5 Feb 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Iran ‘optimistic’ US shifting its view on Tehran

Kaspersky Lab takes big step in global endpoint security market

Khalife enthrals Qatar with Arab Spring inspired suite

Ravens survive 49ers rally, power outage to win Super Bowl

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NO: 15710

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Youths reject dialogue with govt to end crisis

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150 FILS

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www.kuwaittimes.net

RABI ALAWAL 24, 1434 AH

Court to rule on ex-MPs today • Assembly to debate court protest

Max 21º Min 10º High Tide 01:05 & 14:33 Low Tide 08:10 & 20:18

By B Izzak

Archaeologist Richard Buckley addresses a press conference at Leicester University in central England yesterday in front of an image of King Richard III’s open burial site. (Inset left) An undated handout picture released yesterday shows the full skull of the skeleton of King Richard III found at the Grey Friars Church excavation site. (Inset right) A painting of King Richard III by an unknown artist is displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in central London. — AP/AFP

Skeleton under car park is Richard III LEICESTER, United Kingdom: A skeleton found under a car park in the English city of Leicester was yesterday confirmed as that of King Richard III, widely depicted as one of history’s most notorious villains.

Scientists from the University of Leicester matched DNA from the 500-year-old skeleton with descendants of the king’s sister, while the skeleton had the twisted spine and battle injuries consistent with contemporary accounts. “It is the academic conclusion of the University of Leicester that, beyond reasonable doubt, the individual exhumed at Greyfriars in September

2012 is indeed Richard III, the last Plantagenet king of England,” lead archaeologist Richard Buckley said to applause at a press conference at the university. He said the king’s remains would now be re-interred at Leicester Cathedral, in keeping with archaeological practice to bury remains on the nearest consecrated ground.

The find has caused huge excitement among historians, as it provides firm evidence about a monarch whose life has been shrouded in controversy ever since his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

Richard’s body was paraded naked and bloody on the back of a horse in Leicester, in central England, before being buried in an unmarked grave at Greyfriars, a friary in the city. The crown passed to Henry VII and the Tudor monarchs, who, with the help of William Shakespeare and other playwrights, painted Richard as a brutal, hunchbacked villain who stopped at nothing in his quest for power, even murdering his two young nephews to secure the throne. The skeleton confirms that Richard did have severe scoliosis which Continued on Page 13

Bahrain’s two-yr-old revolt at crossroads

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KUWAIT: Youth activists yesterday rejected calls yesterday for starting an unconditional dialogue with the government to end the current political standoff with the opposition. Tareq Al-Mutairi, head of the Civil Democratic Movement, an opposition youth group, said the movement will sit with the government only to discuss an elected government and political reforms. Head of the Salafist Movement Fuhaid Al-Hailam also denied reports that he held talks with some government figures with the aim to end the protest movement. Former opposition MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei meanwhile warned youth activists against being lured by calls for dialogue with the government, and ex-opposition lawmaker Mohammad Hayef called for a meeting late yesterday night to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, the criminal court is scheduled today to issue its verdict against three former opposition MPs who have been charged of insulting HH the Amir in public as the National Assembly prepares to debate an unprecedented demonstration at the Palace of Justice last week. Former MPs Falah Al-Sawwagh and Khaled AlTahous and member of the scrapped 2012 Assembly Bader Al-Dahoum were charged of insulting and criticizing the Amir at a public rally on Oct 10. If convicted, they face a jail term of up to five years. The criminal court has already sentenced a tweeter to five years in jail and two others to two years in prison over similar charges.

In a related verdict, the Court of Cassation, the highest court in the country, yesterday confirmed a 10-year jail sentence against activist Orance Al-Rasheedi for insulting the Amir and calling to overthrow the regime.

Rasheedi was first sentenced by the lower court in October 2011 after being convicted of the charges. The sentence was upheld by the appeals court in May last year and then the cassation court upheld the verdict to become final. Rasheedi, who was accused of making the calls through YouTube, has been in jail for over a year.

The pro-government Assembly meanwhile will hold a special debate today on the unprecedented demonstration that took place last week during the trial of former opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak, also for insulting the Amir. Dozens of activists chanted slogans in solidarity with Barrak just outside the courtroom where he was being tried after security men refused to allow them to attend the session. The activists shouted slogans in support of Barrak, then carried him when he emerged from the room. They also demonstrated just outside the gate of the Palace of Justice where Barrak addressed the gathering.

Europol uncovers match-fixing ring

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Ahmadinejad ready to be a spaceman Outspoken McCain compares president to monkey Al-AIN: Rescuers work on the site of a road accident between a concrete truck and a bus transporting Asian workers yesterday. — AFP

22 workers killed in UAE road crash ABU DHABI: A concrete truck yesterday slammed into a bus transporting Asian workers near Al-Ain city in the United Arab Emirates, killing 22 of them and injuring 24 others, police said. In the rush-hour accident, the truck crashed into the bus carrying 46 Asian workers and ended up on top of it, trapping its passengers under the cargo of gravel, General Hussein Al-Harithi, director of Abu Dhabi traffic police said, quoted by WAM state news agency. The 22 killed died instantly, he said, adding that the wounded were taken to Ali Ain hospitals, some of them by helicopter. Harithi said the accident could have been caused by faulty brakes and failure to leave a safe distance between vehicles.

Envoys from Pakistan, India and other South Asian countries rushed to the scene. The UAE, which has a total population of more than eight million, is host to millions of foreign workers, mostly from South Asia.

Workers are usually transported by bus from labor camps to job sites. Police did not disclose the nationalities of the dead, but Dubai-based Gulf News daily reported they were mostly from Bangladesh. The per capita death toll on UAE roads is among the highest in the world, according to World Health Organisation data.

The UAE is a federation made up of seven emirates that include trade and tourism hub Dubai and oil-rich Abu Dhabi. — Agencies

Ailing Castro makes surprise appearance HAVANA: Ailing Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro made a surprise appearance in Havana Sunday to vote in parliamentary polls, expressing confidence in the revolution despite a decades-long US trade embargo.

Castro’s visit to the voting precinct in Havana’s El Vedado neighborhood - his first extended public appearance since 2010 - was the main event in Sunday’s

HAVANA: Cuban president Fidel Castro talks to the media after casting his vote at a polling station on Sunday. — AFP

elections, during which Cubans chose 612 members of the National Assembly as well as deputies of local legislatures.

“I am convinced that Cubans are really a revolutionary people,” 86-year-old Castro told reporters, who surrounded him at the polling station. “I don’t have to prove it. History has already proven it. And 50 years of the US blockade have not been - nor will it be - able to defeat us.”

The United States slapped a commercial, economic, and financial embargo against Cuba in October 1960 after Castro’s revolutionary government nationalized the properties of United States citizens and corporations. It was broadened to become a near-total embargo in 1962 as Cuba’s alliance with the Soviet bloc became apparent.

Images shown on Cuban TV as well as his pictures in the newspaper Juventud Rebelde showed a slightly stooped Castro with a cane in animated conversation with voters at the precinct. He wore a dark shirt and a bomber jacket.

In his comments, the revolutionary leader also praised the creation of the Continued on Page 13

TEHRAN: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looks at a space monkey during a ceremony to mark Iran’s National Day of Space Technology yesterday. — AFP TEHRAN: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying he was willing to “auction (himself ) said yesterday he is ready “to be the first man and donate” the money to the Iran’s space in space” under Iran’s ambitious program program, which has shrunk because of interwhich aims to send a human being into orbit national economic sanctions over Tehran’s by 2020. “Our youth are determined to send a controversial nuclear drive, ISNA reported. man into space within the next four, five The presidency website showed pictures of years, and I’m sure that will happen,” he said Ahmadinejad at the ceremony with what was during a ceremony in Tehran where two new purportedly Pishgam (pioneer), the monkey Iranian-made satellites were unveiled, sent into orbit by Tehran last week. The monaccording to ISNA news agency. “I’m ready to key’s launch was presented by the Islamic be the first Iranian to be sacrificed by the sci- republic as a first step towards sending a entists of my country and go into space, even human into orbit by 2020. though I know there are a lot of candidates,” Space tourist Anousheh Ansari was the Ahmadinejad quipped. first Iranian to make a journey into space He added to the buoyant atmosphere, Continued on Page 13

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LOCAL

Amir sponsors opening of Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center KUWAIT: Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center was opened, early yesterday, under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

His Highness the Amir was received at the center, in Al-Sabah health area, by Health Minister Dr Mohammad Al-Haifi, Undersecretary of the Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Amiri Diwan Abdulaziz Saud Ishaq, the Ministry of Health Undersecretary Dr Khalid Al-Sihlawi, Assistant Undersecretary of Public Health Affairs at the Ministry of Health Qais Al-Diwairi, Assistant Undersecretary of services and nuclear energy at the Health Ministry Sameer Al-Asfoor, Director of the Sabah Health Zone Dr Adel Al-Asfoor and the Sabah Al-Hamad Urology Center Director Dr. Fouzi Abul.

The opening ceremony was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Parliament Speaker Ali Fahad Al-Rashed, former Parliament Speaker Jassim Mohammad Al-Kharafi, National Guards Deputy Chief Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad AlHumoud Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister for Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah and senior sheikhs and top state officials.

The opening ceremony began with a performance of the national anthem and a recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran.

Then, the Health Minister began his speech at the event by expressing his appreciation to the support of His Highness the Amir to all humanitarian projects and health programs that would benefit members of the society.

He also noted that the KD 14.8 million-center is spread over 23,000 cubic meters and consists of nine floors which includes outpatient departments, specialized clinics, operation rooms, intensive care units and recovery rooms.

He further explained that the center, that took 10 months to be completed, is fully equipped with the latest medical technologies to offer the best medical services to the public. A documentary film on the center was played, then, His Highness the Amir revealed the center’s plague to officially announce the opening of the center. Commemorative gifts were presented to His Highness Amir at the end of the event. — KUNA

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other dignitaries after the inaguaration of Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center yesterday.

Ministry issues child-101 booklet, record KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health issued a child-101 booklet offering information on health issues, health care, and health follow up char ts and forms to help mothers track their children’s progress and health condition up till five years of age.

Head of the pediatrics clinics board Dr. Muna Al-Khawari said the booklet also sheds light on all possible diseases and conditions that might arise during that age period and of concern to the local population and ethnic group, and also provides guidelines on when to classify something as a problem and when to seek a doctor’s assessment and help.

There is close attention to detail throughout the booklet in all areas, which include nutrition, dental care, development and growth charts, medical history concerns, and treatments the child receives till age five. There are also

recommendations to help prevent accidents at home and measures parents should take in case of injury to prevent deterioration of any emergency situation till proper and professional care is received.

In addition to serving as a record of a child’s health and progress, the booklet is designed to help along and encourage communication and interaction between care-takers and health care providers, the official remarked. Graphics and illustrations were included, designed with this goal in mind, she said. This booklet is to serve as a comprehensive document that mothers should carry at all times when seeking care for their children and each baby is to be provided with his own copy upon birth, she pointed out. The record should be put in safekeeping as an official and important document, which it is, AlKhawari said. —- KUNA

Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation in Morocco KUWAIT: A delegation of the parliamentary caucus, headed by the caucus executive committee undersecretary, MP Dr. Ali Al-Omair, flew to Morocco yesterday to take part in the 11th session of the AIPU executive committee due in the capital Rabat today.

In a departure statement. Al-Omair said the State of Kuwait would chair the meeting in its capacity as the chair of the 18th session of the AIPU, noting that the meeting was originally due last October, but had to be delayed as a result of “extraordinary circumstances.” He added that agenda of the meeting would include execution of resolutions of the 18th conference of the union, including transfer of the presidency, results of the meeting of the AIPU committee of financial and economic affairs that had been held in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Participants in the meeting will also tackle outcomes of the union regional and international activities,

namely the 126th and 127th general assemblies of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the 13th African-Arab Parliamentary Conference, amendments of the union statute, the 2012 Arab parliamentary excellence award and activation of women role.

Al-Omair added that they would also discuss matters related to the Arab Institute for Parliamentary Training, legislative studies, financial issues, a draft labor regulation plan to be presented at regional and international conventions as well as other topics. He affirmed necessity of making progress in in the joint GCC “parliamentary march,” bolstering Arab solidarity and supporting causes of the nation. The delegation includes member of the executive committee of the caucus, Abdullah Al-Maayouf, and the head of the department of promoting parliamentary relations of the National Assembly, Thiab Mohammad Al-Dihani. — KUNA

News

in brief

Conscription proposal KUWAIT: A draft government proposal is on the anvil to bring back compulsory flag service, or conscription, with certain conditions to utilise the youth power in the service of the nation, government sources said. Sources said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khalid will present to the council of ministers the draft of government proposal which has the support of the cabinet. The proposals highlights are somewhat different than the way the law was implemented in the past as far as age group and time period was considered. Sources said that those topping the lists for employment at the civil service commission will be called for this service, and their period of conscription will last till a job opens up for that person. Financial allowances to be paid to each soldier will vary between KD 350 - 500 per month to motivate the youth.

Gitmo prisoners’ release KUWAIT: The follow up and coordination director at foreign ministry, Ambassador Khalid al Mughames, said that the ministry was doing its best to ensure release of Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo, Fayez Al Kandari and Fawzi Al Oudah. He said the ministry has replied to the American observations which the US authorities had referred to Kuwait. He said he had met human rights committee at NA Council and briefed it about the developments relating to the detainees. Emphasizing that there was continuous communication with the American side, her said an American delegation was due to visit Kuwait to discuss all related matters about the detainees. Though the exact dates for the visit were still undecided, but it could possibly happen in April.

Surgeons Conference opens KUWAIT: Minister of Health Dr. Mohammad Barrak Al-Haifi opened here yesterday the 11th annual Kuwait Surgeons Conference with a constellation of world-renowned surgeons attending. The three-day event is being organized by the Faculty of Surgery of Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization (KIMS). Addressing the opening session, the minister said the conferees will discuss, inter alia, the latest advances in the surgeries for treating obesity, the problems of the digestive system and tumors as well as the diagnosis and laparoscopic surgery. “Obesity turned to be one of the biggest challenges for the medial systems in modern communities as it entails a lot of serious repercussions for individuals as well as their families and communities at large,” Al-Haifi said. “Aware of the problem of obesity and serious prevalence rate of the concurrent chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, and chest problems, the Ministry of Health developed a range of programs for preventing obesity and ensuring the safety patients,” he added.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwait emerges as key market for Abu Dhabi Sharp increase in number of visitors

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Kuwaiti has emerged as a key market for Abu Dhabi, with visitors from this country topping the list in 2012, a tourism authority official said. Addressing a press conference at Le Notre Restaurant in Kuwait City, Mubarak Hamad Al-Shamisi, Promotion Manager, noted that the number of Kuwaiti visitors has been growing steadily every year.

“Last year, we received about 18,000 Kuwaiti visitors, a 12% rise from 2011. The Kuwaiti hotel guests accounted for 44,763 room nights and notched up an averagelength-of-stay of 2.5 nights. Throughout last year, Abu Dhabi saw its GCC hotel guest numbers swell 20 percent over the same period in 2011. Kuwait is really an important market for us and will continue to be in the years ahead,” he added.

He said GCC visitors comprised over 50% of total tourists to Abu Dhabi. The tourists streamed into Abu Dhabi for various reasons but particularly for the new attractions and developments in the past few years. He also cited continued efforts made by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority which improved many infrastructure sites and leisure projects to attract foreign visitors.

“The remaining visitors came from traditional markets like EU countries and the

Americas,” he added. Tourist traffic from both China and India is also on the rise.

“China and India are two countries which are now very active and visitors from that part of the world are increasing,” he mentioned. “Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a safe and fun-family-entertainment destination continues to gather momentum among Kuwaiti travellers. With many new attractions, events and hotels coming online this year, plus the many daily flights between the two, we expect to see more Kuwaitis choosing the emirate for their short breaks,” Al-Shamisi opined.

The Ferrari theme park and Yas Island Waterworld are among many projects drawing attention of many visitors from across the globe. The theme parks being managed by Farah Leisure Parks, under the supervision and control of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, are now world-class facilities. “The Ferrari experience is unique and something we could be proud of. It is a famous brand from Italy but also famous among many people in the Middle East,” Bruno Wiley, the Director of Sales of both Ferrari and Yas Island Waterworld, told the Kuwait Times.

“Good thing about the Ferrari World is that you can experience the Ferrari adventure by riding the Ferrari race car and experience everything about it. If you are inter-

KUWAIT: Mubarak Hamad Al-Shamisi, Abu Dhabi Tourism Promotion Manager, with Wiley, the Director of Sales of both Ferrari and Yas Island Waterworld at a press conference held at Le Notre Restaurant in Kuwait City.

Cabinet lauds Amir’s stance with Syrian people KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s stance with the Syrian people during the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference reflected Kuwait’s strong desire to find a solution to the on-going regional crisis, said a statement by the cabinet here yesterday. After the cabinet’s weekly meeting, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak AlSabah said that the meeting reviewed a letter from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah to all of the ministries and state institutions which were involved in the international conference.

In the letter, His Highness thanked the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Ministry of Public Works, the Secretariat of the Cabinet’s Affairs, the Municipality of Kuwait, in addition to other state institutions for their outstanding performance in helping to organize the interna-

tional conference, said the minister. Sheikh Mohammad said that His Highness the Prime Minister informed the cabinet about the outcome of the donors conference which resulted in the allocation of USD 1.5 billion to provide support to the Syrian refugees. Kuwait contributed a sum of USD 300,000 million during the event. His Highness the Prime Minister lauded His Highness the Amir for this great initiative, noting that it was in line with Kuwait’s policy of peace and security worldwide, said Sheikh Mohammad.

The minister indicated that the cabinet reviewed a letter on bilateral relations sent by the President of Ikililou Dhoinine to His Highness the Amir.

The cabinet also reviewed a letter on bilateral relations sent by UK Prime Minister David Cameron to His Highness Sheikh Mubarak.

The cabinet also reviewed a draft resolution concerning reforms to social aid law, said Sheikh Mohammad, adding that the final draft of the resolution would be sent to His Highness the Amir for final approval.

Recent political developments on the regional and international scales were also touched upon during the cabinet meeting, said Sheikh Mohammad.— KUNA

ested in such a vehicle, you will like the Ferrari World,” he said. The third Farah Leisure Project now underway is expected to be completed by 2016. “We cannot reveal its name as yet but it will be something connected to cinemas and Hollywood,” he hinted. Ferrari World can accommodate up to 6,000-10,000 people at one time. “On an ordinary day, we receive about 3,000 visitors, but on busy days, this number can go up to 5,000 or even 6,000.

Holiday visitors also add to the crowd,” he added.

The iconic attraction highlighted its enhanced line-up of new exciting features for Kuwaiti visitors to the UAE. The launch of the Yas Park Pass allowed a combined entry along with the neighbouring new mega waterpark, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi. “The UAE is a top leisure destination for Kuwaiti travellers and its proximity and good air connectivity make it a very popular choice for a fun family trip over long weekends and school breaks,” added Wiley. “The park has been very popular with the Kuwaitis. With family entertainment consistently ranking very high as a travel motivator, and a preference for regular breaks to recharge and relax, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi offers a perfect answer for the demands of Kuwaiti leisure travellers. “The appeal of Yas Island as a short-break destination is now even higher - with its combination of two mega theme parks, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, a wide range of excellent hotels, a world-class golf course, a racing circuit and the concert arena hosting world class musical events. Yas Island has really upped its entertainment offering in the last few months,” Wiley added. Asked whether the continuing development in the tourism sector has affected tourism in Dubai in any way, he said, “I don’t think so because Dubai and Abu Dhabi are virtually one country. Neither city is competing but instead they are both working hard to achieve the same vision and are, in fact, adding more attractions to draw more tourists from around the world. It is in keeping with the rulers’ Vision 2030.”

Farah Leisure is also dreaming of expan-

sion. “Since we are a private company, we do believe in further expansion. We have experience in this segment and I really see no hindrances if any country needs help.

We will provide expertise and knowhow,” he said.

In 2012, FWAD made a number of exciting new additions to its portfolio of rides and attractions. One of the hottest entertainment highlights of the year was the launch of a brand new show - RED - a Theatrical Spectacular of Speed and Passion. The 25-minute show brought together an international cast in a spellbinding performance featuring shadow play, pas de deux performances, scarf dances, choreographed trampoline displays, juggling acts, German wheel sets and stunt skating - all woven together in a fun, romantic storyline.

Another popular addition was Viaggio in Italia - a technologically-advanced simulator ride that lifts guests into a giant inverted dome and takes them on a virtual flying journey over Italy. The Park also added a new interactive quizFast Lane that offers visitors a chance to win great prizes and gain bragging rights as the Fast Lane

Champion, a fun mid-games alley inspired by all things automotive and Tyre Twist - a family tea-cup style ride that lets visitors whirl around an oversized turntable in giant tyres, putting a unique Ferrari spin to a much-loved amusement park ride.

Increasing the value of the leisure offering on Yas Island, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi recently introduced the Yas Park Pass, a new dualpark combo ticket which allows guests to experience both parks during one day or more on the island.

The UAE’s first mega waterpark, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, is set across 15 hectares of land adjacent to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and offers 43 rides, slides and attractions, many of which have never been seen before in waterparks. Highlights include the world’s longest, fastest tornado waterslide Dawwama, the region’s first looping waterslide Liwa Loopand, the world’s first interactive water and laser rollercoaster, Slither’s Slides. Its award-winning theme - based on an original story developed exclusively for the waterpark pays tribute to the Emirati culture with the UAE’s pearl-diving heritage at the core.

KUWAIT: Officials hand over symbolic ticket won by one of media attendees during the tourism promotion.—Photos by Joseph Shagra

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwaiti govt backs young entrepreneurs KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Khalid Al-Saleh said Sunday the Kuwaiti cabinet attributes great importance to the projects launched by young entrepreneurs and works to improve their skills.

“The youth entrepreneurs play a key role in socioeconomic development,” the minister told reporters after opening the Connect Expo for small and medium enterprises (SMES). The exposition is being held under the auspices of the Amiri Diwan’s National Youth Project. “ The Ministry of Commerce and Industry started implementing a range of policies and programs that aim to improve the industrial business atmospheres, “ he stated.

“The new business law aims primarily to amend several loopholes that were discovered in the old law over the last five decades,” he said, noting that such loopholes hampered the development of big industrial and commercial projects as well as the SMEs. Al-Saleh added that his ministry made a great progress in cutting the red tape through leveraging the electronic system for handling the applications of investors and entrepreneurs, and “the one-window project.” He also highlighted the significance of “the national SMEs law,” the law on investment promotion and the commercial franchises law, saying these laws will encourage the youth entrepreneurs to enter the business market.

“An interagency commission, involving the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Kuwait Municipality and other concerned state departments has been formed to advance the efforts to end red tape in commercial and industrial franchises,” he revealed, adding that the commission has a six-week mandate to finalize its work.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said the National Youth Project, sponsored

by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah, reflects HH the Amir’s care for youth entrepreneurs.

“The project plays an important role in building the capacity of Kuwait youths and creating the business-friendly atmospheres; it works as a liaison between political leadership and the youths,” Sheikh Salman underscored.

He added that preparations are underway for holding the national youth conference in March which will culminate in the adoption of the declaration setting forth the aspirations of the youth for the future.

Advisor to the Amiri Diwan Dr. Youssef Al-Ibrahim, who was also attending the opening session of the Expo, said the National Youth Project serves as a standing youth council.

It implements several vital projects, organizes conferences and expositions and suggests initiatives for solving the problems of youth entrepreneurs, he added. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait Audit Bureau currently hosted the third meeting to discuss the strategic planning of the Arab Organization of Supreme Auditing Institutions being held in Kuwait from Feb 4 to 6.

Fifth suspect in car theft ring in police custody Rapists caught in Jahra KUWAIT: Investigations in a case pertaining to a four-member autotheft gang that was caught recently led to the arrest of a fifth accomplice who reportedly helped the suspects break into the cars they wanted to steal. The Syrian man was reportedly arrested after an ambush outside his Salmiya house.

The officers were able to zero in on the suspect as a result of interrogation of the four detainees. The fifth suspect explained that he initially did not know that the activities were criminal in nature when his friend approached him to say that they will pay for his help to break open the doors of cars belonging to his rental office. The man admitted that he later found out about the gang’s criminal activity, but decided

to go along after they paid him considerable sums for his services.

Suicidal inmate A man who tried to set himself ablaze inside a Salmiya police station cell less than a fortnight ago succumbed to his burn injuries. The man was being held on several criminal charges including drug abuse and assaulting police officers on duty when he committed the suicide attempt. His death was classified as suicide in a case that remains open for further investigations.

Alcohol possession A man accused by a car rental office of failing to return a rented vehicle was recently arrested for

being in possession of alcohol. The middle-aged Omani man was pulled over in Al-Mahboulah and arrested after police found out about the charges he faced. Police also found 21 bottles filled with homebrewed liquor from his rented vehicle. He was taken to the proper authorities to face legal action.

Employee charged A Kuwaiti man running a domestic workers’ recruitment office accused his employee of stealing KD21,000 in phases through his tenure lasting for years.

The man first discovered that the person hired to manage his office had disappeared, and later found that he had left for his home country, Sri Lanka. He later checked the

office’s financial papers, only to find that the suspect had managed to extract KD21,000 illegally from the profits of the firm. He filed a case at the Fahaheel police station afterwards.

Illegal relationship A domestic worker who admitted to her employer that she had delivered a baby from an illegal relationship was arrested. The Ethiopian woman was reported missing for three days but returned to her employer’s home on Saturday night. After explaining what she did during her time out, the woman was turned in by her employer at the area’s police station to face charges of having a relationship out of wedlock. The

woman reportedly admitted that she was in a relationship with the driver of the family living next door. Investigations are on to determine the fate of the baby who his mother said was left out alone in the open.

Rapists caught Jahra police arrested three men who reportedly attempted to sexually assault their friend. A young man had told the local police that the three attempted to sodomise him after taking him to a remote location.

The suspects reportedly picked up their victim from Al-Qasr after convincing him to accompany them on a trip to the desert. He managed to escape their clutches and reported the incident immediately.

Seventh Kuwait Formative Art Festival kicks off KUWAIT: The Seventh Kuwait Formative Art Festival kicked off here yesterday under the patronage of the Honorary Chairman of the Kuwait Society for Formative Arts and Amiri Diwan Affairs Minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The event, organized by Kuwait Society for Formative Arts, features 126 pieces of diverse creativity by 83 Kuwaiti artists.

In his opening speech, the delegate of Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad said the impressive art pieces show the great

talent of Kuwaiti artists.

He also applauded the Kuwait Society for Formative Arts support to young talents and Kuwaiti artists to enrich the cultural life in Kuwait. He noted that the month-long festival coincides with Kuwait’s national

days celebrations. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah launched the country’s celebrations of the national days in a ceremony attended by a large number of the state officials at Bayan Palace Tuesday. —KUNA

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: A group photograph of the participants.

Adnan Al-Rashid

MPs promise to solve ad agencies’ problems KJA hosts IAA meeting

Khaled Al-Shulaimi

Faisal Al-Duwaisan

Madhi Al-Khamees

ABK supports IWA KUWAIT: In line with its CSR initiatives planned for the year Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait provides ongoing support to various humanitarian initiatives. This time the Bank supported the Indian Women’s Association (IWA), an association that cares for children and women in particular, and participated in the association’s annual event.

On the occasion, Sahar Al-Therban, Public Relations Manager at ABK said: “The sponsorship of IWA for the third consecutive year reflects ABK’s belief in caring for various segments of society, especially women and children, through both financial and moral support.” Al-Therban added “ABK hopes that the support it offers will motivate the associ-

ation to continue its work for society. Last year in collaboration with IWA we hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar for ABK staff, and this year we intend to address Diabetes Awareness. In line with its CSR plan ABK offers contributions and voluntary donations to sponsor a wide range of community issues including sport, culture, and health awareness.

Muriel Alphonso, President, IWA profusely thanked ABK for its support to the Association, which in turn enabled them to support women and children in distress. She hoped that this ongoing relationship would benefit many more from the lesser privileged group.

Waleed Kanafani

UAE network, bedoons on parliament table KUWAIT: As the parliament resumes its session today, MP Safaa Al-Hashim is expected to ask First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad AlHmoud Al-Sabah about the identity of Kuwaiti people who allegedly provided financial support to a network affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the United Arab Emirates. The network was caught recently.

The question is based on the statements by Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah during a secret session last month which was allocated to discuss the security situation in Kuwait. The premier in those statements had reportedly confirmed that there were Kuwaitis complicit in funding the UAE cell but gave no names.

Another crucial question expected to be asked today will be about the government’s policy in resolving the stateless residents’ problem. MP Husain AlQallaf is adamant on seeking an answer from the prime minister.

The question was previously downgraded to the interior ministry under which the Central Agency for Illegal Residents operates.

However, Al-Qallaf’s insistence to direct his question to the premier urged the parliament’s head office to write a recommendation for it to be asked directly during today’s session, according to sources quoted yesterday by Al-Rai. Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr. Mohammad AlHaifi refuted allegations that recent recruitments in the Ministry of Health were done on tribal basis, insisting that appointments were made on the basis of merit.

Dr. Al-Haifi also indicated in a statement on Sunday that he was prepared to answer any grilling motion that could be filed on the subject. — Al-Rai

KUWAIT: In collaboration with the International Advertising Association (IAA), Kuwait Journalists Association (KJA) recently hosted a meeting of local ad agencies’ managers with MPs Faisal Al-Duwaisan and Khaled Al-Shulaimi to discuss problems faced by ad agencies after the passage of the new publication law and find a solution. The meeting was attended IAA’s honorary chairperson Adnan Al-Rashid and chairperson Waleed Kanafani.

The meeting was fruitful as both MPs promised to solve the problem of agencies’ inability to issue or renew the licenses given to them by the ministry of information because of new legal conditions about the agency owners necessarily being Kuwaiti citizens. During the meeting, ad agency managers briefed Al-Duwaisan and AlShulaimi about the negative effect that this new law would have on the local ad market.

On his part, MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan said that both media and advertising were two

sides of the same coin and their problems need to be addressed. He also promised to look into the matter and work to resolve the problem caused by the new law. He said he fully appreciated the demands of ad agency managers and would convey them to the parliamentary educational committee for possible amendment in the law.

MP Khaled Al-Shulaimi said that the ad market was a cornerstone for the economy and the problems marring the field would surely affect the professionals working in the domain and in turn impact the entire economic process. He also urged ad agency managers to provide him with enough papers and researches on the problem so that he could use these in parliament to bolster their demands.

Meanwhile, media figure Madhi AlKhamees is arranging for a meeting of the ad agency managers with the Information Minister, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud AlSabah, to discuss the same issue.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LOCAL

Bou Khamseen marks hotel expansion by

Group photo with honorees.

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti glitterati rubbed shoulders with political top brass at the ceremonial inauguration of Al-Baraka Grand Ballroom of Crowne Plaza Hotel, one of the country’s busiest hotels, as HH the Prime Minister patronized the event and eminent personalities were honoured.

HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, aided by Jawad Bou-Khamseen, Chairman of Bou-Khamseen Holding and owner of the hotel, and Imad Bou-Khamseen, the chief editor of the daily AnNahar newspaper, graced the event which was also attended by wellknown figures from various walks of life late on Sunday. Memorial shields were presented to renowned personalities who were honoured for leaving a mark in their respective domains.

Those honoured included prominent businessmen Ibrahim AlBaghli, Ahmad Yousef Behbehani, Chairwoman of the Voluntary Work Center Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, former minister of information Dr Anas Al-Reshaid, Anisa Jaafar (Mama Anisa), a veteran television presenter of children programs, Dr. Khalid Al-Mazkour,

HH the PM Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

The PM is briefed about the hotel’s expansion plan.

The PM with Jawad and Emad Bou Khamseen.

Commencing the ceremony with the national anthem.

Chairman of the Supreme Consultative Committee on Implementation of Islamic Sharia, the country’s leading astrologer Dr. Saleh Al-Ojeiri, popular actor Abdul-Hussein Abdul-Reda, pop singer Abdul Aziz Al-Mefrej, the famous late merchant Ali Abdul Wahab AlMutawaa, Sheikha Fariha Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Association for the Ideal Family and Chairperson of AlFatat Sport Club, and the international-record shooter, Fuheid AlDihani.

The inauguration of the ballroom was being seen as an accomplishment towards realizing HH the Amir’s dream to transform Kuwait into a global business hub, Bou-Khamseen said in his opening statement as he addressed the gathering that included sheikhs, ministers, senior state officials, private businessmen, representatives of associations and diplomats.

Enumerating some of the group’s achievements, Bou Khamseen indicated that the new building for the hotel was built adjacent to the old one with 240 rooms, 30 luxurious wings and dozens of large

halls for hosting activities.

Another building would be constructed, he said, which would include 10 rooms to serve crews of passenger airplanes. In total, after the construction of the new buildings, the hotel would have up to 750 rooms, along with a multi-storey parking lot to accommodate 1,200 vehicles.

Dr. Al-Reshaid spoke on behalf of those honoured, and expressed deep gratitude to HH the Premier, who was awarded by Bou Khamseen, for patronizing the event.

Asserting the need to learn from ancestors, the former minister of information stressed on national unity and equality among citizens of the country. “Kuwait is not solely for any one segment of the society. Kuwaitis are proud of their diversity and harmony. Chivalry in political battles does not call for wiping out the foe. Real chivalry means giving the foe room to back off,” he said.

Similar sentiments and ideas were expressed by a number of the eminent people who were honoured. — KUNA

HH the PM welcomed by businessmen Jawad and Emad Bou Khamseen.

Unveiling the expansion plaque.

Awqaf ministry undersecretary Dr Adel Al-Falah, Kuwait Times Editorin-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan, KUNA Editor-in-Chief Rashed AlRuwaished and other dignitaries.

Veteran actor Mohammed Al-Mansour with Al-Marzouq, Al-Rashed, Bahbahani and Dr Al-Reshaid.

PM admiring the sword he received.

Jawad Bou Khamseen welcoming the guests.

A view of ceremony attendees.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LOCAL

honoring figures of national services

Group photo with honorees.— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Honoring Ibrahim Taher Al-Baghli.

Honoring KJA chairman Ahmed Yousif Bahbahani.

Honoring Sheikha Amthal Al-Sabah.

Honoring former Information Minister Dr Anas Al-Reshaid.

Honoring the late Mama Aneesa.

Honoring the late Jassim Mubarak Al-Jassim.

Honoring the late Hussein Makki Jum’a.

Honoring Khaled Al-Duwaisan.

Honoring clergyman Dr Khaled Al-Mathkour.

Honoring the late Khaled Yousif Al-Marzouq.

Honoring Sheikha Dr Suad Al-Sabah.

Honoring the late Sheikh Saud Al-Nasser AlSabah.

Honoring Dr Saleh Al-Ojairi.

Honoring artiste Abdul Hussein Abdul Redha.

Honoring Sheikha Fariha Al-Sabah.

Honoring shooter Fahad Al-Daihani.

Honoring veteran singer Abdul Aziz AlMufarrej (Shadi Al-Khaleej).

Honoring the late Abdullah Ali Abdul Wahab AlMutawwa.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

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‘King-Father’ Sihanouk cremated in Cambodia

Egypt oppn in fix over call to overthrow Morsi Page 10

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US changing approach to Tehran: Salehi FM denies Tehran helping Syrian army BERLIN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said yesterday he saw US Vice-President Joe Biden’s offer this weekend of bilateral dialogue between their two countries as a sign of a change in approach to Iran by the US administration. “As I have said yesterday, I am optimistic, I feel this new administration is really this time seeking to at least divert from its previous traditional approach vis-a-vis my country,” Salehi told the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful but the West suspects it is intended to give Iran the capability to build a nuclear bomb.

Salehi, who attended the Munich Security Conference at the weekend where Biden made the offer, said in Berlin that it was still very difficult for Tehran and Washington to trust each other. “How do we trust again this new gesture?” he said. Salehi said he hoped Barack Obama would keep what he said was a promise by the US president to “walk away from wars...and approaches that bring destruction, killings, bloodshed”. He did not elaborate. Negotiations between Iran and six major world powers - Russia, China, the United States, Britain, France and Germany - over Tehran’s nuclear activities have been deadlocked since a meeting last June.

European Union officials have accused Iran of dragging its feet in weeks of haggling over the date and venue for new talks. The EU said this weekend it had proposed talks in the week of Feb. 24 which could happen in Kazakhstan. Salehi called this “good news” - but the EU says Iran has not yet accepted.

“Boring” nukes “I think it is about time both sides really get into engagement because confrontation certainly is not the way,” Salehi said in Berlin, referring to the United States. “And another thing: this issue of the nuclear file is becoming boring,” added Salehi, a physicist by training who once headed the Iranian atomic energy agency and represented his country at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Salehi faced tough questioning on Tehran’s support for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in a civil war in which about 60,000 people have died. Iran and Russia, Assad’s main backers, met the Syrian opposition leader this weekend but Tehran seems to remain convinced that Assad must not be ejected from power.

He denied Iran was sending solders to help Assad, saying: “The army of Syria is big enough, they do not need fighters from outside.” Iran was only sending economic assistance, food and fuel, said the minister, adding that the Damascus government and opposition should sit down, agree a ceasefire and call free elections in which he said Assad should be free to take part.

Iranian opposition members protested at the venue and one managed to sneak in among the diplomats, interrupting the minister with shouts of “He’s a murderer!” Salehi was asked by an Israeli newspaper correspondent if he would visit the Holocaust monument in Berlin to 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis, and what he thought of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s repeated denials that the Holocaust took place. “Any holocaust is a human tragedy,” Salehi replied, refusing to be drawn deeper on the subject. — Reuters

Iraq bomber kills 22 BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber attacked a government-backed militia in Iraq yesterday, killing at least 22 people in an apparent attempt by Sunni insurgents to provoke unrest against Shiite Prime Minister Nuri AlMaliki. Dressed in civilian clothes, the bomber infiltrated a meeting of Sahwa tribal fighters and detonated his explosives as they picked up salaries in Taji, a town 20 km (12 miles) north of the capital Baghdad, police said.

It was the seventh suicide bombing in a month in Iraq, indicating insurgents are intent on stepping up violence a year after US troops pulled out of the country, where Shiite, Sunni and ethnic Kurdish factions still struggle over how to share power. “We got a call there had been a huge blast on the Sahwa headquarters in Taji. The Sahwa were there to collect their pay,” said local police commissioner Furat Faleh. “When we rushed to the hall... people were lying bleeding all around and cash was scattered in pools of blood.”

The Sahwa or “Sons of Iraq” are former Sunni insurgents who rebelled against al Qaeda in the Sunni heartland province of Anbar at the height of the Iraq war and helped American troops to turn the tide of the conflict. No group claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attack but Al-Qaeda’s affiliate, Islamic State of Iraq, has often targeted Sahwa, pledging to take back ground lost to American and US forces, and has urged Sunnis to rise up against Maliki. — Reuters

BERLIN: Two men stand at symbolic gallows as they attend a protest against Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi prior to a speech of Salehi at the German Council of Foreign Relations yesterday. — AP

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Egypt oppn in fix over call to overthrow Morsi Two more protesters die of wounds; death toll 59

CAIRO: In this Thursday, Jan 10, 2013 photo, Egyptian musician and drum player Ezzat El-Fayoumi, 65, the last member of one of Egypt’s oldest and best known percussion music bands, called Hassaballah, (second right) prepares backstage with his band moments before a musical play at the Sayed Darwish theater. — AP

Cairo’s fine musical heart, Mohammed Ali Street, fades CAIRO: During its heyday, it was famed as the lively and romantic heart of Arabic music a Cairo street modeled after Paris’ boulevards, home to musicians, bellydancers and instrument makers. But Mohammed Ali Street is fading. It had already been in decline for years as a music center. Now the crunch of post-revolution Egypt may finish it off, between economic crisis, uncontrolled urban sprawl and the rising influence of Muslim conservatives, its patrons fear.

The street in downtown Cairo, parts of it lined by French-style arched arcades, is now dominated by mobile phone and electronics stores, donkey carts and heavy traffic. The shops making, repairing and selling musical instruments that once packed the street are disappearing, along with their window displays of lute-like, stringed ouds, qanouns - a sort of dulcimer - and tablas - a drum made equally for the rapid-fire handbeats of belly-dance tunes or for the languid rhythms of a love ballad by Umm Kalthoum, the most famed singer of classical Arabic music.

“The instrument shops are closing down and people are renting them out to mobile phone vendors and furniture stores,” said Ezzat El-Fayoumi, a 65-year-old drum player who is one of a few remaining musicians on the street. “The street is extinct,” he said, sitting at a coffee shop that now serves as his office. “When I die, there will be no more music. No one is learning it.”

The street, named after the founder of modern Egypt, was built in the 1860s as part of a new downtown that was to modernize Cairo. Inspired by French architect Baron Haussmann, the designer of Paris’ grand boulevards, Egypt’s then-ruler Khedive Ismail sought to “make Egypt a piece of Europe.” The result was downtown

of avenues and city squares lined with arches and European architecture, between the Nile and the old medieval city of Cairo, with its Islamic architecture and maze of narrow alleys.

Mohammed Ali Street was the connector between old and new Cairo, modeled after Paris’ famous Rivoli street. Over the next century, it became entertainment central, home to the musicians, dancers and workers of Cairo’s cabaret nightlife. ElFayyoumi recalls how he once lived in the same building as Lucy, one of Egypt’s most famed belly dancers who rose to become a movie star as well. The street was also the destination for anyone looking to buy the best Oriental music instruments, arriving from around the region, Europe and the US. El-Fayoumi, who is a member of one of Egypt’s oldest and best known percussion music bands, called Hassaballah, has worked in this trade for over 45 years. None of his children wanted to follow his footsteps. Now he’s feeling the country’s economic woes. Lack of security and tightening budgets have made big events scarcer.

Parties and events are getting fewer and further between. Instead of three or four events a week, he said, now the band can wait up to 10 days before they get a gig. His band has to settle for far less money for each gig as well.

And newly emboldened Islamists, who disapprove of music and the perceived “decadence” of the nightlife, are also squeezing people in his trade. He said a group of young zealous Islamists have tried to convince him to quit and be a “good Muslim.” He has rebuffed them, suggesting he doesn’t need anyone to teach him religion. “I am a regular at the mosque. That is the only other place I go besides the coffee shop.” — AP

Textbook study faults Israelis, Palestinians JERUSALEM: A US-funded study released yesterday said both Israeli and Palestinian schoolbooks largely present one-sided narratives of the conflict between the two peoples and tend to ignore the existence of the other side, but rarely resort to demonization. The research by Israeli, Palestinian and American researchers, billed as setting a new standard for textbook analysis, tackled a particularly fraught issue - longstanding Israeli claims that the Palestinians teach incitement and hatred of Israel in their schools.

The study, funded by the U State Department, appeared to undermine these allegations, though it was unlikely to resolve the debate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argues that the conflict with the Palestinians is not over land, but over Israel’s acceptance in the region, and that peace is not possible until the alleged incitement stops. Palestinians say Netanyahu is hiding behind such claims to divert attention from settlement building on occupied lands and from what they believe is his unwillingness to reach a peace deal on internationally backed terms.

The new study said the school books of both sides are typical for societies in conflict - though books used in Israeli state schools include significantly more information about Palestinians and more self-critical texts. Books used in Israel’s ultra-Orthodox religious schools, attended by more than a quarter of Jewish students, and in Palestinian schools contain little information about the other side, the study said.

“On both sides, the chief problem is the crime of omission. It’s the absence of a clear, outright recognition of existence and the other side’s right to exist,” said Gershon Baskin, an Israeli member of the study’s scientific advisory panel. Israel’s Education Ministry dismissed the study as biased but did not elaborate. The Palestinian Education Ministry said its books reflect the reality of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories but do not incite to hatred.

The study analyzed 74 Israeli and 94 Palestinian books, covering grades 1-12 and teaching social sciences, geography, literature, religion, Arabic and Hebrew. The Israeli books were from staterun secular and religious schools, as well as independent ultraOrthodox Jewish schools. The vast majority of the Palestinian books were used in government schools, and only six in private Islamic schools.

Scholars said they developed a new method to ensure greater objectivity, as they reviewed nearly 16,000 pages from

Israeli state school books, close to 3,500 pages from books in ultra-Orthodox schools and close to 10,000 pages from Palestinian books. All Israeli and Palestinian researchers were fluent in both Hebrew and Arabic so they could analyze the books of both communities, study organizers said. Often, the same texts were reviewed by more than one person, and the data was entered remotely into a database at Yale University so researchers could not be influenced by how the study was progressing. The study found that as part of the selective narratives presented, both the Israeli and Palestinian books tended to describe negative actions of the other against the own community, while portraying the own community in positive terms. Books often lacked information about the religion, culture, economy and daily life of the other side.

“It is clear that each side is emphasizing its own narrative of the conflict,” said Daniel Bar-Tal of Tel Aviv University, one of three lead scholars, along with Sami Adwan of Bethlehem University and Bruce Wexler, professor emeritus at Yale. “There is really minimal dehumanization on both sides, but at the same time, there is really a line of ignoring the other side,” he said.

The failure to recognize the other is particularly apparent in maps of the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River, where the Palestinians hope to establish their state alongside Israel. The Palestinians want to form their state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in 1967. For now, they have limited autonomy in 38 percent of the West Bank, where more than 90 percent of the Palestinians live. Israel annexed east Jerusalem immediately after the 1967, a move not recognized by most of the world, and withdrew in 2005 from Gaza, now controlled by the militant Palestinian group Hamas.

Israel was only shown in three of 83 post-1967 maps in Palestinian books, the study said. Of 330 post-1967 maps in Israeli books, 258 included the area between the Jordan River and the sea. Of those, 196 maps, or 76 percent, did not indicate any borders between Israel and the occupied lands. Of the 62 maps that included a demarcation, 33 showed which areas are under Palestinian self-rule, while 29 maps showed borders with color lines, but do not refer to a Palestinian presence.

Historical events, while not fabricated, are presented selectively to present the own community’s national narrative, the study said. — AP

police have not been purged.

A brief clash erupted yesterday when young mourners carrying the body of one of latest two protesters to die of wounds threw stones and metal objects at riot police guarding the British Embassy, near Tahrir Square, site of a permanent protest encampment. The police fired tear gas to disperse them. The hardline Islamist Nour Party accused the opposition of stoking youth violence for political gain to try to oust the president.

A statement on the Salafist Nour Party website condemned what it called unrealistic demands “such as overthrowing the legitimate president or calling for early presidential elections or calling for amendments to the constitution far removed from the correct way as stated in the constitution”. An opposition official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the NSF leadership was trying to give political voice to the anger of the street protesters rather than goading them on. — Reuters

CAIRO: Egypt’s main opposition alliance has got itself into a muddle by appearing to endorse a call for the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, then backing away. “The NSF will fully align to the demands of the Egyptian people calling to topple the regime of tyranny and domination of the Muslim Brotherhood,” a statement by the National Salvation Front issued late on Saturday said. After a week of violence between protesters and the security forces in which 59 people have died, it called for Mursi, his interior minister and “all his partners in those crimes” to be investigated and put on trial for “killings, torture and illegal detentions”. “ The NSF supports all forms of peaceful protest to achieve these demands, and calls for the Egyptians to rally peacefully in all the streets of Egypt in defense of Egyptian dignity.” The Front includes liberal politicians such as former UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who last week signed a statement mediated by the country’s leading Muslim scholar renouncing violence and calling for a national dialogue.

However, the NSF’s spokesman, Khaled Daoud, said yesterday the coalition of liberal, social democratic and leftist parties was not demanding the removal of Egypt’s first democratically elected president just seven months after he took office. “We are not calling for the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi right now. We believe he is elected but that doesn’t give him the right to change all the rules of the game,” Daoud told Reuters.

Ahmed Kamal, a spokesman for Moussa’s Congress Party, said the wording had been chosen carefully to warn against “any violent practices and new dictatorship” without questioning Morsi’s democratic legitimacy. The NSF said it would not engage in dialogue until what it called the bloodbath had stopped, those responsible were tried, and the opposition’s previously stated demands were met.

Those demands include forming a national unity government, which Morsi has rejected before parliamentary elections due in April, and revising a controversial Islamist-leaning constitution adopted last December.

The man, Hamada Saber, 48, was shown on state television in a police hospital saying protesters had stripped him. He later reversed his statement and told a public prosecutor that riot police were responsible for the attack.

Another activist picked up by police in Cairo’s central Tahrir Square on Jan 25 and later taken unconscious to a hospital died of his wounds yesterday, prompting fresh accusations of police brutality by human rights groups. Mohamed elGendi, 23, was a member of the Popular Current party. Doctors at Hilal hospital said Gendi was in a coma when he died and had suffered brain damage and multiple fractures.

The president’s office said it was investigating the causes of Gendi’s death as well as the televised incident involving Saber, and insisted there would be no return to the violations of human rights that prevailed before the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak.

Opposition critics say little has changed, the interior ministry remains unreformed and the

Outrage The statement was issued in reaction to an incident that sparked public outrage in which police were caught on video beating and dragging a naked man during a protest on Friday.

CAIRO: Egyptian relatives of Mohammed Saad, a 20-year-old protester, known to his friends as “Christi,” who died of wounds sustained during clashes last Friday near the presidential palace, grieve during a funeral procession in Tahrir Square, Cairo yesterday. — AP

Mali Tuaregs seize two fleeing Islamist leaders KIDAL: Tuareg rebels in northern Mali said yesterday they had captured two senior Islamist insurgents fleeing French air strikes toward the Algerian border, as France pressed ahead with its bombing campaign against al Qaeda’s Saharan desert camps. Pro-autonomy Tuareg MNLA rebels said one of their patrols seized Mohamed Moussa Ag Mohamed, an Islamist leader who imposed harsh sharia law in the desert town of Timbuktu, and Oumeini Ould Baba Akhmed, believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of a French hostage by the al Qaeda splinter group MUJWA. “We chased an Islamist convoy close to the frontier and arrested the two men the day before yesterday,” Ibrahim Ag Assaleh, spokesman for the MNLA, told Reuters from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. “They have been questioned and sent to Kidal.”

France has deployed 3,500 ground troops, as well as warplanes and armoured vehicles in its three-week-old Operation Serval which has broken the Islamists’ 10-month grip on northern towns. It is now due to gradually hand over to a UN-backed African force of some 8,000 troops, known as AFISMA. Paris and its international partners want to prevent the Islamists from using Mali’s vast desert north as a base to launch attacks on neighbouring African countries and the West. After meeting French President Francois Hollande in Paris, US Vice President Joe Biden praised the “decisiveness and incredible competence” of France’s operations. He backed France’s call for UN peacekeepers to be deployed in Mali.

“We agreed on the need to, as quickly as reasonably possible, establish an African-led mission to Mali and, as quickly as is prudent, transition that mission to the United Nations,” Biden said, flanked by Hollande. Paris believes that deploying UN peacekeepers to Mali could eliminate problems over funding the African mission and fears of ethnic reprisals by Malian troops against light-skinned Tuaregs and Arabs associated with the Islamists.

The MNLA, which seized control of northern Mali last year only to be pushed aside by better-armed Islamist groups, regained control of its northern stronghold of Kidal last week when Islamist fighters fled French air

strikes into hideouts in the nearby desert and rugged Adrar des Ifoghas mountains.

The Tuareg group says it is willing to help the French-led mission by hunting down Islamists. It has offered to hold peace talks with the government in a bid to heal wounds between Mali’s restive Saharan north and the black African-dominated south. “Until there is a peace deal, we cannot hold national elections,” Ag Assaleh said, referring to interim Malian President Dioncounda Traore’s plan to hold polls on July 31.

Many in the southern capital Bamako including army leaders who blame the MNLA for executing some of their troops at the Saharan town of Aguelhoc last year - strongly reject any talks. “One of the first conditions for reconciliation is to disarm rebel groups,” Malian Foreign Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly told Reuters in Paris. “We must first liberate the north of Mali and then we can organise elections.”

French special forces took the airport in Kidal on Tuesday, reaching the most northern city previously held by the Islamist alliance.

Though the MNLA says it controls Kidal, a Reuters reporter in the town saw a contingent of heavily armed Chadian troops - part of a UN-backed African mission sent to help retake northern Mali - deploy to a barracks there.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said warplanes were continuing bombing raids on Islamists in Mali’s far north to destroy their supply lines and flush them out of remote areas. “The objective is to destroy their support bases, their depots because they have taken refuge in the north and northeast of the country and can only stay there in the long-term if they have the means to sustain themselves,” Fabius said. “The army is working to stop that,” he told French radio.

Jets attacked rebel camps on Sunday targeting logistics bases and training camps used by the Al-Qaeda-linked rebels near Tessalit, a town close to the Algerian border.

French President Francois Hollande made a one-day trip to Mali on Saturday, promising to keep troops in the country until the job of restoring government control in the Sahel state was finished. — Reuters

GAO: A convoy of Malian troops makes a stop to test some of the weapons near Hambori, northern Mali yesterday. — AP

Syrian oppn chief renews dialogue offer DAMASCUS: The leader of Syria’s main opposition group called yesterday on President Bashar Assad to respond to his overture for a dialogue to save the country from complete destruction. Mouaz Al-Khatib, the head of the Syrian National Coalition, said he is extending his hand “to facilitate the peaceful departure” of the regime and called on Assad to begin releasing tens of thousands of political prisoners as a precondition.

Al-Khatib said last week he is willing to hold talks with the regime in Egypt, Tunisia or Turkey if that would help end the bloodshed. His offer marked a departure from the mainstream opposition’s narrative insisting that Assad step down before any talks and has angered some of his colleagues who accused him of acting unilaterally. More than 60,000 people have been killed since the uprising against Assad began almost two years ago. The revolt, which began with largely peaceful protests, has turned into civil war now locked in a deadly stalemate with sectarian overtones.

Al-Khatib’s offer reflects the realization among some opposition leaders that a victory is unlikely to be achieved on the ground as well as disillusionment with an international community that has largely failed to stem the bloodshed and has balked at military intervention to help topple Assad. Al-Khatib, a 52-year-old preacher turned activist, renewed his offer yesterday in an interview with Qatari-based AlJazeera television and said he was placing the ball in Assad’s court.

“We say to the Syrian leadership, let us search for an exit for the crisis before Syria gets destroyed even more,” he said. “The regime has to take a clear stance and we will extend our hand for the sake of our people and in order to facilitate the peaceful departure of the regime,” he added. Al-Khatib met separately with Russian, US and Iranian officials on the sidelines of a conference on security in Munich over the weekend.

There has been no comment from Syrian officials on al-Khatib’s initiative last week or his latest comments. A senior Iranian official visiting Damascus appeared to voice support for al-Khatib’s call for dialogue, without naming him. “We welcome any initiative that leads to dialogue,” said Saeed Jalili, the head of Iran’s National Security Council. He said the talks should be held in Damascus.

Jalili also commented on an airstrike on Syria last week, saying Israel will regret conducting it. He urged the entire Muslim world to be ready to defend the Syrian people. “Just as it regretted its aggressions after the 33-day, 22-day and eight-day wars, today the Zionist entity will regret the aggression it launched against Syria,” Jalili told a news conference in Damascus. He was referring to past wars between Israel and Hezbollah or the Palestinian Hamas rulers of Gaza. “The Islamic world will not allow aggression against Syria,” he said. “Syria stands on the front line of the Islamic world against the Zionist regime. The Islamic world must react appropriately to the Israeli aggression.”

Iran is Syria’s closest regional ally and Jalili used his 3-day visit to pledge Tehran’s continued support for the President Bashar Assad’s regimeIsrael has all but confirmed it was behind the airstrike near Damascus last week. US officials said the Israelis struck a military research center and a convoy next to it carrying anti-aircraft weapons destined for the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. Syria said has vowed to retaliate.— AP

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Hollande urged to intervene over India incest case PARIS: Lawyers for a French consular official who has been charged with raping his three-year-old daughter in India have urged President Francois Hollande to intervene in the high-profile case. The lawyers, who were due to meet Hollande yesterday, say Pascal Mazurier, who worked in France’s consulate in Bangalore, has been the victim of an attempted framing by his estranged Indian wife.

Mazurier and his legal team accept that France cannot be seen to be questioning the Indian judicial authorities

handling of the case. But they are hoping to persuade Hollande to press for Mazurier to have access to his three children, who are all French nationals, French daily Liberation reported.

Mazurier told the paper his wife had left him and made the allegation against him shortly before he was due to be transferred to Cape Town, South Africa.

“She gave me to understand that she would be coming with me but then moved out after filing the complaint,” Mazurier was quoted as saying. Mazurier was charged with the rape of his daugh-

ter in June 2012 after a highly-publicised arrest. He was released from custody in October but remains under house arrest and has been forced to surrender his passport. He told Liberation he was unable to see his children for fear of reprisals in light of the attention his case attracted in the local media.

“I’ve been given an address but I can’t take the risk of going there alone,” he said. Mazurier added that he did not expect Hollande to question the judgement of the Indian authorities. “The French authorities have a duty of neu-

trality. All they can do is check that I was not maltreated in prison.” The official’s lawyers however said there was clear evidence that the mother may have fabricated the evidence which led to their client’s arrest and incarceration.

They told Liberation that DNA tests had established that sperm found on the little girl did not come from the father.

They also claim that the mother had given underwear and bedding which she said belonged to her daughter but had subsequently been found to carry no DNA traces of the child.

“We now have clear proof that the mother fabricated and manipulated evidence,” the lawyers were quoted as saying. The lawyers also questioned why the Indian authorities had not attempted to secure testimony from the alleged victim, arguing that the prosecution’s case now rests entirely on statements made by the mother. They say the father has suffered the double injustice of being falsely imprisoned for a crime he did not commit while simultaneously having to deal with the agony of knowing that his daughter may have been raped. — AFP

Pakistan plans ‘amusement city’ for bin Laden town PESHAWAR: Pakistan is planning to build a $30 million amusement park with a zoo and adventure sports facilities in the town where Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces, officials said yesterday. The 50-acre (20-hectare) riverside development on the edge of Abbottabad, where US Navy SEALs shot the Al-Qaeda leader dead on May 2, 2011, will include restaurants, a heritage centre and artificial waterfalls. The government of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province hopes the project, announced as a public-private partnership, will boost tourism but denied it was intended to improve the town’s image after the humiliation of the bin Laden raid. “The amusement city will be built on 50 acres in the first phase but later will be extended to 500 acres,” Syed Aqil Shah, the provincial minister for tourism and sports, told AFP. “It will have a heritage park, wildlife zoo, food street, adventure and paragliding clubs, waterfalls and jogging tracks.”

Work is due to begin in late February or early March, he said, and will take eight years to complete. Funds worth three bil-

lion rupees ($30 million) have been allocated, he said.

Abbottabad, a quiet, leafy town nestling in the foothills of the Himalayas around 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Islamabad, has long been a popular spot for well-heeled families from the capital to spend weekends away. The town also houses Pakistan’s elite military academy and the discovery of the world’s most wanted man on its doorstep prompted allegations of incompetence or complicity between the armed forces and the 9/11 mastermind.

But Shah insisted the new development was simply about promoting tourism, not polishing the town’s tarnished image. “This project has nothing to do with Osama bin Laden,” he told AFP. “We are working to promote tourism and amusement facilities in the whole province and this project is one of those facilities.” The authorities demolished the compound where bin Laden hid with his wives and children last February, fearing it could become a shrine to Al-Qaeda followers. — AFP

New Australian Cabinet sworn in ahead of poll CANBERRA: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard swore in her new Cabinet yesterday day, as two major opinion polls showed her government faced likely defeat at elections in September. The reshuffle was forced by the surprise resignations of two senior government ministers at the weekend.

Attorney General Nicola Roxon and Senate Leader Chris Evans cited personal reasons for their decisions to quit politics.

Nine ministers were sworn in, three for the first time, at a ceremony in the national capital Canberra yesterday ahead of Parliament sitting for the first time this year today. Gillard has said she expects to make no further changes to her ministers before elections are held on Sept 14.

The first major opinion polls published since Gillard last week named the election

date showed opposition leader Tony Abbott’s conservative coalition clearly ahead of the ruling center-left Labor Party.

A poll by Sydney-based market researcher Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper yesterday found support for Labor was trailing the coalition 44 percent to 56 percent. A Newspoll survey in mid-January gave the coalition a shorter lead, 51 percent to 49 percent.

A poll by Sydney-based Galaxy Research published in News Corp newspapers yesterday found the coalition was leading Labor 54 percent to 46 percent. Both polls were based on national random telephone surveys at the weekend and had the same 3 percentage point margin of error.

Newspoll’s sample was 1,163 voters. The Galaxy sample was 1,015. — AP

Indian activists protest against new rape laws New law slammed as a ‘smokescreen’ NEW DELHI: Scores of demonstrators demanded yesterday that the Indian government repeal a new sexual violence law the Cabinet hurriedly passed last week and replace it with a more comprehensive measure. Activists said the law, passed by the Cabinet on Friday and signed by the president Sunday, only followed some of the recommendations of a government panel set up after the fatal gang rape of a woman in New Delhi two months ago. That rape led to protests across India, sparked a debate about the treatment of women and highlighted the inability of law enforcement to protect them.

The new law has increased punishments for rape from the existing seven to 10 years to a maximum of 20 years. It also provides for the death penalty in extreme cases of rape that result in death or leaves the victim in a coma. It has also made voyeurism, stalking, acid attacks and the trafficking of women punishable under criminal law.

Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said the government decided to bring in the new law through an ordinance - which allowed it to take effect immediately, though it will have to be approved by Parliament within six months since it viewed changing the law as a priority. “The government wants to assure everyone that before it is tabled in Parliament, we will hold wide consultations with all political parties before the bill is intro-

duced,” Chidambaram told reporters.

The protesters near Parliament criticized the new law as a smokescreen, because it doesn’t deal with the issue of marital rape or sexual violence against women by armed forces personnel in conflict zones that had been recommended by the government commission. The new law also ignored the panel’s recommendation to bar politicians facing rape charges from contesting elections. “(The) recommendations came just a few days back and the government could have spent time on drafting a good bill ... a comprehensive bill and brought it to Parliament with candor and sincerity,” said Maimoona Mullah, of the All India Democratic Women’s Association.

In just one month, the panel examined more than 80,000 submissions and produced a 630-page report recommending amendments to the laws governing crimes against women. The panel was set up weeks after a woman and a male friend were attacked after boarding a bus Dec 16 as they tried to return home after watching a movie, police said. The six men, the only occupants of the private bus, beat the man with a metal bar, raped the woman and used the bar to inflict massive internal injuries to her, police say. The victims were dumped naked on the roadside, and the woman died from her injuries two weeks later in a Singapore hospital. — AP

NEW DELHI: Activists from different women organizations shout slogans against the government during a protest yesterday. — AP

LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron (center) shakes hands with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (left) and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (right) at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country residence, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, west of London yesterday. — AFP

Afghan, Pak leaders want peace deal in six months Islamists urged to join reconciliation process LONDON: The leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan said yesterday they would work to reach a peace deal within six months, while throwing their weight behind moves for the Taleban to open an office in Doha. Following talks hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari also urged the Islamists to join the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

But with no Taleban representative at the tripartite talks and with the militants still refusing to talk to Kabul, analysts said the commitment by the three leaders risked being one-sided.

They had a private dinner on Sunday and then full talks yesterday at Cameron’s Chequers country retreat near London, amid growing fears that a civil war could erupt when international troops leave Afghanistan in 2014.

“All sides agreed on the urgency of this work and committed themselves to take all necessary measures to achieve the goal of a peace settlement over the next six months,” they said in a joint statement issued by Cameron’s office. “They supported the opening of an office in Doha for the purpose of negotiations between the Taleban and the High Peace Council of Afghanistan as part of an Afghan-led peace process,” the statement said.

Karzai had previously shunned the idea of a

Taleban office in Doha because of fears that it would lead to the Kabul government being frozen out of talks between the United States and the Taleban. The joint statement also said that the Afghan and Pakistani leaders had agreed arrangements to “strengthen co-ordination” of the release of Taleban detainees from Pakistani custody.

Afghan peace negotiators have welcomed Pakistan’s release of dozens of Taleban prisoners in recent months, a move they believe could help bring militants to the negotiating table.

There was no immediate reaction from the Taleban. The summit was the third trilateral meeting in a year following meetings in Kabul in July and New York last September-but the first in which Pakistani and Afghan army and intelligence chiefs took part.

Cameron, whose country is the second biggest contributor of troops to Afghanistan with 9,000 troops still in the country, appealed directly to the Taleban to join the reconciliation process. “Now is the time for everyone to participate in a peaceful, political process in Afghanistan,” he told a press conference after the talks.

Karzai told the press conference he hoped in future to have “very close, brotherly and good neighbourly” relations with Pakistan, which has been regularly accused by both Kabul and

Washington of helping to destabilise Afghanistan. Support from Pakistan, which backed Afghanistan’s 1996-2001 Taleban regime, is seen as crucial to peace after NATO troops depart-but relations between the neighbours remain uneasy despite some recent improvements.

Zardari said it was in Islamabad’s interests to support the initiative. “Peace in Afghanistan is peace in Pakistan. We feel that we can only survive together,” he said. “We cannot change our neighbourhood or our neighbours.” Pakistani political and security analyst Hasan Askari dismissed as “too ambitious” the prospect of securing in six months a settlement to end more than 11 years of war.

The lack of Taleban involvement in the talks was a particular problem, he said. The Taleban in March 2012 suspended contacts with American representatives in Qatar over a potential prisoner exchange and opening a liaison office in the Gulf state, and publicly refuses to negotiate with Kabul. Askari said the most realistic achievement in London would be better cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, whose relations for years have been clouded by mutual blame for violence plaguing both countries.

Asked whether there could be a peace deal in six months, Askari said: “I don’t expect that, it would be a major upset of the calculation.” — AFP

Lanka prez rules out autonomy for Tamils COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s president yesterday ruled out giving Tamils greater political autonomy, appearing to back away from his longstalled promise to empower the ethnic minority as part of the country’s reconciliation process following a bloody quarter-century civil war. President Mahinda Rajapaksa made his about-face despite growing international pressure to compromise with the defeated minority and to investigate allegations of war crimes.

Sri Lanka is expected to face questions from the UN Human Rights Council in March on its progress in implementing its own war commission report, which also recommends investigating alleged human rights violations and giving autonomy to the minorities.

The pressure comes nearly four years after the government, dominated by the ethnic Sinhalese majority, defeated the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, who had been demanding an independent Tamil nation after decades of perceived discrimination. According to a United Nations’ estimate, 80,000 to 100,000 people were killed during the war, which ended in 2009, but other reports suggest it could be much higher.

TRINCOMALEE: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa (right) with military commanders attend the country’s 65th Independence Day celebrations yesterday. — AFP “When the people live together in unity there are no racial or religious differences,” Rajapaksa said in his independence day speech.

“Therefore, it is not practical for this country to have different administrations based on ethnicity. The solution is to live together in this country with equal rights for all

communities,” he said.

Rajapaksa has long promised the United Nations and other countries that he would offer power sharing as an alternative to secession. Meanwhile, the main ethnic Tamil political party said in a statement the UN Human Rights Council must take “stern action” against the

Sri Lankan government saying it has not been sincere in investigating abuses and sharing power. Talks between the government and Tamil National Alliance have stalled for more than a year, and the party says the government is militarizing the north and settling majority ethnic Sinhalese. — AP

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

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

‘King-Father’ Sihanouk cremated in Cambodia Cambodians throng to revered ex-king’s cremation PHNOM PENH: Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Cambodia’s capital yesterday for the cremation of former King Norodom Sihanouk, the revered “King-Father,” who survived wars and the murderous Khmer Rouge regime to hold center stage in the Southeast Asian nation for more than half a century. Cambodians from across the country flocked to Phnom Penh to pay their last respects as

Howitzers fired salvos as fireworks lit up the sky. “I would exchange my life for his if he could live because he was a great leader who brought peace, prosperity for the whole nation,” said Pal Hor, an ailing, 64-year-old man who had come from the distant province of Battambang. He said he shaved his head out of reverence for the deceased monarch. After the cremation, Sihamoni handed out gifts to some

mation ground, along with courtiers dressed in pantaloons and soldiers in 19th century-style uniforms with spiked helmets and swords.

The $1.2 million crematorium, built just for this funeral, will be dismantled in keeping with Cambodian tradition.

Sihanouk’s body had been lying in state since he died of a heart attack in Beijing on Oct. 15 at the age of 89. The cremation

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (center right), son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, and his mother, Queen Norodom Monineath, (center left) with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, behind Sihamoni, leave the crematorium where the body of Sihanouk rests in Phnom Penh yesterday. —AP Sihanouk was given elaborate funeral rites - mingling Hindu, Buddhist and animist traditions - last seen 53 years ago with the death of Sihanouk’s father, King Norodom Suramarit. And they may never be seen again in a rapidly modernizing country where the monarchy has lost much of its power and glamor.

After sunset, Sihanouk’s son King Norodom Sihamoni and widow, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, both weeping, ignited the funeral pyre inside a temple-like, 15-story-high crematorium.

400 prisoners he had earlier pardoned as part of the mourning for his father, who he said was “in heaven, near the Lord Buddha, forever.” “May the much revered king support and protect the entire Kingdom of Cambodia and Cambodians forever,” he said. The cremation took place within a walled compound where 90 Buddhist monks - one for each year of Sihanouk’s life as counted by Cambodians - chanted around the flower-decked, gilt coffin. Only the country’s elite and foreign dignitaries were allowed inside the cre-

was the climax of seven days of official mourning for Sihanouk, who was placed on the throne by the French as a teenager. Instead of proving the puppet the colonials had hoped for, Sihanouk went on to win independence, then rule the country both as monarch and head of state until ousted in a 1970 coup.

Internationally, he was a leading member of the non-aligned movement and heightened his small country’s profile in the world. A charismatic figure regarded as a “God-King” by many of his subjects, a

prideful Sihanouk sided with the Khmer Rouge against the US-backed government, but after the victory of the ultracommunists in 1975, he and his wife were held prisoners in the palace. Five of his children died during the reign of terror. A consummate survivor, Sihanouk emerged as a leader of an insurgency fighting a Phnom Penh government installed by the Vietnamese and went on to broker a peace accord that enabled his return to the throne in 1993. He abdicated 11 years later in favor of Sihamoni, a 59-year-old former ballet dancer who had spent most of his life in European artistic circles and has proven a lowkeyed constitutional monarch overshadowed by strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen. Sihanouk’s dark side, particularly his cooperation with the Khmer Rouge and his often brutal suppression of dissent, has been publicly ignored as loudspeakers broadcast eulogies and television stations show old clips of Sihanouk’s triumphs and ebullient personality. A larger-than-life character, Sihanouk directed films, composed music and led his own jazz band and palace soccer team. His appetite extended to fast cars, food and women, marrying at least five times, some say six, and fathering 14 children.

In the coming days, some of Sihanouk’s ashes will be scattered near the confluence of the four rivers in Phnom Penh, while others will be put in an urn which, according to his wishes, will be placed on the grounds of the Royal Palace near those of his favorite daughter, Kunthea Buppha, who died at the age of 3. The funeral is being attended by French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prince Akishino of Japan, leaders of neighboring countries and China’s Jia Qinglin, a senior government adviser and former highranking Politburo member. Representing the United States is Ambassador William E Todd. The US Embassy did not directly respond to explain such a relatively lowlevel representation given the long US involvement in Cambodia. Many Cambodians were upset when President Barack Obama was one of the only leaders attending a regional summit here in November not to pay his respects before Sihanouk’s body. The president had a reportedly tense meeting with Hun Sen at the time, with Obama pressing him on Cambodia’s worsening human rights record. —AP

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian people cry during the cremation of the late former King Norodom Sihanouk at the cremation site near the Royal Palace. —AP

Sihanouk: Cambodia’s mercurial former king PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s former king Norodom Sihanouk was a political chameleon deft at moving with the tides that battered the war-ravaged nation for decades while remaining hugely popular with his people. Sihanouk died of a heart attack in October in Beijing, aged 89. After lying in state for three months at the royal palace in Phnom Penh, he was cremated yesterday as part of a week of elaborate funeral ceremonies. Twice exiled and twice returned to the throne, Sihanouk abruptly abdicated in 2004 as old age and poor health took their toll on the colourful monarch. It was far from the first time he had caught observers off guard. Sihanouk repeatedly backed different regimes, including the murderous Khmer Rouge, during a life almost as tempestuous as his country’s modern history.

“Sihanouk is Cambodia,” his official biographer, Julio Jeldres, once said. A self-described “naughty boy” with a taste for the high life and an artistic flair, he embraced the intrigue that swirled around his kingdom with the gusto of a character from one of the many films he directed, produced and starred in.

Sihanouk married six times and fathered 14 children. Aside from his cinematic creations he wrote poetry and composed songs. But he was far from frivolous, emerging as a shrewd political survivor who entertained friend and foe with his charm and wit. “He had tremendous energy, but the problem was that his energy just led him eventually to exhaustion. Exhaustion with the problems of Cambodia, and straightforward physical exhaustion,” said Australia-based historian Milton Osborne. “He was an insomniac who could call meetings at three o’clock in the morning,” he said. Later in life, the royal was plagued by numerous ailments including several types of cancer and diabetes, and increasingly spent long spells being treated in China.

He was just 18 when placed on the throne in 1941 by French colonial authorities, but quickly defied his patron’s expectations of a pliant king. Twelve years later he gained Cambodia’s independence and shortly afterwards quit the throne in favour of his father to pursue a career in politics.

He repeatedly left political posts with a characteristic flash of theatrical anger over perceived slights, until

becoming head of state following his father’s death in 1960. In the decade that followed, he presided over a period of rare stability, now fondly recalled as Cambodia’s golden years. His frequent public appearances-Sihanouk seemed to relish working alongside rural villagers on various public works projects-formed a close bond between the man and the country he ruled. Toppled in a coup by US-backed general Lon Nol in 1970, Sihanouk, while in exile in Beijing, made his most controversial decision. He aligned himself with communist guerrillas, who later emerged as the Khmer Rouge and used him as a figurehead. When they took the capital Phnom Penh in 1975, they promptly emptied the city, exiling millions to vast collective farms and setting the country on the path to destruction in their drive to create an agrarian utopia. Sihanouk returned from China and temporarily remained head of state but was forced by the Khmer Rouge to resign a year later and was kept under house arrest with his family. He was unable to stop the bloodletting that left up to two million people, including five of his children, dead by the time Vietnamese troops and Khmer Rouge defectors ousted the regime in 1979. Sihanouk survived because China, a key backer of the Khmer Rouge, wanted to keep him alive. He fled to Beijing after the regime crumbled, living in villas there and in North Korea-another ally of the monarch-for the next 13 years. Always by his side was his sixth wife Monique, an Italian-Cambodian he married in 1952. From exile, Sihanouk later condemned the Khmer Rouge but in the 1980s embraced a resistance coalition, which included remnants of the ousted regime, against Cambodia’s Vietnam-backed government. He still pushed for peace, however, opening talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government after Vietnamese troops withdrew from Cambodia in 1989. Sihanouk’s strength of will is largely credited with making the 1991 UN-sponsored peace accords possible. In 1993 he triumphantly re-ascended the throne, becoming king once again after almost four decades. In October 2009, after surviving a third bout of cancer, the ex-monarch posted a handwritten message saying he had lived too long. “Lengthy longevity bears on me like an unbearable weight,” he said. —AFP

S Korea, US begin drills amid N Korea nuke threat SEOUL: South Korean and US troops began naval drills yesterday in a show of force partly directed at North Korea amid signs that Pyongyang will soon carry out a threat to conduct its third atomic test. The region is also seeing a boost in diplomatic activity focused on North Korea’s announcement last month that it will conduct a nuclear test to protest UN Security Council sanctions toughened after a December satellite launch that the US and others say was a disguised test of banned missile technology.

Pyongyang’s two previous nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009, both occurred after it was slapped with increased sanctions for similar rocket launches. As it issued its most recent punishment, the Security Council ordered North Korea to refrain from a nuclear test or face “significant action.” North Korea’s state media said Sunday that at a high-level Workers’ Party meeting, leader Kim Jong Un issued “important” guidelines meant to bolster the army and protect national sovereignty. North Korea didn’t elaborate, but Kim’s guidelines likely refer to a nuclear test and suggest that Pyongyang appears to have completed formal procedural steps and is preparing to conduct a nuclear test soon, according to South Korean analyst Hong Hyun-ik.

“We assess that North Korea has almost finished preparations for conducting a nuclear test anytime and all that’s left is North Korea making a political decision” to do so, Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters yesterday. The spokesman said he couldn’t disclose further details because they would involve confidential intelligence affairs. Recent

JINHAE NAVAL BASE: In this photo, the USS San Francisco, a US nuclearpowered submarine, is docked before South Korea and US joint military exercises. —AP satellite photos showed North Korea may have been sealing the tunnel into a mountainside where a nuclear device could be exploded.

Yesterday, South Korean and US militaries kicked off three-day exercises off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast that involve live-fire exercises, naval maneuvers and submarine detection drills. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the maneuvers are part of regular joint military training that the allies had scheduled before the latest nuclear tensions began. But the training, which involves a nuclear-powered American submarine, could still send a warning against possible North Korean provocation, a South Korean military official said, requesting anonymity because of department rules.

North Korean state media on Saturday described the drills as a joint exercise for a pre-emptive attack on the country. North Korea has said similar things when South Korea and the US conducted other drills; the allies have repeatedly said they have no intention of attacking the North. North Korea says US hostility and the threat of American troops in South Korea are important reasons behind its nuclear drive. The US stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. North Korea also has denounced sanctions over its rocket launches, saying it has the sovereign right to launch rockets to send satellites into orbit under a space development program. —AP

Surprise ambassador safeguards Taiwan’s ‘shield’ of ambiguity WASHINGTON: Taiwan’s President Ma Yingjeou startled friends and rivals by making his closest advisor “ambassador” to the United States on a mission to prove that the island is still a key ally. King Pu-Tsung, was considered the power behind the Taiwanese throne as the president’s election strategist and former head of the ruling Kuomintang party. But he has never been a diplomat, and the appointment surprised the United States and China-the rival powers who underpin Taiwan’s security and economy.

In an interview with AFP, King highlighted the importance of the “strategic ambiguity” that the island of 23 million people maintains with its neighbor, on one side, and protector, on the other. That ambiguity

does not help counter US observers who say Taiwan has become a “strategic liability” because of the harm that US arms sales to Taiwan-about $180 billion since 2008 — do to relations with China. “We have our own pragmatic approach to survive,” said the envoy who cannot call himself ambassador, as the United States broke formal ties with Taiwan in 1979 when it recognized China.

“We need strong support from the United States, but we also have to deal cautiously with mainland China because now they they are the number one partner of Taiwan,” he added. “It is a very strategic ambiguity that we have. It is the best shield we have.”

King said Taiwan-US relations were “damaged” under previous president Chen Shuibian, and his job is to lead “low profile,”

“pragmatic” attempts to lift Washington’s confidence. His links to President Ma are important. “What I say can probably represent what he is thinking in the future,” he said. President Ma wants advanced US weaponry. Despite the improved atmosphere, China has not renounced its threat to use force if Taiwan moves too far away from the ambiguous truce that has lasted since the communist-nationalist split in 1949.

“We still need to have a very strong defense capability to protect Taiwan,” said the envoy, who has his eyes on American F22 or F35 fighter jets and submarines. Such a sale would infuriate Beijing. “Even if it is just a symbolic gesture, it is very important to us. It shows strong US support to Taiwan,” said King. —AFP

NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

AILING CASTRO MAKES SURPRISE... Skeleton under car park ...

Ahmadinejad ready...

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), whose presidency Cuba formally assumed last week at a summit in Santiago, Chile. Set up in Caracas in Dec 2011 at the behest of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, CELAC groups all nations from across the Americas except the United States and Canada.

The Cuban chairmanship of the group marked Havana’s full regional reintegration and was seen as a major diplomatic coup for Havana. “This was a step forward which we owe to the efforts of many people, including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez,” Castro told reporters and voters.

Chavez has not been seen or heard from since his last cancer operation on Dec 11 in Havana. But Venezuelan National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello said Sunday the Venezuelan leader was now making steady progress in his recovery.

Castro, who rose to power after the 1959 revolution, ceded the presidency to his younger brother Raul, 81, in July 2006 for health reasons. Fidel Castro had not been

seen in public since Oct 21, when he accompanied Elias Jaua, the current Venezuelan foreign minister to the Hotel Nacional. His long absences from public view fueled rumors that his health has worsened, that he was dead or on his deathbed - particularly since Castro has not published one of his usually frequent editorials in official state media since June 19.

In the past five years since falling ill after serious intestinal surgery, Castro has penned about 400 editorials as well as books about the revolution, and welcomed a few international leaders in private events.

Last Thursday, according to state media reports, he hosted former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva. About 8.5 million Cubans took part in the polls that featured no opposition candidates. Authorities billed the event as a celebration of Cuban democracy, “which is different” from those in other countries. But Cuban dissidents blasted the vote as a farce. “What strange elections, in which there is no choice and all the candidates think the same,” wrote dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez. “It’s an electoral farce.” — AFP

Continued from Page 1 caused his spine to be twisted and his right shoulder appear higher than his left, but there was no evidence of the twisted arm depicted by Shakespeare. The man was the right age - Richard died aged 32 - had a high-protein diet consistent with someone of high birth, and had a slender, almost feminine build, which matched contemporary accounts.

In a forensic search that at times resembled a television crime drama, there were also clear signs of the person having been in battle. A slice was taken off the back of his head by a weapons such as a halberd, a type of axe, which with another injury nearby would have probably killed him, according to Jo Appleby, the project’s lead osteologist.

There was also evidence of “humiliation injuries” to his face and his buttocks, which may well have been inflicted on his naked body by rivals after his death.

The researchers were confident they had found Richard, but the final green light came just hours before more than 150 journalists were due to gather for the announcement,

with the confirmation of the DNA results.

Geneticist Turi King revealed that the skeleton’s DNA matched that of two descendants of Richard’s sister, Anne of York - a Canadianborn carpenter, Michael Ibsen, and another person who wishes to remain anonymous. It presented a “strong and compelling case that these are indeed the remains of Richard III”, King said. Ibsen, the 17th generation descendant, said he was “stunned” at the discovery, and was looking forward to seeing the facial reconstruction of Richard, although he added: “It won’t look like me.”

Historians now hope to dispel some of the myths about Richard, publicising evidence that he never killed his nephews and looking again at what he achieved in his brief two-year reign, including the establishment of a system of bail and legal aid.

Philippa Langley, a member of the Richard III Society who coordinated and helped fund the search, said she hoped a new image would emerge of the king and “the twodimensional character devised by the Tudors will be no more”. “We have searched for Richard and we have found him. Now it’s time to honour him,” she said. — AFP

aboard a Soyuz TMA-9 capsule from Baikonur, Kazakhastan, in Sept 2006. The 40-year-old telecommunications entrepreneur paid a reported $20 million for a space station visit. Her journey became an inspiration to women in male-dominated Iran.

Meanwhile, outspoken US Senator John McCain raised eyebrows online yesterday when he compared Ahmadinejad to the monkey that Iran launched into space. “So Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian in space - wasn’t he just there last week?” said a message on McCain’s official Twitter feed, followed by the headline and link to a recent story: “Iran launches monkey into space.” The comments by the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, a strong advocate for tougher sanctions on Tehran for its nuclear program, followed Ahmadinejad’s claim earlier that he is ready to be the first man in space.

The slur by McCain, the senator with by far the most Twitter followers, with nearly 1.8 million, elicited swift condemnation on Twitter. “Wow, way to elevate political discourse,” tweeted @heyitsurban to McCain. Another user, @manolo_loop, wrote: “@SenJohnMcCain is racism funny?”

About 50 minutes after his original “monkey” tweet, McCain posted a follow-up. “Re: Iran space tweet - lighten up folks, can’t everyone take a joke?” — Agencies

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ANALYSIS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

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Issues

China, Japan seek to dial down tensions, but risks remain

By Linda Sieg and John Ruwitch wo Japanese F-15s scramble as a Chinese plane nears the disputed islands: one in the lead, the other providing cover. They issue radio warnings to leave the area, but are ignored. Visual wing-tipping signals go unheeded.

The Japanese pilots consider their last option: firing warning shots - a step Beijing could consider an act of war. That’s how the risky game being played near a chain of rocky, uninhabited isles at the heart of a row between Beijing and Tokyo could quickly escalate to the danger point, a former Japanese air force pilot said. “China would be furious. They would regard it as war, although it is not by international law,” the ex-pilot said of the depicted scenario in the skies over the East China Sea. A long-simmering row over the islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, has in recent months escalated to the point where both have scrambled fighter jets while patrol ships shadow each other in nearby seas. Tokyo noted last month that its pilots have the right under global rules to fire warning shots against intruders in its air space, a step Japan has taken only once since World War Two. Concerns that the increasing cat-and-mouse encounters between planes or patrol ships in the East China Sea will cause an accidental clash are giving impetus to efforts to dial down tensions, including a possible leaders’ summit. But while hopes have emerged of a thaw in the chill that began when Japan bought the islands from a private citizen last September, deep mistrust, regional rivalry and pumped up nationalism complicated by bitter Chinese memories of Japan’s wartime aggression mean any rapprochement will be fragile. “Most likely the two sides will eventually find a face-saving formula to step back from this.

But I doubt it’s a flash in the pan,” said Andy Gilholm of consultancy Control Risks. “There seems no chance of a permanent settlement and even a durable setting aside of the issue looks very unlikely. So ... we’re advising clients that this kind of friction is part of the new normal, not a fleeting storm.”

With Japanese businesses suffering from a downturn in trade after violent anti-Japan protests last September and jobs and investment in China at risk if the feud drags on or worsens, the pressure is on to find a resolution of sorts.

Japan’s ally the United States, which has shifted its attention to the region in an Asian “pivot”, has signalled it does not want to see a military clash over the islands, which Washington says fall under a two-way security pact with Tokyo. A string of Japanese politicians including Abe’s junior coalition partner and former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama - a socialist who issued a landmark 1995 apology for Japan’s wartime aggression - have visited Beijing in recent weeks. “These (visits) are being reported in China in an explicit way,” said Yoshihide Soeya, director of the Institute of East Asian Studies at Keio University in Tokyo.

“China is telling its domestic audience that it is time to try something new.”

Abe, who returned to Japan’s top job in December after his Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) huge election win, now says he is open to a summit. LDP Vice President Masahiko Komura may travel to China to try to lay the groundwork, although no meeting is expected until after Xi becomes president in March. Abe moved quickly to repair SinoJapanese ties when he took office for a first term in 2006 and Japanese executives and some experts say his nationalist image may mean he is well placed to do something similar again, as then-President Richard Nixon’s 1972 China visit set the stage to normalise Sino-American ties. Still, setting the stage for summitry will require deft diplomacy. “Both sides want to lower the heat, but they don’t want to look soft to their own nationals,” said the Japanese ex-pilot, now an expert on regional security matters. Abe’s predecessor bought the islands, located near potentially big maritime gas reserves, last September to prevent their purchase by the nationalist governor of Tokyo. Beijing rejected Japan’s explanation that the move was meant to avoid escalating tensions, and violent protests erupted in China.

Even if the leaders meet, a substantive compromise in which Beijing stops sending ships and planes to the area or Tokyo agrees that the island’s sovereignty is disputed looks elusive. The row over the islands has caused flare-ups with serious economic fallout in years past, but China’s stepped up efforts to physically challenge Japan’s control - and Japan’s decision to push back - has raised the risk to a new level, diplomats say. Japanese fighters scrambled 160 times between April and October last year, the latest period for which data is available, more than the total in the 12 months to March 2012, and at least eight times since Dec 13 when a Chinese turboprop plane entered what Japan considers its airspace.—Reuters

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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.

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Economy, military shape US Iran strategy

By Steven R Hurst President Barack Obama may have to decide this year whether to use military force to fulfill his vow to prevent Iran from being able to build nuclear weapons, foreign policy experts say. But America’s economic and military realities argue intensely against attacking the Islamic republic and for muddling through by, perhaps, further tightening sanctions that have cut deeply into Tehran’s economy. Americans are weary of war after more than a decade of military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US economy, while recovering from the Great Recession, still is weak. The military could face deep cuts this year as Congress considers massive reductions in government spending.

What’s more, Iran is far stronger militarily than either Iraq or Afghanistan and would undoubtedly strike back by hitting Israel and attacking US soldiers in neighboring Afghanistan. Also, Iran has put much of its nuclear program deep under ground, making it uncertain how much damage could be done by American airstrikes. Beyond that, the prime advocate for attacking Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just suffered a significant setback in elections and is in a weakened position. Even before the Israeli election, Obama had rebuffed Netanyahu’s calls for an attack, saying there’s still time for a diplomatic solution.

But time is running out. Experts say Iran has uranium enriched to 20 percent, a level from which it can be conver ted to weapons-grade fairly quickly. The UN International Atomic Energy Agency says the Iranians are preparing to install faster centrifuges that would speed the process. “Many people think 2013 is the year of decision as to the question of whether to go to war or strike a conclusive deal to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” said Suzanne Maloney, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Saban Center for Middle East Policy. A new repor t by scholars at the Center for Strategic and

US

International Studies think tank warns that “the current limited crisis ... may well escalate to a major conflict or a new form of Cold War.” During Obama’s first term, the US and its allies imposed damaging economic sanctions on Tehran, but so far the leadership there has shown no willingness to talk seriously about altering a uranium enrichment program that could provide fuel for nuclear weapons. Iran denies it wants to build a bomb, insisting it is creating fuel for electricitygenerating reactors and medical research.

Iran has been reluctant to engage, refusing to set a location for a new round of talks that were to have taken place in January, until it announced it would meet on Feb 25 in Kazakhstan with the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany. That group is known as the P-5 + 1, short for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. It has been trying to convince Iran to give up its nuclear activities.

Israel, which Iran has vowed to wipe off the map, sees a nuclear-armed Iran as a threat to its existence and has threatened to unilaterally launch a first strike again Tehran’s nuclear facilities. Such an attack would almost certainly draw the United States into another military conflict in the region. But Obama and most Americans have shown no appetite for another war, a fact shown by the president’s reluctance to act militarily now and his refusal to involve US forces in the Syrian civil war.

Syria has proven a major distraction for Tehran. If President Bashar Al-Assad is driven from power, Iran could lose its foothold in the Arab world. It uses Syria to funnel arms and money to the anti-Israeli Hezbollah organization that controls southern Lebanon along Israel’s northern border and Hamas, the Palestinian faction that controls the Gaza Strip on the south. But Israel’s Netanyahu is also distracted after last month’s elections, which saw moderate politicians replace some right-wingers in parliament. “I think that Netanyahu has been sufficiently weakened so that he won’t be able to successfully lobby the United

States for a green light to attack,” said Chris Dolan, a political scientist at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.

Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Israeli pressure is no longer, if it ever was, driving Obama’s decision-making.

“Our policy toward Iran’s nuclear program has been defined by Obama’s red lines, not Netanyahu’s, meaning that the US isn’t likely to use military force unless and until it’s clear that Iran is taking active steps to weaponize its program,” he said. He was referring to Netanyahu’s UN speech in September in which he said Iran had already crossed the red line that required military action.

Also, Obama realizes that Iran will have a new president after elections in June, a fact that possibly is causing Iran to drag its feet. The next president will replace hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who denies the World War II Holocaust in which Hitler’s Germany killed 6 million Jews.

But in Iran, real power is in the hands of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Students of Iran believe that Khamenei is undecided on using the country’s nuclear fuel to build a nuclear weapon. He has said such a weapon was in conflict with Iran’s Islamic foundations.

Any future talks will hang on Iran’s demand for specific guarantees about easing sanctions in return for dialing back its nuclear program. Sadjadpour said the outlines of a deal are clear to both sides. He said the unspoken US position is: “You can have a nuclear program which includes uranium enrichment, but not a weapon. If you don’t go for the bomb, we won’t bomb you.” But, he said, sanctions will not be eased without meaningful compromises. “The problem is that there remains a very large gap in our respective definitions of the word ‘meaningful’.” And that could be very dangerous, said Maloney, should there be a deal that goes bad. If that happens Obama “will be forced to put his money where his mouth is,” meaning he would be forced to launch a military strike to make good on his vow to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. — AP

Bahrain’s 2-year-old uprising at crossroads

By Reem Khalifa and Brian Murphy oung men wearing masks lurk in the darkened alcoves of the old market in Bahrain’s capital. “To victory,” they whisper as they hand out pamphlets calling for greater rebellion after two years of nonstop unrest in the Gulf kingdom. In another part of the city, leaders of established Shiite opposition groups study their next moves. One option is to open talks with the Sunni monarchy as a possible soft landing from the Arab Spring’s longest-running uprising against a sitting power. The two faces of Bahrain’s tumult have never been clearer as the struggles in the strategic island - home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet- mark their second year next week.

The old guard Shiite political factions appear worn down by the ceaseless tensions and seem increasingly open to some kind of face-saving compromise with Bahrain’s Sunni leadership. Such negotiations are endorsed

by Washington and other Western allies of Bahrain’s ruling dynasty. Yesterday, Bahrain’s justice minister, Khaled bin Ali Al-Khalifa, said preliminary political talks are scheduled to begin Feb10 - just days before the second anniversary of the crisis. The official Bahrain News Agency called it an important step toward “national consensus.”

But the clashes and bloodshed also have elevated another voice from Bahrain’s streets: A shadowy network of youth groups and hard-line Shiites - knitted together by social media - that have coalesced around an angry axis.

Calls to bring down the monarchy are now staples in the near daily skirmishes with security forces. “No to dialogue!

No to surrender!” several hundred protesters chanted during a recent confrontation between demonstrators with firebombs and riot police responding with tear gas and stun grenades.

It might seem like a worrisome groundswell for Bahrain’s Sunni rulers, who have managed to keep a close grip on power for decades under what critics call a two-tier system. The majority Shiites, about 70 percent of the population, claim they are relegated to the lower rungs with limited say in the country’s affairs. Bahrain’s uprising seeks to tilt the scales toward the Shiites. But divides within the Shiite population - whether to battle harder or open talks could end up giving Bahrain’s rulers more breathing space.

If the main Shiite factions can be brought into negotiations, the opposition left on the streets would continue as an annoyance to the monarchy but less of a potential threat to their power.

“The confrontational elements in Bahrain - those who

Y

have effectively rejected dialogue as pointless - are certainty taking more charge of the tone on the streets,” said Toby Jones, an expert on Bahraini affairs at Rutgers University. “It invites a type of comparison to the 50s and 60s civil rights movement when activists had to be provocative enough to provoke police backlash and brutality and the cycle goes on.”

It’s not hard to lose track of little Bahrain on the greater Arab Spring stage. Bahrain’s two-year death toll of more than 55 was exceeded in a single day in Syria. There is no clear center of gravity in Bahrain’s uprising like Egypt’s Tahrir Square. Bahrain’s protest hub of Pearl Square was cleared by police raids in the early weeks of the unrest and now is ringed round-the-clock by security forces, razor wire and concrete barricades. But the tensions on the tiny island - whose native population of more than 550,000 is equivalent to a Cairo neighborhood - resonates in many important directions.

The survival of Bahrain’s monarchy is a priority of the highest order for the fraternity of other Gulf Arab leaders, who have so far ridden out the Arab Spring and have united to stamp out potential threats. Among the crackdowns: Arrests in Kuwait and Qatar for alleged online dissent and charges against 94 suspected coup plotters in the United Arab Emirates with claimed links to Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

Problems in Bahrain also spill over into the Gulf Arab showdowns with Shiite power Iran. Gulf Arab leaders never miss an opportunity to accuse Iran or its proxies, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as being offsite masterminds of Bahrain’s unrest. Iranian officials and its state media often portray Bahrain’s Shiite protesters as freedom fighters and distant kin. But no clear evidence has emerged to back up claims of direct aid.

Still, the Gulf claims ring powerfully in the West as part of wider fears over Iran’s expanding influence. And that is just part of delicate diplomatic balance for the US in Bahrain. Washington is unlikely to do anything to sour relations with Bahrain’s Western-educated king, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, or jeopardize its vital military interests such as the 5th Fleet, the Pentagon’s main base to counter Iran’s expanding military presence in the Gulf and protect oil shipping lanes through the Gulf of Hormuz.

Yet the US is increasingly uneasy about hard-edged Bahrain measures such as stripping citizenship from 31 Shiite political activists and upholding life sentences for eight others. “Unfortunately, 2012 was the year that Bahrain’s ruling family showed it prioritizes repression over

reform,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “This year the government needs to act on its reform rhetoric by setting free all peaceful protesters, including the protest leaders still serving long prison terms for exercising their right to free speech and peaceful assembly.”

There seems little to indicate Bahrain will ease up on the opposition. Authorities use phrases such as “saboteurs” and “terrorists” as violence has risen, including a series of five bomb blasts in November that killed two South Asian workers. But Bahrain’s leaders also have made noticeable reforms along the way, including giving the elected parliament more oversight powers and pledging deeper investigations into alleged abuses by security forces. Although tangible concessions, they are dismissed by many Shiites as mere window dressing that still leaves the monarchy in control of all key posts and decisions.

“The authorities can no longer go by the old notion of possession and absolute control of the land and people,” Bahrain’s most influential Shiite cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, said in a December sermon. “‘This old perception is no longer accepted today in any place on earth.” Hardline Shiite opposition groups have pushed this view even further under the banner of the Feb 14 movement - the date of the first major demonstration in 2011. Photocopied pamphlets distributed during protests set their goal in absolute terms: A fight to strip the monarchy of its powers and stewardship over Bahrain. “These groups are not just going to fade away because of some kind of possible political dialogue. Too much has happened in two years,” said Jones, the Rutgers professor. “They now feel it’s not over until they say it’s over.”

The main Shiite parties initially welcomed the call for talks, but then wavered after suggestions that only lowerranking Sunni officials would take part. Without top-level participants, there is little chance that key items would be on the agenda such as breaking the monarchy’s control on all top government and security appointments. “The talk of dialogue is still no more than a media show,” said Jameel Khadhim, a senior official with Al Wefaq, the biggest Shiite political group, which has called for peaceful opposition gatherings until the second anniversary of the uprising.

In alleys and side streets in Shiite neighborhoods, meanwhile, other types of showdowns take place. Shiite youths set roadblocks of burning tires and gather Molotov cocktails and rocks for the inevitable arrival of riot police. “ The king’s days are numbered,” said 18-year-old Mohammad Jaffar. “We are not going to surrender.” — AP

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

S P ORTS Gomez unfazed by substitute role

Kenya sets up commission to probe dope claims

Ailing Gascoigne has faith in recovery

BERLIN: Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez has been give little playing time since the Bundesliga restart in January but the Germany international is confident his time will come.

Gomez has been playing second fiddle to Mario Mandzukic at Bayern this season with the Croatian striker leading the league scoring charts with 14 goals after notching another two in their 3-0 win at Mainz 05 on Saturday. Bayern have had a superb Bundesliga season so far, with 16 wins from their 20 games having scored 51 goals and conceded seven. They also face Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 later this month.

Gomez, who came back late last year after ankle surgery in August, said he understood coach Jupp Heynckes’ desire to stick with a winning team. “I am aware that the team are playing great football at the moment,” Gomez told reporters yesterday ahead of Germany’s friendly game against France this week.

“What is a coach to do? Should he risk things not working out that well just to use players who have been out for some time, like me, and are now wanting to play again?”

Heynckes has used the same starting 11 for his three league games since the restart after the mid-season break. “I have not played (much) in the last three games but we still have a number of games in the second part of the season and I can put all of this into perspective,” he said. —Reuters

NAIROBI: Kenya has set up an independent commission to look into claims about athletes using performance-enhancing drugs, the country’s sports commissioner Gordon Oluoch said yesterday.

The decision came after the east African nation was heavily criticised for failing to hold an independent investigation following a German media report last year alleging widespread doping among Kenyan athletes at highaltitude training camps. “The National Olympic Committee (NOCK) in consultation with the government has appointed a task force to investigate the doping allegations against the Kenyan athletes,” Oluoch told AFP. “We have already released a budget of four million shillings (470,000 dollars) for the committee to start work immediately. This committee is tasked to conduct its investigations and present their report to us,” he said.

“The panel is free to seek support from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or any other agency in their investigations to get to the root of the matter,” he added. Kenyan athletes, who have denied any drug taking, were blood-tested for banned performance-enhancing substances for the first time inside the country last December.

A total of 32 athletes took part in the voluntary out-of-competition blood tests conducted under the recommendations of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). —AFP

LONDON: Paul Gascoigne thinks he can still “get back on track” despite a worrying public appearance last week, according to Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor. The former footballer, who has struggled with alcohol problems in the past and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2008, was filmed trembling and speaking incoherently at a charity event on Thursday. The footage, published by The Sun newspaper, prompted Gascoigne’s agent, Terry Baker, to say that his client needed immediate help and that, as an alcoholic, his life was “always in danger”.

However, Taylor said that his organisation had been in touch with Gascoigne over the weekend and received assurances that the former England star was determined to recover from his latest setback. “He still feels he is capable of getting back on track and (that) it is a relapse he has had,” Taylor told Britain’s Press Association. “I can only say, whatever help he needs, he must come on (board) and we will help to provide it.

“I think he does need specialist care and a very strong 24hour support system, but again, it needs him to be part of that.”

Gascoigne’s former England team-mate Gary Lineker expressed concern at the weekend, writing on Twitter: “I can only hope he finds peace somehow, but fear those hopes may be forlorn.” —AFP

Gasol helps Lakers hold on to beat Pistons 98-97 Lakers trail eighth-place Houston by 31/2 games

NEW DELHI: In this photograph taken on December 24, 2010, Chief Organiser of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games Suresh Kalmadi speaks to media after his residence was raided as part of a probe into graft allegations surrounding the 2010 Games, in New Delhi. India’s former Olympics chief pleaded not guilty in court yesterday to an array of corruption charges related to his handling of the chaotic Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. —AFP

Former India Olympics boss pleads not guilty of graft NEW DELHI: India’s former Olympics chief pleaded not guilty in court yesterday to an array of corruption charges related to his handling of the chaotic Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Suresh Kalmadi, a lawmaker for the ruling Congress party, faces charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, abuse of office and intimidation over a contract awarded to Swiss Timing, which is part of the Swatch luxury goods empire.

Swiss Timing, which is named in the case but has not responded to a court summons, won a 1.1 billion rupee ($21 million) contract to serve as the official time-keeper and results provider.

Kalmadi signed a statement to declare his innocence of all charges and did not address the court.

“My client has pleaded not guilty,” Kalmadi’s lawyer, S. Agarwal, said outside the court. “The court has formally framed charges today.”

Agarwal said that Kalmadi may try to challenge the decision to order a trial in the High Court.

“We will examine the charges and take a further decision on the matter,” the lawyer said.

Seven others on trial also pleaded not guilty in written statements submitted to a special court set up to try the suspects over the massively over-budget Delhi event. They face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Also facing charges are Kalmadi’s deputy during the Commonwealth Games Lalit Bhanot, who has since been elected number two in the Indian Olympic Association in a scandal-tainted process.

The dysfunctional organisation of the Delhi event-the most expensive in Commonwealth Games history at $6 billion-led to Kalmadi becoming a public

hate-figure and he was booed by the crowd during the two-week event.

In the police charge sheet detailing their evidence against the accused, Swiss Timing is accused of paying money to companies as kickbacks to Kalmadi and others via its local partner Gem International.

In one instance, Gem is accused of paying a Hyderbad-based firm for cabling work at an inflated price. The company allegedly had no previous experience and was unable to produce proper paperwork to investigators.

The Delhi Commonwealth Games were intended to showcase India on the global stage, but infrastructure problems, delays and widespread corruption allegations instead highlighted many of the problems that blight the country.

They also led to criticism of the stranglehold of politicians over Indian sports associations.

Kalmadi, an MP of more than 30 years who smiled at the press as he entered court in a grey suit, ran the Olympics body for 16 years.

The former air force pilot stepped down at the end of 2012 and was replaced by Abhey Singh Chautala, a local politician from the state of Haryana seen as a close ally of Kalmadi.

Bhanot was also elected unopposed as secretary-general of the Olympics body, which led the International Olympic Committee to suspend India because of the tainted nature of the leadership transition.

The Delhi Commonwealth Games organising committee’s director-general V.K. Verma, procurement director Surjit Lal, sports director A.S.V. Prasad, treasurer M. Jayachandran and three others are also on trial. —AFP

AUBURN HILLS: In a season full of turmoil and frustration, this would have been a particularly exasperating loss for the Los Angeles Lakers.

One of the most accurate free throw shooters in NBA history had missed two, giving the Detroit Pistons one more chance at a game-winning shot. Kyle Singler lobbed the ball toward the basket, and rookie Andre Drummond stretched his 6-foot-11 frame and tried a one-handed dunk with Pau Gasol defending.

No good. The Lakers held on for a 98-97 victory. “Every game is like a playoff game for us right now,” Los Angeles coach Mike D’Antoni said.

“And some crazy things happen in playoff games.”

Gasol had 23 points and 10 rebounds and was the last line of defense on Detroit’s final alleyoop attempt Sunday. The Lakers blew an 18-point third-quarter lead but overcame their late free throw struggles to win for the fifth time in six games.

Los Angeles has won two in a row without Dwight Howard. The All-Star center sat out again with a right shoulder problem. Kobe Bryant’s driving three-point play with 1:09 remaining gave the Lakers a 98-95 lead, and they held on despite missing four free throws in the final 16.8 seconds. Steve Nash - a 90.4 percent foul shooter for his career - missed two free throws with 2.7 seconds left.

Down by one, the Pistons inbounded from midcourt with 1.2 seconds to play. They tried a lob to Drummond, but with Gasol contesting the play, Drummond couldn’t convert.

Drummond looked surprised that no foul was called on the play. “I have no comment,” Drummond said afterward when asked if there was contact. Detroit was still without guard Jose Calderon, who the Pistons acquired from Toronto tomorrow.

The Spanish-born Calderon has not been available to play because of unresolved visa issues.

The Lakers trail eighth-place Houston by 31/2 games in the Western Conference playoff race.

Bryant scored 18 points but shot poorly from the perimeter. After an airball with the score tied at 95, he decided to drive to the basket the next time down. Bryant muscled through a foul and scored a basket that was counted on a continuation call. Detroit’s Will Bynum cut the lead to one, and after Gasol missed, Drummond missed a baseline fadeaway that would have given the Pistons the lead. Earl Clark missed two free throws for Los Angeles with 16.8 seconds left, but Bynum’s driving shot over Gasol went off the glass and rattled in and out.

That set the stage for Nash, whose two misses dropped him percentage points behind Mark Price for the top free throw percentage in NBA history for players with at least 1,200 attempts.

“I feel bad that it could’ve cost us the game and that I choked two up there,” Nash said. “A win is a win, but I take a lot of pride in being a fourthquarter player and making shots,

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan: Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe (10) fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, (left) of Spain as Lakers forward Metta World Peace fouls Pistons guard Brandon Knight (7) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Palace Sunday. —AP Angeles. Nash had 11 points and 10 assists.

Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey was called for his third foul in the first quarter, then picked up a technical to boot. The Pistons turned the ball over nine times in the half, and they finished the second quarter with a terrible defensive breakdown. Bryant was inbounding around midcourt with 0.4 seconds left in the half, and Clark somehow slipped free for an alleyoop dunk at the buzzer that gave Los Angeles a 62-51 lead. The Lakers did a better job defending that situation on the final play of the game. —AP

Drummond showing off his athleticism around the basket. Drummond’s two-handed dunk over Gasol made it 76-70, and the Lakers led 78-72 after three. “We weren’t moving the ball, we were over-dribbling the basketball and we weren’t guarding anyone,” Detroit coach Lawrence Frank said. “Then we started to get some stops, got energy into the game and obviously Dre had a huge impact the second half.”

Bynum had 18 points and 10 assists for the Pistons, and Greg Monroe added 20 points and 12 rebounds. Clark had 17 points for Los

particularly free throws.” The Lakers scored 10 straight points early in the third to take a 72-54 lead. Bryant highlighted that run with a onehanded dunk while Detroit’s Brandon Knight tried in vain to prevent an easy basket. “We were moving the ball well in the first half, but we got comfortable in the second half again.

That’s been a problem,” Gasol said.

“Drummond changed things, but a lot of that was because of Bynum.

He’s so fast that he gets into the lane and opens a lot of things up for Drummond.”

The Pistons rallied quickly, with

NBA results/standings Boston 106, LA Clippers 104; LA Lakers 98, Detroit 97; Miami 100, Toronto 85.

NY Knicks Brooklyn Boston Philadelphia Toronto

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L 30 15 .667 28 19 .596 24 23 .511 20 26 .435 17 31 .354

Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland

Central Division 29 18 .617 28 19 .596 25 21 .543 18 30 .375 14 34 .292

Miami Atlanta Orlando Charlotte Washington

Southeast Division 30 14 .682 26 20 .565 14 33 .298 11 35 .239 11 35 .239

PCT 3 7 10.5 14.5

GB

1 3.5 11.5 15.5

5 17.5 20 20

Western Conference Northwest Division Oklahoma City 35 12 .745 Denver 30 18 .625 Utah 26 22 .542 Portland 24 23 .511 Minnesota 18 26 .409

5.5 9.5 11 15.5

LA Clippers Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento Phoenix

Pacific Division 34 15 .694 30 17 .638 22 26 .458 17 32 .347 16 32 .333

3 11.5 17 17.5

San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans

Southwest Division 38 11 .776 30 16 .652 26 23 .531 20 27 .426 15 33 .313

6.5 12 17 22.5

France to test new-found confidence against Germany CLAIREFONTAINE: Didier Deschamps is convinced he has helped France to overcome their on-pitch woes and play with a new sense of confidence when they face major teams such as Germany.

Les Bleus have failed to shine on the big stage since reaching the 2006 World Cup final, enduring some troubling episodes at the 2008 and 2012 European championships and at the 2010 World Cup. Since Deschamps took over from Laurent Blanc last July, France appear to have turned a corner as they snatched a surprise 1-1 away draw against world and European champions Spain in a World Cup qualifier last October.

They followed up with a 2-1 victory against Italy in Parma and are now ready to extend their unbeaten run against Germany

into a 26th year when the two teams meet in tomorrow’s friendly international at the Stade de France. “There was more concern before the big games (against Spain and Italy),” Deschamps told a news conference yesterday.

“Today there is optimism, there are even big expectations ahead of the Germany game.”

If they are to avoid defeat against a depleted Germany side , France will need to be at their level best and not rest on their laurels. “We must build on our self-confidence, not rest on it because if we do so, we could get slapped on Wednesday,” Deschamps, who skippered France to their 1998 world and 2000 European titles, explained.

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko acknowl-

edged that France had gained respect since their performances against Spain and Italy.

“The way the other players look at us has changed since the Spain game,” he told reporters.

“We went there without pressure and we came close to victory, which was a very good result, and then we beat Italy. Let’s try to stay on that path.” Deschamps has no injury concern going into tomorrow’s showdown. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s Clint Dempsey and AZ Alkmaar’s Jozy Altidore were selected on Monday in the US squad for tomorrow’s crucial North American finalround World Cup 2014 qualifying opener at Honduras.

Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama are also competing for three berths at stake in Confederation of North, Central American

and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) qualifying.

The fourth-place team will face the Oceania winner for another berth in next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

“We want to have a sense of urgency right from the start of the final Round,” US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “We have a lot of respect for Honduras, but our message to the team is that we are going there to get three points.

“One thing we learned from the semifinal round is that you have to bring the right mentality to play in the tough games on the road and I’m confident we are ready to do that.”

Squad Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/EMG),

Tim Howard (Everton/ENG), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire) Defenders: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander/ESP), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana/MEX), Timmy Chandler (Nuremberg/GER), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim/GER), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg/GER) Midfielders: Michael Bradley (AS Roma/ITA), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor/TUR), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04/GER), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht/BEL), Jose Torres (Tigres), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim/GER), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Forwards: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders). —Agencies

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

S P ORTS

Phil Mickelson finishes off Phoenix Open victory SCOTTSDALE: Phil Mickelson’s 5-iron shot sailed long and right on the par-3 seventh, stopping an inch from the fringe and leaving him in danger of losing at least a stroke to playing partner Brandt Snedeker.

Mickelson ended up leaving Snedeker shaking his head and went on to complete a wire-to wire victory Sunday in the Phoenix Open. Fifty-five feet away, with a mound and a 20-foot swath of fringe between his ball and the hole, Mickelson decided to putt through the taller grass rather than chip over it. He had caddie Jim Mackay remove the flagstick so that it wouldn’t deflect the ball if it had too much speed, a move that proved wise when the ball raced into the cup.

“The challenge of that was to judge the speed where half the putt is through fringe and half is on the green,” Mickelson said. “I got lucky to have made it, obviously. I was just trying to two-putt it. It was going fairly quickly when it got to the hole, probably would have been 6, 8 feet by. With Brandt in there close, that was a big momentum change.”

Snedeker joked with Mickelson for a

moment before holing his own birdie putt. “Are you kidding me?” Snedeker said about his reaction to the putt. “I fully expected Phil to hit a flop shot from there. He didn’t have much of a putt, and he putted through it.

“I hit a great shot in there close and I thought, ‘Hey, I can get one on him here and put some pressure on him.’ He makes that, and he let me hear about it before I putt, and he let me know that I needed to make that to tie. We had fun with it.

That’s Phil being Phil.”

Mickelson shot a 4-under 67 to finish at 28-under 256, two strokes off the PGA Tour record of 254 set by Tommy Armour III in the 2003 Texas Open. The 42-yearold former Arizona State star won after struggling the last two weeks - tying for 37th at La Quinta in his opener and 51st at Torrey Pines - and making news by talking about tax increases.

“It’s an important one for me, because it’s been a while since I won, been a while since I’ve been in contention,” Mickelson said. “I was certainly nervous heading into today. I think the thing I’m most excited about was the way I was able to

regain control of my thoughts after a few shots early on that I didn’t care for.”

Mickelson missed a chance for a 59 in the first round when his birdie putt on the final hole caught the right edge of the cup, curled 180 degrees and stayed out. He settled for a 60 and followed with rounds of 65 and 64 to take a six-stroke lead into the final round.

“I think that sets up the tone for the rest of the year, because I really started to play well,” Mickelson said. “But for me, the rest of the year took a turn on Tuesday when I got my new driver. It just changed my whole deal.”

Snedeker finished second, four strokes back after a 65. “Sometimes you have to tip your hat and say, ‘Phil played unbelievable and deserved to win,’” Snedeker said. “That’s kind of what this week was all about.”

Mickelson took a three-stroke lead to the 17th tee, and nearly drove into the left-side water on the drivable par 4, his ball stopping a yard short of the hazard.

He flopped his second shot 15 feet past the hole and made the birdie putt.

Mickelson parred the par-4 18th after

another drive to the left, one that easily cleared the water he hit into Friday en route to a double bogey, and Snedeker closed with a bogey.

Mickelson had his third wire-to-wire victory and first since the 2006 BellSouth Classic - a 13-stroke blowout the week before the second of his three Masters victories. He pushed his victory total to 41, winning for the first time since 51 weeks ago at Pebble Beach - where he will go for a record-tying fifth victory next weekend. Making his 24th appearance in the event that he also won in 1996 and 2005, Mickelson tied the tournament scoring record set by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001, and joined Calcavecchia, Arnold Palmer and Gene Littler as the only threetime winners. With six victories in Arizona, Mickelson also matched Johnny Miller’s tour record.

After three nearly cloudless days in the Valley of the Sun, the final round was played in overcast conditions. Light rain even fell for a few minutes as Mickelson finished warming up on the practice green and played the first hole.

After the rain stopped, Mickelson

bogeyed the par-4 second and birdied the two front-nine par 3s, pulling off the sensational putt on No. 7. Snedeker pulled within three strokes with a birdied on the par-4 9th, but Mickelson pushed the advantage back to four with a twoputt birdie on the par-5 13th, his fourth straight birdie on the hole. Snedeker saved par after his drive stopped under jumping cholla, forcing him to take a drop for an unplayable lie.

Mickelson matched Snedeker on the next two holes, saving par on the par-4 14th with a 10-foot putt and twoputting for birdie on the par-5 15th.

Snedeker pulled within three again on the par-3 16th, hitting to 5 feet on the stadium hole, and matched Mickelson’s birdie on 17.

Snedeker was coming off a secondplace tie Monday at Torrey Pines, four strokes behind Tiger Woods in the fogdelayed event. “I’m running into Hall of Famers every week,” Snedeker said. Scott Piercy shot a 61 to finish third at 23 under. “These greens were amazing,” Piercy said. “If you got it online, rolling, you made it.” —AP

Penguins get third win in row, topping Capitals 6-3

MONTREAL: Carey Price No 31 of the Montreal Canadiens stops the puck in front of Milan Michalek No 9 and Mika Zibanejad No 93 of the Ottawa Senators during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on Sunday in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Senators 2-1. —AFP

NHL results/standings Pittsburgh 6, Washington 3; Montreal 2, Ottawa 1; Florida 4, Buffalo 3; New Jersey 3, NY Islanders 0.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF Pittsburgh 6 3 0 30 New Jersey 4 1 3 20 NY Islanders 4 3 1 27 NY Rangers 4 4 0 19 Philadelphia 3 6 0 21

GA 22 19 26 22 26

PTS 12 11 9 8 6

Boston Montreal Ottawa Toronto Buffalo

Northeast Division 6 1 1 24 6 2 0 26 5 3 1 25 4 4 0 21 3 5 1 27

19 17 16 23 33

13 12 11 8 7

Tampa Bay Winnipeg Carolina Florida Washington

Southeast Division 6 2 0 39 3 4 1 24 3 4 0 18 3 5 0 20 2 6 1 21

21 32 23 30 33

12 7 6 6 5

Western Conference Central Division Chicago 7 0 2 28 St. Louis 6 2 0 31 Detroit 4 3 1 22 Nashville 3 2 3 14 Columbus 3 5 1 18

20 19 24 20 28

16 12 9 9 7

Northwest Division 4 2 2 21 4 3 1 20 4 3 1 20 4 4 0 19 1 3 2 16

20 21 22 20 24

10 9 9 8 4

Vancouver Edmonton Minnesota Colorado Calgary

Pacific Division San Jose 7 0 1 30 14 15 Anaheim 5 1 1 27 22 11 Phoenix 3 4 2 27 26 8 Dallas 3 5 1 17 23 7 Los Angeles 2 3 2 16 23 6 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

WASHINGTON: Chris Kunitz scored a hat trick in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Super Bowl Sunday visit to the nation’s capital, leading a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals that reflected both teams’ fortunes so far in the lockout-shortened season.

Kris Letang, Paul Martin and Matt Cooke also scored, Sidney Crosby had three assists, and Tomas Vokoun made 21 saves against his former team for the Penguins, who have won three straight and four of five to lead the Atlantic Division.

Mike Green, John Carlson and Mike Ribeiro scored for the Capitals - and Carlson’s goal was an accident that took a weird carom off a stanchion along the glass. Two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin, who said before the game that he was somewhat embarrassed to have only three points on the season, contributed a secondary assist on a third-period power-play goal with Washington trailing by three.

Washington has lost seven of nine games to start the season. Hosting the Penguins as a Super Bowl warm-up for the third straight year, the Capitals no longer look like the formidable team that beat Pittsburgh 5-4 in overtime with a hat trick from Ovechkin in 2010 and shut out the Penguins 3-0 a year ago - both feisty games that included punches thrown by Ovechkin.

Ovechkin was overly physical in this game as well, getting a roughing call in the final two minutes. Under new coach Adam Oates, the Capitals are feeling their way around the ice, especially on defense. Braden Holtby stopped only 20 of 26 shots, allowing Letang and Kunitz to beat him glove side 37 seconds apart in the second period to give the Penguins a 4-2 lead.

Vokoun, who shut out the New York Rangers on Thursday, made a successful return to the Verizon Center. He was signed to be the Capitals’ No. 1 goalie last season but hurt his groin and was eclipsed by Holtby during the playoffs, prompting Washington to trade him to Pittsburgh.

Martin scored from the point after Crosby won a faceoff in the Capitals’ zone to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the first period.

Washington tied it less than two minutes later after a nice sequence in which Ribeiro won the puck along the boards and passed it to Wojtek Wolski, who then sent it along to a wide-open Green.

After Cooke made it 2-1, Carlson tied it on a bizarre goal in the second period. The Capitals defenseman was merely trying to dump the puck along the boards, but it rose up and took an odd deflection. Vokoun had already started to retreat behind the net to intercept the puck and tripped trying to change direction to get back to the crease. —AP

ROME: France’s head coach Philippe Saint-Andre looks on prior to the Six Nations international rugby union match Italy vs France in Rome’s Olimpic Stadium on February 3, 2013. Italy defeated France 23-18. —AFP

Saint-Andre wants French to be fearless ROME: France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has called on his players to rediscover the killer-instinct he said was sadly missing in the shock 23-18 Six Nations loss to Italy in Rome on Sunday.

It was the second straight time that the French have gone down in Rome and the defeat has cast a giant cloud over SaintAndre’s squad just weeks after a successful November Test series. Leading 15-13 at half-time after rebounding from an early Sergio Parisse try, the French were expected to crank up the pressure from the break and secure a comfortable enough victory.

Instead, they looked disorganised and lacking in ideas as the Italians moved ahead thanks to a try from veteran prop Martin Castrogiovanni and held on in the face of a desparate late offensive from the French to celebrate a famous win.

Saint-Andre, in charge as coach for a second time in the Six Nations, said that he had kept his players up late into the night to go over video replays of the match to see where they had gone wrong. “We tried to save the match through individual play instead of staying in the collective mode,” he said.

“The Italians were at 100 percent, Two tries from two turnovers, two drop goals.

You just have to congratulate them. But when you are in control of the match, you have to remain disciplined. “You have two or three chances to score tries and you do not take them. You can’t get away with that. We need to be more decisive, be fresher and to be aggressive and unforgiving. We have a week to get our heads back

up and get it right.”

There was further setback for the French though yesterday with the news that skipper Pascal Pape will miss Saturday’s match against Wales in Paris because of a back injury he picked up in Rome.

The Stade Francais lock, captaining the side for the first time in the Six Nations tournament, was injured halfway through the second half of the loss and was eventually taken to hospital for tests on his back.

Saint-Andre said Pape would be replaced in the 23-strong squad for the visit of the Welsh by Toulon’s Jocelino Suta. Who would take over from him as skipper was left open for the moment, although the armband is likely to revert to Toulouse back rower Thierry Dusautoir, who returned to the team for the Italy game after missing the November Tests due to a knee injury.

The French will also have to do without the services of top-scoring winger Vincent Clerc, who missed the Italy game due to a thigh injury picked up while playing for Toulouse and who has yet to fully recover.

Saint-Andre said that with just one week between the first two rounds of Six Nations games, the French would need to regroup quickly against a team who beat them 16-9 last year in Cardiff.

“We will need to show that we are real fighters on Saturday against the Welsh who will also have the bit between their teeth (following the 30-22 loss to Ireland in Cardiff ),” he said.

“We will need to be really up for it, maybe even have some hate in our hearts.

That is also the mark of a good team.” —AFP

Hamilton shows off his new Mercedes JEREZ: Lewis Hamilton was all smiles as he showed off his new Mercedes Formula One car yesterday, even if the 2008 world champion was clearly still adjusting to life after McLaren and may have to wait a while to win again.

“When I first drove in, I stopped by a McLaren and I thought it was just strange to see it and not be going to it this time,” he told reporters after unveiling the F1 W04 car on the Jerez pit straight with team mate Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton said he had been so excited that he could not sleep on Sunday night, although the Briton looked relaxed and refreshed enough as he chatted to reporters in the Jerez sunshine. “I’d already seen the car in the wind tunnel, so I’m not surprised or anything like that, but it’s beautiful. I love the paint job,” he said. “It won’t be until after the next couple of days that we can start to get a feel for it and I can see what direction I want to push the guys in,” added the winner of 21 races.

“I’m heading into this with an open book, a blank sheet and I really don’t know what to expect. I just hope it has

lots of downforce.” The 28-year-old, whose ties with Mercedes go back to his teenage years in junior series, had no doubt that he was in the right place with the German manufacturer and that the future was looking bright.

“I have worked with MercedesBenz for a very long time now, and I learned one thing most of all: Mercedes-Benz doesn’t know how to lose,” Hamilton said in prepared comments.

“We are playing a long game here but I know we will have success together and I’m excited to be a big part of making it happen.” Hamilton, winner of four races with McLaren last season, was team mates with Rosberg before both entered Formula One and the Briton said their renewed pairing was a dream come true. In a press release, he also gave a nod to his illustrious predecessors at the ‘Silver Arrows’.

“It is an honour for me to tread in the footsteps of legends like Juan Manuel Fangio, Sir Stirling Moss and Michael Schumacher,” said the man who has replaced the seven-times champion. The new car had already completed its first laps before the for-

mal unveiling, with Rosberg at the wheel to start a 100km shakedown allowed by the regulations before official testing starts on Tuesday.

An evolution of last year’s car, the F1 W04 has an aggressively packaged rear end while the front makes use of a ‘vanity panel’ to smooth out the ‘broken nose’ characteristic of the 2012 version. The car also carries prominent new sponsorship from Blackberry.

Team principal Ross Brawn said it marked “the start of a second era” for the works team, whose victory in China last year was their first since the carmaker bought then-champions Brawn GP in 2009.

“The restructuring we undertook at the team over the past 18 months is now growing in maturity and this is reflected in the F1 W04, which is a clear step forward in design and detail sophistication over its predecessor,” he added.

“Many thousands of hours of work have been invested by our technical teams in Brackley and Brixworth to ensure that the new car delivers a step change in performance compared to last season.” —Reuters

JEREZ: British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton poses with the new Mercedes W04 as part of the Formula One training session at Jerez racetrack, yesterday in Jerez de la Frontera. —AFP

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

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IPL team fined for foreign exchange breaches NEW DELHI: Owners of Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals were yesterday slapped with a fine of one billion rupees ($18.8 million) for alleged foreign exchange violations, officials said.

The enforcement directorate of the ministry of finance said it had given the owners, who include Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and her businessman hus-

band Raj Kundra, 45 days to pay the fine.

“The foreign investment in the franchise was made in flagrant contravention of Foreign Exchange Maintenance Act,” the directorate said in a statement.

This is the first major fine imposed on an IPL team by the government, which has been investigating financial and foreign exchange irregularities in the

Twenty20 league. The directorate said as part of its investigations it had already issued 24 notices to IPL franchises and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on foreign exchange violations. Rajasthan Royals said they were seeking legal advice and would appeal against the order.

“We are discussing the contents of the order with our lawyers and intend to

launch a full appeal against the order,” it said in a brief press release. The IPL has become a major event in the international cricket calendar, attracting the world’s most exciting players such Kevin Pietersen to entertain large domestic audiences.

But it has also been hit by a series of financial scandals, and its founder Lalit Modi was sacked in 2010 following allega-

tions of corruption and money-laundering. Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 under the captaincy of Australian spin great Shane Warne, but failed to qualify for the playoffs last year.

The sixth edition of the IPL will be held in April-May. IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla declined to comment. —AFP

Steyn bowls S Africa to victory Takes career best 11-60

MUMBAI: Indian Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (L) and Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar participate in the Support My School telethon in Mumbai on Sunday. —AFP

Australia’s Watson back for West Indies ODIs SYDNEY: All-rounder Shane Watson was yesterday named in Australia’s squad for this week’s two one-day internationals against the West Indies following his recovery from a calf injury.

Watson will replace Usman Khawaja as Australia seek to wrap up the five-game series in Wednesday’s third ODI in Canberra after winning the opening two matches in Perth over the weekend.

“Shane Watson comes back into the squad for the series against West Indies as an opening batsman,” chairman of selectors John Inverarity said. “Shane has recovered from his injury and we look forward to seeing him get back to his best.”

Australia defeated the West Indies by 54 runs in Perth on Sunday after routing the tourists for 70 on the way to a nine-wicket victory at the same venue on Friday.

The two teams also face each other in the fourth ODI in Sydney on Friday followed by the final match of the series in Melbourne on Sunday.

They play a Twenty20 match in Brisbane on February 13.

Australia - Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey, Ben Cutting, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson.

Meanwhile, Australia will send an advance party of eight players to India this week to help acclimatise to the playing conditions ahead of the four-Test series later this month, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

Chief selector John Inverarity said the squad would travel to India in three separate groups catering for playing commitments in the current one-day series at home against the West Indies which ends next week.

“It is planned to have Jackson Bird, Ed Cowan, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Steve Smith travel to India on Thursday (February 7),” Inverarity said.

He added that all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade would leave on Saturday along with opening batsman David Warner, who is recovering from a thumb injury. “ The remaining six players-Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Xavier Doherty, Mitchell Starc, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson-will travel on February 11 at the conclusion of the ODI series against West Indies, subject to minor alterations,” he said.

“The players in the 17-man squad will travel to India in three separate groups in an effort to find the best balance for players.”

Australia, who have lost five of their last seven Tests in India and have not won a series there since 2004, have two warm-up games in Chennai ahead of the opening Test in the same city on February 22-26.

Inverarity said teenage left-arm spinner Ashton Agar would also travel to India and spend a week, playing in the first warm-up fixture and providing nets practice for the Australian batsmen in the lead-up to the Chennai Test.

“Last year we took Mitchell Starc to the West Indies to further his development and this is a similar opportunity for Ashton,” Inverarity said.

Australia touring squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Moises Henriques, James Pattinson, Xavier Doherty, Jackson Bird, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith. —Agencies

JOHANNESBURG: Dale Steyn took a career-best 11-60 as South Africa wrapped up a crushing 211-run win over Pakistan on day four of the first test at the Wanderers yesterday.

Having taken an astonishing 6-8 in the first innings, Steyn finished with figures of 5-52 in the second as Pakistan was bowled out for 268, giving South Africa captain Graeme Smith a victory in his 100th test as captain.

It was also the fourth test in a row that South Africa has won by a convincing margin, and it is unbeaten in 13. Should the top-ranked team in the world win one of the remaining two tests against Pakistan, it would extend its unbeaten run in test series to 12.

Just six Pakistan wickets were required to wrap up the win yesterday, with the majority of the hard work having been done by Steyn and the other fast bowlers on Saturday, when Pakistan was shot out for 49.

“Surfaces in South Africa provide good help for fast bowlers, but to have the skill, the pace, the intensity... not letting people go,” Smith said. “Once they created that doubt they had the ability to just step on the Pakistan batters and that was the exciting thing to watch from slip - to feel that pressure build on the batters.”

The total was Pakistan’s lowest in its 61-year history of test cricket.

“The line they bowled, the way they were swinging the ball... for a team from Asia, it was very difficult to deal with that kind of thing,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said. A 127-run stand between Misbah and Asad Shafiq in the second innings proved what was possible, but a victory target of 480 never looked likely to be achieved.

The second new ball, which arrived in the sixth over of day four, banished any glimmer of hope that the Pakistan pair had built up in a wicketless session on the third evening. Steyn had Shafiq caught at second slip by Jacques Kallis in the third over after the new ball was taken, and then induced an edge from Misbah in the fifth.

Vernon Philander got rid of Sarfraz Ahmed when he forced the batsman to play on, while Morne Morkel took care of Saeed Ajmal.

However Steyn was not to be

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s fast bowler Dale Steyn (R) celebrates the wicket of Pakistan’s Misbah ul Haq on day four of the first Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday. —AFP

SCOREBOARD JOHANNESBURG: Scoreboard at the end of the first cricket test between South Africa and Pakistan at the Wanderers yesterday: Sarfraz Ahmed b Philander 6 South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first South Africa first innings: 253 (J. Kallis 50; M. Hafeez Umar Gul c De Villiers b Steyn 23 4-16) Saeed Ajmal c De Villiers b Morkel 11 Pakistan first innings 49 (D. Steyn 6-8) Junaid Khan lbw Steyn 9 South Africa second innings 275-3 declared (A.B. de Rahat Ali not out 3 Villiers 103 not out, H. Amla 74 not out) Extras (b-4, lb-4, w-3, nb-4) 15 Pakistan second innings (Overnight 183-4) Total (all out in 100.4 overs) 268 Mohammad Hafeez c de Villiers b Philander 2 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-64, 3-70, 4-82, 5-209, 6-210, 7-218, Nasir Jamshed c Peterson b Steyn 46 8-240, 9-261.

Azhar Ali lbw Kallis 18 Bowling: Steyn 28.4-10-52-5, Philander 22-3-60-2 (nb-1), Younus Khan c de Villiers b Morkel 15 Morkel 25-7-89-2 (nb-3), Kallis 15-5-35-1 (w-1), Peterson Misbah-ul-Haq c de Villiers b Steyn 64 10-3-24-0.

Asad Shafiq c Kallis b Steyn 56 denied his fifth 10-wicket match haul, and was rewarded for a marathon spell when he claimed the final two wickets.

The first, which saw Umar Gul caught behind, ensured that wicketkeeper AB de Villiers became the first player in history to effect 11 dismissals and score a century in

first-class cricket. “I definitely wasn’t aware of (the record),” he said. “But it’s nice to do stuff like that - records are there to be broken.”

For man-of-the-match Steyn, it was another phenomenal performance that has taken his wicket tally to 323 in just 63 tests.

“I think I’ve bowled well other times where I haven’t found the edge,” he said. “This morning I had four deliveries in one over where it went past the bat but I couldn’t find the edge. “So it was just one of those test matches where this time around, everything went my way.

This time it was my turn.” —AP

Sharne Warne slams Australia rotation policy SYDNEY: Test great Shane Warne yesterday criticised Australia’s contentious use of the player rotation policy and called for changes to the one -day and Twenty20 formats.

Warne, 43, added his voice to other prominent ex-players and the media against the selection policy of rotating players, particularly fast bowlers, to guard against them breaking down from too much cricket.

“When we were number one there weren’t mission statements flying around, but we got the selection process right and the best 11 were selected for every game,” Warne said on his website www.shanewarne.com.

“Example: Glenn McGrath didn’t want to be rotated or rested, he wanted to play every game, and we all did. “It’s simple, select your best 11 for each form of the game, not the same 11 but your best available team at all times.”

Warne’s comments came in part two of his manifesto entitled “ Where is Australian cricket at?”, which he started last week when he branded the people making decisions on the running of cricket in Australia as “muppets”.

The outspoken leg-spinner yesterday also called for changes in the one-day and Twenty20 formats. “ We have changed the rules/laws too many times in this form (one-day) of the game, everyone is confused,” he said.

“It is time to deregulate one-day cricket. No restrictions with the field, none, place the fielders anywhere you want, this will create so many options and the attacking captains and teams will win. “ The only law should be that no bowler can bowl more than 10 overs.”

Warne also wants an increase in the maximum overs a bowler can deliver in T20 cricket to five from a current four.

“Increase the maximum per bowler to five overs not four, so four bowlers can bowl five overs and each ground should be as big as possible,” he said.

Australia, third in the Test and oneday rankings, lost their recent Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka after drawing the one-day series and beating the visitors in the Test series. The Australians currently lead the West Indies two-nil in their five-match ODI series before heading off on a four-Test tour to India later this month. —Agencies

WHANGAREI: New Zealand XI’s Tom Latham (L) makes his ground ahead of the throw by England’s Eion Morgan during the warm up Twenty20 cricket match between the New Zealand XI and England at Cobham Oval in Whangarei yesterday. —AFP

India’s top winter athlete in crisis NEW DELHI: India’s only world-class winter sports competitor is in doubt for the Winter Olympics due to a shortage of government funding, despite recently setting an Asian record. Luge competitor Shiva Kesavan retained gold at the Asia Cup in the Japanese city of Nagano last December with a continental record of 49.590 seconds, but his ambition of becoming the first Indian to win a medal at next month’s Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi is now in the balance.

The 32-year-old Kesavan says funding assurances from the sports ministry have not translated into much and he has only got around 5 per cent of what was expected. “There is a huge difference in the verbal commitments and the actual support,” Kesavan told The Associated Press in an email interview from his present base of Albertville in France. “None of my expenses for the past season have been reimbursed by the government.

My coach, who trained me for four months has quit because he has not been paid his salary.”

Kesavan’s mother hails from Italy, but he does not despair at having chosen to represent India over Italy. “I’m very happy with my choice as I do not think that I would get this kind of satisfaction to represent another country. I want to contribute much more for my country in future as well, although I know that this path is not without obstacles,” said Kesavan, who lives in the northern Indian hill city of Manali and where he honed his skills initially.

“Athletes from Italy are extremely professional, they are well taken care of by their country and they are given officers’ posts in the army, police and other such institutions which guarantees them a salary and a pension. Of course, there is a much more of a chance to produce Olympic gold medalists!

Still, for some unknown reason, there is a different sense of fulfillment and passion when you represent your own country.” Seasoned Indian journalist Jasvinder Sidhu says he has not seen a more gritty athlete than Kesavan.

“His determination and dedication are tremendous,” said Sidhu, made a documentary film on Kesavan last year. “He is a household name in his hometown, but the fact is that in the beginning people did not even know what he was being felicitated for. Considering that even describing his sport has been a big challenge for him all this while, his achievements are huge.”

Sidhu says the support of his parents and highly-qualified wife Namita, who has a business degree and also a degree in organizational psychology from the London School of Economics, has been playing a crucial role as Kesavan’s manager. —AP

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

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Lack of star quality stains Davis Cup PARIS: Wimbledon’s Centre Court, Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros and the Taco Bell Arena, way out west in Boise, Idaho. Only two of these are fabled tennis arenas and the Davis Cup, celebrating its 114th birthday, will be heading away from the sport’s heartlands when the United States face Serbia in April’s quarter-finals.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will be hoping that Serbia’s world number one Novak Djokovic won’t mind adding the extra 2,830 miles (4,500 kilometres) to his travels.

That’s the distance from Miami, where Djokovic will be playing in the ATP Masters the week before the April 5-7 quarter-final which has been sandwiched in between the end of the US hardcourt season and the start of Europe’s claycourt swing.

Djokovic was one of only four of the

world’s top 10 who played in the Davis Cup World Group first round last weekend, helping his country beat Belgium.

World number two Roger Federer, who has slashed his schedule this year, skipped Switzerland’s exhausting defeat to holders Czech Republic in Geneva.

Andy Murray, the world number three, was idle because Britain didn’t have a fixture, but the US Open champion has already decided to miss April’s zonal tussle with Russia. David Ferrer, the world’s fourth best player, opted out of Spain’s tie in Vancouver against Canada where his team, three-time champions in the last five years, were beaten in the opening round for the first time in seven years.

Rafael Nadal, now at five in the rankings, also missed that tie through injury while world number seven Juan Martin del Potro sat out Argentina’s 5-0 whitewash of Germany.

In a tight schedule, the Davis Cup is struggling to get the top players to commit on a regular basis-even the patriotic Djokovic missed the entire 2012 campaign. Fatigue and injuries are major concerns especially with the tournament still relying on the “advantage” final set rather than the sudden-death tiebreak.

At the weekend, the Czechs and Swiss played out a doubles match which lasted seven hours and one minute-the longest clash in the tournament’s history, decided by 24-22 in the final set.

Czech world number six Tomas Berdych, who played in that match, was on court for 13 hours, playing on all three days. “You play tennis for moments like this,” said Berdych, who is scheduled to be top seed at the ATP event in Montpellier this week.

His vanquished foe, Stanislas Wawrinka, also played three days. “I care about this

competition and love to play for my country,” said Wawrinka.

But some in the sport, wary of burnout for the marquee names, insist the introduction of a final set tiebreak could entice the world’s leading men to play more often.

The ITF insist they are open to dialogue on ways to preserve the competition’s integrity. “The historic doubles rubber in Geneva showcased all the unique qualities of a Davis Cup tie,” ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti told AFP. “However the ITF continues to look at ways in which the competition can evolve in discussion with the players and our member nations.”

Their mood may not have been improved when the US Tennis Federation, keen to capitalise on home advantage, opted for the Taco Bell Arena at Boise State University to stage the US-Serbia

quarter-final.

Murray hasn’t played Davis Cup since 2011 and is sitting out the April date to concentrate on his claycourt campaign.

“It’s a shame to miss out on the Davis Cup as I always enjoy playing,” said the Scot.

“I will definitely be available to play the next Davis Cup tie later this year.” Ferrer, one of the fittest men on tour, preferred not to travel to Canada on the back of having played Doha, Auckland and then the Australian Open with his agent claiming that the 30-year-old only had five days vacation in 2012.

Del Potro also wants to concentrate on the Grand Slams and has opted out of the 2013 competition.

“The decision was not easy, but I have important goals on the circuit. I want to win more Grand Slam tournaments and be world number one. I can’t keep everyone happy,” he said. —AFP

Europe investigators expose global soccer match fixing World Cup, Champions League matches targeted THE HAGUE: Hundreds of soccer matches at club and national team level have been fixed in a global betting scam run from Singapore, police said yesterday, in a blow to the image of the world’s most popular sport and a multi-billion dollar industry.

About 680 suspicious matches including qualifying games for the World Cup and European Championships, and the Champions League for top European club sides, have been identi-

suspicious matches were played in Europe, and a further 300 were identified in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Criminal gangs are believed to be involved in match-fixing networks, using them as a way to launder cash, officials said. Last year the head of an anti-corruption watchdog estimated that $1 trillion was gambled on sport each year - or $3 billion a day - with most coming from Asia and put on soccer matches.

A German investigator described a

while the investigation proceeded.

However, the fixing also included top flight national league matches in several European countries, as well as two Champions League matches, including one played in Britain.

UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, said it expected to receive further information from Europol in the coming days.

“As part of the fight against the manipulation of matches, UEFA is already cooperating with the authori-

THE HAGUE: Europol’s chief Rob Wainwright (2nd-L) arrives for a press conference next to Friedhelm Althans, chief investigator of Bochum police (L) and Andreas Bachmann (2R) from the Bochum prosecution service, in The Hague yesterday after the police smashed a criminal network suspected of fixing 380 football matches, including in the Champions League and World Cup qualifiers. —AFP fied in an inquiry by European police force Europol, the European anti-crime agency, and national prosecutors.

“This is a sad day for European football,” said Rob Wainwright, director of Europol. “This is now an integrity issue for football. Those responsible for running the games should hear the warnings.”

The world’s most popular sport, soccer is played on every continent.

Major international tournaments such as the World Cup are watched worldwide and generate billions of dollars for clubs and broadcasters. Top players such as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo are household names.

The matches in question, some of which have already been subject to successful criminal prosecutions, were played between 2008 and 2011, the investigators said. About 380 of the

network involving couriers ferrying bribes around the world, paying off players and referees in the fixing which involved about 425 corrupt officials, players and serious criminals in 15 countries.

“We have evidence for 150 of these cases, and the operations were run out of Singapore with bribes of up to 100,000 euros paid per match,” said Friedhelm Althans, chief investigator for police in the German city of Bochum.

German investigators said international matches were implicated as were games in Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, Bosnia, Slovenia and Canada.

Suspicious games had also been identified in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Investigators said no names of players or clubs would be released

ties on these serious matters as part of its zero tolerance policy towards match-fixing in our sport,” it added.

Soccer has been affected by bribery scandals in the past, with the English game suffering in the 1960s and Italian soccer hit by a series of fixing cases in recent years.

The growth of televised sport and technology that allows gamblers to bet during a match have created fresh opportunities for fraudsters with links to organised crime.

Corruption goes beyond soccer.

Three Pakistani test cricketers were jailed in Britain in 2011 for their part in a scam where players agree to rig a specific part of a game, so-called “spot fixing”.

Singapore police said last month that they were helping Italian authorities to investigate alleged soccer

match fixing involving a Singaporean, but said he had not been arrested or charged with any offence there.

Althans said that, though German police had concrete proof of 8 million euros ($11 million) in gambling profits from the match fixing, this was probably the tip of the iceberg.

Investigators described how gang members immediately subordinate to the Singapore-based leader of a worldwide network were each tasked with maintaining contacts with corrupt players and officials in their parts of the world.

Laszlo Angeli, a Hungarian prosecutor, gave an example of how the scam worked. “The Hungarian member, who was immediately below the Singapore head, was in touch with Hungarian referees who could then attempt to swing matches at which they officiated around the world,” he said.

Accomplices would then place bets on the internet or by phone with bookmakers in Asia, where bets that would be illegal in Europe were accepted. “One fixed match might involve up to 50 suspects in 10 countries on separate continents,” said Althans.

“Even two World Cup qualification matches in Africa, and one in Central America, are under suspicion,” Althans added.

World soccer’s governing body FIFA issued a statement pointing to quotes from its Director of Security, Ralf Mutschke, before a match-fixing conference in Rome last month.

“World Cup qualifying matches are tough to fix as a general rule, since the World Cup is the biggest event for teams and above all players,” he said. “We’re obviously still keeping a very close eye on the matches, but as yet there have been no suspicions of fixing.”

However, Theo van Seggelen, head of international players’ union FIFPro, said soccer authorities were failing to tackle the problem properly.

“Professional football needs not one but maybe 10 wake-up calls,” he said, calling for tighter controls on the works of soccer agents and on player ownership. Last year Chris Eaton, who is director of Sport Integrity at the International Centre for Sport Security, a Qatari-backed anti-corruption watchdog, gave the $1 trillion estimate for global sports gambling.

“Around 80 percent of that money is gambled on football, soccer, and most of that money is either in or to southeast Asia,” said Eaton, a former head of security at FIFA, world soccer’s governing body. —Reuters

Nancy stun Marseille as ‘sorry’ Barton sees red PARIS: Nancy climbed off the foot of the Ligue 1 table on Sunday with a shock 1-0 win at 10-man Marseille, while former Romanian international Adrian Mutu scored twice as Ajaccio upset seventime champions Lyon 3-1.

The results capped a memorable few days for Paris Saint-Germain, who own a three-point lead over Lyon at the top following their 4-0 dismantling of Toulouse on Friday that was fuelled by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s league leading 20th goal of the season.

Meanwhile, Marseille are now six points adrift of the leaders following their surprise defeat at Stade Velodrome.

Paul Alo’o Efoulou almost handed Nancy an unlikely lead when his acrobatic volley was cleared off the line by Andre-Pierre Gignac. The Cameroon striker was then thwarted by a sharp save from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda just before half-time.

With Nancy belying their status as the division’s bottom club, their cause was further helped when English midfielder Joey Barton was dismissed on the hour-mark after collecting two yellow cards in the space of five minutes.

“I’m very disappointed, I had a role to play in the defeat. I have to apologise to the team,” said

Barton, referring to his sending off. Marseille boss Elie Baup though was critical of the referee’s decision. “The first card wasn’t deserved, it wasn’t a foul. On the second there is contact. But frankly he didn’t deserve to be dismissed.” Patrick Gabriel’s men duly capitalised on their numerical advantage 13 minutes later when Romain Grange’s inswinging corner was flicked on by Salif Sane with Andre Ayew making a mess of an attempted goalline clearance.

Gignac squandered a late chance to draw Marseille level as he was unable to get the ball out of his feet with the goal at his mercy as Nancy secured just a third win of the season and their second in as many outings.

Earlier, France under-21 striker Alexandre Lacazette volleyed Lyon in front on 53 minutes at Ajaccio but they could only protect their advantage for four minutes before their relegationthreatened rivals levelled the match.

Moroccan international Chakhir Belghazouani pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired past an unprepared Remy Vercoutre in the Lyon goal for the equaliser.

It was then left to Mutu, the former Chelsea, Juventus and Fiorentina star, who has endured a

troubled career before surprisingly signing with Ajaccio in the off-season, to roll back the years with two late strikes.

A confident header on 65 minutes from a Johan Cavalli cross put the home side in front.

Lyon were then awarded an 87th-minute penalty, but Guillermo Ochoa was the hero as he turned away Bafetimbi Gomis’ spot-kick.

And Mutu assured the islanders of victory in stoppage time as the 34-year-old tucked away his seventh goal of the season after Dejan Lovren was sent off for bringing down Dennis Oliech in the box. “We knew that this Lyon team were very dangerous and they might open the scoring in the first 20 minutes,” said Ajaccio coach Albert Emon.

“Our objective in the first-half was to contain them which is exactly what we did. We gave up a goal early in the second half and that completely liberated us. We came back and there was some real suspense at the end.”

Defending champions Montpellier came from a goal down to beat Brest 3-1. Gaetan Courtet gave the visitors a 33rd-minute lead at Stade de la Mosson but Montpellier answered with goals from Souleymane Camara, Marco Estrada and Younes Belhanda. —AFP

LONDON: England football players train with coach Gary Neville (4th L) during a training session at St George’s Park in central England, yesterday.

England take on Brazil at London’s Wembley stadium in an international friendly tomorrow. —AFP

Scolari begins repair job with stuttering Brazil LONDON: Luiz Felipe Scolari begins his mission to restore Brazil’s flagging fortunes ahead of next year’s World Cup with a glamor match against England tomorrow, one of five high -profile friendlies to kick off international football in 2013.

Brazil reached out for its World Cup-winning coach from 2002 after firing Mano Menezes in November, with the national team slipping to a worrying - if slightly misleading - FIFA ranking of No. 18. Scolari has less than 18 months to turn things around before the country hosts its first World Cup since 1950 - and a win at Wembley Stadium would be a nice start to the repair job he is undertaking with newly appointed technical director Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach when Brazil won its fourth world title in 1994.

“They know the cultures of the country and the pressures of the job,” England manager Roy Hodgson said. “But I reckon Phil and Carlos Alberto will be thinking, ‘We could have had an easier start than England at Wembley.’ Our job is to make sure they don’t get one.”

Spain and France meet in a crucial World Cup qualifier next month and they are both preparing for that match with prestigious friendlies tomorrow.

Spain, the world and European champion, flies out to Doha to play World Cup semifinalist Uruguay while France hosts second-ranked Germany.

In another match between European heavyweights, Italy travels Amsterdam to play the Netherlands. And it could all be about the headto-head between Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic - two of the best forwards in the world - when Argentina plays away at Sweden.

In terms of prestige, though, nothing can compare to an England-Brazil match at Wembley. It pits the founders of the sport against the game’s best ever practitioners and record five-time World Cup winners at the so-

called “Home of Football.”

“It’s going to be a great occasion,” said Hodgson, who isn’t even a year into his job with sixth ranked England. One player in each squad Ronaldinho for Brazil and Ashley Cole for England - is set to win his 100th international cap should they feature at Wembley. The 32-year-old Ronaldinho’s presence is particularly telling.

The former Barcelona and AC Milan forward was overlooked in the final part of the muchmaligned Menezes’ reign, but has been brought back by Scolari to lead a squad that has been short on experience in recent years.

The talent is still there in a Brazil squad featuring Neymar, Hulk, Luis Fabiano and Dani Alves and it was widely believed the team was starting to make progress prior to Menezes getting fired, soon after big wins over Iraq (6-0) and Japan (4-0).

The Brazilian football federation said there will be a minute’s silence to honor the 235 people who died in nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, last month. Carles Puyol is another player who could reach 100 appearances for his country if the Barcelona defender gets a game against Uruguay and its impressive striking partnership of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez. Puyol hasn’t played for Spain since before last year’s European championship, which he missed due to injury.

“I know it is a friendly ... but we have to take this game very seriously,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. “It is a team that will serve us well (for preparing for the World Cup qualifiers).”

Spain and France are level on points after three of eight group games, after drawing in Spain in October. The French then went on to beat Italy away in a friendly in November, showing they have the credentials to knock Spain down to a playoff spot in the fight for World Cup qualification. —AP

UEFA will not let clubs flout financial rules LONDON: UEFA will vet sponsorship deals struck by clubs such as Paris St Germain and Manchester City to ensure they are not flouting new rules designed to force clubs to clean up their finances, European soccer’s governing body said yesterday.

European clubs made record losses of 1.7 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in 2011, UEFA said in an annual analysis of club accounts, underlining the scale of the problem that its Financial Fair Play rules are designed to tackle.

Clubs which fail to move towards breakeven face exclusion from European competition from 2014-15. Critics say that clubs will circumvent the rules through generous sponsorship deals with companies linked to team owners.

English Premier League champions Manchester City have an Abu Dhabi owner and are sponsored by the country’s Etihad Airlines, while Qatari-owned PSG are reported to be on the verge of a 200-million-euro deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority.

“Everyone including Paris Saint Germain or any other club, they know the rules, they know when they kick in and they know what they have to demonstrate,” UEFA general-secretary Gianni Infantino told reporters in a video conference.

Infantino said clubs had to show they could bring costs and revenues into balance “without cheating”. “A related party cannot just inject money into a club direct-

ly or indirectly though different systems,” he said, adding that sponsorship deals would be scrutinised to ensure they represented fair value.

UEFA agreed in 2010 to phase in a raft of measures to try to stop European clubs from getting into financial trouble. The figures for 2012 will be the first ones to be assessed as part of the break-even requirement.

UEFA said owners of 46 loss-making clubs would have had to invest in more shares to improve their balance sheets had the rules been in force between 2009 and 2011.

Infantino said he believed the rules were beginning to bite, noting that the gap between revenues and costs had begun to close, albeit marginally. Financial Fair Play is dominating the thoughts of executives at leading European clubs who must try to ensure their teams stay competitive while mindful of budget constraints.

Showing it was serious about enforcing the rules, UEFA said in December that it was banning Spanish club Malaga from future European competition for at least a season over unpaid bills.

UEFA said there had been a 47 percent fall in overdue transfer fees and unpaid wages in the year to June 2012. It welcomed the drop as a sign that the rules were starting to have a positive impact. —Reuters

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

S P ORT S

Drogba’s dream of African title dashed for good RUSTENBURG: Didier Drogba still has ambitions of competing at the next World Cup but his chances of national team honours to add to a glittering array of club prizes are now surely over.

His hopes fizzled out in meek fashion on Sunday as the Ivor y Coast were eliminated in the African Nations Cup, losing 2-1 to Nigeria in the Rustenburg quarter-final. The defeat and the fact the next tournament is not until 2015 means the 34-

year- old has failed to match the achievements of other African greats Roger Milla, Abedi Pele and Samuel Eto’o who all won the Nations Cup. Whenever the debate over the continent ’s best player is raised, N a t i o n s Cu p f a i l u re c a n n ow b e held against him. Drogba remains one, if not the best, of the African exports to Europe with his achievements in eight seasons at Chelsea marking him out.

He has scored in a record four FA

Cup final victories, won the Premier League three times and English League Cup twice while he finished his time at the London club by securing them their first Champions League title last May. Drogba, who turns 35 next month, has also been the catalyst for the elevation of the Ivorian national side to the top ranked team in Africa with 57 goals in 94 appearances.

He debuted for them in 2002 and played in their first World Cup finals

in 2006 and again at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. They have also been to the last five Nations Cup, where each time they have been fancied to add to their only previous title in 1992.

Dubbed the ‘golden generation’, Ivory Coast’s close-knit squad looked well-set each time through the group phase but then crashed out in the knockout stages. Again this year, at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, the African title proved a bridge too far

on a night when the lightning cracking in the distance as the game kicked off proved a portent of the shock to come.

Drogba’s influence was limited in the game against Nigeria and the new Galatasaray player’s role in the team could be coming to an end.

Ahead are six matches in World Cup qualifiers this year and hopes of playing in the 2014 finals in Brazil but Africa’s biggest prize will never be his. — Reuters

Pitroipa header sends Burkina Faso in semis Togo go home but coach Six pleased with achievement

MENDOZA: Colombia’s players celebrate with the trophy at the podium after winning the championship of their South American U-20 final round football match against Paraguay at Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza on Sunday. Colombia defeated Paraguay 2-1, and both teams plus Uruguay and Chile qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013. — AFP

Keshi’s home-grown stars come up trumps RUSTENBURG: If ever a man had the right to feel smug it was Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi after his heavily-criticised Super Eagles team’s stunning Africa Cup of Nations win over Ivory Coast.

Keshi’s mix of experienced stars and local-based players not only made it into the semi-finals after failing to qualify last year, but they did it the hard way by toppling the competition favourites.

And to top a memorable night in Rustenburg the show stealer was not a Premier League star like Chelsea duo Victor Moses or John Obi Mikel, but Sunday Mba, who plies his trade in the Nigerian league.

Mba’s dazzling run and 20-yard shot, with a little help from a deflection, settled the issue 2-1 in Nigeria’s favour after Ivorian Cheik Tiote had cancelled out Emmanuel Emenike’s opener.

He couldn’t have picked a better moment to open his international account and secure a semi-final showdown with Mali in Durban tomorrow.

The unheralded 24-year old Enugu Rangers midfielder’s performance won him the man of the match award, with Keshi singing his and the other home-grown players’ praises at the post-match press conference.

“I want to kiss him! “Everyone one of my boys is a hero, a Hollywood star, but it just happened that a home -based player, Sunday, scored a beautiful, beautiful goal.

“It’s good to see local players come through-if you give them the opportunity they can do it. “It’s a pity that in the kind of country I come from they are impatient with local-based players, they prefer professionals,” said the man who captained the 1994 title-winning side.

Mba was not the only supposed lesser light in the Super Eagles squad to shine in Rustenburg - Godfrey Oboabona of

Sunshine Stars put up a manful display in defence. Oboabona was called up for injured veteran captain Joseph Yobo, and succeeded in blunting the danger presented by Didier Drogba and Arsenal striker Gervinho.

“It was great to stop a player like Drogba in a game of such magnitude. I am proud that we did not allow him to play and, at a time, he was frozen out of the game,” he told mtnfootball.com “I had sleepless nights because it is great challenge for me, but I grew in courage when the game kicked off,” he added. This win was the perfect riposte for Keshi to the sniping of the tens of millions of fans back in Lagos in the run-up to this quarter-final with many regarding defeat for Nigeria as a foregone conclusion.

“Somehow, the Nigeria fans don’t appreciate their players. But I know my team, I know their mentalilty. I know the boys I picked were right, I have confidence in them, I believe in them, I knew they could do something.”

One of his fiercest critics, former international Jonathan Akpoborie, said: “I doubted them, same with a lot of Nigerians. But for me, they have exceeded all my expectations already. “They believe in themselves and that was the magic. The Ivorians underrated them and our boys made the most of this.”

Moses, who proved a constant threat to the Ivorian defence, took to Twitter to speak of his joy at the result, posting: “Amazing win so proud of the boys and the country the fans were amazing as always can’t wait for the semi-final now #Nigeria.”

Asked before this quarter-final if he had a message for the people back home, Keshi had replied tersely: “No”. The message was to come loud and clear instead on the pitch in Rustenburg. — AFP

I Coast coach Lamouchi says he’s done his job RUSTENBURG: Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi thinks he did a good job at the African Cup of Nations and is not considering resigning despite the team’s elimination in the quarterfinals, while the country’s federation has denied an alleged changing room fight between Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure.

Ivory Coast’s star-filled squad was the African Cup favorite but had a lackluster tournament in South Africa, struggling in the group stage before falling to Nigeria 21 in the quarterfinals on Sunday. The Ivory Coast football federation released a statement yesterday denying rumors “fueled by social networks” of an “alleged fight” between Drogba and Toure following the match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The federation dismissed the rumors and said Toure didn’t even stay very long in the changing room because he was selected for the post-match anti-doping test along with Didier Zokora. It said Toure was there just long enough just to hear Drogba’s speech as captain after the match.

“Our tears will dry,” Drogba said, in French. “Be strong and remain with dignity in defeat. Don’t give reason to our detractors because we are welded to defend the colors of our country.” The 34-year-old Drogba, the tournament’s biggest name, is among some of the players from this talented generation of Ivorians who will likely not have another chance to win the African Cup. Manchester City’s Toure, meanwhile, has been touted as one of the players who may be the one taking over from Drogba as the team’s new leader.

Lamouchi acknowledged being hugely disappointed with Ivory Coast’s failure to win the title, but thinks the team did its

best and one defeat shouldn’t diminish the work he has done so far.

“I feel I have done my job,” Lamouchi said. “It was not the result we wanted but that’s part of the job. This is my first defeat in 10 games. It’s a huge sadness. I thought we were on the right path, doing good work, but it was not enough.”

The 41-year-old Lamouchi, a former French international who took over Ivory Coast in the middle of last year, said he has not even considered resigning. “It’s out of the question for me to resign just after six months knowing the job (was) done,” he said.

Ivory Coast had been looking to rebound from the disappointing loss to Zambia in last year’s final. The Elephants haven’t won the title since 1992 but had made the last four in three of the last four tournaments.

Nigeria scored first on Sunday through Emmanuel Emenike in the 43rd minute but Ivory Coast equalized through Cheik Tiote before Sunday Mba netted the winner in the 78th. “I knew that we would need to be at 150 percent against a great team like Nigeria,” Lamouchi said.

In addition to Drogba, Lamouchi’s talented but ageing generation of players also included Kolo Toure, Gervinho, Zakora and Salomon Kalou. “We had only one goal coming into the tournament and that was to win the African Cup of Nations,” Lamouchi said through a translator. “For some of us, it might have been a last chance.”

The veterans and the youngsters expressed their support to Lamouchi throughout the tournament, saying he brought a positive change in attitude.—AP

NELSPRUIT: Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup for the first since 1998 when Jonathan Pitroipa produced the one moment of true class to head home an extra-time winner in a 1-0 victory over fellow outsiders Togo on Sunday.

Pitroipa pulled away from his marker in the last seconds of the first period of extra time to head Charles Kabore’s corner in off the underside of the bar to send Burkina Faso through to a meeting with Ghana back in Nelspruit tomorrow.

The match, on the hard, sandy pitch at the Mbombela Stadium, seemed destined to go to penalties after 90 minutes of largely uninspiring football, although both sides did have chances to win it in the closing minutes of normal time.

Togo’s talismanic skipper Emmanuel Adebayor worked tirelessly for his side, who had never reached this stage in seven previous attempts, but he was unable to find the net with one effort cleared off the line and another well saved

by Burkina goalkeeper Daouda Diakite.

Burkina’s Belgian coach Paul Put dedicated the victory to the country’s president Blaise Compaore who was celebrating his 62nd birthday, adding: “This is like a never-ending story. We are very happy and very proud.

“The pitch is hard and the conditions are difficult but it is like our home pitch now and I am looking forward to meeting Ghana in the semi-final. “I don’t have a crystal ball and cannot tell you what will happen but our objective was to reach the semi-finals and we have done that, and I am the happiest coach at this tournament.”

Togo coach Didier Six was naturally disappointed at the result but praised his players for making it this far. “If you make it into the quarter-finals you deserve to be there and this was a historic qualification for Togo as they have never been to this stage before,” he told reporters.

NELSPRUIT: From left: Burkina Faso players Jonathan Pitroipa, Djakaridja Kone, Bakary Bone and Aristide Bance celebrate on Sunday after an African Cup of Nations quarter-finals football match against Togo in Nelspruit. — AFP “Overall, this has been a very chance early chance, failing to con- Ayite after 67 minutes, had a good good tournament for us. Togo has a nect with a mis-kick after 18 min- chance to put Togo ahead six minlot of quality, a lot of good young utes. Adebayor, a regular scorer in utes later when the ball bounced players and a bright future ahead of the Premier League over the years, perfectly into his path 10 metres them and I am very proud of my was playing far deeper for Togo in out but he blasted it over.

The next opportunity was for the first half at least but even he players tonight.”

But while there some clever indi- struggled on the pitch he Adebayor who went on a rampagvidual skills on display, the match described as “a disgrace to the ing run in the 78th minute, evading itself was a poor one, littered by 53 African continent” before the kick- a tackle, but Diakite made a good fouls and with only seven attempts off. Playing in a more advanced role save from his angled drive. Burkina from the start of the second half substitute Prejuce Nakoulma then on target during the 120 minutes.

Whether it was the sandy pitch though, he came close to opening had a real chance to save everyone or the rarefied atmosphere of the scoring in the 47th minute from another half-an-hour but reaching the quarter-finals, both when Ayite surged forwards deep over-elaborated on a jinking run sides took time to settle but after a into Burkinabe territory before through the defence towards Togo’s goal and wasted his chance poor first half the match improved crossing wide to Serge Gapke.

Adebayor, anticipating Gapke’s with a weak shot which Agassa as a spectacle but there was still a cross, outjumped two defenders blocked. lack of real quality in front of goal.

Finally Pitroipa, with his secBurkina Faso, missing injured in- and goalkeeper Diakite but form striker Alain Traore who although he did not get a clean ond goal of the tournament, did scored two superb goals in the 4-0 header to the cross, the ball came break the deadlock and set up a win over Ethiopia in the group off his back and was bouncing into second all-west African semi-final stage, rarely worried Togo keeper the goal only for defender Mady after Nigeria beat Ivory Coast to Kossi Agassa, while Togo’s forwards Panandetiguiri to hook it clear just book a date with Mali that will be played in Durban on the same before it crossed the line. were also way off target.

Prince Segbefia, who replaced night. —Reuters Floyd Ayite missed Togo’s best

Title contenders Lyon, Marseille both lose PARIS: Title contenders Lyon and Marseille both lost on Sunday to allow Paris Saint-Germain to open up a gap at the top of the French league.

Lyon took the lead away to Ajaccio before losing its discipline in a 3-1 away defeat, and Marseille then lost 1-0 at home to visiting Nancy, which was in last place before the match. Marseille had midfielder Joey Barton sent off 15 minutes into the second half but that was not a reason for the defeat, as the home side hardly created a chance and again conceded a sloppy goal from a set piece.

“We were rubbish tonight, sometimes there’s nothing you can say,” an angry Marseille winger Mathieu Valbuena said. “We didn’t do all we could to win the game, and they were quite simply better than us.

Once again we conceded a goal

from a set piece. We had to take three points tonight and we have no right to play like that, no right.”

PSG had little trouble thumping Toulouse 4-0 on Friday night and leads Lyon by three points and Marseille by six with 15 rounds remaining. “We didn’t even deserve a draw, we showed nothing tonight,” Marseille right back Rod Fanni said.

“We were badly organized and there was a serious problem tonight. It’s a big blow for us, but once again we were wasteful because we didn’t keep things simple.”

Nancy’s win moved it off the bottom and four points away from 17thplace Sochaux. The winning goal came from a corner and underlined Marseille’s defensive weakness as goalkeeper Steve Mandanda totally missed the ball and it bounced off winger Andre Ayew on the back post for an own goal. Mandanda’s han-

AMSTERDAM: Netherlands national football’s players Adam Maher (2nd L), Kevin Strootman (C) and Ricardo van Rhijn (R) pose during the presentation of their new jersey yesterday at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The team will play in a white jersey with red and blue areas. — AFP

dling error last week allowed Rennes to sneak a 2-2 draw in the closing minutes. In a drab first half, Marseille struggled to break down Nancy’s well-organized defense, and the visitors almost took the lead midway through the half when Paul Alo’o Efoulou’s volley from a corner was cleared off the line.

Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac shrugged off center half Sebastien Puygrenier’s challenge and tried his luck with a snapshot, but goalkeeper Damien Gregorini spread himself well to keep out Marseille’s best chance. Moments later, Alo’o Efoulou found space on the right of the penalty area and his shot was saved by Mandanda.

On a bad night for Marseille, Barton was sent off for a second booking, and Valbuena kicked the bench in frustration as he was taken off with 15 minutes remaining.

Nancy almost doubled its lead in the 86th but Mandanda batted away shots from substitute Jeff Louis and from Romain Grange.

“I think we deserved it, we had a few chances,” Nancy coach Patrick Gabriel said. “We didn’t steal the win, although it took quite a long time to come.” Earlier, veteran striker Adrian Mutu scored two second-half goals as Ajaccio came from behind.

Forward Alexandre Lacazette gave Lyon the lead in the 53rd minute when he volleyed in a cross from the left, but midfielder Chahir Belghazouani equalized for the Corsican side four minutes later.

Mutu put Ajaccio ahead in the 65th and then added a last-minute penalty for his seventh league goal of the season after Lyon center half Dejan Lovren was sent off for bringing down forward Dennis Oliech as

he burst through.

Lyon coach Remi Garde sounded defeatist about his team chances of overtaking PSG in the title race with 15 rounds left. “Honestly, PSG are in a different league to us. We will try to hang on in there as long as possible, but we can’t only look ahead of us,” Garde said. “Our objective is to finish in the top three, and we have some serious rivals.”

Moments before Mutu’s second goal, Lyon had missed the chance to equalize from the penalty spot when Guillermo Ochoa tipped Bafetimbi Gomis’ spot kick wide. But more than the miss itself, it was Lyon’s inability to assert itself on the game after taking the lead that irked Garde.

“At 1-0, we stopped playing. We thought we’d done the hard work and had the three points in the bag,” Garde said. “I thought that we had to try and score again rather than just sit on our lead. I don’t have a team that can do that, and you saw that today.” After Ajaccio’s equalizer, Lyon started to panic and defended sloppily. Mutu was left unmarked to head home from the penalty spot and then expertly sent goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre the wrong way from the penalty spot. Montpellier climbed up to eighth place with a 31 win against visiting Reims, which took the lead through winger Gaetan Courtet in the 34th. The home side hit back with goals from striker Souleymane Camara, and midfielders Marco Estrada and Younes Belhanda. “We only have the league to focus on now,” Montpellier coach Rene Girard said. “We’re going to have a tough game at SaintEtienne next, where we won’t have a lot of pressure on us. We’ll go there to get a good result.” — AP

Steyn bowls South Africa to victory

17

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Europe investigators expose global soccer match fixing

18

Drogba’s dream of African title dashed for good

Page 19

NEW ORLEANS: San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown (25) recovers a fumble by Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) as tight end Dennis Pitta (88) closes in during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, in New Orleans. —AP

Ravens edge 49ers in Super Bowl Power outage stops Super Bowl for 34 minutes NEW ORLEANS: The Baltimore Ravens reclaimed the greatest prize in North American sports after a dramatic, nail-biting 34-31 Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Inspired by their power-packed quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens survived a ferocious comeback from the 49ers and a bizarre power outage that stopped the game for more than half an hour to win their second Super Bowl.

John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Ravens, won the most anticipated sibling rivalry in American team sports against his younger brother Jim, who holds the equivalent job with the 49ers.

And Ray Lewis, the combative 37-yearold Ravens linebacker destined for the Hall of Fame, ended his 17 season career with a second Super Bowl title, 12 years after he won his first.

“What better way to go out?” said Lewis. “We did it! We did it!”

The game, at the Superdome in New Orleans, was preceded by one of the most poignant moments ever witnessed in the 47 editions of the Super Bowl when a choir from Sandy Hook Elementary School joined Jennifer Hudson in a stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful”.

The 70,000 spectators rose to their feet, many with tears in their eyes, as the children sang, nearly two months after the deadly shooting rampage at their Connecticut school.

“Our wish is to demonstrate to America and the world that, “We are

Sandy Hook and we choose love,” the school said in a statement.

The action on the field was as wild as the parties that have taken place in Bourbon St in the days leading up to the game as the Ravens opened up a commanding lead.

With Flacco, who was named Most Valuable Player, calling the shots and wide receiver Jacoby Jones scoring two of the most spectacular touchdowns seen in a Super Bowl, the Ravens looked to be cruising to victory when they led 28-6 early in the third quarter.

Flacco made a great start, orchestrating a six-play, 51-yard drive on his team’s first possession that culminated with a 13yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

In the second quarter, he threw a oneyard scoring pass to tight end Dennis Pitta, then a spectacular 56-yard scoring strike to Jones.

The Ravens led 21-6 when Beyonce came out to perform a stunning halftime show then opened the second half with a Super Bowl-record 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Jones that will be shown on highlight reels for generations to come.

But just when it seemed the result was a foregone conclusion, a section of the lights at the Superdome, hosting the Super Bowl for the first time since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005, blacked out.

Play was stopped for 35 minutes while

red-faced officials and technicians restored power. When it came back on, the game instantly took on a completely different complexion.

With Colin Kaepernick finally finding his targets and making inroads with the football in hand, San Francisco piled on 17 unanswered points.

When Kaepernick rushed for a touchdown himself with just 10 minutes to go in the final quarter, the margin was down to just two points and momentum was on their side. But Justin Tucker kicked a 38yard field goal to give his five-team lead and the 49ers failed to score the touchdown they needed to win, getting only a two-point safety, as the Ravens defended their line for dear life.

“Five yards short, all the work we did in the offseason, the whole entire season, everything came down to five yards and we weren’t able to get it done,” said dejected 49ers tackle Joe Staley.

Both team played down the impact of the power outage, saying it was the same for both teams, while the Harbaugh brothers embraced each other as confetti rained down from the roof after one of the most emotional nights in American sport.

“I just love him obviously. I think anybody out there who has a brother can understand what that is all about,” John said.

“The meeting with Jim in the middle was probably the most difficult thing I have ever been associated with in my life. I am proud of him.” —Reuters

NEW ORLEANS: Baltimore Ravens owner Stephen J. Bisciotti holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as head coach John Harbaugh, left, celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, in New Orleans. The Ravens won 34-31. — AP

NEW ORLEANS: Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after their 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, in New Orleans. —-AP

Flacco confident of new deal after Super Bowl triumph NEW ORLEANS: Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Joe Flacco heads into new contract negotiations with the Baltimore Ravens in the strongest position of all - as a Super Bowl winner.

Flacco has just completed the last of his five-year rookie deal with the Ravens but, after leading his team to victory over the San Francisco 49ers, says he expects a new deal to be reached.

“I’m pretty optimistic but who knows? There are all kinds of crazy things that can happen with these contracts that we have all seen before but this is a great organization,” he told a news conference yesterday.

“I love being in Baltimore, a great city, so I don’t really anticipate any problems.” Under National Football League rules, if a new long-term deal is not struck with the quarterback, the Ravens could secure Flacco for an additional year by placing a franchise tag on him.

That is reported to be around $14.6 million for the season or around $20 million for an “exclusive” tag which would

stop teams from bidding for his services.

But Flacco’s outstanding post-season form makes it hard to imagine the Ravens ownership would not come up with a long term contract and probably one which would make him among the best paid in the league.

Flacco passed for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdown in the four playoff games without an interception and also equaled the league record of 11 touchdowns in a single post-season, held jointly by Joe Montana and Kurt Warner.

After Sunday’s game, in which he completed 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, the mild-mannered Flacco joked that he would be aggressive with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.

“He did let me know that if this day came, I could go beat on his desk and really put it to him. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” Flacco said amid the post-game celebrations. On Monday, he said he did not expect to be banging on the desk.

“We had some really good talks over the last few months and it is just nice to go in and have conversations with him, whatever they may be. I was just kind of making a little joke,” he said.

Certainly Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is expecting to see his quarterback back in a purple and white uniform next season and fired up for more success. “He’ll be going to work just like if we had lost this game. He’ll be just as motivated and determined. That’s one of the things that makes him great,” said Harbaugh.

The Ravens coach also hopes that veteran safety Ed Reed will reach agreement on a new deal. The 34-year-old is currently heading into free agency. “We had that conversation on the bus ride away from the stadium actually,” Harbaugh said. “He and I both agreed that we want him back and Ed wants to come back. Like Joe says, you never know how these things are going to work out but we are going to work like crazy to work it out.” — Reuters

Business

Etihad reports 200% rise in 2012 net profit Page 22 Air India flew Dreamliners despite grounding order Page 25

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Nissan sets Guinness World Records

ME aviation sector on strong growth trajectory: Adel Ali Page 23 Page 26

BARCELONA: People wait to pay in a shop offering discounts in Barcelona yesterday. Labor Ministry figures released showed the registered jobless figure surged by 132,055 in January to 4.98 million. — AP

Global consumer confidence dips Next 12 months not good for spending: Survey

Resilient UAE markets rally MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Investors in the United Arab Emirates shrugged off weak earnings from Aldar Properties and the country’s two markets rallied as confidence in local equities supported buying.

Dubai’s measure climbed 0.9 percent to head back towards Thursday’s 37-month high.

Emaar Properties helped lift the market, gaining 1.7 percent, while Arabtec rose 3.1 percent. Dubai Islamic Bank added 0.9 percent ahead of its earnings, which were due out later. Dubai’s market jumped 20 percent in 2012 as property prices recovered and lifted sentiment towards the sector’s stocks. “There’s no doubt that there has been a lot of capital flow in real estate, especially from foreigners,” said Amer Khan, fund manager at Shuaa Asset Management.

“What you’re seeing on the ground is being reflected in the market so a pullback would not be too strong. This is long-term money and there’s no reason for a reversal.” The market however, is stretched technically and some stocks are overbought, he added.

On neighboring Abu Dhabi’s market, Aldar Properties fell 4.2 percent after its fourth-quarter earnings missed estimates despite a 9.8 percent increase over 2011. Aldar is still up 7.8 percent in 2013, after a 39-percent surge in 2012.

“From an earnings perspective, it’s not a phenomenal story but that has been the case for many years so it is not a surprise,” Khan added. The firm’s performance dragged Sorouh Real Estate, which is in the process of merging with Aldar, down 2.3 percent. Sorouh has gained 36.5 percent in 2013 on merger hype.

The emirate’s index however, closed 0.3 percent higher at a fresh 34-month high as banks supported.

First Gulf Bank gained 1.6 percent and National Bank of Abu Dhabi added 0.5 percent.

In Egypt, the bourse rallied to a three-week high as foreign investors brushed off political unrest and bet domestic strife will ease. Large-caps supported gains.

Telecom Egypt rose 2.5 percent, Orascom Telecom climbed 2.2 percent and Commercial International Bank added 0.8 percent. Cairo’s index advanced 1 percent to its highest close since Jan 10. The death toll in Egypt rose to 57 on Sunday in the bloodiest week of President Mohamed Mursi’s seven months in power.

But non-Arab foreigners were net buyers on Monday, said exchange data, as some bought on hopes the turmoil will ease. Shares in Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) edged up 0.04 percent. Egyptian construction and fertiliser firm OCI NV, newly listed in the Netherlands, said 93.3 percent of global depository receipt (GDR) holders in parent firm OCI agreed to swap them for OCI NV shares. —Reuters

LONDON: Global consumer confidence dipped at the end of last year, a survey showed yesterday, and more than 60 percent of respondents said the next 12 months would not be a good time to spend.

Concerns about US budget talks, which have since eased, and worries about the euro-zone crisis weighed on consumer sentiment in the final quarter of 2012, according to the survey by global information and insights company Nielsen.

Sixty three percent of respondents said it was not a good time to buy discretionary or non-discretionary things over the next 12 months, with spending restraint most notable among Europeans.

Consumers in the Asia Pacific were most upbeat but even there 59 percent said the next 12 months would not be a

good time to spend, the survey showed.

India remained the most optimistic consumer market globally for a second straight quarter, followed by the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

The Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index dipped 1 point in the fourth quarter to 91, after rising 1 point in the third quarter, and was 2 points higher than a year earlier.

A reading below 100 signals consumers are pessimistic about the outlook. Only 10 of the 58 markets surveyed reported a reading above 100.

Confidence was worst in euro zone countries grappling with debt problems, notably Greece, where consumer sentiment fell sharply in the fourth quarter from the previous three months.

“With continuing uncertainty concerning the United States debt ceiling and mandated spending cuts, along with

EU leaders scramble to rescue budget summit BRUSSELS: Europe’s leaders scrambled yesterday to rescue summit talks on the EU’s trillion-euro budget, with Italy and Germany on a collision course over cuts demanded by Britain, and France warning of a breakdown in negotiations.

“The negotiations are very difficult ... the conditions are, at this moment, not yet in place,” French President Francois Hollande warned Sunday as European Union leaders prepare to meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. Hollande spoke after tricky talks with electioneering Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in Paris, a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said a bid to broker a deal on the 27-state EU’s spending plans for 2014-20 would be “very difficult”. “These are all very multi-layered and complex topics,” said Monti. A special summit on the issue collapsed in November with leaders unable to resolve differences on a proposal by EU President Herman Van Rompuy for a reduced budget of 973 billion euros ($1.33 billion), just over one percent of EU gross domestic product. The main thrust of the arguments concerns how spending cuts should be split across different European policies such as farming support or grants to poorer regions, with net beneficiaries of bloc spending-more than a dozen countries including powerful voices like Poland-themselves split on priorities. Merkel and Hollande meet on Wednesday, after Merkel hosted Monti on Friday. The German Chancellor also meets later the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose government is currently embroiled in a corruption scandal. For Hollande, the problem is how to square a conception of EU solidarity and a need to foster growth through big-ticket, cross-border investment in the likes of energy, transport and digital infrastructure networks, with national political priorities. Van Rompuy, European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso, European Parliament head Martin Schulz and Enda Kenny, the Irish Taoiseach currently in the EU’s rotating presidency chair, also meet Monday to try and find a way through the morass-but the facts are that the Parliament can block any deal it considers unsatisfactory.— AFP

as-yet tentative signs of economic stabilization in Europe, we can expect continued caution and moderate growth in the first quarter of 2013,” said Venkatesh Bala, chief economist at The Cambridge Group, a part of Nielsen.

“The major downside risk continues to be in Europe, where policy missteps within the European Union or within individual countries could damage fragile consumer confidence and take hold globally.” Confidence in China edged up slightly while Norway was the only developed market to be ranked among the top 10 most optimistic consumer markets globally.

In the United States, confidence dipped slightly between the third and fourth quarters but job prospects improved.

Since the survey was conducted US lawmakers have reached a deal to avoid

automatic tax rises and spending cuts, although they face more showdowns over fiscal measures in coming months, and economic data has pointed to a sluggish recovery. “North America is slowly, but steadily heading in the right direction,” said Bala. “With continued weakness in Europe and uneven growth in Asia, it may well be that with a brighter job market, the United States serves as the critical engine of improved global economic activity in 2013.”

The US economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter of 2012 but has got off to an encouraging start this year with manufacturing growing at the fastest pace in nine months in January and employment rising modestly. The Nielsen survey was conducted between Nov. 10-27, 2012 and covered more than 29,000 online consumers across 58 markets.—Reuters

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

BUSINESS

Etihad reports 200% rise in 2012 net profit

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Q4 net rises 10% DUBAI: Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties, which is set to merge with its former rival in a state-backed deal, posted a 9.8 percent increase in fourth-quarter net profit as it booked lower impairments on its property portfolio. Abu Dhabi’s largest developer by market value, which approved a merger with Sorouh Real Estate in January, made a fourthquarter net profit of 200 million dirhams ($54.5 million) compared with 182.1 million dirhams last year, Reuters calculations show.

The company did not provide quarterly figures. Reuters calculated the net profit figure from previous financial statement.

The quarterly earnings missed estimates by analysts at Arqaam Capital and SICO Bahrain who had expected a profit of 323 million dirhams and 572.5 million dirhams respectively in a Reuters poll.

Aldar was one of the worst hit by the real estate market collapse in Abu Dhabi and was rescued with an aid of over $10 billion from the government. In return, land on Al Raha beach, the Ferrari World Theme Park, and other key assets, were sold to the government.

The merger between the two entities

Due diligence on Jet seen within week ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways, the fast-growing carrier of Abu Dhabi, posted a 200 percent rise in net profit in 2012 and a 17 percent increase in revenues, the airline said in a statement yesterday.

Etihad posted a net income of $42 million last year compared to $14 million in 2011 when it made its first-ever profit, said the statement, which attributed the rise to strong improvements in revenues, passengers and cost control.

The Gulf carrier also said it was not considering cancelling any of its orders for 41 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, despite a worldwide grounding of the aircraft after a number of incidents.

The government-owned airline said it was discussing buying a stake in India’s loss-making Jet Airways. The flag carrier of the UAE capital said revenues increased to $4.8 billion in 2012 compared to $4.1 billion the previous year.

The number of passengers grew a healthy 23 percent to 10.3 million compared to 8.4 million in 2011, significantly boosted by Etihad’s partnerships which delivered more than $600 million in total revenue.

“This has been a game-changing year for Etihad Airways,” James Hogan, the airline’s president and chief executive officer said in the statement. “We have delivered improved net profit, the second consecutive year we have been in the black, a remarkable achievement given the youth, ambitious growth and ongoing investment made by this airline in a challenging global economic environment.”

Etihad said it succeeded in building the first “equity alliance” with investments of 40 percent in Air Seychelles, 29.2 percent in airberlin, 9 percent in Virgin Australia and about 3 percent in Aer Lingus.

“We have taken great strides in building the industry’s first equity alliance ... which (is) contributing significant value to our business,” Hogan said. Etihad Airways, close to a tie-up with India’s Jet Airways, expects to complete due diligence on the deal in the next week, the chief executive added yesterday.

The Jet deal would be the first foreign investment into India’s aviation market after the government relaxed ownership rules in September

ABU DHABI: James Hogan (left), Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive officer, and James Rigney, the airline’s chief strategist, hold a press conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday. The fast-growing carrier of Abu Dhabi posted a 200 percent rise in net profit in 2012 and a 17 percent increase in revenues, according to Hogan. — AFP last year and allowed foreign carriers to buy up stakes in Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus and raisto 49 percent in domestic carriers. “We are doing ing its shareholding in Air Berlin and Air our due diligence in the next week. We will pres- Seychelles.

Hogan said Etihad has no plans to cancel its ent it to our board and take it from there,” Hogan, speaking at a press conference after the order for Boeing’s troubled 787 Dreamliner.

All 50 Boeing 787s remain grounded as airline reported its annual results.

An announcement was expected this week, authorities in the United States, Japan and an official at the Indian airline, who declined to France investigate the Boston battery fire and a be identified, said in January. Hogan said he had separate battery failure that forced a second 787 met with senior Indian aviation officials and min- to make an emergency landing in Japan a week isters last week to understand the new rules of later. “(The) 787 is a great aircraft, we have no doubt it will be resolved and the aircraft will be India’s foreign direct investment scheme.

“We also wanted to understand the issues up and fine,” Hogan said.

When asked if Etihad would cancel any that have impacted Indian civil aviation, how they think this will change in the coming years,” Boeing orders, he said: “Not at all.” Etihad, with a said Hogan. The terms of the possible deal have total of 41 787-9 Dreamliners on order and not been disclosed, but a government source options for an additional 25 aircraft, would be said earlier this month Etihad was in talks to pick one of the largest operator of the aircraft type in up a 24-percent stake in Jet for up to $330 mil- the world. Hogan also said that the airline has lion. Unlisted Etihad has been on an acquisition had no discussions with Italian carrier Alitalia drive in recent months, taking minority equity beyond code sharing. — Agencies

Aramex eyes more acquisitions DUBAI: Aramex plans to target more acquisitions in Asia and Africa, the logistics firm said yesterday, and reported a 15-percent rise in quarterly profits.

Dubai-based Aramex maintained a cautious outlook for the year due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East, its core market. The firm said it made fourth-quarter net profit of 65.7 million dirhams ($17.9 million) for the three months to Dec. 31, up from 57.2 million dirhams in the prior-year period.

Revenue rose 20 percent to 814 million dirhams, in the quarter, from 681 million dirhams in the prior-year period.

Quarterly profit was driven robust gains in its core Gulf Arab region market as well as Southeast Asia, Aramex said.

The courier company, a favorite of regional fund managers, was forced to suspend operations in Egypt during the Arab Spring uprising in 2011. It also operates in other unrest hit countries like Libya and Syria. It has been expanding in the Middle East and Africa and bought South Africa’s Berco Express as well as Kenya’s Oneworld Courier and In-Time Couriers last year. “We will be looking at opportunities for acquisitions and joint ventures in our key target regions of Africa, Central Asia, and Asia,” Chief Executive Hussein Hachem, who took over daily operations from Aramex founder Fadi Ghandour last year, said in a statement.

Hachem said Aramex wants to capitalize on growing south-south trade by linking emerging markets in Asia with the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. — Reuters

Mashreq Q4 profit jumps as provisioning recedes DUBAI: Mashreq, Dubai’s second-biggest bank by market value, posted a big jump in fourth-quarter net profit yesterday, as provisions dropped and the bank earned more fee income.

The lender made a net profit of 400 million dirhams ($108.9 million) in the final quarter of 2012, compared to 64 million dirhams in the prior-year period, according to a Reuters calculation based on the bank’s full-year earnings statement.

Arqaam Capital forecast the bank would make a quarterly profit of 146 million dirhams. Net profit for the full year stood at 1.37 billion dirhams, up from 820 million dirhams in 2011, the statement said. The profit increase between the two fourth quarters was aided by a 29.4 percent growth in operating income.

Over the full year, fee and commission income in 2012 was 20.8 percent higher

than it was in 2011. Impairments dropped to 826.5 million dirhams in 2012, down from the 1.2 billion dirhams set aside for bad loans in 2011.

Loans and advances increased 9.9 percent over the course of 2012 to 41.4 billion dirhams from 37.7 billion dirhams at the end of 2011.

By comparison, sector-wide lending growth in the United Arab Emirates stood at 3 percent during the first ten months of 2012, according to central bank figures.

Deposits rose 4.5 percent to 47.5 billion dirhams at the end of the 2012.

Mashreq proposed a cash dividend of 38 percent, subject to central bank and shareholders’ approval, the statement added. Moody’s downgraded Mashreq by one notch in December to Baa2 from Baa1, citing weak asset quality and problem loan levels higher than its UAE peers. — Reuters

was seen as a measure to boost the emirate’s battered property sector where prices have dropped over 50 percent since its peak in 2008.

Net profit for 2012 was 1.3 billion dirhams, doubling from 642.5 million dirhams posted in the prior year period, Aldar said in a statement on the Abu Dhabi bourse.

Revenue for the year also nearly doubled to 11.4 billion dirhams from 6.7 billion dirhams a year ago. The company said it had adjusted the value of its certain assets to reflect current market conditions and reassessed recoverable amounts. It thereby booked 1.1 billion dirhams on provisions for impairments, write offs and fair value loss on investment properties in 2012, much lesser than the 3 billion dirhams booked in 2011.

Shareholders of Aldar will vote on the proposed merger of the property firms on Feb 21. Under the merger proposal, Sorouh shareholders will get 1.288 Aldar shares for every share they own.

Another 15,000 units are expected to enter Abu Dhabi’s already oversupplied real estate market this year, property consultancy CBRE has said. — Reuters

Oil slips to $116 but mood bullish LONDON: Brent crude oil consolidated around $116 per barrel yesterday, slipping from 4-1/2-month highs after three weeks of gains powered by signs of improving global economic growth and concern over geopolitical tension in the Middle East.

Analysts said the market was pausing for breath after a bull-run that has added around 10 percent to oil prices since the beginning of December on increasing evidence of growth in the United States and China, the world’s two biggest oil users.

Stock markets have been buoyant with Asian shares climbing to 18-month highs on Monday, and the euro has also been strong after manufacturing figures suggested the European bloc had passed the worst point in its recession.

“The market is long due a correction,” VTB Capital oil and commodities markets strategist Andrey Kryuchenkov said. Brent fell 80 cents to $115.96 per barrel by 1140 GMT, not far off a 4-1/2 month high of $117.07 reached on Friday. Brent has risen for three straight weeks.

US crude slipped 90 cents to $96.87 per barrel, after rising for eight consecutive weeks, the longest such winning streak since July-August 2004.

“The market is likely to take a breather, consolidating,” said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultancy Energy Aspects in London, adding that the market was likely to resume its uptrend. “It will grind upwards, but it won’t be a smooth rise.”

Analysts at US brokerage Jefferies Bache agreed: “We are maintaining a bullish trading stance,” they wrote in a note to clients. “ We will strongly caution against any attempts to pick a top to this strong price advance that is approaching two months in duration.”

The global economic outlook brightened considerably last week after US payrolls rose by 157,000 last month, while the

Institute for Supply Management said its index of national factory activity rose to its highest since April.

Other purchasing manager surveys showed that China’s factories remained on track for a mild recovery, while the euro zone manufacturing sector, despite a contraction, had its best month in a year, suggesting the worst may be over.

Data on Sunday showed China’s increasingly important services sector grew for the fourth-straight month in January, although the expansion was modest.

Also underpinning oil prices were supply concerns stemming from rising tensions in the Middle East, the world’s biggest source of crude.

A suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Sunday, killing at least 33 people.

The blast was the third major attack in weeks in or near the city of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, at the heart of a dispute between Iraq’s central government and the autonomous Kurdistan region.

Iran, facing stiff sanctions from the United States and Europe over its nuclear program, said on Sunday it was open to a US offer of direct talks to try to resolve the dispute.

It said six world powers had suggested a new round of nuclear negotiations this month, but did not commit itself to either proposal. President Bashar al-Assad accused Israel on Sunday of trying to destabilize Syria by attacking a military research base outside Damascus last week, and said Syria was able to confront “current threats ...and aggression” against it.

Elsewhere, Yemen confirmed that a ship intercepted last month off its coast was an Iranian vessel trying to smuggle explosives and surface-to-air missiles to the country, the state news agency Saba reported. —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 .4380000 .3800000 .3070000 .2790000 .2900000 .0040000 .0020000 .0761490 .7418950 .3900000 .0720000 .7272960 .0420000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2805000 .4403570 .3826300 .3089040 .2814430 .0512690 .0444560 .2919300 .0361640 .2261000 .0030250 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0763990 .7443280 .0000000 .0748200 .7288550 .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 .3880000 .3170000 .2910000 .3000000 .0067500 .0035000 .0769140 .7493510 .4050000 .0770000 .7346050 .0470000 .2826000 .4436540 .3854950 .3112160 .2835500 .0516530 .0447890 .2941160 .0364340 .2277930 .0030480 .0053470 .0022450 .0029010 .0036210 .0769710 .7499000 .3997170 .0753800 .7343120 .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 297.48 287.10 315.18 387.61 281.30 445.67 3.11 3.563 5.286 2.226 3.315 2.882

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

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

77.000 747.000 46.750 398.000 733.000 78.500 75.400

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

76.66 749.01 41.89 400.76 732.11 77.68 75.22

SELL CASH 296.000 286.000 313.000 381.800 282.000 445.000 3.750 3.800 5.350 2.520 3.450 2.933

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 297.100 749.290 3.960 286.000 553.300 45.900 52.500 167.800 42.650 387.700 37.030 5.410 0.032 0.161 0.245

SELLDRAFT 295.600 749.290 3.540 284.500

228.800 41.896 386.200 36.880 5.312 0.031

Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

3.140 399.270 0.191 93.750 46.800 4.330 241.800 1.825 52.800 731.850 3.000 7.240 77.930 75.230 228.820 33.740 2.664 446.200 45.600 314.000 3.400 9.760 198.263 76.820 282.100 1.360

3.320 240.300

731.670 2.885 6.940 77.500 75.230 228.820 33.740 2.229 444.200 312.500 3.400 9.670 76.720 281.700

GOLD 1,795.340

10 Tola

Sterling Pound US Dollar

399.240 0.190 93.750

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 444.200 281.700

Al Mulla Exchange Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 281.300 386.300 444.200 284.250 3.075 5.286 41.870 2.227 3.545 6.898 2.880 749.050 76.600 75.150

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

BUSINESS

ME aviation sector on strong growth trajectory: Adel Ali Air Arabia fleet expansion continues

By Sajeev K Peter KUWAIT: Despite being in its nascent stage in many ways, the Middle East aviation sector continues to be on a strong growth trajectory, said Adel Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia, in an exclusive interview with Kuwait Times. Giving an overview of the regional airline industry with special focus on lowcost carrier business model, he said the record passenger traffic across the Middle East airports signals the continuous uptrend in the industry, though there is plenty of room for growth in the market as its full potential is yet to be unlocked.

According to IATA (International Air Transport Association), international traffic to and from the Middle East is now edging back towards the levels seen in 2009 and 2010 when growth by airlines in the region appeared unstoppable. Middle Eastern carriers gained market share during the first eight months of 2012 with passenger traffic rising 17.1 percent and cargo demand increasing 14 percent from a year ago.

While the low-cost carriers with their low fares have cut down the cost of travel considerably, it also propelled the growth of air travel in the region.

As a pioneer of low-cost carrier in the region, Air Arabia has played a crucial role in redrawing the regional aviation map.

“The LCC model pioneered by Air Arabia has grown in popularity, and more and more participants have entered the market,” Adel Ali said. “Our business strategy is very simple and will remain in line with what the airline has achieved to date:

S Africa increases minimum farm wage PRETORIA: South Africa raised the minimum wage for farm workers by up to 50 percent yesterday in response to a wave of violent strikes, but farmers said the increase would only cause job losses and more unrest in the major fruit exporter.

Labour minister Mildred Oliphant said the new salary, which has jumped to 105 rand a day ($11.85) from as little as 69 rand, would come into effect on March 1 and would rise by inflation plus 1.5 percent in subsequent years.

The wage review follows clashes in fruit-growing regions of the Western Cape province in December and January between police and striking farm workers demanding their daily pay be more than doubled to 150 rand. Farm owners, most of whom are from South Africa’s white minority, say they cannot afford to pay their mostly black workers more because of the rising costs of fuel and electricity, adding that higher wages may put jobs at risk.

“The minimum wage has been pegged above the affordable level. This is going to have serious negative social economic impact in the agriculture sector,” said Johannes Moller, president of industry group Agri SA. Louis Meintjes, president of farmers group Tau SA, also said the basic salary was too high.

“This is a collective notice by the minister of labor to farm laborers and farmers that from March 1 a lot of people will be out of jobs,” he said.

“Farmers have no choice but to balance their income and expenditure.” Job losses could spark a repeat of the farm violence in which police were forced to use rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse protesters blocking highways and torching vineyards and warehouses in the farming belt east of Cape Town. Oliphant said the relationship between farm owners and workers, which in many cases has changed little in the 19 years since apartheid, had to improve.

“The relationship between farmers and farm workers is difficult and needs to be far better to achieve agricultural expansion, higher employment and better living conditions,” she told a news conference in the capital, Pretoria. — Reuters

focusing on serving the markets that are most appealing to our customers, ensuring that we are where they need us to be. Since inception in 2003, Air Arabia has been committed to providing its customers with a growing range of destinations and value-for-money fares.

This is in line with the global strategy for LCC success, which we have adapted to the needs of its customers here in the wider Arab world,” he said.

Talking about the success story of Air Arabia, Adel Ali said Air Arabia continued to focus on its rapid expansion strategy in 2012. Last year, the airline has added over 20 new routes to its award winning network from its three operating hubs in the UAE, Morocco and Egypt, bringing the total network to 82 cities. This demonstrates the enormous appeal for its value-for-money services to an evergrowing range of destinations.

“The 126 percent rise in net profits for the third quarter of last year is a direct result of the efficiency in the management practices followed by the airline.

The impressive increase in passenger traffic of 13 per cent is a clear indication to the demand that exists for Air Arabia services,” he said.

Kuwait market “Apart from Kuwait’s status as a business hub, its focus on tourism and cultural heritage makes Kuwait an important destination for Air Arabia.

Kuwait was among the first destinations that Air Arabia started serving when we began operations in 2003. From just a few weekly flights, we have grown to offer three daily flights to Kuwait from our

2007. Once completed in 2016, the order will more than double the size of Air Arabia’s fleet, he elaborated.

As part of its fleet expansion strategy, Air Arabia has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped Airbus A320 aircraft in early January.

“The airline is proud to become the first airline in the Middle East to take delivery of this state-of-theart new, fuel-saving aircraft. This translates into increased operational efficiency for Air Arabia, and will further contribute to fulfilling its goal of becoming one of the world’s most efficient and innovative low cost airlines,” he said.

Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Ali Sharjah hub, offering exceptional connectivity between the two countries,” Ali said.

As the airline explores further opportunities for the low-cost model in the region, fleet expansion becomes one of the top priorities. In 2012, Air Arabia has taken delivery of six new aircraft from Airbus, bringing the total operational fleet to reach 32. The airline expects to receive seven new aircraft this year, as part of an order for 44 aircraft placed in

Global outlook Adel Ali also sounded upbeat about the global aviation industry. “Despite fuel price concerns and global economic slowdown, the global aviation sector is showing signs of recovery and strong confidence.

This is evident from the improved financial performances reported by global airlines in the second and third quarters of last year. The latest global economic outlook by IATA has raised its 2013 net profit outlook for the global airlines by almost $1 billion, a testimony to the strong growth prospects for the global aviation industry,” he said.

IATA also said in its first forecast for 2013 that industry profits will rise further next year to $7.5 billion, helped by passenger traffic expansion of 4.5 percent and cargo expansion of 2.4 percent as global economic growth quickens to 2.5 percent from an expected 2.1 percent this year.

Air Arabia records surge in passengers to 5.3m in 2012 SHARJAH: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, yesterday reported that it carried a record 5,301,484 passengers in 2012, a 13 per cent growth compared to the previous year.

The significant growth in passenger numbers is a testimony to the airline’s ambitious network expansion strategy. In 2012, the airline has launched flights from its primary hub in Sharjah to nine new destinations Kazan, Taif, Salalah, Ufa, Odessa, Erbil, Astana, Basra and Rostov. The airline also increased frequencies to many exciting routes such as Moscow, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait and Najaf as well as Karachi, Peshawar and Delhi. In addition, the airline has continued its expansion from its hubs in Morocco and Egypt reaching a global network of 82 cities.

“Air Arabia continues to witness significant year-on-year growth in passenger numbers, and this demonstrates the growing popularity of the airline’s value for money services,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “As a pioneer in the low-cost space, we will continue to set the standard for the low-cost travel segment, offering great fares to an ever growing range of destinations.”

Air Arabia took delivery of six new aircraft in 2012 as part of an order for 44 aircraft placed in 2007. The delivery of the 44 new aircraft will be completed by 2016, and will more than double the size of Air Arabia’s fleet.

Last month, the airline has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped aircraft from Airbus, and became the first airline in the Middle East to operate a Sharklet equipped A320 aircraft. The airline is due to receive five more aircraft this year.

Dubai sugar refinery suspends processing DUBAI: The Al Khaleej Dubai refinery has briefly halted sugar processing as part of its routine “start-and-stop” strategy, its managing director Jamal Al Ghurair said yesterday.

Ghurair told Reuters on the sidelines of the Kingsman Dubai sugar conference that the refinery, which has a production capacity of 6,000 tons a day, halted operations last week and was likely to cease processing for about 10 days.

The refinery operates on a “start-and-stop” basis, briefly halting processing as silos fill.

Riad El Ferkh, refinery general manager, said at the plant later on Monday that white sugar silos were now full and he expected the refinery to resume processing of sugar when the silos became half full.

The main storage dome, with a capacity to hold one million tons of raw sugar, was roughly one third full. The other three raw sugar silos, each having a storage capacity of 155,000 tons, were also now roughly one third full, El Ferkh said. The Kingsman Dubai sugar conference runs until today. — Reuters

ALC leasing places giant order with Airbus

TOKYO: A man walks by an electric stock index display of a securities firm while reading a book in Tokyo yesterday.

Asian stock markets were mostly higher yesterday as investors continued to feel confident about stocks following last week’s US jobs report and Wall Street’s rally. —AP

FTSE 100 retreats, Euro fears weigh LONDON: Britain’s top share index edged lower yesterday as growing political uncertainty in continental Europe and a string of analyst downgrades prompted investors to take profits on a strong new year rally.

The growing popularity of former premier Silvio Berlusconi ahead of elections in Italy and a corruption scandal in Spain fanned concerns that political instability could undermine the region’s slow progress out of its debt crisis.

Any setback there is also likely to hit Britain, which counts the euro zone as its top trade partner, and whose corporates have already taken hits from problems in Southern Europe.

That, together with the hefty 7 percent rally in Britain’s FTSE 100 so far in 2013, prompted some investors to take profit. “There are a lot of risks out there and, given where the market is, I don’t think a lot of it is priced into the market. So I am definitely more on the cautious side,” said Nick Xanders, who heads European equity strategy at BTIG. The UK blue chip index was down 41.62 points, or 0.7 percent, at 6,305.62 points by 1208 GMT, retreating from last week’s 4-1/2 year peak of 6,354.46. Prospects of a fresh political battle over government debt levels and spending cuts in

the United States, where the postponement of painful choices runs out at the end of this month, added to investor caution. “I remain cautious because the fiscal issues in the U.S. haven’t gone away ... and the European economy remains in a recession-like environment,” said Gerard Lane, equity strategists at Shore Capital. The strong recent rally in the FTSE has sparked a wave of ratings downgrades for individual companies which analysts, at least in part, attribute to now less attractive valuations. Engineering group Meggitt fell 2 percent after analysts at UBS downgraded the stock and removed it from the ‘M&A Watch List’ following the 15 percent share price rally since the start of 2013.

“With the limited upside to fair value on a stand-alone basis, we believe that an acquirer would find it difficult to buy Meggitt at a sufficiently high premium to the current price to be successful in the takeover and still create value,” UBS analysts wrote in the note, cutting the stock to ‘neutral’.

Heavyweight Vodafone, in the top fifth of year-to-date performers in the FTSE 100 with a 12 percent share price jump, proved the biggest drag on the index on Monday after a downgrade to ‘neutral’ from Citi. — Reuters

PARIS: US group Air Lease Corporation ALC has placed a giant order for airliners built by European manufacturer Airbus worth about $9.0 billion (6.64 billion euros) at catalogue prices, Airbus said yesterday.

The order is for 20 A350-900 aircraft, five A350-1000, and also converts an option for 14 fuel-efficient A321neo aircraft into an order, Airbus said in a statement. The chief executive of ALC Steven Udvar-Hazy said in a statement that the A350 XWB (Xtra wide body) airliner “is becoming the industry benchmark for efficiency in the long haul segment, and the A320neo family is ideal for airlines operating short to medium-haul missions.”

He said: “These aircraft will help airlines grow their businesses while simultaneously reducing their operating costs and emissions.” He added that his company aimed to offer its customers “the most modern, efficient aircraft on the market, and both the A350 XWB and the NEO fit right in that category.” The A350 is due to enter service in the second half of 2014.

The aircraft is intended to compete with the Boeing 777 aircraft made by the US Boeing Company and with the Boeing Dreamliner 787. Airbus hopes that the new aircraft will enable it to end Boeing’s dominance of the market for long-range airliners.

The A350 XWB family of aircraft is made mainly of composite materials based on carbon. It is being offered in three version capable of carrying 270-350 passengers. The first version to be put into service will be the A350-900 with 314 seats. It will be followed in 2016 by the A350-800 with 270 seats and in 2017 by the A350-1000 with 350 seats.

Airbus said that ALC had also taken an option on an extra five A350-1000 aircraft. The Airbus statement said that the A320neo series of aircraft, due to enter in service in 2015, would deliver “up to 15 percent in fuel savings which is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel - the consumption of 1,000 mid-size cars, saving 3,600 tons of CO2 per aircraft per year.”

The manufacturer said that the A320 family of aircraft, with more than 9,000 aircraft ordered and more than 5,400 aircraft delivered to more than 380 customers, was the world’s “best-selling single-aisle aircraft family”. — AFP

Egypt CB signals slower pace of forex auctions CAIRO: Egypt’s central bank signalled that it was cutting back on the currency sales introduced to shore up its foreign reserves after a run on the pound linked to the country’s political crisis. A day after new central bank governor Hisham Ramez took up his post, the bank sold $73.1 million in at its 17th foreign exchange auction yesterday and said it would hold the next one on Wednesday.

The change points to the central bank holding two foreign currency auctions this week instead of the three it has held over the last few weeks. After introducing the foreign currency sales on Dec. 30, the central bank had initially held daily auctions. It later reduced the frequency to three times a week, holding the auctions on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The bank gave no further details on the timing of further auctions in a brief statement.

The pound has weakened steadily since the end of last year, losing nearly 8 percent of its value on the interbank market and taking its losses against the dollar to 13.4 percent since the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

The central bank said in December that Egypt’s foreign currency reserves had fallen to a critical level. They currently stand at around $15.5 billion, less than half their level on the eve of the uprising against Mubarak. The cut-off price for the 17th auction was at 6.6920 Egyptian pounds to the dollar compared with 6.6820 at the previous auction on Thursday. The central bank had offered $75 million at yesterday’s auction. — Reuters

KHARTOUM: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addresses the opening of the Second Forum membership of the World Federation of Trade Unions in Africa yesterday in Khartoum. — AFP

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

BUSINESS

JAL nine-month net profit slips TOKYO: Japan Airlines said yesterday its net profit in the nine months to December fell to $1.52 billion, but it lifted its full-year profit forecast by more than 16 percent despite recent Dreamliner woes.

JAL, which re-listed its shares in Tokyo last year after a high-profile bankruptcy restructuring, credited its European and US business for the boost to the earnings estimate.

However, it warned that strained relations with China and a slow recovery in the global

economy made its outlook less clear. The carrier and rival All Nippon Airways (ANA) have been hit by the worldwide grounding of Boeing’s Dreamliner after a number of incidents including a fire on a JAL plane in Boston and an emergency landing on an ANA flight in Japan.

The global no-fly order imposed by US regulators has seen Japan’s two biggest carriersmajor customers of the aircraft, with more than 100 combined orders-slash hundreds of flights, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.

The regulators have said they will not allow the 787 to fly again until they are sure the problems around the battery system are fixed.

Yesterday, JAL said posted a 140.64 billion yen ($1.52 billion) net profit in April-December, down 3.7 percent from a year earlier, but said it would see a profit in the year to March of 163 billion yen from an earlier 140 billion yen forecast.

Sales over the nine-month period were up 3.6 percent at 942.04 billion yen. Earlier yesterday,

TOKYO: A passenger checks in at a Japan Airlines (JAL) counter at Tokyo’s Haneda airport yesterday. JAL said that its net profit in the nine months to December slipped 3.7 percent to $1.52 billion, but the carrier boosted its full-year profit estimate. — AFP JAL said it has postponed the launch of its Tokyo-Helsinki route due to the Dreamliner problems.

“While there are concerns of the impact of the suspended use of the Boeing 787 aircraft since January 2013, business has been robust, especially on European, North American and Southeast Asian routes,” the carrier said in a statement.

“Various measures including new products and services, which were steadily promoted, are also expected to uplift revenue.”

Yetserday, JAL said its international passenger segment sales rose 6.7 percent over the year earlier, partly due to adding routes and new services.

Domestic passenger revenue also rose 1.7 percent year on year in the nine-month period, reflecting a recovery following the March 11 quake-tsunami disaster of 2011, the carrier said.

Despite the results, JAL warned that the third quarter ended December “encountered risks of possible economic stagnation due to the economic slowdown in Europe, China, etc., deflation in Japan, (and) strained diplomatic relations due to territorial issues.”

That meant its outlook would “remain

opaque”, JAL said. Japanese airlines have been hit by a row between Tokyo and Beijing over sovereignty of a group of islands in the East China Sea, which triggered anti-Japan rallies across China and a consumer boycott of Japanese brands.

“Responding to the decline in demand on China routes owing to territorial issues, JAL swiftly adjusted down frequency of flights to minimize impact on revenue,” it said. JAL re-listed its shares in September, marking a spectacular turnaround three years after it went bankrupt with massive debts and saw its stock delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan’s premier bourse.

The new listing followed a share offering that raised around $8.5 billion, the second biggest in the world in 2012 after Facebook’s $16 billion offering.

The airline, which continued flying during its overhaul, received a huge government bailout and other concessions, drawing howls of protest from rivals although some share sales proceeds were earmarked to pay back the government. JAL shares finished up 1.19 percent to 3,815 yen yesterday with the results published after the Tokyo market had closed. — AFP

Long-term thinking about oil prices LONDON: Too many otherwise-serious discussions about oil prices and production costs are marred by the failure to take inflation into account.

Statements like “the era of $20 oil is over” or “oil prices will hit $140 per barrel by 2025” are typical examples of the prevalence of money illusion in the oil market.

Forecasts about nominal prices far in the future, and statements about prices which make comparisons with prices in the 1990s, are meaningless.

No one would compare the current price of bread, or expected bread prices in 2025, with the cost of a loaf in 1995.

Yet this type of statement about oil prices is surprisingly common.

The general debasement of currencies has an enormous impact when comparing oil prices a decade or more apart.

For example, OPEC’s price band of $2228 per barrel, adopted in 2000, would now be equivalent to $28-36 or $32-41, depending on whether inflation is assumed to have run at 2 percent or 3 percent a year over the last 13 years.

A nominal price of $140 in 2025 is equivalent to just $110 today in real terms, after allowing for inflation at 2 percent. Oil prices (and prices for derivatives such as gasoline and diesel) are the most familiar of all prices for both investors and consumers. A history of oil and fuel prices is seared into the collective memory of both producing and consuming countries like no other commodity or product.

Unfortunately, familiarity with the past leads analysts and commentators to make mistakes when thinking about the far future. Too many debates are set up in terms of straw men, which are satisfyingly easy to knock down but obscure deeper analysis.

It is easy to state the era of $20 (or $30 or $40) crude is over because costs have escalated as the industry has been forced to produce more challenging forms of oil (shale) and in tougher environments (deepwater) but that does not actually say very much about the real cost of energy. In 1995, it was possible to state with similar assurance that oil prices would never sustainably be below $10 per barrel, which was the official posted price two decades earlier, at the height of the 1974 price spike.

But if oil prices cannot sustainably decline to $40 per barrel in the next few years, that does not mean they could not fall to $60, $80 or $90 - all of which would be fairly high in historical terms after adjusting for inflation.

A nominal price of $90 this year would be equivalent to $53 in 1995, assuming 3 percent inflation in the interim. On the upside, cash crude prices will

definitely hit $150 per barrel some day.

But it matters a great deal whether they reach this level in 2020, 2030 or 2040. A cash price of $150 in 2020 is equivalent to $122 now. A cash price of $150 in 2040 is just $68 currently, again assuming 3 percent inflation. Timing is everything. Price comparisons (explicit or implicit) with either the past or the future should always be done in terms of real values.

Once money illusion is cleared out of the way, it is possible to have a more sensible discussion about where oil prices are now and where they are likely to head in future. In real terms, average oil prices over the last two years have been very high and appear substantially above the costs of substitutes (gas to liquids, coal to liquids, gas as a transport fuel) as well as the marginal cost of bringing on extra barrels of crude from new sources (shale plays, Canada’s oil sands, deepwater and the Arctic).

For that reason, there are strong reasons to believe real prices must eventually fall, though the timing of the adjustment is subject to tremendous uncertainty. The foundation for any strategic analysis of the oil market must be the long-term marginal cost of production (outside OPEC).

Between 1998 and 2008, there is no doubt marginal costs rose tremendously as the industry was pushed into more expensive operating environments and the costs of specialized equipment, raw materials and labor soared.

But since 2008, marginal costs have topped out and probably fallen. The sudden availability of oil from shale has displaced more expensive sources of crude on the industry cost curve.

As a result of constant innovation and learning by doing, producers are becoming progressively more efficient at wringing crude from tight rock formations, as well as from deep under the ocean.

Several analysts have put the industry’s marginal costs as high as $110. But these figures do not seem consistent with published estimates of the cost of shale oil, Canada’s oil sands, or deepwater projects. It seems more likely the industry’s marginal costs lie somewhere in a broad range between $50 and $90 per barrel (probably closer to the centre of that range than the fringes).

If that estimate is correct, prices must fall in real terms in the years ahead, as supplies from outside OPEC increase.

The challenge for large and mid-sized exploration and production companies is to develop a portfolio of project options which would remain profitable even in a world where real oil prices are significantly lower. — Reuters

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

BUSINESS

Air India flew Dreamliners despite grounding order No passengers were on board aircraft

TOKYO: Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso (right) steps up to the podium to make a speech as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) looks on in the lower house plenary session at parliament in Tokyo yesterday. — AFP

Japan pension fund to sell $18bn less assets in 2013/14 TOKYO: Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world’s biggest public pension fund with investments mostly held in Japanese government bonds, plans to sell 1.7 trillion yen ($18.4 billion) fewer assets to pay pensions in 2013/14 than it sells this fiscal year.

GPIF Chairman Takahiro Mitani told Reuters in an interview yesterday that the fund, whose portfolio of $1.2 trillion is bigger than the Mexican economy, will review its long-term investment target and portfolio allocation model around April.

The review should include a discussion of the investment strategy towards Japanese government bonds, which form two-thirds of GPIF’s portfolio, Mitani said, as yields on 10-year JGBs were languishing at around 0.8 percent. Meantime, he said, the fund plans to raise about 4.7 trillion yen for pension payouts for the financial year starting in April, down 26.6 percent from the planned sale of 6.4 trillion yen during the current year.

“We have already completed securing the necessary amount of cash needed for pension payouts for the current business year,” Mitani added.

GPIF became a net asset seller for the first time in 2009/10, and investors in JGBs closely follow the fund’s sales. The public fund cashed out about 2.54 trillion yen of domestic bonds and foreign bonds during 2011/12.

Mitani, a former Bank of Japan executive also said that he did not think Japan’s equity market was overheating, despite a near 30 percent climb since mid-November, and that foreign investors’ perceptions of the Japanese market had improved since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took power in December. “Regarding the question on whether or not Japanese shares are near their top, I would say I don’t think so,”

Mitani said.

Last year, a Board of Audit report, requested by the upper house of the national assembly, called for the public fund to consider reviewing its target and allocations. Under the current mid-term plan, the public pension fund is required to raise a nominal annual return of 3.2 percent, or 1.1 percent above the rate of change in nominal wages. GPIF allocates its funds in four conventional asset classes foreign equities, domestic equities, foreign bonds and domestic bonds. It makes allocations in line with its model portfolio, which give a weighting of 11 percent to domestic stocks, 67 percent to domestic bonds, 9 percent to foreign stocks, 8 percent to foreign bonds and 5 percent to short-term assets.

Mitani said he did not know whether it was necessary to change the portfolio drastically, but welcomed the forthcoming review, and particularly as it would give a chance to debate JGBs’ place in the portfolio. “This will be a good opportunity to review our mid-term investment target,” the chairman said.

The public fund is making an effort to improve its investment returns. GPIF plans to complete the selection of asset management companies to manage its $136.05 billion foreign equities portfolio around summer, Mitani said. Mitani said GPIF was in the second stage of its selection process, having whittled down the number of candidates after issuing a tender in June.

GPIF last chose fund managers for foreign stocks in March 2009, when it appointed 14 asset managers for its foreign stocks portfolio. GPIF is expected to start the process of picking new managers for Japanese equity investment once the foreign equity managers have been selected, Mitani said. — Reuters

NEW DELHI: India’s national carrier Air India flew two Dreamliner aircraft without passengers even after US regulators grounded the global fleet last month due to technical problems, an official said yesterday.

The Boeing aircraft owned by Air India were allowed to fly from New Delhi to Mumbai for maintenance reasons, said Arun Mishra, director general of India’s civil aviation regulator.

“They did not carry any passengers, just two pilots were allowed inside each aircraft and we only gave them the permission to fly because the company was paying very high parking charges at the Delhi airport,” said Mishra, declining to say when the flights were made. Air India did not respond to calls by AFP. Indian regulators had grounded Air India’s six Dreamliner jets on Januar y 17 in line with the US Federal Aviation Administration’s advisory to cease flying the aircraft.

Aviation Minister Ajit Singh had demanded that US giant Boeing compensate the ailing Air India after the grounding order.

Air India and Boeing had earlier concluded negotiations for an undisclosed sum in compensation over a four-year delay in delivery of the Dreamliner to India because of production problems at the com-

pany. Indian officials had said they were seeking up to $1 billion in compensation for the delays but neither side has disclosed whether the money has been paid. Air India bought 27 Dreamliners as part of a 2005 multi-billion-dollar deal. It received the first plane last

September and now has six, with the remaining 21 due to arrive by 2016. Boeing’s troubled next-generation model has suffered a series of glitches, although Boeing insists the plane is safe.

World regulators grounded all 50 operating Dreamliners after a

NEW DELHI: A security serviceman looks on as Air India’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner taxis on arrival at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi. — AFP

EU warns national bank supervisors LONDON: National regulators across the European Union have until the end of the month to show they are not damaging the single market by being too heavy handed with banks from elsewhere in the bloc, the EU’s executive European Commission said yesterday.

It reminded them in a letter last Friday that the free movement of capital is a founding tenet of the single market. Yesterday, the executive said in a statement that on several occasions national supervisors have acted independently to impose “allegedly disproportionate prudential measures” on local arms of non-domestic EU banks.

“In taking such action, national supervisors did not respect the mandatory procedures, such as consulting other national supervisors of the same banking group in advance,” it said.

The supervisors must inform the commis-

sion by the end of February about their “current supervisory practices” so that it can “determine any possible further steps as appropriate”.

The executive, as guardian of the EU treaty, can take a country to the European Court of Justice for rule breaches that could trigger penalties such as fines.

The European Banking Authority would try to resolve differences among supervisors before any legal action would be considered, EU officials said. Last month the executive said it was looking at whether German bank regulator BaFin was inhibiting the free movement of capital by imposing curbs on moving cash within a bank. The Bank of Italy is said to have raised the issue about BaFin with the European Banking Authority. Italian bank UniCredit has a large German subsidiary, HVB. The European Central Bank becomes the main

Swatch’s upbeat view stokes hopes China demand improving ZURICH: Swatch Group SA said it was optimistic about 2013 as it reported higher margins, providing further evidence the luxury goods sector was set to benefit from improved demand in major markets such as China and the United States. The group, which makes colourful plastic watches as well as Omega and Breguet timepieces, is targeting double-digit growth this year after having enjoyed “continued healthy growth in January.”

“The signals from the markets around the world clearly indicate continued healthy growth potential for the Swiss watch industry and the Swatch Group,” said the group which makes more than half of its turnover in Asia. Looking ahead, it said it expected long-term growth in the Swiss watch industry of 510 percent per year.

Swatch’s comments come after sector peers such as LVMH and Burberry said last month they expected good trading conditions in China helped by improved consumer confidence after the regime change. Luxury goods sales at the end of 2012 have been affected by the timing of the Chinese New Year which falls in February this year as opposed to January last year, leading to expectations of pent-up demand this month. Richemont, which makes Cartier watches and Montblanc pens, said sales had ground to a halt in the Asia-Pacific region in the fourth quarter. But indus-

try analysts said they believed the lull was momentary. China has become the main engine of growth for luxury goods makers thanks to the country’s rising purchasing power while Chinese tourists travelling in Europe have helped make up for lacklustre demand from local consumers.

Swatch’s positive outlook and forecast-beating results helped lift the stock more than 3 percent, compared with an unchanged European sector index.

The shares, which have risen more than 12 percent this year after a 31 percent gain in 2012, were up 2.8 percent at 532 Swiss francs by 1205 GMT. Swatch said it expected growth to come as well from the high-end jewelry arm of Harry Winston which it acquired last month and which analysts expect to start lifting sales and profit in second half of this year. The acquisition boosts Swatch’s presence in the jewelry market - which is set to enjoy solid growth this year - as well as in the United States where it was not very present and where luxury executives see a rebound.

The group underlined its optimism with a 17 percent increase in its dividend to 6.75 Swiss francs ($7.48) per bearer share from 5.75 francs in 2011, and 1.35 francs per registered share, previously 1.15 francs. “[This is a] Strong set of figures driven by improved profitability in watches and production. I presume much of that is down to upgrades in manufacturing, which makes the production process more efficient,” Kepler Capital Markets analyst Jon Cox said. Full-year results from Swatch, which also makes Tissot watches, showed net income rising 26 percent to 1.61 billion Swiss francs ($1.78 billion), far ahead of expectations according to analysts polled by Reuters.

The group’s operating margin rose to 25.4 percent, versus 23.9 percent a year ago, which Vontobel analyst Rene Weber contrasted to the decline reported last week by the world’s biggest luxury goods group LVMH. “ This margin increase will stand out in the luxury goods industry,” Weber said in a note, but added he expected no improvement in margin in 2013 due to the consolidation of the Harry Winston business.— Reuters

fire aboard a parked Japan Airlines 787 on January 7 and a smoking battery that forced the emergency landing of an All Nippon Airways 787 on January 16. Investigations continue into what caused the potentially catastrophic battery meltdown. — AFP

ATHENS: Trucks are parked as ferries remain docked during the fifth day of a strike by Greek dock workers in the port of Piraeus, near Athens yesterday.—AP

UK Treasury chief announces bank breakup powers LONDON: Britain’s treasury chief warned the country’s banks yesterday that they face being broken up if they fail to protect their retail operations from their riskier investment arms.

George Osborne told executives from JPMorgan that the days of banks being “too big to fail” are over in Britain, and that taxpayers shouldn’t be expected to bail out the lenders.

The next time a crisis hits, he wants more options to act. “My message to the banks is clear: if a bank flouts the rules, the regulator and the Treasury will have the power to break it up altogether - full separation, not just a ring fence,” he said.

“We’re not going to repeat the mistakes of the past.”

The new measure gives regulators the power to force a complete separation of a lender’s retail business from its investment banking.

Risky investments undermined banks’ stability in 2008, leading to taxpayer bailouts of two big UK banks. Osborne’s remarks follow recommendations from the Parliamentar y Commission on Banking Standards that proposals for a “ring-fence” to protect retail banks needed to be “electrified” to discourage banks from probing for loopholes.

Osborne had been reluctant to accept the idea, but faced pressure stemming from public outrage over the behavior of

Britain’s banks. Britain’s banking industry has been caught up a in a series of scandals since the financial crisis in 2008.

Several leading executives at Barclays have been forced to step down after the bank was hit with 290m pound fine for rigging Libor, the rate at which banks lend to each other. Royal Bank of Scotland also faces a 500m pound fine for manipulating the key interest rate.

HSBC and Standard Chartered have also fallen foul with regulators over the way they do business overseas.

The banking standards commission said that the scandal of manipulating key lending indexes had “exposed a culture of culpable greed far removed from the interests of bank customers.”

The British Bankers Association said Osborne’s decision was “regrettable,” and that it would create uncertainty for investors. Bankers say it will hurt the competitiveness of British banks and do little to make them more stable.

“No other major economy is considering moving away from the universal model of banking because it undermines banks’ ability to provide all the services businesses need,” the association said in a statement. “Above all, what banks and business need is regulatory certainty so that banks can get on with what they want to do, which is help the economy grow.” —AP

regulator for big euro-zone lenders from next year and this will help to iron out supervisory clashes within the euro-zone, officials said.

The Commission said curbs have been on shifting capital and profits within groups, and on lending. All supervisors must work together to avoid fragmenting the single market and harming growth and stability, it said. “It’s becoming a problem,” said one regulatory source on condition of anonymity.

For example, as a safeguard, supervisors are “encouraging” banks to use the ECB’s payment system for loans to other euro zone lenders rather than lending directly.

Debate among supervisors has become “very active” in order to push against fragmentation, the source said.

The EU is approving a law to implement Basel III accord that sets global minimum standards for capital requirements. But the EU wants to limit leeway for national regulators to impose higher requirements on banks under exceptional circumstances when financial stability is at stake.

Britain has lobbied for more wriggle room as its regulators discourage foreign branches and puts pressure on lenders to set up subsidiaries that are required to have their own capital and liquidity buffers to withstand market shocks.

Britain has put pressure on bank branches from Cyprus, an EU member country, to become subsidiaries. The US Federal Reserve proposed in December that arms of foreign banks face the same rules as local banks.

This so-called “subsidiarisation”, dubbed balkanisation by critics, is largely due to not being able to wind down a failing big bank without taxpayer help or triggering the market mayhem seen when Lehman Brothers went bust in 2008. Taxpayers remain on the hook until the “too big to fail” problem is solved, which could take years and, in the meantime, supervisors want to play safe and make sure all banks on their patch hold enough liquidity and capital. — Reuters

Moscow Exchange sets IPO valuation target of $4.6bn MOSCOW: Russia’s main stock exchange said yesterday that its initial public offering set to be held in Moscow later this month will value the company at $4.0-4.6 billion (2.9-3.4 billion euros).

The Moscow Exchange-formed in a 2011 merger of the MICEX and RTS bourses set its price range at 55-61 rubles ($1.84-$2.10 / 1.34-1.54 euros) per share for the February 15 listing.

The exchange said in a statement that it hoped to raise more than $500 million from the offering so that it can boost the capitalisation of its clearing subsidiary and improve its IT infrastructure.

The authorities hope that a successful IPO will help encourage others to forgo financial capitals such as Hong Kong or London and list instead in Moscow to improve the city’s business climate. The ruble-denominated MICEX exchange and dollardenominated RTS are dominated by trading in just a few major companies such as the natural gas giant Gazprom and top Russian bank Sberbank.

But other companies’ decisions to raise capital abroad has held off realization of President Vladimir Putin’s dream of making Moscow into a global financial powerhouse.

The combined MICEX-RTS exchange was valued at $4.5 billion at the time of its merger. The Moscow Exchange has 2.197 billion shares and includes the Central Bank and Sberbank as its two main shareholders. Neither intends to part with their 23.4-percent and 10.3-percent respective stakes.

The shares will be offered by the MICEX exchange and its main subsidiary. The Moscow Exchange posted a $215 million profit in the first nine months of last year. — Reuters

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

BUSINESS

Nissan sets Guinness World Records Largest illuminated indoor ad sign at Dubai International DUBAI: Nissan’s powerful and global brand campaign has set a new Guinness World Records achievement at Dubai International.

Paul O’Neill, vice -president of Guinness World Records, officially recognized Nissan’s backlit indoor advertising sign as the largest of its type in the world. O’Neill presented Nissan, represented by Roel De-Vries, Global Marketing vice president and Atsuo Kosaka, managing director of Nissan Middle East, with the Guinness World Records certificate.

In order to express its thanks for its invaluable support, Nissan shared this award with Dubai Airports. A specially commissioned commemorative plaque of the record was offered to Sheik h Ahmed bin Saeed AlMaktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Dubai Airports.

“It felt natural for Nissan to choose Dubai International, one of the largest and most important airports in the world, as of one of the key locations for the deployment of our global brand campaign. Nissan feels proud to have achieved a world record in Dubai, the city of so many world records. H is Highness’ support was decisive in the success of this project,” commented Trevor Mann, Nissan executive vice president and chairman of the Management Committee for the Africa Middle East, India and European region “It is an honour to have His Highness with

us today as Nissan celebrates another landmark day in the Middle East,” said Atsuo Kosaka. “When we began this project, we were bold enough to ask ourselves, ‘what if

we can turn our adver tising at Dubai International into a world record?’. Today we see the result of that commitment as we once again deliver ‘Innovation that Excites’

into everything we do in the Middle East region.” Sheik h Ahmed bin Saeed AlMaktoum said: “I congratulate Nissan for its achievement at Dubai International. Dubai

GCC markets: Light at the end of the tunnel?

GULF INVESTMENT HOUSE REPORT KUWAIT: Economic activity in the GCC region has stabilized during 2012, following the impetus from robust Oil prices during 2011-12. The OPEC Crude Basket has averaged at around $110 per barrel during 2012, compared to $107 per barrel for 2011.

With oil prices remaining elevated above the budget forecasts of all GCC governments by a comfortable margin, and aided by expanded oil production, most GCC governments have retained their expansionary fiscal policies, with strong impetus on infrastructure spending.

In addition, renewed expectations from developed and emerging economies, and geopolitical uncertainties in the MENA region have strengthened the short-term outlook for oil prices. The IMF estimates the GCC’s fiscal and current surplus to have reached 13% and 24% of GDP respectively in 2012, and both indicators are projected to remain broadly stable in 2013 in anticipation of firm oil prices. The channeling of large fiscal surpluses into infrastructure spending, has provided sustainable growth impetus to the non-oil sector, which the IMF expects to grow at 5.5% in 2013. Though the unsustainably high levels of current expenditure, driven largely by wages and other social benefits in the fallout of the “Arab Spring”, have raised break-even oil prices by a considerable margin from the historic average, the GCC countries are better prepared for a deterioration in the external environment, given the improvement in liquidity and progressive deleveraging that has taken place during the past few years of robust Oil prices.

GCC credit markets The global credit market had a strong run during 2012, and emerged as one of the best performing asset classes, with GCC and emerging market bonds outperforming those in developed markets. The GCC markets were well supported by the expansionary monetary policies adopted by Central banks, as well as a benign interest rate outlook. The Primary market in the GCC region had a record year during 2012, with a slew of big-ticket issuances that were broadbased, and represented a healthy mix of both conventional and Sukuk issuances. There was also some widening of breadth in issuances, including the first bond issuance by a private corporate entity, and the first Perpetual bond in the region, alongside several debut issuances.

The market had a strong start to 2013, and we expect the momentum to continue in the short-term, aided primarily by the low threat of a selloff in US Treasuries, as the US Fed had announced in its January 2013 meeting.

However, the return trajectory will not be a smooth upward slope. The market will also gain support from yield-searching investors, strong flow of funds, cheaper valuation on relative basis and a lack of supply in the primary market.

However, in the medium to long term, the GCC markets are expected to consolidate with a

slightly negative bias.

Investment-grade and defensive credits, primarily out of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are likely to be favored over High Volatility names, till the global uncertainty recedes further.

The robust build-up in the primary market during 2012, is likely to ensure that the issue pipeline remains strong at least during the first half of 2013, with Sovereigns and Corporate entities from the Utilities, Banks and Petrochemical sectors expected to be major issuers, seeking to meet capex, capital and refinancing requirements.

2012: A challenging year During the first quarter of 2012, the GCC equity markets established a pattern similar to 2011, as it opened with a positive outlook that was driven by an uptrend in Oil prices and a marked improvement in sentiment derived from the economic recovery in the US. However, the positive sentiment remained short-lived as anxiety set in, following mounting evidence of deterioration in the European debt crisis, that threatened to arrest the pace of global recovery.

The crisis in Europe and an apparent slowdown in EM growth-engines such as India and China took its toll on Oil prices as the demand outlook deteriorated, causing a sharp slide in prices mid-year. Though the GCC equity indices managed to disengage from this trend and were largely neutral to the Oil price movement, they remained highly correlated to the volatility in global financial markets. The poor outlook for global economic growth also ensured that the Petrochemicals sector remained out of favor during most of the year. Instead, investors retained their favor for defensive sectors and industries that are exposed to domestic economic factors, including Retail, Consumer, Telecoms and Cement sectors, which in turn outperformed the benchmarks in the latter part of the year.

2013: Positive outlook Improved liquidity, and expectations of traction in earnings momentum for 2013 could act as near-term catalysts to shore up sentiment in equity markets during the first half of 2013. It is also expected that the region could gain from a global asset allocation perspective, driven by increased fund flows towards the GCC markets, given the reasonable market valuations and growth outlook for the region.

Despite improved fundamentals, GCC banking stocks, with the exception of Abu Dhabi banks, have underperformed their respective benchmarks during 2012. Though Banks in Saudi Arabia and Qatar trade at a premium to their peers, this could be justified by the forecast growth in core operations and the capacity to grow asset base. Meanwhile, UAE banks are expected to benefit from an improved risk profile as provision costs decline and earnings visibility improves. The outlook for Omani banks

remain bright on account of the sharp increase in projected infrastructure spending.

Given the current slack in pace of global economic growth, and the anticipation that growth in demand from Emerging Market economies will remain tepid in the short-term, the outlook for Petrochemical products is expected to remain benign. Though low feedstock costs will help retain competitive edge for producers in the region despite margin compression, the sector is likely to remain largely out of favor during the first half of 2013.

An improvement in the Dubai economy has given a strong impetus to the Real Estate sector, with prices and sales activity showing a sustained trend of improvement. However, Abu Dhabi remains subdued due to supply overhang, and pressure on prices has continued to take their toll. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the announcement of a mortgage framework has failed to enthuse much interest, due to a gap in the supply of low-cost housing. Though the GCC Projects market is worth more than $ 1.9 trillion, the long gestation period of the large projects, and a discernible slowdown in contract awards during 2012, have lowered the short-term visibility for the Construction sector.

The Consumer & Retail sector continues to provide a very stable business model to mitigate some of the current risks in the other sectors.

Backed by favorable demographic factors and rising levels of disposable income and changing spending patterns, the sector stands to benefit in the short and medium term. In addition, listed companies have stable revenue streams, good growth prospects and attractive valuations.

The demographic profile for the GCC countries is attractive for Telecom companies as well, particularly mobile operators. The sector gains further attention due to the defensive nature, as the Telecom industry revenues remained largely unaffected through the global economic crisis.

With recent changes in technology and data consumption trends, Broadband and data services segments have seen significant growth that could fuel growth in profitability for the broader Telecom sector.

Kuwait - Political stability With Oil flows accounting for around 95% of public revenues in Kuwait, the current resurgence of oil prices is a positive driver for the fiscal surplus in the country. Ambitious spending plans are currently being put in place in Kuwait, and successful conversion of new spending initiatives could provide sustainable impetus for the domestic equity market. However, Kuwait’s track-record for conversion of planned projects has been poor, and differences between the legislative and executive powers have hindered the implementation of various government policies.

Deleveraging in the financial sector has kept a check on growth of non-oil GDP during the past few years, but it is expected that the non-oil

sector will contribute better during the mediumterm. Recent elections in Kuwait have lent some stability and raised expectations in the political outlook. However, the capital markets lack any other significant catalysts to drive the markets during 2013. Slowdown in project awards has impacted Credit growth for Banks as they struggle with high NPL ratios and Balance sheet restructuring issues. The Consumer/Retail sector has a favorable outlook, given the high employment levels and government-sponsored salary and benefit increases for nationals, which have supported growth in Retail lending for Banks Saudi Arabia The outlook for Saudi Arabia’s overall GDP growth is healthy for 2013, as Oil production remains near record-highs, and government spending continues to expand. In its budget for 2013, Saudi Arabia has proposed an 18% increase in Revenues to $ 221 billion, and a 19% rise in Expenditure to $ 218 billion, with a forecast surplus of $ 2.4 billion, indicating a continuation of the ambitious fiscal stance adopted during the past few years. Despite the recent volatility in Oil prices, robust accumulated surpluses assure that government spending will continue unabated in the short to medium-term.

Given the current risk-averse stance in global equity markets, investors in Saudi could maintain a defensive stance in the short-term, thus continuing to favor sectors focused on the local economy like Banks, Retail, Telecom and Cements, while staying away from the export-driven Petrochemicals sector.

UAE - Resurgence The UAE economy has benefited from its status as a ‘safe haven’ amidst the political turmoil across the Arab world, which helped to lift the Tourism and Hospitality sector in Dubai.

Demand for Dubai properties and prices have been on a rebound during most of 2012, and the trend is expected to continue through 2013.

New project launches, after a prolonged hiatus, have been very warmly received in Dubai.

However, in Abu Dhabi, both Housing and Office segments continue to experience downward pressure, as the supply-demand mismatch remains skewed in favor of supply.

Dubai’s debt problems are no longer a drag on overall sentiment, following several positive developments in terms of restructuring and rescheduling of the overall debt profile.

However, equity markets in the UAE are closely influenced by global cues, and investors are expected to closely monitor developments in the global markets for direction and strength.

Credit growth in the economy has remained remains weak during 2011-12 despite an improvement in funding. However, going forward, UAE banks are expected to benefit from an improved risk profile as banks provision costs decline and visibility for earnings improves.

has long been the focus for international enterprise in the Middle East and Nissan’s selection of our airport as part of a global campaign is continued evidence of the growing business importance of the emirate. We look forward to increasing commercial activity and innovative campaigns as our economy grows into the future.”

Eugene Barry, SVP Commercial at Dubai Airports commented: “This project mirrors our own ambitions at Dubai Airports. With more than 57 million people passing through the world’s third-busiest airport last year, Dubai International is the perfect location for this record-breaking initiative, and we are delighted that Nissan has chosen our airport to showcase their brand to a global audience.”

Nissan’s global brand campaign will reach 100% of the passengers of Terminal 1 and 3, through more than 74 touch points at Dubai International.

Associated with this Guinness World Records are JC Decaux, the concessionaire of Dubai International and Mindshare, Nissan’s media buying agency for the Middle East.

“We feel extremely proud to have been associated to such a fascinating project which required to overcome various challenges: working in the middle of one of the busiest airport worldwide with very difficult technical constraints and the usage of new technologies” commented Jean-Charles Decaux, CEO, JC Decaux Dicon.

Qualitynet, Elmnet achieve success at Infoconnect ’13 KUWAIT: Qualitynet, Kuwait’s No 1 Total Solutions Provider announced yesterday that their participation at Infoconnect 2013 held at Mishref Fair Grounds between 27th Jan & 2nd Feb, was a massive success. The company closed its participation alongside employees and customers in great style and celebration.

Nael A Al-Awadi, GM Admin, HR and Marketing, said “Qualitynet has been participating at the Infoconnect exhibition for over a decade, with every year proving to be a bigger success than the previous one. The new services and the exhibition exclusives on offer always grab the attention of our customers. One of our surprise services which proved to be a big hit this Nael A Al-Awadi, year is the launch of the 2 GM - Admin, HR Mbps Free Internet servand Marketing ice offered in association with Elmnet. Free Internet had always sounded like a dream, and now Qualitynet and Elmnet together have made it a reality”.

Nael added that the service comes as a result of the combined efforts of the Ali Alghanim & Sons Group - the biggest stakeholder in Qualitynet, and Engineer Salim Al-Othaina, the Minister of Communication, who has been pushing to make Free Internet for everyone in Kuwait a reality.

He expressed his happiness in achieving the exhibition goals, and the unexpected success rate that the new services gathered. He pointed out that Qualitynet’s exhibition stand attracted huge crowds from both existing and new customers, many of whom had come to experience the live demo of QPlay - the new definition of entertainment-on-the-go. “QPlay brings you a trio of Over the Top (OTT) experiences that will change everything you’ve come to accept about Gaming, Videos and Communication. With QPlay, we don’t just use the latest in trends and technology to improve your entertainment environment; we take it to a whole new level,” said Nael. The exhibition also saw the re-launch of Nitro, Lite DSL and DSL Bonding, with enhanced features and higher speeds.

Nael concluded by stating that the company’s success is solely due to the satisfaction that customer’s experience, the trust they place in its services and the deep relationship it maintains with its customers across segments. He also said that Qualitynet will continue to serve the interests of its customers through introducing innovative and exciting services that could help upgrade their lifestyles.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

technology

Kaspersky Lab takes a big step in global endpoint security market ‘I’m afraid that every industry can be a victim of a high-profile attack’: Eugene Kaspersky

NEW YORK: Eugene Kaspersky CEO Kaspersky Lab (left) and Howard Schmidt (right), former White House cybersecurity coordinator seen during the summit.

By Islam Al-Sharaa NEW YORK: Kaspersky Lab unveiled its new Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business platform and rounded up its 2012 achievements in the corporate security market at the Cyber-Security Summit in New York on January 31, 2013. The launch of this entirely new security platform is a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing growth in the global market for corporate IT security solutions.

The summit featured insights from a variety of recognized IT security experts, reinforcing Kaspersky Lab’s status as an industry leader. These guests included Howard Schmidt, former Cyber-Security Coordinator of the Obama administration; Lawrence Orans, Research Director, Gartner Inc; and several security representatives of international businesses such as RIM and PayPal. These experts were joined on stage by Kaspersky Lab executives and researchers, who shared their latest threat intelligence, expert insights, and valuable strategies to help businesses combat cybercrime.

Throughout the presentations and panel discussions, the dangers of cyberweapons were a consistent theme, and Kaspersky Lab CEO and founder Eugene Kaspersky told the audience that an eventual cyber-attack against a highprofile corporation or critical infrastructure was inevitable. The assembled experts also discussed the security challenges presented by corporate employees using their own devices to access company networks, which was cited as a potential vulnerability for many businesses. Another key theme to emerge from the panel discussion was the need for an increased emphasis on security education amongst current and future business executives.

Cybersecurity “A lot of people don’t think about our tremendous dependencies on transportation,” said Howard Schmidt, former White House cyber-security coordinator, who joined Kaspersky on the panel. “It doesn’t take much. If the ticketing system [for an airline] goes down, people can’t get their tickets, they can’t board the planes and then the planes can’t pull away from the gate. So there’s nowhere for the incoming aircraft to go, so they start stacking up. Within an hour, they have to start diverting traffic to other airports.”

Even with that dire picture, Kaspersky said that they see some areas that can help improve the situation. He said one of the keys to winning this war is education, not just of users, but of students, as well. It may not seem like it when you look at the various threats facing consumers online right now, but experts say that we may have reached a point where we’ve seen the worst that attackers can throw at us. That’s not to say that

the bad guys aren’t going to continue wreaking havoc and coming up with new ways to steal money and damage systems, but the worst-case scenariosrampant online crime, cyber-warfare and cyber-terrorism-are now realities and there are signs that security experts and authorities are beginning to turn the tide.

“Maybe we have come to the worstcare scenarios. Cyber-terrorism, cybercrime, nation-state attacks. These are all happening. I think that’s the end of the story. I think we’ve explored the universe of cyber threats,” said Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky Lab, speaking on a panel at the Kaspersky Cyber-Security Summit in New York on Wednesday.

“The next thing will be the attacks that continue to follow from these threats.” One of the many threats facing consumers right now, of course, is cyber-crime, the everyday theft and money laundering that has become almost mundane. It is simply a fact of life on the Internet. Just as there are realworld criminals looking to take advantage of vulnerable people, there are millions of cybercriminals looking to do the same online. The difficult part isn’t determining who is vulnerable to attackers, it’s figuring out who isn’t at risk.

Some of the targets that are near the top of the list for attackers these days are large utilities, transportation companies and financial companies. Those may not seem like things that should concern normal users, but any significant attack on one of those targets could have major ramifications for millions of peo-

ple.

Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business The company’s new flagship corporate security platform for businesses offers a powerful combination of deep protection, efficiency, and seamless manageability. To simplify IT security management and ensure advanced protection for business of all sizes, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business comes with a number of new and improved technologies that allow IT administrators to see, control, and protect their network.

Available for purchase in specialized bundles for businesses of all sizes, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business is a single, unified platform, created by Kaspersky Lab’s engineers from a single codebase. It delivers protection in a way that other security products cannot. Through one platform, one console, and at one cost, IT administrators can see, control and protect all systems and endpoints within the organization’s IT infrastructure, whether it’s a PC down the hall, a virtual machine in another office, or a missing smartphone across the country.

within the B2B security market, which culminated in the launch of Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business.

In 2012, Kaspersky Lab was recognized as a global leader in endpoint protection by numerous independent analysts and companies. The company has been named a ‘Leader’ in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms and listed as a Top Player in the Market Quadrant for Endpoint Security Platforms 2012 by The Radicati Group.

Moreover, Kaspersky Lab’s corporate solution was placed among four ‘Leaders’ in The Forrester Wave: Endpoint

B2B goals for 2013 Further growth in the B2B segment remains one of the key strategic directions of Kaspersky Lab’s development.

The company plans to intensify its growth in the corporate segment with the new Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business solution, and grow its customer base in all categories, including enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses and home office clients.

Eugene Kaspersky, CEO and cofounder of Kaspersky Lab, said: “High-

Middle East facing highest cyber threat est challenges to IT security nowadays?

Alexander Erofeev: The biggest challenge is our ability to predict new types of viruses, but with the research that has been done over many years, we have a good understanding of new threats in IT security.

Another challenge is to develop a very sophisticated and advanced protection system that can minimize the risks and protect our system, even though we hold a good position in the Middle East.

Performance summary in the Global B2B Security Market in 2012 Kaspersky Lab protects about 250,000 companies worldwide and is ranked as one of the four biggest endpoint security vendors in the world. A key element of Kaspersky Lab’s strategy for 2012 was to strengthen its position Alexander Erofeev, Kaspersky Lab’s Chief Marketing Officer Alexander Erofeev was appointed Kaspersky Lab’s Chief Marketing Officer in May 2012. He is responsible for global marketing strategy, Kaspersky Lab brand development, and coordination between regional and global sales and marketing leaders. Erofeev spoke with Kuwait Times in an exclusive interview. Some excerpts: Kuwait Times: What are the great-

Costin Raiu Director of the Global Research and Analysis team

the industry average of 73 and compares favorably with its key competitors.

Security. Kaspersky Lab’s endpoint solutions for business consistently score highly in various international ratings, improving their positions from year to year. Following these recent successes, leading market analysts believe the company has the potential for further growth.

Moreover, Kaspersky Lab has earned the loyalty of its corporate clients, which is one of the most important success factors for a trust-based business model.

According to a recent Customer Retention survey by TNS, Kaspersky Lab’s corporate customer retention index of 1065 is significantly higher than

KT: With specific reference to the Middle East, what new cyber threats are we facing?

Erofeev: The Middle East is probably one of the regions with the highest threat as people use the Internet more often nowadays. This might increase the risk of attacks, especially when people download programs and don’t understand the risks that come with it. Banks nowadays depend highly on the Internet services because they cost less and can serve their customers 24/7 but the problem is that the customers do not understand that they are at risk when they complete their transactions or access their accounts on the Internet. profile targeted attacks on enterprises are becoming increasingly widespread.

Hundreds of businesses have already been attacked, and more and more companies are realizing the importance of being equipped with the very latest security technologies. Constantly communicating with our clients, getting their feedback and understanding their needs, we have enhanced our products with high-end tools like patch management, vulnerability assessment, and mobile device management. The loyalty of our clients proves that this approach and our technologies are both highly effective!”

Andy Steingruebl (left) Sr. Manager Customer and Ecosystem Security, PayPal and Adrian Stone (right) Director, Security Response, RIM/BlackBerry seen during the summit.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Insulin-requiring diabetes up in young children: Study NEWYORK: The number of cases of insulin-requiring type 1 diabetes rose sharply in children under the age of five in Philadelphia over a two decade span, paralleling increases seen across the United States and in Europe, according to a US study. Researchers whose work appeared in the journal Diabetes Care found that the number of children under five diagnosed with type 1 diabetes increased 70 percent in 2005 from 1985, when a registry of such patients was begun. The number of diagnosed cases among all children up to age 14 rose by 29 percent.

“Why are we seeing this large increase

in type 1 diabetes in very young children? Unfortunately, the answer is we don’t know,” said lead author Terri Lipman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Of the two most common forms of diabetes, type 2 typically affects adults who can still produce insulin, but whose bodies cannot use the hormone to regulate blood sugar. Type 1, previously known as juvenile diabetes, typically strikes children whose immune systems have killed off insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The disease is usually fatal if left untreated. In 1985, according to a registry of Philadelphia children diagnosed

with type 1 diabetes, 13.4 out of every 100,000 children in Philadelphia was newly diagnosed with the disease. In 2004, the rate was 17.2 cases per 100,000.

Type 1 diabetics must take insulin, but many type 2 diabetics can control the disease with medications, diet and exercise.

Type 1 diabetes tends to start in adolescence, but experts said parents need to be aware that toddlers and preschoolers are also susceptible, given the rising number of cases in very small children.

Children from Chicago to Colorado to Finland have similarly increased rates of type 1 diabetes, though the cause eludes

researchers. “This young group is a mystery,” said Carol Levy, a type 1 diabetes specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York who was not involved in the study.

“Make sure your child has a healthy lifestyle and maintains normal body weight, whether that’s a guarantee we’re going to reduce risk, we don’t know at this point. Several theories vie to explain the recent rise in diabetes among youth, including vitamin D deficiencies, lack of breastfeeding and over-hygienic environments that might cause the immune system to backfire. “The data is controversial, so that’s why I’m certainly very reluctant to propose a theory when nothing has

been proven,” Lipman told Reuters Health. It is important to be aware of the symptoms of diabetes, which can include extreme thirst, bed wetting or accidents in toilet-trained children or excessively wet diapers in babies, said Lori Laffel, of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

By the time the disease is diagnosed, many infants and toddlers are very sick and the degree of illness tends to be more severe the younger the patient, experts noted. “The young child isn’t able to talk about symptoms,” Laffel said.

“A young child may be in diapers, you may not notice because diapers are often wet.” —Reuters

New tuberculosis vaccine doesn’t protect infants LONDON: The world’s most advanced tuberculosis vaccine failed to protect babies against the infectious disease, according to a new study in South Africa.

The vaccine, MVA85A, was designed to improve protection from the only existing tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, which is routinely given to newborns. Though the new vaccine appeared safe, scientists found no proof it prevented tuberculosis, an airborne disease that kills more than 1 million people worldwide every year. Previous tests of the vaccine in adults had been promising and researchers said the trial provided useful data to inform future studies. There are a dozen other TB vaccines currently being tested.

Some health officials were discouraged by the results. “It’s pretty disappointing,” said Dr Jennifer Cohn, a medical coordinator at Doctors Without Borders, who was not part of the study. “Infants are at really high risk of TB but this doesn’t seem to offer them any protection.” MVA85A was developed at Oxford University and was tested in nearly 2,800 infants in South Africa who had already been given a BCG shot, between 2009 and 2011. About half of the babies got the new vaccine while the other half got a placebo.

They were followed for up to three years. In the group that got the vaccine, there were 32 cases of TB, versus 39 cases in the group that got a placebo. The vaccine’s efficacy rate was about 17 percent.

No serious side effects related to the vaccine were reported. The study was paid for

by Aeras, the Wellcome Trust and the Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium.

The results were published online yesterday in the journal Lancet. “There is much that we and others can learn from the study and the data it has produced,” said Helen McShane of the University of Oxford, one of the study authors, in a statement.

She and colleagues are further analyzing the samples from the trial to better understand how humans become infected with TB bacteria.

McShane and her co-authors wrote that the vaccine could potentially protect adolescents or adults against TB since their immune systems work differently from those of infants. The shot is also currently being tested in people with HIV. “If this vaccine is effective in adults, that would be hugely valuable because the majority of TB disease and deaths are among adults,” said Richard White, an infectious diseases expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “But no one knows the answer to that right now.”

“A vaccine is likely to be a cost-effective way of preventing TB,” he said, comparing the $650 million that has been invested into vaccine development in the past decade versus the $1 billion it currently costs to control the disease. He also warned the world couldn’t afford to ignore the spike in TB and its drug-resistant forms. “There are certain boroughs of London that have higher rates of TB than parts of Malawi,” he said.

“TB is such a big problem that we really need to throw the book at it.” —AP

Bullying study: It does get better for gay teens CHICAGO: It really does get better for gay and bisexual teens when it comes to being bullied, although young gay men have it worse than their lesbian peers, according to the first long-term scientific evidence on how the problem changes over time. The seven-year study involved more than 4,000 teens in England who were questioned yearly through 2010, until they were 19 and 20 years old. At the start, just over half of the 187 gay, lesbian and bisexual teens said they had been bullied; by 2010 that dropped to 9 percent of gay and bisexual boys and 6 percent of lesbian and bisexual girls.

The researchers said the same results likely would be found in the United States.

In both countries, a “sea change” in cultural acceptance of gays and growing intolerance for bullying occurred during the study years, which partly explains the results, said study co-author Ian Rivers, a psychologist and professor of human development at Brunel University in London. That includes a government mandate in England that schools work to prevent bullying, and changes in the United States permitting same-sex marriage in several states.

In 2010, syndicated columnist Dan Savage launched the “It Gets Better” video project to encourage bullied gay teens. It was prompted by widely publicized suicides of young gays, and includes videos from politicians and celebrities. “Bullying tends to decline with age regardless of sexual orientation and gender,” and the study confirms that, said co-author Joseph Robinson, a researcher and assistant professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

“In absolute terms, this would suggest that yes, it gets better.”

The study appears online yesterday in the journal Pediatrics. Eliza Byard, executive

director of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, said the results mirror surveys by her anti-bullying advocacy group that show bullying is more common in US middle schools than in high schools.

But the researchers said their results show the situation is more nuanced for young gay men. In the first years of the study, gay boys and girls were almost twice as likely to be bullied as their straight peers. By the last year, bullying dropped overall and was at about the same level for lesbians and straight girls. But the difference between men got worse by ages 19 and 20, with gay young men almost four times more likely than their straight peers to be bullied.

The mixed results for young gay men may reflect the fact that masculine tendencies in girls and women are more culturally acceptable than femininity in boys and men, Robinson said. Savage, who was not involved in the study, agreed. “A lot of the disgust that people feel when you bring up homosexuality ... centers around gay male sexuality,” Savage said. “There’s more of a comfort level” around gay women, he said.

Kendall Johnson, 21, a junior theater major at the University of Illinois, said he was bullied for being gay in high school, mostly when he brought boyfriends to school dances or football games.

“One year at prom, I had a guy tell us that we were disgusting and he didn’t want to see us dancing anymore,” Johnson said.

A football player and the president of the drama club intervened on his behalf, he recalled. Johnson hasn’t been bullied in college, but he said that’s partly because he hangs out with the theater crowd and avoids the fraternity scene.

Still, he agreed, that it generally gets better for gays as they mature. “As you grow older, you become more accepting of yourself,” Johnson said. —AP

CALIFORNIA: Taking a moment from their busy schedule, Marcia and Oscar Sablan, right, call their granddaughter to wish her a happy birthday. —MCT

Rural physicians dispense more than medical care CALIFORNIA: On a morning in early January, the air is cold and Firebaugh, Calif’s main street is nearly empty. But the Sablan Medical Clinic is quickly filling up with people eager to see the physicians they affectionately call Dr Marcia and Dr Oscar. Lela Burkhart, whose family owns a farm in this remote San Joaquin Valley town surrounded by fields of pistachios and almonds, is one of the first patients of the day. Burkhart, 86, recently had heart surgery, and this morning she’s feeling tired and short of breath. Oscar Sablan tells her the lab tests show she is dangerously anemic.

“You are bleeding inside, even though you cannot see it,” he tells her. “Do I need to go to the hospital?” she asks. Sablan nods. “It’s a little too low for us to wait,” he says, patting her on the back.

Thirty years ago, Oscar Sablan and his wife, Marcia, made a plan: work in a rural area for three years and walk away without any medical school debt. So they moved from tropical Hawaii to dusty Firebaugh and started a practice in a trailer on the corner of O and 9th streets. They didn’t intend to stay. They are still here, the only fulltime doctors in town, treating many of the same families as when they arrived. The couple raised four children in Firebaugh and grew so committed to the town that she served as mayor and he as school board president. “This became our home,” Oscar Sablan says. “I still can’t believe it.”

After her consultations with the doctor she’s known for decades, Burkhart says she will head to the hospital. She is painfully aware of how far away it is. Twenty years ago, her 42-year-old son believed he was having an asthma attack. Oscar Sablan recognized his symptoms as a heart attack and had him airlifted to a hospital in Madera. But his heart stopped on the way. Sablan says he believes that if they had lived closer to a trauma center, he might have survived. Sablan promises to check on her once she is admitted. Then he starts making calls to Fresno, nearly 45 miles away. First, the heart doctor. Then a gastroenterologist. Then the emergency room doctor. Each time, he explains his patient’s health situation and advises them that she is on her way in.

“I feel uncomfortable treating her as an outpatient,” Sablan says to the emergency room doctor.

“I’m not that brave ... even out here in the country.” Burkhart says the whole town, from wealthy ranchers to migrant farm workers, relies on the Sablans. “They’ve taken care of all our families,” she says. “I don’t know what we’d do without them here.” But now Oscar is 61 and Maria is 65, and they realize they can’t do this forever. They’re beginning to plan their retirement, looking forward to giving up their 65-hour workweek and spending more time traveling and visiting with

their eight grandchildren. But they’re worried about what will happen to their patients. “These are people we have guided through bypass surgeries, pneumonias, accidents and injuries, cancers,” he says. “But it is something we are going to have to do, now or later.” Much of inland California is made up of towns just like Firebaugh, where large swaths of the population are uninsured, where traveling to a hospital means a long drive, and where doctors and pharmacists are in short supply. The nearest hospital to Firebaugh is 20 miles away, and the closest trauma center is nearly 40.

The federal health reform law is designed to help improve healthcare in rural areas by expanding access to coverage and investing in primary care doctors and rural hospitals. But that is an uphill battle in places like the San Joaquin Valley, says Marlene Bengiamin, research director at the Central Valley Health Policy Institute.

In a recent study, the institute found that the valley failed to meet any of 10 national standards in such areas as reducing smoking, reducing the number of deaths from car crashes and improving access to healthcare. “We fail miserably,” she says. “There are so many health challenges in the valley.”

The Sablans know those challenges better than most. They’ve treated gunshot wounds, set broken bones and resuscitated heart attack victims.

They’ve also cared for farm workers exposed to pesticides and injured in agricultural accidents. The clinic, now in a single-story white building with a blue awning, sits next to a community college and across the street from a discount store. In the bright, airy waiting room, a television airs a consistent stream of health messages. A few patients read newspapers in Spanish, and children play in a gigantic pastel playhouse.

Jasmin Barrera has brought her 17-month-old daughter, Kayleen Rodriguez, in for an exam.

Kayleen was born premature and has severe asthma. In the last few days, she’s been coughing more than normal. “Let’s get her up here and take a look at her,” Marcia Sablan says, carefully unzipping the girl’s pink jacket and holding the stethoscope to her chest. The girl whimpers and wheezes, and grabs at the stethoscope. “She still has a lot of phlegm in her chest,” Sablan says, explaining to Barrera that she’ll prescribe an antibiotic for the girl. Barrera smiles at Kayleen and pretends to make her nose disappear. The girl giggles. The Sablans’ journey to rural California began at Saint Louis University in Missouri. He was the oldest of 13 from Saipan, a US commonwealth in the Pacific.

She was a St Louis native and a former Peace Corps volunteer. They met in biology class and got mar-

ried a few years later.

They moved to Hawaii for medical school, with one child in tow. Once there, they had three more.

When they learned about the National Health Service Corps, a federal program that would pay their medical debt, they jumped at the chance. So they brought their children to California in 1981.

They bought a house sight unseen, which they still live in today. Firebaugh, one of the oldest towns in the area, was created in the 1800s as a trading post and ferry crossing for gold prospectors. Now, the predominantly Latino city has about 7,500 residents, and the median income is about $33,000.

Roughly 28 percent of families live below the poverty level.

Since the beginning, the Sablans have worked round the clock, staying open in the evenings and on Saturdays and often making house calls.

Nevertheless, patients showed up on their doorstep for care. “We had to train our patients not to come to our house,” Oscar Sablan says. Their eldest son, Tony Sablan, says he remembers patients knocking on the front door night and day. “It was our norm,” he says. His parents also ran into their patients everywhere they went. Going to the grocery store could take all afternoon, he says, so sometimes he and his siblings did the shopping instead.

The couple grew attached to Firebaugh. Their patients became their friends, and their friends became their patients. But as they built up their medical practice, the Sablans say, they realized that they could do only so much in the exam room. For example, they would tell their diabetic patients to exercise, but there were few places to do so. So they turned to politics. “I just saw that was the only way change could be made,” says Marcia Sablan, who is still on the City Council.

During her time in city government, Sablan has helped get more affordable housing, parks and a walking path in the city. She also spearheaded the opening of a child-care center. Her husband, who is also still on the school board, helped get sidewalks built near the schools so students could walk to campus. “What I do there is just as important but more far-reaching in terms of health outcomes,” he says, “than what I do taking care of the day-to-day patients.”

Oscar Sablan, who laughs easily and talks with his hands, says his passion for medicine comes from the science. He frequently pulls out medical books to teach patients about their disease. Marcia, a motherly figure who has a high voice and towers over most of her patients, draws her inspiration from the people she cares for. She knows all about their families, jobs and hobbies and often spends a few minutes chatting with each one. — MCT

Uninsured less likely to get heart meds

COLUMBIA: File photo shows young people participate in an anti-gay bullying candlelight vigil to commemorate the recent deaths of gay teens at The Center Project. —AP

NEW YORK: Not surprisingly, uninsured people in the United States were less likely to get the best treatment for heart troubles, especially in terms of medications, than those with insurance, according to a US study. In a group of about 61,000 US residents, researchers writing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that those without any health insurance were between 6 percent and 12 percent less likely than people with either public or private insurance to be prescribed drugs that are considered standard care for heat disease.

“There is some different of treatment. It only applies - interestingly enough - to uninsured patients,” said senior author Paul Chan, of Saint Luke’s Mid American Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. In the past, studies have found that

uninsured US residents have worse health outcomes compared to the insured. They’re also less likely to get screenings and preventive care - possibly because they don’t often go to a doctor.

Less is known, though, about uninsured people who do go to doctors and whether they receive worse care than insured people. For the study, Chan and his colleagues used data from 2009 on 60,814 heart patients at 30 doctors’ offices around the United States. Of those patients, about 9 percent were uninsured, 71 percent had private insurance, and 20 percent had public insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid.

The researchers looked to see which patients received the recommended medications for their heart conditions and whether the treat-

ment they got was linked to their insurance status. Overall, patients with public or private insurance received about the same number of prescriptions, but the uninsured patients were less likely to be prescribed drugs, compared to the insured patients.

For example, about 73 percent of uninsured patients were prescribed beta-blockers after a heart attack, compared to about 81 percent of privately insured patients.

About 89 percent of uninsured patients received medication for high cholesterol, compared to about 95 percent of privately insured patients.

“If it’s just the lack of insurance, it should not affect the physicians’ decisions to sit down and prescribe (a drug),” said Ed Havranek, a cardiologist at the Denver Health

Medical Center in Colorado, who wrote a commentary that appeared with the study.

It could be driven by doctors’ perceptions of their patients, he added. Chan said that uninsured people tend to be sicker and their other conditions may take priority over heart problems.

“Truth be told, when many of these patients come in it’s not just cardiovascular disease. It’s diabetes, obesity and smoking too,” he added.

Havranek said the first step to solving the problem is to do what Chan and his colleagues did: by shining a light on it and then finding a practical solution. “You have to be open to the possibility that you’re not doing things accurately or fairly across patient populations,” he said. — Reuters

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Hospital ERs begin taking reservations CHICAGO: The first time Erol Uner went to the emergency room recently, he knew something was seriously wrong because fluid retention had caused his legs to double in size. He was seen right away and wound up being hospitalized for two weeks for treatment of congestive heart failure and kidney disease. People who arrive in the ER with less pressing issues often have to wait for care, sometimes for hours. But when a minor complication sent Uner back to the emergency room at St Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, Ill, he was able to make an appointment online and practically waltz right in.

“Instead of sitting there in the waiting room with everybody else coughing and with colds, I could wait at home,” said Uner, of Schaumburg. “I got there and probably waited less than five minutes.” St Alexius is one of more than a dozen Chicago-area hospitals that have begun posting ER wait times on the Internet or allowing patients to reserve a place in line from their homes.

Administrators say they hope to put an end to the long, unpredictable and uncomfortable waits people associate with emergency rooms.

But adding such conveniences is about more than the warm and fuzzy side of medicine. Hospitals paid by Medicare are now required to report whether they are trying to reduce their ER wait times. And a decline in payments from the government and insurance companies is pressuring hospitals to explore new strategies that will attract new patients and boost revenues. Some experts also question whether such services might send a mixed message to people with life-threatening symptoms. Those patients shouldn’t waste time looking for the shortest line, doctors say; they should go directly to the nearest ER, where they will be seen immediatelyregardless of anyone’s appointment.

Patients have been slow to take advantage of the services, but the numbers have been growing. At Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, more than 150 patients have made reservations via an online check-in since September, when administrators first offered the service.

“We’re trying to use technologies appropriately, and we’re trying to be very patient-

centered,” said Mark Newton, president and CEO at Swedish Covenant. “We’re trying to give the patients tools so they can access care more efficiently.”

Around 5:30 pm on a recent Friday, patients could log on to their computers and decide whether to drive to RushCopley Medical Center in Aurora, where the posted wait time was 10 minutes; visit the hospital’s other emergency facility in Yorkville, where there was no wait at all, or go somewhere else entirely.

At Edward Hospital’s emergency room in Naperville, patients could expect a fourminute wait-or only one minute at its Plainfield location, according to that hospital’s website. Wait time is measured as the average time from arrival and check-in to the time when the patient is placed in a room and treatment can be started.

Edward Hospital’s wait times are accessible via app, text, online and phone. In addition, the health system posts the information on digital billboards in Plainfield and Bolingbrook, a move that a hospital administrator acknowledged was as much about brand exposure as customer service.

Experts say hospitals’ motive for offering such information is clear: bringing in patients and creating new revenue streams. Emergency departments are a crucial pipeline for people who require hospital stays and tend to bring in the most money.

But hospitals are after even those patients who don’t need intense treatment. Once hospitals get new patients in the door, they can funnel them through primary-care physician groups _ either owned by the health system or affiliated with it-for follow-up care, raising their chances to hold on to those customers over the long term.

Such strategies reflect the intense pressure hospitals are under as a result of reimbursement cuts from Medicare and Illinois’ Medicaid program that start this year. At the same time, as many as 30 million Americans are expected to gain health insurance coverage starting in 2014, creating a vast new pool of potential customers.

For the trade-off to work for hospitals, they must gain a share of those new patients, many of whom will be covered by

private insurance, which tends to pay better than government-sponsored health insurance.

At the same time, hospitals are facing a continued decrease in inpatient visits as more services shift to outpatient. In 2011, the last year for which data were available, the number of inpatient days at Chicagoarea hospitals dropped by 1.9 percent, the fourth consecutive year of decline, according to the Illinois Health Market Review 2012, an annual report produced by health care consultant Allan Baumgarten.

Those declines run parallel with a building boom in Chicago in which health systems have spent several billion dollars con-

Other observers say this particular strategy has drawbacks, raising concerns about safety and added costs. Dr David Seaberg, immediate past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said patients having heart attacks or other life-threatening problems might waste valuable time searching for the shortest wait time instead of going to the nearest emergency room. “It’s never bad to give patients information, but most of these services are pure marketing ploys,” Seaberg said.

Efforts to lure more people into emergency rooms also may drive up charges for patients and their insurers, including tax-

ILLINOIS: Signs let patients know they can make reservations at St Alexius Medical Center’s emergency room, in Hoffman Estates. —MCT structing hospitals and expanding existing facilities. That combination of factors leaves many hospitals in a precarious financial position. “For a hospital to survive in today’s environment, they have to have (patient) volume,” said Mike Cohen, a principal at Deloitte Consulting’s health care consulting practice in Chicago. “Chicago is a fiercely competitive market where everybody is competing for volume and business, and this is another vehicle to do it.”

payer-funded government programs like Medicaid. Patients with less serious issues like sore throats, colds and the flu should be seen in less expensive venues like doctors’ offices and urgent-care centers, some experts say.

“If what you’re trying to do is get primary-care patients in the ER, that’s bad for the system,” said Scott Rabin, who leads Buck Consulting’s national hospital and health care practice.

Health systems that advertise emergency room wait times and appointments tend to be the ones with smaller primarycare networks, and therefore fewer physicians to feed patients into hospitals, experts said. Many hospitals have snapped up physician groups as a way to drive volume, but others have been hesitant, because they either lack deep pockets or aren’t sold on the concept.

Edward Hospital in Naperville, which had about $586 million in net patient revenue in its fiscal 2012, employs about 100 physicians, including about 40 primarycare doctors in Edward Medical Group.

About 90,000 patients used the hospital’s emergency departments in Naperville and Plainfield last year, a figure that’s grown significantly since it began advertising wait times, said Brian Davis, vice president of marketing and government relations.

By contrast, the much larger Rush University Medical Center sees only about two-thirds that number in its new emergency department, and that’s after its new West Side facility fueled a 17.5 percent bump in 2012. Dr Dino Rumoro, chairman of the emergency department at Rush, said he has no plans to post wait times, largely because he fears such policies could dissuade patients who need immediate care from going to a hospital. “I’m waiting to hear of that one patient who thinks he’s having indigestion, considers coming in but sees the wait times are too long, takes some Mylanta, and someone finds him the next day at home dead,” he said. “I don’t like that idea,” Rumoro said of publicizing wait times. “I think it’s dangerous, and I don’t think it sends the right message.”

He is, however, warming to the idea of allowing people to make appointments in the emergency department because it could help the hospital better manage patient volumes by allowing those who don’t require critical care to select time slots when demand is low. But Rumoro said any such system would need to include a proven mechanism to divert patients with potentially fatal conditions.

Administrators who use online reservations said they made sure such a mechanism was built into their system.—MCT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

International Women’s Group invites MP Mohammad Al-Sabah

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

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he International Women’s Group invited Minister of Cabinet Affairs and State Minister of Municipality Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah AlMubarak Al-Sabah to its monthly meeting which took place recently at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The event featured spouses of ambassadors and diplomats working in Kuwait, and coincided with Kuwait’s National Day and Liberation Day anniversaries.

Sheikh Al-Sabah spoke during the event about Kuwait’s history

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.

starting from 1930, going through the independence period, the invasion period and the rebuilding process that followed.

He also spoke about Kuwait’s development plan and Kuwait’s ambitions to become an international financial and economic hub as the country celebrates its 52 independence and 22 liberation anniversaries. The event ended with a ceremony to honor Sheikh Al-Sabah, as well as select the winner of the best traditional dress competition held as part of the gathering.

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.

Body Variances: Exhibition features European sculptors

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APAK Xmas-New Year celebration ngamaly Pravasi Association Kuwait (APAK) will conduct its Christmas and New Year celebrations tomorrow 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.

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Kitchen Rock Band music itchen Rock’s Valentine program on February 15 at Asia Asia Royal Hall, AlWatiya Complex, Kuwait City, 7pm onwards. Enjoy the New Version band, Selda band and Freefall band.

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Kuwait Tamil Sangam to hold musical nite uwait Tamil Sangam is organising a ‘Mega Musical Nite’ on February 1, 2013 at the American International School, Maidan Hawally from 5 pm onwards. In this program KTS is hosting renowned singers Anuradha Sriram and Velmurugan accompanied by Robo Shankar and Priyadarshini. The Sri Raaj Melodies will provide orchestra.

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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

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or many years, artists from different backgrounds and epochs dealt with humans’ body as a separate yet connected being; a complex shape that is very vibrant and spirited. Our bodies’ various gestures, movements, reactions, curves, and lines have been a source of inspiration in art where artists deeply analyze and look beyond the obvious shapes to create a vision and transform it into a form of art.

Body Variances presents five European sculptors exposing the discrepancy of the human body, its relation and interactions with surroundings, other bodies, people, news, music etc and depicting body’s reactions towards a psychological & emotional experiences of self conflicts and/or inner peace.

Curated by Mark Hachem, in collaboration with Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), the selected sculptors: Anne De Vilemejane, Arman, Martin C Herbst, Mauro Corda and Polles depict in over forty sculptures their view of the body’s multiple reactions and actions on daily matters and sudden happenings in five different contemporary visions and approaches.

Anne De Vilemejane, Martin C Herbst and Polles link humans’ body variances to sentimental and personal complexes. In her vertical bronze sculptures, with a realistic sharp figure on top, De Vilemejane (France, 1964) observes, analyses and affirms with a curious eye the primacy of emotional tension and energy in life; her work revolves mostly around expressions of human nature as opposed to still life.

Whereas Martin C Herbst (Austria, 1965), intends to display and associates the distinctive likeness, personality, and even a person’s mood with witty and often unexpected forms of representation. In his work, faces appear on spheres and look like caged moon faces that are positioned on pillows.

Faces look distorted when painted on curved panels, but look very common when the viewer perceives them from an unusual point of view. Or they are painted very traditional, but exist in multiple versions.

Known for his stylized cubist abstract forms, Polles (France, 1945) is the only sculptor in the world who does everything from designing the piece to handcrafting the bronze work. He even invented a machine that allows him to create sculptures, in perfect proportion, regardless of the desired size.

To create a bronze reminiscence sculpture, and by fusing it with a sliced-in-half

musical instrument to form a unified figure, Arman (France, 1928 - 2005) was regarded as an Avant Garde and an ingenious creator of the 20th Century. One of very few during his time, he was know for marvelously transcribing his influence of Dada, Pop Art, his passion for music and human rights into a piece of art.

Reflecting the effect of drastic daily changes on humans, Mauro Corda (France, 1960) explores one central theme, albeit one with endless declinations: the portrayal of the human being in all kinds of roles, environments and situations.

Body Variances is an opportunity for a unique and international confrontation between perceptions of the body and their significance in the contemporary world.

The art exhibition will be held from February 4 to March 4, 2013 at CAP - Kuwait Industrial Shuwaikh, Block 2, St 28, Life Center.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

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.

Khaled bin Sabt heading the press conference

TEC to host British team on national anniversaries

T

he public relations and marketing department at the Touristic Enterprises Co. (TEC) held a press conference to highlight the visit of the British International Cirque De Glace Ice Skating team which will be taking part in ceremonies connected with Kuwait’s national anniversaries. In this regard, the chairman of TEC’s PR and media section, Sager Al-Bader, welcomed the visiting team and the media. On his part, TEC’s deputy managing director for recreational affairs, Kahled Mohammed Bin Sabt, also welcomed the skating team which, he said, would perform on February 6, 7, 8 and 9 at TEC’s ice skating rink. He added that the British team’s vis-

it was arranged in collaboration with the Power Media Advertising and Event Management Co. (Power Media) and that the four shows would be followed by similar events to be presented at various TEC facilities.

Furthermore, Bin Sabt said that with the national anniversary celebrations, the Green Island would host Kuwait’s First Arabian Horses Festival on February 8 and 9 in addition to the ceremonial fiesta organized by Al-Watan during February 17-26, 2013.

Power Media general manager, Sabri Ali Omar, explained that the visiting British team comprising 40 people was known worldwide. He added that their per-

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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.

formances were known to be exciting and they use latest audio-visual effects, costumes and icy stage settings to match their performances on ice.

“There will be two performances a day starting 4:30 pm,” Omar added, noting that each performance would last for two exciting hours. Tickets would be sold at affordable prices at the Ice Skating Rink. Also, speaking at the conference, Cirque De Glace manager Julian Deplidge thanked TEC and Power Media for hosting his team to perform for the first time in the region.

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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.

TEC - Group Photo

American photographer Bret Webster concludes Kuwait visit

GCC educationalists visit Sadeem Ideal School A

merican photographer Bret Webster visited Kuwait January 12-17, 2013 on a US Embassy in Kuwait sponsored program to exhibit his photographs.

Webster’s exhibition was on display at Dar Al-Fanoon, Kuwait’s oldest and most established art gallery. A diverse local audience gathered to see Webster’s work, a desert landscape photographer who spoke about the importance of connecting with one’s surroundings to capture its beauty. While in Kuwait, Webster also conducted a 2-day photography workshop with over 20 participants: day one consisted of technical lectures about photographing in the dark and in open spaces while day two consisted of onlocation, hands-on photography training in the Kuwaiti desert. Webster also spoke to various groups including students, aspiring artists and people with disabilities. Photos of Webster’s exhibit along with his workshops may be seen on the US Embassy, Kuwait’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyQ8).

Chris Byars Jazz Quartet concludes visit to Kuwait

T

he Chris Byars Jazz Quartet returned to Kuwait to perform in the 19th Annual Al-Qurain Cultural Festival, in coordination with the US Embassy and the National Council of Culture, Arts, and Letters. Tenor Saxophonist Chris Byars, along with Double-bassist Ari Roland, Alto Saxophonist Zaid Nasser, and Drummer Keith Balla played before a crowd of over 300 people on January 22 at the Kuwait National Museum’s theater. The audience included seasoned musicians and fans, as well as people new to jazz. The Quartet took this opportunity to speak about the power music has to reach people across cultures. They exhibited this as they played jazz renditions of traditional Kuwaiti and Gulf songs. The Chris Byars Jazz Quartet further shared their experiences and their music with a diverse cross-section of people in Kuwait through master classes, jam sessions, and media appearances.

Free Arabic course in IPC

I

By Hassan A. Bari

U

nder the auspices of Mubarak AlKabeer Educational Zone (MKEZ) director, Talaq Al-Haim and in the presence of MKEZ’s primary education supervisor, Salah Aman and member of

the Center for Child Evaluation & Teaching (CCET), Dr Essa Al-Jassim, Al-Sadeem Ideal Primary School, recently received a delegation of GCC educationalists. The visit aimed at probing how the school’s operation system and the accomplishments achieved by members of the teaching

staff. Accompanied by school director, Khaledah Al-Shaheen, the delegation toured the school departments and classes and highly appreciated the cooperation amongst all staff members with the ultimate goal of providing the best learning environment for all pupils, namely

those with special needs. The delegation also visited the math department where they were received by HOD, Munira AlDoussary who briefed them on the creative teaching aids such as the electronic timetable, which helps add an element of attraction to the learning environment.

PC and all its branches is opening free Arabic course for non-Arab ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels. Classes will commence from March 1 till June 2013. Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages. Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC branch: Rawdah: Offers 2 alternatives for Level 1 - Call 22512257 1 - once a week class (4-month course); 2 - twice a week class (2-month course). Salmiya: 25733263/97533263; Kheitan: 24730137/99285459; Mangaf: 23720931; and Jahra: 90003931.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:50 01:45 02:35 03:25 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:55 06:20 06:45 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:25 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 12:55 13:20 13:50 14:15 14:45 15:40 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:25 18:50 19:20 20:15 20:40 21:10

07:50 Lazy Town 08:15 Krypto The Superdog 08:40 Jelly Jamm 09:05 Gerald McBoing Boing 09:30 Cartoonito Tales 09:55 Bananas In Pyjamas 10:20 Ha Ha Hairies 10:45 Lazy Town 11:10 Krypto The Superdog 11:35 Baby Looney Tunes 12:00 Jelly Jamm 12:25 Gerald McBoing Boing 12:50 Cartoonito Tales 13:15 Krypto The Superdog 13:40 Lazy Town 14:00 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 14:25 Tom And Jerry Tales 14:50 Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries 15:20 Johnny Bravo 15:45 Tom & Jerry 16:10 Pink Panther And Pals 16:35 The Garfield Show 17:00 What’s New Scooby-Doo? 17:25 Sylvester And Tweety Mysteries 17:50 Tom And Jerry Tales 18:15 The Looney Tunes Show 18:40 Taz-Mania 19:05 Moomins 19:30 Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters 20:45 Moomins

Animal Cops Phoenix Human Prey I’m Alive Wildest Africa Karina: Wild On Safari Karina: Wild On Safari My Cat From Hell Call Of The Wildman Animal Battlegrounds Clinically Wild: Alaska Clinically Wild: Alaska Wildlife SOS The Really Wild Show Too Cute!

Cats 101 Crocodile Hunter Wildest Africa Animal Cops Phoenix Call Of The Wildman Wildlife SOS Shamwari: A Wild Life Shamwari: A Wild Life Animal Precinct Wildest Africa Animal Battlegrounds The Really Wild Show Cats 101 Animal Airport Animal Airport My Cat From Hell Bondi Vet Safari Vet School Call Of The Wildman

00:00 Homes Under The Hammer 00:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 02:10 Come Dine With Me: South Africa 03:05 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 03:50 Ty’s Great British Adventure 04:35 Bargain Hunt 05:20 Living In The Sun 06:10 House Swap 06:55 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 07:25 Gino D’acampo: An Italian In Mexico 07:50 Gino D’acampo: An Italian In Mexico 08:15 Homes Under The Hammer 09:05 Bargain Hunt 09:50 Antiques Roadshow 10:40 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 12:00 MasterChef 12:55 Come Dine With Me: South Africa 13:50 New Scandinavian Cooking 14:15 Holmes On Homes 15:05 Bargain Hunt 15:50 Antiques Roadshow 16:40 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Specials 18:00 Homes Under The Hammer 18:50 The Hairy Bikers USA 19:20 Baking Made Easy 19:50 Rhodes Across The Caribbean 20:35 Come Dine With Me 21:30 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 22:15 Antiques Roadshow 23:10 Bargain Hunt

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:20 01:45 02:10 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:00 04:30 04:55 05:20 05:45 06:00 06:25 06:45 07:00 07:25

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 Bananas In Pyjamas Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Ha Ha Hairies Baby Looney Tunes

00:40 Chowder 01:30 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 01:55 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 02:20 Foster’s Home For...

02:45 Foster’s Home For...

03:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog 04:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 04:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Powerpuff Girls 05:40 Generator Rex 06:05 Ben 10 06:30 Ben 10 06:55 Angelo Rules 07:00 Casper’s Scare School 07:30 Casper’s Scare School 08:00 Mucha Lucha 08:25 Johnny Test 08:45 Adventure Time 09:05 Total Drama Action 09:30 Total Drama Action 09:55 Ben 10: Omniverse 10:20 Young Justice 10:45 Thundercats 11:10 Regular Show 12:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 12:50 Foster’s Home For...

13:15 Foster’s Home For...

13:40 Courage The Cowardly Dog 14:30 Powerpuff Girls 15:20 Angelo Rules 16:10 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 16:35 Young Justice 17:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 17:20 Transformers Prime 17:40 Johnny Test 18:00 Level Up 18:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 18:50 Adventure Time

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00

Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Born To Kill Watching The Detectives Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths I Survived Snapped: Women Who Kill Watching The Detectives Vanished With Beth Holloway The FBI Files Psychic Detectives Psychic Detectives Crime Stories Watching The Detectives The First 48 The Devil You Know

14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Curious & Unusual Deaths Curious & Unusual Deaths Vanished With Beth Holloway The FBI Files Psychic Detectives Psychic Detectives Crime Stories The FBI Files Vanished With Beth Holloway Snapped: Women Who Kill The Devil You Know I Didn’t Do It

00:40 01:35 02:00 02:25 03:15 03:45 04:35 05:25 06:15 07:05 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:35 11:25 11:50 12:15 13:10 14:00 14:50 15:20 16:10 17:00 17:25 17:55 18:45 19:35 20:30 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35

Junkyard Wars The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Finding Bigfoot Sci-Fi Science Mighty Ships Weird Or What?

Engineered Sport Science Meteorite Men Mighty Ships Mighty Ships Scrapheap Challenge Sport Science The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Meteorite Men Mighty Ships Junkyard Wars Sci-Fi Science Mighty Ships Finding Bigfoot The Gadget Show The Gadget Show Sport Science Engineered Meteorite Men Da Vinci’s Machines The X-Testers The X-Testers The Gadget Show The Gadget Show

00:00 Scouted 00:55 Style Star 01:25 E!es 02:20 THS 03:15 Behind The Scenes 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:10 THS 05:05 THS 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 Giuliana & Bill 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 10:15 THS 12:05 Married To Jonas 12:35 Married To Jonas 13:05 Ice Loves Coco 13:35 Ice Loves Coco 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take York 14:30 Kourtney & Kim Take York 15:00 Style Star 15:30 E!es 16:30 Behind The Scenes 17:00 Keeping Up With Kardashians 18:00 Keeping Up With Kardashians 19:00 THS 20:00 Married To Jonas 20:30 Giuliana & Bill 21:30 Giuliana & Bill 22:30 Fashion Police 23:30 Chelsea Lately

New New

The The

00:15 World Cafe Asia 00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:30 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 01:55 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 02:20 Unwrapped 02:45 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 03:10 Andy Bates American Street

13 ASSASSINS ON OSN ACTION HD

Feasts 03:35 World Cafe Asia 04:00 World Cafe Asia 04:20 Kid In A Candy Store 04:50 Unique Sweets 05:15 Charly’s Cake Angels 05:40 Chopped 06:30 Iron Chef America 07:10 Unwrapped 07:35 Unwrapped 08:00 Food Network Challenge 08:50 Kid In A Candy Store 09:15 Unwrapped 09:40 United Tastes Of America 10:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:30 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 10:55 Cooking For Real 11:20 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 11:45 Easy Chinese 12:10 Mexican Made Easy 12:35 Mexican Made Easy 13:00 Iron Chef America 13:50 Tyler’s Ultimate 14:15 Unique Sweets 14:40 Unique Sweets 15:05 World Cafe Asia 15:30 Easy Chinese: San Francisco 15:55 Easy Chinese 16:20 United Tastes Of America 16:45 Chopped 17:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 18:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:15 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 19:40 Tyler’s Ultimate 20:05 Guy’s Big Bite 20:30 Chopped 21:20 Chopped 22:10 Iron Chef America 23:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:50 Guy’s Big Bite

00:40 01:30 02:20 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:45 05:30 06:20 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 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 Jones 20:30 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab I Married A Mobster I Married A Mobster Blood Relatives I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

True Crime With Aphrodite

Disappeared Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill Deadly Affairs Deadly Women

01:50 03:25 04:55 06:45 08:20 10:30 12:15 13:55 15:25 17:20 18:50 20:25 22:00 23:30

Just A Little Harmless Sex A Girl To Kill For Cutter’s Way Easy Money Charge Of The Light Brigade The Scalphunters Sketches Still Of The Night Smile Mannequin Eddie And The Cruisers Beverly Hills Madam Have You Seen My Son? Bad Influence

Murder Shift Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Disappeared Murder Shift Forensic Detectives True Crime With Aphrodite

00:15 One Man & His Campervan 00:45 Adventure Wanted 01:40 Bondi Rescue: Bali 02:05 On Surfari 02:35 Danger Beach 03:00 On Surfari 03:30 Racing To America 04:25 Market Values 04:50 The Best Job In The World 05:20 A World Apart 06:15 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 06:40 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 07:10 One Man & His Campervan 07:35 One Man & His Campervan 08:05 Adventure Wanted 09:00 Bondi Rescue: Bali 09:25 On Surfari 09:55 Danger Beach 10:20 On Surfari 10:50 Racing To America 11:45 Market Values 12:10 The Best Job In The World 12:40 A World Apart 13:35 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 14:00 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 14:30 Delinquent Gourmet 14:55 Delinquent Gourmet 15:25 Adventure Wanted 16:20 Bondi Rescue: Bali 16:45 On Surfari 17:15 Cycling Home From Siberia With Rob Lilwall 17:40 Destination Extreme 18:10 Racing To America 19:05 Market Values 19:30 The Best Job In The World 20:00 Delinquent Gourmet 20:30 Delinquent Gourmet 21:00 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 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 Exploring The Vine

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Ancient Megastructures Secrets Of The King Cobra Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) Untamed Americas Engineering Connections In The Womb Alaskan Killer Shark Nat Geo Amazing!

Ancient Megastructures Secrets Of The King Cobra Is It Real? S3 (1 hour) Alaskan Killer Shark Engineering Connections Shark Men Adventure Wanted Engineering Connections Naked Science S2.5 Jurassic C.S.I. Great Migrations Departures Jurassic C.S.I. In The Womb Departures Nat Geo Amazing!

00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 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 23:00

Crimes Against Nature Brutal Killers Wild Mississippi Swamp Men Caught In The Act Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy Restless Planet Wild Mississippi Swamp Men Caught In The Act Maneater Manhunt Shane Untamed Animal Underworld The Pack Expedition Wild Swamp Men Caught In The Act Maneater Manhunt Shane Untamed Animal Mega Moves Fish Warrior Swamp Men Caught In The Act Maneater Manhunt Shane Untamed

00:00 Monsters-PG15 02:00 Fright Night-PG15 04:00 Reign Of Fire-PG15 06:00 Metro-PG15 08:00 Warriors Of Heaven And Earth-PG15 10:00 Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?-PG15 12:00 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 14:00 Warriors Of Heaven And Earth-PG15 16:00 Boiler Room-PG15 18:00 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 19:45 13 Assassins-18 22:00 Sultanes Del Sur-PG15 23:45 Dread-18

01:00 Ip Man 2-PG15 03:00 Soapdish-PG 05:00 The National Tree-PG15 07:00 The Descendants-PG15 09:00 Ip Man 2-PG15 11:00 Sammy’s Adventure: The Secret Passage-FAM 13:00 Kung Fu Dunk-PG15 15:00 Little Big Soldier-PG15 17:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2-PG 19:00 Footloose-PG15 21:00 A Little Bit Of Heaven-18 23:00 After Life-18

00:00 Wilfred 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 01:30 The League 02:00 Unsupervised 02:30 Entourage 03:00 Last Man Standing 03:30 Raising Hope 04:00 Less Than Perfect 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Til Death 06:00 Samantha Who? 06:30 Seinfeld 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Less Than Perfect 08:30 Last Man Standing 09:00 Til Death 09:30 How I Met Your Mother 10:00 Hot In Cleveland 10:30 Samantha Who? 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Seinfeld 12:30 Less Than Perfect 13:00 Til Death 13:30 Hope & Faith 14:00 Raising Hope 14:30 Hot In Cleveland 15:00 How I Met Your Mother 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 16:30 Seinfeld 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 New Girl 18:30 Raising Hope 19:00 How I Met Your Mother

00:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Justified Banshee Breakout Kings Six Feet Under Good Morning America The Bachelor Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show House The Bachelor Breakout Kings House Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street In Plain Sight Homeland World Without End Six Feet Under

HORRIBLE BOSSES ON OSN MOVIES HD

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Castle Banshee Justified The Killing Breakout Kings Revenge Castle Emmerdale Coronation Street One Tree Hill Justified Revenge Breakout Kings Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show One Tree Hill Castle Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show One Tree Hill In Plain Sight Homeland World Without End The Killing

00:00 Monsters-PG15 02:00 Fright Night-PG15 04:00 Reign Of Fire-PG15 06:00 Metro-PG15 08:00 Warriors Of Heaven And Earth-PG15 10:00 Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?-PG15 12:00 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 14:00 Warriors Of Heaven And Earth-PG15 16:00 Boiler Room-PG15 18:00 Kull The Conqueror-PG15 19:45 13 Assassins-18 22:00 Sultanes Del Sur-PG15 23:45 Dread-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 12:00 14:00 18:00 20:00

Girl Walks Into A Bar-PG15 28 Days-PG15 Wayne’s World-PG15 Joe Dirt-PG15 Cheaper By The Dozen-PG Wayne’s World-PG15 Cheaper By The Dozen 2-PG It Could Happen To You-PG Tamara Drewe-18

00:15 02:30 04:15 07:15 09:00 10:30 12:00 14:15 15:45 17:15 19:15 21:00 23:15

25th Hour-18 Square Grouper-18 Gandhi-PG Personal Effects-18 Ike: Countdown To D-Day Sunny And The Elephant Sunshine State-PG15 Backwash-PG15 Sunny And The Elephant The Conspirator-PG15 Ducoboo-PG15 An Officer And A Gentleman The Adjustment Bureau-PG15

01:00 Ceremony-PG15 03:00 Les Miserables 25th Anniversary-PG15 06:00 Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure-PG 08:00 Muhammad And Larry-PG15 09:00 Hop-PG 10:45 The Tourist-PG15 12:30 Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon-PG15 15:15 The Conspirator-PG15 17:15 Hop-PG 19:00 Super 8-PG15 21:00 Safe House-PG15 23:00 Horrible Bosses-18

01:00 Rainbow Valley Heroes-FAM 02:45 Princess Sydney: The Legend Of The Blue Rabbit-FAM 04:15 The Great Bear-PG 06:00 Valentina-PG15 08:00 Emilie Jolie-PG 10:00 The Proud Family Movie-FAM

11:45 Cats Don’t Dance-FAM 13:00 Ploddy Police Car-FAM 14:30 Princess Sydney: The Legend Of The Blue Rabbit-FAM 16:00 Return To Halloweentown-PG 18:00 The Proud Family Movie-FAM 20:00 Princess Sydney: The Three Gold Coins-FAM 22:00 Ploddy Police Car-FAM 23:30 Return To Halloweentown-PG

00:00 HappythankyoumorepleasePG15 02:00 The Way-PG15 04:15 The Birth Of Big Air-PG15 06:00 Mr. Popper’s Penguins-PG 08:00 According To Greta-PG15 10:00 The Adventures Of Tintin-PG 12:00 Monte Carlo-PG15 14:00 Spy Kids: All The Time In The World-PG 16:00 According To Greta-PG15 18:00 Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax-PG 20:00 Prime Mover-PG15 22:00 The Romantics-PG15

00:30 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 17:30 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:00

ICC Cricket 360 Anglo Welsh Cup PGA Tour Highlights European PGA Tour Highlights Rugby Union Super League Super League ICC Cricket 360 Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport European PGA Tour Highlights PGA Tour Highlights ICC Cricket 360 Rugby Union Rugby Union City Centre Races Trans World Sport ICC Cricket 360 Futbol Mundial Super League

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:30 12:00 14:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

PGA Tour Highlights Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Dubai World Cup Carnival ICC Cricket 360 City Centre Races PGA Tour Highlights PGA European Tour Highlights The Ryder Cup Official Film City Centre Races Anglo Welsh Cup World Cup of Darts ICC Cricket 360 PGA European Tour Highlights PGA Tour Highlights UFC The Ultimate Fighter WWE Bottom Line WWE SmackDown

00:00 00:30 02:30 03:00 03:30 04:30 05:30 06:30 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 13:30 14:30 15:30 16:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

ICC Cricket 360 Super League Spirit of Golf Spirit of Golf World Pool Masters World Cup of Pool Golfing World Top 14 Highlight Golfing World Trans World Sport World Pool Masters World Cup of Pool Top 14 Highlight Rugby Union Golfing World World Pool Masters World Cup of Pool Dubai World Cup Carnival Golfing World European PGA Tour Highlights World Pool Masters

00:00 WWE Experience 01:00 NHL 03:00 Ping Pong Championships 04:00 US Bass Fishing 05:00 NHL 07:00 WWE NXT

World

08:00 WWE Bottom Line 09:00 Ping Pong World Championships 10:00 US Bass Fishing 11:00 NHL 13:00 WWE Experience 14:00 V8 Supercars Highlights 16:00 Prizefighter 19:00 NHL 21:00 UAE National Race Day Series 22:00 UFC TUF 23:00 UFC Unleashed

00:15 01:30 02:45 04:00 05:15 06:30 08:00 09:15 10:30 11:45 13:00 14:15 15:30 16:45 18:00 19:15 20:30 21:45 23:00

Legends Of Rod & Reel World Class Sports Fishing Trout Unlimited On The Rise Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife World Class Sports Fishing Legends Of Rod & Reel Fisher’s ATV World Legends Of Rod & Reel Fisher’s ATV World Pro Hunter Journal Dream Season: Working Man Western Extreme Bow Madness Pro Hunter Journal Dream Season: Working Man Western Extreme Bow Madness Pro Hunter Journal Fisher’s ATV World

01:25 The Dirty Dozen 03:55 Green Mansions-FAM 05:40 Rio Bravo-U 08:00 Yolanda And The Thief-U 09:45 The Golden Arrow-FAM 10:55 The Adventures Of Robin Hood-PG 12:35 Silk Stockings-FAM 14:30 Dodge City-U 16:15 Telefon-PG 17:55 Key Largo-PG 19:35 Ben-Hur-PG 23:00 Straight Time-18

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30

American Restoration American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Pawn Stars Cajun Pawn Stars American Restoration American Restoration Seeking Salvage Pawn Stars American Restoration Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Pawn Stars Storage Wars Seeking Salvage Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Soviet Storm: WWII In The East Pawn Stars Cajun Pawn Stars American Restoration American Restoration Pawn Stars American Restoration

00:05 Empire Girls: Julissa And Adrienne 01:00 Jerseylicious 02:00 Videofashion News 02:25 Videofashion Collections 02:55 Big Rich Texas 03:50 Big Boutique In The City 04:20 Jerseylicious 05:15 Glam Fairy 06:10 Chicagolicious 07:05 Clean House: New York 08:00 Videofashion News 08:30 Videofashion News 09:00 Videofashion Daily 10:00 Open House 10:30 Big Boutique In The City

Classifieds TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (31/02/2013 TO 06/02/2013) SHARQIA-1 WARM BODIES (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

MUHALAB-1 GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) LINCOLN (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) LINCOLN (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 12:15 AM

FANAR-1 WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (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

MARINA-1 LINCOLN (DIG) QUARTET (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) LINCOLN (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-1 GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) GANGSTER SQUAD (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-2 THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) THE LAST STAND (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

360º- 1 WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) WARM BODIES (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM

360 º- 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 AL-KOUT.1 HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

1:45 PM

3ALA GOSETY (DIG) 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS NO SUN+TUE+WED

3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

BAIRAQ-1 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

PLAZA 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) ONGOLE GITHA (DIG) (TELUGU) 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) NO FRI ONGOLE GITHA (DIG) (TELUGU) 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) NO FRI

3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:45 PM 9:30 PM 11:00 PM

LAILA HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS LINCOLN (DIG) 3ALA GOSETY (DIG) HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM

AJIAL.1 DAVID (DIG) (TAMIL) NO THU RACE 2 (DIG) (HINDI) THU DAVID (DIG) (TAMIL) NO THU RACE 2 (DIG) (HINDI) THU DAVID (DIG) (TAMIL) NO THU RACE 2 (DIG) (HINDI) THU

4:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM 10:00 PM

AJIAL.2 KADAL (DIG) (TAMIL) DAVID (DIG) (HINDI) NO THU KADAL (DIG) (TAMIL) THU KADAL (DIG) (TAMIL)

3:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM

AJIAL.3 ONGOLE GITHA (TELUGU) ONGOLE GITHA (TELUGU) ONGOLE GITHA (TELUGU)

3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM

AJIAL.4 KAMMATH & KAMMATH (DIG) (MALAYALAM) 3:45 PM KAMMATH & KAMMATH (DIG) (MALAYALAM) 6:45 PM KAMMATH & KAMMATH (DIG) (MALAYALAM) 9:45 PM METRO-1 KAMMATH & KAMMATH (DIG) (MALAYALAM) KAMMATH & KAMMATH (DIG) (MALAYALAM) KAMMATH & KAMMATH (DIG) (MALAYALAM) THU DAVID (DIG) (TAMIL) NO THU METRO-2 ONGOLE GITHA (DIG) (TELUGU) NO THU RACE 2 (DIG) (HINDI) THU ONGOLE GITHA (DIG) (TELUGU)

FOR SALE Toyota Camry V6, model 2004, km 217,000, KD 2,100.

Tel: 99084420, 55037878.

(C 4299) Mitsubishi Pajero 2003, golden color, 6 cylinder, excellent condition, 187,000 km, price KD 1,850/-. Contact: 50994848.

(C 4301) 5-2-2013 MATRIMONIAL Proposals are invited for a 29-year-old Latin Catholic boy, from Cochin working in Kuwait as Engineer in a very well established firm.

He will be in Cochin for two weeks end of Februar y.

Email: jkuwait1983@gmail.com (C 4295) 3-2-2014

4-2-2013 SITUATION WANTED

3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 9:30 PM

4:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM

LOST State Life Insurance Policy # 633000165 ñ Name: Ali and Policy # 633000317 Maqsood Ali, 63003044 Framan Ali, has been lost.

Finder may please contact SLIC office No: 2245208-9.

(C 4296) 3-2-2014

PhD holder (Malaysian citizen) with 12 years R&D experience seeking academic, research or consultancy positions in the area of IT/ Computer Engineering, Data Mining etc. Available for appointments between 2-15 Feb 2013. Call 97298545 for details. (C 4298)

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. Contact: 55829223 or Email: acconline@ymail.com (C 4285)

CHANGE OF NAME I, Mrs Angela Tito D/o Francisco Xavier Tito holder of Indian Passport No: G9944134, has changed my name from Angela Tito to Angela Pinto. (C 4300)

Anthony Tito to Anthony Pinto. (C 4300) 5-2-2013 I, Rulesh Julesh Ayare holder of Indian Passport No: J2020606, hereby change my name to Rulesh Julesh Fereira. (C 4297) 4-2-2013

I, Mr Anthony Tito S/o Xavier Tito holder of Indian Passport No: Z2182382, has changed my name from

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JAI KLM THY JZR JZR QTR ETH GFA PIA UAE ETD OMA FDB MSR RJA RBG QTR DHX THY JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE KAC ABY QTR FDB ETD IRA GFA TMA JZR MEA MSR UAE KAC FDB KNE KAC SVA QTR JZR KAC

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 5/2/2013 Flt Route 574 MUMBAI 411 AMSTERDAM 772 ISTANBUL 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 148 DOHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 239 SIALKOT 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 643 MUSCAT 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 642 AMMAN 3555 ALEXANDRIA 138 DOHA 170 BAHRAIN 770 ISTANBUL 503 LUXOR 416 JAKARTA 157 LONDON 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 332 TRIVANDRUM 855 DUBAI 362 COLOMBO 121 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 605 ISFAHAN 213 BAHRAIN 213 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 610 CAIRO 871 DUBAI 514 TEHRAN 57 DUBAI 472 JEDDAH 546 ALEXANDRIA 500 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 561 SOHAG 562 AMMAN

Time 0:05 0:30 0:35 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:45 1:50 1:55 2:35 2:45 2:50 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:25 3:45 5:15 5:30 5:55 6:25 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:55 8:05 8:15 8:40 8:45 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:45 9:55 11:00 11:20 11:55 12:45 12:50 13:45 13:50 14:10 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:50 14:55

KAC QTR JZR UAE ETD RJA GFA SVA JZR QTR ABY UAL SYR KAC JZR RBG KAC BAB FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB JAI AXB MSR ABY IRA ALK QTR MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE JZR QTR FDB DHX KLM AIC KAC JZR GFA JZR UAL DLH

284 134 325 857 303 640 215 510 777 144 127 982 341 542 177 3553 786 438 63 166 618 742 104 674 774 647 61 572 393 618 129 619 229 146 402 136 221 307 859 135 6130 59 372 415 981 678 239 217 185 981 636

DHAKA DOHA NAJAF DUBAI ABU DHABI AMMAN BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH DOHA SHARJAH WASHINGTON DC DULLES DAMASCUS CAIRO DUBAI ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI PARIS DOHA DAMMAM LONDON DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI MUMBAI KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA SHARJAH LAR COLOMBO DOHA BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM CHENNAI MUSCAT AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT

15:10 15:30 16:25 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:45 17:50 17:55 17:55 18:00 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:45 19:10 19:20 19:30 19:35 19:35 19:50 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:35 20:55 21:00 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:50 21:55 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:30 22:40 22:45 22:50 23:05 23:25 23:55

Airlines AIC PIA AXB BBC JAI UAL DLH KLM KAC ETH THY PIA FDB UAE OMA ETD RBG MSR QTR QTR JZR GFA RJA THY KAC JZR FDB BAW KAC KAC KAC ABY UAE FDB ETD QTR GFA IRA KAC KAC JZR TMA MEA JZR KAC MSR JZR UAE FDB KAC

Departure Flights on Tuesday 5/2/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA 206 LAHORE 390 MANGALORE 44 DHAKA 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 411 AMSTERDAM 283 DHAKA 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 240 SIALKOT 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 3556 ALEXANDRIA 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 643 AMMAN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 560 SOHAG 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 101 LONDON 513 TEHRAN 561 AMMAN 122 SHARJAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 604 ISFAHAN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 776 JEDDAH 223 DUBAI 405 BEIRUT 324 AL NAJAF 785 JEDDAH 611 CAIRO 176 DUBAI 872 DUBAI 58 DUBAI 673 DUBAI

Time 0:05 0:10 0:15 1:00 1:05 1:10 1:20 1:45 2:25 2:45 2:55 3:10 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:05 4:10 4:50 6:05 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:35 7:45 8:15 8:25 8:45 9:20 9:25 9:30 9:45 9:55 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:40 10:45 11:30 11:50 12:15 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:00 13:45 13:50 14:15 14:30 15:05

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

KNE SVA KAC KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR ETD JZR QTR UAE RJA GFA JZR SVA ABY JZR QTR SYR RBG JZR UAL FDB BAB FDB OMA JAI KAC KAC AXB ABY MSR IRA DHX ALK MEA ETD QTR GFA KAC FDB JZR UAE DHX KAC KLM QTR QTR GFA JZR KAC

473 501 617 677 141 773 741 238 304 538 135 858 641 216 184 511 128 266 145 342 3554 134 982 64 439 62 648 571 351 343 394 120 607 618 171 230 403 308 137 222 301 60 554 860 373 205 415 147 6131 218 528 411

JEDDAH JEDDAH DOHA MUSCAT DOHA RIYADH DAMMAM AMMAN ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA DUBAI AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI RIYADH SHARJAH BEIRUT DOHA DAMASCUS ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI MUSCAT MUMBAI KOCHI CHENNAI KOZHIKODE SHARJAH LUXOR LAR BAHRAIN COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN MUMBAI DUBAI ALEXANDRIA DUBAI BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DAMMAM DOHA DOHA BAHRAIN ASSIUT BANGKOK

15:10 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:55 18:15 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:00 19:00 19:05 19:10 19:25 19:30 20:40 20:55 21:10 21:10 21:15 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:50 21:55 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:25 23:50 23:50 23:55

34

stars CROSSWORD 91

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19)

Conversations with friends take on a more serious note, Aries. Spiritual matters and beliefs could come up, as could the more pressing mundane details of life. Whatever is discussed today could bring to the surface new ideas for making whatever you’re working on move smoothly and quickly to success.

Metaphysical ideas seem clearer and more down to Earth. Treat your friends to a nice meal.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

In case you’re surrounded by a lot of people today, you can look forward to a very harmonious day, Taurus. Your sensitivity is higher than usual, so you will be better able to understand others and be understood as well. As a result, you add another bond to your relationships, which will create happiness and joy in your heart.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A vigorous blow.

5. Having a debilitating effect.

12. A caustic detergent useful for removing grease.

15. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

16. Of or relating to avionics.

17. 100 pyas equal 1 kyat.

18. A telephone connection.

19. Indian religious leader who founded Sikhism (1469-1538).

20. A grant made by a law court.

22. System of measurement based on centimeters and grams and seconds.

23. A colorless explosive liquid that is volatile and poisonous and foul-smelling.

24. Any group or radical of the form RCOwhere R is an organic group.

26. An elaborate song for solo voice.

27. Not only so, but.

29. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957).

31. Of the most contemptible kind.

33. Founder of Christian Science in 1866 (18211910).

34. A pointed instrument used to prod into motion.

35. The form of RNA that attaches the correct amino acid to the protein chain that is being synthesized at the ribosome of the cell (according to directions coded in the mRNA).

38. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

41. Large shrimp sauteed in oil or butter and garlic.

45. Steal goods.

47. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

48. The sign language used in the United States.

49. (of complexion) Blemished by imperfections of the skin.

50. Lower in esteem.

54. (British) Your grandmother.

55. Light informal conversation for social occasions.

57. A heavy brittle metallic element of the platinum group.

58. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat trimmed off.

60. An honorary degree in science.

61. An informal term for a father.

62. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

65. (Old Testament) The second patriarch.

70. Tropical American trees with palmately compound leaves and showy bell-shaped flowers.

74. Capital and largest city of Iraq.

76. Tired to the point of exhaustion.

78. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

79. European strong-scented perennial herb with gray-green bitter-tasting leaves.

80. A deliberate act of destruction or disruption in which equipment is damaged.

82. Take in solid food.

83. A chronic skin disease occurring primarily in women between the ages of 20 and 40.

84. Trees or shrubs of the families Ebenaceae or Sapotaceae or Styracaceae or Symplocaceae.

85. Thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord.

DOWN 1. Leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion.

2. A condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people.

3. Spicy sauce of tomatoes and onions and chili peppers to accompany Mexican foods.

4. A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood.

5. A Dravidian language spoken in southern India.

6. Any of various coarse shrubby plants of the genus Iva with small greenish flowers.

7. Ions are accelerated along a linear path by voltage differences on electrodes along the path.

8. Slender freshwater fishes of Eurasia and Africa resembling catfishes.

9. Of the color of black ink.

10. A hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion.

11. Aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar.

12. Thin and fit.

13. Expressing deep personal emotion.

14. Egyptian statesman who (as President of Egypt) negotiated a peace treaty with Menachem Begin of Israel (1918-1981).

21. Polish filmmaker (born in 1929).

25. A mountainous landlocked communist state in southeastern Asia.

28. An upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling).

30. Of or relating to syllables.

32. Related to or located at the back.

36. A summary that repeats the substance of a longer discussion.

37. Wife of Balder.

39. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

40. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

42. A dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon.

43. A person who makes deceitful pretenses.

44. Tropical American tree grown in southern United States having a whitish pink-tinged fruit.

46. At or constituting a border or edge.

51. Of or relating to the stars or constellations.

52. At a previous time.

53. Mix up or confuse.

56. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

59. Having been read.

63. A republic on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean.

64. Extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use.

66. (Old Testament) The first king of the Israelites who defended Israel against many enemies (especially the Philistines).

67. American novelist (1909-1955).

68. (law) A comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy.

69. Very dark black.

71. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

72. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

73. Studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills).

75. A light touch or stroke.

77. How long something has existed.

81. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent metallic element.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Learning comes easily to you, Gemini, as your mind is especially sharp and retentive. Your intuition is usually high, but today it’s especially acute, as is your concentration.

Therefore, this is a great day to read or work on an art project.

Set aside some time alone to contemplate. It may help you on a very deep level.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

It should be easier than usual to concentrate on the practical aspects of finances, Cancer. A keener mind combines with enhanced intuition to give you a special edge when it comes to making decisions on everything that concern money, so make the most of it while you can. Connect with the people you love tonight.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Have you been thinking about attending a seminar of some kind, Leo, perhaps business related? You and a partner might go together. This is a good time to do this, as your thinking is particularly clear and retentive and you find it easier than usual to concentrate.

Discussions with your partner afterward could be the icing on the cake. Tomorrow you will feel like you can take the world by storm.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Have you been working hard to attain optimal health, Virgo? If so, you may suddenly notice that your efforts are finally bearing fruit. You should feel especially fit and strong, though maybe a little lightheaded. You will want to increase your exercise, and you have the discipline to do so. Make the most of this drive while you can. Push yourself as hard as you can without stressing out.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22)

A long-term love relationship may finally reach the point of total commitment, Libra. Intense feelings and words of love could suddenly come from your partner, which could take you by surprise but are no less welcome for that. Talk of a future together may result, but no concrete decisions will be made. Nor should they be. Don’t push it. Bask in the glow of the promise of lasting love.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

A meeting, perhaps related to finances, might take place at your home, Scorpio. For the most part, the meeting will go well and you will accomplish what you want. Communication flows freely and agreements are easily reached. Bear in mind that someone has an agenda of their own that might not correspond with the interests of everyone else. Avoid discussing anything that should be kept confidential.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

If you’re into writing, Sagittarius, this is the perfect day to sit down and churn out the words, even if it’s only a letter to a friend. Your imagination is especially vivid, your expression clear and understandable, and your vocabulary skills especially acute. If this is a thesis or article, you may spend hours on it.

Don’t worry. It will be that much better for it.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Do you have some paperwork regarding money that you’ve been putting off, Capricorn? If so, this is a good day to get it out of the way once and for all. Your mind is especially sharp and your concentration strong, so you’re less likely to be distracted or make mistakes. Take care of it first thing in the morning and then you can forget about it.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

Have you wanted to catch up on your reading, Aquarius? If so, this is definitely a good time to stay home, make yourself some tea, and curl up with a good book. If it’s a novel, you will enjoy it thoroughly. If it’s nonfiction, you will absorb the information quickly and retain more. If you’re into writing, you might want to apply what you learn today to your own project.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Intuition and imagination combine with good common sense to enable you to accomplish just about anything today, Pisces. If you’re into the arts, ideas could come to you in profusion. It will be easy to bring them into reality with a stroke of the pen or brush. The only problem might be deciding among them. It might be a good idea to sequester yourself and concentrate on your work.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

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

ST TATE T OF KUW K WA AIT

Te el.: 161

DIRECTORA ATE T GEN GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP PARTMENT A DA AY: Y Monday

Ext.: 26 2627 - 2630

04/02/2013

BY Y NIGHT:

Cold with light to moderate north westerly wind, with speed of 12 - 35 km/h

BY Y DA AY:

Sunny with moderate becoming light gradually north westerly wind, with speed of 08 - 28 km/h

WARNING A

No Current Waarnings arnin

ST TATION T

MAX. REC.

MIN. N. EXP P.

KUW WAIT A CITY

21 °C

11 °C

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

20 °C

10 °C

NUW WA AISEEB

22 °C

09 °C

WA AFRA

21 °C

09 °C

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

SALMI

19 °C

06 °C

Salmiya

25746401

ABDAL LY

20 °C

06 °C

Jabriya

25316254

JAL ALIY YA AH

20 °C

08 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FAILAKA A

20 °C

10 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

20 °C

12 °C

Mishref

25381200

QARUH ISLAND

18 °C

14 °C

W Hawally

22630786

UMM AL-MA-

18 °C

14 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

SFC. CHART

04/02/2013 1200 UTC

4 DA AYS Y FORECAST Temperatures DA AY

DA AT TE

WEA ATHER T

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Speed

Wind Direction

New Jahra

24575755

Tuesday

05/02

sunny

21 °C

10 °C

NW

08 - 28 km/h

West Jahra

24772608

Weednesday

06/02

partly cloudy + chance for fog

23 °C

12 °C

VRB-SE

12 - 35 km/h

South Jahra

24775066

Thursday

07/02

cloudy + scattered rain

24 °C

14 °C

SE

20 - 40 km/h

Friday

08/02

fair + chance for fog

23 °C

15 °C

VRB

06 - 20 km/h

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

PRA AYER Y TIMES Fajr

05:14

MAX. Temp.

Ardhiya

24884079

Sunrise

06:36

MIN. Temp.

20 °C 09 °C

Firdous

24892674

Zuhr

12:02

MAX. RH

94 %

Asr

15:07

MIN. RH

17 %

Omariya

24719048

Sunset

17:29

MAX. Wind

N Khaitan

24710044

Isha

18:48

TOT TA AL L RA AINF FALL A L IN 24 HR.

Fintas

23900322

NW 57 km/h 00 mm

04/02/13 14:44 UTC

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

V1.00

T1.06

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Dr. Salem soso General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

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

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Expected Weather e for the Next 24 Hours

22451082

24311795

22545171

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

19:00

Issue Time

Ayoun Al-Qibla

North Jleeb

Al-Shuhada

WWW.MET.GOV V..KW

22459381

24775992

22418714

Fax: 24348714

Qibla

North Jahra

Al-Madeena

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Holmes is worried about dating again

T

he former ‘Dawson’s Creek’ actress has been single since splitting from ex-husband Tom Cruise last June and while she is keen to start seeing new guys, she doesn’t want to lose her new-found freedom. A source said: “Katie’s in a dilemma, because she wants to date but is concerned where it could lead to from there.

“She’s worried that if she commits herself fully to another man, she will have to give up the freedom she’s enjoying so much at the moment. As a single woman, she has no one controlling her nowadays, telling her what to do or who to see and she absolutely loves it! “However, at the same time, she also misses being with someone special to share experiences with and she doesn’t want to be alone for the rest of her life.” Katie currently spends most of her time with the couple’s six-year-old daughter, Suri, and while she loves being with her, she knows it’s important for her to have other important people in her life. The source added to RadarOnline.com: “Katie’s got Suri for the time being, and she is her best friend, but she does eventually want to find a man she can be that close with as well. She’s just a little nervous and cautious about relationships still right now.”

M Harding finds London is too ‘fast-paced’

S

arah Harding feels London is too “fast-paced” for her. The Girls Aloud singer grew up in both Staines, Surrey, and Stockport in Greater Manchester and although she loves the excitement of the capital, Sarah always finds herself drawn back to the tranquil atmosphere of the countryside when she wants to “chill out”. Speaking on British TV show ‘This Morning’ Sarah - who currently resides in Buckinghamshire - said: “I love [London], I really do love it. Don’t get me wrong I love to be in London, I moved back to London for a little while. “But it’s too fast-paced for me - I like to go home, just sort of chill out and put the fire on. I’ve tweeted so many pictures of my dog it’s ridiculous!” Sarah, 31, has fully embraced the country way of life and she is even has her own vegetable patch. She added: “Yeah I do [have a vegetable patch]. I don’t know what’s happened to me!” The blonde beauty can soon be soon in her first lead role on the big screen in ‘Run For Your Wife’, alongside Danny Dyer and Denise Van Outen. Although she now has a handful of movie credits under her belt she insists she isn’t abandoning her music career with Girls Aloud - who are to begin their ‘Ten - The Hits’ reunion tour later this month - because music is in her “blood”.

She explained: “Everyone seems to think that I want to take off and be an actress and everything else. I love to act, but I love my music. I’m always going to love my music ... You know, it’s in my blood.”

ichael J Fox has begun filming his new TV show. The ‘Back to the Future’ actor - who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating condition which affects the nervous system - was spotted in New York City filming the pilot episode of ‘The Henrys’, braving the freezing temperatures in a light jacket on the third day of shooting. However, despite the chilly conditions, Michael was unconcerned, with crew members describing him as a “doll” to work with. The outdoor scenes were the first away from those shot already on location in an apartment in the city, though a source told the New York Daily News newspaper the property will be recreated on a stage when shooting resumes in May. ‘The Henrys’ sees 51-year-old Michael - who has children Sam, 23, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 17, and Esme, 11, with wife Tracy Pollan - play a local newscaster who is married with three children. A source said: “The show is really based on his life.” Michael has previously spoken of his excitement about the new show. He said: “I wake up every day and I feel good and if I don’t go forward with something like this, it’s another day wasted when I should be doing what I’m doing.

“I’m really excited about [the show]. It’s a great idea and it’s a great group of people I’m working with and NBC has been really supportive of the idea.”

David Beckham

Nick Cannon is a ‘stern father’ T

he TV personality - who has 21-month-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with his wife Mariah Carey - is a firm believer in discipline and says his children would never dare misbehave in front of him or his superstar wife. He told People magazine: “My kids - it’s a blessing - they’re extremely disciplined. They try [misbehaving] with other people because everyone gives them so much attention, but when it comes to my wife and I, we only have to say something once. “We ask them to have a seat, they sit down, cross their legs and put their hands in their lap. I hope it lasts!” The 32-year-old star might have a reputation as a joker, but he admits he is the boss in his own house and the tiny tots never fail to respond to his voice. He said: “I’ve got the loudest voice in the house, so they’ve always responded to that ever since they were newborns. They hear my voice and they freeze.” However, Moroccan and Monroe still try and push their luck when it comes to getting their hands on sugary snacks and Nick confessed his son in particular has learnt to play a “Jedi mind trick” on him. Nick explained: “We have a candy store inside of our LA house, and the basketball court is beneath it. My son tricks me. He’ll say ‘basketball,’ and then every time, when we walk to the court, he runs to the straight to the candy and takes a handful. He’s not even two yet, but he knows how to play the Jedi mind trick!”

is

learning French

T

he England soccer legend has signed a five-month contract with Paris St Germain and is determined to learn the language so he can communicate well in press conferences. He has seen fellow Englishman Joey Barton be ridiculed for his attempt at a French accent while he has been playing for Marseille and he doesn’t want the same thing to happen to him. He wants to avoid a repeat of the cringe-worthy press conference given by Marseille star Barton in which he spoke English but in a peculiar French accent. A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “Becks isn’t daft enough to make Joey’s mistake. He has gone to great lengths to make sure he has a decent command of French. He wants to talk to the players, fans and the media in French. He’s booked a tutor in France and has courses on his portable devices.” David - who will live in a hotel in Paris while wife Victoria and their four children will stay in London - has begun lessons to talk to teammates and fans and when he cannot have classes he has a language course on his iPhone and iPad.

Cumberbatch

hates English villain stereotypes

B

enedict Cumberbatch doesn’t want to be stereotyped as an English villain. The 36-year-old actor was concerned about being perceived as another well-spoken, British bad guy when he took on the role villain John Harrison in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming sci-fi sequel ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’. He told The Sun newspaper: “I am very aware of the English tradition of an actor being from a different culture coming over and they are being like, ‘God, this guy does theatre. We’d better give him the bad guy role and a cape and just make him be really horrible.’ “ The ‘Sherlock’ star also admitted he couldn’t identify with the franchise’s loyal group of fans - known as ‘Trekkies’ because he has never been obsessed with anything. Although he was aware of the TV series and films, Benedict admits ‘Star Trek’ didn’t mean a “huge deal” to him growing up. He confessed: “I watched it and knew of it and I’ve seen pretty much every generation of it and I’ve seen some of the films, but I have never been an obsessed fan. “I’ve never had that longing to be in the club, even a soccer club actually. I guess it’s something to do with being an only child. I was very gregarious, but, I think, never obsessed with anything. I just sort of bought the T-shirt.”

Paltrow to star in

Julian Fellowes show

G

wyneth Paltrow is being lined up to star in Julian Fellowes’ new TV show. The ‘Iron Man 3’ actress - who reportedly asked for a cameo on the producer’s acclaimed series ‘Downton Abbey’ - is thought to be Julian’s top choice to star in his new USbased period drama, ‘The Gilded Age’, which is due to air next year. A ‘Downton...’ source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Gwyneth is seen by Julian and his team as one of the best actresses in the world. They have loved her work in period dramas and know what she could bring to ‘The Gilded Age’.”

Gwyneth, 40, is no stranger to costume dramas, as she earned a Best Actress Academy Award for her role in 1998 film ‘Shakespeare in Love’. The actress has also impressed on the small screen, winning an Emmy Award for a guest role on hit musical TV show, ‘Glee’. ‘The Gilded Age’, which was commissioned by NBC, will depict the rise of the country as a superpower in the 19th century, following the lavish lives of pioneers in the railway, oil, hotel and shipping trades.

Julian previously said: “I didn’t want to just try and write another British series and go into competition with myself.”

Helen Mirren: I thought a family was destiny

D

ame Helen Mirren always thought having children was her “destiny”. The 67-year-old actress - who married director Taylor Hackford in 1997 after 11 years together - expected to start a family at some point in her life, but when she didn’t have a baby she was able to accept it. She said: “It was not my destiny. I kept thinking it would be, waiting for it to happen, but it never did, and I didn’t care what people thought.” The ‘Queen’ actress also slammed “boring old men” who question her for not being a mother, admitting she has been very blunt in response to their probing. She told the new UK issue of Vogue magazine: “Whenever they went, ‘What? No children? Well, you’d better get on with it, old girl,’ I’d say, ‘No! In 2007, Helen won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in ‘The Queen’ and she is set to play the monarch again in forthcoming stage production ‘The Audience’. While the actress - who also played the titular monarch in TV drama ‘Elizabeth I’ and Queen Charlotte in ‘The Madness of King George’ - is looking forward to the play, she was apprehensive about taking on the role because of typecasting fears. Helen - who is also well known for her role as tough detective Jane Tennison in British TV drama ‘Prime Suspect’ - admitted: “Of course I wasn’t going to turn it down, it’s a lovely role to inhabit. But at the same time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go back there. ‘It was hard enough wriggling out of being Jane Tennison. I do sometimes think, if I die in a plane crash tomorrow, will people always think of me as ‘The Actress Most Famous for Playing the Queen?’ —Bang Showbiz

37

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

LIFESTYLE M o v i e s

&

M u s i c

Beyonce electrifies at

Super Bowl halftime show

Singer Beyonce performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. —AP/AFP photos

I

f naysayers still doubted Beyonce’s singing talents -even after her national anthem performance last week at a press conference - the singer proved she is an exceptional performer at the Super Bowl halftime show. Beyonce opened and closed her set Sunday belting out songs, and in between, she danced hard and heavy - and better than most contemporary pop stars. She set a serious tone as she emerged onstage in all black, singing lines from her R&B hit “Love on Top.” The stage was dark as fire and lights burst from the sides. Then she went into her hit “Crazy in Love,” bringing some feminine spirit to the Superdome in New Orleans as she and her background dancers did the singer’s signature booty-shaking dance.

Beyonce ripped off part of her shirt and skirt. She even blew a kiss. She was ready to rock, and she did so like a pro.

Her confidence - and voice - grew as she worked the stage with and without her Destiny’s Child band mates during her 13-minute set, which came days after she admitted she sang to a prerecorded track at President Barack Obama’s inauguration less than two weeks ago. Beyonce proved not only that she can sing, but that she can also entertain on a stage as big as the Super Bowl’s. The 31-year-old was far better than Madonna, who sang to a backing track last year, and miles ahead of the Black Eyed Peas’ disastrous set in 2011. Beyonce was best when she finished her set with “Halo.” She asked the crowd to put their hands toward her as she sang the slow groove on bended knee - and that’s when she the performance hit its high note.

“Thank you for this moment,” she told the crowd. “God bless y’all.” Her background singers helped out as Beyonce danced around the stage throughout most of her performance. There was a backing track to help fill in when Beyonce wasn’t singing, and there were long stretches when she let it play as she performed elaborate dance moves. She had a swarm of background dancers and band members spread throughout the stage, along with videotaped images of the singer dancing

‘Warm Bodies’ tops N America box office

T

he romantic zombie comedy “Warm Bodies” topped the North American box office on its opening weekend, industry estimates said Sunday, earning more than twice as much as its nearest rival. “Warm Bodies,” based on Isaac Marion’s book of the same name inspired

by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, took a healthy $20 million in sales. “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunt,” a horror movie twist on the classic fairy tale took a distant second, pulling in $9.2 million. Oscars season has helped a string of contenders stay in the top 10, with romantic comedy “Silver Linings Playbook” taking third place this week with $8.1 million in takings, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Horror flick “Mama,” in which a shadowy being trails two young children rescued after being lost in the woods when their parents died, fell from second to fourth place on its third weekend in theaters, with $6.7 million in sales. The Oscar-tipped Osama bin Laden manhunt movie “Zero Dark Thirty” slipped to fifth place with $5.3 million, followed by Sylvester Stallone’s latest effort, “Bullet to the Head,” which opened in sixth place with $4.5 million.

“Parker,” starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez working together on a heist, fell from fifth to seventh place on its second weekend in theaters, taking $3.2 million in box office sales. Meanwhile, Quentin Tarantino’s bloodsoaked spaghetti Western tribute “Django Unchained,” which last month won two Globes Globes and gained four Oscar nominations, was in eighth spot, earning $3.0 million. That put it ahead of musical adaptation “Les Miserables,” which took in $2.44 million, in ninth place.

Rounding out the top 10 was “Lincoln,” Steven Spielberg’s Oscar hopeful starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the revered 19th century US president, which with $2.41 million reentered the chart by jumping up one place from 11th last week. —AFP

that may have unintentionally played on the live-or-taped question. And the crowd got bigger when she was joined by her Destiny’s Child band mates. Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams popped up from below the stage to sing “Bootylicious.” They were in similar outfits, singing and dancing closely as they harmonized. But Rowland and Williams were barely heard when the group sang “Independent Woman,” as their voices faded into the background.

They also joined in for some of “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” where Beyonce’s voice grew stronger. That song featured Beyonce’s skilled choreography, as did “End of Time” and “Baby Boy,” which also showcased Beyonce’s all-female band, balancing out the testosterone levels on the football field.

Before the game, Alicia Keys performed a lounge-y, pianotinged version of the national anthem that her publicist

assured was live. The Grammy-winning singer played the piano as she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a long red dress with her eyes shut. She followed Jennifer Hudson, who sang “America the Beautiful” with the 26-member Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus. It was an emotional performance that had some players on the sideline on the verge of tears.

Hudson also sang live, her publicist said. The students wore green ribbons on their shirts in honor of the 20 first-graders and six adults who were killed in a Dec. 14 shooting rampage at the school in Newtown, Conn. The students began the song softly before Hudson, whose mother, brother and 7year-old nephew were shot to death five years ago, jumped in with her gospel-flavored vocals. She stood still in black and white as the students moved to the left and right, singing background. —AP

For films, Super Bowl provides super stage

T

he Super Bowl resembled a trip to the movie theater with several potential summer blockbusters airing new ads.

Three film trailers aired through the first half and halftime and several others were broadcast during the lengthy pre-game show. While ad rates for the Super Bowl are notoriously expensive - $4 million for 30 seconds during Super Bowl 47 - they can generate buzz and potential ticket sales.

Reactions to an ad for the sixth installment

of the “Fast and Furious” franchise quickly started trending on Twitter, with series star Ludacris fielding viewers’ responses.

“The cost per minute is enormous, but studios obviously feel they are going to get the biggest bang for their buck,” said Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst for Hollywood.com. Also airing in the first half were promos for “Star Trek Into Darkness” and the “Oz The Great and Powerful.” After lights went out in the Super Dome in the

This undated publicity film image released by Paramount Pictures shows, from left, Zachary Quinto, as Spock, Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison, and Chris Pine as Kirk, in a scene in the film, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness,’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions. —AP photos

third quarter, an ad for the third “Iron Man” film aired. “This is where the studios take the opportunity to plant the seeds of excitement of potential moviegoers for their biggest movies of the year,” Dergarabedian said. He noted the studios aren’t just aiming at domestic viewers, but the vast international audience that the Super Bowl attracts.

Film ads also played a prominent role in the ramp up to the game. Walt Disney Co.

This undated publicity image released by Marvel shows Robert Downey Jr, as Tony Stark/Iron Man, in a scene from ‘Marvel’s Iron Man 3.

co-sponsored an hour of pre-game coverage and used it to promote “The Lone Ranger,” which stars Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp. In addition to a 90-second promo for the film, CBS aired a tie-in interspersing scenes from the film with footage of the 49ers and Ravens playing. “World War Z” also aired an ad right before the game’s kick-off. “Identity Thief,” a comedy starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, was the rare film that will be in theaters before the summer movie season.

Another February release, the Dwayne Johnson action film “The Snitch” aired an ad about 90 minutes before the game’s start.

The vast Super Bowl audience makes it almost imperative for big releases to air ads during the game, Dergarabedian said, although several studios opted not to air any promos during the game. “If you don’t have a movie to crow about during the Super Bowl, then maybe your slate isn’t strong enough,” he said. The game wasn’t just focused on movies, with CBS airing numerous promos for their television shows and stars such as Amy Poehler and Oprah Winfrey filming ads for Best Buy and Jeep respectively. Music also played a prominent role in many ads, with an “M&M” singing Meatloaf’s “I’d do Anything for Love (But I Won’t do That)” and South Korean rapper Psy adapting his hit “Gangnam Style” into a commercial for the Wonderful Pistachios brand. —AP

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Disguised dogs are seen during the ‘Blocao’ dog carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday. According to Rioís tourism office, Rio’s street Carnival this year will consist of 492 block parties, attended by an estimated five million Carnival enthusiasts. —AP/AFP photos

goes to dogs at canine street party

T

he crowd at the Blocao Carnival street party Sunday was a decidedly mixed one. Roughly half the revelers were humans, the other half dogs, though the canine contingent was unquestionably the better dressed of the two. Several hundred revelers of both species turned out for the 11th edition of the Blocao, the most animal friendly of the nearly 500 “blocos,” or raucous, heavy-drinking street parties that stop traffic during Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival festivities. Pet owners in flip flops and cutoff shorts and T-shirts paraded down Copacabana beach with packs of pooches sporting smart neckties, pink tutus, jester hats, dashing tuxes fitted with satin capes, and a myriad

of other get-ups for four-legged partiers.

The crowd shimmied and wagged, sniffed and sambaed as dogs and owners grooved to a thumping soundtrack of traditional Carnival songs that emanated from the sound truck, itself dressed up as a dog, with a giant blowup black terrier attached to the front. “I don’t usually like blocos for myself, but she’s loving it,” said Angelica Nieva, the proud owner of a year-old poodle-Yorkie mix, Belinha, dressed in a flowing white wedding gown and demure veil. “She’s having the time of her life.” Asked whether the apricot-coated mutt had met any potential suitors to whisk her down the

aisle in her immaculate white dress, Nieva replied, “there’s nothing serious yet, but we’ve got a couple of good candidates lined up.”

Although Cica is a Blocao veteran, the party never fails to delight the 10year-old mini-Pinscher, dressed up for the occasion as a Hawaiian in a tangle of green tinsel, her owner Sonia Rainho said. “I’m too old for blocos, and to be honest Cica is too, but it wouldn’t be Carnival without the Blocao,” said 78year-old Rainho, as she cradled Cica, whose buggy eyes were wide with illcontained delight. Among the dogs, the atmosphere was nothing less than cordial. Hardly a snarl was heard. Tails wagged nonstop. A dachshund dis-

guised as a hot dog between two foam buns sniffed at a standard poodle flamenco dancer; a dapper terrier in a bow tie courted a yellow lab with delicate fairy wings. But tensions were running high among the humans after a police officer breaking up a fight at a neighboring street party brandished his pistol in the midst of the thick crowd. Although the scare and the subsequent sudden summer downpour may have dampened the mood among the humans, the dogs were unfazed and continued to bark along to the music.—AP

flydubai’s guide to the city’s family friendly activities and attractions KUWAIT: Planning your next family getaway but looking for somewhere a bit closer to home? Located less than a two-hour flight from Kuwait, Dubai is captivating and fun with a long list of family friendly activities and attractions. From swinging Tarzan-style from ropes in the sky at Mirdiff City Centre’s leisure and entertainment hub, Playnation, to riding roller coasters at SEGA Republic in The Dubai Mall or relaxing on the lazy river at Wild Wadi Waterpark, you and the family won’t be disappointed.

With daily flights from flydubai, the innovative and affordable airline, it has never been easier to get to this fun-filled city.

Where to go: Home to an array of sun-soaked beaches, hotels with firstrate children’s clubs, countless malls and a number of indoor theme parks, there is an abundance of exciting things to do in Dubai that the whole family is sure to love.

Discover a different side to the malls: Located at Mirdif City Centre, Playnation is packed with a wide range of unique attractions for all ages. If it’s adrenalin thrills you’re after then experience iFLY, an indoor skydiving experience. Safe for kids, exciting for teens and challenging for adults, no experience is necessary.

Although you’ll be thankful for the 15-minute safety briefing and essential tips from the instructor on “dry” land before you don your suit, goggles, helmet and earplugs. Another highlight is Cite des Enfants, an exciting mix of education and entertainment for children between the ages of two and seven with a focus on learning in a fun and safe environment. Organized into five zones Cite des Enfants includes discovery areas, workshops and party rooms as well as an activity and events area. For another family favorite head to SEGA Republic at The Dubai Mall. This highadrenaline indoor theme park has nine thrilling attractions and more than 200 games from cutting-edge

Passengers Boarding motion simulators and virtual experiences to one of the region’s largest assortment of arcade games. For a break from high jinks head next door to KidZania, the indoor hands-on town for children. Once you’ve walked through the mini airport entrance, little ones can try their hand at a number of jobs including: fire fighting, actor, airline pilot, policeman, rally driver and fireman.

Hit the beach: Visit the beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai’s popular public beach, set within the hustle and bustle of the city’s cafe culture. With golden sands and views of the luxury man-made island Palm Jumeirah it is the perfect place to play in the sand whilst soaking up the sunshine.

Splash around: Spend the day at Wild Wadi Waterpark. Located next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, this family favourite boasts two dozen rides and attractions to suit everyone from the doggy-paddling toddler to the hardcore thrill seeker. As well as water slides such as the Jumeirah Sceirah (33 metres high with speeds of up to 80 km/h) and Tunnel of Doom, the park also has a simulated surfing

experience, which allows you to ride on a body-board on artificially created waves. There is also an area devoted to children, known as Juha’s Dhow & Lagoon, with more than 100 activities from water cannons to mini slides. Guests staying at the familyfriendly Jumeirah resorts receive free admission and early entry to Wild Wadi.

flydubai upgrades IFE system

Explore the ocean: Let your children experience the fascinating world that hides underneath the surface of the sea at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in The Dubai Mall. One of the most popular attractions in the Emirates, it features a large viewing area where you can either glimpse into one of the biggest tanks in the world or take the plunge with a shark dive.

Take in the view: Experience unparalleled views of Dubai by taking a trip up to the viewing deck of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.

Costing around KWD8 for adults and KWD6 for children, this breathtaking experience will create memories to last a lifetime.

Fast facts: Dubai is well known for shopping and for good reason; it is home to a number of world famous malls, as well as the renowned Dubai Shopping Festival. The event runs from 3 January to 3 February 2013 so visit during this time for a number of special offers in stores and events around town.

Take advantage of the free shuttle buses that are available at many hotels as they provide a cost-effective

flydubai has a growing fleet of IFE aircraft way of getting to tourist hot spots and Dubai’s best beaches.

Get organized and book tourist attractions in advance to receive early bird price promotions.

How to get around: One of the best ways to navigate Dubai’s various sites is to take a ride on the Dubai Metro. A return journey costs up to KWD0.50 and is one of the most costeffective ways of seeing the city’s stunning skyline - not to mention an exciting experience for the little ones.

Where to stay: Dubai offers a range of accommodation options from luxury five-star resorts to more modest and affordable alternatives.

Feel the sand between your toes when you stay at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. This international five-star beachfront hotel promises to provide exceptional service, stunning views, first class amenities as well as great fun at the popular Sinbad’s Kids Club.

Alternatively, opt for one of the many serviced apartments available for rent in Dubai.

What to eat: Visit the restaurant in Khan Murjan souq at Wafi Mall for traditional Arabic cuisine. Surrounded by 150 shops from across the region the restaurant is nestled in an exqui-

site marble courtyard with an open roof. Rest your tired feet while soaking up the aromatic infusion of shisha, exotic spices and the mouthwatering kiln-baked bread.

Alternatively, head to The Dubai Mall where there is an impressive array of family-friendly restaurants overlooking the Dubai Fountains, which operate spectacular displays every evening.

What it costs: The national currency is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED), which is equal to 0.07 KWD or 0.27 US dollars. Banknotes for 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 dirhams are in circulation, as well as coins of 25 and 50 fils plus 1 dirham.

When to go: From mid-October to mid-April, Dubai’s weather is ideal with blue skies and average temperatures of around 28∞C but thanks to its multitude of indoor activities, tourists have plenty to do all year round.

Flight frequency: Daily.

Prices: Return fares from Kuwait to Dubai start from KWD 61.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

lifestyle

S Korea F E A T U R E S

‘temple cuisine’ feeds body and soul

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centuries-old tradition of Buddhist cuisine, with strict bars on foods linked to lust or anger is enjoying a revival in South Korea, one of Asia’s most high-stress societies. “Temple food,” as it is generally known, is moving out of the temples and monasteries and into mainstream restaurant culture, attracting a loyal following for its deceptive simplicity and health-giving properties. Among its most skillful practitioners-and ardent promoters-is a 54-year-old monk, Jeokmun, who has devoted several decades to refining what he sees as a meditative diet that feeds both soul and body.

At his modest Sudoksa temple in Pyeongtaek City, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) south of Seoul, Jeokmun teaches his techniques to an attentive class of a dozen students-mostly middle-aged housewives. Shaven-headed with a round, tanned face, the monk shows off his knife skills as he dexterously chops cucumbers and bell peppers and cuts delicate slices of soft tofu. His recipes for the day include tofu sauteed in plum-sauce, mushroom casserole, radish kimchi and noodles mixed in chilli sauce and vegetables. “Temple cuisine means low-calorie dishes that make your body healthy and your spirit clean,” Jeokmun said, as he makes fine diagonal slashes across the tofu slices to allow the plum-and-soy sauce flavor to penetrate.

Apart from a few dairy ingredients, temple food is largely vegan in nature and incorporates an impressive variety of wild roots, herbs and vegetables. Its new-found popularity is partly attributable

to the search for a healthier diet in a country which, like other Asian nations that experienced rapid economic development, has growing levels of obesity and diabetes. As well as eschewing artificial flavorings and additives, temple cuisine also bans such vegetarian staples as chives, leeks, scallions, garlic and onion known in the Buddhist traditions the “five pungent vegetables”.

“The wisdom is as follows,” Jeokmun explained.

“Eaten cooked, these vegetable may incite the libido, while eaten raw they can set the mind to anger and greed.”South Korea is the world’s third largest producer of garlic and a passionate consumer of the same. For many Koreans, the absence of garlic from “kimchi”-the iconic national dish most commonly made of fermented cabbage-is unthinkable. But Jeokmun sees no room for compromise. Years ago, as a student reporter at a Buddhist college, he had been shocked to see scallion, garlic and even artificial flavor enhancers being widely used in the kitchens of many temples he visited.

Determined to bring the cuisine back to its roots, he set out on a nomadic life, visiting temples with renowned Buddhist chefs and learning their recipes. In 1992, he launched a Korean temple food institute with like-minded monks and nuns. In an effort to spread the message, he has taken part in numerous TV cooking programs, given lectures and written several books, including one with 227 recipes that was published in 2000 and is now in its sixth re-print. Jeokmun believes his food has wider appeal, including for foreigners who can have diffi-

culties with standard Korean cuisine-known for its liberal use of salt and spice.

For one of his students, Chang Bong-Suk, 43, the monk’s teachings provide a path to bring a healthier diet to her family. “I’ve been applying what I’ve learned here to cooking healthy meals at home, especially for my son who used to suffer from allergic skin problems,” Chang said. Her son’s condition has improved as a result, she said, while admitting that her husband was less enamoured of the meatless diet. “I transform the recipe a bit to make it more palatable for him,” she confessed.

“For example, when I make a steamed pumpkin, I put some shrimp inside the hollowed-out pumpkin, together with mushrooms, tofu, ginko seeds and pine seeds demanded in the original recipe,” she said. While South Korean TVs, fridges and mobile phones have been exported with enormous success around the globe, Korea’s highly distinctive cuisine remains relatively unknown. In recent years, the government has invited overseas chefs to special “gourmet weeks,” as it seeks to give Korean food the same exposure as Asian cuisines like Chinese, Thai and Japanese. Some specialist dishes such as the pungent seafood delicacy “hongeo”-skate fermented in its own uric acid-will always be a hard sell, but staples like Korean barbecued beef and pork are already making inroads in the restaurant scene in western countries.—AFP

Buddhist monk Jeokmun picking up radish kimchi after a cooking class.

Photo shows South Korean Buddhist monk Jeokmun displaying tofu sauteed in plum-sauce (right), mushroom casserole (right top), radish kimchi (left) and noodles mixed in chilli sauce and vegetables (left top) after a cooking class at his Sudoksa temple in Pyeongtaek City, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) south of Seoul. —AFP photos

Buddhist monk Jeokmun putting mushroom casserole on the table.

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rgentina’s carnival celebrations may not be as well- known as the ones in neighboring Uruguay and Brazil, but residents of the nation’s capital are equally passionate about their “murgas,” or traditional musical troupes. The more than 100 murgas in Buenos Aires launched their annual festivities over the weekend in a last blowout before the start of the somber Christian season of Lent. In some cases, carnival is also an excuse to celebrate a murga troupe’s favorite soccer team.

In the working class neighborhood of La Boca, Susan Martinez was doing just that, patiently sewing sequins onto the costumes her children would wear with their neighborhood’s murga, “Los amantes de La Boca,” or “The Lovers of La Boca.” The name referred both to the neighborhood and the soccer team Boca Juniors, among the most popular in Argentina and the world. For Martinez and others in the neighbor-

Photo shows temple foods of tofu sauteed in plum-sauce (left middle), mushroom casserole (left bottom), radish kimchi (right middle), noodles mixed in chilli sauce and vegetables (right bottom) and cruets (top) after a cooking class.

hood, the Buenos Aires carnival is “all heart and pure passion,” and the murgas are a focus of the festivities.

“I’m from River Plate, the rival of the Boca Juniors,” she said. “But, what are you going to do? I do this for my two daughters and my son,” who are Boca Junior fans. In the weeks leading up to celebrations that began on Saturday, Martinez met periodically with other neighborhood women in a park near the local stadium adorning the troupe’s traditional tall hats with Boca Junior’s colors of bright sunny yellow and deep royal blue. Gloves and short coats with tails complement the jester-like costumes.

The troupe bedazzles pants and other pieces of clothing with colorful stars, suns, flowers and other decorations.

When the celebrations get under way, dancers march to the frenetic rhythm of “bombos con platillos,” or shallow bass drums with cymbals, and “redoblantes,”

Drummers of the murga ‘Los amantes de La Boca’ prepare their instruments.

or snare drums. Many of the neighborhood’s young children join the adults in the march, sporting costumes and elaborate face paint in the club’s colors. “Los amantes de la Boca” is among the largest of the city’s murga groups, with about 400 members. Other well-known groups include “La Gloriosa de Boedo,” or “The Glorious of Boedo,” and “Alucinados de Parque Patricios,” or “Crazies of Parque Patricios,” both referring to Buenos Aires neighborhoods.

The troupes’“corsos,” or parades, will be held every weekend in February, as well as on Feb 10 and 11, both official holidays marking the carnival season leading up to the start of Lent. The Argentina celebrations were banned during the country’s 1976-1983 military dictatorship due to their penchant for political satire and celebration of resistance. With the return of democracy, murga members asked for the restoration of the traditional two day holiday.

Photo shows South Korean Buddhist monk Jeokmun teaching his techniques to a dozen students at his Sudoksa temple.

President Cristina Fernandez honored the request with a 2010 decree that restored the holidays in 2011.

“It was an achievement,” said Lucrecia Torres, who helps decorate the hats used by members of “Los Smantes de la Boca” and teaches dance to the troupe’s young girls. “Since then we have a lot more new people in the festivities.” Troupe members say the Buenos Aires carnival is among the most open and inclusive in the Americas. “You don’t need money, everyone participates, said Gonzalo Estevez, a percussionist with “La Gloriosa de Boedo.” Although his group starts rehearsing as early as May, Estevez said anyone can join at the last minute. “Those who don’t know how to dance or play instruments can help by waiving flags or carrying the standard,” he said.—AP

Members of the murga ‘Los amantes de La Boca’ perform during carnival celebrations.

Members of the murga ‘Los amantes de La Boca’ rehearse before participating in carnival celebrations in Buenos Aires, Argentina.—AP photos

Members of the murga ‘Los amantes de La Boca’ prepare before participating in carnival celebrations.

Beyonce electrifies at Super Bowl halftime show

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

In this Sunday photo, visitors look at illuminations during the Zigong International Lantern Festival held in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Zigong in southwest China’s Sichuan province. The Chinese New Year fall on Feb 10.—AP

JAMM to host exhibition of Bert Stern’s photographs of Marilyn Monroe in Dubai DUBAI: JAMM, an independent art advisory, will host an exhibition of Bert Stern’s photographs of Marilyn Monroe, which will open on Monday 18th March 2013 at the JAMM art gallery located in AlQuoz, Dubai. JAMM is proud to have TAG Heuer, one of the most desired brands in the luxury watch industry, as the exclusive sponsor for the show. In late June 1962, just six weeks before Marilyn Monroe’s untimely death, Bert Stern took almost 2,600 photographs of the American star over three daily sessions at the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles. Commissioned by Vogue, this photo shoot later became known as The Last Sitting.

Stern’s photographs carry a rare sensual and human vibrancy. Never before had the star allowed a photographer such intimate access, and Stern’s camera captures a revealing, naked portrait of Marilyn the person - a fragile, lonely, flawed woman who would die tragically a few weeks later.

In front of the camera, Marilyn transformed into a chameleon, fully immersing herself into whatever role she was meant to play, be it a classic movie star dressed in a lavish fur coat, a pure, virginal character sheathed in an immaculate white veil or a true sex symbol wearing nothing but pearls or diamond necklaces, silk scarves or roses. The exhibition will feature twelve unique archival prints on paper and on canvas enhanced with crystals and jewels, which add new depth and energy to these iconic portraits of America’s most famous actress.

“We are extremely pleased to present this small selection of Bert Stern’s unique prints of Marilyn Monroe from the series The Last Sitting. They are arguably the most celebrated, instantly recognizable images ever captured of Marilyn, who embodied - and still embodies - a certain ideal of feminine beauty, and whose image, 50 years after her tragic death, still influences contemporary style and fashion.

Bert Stern’s images are iconic and what makes them special, besides the fact that they are the very last pictures ever taken of Marilyn, is the palpable intimacy and the complicity shared between the photographer and the model; in these pictures, Marilyn looks completely unfettered, approachable and more real.

The hand-applied Swarovski crystals and jewels add an extra dimension and light to the photographs, rendering each print unique”, said Sheikha Lulu Al-Sabah, Founder and Director of JAMM Art. Bert Stern was born in 1929 in Brooklyn, New York. Self-taught in photography, he began his career as assistant in the art department of Look magazine in 1946. Hugely successful in the worlds of fashion and advertising photography, he operated in the late 1960s a studio from which he created countless award-winning ads, editorial features, magazine covers, films and portraits. In all of Stern’s works one can recognize the remarkable graphic simplicity of his photographic art, as well as his extraordinary rapport with his subjects.

The exhibition will also mark the launch of the new JAMM art gallery, situated in close proximity to Al-Serkal Avenue home to a number of Dubai’s leading contemporary art galleries. The Bert Stern exhibition will run from 18 March till 18 April 2013 at JAMM Art gallery, Block 1, Warehouse 11, AlQuoz, close to Al-Serkal Avenue. Opening times: Saturday till Thursday from 11:00 am till 7:00 pm.

Lebanese composer Marcel Khalife arrives with his son Rami Khalife†to a rehearsal with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, presenting choral compositions inspired by the Arab Spring, at the Doha Opera House in the Qatari capital.—AFP photos

Marilyn Diamond Dreamy

Khalife enthralls Qatar with Arab Spring-inspired suite

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Marilyn with Chinchilla

Lulu Al-Sabah

Marilyn with Nikon

Marilyn with Veil

amous Lebanese composer Marcel Khalife enthralled a Qatari audience with his Arab Spring-inspired suite “Oriental” in Doha, presented in collaboration with the Philharmonic Orchestra he helped set up in 2007. The late Sunday performance aimed “to echo the cries of the Arab people for freedom,” said the 62-yearold composer, whose latest work brings together tunes from the traditional Iraqi maqam musical style, mixed with others from the Levant, North Africa, Egypt and Andalusia.

“There is much happiness” in Oriental, “echoing the cries of ordinary Arab people, which had been suppressed for (some) 50 years before they took to the streets to demand freedom,” Khalife told AFP. The Leipzig Radio Choir sang in Arabic accompanied by the Qatari orchestra at the opera house in Doha, located in the Katara Cultural Village. Khalife’s 31-year-old son Rami, following his father’s footsteps, presented a requiem, inspired by the violence shaking the Middle East and North Africa.

“The large amount of death around us, especially in Syria and Arab Spring countries and the whole world led me to composing this requiem,” said Rami, who played the harpsichord accompanied by chants from the Korean soprano Whal Ran Seo. For Khalife, a leftist since his youth, the two works are “complementary.” The aspiration of Arabs to freedom is “an irrevocable process which will move ahead despite the obstacles of extremism and sectarianism,” he said, adding that “difficult years are

ahead.” Khalife played an important role in the establishment of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, which was set up in 2007. It has 101 musicians from 30 countries but none from the Gulf state itself. The creation of the orchestra is part of efforts by gas-rich Qatar to become a cultural hub in the Gulf.—AFP

Lebanese composer Marcel Khalife is pictured during a rehearsal with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.