending an NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. — AFP

akistani movie distributors and TV stations are boycotting an Oscarnominated film about the hunt for Osama bin Laden and popular US dramas to avoid offending sensibilities or sparking a violent backlash. Pakistan may have a starring role in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty”, which dramatizes the 10-year CIA hunt for the 9/11 mastermind, but local cinemas are steering clear of a film they say could make people feel humiliated. Similarly, a local cable distributor is blocking transmission of the smash hit dramas “Homeland”, starring Claire Danes, and “Last Resort” on the grounds they are against the national interest.

The boycotts are the latest form of unofficial censorship in the conservative country, where YouTube has been blocked for four months over a trailer for an American film considered offensive to Muslims. “Zero Dark Thirty” has topped the box office charts in the US and earned five Oscar nods. But in Pakistan, the raid to kill bin Laden is considered one of the blacker incidents in the country’s history. A US Navy SEAL team killed the Al-Qaeda chief in his hideout less than a mile from Pakistan’s premier military academy on May 2, 2011, embarrassing Pakistani leaders who insisted bin Laden was dead and exposing its military to accusations of incompetence or collusion with Al-Qaeda.

“We have not and neither has anyone else bought Zero Dark Thirty,” said Mohsin Yaseen, a representative for film distribution company Cinepax. He described the film as “pro-American”, despite controversy in the United States over its depictions of so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques,” widely seen as torture. “It has several scenes which could make us feel

humiliated. It is against the interests of Pakistani nation,” said Yaseen. The chairman of the Film Censors Board told AFP it had not reviewed “Zero Dark Thirty” because there had been no request to do so.

In 2010 censors banned Indian Bollywood comedy “Tere bin Laden”, which poked fun at the Al-Qaeda leader, on the grounds that it could offend Muslims and incite suicide attacks. Max Media, which has the rights in Pakistan to cable channel Star World, is refusing to transmit “Homeland” and military drama “Last Resort”. While “Last Resort” features US nuclear strikes on Pakistan, the country is referred to only briefly in “Homeland”, which stars Damian Lewis as a US Marine who is also a suspected Al-Qaeda agent.

“We strongly believe that programs such as ‘Homeland’ and ‘Last Resort’ are against our national interest, cultural values and ideology,” said an official at Max Media who did not want to be named.

He said the programs were suspended in keeping with a code of conduct from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority and warned that even “a vague reference about Islam can ignite violence in Pakistan”. But a thriving trade in pirated DVDs allows Pakistanis to watch whatever they want in the privacy of their homes and “Zero Dark Thirty”, “Homeland” and “Last Resort” are big sellers. “We do not have any threats or concerns, nor has any one stopped us from selling these DVDs,” said a salesman at one popular DVD shop in Islamabad. —AFP

Pakistan boycotts ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, US dramas

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

39 Festival

Participants dressed as Vikings pose on their longboat during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands yesterday. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. —AFP

Afghan female artist beats the odds to create C

harred bodies lie scattered against bloodstained walls and debris covers the ground.

For Afghanistan, the only unusual thing in this gruesome scene is that the blood is red paint - and part of an art installation. It’s a work by 23-year-old Afghan artist Malina Suliman, who risks her life, sometimes working by flashlight after dark, to create art in southern Kandahar province, the birthplace of the Taliban and still one of the country’s most dangerous areas.

Her pieces, which range from conceptual art to paintings and sculpture, are bold representations of the problems facing her generation and have drawn praise from top officials in Kandahar, making her exceptional in a place where women face even greater restrictions than in other parts of the country.

“Many people had never seen an art installation...

Some were offended and others were hurt because they’d experienced it before,” Suliman said of “War and Chaos,” which was in an exhibit last year and depicts the aftermath of a suicide bombing, an all too common event in Kandahar.

Her haunting, powerful pieces earned her an invitation last year to President Hamid Karzai’s

palace in Kabul, where she showed her art to the Afghan leader, who is also from Kandahar.

Suliman’s artwork is now making waves in the Afghan capital of Kabul, where she lived after fleeing the violence of her native province as a child. In December, she had two exhibits there, a highlight of which was a sculpture of a woman in baggy clothing with a noose tied around her neck. An exhibit in Kandahar, where the Taliban and tribal elders dominate public opinion, was the first there in three decades. She drew a mostly male crowd of around 100, including Kandahar governor Tooryalai Wesa and some of Karzai’s relatives.

“I was taken aback by her work. I had only seen great art abroad, but never here,” Wesa later told Reuters, recalling the exhibit, which featured a painting of a foetus in the womb suspended from a tree and being pulled in different ways.

“I hope it persuades more women to do the same.” Suliman said this piece, called “Today’s Life”, reflected the frustrations of her generation. “Before a child is born, the parents are already thinking that a son can support them and a daughter can be married off to a wealthy suitor. They don’t stop to think what the child may want,” she said.

Slow progress for art Thirty years of war and conflict, starting with the Soviet invasion of 1979, effectively shelved Afghanistan’s art scene. The austere 1996-2001 rule of the Taliban then banned most art outright, declaring it un-Islamic. Since the Islamist group was toppled by US -backed Afghan forces almost twelve years ago, large Afghan cities have resurrected something of an art movement, but progress is slow.

Herat city, in the country’s west, now has art studios for rent, while Mazar-e-Sharif in the north has an artist collective and a lively graffiti scene. Suliman, who is self-confident and energetic with almondshaped eyes, joined the Kandahar Fine Art Association, a relatively new, all-male group whose goal is to support and exhibit local art, one year ago.

The small collective of 10 artists caught the eye of the Ministry of Information and Culture, which funded and last year opened Kandahar’s first art gallery, where Suliman has exhibited. Since she joined the collective, several more Kandahar-based female artists have come on board. But the stakes remain high. “One of our biggest fears is that people will mistake us for creating art for foreigners or working with NGOs. People who work with NGOs get shot without

question in Kandahar,” she said. Despite her success, Suliman has received threatening phonecalls warning her against attending her own exhibits, and the Taliban have spoken out against her. Even creating her art must take place away from public view. She often waits until after dusk, working with a dim flashlight. Suliman recalls her first exhibit in Kandahar last year, and how she trembled as she made her way towards the gallery, in fear of it being bombed. “I was so scared... Whenever there is a gathering of government officials it becomes a target,” she said.

But one of Suliman’s greatest challenges lies at home. “The night of my first exhibit my family told me ‘if you go, don’t come back’,” she said with a wry laugh. While her sisters and mother now support her ambition and passion, her brothers and property developer father remain fiercely opposed-attitudes typical for Afghanistan. She is now looking to expand Kandahar’s budding art scene to nearby Helmand, hoping to secure locally-sourced funds for workshops and training. When asked if she is scared, she mentions her sculpture of the hanged woman and smiles. “That’s what happens to women when they ask for their rights in this country,” she says, impudently. —Reuters