21 Mar 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

www.kuwaittimes.net

JAMADA ALAWWAL 9, 1434 AH

Tweeter’s jail term toughened

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KUWAIT: Kuwait’s appeals court yesterday toughened the jail term of an opposition tweeter to five years for calling for a coup and insulting HH the Amir. Bader AlRasheedi was jailed on Nov 28 after the lower court gave him a twoyear term, but the appeals court decided to increase this to five years, director of the Kuwait Society for Human Rights Mohammad Al-Humaidi told AFP. Rasheedi was charged with instigating to overthrow the regime, spreading false news Continued on Page 2

MPs blame expats for causing traffic jams Assembly passes law to naturalize 4,000 people in 2013

Max 25º Min 17º High Tide 8:08 & 19:35 Low Tide 08:33 & 12:05

By B Izzak

Obama vows ‘eternal’ defence of Israel JERUSALEM: US President Barack Obama yesterday began his first presidential visit to Israel, pledging an “eternal” alliance with the Jewish state as it faces the Iranian nuclear threat and perilous change in the Middle East. “The United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and your greatest friend,” Obama said at a lavish welcoming ceremony at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport after Air Force One rolled to a halt to a peal of military trumpets. The long-awaited visit, the first foreign tour of Obama’s second term, comes just days after the installation of a new rightwing Israeli government which must face key challenges over Iran’s nuclear drive and the growing threat from Syria.

Greeted on the tarmac by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, Obama sought to send a reassuring message about his personal commitment to Israel in a bid to offset scepticism over his strategy for confronting Tehran.

“Our alliance is eternal, it is forever,” he declared, saying America’s national security interests mandated a strong defence of Israel, which “makes us both stronger”.

After the welcome on an unusually hot spring day, the US leader came face-to-face with Israel’s preoccupation with security, visiting a mobile battery of the US-funded Iron Dome missile defence system. He then boarded his Marine One helicopter and flew to meet with Peres at his Jerusalem residence, where he was entertained by a troupe of flag-waving children who sang to him in Hebrew, English and Arabic. The two men held talks which Obama later said had focused on Iran, the peace process and the regional upheaval.

Peres warned Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.

“Fortunately the Syrian nuclear capacity was destroyed but unfortunately the arsenal of chemical weapons remain. We cannot allow those weapons to fall into terrorists’ hands - it could lead to an epic tragedy,” he told reporters.

Continued on Page 13

TEL AVIV: US President Barack Obama is greeted by Israeli President Shimon Peres (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) upon his arrival ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport yesterday. — AP

Bangladeshi prez dies in Singapore DHAKA: Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician named to the largely ceremonial post in 2009, died yesterday in a Singapore hospital, officials said. He was 84.

Rahman, who was suffering from kidney and respiratory problems,

Zillur Rahman was flown to Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital by air ambulance on March 10 after his conditions worsened. The nation declared three days of mourning after his death in the early evening in Singapore and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her “profound shock” and lamented “an irreparable loss to the country and its people”.

Rahman’s secretary Shafiul

Alam told AFP that the close aide of the nation’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had been suffering from “old age complications”. He leaves behind a son, who is a lawmaker, and two daughters. The body of the former deputy chief of the ruling Awami League will be flown back to the country today, he said, with his funeral and burial taking place tomorrow afternoon.

In response to his death, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its “profound sadness” in a statement yesterday night. “The ministry would like to extend its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the government of Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh during this time of national mourning,” the statement said. It added that it was working with the High Commission of Bangladesh for Rahman’s body to be flown back home.

A lawyer by profession and one of the longest serving lawmakers of the country, who first joined parliament in 1973, Rahman earlier made his name as an activist who pushed for Bangladesh to break free from Pakistani rule.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Several MPs yesterday blamed the large number of expatriates for the traffic jams suffocating Kuwaiti roads and proposed stringent measures including raising petrol prices, deporting those committing serious violations and making it difficult for expats to obtain driving licenses. The accusations came during a special one-hour debate on the causes of traffic jams on Kuwait’s roads and plans by the interior ministry to solve the problem that has been increasingly affecting drivers on the roads.

Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said the Traffic Department has devised a new strategy to find solutions to the problem. The interior ministry made a presentation in which it said that the main reason for traffic bottlenecks is that the entire population of Kuwait is living on only 8 percent of Kuwait’s territory. In the past, traffic officials have said that Kuwait has around 1.7 million registered vehicles on a small area of the country’s territory which witnesses menacing traffic jams, especially early in the morning and in the afternoon.

A number of MPs submitted recommendations to resolve the problem, but the Assembly could not vote them because there was no quorum. It is expected to approve them after two weeks, but they are non-binding to the government. The recommendations call for lifting subsidies on petrol and then sell it to Kuwaitis through ration cards or by presenting their civil IDs while expatriates will pay the full price. The recommendation aims at forcing expats not to use their vehicles all the time. Other recommendations call for deporting expatriate drivers who commit grave accidents, apply stringent conditions for expats to obtain a driving license and raising annual registration fees on vehicles owned by expats.

In other Assembly business, MP Abdulwahed AlAwadhi warned that he will publish the details of what he called a scandal at a government school when the Assembly refused to allow him to provide details during the session. Awadhi claimed that a director of a school had made sexual advances on some female employees and called on the minister to dismiss him, but the minister Nayef Al-Hajraf said the matter should not be restricted to a personal issue. The standoff happened during a one-hour special debate of the educational issue in Kuwait.

Continued on Page 2

Cyber attack hits South Korea SEOUL: The South Korean military raised its cyber attack warning level yesterday after computer networks crashed at major TV broadcasters and banks. The staterun Korea Internet Security Agency said computer networks at three TV broadcasters - KBS, MBC and YTN - as well as the Shinhan and Nonghyup banks had been “partially or entirely crippled”. LG Uplus, an Internet service provider, also reported a network crash. An investigator from the specialist cyber wing of the national police agency said the shutdown appeared to have been triggered by a “virus or malicious code”, suggesting a concerted hacking operation.

There was no immediate confirmation of who or what was behind the multiple shutdown, which occurred around 2:00 pm (0500 GMT). Yesterday’s crash came days after North Korea accused South Korea and the United States of being behind a “persistent and intensive” hacking assault that took a number of its official websites offline for nearly two days. The South Korean Defence Ministry said it had raised its five-level “Infocon” cyber threat alert status from four to three.

With military tensions on the Korean peninsula at their highest level for years following the North’s nuclear test last month, the Infocon level was only recently raised from five to four - with one being the top threat level.

“We do not rule out the possibility of North Korea being involved, but it’s premature to say so,” Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said.

Shinhan Bank said in a statement that it had been forced to turn away branch customers, while its Internet banking and ATM operations were also badly affected.

However, the network was restored after four hours, the bank said. A KBS labour union spokesman said all the broadcaster’s computers had crashed simultaneously.

Although it remained on air, journalists had difficulty Continued on Page 13

Giant squid demystified PARIS: Scientists yesterday announced they had peeked into the DNA of the giant squid, seeking to demystify a deep-sea creature that has haunted sailors’ dreams for centuries. But their findings published yesterday threw up some tantalising questions in turn. They include the likelihood that there is just one species of giant squid, and not a constellation of species as some experts have thought.

And, far from being a rarity, the giant squid could inhabit the deep ocean in large numbers, its pre-lar-

val offspring riding warm currents to disperse globally, the exception being the polar regions.

Evidence “strongly suggests that the family Architeuthis consists of a single species of giant squid, namely Architeuthis dux,” the biologists reported in the British journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. As long as a bus, with beachballsized eyes that help it spot prey in the dark, the giant squid is one of the largest invertebrates, or animals with no backbone. — AFP (See Page 28)

MELBOURNE: Three-year-old Clea Gadsby looks at a 10-m-long giant squid at a marine exhibit in the Melbourne Museum in this Dec 15, 2005 file photo. — AFP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

LOCAL

KMA slams clinical shifts segregation ‘A discriminatory decision’ KUWAIT: The Kuwait Medical Association strongly condemned the Health Ministry’s decision to go forward with plans to give Kuwaitis priority in medical checkups during morning shifts while making it mandatory for foreigners to visit these facilities only in the afternoon shifts for medical tests.

“We categorically reject such a discriminatory decision that violates the World Health Organization’s regulations, and demand that it not be enforced,” said KMA

Secretary General Dr. Marzouq Al-Azmi in a statement on Tuesday.

Al-Azmi stressed that medicine is “a humanitarian profession in the first place” and insisted that the proposed system violates patients’ rights. “Giving citizens exclusive privileges in other services would be a good thing, but that must never happen with regards to medical services,” he said.

Calling the decision “rash” and “subjective,” Al-Azmi questioned the real reasons behind such a move. “It will only lead to

increasing the burden on medical staff which already works overtime in afternoon shifts,” he said, noting that expatriates outnumber the Kuwaiti citizens, thus making the proposal even more ‘illogical’.

MOH Undersecretar y Dr. Khalid AlSehlawi confirmed earlier this week that the ministry’s Council of Medical Zones approved a proposal that gives Kuwaiti patients freedom to undergo tests at outpatient clinics in public medical facilities during morning or afternoon shifts, but

bars the expatriates from availing of the same facility during morning hours. The decision, which still needs to be passed by the Cabinet before it becomes effective, does not cover emergency rooms and trauma centers at state-run hospitals and polyclinics. Al-Anba reported yesterday that medical zones received notices to prepare statistics about the number of patients who check in at the general and specialized outpatient clinics in public hospitals during morning hours.

News

in brief

Public authority for civil defence KUWAIT: Sources revealed that the council of ministers has prepared a project for forming a public authority for civil defence which will be aimed at merging together various civil defence establishments in Kuwait and help avoid redundancy in work. Sources said that the council of ministers will consider a final draft to form this authority in the upcoming sessions. The authority will merge the fire department, civil defence and first aid, in order to prevent overlap and redundant deployment of resources and draft a comprehensive strategy to face catastrophes and accidents. Bringing together various arms of civil defence will give it more independence.

Once this authority law is approved, six centers will be opened in the six governorates, which will report to the parent authority and will be fully equipped with the most modern equipments in terms of vehicles, infrastructure and employees. This will help reduce the response time in extending help and rescue operations.

Al-Jaber Causeway project KUWAIT: The sources at the Ministry of Public Work said that the Al-Jaber Causeway project will take off by the month of May as per the request of the project contractor Hyundai Company and combined group. Sources added that the Ministry was currently studying all aspects of the project. The Ministry has asked the public authority for industr y, Kuwait University and customs authority to remove all obstacles in the way of the project like buildings and landscaping at the Shuwaikh Port, emphasizing that these three parties will give up the land and buildings for this project.

KUWAIT: The Canadian Ambassador held a reception to celebrate the 2013 Jermini International Francophone Embassies of Canada, France, Senegal and Belgium. It was attended by a number of diplomats and other dignitaries. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Kuwait warns of sharp slowdown in growth KUWAIT: Kuwait’s central bank expects the country’s economic growth to slow dramatically this year as it predicts a contraction in the contribution of the oil sector, as the crude exporter trims output.

The central bank forecasts real economic growth of 1.9 per cent this year, compared with 6.3 per cent in 2012 and 8.2 per cent the year earlier. That is below the forecasts of both Citigroup and National Bank of Kuwait but in line with International Monetary Fund estimates.

Kuwait’s economy has suffered as political wrangling and government bureaucracy have delayed key infrastructure projects and reforms. Despite its oil riches, the country - which has an elected parliament with powers to question the prime minister - has struggled to kick-start the economy.

“These are testing times for financial institutions across the globe,” Mohammad Al-Hashel, the central bank governor, said.

“The banking sector in Kuwait is continuously developing its operations and activities in order to meet the challenges that followed the economic and financial crisis in 2008.”

Banks are facing slower economic growth in Kuwait as oil GDP is set to decline in the Gulf monarchy, which saw some of the largest protests in its history last year. In line with the IMF, the central bank predicts that oil GDP will shrink 3.4 per cent in 2013 compared with growth of 8.4 per cent in 2012.

Importantly, the contraction is attributed to a tapering of oil output as opposed to a price decline, the central bank confirmed.

“In terms of the deceleration in the headline growth rate - it’s an oil story,” says Daniel Kaye, head of macroeconomic research at the National Bank of Kuwait.

Gulf countries including Kuwait may take the opportunity to trim their output in light of historically high production, he adds.

Global demand and price will also play a key role. Kuwait’s oil production reached 3m barrels a day at the end of last year, close to its theoretical maximum of about 3.1m or 3.2m, but they prefer to “keep a bit of a margin for spare capacity”, adds Kaye.

But what economists will be paying

closer attention to is the non-oil economy, a better indicator of how the broader economy is performing.

For Kuwait, which has lagged behind its Gulf peers in diversifying its economy away from oil, the central bank forecasts non-oil GDP growth to remain steady at 5.3 per cent this year, from 5.1 per cent last year.

Despite its vast oil wealth, Kuwait has struggled to get its key infrastructure projects off the ground. Economists are now watching two projects in particular the Az Zour North power plant and the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Al-Sabah causeway. A consortium led by GDF Suez won a contract to build the Az Zour North Independent Water & Power Project in January but economists are now pointing to another potential hold-up in parliament. Solid progress on either would provide encouragement that spending plans were under way.

Political disputes between the most powerful parliament in the Gulf and the government have contributed to the slowdown in spending but since the opposition boycott of the last elections, the new pro-government parliament is expected to facilitate progress on the country’s long-awaited projects.

Other measures to boost the economy such as slashing interest rates have little impact in a country such as Kuwait where banks have few opportunities to lend.

Mr Hashel told the FT that the current level of the discount rate - the rate which banks are charged to borrow short-term from the central bank - at 2 per cent was “appropriate at this time”.

The central bank cut the rate on October 4 to “enhance the conditions that

support economic growth while maintaining attractiveness and competitiveness of the national currency as a store for local savings”.

He adds that the banking system is highly liquid on the back of growth in customer deposits. However, he says that local banks are challenged by “the scarcity of suitable lending opportunities within Kuwait and abroad”, and are still facing the effects of the slowdown in Kuwait’s commercial real estate and equity markets.

In 2012 banks’ asset growth improved significantly and “we expect a continued improvement going forward”, he adds.

Credit growth increased to 5 per cent in 2012, the highest since 2009, according to the National Bank of Kuwait.

But Kuwait’s business community has long blamed the slow pace of government spending for the stagnation of nonoil growth. The country recorded one of the highest fiscal surpluses in the world last year, approaching almost a third of its GDP, according to Citigroup estimates.

But in Kuwait, the high surplus is a result of slower expenditure.

Like its Gulf neighbours, Kuwait has relied on a social contract between the ruling family and its citizens, providing a generous welfare system and creating jobs. However, since the onset of the Arab uprising Kuwaitis have taken to the streets to demand more accountability from the government and the ruling family. Lack of economic progress has been one of the major gripes of the opposition and the youth who look to countries such as the United Arab Emirates that have surged ahead with spending plans while Kuwait has stagnated.

Drug trader in custody

New assistant undersecretary KUWAIT: Sources revealed that the government intended to appoint Dr Haila Al-Makimi as the assistant undersecretary for growth affairs and knowledge at the Ministry of Information. It will be a new post. Sources said Dr Alna Kimi will act as the official spokesperson of the government.

Death of Palestinian pilgrims KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Ali Fahad Al-Rashed sent yesterday two cables of condolences to Palestinian Parliament Speaker Abdelaziz Al-Dweik and his Deputy Ahmad Bahr over the demise of more than a dozen of Palestinian pilgrims in a traffic accident in Jordan and the passing away of renowned MP Mariam Farahat. In his cables, Al-Rashed expressed deep sorrow and sincere condolences over the deaths of the pilgrims and Farahat. He prayed to the Almighty to bestow His mercy upon the demised and help their families overcome their ordeals with patience and solace.

MPs blame expats...

Continued from Page 1 The Assembly also overwhelmingly passed a law that requires the government to naturalize a maximum of 4,000 people in 2013 and several MPs urged the government to utilise the law to grant Kuwaiti citizenship to stateless people or bedoons. On Feb 7, MPs passed the law in the first reading which stipulated granting nationality to “at least 4,000 bedoons” but the government objected to the number and to specifying bedoons only. The Assembly agreed to make changes to the law to have a consensus.

Forty-three MPs voted in favour of the law while only two members abstained and no one objected. State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah said the government hopes the law will become the basis of resolving the problem of bedoons. Several MPs said the government should use the majority of the figure to naturalize bedoons to help solve their decades-old problem.

The Assembly also passed in the first reading a law for combating money laundering and terror funding which stipulates jail terms of up to 20 years for people who use the cover of charities or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to raise funds for terror groups. It also stipulates a jail term of up to 15 years and a huge fine for money laundering crimes. The Assembly is expected to approve the law in the second reading after two weeks.

Tweeter’s jail term toughened

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Drug enforcement agents arrested an Arab expat for possessing 35,000 pills of Captagon drug meant for trading. Earlier information was received about the expat’s business, and he was kept under surveillance for a certain period. Once the information was verified, legal steps were taken to arrest him.

He was approached by an under cover agent to buy some pills. The suspect agreed to deliver the drugs in one of the residential areas. Permission was taken to arrest him red handed at the time of delivery. He confessed that the drugs belonged to him. The suspect and the contraband were sent to the concerned authorities.

Girl missing A Kuwaiti man reported to the Al-Adan police station that his minor daughter was missing for the last 48 hours. A case was filed and handed over to the detectives.

Cable thief An employee at the Ministry of Electricity and Water reported to the police that an unknown person scaled the walls of a place where a transformer was installed in Rawdatain and stole six cables. A case of theft was filed.

Continued from Page 1 about the state abroad and writing tweets deemed offensive to the ruler of the OPEC member state, Humaidi said. The tweeter has the right to appeal the sentence in the supreme court, where rulings are final.

In another ruling, the appeals court overturned a two-year jail term against stateless activist Abdulhakeem Al-Fadhli and acquitted him from charges of organising protests and instigating stateless people to demonstrate. Fadhli turned himself in two months ago to serve the jail sentence issued against him late last year in absentia. Around 106,000 stateless, locally known as bedoons, live in Kuwait and claim the rights to citizenship.

Authorities however insist only several thousands of them qualify to be naturalised while the rest hold other nationalities. In a clampdown on opposition social network users and activists, Kuwait has already sentenced to various prison terms around 10 tweeters and former MPs for

insulting the Amir, while dozens are still on trial on similar charges. The lower court two weeks ago sentenced opposition activist Sager Al-Hashash to two years with immediate effect and handed Nasser AlDeehani a 20-month suspended term after they were charged with insulting the Amir.

The opposition slammed the verdict as politically motivated. Last month, the USbased Human Rights Watch said the rights situation in Kuwait deteriorated last year, with police using force to disperse protesters and launching crackdowns on online activists. HRW also urged the authorities to drop all charges against online activists. Criticising the Amir is illegal in Kuwait and is considered to be an offence against state security.

The opposition has staged regular demonstrations in protest at an amendment last year of the electoral law and subsequent December elections. It has also demanded the dissolution of parliament and new elections. — AFP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

LOCAL

Amir attends police officers’ graduation ceremony KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended a police officers’ graduation ceremony at Kuwait’s Saad Al-Abdallah for Security Sciences Academy yesterday.

HH the Amir was welcomed to the event by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary Lt Gen Ghazi Al-Omar, Assistant Undersecretary for Education and Training Lt Gen Sheikh Ahmad AlNawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, assistant undecretaries, Director General of Saad Al-Abdallah for Security Sciences Academy Fahad Al-Sharqawi and senior police officers.

The event was also attended by HH the

Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Ali Al-Rashed, former National Assembly speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, sheikhs, Deputy Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak AlHamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, senior officials and families of the newlygraduated officers. The attendees obser ved male and female militar y parades, followed by the officers taking the oath of office and their subsequent badges and certificates. HH the Amir and HH the Crown Prince were then bestowed shields of honour. — KUNA

HH the Amir honoring a graduating policewoman

HH the Amir honoring one of the graduates

Escorted by police cavaliers on arrival to the academy, HH the Amir saluting the crowds and graduates’ families

Live demonstration by female special forces Newly graduated lieutenant, Jaber Srour after the graduation ceremony.

Live demonstration on fighting outlaws

No taxes for ‘at least another three years’ Moves to avoid provoking the public KUWAIT: Kuwait has no plans to go forward with any taxation plans for at least another three years, a local newspaper reported yesterday quoting Ministry of Finance insiders. The decision was made after the ministry received “verbal orders from senior government officials to avoid talking about proposed taxes at the present time,” said the sources who spoke to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity.

They added that the officials, who were not identified, insisted that the time was currently not ripe to talk about this subject. “We want to avoid

provoking the public or inciting an adverse general opinion,” said the officials according to the sources.

Meanwhile, the sources noted that taxation draft laws, which they insisted “will remain on hold in offices of senior ministry officials,” only pertained to local and foreign companies working in Kuwait. “There are no draft laws to enforce income tax, value added tax or any other tax to be levied on the citizens,” the sources insisted. On the other hand, the government is looking to increase revenues from rented state properties as the oil-rich state looks to diversify

sources of national income; an argument usually mentioned whenever there is talk of potential taxation laws.

“The Finance Ministry is working as per the Cabinet’s recommendation on a comprehensive study to improve the state property mechanism and put a new investment framework in place to increase revenues,” said sources with knowledge of the case.

The source mentioned the properties along the Arabian Gulf coastline among those from which the state could start earning additional revenues, but did not provide any specific timetable.

Ministry anticipates labor authority KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is bracing itself for major structural changes in the near future with the expected establishment of the Labor Public Authority as the ministry’s labor department will eventually work under the aegis of the new Authority.

The labor sector deals with issues of the private sector’s workforce and employers. It will be shifted to work under the independent Authority as per the private sector’s law that was released in 2010.

Like the many developmental proj-

ects in Kuwait, the announcement of the Labor Public Authority was hindered by political problems that beset the state over the past few years. The parliament has already passed the law for founding the Authority in its first hearing after it was amended to give the Authority an independent budget. The second hearing is reportedly pending amendments proposed by a number of lawmakers after the first one. “We are basically waiting for the parliament’s health and social committee to summon the MSAL officials in order to discuss the proposed

amendments, before the results are discussed in the second hearing that will be followed by a final vote on the draft law,” said a ministry insider who spoke to Al-Qabas on the condition of anonymity. While a specific date for the Authority’s establishment cannot currently be determined, the source indicated that the MSAL was “in a state of high alert” in anticipation of the decision that is expected to effectively tackle labor-related problems that could not be eliminated during the ministry’s supervision of the labour issues in the private sector.

‘Keep education aloof from politics’ KUWAIT: The Chairman of Teachers Society, Miteb AlOtaibi, said in an interview with Al-Anbaa newspaper that the education should be kept aloof from politics to ensure the best interests of our sons and daughters.

Regarding comments that the society’s board of directors belonged to a certain political stream, he said it was simply because some people expressed their views because Kuwaiti constitution guaranteed the freedom of speech. He said the current board has conservative Islamic views but “we do not belong to any specific Islamic group.”

The society’s committees represent all kinds of the Kuwaiti people, and had the society belonged to just one group, then it would have been clear to everyone. He said it was a professional society that concerned itself with teachers and their rights.

He added, “We defend each teacher, regardless of his nationality, and every teacher has the right to expect that we help him avail of legal rights, but we reject the confusion that occurred due to the formation of a teachers’ society for expats which did not have legal support.”

He said it required a law to change a society into a professional union. He said the society enjoyed a good relationship and cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

“There are many things on which we agree with the

ministry but on some we differ, though our differences were within a limited framework. As we represent the teachers, our opinion should be heard in matters relating to the profession,” he added.

Network provider switch at end of April KUWAIT: Kuwaiti mobile phone users will be able to switch their numbers to their desired network providers as of the end of April, after a Ministry of Communications official made the announcement yesterday.

The move should provide “flexibility and maneuverability” for the consumer in the country’s telecommunications market, the ministry’s newly-assigned Undersecretary Hameed Al-Qattan said in a statement.

The ministry intends to complete a number of important projects in the future namely a railway network, an underground metro system and a telecommunications authority, all of which have been given deadlines, he added. — KUNA

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

LOCAL kuwait digest

In my view

The day innocence was assassinated

Students must be main focus

By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

T

here is no way to imagine a society able to survive and grow without adequate moral support from authorities. Nothing can so negatively influence a society as leniency in dealing with the basic instincts and desires of individuals and making it easier for them to receive whatever they want without having to pay or do anything in return.

Great nations are those that take care to inculcate morals in their children, and do not leave it to a society’s “culture”, traditions or religious teachings.

Any religion usually urges its followers to treat each other with tolerance, but that does not guarantee that the followers would do so. That explains the constant confrontation between followers of different beliefs. Therefore, morals need to be extensively taught during early stages of school education. In fact, they should be given priority ahead of all other subjects.

The legislative and executive authorities have been engaged in hectic yet suspicious negotiations to agree to a debt relief scheme as per which the interests accrued on loans are to be written off. If this law was passed, it would be a moral crime, given the negative repercussions that it would surely leave for the current and future generations.

It seems that the main motivation behind these efforts is a great desire of the government and the MPs to enjoy some false and transient popularity.

The draft law would be like an ‘official authorization’ for people to steal, cheat, deceive, break the law and abandon any financial or moral obligation as long as ‘the government’ is eventually going to come and save them. It would also be a slap in the face of every person who committed to repaying his loan, or refused to take loan willingly because he wanted to avoid ‘taking part in stealing public funds.’

I blame the government more than the lawmakers for this behavior which is going to obliterate decades of our work in teaching our children ethics and values. My friend Abu Muhsin and I felt depressed when his son criticized us for an advice we gave him a few years ago about not taking a loan. He said that had he not listened to our ‘moral nonsense,’ he would have gained a lot today.

He then advised us - whom he described as ‘the naÔve generation of moralities, reason and proper conduct’ - to realize that the government will continue to disappoint us day in and day out, and eventually there will be no place in the country except for the bankrupt and the cheats.—Al-Qabas

By Labeed Abdal

labeed@kuwaittimes.net

T kuwait digest

Development projects

By Ahmad Budostoor

W

e in Kuwait are living through the years of loss.

By that I mean the loss of public funds which were being spent to achieve development plans that lack content or creativity. Nothing much is changing and things have been static for very a very long time.

The ship of the state is sailing without a compass or a sail, which means there is no direction or momentum.

The strange part is that problems are clear and it does not require rocket science to understand what had gone wrong, yet the major question remains as to where did the surplus in funds go and why are any tangible achievements not visible. There is a feeling that all this talk about development was just a trick.

Few years back, in 2008 to be precise, the government spoke extensively about a development plan worth KD37 billion and was able to obtain the National Assembly’s approval within a few minutes. The assembly was quick to grant it, lest it was accused of obstructing development.

The development plan was presented as a kind of cake over which major business owners, influential people and political factions were salivating over. That plan spurred huge differences and led to a bitter struggle among the banks with the chamber of commerce backing one side and the government, represented by the then Development Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad, backing the other on the issue of who was to manage the funds. There was a proposal to create a bank for development run by the government with half of its

shares to be distributed among the citizens, but when Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad resigned from the government and the fight was decided in favor of businessmen, projects such as Jaber Bridge and al-Zoor station were kept under the covers and this is what raised the doubts later.

HH the Prime minster Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak said a few days ago that a new development plan at a cost of $125 billion will be executed in partnership with Chinese companies, and Minister of Development Dr Rola Dashti travelled to China to negotiate with Chinese companies and give final touches to the plan.

It is worth noting that members of parliament did not do anything. In fact, they did not even raise a question in the parliament to quiz the Minister of Development about how far had the previous plan been achieved and what were the projects under the upcoming plan. I remember a patriotic song which starts with a saying: a brick over a brick and the building becomes larger; our situation today is that we draft a plan on top of another existing plan and our dilemma becomes worse.

UAE Prime Minister and Dubai Governor Mohammad bin Rashid was lecturing at a conference about a month ago when he suddenly pulled out his mobile from his pocket and said his goal was to reach a point when citizens’ transactions were processed through the mobile.

We, in Kuwait, regrettably, make the citizen who wants to pay his traffic violation fine frustrated before he is able to pay. We really do not know the goal behind the development plan that will suck up the financial surplus while no real achievement has been explained. — Al-Watan

kuwait digest

he deteriorating level of education in Kuwait is becoming a cause for serious concern for parents.

These concerns include issues related to evaluation system, the results of graduates as also the larger context of the education institutes’ outcome.

Furthermore, many graduates who underwent examinations abroad were found to be having below average levels which showed a serious academic failure.

Without doubt, we have passed a stage where there is no need for anyone to pull any more wool over everyone’s eyes. We need to expedite all steps necessary to improve the quality of education offered by private academic institutions.

Also, the people must receive what they pay for, whether they pay directly or through their employers.

We all must establish a win-win relationship and must not resign ourselves to face an unacceptable dilemma of whether to be content with a D grade or accept an F grade.

In all seriousness, the students must be the main focus in any plans to improve the quality of education imparted. We need qualified teachers who are actually interested in educating our wards.

Our old schools system was oriented to attract talented and committed teachers who were genuinely interested in this occupation and used teaching techniques that were effective and relevant. It is time to take care of the interests of the students and the parents, for how else will we guard and promote the national interest?

kuwait digest

‘Blessed be the vote’

By Thaar Al-Rashidi

To become stronger

By Dr Sajed Al-Abdali

T

here is an old saying that goes like this: ‘Don’t ask Allah to give you lesser challenges but rather ask Him to give you the strength to face them.’ From my personal experience, I can say that this is absolutely true.

All the challenges I came across in my life, be them social, intellectual, practical, political, financial or others, only made me a stronger and better person.

At least, I learnt to understand and master ways to deal with these challenges. I believe such problems are more like weight-lifting exercises that make an athlete capable of lifting heavier weights more easily. The more he practices, the easier he finds the challenge.

All the small and big problems that I have faced, particularly some that I thought at the time were too big and which seemed unsolvable and unbearable were all to vanish soon. Some of these problems made me feel as if I would not be able to live through them, but eventually I lived through to fight another battle another day.

Time can heal and solve the mightiest of the problems. I have this friend who keeps repeating this and says, “It’s enough to just hang in and be patient while facing any problem.

They never last forever. Just like happiness, miseries are also short lived. In fact, there is a cycle and sometimes it could take a bit longer, depending upon the circumstances, but they never go on forever.”

My friend might be somehow right, but I believe what makes one bear with a problem, sometimes for a frustratingly long time, is to be energetic and agile and not let go of the initiative. One needs to keep one’s senses around to be a good decision maker in such a phase. Yes, there could be contingencies and misfortunes along the way but these are part of the deal. One must not let anything to paralyze, shock, freeze or break your will to hang in there for as long as it takes.

Yes, people have a varying capacity to do this, and some may turn out to be strong and others weak. However, the sure thing is that each of us needs these capabilities in some measure to hang in there. Most importantly, those who face such challenges continuously gain the experie nce a s we l l a s t he c a p a b i l i t y to f a ce e ve n tougher difficulties, misfortunes and challenges with time.— Al-Jarida

W

hat happened during the Feb 20 session of the National Assembly, which possibly no one noticed and which passed off peacefully, was that two of the MPs suggested a discussion on article 10 which was listed on the agenda.

This specific article concerned a report of the legislative committee number 14 which was about arbitration in commercial and civilian disputes.

Their demand was granted but when it came down to discussion, they, instead of dealing with the report in question, discussed the same committee’s report number six which related to another subject and was totally different from the one that should have been discussed.

The two MPs reviewed the report, discussed it and entered into arguments with other MPs as tension prevailed for more than 15 minutes in the House. The matter finally ended when the article was put to vote and the law was approved unanimously during the first reading.

It was MP Adnan Abdulsamad who exposed the faux pas, the disaster that happened during lawmaking exercise. The two MPs had proposed law number 14 but on the floor of the House, they discussed another law. The council members voted on law number six which was neither to be discussed nor listed on the agenda but was almost passed, except for the alertness displayed by MP Adnan Abdulsamad.

One law was put up for discussion, another was discussed. The law that was put up for voting was not listed but was almost passed. “Blessed be the vote.”

There may not be any need to make amends on record and admit the mistake, nor are the MPs required to apologize. Instead, the council must tender a written apology to the public.

Imagine that during a future session, say a session meant to discuss the issue of government waiving off the loans or interests, the MPs end up discussing the issue of Kuwait Airways’ privatization, and vote on whether Kuwait Towers should be demolished or not.

Tomorrow, at this rate, an MP will propose a discussion on one issue and come to the House and start discussing another altogether different issue, and it will be put to vote.

We may as well end up voting some day on the issue of “privatization of Kuwait Towers and its demolition” or even a law about “deporting half of Kuwait’s population.” Who can guarantee that such a thing will not happen? Personally, I think the faux pas must be followed up by an official apology.

Of course, I believe that government members in the front rows noticed the serious mistake and the mix up that had happened, but one of the ministers told them to leave the issue.

NOTE: With due respect to the current National Council members, may I suggest as a simple citizen that an apology must be extended for this mistake with a clear undertaking that such a faux pas will never be repeated. —Al-Anbaa

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwaiti system of governing region’s most valuable asset Al-Khateeb sheds light on Arab Spring

KUWAIT: The ambassador of Slovak Republic Ivan Lancavic hosted a reception at his residence this week for a visiting delegation.—Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Mislem stresses opposition’s demands KUWAIT: Leading opposition figure and former MP Faisal Al-Mislem claimed the opposition’s initiative was aimed at comprehensive political reforms by ensuring a reversal of the electoral law and thus achieving full parliamentary system.

He said the government cannot continue to drive the country the way it was doing with what he described as “unconstitutional load” - a clear reference to the MPs elected on a single vote system - and described the current situation as one that would prove to be “highly costly” for Kuwait.

Making a case for allowing the people to “run the state through its main institutions, the parliament and cabinet,” Al-Mislem said an elected cabinet was necessary “because selecting individuals has proven to be unsuccessful.”

“The elected cabinet system is a universal management system that became necessary as a result of the government’s failure to run the state’s affairs,” he said during an interview with Al-Rai published yesterday. Meanwhile, Al-Mislem point-

ed out the “huge difference between revolutions against regimes and demands for reforms as per the existing system which is the basis for the [public] movement in Kuwait.”

“There are two ways to achieve political reform, either through accord between the will of the people and the ruler, or through the people achieving their will via peaceful means,” he said.

Al-Mislem announced that he will not take part in elections held as per a system that was not passed by the parliament. “This is not about the number of votes, the issue is a lot bigger than that,” he said.

“I believe that stability cannot be achieved without radical political reform... Whoever thinks that the movement in Kuwait is connected to individuals or certain figures is mistaken.” Commenting on an anticipated Constitutional Court ruling on challenges to the single-vote system, Al-Mislem said that even if the court was to uphold the emergency decree, the opposition will continue its political activity to demand for its abolition.

“ To anyone who calls for dialogue, I say that the opposition’s view on the solution is clear... I personally don’t think that any dialogue would be successful before dissolving the single-vote parliament and ending prosecution of opposition activists,” he said.

Al-Mislem said he was counting on “the free Kuwaiti people who, as much as they appreciate the ruling family, are also committed to constitutional articles and will refuse to have their will confiscated.”

“My message to the government is this: we are not your enemy, and our demands are based on rights.

There is no bargaining on principles, and my personal wish which I share with every true patriot in this country is for the [public] movement to regain the same momentum as when it started,” he said.

“Our agitation against the government is not about one or four votes per citizen,” Al-Mislem reiterated, adding “The issue is greater than this, and from a historical standpoint, we can say that the people always achieve what they want.”

KUWAIT: Kuwait was built on tolerance, while the cohesive nature of Kuwaiti society provided a protection for its members. This was stated by former lawmaker Ahmad Al-Khateeb who expressed concern about “Kuwait becoming an unprotected state when the system based on the law and constitution collapses, leading everybody to return to their tribe and family for shelter”.

Al-Khateeb said this while speaking before students at Gulf University for Science and Technology during a seminar addressing the Arab Spring.

The prominent liberal figure noted that the revolutionary wave which struck the Arab World is considered an extension for calls by youths for reforms which took place throughout history in different regions, including Europe.

Also, calls for constitutional amendments were among the main topics discussed during the seminar,

Govt to protect rights of expat workers KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rasheedi stressed the ministry’s keenness to take care of expatriate laborers by issuing laws that would benefit them and protect their rights since they were ‘the weakest point’ in the ‘labor equation’. Speaking after receiving the Egyptian ambassador

to Kuwait, Abdul Kareem Sulaiman, who made a visit to congratulate her on her new post, Al-Rasheedi said that the ministry would not tolerate any violation of law 6/2010 regarding private sector labor, namely the fake companies that fooled local markets with superfluous and marginal laborers. These

Dr Al-Hajraf to attend cultural bureau meeting DUBAI: Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf will patronize and attend today the annual meeting of Kuwaiti cultural bureau in UAE, gathering Kuwaiti students in UAE, Qatar and Oman, and honoring distinguished Kuwaiti students.

Kuwaiti Cultural Bureau Chief in Dubai Dr Saleh Yaseen expressed his happiness about honoring Kuwaiti students, which would offer him a chance to get a closer look at their educational progress, and discuss their needs.

Al-Hajraf will arrive today in Dubai, and will be received by his UAE counterpart Dr Hameed Al-Qatami, Dr Yaseen said.

The meeting will include various activities, including a musical presentation from the Kuwaiti folklore, to be performed by a band from National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters. — KUNA

companies have been defaming Kuwait among the international labor and human rights organizations. The minister also stressed that surprise inspection campaigns would continue all over Kuwait to stop these companies and end the menace of visa trafficking. During the reception, the minister thanked Sulaiman and expressed appreciation of the great role played by Egyptian laborers in developing Kuwait and helping it prosper in various fields.

On his part, the assistant undersecretary for labor affairs, Jamal AlDoussari, stressed that law 6/2010 protected expatriate laborers’ rights and made sure that their salaries were deposited in their bank accounts in time according to article 57 of the law.

“Accordingly, employers are under obligation to submit a copy of their payrolls and bank deposit slips every month,” he underscored, noting that violators of this condition will be strictly penalized by suspending their files with MSAL till the violation was rectified.

Direct Aid Society names school in Kenya after Al-Marzouq KUWAIT: Direct Aid Society named the first model school for Muslim girls in Nairobi, Kenya, after late Ghanima Al-Marzouq.

This school is considered the first of its kind among a total of 3,500 highschools in Kenya, the society said in a statement.

The school was built according to highest standards of quality, and equipped with distinguished educational services, it added.

The school is located close to Alummah University, established by Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait in Kenya, to be opened in Januar y 2014, and

would receive 480 students, in addition to internal housing for expatriate students.

Late Ghanima Al-Marouq had many charitable contributions in Kuwait and abroad, and was a pioneer in the Direct Aid Society projects and activities in various aspects. — KUNA

thing that they do not have: a constitution. We can speak and criticize. We are organized by the constitution. As long as the constitution remains intact, we are better than they are by a million times”. He further added that funds spent on construction are better used on development and education, “...in order to create a generation that can replace oil with other resources”.

Regarding the Arab Spring, AlKhateeb believes the ‘peacefulness’ of the youth’s movement indicates that people behind the revolution are “hungry for dignity”. “The Arab Spring is going to face all systems, parties and dogmas, and will eliminate them one by one, but victory cannot happen overnight”, he said. “There is a long road in front of the Arab revolution because it is fighting a dammed up force, yet this does not mean that we stop and wait for the situation to change by itself”.

‘Marine fire’ contract signed

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The GCC Work Services and Employment Group will provide for the next three years technicians with expertise in marine fire for maintenance of boats at all marine fire centers. A contract to this effect was dis-

KUWAIT: The International Women’s Association honored Sheikha Fraiha Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for inviting members to a dinner banquet held in commemoration of the national holidays. The picture shows Sheikha Fraiha after receiving a commemorative plaque from the association’s president.

on which Al-Khateeb commented by insisting that the current constitution - which was passed by the Constituent Parliament that he was a member of - does not prevent an elected cabinet system. “The 1964 parliament has overthrown one cabinet and brought another in its place”, he said, while explaining the legislative authority’s powers, adding that current calls for constitutional amendments “could be pitched for other agendas; some of which could be dangerous”.

During the seminar, a common saying was brought up about Kuwait having been the most developed country in the Gulf region in past years, a position that Dubai currently holds and is expected to be held by Qatar in the future. “Building tall buildings and competing with these structures was only made available through oil”, Al-Khateeb said, “Whereas in Kuwait, we have some-

cussed and signed between the General Director of Fire Department, Lt Gen Yousuf Al-Ansari, and Chairman and Managing Director of GCC Work Services and Employment Group, Majid Abdullah Al-Tarkait, on Wednesday in the former’s office.

Majid Al-Tarkait thanked Lt Gen Al-

Ansari. Among others who were present during the meeting were director of financial affairs Col Waheed Boland, purchasing supervisor Lt Col Majid AlMuttawa, manager of the General Directorate Maj Talal Al-Roomi and head of purchase department Adnan Al-Najjar.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

LOCAL

Housemaid’s reaction foils home robbery in Naseem Car with gun inside stolen KUWAIT: A domestic worker’s loud screams prevented a robbery at her employer’s house and led to the arrest of a thief who received a sound thrashing. Jahra police reached a house in Naseem where a Kuwaiti man reported catching a thief red-handed.

Upon arriving at the scene, police found a young man handcuffed with marks from beating visible on his body. The home owner explained that he and his four sons rushed to their housemaid’s room upon hearing her loud screams only to find the suspect with a knife in hand. They caught him before he could escape and beat him up before calling the police. The bedoon suspect had reportedly held the housemaid at knifepoint after sneaking into the house, which triggered her reflexive reaction that apparently caught the suspect off guard.

Killer pardoned A Kuwaiti man sentenced to death for killing a Saudi citizen in the holy city of Makkah a couple of years ago is set to return to Kuwait after being pardoned by the slain man’s family. Faleh Al-Thufairi, 26, had been detained by Saudi authorities after he stabbed a Saudi young man to death during the 2011 Hajj (pilgrimage) season. The two had engaged in a quarrel which escalated into the murder for which Al-Thufairi was sentenced to death by the General Court of Makkah. According to a source close to Al-Thufairi’s family, he was pardoned without any Diyya (blood money) or other compensations. The source who

spoke to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity predicted Al-Thufairi’s return “within hours”.

Suicide case A man committed suicide at his workplace in a case reported in Sulaibiya on Tuesday. Police headed to a factory in the area’s industrial zone where workers reported finding their coworker dead. The Asian man’s body was found hanging, and was taken to the forensic department after investigators examined the scene. A suicide case was opened after the victim’s coworkers indicated that he was suffering from psychological problems. Investigations were still on.

Housemaid injured A domestic worker was hospitalized in a critical condition after falling from the ninth floor of a Salmiya building on Tuesday.

Police headed to Mubarak Hospital after medical staff reported about the housemaid, whose employer claimed she had fallen off a height. The Asian woman was found to have suffered multiple fractures and was admitted to the intensive care unit, which prevented police from recording her testimony. Her employer said she reached the building only to find her housemaid lying unconscious on the ground after apparently falling from her ninth floor apartment. Investigations are on to determine the circumstances behind the incident.

Car stolen Search is on for a thief who stole a car in Shuwaikh. The car owner had also left a firearm in the vehicle. Shuwaikh police rushed to a location in the area after a Kuwaiti man reported that his vehicle had been stolen. The complainant told officers that he had left his car with the engine running outside a shop in Industrial Shuwaikh, and suspect decamped with it. He also noted that a licensed weapon was in his stolen car. Police are looking to identify the suspect based on descriptions provided by the car owner.

Visa trafficking A man was arrested on multiple charges including one of forgery that led to human trafficking. Investigations went underway after migration detectives were approached by a Kuwaiti man who reported discovering a number of workers hired in the name of his company without his knowledge. He gave information about a representative of his company whom he suspected as being involved in forgery. The Yemeni man was detained and soon confessed that he forged his employer’s signatures to release work permits that he sold to expatriate laborers. The man remains in custody pending legal procedures.

Infant’s death Investigations are on in the death of an infant who was accidently killed by her nanny, according to the latter’s testimony. The incident reportedly happened on Tuesday morning in a Farwaniya apartment where an

Egyptian family had left their six-month-old baby girl in custody of an Indonesian domestic worker they hired as a babysitter. Based on testimonies she later gave to the police, the babysitter accidently ‘turned over’ in her sleep and fell on top of the baby. She claimed she had gone off to sleep while taking care of her.

She woke up at the baby’s cries but found the baby motionless. She called the building’s janitor who called in an ambulance. The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital and the domestic worker was taken into custody for legal procedures. Investigations are still on to determine the circumstances behind the case.

Ex-wife’s insults A man who was summoned to a police station for investigation in a case of failure to renew his children’s visa suffered a heart attack and died when he was being scolded by his ex-wife for the lapse. The Jordanian man was summoned for questioning for his failure to renew the visas of his children who live with their mother. After blaming her for ‘refusing’ to give him their children’s passports ‘as an act of revenge,’ the man eventually called his ex-wife and asked her to come over when the detective urged him to find a solution before the visas expired. As soon as she arrived, the woman started showering insults on him, at which point he collapsed.

The man was pronounced dead on the spot and the examination confirmed that he suffered cardiac arrest due to high blood pressure. Police launched investigations with the ex-wife as per a case filed.

160 participate in Horeca cooking competitions KUWAIT: Horeca Kuwait stands out among similar regional exhibitions for being a meeting place for leading companies in hospitality and catering sector under one roof, as well as an attraction for young people interested in this field.

This was stated by a number of experts who served on judges’ panels for cooking competitions held as part of the exhibition that featured more than 40 companies and exclusive suppliers of top brands and products in the field of hospitality, catering and hotel equipment.

“Horeca Kuwait has become an important regional pit stop for top experts and representatives of leading companies in the field,” said Chef Sam’an Helal in a statement on Wednesday.

He was one of six international judges who judged ten competitions featuring more than 160 participants.

The 2013 Horeca Kuwait which concluded yesterday at the Arraiya Ballroom in Courtyard Marriot Hotel was organized by the Leaders Group for Consultations and Training in cooperation with Hospitality Services.

Discussions to boost EU-GCC cooperation BRUSSELS: Senior officials from the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) began a meeting in Brussels Tuesday to strengthen the economic cooperation between the two regional blocs.

Istven Jakab, head of the EU side at the meeting, told Kuwait news agency (KUNA) that the 27-member European bloc and the 6-member GCC have a regular economic dialogue and this was the fourth such meeting. “When you have the fourth meting it means we are building the tradition of this Dialogue and discussing our economic cooperation, our economic prospects and what is happening in the EU and GCC,” said Jakab, who is the head of the of trade unit in the European Commission.

“We are discussing the economic outlook of the EU and GCC, as well as sovereign wealth funds, banking reform,” he said.

“The GCC is important for EU. It is our tenth export partner and we want to share our expertise and our knowledge to help the GCC in its integration process,” said Jakab. He added that the issue of the EUGCC Free trade Agreement (FTA) will not be discussed in today’s meeting.

EU-GCC Negotiations on the FTA were suspended in 2008. On his part, Adnan Al Kandari, director of economic negotiations department and head of the Kuwait negotiating team in the finance ministry, said that the GCC in today’s dialogue will call on the EU to continue its preferential trade dealing

with the GCC. The EU has decided to end the system of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for 89 countreis including the GCC from January, 2014.

The GCC wants the EU to take into consideration more than one measurements to decide on the ending or not of the GSP. They are only taking the GDP or per capita income as the base to lift the GSP or not, he noted. “Till we conclude the FTA we need this system for our petro-chemical products because they will be taxed if the GSP is ended,” explained Al Kandari.

He said the FTA will not be discussed in today’s meeting but most probably will be raised during the next EU-GCC joint cooperation dialogue. The two sides will also dis-

cuss the importance of cooperation between the Central banks in the two regions and talk about the ways the EU is dealing to overcome its economic crisis.

Al-Kandari said the GCC is concerned about the current economic crisis in Europe and now in Cyprus but added that we are not effected much because we have different systems of bankings, etc.

He noted there are some very little Gulf investments in Cyprus and added that “we are learning from what the EU is doing to solve this crisis.” He said he has invited EU countries to participate in the development projects in Kuwait. “The economic relations are improving and we wish to continue this Diaiogue, “ he stressed. — KUNA

NBK walkathon registration ends KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), wraps up registration for the annual NBK Walkathon today. The Walk athon will be held on Saturday, 23 March under the patronage of H.E the Minister of Health Dr. Mohammed Barrak AlHaifi. The Registration Center, located next to the Scientific Center, will be open for its last day from 9am until 9pm.

“Thousands of participants have signed up for this annual festival.

NBK’s Walkathon is marked by a variety of fun, entertainment and health awareness activities. People still have the chance to take part today”, said Yaqoub Al Baqer, NBK Public Relations Officer.

Al Baqer added “at NBK, we believe in encouraging people in Kuwait to live a healthier lifestyle and that’s why we organize the Walkathon every year as part of our corporate social responsibility initiatives”.

NBK will award the top 10 winners in each category, and will give away two brand new MG5 cars, as

grand prizes during the Walkathon.

This year, many NBK customers will be awarded. The Al-Jawhara quarterly draw KD 250, 000 will also be announced on the day of the race.

The walk for male participants will start from the Scientific Center located in Ras Salmiya, while the walk for female participants will begin from the Marina Crescent. As for kids and Zeina Friends club members, the walk will take place at the Green Island.

Yaqoub Al-Baqer

Wataniya Telecom celebrates Mother’s Day KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom is proud to share the joy of Mother’s Day with all its customers and the public in a distinguished and exceptional style for the second consecutive year. All Ladies and mums are welcometo be pampered for two days at “360” Mall today and tomorrow..

Wataniya Telecom will offer all the

visiting ladies to the mall free services on this occasion when they entered “Wataniya Mother’s Day booth” located at the mall which has been especially set up for this purpose. These free beauty services will last for the two days and will be available starting 12 noon till 10pm.

This special and exclusive celebra-

tion comes under Wataniya Telecom social responsibilities toward the various segments of society specifically the women — who are already mothers or mothers to be -, and show Wataniya’s appreciation and continuous support for them and their endless efforts in raising a new well-mannered and educated generation that we will be proud of; a generation that will contribute in achieving advancement and development of this country.

On this occasion, Public Relations Manager at Wataniya Fatima Dashti congratulated all mothers and said “Wataniya is always keen to take part in this celebration in which it honors mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in our society.

The company spares no effort in gathering all family members together in order to create a special atmosphere in these social events, and we look forward to adopt any initiative that targets all segments of the Kuwaiti society”. Wataniya Telecom will be also honoring its staff in such a special occasion today where there will be a special surprise for all of them not only the ladies.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Egypt’s revolution fails to bring police reform

China ‘spending massively on cyber attacks’

Page 8

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GAZA: A Palestinian steps on a picture of US President Barack Obama which is on fire during a protest in Gaza City against Obama’s visit yesterday. Obama is visiting Israel and the Palestinian Territories for the first time as US president, on a mission to ease past tensions with his hosts but facing skepticism about his plans to thwart Iran’s nuclear threat. — AFP (See Page 8)

Saudi Shiite minority fears spy arrests News

in brief

Brazil landslides kill 27 RIO DE JANEIRO: At least 27 people were killed by landslides caused by heavy rains in a mountainous area of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, authorities said Tuesday.

The heavy downpour also forced 1,466 people to leave their homes or left them homeless. The deluge began late Sunday in and around Petropolis, located 68 kilometers north of Rio de Janeiro, officials said. The bodies of two boys and a girl who had been unaccounted for were found Tuesday in a stream, firefighters said. Earlier, a local official said two rescue workers were among the dead.

Nearly 250 soldiers and Civil Defense officials have been mobilized to assist residents of the area where 21 districts are either under water or hit by landslides, according to an official statement. Up to 390 millimeters of rain fell in some Petropolis districts in the space of 24 hours, when only 270 millimeters were anticipated for all of March.

16 detained for allegedly spying for Iran RIYADH: Saudi Arabia risks worsening already-tense relations with its Shiite Muslim minority if it charges 16 detained Shiites with spying in a case linked to rival Shiite power Iran, community leaders said yesterday. The government has previously blamed unrest among Shiites in the Qatif district of oil-producing Eastern Province on an unnamed foreign power, seen as code for Iran, a charge local activists have denied.

Sixteen people have been killed in Qatif in clashes with police in the past two years.

Shiite activists said several members of their community had been arrested in the past four days across Saudi Arabia and their families had not been able to contact them. Late on Tuesday the Interior Ministry said the intelligence service had detained an Iranian, a Lebanese and 16 Saudis for spying. Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in a struggle for influence across the region.

Those detained, in the four cities where the government said it arrested the espionage suspects, included two clerics, a banker and a university professor, Shiite

activists said. They were arrested in Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah and Eastern Province. “ These people are not at all known as politically active. They are active only in normal religious practices. So these accusations are really strange. This whole story is damaging relations with the community,” said one Shiite leader, Jafar Al-Shayeb.

Saudi Shiites complain they face persistent discrimination in getting public sector jobs and worshipping freely, charges the government of the Sunni-majority kingdom denies. Shiites also say they are often

unfairly portrayed by officials and Sunni clerics as having loyalty to Iran. On Tuesday the local Arab News daily reported that three Saudis had been sentenced to prison for spying on Saudi Arabia’s state oil company by stealing hard drives. It was not clear whether that case was related to the alleged spy ring. Investigators said in September that a cyber attack intended to stop production at Saudi Aramco was carried out by insiders. Aramco later linked the attack to hackers in foreign countries.—Reuters

Jihadist state could emerge in Syria, Jordan king warns

‘Assad days are numbered’

More self-immolations SOFIA: Two more people have set themselves on fire in Bulgaria, bringing to seven the number of self-immolations amid growing despair over poverty, state BNR radio reported yesterday. A 41-year-old unemployed father doused himself with fuel and set himself ablaze in the northeastern village of Sitovo yesterday, the radio said.

He was hospitalized with burns over 90 percent of his body but was conscious, telling doctors that he did it out of despair, BNR added. The man kept repeating: “I am fed up, there’s no bread, I cannot stand this anymore,” according to hospital Chief Daniela Kostadinova, quoted by the radio. A 59-year-old miner was also fighting for his life with 30-percent burns after setting himself on fire late Monday in the small mining town of Bobov dol, in eastern Bulgaria, the radio said. The man, who had been recently sacked from his job, reportedly called his wife right before the incident to tell her that he felt useless. He then set himself ablaze in the presence of their son, who managed to put the fire out with his jacket, the radio said.

King Abdullah II of Jordan

AMMAN: Jordan’s king warned yesterday that a jihadist state could emerge on his northern border in Syria with Islamic extremists trying to establish a foothold in the neighboring country. King Abdullah II told The Associated Press in an interview that in his view, Syrian President Bashar Assad was beyond rehabilitation and it was only a matter of time before his authoritarian regime collapses.

“The most worrying factors in the Syrian conflict are the issues of chemical weapons, the steady flow or sudden surge in refugees and a jihadist state emerging out of the conflict,” the king said. He warned that radicalization of Syria, together with the deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, could ignite the entire region. “Another extremely dangerous scenario is the fragmentation of Syria, which would trigger sectarian conflicts across the region for generations to come,” he said. “And also the huge risk that Syria could become a regional base for extremist and terrorist groups, which we are already

Turkish govt offices come under attack ISTANBUL: Turkish government and ruling party offices came under bomb and missile attack overnight in what a deputy prime minister said yesterday could be an attempt to wreck a peace process with Kurdish militants.

Yesterday, a small bomb exploded near state offices on the Asian side of Istanbul, damaging windows but resulting in no casualties, while police defused separate explosives in front of a cultural centre in the city.

Hours earlier, unidentified assailants attacked the Justice Ministry and offices of the ruling AK Party with homemade bombs and a shoulder-fired missile in the capital Ankara.

One person was slightly wounded in the ministry attack. There have been no claims of responsibility. The explosions occurred before an expected ceasefire call today by jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in talks with state officials to try to end a three-decade-old conflict that has killed some 40,000 people. The ceasefire call, expected to coincide with the Kurdish New Year,

would be a major step in what is shaping up to be the most serious effort yet to end Turkey’s conflict with Ocalan’s Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants. “Various groups that we know to be against the (peace) process could have chosen these targets,” Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told reporters. “I think this could have been done to frighten and intimidate the public.” The struggle with the PKK, considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union as well as Ankara, burns at Turkey’s heart, and there are forces on both sides opposed to a resolution.

Speaking in Denmark, where he is on an official visit, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the authorities had uncovered “important information” about the attacks and would comment further later, according to Turkish television. Arinc said the leftist DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front), one of whose members blew himself up at an entrance of the US embassy on Feb 1, killing a Turkish guard, could be responsible.— Reuters

see establishing firm footholds in some areas,” the king added. “All these are extremely dangerous threats. I have been warning against them all, especially the chemical weapons threat, since the beginning of the crisis,” he said. As for the humanitarian emergency, the king said assistance is direly needed not only to the host countries, like Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey but also inside Syria, so that hearts and minds can be won before extremists fill the vacuum left by a failed Syrian state and mass exoduses are prevented.

He said faced with all these threats, Jordan is working on “contingencies to protect our population and borders, in selfdefense.” But government officials and Jordan-based Western diplomats have said that this key US-ally has been shopping around for Patriot missiles to be stationed near his northern border, should tensions across the frontier escalate. He appealed to the international community to “to catch up and support Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to

cover the increasing costs of hosting Syrian refugees.” He said it costs his cash-strapped nation $550 million annually to host an estimated 500,000 Syrian refugees - about nine percent of Jordan’s population of 6 million.

“It’s as if more than 30 million refugees flooded into the US, the majority having crossed in less than 12 months,” he said. He said that if the conflict escalated further, as is widely expected, he could see the number of refugees “almost double over the next six to eight months.”

In parallel, he said, Jordan continues to exert its utmost “diplomatic efforts to assist in bridging gaps in the international community so that an agreement can be reached on an inclusive political transition that preserves the territorial integrity and unity of Syria.”

Abdullah said the start of President Barack Obama’s visit to the region opens a “window of opportunity ” for restarting IsraeliPalestinian peace talks. The tour includes stops in Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, the visit.—AP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

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

The Kurds: One people, four countries ANKARA: Despite their longstanding wish for a single homeland called Kurdistan, the Kurds are today scattered over four countries spanning half a million square kilometers: Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Originally of IndoEuropean origin, the Kurds trace their roots back to the Medes of ancient Persia. Mainly Sunni Muslim, they live in mountainous regions straddling the four countries, and have kept their language, culture and tribal system.

While their population differs according to official or Kurdish sources, they number between 25 and 35 million. The largest number of Kurds lives in Turkey, where their numbers are disputed, but believed to be between 12 and 15 million. There are five million Kurds in Iran, about 4.5 million in Iraq and around two million in Syria.

Large expatriate Kurdish communities also exist in the former Soviet Union, notably Azerbaijan and Armenia, and in Lebanon

and some European countries such as Germany. As a large and distinct group Kurds are neither Arabs, Turks or Persians and are therefore seen as a political threat by all four of the countries that they inhabit. In past centuries the Kurds enjoyed periods of self-rule under Kurdish dynasties in semi-autonomous principalities, some of which survived until the mid-19th century when they were overthrown by the Ottoman empire and Persia, as Iran was formerly called.

The Kurds’ claim for an ethnic homeland, which dates back to 1695, has been the source of their problems in a history that has been a long tale of harassment, discrimination and occasionally of slaughter. The traditional refuge of the Kurds has always been the mountains, with their steep pastures and fertile valleys. Following the Turkish defeat in World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman empire, Kurdish demands for an inde-

pendent homeland were recognized under the Treaty of Sevres (1920), but promises received from London and Paris were never implemented.

The Sevres treaty was re negotiated at Lausanne in 1923 and the Kurdish demands were buried. With Soviet backing, Iran’s Kurds briefly declared a republic at the end of World War II, but it was soon crushed by the Iranian army. In recent decades, Turkey and Iraq have been equally ruthless in frustrating Kurdish demands. Ankara banned until 2002 the use of the Kurdish language, and even the words Kurd and Kurdish were banished from public discourse.

Iraq under the regime of Saddam Hussein carried out a murderous campaign, systematically wiping out towns and villages using guns, planes and bulldozers. In April 1988, near the end of the Iran-Iraq war, Iraqi warplanes attacked the Kurdish village of Halabja with poison

gas, killing the entire population.

The US-led invasion of Iraq 10 years ago, and the subsequent fall of the Saddam regime gave Iraqi Kurds new hopes and they now enjoy wide-ranging autonomy on most issues, have their own parliament and government.

In Turkey, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) led by Abdullah Ocalan, who is expected to call for a ceasefire on Thursday, was formed in 1978 and in 1984 launched a campaign for a separate state, plunging southeast Turkey into a civil war in which some 45,000 people, mostly Kurds, have died. In Iran, the western province of Kordestan is dominated by Sunni Muslims and has seen deadly fighting in recent years between Iranian security forces and Kurdish rebels of the PJAK group operating out of rear-bases in neighboring Iraq. PJAK (Party of Free Life of Kurdistan) is closely allied with Turkey’s PKK. — AFP

KIRKUK: An elderly Kurdish Iraqi man stands at an open market in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. — AFP

Al-Qaeda regaining ground in Iraq’s western provinces Syria’s conflict invigorating Iraqi insurgents

RAMALLAH: Palestinians demonstrate against the upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama in the West Bank city of Ramallah. — AFP

Palestinians want Obama to end ‘passivity’ on peace RAMALLAH: Palestinians want President Barack Obama’s milestone visit this week to lead to a more active US approach to resolving the conflict with Israel, before the West Bank is overrun by Jewish settlements and it is too late for a two-state solution. “We are in an emergency situation,” independent Palestinian legislator Mustafa Barghouti told reporters in Ramallah, where Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will host Obama today. “We don’t have time,” Barghouti said.

“Either the settlements are stopped immediately... or you can kiss the two-state solution goodbye.” New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman last week wrote that Obama, frustrated at the lack of progress to end the conflict, no longer had his heart in the challenge.

“Quietly, with nobody announcing it, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has shifted from a necessity to a hobby for American diplomats,” he wrote. “Obama could be the first sitting American president to visit Israel as a tourist.”

Barghouti slammed the “passivity of the international community, especially the United States”, while Abbas’s government appealed to the world to back it financially and put pressure on Israel to end its “economic stranglehold” on Palestinians. In a paper to a meeting of international donors in Brussels on Tuesday the Palestinian Authority urged “all international partners, particularly in the Arab region, to consider the implications of the current fiscal crisis and a possible shift towards institutional and political collapse”. “Israel’s continued illegal occupation irreversibly forecloses the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state on the

ground, making peace based on the twostate formula implausible, if not impossible.”

The document said November’s United Nations resolution recognizing the Palestinians as a non-member observer state “has the potential to slightly level the playing field between Israel and Palestine”, noting that their new status would allow them to join international organizations and sign up to treaties.

Barghouti said that directly after Obama’s visit the Palestinians should renew their diplomatic offensive “starting with a letter to the Swiss president demanding the application to Palestine of all the Geneva Conventions” on humanitarian law. “We should engage in all UN agencies... and of course to the International Criminal Court, especially with the continued settlement,” he added. “Maybe some people think that because we need foreign aid, we will abandon our principles,” Barghouti said. “But most of the people out on the streets, especially young people who participate in the most noble non-violent resistance, do not benefit anyway.” Obama is accompanied by Secretary of State John Kerry, who in February said he was intent on giving $700 million (540 million euros) in aid to the Palestinian Authority, $495 million of which has been blocked for months by Congress.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters on Friday that “an economically viable Palestinian Authority is in the interest not only of the Palestinians themselves but of regional peace and security”. “I’m confident (the issue) will also come up on the president’s trip,” she added. — AFP

Decade on, Iraq grappling with attacks and deadlock BAGHDAD: Grappling with a spike in violence and a worsening political situation, Iraq yesterday marked 10 years since a USled invasion that sought to establish a stable, democratic ally in the Middle East. The event was met with little fanfare in Baghdad, though, a day after a wave of bombings and gun attacks killed 56 people across the country, as some ministers began a cabinet boycott and officials delayed provincial polls.

Al-Qaeda front group the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) claimed responsibility for the violence in statements posted on jihadist forums, while another car bomb in east Baghdad yesterday killed two people. In Washington, US President Barack Obama had released a muted statement the day before that paid tribute to the “sacrifice” of his nation’s troops, but had few words for the Iraqi people, promising instead to support wounded American veterans of the conflict. Iraqi officials have not announced any ceremonies to mark the invasion anniversary, with events more likely to be held on April 9, the day Baghdad fell, and there was little reference to the invasion across the capital yesterday. “It was a dream

to get rid of Saddam-this was a positive thing they did but what came after is all negatives,” said Raad Mohammed, a 51year-old portrait photographer in central Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.

“Now, everyone is living through tragedies, and nothing was accomplished in these past 10 years.” Nearby, however, Sabah Shawki noted that while violence had been terrible, and the country’s basic services were a shambles, the invasion had brought him much-needed religious freedom. “Now, I can pray to my God,” the 34year-old resident of the sprawling Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City said. “In Saddam’s time, I could only pray to the God he said I could pray to.”

Violence has spiked ahead of the anniversary, with 120 people killed in the past week, according to an AFP tally based on reports from security and medical officials, with the worst of the violence striking on Tuesday. In all, at least 20 explosions and multiple shootings left 56 people dead and more than 220 wounded on Tuesday, Iraq’s deadliest day in six months, reflecting the brutal unrest that continues to plague the country. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Al-Qaeda in Iraq has claimed responsibility for a wave of bombings and suicide attacks that killed around 60 people on the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. A decade after US and Western troops swept into Iraq to remove the Sunni strongman, Iraq still struggles to overcome violence, sectarian tensions and political instability that test the fragile unity among Shiites, Sunnis and ethnic Kurds.

Islamic State of Iraq, the country’s Al-Qaeda wing, is regaining strength, invigorated by the Sunni Muslim rebellion in next door Syria and has carried out dozens of high-profile attacks since the start of the year. Car bombs, roadside explosions and suicide attacks on Tuesday hit mainly Shiite districts and security forces in Baghdad and other cities, including a bomber who detonated his blast inside a restaurant in the northern city of Mosul.

“What has reached you on Tuesday is just the first drop of rain, and a first phase, for by God’s will, after this we will have our revenge,” the AlQaeda statement posted on a jihadist website late on Tuesday said. Sunni Islamists see Iraq’s Shiite-led government as oppressors of the country’s Sunni minority and target Shiites to try to provoke a sectarian confrontation like the inter-communal slaughter that killed thousands in 2006-7.

While violence is below the level of the Shiite on Sunni bloodshed that killed tens of thousands a few years ago, suicide bombers have struck nearly two times a week since January, a rate Iraq has not seen for several years. The Iraq war began shortly before dawn in Baghdad on Thursday, March 20, 2003, with US air strikes on the capital. Shortly afterwards, President George W Bush, told Americans late on March 19 US time that the offensive was under way. Iraq’s sectarian and political rivalries are still raw, keeping

the OPEC country vulnerable to the influence of its neighbors, especially Shiite Iran and Sunni power Turkey.

Its power-sharing government split among Shiite, Sunnis and Kurdish factions has been all but paralyzed by disputes for more than a year.

Critics of Shiite Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki say he is amassing power at their expense. To the country’s north, Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region is increasingly bristling against central government control and seeking ways to develop its own oil resources and defy Baghdad by

shipping crude to its northern neighbor Turkey.

To the west of Baghdad, thousands of Sunni Muslims have protested for months, blocking a key highway to Jordan and Syria in protest against the Shiite-led government that it says has marginalized them since the fall of Saddam. Syria’s growing conflict over the border is stirring up Iraq’s volatile mix, exposing the country to the rivalry between Ankara, which backs Sunni rebels fighting President Bashar Al-Assad, and Shiite power Tehran which sponsors him. — Reuters

BAGHDAD: People inspect a damaged car at the scene of a car bomb attack in Zayona neighborhood of eastern Baghdad yesterday. — AP

Egypt’s revolution fails to bring police reform Suspicions of Muslim Brotherhood deepen CAIRO: One day at dawn last summer, police stormed into the central Cairo slum of Ramlet Bulaq, broke open the doors of its mud-brick houses, beat women and children, stole money and phones and arrested many working age men. “They didn’t leave anything,” said Karima Ahmed, a mother of six whose husband was shot in the leg by a police officer a few days before the raid.

Police detained their 14-year-old son and broke his teeth at a local station, she said.

A protest over Egypt’s ineffective and heavy-handed police force two years ago started the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak and inspired revolts throughout the Arab world. But reformers say President Mohamed Morsi, and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement that helped propel him to power in June, have not changed the way Egypt’s security forces are governed and legislated. The police may even have got more aggressive, they say.

“I’m not going to shy away from saying that nothing has happened,” said Karim Ennarah, police reform campaigner at the Cairo-based Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. “It’s getting worse. And that’s evident in the numbers and new patterns of violence we’re seeing, where police essentially act like an armed gang.” Poor Egyptians, who suffer the brunt of police brutality, have begun to lose hope that the Interior Ministry, the institution in charge of the police, will be reformed.

This puts the Brotherhood in a quandary: a movement long oppressed by the police itself, the Islamist group now stands accused of acquiescence in abuses that provide ammunition to

critics challenging Morsi’s legitimacy. The Interior Ministry says it has reformed and that it is being blamed for a crisis created by politicians. Incidents like the one in Ramlet Bulaq - which witnesses and activists said started after security forces cracked down on protests over the shooting death of a local man by a police officer - have played out across the country over the last two years, Ennarah said.

Late last year police burned cars and fired random shots in a neighborhood in the southern city of Minya after an officer was killed in a crossfire between feuding families, Ennarah said. A few months earlier, police tortured a man to death inside a station in the Nile Delta town of Mit Ghamr, and then fired on a crowd that came to protest the death, killing another person. In February, television cameras caught police dragging and beating a halfnaked man during protests outside the presidential palace. The footage was broadcast live.

A HISTORY OF POWER President Gamal Abdel Nasser, who briefly served as interior minister after helping stage a 1952 coup, used police to monitor, subvert and arrest political opponents and contain protests over the country’s defeat to Israel in a 1967 war. The ministry’s influence continued to grow under Nasser’s successor, Anwar al-Sadat, and then under Mubarak, who used it to quash Islamist insurgents in southern Egypt in the 1990s and suppress unrest over rising prices in the years before his fall. The police say they have around 450,000 in the force, but some activists estimate there are over 1 million on the payroll.

Thousands of largely poor Egyptians fulfill their mandatory military service in the Interior Ministry, often as riot police on the frontlines at demonstrations.

Such conscription fosters what Georgetown University scholars Daniel Brumberg and Hesham Sallam described as the civilian ministry’s “air of militarization”. “The secrecy surrounding its activities evokes the traits of a closed military establishment that is removed from society and governed with little transparency and accountability,” they wrote in a United States Institute of Peace report last year. As the ministry’s sway grew, so did a culture of impunity. Torture became routine in Egyptian prisons, where some historians argue police cruelty radicalized militants who went on to form Al-Qaeda.

Politically-active Egyptians have long taken police espionage as a given. Their suspicions proved justified when Egyptians broke into police intelligence offices in March 2011 and uncovered documents including phone call transcripts and notes on their daily movements.

Even those who shy away from politics associate police with bribery, theft and humiliation. On the fourth day of the uprising against Mubarak, thousands of Egyptians left Friday prayers and torched their local police stations. Police withdrew from the streets in the afternoon, and the army took over.

UNDER SIEGE Twelve-foot concrete walls block most of the roads to the Interior Ministry from Tahrir Square, the centre of the uprising just a few hundred meters away. Coils of barbed wire and black-uniformed

riot police protect others. Police say they have been exhausted and humiliated by the revolution, which robbed them of the prestige they associated with service and made them the target of violent protests.

They say they have changed the way they approach policing.

“Before this, every regime would exploit the police, and the police interfered in political life. It was like this for hundreds, thousands of years before the revolution. But the revolution came and toppled the police state,” the Interior Ministry’s spokesman Hany Abdel Latif said during an interview in its freshlyrefurbished media centre. “We’ve changed, and we’ve changed seriously. Our goal is to secure the citizen, not to secure the regime.”

Producing a printed chart, Abdel Latif said 176 police had been killed and over 7,000 wounded since the 2011 uprising. Egypt’s borders were “inflamed,” he said. Squabbling politicians were stoking unrest.

Criminals were emboldened.

“When we look at the atmosphere the police are working in and assess their performance, we find they’re doing well given the extremely harsh and difficult circumstances,” he said. But activists and diplomats say the ministry has resisted outside pressure and offers to help carry out reforms. “There must be dozens of embassies, literally, who have offered assistance in riot police training, in equipping and professionalisation,” a senior US diplomat said. “They say, ‘We will get back to you’.” Addressing reporters this month, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim admitted there were problems within the police, but they would be solved “inside the family.” — Reuters

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UK tries to reassure bloggers on new press rules LONDON: The British government has insisted that bloggers and posts on social media would not be caught by a new system of press regulation, but campaigners warned the new rules could be open to interpretation. Britain’s newspapers are urgently considering whether to sign up to the new system agreed by political leaders on Monday in the wake of a phone-hacking scandal at the now defunct Rupert Murdochowned News of the World tabloid.

The new watchdog, underpinned by law, would have the power to issue harsh sanctions on misbehaving publications, including fines of up to 1 million pounds ($1.5 million, 1.2 million euros). While the Leveson Inquiry into press standards resulting from the hacking scandal did not cover online publishing, the new royal charter hammered out by political leaders specifically covers “news-related” websites too, sparking uncertainty. In recent years, the

authorities have taken a growing interest in prosecuting people for comments made on the Internet.

Meanwhile newspapers have railed that details of court rulings preventing them from publishing stories about celebrities have been openly circulated online, effectively making a mockery of the rulings. Though the Department for Culture, Media and Sport stressed that smallscale bloggers and comments on Twitter and Facebook would not be subject to the new royal charter regulating publishers, campaigners feared that the new system could still be ambiguous.

“It won’t affect bloggers,” a DCMS spokesman said. “What Leveson was talking about was newspapers-national and local-and newspapertype websites. It’s not people who are writing a blog.” To be considered a news publisher under the charter, outlets must meet each of three

tests. They must be “publishing in the course of business”; publish news-related material written by a range of authors; and be subject to editorial control.

National and local papers and their online editions fall under the remit, as do lifestyle magazines and “online-only edited ‘press-like’ content providers”, such as the Huffington Post, said the DCMS. Those outside the boundary include “news aggregators and social networking sites”, small special interest publishers, student and not-for-profit community newspapers, scientific journals and broadcasters’ websites, such as the BBC’s online arm.

“Ultimately, it is a matter for the court to decide on the definition of a relevant publisher based on assessment of the facts, in accordance with the three interlocking tests (course of business, range of authors and editorial control),” DCMS said. “But if material isn’t subject to edito-

rial control it shouldn’t be caught.” The new watchdog will also be able to force publications to issue upfront apologies for inaccurate or intrusive stories, as well as offering a free arbitration system for victims. Political party leaders say it will rein in the kind of misdeeds exposed by the News of the World tabloid without curbing press freedom.

Despite the reassurances, some are worried about the knock-on effects the new plans could have on Internet news and comment. Kirsty Hughes, chief executive of the Index on Censorship freedom of expression campaign body, said Tuesday that despite the politicians’ claims, the “loose definition” of a publisher would “undoubtedly have a chilling effect on everyday people’s web use”. “Bloggers could find themselves subject to exemplary damages in court... This mess of legislation has been thrown together with alarming haste: there’s little doubt

Qaeda beheads French hostage French hostage executed in Mali retaliation NOUAKCHOTT: Al-Qaeda’s wing in north Africa said it had beheaded a French hostage in retaliation for France’s intervention in Mali, Mauritania’s ANI news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a spokesman for the group. In what ANI reported was a telephone call to the agency, which has close links to Islamist militants, the commander said Philippe Verdon had been beheaded on March 10 “in response to the French military intervention in the north of Mali”, ANI reported.

The death, if proved true, would be a worrying development for Paris, which still has some 14 hostages held in West Africa, including seven in the Sahel by AQIM and its affiliates.

French President Francois Hollande in part justified military action in Mali to prevent the north from being used as a launch pad for terror attacks in Africa and in the West.

Verdon, a French geologist, was captured in the northern Mali town of Hombori in November 2011. A French foreign ministry spokesman said he had no information on the report. One of AQIM’s leaders, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, had pledged revenge after France launched a campaign in January to dislodge the group and other Islamist militants who had hijacked a Tuareg rebellion in the Sahel nation and seized the northern half of the country. After driving them from the main cities of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal in a swift, nine-week assault, some 1,600 French and Chadian troops began searching for Islamist rebels in their pocket hideouts in the mountainous region of northern Mali.

The AQIM spokesman, who identified himself only as Qayrawani, described Verdon as a French spy, adding that Hollande “bore the responsibility for the remaining hostages”. ANI’s director Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Aboulmaaly told Reuters he knew Qayrawani, an AQIM commander who according to him, is of Tuareg origin, had called him from Mali. When asked by the agency whether Belmokhtar had been killed, he neither denied nor confirmed it. There have been conflicting reports on whether

French nationals Philippe Verdon (right) and Serge Lazarevic are being held by AQMI at an undisclosed location.

The two Frenchmen were captured in Hombori in Northern Mali on November 24. French hostage, Verdon, has been executed in Mali. — AFP Belmokhtar was killed in the French military campaign against the rebels.

NO MORE RANSOMS The possible death of Belmokhtar and another AQIM leader Abou Zeid has raised questions about the fate of eight French hostages held by Al-Qaeda in the Sahel. The families of four French hostages seized in Niger in September 2010 appealed to Paris earlier this month to open negotiations with AQIM. Belmokhtar sent a statement on Jan 20 to ANI after carry-

Italy president seeks way out of political stalemate ROME: Italian President Giorgio Napolitano began consultations with political leaders yesterday to try to find a way of forming a government after the deadlocked election last month which left no party with a majority in parliament. Senate speaker Pietro Grasso said after meeting Napolitano the president was determined to reach an accord, saying there was “an absolute necessity to give the country a government”.

Napolitano would take “all roads possible”, he said.

Italy’s political stalemate and the prospect of months of uncertainty has created alarm across Europe just as the standoff over bank deposits in Cyprus reawakened fears that the euro-zone debt crisis could flare up again.

Centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, who won a majority in the lower house but not in the Senate, commands the largest bloc in parliament but cannot govern unless he has support from one of the other parties.

However, there has been no sign that an accord is possible with either former Prime Minister Silvio

ROME: President of the Italian senate Pietro Grasso walks after a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano yesterday at the Quirinale presidential palace in Rome. — AFP

Berlusconi’s centre-right alliance, the second biggest force in parliament, or the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement led by ex-comic Beppe Grillo, which holds the balance of power.

If no agreement can be struck between parties that are bitterly divided, Italy faces the prospect of a brief period under a caretaker government followed by a return to the polls, possibly as early as June. Napolitano also meets minor parties, including Prime Minister Mario Monti’s centrist group on Wednesday before the main meetings today when he sees representatives from the 5-Star Movement, Berlusconi’s People of Freedom (PDL) party and Bersani’s Democratic Party (PD).

Bersani, 61, received a small boost at the weekend when his candidates were elected the speakers of the two houses of parliament, despite the centre left’s lack of a majority in the upper house. Both speakers announced late on Tuesday that they would take a 30 percent wage cut and urged other parliamentarians to do the same, a move that followed an example set by 5Star members elected as local officials in Sicily last year who gave up most of their salaries and used the savings to fund small businesses.

LIMITED Bersani is proposing to present a limited package of reforms aimed at fighting corruption and creating jobs that he hopes can be backed by the 5-Star Movement.

Given the fractious climate, the prospects of a minority government surviving more than a short time are slim but Bersani has little alternative. “The PD is not changing our line, we’ll go to the consultations with the proposals which were voted by the party leadership immediately after the election,” he told reporters on Tuesday. Italy, the euro- zone’s third-largest economy, can ill afford a prolonged political crisis after the turmoil which brought down Berlusconi’s last government and dragged the single currency to the brink of disaster just 16 months ago.

Its economy is deep in recession, and unemployment is at record levels especially among the young. Its 2 trillion-euro ($2.6 trillion) public debt is dangerously vulnerable to bond market volatility and any sharp rise in interest rates. However, far from prompting the parties to cooperate as they did when Monti’s technocrat government took over from Berlusconi in 2011, the crisis appears to have deepened hostility. Grillo, who has pledged not to give a vote of confidence to a government led by any other party, warned followers against falling into a “trap” after a handful of rebels voted with the centre left in the election of the Senate speaker on Saturday.

Berlusconi, fighting a tax fraud conviction and facing trial for paying for sex with a minor, has demanded that the centre right be allowed to name the next president when Napolitano’s term ends on May 15, offering his support to a Bersani-led government in exchange. That offer was rejected as “indecent” by the PD, prompting Berlusconi to pledge street protests if parliament appointed a centre-left head of state. A rally organized by the PDL, called “All for Silvio!” is already planned for Saturday to protest against what his supporters say is a political campaign by magistrates against the 76-yearold billionaire. — Reuters

ing out the In Amenas hostage taking in Algeria threatening to strike at the interests of all those involved in the Mali intervention. AQIM has previously threatened to kill the hostages if France intervened militarily in Mali and has demanded a 90 million euro ($120.5 million) ransom for their release. France’s Le Monde newspaper this week reported that Paris had changed its policy with regard paying ransoms for hostages. Citing a former hostage whose husband is still being held by AQIM, the paper said that Hollande had told them in January “it would be unthinkable to give money to groups we are at war with.” — Reuters

we’ll repent for a while to come.” Paul Staines, who runs the well-respected Guido Fawkes blog about British politics, argued that the new plans were unworkable. “I don’t see how they can regulate the worldwide web when the servers are based in other countries,” he told BBC radio. “My servers are in California. Are they going to send the royal navy gunboats to North Beach, California to pound the servers? “They could come after me individually but I think they would have little chance of success.

“The prime minister’s spokeswoman said I wouldn’t be regulated. Everybody else, lawyers, say that I will be regulated. “How can you regulate somebody who doesn’t want to be regulated and doesn’t have bricks and mortar in the UK?” In reference to the deal struck by politicians in the early hours, he added: “When you draft legislation at two in the morning, you are going to get shambolic results.” — AFP

For Turkish Cypriots, paradise lost in south NICOSIA: It was business as usual for Turkish Cypriots yesterday, away from the financial turmoil of their better-off “cousins” on the divided island who have kept them under embargo and in effect out of the EU. “For the first time, it (isolation) has been positive for northern Cyprus. Ironically, the embargo has helped,” said Maher Zaheer, assistant general manager of commercial bank Credit West which prides itself on having no toxic assets.

Zaheer, a Pakistani who has lived in the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for the past 20 years, stressed the advantages of the TRNC being dwarfed by the Republic of Cyprus run by the majority Greek Cypriots. “Small is good, we don’t need to go too big to survive,” the 38-year-old banker said at Credit West’s seven-floor modern headquarters in northern Nicosia.

“It’s a positive thing that we are not integrated into the world banking system.” President Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, has called the crisis in the south the nation’s worst in four decades, since the 1974 Turkish invasion of the northern third of the Mediterranean island. His government was yesterday scrambling to secure funding for banks in the debt-riddled south, a day after Greek Cypriot MPs rejected out of hand the terms of an EU bailout deal aimed at saving the EU member from bankruptcy.

But unlike the south where banks have stayed shut for five straight days for fear of being stripped of deposits, financial institutions in the north were open and Turkish Cypriots went about their business as usual yesterday. “This side is paradise!

Paradise is finished for the other side,” said an officer seated among a group of Turkish Cypriot policemen in shades sipping Turkish coffee under glorious spring sunshine, eliciting broad grins. Unlike the foreign media saturation of the Cyprus banking crisis, the top new items in Turkish Cypriot newspapers were: “Most wanted Brit arrested” and “Suicide of (late veteran leader Rauf) Denktash’s grandson.”“I don’t care,” about the crisis in the south, was a comment from jeweler Ali Cenap Saygin. “For a long time we had problems, now they have their problems. That’s life.” But the jeweler whose shops stands just meters from the Ledra Street crossing in the capital’s Old Town ringed by 600-year-old Venetian walls swiftly recanted and added a note of caution. — AFP

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UN arms embargoes don’t work, ‘arms treaty needed’ UNITED NATIONS: UN arms embargoes inevitably fail because international arms trade is a virtual free-for-all due to the lack of regulation for the $70 billion global weapons commerce, the rights group Amnesty International said yesterday. “The United Nations Security Council arms embargoes are always flouted and circumvented and violated because the system of state regulation around the world is not strict enough,” Brian Wood, Amnesty’s head of arms control and human rights said on the sidelines of a UN arms treaty drafting conference.

“There are no common rules. Why? Because there is no arms trade treaty,” Wood told reporters. Negotiators from about 150 countries are gathering in New York through March 28 for a final push to hammer out a binding international treaty to end unregulated conventional arms sales. Arms control campaigners and human rights advocates say one person ever y minute dies

worldwide as a result of armed violence, and that a treaty is needed to halt the uncontrolled flow of weapons and ammunition that they argue helps fuel wars, atrocities and rights abuses.

Wood said that many UN arms embargoes - against Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the perpetrators of genocide in Rwanda, Darfur, Somalia, Taleban, in the Balkans - turned out to be failures.

“If you look at them in detail ... you will find that they were systematically violated,” he said. Wood said the global arms markets are run by companies, dealers and brokers who use shell companies and off-shore bank accounts to keep themselves immune to national regulation, while many states have few or no regulations in place. “Over and over again we find the same story,” Wood said. “Some states repeatedly make irresponsible decisions to supply (arms).

The other element is the networks of traffickers that find it so easy to circum-

vent the embargoes. And the arms trade treaty needs to address that.” Wood also cited the conflicts in Syria and Mali as further examples of why an arms treaty is desperately needed.

US WANTS STRONG TREATY The UN General Assembly voted in December to relaunch negotiations this week on what could become the first global treaty to regulate trade for all conventional weapons - from tanks and attack helicopters to handguns and assault rifles - after a drafting conference in July 2012 collapsed because the United States, then Russia and China, wanted more time.

The point of the treaty is to set standards for all cross-border transfers of any type of conventional weapon - light and heavy. It also would set binding requirements for nations to review all cross-border arms contracts to ensure the munitions will not be used in human rights abuses, do not violate

embargoes and are not illegally diverted. British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt, in New York for the arms treaty negotiations, told reporters on Monday that London would prefer to have consensus on a treaty but did not want unanimity if that meant accepting a weak pact.

He said the British delegation was not interested in “simply getting everyone to sign a piece of paper that does not take us further forward.” If the conference fails to agree a treaty because it cannot reach the required consensus, diplomats say they can put it to a vote in the UN General Assembly to rescue it.

If a treaty is approved, national parliaments will need to ratify it. Some delegations have expressed concern that the United States, the world’s No 1 arms exporter, will try to gut the draft treaty to make it more palatable to US gun supporters.

The United States says it wants a strong treaty. But Obama is under pres-

sure from the powerful National Rifle Association, the leading US pro-gun group, to block the pact. The group has vowed to torpedo the convention’s Senate ratification if Washington backs it at the United Nations. US Secretary of State John Kerry voiced conditional support for the treaty on Friday, saying Washington was “steadfast in its commitment to achieve a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty that helps address the adverse effects of the international arms trade on global peace and stability.” But he did not promise US support. He repeated that the United States would not accept a treaty that imposed new limits on US citizens’ right to bear arms, a sensitive political issue in the United States. Washington opposes the inclusion of imports and exports of ammunition in the treaty, a view Burt said Britain does not share. Human rights groups say the treaty would be meaningless if it did not include ammunition.— Reuters

7 US Marines killed in training exercise Mortar round explodes in Nevada

DENVER: Sponsors and family members of victims watch as Colorado Gov John Hickenlooper signs control bills into law at the Capitol in Denver yesterday. — AP

US governor signs landmark gun bills DENVER: Exactly eight months after dozens of people were shot in a suburban Denver movie theater, Colorado’s Democratic governor signed new restrictions on firearms in the state. It is a historic change for Democrats who have traditionally shied away from taking on gun control in a western state where owning a gun is as common as owning a car in some rural areas. John Hickenlooper signed new limits on ammunition magazines and a landmark expansion of background checks yesterday in his office, surrounded by legislative sponsors and their guests.

The signings marked a significant moment in Colorado, a state with a moderate streak and a pioneer tradition of self-reliance. Over the last month, Colorado has been viewed as a test for how far the US is willing to go on new restrictions after the horror of shootings at a Connecticut elementary school and in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.

There, on July 20, a gunman dressed in body armor and carrying an arsenal of firearms killed 12 people and wounded dozens of others.

The shootings convinced Hickenlooper, a gun rights advocate, and other state Democrats to take on gun control. “I am happy the governor is signing common-sense legislation that reduces gun violence in our communities by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, domestic violence offenders and the seriously mentally ill,” said Democratic Rep Rhonda Fields, who represents the district where the theater shooting happened.

Colorado Democrats have succeeded where other

lawmakers outside of New York have not.

This month, Washington state’s Democrat-controlled House of Representatives couldn’t advance a universal background check bill. A bill requiring background checks at gun shows in New Mexico also failed in the Democrat-led Legislature. The bills getting Hickenlooper’s signature are centerpieces of a package of Democratic gun bills introduced this session. With his signature, gun sales and transfers between private parties and purchases conducted online will be subjected to background checks.

Ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds will be banned and subject to criminal penalties. Both bills take effect July 1. Republicans have warned that voters will punish Hickenlooper and other Democrats who voted in favor of the measures. “I’m telling you, they have overreached, and there are going to be electoral consequences,” said Republican Sen Greg Brophy.

A Colorado-based manufacturer of magazines plans to relocate because of the new restrictions. Republicans have bashed Democrats, saying their proposal to limit magazine sizes will drive jobs from the state, and ultimately won’t prevent criminals from getting larger magazines in other states. Some county sheriffs also opposed the new background checks, arguing they’re unenforceable and endanger people’s constitutional rights. Two ballot measures have already been proposed to try to undo the gun restrictions.— AP

More Gitmo inmates go on hunger strike MIAMI: More prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have joined a growing hunger strike that their lawyers say reflects hopelessness about their prospects of ever being freed from the US detention center in Cuba. Twenty-four captives were on a hunger strike as of Tuesday evening and eight of those had lost enough weight that doctors were force-feeding them liquid nutrients thorough tubes inserted into their noses and down into their stomachs, said Navy Captain Robert Durand, a spokesman for the detention operation.

The detention camp at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base in eastern Cuba holds 166 men captured in counterterrorism operations. Nearly all have been held for 11 years without charge. The number of hunger strikers has grown from 14 on Friday, Durand said. The military counts prisoners as hunger strikers if they have skipped at least nine consecutive meals. Two hunger strikers were hospitalized with dehydration, he said.

The Obama administration has cleared more than half the Guantanamo prisoners for release or transfer, but Congress has blocked efforts to close the detention camp and made it increasingly

difficult to resettle Guantanamo prisoners. Many are Yemenis whom the United States will not repatriate at this time because of instability in that country.

Periodic hunger strikes have occurred since shortly after the prison opened in January 2012.

More than 50 lawyers representing Guantanamo prisoners sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week urging him to help end the current hunger strike. They said the participants’ health had deteriorated alarmingly, and that some had lost more than 20 or 30 pounds. The lawyers said hopes were dwindling that the Obama administration would keep its promise to close the camp.

They said more than 100 detainees began a widescale hunger strike early last month to protest the confiscation of letters, photographs and legal mail, and the rough handling of Korans during searches of their cells. Durand called the allegations “outright falsehoods and gross exaggerations.” “The claims of a mass hunger strike and an incident in which the Koran was mishandled are simply untrue,” he said.

“We take extraordinary care to respect the Koran and categorically deny any claims of abuse, desecration or mishandling.”— Reuters

WASHINGTON: Seven US Marines were killed and eight others wounded when a mortar round exploded while still in its launch tube during a training exercise in Nevada, the military said Tuesday. The accident involved a powerful 60 millimeter round and the Marine Corps ordered a ban on the use of such mortars after the incident, pending the outcome of an investigation. “A blanket suspension of 60 mm mortars and associated tubes is now in effect until review is complete,” said Marine Corps spokeswoman Captain Kendra Motz.

The number of troops reported wounded in the blast rose to eight late on Tuesday, including two “very seriously” injured, according to a Marine Corps statement. “The Marines were conducting live fire and maneuver training at the Hawthorne army depot,” said Brigadier General Jim Lukeman, head of the 2nd Marine Division, which was taking part in the drill. A 60 mm round went off while in a mortar tube and “we don’t know yet what caused this malfunction,” the general told reporters at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where the 2nd division is based.

The vast depot in the western Nevada desert spans 147,000 acres and includes more than 2,000 bunkers. Its desolate terrain and high altitude is used to train troops preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Major General Raymond Fox, the commander of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, expressed sorrow over the casualties. “We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice,” he said in a statement. US President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel were briefed on the accident and expressed their condolences, officials said. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada said: “My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives. And my sympathies are with their fellow Marines, who are also grieving this loss.” The site

NORTH CAROLINA: Brig Gen James W Lukeman, 2nd Marine Division commanding general, offers remarks and condolences to the crowd gathered outside the Main Gate of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. — AFP of the Nevada depot, about 140 miles southeast of Reno, was chosen for its remote location after a fatal accidental explosion at another depot in New Jersey in 1926. Hawthorne served as the main staging area for ammunition during World War II and once employed about 5,600 people.

The depot is now run by a contractor and is used to renovate ammunition, destroy outmoded ordnance and prepare troops for desert combat

and other training. The accident came a year after seven Marines were killed in a collision of helicopters near the border of California and Arizona, which involved an AH-1W Super Cobra chopper and a UH-14 Huey. The Pentagon has tried to reduce the number of training accidents and says it has made some progress over the past decade.

Aviation crashes have declined by about 45 percent since 2002— AFP

Woman at center of spy allegations is an enigma HONOLULU: The 27-year-old Chinese woman at the center of spying allegations hanging over her boyfriend, a defense contractor in Hawaii, is not in custody. Her identity and whereabouts haven’t been released, and US authorities also haven’t said whether they believe she is working for the Chinese government. She lives in the United States as a student on a J-1 visa, according to an affidavit the FBI filed this week by the FBI in US District Court in Honolulu.

“While she is not charged in the criminal complaint, the government is aware of her location and is continuing the investigation to determine the role of all involved,” said a Justice Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Benjamin Bishop, a 59-year-old civilian defense contractor who

works at Pacific Command, met the woman at a Hawaii conference on military defense issues. The counterintelligence agent investigating Bishop said the woman may have been at the conference specifically to meet people like Bishop, who work with and have access to certain classified information, the affidavit said.

They began an intimate, romantic relationship in June 2011, according to the affidavit. At the time, Bishop was working at a Pacific Command office that develops plans to deter potential US adversaries, according to his LinkedIn profile online. Bishop is scheduled to appear in federal court Friday for a hearing on whether he should stay in detention while prosecutors pursue their case. Birney Bervar, Bishop’s attorney, said he planned to seek bail but wasn’t optimistic he would be

HAWAII: Photo shows the home of civilian defense contractor Benjamin Pierce Bishop in Kapolei, Hawaii. Bishop is charged with giving national security secrets to a 27-year-old Chinese woman he was dating. — AP

successful. Bervar declined to discuss details of the case, saying he had not yet spoken in depth to his client. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 1. The affidavit says the woman told Bishop repeatedly she didn’t want him to tell him anything classified but continued to question Bishop about his work.

Bishop, on the other hand, told her he wouldn’t give her any classified information but did so anyway, the document said. Bishop, a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve, is accused of telling her secrets about US nuclear weapons, missile defenses, war plans, early warning radar systems and other issues.

Last month, the woman asked Bishop what western countries knew about a Chinese naval asset.

This fell outside the scope of Bishop’s work but he conducted open source record research for her and collected and reviewed classified information on the topic, the affidavit said. Bishop’s security clearance required him to disclose his contacts with foreign nationals, but the affidavit says he failed to let officials know about his relationship with the woman.

The FBI declined further comment on Tuesday. A Justice Department spokesman in Honolulu did not return a call seeking comment. Bishop was married until last year, according to state documents in Utah. His ex-wife declined comment when approached by The Associated Press on Tuesday at her home in Odgen, Utah. Her neighbor, Sandra Doyle, said it was clear Bishop was having an affair with a Chinese woman prior to the divorce. Doyle, who said she is friends with the exwife, said the girlfriend was a university student in the District of Columbia, though she didn’t know which school.

Doyle said neighbors knew Bishop worked for the government in Hawaii but were unclear on his exact job. Larry Wortzel, a member of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said China has used sexual entrapment as a means to gather intelligence before and the allegations aren’t surprising. As an Army reserve officer and defense contractor, Bishop would have received security briefings on this and understood “how sex may be used for intelligence targeting,” Wortzel said.

Whether US national security was damaged by any of the alleged disclosures would depend on how detailed the information was and whether the woman knew any of it was classified, said Carl Baker, director of programs at Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies. Information on weapons could be harmful because it could tell a potential enemy what US weapons system can do as well as what capabilities the adversary would need to develop to counter US capabilities, he said. Bishop’s position wouldn’t have given him access to specifics about weapons technology, though, Baker said. Leaked details on military plans might also be detrimental. “That’s an important part, because if you divulge enough information about the planning process, you end up giving information that reveals a strategy and how you could counter that strategy,” Baker said. The key issues for any trial will be Bishop’s intent and the sophistication of the information he passed on, Baker said. Bishop is charged with one count of communicating national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it and one count of unlawfully retaining national defense documents and plans.— AP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

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

Pakistan to hold historic polls on May 11 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will go to the polls on May 11, the presidency announced yesterday, in an historic general election marking the first democratic transition of power in the country’s 66-year existence.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who confounded critics by managing to keep his fractious coalition together for a full, fiveyear term, announced the date days after parliament dissolved at the end of its term. “The president announced today that general elections to the national assembly will be held on May 11,” his spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

The vote will mark the first time that an elected civilian government hands over to another in a country that has seen three military coups and four military rulers since partition from India and the end of British rule in 1947. But Taleban attacks and record levels of violence directed against the Shiite Muslim minority have raised fears about security for the polls in the nuclear-armed country of 180 million, a key but troubled US ally.

Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N led

by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif are likely to dominate the race, with former cricket star Imran Khan competing in an election for the first time. Separate elections also need to be held for each regional assembly in Pakistan’s four provinces, but Babar said there was no decision yet on which day those polls will be held, although commentators believe May 11 is likely.

Political analyst Hasan Askari said that by setting a date, the president had gone some way towards containing conspiracy theories about a possible delay. A parliamentary committee has until tomorrow to select a candidate to head up a caretaker administration, which will formally rule until the vote. “The dust should settle now... it is clear the election will be held but distrust or doubts will go away when the caretaker prime minister is chosen,” Askari said.

“I don’t expect any hiccups in the process. My feeling is the election will be held within the margins and deadlines fixed by the constitution,” he said.

Analysts have praised Zardari for lasting

the course, passing key legislation and relinquishing his powers to strengthen democracy, but his rule has also been marked by chronic mismanagement, economic decline and worsening security.

They credit not just his wheeler-dealer talents, but also the army chief of staff’s determination to keep to the sidelines and the opposition’s unwillingness to force early elections.

But apart from a military operation that pushed the Taleban out of the Swat valley in 2009, the government has failed to crack down on the plethora of extremist groups blamed for violence in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Pakistan has hosted no international sport since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009.

Religious violence has reached dizzying levels, most recently against Shiites, who account for about 20 percent of the population.

Karachi, the largest city and business hub, is suffering from record killings linked to political and ethnic tensions, with more than 2,000 dead in 2012. The

ISLAMABAD: An ice cream vendor passes by a banner featuring portraits of Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Bhutto’s family members along a street in Islamabad yesterday. — AFP government has done little to come up with long-term solutions to Pakistan’s crippling energy crisis or introduce desperately needed tax reforms. Ministers have been tainted by accusations of

brazen corruption. After the elections, Pakistan is expected to have little option but to seek another bailout package from the International Monetary Fund, given its yawning budget deficit. — AFP

Campaigners welcome India anti-rape law, with caution Sex crimes put India in very bad light

MAIDAN SHAR: Afghanistan border policemen stand guard near their US-made vehicle in Maidan Shar, capital of Wardak province. — AFP

US, Afghanistan reach deal on troop pullout KABUL: The US military and the Afghan government reached a deal yesterday on a gradual pullout of American Special Forces and their Afghan counterparts from a contentious eastern province, officials said.

President Hamid Karzai has blamed the troops for egregious human rights abuses in Wardak province, allegations which US military officials have steadfastly denied.

However, NATO forces said in a statement that commander Gen Joseph Dunford agreed with Karzai to remove American troops first from Wardak’s Nerkh district and then later from other parts of the province.

Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Gen Zahir Azimi confirmed there has been a deal in a news conference in Kabul yesterday. “The international forces are ready to withdraw the special forces from Nirkh district of Maidan Wardak province and Afghan army units are going to replace them in the coming days,” Azimi said, adding that there are no other US commando units in the rest of the province.

A US military official explained that a small, mostly US army special operations team would withdraw from Nerkh, as would the Afghan local police force that works alongside the Americans. The deal marked a political win for Karzai, who has long complained the US special operations troops and their Afghan allies were outside his control. It will also speed the handover of security in the troubled province, faster than US officials and some members of Karzai’s own government had recommended or planned.

US and Afghan officials have privately expressed concern that the inexperienced Afghan security forces are not yet ready to take over in such a key area. Wardak and neighboring Logar province are used staging grounds for the Taleban and insurgents from the Haqqani network to launch attacks on the capital, Kabul. Only last Friday, Afghan intelligence seized a truck loaded

with almost eight metric tons of homemade explosives just east out of Kabul, which intelligence officials believe could have taken out a square mile of the city.

The US officials spoke on condition of anonymity to recount their disagreement with Karzai and concerns over the deal.

Speaking ahead of the announcement of the deal, Karzai spokesman Aimal Faizee said the Afghan security forces were going to take control of the province eventually, so the gradual transfer “can be a testing period.” Faizee insisted earlier this week that an Afghan American working for the US special operations forces was filmed abusing a suspect, on US orders.

The spokesman said the film was obtained during an Afghan defense ministry investigation, which was completed over the weekend. Dunford, the US commander of all forces in Afghanistan, rejected the abuse charge in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday. He said a recently completed US investigation found the interpreter in question was not working with US forces at the time of the incident. It was not clear what the agreement would mean for dozens of small US special operations outposts throughout Afghanistan, and the Afghans units partnered with them.

Such Afghan units, known as local police, were started by US forces but have been incorporated into the Afghan Ministry of Interior, and answer to the local district police chief, according to an Afghan security official who spoke on condition of anonymity as a condition of discussing the sometimes controversial program. Karzai has alleged they are “outside his control,” said Faizee, because some units have been caught preying on locals with impromptu checkpoints, or abusing the civilians under their care. But US and Afghan officials point out the Afghan interior ministry prosecuted five local police accused of rape last year, and sentenced them to long jail sentences. — AP

2 Indian suspects deny harassing British tourist AGRA: Two men appeared in an Indian court yesterday accused of harassing a British tourist who jumped off her hotel balcony fearing a sex attack, with their lawyer saying they denied the charges.

The manager of the three-star Hotel Agra Mahal, Sachin Chauhan, and another member of staff were produced before the local magistrate in the northern city of Agra and were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

Prakash Narayan Sharma, lawyer for the hotel manager said his client would enter a “not guilty” plea before the court today and apply for bail. The woman was admitted to hospital on Tuesday with minor leg injuries sustained as she fled the hotel after the men allegedly tried to force their way into her room in the middle of the night. Sharma said his client was being framed and that the woman had cooked up the story.

“The woman herself asked for a wakeup call as she had to catch an early morning train to Jaipur. The manager, along with the hotel’s security guard, went to the room and knocked on the door.

“When they did not get any response, they opened the room with the hotel key.

The woman then, for reasons best known to her, jumped off from the balcony,” he told AFP. He also claimed it was a conspiracy concocted by tourism authorities in New Delhi to tarnish the image of Agra, which is home to the Taj Mahal and is a threehour drive from the capital.

The incident came just days after a Swiss cyclist was allegedly gang-raped in the central state of Madhya Pradesh by a group of villagers late Friday, while on a cycling trip with her husband that was meant to include a stopover in Agra. That attack re-focused attention on the country’s poor record on safety for women, after thousands took to the streets in nationwide protests following the fatal gang-rape of an Indian student on a bus in New Delhi in December.

The British woman was due to return home after recording her statement in court. “She has spoken to her family in the UK and her mother will be coming here to take her back home,” deputy superintendent of Agra police Swaranjeet, who uses just one name said.

“The girl is much better, she is safe. She is still here.” — AFP

NEW DELHI: Campaigners welcomed a toughening of laws in India yesterday for sex crimes but said they were not enough to tackle a crisis underpinned by cultural attitudes, including from “sexist” lawmakers. India’s lower house on Tuesday passed a bill increasing punishment for sex offenders, including the death penalty if a victim dies, three months after the fatal gangrape of a student on a bus in Delhi sparked nationwide protests.

Women’s rights activists hailed the legislation for broadening the definition of sexual assault to include molestation of private parts and for doubling the minimum prison sentence for gangrape to 20 years. It also allows for the death sentence if a rape victim dies or is left in a persistent vegetative state. Under existing laws, rapists face a minimum seven-year jail term. Ranjana Kumari, director of the non-profit Centre for Social Research, praised the decision to include a penalty for police officials who fail to register assault or harassment cases filed by women.

“This will go a long way in ending the culture of shame that surrounds victims of sexual crimes, so they don’t feel afraid to approach police when they are attacked,” Kumari said. But the bill still had huge holes, she added, citing lawmakers’ refusal to criminalize marital rape or raise the punishment for acid attacks, from a

minimum seven-year jail term to a proposed life imprisonment sentence.

“Their failure to increase punishment for such a gruesome and commonplace crime like acid attacks, where a woman suffers every day for the rest of her life clearly sends a message that they don’t take it seriously,” she said. The new laws also make no special provision for incest and fail to meet demands from some lawmakers for tougher sentences for child trafficking. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, which must now be approved by the upper house, was passed the same day that a British tourist jumped off her hotel balcony in the Taj Mahal city of Agra in a bid to escape an alleged sex attack.

That incident came just days after a Swiss cyclist was gang-raped in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on Friday night in a brutal assault observers said underscored risks women face in the country of 1.2 billion people. “These attacks put India in a very bad light, letting the whole world know that we cannot provide safety, either to our own women or to foreign visitors,” Kumari said. The legislation also creates penalties for newly-defined offences including stalking and voyeurism, in a move attacked by leading parliamentarians who said such actions did not merit punishment.

“Who amongst us have not followed girls?”

Sharad Yadav, a veteran politician from the regional Janata Dal (United) party said, evoking laughter from his fellow male MPs. Female Communist Party lawmaker Brinda Karat excoriated the remarks, saying “parliament shamed India yesterday with its highly sexist, regressive commentary during the discussion on the bill”.

“It just shows how far-distanced lawmakers are from actual social realities,” Karat said. Some analysts have raised concerns, however, that the rush to put tougher penalties in place and defuse public anger over the issue, may create further problems for India’s already beleaguered justice system.

Supreme Court lawyer Nikhil Mehra, who earlier sat on a government-appointed panel looking into sex crime, said the new legislation carried risks of “improper application” by poorlytrained police officials. “The police officials don’t even understand what stalking means, and they are going to penalize it, without adequate monitoring of the suspect, without proof? It creates many possibilities for error,” he said. “You need large-scale structural reform in this country to remedy this crisis. Unless you can provide police with better training and massively increase the number of legal officers, you are not going to fix anything.” — AFP

NEW DELHI: Two Indian men watch a foreign tourist at a market in New Delhi yesterday. Campaigners welcomed a toughening of laws in India for sex crimes but said they were not enough to tackle a crisis underpinned by cultural attitudes, including from ‘sexist’ lawmakers. — AFP

India toughens stand on Lanka war crimes probe NEW DELHI: India promised yesterday to push for a “strong” UN resolution urging Sri Lanka to investigate alleged war crimes, a day after the issue caused a split in the ruling coalition. The United States is drafting a resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva which is expected to be voted today and is bound to anger Colombo. Finance Minister P Chidambaram said India would propose amendments to the draft resolution being negotiated, but he denied that India was trying to water it down-as was claimed in some media reports.

“India’s position has always been and remains that the UNHRC should adopt a strong resolution that would send a resolute message to Sri Lanka and goad Sri Lanka to accept an independent and credible investigation,” Chidambaram said. India’s ruling coalition was rocked on Tuesday by the resignation of a party from

southern Tamil Nadu state, which accused the government of being too soft and demanded that the resolution refer to the “genocide” of ethnic Tamils. International rights groups estimate that 40,000 civilians died in the final months of fighting when government troops launched an onslaught on separatists fighting for a Tamil homeland.

Sri Lanka has denied that its forces killed civilians and has resisted calls from the UN and Western powers for an independent international investigation into the conduct of its army. Sri Lanka’s top general, who led the campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels, said Tuesday the government should accept a probe but he rejected any suggestion of genocide. “Some people have questions. Some people have doubts. Some people want to know what happened,” Sarath Fonseka, who has become a top opponent of President Mahinda Rajapakse,

told the Foreign Correspondents’ Association. “ We will have to justify the actions taken by us. I am ready to answer anyone. I am ready to clarify any doubts.” India, home to millions of Tamils who share links with their counterparts in Sri Lanka, risks a further worsening in relations with its southern neighbor over the UNHRC resolution. Leader of the ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, said Tuesday that India was “most pained” that Tamils in Sri Lanka were being denied their rights and New Delhi was “anguished by reports of unspeakable atrocities”.

Thousands of Tamils held protests in Tamil Nadu yesterday as well as in the commercial capital Mumbai, holding up pictures of alleged victims of Sri Lankan soldiers. India has also postponed scheduled defense cooperation talks with Sri Lanka this month, officials said. In Sri Lanka, dozens of

Buddhist monks demonstrated outside the Indian embassy in Colombo for a second straight day yesterday. The country has lodged a complaint with India and warned its pilgrims against travelling to Tamil Nadu because of repeated physical attacks against them.

In another move likely to deepen the discord, Chidambaram stressed that the Indian government was consulting other parties about a parliamentary resolution which would also call on Sri Lanka to investigate the alleged war crimes. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which quit the coalition on Tuesday, has hinted that it might return to support the government if a resolution is passed by parliament. Without its 18 lawmakers in the lower house, the left-leaning government, dominated by the Congress party, is more vulnerable to falling before the scheduled date for elections in the first half of 2014.

— AFP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

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

China ‘spending massively on cyber attacks’ WASHINGTON: China is pouring massive amounts of money and resources into cyber attacks aimed at stealing business secrets, security researchers told a US congressional panel on Tuesday. Cyber attacks purported to come from China, a topic which has drawn the attention of US President Barack Obama and other top officials, are part of “an extensive effort to pilfer intellectual property,” said Kevin Mandia, head of the security firm Mandiant.

“It’s been supported monetarily,” said Mandia, whose firm released a report earlier this year linking the People’s Liberation Army to a long-running cyber espionage campaign. “It would take thousands of people, thousands of systems... the mere infrastructure alone, and the time, and duration and scope of this effort to steal our secrets has gone on for so long that there’s a large amount of investment in it.”

Mandia told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee that “based on that investment, it’s hard to conclude

anything other than that there’s an advantage being gained from that investment.” Richard Bejtlich, Mandiant’s chief security officer, said the army unit identified in the report is “just one element of a large campaign.” “There are other teams working in other cities in other parts of the country that, in some cases, target other areas of the economy,” he added.

Based on the firm’s investigation, “We can say with confidence that they’re Chinese units... I would say they’re at least government sanctioned. We can’t say for sure these other units, whether they are uniform-wearing military or if they’re contractors or if they’re outsourced third parties.” Mandia said the methods of the attacks suggest clear economic goals.

“These attacks are against companies,” he said. “They’re not against individuals at the highest levels. It’s to steal corporate secrets; it’s not individual secrets, necessarily.”

He added that most of the attacks are carried out by luring people to open infected emails which allow outsiders

SEOUL: A YTN security person walks after the TV station’s computer networks were paralyzed at its headquarter in Seoul, South Korea yesterday. Computer networks at two major South Korean banks and three top TV broadcasters went into shutdown mode en masse yesterday, paralyzing bank machines across the country and prompting speculation of a cyberattack by North Korea. — AP

access to networks. “But they are not targeting an individual at home. And it’s very clear to us after responding to Chinese intrusions for nearly 15 years now in my career, the attacks do follow a rule of engagement,” he said. “I’ve never witnessed Chinese intruders-other than breach the confidentiality of your documents, I’ve never seen them change things.”

Obama earlier this month pledged “some pretty tough talk” with China and added that “we’ve made it very clear to China and some other state actors that, you know, we expect them to follow international norms and abide by international rules.” China has consistently denied the charges, and also claimed that it was a victim of such attacks. In its report, Mandiant alleged that APT1 known also as “Comment Crew” for its practice of planting viruses on the comment sections of websites-has stolen hundreds of terabytes of data from at least 141 organizations spanning 20 industries. — AFP

Malaysian state boss under fire ‘Sting’ video raises pressure

KUALA LUMPUR: Workers hang flags of the Malaysia opposition People’s Justice Party at their campaign outpost in Kuala Lumpur. — AFP

Specter of bias hovers over Malaysian vote KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly all of Malaysia agrees coming elections will be the country’s closest ever, but opinions diverge on another key question: will the hotly anticipated contest be free and fair? “Yes”, says the nation’s long-ruling government, which touts recent reforms including the use of indelible ink to avoid multiple voting and expanded overseas postal balloting for the polls due by June. “No”, say activists and opposition parties whose rallies for electoral reform have triggered clashes with police and who warn “massive” bias and fraud could taint the vote in Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy.

“The only thing we can do is minimize the fraud. But it will not be eradicated,” said Ambiga Sreenevasan, co-chair of Bersih, a coalition that spearheaded two protests by tens of thousands of people in 2011 and 2012. Since a strong opposition showing in 2008, Malaysia has been abuzz with speculation that the ruling Barisan Nasional bloc, in power since 1957 independence and one of the world’s longestserving regimes, could be dethroned.

But the opposition faces an uphill slog. Observers say Barisan has tilted the playing field decisively over the decades, one factor favoring an expected narrow government victory. “Malaysians vote freely, but they do not have a fair playing field for the election,” said Bridget Welsh, a political analyst at Singapore Management University who said a completely level field would likely see an opposition win.

Dominated by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) - Malaysia’s most powerful party-Barisan has produced impressive economic growth over the decades, and calls the three-party opposition alliance inexperienced. The opposition, however, portrays UMNO as an oppressive and corrupt force, and promises deep reform.

LONG HISTORY OF VOTE FRAUD Malaysia has a history of past election fraud allegationsincluding a case of a voter who would have been 128 still on the electoral role, vote-buying, and army officials filling out ballots for soldiers. But Bersih warns the coming elections will be Malaysia’s “dirtiest ever”, saying the electoral roll is full of irregularities including large numbers of registered yet unaccounted-for voters.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim recently said that Selangor, a key state the opposition won in 2008, has seen a swell of sudden new voter registrations, 138,000 of whom cannot be traced. “So of course we believe this is due to phantom voters,” he said. Even if polling is clean, Bersih says Barisan-implemented structural biases mean it could win enough seats to form a government with just 20 percent of the popular vote.

Many key Barisan seats are in sparsely populated rural areas while opposition strongholds are typically crowded urban zones, giving the pro-Barisan votes inordinate weight. The Election Commission also is widely viewed as pro-Barisan-which it denies-while Najib’s government controls mainstream media through printing licences. “The issues are clear: Malapportionment, gerrymandering, independence of the electoral commission, mainstream media bias, vote-buying and now real questions about the electoral roll itself,” Welsh said.

Pressured by Bersih, Najib set up a panel to study reform.

Its recommendations last year included use of indelible ink, a campaign period of at least 10 days, and expanded voting for overseas Malaysians who generally seen as oppositionleaning. “Malaysia’s electoral system is stronger than ever,” a spokesman for Najib’s office said recently. Paul Low, president of the anti-graft Transparency International Malaysia, backed that view, saying the reforms and intense public focus on the issue could make them the “cleanest” polls ever held in the country. “No other election has been watched more closely than this. If people win by methods that are not honest, the backlash from the public will be bad,” he said. Bersih, however, insists much more needs to be done, particularly a thorough electoral roll clean-up. An ongoing government inquiry has heard testimony that tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in the key state of Sabah were given citizenship in recent decades in the expectation they would vote Barisan, heightening fraud fears. Suspicions also were aroused last month when authorities deported Nick Xenophon, an Australian senator and critic of Malaysia’s electoral system.

“I believe the deportation is very telling. It is an indication of nervousness of the authorities over the elections,” Ambiga said. Malaysia has been a pillar of stability in a sometimes turbulent region, but the electoral issue, more than any other, has shown an ability to bring angry citizens to the streets. In an apparent nod to that, Najib recently declared the results must be accepted. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: Corruption watchdog Transparency International called yesterday on the powerful boss of a Malaysian state to step aside after a video purportedly linking him to abuse of power went viral online. The clip produced by London-based NGO Global Witness allegedly depicts a “sting”, in which a person posing as a foreign businessman is seen negotiating with cousins and associates of Sarawak state chief Taib Mahmud.

The video has received more than 200,000 views since it was posted Tuesday and sparked a flood of online postings calling for Taib’s arrest. Taib, 76, has headed resource-rich Sarawak on Borneo island as chief minister since 1981 and has for years faced-and denied-allegations of large-scale

corruption and nepotism.

The chief minister could not be reached

by AFP for comment. But he dismissed the video as a possible attempt to smear him, in comments made in Sarawak’s capital Kuching that were also uploaded on YouTube later Tuesday. People in the clandestinely shot 16-minute Global Witness video are shown explaining how they make huge profits selling land titles issued by Taib, thus circumventing taxes and Malaysian law, the NGO said. AFP could not confirm the identities of the people shown, or Global Witness’s account. The NGO campaigns against corruption and conflict related to natural resources.

Authorities should launch a full investigation of the video, Josie Fernandez, secre-

tary-general of Transparency International’s Malaysian chapter, told reporters in the capital Kuala Lumpur. She also urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to speed up an investigation into Taib that the agency said it had launched two years ago. “Prime Minister Najib Razak must call on the chief minister of Sarawak to resign until investigations are completed”, she said, adding the existing MACC probe “seems to be taking a long time”.

The Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund released a report in September alleging Taib had amassed an estimated $15 billion fortune, which would make him Malaysia’s richest man and one of the world’s wealthiest. Activists accuse Taib and his family of massive graft in awarding Sarawak timber

concessions and other contracts, and of rapacious development that has seen rain forests felled, questionable dams built and tribal groups uprooted.

Taib has defended the policies, saying the state needs to be developed. Critics of Malaysia’s long-ruling party accuse the central government of failing to act against Taib because his tight control of Sarawak has kept it a vital party stronghold. The MACC’s director of investigation, Mustafar Ali said the original Taib probe was still continuing. “With the new evidence that has emerged, the MACC will act accordingly,” he said, without specifying any steps. A spokesman for the prime minister’s office said they had no comment on the matter as yet. — AFP

Taiwan sets up shield to tackle Chinese ‘hacking’ TAIPEI: Taiwan has set up a unit to create a comprehensive Internet shield against hackers, its intelligence chief said yesterday, in response to what it claims is a growing cyber threat from China. Tsai Tehsheng, head of the island’s National Security Bureau, described the perceived cyber threat from China as “very severe” when asked to evaluate it in parliament by Kuomintang legislator Lin Yu-fang.

“The types of their Internet hacking are changing as their targets gradually diversify, ranging from military secrets, high-tech and business secrets to infrastructure,” Tsai said. “With the capabilities, they could sabotage Taiwan’s infrastructure and spoil financial order whenever needed.” Tsai said that China had been stepping up its cyber attacks against the island to new levels that have alarmed President Ma Ying-jeou, the initiator of the detente with China. “Top government officials have paid special heed to the issues. Both the National Security Council and the Cabinet have set up an information security office tasked with the development of an Internet shield,” Tsai said.

Ties have improved markedly since Ma of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008 on a platform of ramping up trade and tourism links with the mainland. Ma was reelected in January 2012 for a second and the last four-year

term. Yet China still considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, even though the island has ruled itself for more than 60 years after their split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.

The accusations from Taiwan come a day after security researchers told a United States congressional panel that China was pouring massive amounts of money and resources into cyber attacks aimed at stealing business secrets. Last month, a report from US security firm Mandiant said a unit of China’s People’s Liberation Army had stolen hundreds of terabytes of data from at least 141 organizations, mostly based in the United States.

President Barack Obama weighed in on the issue last week, saying that cyber threats affecting US firms and infrastructure were increasing, and some were “state sponsored”. “We’ve made it very clear to China and some other state actors that, you know, we expect them to follow international norms and abide by international rules,” he said in an interview with ABC News. China’s new premier Li Keqiang on Sunday rejected US accusations of hacking, saying that Beijing did not support cyber spying after Obama stepped up rhetoric on the issue. “China itself is a major victim of cyber attacks,” Li told a news conference.

“China doesn’t support cyber attacks.

Indeed we oppose such activities.” — AFP

Two survivors found as Nigeria boat sinks Boat with 128 people on board capsized LAGOS: Only two survivors have been found so far after a boat capsized off Nigeria with an estimated 128 people on board, emergency officials said yesterday.”One hundred twenty-eight people were suspected to be aboard the boat, but only nine bodies have been recovered, while there were two survivors so far,” Yushau Shuaib, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency said. He said the sinking occurred about two or three days ago some 40 miles off the coast of the southern city of Calabar, but that there was still some confusion about the origin of the boat.

Shuaib said he had been informed that the two survivors were rescued on Monday, but that their conditions so far had prevented authorities from speaking to them in detail. There were indications that the boat had originated from Congo-Brazzaville, but that has not been confirmed, he said, without giving further details. Such accidents at sea occur regularly in parts of Africa, with rickety boats often overloaded with passengers and few reliable records of who was aboard. A rescue source speaking on condition of anonymity said initial indications were that the two survivors were Togolese.

A spokesman for the emergency management agency in Cross River state, where Calabar is located, said the wreckage of the boat had not yet been located.

The survivors were rescued by a patrol team from Addax Petroleum, a Chinese company which has operations in the oilrich country, said the spokesman, David Akate. The survivors are “yet to be stabilized,” he said, but could not give further specifics on their condition. Akate also said the boat had an estimated 128 passengers and that nine bodies had been recovered. “We are still collating information on the mishap because it happened on the high seas,” he said.

“We have not been able to get information as to where the boat took off from, where it was going and the type of boat. The accident happened at the weekend and the rescue operation started on Sunday.” In July 2012, a ferry sank in choppy waters as it crossed from mainland Tanzania to the island of Zanzibar, leaving at least 104 people drowned.

Zanzibar authorities charged three people with manslaughter over the sinking of the ship, the MV Skagit, including its owner and captain.

In September 2011, more than 200 people perished when the MV Spice Islander, which the authorities admitted was overloaded, sank while sailing between two of the main islands in the Zanzibar archipelago. Rescue workers saved 619 passengers. At least 50 people drowned and some 35 were reported missing after a boat accident on a river in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 2011. — AFP

BUSAN: US Navy Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) arrives to be anchored at a South Korean navy base in Busan yesterday. USS Cheyenne was the first ship to launch Tomahawk missiles in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. — AFP

Amid tensions, American builds schools in N Korea GENEVA: Amid mounting military and nuclear tensions with North Korea, an American retiree has gained rare access to the pariah state to build schools in the usually off-limits countryside. Christopher Carpenter, 73, who used to head the UN refugee agency in Vietnam, began building schools in North Korea in 2008. “It wasn’t really my idea. The North Koreans contacted me out of the blue by email in 2007,” Carpenter said in Switzerland, where he lives and where his charity, the Foundation for Microprojects in Vietnam-DPRK, is registered. His organization had been financing schools and other projects in Vietnam since 2000, and the North Koreans asked Carpenter if he would do the same there.

Typhoons had destroyed many North Korean schools, built with mud and hay instead of cement, and Carpenter’s foundation agreed to help, becoming one of few independent aid groups in the country.

North Korea’s hardline communist regime has been pilloried for prioritizing its nuclear program and military over providing basic necessities, and Carpenter acknowledged he could be accused of filling in where the regime is failing its people. “But the fact is they’re not doing it and the people are suffering the consequences.” Even though the North Koreans approached him, Carpenter says they initially barred him from the country. “They had difficulty with my passport in the beginning,” he said, so his French colleague Catherine Bertrand undertook the initial visit in February 2008.

Also a retired UN representative, Bertrand, 67, was taken to the remote southern Kangwon Province, where she found a school on the verge of collapse teaching students in sub-freezing temperatures. “The kids were so cold they couldn’t move,” she said. When the new school opened the following November, Carpenter was allowed in. He has made four trips since, with another planned in October. “We have never encountered any hostility,” he said, stressing that the North Koreans know he is there to help and, he believes, have decided to trust him. The foundation has built six middle schools, each for around 300 students, and has three more under construction.

Carpenter and Bertrand inspect all sites

before and after the schools are built and pay no more than $40,000 per project, with the state usually pitching in around $25,000.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re using the money properly,” he said, pointing to the inspections and detailed financial reports. ‘To teach propaganda, you have to teach them first how to read, write and count’-In its first education reform in four decades, Pyongyang announced last September an extension of compulsory free education from 11 to 12 years. Carpenter acknowledges that children are openly taught propaganda in the schools he funds, but stressed that “they also study other subjects like English, math ... and art.” Bertrand insists that the schools are, paradoxically, a rock-solid investment. “You know it will be filled with children and teachers... for propaganda,” she said, but “to teach propaganda, you have to teach them first how to read, write and count.”

The two describe friendly relationships with the North Koreans they work with, and while they must request permission for every move they make, it is usually granted.

They believe this has given them a glimpse of life beyond the official facade. They have, for instance, driven on the cross-country, almost empty eight-lane highway at night and seen people walking along the side of the road, “like ghosts, in the dark, in minus 15 degree weather,” Carpenter said.

He also describes extreme poverty and houses with cracked windows in the dead of winter, but says that, from what he has seen, people seem to have enough to eat. That is not the view of the UN, however, which says two-thirds of the country’s 24 million people are chronically food insecure. Pyongyang has repeatedly turned to the international community for food aid amid intermittent famines since hundreds of thousands died in a severe famine in the 1990s.

Carpenter almost fully funds the North Korean projects himself, and laments the difficulty of convincing donors to pitch in.

People “don’t see the human angle (or) the hardship,” he said. “North Koreans are human beings who laugh and cry like people everywhere,” he said, describing people with a “good sense of humor” who are curious about the outside world. — AFP

NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

A Syrian shepherd cares for his flock near the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Serjilla in the northwestern province of Idlib on Tuesday. — AFP

Obama vows ‘eternal’ defence of Israel Continued from Page 1 The Israeli president also raised the threat of a nuclear Iran, while expressing confidence in Obama’s pledge to prevent it from gaining atomic weapons.

“We trust your policy which calls first to try by nonmilitary means (to stop Iran) with a clear statement that there are other options on the table,” he said.

The US leader then headed into a working meeting with Netanyahu, at which the Iranian question was expected to play a central role, although it looked unlikely the two would narrow their differences over the point of no return. Obama has said Iran will not be able to build a nuclear weapon for “over a year or so”.

But Netanyahu says Iran could have the capacity to produce a bomb within months, and questions whether sanctions will change Tehran’s calculations.

Obama’s arrival on a visit which is more likely to be marked by symbolism than progress on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict sparked glowing praise from the Israeli leaders. “Thank you, Mr President, for upholding the Jewish people’s right for a Jewish state in our homeland and for boldly defending that right in the United Nations,” said Netanyahu who has had several sharp public disagreements with Obama. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is accompanying Obama, is to return to Israel on Saturday “to review the results of the president’s visit following his stops

in Ramallah and Amman”, a State Department official told AFP. During his three-day visit, Obama will hold talks in Ramallah with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, although officials have downplayed expectations his visit would overcome the deadlock in peace efforts.

“Peace must come to the Holy Land,” Obama said shortly after arriving, but he has made clear he was coming to listen rather than launch any new peace initiative. Disillusioned by the failure of Obama’s firstterm peace efforts, the Palestinians are hoping he will help broker the release of more than 1,000 prisoners held by Israel and also free up $700 million in blocked US aid.

Obama will tell the Palestinians that initiatives like seeking statehood recognition at the United Nations are counterproductive, while warning Israel that settlement building undercuts the chances of resuming peace talks. On the cultural front, Obama will pointedly court the historic symbolism of the Jewish state when he inspects the Dead Sea Scrolls and visits the tomb of Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism.

The choreography is intended to show Israelis, Arabs and political foes back home that Obama is deeply committed to Israel’s security and future, despite some scepticism about his motives. A major part of the charm offensive will be today when Obama delivers a speech to hundreds of young Israelis. — AFP

Cyber attack hits South Korea Continued from Page 1 filing stories because they could not access the network, he said. “We still have no idea who was behind the attacks,” said a spokesman from the broadcasting watchdog Korea Communications Commission. “The related government agencies are investigating affected PCs. We need more time to figure out who did it, and why,” the spokesman said.

The National Computing and Information Agency, which oversees all the computer networks of government organisations, said its system had been unaffected. Seoul’s Korea Internet Security Agency recorded 40,000 cases of cyber attacks from foreign and domestic sources in 2012, up sharply from 24,000 in 2008. “South Korea is an IT superpow-

er with good infrastructure but remains relatively vulnerable to hacking,” Park Soon-Tai, manager of the agency’s hacking response team, told AFP in a recent interview.

China, North Korea’s main patron which has angrily denied being behind a spate of cyber attacks on US interests, said the incident in South Korea showed the importance of a collective response to IT threats. “China would like to work with other countries based on mutual respect and mutual trust in constructive cooperation in this field,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. In a phone call to South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, China’s new leader Xi Jinping said Beijing was willing to help promote “reconciliation” between Seoul and Pyongyang amid the current tensions. — AFP

Bangladeshi prez dies in Singapore Continued from Page 1 As a student leader and political organiser he played an active role in the Language Movement in 1952 for the establishment of Bengali as a state language, a crucial campaign that helped cement the idea of Bangladeshi statehood. Authorities in what was then East Pakistan sentenced him to twenty years of imprisonment in absentia during the independence war of 1971 and confiscated all his properties.

After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family in 1975, he was also put behind bars for four years by the military government which overthrew the elected government. A third period of detention followed in 1986.

More latterly, he played a key role in keeping the party unit-

ed after Hasina was arrested by a military-backed government in 2007. The Awami League won a landslide victory in the Dec 2008 general elections and Rahman became a member of parliament for the sixth time and subsequently took the oath as the 19th President on Feb 12, 2009.

Rahman’s wife Ivy Rahman, also a politician, died in Aug 2004 after she was critically injured in a grenade attack on an Awami League party rally that also killed 20 other people. The president’s death comes amid some of the worst political violence in post-independence Bangladesh, which has seen at least 86 people killed since Jan 21. The trigger for the unrest has been a war crimes tribunal that has begun sentencing people over atrocities committed during the 1971 independence war. The political opposition says it is being targeted by the tribunal. — AFP

14

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

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Issues

Spain’s main parties hit by scandals, crisis

By Ingrid Bazinet pain’s two major political parties, the pillars of a democratic system re-born after the 1975 death of General Francisco Franco, face an historic crisis as they battle popular distrust in the face of corruption scandals and recession, analysts say. The conservative Popular Party, in power since the end of 2011, has been rocked by allegations that it used a slush fund for two decades to make secret payments to senior members, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The Spanish leader and his Popular Party hotly deny the allegations.

But far from capitalising on the government’s woes, the opposition Socialist Party wallows even lower in the opinion polls. A survey by Sigma Dos published last month in conservative daily El Mundo found 33.5 percent of voters supported the Popular Party - down 11.1 percentage points from their Nov 2011 election - but only 28.2 percent backed the Socialists. Blamed by many voters for allowing the nation to slide into economic distress, the Socialists have their own, albeit more modest, corruption scandals, and they are simultaneously fighting internal divisions.

“There is an internal battle within the two major parties which has become evident and which reflects a deeper institutional crisis,” said Paloma Roman Marugan, a political science professor at Madrid’s Complutense University.

“We are going through the hardest moment since Spain’s democratic transition. It is not just an economic crisis, but an institutional crisis as well,” she added.

The two big parties, which have ruled Spain since a democratic constitution was approved in 1978, are under pressure from voters fuming over the allegations of corruption and as Spaniards buckle under an unemployment rate of more than 26 percent and grinding austerity measures, said Marugan. The ruling Popular Party, especially, has been on the backfoot since January when the top-selling daily El Pais splashed on its front page photographs of ledgers that it said had been handwritten by the party’s former treasurer, Luis Barcenas, and his predecessor, Alvaro Lapuerta. The accounts purportedly tracked the movements of a slush fund, including Ä25,200 ($34,000) a year to Rajoy between 1997 and 2008.

On Friday, a Spanish judge summoned Barcenas to be questioned as a suspect in the affair on March 21.

Barcenas was already being examined by the National Court over millions of euros he allegedly stashed away in Swiss bank accounts. Internal tensions in the Popular Party caused by the corruption case could cost the prime minister dearly, warned Gabriel Colome, a political science professor at Barcelona’s autonomous University. “They could cause a government crisis and a reshuffling of the cabinet, or the departure of Rajoy and fresh elections,” Colome said.

But both the ruling and opposition parties need “to become more transparent”, the analyst said.

The Socialist Party has its own troubles. The Catalan branch of the party has backed calls for an independence referendum in the wealthy northeastern region, defying the policy of the national party. Supreme Court prosecutors meanwhile are calling for proceedings to be opened against the Socialist party’s former development minister, Jose Blanco, over alleged influence peddling. Rubalcaba’s role is being questioned as he struggles with other divisions, too, including a scandal in the northwestern city Ponferrada where Socialist members made a political pact with a lawmaker convicted of sexual harassment. “The fact that the economic and institutional crisis is so deep makes the crisis within the parties more acute,” said economist Cesar Molinas, a former investment banker who writes a column for El Pais.

When Spain created its democratic system, a constitutional monarchy, it ceded great powers to the 17 regions.

But the two main parties have managed to secure strong influence over supervisory bodies such as the Court of Auditors, the Bank of Spain and the oversight body the General Council of the Judiciary. “In recent decades, the Spanish political class has developed its own interests, supporting itself on a system of capturing wealth that passes over the general interest,” said Molinas.

As an example, he said, regional governments populated the boards of local savings banks with politicians, union officials and friends who then financed the proliferation of public companies “without a clear purpose other than to generate salaries”. To escape this spiral, Molinas advocated electoral reforms to provide greater democracy within parties during candidate selection. He also recommended annual external audits of party accounts. “The last audit of party accounts by the Court of Auditors took place in 2007. It is a joke,” he said. — AFP

S

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

In Mideast, partial deal tantalizes

By Dan Perry and Josef Federman s the US president prepares to reinsert himself in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his best hope may be to set aside grand hopes for a final agreement and make do with a partial deal. An interim settlement would leave neither side with full satisfaction, and the Palestinians in particular strongly oppose it for fear that it will become permanent. But with gaps seemingly unbridgeable on the same key issues that have scuttled all previous peace efforts, a piecemeal approach may be just enough to yield a sovereign Palestinian state, albeit an imperfect one.

Barack Obama headed to the region yesterday in a long-awaited trip whose agenda includes hopes of restarting negotiations. The White House has been careful to lower expectations, saying Obama will mainly listen and learn as he speaks to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. But US officials confirm the idea of an interim agreement, while not their preference, has been under consideration. One US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said new Secretary of State John Kerry “is looking for options on a way forward” and that an interim arrangement has been among several ideas being explored.

“The challenge of diplomacy is to try and find areas where progress can be made, and not always try and seek a complete solution when one is not in the cards at present,” said Dore Gold, a former Israeli ambassador to the UN who has served as an informal adviser to Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s new government, which was inaugurated this week, includes key moderate partners that want movement on the Palestinian front and can bring down the government if they choose.

The Palestinians will be a hard sell. They want a state in all of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. From their perspective to suffice with that territory - leaving Israel with over three-quarters of what was British-ruled Palestine until 1948 - is compromise enough. “If Israel was serious it would have offered a solution based on the two states, but Israel wants to annex Jerusalem and large parts of the West Bank by such an offer,” said Ahmad Majdalani, a mem-

A

ber of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Previous peace talks under more dovish governments all broke down despite offers that Israelis think should have come close. No serious negotiations have taken place in the past four years, since Netanyahu returned to power. Netanyahu opposes a full pullout from the West Bank because it is a strategic highland, and to many Jews it’s their biblical heartland to boot. Complicating things are 300,000-odd Jewish settlers preventing a clean pullout. He also chafes at giving up any of east Jerusalem, which Israel has annexed, expanded, and populated with another 200,000 Jews, declaring it an indivisible part of its capital - an idea generally rejected by the world community and the Palestinians who also claim east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

East Jerusalem also contains the combustible Old City, walled home to sensitive Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites; giving it up would be excruciating for either side.

Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat speaks for many when he argues that Jerusalem can no longer be divided on practical grounds: the communities are too mixed and any effort to draw a

border would yield a map so bizarre as to defy implementation. Sharing control seems even more far-fetched; free entry for Palestinians from the adjoining West Bank into a shared city would suggest potential free further passage to the rest of Israel - yet Israel is determined to keep most Palestinians out as a security threat.

Further clouding the picture, the Palestinians demand the “right of return” of millions of refugees and descendants, whose families lost properties in what is now Israel.

Israel rejects this out of hand, saying a mass influx would spell the end of the country. And in a final complication, Hamas militants have controlled the coastal Gaza Strip since overrunning Abbas’ forces in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew troops and settlers from there unilaterally. The Islamic militant group rejects peace with Israel, and efforts to reconcile with Abbas’ rival government in the West Bank have repeatedly failed.

The landscape seems hopeless. But time is also working against both sides in different ways. For Israel, a failure to divide the Holy Land into two states seems to be national suicide since the fast-growing Arab population in the area could soon outnumber Jews. If

US President Barack Obama sits next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a welcome ceremony at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport yesterday. — AFP

Gaza is included in the equation, parity at about 6 million each looms even today; Palestinians argue that Gaza remains occupied because Israel controls its sea access and airspace and blockades most of its land border. Most Israelis, including the hardline Netanyahu, acknowledge the status quo endangers Israel as a democracy with a solid Jewish majority.

For Palestinians, their dream of a state grows ever more distant as Israel continues to settle the West Bank and east Jerusalem with Jews. Although they increasingly wave the “binational state” threat as a default outcome of inaction, with its implications of the future demographic destruction of Israel, Palestinian leaders do seem to genuinely prefer the twostate option still possible - if barely - now.

A partial deal could provide relief for both sides. By decisively extricating itself from large parts of the West Bank, Israel would greatly diminish the demographic threat and blunt international criticism. The Palestinians would gain independence over much of the land they seek without having to drop their claims over east Jerusalem and refugees.

What to do with Gaza could be left aside, along with Jerusalem, for a future final agreement. Netanyahu, who won re-election by a whisker in January, has said his new government will make a renewed push for peace, though he has given no indication of how. His new chief negotiator, dovish Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, told a security conference last week that while a final agreement must remain the goal, “I do definitely think that we need to think about additional possibilities in case we won’t be able to end (the conflict), because a situation with a lack of a solution is unacceptable.”

While Netanyahu’s government is filled with hardliners who reject any significant concessions to the Palestinians, he also could expect support from some prominent voices.

Netanyahu’s largest partner, Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid Party, has also demanded a serious peace push. Silvan Shalom, a Cabinet minister in Netanyahu’s Likud Party, voiced support for a provisional agreement.

“Our goal is to reach an agreement (even) if it is in stages,” he told Israel Radio Tuesday.

Israeli opposition leader Shelly Yachimovich, a fierce opponent of Netanyahu, said she would “seriously reconsider” joining his government if a temporary deal is reached.— AP

In Cyprus standoff, Germany refuses to blink

By Noah Barkin or three years, the euro zone crisis has played out according to a familiar pattern: German Chancellor Angela Merkel took a rock-hard line towards struggling southern states only to buckle at the last minute and offer aid when disaster threatened. No longer. With Cyprus, a tiny Mediterranean island that for Berlin exemplifies much of what is rotten with Europe’s currency bloc, this pattern may be finally breaking down. In public statements and private conversations, top German officials led by wheelchair-bound Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble are sending strong signals that, this time, they will not blink.

The bailout offer for Cyprus agreed on Saturday in Brussels, which would force big losses on depositors in the island’s oversized banks and perhaps shatter the shaky financial foundation on which its economy is based, looks final. If Cyprus rejects it, Germany may be prepared to accept the risks associated with a banking collapse and a disorderly debt default that might ultimately force Cyprus out of the euro zone.

“Cyprus may be the end of muddle through,” JP Morgan analyst Alex White said in a research note. “Germany appears ready to live with the consequences of Cyprus stepping out of Europe.”

The German line, spelled out by Schaeuble to his euro zone counterparts late last week, is simple. Unless Cyprus comes up with a Ä7 billion contribution from its banking sector, Berlin will not approve desperately needed aid of Ä10 billion from Europe’s rescue mechanism. In a vote on Tuesday, the Cypriot parliament overwhelmingly rejected that offer. The country’s banks, dependent on emergency liquidity from the European Central Bank and shut since Monday, may be unable to reopen until a deal has been ratified. The assumption in Berlin, spelled out by a senior official this week, is that the Cypriot

F

government and parliament will back down once the bank closures start wreaking havoc on the island’s Ä18 billion economy.

But if Nicosia doesn’t flinch, it would be wrong assume that Germany will. First, a loose consensus has formed in Berlin over the past months - reinforced by muted market reaction to the crisis this week - that a collapse of Cyprus would not have devastating contagion effects on the rest of the euro zone. Schaeuble has openly questioned for months whether Cyprus is “systemically relevant”. Recently he has been joined by other prominent politicians in Germany’s ruling parties.

“Given the instruments we now have at our disposal, I think it would be manageable,” Rainer Bruederle, parliamentary leader of the Free Democrats (FDP), told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the risk of Cyprus going bankrupt.

Second, there is an overwhelming feeling in Berlin that the Cypriot business model - built on attracting foreign money with low taxes and loose regulation - is not only deeply flawed but also at odds with the currency bloc’s economic values.

This conviction transcends party lines, even in an election year. The opposition Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens criticised the government for backing an EU plan to make smaller savers in Cypriot banks share the burden. But they do not dispute the substance of its demands that big depositors must suffer losses.

Any Cyprus deal will need to pass through the lower house of parliament. Six months before the election, Merkel has no hope of pushing a watered-down deal through the Bundestag, officials close to her say. In the case of Greece, Merkel equivocated for months before concluding that a default was too risky for the currency bloc. With Cyprus, the opposite has happened. Officials say Merkel would face greater political risks if she backed down than by standing firm, even if it means chaos on the streets of Nicosia. “No one

but Cyprus is to blame,” Schaeuble said in a combative appearance on German public television. “Its business model doesn’t work anymore and it must be restructured. There is no way around this.”

Top-selling daily Bild, often a close gauge of the public mood, railed against “ungrateful” Cypriots yesterday for making Germany a “bogeyman” despite Berlin’s readiness to pay the largest share of any bailout. “If the future of Europe wasn’t at stake there would be only one reasonable response: do your dirty work alone,” Bild commentator Hugo Mueller-Vogg wrote in a column next to protest pictures from Nicosia of Merkel dressed in a Nazi uniform.

A more fundamental reason why Berlin feels compelled to stick to its guns has to do with Merkel’s own view of the causes of the euro crisis and her longer-term vision of what it will take to pull Europe out of it. According to this analysis, either Europe becomes more like Germany - competitive, industrialised, innovative and frugal - or it is doomed to mediocrity in a globalised world dominated by more nimble powers like China. Cyprus, with an economic model that relies on supersized banks stuffed with billions of euros in foreign money, mainly Russian and British, is a poster child for all that is wrong in Europe and must now change, the Germans believe.

Because of its small size - the city of Berlin alone has three times the population of Cyprus - it also happens to be the perfect test case for Merkel’s “adapt or fail” paradigm.

Analyst White of JP Morgan believes Germany’s hard line on Cyprus may end up as a watershed moment for Europe in which Berlin signals to other members, including bigger states like Italy and France, that it is prepared to take a much tougher line on aid if it does not get its way on reforms. “We think Germany is increasingly prepared to say ‘no’ in an extreme environment and to deal with the consequences,” he said. — Reuters

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

S P ORTS Saudi candidate considers pulling out of AFC race

Ye enters record books BEIJING: Twelve-year-old Ye Wocheng became the youngest golfer to qualify for a European Tour event when the Chinese schoolboy survived a late wobble to grab a place at the Volvo China Open yesterday. Ye’s two round two-under-par total of 142 at the Western China qualifier earned him a spot at the May 2-5 European and OneAsia Tour event and his participation will see him better the mark of his compatriot Guan Tianlang, who competed last year as a 13year-old. The amateur who lives in the industrial city of Donggaun in Guangdong province and is a member of the local Hillview Golf Club had his father caddying for him as he belied his age and lack of experience to claim one of the three places on offer.

After shooting an opening four-under 68 on Tuesday, Ye raced to the turn in his second round leading the field on seven-under after four birdies on Wednesday, but the pressure began to tell on a tumultuous back nine.

Shots were dropped at the 11th and 14th before he appeared to settle down with a birdie two at the 15th only to rack up a horror eight at the par five 16th. His opening 27 holes had, however, provided an ample cushion and he could even afford to drop another shot on the last hole and claim the third and final place with two shots to spare. Eighteen-year-old Li Xinyang and Jin Da Xing finished joint first on five-under 139 at the Wolong Valley Country Club with no other player finishing under par. The 19th edition of the Volvo China Open will take place at the Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club in north-east China. —Reuters

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Hafez Al Medlej is considering stepping down from the AFC presidential election race and lending his support to United Arab Emirate candidate Yousuf Al Serkal, local media reported.

The duo are currently campaigning ahead of the Asian Football Confederation elections on May 2 in Malaysia with Bahraini Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Thailand’s Worawi Makudi also challenging for the leadership of Asian soccer. “I might withdraw in favor of Al Serkal,” Al Medlej was quoted as saying by the Gulf News. “He is the favorite to win the elections and there is complete mutual understanding, agreement and co-ordination between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in this regard.” Al Medlej and Al Serkal both attended a West Asian Football Federation meeting earlier this month hosted by Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein where the 13 members tried to decide on one candidate. Al Khalifa did not attend as he was campaigning in East Asia but sent a Bahraini FA official to the meeting. It is unlikely he will step down from the race. Al Serkal told Reuters last month that he was the favoured candidate from the region and had ‘a minimum of 70 percent support from the zone’. The UAE candidate and currently one of four AFC vice presidents said he would travel to Switzerland to meet FIFA head Sepp Blatter next week to seek his support. “Blatter has a great influence in the AFC elections,” Al Serkal told the Gulf Times. “I will tell him about my plans to develop the game in Asia and fight corruption. Everything is prepared for the visit and I am optimistic I will have the support of the world football governing body.” —Reuters

Kepu re-signs for Australia MELBOURNE: Prop Sekope Kepu has targeted a second World Cup appearance after signing a two-year contract extension with the Australian Rugby Union and his Super Rugby side, the New South Wales Waratahs.

The 27-year-old, who played in six of Australia’s seven tests in their run to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals, said the Wallabies had fallen short of expectations.

“Going overseas was an option but there’s still much I want to achieve in Australia,” said Kepu in a statement yesterday.

“Attending the World Cup in New Zealand two years ago was a significant moment but we didn’t achieve all we wanted to at that tournament,” added the prop who has played 50 games for the Sydney-based Waratahs. “There is still some unfinished business there. By staying in Australia I can give myself another shot by aiming for the team for the next one in England in 2015.”

The versatile Kepu, who can play in the loosehead and tighthead positions, will vie for a front-row spot with fellow props Benn Robinson and Paddy Ryan in Australia’s squad for the British and Irish Lions tour this year.

Australia’s scrum has traditionally been their Achilles heel but Kepu said the forwards were buoyed by their performance in the season-ending tour of Europe where they emerged with only a solitary defeat by France. “The Lions will be another big test in that regard but we’ve shown we can handle it,” he said. —Reuters

Penguins extend winning streak PITTSBURGH: Defenseman Matt Niskanen scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and Sidney Crosby had two assists as and the Pittsburgh Penguins extended their winning streak to 10 with a 21 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

Niskanen’s goal at 11:58 came nine seconds after the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins killed a four-minute penalty. The winning streak is the secondlongest in the NHL this season.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves, and Crosby earned his NHLleading 36th and 37th assists for the Penguins, who were without reigning MVP Evgeni Malkin (shoulder) for a sixth game. Braden Holtby made 34 saves for Washington.

Alex Ovechkin gave Washington a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal in the second period, and Pittsburgh tied it three minutes later when Paul Martin scored his sixth of the season. It was the Penguins’ league-leading 28th goal on the power play.

Rangers 3, Devils 2 In Newark, Michael Del Zotto scored a short-handed goal and set up Rick Nash’s game winner to lead the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over struggling New Jersey.

Carl Hagelin also scored and Henrik Lundqvist had 29 saves as the Rangers won their second game in two nights after a threegame losing streak. New York moved into a tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Travis Zajac and Anton Volchenkov scored for New Jersey, which lost its third in a row (0-2-1) and slipped into a tie with New York, which has a game in hand.

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur was on the bench for the first time in a month and is expected to play Thursday. New Jersey is 3-8-2 since he went down. Johan Hedberg, who started all 13 games since Brodeur sustained a pinched nerve in his back, made 19 saves.

SYDNEY: This file photo taken on January 4, 2012 shows Australian batsman Ricky Ponting playing a cut shot to the boundary. —AFP

Ponting accepts award but rules out Ashes comeback HOBART: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting picked up his domestic cricketer of the year award yesterday, and quickly batted away speculation about a return to the beleaguered test team for the Ashes.

The 38-year-old Ponting, who retired from international cricket last November, led the Sheffield Shield with 875 runs at an average of 87.50, including an unbeaten 200 in a recent match. Tasmania will host the first-class final beginning Friday against Queensland.

“I haven’t had the phone call yet,” Ponting joked. “International cricket has long passed me by and I’ve just been really excited about giving back to Tasmanian cricket whatever I could for this season.

“The decision you make to retire, when you do, is a very big one. I know I put a lot of time and thought into making the decision that I made for all the right reasons.” Ponting signed a two-month contract with English county Surrey and will be in England when Australia builds up for the Ashes series later this year. He will also play for Mumbai in the Twenty20 Indian Premier League this year.

Ponting scored 13,378 runs in 168 tests at an average of 51.85. He is third on the all-time test run-scorers’ list behind Sachin Tendulkar and Raul Dravid.

Meanwhile, Mike Hussey confirmed Wednesday that he was happily retired, saying he was flattered by comments from Australia coach Mickey Arthur that he’d welcome him back into the test team.

Hussey was still at the top of his game when he retired in January after 79 tests. “It’s

extremely flattering,” Hussey said. “But I’ve moved on and I really don’t want to be back in that pressure-cooker environment, particularly leading into the Ashes. It’s going to be an extremely stressful time for all the boys.”

Both Hussey and Ponting have been mentioned as possible saviors for the test team, which was rocked by the suspensions of Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson for the third test in India and fell behind 3-0 in the fourmatch series.

The players failed to provide team management with a critique of their performances in the second test in an episode which most critics compared with schoolchildren not completing their homework assignments.

Watson, the team’s vice-captain, returned to Australia for the birth of his first child after the suspension was announced. But he has since flown back to India and is likely to play in the fourth test beginning Friday in New Delhi. Ponting said he had not watched much of Australia’s struggles in India. “I loved the game so much and loved representing my country so much that I thought if I sat back and watched a lot of that, I’d miss it even more,” he told Australian Associated Press.

He admitted the results had been disappointing. “I think everyone knew going there that it was going to be a tough tour for Australia,” he said. “The conditions they’ve been confronted with over there they just don’t see in our country and you just don’t see in most other countries around the world that you play in.” —AP

Senators 5, Islanders 3 In Uniondale, Sergei Gonchar scored with 1 minute left for Ottawa, which netted four goals in the third period to beat the New York Islanders. Gonchar’s second goal of the season came on a blast from the point to make it 4-3, and Guillaume Latendresse added an empty-net goal to seal the win.

Jakob Silfverberg and Zack Smith scored in a 68-second span early in the third period to tie the game after the Islanders led 3-1.

Ottawa has won three straight.

New York’s Josh Bailey had scored the go-ahead goal 14 seconds into the second period, and Lubomir Visnovsky extended the Islanders’ lead to two goals.

Keith Aucoin appeared to give the Islanders a 4-3 lead at 7:22, but the goal was disallowed because he kicked the puck past goalie Ben Bishop. Ottawa’s Matt Kassian opened the scoring at 6:23 with his first goal of the season and first with the Senators.

Kings 3, Coyotes 2 In Los Angeles, Jonathan Bernier made a career-high 40 saves, while defenseman Drew Doughty ended a 32-game, regular-season goal drought as Los Angeles beat Phoenix.

Shane Doan scored twice in the third period for the Coyotes, who were shut out in their three previous games. Bernier extended Phoenix’s scoreless drought to 245 minutes, 32 seconds since rookie

LOS ANGELES: Steve Sullivan No. 26 of the Phoenix Coyotes fights for the puck with Dustin Brown No. 23 of the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. The Kings won 3-2. —AFP

Rob Klinkhammer’s goal against Jonathan Quick in the Coyotes’ 5-2 win over the Kings on March 12.

The Coyotes had been stopped on 133 consecutive shots before Doan’s first goal.

Dustin Penner and Jarret Stoll also scored for the Kings, who have won 12 of 16 games and 11 of 12 at home. Stoll connected on a power play with 6:14 remaining.

Phoenix’s Mike Smith, who was pulled from Monday’s game after giving up four goals on 22 shots, made 26 saves in the rematch against an offense that came in averaging four goals at home.

assist as Columbus beat struggling Nashville to extend its franchiserecord point streak to 11 games.

Fedor Tyutin, Nikita Nikitin and Derick Brassard also scored for Columbus, which is on a 7-0-4 run.

Vinny Prospal added three assists.

Bobrovsky, who made 32 saves, came in on a 6-0-2 spurt with two shutouts in the previous eight games. Jack Johnson had two assists for the Blue Jackets, whose previous four games were decided by shootouts.

Gabriel Bourque, Chris Mueller and Mike Fisher scored for the Predators, who are on a seasonworst, four-game skid. Shea Webber added two assists but Nashville fell to 3-9-1 in its last 13 games. Nashville has allowed 20 goals in its last four games.

Panthers 4, Hurricanes 1 In Raleigh, Tomas Fleischmann, Marcel Goc and Shawn Matthias scored 6:12 apart in the third period to lead Florida past Carolina.

Jacob Markstrom stopped 33 shots, and Filip Kuba had two assists.

The last-place Panthers scored the first three goals and held on to snap their six-game losing streak.

Markstrom was 2:33 from a shutout when Jordan Staal scored for Carolina. Dan Ellis stopped 40 shots for the Hurricanes, who lost their fourth straight.

Armstrong to tie it and avoid their second regulation loss in 18 games. Armstrong scored his second goal of the season and second in two games.

Jets 3, Bruins 1 In Winnipeg, Blake Wheeler and Evander Kane scored 57 seconds apart in the third period as and Winnipeg rallied to beat Boston.

Wheeler added an empty-net goal for the Jets, who passed Carolina to take the lead in the Southeast Division with 34 points. Brad Marchand scored for the Bruins, who dropped their second straight and are two points back of Montreal for the lead in the Northeast.

Canucks 3, Blues 2 In Vancouver, Daniel Sedin had a goal and an assist and Cory Schneider made 32 saves in Vancouver’s victory over St. Louis.

Jannik Hansen and Dale Weise also scored for Vancouver (14-9-6), which ended a two-game losing streak. Jaden Schwartz and Patrik Berglund both scored in the third period for the Blues (16-11-2), who lost for only the second time in seven games. St. Louis had won three straight with rookie goalie Jake Allen. He stopped 16 Canucks shots. The Blues outshot the Canucks 34-19. Vancouver managed only a total of five shots in the first and third periods.—AP

Sabres 3, Canadiens 2 In Montreal, Steve Ott’s second goal of the game at 2:16 of overtime lifted Buffalo over Montreal.

PK Subban was off after his stick clipped Mark Pysyk and, with 2 seconds left in the man advantage, Ott was at the doorstep to shovel in a rebound and give Buffalo its second win in eight games. Ott and Tyler Ennis scored in the opening period for the Sabres, who are 5-5-3 under coach Ron Rolston since Lindy Ruff was fired Feb. 20.

The Canadiens entered the third period down 2-0, but got goals from Max Pacioretty and Colby

Blue Jackets 4, Predators 3 In Columbus, Sergei Bobrovksy shook off a slap shot to his mask and withstood two late goals, and Mark Letestu had a goal and an

NHL results/standings NY Rangers 3, New Jersey 2; Ottawa 5, NY Islanders 3; Florida 4, Carolina 1; Columbus 4, Nashville 3; Buffalo 3, Montreal 2 (OT); Pittsburgh 2, Washington 1; Winnipeg 3, Boston 1; Vancouver 3, St. Louis 2; Los Angeles 3, Phoenix 2.

Western Conference Eastern Conference Central Division Atlantic Division 24 2 3 100 62 51 W L OTL GF GA PTS Chicago St. Louis 16 11 2 87 83 34 Pittsburgh 23 8 0 110 81 46 Detroit 14 10 5 78 75 33 NY Rangers 15 12 2 70 70 32 Columbus 12 12 6 68 79 30 New Jersey 13 11 6 74 84 32 Nashville 11 13 6 70 81 28 NY Islanders 13 13 3 86 96 29 Philadelphia 13 16 1 81 92 27 Northwest Division

Montreal Boston Ottawa Toronto Buffalo

Northeast Division 19 5 5 19 6 3 16 8 6 15 12 2 11 15 4

92 82 77 86 79

73 60 65 83 95

43 41 38 32 26

Winnipeg Carolina Tampa Bay Washington Florida

Southeast Division 16 12 2 15 12 2 13 15 1 12 16 1 8 16 6

80 84 96 79 74

86 82 86 87 110

34 32 27 25 22

Minnesota Vancouver Edmonton Calgary Colorado

16 14 11 11 10

10 9 11 12 14

2 6 6 4 4

73 81 69 78 71

69 82 81 91 89

34 34 28 26 24

Pacific Division Anaheim 21 3 4 95 69 46 Los Angeles 17 10 2 88 73 36 San Jose 12 10 6 67 74 30 Phoenix 13 13 4 79 85 30 Dallas 13 12 3 73 84 29 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

S P ORTS

NFL owners pass two rules changes PHOENIX: Concerned with how it will be officiated, NFL owners delayed voting Tuesday on a rule change that would ban attacking players from using the crown of their helmets against defenders in the open field.

After approving two other rule changes to enhance player safety, they stalled on the more contentious issue. NFL senior vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said the owners plan to vote on it Wednesday before the meetings end.

The owners outlawed peel-back blocks anywhere on the field; previously, they were illegal only inside the tackle box. A player makes a peel-back block when he is moving toward his goal line, approaches an opponent from behind or the side, and makes contact below the waist. The penalty will be 15 yards.

“Under no circumstances will you be per-

mitted to block low below the waist when you’re blocking back towards your own end line,” said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the competition committee.

Also banned is overloading a formation while attempting to block a field goal or extra point. Defensive teams can now have only six or less players on each side of the snapper at the line of scrimmage. Players not on the line can’t push teammates on the line into blockers, either.

The alignment violation is a 5-yard penalty. The pushing penalty is 15 yards for unnecessary roughness. “There were injuries, yes,” Fisher said. “Talking to coaches and the players, it’s just not something they look forward to doing. It’s like, ‘Oh, we scored again? We have to go out there and protect, kick an extra point or try?’”

But the potential change that has drawn the most attention - yes, even more than

Preview

Luke Donald

Donald seeks Masters tune-up in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 3 Luke Donald and past Major winners Padraig Harrington and Charl Schwartzel will look to fine-tune their games for the coming Masters during this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open.

The trio head the field for the tournament starting today at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, which has a prize purse of $2.75 million, along with rising young star Matteo Manassero of Italy, who won here in 2011.

Great Britain’s Donald who was world No. 1 until Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy took over last year, is gunning for his eighth European Tour win in Kuala Lumpur. He also has five US PGA Tour wins under his belt.

Donald is yet to win a major, however, and said Tuesday after his arrival in Malaysia that the silver lining in losing the world’s top rank is that it has allowed him to focus more on the April 11-14 Masters in the United States.

“I am looking forward to (the Masters) and in recent weeks my game has come together well enough to give me confidence in doing well next month,” Donald said. But he will be focused more immediately on the challenge from tough competitors Harrington of Ireland, South Africa’s Schwartzel, current Asian Tour No.

1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand-and jet lag from a flight from America.

“The 12-hour time difference will be a bit of a challenge, but in the past I’ve always dealt with that pretty well,” Donald said. Harrington, a three-time Major champ, will tee off with “a bit of anxiety” using a new driver after his trusted one broke recently, as well as trying out eyeglasses. “I have a slight astigmatism which causes me to struggle to read the greens,” he said. “I’m experimenting with different glasses and this pair seems to be good.”

Other Asian competitors will include Thaworn’s countryman Thongchai Jaidee, a former two-time Malaysian Open winner, and an in-form Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, the current leader of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

“It is a very important week. I need to win the tournament to give myself a chance at qualifying for the Masters,” Thongchai said. Donald said Asian golf was growing rapidly.

“There are some great players from Asia, some great facilities and courses coming up. Really, the game of golf is expanding into this part of the world, and it’s nice to come over here and be part of that,” he said. The Malaysian Open is cosanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. —AFP

Watson trims Ryder captain’s picks KANSAS CITY: US 2014 Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson said yesterday that he would reduce the number of captain’s picks from four to three, allowing one more golfer to play his way onto the American side. The 12-man US side will attempt to win back the trophy next year at Gleneagles in Scotland in the biennial clash with Europe.

“Giving our players one more opportunity to earn a spot on merit, I believe, is the right thing to do,” Watson said. “I will use all possible resources in choosing these three captain’s choices to complete the best possible team in order to win the Cup back for the United States.”

The Americans moved from two to four captain’s choices in 2008 when Paul Azinger was captain. The move worked as the Americans won on home soil at Valhalla over a European squad captained

by England’s Nick Faldo. Since then, US captains Corey Pavin and Davis Love have kept the four-picks system for US Ryder Cup sides only to come away emptyhanded.

The Europeans have won five of the past six Ryder Cups, including last year at Medinah when the side captained by Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal rallied from a 10-6 deficit entering the singles to win by a point.

“I remember watching Medinah last year and I had an empty feeling in my gut for several days after the defeat of the US team,” Watson said. “What I am trying to do is just create the best possible scenario for the US team to win the Cup back and by going to three it allows the players to have

a bit more ownership in making the team.”

Watson’s system means nine players will qualify based upon a points system that will run through August of next year, with Watson selecting three others to complete the lineup in early September, a few weeks before the matches.

While only a minor tweak for some, Watson called the move “essential.” “It is such an important event in golf for our American players that they at least need that one more opportunity to make the team,” Watson said.

Watson recalled the sting of finishing just short of making a Ryder Cup team and wanted to reward effort rather than keep his options a bit more open. “I remember as a player trying to make the team and we actually didn’t have any picks when I was trying to make the team because if you finished 12th you were in and if you finished 13th your were out,” said Watson.

“I was really disappointed in one year and that was 1985 when I finished 13th after making a bogey on the final hole of the PGA Championship, and I know how much I wanted to make the side, so the players should have that opportunity to make the team.

PGA of America president Ted Bishop welcomed the change. “Tom is committed to do everything in his power to win the Ryder Cup,” Bishop said. “His evaluation and research of the US qualifying system is just another example of his dedication to identify the best players for the 2014 US Ryder Cup team.” —AFP

eliminating the infamous tuck rule, which seems to be a foregone conclusion and will be voted late yesterday - is prohibiting ball carriers outside the tackle box from lowering their helmets and making contact with defenders with the crown.

New York Giants owner John Mara, a member of the competition committee that has recommended the change, said there was “a chance” a vote could be tabled until the May meetings in Boston. “There was a spirited discussion,”Mara said.

Many coaches have said they are concerned about how such a new rule will be officiated. “In all fairness it’s going to be tough on the officials, it’s going to be tough to make that determination at live speed with one look,” said John Harbaugh of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

Harbaugh noted that in the competition committee’s examination of one week of

play last season, it found five instances where a ball carrier was not protecting the ball or himself and lowered his helmet to make contact with a defender.

Dean Blandino, recently promoted to vice president of officiating, noted that five in 16 games was significant enough to consider banning the act. Added Fisher: “We want to make a serious attempt to get the shoulder back into the game. We are not saying the ball carrier cannot get small. We are not saying the ball carrier cannot protect the football, because if he is going to go down to cover the football, if the shoulder goes down, we know the head goes down, we understand that.

“Protecting the football is OK, providing you do not strike with the crown of your helmet, and that is what we are trying to differentiate.” Blandino said the league wants flags thrown only on the obvious calls. He

also said in cases where a player is not penalized, he could still be subject to a fine if video review after the game determines he made contact with the crown.

The penalty will be a spot foul for 15 yards. New senior director of officiating Alberto Riveron said if an offensive and a defensive player are both committing the foul, it would be an offsetting penalty and the down replayed.

Riveron said the key to adjudicating the play is in showing the officials more plays that are legal. “That will be a great way to train because as we know it, most of the shots we have seen are legal, most of the contact is legal,” he said. “We are trying to get that one individual situation where the head is lowered - and you can see on the field, you can see a player put his head down - and the contact is with the crown and you can see it.”—AP

It’s good to be the king ORLANDO: Arnold Palmer bought Bay Hill Club & Lodge because he loved the golf course and wanted it for his own, not having any idea where it all would lead.

Now his name adorns a PGA Tour event that has been a staple of the Florida Swing for 35 years. It’s also carried by two hospitals that specialize in children - one named after his late wife, Winnie, and where more than 93,000 babies have been born since 2006.

Oh, and he’s having dinner with Kate Upton this week. “Did you see this?” Palmer said, holding up the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with Upton on the cover. “She’s coming here. Did you know that?”

He put it back on his desk, gave it one last look, and then grabbed a stack of papers to place over the magazine. “I better cover this up,” he said. He grinned. The man is simply timeless.

How a supermodel wound up at Bay Hill explains so much about the 83-year-old Palmer, who built his kingdom by being a man of the people. The manager for Upton is Lisa Benson, whose father is from Punxsutawney and used to regularly play golf with Palmer at Latrobe Country Club. She was looking for a job at IMG, which, in addition to managing sports and entertainment, also represents top models.

Her father talked to Palmer, who talked to IMG to arrange an interview. She got the job and years later connected with Upton.

Upton grew up in Melbourne on the central coast of Florida, and her parents were huge Palmer fans.

Given the back stor y, Upton thought it would be a great idea to come to Bay Hill, meet with Palmer and see the work he is doing with the hospitals. She also plans to take part in a social media campaign involving the “Arnold Palmer” tea drink.

So in a roundabout way, a casual round of golf leads to dinner with a supermodel? “That’s been a fun deal,” Palmer said when he finished telling the story. There have been thousands of casual rounds like that for Palmer, whose passion for golf never dies. There have been more friends than he can count.

There are probably more stories like this, all because he takes an interest in people.

“It’s easy,” Palmer said. “And I love it.” Brad Faxon surely had Palmer in mind when he said years after a golf trip, “I wish we had more guys on tour who liked meeting

people.” Palmer is one of those guys. Always has been. And that’s why so many people want to meet the King.

A staff member came into the room and mentioned two men who were outside the office and wanted to say hello. One was Seth Jones, the editor of Golfdom magazine who recently interviewed Palmer for a project he was working on.

“Well, bring him in,” Palmer said,

Champions Tour the day before.

“Congratulations on your strong performance in the Toshiba Classic,” he said, reading the letter aloud.

“He’s playing pretty good.” He reached for a black pen and signed his name, as famous as any signature in sports.

The other letter on his desk was for Kevin Streelman, who won the Tampa Bay Championship for his first PGA Tour title in 153 tries.

Palmer watched most of the back

Arnold Palmer rising from behind his desk with a broadening smile. Dressed in slacks and a pink shirt, Palmer made sure the two men met everyone in the room and made small talk for a few minutes before closing with that powerful handshake and a smile.

“Nice to see you guys,” he told them.

He sat back down at his desk and picked up a sheet of paper. It was a letter to David Frost, who won the Toshiba Classic on the

nine on television and was impressed with what he saw. He had this letter placed in Streelman’s locker downstairs. Talk about a tradition like no other. For years, Palmer has written a note of congratulations to the winners on every tour every week.

Palmer looked down at his desk and found two index cards that had been marked up, and then started rattling off numbers. The 443 beds in the Arnold Palmer Hospital for

Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

The 13,000 babies born last year alone. The only high-level trauma center in central Florida dedicated to children. More than 3,500 employees and 450 doctors employed by both hospitals.

“That’s just a few of the things that we are pushing,” Palmer said.

“It’s a big deal. We’d like to be the No. 1 children’s hospital in the world for children and women.” He rapped the wooden desk for luck.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational starts this week with one of the strongest fields among PGA Tour events this year. Tiger Woods is the defending champion and a seventime winner, with a chance to go back to No. 1 in the world with another victory. Brandt Snedeker is playing for the first time since his win at Pebble Beach, missing the next five weeks with a rib injury.

Masters champion Bubba Watson will be there, too.

Palmer smiles at the mention of Watson’s shot out of the trees on the 10th hole at Augusta National last year to win a playoff. “It was a great shot, but I don’t think it was spectacular,” Palmer said. “It was more natural for him to hit than anything in the world.”

Not many can appreciate the art of recovery quite like Palmer. It’s part of what made him so famous.

He was willing to take on any shot, hitching up his pants and slashing away. It was never boring watching Palmer play golf.

“People enjoyed that,” he said.

“That was one of the things that attracted them to what I did and how I played. I was reckless. I was in the trees. I was everywhere. But it was part of my life, the way I lived and the way I played.”

Could he have imagined any of this when he first showed up at Bay Hill in 1965 for an exhibition and fell in love with the place? “Hell, I didn’t have anything in mind except getting a golf course and hitting balls,” he said with a laugh.

“And it worked.”

An assistant came back into the office. Some Japanese photographers were hoping to take his picture. They were outside his door and when Palmer saw them, he rattled off his best Japanese greeting.

His voice was animated. The words probably didn’t come out the right way. It didn’t matter. They all laughed together and Palmer wrapped his arms around one of them and gave her a big hug. —AP

Nugent quits as Australia’s head swimming coach SYDNEY: Leigh Nugent has quit as head coach of the Australian swimming team as the fallout from a troubled Olympic campaign continues. Nugent was criticized following Australia’s worst showing in Olympic swimming in 20 years at last year’s London Games. Critics cited a lack of leadership as a contributor to poor team morale.

Members of the men’s 4x100-meter relay team last month admitted they took a sleep medication and engaged in disruptive behavior during the Australian team’s pre-Olympic camp in Manchester, England. Nugent was told of the pranks but was reported to have taken no action.

Swimming Australia president Barclay Nettlefold said in a statement yesterday that an interim coach, new chief executive officer and high performance director will be appointed soon.

Nettlefold rejected domestic media reports that Nugent had been fired ahead of next month’s national championships. He said the 61-year-old Nugent contacted Swimming Australia last week and indicated that he no longer wanted to continue in the role of head coach.

“Leigh actually approached us to discuss his future and where he would best fit into the new s t r u c t u re o f t h e h i g h p e r fo r m a n ce u n i t ,” Nettlefold said in a statement. “In those discussions it soon became very clear that while he still wanted to remain involved in the sport, he didn’t want to continue in the position of head coach.”

Nettlefold said Nugent will take an extended break from the sport before returning in a youth development and coach mentor role. “Leigh accepts responsibility for the team’s performa n ce - h e’s n e ve r s h i e d away f ro m t h a t ,” Nettlefold said in an interview later Wednesday.

“I think he felt fairly remorseful.”

The Australian championships, which will determine the country’s team for the world titles in Barcelona in late July and early August, will be held in Adelaide from April 26 to May 3.

“There will be a new leadership structure for the organization for the Australian championships and the aim of that structure is to provide our elite and

Leigh Nugent up-and-coming athletes and coaches with the best environment to succeed,” Nettlefold said. “We have a preferred candidate for the CEO position in Mark Anderson from Hockey Australia. We have narrowed the director of high performance down to a preference of two candidates and will consult with the new CEO and high performance committee before finalizing that appointment.”

Last month, former world champions James Magnussen and Eamon Sullivan, and their 4x100 relay teammates admitted to taking the sleep medication Stilnox during a “bonding session” ahead of the London Games.

Magnussen, Sullivan, Tommaso D’Orsogna, Cameron McEvoy, James Roberts and Matthew Targett released a joint statement admitting they took Stilnox and engaged in disruptive behavior including making prank calls during the Australian team’s pre-games camp in Manchester. They face team sanctions which could include withdrawal of their funding for training for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Roberts later said he did not take Stilnox, while Sullivan said the remaining members of the relay team took one tablet each.

The medication is not a banned substance, but the Australian Olympic Committee prohibited its athletes from using it ahead of the London Olympics after retired swimmer Grant Hackett revealed he became dependent on sleeping pills during his career.

The swimmers’ admissions came after an independent review described a “toxic” environment, including misuse of the prescription drugs and bullying. Australia’s only swimming gold medal in London came in the women’s 4x100 freestyle relay, with the high-profile men’s relay and Magnussen failing to deliver on expectations in a country accustomed to strong performances in the Olympic pool.

Australia won only 10 swimming medals overall - the relay gold, six silver and three bronze - at London. That was its worst showing in the Olympic pool since Barcelona in 1992 when Australia won nine - one gold, five silver and three bronze medals. —AP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

S P ORTS

Focus

Pakistan looks to kabaddi to help build rugby LAHORE: Pakistan’s rugby union chiefs are hoping to exploit the traditional tagwrestling sport of kabaddi as they try to boost the game and build the country’s fledgling international team.

Kabaddi, in which players hold their breath and try to tag an opponent before making it back to their half of the field, involves many of the skills needed for rugby-speed, strength, tackling and evasive running.

In a country where anything other than cricket struggles to get a look in, the Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) has grown rapidly since it was founded 10 years ago and now boasts more than 3,000 regular players.

And after the launch of a new “Super League” last month, PRU president Fawzi Khawaja said he now hopes to tap the reservoir of kabaddi talent. The traditional team sport is very popular, particularly in Punjab, and last year Pakistan were win-

ners of the Asia Cup and runners-up in the World Cup against arch-rivals India.

But Khawaja said that while there were national-level kabaddi players in the police rugby team, it was hard to lure people from what is a lucratively paid professional sport. “If and when we can graduate to paying our players I’m sure we can attract a lot of kabaddi players,” he told AFP. The new league started on a sunny spring Sunday in Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city. The posts were lengths of bamboo taped to football goals and the groundsmen were still painting lines on the pitch 10 minutes before kick-off.

But the competition in the four-team top division was fierce, with the opening round pitting the Army against Lahore, and Islamabad against the Defence Housing Association, a government department team.

While the Lahore-Army clash showed

some early-season rustiness, fumbles and tactical naivety, the game was also packed with blood-curdling tackles, two sin-binnings and a suspected dislocated shoulder. The Army’s superior fitness helped them come from behind to win 12-8.

The national side were relegated to the fourth tier of the Asian Five Nations tournament last year but the PRU hopes that by replacing ad-hoc club matches with a proper competitive structure, the Super League will spark a resurgence.

“We found that we had not much of a benchmark when we were trying to judge how people would perform,” PRU secretary Arif Saeed said. “They had good athletic ability, good basic rugby skills, but it’s only how they perform in matches that tells you how they will do under pressure.”

Rugby in Pakistan dates back to the 1920s but was the preserve of expatriates

for decades and still gets virtually no TV airtime on cable sports channels. But Lahore and Pakistan number eight Arsalan Zahid said once they are introduced to the game, many Pakistanis find the physical aspect hugely appealing.

“When they see the monotony in all the (other) games, they try to find the sport that is different in its own way and rugby, considering it’s very aggressive, is a good sport to take up,” he said. Fiaz Ahmed, number eight for the Army, who have several former kabaddi men in their side, said many players found the transition quite easy.

“The tackling and grappling is almost identical, there’s a lot of focus on upper body strength in kabaddi also and rugby is very similar to kabaddi in the physical aspects,” he said.

There are 25 registered clubs in Pakistan and Khawaja said the PRU wants to take the solid base of the existing crop

of players to the next level. “What we want to see is improvement in performance, not just increase in numbers — 3,000 is sufficient if we can bring on the quality,” he said.

But funding is tight and it is not cheap attracting foreign coaches to Pakistan, where attacks blamed on the Taliban and other Al-Qaeda affiliates are a near-daily menace, and security is a constant worry.

Two foreign coaches worked with the national team in 2011 and 2012 but only stayed for a few months. The aim now is to persuade someone to stay longer.

Mohammed Javed Iqbal, a taxi driver who stopped to watch the Super League matches, was impressed with his first taste of rugby.

“It’s a great game to watch. Before when there was wrestling on T V everybody used to enjoy watching that, so they’d enjoy watching this,” he said. —AFP

‘Iceman’ to feel the heat in Malaysia

KEY BISCAYNE: Maria Sharapova of Russia poses for a photograph during a WTA all access hour at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. —AFP

Sharapova seeks rare double at Key Biscayne KEY BISCAYNE: After winning the PNB Paribas Open last week, Maria Sharapova is aiming for a rare double when she lines at the Sony Open. Only two players in WTA history have won back-to-back Indian Wells and Key Biscayne titles: Steffi Graf in 1994 and 1996, and Kim Clijsters in 2005.

Sharapova, who won her second BNP Paribas title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday, isn’t scheduled to play until Friday at the Sony Open.

All the seeded players in the men’s and women’s draw receive a first-round bye. “ These tournaments are always really tough because they’re close together,” the No. 3-seeded Sharapova said. “As soon as you’re done with the first one (Indian Wells) you’re onto the next one and you’re here.

I’m looking forward to trying to take it a step further (here) this year.”

Sharapova came close to achieving the back-to-back victories in 2006, winning the Indian Wells tournament and reaching the final at Key Biscayne. Overall, she’s been in four Sony Open finals, including last year when she lost to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

For Sharapova, who moved to the United States from Russia as a 9-year-old, the Sony Open is the event where she first watched professional tennis. “I have a lot of history here,” Sharapova said. Miami “is the city where I first landed when I came to the United States. I’ve been a fan of this tournament since I was young because I came here with my family to watch it.

“And then I was able to play in it and be

a part of it and I’ve been to three or four finals here. So, hopefully, I can lift the trophy here one day.” The fourth-seeded Radwanska won three titles last year and has 10 overall in her career. She’s never successfully defended a title, but she’s hoping the Sony Open could be the first time she achieves the feat.

“It’s always great to be back at a place where you have great memories and had great matches,” said Radwanska, who reached her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon last year.

“There’s always pressure and a lot of points to defend. But every week the top players feel a lot of pressure.” There were 10 main draw women’s matches played on Tuesday. Veteran Japanese player Kimiko Date-Krumm beat Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 6-2, 6-0.

Two former top 10 players - Flavia Pennetta of Italy and Andrea Petkovic of Germany - were in action. Pennetta won her first-round match 6-4, 6-1 over Johanna Larsson of Sweden. Petkovic, playing in only her second tournament of the year following a knee injury at the Hopman Cup in January, defeated Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia 6-3, 6-1.

In other results, Ayumi Morita of Japan defeated Heather Watson of Britain 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, Kristina Mladecnovic of France had a 75, 6-2 win over Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada and Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan battled in the second-set tiebreaker to secure a 6-4, 7-6 (15) victory over Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine. —AP

MLB executive defends WBC as unqualified hit SAN FRANCISCO: Major League Baseball (MLB) has no desire to see the World Baseball Classic played at a different time of year despite a chorus of critics who say the tournament is lacking many of the game’s top players.

A disappointing showing by the United States, which was eliminated in the second round, has raised some discontent about the format by US media, but MLB executive vice president for business Tim Brosnan said those critics were missing the point.

“The object is to get people around the world paying attention to baseball,” Brosnan told Reuters in an on-field interview during batting practice before Sunday’s semi-final between Japan and Puerto Rico. “And most importantly people in countries where baseball is not endemic to their culture.” To that end, Brosnan, who helps oversee the joint venture by MLB and the MLB Players Association, called the WBC “an unqualified success”. Staging the WBC in March when MLB players are shaking off the rust from an idle winter, has led some star players to stay with their clubs to prepare, while others feel they are not yet ready to compete at top form in a meaningful competition.

It has also led to poor TV ratings in the United States. Asked why the WBC did not follow the National Hockey League model of foregoing its All-Star game and extending that mid-season break to allow players to be in the Olympics, Brosnan said MLB owners believed it would hurt their business too much.

“Business arrangements of the 30 clubs are not set out to take a two-week break in the middle of the summertime every four years,” he said.

He also rejected the idea of streamlining the tour-

nament to better be able to fit it in during a midseason break when players were at peak form.

“You want more countries to compete,” said Brosnan. “You don’t want this to be, you pick the elite four and have a tournament.

“You want 100 countries eventually saying I have a shot, I want to play in the qualifiers in the off two years. “The object is not to gather around our clubby little group and decide let’s have the best four teams play a baseball tournament,” added Brosnan.

Brosnan said the interest level in the U.S. was secondary to the mission of growing the game globally. He was excited that Brazil qualified among the final 16 teams from the initial 28-team field and pointed to the success of the Netherlands, Italy, China and Taiwan and the attention they received as evidence of the impact of the WBC. “It’s an unqualified success,” said Brosnan. “We’re sitting here looking at the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico,” he added about teams from the Caribbean islands who have long embraced baseball.

“But everybody forgets Brazil qualified for this tournament. Soccer-mad Brazil, probably the country where the middle class is going to grow the fastest of any country in the next decade.

“To get the passion for baseball in a country like Brazil for a tournament like this? Money can’t buy that. It’s the promise of competing on a world stage that buys that, that buys that passion.” Brosnan also pointed to China as a fertile area of growth. “China believes that they can compete with their east Asian neighbors on a worldwide stage,” he said, referring to baseball power Japan, winner of the first two WBC titles, and South Korea. —Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR: Kimi Raikkonen ignited the Formula One season with a stunning win in Australia but the “Iceman” will feel heat from his rivals this weekend at the notoriously demanding Malaysian Grand Prix.

Masterful tyre-management in a surprisingly quick Lotus put the colourful Finn top of the podium in Melbourne, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso second and Sebastian Vettel, gunning for his fourth straight world title, third.

“Finntastic” trumpeted Australian press, and “Finn puts party back into Formula 1”, as media welcomed a challenge to the accepted order at the start of the new season.

Three championships in three years have already placed Red Bull’s German pilot Vettel, 25, among the sport’s greats, but the return of the party-loving Raikkonen, world champion with Ferrari in 2007, has proved invigorating.

And after rain storms wiped out Saturday qualifying in Australia, teams will be braced for another tough weekend at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit, where tropical downpours played havoc last year and in 2009.

A year ago, Raikkonen marked his return to Malaysia after a two-year stint in rallying by handing out ice-creams, a nod to an episode on his previous visit in 2009, when he coolly snacked on a Magnum during a rain delay.

The 33-year-old has twice been a winner on the long straights and tight hairpins of the Sepang circuit, built on former jungle near the Malaysian capital, but has also failed to finish four times and was fifth last year.

His ability to maintain Pirelli’s new, deliberately fast-wearing tyres was critical in Melbourne, but he will face an entirely different test in Malaysia’s heat, humidity and possible rain come race day Sunday.

“I had a good feeling that we would be OK with the tyres after practice,” Raikkonen told the team website after the Australian race. “The team got the strategy perfect. Apart from maybe Force India I don’t think the others looked like they could do the same thing.”

Lotus boss Eric Boullier admitted it was team policy to give leeway to the famously brusque Raikkonen, who memorably snapped “Just leave me alone, I know what I’m doing”, over the team radio last year en route to victory in Abu Dhabi.

“I don’t think there is anybody on earth who can tell Kimi what he should do, so I am not going to start,” Boullier said, according to the Autosport website. Vettel will hope to do better with his tyres in the warmer conditions and put his stamp on the season much earlier than in 2012, when he did not win until the fourth race and trailed in the standings as late as October.

“We had a good day with a pole and a podium-but in the race we were a little too aggressive with the tyres and lost the front and the rears, while others did a little better,” Vettel said.

Lewis Hamilton could not hide his satisfaction at finishing fifth with new team Mercedes, while his former employer McLaren started the year dismally with Jenson Button ninth and Sergio Perez 11th.

Alonso, just three points behind Vettel in last year’s final standings, was delighted to take an early psychological edge over the young German

MELBOURNE: Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (lower) leads the field in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in this file photo. —AFP and his Red Bull team, with Ferrari the leading constructor after race one.

But much attention in Malaysia will also focus on Raikkonen, both on his driving and for any possible repeat of the antics which have made him a cult figure among motorsport fans.

In 2006, Raikkonen went out of the Monaco Grand Prix but instead of heading back to the

team garage, he jumped straight on board his personal yacht, shirt off and surrounded by his partying entourage.

Asked later that season in Brazil why he had missed a presentation by Pele to Michael Schumacher, his answer to a TV reporter was concise and unapologetic: he had been in the toilet.

A year later, he was world champion. —AFP

Preview

England seek to clinch series without Pietersen AUCKLAND: New Zealand and England face off in a winner-takes-all third and final Test this week, with the tourists striving for a series-clinching victory despite the absence of star batsman Kevin Pietersen.

After rain-affected draws in Dunedin and Wellington, hopes are high for a result in the match beginning Friday at Auckland’s Eden Park. New Zealand eye a rare series win and England will seek to cement their position as the number-two ranked Test nation.

England are short-priced favourites to prevail in Auckland. Anything less against the unfancied Black Caps would be widely seen as a failure despite Pietersen’s absence with a knee injury.

The batsman will miss both the last Test and the Indian Premier League due to the injury which may sideline him for up to eight weeks, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement Wednesday.

Clear weather is forecast for the Test and Eden

Park’s drop-in wicket promises more bounce than the docile pitches of the opening two fixtures, which have drawn criticism from the England camp. “In an ideal world a pitch with more pace and bounce would make for a more exciting wicket,” England captain Alastair Cook said. “But whichever pitch we get in Auckland we’ll try to find the best way to win the game.” New Zealand, ranked eighth in Test cricket, have not won a series against England since 1999, with their sole series victory on home soil back in 1984.

Skipper Brendon McCullum, whose only other Test series since taking the helm late last year resulted in two innings defeats to South Africa, said a victory would provide a huge boost for his team.

“We go into every game trying to win. Certainly, for us, it’s not about trying to hang on for a draw,” he said. “We see this as a great opportunity to clinch a series win against England and that’s something that we’d all hold very fondly.”

For England, victory would maintain their

momentum with back-to-back Ashes series against Australia looming later this year. But Cook said his side had to ignore the pressure and simply play according to the conditions in Auckland.

“It’s now a one-match Test series and you can’t go into the game fretting about the outcome from the start,” he said. “You need to set up the game then worry about the result. There are no easy matches in international cricket.”

Few pundits predicted a close series when the tourists arrived, with England tipped to continue the dominant form they showed in India. Instead, the early tour jitters that have plagued England in recent years emerged as their powerful batting line-up self-destructed with a succession of rash shots trying to bludgeon the Black Caps into submission. Rain delays meant New Zealand ran out of time chasing victory in Dunedin. The situation was reversed in Wellington, where England had the Black Caps on the ropes only for the weather to intervene again. —AFP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

S P ORTS

Lampard fired by Tinkerman switch, says Hollins LONDON: Former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri must take a lot of credit for Frank Lampard reaching the 200-goal milestone for the club, according to former Stamford Bridge great John Hollins.

Italian Ranieri, now Monaco coach and who was dubbed ‘The Tinkerman’ for his habit of chopping and changing the team at Chelsea, bought midfielder Lampard from West Ham United for an eye-popping fee of 11 million pounds ($16.63 million) in 2001.

Lampard spent much of his debut season on the right of a four-man midfield and the majority of fans were sceptical of the new boy’s value to the team.

But Ranieri moved him to the middle in his second campaign and that switch kick-started his career.

“Frank told him, ‘look I don’t want to be substituted and I don’t want to be rested unless I’m injured’,” Hollins told Reuters in an interview. “Full credit to Ranieri. He listened to that and ... in his second season Frank came into his own in the centre of midfield.”

Hollins, a lung-busting, goal-scoring midfielder in the Lampard mould, chalked up 592 appearances in two spells at Stamford Bridge between 1963 and 1984. That was the third highest total at the club, behind Ron Harris and Peter Bonetti, until Lampard overtook him this season.

“Frank has that uncanny knack of being a great passer of the ball and also being able to get in the penalty box to score goals,” said the 66-year-old Hollins.

“In the modern game players are rested, changed and swapped about - no one gets any consistency. But Frank rarely gets injured and he has got better and better over the years.

“He’s got a great engine - all he needs is a battery charge now and again. When he gets a knock he doesn’t need a rest, he just shrugs it off and keeps going,” added Hollins. “I think he will go down as a Chelsea legend in that he dedicated his fitness and everything else to his job.”

Lampard’s 12-year spell at the club looks like drawing to a close because his contract expires at the end of the season and Chelsea seem strangely reluctant to offer him a new deal.

“I think he’ll be irreplaceable when he goes,” added Hollins who played in the

team that won the 1970 FA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup a year later.

“He sees the game better than others. He will go up front at the right time but he is also aware of what he has to do at the back.

“He has ‘The Full Monty’ in terms of his ability to play, the ability to see, the ability to shoot and the ability to take free kicks - he’s the complete package,” added Hollins.

“All the managers who have come and gone at Chelsea down the years, they all wanted him in the team. That is a rubber-stamp that they didn’t have to worry about Frank although they may have had to worry about some of the other players.”

Lampard, who has also won 94

England caps and is in the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, is two goals short of Bobby Tambling’s record of 202 Chelsea goals following his strike in the 2-0 win over West Ham on Sunday.

“He’ll break the record and at the end of the season I think he may say, ‘I’ve done my bit now, I’ve done everything, maybe I can do another one or two years somewhere else’,” said Hollins. “He doesn’t need to move for the money, he just needs driving and pushing and he just wants to play. “Frank has also proved himself with England so perhaps now he’ll want to go somewhere else where he can be the focal point for the last one or two years of his football career.” —Reuters

Croatia, Serbia meet for the first time since war ZAGREB: Croatia and Serbia’s footballers play each other for the first time since independence on Friday, in a highly charged tie given wider significance by political, cultural and historical ties and fresh memories of war.

The run-up to the Group A World Cup qualification match in Zagreb has dominated the media in both countries for several weeks and been billed the “match of the decade”.

Tickets sold out within hours and some 34,000 people are expected to pack into the Maksimir Stadium in the Croatian capital for the game, although away supporters have been banned for the tie and the return leg in Belgrade over security concerns.

“The event goes beyond sports as it is an historic first match between the two nations since their independence,” Robert Matteoni, a prominent Croatian sports journalist, told AFP. A complex history of relations between the Balkan neighbours, marked by the brutal internecine fighting of the 1991-1995 war that claimed an estimated 20,000 lives, was an added motivation for both countries, he said.

Matteoni’s view is shared by many fans, who say that any sporting encounters between Croatia and Serbia still have a significant emotional charge.

“As long as we live these will never be only pure sports events,” said Bobo, a 49-year-old member of Dinamo Zagreb’s hardcore “Bad Blue Boys” fans, many of whom joined the Croatian

police and army during the conflict.

Croatia’s declaration of independence in June 1991 from the former Yugoslavia sparked the four-year war. But many believe that the conflict was heralded on May 13 1990, when Dinamo fans stood up against the Serb-controlled Yugoslav police, who looked on as visiting Red Star Belgrade supporters ripped apart the Maksimir Stadium.

During the riot, Dinamo midfielder Zvonimir Boban became a hero for Croatian nationalists by kung-fu kicking a police officer who was beating a home fan with a truncheon.

Ties between the neighbors have gradually improved since the end of the conflict but sports events are still considered high-risk, particularly with Balkan football still linked to ultra-nationalist hooligans.

Croatia captain Darijo Srna has described the game as his “most difficult match” while Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic said: “This is not only just about points...

“It’s about rivalry, prestige-and about something that will mean a lot more to some fans than to us players.” European football’s governing body will be closely monitoring the game and the return leg on September 6 after warning both countries’ football federations about the need to tackle hooliganism. Croatia and Serbia have been fined several times because of violence and racist behaviour involving their fans.

Tight security will be in place, including

stricter border controls and on all transport routes into Zagreb, police said. Bruno, a founder member of the Bad Blue Boys, said banning visiting fans was the “only logical move” because there would inevitably be incidents if Serbia supporters were present. The head of a moderate fans group, Krunoslav Grlevic, however, said he feared there would still be anti-Serb chanting at the ground. But with emotions running high, players and officials in both countries have tried to ease tensions. “We are fully aware of our responsibility... our behavior and messages that we will send can significantly influence the atmosphere in the stands,” said Croatia coach Igor Stimac. “The most important thing is that we behave as sportsmen.”

His Serbian counterpart, Sinisa Mihajlovic, agreed. “It is football and not war that awaits us in Zagreb. We are not afraid but we have respect since (Croatia) are an excellent team,” said the former Yugoslavia international.

Mihajlovic, who was born in Vukovar, the city in eastern Croatia heavily bombarded during the war, has radically rejuvenated his team and said there was no need to motivate his players for the match.

On the sporting front, the match is vital for Serbia to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals in Brazil next year. Both Belgium and Croatia have 10 points but the former top the group on goal difference. Serbia are in third on four points. —AFP

CONCACAF chief wants redistribution of FIFA places ZURICH: CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb believes that the time has come to re-distribute places on the executive committee of world soccer’s governing body in which one third of the seats belong to Europe.

“The landscape has changed since 1904 when FIFA was founded in France,” Webb, who also heads FIFA’s antiracism task force, told Reuters in an interview. “I think if we don’t do this now, we will miss a great opportunity. I challenge anyone to sit there and justify to me that Africa, with 54 members, should have only four representatives.”

Europe has eight members on the 25-member executive committee, plus president Sepp Blatter from Switzerland. Africa has four places, Asia four, CONCACAF three, South America three, Oceania one and one is reserved for a female representative.

Webb said he would like proportional representation on the executive committee to be included in the proposals for reforming FIFA which will be discussed at the annual Congress in Many.

“We embrace what the independent governance committee has suggested but we also think there should be a discussion about proportional representation,” said Webb.

“The game has changed not only from a sporting standpoint but from a federations’ standpoint. There are now 209 federations around the world, also from an economic standpoint as well things have changed.” Webb, from the Cayman Islands, was elected CONCACAF president last year to head the confederation which controls the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean He admitted that football had not done enough to stamp out racism in the sport. “I think overall, the entire football fraternity has to do more, this has been going long for too long,” he said.

“I can remember attending the FIFA Congress in Argentina in 2001 and former France defender Lilian Thuram was there speaking about racism. “Here we are, 12 years later, and we’re still having this discussion and we have not implemented proper legislation to make sure we issue sanctions.

“At the end of the day, we have to send a message to the world and to every confederation, and every national associations and every club, that it’s not going to be tolerated, that there’s no place for this in our game.”

“We need to sit down and define what the parameters are, present them to the 209 FIFA member countries and let everyone know ahead of time what possible sanctions you have.

“Then, if you choose to break those rules and disregard the legislation that FIFA has brought in, we have to apply whatever measures have been passed by Congress.

“If that means removing someone from competition, if that means relegation, then so be it.” AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team off the field in protest at racist chanting during a friendly match in January.

That gesture was described as courageous by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, although he added it should not be seen as the solution to the problem. “Sometimes, unless you’ve been there, you don’t know what your reaction would be,” said Webb. “I don’t know what mine would be, but definitely sports is one of the greatest uniting factors in the world, a huge celebration of emotions and passions and racism creates such a huge division.”

“I can’t tell you what Kevin-Prince Boateng experienced or what Jozy Altidore experienced or what (Emmanuel) Adebayor experienced in Inter Milan a few days ago,” he said, referring to other recent cases. “But I do know that, as human beings they have a right, and they’re professionals, they have sacrificed hours and hours to get where they are.” —Reuters

OMAN: Oman’s Hussein Modafar (left) vies for the ball against Haiti’s Pascal Milliene (right) during their friendly football match in Muscat. —AFP

Leeds owners looking to sell LONDON: The Middle Eastern owner of Leeds United has signalled that it is in talks to sell the former English Premier League soccer club it bought only in December.

Dubai-based GFH Capital purchased the club from majority shareholder Ken Bates at the end of last year after negotiations that lasted for several months. GFH Capital board member Salem Patel told a news conference at the time that it would not spend “crazy money ” to restore the Championship (second division) club to the elite Premier League.

Accounts published last month by GFH Capital’s parent, Bahrain firm Gulf Finance House show that the new owner is preparing a swift exit. “The Group has an active plan to sell its stake in LUFC Holdings Limited, and accordingly, the asset and liabilities acquired were classified as held-forsale and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position,” Gulf Finance House said in end-year financial statements dated Feb 21, 2013. It added that it had begun negotiations related to the sale of its stake since the end of last year.

The accounts show a net cash payment of $33.226 million to buy the business last year. Reports in December said the cost of the Leeds deal could be up to 52 million pounds ($78.6 million), but that figure was

not confirmed.

In its accounts, Gulf Finance House booked a goodwill gain of $10.369 million on the deal, and said “the bargain purchase was due to pressure on the sellers to exit their holdings due to change in their business plans.”

Leeds, which last won the English league title in 1992, are currently in 10th place in the Championship, outside the play-off spots for a lucrative Premier League spot. Contacted by Reuters, GFH Capital deputy chief executive David Haigh declined to comment, referring queries to the club.

The club declined direct comment but pointed to an article published in the Guardian newspaper last month which said the new owner was seeking investors and would prefer to sell a 30 percent stake. It would consider selling a majority if the buyer had the funds to bring success, the report added.

In a message to fans on Leeds’ website dated Feb. 10, GFH Capital said it had rejected an offer for a majority stake in the club. “Although we continue to seek strategic investors, we will only bring on board those who we feel can make a positive contribution to the sustainable success of Leeds United.” —Reuters

DOHA: Japan’s national soccer player Shinji Kagawa (right) takes part in a training session at the Khalifa Stadium. Japan will play a friendly soccer match against Canada tomorrow. —AFP

Focus

Balkan game fails to live up to the past BELGRADE: Football was a vehicle for national pride in the former Yugoslavia, enjoying support from the political elite and state policies designed to create competitive teams and world-class players.

But since the break-up of the communist federation in the 1990s, there has been mixed success for Balkan nations, with only Croatia-who took third place in the 1998 World Cup-emerging as a force to be reckoned with internationally.

Domestic teams meanwhile struggle with an exodus of top players to foreign clubs while hooliganism remains a problem that blights the game. For more than 40 years after the end of World War II, though, football was such a part of life that it seemed that nearly everyone could recite the names of Yugoslavia footballers such as Dragan Dzajic, Safet Susic or Faruk Hadzibegic.

“It was a ritual. When I turned seven, my father took me to my first Red Star Belgrade match as a sign that I had matured enough to be initiated into the world of football,” said journalist Misko Bilbija.

With more than 22 million inhabitants, Yugoslavia was a hotbed of talented players and coaches, with the communist regime providing full financial backing to teams through industry or even directly from the state budget.

A law preventing players from leaving domestic clubs before the age of 28 also made for a high-quality league. “We were working with a player from his earliest years and managed to keep him in the team until he fully matured,” former coach Milinko Resavica told AFP. The 1960s were a golden era for Yugoslavia’s national team: they won Olympic gold in Rome in 1960 and reached the European Cup finals in the same year and again in 1968.

In the 1962 World Cup in Chile, Yugoslavia were fourth and Drazen Jerkovic was top scorer, while the squad earned the nickname the “European

Brazilians” because of their creative and attacking style of play.

A key member of that side, the Croatian Josko Skoblar, won the European Golden Boot in 1971 after finishing with 44 goals for French side Marseille. Macedonian Darko Pancev also won the award while playing for Red Star Belgrade in 1991.

Red Star-perennial European challengers in the 1970s and 1980s-won the forerunner to the Champions League, the European Cup, in 1991 as well as the Intercontinental Cup, which would become the Club World Cup. Just months later, war broke out. The state policy of “brotherhood and unity” between the ethnic communities that made up Yugoslavia extended to football but failed to hold a decade after the death of communist leader Josip Broz Tito in 1980, as nationalist sentiment increased. In June 1990, for example, a mainly Croatian crowd shouted down the Yugoslav national anthem and jeered players during a friendly match in Zagreb against the Netherlands.

Financial problems have since forced talented players to seek their fortune abroad while a number of teams have still to solve legal and property issues dating back to the communist era.

Hooliganism has also been the scourge of football in the Balkans since Yugoslavia was spliced-peacefully or violently-into Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia.

Many hardcore fans formed the core of paramilitary units that fought in Bosnia and Croatia in the 1990s and violence remains, such as in Serbia in 2009, when a group of ultra-nationalist Partizan Belgrade fans beat to death a French fan.

Football’s European governing body UEFA and the world federation FIFA have both warned Croatia and Serbia to curb violence, as they prepare to meet for the first time on the pitch as independent nations in Zagreb tomorrow. —AFP

GERMANY: (Left to right) Germany’s defender Heiko Westermann, Germany’s defender Philipp Lahm and Germany’s defender Jerome Boateng attend a training session of the German national football team prior to the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan tomorrow. —AFP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

S P ORT S

NYON: Brazilian players attend a training session yesterday in Nyon on the eve of a friendly football match against Italy in Geneva. —AFP

Italy seeks continuity, Brazil revival in friendly ROME: Italy hasn’t beaten Brazil since a memorable victory en route to the 1982 World Cup title and will be looking to show off its newfound swagger in Thursday’s friendly after last year’s run to the European Championship final.

Brazil hasn’t beaten anyone of note lately and is looking to regain its confidence under Luiz Felipe Scolari, who guided the Selecao to the 2002 World Cup title and was brought back in November to replace Mano Menezes.

So it will be a friendly in name only when the two squads that share nine World Cup titles between them - five for Brazil, four for Italy meet in Geneva. It will also be a preview of their next meeting in June in the group phase of the Confederations Cup.

“Friendlies don’t exist with the national team,” Italy’s midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo said. “We know they’re a great team but so are we.” Since Italy’s 3-2 win in 1982, Brazil has won four times in the series and drawn once. In their last two meetings, Brazil has outscored Italy 5-0.

“Over the last few years we haven’t faced Brazil many times, but the few times we have met we’ve played fairly poorly,” Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon said. “So this is a big test for us to see where we’re at and it will help us either way, whether it goes well or poorly.” Brazil lost 2-1 to England at Wembley last month in Scolari’s return and drew 1-1 with Colombia in its previous match in November.

Scolari had only directed two days of training before the England match and he should have a better grip on the squad by now, with another friendly coming up against Russia next week in London.

“Since the 2010 World Cup, Brazil has not won any matches against major national squads,” goalkeeper Julio Cesar said. “I expect to win both games.” Scolari could use a threepronged attack featuring Neymar, Fred and Hulk, while Real Madrid playmaker Kaka could be an option off the bench. However, there are problems in midfield with Ramires, Lucas and Paulinho all out injured.

Italy is without defender Giorgio Chiellini, who was sent home yesterday with injuries to

both ankles, but coach Cesare Prandelli has a wealth of options for his lineup, keeping in mind a World Cup qualifier at Malta next week.

With Roma forward Pablo Osvaldo suspended for the Malta match, the Argentine-born striker could pair in attack with Mario Balotelli, who has scored seven goals in six matches for AC Milan since transferring back to Italy from Manchester City.

“Mario has found the ideal situation to show his worth,” Buffon said. “I hope he gives us joy with the national team, too.” Whoever plays in attack for Italy will have to deal with defender Thiago Silva, widely considered among the world’s best.

Silva developed his game with Milan the

past three seasons before transferring to Paris Saint-Germain. “I owe a lot to Italy,” he said. “I grew up in Italy and learned to defend better.”

While Italy is unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, the Azzurri have not fared well in recent friendlies, losing 2-1 at home to France in November and drawing 1-1 at the Netherlands last month.

“We’re approaching these two matches like they’re both qualifiers,” Prandelli said. “Perhaps the Malta match is more important because there will be three points on line but Brazil is Brazil and the name says it all.” Brazil, which is hosting the 2014 World Cup, does not have to qualify and is therefore playing a long series of friendlies.—AP

Loss to Oman would be ‘disastrous’ for Australia MELBOURNE: Anything less than a win for Australia in their World Cup qualifier against Oman next week would be ‘disastrous’ for the Socceroos’ hopes of making next year’s finals in Brazil, acting captain Mark Schwarzer has said.

Australia are second in Group B of Asia qualifying, eight points behind runaway leaders Japan and equal on five points with Iraq and Oman with four matches remaining in their campaign. The top two from the group qualify for Brazil.

“Anything less than three points

will be a disaster for us,” the 40year-old goalkeeper told reporters yesterday. “It’s going to be a very, very tough task for us.” Schwarzer, who plays for Fulham in the English Premier League, will lead the Socceroos in Tuesday ’s return match against the 105th-ranked Gulf nation in Sydney after being held to a 0-0 draw in the searing heat of Muscat last June.

That followed a shock 1-0 loss in the third round of qualifying to the same opponents, who have defied their lowly ranking to advance with

a series of gritty displays against more fancied teams.

After a shock loss away to Jordan, the Holger Osieck-coached Socceroos put their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a gusty come-from-behind win away to Iraq, and are relieved to play three of their last four qualifiers on home soil. “We’ve ended up being the team that plays three of the first of the four games away, and that was always going to be tough,” added Schwarzer, who stands in for regular captain Lucas

Neill, serving a one-match ban for drawing a yellow card during the Iraq qualifier. “Obviously, if you look at where we’re sitting on the table, it has worked out OK. We would have liked to pick up a couple more points along the way.”

German Osieck, who has been under fire during 39th-ranked Australia’s stodgy start to their final round of qualifying, named attacking midfielder Tim Cahill and a raft of Europe-based players in a strong squad for the Oman qualifier.—Reuters

Drogba dropped for WCup qualifier ABIDJAN: Didier Drogba was dropped for Ivory Coast’s World Cup qualifier against Gambia because he “needs to work hard to get back to his best,” coach Sabri Lamouchi said yesterday.

Drogba, who turned 35 this month, will not play in the Ivorians’ first game since a disappointing

quarterfinal exit for the favorites at the recent African Cup of Nations, which was seen as the striker’s last chance at a major trophy with his country.

Lamouchi told The Associated Press that he didn’t pick Drogba for Saturday’s game because of concerns over the Galatasaray striker’s

Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast celebrates in this file photo.—AP

fitness and form after his moves from Chelsea to China and then to Turkey. The Ivorian team also needed a change of mindset after a string of failures in Africa despite being the continent’s top-ranked team, the French coach said.

Drogba would have a place when he returned to form, Lamouchi said, but the striker is undoubtedly reaching the end of his time with his national team.

“Didier Drogba needs to work hard to get back to his best,” Lamouchi said. “He needs to work to become the Drogba you knew before. That’s why he’s not among those I called for the match against Gambia.”

Ivory Coast leads its World Cup qualifying group but also has to start planning for Drogba’s retirement. Lamouchi picked four homebased players in his squad for the Gambia qualifier while leaving Drogba out.

The Ivorians - blessed with talent like Drogba, Toure brothers Yaya and Kolo and forward Gervinho - lost to eventual champion Nigeria at the African Cup in

South Africa to continue a depressing run at the tournament.

They have lost in two finals, a semifinal and two quarterfinals in the last five tournaments and have failed to add to a lone title in 1992.

“With this team I want more than respect, I want titles,” said Lamouchi, whose own place as coach came in doubt after the loss to Nigeria in South Africa.

Lamouchi said the four home players were a “strong signal” that the team was now open to local talent - although three of the four are backup goalkeepers and may not see playing time.

“They only have to work hard to have the opportunity to play on the national team,” the coach said. Ivory Coast is currently unbeaten in African World Cup qualifying Group C and is the heavy favorite against Gambia, which is bottom of the group. Five African teams will qualify for next year ’s World Cup in Brazil, which may be an international farewell for Drogba, who will be nearly 37 when the next African Cup comes round.—AP

CHILE: Handout picture released by the Chilean National Football Association showing Chile’s players Alexis Sanchez (left) and Jean Beausejour (right) during a training session in Santiago ahead of their Brazil 2014 World Cup South American qualifier match against Peru tomorrow. —AP

Beckham arrives in China as ambassador of football BEIJING: David Beckham arrived in China on Tuesday as an ambassador to help develop young players as the country tries to clean up its football image after a spate of corruption scandals.

The former England captain said he isn’t concerned about the match-fixing scandals in China, with several players and officials sentenced to prison. “I’m not here to clean up anything. I’m here to educate the children and give them a chance to become professional footballers,” Beckham, dressed in a smart grey suit and tie, said during his first appearance as ambassador at a Beijing primary school.

Beckham, who was linked with a move to play in the Chinese Super League after leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy in December, also said he hasn’t ruled out playing professionally in China someday.

“Who knows? People keep saying that it will be my last club, it will be my last season,” said the 37-year-old midfielder, now with Paris Saint-Germain. “I continue to

play and I love playing, so we’ll see.”

Beckham is due to play an exhibition game in China in November, five months after his contract with PSG expires. If he opts to retire by then, the match could mark the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star’s swansong before he switches focus to his career off the field.

Developing a youth program is considered a priority for the CSL, with a mere 8,000 players of all ages registered at local associations in a football-mad nation of 1.3 billion people.

Beckham indicated he would take a strong interest in inspiring and training talented young players who might one day represent their nation internationally. “I think it’s important that we get a process in hand,” he said.

A weak youth system, along with rampant corruption, has been blamed in part for the Chinese national team’s poor international results. The country has only played once at the World Cup, in 2002.—AP

With Heat rolling, Lakers recall their record run NEW YORK: Gail Goodrich knew Miami would beat Boston the other night. He knew even a 17-point deficit, the largest they had faced in six weeks, wouldn’t stop LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. “Once they got back in the game, there was no doubt in my mind they were going to win,” Goodrich said of the Heat’s 105-103 victor y Monday.

“They just are better than everybody else.” So were the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers. Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Goodrich were a Big Three to rival what Miami has, the core of a team that racked up routs on the way to an NBArecord 33 straight victories. They rarely felt threatened, either by their opponent or the stress of the streak, making one of sports’ most remarkable achievements seem rather routine. “ We had one of those teams that comes along every once in a while,” West said. “The only bad thing about it is we

were really too old to be able to sustain it. But it was easy. And when we lost, it was like, ‘I can’t believe we lost.’ It was like two-and-a-half months. It was a very special time.”

Miami has won 23 in a row heading into its game late yesterday at Cleveland.

After that, it’s home for Detroit and Charlotte, then off to Orlando, a fourgame stretch against the bottom four teams in the Eastern Conference. So after years when no team came close to threatening their record, the Lakers recognize this could be the end of their time at the top.

“I really didn’t think that that record, after really thinking about it, was going to be broken. Now, I’m star ting to change my mind,” Goodrich said during a phone interview. “I think they have a good shot at it.” Yet as good as the Heat have been, they can’t match the ruthlessness of the Lakers’ run.

It started after a loss - two of them, actually - early in the season. The Lakers fell 109-105 to Golden State on Halloween 1971, then franchise cornerstone Elgin Baylor retired because of a knee injury.

They returned with victories on three straight days from Nov. 5-7 - players complain now about playing on back-toback nights - with two coming by single digits. From there, the games got progressively easier and the margins more lopsided.

The Lakers outscored opponents by an average of 123.3 to 107.3, according to STATS. They had one three -game stretch in which they scored 139, 132 and 138 points, part of a nine-game span in which their low total was 123 points.

“I think we might have only played two close games the whole time. The rest of them were just routs,” West said at

a recent Golden State game. Like golfers who suddenly feel they can make any putt from any distance, the Hall of Famers remember the game getting easier as the streak went on. They actually enjoyed the run instead of feeling any kind of burden to keep it going.

“You’re very, very confident. Your shot is going in, you just do things, you don’t even think about the streak. You don’t think about the entirety of it,” Goodrich said. “Certainly we had a lot of confidence and that confidence grew among us that somehow, some way, we were going to find a way to win, and I think all great teams do that. We really didn’t think about the streak, at least I didn’t. I mean, we knew it wasn’t going to last forever, I mean that just doesn’t happen, but we were dominating.”

Chamberlain was more defender and rebounder at that late stage of his career, but West (25.8 points per game that sea-

son) and Goodrich (25.9) provided plenty of points. Defense wins championships, the cliche goes, but a potent offense can keep a winning streak going, and the Lakers knew they had it.

“We were capable of having runs, streaks, running off 12 or 15 points in a game,” Goodrich said. “Pretty much we were confident we were going to do that, but I think the confidence builds that you’re better than your opponent.

That doesn’t mean you disrespect them, but you are better.”

The Heat have had it tougher. They trailed by 16 before rallying for a sixpoint victory over a Knicks team that had beaten them badly twice earlier in the season. They went two overtimes with Sacramento and needed a layup by James with 3.2 seconds left to beat Orlando. His jumper with 10.5 seconds remaining allowed them to escape Boston with the streak intact.—AP

Ponting accepts award but rules out Ashes comeback

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

15

‘Iceman’ to feel the heat in Malaysia

17

Pakistan looks to kabaddi to help build rugby

Page 17

SAN FRANCISCO: The Dominican Republic celebrates after defeating Puerto Rico to win the Championship Round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic by a score of 3-0 at AT&T Park. —AFP

Dominican Republic wins WBC Cano named Most Valuable Player SAN FRANCISCO: The Dominican Republic capped off an unbeaten campaign by defeating Caribbean neighbors Puerto Rico 3-0 to win the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday.

The Dominicans made up for their first-round exit in the 2009 tournament by taking their record to 8-0 after the title game, five pitchers combining for a three-hit shutout on a rainy, chilly night at AT&T Park before a crowd of more than 35,000.

Closer Fernando Rodney struck out Luis Figueroa for the final out to spark a celebration on the mound which continued with the players parading a huge Dominican flag around the field.

Robinson Cano was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament after hitting .469 with two home runs, six runs batted in and six runs scored. The New York Yankees second baseman later fielded a phone call from the president

of the Dominican Republic.

After Cano handed the phone off to Jose Reyes at the post-game news conference, he was asked how he felt about returning to spring training after experiencing the high of WBC triumph.

“Tonight we’re going to celebrate. Tomorrow we’re going to celebrate and Thursday we’ll worry about spring training,” Cano said with a laugh. The Dominicans wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a two-run double

by Edwin Encarnacion off losing pitcher Giancarlo Alvarado giving them a 2-0 lead in the first inning before they added another run in the fifth on Erick Aybar’s double.

Starter Samuel Deduno and four relievers stifled the Puerto Rican lineup in a decisive victory that made the Dominicans champions of baseball’s top international tournament.

Rain started falling at the start of the fourth and had

picked up intensity by the bottom half of the inning, sending some fans to seek shelter while others donned ponchos and began cracking open umbrellas.

Footing became a problem for the players on the diamond during the middle innings with the grounds crew called out to repair the pitcher’s mound and home plate area. ‘The rain lightened up later in the game and salsa music continued to blare from the bandstand beyond the bleachers, punctuated by air horns and drums played by the fans themselves. By then, the Dominicans were in command.

Jose Reyes led off the game for them by cracking a long double off the brick wall in right and moving up on a sacrifice bunt by Erick Aybar. After an intentional walk to Cano, Encarnacion doubled to right-center scoring both baserunners. They added some cushion in the fifth with help from a fielding gaffe by Puerto Rican second baseman

Nuggets see off Thunder

SACRAMENTO: Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (left) drives past Sacramento Kings guard Isaiah Thomas during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game. — AP

OKLAHOMA CITY: Ty Lawson scored 25 points and Andre Miller had 20 points and nine assists as the Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-104 Tuesday night to win a 13th straight game for the first time since joining the NBA. The Nuggets trailed by one at halftime but took control in the third quarter and never let Oklahoma City reclaim the lead. Denver moved within 31/2 games of the Thunder in the Northwest Division and became the first team this season to beat Oklahoma City three times.

It’s also a big win in the chase for homecourt advantage in the playoffs for Denver, which is level with Miami for the NBA’s best home record at 30-3. Kevin Durant had 34 points and Russell Westbrook chipped in 25 for Oklahoma City, which lost at home for just the fifth time this season. Denver’s previous longest winning streak in the NBA was 12 straight games in 1982. The club won 15 in a row in the ABA. Pacers 95, Magic 73 In Indianapolis, Paul George scored 19 points and Tyler Hansbrough had 14 points and 14 rebounds, leading Indiana to a rout of struggling Orlando. The Pacers improved to 27-8 at home despite playing without second-leading scorer David West because of a sprained lower back.

Maurice Harkless and Arron Afflalo each had 10 points for the Magic, who lost their fourth straight on a night they shot just 31.8 percent from the field and coach Jacque Vaughn was ejected in a flurry of four technical fouls with 4:47 left in the third quarter.

The Pacers led 62-44 in the third and the

Magic could get no closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Bucks 102, Trail Blazers 95 In Milwaukee, Brandon Jennings scored 24 points and Monta Ellis added 21 to help Milwaukee hang on for a victory over Portland. Ellis added nine rebounds, eight assists, three steals and matched a career high with three blocks for Milwaukee, which outscored Portland 31-8 in the second quarter - the Trail Blazers’ fewest points in any period this season. The Blazers shot a woeful 2 for 20 from the field in the quarter.

Portland fought back with 64 second-half points to make things interesting. Wesley Matthews hit seven 3-pointers and scored 28 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who lost for the 10th time in their last 11 road games.

Kings 116, Clippers 101 In Sacramento, Marcus Thornton had 25 points and Toney Douglas scored 17 of his 19 in the fourth quarter as the Sacramento Kings rallied from eight down in the final 11 minutes to stun the Los Angeles Clippers 116-101. DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans added 17 points apiece for the Kings, who beat the Pacific Division-leading Clippers for the first time in more than two years.

They did it behind a stellar effort off the bench from Thornton and a smothering defense that held Los Angeles to just five buckets in the final quarter. Blake Griffin had three of them and finished with 26 points, four rebounds and five assists for the Clippers. Los Angeles has lost four of its last seven. —AP

Irving Falu. After an infield single by Alejandro De Aza, Reyes grounded to Falu, who stood with the ball as De Aza stopped in the middle of the baseline.

Instead of going toward him to tag him out, Falu threw to first base in hopes of getting a double play, but De Aza made it safely to second and scored on a double by Aybar to make it 3-0.

Reliever Pedro Strop squelched a potential Puerto Rican rally in the seventh after a lead-off single by Mike Aviles and a walk to Alex Rios issued by Octavio Dotel. Strop struck out Carlos Rivera and Andy Gonzalez and retired Jesus Feliciano on a twisting catch of a foul pop by third baseman Miguel Tejada to end the threat.

“Obviously, we wanted to win,” said Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodriguez. “We have to take our hats off to the Dominican Republic team, which showed a stellar performance.” — Reuters

NBA results/standings Indiana 95, Orlando 73; Milwaukee 102, Portland 95; Denver 114, Oklahoma City 104; Sacramento 116, LA Clippers 101.

NY Knicks Brooklyn Boston Philadelphia Toronto Indiana Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland Miami Atlanta Washington Orlando Charlotte Oklahoma City Denver Utah Portland Minnesota LA Clippers Golden State LA Lakers Sacramento Phoenix San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L 39 26 39 28 36 30 26 40 26 41 Central Division 42 26 36 30 34 32 23 46 22 45 Southeast Division 52 14 37 30 23 43 18 50 15 52 Western Conference Northwest Division 50 18 47 22 34 33 31 36 23 42 Pacific Division 46 22 39 30 36 33 24 44 23 45 Southwest Division 51 16 45 21 36 31 32 35 22 46

PCT .600 .582 .545 .394 .388

GB 1 3.5 13.5 14

.618 .545 .515 .333 .328

5 7 19.5 19.5

.788 .552 .348 .265 .224

15.5 29 35 37.5

.735 .681 .507 .463 .354

3.5 15.5 18.5 25.5

.676 .565 .522 .353 .338

7.5 10.5 22 23

.761 .682 .537 .478 .324

5.5 15 19 29.5

Business THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Iraqi people yet to feel benefit of oil boom Page 22 India’s billionaire club slow to share riches Page 25 Iconic G-Class resets the boundaries

Al-Sayer newest Toyota Showroom in Al-Ardiya certified Toyota cars Page 23

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MOSCOW: Cypriot Finance Minister Michael Sarris leaves the Russian Finance Ministry in Moscow yesterday. Sarris said he was off to a “very good” start in seeking Russia’s assistance after his island’s rejection of the terms of an EU bailout that slapped a painful levy on bank accounts. — AFP

Britain’s growth halved, Osborne turns to BOE LONDON: British finance minister George Osborne turned to the Bank of England yesterday to do more to help spur the country ’s stagnant economy as he announced a halving of this year’s growth forecast. In an annual budget statement peppered with cat-calls from opposition politicians, Osborne said the central bank’s inflation target would remain at 2 percent a year - but that that was not enough. “As we’ve seen over the last five years, low and stable inflation is a necessary but not sufficient condition for prosperity,” he told parliament.

Osborne said the country ’s economy was now expected to grow only 0.6 percent this year, half the rate predicted only three months ago, but he vowed to stick the course on austerity. “It is taking longer than anyone hoped, but we must hold to the right track” he said.

Osborne said he was publishing a review of the Bank of England’s mandate and said the central bank might need to use “unconventional monetary policy instruments” and give a clearer idea of what it will do in the future. Such instruments in the past have included printing money to buy assets as a way of pumping cash into the moribund economy.

“The new remit explicitly tasks the MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) with setting out clearly the tradeoffs it has made in deciding how long it will be before inflation returns to target,” he told parliament. Such a change might make the Bank of England operate in a way similar to the US Federal Reserve which has given increasingly explicit signs about how long it will continue to provide support to the US economy.

Sterling briefly fell against the dollar and was weaker against the euro. British bond, or gilt, futures pared losses. The BOE moves coincide with the arrival in July of a new governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, currently the head of the Bank of Canada. Carney has previously said he wanted a debate on the role of the BoE. Osborne said Carney and the central bank’s current governor Mervyn King both agreed with the new remit which is set by the UK finance minister each year.

A further review of the mandate would be carried out before the end of 2019. Shortly before Osborne began speaking in parliament, some details of his market-sensitive statement were leaked on the Internet, prompting goading by opposition leader Ed Miliband.

The Labor opposition argues that the Conservativeled government has stuck too long to austerity, failing to provide needed growth. Forecasts by Britain’s budget watchdog showed growth was expected to pick up to 1.8 percent in 2014, after the 0.6 percent this year, Osborne said. That was also lower than the watchdog’s December forecast but Osborne said UK growth was expected to be stronger than in France and Germany in 2013 and next year, Osborne said. He said Britain remained on track to eliminate its underlying budget deficit within five years. But a secondary target of stopping the rise of debt as a share of GDP would take a year longer than forecast in December, when it was also pushed back by a year. — Reuters

LONDON: British Finance Minister George Osborne poses outside 11 Downing Street in London yesterday.—AFP

Setback for ‘Plan B’ as Cyprus fails to win Russia’s help EU warns debt burden ‘must be sustainable’ MOSCOW/BRUSSELS: Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris failed yesterday to win assistance from tough-bargaining Russia after his island’s rejection of an EU bailout that would have slapped a painful levy on bank accounts. Sarris met his Russian counterpart Anton Siluanov before holding talks with First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov about a possible new Moscow loan. In an early setback for the island’s “Plan B”, however, Sarris failed to reach progress after two rounds of talks in Moscow on assistance from Russia.

And in Brussels, the European Commission warned that any new Cyprus bailout must guarantee that the island’s debt burden is sustainable and must be agreed by all parties involved. German Chancellor Angela Merkel however was supportive, telling reporters in Berlin: “Cyprus is our partner in the euro area and that is why it is our duty to find a solution

together.” With the banking sector at a standstill and fears growing of a forced euro-zone exit, President Nicos Anastasiades huddled with party leaders and financial experts in Nicosia trying to formulate a “Plan B” that would help the island confront its worst crisis since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Cyprus also hopes to ease the terms of a 2.5-billion-euro ($3.2-billion) loan Moscow afforded Nicosia in 2011 that matures in 2016.

“We had a very good beginning. We had a very good, honest and open discussion,” Sarris told reporters after his meeting with the Russian finance minister.

But a Russian government source told AFP that a second round of talks with Shuvalov-a close aide to President Vladimir Putin who oversees the financial sector-produced no results. Sarris has vowed to stay in Moscow until some agreement is reached that could

help his country’s banks avoid bankruptcy and the island from going into default.

Russian news reports said the talks will continue in Moscow today. “It makes sense for Russia to extend the loan, but at what pricethese are the things they are discussing now,” said Renaissance Capital’s chief economist Ivan Tchakarov. The visit comes a day after furious Cypriot lawmakers flatly rejected a highly unpopular measure that would have slapped a one-time fee of up to 9.9 percent on bank deposits over 20,000 euros as a condition for an EU-led 10-billion-euro bailout loan.

The European Commission said yesterday that any new Cyprus bailout must ensure that its debt burden is sustainable-a signal that it expects the island to raise the remaining 5.8 billion euros believed necessary. Cyprus badly needs the money in part to recapitalize its banks, which took a bruising in the Greek debt

crisis. Their collapse would leave the country bankrupt and in danger of going into default.

That in turn would put immense pressure on the euro-zone and once again put the future of the single currency in doubt. Cyprus is now scrambling for a Plan B that includes the option of turning to Russia.

Russians-many of them wealthy tycoons seeking to avoid taxes back home have $31 billion in private and corporate cash deposited in the island’s teetering banks. The Kremlin said that Putin received a telephone call late Tuesday from his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades in which the two leaders discussed what Russia could do to help.

Putin had Monday lashed out at the proposed levy as “unfair, unprofessional and dangerous”-a position highlighting the links between the Kremlin and the Russian oligarchs who do business in Cyprus.—AFP

2012 milestone year for VIVA Net profit KD 3.9m from KD14.4m loss in 2011 KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing telecom operator, yesterday held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Regency Hotel in Bidaa, Kuwait. The AGM approved the company’s financial results for the year ended 31 December, 2012 as well as approving the auditors’ report. The AGM also approved VIVA’s balance sheet and profit and loss accounts for the financial year ended 31 December, 2012.

Adel Al-Roumi, Chairman of the Board, said: “2012 have been a milestone year for VIVA on many levels, not least delivering profitability for the first time since we began our commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2008, and expanding our customer base at record speed.

“Our performance this year reflects our consistent hard work and dedication in an exceptionally competitive market. In 2012, VIVA recorded a net profit of KD 3.9 million (earnings per share 7.74 fils), compared to KD14.4 million in losses (loss per share 28.85fils) in 2011. Also in 2012, we achieved an operating cash flow of KD32.9 million in 2012, compared to KD72,000 in 2011, reinforcing the company’s financial solvency and credit position and creating greater trust and confidence in the company and its strategy by its creditors and financing institutions.

“These excellent results represent a tipping point in the company’s development, and reflect the many other record breaking achievements VIVA routinely delivered over course of the year.”

Al-Roumi also responded to questions regarding the Ministry of Commerce’s reservations, saying that these are being addressed and are within the company’s business plans. Regarding the listing of VIVA’s shares on the Kuwait Stock Exchange, Al-Roumi confirmed that the company had applied for listing from the Capital Market Authority (CMA) on 16 February, 2012 and is awaiting the CMA’s response on this. Al-Roumi said that VIVA has appointed an Islamic Sharia Committee for the company in accordance with Article

KUWAIT: Adel Al-Roumi addresses the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Regency Hotel in Bidaa, Kuwait.

15, under the shareholding companies’ law number 25 for the year 2012.

Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Badran, VIVA’s Chief Executive Officer said: “In light of the fierce competition in the telecom sector in Kuwait, we are very pleased with the sustained and unprecedented growth in our customer base, from almost one million customers at the end of 2011 to 1.6 million customers by the end of 2012. As a result, our overall market share has grown to 29 per cent from 20 per cent at the end of 2011, which represents an overall increase of 55 per cent, when compared to the same period last year. We will continue to invest in our staff, and in the infrastructure and technologies that have distinguished VIVA from its competitors, to assist us to continue to maintain the pace of our development.

“A further achievement in 2012 was the rapid growth in demand for our broadband data services, and I am also pleased to note that VIVA has now become the second largest data service provider in Kuwait through offering customers very competi-

tive, reliable and flexible broadband services through a wide range of smartphonebased packages.

Al-Badran concluded: “I would like to express my appreciation to the whole VIVA family, including all our employees, our business partners, customers and shareholders, who we owe our success in 2012.”

Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Qatie, Chief Financial Officer said: “VIVA has exceeded expectations in terms of attracting more customers in 2012, which has been reflected in our revenues and profits, and we are cautiously optimistic that this trend can be continued in the year ahead.”

The AGM’s attendance represented 50.07% per cent of the number of ordinary shares of the company. This does not fulfill the quorum for the AGM, in accordance with the Ministry of Commerce’s regulations, which requires the presence of 75% of the company’s shareholders. Therefore, a date to discuss the agenda for an Extraordinary General Assembly will be agreed in the coming two weeks.

VIVA has recorded a number of achievements this year, marking the company’s progress and growth. These include market leading products like HTC’s innovative Windows 8X phone, Nokia’s top of the range Lumia 920, Samsung’s Galaxy Note II and Galaxy SIII smartphones all with a wide range of unique service packages. Towards the end of the year, VIVA officially launched the iPhone 5, with a bespoke range of wellpriced and practical packages for all uses.

Throughout 2012, VIVA continued its investment in infrastructure technology, enhancing its services with 4G LTE and ensuring that the company continued its lead as Kuwait’s fastest growing telecommunication service provider. One of VIVA’s many service innovations over the year was the launch of VIVA Elite, a concierge service for our customers which is unique amongst telecommunication companies in Kuwait.

This service provides customers with assistance by phone for a wide range of different services, including help with travel bookings, hotel and restaurant reservations, and courier services.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

BUSINESS

DMCC to launch Islamic commodity trade platform DUBAI: Dubai’s government-owned commodities centre is launching a sharia-compliant commodity trading platform which Islamic banks in the Gulf could use to manage their short-term fund flows.

The Tradeflow platform developed by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) allows trading of warehouse receipts, which represent ownership of commodities stored at warehouses.

Islamic banks cannot use conventional interbank money markets because of Islam’s ban on interest, so they have struggled with a shortage of instruments to manage liquidity. The DMCC hopes its platform can be part of the solution to this problem, since warehouse receipts are based on actual trading of physical assets, an important principle in Islamic finance. “What we have built is a completely different alternative to what is out there. Assets are really owned, really transferred - scholars can check

these and all contracts are standardized,” Tradeflow director Paul Boots told Reuters.

“We realized that there was a shortage of shariacompliant money market instruments, which means Islamic banks end up with large concentrations of cash.” The DMCC has operated a conventional trading platform for commodity receipts for years; the Islamic platform now being launched tracks the ownership of commodities in a way which gives assurance that a “true sale” of commodities is occurring. That assurance is necessary for Islamic banks to enter into murabaha contracts with each other to place their surplus funds. “Banks still offload their master murabaha agreement as per their conditions, but all the sales and purchases are done in a very standardized way to ensure they are real sales purchases,” Boots said. The Islamic trading platform, developed with sharia advisory firm Dar al Sharia,

assets from a low base, said Nazim.

Islamic banking assets at commercial banks reached $1.55 trillion worldwide at the end of 2012, and are projected to exceed $2 trillion by 2015, the Ernst & Young report said.

However, it also said of the Gulf’s Islamic banks: “Quality of growth remains under pressure and we expect more Islamic banks initiating an honest introspection of their operating model.”

Analysts say many Islamic institutions in the Gulf have grown by expanding their staff numbers and facilities rather than by boosting efficiency, so profit growth has in some cases been weak.

Some Islamic banks need to make significant investments to upgrade their back-office information systems and become more efficient, Nazim said.

“Islamic banks remain technologically disadvantaged as software systems are primarily designed for financial institutions based on conventional banking frameworks.

“While the industry regulators are looking to tackle this issue, it remains a concern for the industry leading to significantly higher operational and commercial risk.” — Reuters

Economy expanding and govt coffers swelling

Dubai’s Emirates NBD eyes subordinated debt sale DUBAI: Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest lender, is planning to tap debt markets to raise a subordinated bond of at least $500 million which would boost its supplementary capital ratios.

Sources told Reuters earlier this month that the bank, 56-percent owned by state fund Investment Corporation of Dubai, was planning such a sale in a bid to reduce government support for its capital ratios. A successful sale will help Emirates NBD repay part of the 12.6 billion dirhams ($3.43 billion) it received from the government in 2008. The bank said in January that it was looking to begin repayment of the funds.

Banks in the United Arab Emirates are expected to prioritize repayment of government support received in 2008 to shore up balance sheets, and converted into seven-year bonds in late 2009, as the value of the capital instruments has

The United Arab Emirates central bank issues murabaha-based certificates of deposit, and it began offering a funding facility to banks based on murabaha in June 2011.

Banks in the UAE held 15.1 billion dirhams ($4.1 billion) of Islamic certificates of deposit in December 2012, an increase of 16.2 percent from a year earlier, central bank data shows.

Analysts say banks are reluctant to switch away from this widely used instrument, but an assetbacked instrument such as the DMCC receipts might eventually find broad appeal in the industry.

Boots said the DMCC was currently working on its first Islamic transaction in warehouse receipts, but declined to give a timeframe for when it might go ahead. “We’ve been in touch with Islamic banks in general, mainly the larger ones that would have a greater need for this type of transaction.” — Reuters

Iraqi people yet to feel benefit of oil boom

Gulf Islamic bank assets up 14.1% in 2012: E&Y DUBAI: Islamic banks’ expansion in the Gulf continues to outstrip growth of conventional banks, while their performance is particularly strong in Qatar, according to estimates released by consultancy Ernst & Young. Sharia-compliant assets at commercial banks in the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council climbed 14.1 percent from a year earlier to $445 billion at the end of 2012, said Ashar Nazim, Islamic financial services leader at the firm.

This was faster than the growth of conventional bank assets in the region, which rose 8.1 percent, Ernst & Young said without giving a figure for the size of those assets. Previously, it has estimated Islamic institutions accounted for about a quarter of the entire banking industry in the GCC. “We expect a relatively positive outlook for the Islamic banking industry in the GCC,” the consultancy said. Qatar’s Islamic banking assets were estimated to have grown more than 23 percent in 2012. Globally, the Islamic banking sector has posted a five-year average annual growth rate of 19 percent across the 22 major Islamic finance markets which Ernst & Young monitors. New entrants into the industry have boosted

which is headed by prominent scholar Hussein Hassan, also involves the DMCC certifying that storage facilities for the commodities meet Islamic principles. Unannounced site visits are made every six months, Boots said.

Commodity murabaha is one of the most common financing structures in Islamic banking; an institution agrees to purchase merchandise from a counterparty which promises to buy it back with an agreed mark-up at a later date.

Some religious scholars have criticized murabaha for its lack of economic substance, arguing there is no effective change in ownership of the goods. But Islamic banks rely heavily on murabaha - around the world, 30 to 50 percent of their balance sheets often comprise murabaha-related transactions, according to data from the Islamic Banks & Financial Institutions Information System.

diminished and access to finance has become cheaper.

In February, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank issued a $750 million 10-year Tier 2 note at 265 basis points over midswaps.

Other Abu Dhabi banks have also repaid some or all government funding this year.

Emirates NBD has mandated itself along with Citigroup, HSBC, JP Morgan Chase, Societe Generale and Standard Chartered to arrange investor meetings, to be held on March 22 in London and Singapore, a statement from the lead managers said yesterday.

A dollar-denominated subordinated Tier 2 bond may follow the roadshows, subject to market conditions. The deal will be benchmark-sized, which is traditionally understood to mean at least $500 million. Shares in Emirates NBD ended 1.3 percent higher on Wednesday and are up 37 percent year-to-date. — Reuters

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s economy is expanding and government coffers are swelling, but Sabah Nuri, like many Iraqis who still struggle with poverty and poor services, has yet to see the benefits of rising oil exports. Nuri is lucky: he has a job, albeit a relatively menial one, and a roof over his head. But he barely manages to cover the costs of rent, food and the regular payments for the neighborhood generator used to meet the vast power shortfall.

“Everything here costs a lot of money-you always have to pay for things,” said the 45-yearold, who pushes heavy items around Bab AlSharji, one of Baghdad’s oldest neighborhoods, on a wooden cart. “Outside Iraq they have services, so if you have a job, life is ok.”

“Where is the oil? We only hear the numbers, but we are not getting anything.”

In the decade since the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s oil industry has been one of the bright spots in a country that has grappled with brutal violence and rampant corruption.

Iraq currently produces more than 3.15 million barrels of oil per day (bpd), exporting around 2.5 million bpd, according to oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad. It has proven reserves of 143.1 billion barrels, among the most in the world. Baghdad is widely expected to dramatically increase its export figures in the near future-the International Energy Agency says Iraq stands to reap around $5 trillion from oil exports through to 2035, and it will be the biggest single contributor to global oil output growth in the coming years. But Nuri’s complaint is a common one among ordinary Iraqis, a quarter of whom are reckoned to live in poverty and as many as a third are thought to be unemployed or underemployed, based on unofficial estimates.

Their frustration is tied to the fact that oil, responsible for the lion’s share of economic output, does not employ many people-just one percent of the working-age population, according to the United Nations. And so many residents are forced to look for jobs either in the public sector, which is riven with nepotism, or the private sector, which remains tiny.

“I am struggling,” admitted Abboud Hassan, 48, who was an air force engineer but now sells remote controls at a roadside stall. “I have nothing.” “I just want to make some money in a decent way,” he said, referring to widespread reports of political patronage in the civil service and corruption in private business. Hassan earns about 820,000 dinars ($680) a month from his air force pension and the remote control sales,

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi works in the garden of Paradise Square in Baghdad yesterday, the tenth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq. — AFP which is barely enough for his wife and five children to survive. According to a UN report last month on the oil and gas sector, “the size of Iraq’s oil revenue inhibits efforts to diversify Iraq’s economy” because of a strengthening of the currency that make exports less competitive and imports more attractive.

“Expansion of more labor-intensive non-oil sectors is therefore inhibited, limiting the ability of the Iraqi economy to create sustainable jobs and reduce poverty,” the UN report said. “This problem... is set to increase as Iraq’s oil sector expands faster than non-oil sectors over the coming years.” —AFP

DEWA sees no sukuk issues before 2015 DUBAI: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is not expecting to issue more Islamic bonds before 2015 if electricity demand growth in the Gulf Arab emirate remains steady, its chief executive said yesterday.

“According to cash flow, there will be no additional sukuk or (conventional) bonds (in 2013). I do not think we are going to target sukuk next year, except if (electricity consumption) growth changes to 10 percent or growth targets change,” Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer said. “We have growth of 4-5 percent and I do not think it is going to increase.

We will wait to see if there is any change in whether we need any more liquidity. We have time until 2015 to think about it,” he told a news confer-

ence. In February, DEWA returned to global debt markets after an absence of more than two years with a $1 billion Islamic bond, or sukuk, which drew very strong demand. That left it some $230 million short of its full-year borrowing target.

Asked how DEWA planned to finance the rest of its borrowing requirements this year, Tayer said: “The strategy consists of different tools, for example ECAs (export credit agencies), syndication...and also bonds. There are many options we have.”

DEWA’s head said in October that the emirate’s sole utility would look to raise around 4.5 billion dirhams ($1.23 billion) of debt in 2013 through sukuk, export credit agency finance and securitization deals. —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

.2770000 .4260000 .3640000 .2990000 .2750000 .2920000 .0040000 .0020000 .0771100 .7512650 .3920000 .0720000 .7364830 .0420000

.2880000 .442000 .3810000 .3170000 .2890000 .3000000 .0068000 .0035000 .0778850 .7588150 .4110000 .0770000 .7438840 .0480000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2840500 .4290010 .3675180 .3011720 .2776370 .0492930 .0440450 .2946020 .0366020 .2271850 .0029940 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0773660 .7537480 .0000000 .0757670 .7380800 .0000000

.2861500 .4321720 .3702350 .3033980 .2796890 .0496570 .0443700 .2967800 .0368720 .2288650 .0030160 .0053090 .0022750 .0029260 .0036550 .0779380 .7593210 .4047380 .0763270 .7435360 .0070900

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso

2.987 5.283 2.906 2.251 3.313 229.280 36.787 3.614 7.009

Thai Baht Irani Riyal - transfer Irani Riyal - cash

Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar

9.730 0.271 0.273

758.45 41.39 405.80

755.600 41.600 411.000

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

76.150 78.463 741.720 758.470 77.758

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

41.450 41.410 1.332 182.160 403.260 1.916 3.102 33.821

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 285.450 Euro 371.090 Sterling Pound 432.740 Canadian dollar 280.400 Swiss Franc 303.030 US Dollar Buying 284.250

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 285.200 282.605 432.110 371.110 301.730 755.075 77.625 78.285 76.015 402.035 41.443 2.251 5.281 2.903 3.618 7.000 699.610 3.980 4.885 4.030 3.400 91.335

GOLD 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

298.000 150.000 77.500

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen

SELL DRAFT 300.11 283.00 307.13 372.53 284.85 434.24 3.07

SELL CASH 298.500 280.600 307.000 373.500 285.000 432.900 3.300

Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee

3.636 5.254 2.260 3.298 2.914

3.720 5.350 2.450 3.420 2.880

UAE Dirhams

77.62

78.000

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Scottish Pound Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Uganda Shilling Canadian Dollar Colombian Peso US Dollars Bangladesh Taka Cape Vrde Escudo Chinese Yuan Eritrea-Nakfa

SELL CASH Europe 0.4238268 0.0061667 0.0455217 0.3643208 0.0452647 0.4207013 0.0402846 0.2963228 Australasia 0.2864248 0.2273459 0.0001104 America 0.2720299 0.0001486 0.2831000 Asia 0.0035782 0.0031645 0.0448166 0.0164833

SELLDRAFT 0.4328268 0.0181667 0.0505217 0.3718208 0.0504647 0.4282013 0.0452846 0.3033228 0.2984248 0.2373459 0.0001104 0.2810299 0.0001666 0.2852500 0.0036332 0.0033945 0.0498166 0.0195833

Guinea Franc Hong Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Jamaican Dollars Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar Sri Lankan Rupee Thai Baht Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Ethiopeanbirr Ghanaian Cedi Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Sudanese Pounds Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.0000443 0.0342301 0.0052034 0.0000244 0.0028500 0.0029017 0.0032766 0.0873314 0.0031351 0.0028771 0.0065549 0.0000729 0.2241651 0.0019617 0.0093184 Arab 0.7502049 0.0394152 0.0129975 0.1484851 0.0000793 0.0001735 0.3967581 1.0000000 0.0001750 0.0217534 0.0012127 0.7298987 0.0776958 0.0755333 0.0500982 0.0031830 0.1801190 0.0762357 0.0012869

0.0000503 0.0373301 0.0052734 0.0000295 0.0038500 0.0030817 0.0035066 0.0943314 0.0033351 0.0029171 0.0070249 0.0000759 0.2301651 0.0022667 0.0099184 0.7587049 0.0414452 0.0194975 0.1502751 0.0000798 0.0002335 0.4042581 1.0000000 0.0001950 0.0457534 0.0018477 0.7408987 0.0784788 O.0761733 0.0506482 0.0034030 0.1861190 0.0776857 0.0013869

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) 284.800 371.750 432.650 280.300 3.010 5.265 41.405 2.257 3.614 7.000 2.905 758.550 77.600 76.080

BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Al-Sayer newest Toyota Showroom in Al-Ardiya certified Toyota cars KUWAIT: Following up on MNSS well developed heavily invested strong progressive plan, which has been completed in Al-Ardiya to better serve customers. The plan intended to provide best sales and after sales support with utmost convenience.

Mohamed Naser Al-Sayer & Sons is proud to announce the opening of its New Toyota Certified and good as new cars showroom in Al-Ardiya, Kuwait, to provide convenient services for our valued Toyota customers.

The ceremony was attended to cut the ribbon by board members Al-Sayer Group, Mubarak Al-Sayer, CEO - / MNSS in addition to Al-Sayer’s managers and a number of guests of honor and the press.

Toyota Al-Sayer takes great pride in excelling continuously by providing the highest levels of Customer Satisfaction thus match-

ing the quality level of Toyota. To keep up with such a purpose and maintain an even broader and stronger presence in Kuwait, we are increasing the number of our Showrooms to provide our Toyota Customers with an even higher level of services and outlets than ever before.

That is why the new - Toyota Al Ardiya for Certified Cars Showroom - will be the newest renovated showroom in that area providing as good as new “Certified Toyota” cars, which is an unmatchable peace of mind, since all Toyota certified cars are comprehensively checked through 120 check point by a highly specialized team , also buying a Toyota certified car comes along with a 12 months road assistance, and free check after 1500km.

MNSS set the bar for the sale of certified cars since 2001 only to become the role model

for other automotive brands. This latest endeavor, is part of the continuous commitment by Al-Sayer providing the most convenient locations for Service and Showroom facilities to all their customers.

Mubarak Al-Sayer CEO / MNSS, reiterated his faith in Kuwait and its economy, saying: “We are under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh/Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, and his good government, we will spare no effort to invest in various different areas that will support Toyota customers at all levels, which in turn will enable us always to beat the expectations and the goodwill of our existing & customers to be for life. “ Mubarak added, “Al-Ardiya showroom is the result of our commitment to follow up on our well developed heavily invested expansion plan in our dear country Kuwait.”

Lew’s China visit focuses on yuan BEIJING: US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew wrapped up a two-day visit to China yesterday having reopened dialogue on pressing issues of economic reform but saying more action is needed on China’s exchange rate. Lew, in his first international trip since taking office last month, also raised concerns about security issues involving cyber threats and North Korea.

His talks with China’s new leaders and senior economic officials as well as with US business leaders in the country

Kuwait credit growth modest in January NBK ECONOMIC REPORT KUWAIT: Bank credit saw a modest increase in January. Lending to consumers was the main source of growth while the non-financial business sector saw only a small gain. Non-bank financials continued to see a contraction in credit.

Money supply increased noticeably with time deposits seeing the largest gain.

Outstanding credit to residents rose by KD 58 million in January to KD 26.95 billion. This is below the average monthly gains seen in the last 12 months which stood at KD 103 million. Credit growth against a year ago accelerated to 5.3%.

Personal facilities (ex-securities) rose by KD 92 million in January, further confirming the recent strong trend. Personal facilities (ex-securities) were up 16.7% against a year ago. Meanwhile, personal facilities for the purchase of securities were down again this month by a small KD 9 million, with year-on-year growth at 3.4%.

Meanwhile, lending to non-bank financials saw another drop in January falling by KD 42 million, reflecting the continued deleveraging by investment companies. The drop was somewhat smaller than last month’s but was in line with the 2012 monthly average change.

Credit to the non-financial business sector saw another weak month in January. Lending to this segment was up by a mere KD 7 million during. Gains in trade, construction and “other” were offset by drops in real estate and industry.

Growth in credit to the non-financial business sector has lost some steam since the end of the summer with year-on-year growth easing from 6% in August 2012 to 4.6% in January.

Apart from the modest credit gain, banks’ aggregate balance sheet also expanded from growth in liquid assets which were up KD 190 million in January. As a result, banks’ liquidity ratio increased by 60 bps.

Narrow money supply (M1) rose by KD 112 million (+1.5%) in January with growth accelerating to 20% against a year ago. The broader measure of money (M2) gained KD 292 million, with growth accelerating to 8.1% y/y.

Following a large increase in December, private resident deposits were up a noticeable KD 282 million in January. The increase was predominantly in KD time and sight deposits.

Deposit rates on dinar time deposits for the 1month and 3-month maturities remained unchanged at 0.61%, 0.79% respectively. The 6-month rate was up 2 bps to 1.06% while the 12-month deposit rates averaged 1.28%, falling 1 bps.

were aimed at improving cooperation between the two economic powerhouses and boosting economic growth.

US lawmakers are particularly concerned about the value of the Chinese yuan, which they claim is undervalued and hurts American manufacturers. The currency hit an all-time high against the dollar on Wednesday, but Lew said China needs to make more progress reforming its foreign exchange regime. “China’s exchange rate should be market determined. That’s in our interest and China’s interest. — Reuters

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

BUSINESS

Airlines raise 2013 profit outlook IATA sees $10.6bn profits this year as economies improve GENEVA: The global airline industry has forecast a modest improvement in global net profits for 2013, crediting a backdrop of rising optimism about the world’s economy particularly in the United States and Europe.

The International Air Transport Association, whose 240 member airlines carry 84 percent of all passengers and cargo, upgraded its financial outlook yesterday to expected profits of $10.6 billion this year, mainly based on more passengers and cargo.

IATA said the industry’s overall revenue in 2013 is expected to rise to $671 billion from $637 billion last year, while costs will go up to $649 billion from $623 billion. In December, the Geneva-based global trade group had forecast global net profits of $8.4 billion in 2013, led by a recovery in US airlines mainly from cost cuts and restructuring addressing weak economic growth. That

forecast had anticipated that expected overall revenue would rise to $659 billion and costs would go up to $640 billion in 2013.

Asia Pacific airlines are now expected to deliver the biggest contribution to the overall picture, with $4.2 billion in net profits forecast for this year, followed by North American airlines contributing an expected $3.6 billion in net profits.

That is a reversal from December, when the Geneva-based global trade group said it expected North American airlines to do best in 2013 with a combined net profit of $3.4 billion, ahead of the $3.2 billion forecast for Asia Pacific airlines.

Tony Tyler, chief executive of the trade group, told reporters in Geneva that airlines’ financial performance is made all the more difficult by high fuel costs, with jet fuel expected to rise to $130 per barrel on aver-

age for 2013 - up from the $124 per barrel this year the group said it expected in December.

“What I think is very significant is that airlines are making any money at all in these difficult trading conditions, let alone increasing profit expectations,” he said. Tyler cited rising demand for cargo hauled during the first quarter, and better-than-expected sales of passenger tickets. Also helping airlines’ efficiency and profitability, he said, was costcutting from consolidation and collaboration on long-haul routes.

Carriers in Europe and Africa are among the worst off, the trade group, but are expected to do a bit better than break even in 2013. Europe’s airlines are expected to post $800 million in net profit, up from $300 million in net profit last year, while Africa’s airlines are seen as posting a $200 million

net profit in 2013, a turnaround from a $100 million loss in 2012. Tyler said continued turmoil in the euro-zone poses “a very significant risk” to airlines’ profitability.

“The forecast is based on a stable, if weak, euro-zone economy and slow but steady eco-

nomic growth in the US,” he said. But the trade group saw similar improving trends in the eurozone in early 2011 and in early 2012, he added, “and both times they lost steam as a result of the crisis taking a turn for the worse. It could happen again.” — AP

GENEVA: Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association, IATA, speaks during a press conference in Geneva. Tyler told reporters yesterday that $130 per barrel of jet fuel now seems likely for the remainder of the year. — AP

Oil prices recover ground LONDON: Global crude oil prices bounced back yesterday after euro-zone finance ministers and the European Central Bank (ECB) vowed to support Cyprus as a crucial bailout deal stood on the brink of collapse, analysts said. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in May added 60 cents to $108.05 a barrel in London midday deals, having struck a threemonth low earlier this week at $107.78 on Cyprus-linked demand worries. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for April, rose 58 cents to $92.74 a barrel. Prices had tumbled on Tuesday after lawmakers in Cyprus overwhelmingly rejected a levy on savings that was an integral part of a 10-billion-euro ($13 billion) rescue deal agreed between Nicosia and international creditors.

The bailout deal was the first in which private depositors were being made to help foot the bill, sparking public outrage in

Cyprus and concerns globally that it could set a precedent for future rescue packages.

After the Cyprus vote, the Eurogroup of finance ministers said it stood ready to help the country in its reform efforts and reiterated an offer to ease the impact on smaller depositors in Cyprus.

The European Central Bank (ECB) also pledged to continue providing financial support for troubled Cypriot banks, quelling fears of a possible run by customers that could lead to a collapse of the country’s financial system.

“There is now a feeling in the market that a deal will be reached, and that Cyprus will not spark a crisis by exiting the euro-zone,” said Victor Shum, managing director at IHS Purvin and Gertz in Singapore. “But until there is clarity on the Cyprus issue, there is going to be a lot of volatility,” he said. — AFP

Hedge funds raise bets against Hungary bonds LONDON: Some hedge funds have begun quietly increasing their bets against Hungarian sovereign bonds in the belief that the yields don’t properly reflect the country’s political and economic outlook.

The amount of Hungarian sovereign bonds out on loan - an indicator of short-selling by funds anticipating a drop in price - has risen sharply in recent weeks, data shows, while short interest in some other leading east European economies has fallen. Economics and politics are informing these hedge funds’ thinking on Hungary, central Europe’s most indebted nation on the basis of its public debt of around 79 percent of GDP. Hungary’s economy shrank 2.7 percent yearon-year in the fourth quarter. Many of its firms and citizens are shackled with costly foreign currency loans.

Changes to Hungary’s constitution have drawn criticism from the European Union, United States and human rights groups, who say Prime Minister Viktor Orban is undermining democracy - an accusation the government denies. Orban has also been criticized for appointing a close associate as governor of the central bank.Some hedge fund managers think yields on Hungarian sovereigns are too low - the 15-year yield for instance stood at 6.8 percent on Wednesday, below 7.5 percent for emerging market peers Russia or South Africa.

The managers believe such yields don’t fully reflect the economic and political fundamentals in Hungary. And as Cyprus’s 10 billion euro ($13 billion) bailout reignites fears over Europe’s debt burden, some hedge funds are betting the investors who rushed into Hungary bonds last year are overlooking a number of negative factors.

“I still don’t understand why bond yields are trading so tight (low), given the current situation,” said Steven Mitra, partner and senior portfolio manager at hedge fund firm LNG Capital, who last week put on a “short” position on Hungarian sovereign bonds, betting on a price fall.

“The 2018 and 2020 bonds, yielding 4.5 to 5 percent, are the sweet spot to short. It’s a very cheap short to put on given the current risk profile of the country.”

Bad press Hungary defends its economic prospects and domestic policies. Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said the country had suffered from a “bad press” and said the government was actually extending the powers of the constitutional court.

“I’m absolutely convinced this is vastly exaggerated and distorted ... I’d encourage everyone first to read through the text,” he said in a telephone interview, referring to proposed constitutional changes.

Martonyi told Reuters the central bank is “completely independent” while “a substantial part” of the foreign currency mortgage situation had been resolved. “The general financials of the country are very good,” he said. Hungary’s debt was cut to “junk” status by all three major rating agencies just over a year ago as growth dried up and investors balked at government policies including Europe’s highest bank tax, windfall taxes on energy and telecoms firms and the effec-

tive nationalization of private pension funds. In December Fitch improved its credit-rating outlook for Hungary to stable from negative, recognizing government efforts to cut the budget deficit, but Moody’s said in February it was keeping its “junk” rating of Ba1 on Hungary’s debt and maintaining a negative outlook, blaming the country’s weak growth outlook.

Hungary has one of the highest foreign ownership levels in the bond markets of any emerging market at around 45 percent. The country last month raised $3.25 billion after a near twoyear absence from international debt markets.

Investors are still buying shorter Hungarian debt on expectations for further interest rate cuts by the central bank, and all the government debt auctions have gone smoothly for over a year now. Yet data from Lipper shows that six out of the seven bond funds above $3 billion in size that had disclosed holdings in Hungary had reduced their holdings since June. And recent weeks have seen a rise in short-selling of Hungary bonds, or betting on a lower price by borrowing securities, then selling them with the aim of buying them back at a cheaper price.

Bonds on loan The amount of Hungarian sovereign bonds out on loan - an indicator of short-selling jumped by 55 percent since Feb. 14 to hit $567 million on Monday, the highest level since early November, according to data group Markit. By comparison, bonds out on loan are down 22 percent for the Czech Republic, down 15 percent for Slovakia and down 3 percent for Ukraine. For Poland, bonds out on loan are up 15 percent in the same period.

The amount of Hungarian bonds out on loan had been fairly steady above $500 million last summer, before rising as high as $700 million in October then dropping back, as hedge funds cut their bets in the face of an investor rush for riskier assets on hopes Europe’s debt crisis would be defused.

Bonds out on loan briefly spiked above $1.5 billion at the start of last year, although they were below today’s levels through 2009 and 2010.

Foreigners’ total forint-denominated bond holdings were worth some 4.8 trillion forints ($20 billion). “On the short side, we’re negative on Hungary. The long end of the curve looks mispriced. We don’t understand what’s keeping ... yields where they are, apart from the frothiness of emerging market inflows,” said Sohail Malik, lead portfolio manager of ECM Asset Management’s Special Situations fund.

ECM manages around $9.5 billion in assets.

Some funds have also been betting against the forint, which hit a 14-month low against the euro on Monday, said one investor in hedge funds.

“Boy, do Hungary and its CEE (central and eastern European) neighbors need to rebalance,” said Savvas Savouri, chief economist at hedge fund firm Toscafund. “After all, their customers and funders mainly come from the euro zone and that place is in a deepening mess.” Savouri said Toscafund does not trade currencies but declined to comment further on its positions.

“As for Hungarian bonds, well let’s just say they flatter to deceive ... Their present yield does not price in adequate currency risk or indeed growth disappointment.” — Reuters

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

BUSINESS

Astas Holding to develop The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum ABU DHABI: Astas Holding is pleased to announce its collaboration with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, one of the world’s most prestigious luxury hotel groups, for the branding and operation of The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum. This collaboration with one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands will bring an exciting new investment opportunity for potential real estate investors from the Gulf region. The 102-key Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum comprised of the 98 villas and 116 residences are beautifully set on a 600,000 m2 site at Cennet Bay which has two kilometers of coast line embracing three private bays, all offering breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and redefining Mediterranean lifestyle throughout all seasons. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2013 with a targeted opening date of the first half of 2014. It will be the first property in Turkey to be managed and branded by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Additionally, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum is the most ambitious project in the Mediterranean basin and aims to elevate Bodrum to the top of the luxury resort destination list, especially amongst visitors from the Gulf States. In May 2012, the Turkish government took the step of dropping the existing law of reciprocity relating to foreign purchase of property. This opened up the market to allow foreign buyers from new countries, notably the

UAE and Gulf, to acquire unique and luxurious Turkish property for the first time.

The Turkish Central Bank recently announced that there was an increase in the amount of property purchased in the first month after the law was published in May 2012.

Overseas investors obtained around £706 million worth of real estate, which was four times the amount seen in 2011 indicating that the new law has already had a positive effect on the country. The move has also led to a strong increase in Arab tourism to Turkey.

VedatAsci Chairman of the Board of Astaa Holding, who collaborates with select international brands for the operation and design of his real estate developments and who is well-known for his branded projects, says: “Turkey ranks among the top ten in the world’s tourism industry in terms of revenues and number of foreign visitors and the industry has quadrupled its share in national income over the last 20 years making it one of the fastest growing markets in the world. The number of visitors with high spending capacity coming to Turkey increases each year and the tourism revenues which were 18 million USD in 2011 are expected to increase up to 25 million USD in 2012. These factors indicate that Turkey is a rising star in its region’s tourism industry. We, as Astas Holding, believe that our project with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will add outstanding value

Myanmar abolishes dollar surrogate YANGON: Myanmar yesterday announced the abolition of its US dollar proxy currency, in the latest step towards economic normalization as the impoverished former pariah opens to the world.

More than $30 million worth of Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC) will be phased out of existence, Finance Minister Win Shein said in parliament, without giving a timeframe for the move.

The currency, introduced by the former junta two decades ago as an alternative to the US greenback-which it officially bannedis no longer required, he said.

“A scheme will be set up to systematically abolish FECs in collaboration with the Central Bank of Myanmar, government banks, private banks and related organizations,” Win Shein told MPs. Economists welcomed the move, which was expected as part of the country’s economic liberalization. Many government ministries conduct their financial affairs in FEC, while certain transactions involving customsincluding the purchase of foreign imported cars-require the currency.

The kyat is the primary currency of Myanmar and is used everywhere, although many hotels and other tourist-focused enterprises also accept dollars as an alternative.

Sean Turnell, a Myanmar economic expert at Australia’s Macquarie University, said the announcement could be a new test of public confidence in the government’s handling of the economy. “In the past, movements like

this have caused panics, but perhaps there is greater trust in monetary arrangements now,” he said, adding that those holding FECs would rush to convert them to dollars.

“Depending on when they bought the FECs, many FEC holders might experience a considerable capital loss in kyat terms,” Turnell said. But Central Bank director general Win Thaw told AFP the move would have little impact because it is now possible for people to legitimately exchange them for dollars.

One financier, who asked not to be named, said: “In the past many people, especially political activists, were imprisoned under a law that prohibited people from holding illegal tender if authorities discovered they had dollars.” He said the dollar is now widely held by businesses as a result of eased restrictions implemented by the government.

Myanmar’s quasi-civilian regime has introduced a series of political reforms since coming to power in 2011 that have caused the West to scrap or freeze most sanctions.

The country embarked on a managed flotation of its currency in April last year, while it has also drawn up new foreign investment legislation in a bid to boost its attractiveness to international business. Relations with Washington have thawed considerably, culminating in a historic visit to the country by President Barack Obama in November as US firms vie for a foothold in a country seen as a potential major frontier market.— AFP

PIRAEUS: Greek shipyard workers, many of them without any income for months, march to the Merchant ministry in the port of Piraeus, during their protest rally yesterday. Shipyard workers are taking industrial action for months, over delayed payments and soaring unemployment in their sector . — AFP

to Bodrum and Turkey.

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum will set a benchmark for other international brands as the most luxurious resort and residence project in Europe and the Mediterranean Region.

Our goal is to support Bodrum in its mission to become the leading resort destination of Europe’s south coast, where people can relax, entertain and revitalise, in a luxurious hideaway environment.” Astas Holding is paying great attention to detail in all of its projects and is developing this project at a value of 600 million Euros. Due to its prime location, the project comes with further advantages because it is on the top of the world’s agenda for its unique nature where green and blue meet at the intersection of Mediterranean and Aegean where prevailing pine forests, and olive groves can be found along with stunning turquoise bays, warm and breezy climate throughout the year all going hand in hand with its elite visitors.

Astas Holding, conducts all of its projects with a team that is comprised of the world’s leading hotel operators, architects, designers, engineers. The team for this project includes WATG-London, Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel and Partners as well as Metex Design Group-Istanbul and GADIstanbul and Arup-Istanbul. Each one will ensure that Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum and The Residences at

Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum are of unique design.

With an environmental mission, Astas Holding is putting into practice a new environmentally friendly project with LEED Certificate. This project aims to set new standards in the tourism sector along with preserving the great natural beauty of the site. The site is being protected as a rehabilitation area where over 500,000 new plants and trees will be planted.

India’s billionaire club slow to share riches Super-rich give up only 3.1% of income MUMBAI: They may build skyscraper mansions, travel by private jet and throw sumptuous wedding parties, but it seems India’s super-rich are much slower at opening their wallets for charity.

India now has 55 dollar billionaires, the fifthbiggest number in the world, according to a Forbes ranking this month. But like other emerging economies such as China, its charitable giving still lags markedly behind that in the West where the tradition of wealthy businessmen donating chunks of their fortunes is much more deeply ingrained. High net worth Indians gave up an average 3.1 percent of their income to charitable causes in 2011 — up from 2010 but far behind the 9.1 percent average in the United States, according to global consultancy Bain & Company. But analysts say the upturn in giving as more Indians get seriously rich is going at a snail’s pace.

“The pace for corporate India and especially the new rich giving up its wealth is excruciatingly slow,” said Manjeet Kripalani, executive director at Gateway House, a Mumbai-based think tank.

“Corporate philanthropy needs to look at a thoughtful way of scaling up giving,” she told AFP. While impressive growth in the past decade has created a swathe of Indian tycoons, the more recent economic slowdown has compounded the slow take-up of philanthropy, despite a pressing need to tackle widespread poverty. “Giving is impacted by sentiment, which remains weak at the moment. It is likely to be flat or extremely moderate in terms of growth,” said Arpan Sheth, author of Bain’s annual Indian study. The latest report released this month did not give fresh statistics, but said donors were “putting a higher bar on understanding the impact of their giving, before they commit to causes” in the tough business environment. India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, chief of Reliance Industries and owner of a billion-dollar, 27-storey family home, has criticized Western corporate charity as a “disempowering tool” that “increases dependency”. India does not lack a culture of giving.

Reliance has followed the lead of large industrial groups such as Tata and Aditya Birla, which donate heavily to charity through their own trusts, with projects ranging from healthcare and education to rural infrastructure.

Azim Premji, chief of software giant Wipro, last month gave $2.3 billion from his own pocket to the education charity he controls, and he is now considered “Asia’s most generous man” by Forbes.

He was the first Indian to join the “Giving Pledge” club, set up by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and billionaire investor Warren Buffet to encourage the world’s wealthiest to donate at least half their fortunes to charity. But the scale of Premji’s donation has renewed the debate on why

the richest are not giving away more of their wealth. “Many others haven’t demonstrated the same kind of generosity,” said business journalist Anand Mahadevan in an Economic Times column.

One explanation from businessmen, Mahadevan said, is that wealth creation is still a recent phenomenon in India compared with countries such as the United States, and philanthropy usually comes further down the road. Also, Indian charity often takes a more informal form: people might donate to local schools or hospitals in kind, or “give money, hair, gold, to our temples as charity”, said Kripalani.

India currently ranks a lowly 133rd out of 146 countries in the latest World Giving Index-down from 91st position in 2011 — based on surveys of charitable behaviour around the globe.

Its far poorer neighbors Pakistan and Bangladesh came in respectively at 85 and 109 in

the same survey. Analysts say a major barrier to giving is not knowing whether donations will produce sustainable results, given the lack of accountability, transparency and impact assessments.

“When we met philanthropists, the message we got was: show us the impact, we will give more,” said Anant Bhagwati, co-author of the Bain report, at a conference in Mumbai this month to encourage a greater philanthropic culture. The trends may be encouraging: last year’s Bain survey found more than 70 percent of donors had less than three years of philanthropic experience and more than a third were 30 or younger. Manas Ratha, director of the non-profit Dasra group which helps to pair donors with charities, said willing philanthropists were there but needed more guidance.

“A lot of work needs to be done. There is good reason to be optimistic, but we are losing time and opportunity,” he said. — AFP

Politics, money power may stall Lebanese telecom ambitions DUBAI: Lebanon is embarking on an ambitious plan to bolster its telecommunications industry with a tender to run its two state-owned mobile telephone operators. But as with many of the country’s economic plans, politics and entrenched financial interests may get in the way. The country wants to become a digital hub for the Middle East, selling excess bandwidth to other countries. It hopes a dynamic telecommunications sector will spur growth in other industries such as education, health and finance.

Given Lebanon’s large number of entrepreneurial businessmen, and its history as a cultural cross-roads for the region, the idea makes sense.

But progress is likely to be limited by divisions among the country’s many political factions and the government’s reliance on telecommunications as a revenue source.

“Lebanon is well placed with its geographic location and an educated and multilingual population,” said Kenechi Okeleke, an analyst at Business Monitor International in London.

“But the government’s strict control over the sector makes it really difficult for private sector firms to enter, which will continue to hold back the market.”

Lebanon’s telecommunications sector is largely in state hands, with the fixed network maintained by government-owned Ogero Telecom while the two mobile operators, Touch and Alfa, are owned by the state but currently managed by Kuwait’s Zain and Egypt’s OTMT.

The government sets prices for all operators.

Touch is the market leader, with a 53 percent share of Lebanon’s mobile phone subscribers.

Zain took control of Touch in 2004 and OTMT of Alfa in 2009, and their management contracts have repeatedly been renewed since then, usually on an annual basis. Both were due to expire on Jan. 31 this year, but have been extended until June 30 to give time for a tender for new five-year contracts.

Bidding will open in mid-April, said Karim Kobeissi, a senior advisor to Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications.

“Some international companies have made enquiries, but nothing is concrete yet,” he told Reuters, declining to reveal the contract terms because the tender document had not yet been finalized.

Although Zain and OTMT have expressed interest in continuing to operate Touch and Alfa, the tender could replace them if there is competition from experienced international telecommunications operators, such as those in the Gulf. But regardless of the result of the tender, the structure of Lebanon’s telecommunications market may continue to hinder growth. Sydneybased consultants BuddeComm said that because operators must obtain state approval for pricing and product launches, they have little incentive to expand networks efficiently, “resulting in suboptimum network design and poor quality of service”.— Reuters

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

BUSINESS

Iconic G-Class resets the boundaries Dubai global debut of intrepid G 63 AMG 6x6 drives luxury to new limits STUTTGART/DUBAI: Superior 6x6 all-

wheel-drive technology, AMG V8 biturbo power and looks that leave no room for any doubt: the Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6x6 near-series show vehicle is an off-roader which represents the last word in forwardthrusting power far from the beaten track.

544 hp, a 6x6 drive, low-range ratio, five differential locks, portal axles, tyre pressure control system and a special chassis allow this pickup to make good progress in environments where the concept of individual mobility normally bites the dust as soon as the road ends.

But anyone who imagines that this is a Dakar-Rally-style vehicle is on the wrong track. Thanks to the wealth of interior enhancements from the AMG stable, the occupants can enjoy the highest possible degree of comfort, even when negotiating the worst that the combined forces of topography and meteorology can throw at them.

The exclusive touches even extend to the load area which is finished in solid bamboo.

The Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6x6 nearseries show vehicle brings together the best of three worlds. The latest, revised G-Class series-production models lend the superior off-roader the effortless superiority and refinement of a vehicle which has dominated the off-road scene for 34 years. They are also the source of the up-to-date interior concept with the contemporary dashboard featuring impressive new instruments and a

large, central color display. Unreserved robustness as well as practicality and a cando attitude to off-road driving are the traits inherited from the military and the commercial G-Class models. Finally, the renowned Mercedes-AMG luxury and performance division contributes the superior engine technology and the interior which is as luxurious as it is comfortable.

6x6 technology: To the ends of the earth - and beyond A look at the key data of the G 63 AMG 6x6 makes it clear that this model’s off-road world begins at a point where anything less than a vehicle with caterpillar tracks would have to capitulate. Six driven wheels, an offroad low-range ratio in the transfer case, portal axles, five differential locks which can be engaged on the move and a tyre-pressure control system which allows the pressure in the huge 37-inch tyres to be adjusted in record time while the vehicle is running - all these are features which one seeks in vain in conventional cross-country vehicles.

Together, they ensure that the G 63 AMG 6x6 has driving dynamics which are more than a match for the toughest terrain. As a result, the show vehicle is able to storm up the highest sand dunes with ease while sand tracks hold no fears thanks to its unshakable directional stability. Rocky terrain is negotiated with all the agility of a

mountain goat; fording a river becomes almost child’s play thanks to the impressive fording capability of one metre. And anyone exploring the on-road performance is certain to be impressed by the catapult-like acceleration of this 3.85-tonne pickup.

Despite its unique drive technology, the show vehicle does not actually represent a new development in terms of technology.

After 34 years of G-Class production, there is such a large array of“G”parts to draw on that the G 63 AMG 6x6 uses almost exclusively series-production components under the skin.

A case in point is the drive train: the AMG V8 biturbo engine with 544 hp and 760 newton metres of torque, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission paired with the front drive system from the G 63 AMG and a rear twin drive train from the 6x6 version which has already proven its reliability in service with users such as the Australian army. Plus the ingenious portal axles, which also have military origins, here making their debut in a civilian vehicle.

Independent and neutral: the chassis The chassis is largely based on the current production configuration, the only difference being that the helical springs and dampers have been adjusted to take account of the changed characteristics of

the three-axle model. For the springs, too, the engineers were able to draw on the comprehensive array of “G” parts, which includes no less than 15 different spring rates.

While the front axle takes over the reinforced springs from an armoured specialprotection variant, the first rear axle has been given a significantly harder spring rate and the second rear axle a softer one. This set-up, together with the rally-proven, adjustable gas-pressure shock absorbers, results in a perfect symbiosis of sporty dynamism and composed comfort, on or off the road.

Macho outside - S-Class inside Visually, the G 63 AMG 6x6 pickup leaves no room for any doubt as to its true calling.

The large tyres on the three axles, the huge ground clearance, the height of almost 2.30 metres and the width of some 2.10 metres as well as the clean-cut lines of the pickup immediately inspire respect. Like the G 63 AMG and G 65 AMG models before it, the super off-roader with its 5.87-metre-long body has the characteristic AMG brand face with the“twin blade”radiator grille.

Other visual highlights include the use of elegant carbon fibre for the integrated LED light strips above the windscreen as well as for the large flared wheel arches while the rear load area section has a distinctive stain-

less-steel roll-over bar. The load area, which is lined with particularly tough and durable bamboo, can be accessed by means of a tailboard.

Sporty luxury, the hallmark of AMG, is the defining characteristic of the interior. The G 63 AMG 6x6 welcomes its occupants aboard with an exclusive ambience of classic red or light brown designo leather with contrasting topstitching and attractive diamondpattern quilting. The four electrically adjustable individual seats are heated and ventilated. The rear compartment is equipped with a special centre console while the roof liner and pillars are finished in an Alcantara covering. The rear panel is trimmed in leather.

Graz is the centre of the‘G’world The two G 63 AMG 6x6 vehicles which have been built to date were developed with Mercedes-Benz at the helm. The Grazbased Mercedes-Benz G-Class development department is the centre of competence for all “G” projects and is responsible for development and series support of the legendary cross-country vehicle. Furthermore, Graz in Austria has been the production site for all civilian and commercial G-Class vehicles since 1979. The response to the near-series show vehicle will determine if and when the Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6x6 enters smallseries production.

MoneyGram chooses BPG Maxus as Media Buying Unit Global agent network surpasses 300,000

From left: Mike Corbat presents Nadeem Saleh (centre) with the award and Ozgur Kutay (right).

From left: Mike Corbat presents Akinyemi Familusi (centre) with the award and Ozgur Kutay (right).

Citibank Kuwait awards employees Citigroup CEO Mike Corbat visits Kuwait KUWAIT: As part of its continuous appreciation to its employees for their loyalty and commitment, Citibank Kuwait presented 3 of its employees with certificates and awards for completing 5, 10, and 20 years respectively. The employees have spent these years within the franchise in Kuwait and other countries around the world.

This took place during a town hall held at Citibank branch and on the sidelines of Citigroup CEO, Mike Corbat’s visit to Kuwait on the 13th of March, during which he met with HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Mike presented the awards to Akinyemi Familusi - ICG Operations Head for completing 20 years with the franchise in Nigeria and Kuwait, Nadeem Saleh, Citi Transaction Services Head at Citibank Kuwait who completed 10 years with the bank in Pakistan and Kuwait, and finally Danah Al Razooqi who just completed 5 years with Citibank Kuwait.

Ozgur Kutay, General Manager of Citibank N A Kuwait said: “Having celebrated our 200 year anniversary recently during which we also honored ex-Citi employees, one could not help but notice the loyalty and commitment people have towards this franchise even after they leave.

At Citi, we believe that our people are the backbone to the franchise’s success in the countries we operate in and see that it is important to appreciate our most important asset, the employees themselves whose loyalty, commitment and hard work helped us reach the position we hold today”.

Hany Magdy, HR Head at Citibank Kuwait said: “We are proud of our employees for completing these years with Citi and wish them further success in the future. Citi is always keen on showing its appreciation to the employees and I believe that this contributes to their loyalty and commitment to Citi today especially since some of them have been with the bank for so many years”.

From left: Mike Corbat presents Danah Razooqi (centre) with the award and Ozgur Kutay (right).

DUBAI: BPG Maxus, member of Group m and WPP worldwide network, have added another reputable name to their portfolio.

MoneyGram, the leading global money transfer company that provides a secure way to send and receive money from across 197 countries and territories. With an impressive number of 310,000 agent locations all over the world, customers can enjoy the service almost everywhere.

Ananth Srivatsa, Director of Marketing Middle East and South Asia for MoneyGram, is looking forward to working with BPG Maxus. “While we were in the process of choosing a media buying unit, BPG Maxus excelled through a succinct, insightful and relevant approach”.

“We interviewed several agencies and selected BPG Maxus because they had a firm understanding of our business and the audiences we are trying to reach,” he added.

Satish Mayya, CEO of BPG Maxus is delighted about the new addition to the portfolio. “The MoneyGram regional media planning and buying business is a very strategic win for BPG Maxus. It will largely contribute to the continuous expansion of our operations across the MENA region. We are very excited to work on such a dynamic line of financial services and the team at BPG Maxus is geared up to build a rewarding relationship between MoneyGram and its customers”.

The agreement between MoneyGram and BPG Maxus is effective from 1st February 2013.

MoneyGram , a leading global money transfer company now has a global network of more than 310,000 agent loca-

tions, following a year of significant network and channel growth.

MoneyGram recently reported money transfer fee and other revenue constant currency growth of 13 percent and transaction growth of 14 percent growth for the fourth quarter and full year 2012. This strong growth over the last several years has been fueled by a growing agent network. ● During the past 30 months, MoneyGram has added 100,000 agent locations ● Since 2007, MoneyGram has more than doubled its network ● In 2012, MoneyGram added more than 43,000 agent locations ● In 2012, MoneyGram post office agent relationships grew to nearly 30 globally.

Commenting on MoneyGram’s growth, Grant Lines, MoneyGram’s Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific and Middle East said, “Our teams have done a fantastic job of meeting consumer needs in this region by focusing on the particular service elements required in each country, versus adopting a one-size fits all approach.” MoneyGram’s success is partly attributed to adding premiere agents to its global network, including two of the world’s top three retailers, and securing key partnerships in the growing alternative channel space. In 2012, MoneyGram renewed its contract with Walmart, launched mobile money transfer service in Qatar and announced its global agreement with PayPal that will enable consumers to easily access money in their digital wallets in the physical world.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

technology

South Korea’s ‘Top Gun’ cyber warriors SEOUL: Cheon Joon-Sahng may not look like an elite warrior, but the shy, South Korean high school student has been fully trained for a frontline role in any future cyber battle with North Korea.

Cheon, 18, was one of 60 young computer experts chosen in July from many applicants for a government programme providing specialist training in vulnerability analysis, digital forensics and cloud-computing security.

At the end of December their number was narrowed to 20 who completed a further two months survival-of-the-fittest training in cyber warfare.

Earlier this month Cheon was among six who received “Best of the Best” certificates and 20 million won ($18,000) at a ceremony in the state-run Korea Information Technology Research Institute (KITRI) in southern Seoul. The training programme was launched to reflect growing official concern about South Korea’s vulnerability to cyber attack in the wake of two major intrusions in 2009 and 2011 blamed on North Korea.

Government agencies and financial institutions were targeted both times, causing networks to crash and, in the case of one bank, affecting millions of customers who were unable to use credit cards and ATMs for more than a week.

The tables were turned last Friday when North Korea accused the United States and South Korea of carrying out a “persistent and intensive” cyber attack that took a number of its official websites offline.

“An inter-Korean cyber war is already in full swing,” said Lee Seung-Jin, a computer research consultant and a trainer for the government programme.

Cheon and his fellow graduates are under no obligation to enter the South Korean military’s cyber command. His immediate goal is to secure a college place and, after graduation, he says he would consider going into the private sector as an Internet security consultant. “But this programme played a crucial role in building my career, so I wouldn’t mind working as an officer in the military cyber command,” he said.

“Ironically, it’s the North Korean cyber attacks that

have led to all the increased interest and investment in Internet security in our country,” he added.

The South Korean military set up the special cyber command in early 2010 and, in partnership with Korea University, established a cyber warfare school in 2012 that admits 30 students every year.

On the surface at least, South and North Koreawhich remain technically at war-occupy different ends of the IT spectrum.

Broadband speeds and penetration levels in South Korea are among the highest anywhere, and Seoul prides itself on being one of the world’s most wired cities.

North Korea, by contrast, has a domestic Intranet that allows a very limited number of users to exchange state-approved information and little more.

Access to the full-blown Internet is for the super-elite only.

As a result, the focus of the South’s cyber command is on defensive measures to prevent sensitive, secure networks being compromised. “It’s really like

fighting an asymmetric war,” said KITRI training centre chief Choi Yun-Seong.

The Korea Internet Security Agency, a state watchdog, said it had recorded 40,000 cases of cyber attacks from foreign and domestic sources in 2012, up sharply from 24,000 in 2008.

“South Korea is an IT superpower with good infrastructure but remains relatively vulnerable to hacking,” said Park Soon-Tai, manager of the agency’s hacking response team.

According to intelligence officials cited by South Korean media, North Korea is believed to have a cyber warfare unit staffed by around 3,000 people handpicked for their computer literacy.

The South’s military has a special alert level system called Infocon that reflects the current likelihood of an imminent cyber attack.

With military tensions on the Korean peninsula at their highest level for years following the North’s nuclear test last month, the Infocon level was recently raised from five to four. — AFP

China solar giant Suntech falls back to Earth

SEOUL: Disconnected computer monitors are seen at a visitors center of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) headquarters in Seoul yesterday. — AFP

Taiwan’s HTC postpones new flagship smartphone rollout TAIPEI: Taiwan’s HTC has delayed shipments of its new flagship smartphone due to parts shortages, a report said yesterday, dealing a blow as it looks to lift sales and compete with the iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy. The firm said the new HTC One, which was unveiled in February and set for release this month, would be sent out by the end of March. The Wall Street Journal said HTC executives had confirmed the delayed rollout, while some retail distributors such as Vodafone Group PLC had been notified.

An unnamed executive said HTC has been grappling with supply chain problems as the company “has changed its order forecasts drastically and frequently following last year’s unexpected slump in shipments”, the report said. HTC said in a brief statement to AFP: “We will start fulfilling pre-orders by end March in certain markets and will roll out to more markets as we approach April.” The firm, which has 185 distributors globally, declined to go into details.

“We... are working tirelessly with all of our channel partners to ensure that we can fulfill as many orders as possible,” Chief Marketing Officer Benjamin Ho said in a statement, according to the Journal.

The Android-based HTC One was unveiled in London and New York last month sporting a 4.7 inch touchscreen and front-facing speakers. Company president Peter Chou hailed it as a “tech-

nological breakthrough” as he seeks to put up a fight against the hugely popular Apple iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S4, which was released just last week.

However it has a tough fight, with research firm firm IDC saying, HTC held a 4.6 percent share of the global smartphone market in 2012, a sharp decline from 8.8 percent a year earlier. Samsung held a 30.3 percent, while Apple had 19.1 percent. And in a research paper released early this month, the Taipeibased KGI Securities Investment Advisory Co said it was “conservative on the outlook for HTC One in the next six months”.

It said the gloomy forecast was based on expected mass production bottlenecks and low shipments of Ultrapixel cameras.

HTC said net profit in the three months to December plunged 91 percent year on year to Tw$1.0 billion ($34.5 million) as sales dived 41 percent.

While challenged by major rivals Apple and Samsung in mature markets, HTC has been turning to emerging markets including China, analysts say. But it faces competition from China’s telecom giants Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp. The firm in December unveiled Butterfly, its first smartphone featuring a high-resolution five-inch screen. While HTC sells its own smartphones it also makes handsets for a number of leading US companies, including Google’s Nexus One.— AFP

Samsung targets smart wristwatch

SHANGHAI: China’s Suntech has made a painful journey from being the world’s largest solar panel producer to flirting with bankruptcy in just a year, highlighting the woes of the industry it shaped.

Oversupply as Chinese producers flooded the market and trade disputes over alleged Chinese dumping caused a sudden and spectacular reversal of fortunes for Suntech, which has defaulted on repayments for a $541 million bond issue.

The board ousted the company’s renowned founder just days ago after 12 years in which he led it from nothing to world market domination and now to the edge of ruin, leaving it scrambling to secure new funding and hold creditors at bay.

The global solar industry has been burned by the economic slowdown in Europe and the United States, together with weak prices blamed on Chinese companies which sought to build market share by under-cutting competitors.

The European Union and United States last year targeted Suntech and other Chinese solar panel and cell makers, accusing them of selling their products at below cost and receiving “unfair” government subsidies.

Suntech, a private company, denied the allegations but made no secret of its aim to keep prices at rock bottom, which it said made solar energy available to more people.

Analysts said Suntech’s business model, deliberately pushing down prices to capture larger market share despite narrower profit margins, contained the seeds of its own destruction.

“What (Suntech) has done is increase supply to the market so much, that they really almost can’t sell anything at a profit now,” said Ben Cavender, associate principal of China Market Research Group (CMR) in Shanghai.

Suntech recorded a net loss of $1.0 billion in 2011, from a profit of $237 million in 2010, according to company filings. The firm has yet to report financial results for 2012.

Once an investors’ darling, its New York-listed shares have plunged from a high of $90.00 in early 2008. They closed down 7.81 percent at $0.59 in New York on Tuesday. “It is going to be difficult for them going forward,” Cavender added. “You might end up seeing a very different company down the road.”

Suntech said earlier this month it would shut a manufacturing plant in the United States in a

WUXI: This picture taken on February 27, 2012 shows workers assembling solar panels on the factory floor of Chinese company Suntech in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi. China’s Suntech has made a painful journey from being the world’s largest solar panel producer to flirting with bankruptcy in just a year, highlighting the woes of the industry it shaped. — AFP bid to “rationalise” production capacity. China’s called the move “misconceived and unlawful” in National Business Daily on Tuesday quoted an a statement, vowing further action. official in the eastern city of Wuxi, where the firm While more than 60 percent of Suntech’s is headquartered and employs 14,000 people, as bondholders have given the company a twosaying it would undergo restructuring under month extension for payment, some are planbankruptcy proceedings. ning to sue to recoup their investment, Dow Analysts said Suntech faced a problem com- Jones Newswires reported. mon to Chinese private firms, growing rapidly in The default could cause foreign investors to the country’s economic boom but becoming sour further on China, after a string of accountunwieldy and unmanageable as it turned into a ing scandals involving Chinese firms listed in the vast corporation.

United States and other overseas markets, ana“Suntech, as a private firm, went too fast in its lysts said. expansion,” said Liu Wenping, a partner in US equipment giant Caterpillar recently Shanghai-based solar investment consulting revealed that it had found fake accounts at a firm Sapphire Capital. “The founder, with the role Chinese firm it acquired for more than $650 milof scientist-entrepreneur, didn’t have the experi- lion last year, in another cautionary tale for forence to manage such a big company with tens eign investors in the hugely promising market. of thousands of workers.”

“Looking at a Chinese company as a potenSuntech’s founder Shi Zhengrong-listed as tial investment, you really have to be a little one of China’s richest people by the independ- more cautious... and decide whether the investent Hurun Report last year, worth $476 million- ment looks as good as it does on paper,” said was ousted as chairman earlier this month. He Cavender of CMR. — AFP

US court rejects appeal in $220,000 piracy case WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court refused yesterday to take up the case of a woman ordered to pay a $220,000 fine for illegally downloading music off the internet.

The country’s top court upheld without comment the verdict against Jammie Thomas-Rasset in the long-running, high-profile digital piracy case.

Thomas-Rasset, a mother of four from Minnesota, has been fighting a court battle since 2006 over violating intellectual property laws in her use of the file-sharing program Kazaa.

Three trials and multiple appeals later, she has been ordered to pay amounts as high as $1.92 million-or $80,000 for each of 24 illegally downloaded tracks. After the third trial, at which the jury awarded the music companies $1.5 mil-

lion, the amount was reduced on appeal to $220,000.

That’s the amount in damages Thomas-Rasset was originally ordered to pay after her first conviction, but the judge who presided over that trial threw out the verdict calling it “wholly disproportionate” and “oppressive.”

In the mid-2000s, the Recording Industry Association of America and major music labels brought suit against thousands of people for illegally downloading and sharing music, with most agreeing to settlements of between $3,000 and $5,000. Thomas-Rasset, however, has consistently refused to settle the case.

Only one other defendant, Boston student Joel Tenenbaum, refused a settlement.

Tenenbaum was ordered to pay $675,000, a fine

the Supreme Court also refused to review in May 2012.

In December 2008, the RIAA said it will stop suing people who download music illegally and focus instead on getting Internet Ser vice Providers to take action.

The move away from litigation represented a major shift in strategy for the music industry group, which had filed lawsuits against some 35,000 people for online music piracy since 2003. Last month, a coalition of the largest US Internet service providers and the music and film industries began rolling out an anti-piracy effort informally known as “six strikes,” which will use warnings and could result in slowed or suspended Internet connections for violators. — AFP

Quest to gather more information can make us value the wrong things SEOUL: Just like Apple, Samsung is working on a smart wristwatch that it hopes to begin selling as soon as possible. “ We’ve been preparing the watch product for so long,” Lee Young Hee, Samsung’s executive vice president of mobile business, told Bloomberg. “We are working very hard to get ready for it. We are preparing products for the future, and the watch is definitely one of them.”

The South Korean tech company did not delve into the details of what features the watch would have, how much it might cost or when consumers would be able to pick it up.

News of Samsung’s wristwatch plans come after numerous reports have said Apple is building a wristwatch and getting into the wearable tech market.

Reports have said the Cupertino, Calif, tech company has as many as 100 people working on the project and that it hopes to begin selling the device this year. “ The issue here is who will first commercialize it so consumers can use it meaningfully,” Lee told Bloomberg.

Although Apple has not spoken about the watch publicly the way Samsung has, the reports say Apple’s wristwatch will connect with the iPhone to let users make calls, check map coordinates, see caller IDs and count steps using a pedometer.

But Samsung may be able to beat Apple on price. The Bloomberg report says the South Korean company could put out a less expensive device because it manufactures its own screens and chips, unlike Apple. — MTC

CALIFORNIA: A contentious question on the California ballot in 2008 inspired a simple online innovation: a website called Eightmaps.com. The number in the name referred to Proposition 8, which called for the state’s constitution to be amended to prohibit gay marriage. Under California’s campaign finance laws, all donations greater than $100 to groups advocating for or against Proposition 8 were recorded in a publicly accessible database. Someone (it’s still not clear who) took all the data about the proposition’s supporters-their names and zip codes, and their employers in some cases-and plotted it on a Google map.

After finding themselves on the map, several supporters of the gay-marriage ban said they were harassed or their businesses were boycotted. This unsettled even some opponents of Proposition 8; surely it wouldn’t be long, they said, before, say, religious fundamentalists created a similar tool to call out supporters of a gay-rights measure. The committee that had backed Proposition 8 asked a federal judge to strike down the disclosure law or raise its threshold beyond $100 so that more people could give anonymously. But he refused, arguing that ballot measures need the “sunshine” that donation dis-

closure provides. His ruling was aligned with the idea that as much data as possible about the political process should be revealed.

Evgeny Morozov worries that we are too often making this trade-off-opting to publish more information to increase transparency even if it undermines principles such as privacy or civic involvement. In his trenchant new book, To Save Everything Click Here, Morozov, a writer for Slate and The New Republic, uses the Eightmaps episode to support his claim that “Internet-centrism” is warping our view of what’s truly important.

Transparency is ascending at the expense of other values, Morozov suggests, mainly because it is so cheap and easy to use the Internet to distribute data that might someday prove useful. And because we’re so often told that the Internet has liberated us from the controls that “gatekeepers” had on information, rethinking the availability of information seems retrograde-and the tendency toward openness gathers even more force. (Notice that Facebook says its mission is “to make the world more open and transparent.”)

Morozov is not alone in fearing too much transparency. Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig has elo-

quently described why having more data about politicians is more likely to mislead people into cynicism than to make politics better. But Lessig seems resigned to the inevitability of such data-gathering projects in the age of the Internet. He believes the solution is to finance elections publicly, so people have less reason to be cynical about their lawmakers’ motivations.

That infuriates Morozov, because he believes Lessig is merely furthering a misconception that the Internet is like some force of nature rather than a human creation-that resistance is futile. On the contrary, Morozov says, resistance is required. His response to the problem raised by Eightmaps is not to simply accept that more information is going to be easily searchable and change the law accordingly. Instead, we should demand that our online systems respect values beyond mere transparency.

Campaign donation databases, for example, could be designed so that records cannot be sucked out of them en masse. Yes, that would inhibit some easy data discoveries. But it could enhance democracy in the long run by making people feel freer to support causes that might be unpopular in their neighborhood or their office. —MCT

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

US sends new satellite into space to monitor missile launches CAPE CANAVERAL: An unmanned Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Tuesday to put a second upgraded missile-warning satellite into orbit.

The 192-foot (58-meter) rocket lifted off from its seaside launch pad at 5:21 p.m. EDT/2121 GMT, carrying the U.S. Air Force’s second Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous, or Geo2, satellite. Once operational, the spacecraft will join an orbital surveillance network that continually scans the globe for telltale signs of missile launches.

“The infrared signature coming out the back end of a missile, we see that,” Air Force Space Commander William

Shelton said on Tuesday during a House Science Committee hearing about detecting incoming asteroids and other space objects.

“We’ll be able to tell you what type of missile it is. We’ll be able to tell you where that missile is going. We’ll be able to tell you where it’s going to impact,” Shelton added.

“Those infrared sensors can be used for other things, but they can’t be used for predictive things out beyond Earth,” he said. The satellite, built by Lockheed Martin joins an identical craft, Geo1, launched in May 2011. Each are equipped with two infrared sensors, one which continually scans the globe for

missile launches, and the other which can stare at a fixed point.

The Space Based Infrared System supplements and eventually will replace the predecessor Defense Support Program satellite network which has been operating for 40 years.

“I would argue that the nation’s missile warning system is critical now, perhaps even more so than it was during the Cold War,” said James Planeaux, who oversees the Air Force’s Infrared Space Systems directorate.

“Certainly, strategic and tactical missile threats have proliferated in both number and type We’re modernizing the nation’s systems so we remain highly

capable against today’s threats.”

The space-based network detected nearly 200 missile launches in 2011 and an additional 1,700 “special infrared events,” Planeaux said. “I believe with some of the activity we’re seeing around the world even this year, we’re seeing an increase in the number of global missile launches,” Planeaux said.

On Friday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced plans to deploy 14 additional missile interceptors in Alaska to guard against increased threats from North Korea and Iran. Data from the military’s space-based monitoring network feeds missile interceptors positioning and tracking information. Geo1 has not

yet been put into operational service due to a data communications issue, but work to certify it for real-time monitoring should be completed by Oct. 1, Planeaux said.

Geo2’s certification is expected to follow before the end of the year. Two more satellites are being built for launch in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and a follow-on contract for an additional pair is expected to be awarded this year, Planeaux added.

Tuesday’s launch was the 69th for rocket manufacturer United Launch Alliance, a partnership of Lockheed Martin and Boeing that was established in 2006. — Reuters

Large asteroid heading to Earth? Pray, says NASA About 10% of potential ‘city-killer’ asteroids have been found

BANDUNG: This picture taken in Bandung on February 10, 2013 shows Indonesian mothers holding their daughters after they received a circumcision. After the United Nations in December passed a resolution banning female genital mutilation (FGM), Indonesia, home to the world’s biggest Muslim population, is trying to defend the long tradition, claiming female circumcision is not a mutilation. — AFP

Measles contagious on planes: Study SYDNEY: Measles can be spread on planes in rows far beyond infected passengers, a Australian study showed yesterday, raising questions over control guidelines for the disease.

Australian policy, which is similar to that of the United States and Europe, calls for travellers seated in the same row, and in two rows in front of and two rows behind the patient, to be contacted.

But new research published at the annual scientific meeting of the Australian S ociet y for I nfec tious Diseases in Canberra shows that this approach may be missing half of the cases transmitted on flights.

The research by Gary Dowse from Western Australia’s Communicable Disease Control Directorate and colleagues said there was a low risk of catching measles on a plane in Australia, where the disease has been eliminated. But in those cases where an infection was transmitted, it took an average of eight days before the patient was diagnosed, health officials informed, airlines and customs contac ted and the passengers’ details retrieved.

By this time, the window in which to administer a vaccine or other preventative medical help had been lost, Dowse said. “So in most instances our policy is ineffective because we find out too late,” he told AFP ahead of the release of the study.

“And despite the policy, more than half the secondary cases that are going to occur are seated outside the two rows.” The study looked at all measles cases notified in Australia between January 2007 to June 2011 in which the patient was likely to have been infectious while travelling on a plane.

The researchers identified 45 infectious cases and found that 20 secondary cases, where people came down with the disease af ter the flight, emerged on seven of the 49 affected flights.

Some 45 percent of these secondary infections were found in people sitting within two rows of the index case while 55 percent were seated elsewhere.

“Even if we could get to them in time, at best we could only help 45 percent of the cases,” Dowse said.

He added that it was not known why this occurred, but noted that people frequently moved up and down the aisles and to the bathroom on flights.

“People may actually be infected not on the plane, but in the check-in queue,” he said. Dowse said it would be “completely daft” to trace every passenger on a plane, but said authorities needed to consider other strategies.

“We recommend that direct contact tracing to identify susceptible people exposed to measles cases on aeroplanes should not be undertaken routinely, and other strategies should be considered,” he said. — AFP

One in 50 school kids have autism NEW YORK: A government survey of parents says 1 in 50 US schoolchildren has autism, surpassing another federal estimate for the disorder. Health officials say the new number doesn’t mean autism is occurring more often. But it does suggest that doctors are diagnosing autism more frequently, especially in children with milder problems.

The earlier government estimate of 1 in 88 comes from a study that many consider more rigorous. It looks at medical and school records instead of relying on parents. For decades, autism meant kids with severe language, intellectual and social impairments and unusual, repetitious behaviors. But the definition has gradually expanded and now includes milder, related conditions.

The new estimate released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would mean at least 1 million children have autism. The number is important - government officials look at how common each illness or disorder is when weighing how to spend limited public health funds.

It’s also controversial. The new statistic comes from a national phone survey of more than 95,000 parents in 2011 and 2012. Less than a quarter of the parents contacted agreed to answer questions, and it’s likely that those with autistic kids were more interested than other parents in participating in a survey on children’s health, CDC officials said.

Still, CDC officials believe the survey provides a valid snapshot of how many families are affected by autism, said Stephen Blumberg, the CDC report’s lead author.

The study that came up with the 1-in88 estimate had its own limitations. It focused on 14 states, only on children 8 years old, and the data came from 2008.

Updated figures based on medical and school records are expected next year.

“We’ve been underestimating” how common autism is, said Michael Rosanoff of Autism Speaks, an advocacy group. He believes the figure is at least 1 in 50.

There are no blood or biologic tests for autism, so diagnosis is not an exact science. It’s identified by making judgments about a child’s behavior.

Doctors have been looking for autism at younger and younger ages, and experts have tended to believe most diagnoses are made in children by age 8.

However, the new study found significant proportions of children were diagnosed at older ages.

Dr. Roula Choueiri, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said she’s seen that happening at her clinic. Those kids “tend to be the mild ones, who may have had some speech delays, some social difficulties,” she wrote in an email. But they have more problems as school becomes more demanding and social situations grow more complex, she added.—AP

CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA chief Charles Bolden has advice on how to handle a large asteroid headed toward New York City: Pray. That’s about all the United States - or anyone for that matter could do at this point about unknown asteroids and meteors that may be on a collision course with Earth, Bolden told lawmakers at a U.S. House of Representatives Science Committee hearing on Tuesday.

An asteroid estimated to be have been about 55 feet (17 meters) in diameter exploded on Feb. 15 over Chelyabinsk, Russia, generating shock waves that shattered windows and damaged buildings. More than 1,500 people were injured.

Later that day, a larger, unrelated asteroid discovered last year passed about 17,200 miles (27,681 km) from Earth, closer than the network of television and weather satellites that ring the planet.

The events “serve as evidence that we live in an active solar system with potentially hazardous objects passing through our neighborhood with surprising frequency,” said Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Texas Democrat.

“We were fortunate that the events of last month were simply an interesting coincidence rather than a catastrophe,” said Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, who called the hearing to learn what is being done and how much money is needed to better protect the planet.

NASA has found and is tracking about 95 percent of the largest objects flying near Earth, those that are .62 miles (1 km) or larger in diameter.

“An asteroid of that size, a kilometer or bigger, could plausibly end civilization,” White House science advisor John Holdren told legislators at the same hearing.

But only about 10 percent of an estimated 10,000 potential “city-killer” asteroids, those with a diameter of about 165 feet (50 meters) have

been found, Holdren added.

On average, objects of that size are estimated to hit Earth about once every 1,000 years. “From the information we have, we don’t know of an asteroid that will threaten the population of the United States,” Bolden said. “But if it’s coming in three weeks, pray.”

In addition to stepping up its monitoring efforts and building international partnerships, NASA is looking at developing technologies to divert an object that may be on a collision course with Earth.

“The odds of a near-Earth object strike causing massive casualties and destruction of infra-

structure are very small, but the potential consequences of such an event are so large it makes sense to takes the risk seriously,” Holdren said.

About 66 million years ago, an object 6 miles (10 km) in diameter is believed to have smashed into what is now the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, leading to the demise of the dinosaurs, as well as most plant and animal life on Earth.

The asteroid that exploded over Russia last month was the largest object to hit Earth’s atmosphere since the 1908 Tunguska event when an asteroid or comet exploded over Siberia, leveling 80 million trees over more than 830 square miles (2,150 sq km). — Reuters

SAINT DENIS: A nurse attends to a newborn in the neo-natal ward of the Delafontaine hospital in Saint Denis near Paris on Tuesday. — AFP

Squid’s in: Scientists dive into monster’s gene pool PARISP: Scientists yesterday announced they had peeked into the DNA of the giant squid, seeking to demystify a deep-sea creature that has haunted sailors’ dreams for centuries. But their findings published Wednesday threw up some tantalising questions in turn.

They include the likelihood that there is just one species of giant squid, and not a constellation of species as some experts have thought. And, far from being a rarity, the giant squid could inhabit the deep ocean in large numbers, its prelarval offspring riding warm currents to disperse globally, the exception being the polar regions.

Evidence “strongly suggests that the family Architeuthis consists of a single species of giant squid, namely Architeuthis dux,” the biologists reported in the British journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. “If so, this species is cosmopolitan and likely has a substantial population

size.” As long as a bus, with beachballsized eyes that help it spot prey in the dark, the giant squid is one of the largest invertebrates, or animals with no backbone. The beast has been detected at depths of 900 metres (2,900 feet), proof of an ability to thrive at pressures that would crush a navy submarine.

The elusive squid was first observed in its natural habitat just nine years ago. Until then, its existence was inferred from remains found in sperm whales’ stomachs, carcasses found floating on the ocean or washed up on beaches or from rare individuals snared by deepsea trawlers.

The tentacled giant’s taxonomy has long been in dispute. As many as 21 nominal species have been reported since a Danish biologist, Japetus Steenstrup, described Architeuthis dux in 1857.

The claims were often based exclusively on where they were

found or on incomplete remains such as beaks, suckers or arms regurgitated by sperm whales.

For this study, researchers examined mitochondrial DNA-a genetic marker handed down along the maternal line-from 43 giant squid taken in waters from Australia, Spain, Florida, New Zealand and Japan. They were astonished to find that there was only a tiny diversity in the DNA signature.

“The data strongly suggest that globally only a single species of Architeuthis exists,” says the study. It suggests that giant squid are “highly migratory,” with offspring dispersed on global currents called thermohalines. The species may well have experienced a population surge, perhaps due to a rapid decline in the number of predator whales due to overfishing or climate change.

Legends about the squid include the Kraken, a ship-sinking leviathan that first featured in Scandinavian

legends centuries ago. A giant squid also featured in Jules Verne’s 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, in which it attacks a submarine and devours a crew member.

But fact is often confused with fiction, say the authors of the study. “[W]hile claims have been made of individuals measuring up to 50 metres (164 feet) in total length, a more realistic estimate is a maximum total length of 18m (59 feet) for females, with males reaching slightly smaller sizes.”

Many things about the squid remain to be elucidated, including how long it lives and how it is able to catch its prey-fish but also smaller squid, including its own kind-at depths where light barely penetrates.

Some scientists have concluded Architeuthis must be a sluggish, ambush predator while others believe it is an active, powerful hunter. — AFP

Hong Kong light pollution ‘one of world’s worst’

MANILA: A Filipino job applicant buys cigarettes while waiting for his documents to be processed yesterday in Manila, Philippines. Health advocates picket the opening yesterday of one of the world’s largest tobacco trade shows dubbed ProTobEx ASIA at the World Trade Center in Manila and assailed the tobacco manufacturers and other industry players allegedly for the smoking-related deaths of 240 Filipinos everyday. — AP

HONG KONG: Hong Kong is one of the world’s worst cities for light pollution with night skies around 1,000 times brighter than globally accepted levels, researchers said Wednesday ahead of this year’s Earth Hour event.

A study by Hong Kong University found that brightness levels in the southern Chinese city’s popular shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui were 1,200 times greater than the international dark sky standard-a measurement void of manmade light.

The densely-populated city of seven million inhabitants, full of residential highrises, towering office blocks and neon advertisements, has no laws to control external lighting.

The result, researchers say, is that light pollution is thought to be much worse than in other large cities, including London, Sydney, Tokyo and Shanghai.

“In Hong Kong, you cannot go anywhere outdoor in the evening without your eyes being blinded by this really intrusive outdoor lighting,” the light pollution survey’s head Jason Pun told AFP. “The fact that we have all this light in the sky means energy is wasted,” he said, adding that excessive artificial lighting also adversely affects nocturnal wildlife.

“We should reduce the amount of lighting used and adjust it for the sake of the environment.”

Research has suggested that light pollution can cause a number of adverse health effects in humans, including insomnia and headaches, and can also disrupt body clocks and hormones.— AFP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

PETA seeks criminal charges in Iditarod dog death ANCHORAGE: The asphyxiation death of a dog removed from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has outraged animal rights activists who have long criticized the 1,000mile race as cruel.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is urging Alaska prosecutors to file cruelty charges for those responsible for the death of 5-year-old Dorado, who died last week after being buried by drifting snow at a checkpoint during severe wind. Dorado was removed from the race March 11 because he was moving stiffly, according to a blog posted on the website for the Squid Acres Kennel run by the dog’s owners. “It’s a horrifying death, and we feel it was totally preventable,” PETA cruelty caseworker

Kristin Simon said yesterday.

Dorado was found dead Friday morning in Unalakleet, 260 miles from the finish line in Nome on Alaska’s wind-scrubbed western coast. Dorado and other dropped dogs were last checked about 3 a.m. that day. The death was discovered as many as five hours later, according to race spokeswoman Erin McLarnon. Dorado belonged to the team of Iditarod rookie Paige Drobny of Fairbanks, who owns Squid Acres Kennel with her husband, Cody Strathe. After he was removed from the race, Dorado was being held in a lot set up to care for dogs left behind because of illness, injury, or tiredness.

Iditarod officials have said Dorado was otherwise healthy. McLarnon referred further

questions to race officials, who did not immediately return requests for comment Tuesday. Drobny, 38, continued in the race with the rest of her team, finishing Thursday in 34th place. Strathe said the couple has asked race organizers to implement new protocols on care for dogs dropped from the race. Strathe also is a musher but did not run the Iditarod. He said changes sought from the Iditarod Trail Committee include boosting the number of helpers at checkpoints to check on dogs more often, providing adequate shelter and increasing the number of flights to get the dogs out more quickly.

“We thought that our dog was being cared for,” he said. “That’s the race organiza-

tion’s responsibility. We, as mushers, trusted them.” Race officials have said the weather delayed efforts to transport dropped dogs sooner. There were at least 135 dogs in the lot that night, and a race official told the Anchorage Daily News that locals, volunteers and veterinarians worked on protecting the animals from blowing snow and wind. Most of the dogs stayed the night inside two airport buildings, while Dorado was among three dozen dogs held in a spot behind the buildings that handlers reportedly believed would protect them from the wind. Nome District Attorney John Earthman said no decision has been made on whether to pursue charges as PETA wants. “I believe I recognize their issue,

which I believe is that somebody committed criminal negligence by leaving this dog out in the winter weather in western Alaska,” he said. “Whether someone can be successfully prosecuted for that, you know, I couldn’t tell you. That remains to be seen.”

Every year, the Iditarod is criticized by animal advocates as being an event that can be deadly for dogs and that the animals are forced to run. PETA says at least 142 dogs have died since the Iditarod began in 1973.

Mushers and race supporters say the race celebrates world-class canine athletes that have been conditioned through diet and training to perform at the highest levels of health after decades of research and advancements in animal care. — AP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Marriott International annual results for ME and Africa SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

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n response to the Marriott International, Inc. global sales results, which reported a 22 percent year-onyear growth, the company has announced a 8.3 per cent increase in RevPAR figures across the Middle East and Africa for 2012 compared to the previous year.

Driven predominantly by a 5.3 percent growth in occupancy, the company’s year-end results clearly demonstrate global traveller’s desire to stay at Marriott International properties, comprising some of the world’s strongest and most respected brands. These positive results follow the company’s second place ranking by Great Places to Work Institute and Executive Magazine.

Marriott International’s performance was boosted by three openings in 2012: the Courtyard by Marriott Diplomatic Quarter, and Marriott Executive Apartments Riyadh Makarim, and the flagship JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. The Marquis endorsement is reserved for iconic properties in the Marriott International portfolio, defined by their scale, grandeur and location. The new JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai is only the second JW Marriott Marquis branded property in the world and has huge strategic importance for the world-class luxury JW Marriott brand’s global expansion.

Marriott International’s development pipeline in the

Middle East and Africa continues to grow with the announcement of five new property signings, adding a

Alex Kyriakidis further 1,027 rooms to its system; the 186-room Rabat Marriott Hotel will open in Morocco next year, while the 181-room Constantine Marriott Hotel in Algeria and 210-room Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh North in Saudi

Arabia will open in 2015, and the 300-room JW Marriott Casablanca in Morocco and 150-room Lagos Marriott Hotel in Nigeria in 2016. The new hotels will bring the total number of announced properties joining Marriott International’s Middle East and Africa portfolio by 2017 to 48 and are indicative of the company’s aggressive growth plans, in particular for Africa.

Commenting on the company’s positive 2012 results, Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director of Marriott International, Middle East and Africa, said: “These remarkable results clearly demonstrate the continued growth of the region’s hospitality industry, with Marriott International’s exceptional RevPAR and room occupancy rates making a significant mark in the sector.

Our system continues to look better and better, and with these signings and more to come in 2013, Marriott International will be perfectly placed to accommodate the increasing number of visitors to the region. We also plan to hire over 21,000 associates over the next five years in order to meet the needs of our growing portfolio.” Marriott International’s portfolio in the Middle East and Africa currently comprises 42 properties in 12 countries, offering 12,237 rooms across seven lodging brands. It is set to expand by 48 properties and 11,567 rooms by 2017.

GUST to host first annual Kuwait literature seminar

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nother year has passed and as you celebrate your birthday this year and turn a year older. May you have all that you wish come true. Have a happy birthday! Ms.Dale Gustilo.

Announcements CRYcket 2013 tournament riends of CRY Club (FOCC) announces 16th CRY (Child Rights & You) cricket tournament for children and will be held at the GC grounds at Jaleeb AlShuyoukh on Friday, 12th Apr 2013 from 6:30 a.m to 4:30 pm. The one day “CRYcket” tournament is a very popular annual family event, participated by children under 14. 12 teams each are set to participate in the Under-12 and Under-14 divisions initially in four groups in round robin fashion leading to 4 winners who will clash in the semifinals. The last date for registration of Teams is 5th Apr 2013.

For more details & game rules, visit the FOCC website http://www.focckwt.org

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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.

Ties Center Ties Center cordially invites to the following March activities: 1- Diwaniya presentation about, “The Meaning of the name Allah (SWT).” All of the names of and attributes of Allah (SWT) are established in the revelation. It is not permissible to name Allah with a name that He did not give Himself and that was not affirmed by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). These are the authentic sources for Allah’s names and attributes: the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Allah says what can be translated as: “And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing, or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning.” (17: 36). If you want to learn more about the meaning of Allah, you are welcome to the TIES Center Tomorrow March 19, 2013 at 7:00pm.

2- Movie Night: Women in Islam The right status and responsibility of Muslim women are some of the least understood topics when talking about Islam. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) recognized women as individuals with specific rights and responsibilities more than 1,400 years ago. He encouraged educating women and returned their Allah-given rights back to them. Many Muslim women today are asserting these rights and reclaiming their status as equal partners in society.

Come a long with your friends to enjoy this educating movie in a serene environment at the TIES Center on March 25, 2013 at 7:00pm.

3 - Lecture entitled, “The Impact of Islamic Civilization on the West.” On March 26, 2013, Bryn Barnard will be discussing the impact of Islamic civilization on the West, the subject of his book The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World. This one hour illustrated PowerPoint talk will include aspects of Islamic philosophy, art, book arts, music, astronomy, medicine, engineering ; a discussion of how Islamic civilization is presented in North American schools; and suggestions about why the deep historical connections between Islam and the West are not better known today. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation. Bryn Barnard is an author and illustrator with twenty five years’ experience creating images for clients that include NASA, National Geographic and Scientific American. He has illustrated twenty-five books for children and is the author and illustrator of three books, all published by Random House, New York: Dangerous Planet: Natural Disasters That Changed History, Outbreak: Plagues That Changed History, and The Genius of Islam: How Muslims Made the Modern World, published last April. The Genius of Islam was on the November cover of Booklist magazine and selected as one of its top ten books on religion published in 2011. The Genius of Islamalso received the top award for non-fiction from the Middle East Outreach Council, a North American university educational consortium. The Genius of Islam will be published in Arabic in 2012 by Dar Al-Ilm Lilmalayin, Beirut.

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UST was proud to host itsFirst AnnualKuwait Literature Seminar, a two day event organized by Dr. Salah Eddine Arkadan. The conference was solely about Kuwaiti literature and its development and advancement over time.

The event was divided into two days where writers Dr. Mona Shafie, Abdulaiz Al Sureea, and A.D. Sulaiman Al Shatti shared their insight and experiences as critics and writers in Kuwaiti society on the first day. Shafie talked about her experience as a female writer and balancing her time between work, family and writing. She then explained to the audience what criticism is and the role it plays in a writers’ career. Criticism briefly is when a writer’s work is deeply criticized depending on context and the quality of writing in the work. She emphasized on the importance of writers having their work criticized by readers and to build off their feedback rather than be put down by it. Students began asking questions which started an interesting discussion about who is considered eligible to criticize a writer’s work, and how to differentiate between constructive criticism and insults.

Playwriter Abdulaziz Al Sureea then talked about the stages of playwriting

upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

He also discussed how descriptive literature in poetry and novels needs to be of a certain appropriate and sophisticated manner when describing females or love stories to differentiate a good piece of literature from a bad one.Dr. Freih, a Kuwaiti novelist, talked about her journey as a writer. She told stories about her youth and how she disliked the Arabic language as a child and ironically grew up to become an Arabic novelist.

Dr. Freihalso gave insight on the good and bad history of Arab society and

how it affected the literature we now read.

The conference ended with an interesting open discussion between the guest speakers and students and later moved on to an award ceremony honoring the writers. Overall, GUST’s First Annual Kuwaiti Literature Seminar was a successenjoyed by both GUST staff and students. It was truly a valuable and educational experience for those who attended and inspired literature lovers to partake in writing.

KNES students visit Kuwait Zoo

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he Early Years children of Kuwait National English School were pleased to visit a wonderful variety of animals at the Kuwait Zoo recent-

ly. The children love this trip as they can share their knowledge and learn more about animals and their environment.

Kuwait National English School would like to thank the Kuwait Zoo for providing this opportunity for our youngest and brightest.

Womens’ day program

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and it’s take on Kuwaiti society. Arab writers have been writing scripts hundreds of years ago but the concept of playwriting is still new in Kuwait and has been progressing since it first started 90 years ago. He pointed out that plays mainly criticize and ridicule the problems happening in society in a sarcastic way through the script’s plot which is later portrayed through acting.

Writer and critic A.D. Sulaiman AlShatti later joined in and discussed what writers in Arab and Kuwaiti society were allowed to write about. He also pointed out that some topics such as religion and personal matters are extremely sensitive and can sometimes be banned from press if they are deemed “inappropriate.” Students immediately became interested in the matter and began asking questions about the writers and to what extent they were able to write and express themselves freely.

The final day of the Kuwaiti Literature Seminar was attended by numerous local writers and GUST staff and students eager to listen about what speakers A. Sulaiman Al-Hizami and Dr. Siham Freih had to say. Al-Hizami, a critic and writer talked about freedom of press in Kuwait and how freedom of speech is a privilege that’s not meant to be abused.

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avendar Kazhagam Kuwait Sixth Kalam was organized in Mangaf, Kuwait on 1st March. Function began with Mrs Deviravi speech and continued Tamil Thai Vazhthu Selvi, Anusowndarya, Selvi Subasri dance with the presence of our Honorable Chief Guest Dr Nalini (Cardiologist Specialist in Saba Hospital, Kuwait).

Organizer Rajashekar gave his welcome speech and Mrs Priyasekar gave away momentum to our chief guest.

Mrs Karthigaijyothi and Mrs Subathra also supported our chief guest on the stage. The program was conducted and participated by our team members: Kuralodu Uravadu by Mrs Lavaniya.

Ninathu Ninathu by Mrs Nalini Velavan.

Mannesai by Mrs Manjula, Mrs Anu and Ms Jaya Parvathi. Kavithai Siragu, Abdulkadher, Ravichandran, Murugesan, Mrs Nagathevanthi, Subramani and Magesh. Kalathu Medu

by Kanvel Kishor, Ajay and Ms Skandhalakshmi. Pengal Munetram andrum Endrum by Thangamani.

Vazhthurai by Sekar, Neelamani and

Natarajan. Sirappu Patti Mandram Pengal Adupavargala Attuvaipavargala

by Mrs Geetha, Mrs Latha, Mrs Divya, Mrs Punitha and judge Rajashekar.

Soluvom Velvom by Mrs Rajathi. The prize was won by Makesh. The meeting ended with Vazhiya Senthamil song and lunch sponsored by our team and Chandrasekar.

W H AT ’ S O N

AUK library inaugurates ‘Kuwait Through My Eyes’

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department.

All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. nnnnnnn

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he American University of Kuwait (AUK) library hosted its first photography exhibition on March 13 under the theme “Kuwait Through My Eyes”.

The 2-day photography gallery held a total of 24 artworks exhibited by six Kuwaiti renowned photographers; AbdulAziz Al-Asousi, Eman Jamal, Ibrahim AlFarhan, Ali Al-Zaidi, Shaimaa Al-Arada, and Yaqoub AlKandari. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to inaugurate the event, during which AUK Provost Nizar Hamzeh and Asmaa Al Kanaan, the AUK Library Director congratulated the library staff and welcomed

the public attendees. The displayed photographs showcased various representations of Kuwait featuring tradition, people, buildings, celebrations, and Kuwait’s major moments such as the fireworks on Kuwait’s 50th constitution anniversary. The shots encompassed inspiration, passion, timing, perception and emotion.

Other creative works included a shot of wisps of smoke rising from a light bulb carrying the colors of the Kuwaiti flag. The photo was meant to show “the light of Kuwait” as photographer Eman Jamal expressed. Another image showed vibrant splashes of

paint carrying the colors of the Kuwaiti flag, dancing to sound vibrations through a speaker creating a stunning formation of colored sound waves.

Students and faculty appreciated the artworks, and the photographers were glad to share their vision of Kuwait with them.

“I am very glad to have the first art exhibition in the library. We want to appeal to art and design faculty and students, as we would like to build relationships with various departments,” said Al-Kanan. She also hopes to plan bigger exhibitions in the future.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of 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, UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-imenquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday. nnnnnnn

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai takes luxury to new heights

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he JW Marriott brand officiallycelebratedits newly opened landmark luxury hotel in the Middle East - the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. Acquiring the coveted title of World’s Tallest hotel from the Guinness Book of World Records, the 72-storey propertyis the first JW Marriott Marquis outside of North America and the 59th addition to the brand’s global luxury portfolio. A host of international VIPs, including Marriott International’s President & CEO Arne Sorenson visitedDubai for the official unveiling.

Soaring at 355 meters (1,164 feet), the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is just 26 metres shorter than New York City’s famed Empire State Building. In Dubai, known throughout the world for its aweinspiring architecture, the hotel’s towers have already become an icon on the city’s skyline “Dubai is an important destination for Marriott International as one of the world’s most exciting cities offering world-class facilities and infrastructure, central location in the region and future growth potential, “said Arne Sorenson, Marriott International President & CEO. “Our expanding collection of world-class JW Marriott hotels offers accomplished travelers a one-of-a-kind luxury experience. The investment in this unique and visually stunning hotel is testament to the continued opportunities that lie ahead for the brand and company.”

In addition to serving luxury business travelers, the hotel, which is owned by

Emirates Group, targets the lucrative and increasingly important MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market by filling a long-identified gap in the region. Groups, meetings and conventions of up to 1,000 people can now meet, stay and dine, under one roof. The hotel is the first in Dubai that is able to accommodate large groups and will play a key role in attracting major conventions and events to the destination. Along with cutting-edge business facilities, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai features more than 7,500 square meters of indoor and outdoor event space, including two ballrooms, and alarge selection of world-class dining and entertainment options.

“The opening of this landmark hotel in Dubai is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to delivering the very best product, facilities and service in this international gateway city,” said Mitzi Gaskins, Vice President and Global Brand Manager for JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts. “As our global portfolio continues to grow, we remain dedicated to offering our guests unforgettable travel experiences with intuitive service, thoughtful amenities and refined design, celebrating the authentic flavor of eachdestination.”

The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai offers an enticing array of nine restaurants, and five bars and lounges, including the skyhigh steakhouse Prime 68;the experiential sushi restaurant, Izakaya;and stunning cocktail bar Vault, which issituated on the

Dr K J Yesudas to perform in Kuwait

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he stage is set for ‘Gandharva Nadamritham’, the much-awaited Carnatic classical concert by legendary Indian musician Padmabhushan Dr K J Yesudas tomorrow (March 22, 2013) at 6.30 pm at the American International School, Maidan Hawally. Dr Yesudas will be accompanied by well-known Indian musicians Mahadeva Sarma on violin, Viswesara Prasad on mridangam and Vaikom Gopalakrishnan on ghatam. Organized by Udupi Restaurant, Kuwait, the high profile concert by ‘Gana Gandharvan’ (the celestial singer’) is billed as one of the top rated musical events in the country.

Dr Yesudas has recorded more than 50,000 songs in several languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tulu, Malay, Russian, Arabic, Latin and English during an illustrious career spanning over five decades. He was awarded the coveted ‘Padmashri’ in 1975 and ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2002 by Indian government for his contributions to music. Dr Yesudas has won Indian national award for the best male playback singer seven times, the most by any

71st and 72nd floors and features panoramic views of the city. The hotel is also home to Rang Mahal by Atul Kochhar, the firstIndian chef to be awarded a Michelin Star.

The 4,000 square-meter Saray Spa and Health Club draws inspiration from the caravanserai silk route across Arabia, with treatments designed to ensure mind and body renewal. Treatments include the Signature Milk and Honey treatment, an Arabic Coffee Awakener, and Lemon Mint Body Polish. A sprawling pool deck covers the 7thfloor of the hotel with a 30-metre

Methil Devika’s Mohiniyattam today

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Indian singer, and state awards for the best playback singer 43 times which consist of awards by the state governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal.

Dr Yesudas was honored with the CNN-IBN outstanding achievement award for being India’s celestial singer having recorded over 50,000 songs in a five-decade career. Dr Yesudas has performed in many major cities around the world. He became one of the senate members in the International Parliament for Safety and Peace.

swimming pool. Aqua Poolside Bar and Grill draws inspiration from Miami’s renowned South Beach, offering light snacks and beverages throughout the day.

“Conference organizers and businesses around the world are noticing Dubai’s growing influence as a global business hub,” said General Manager, Rupprecht Queitsch. “We are thrilled to be officially open and believe this iconic new property will set a new standard in business hotels, not just the region, but throughout the world.”

pasana dance school, Kuwait presents Mohiniyattam Recital by renowned Indian classical Dancer - Methil Devika, today, March 21, 7 pm at Kuwait Medical Association Hall, Jabriya.

Admission is free. All are welcome.

Methyl Devika has performed in Baden, Switzerland, SPIC-MACAY stages in Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and West Bengal in India, festivals in Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Minnesota in the United States, 2008, Indian Consulate, United Arab Emirates. 2007, Fine Arts Society, Dubai, UAE, 2007.

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on shortstay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes.

Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database.

Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, firsttime applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform the Kenyan community residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that the Embassy has acquired new office telephone numbers as follows: 25353982, 25353985 - Consular’s enquiries 25353987 - Fax Our Email address: info@kenyaembkuwait.com. nnnnnnn

Embassy of Mexico The Embassy of Mexico to Kuwait has the pleasure to announce the opening of its Consular Section where visa applications are already being handled. The Consular Section is open to the public from Sundays-Thursdays 09.00-12.00 hrs. at Cliffs Complex in Salmiya, Villa No. 6 (3rd floor).

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EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF TURKEY The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey announces that a new classes of Turkish language for beginners will start at the Embassy’s Tourism, Culture and Information Office on 17 February 2013. The lessons will be two times in a week for six weeks, for further details and registration please contact. Or fill the application form on http://kuveyt.bemfa.gov.tr and send it to the email: embassy.Kuwait@mfa.gov.tr

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

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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 Bananas In Pyjamas Lazytown Krypto: The Super Dog Jelly Jamm Gerald McBoing Boing

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Cartoonito Tales Bananas In Pyjamas Ha Ha Hairies Lazytown Krypto: The Super Dog Baby Looney Tunes Jelly Jamm Gerald McBoing Boing Cartoonito Tales Krypto: The Super Dog Lazytown A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Tom And Jerry Tales Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Johnny Bravo Tiny Toons 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo The Garfield Show What’s New Scooby-Doo? Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom And Jerry Tales The Looney Tunes Show Tiny Toons 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo Moomins The Garfield Show Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom And Jerry Tales Moomins Dexters Laboratory Johnny Bravo Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show What’s New Scooby-Doo? Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry Tales The Looney Tunes Show

00:00 Amanpour 00:30 World Sport 01:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 02:00 World Report 02:30 World Sport 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 Quest Means Business 06:00 The Situation Room 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Talk Asia 08:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 I Report For CNN 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 World One 12:30 Open Court 13:00 Amanpour 13:30 CNN Newscenter 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 18:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 19:00 World Sport 19:30 Open Court 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 21:45 CNN Marketplace Europe 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 James May’s Man Lab 01:10 Superhuman Showdown 02:05 Mythbusters 03:55 How Stuff’s Made 04:20 Auction Kings 04:50 Auction Hunters 05:15 How Do They Do It? 05:40 How Stuff’s Made 06:05 Sons Of Guns 07:00 Mythbusters 07:50 Inventions That Shook The World 08:45 Magic Of Science 09:40 Border Security 10:05 Auction Kings 10:30 Auction Hunters 10:55 How Do They Do It? 11:25 How It’s Made 11:50 James May’s Man Lab 12:45 Superhuman Showdown 13:40 Mythbusters 14:35 Border Security 15:05 Auction Kings

15:30 Auction Hunters 16:00 Desert Car Kings 16:55 Magic Of Science 17:50 Mythbusters 18:45 Sons Of Guns 19:40 How Do They Do It? 20:05 How It’s Made 20:35 Auction Kings 21:00 Auction Hunters 21:30 Sons Of Guns 22:25 Inside The Gangsters’ Code 23:20 Death Row: The Final 24 Hours

00:40 Gadget Show - World Tour 01:05 How Tech Works 01:35 Scrapheap Challenge 02:25 The Loch Ness Monster Revealed 03:15 Bang Goes The Theory 03:45 Last Flight Of The Space Shuttle 04:35 The X-Testers 05:00 The X-Testers 05:25 Building The Future 06:15 Science Of The Movies 07:05 NASA’s Greatest Missions 08:00 Last Flight Of The Space Shuttle 08:50 Man-Made Marvels Asia 09:40 Scrapheap Challenge 10:30 Science Of The Movies 11:25 Gadget Show - World Tour 11:50 How Tech Works 12:15 NASA’s Greatest Missions 13:10 Man-Made Marvels Asia 14:00 Scrapheap Challenge 14:50 Bang Goes The Theory 15:20 Last Flight Of The Space Shuttle 16:10 The Loch Ness Monster Revealed 17:00 Gadget Show - World Tour 17:25 How Tech Works 17:55 Science Of The Movies 18:45 Building The Future 19:35 NASA’s Greatest Missions 20:30 Food Factory 20:55 Food Factory 21:20 Finding Bigfoot 22:10 Gadget Show - World Tour 22:35 How Tech Works 23:00 Food Factory 23:25 Food Factory 23:50 Finding Bigfoot

00:10 00:35 01:25 02:15 03:05 03:55 04:45 05:35 06:00 06:25 06:40 07:05 07:55 08:45 09:35 10:25 11:15 12:05 12:55 13:45 14:35 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:00 18:20 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:30 20:50 21:15 21:40 22:05 22:55 23:45

Hannah Montana Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Replacements Emperor’s New School Brandy & Mr Whiskers Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Doc McStuffins Suite Life On Deck A.N.T. Farm Jessie Good Luck Charlie Austin And Ally Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck My Babysitter’s A Vampire Jessie A.N.T Farm Wizards Of Waverly Place Shake It Up Austin And Ally Jessie A.N.T. Farm Toy Story Austin And Ally My Babysitter’s A Vampire A.N.T Farm Good Luck Charlie Jessie That’s So Raven Cory In The House Phil Of The Future Hannah Montana Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana

00:20 Little Einsteins 00:50 Special Agent Oso 01:05 Special Agent Oso 01:15 Lazytown 01:40 Jungle Junction 01:55 Jungle Junction 02:10 Handy Manny 02:20 Handy Manny 02:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 03:00 Lazytown 03:25 Special Agent Oso 03:40 Special Agent Oso 03:50 Imagination Movers 04:20 Handy Manny 04:30 Handy Manny 04:40 Special Agent Oso 04:50 Special Agent Oso 05:00 Timmy Time 05:10 Lazytown 05:35 Little Einsteins 06:00 Jungle Junction 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:30 Little Einsteins 06:50 Special Agent Oso 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Jungle Junction 07:45 Handy Manny 08:00 Special Agent Oso 08:15 Lazytown 08:45 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 09:10 Timmy Time 09:20 Zou 09:35 Zou 09:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 10:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 10:20 Doc McStuffins 10:35 Doc McStuffins 10:50 Handy Manny 11:00 Lilo And Stitch 11:30 Cars Toons 11:35 Mouk 11:45 Art Attack 12:10 Imagination Movers 12:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 13:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 13:10 Doc McStuffins 13:25 Handy Manny 13:40 Jungle Junction 13:55 Timmy Time 14:05 The Hive 14:15 Mouk 14:30 Little Einsteins 14:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 15:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:00 The Little Mermaid 16:25 Lilo And Stitch 16:55 Imagination Movers 17:20 Mouk 17:35 Mouk 17:45 Lilo And Stitch 18:10 The Hive 18:20 Cars Toons 18:25 Zou 18:40 Zou 18:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 19:10 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 19:25 Doc McStuffins 19:40 Doc McStuffins 19:55 Handy Manny 20:05 Timmy Time 20:15 Pajanimals 20:25 Doc McStuffins 20:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:10 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 21:20 The Hive 21:30 Pajanimals 21:45 Handy Manny 22:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:25 Pajanimals 22:35 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 23:00 Timmy Time 23:10 Animated Stories 23:15 A Poem Is...

23:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 23:30 Jungle Junction 23:45 Handy Manny 23:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00am KSA 07:00 Pokemon: BW Rival Destinies 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 07:50 Phineas And Ferb 08:15 Almost Naked Animals 08:40 Slugterra 09:05 Scaredy Squirrel 09:30 Zeke & Luther 09:55 Pair Of Kings 10:20 Kickin It 10:45 Kickin It 11:10 Kickin It 11:35 Mr. Young 12:00 Slugterra 12:25 Lab Rats 12:50 Crash & Bernstein 13:20 Pair Of Kings 13:45 Zeke & Luther 14:10 Kid vs Kat 14:35 I’m In The Band 15:00 Ultimate Spider-Man 15:25 Almost Naked Animals 15:50 Rekkit Rabbit 16:15 Pair Of Kings 16:40 Crash & Bernstein 17:05 Lab Rats 17:30 Slugterra 18:00 Kickin It 18:25 Kickin It 18:50 Phineas And Ferb 19:15 Phineas And Ferb 19:40 Fort Boyard - Ultimate Challenge 20:05 Crash & Bernstein 20:30 Zeke & Luther 20:55 I’m In The Band 21:20 Rated A For Awesome 21:45 Rekkit Rabbit 22:10 Phineas And Ferb 22:35 Ultimate Spider-Man 23:00 Kick Buttowski 23:25 Scaredy Squirrel

SHARK NIGHT ON OSN CINEMA

00:00 00:55 01:25 02:20 03:15 03:40 04:10 05:05 06:00 07:50

Opening Act Style Star THS THS Style Star Extreme Close-Up THS E!es THS Style Star

08:20 09:15 10:15 12:05 13:05 14:05 York 15:00 15:30 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:30 23:30

E! News Ice Loves Coco THS E! News Opening Act Kourtney & Kim Take New Style Star THS Extreme Close-Up Married To Jonas E! News THS Giuliana & Bill Chasing The Saturdays Fashion Police E! News Chelsea Lately

00:15 Unique Sweets 00:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:30 Heat Seekers 01:55 Outrageous Food 02:20 Unwrapped 02:45 Charly’s Cake Angels 03:35 Unique Sweets 04:25 Unique Eats 04:50 Food Crafters 05:15 Charly’s Cake Angels 05:40 Chopped 06:30 Iron Chef America 07:10 Unwrapped 08:50 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 09:40 Symon’s Suppers 10:05 Barefoot Contessa 10:55 Cooking For Real 11:45 Unique Eats 12:10 Food Crafters 12:35 Charly’s Cake Angels 13:00 Iron Chef America 13:50 Symon’s Suppers 14:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 15:05 United Tastes Of America 15:30 Food Crafters 15:55 Guy’s Big Bite 16:45 Chopped 17:35 Barefoot Contessa 18:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 19:15 Unique Sweets 19:40 Charly’s Cake Angels 20:05 Guy’s Big Bite 20:30 Chopped 22:10 Iron Chef America 23:00 Unwrapped 23:50 Unique Eats

00:40 01:30 02:20 03:05 03:30 03:55 04:45 05:30 06:20 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:15 14:40 15:30 16:20 16:45 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:40 20:30 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

00:15 00:45 01:40 (Pilot) 02:35 04:25 04:50 05:20 06:15 06:45 07:10 07:35 08:05 09:00 (Pilot) 09:55 11:45 12:40 13:35 14:00 14:30 15:25 16:20 17:15 19:05 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:55 23:25 23:50

I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted Evil, I Evil, I I Almost Got Away With It I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner The Haunted Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Murder Shift Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Disappeared Murder Shift Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill On The Case With Paula Zahn Killer Kids

Making Tracks Living With The Amish Keeping Up With The Joneses Bondi Rescue Travel Oz Travel Oz Around The World For Free Kimchi Chronicles David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 Making Tracks Making Tracks Living With The Amish Keeping Up With The Joneses Bondi Rescue Travel Oz Around The World For Free Kimchi Chronicles David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 Making Tracks Living With The Amish Keeping Up With The Joneses Bondi Rescue Travel Oz Making Tracks Making Tracks Kimchi Chronicles David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 2 Around The World For Free Kimchi Chronicles David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 Maverick Chef

00:00 Hunter Hunted 01:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 01:55 Monster Fish 02:50 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 03:45 Crocodile King 04:40 Shark Men 05:35 The Living Edens 06:30 Monster Fish 07:25 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 08:20 Crocodile King 09:15 Animal Superpowers 10:10 Built for the Kill 11:05 World’s Deadliest Continent (AKA Australia’s Deadl 11:30 World’s Deadliest Continent (AKA Australia’s Deadl 12:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 13:00 Monster Fish 14:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 15:00 Dive To Tiger Central 16:00 Animal Superpowers

BARRICADE ON OSN MOVIES ACTION 17:00 Built for the Kill 18:00 World’s Deadliest Continent (AKA Australia’s Deadl 18:30 World’s Deadliest Continent (AKA Australia’s Deadl 19:00 Monster Fish 20:00 Bite Me With Dr. Mike Leahy 21:00 Crocodile King 22:00 Animal Superpowers 23:00 Built for the Kill

01:45 04:15 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 19:45 21:45

Carlito’s Way-18 Ice Road Terror-PG15 True Justice: Angel Of Death RoboCop 3-PG15 Deadly Hope-PG15 Barricade-PG15 RoboCop 3-PG15 Unknown-PG15 Barricade-PG15 Alien Resurrection-18 13 Assassins-18

01:00 Teen Spirit-PG15 03:00 Footloose-PG15 05:00 A Dog Named Duke-PG15 07:00 Marley & Me: The Puppy Years-PG 09:00 Teen Spirit-PG15 11:00 Footloose-PG15 13:00 Beware The Gonzo-PG15 15:00 Bobby Jones: Stroke Of Genius-PG 17:30 Once Brothers-PG15 19:00 The Deep Blue Sea-PG15 21:00 The Hangover 2-18 23:00 Shark Night-PG15

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 The Ricky Gervais Show 02:00 Weeds 03:00 Louie 04:00 Til Death 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Hope & Faith 06:00 10 Items Or Less 06:30 Less Than Perfect 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Til Death 08:30 Modern Family 09:00 Ben And Kate 10:00 The Mindy Project 10:30 Last Man Standing 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 10 Items Or Less 12:30 Til Death 13:00 Hope & Faith 13:30 Less Than Perfect 14:30 The Mindy Project 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 10 Items Or Less 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 New Girl 18:30 2 Broke Girls

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 19:00 20:00 22:00

Franklin & Bash Awake The Carrie Diaries The Finder Good Morning America The Practice The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle The Practice Franklin & Bash The Finder Live Good Morning America Castle The Ellen DeGeneres Show Drop Dead Diva American Idol Downton Abbey

00:00 01:00 02:00 06:00 08:00 13:00 14:00 15:00

Bones The Carrie Diaries Awake Bones Covert Affairs The Ellen DeGeneres Show Covert Affairs Bones

01:45 04:15 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 19:45 21:45

Carlito’s Way Ice Road Terror True Justice: Angel Of Death RoboCop 3 Deadly Hope Barricade RoboCop 3 Unknown Barricade Alien Resurrection 13 Assassins

00:00 Tamara Drewe-18 02:00 The Guru-18 04:00 Smooch-PG15 06:00 A Kiss For Jed-PG15 08:00 Police Academy 3: Back In Training-PG15 10:00 Barnyard-PG 12:00 Smooch-PG15 14:00 Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol-PG15 16:00 Barnyard-PG 18:00 The Bad News Bears (1976) 20:00 MacGruber-18

01:00 Arc-PG15 03:00 Manolete-18 05:00 Quiz Show-PG15 07:15 African Cats: Kingdom Of Courage-PG 09:00 Henry’s Crime-PG15 11:00 Loosies-PG15 13:00 Christmas Comes Home To Canaan-PG15 15:00 Henry’s Crime-PG15 17:00 The Chorus-PG15 19:00 Daydream Nation-PG15 21:00 Taken Back: Finding Haley 23:00 Mr. Nobody-PG15

01:00 Ghost Machine-PG15 03:00 Battleship-PG15 05:15 The Tree Of Life-PG15 07:30 Certain Prey-PG15 09:00 A Mother’s Choice-PG15 11:00 Just Go With It-PG15 13:00 Game Change-PG15 15:00 Something Borrowed-PG15 17:00 I Don’t Know How She Does It-PG15 19:00 The Vow-PG15 21:00 Joyful Noise-PG15 23:00 Friends With Benefits-18

01:00 The Nimbols: Part I 02:45 The Apple & The Worm 04:30 Alex & Alexis 06:00 The Search For Santa Paws 08:00 The Nimbols: Part II 10:00 Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate 11:45 Alex & Alexis 13:15 Crab Island 14:30 Rebound 16:00 A Monster In Paris 18:00 Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate 20:00 The Great Bear 22:00 Crab Island 23:30 A Monster In Paris

01:30 02:00 02:30 03:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 13:00 13:30 14:30 15:30 16:00 20:30 22:00

PGA European Tour Weekly Inside The PGA Tour Trans World Sport Premier League Darts Super Rugby Highlights Inside The PGA Tour PGA European Tour Weekly Live PGA European Tour Inside The PGA Tour Super Rugby Highlights PGA Tour Highlights PGA European Tour Weekly PGA European Tour NRL Premiership Live PGA Tour

03:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 14:00 14:30 15:30 17:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

NHL European Tour Weekly Inside The PGA Tour Futbol Mundial ICC Cricket 360 Trans World Sport Super Rugby ICC Cricket 360 Futbol Mundial Trans World Sport Live NRL Premiership ICC Cricket 360 Trans World Sport NHL NHL WWE NXT Super Rugby UFC The Ultimate Fighter Live Premier League Darts

00:30 01:30 02:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:00 22:30 23:30

World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool NRL Premiership Futbol Mundial Top 14 Highlights Trans World Sport Golfing World Golfing World Asian Tour Highlights Total Rugby World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool HSBC Sevens World Series Asian Tour Highlights Total Rugby World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool Trans World Sport Super Rugby Futbol Mundial Inside the PGA Tour Golfing World Total Rugby World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool

00:00 WWE Vintage Collection 01:00 NHL 03:00 Ping Pong World Championship 04:00 US Bass Fishing 05:00 NHL 07:00 WWE SmackDown 09:00 Ping Pong World Championship 10:00 US Bass Fishing 11:00 NHL 13:00 WWE Vintage Collection 14:00 WWE Bottom Line 15:00 UAE National Race Day 16:00 Prizefighter 19:00 Trans World Sport 20:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 21:00 UFC 22:00 WWE NXT 23:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30

Grave Trade Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Grave Trade Seeking Salvage Pawn Stars American Restoration Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars Storage Wars Seeking Salvage Pawn Stars American Restoration Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Grave Trade Pawn Stars American Restoration Seeking Salvage Ancient Aliens Grave Trade Pawn Stars American Restoration Seeking Salvage Pawn Stars Storage Wars

Classifieds THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Kuwait SHARQIA-1 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) SIDE EFFECTS (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) SIDE EFFECTS (DIG) SHARQIA-2 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) SHARQIA-3 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) MUHALAB-1 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) MUHALAB-2 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM 1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM 12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM 12:45 PM 4:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

MUHALAB-3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D)

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

FANAR-1 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG)

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

FANAR-2 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) SIDE EFFECTS (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) SIDE EFFECTS (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) FANAR-3 SNITCH (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) SNITCH (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) SNITCH (DIG) MARINA-1 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG)

2:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM 1:00 PM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (21/03/2013 TO 27/03/2013) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG)

3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

MARINA-2 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

1:15 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

MARINA-3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) AVENUES-1 TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM 12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

AVENUES-2 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG)

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 11:45 PM

AVENUES-3 JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D)

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

360ยบ- 1 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D)

1:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM

360ยบ- 2 AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG)

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360ยบ- 3 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.1 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 1:45 PM OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (DIG-3D) 3:45 PM

THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D)

6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.2 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) SNITCH (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.3 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-1 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D)

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

BAIRAQ-2 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-3 LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

MATRIMONIAL

Female, MBA with over 11 years experience in all functions of HR/Admin.

Transferable visa 18. Can join immediately.

Knowledge of English, Hindi & Arabic. Please contact: 94062123.

(C 4345) 16-3-2013

Proposals invited for a Marthomite girl, 25/160cms, B/B in Kuwait, Masters in Psychology from U.S.A. working in an international school as counselor. Invites proposals from God fearing well educated employed boys. Email: proposals0327@gmail.com (C 4348) 20-3-2013

Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

04:32 05:51 11:55 15:23 18:00 19:17

Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

1889988

CHANGE OF NAME

PLAZA AL HAFLA (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG)

6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM

LAILA OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM

AJIAL.1 LUCKY STAR (DIG) (MALAYALAM) LUCKY STAR (DIG) (MALAYALAM)

6:00 PM 9:00 PM

AJIAL.2 RANGREZZ (DIG) (HINDI) RANGREZZ (DIG) (HINDI)

6:30 PM 9:30 PM

AJIAL.3 ITHU PATHIRAMANAL (DIG) (MALAYALAM)6:45 PM ITHU PATHIRAMANAL (DIG) (MALAYALAM)9:45 PM METRO-1 LUCKY STAR (DIG) (MALAYALAM) LUCKY STAR (DIG) (MALAYALAM)

Prayer timings SITUATION WANTED

6:45 PM 9:45 PM

METRO-2 ITHU PATHIRAMANAL (DIG) (MALAYALAM)5:30 PM ITHU PATHIRAMANAL (DIG) (MALAYALAM)8:00 PM

I, Fathima w/o Abdul Rasak holder of Indian Passport No. E5241458 hereby change my name to Beer Fathima. (C 4347) 19-3-2013

No: 15754

Bhupinder Singh, S/o Darshan Singh, Dhaiiwai R/o Ramnagar Sibia (Sanrur) changed my name to Bhupinder Singh Dhaiiwai.

(C 4346) 14-3-2013 Ramesh Kumar Ravichandran, son of Ravichandran and Victoria bearing an Indian Passport No. H3125212 and having an address No.21 Clive Street Port, Cuddalore, Tamilnadu 607003 - has embraced Islam and changed the name to Abdul Rahman.

(C 4344)

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JAI THY JZR JZR QTR SAI ETH GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR RBG QTR DHX THY JZR JZR BAW KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB IRA KAC IRA KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB ETD IZG GFA JZR MSC MEA MSR UAE KAC SYR FDB KAC KAC KNE SVA QTR KAC JZR KNE

Arrival Flights on Thursday 21/3/2013 Flt Route 574 MUMBAI 772 ISTANBUL 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 148 DOHA 441 LAHORE 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 3555 ALEXANDRIA 138 DOHA 170 BAHRAIN 770 ISTANBUL 503 LUXOR 529 ASSIUT 157 LONDON 412 MANILA 354 COCHIN 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 605 ISFAHAN 302 MUMBAI 617 AHWAZ 332 TRIVANDRUM 855 DUBAI 121 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 4161 MASHAD 213 BAHRAIN 165 DUBAI 403 ASSIUT 404 BEIRUT 610 CAIRO 871 DUBAI 284 DHAKA 341 DAMASCUS 57 DUBAI 672 DUBAI 546 ALEXANDRIA 472 JEDDAH 500 JEDDAH 140 DOHA 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 470 JEDDAH

Time 0:05 0:35 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:30 1:45 1:50 2:35 2:45 3:05 3:10 3:25 3:45 5:15 5:30 5:55 6:35 6:40 6:45 7:35 7:40 7:45 7:45 7:50 7:55 7:55 8:15 8:40 9:05 9:10 9:15 9:20 9:35 9:55 11:20 11:35 11:55 12:45 12:50 12:55 12:55 13:50 14:15 14:15 14:15 14:30 14:35 14:55 15:05 15:05

QTR OMA JZR JZR KNE KAC UAE ETD RJA UAL GFA SVA JZR QTR ABY KAC NIA JZR RBG KAC FDB MSC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB JAI AXB MSC MSR JZR ABY QTR ALK KAC MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE JZR FDB DHX KAC UAL AIC JZR JZR BBC DLH

134 645 787 535 474 118 857 303 640 982 215 510 777 144 127 542 251 177 3553 786 63 405 176 618 104 674 774 647 61 572 393 401 618 189 129 146 229 562 402 136 221 307 859 135 59 372 502 981 981 239 185 43 636

DOHA MUSCAT RIYADH CAIRO JEDDAH NEW YORK DUBAI ABU DHABI AMMAN WASHINGTON DC DULLES BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH DOHA SHARJAH CAIRO ALEXANDRIA DUBAI ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH DUBAI SOHAG GENEVA DOHA LONDON DUBAI RIYADH MUSCAT DUBAI MUMBAI KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA COLOMBO AMMAN BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN BEIRUT BAHRAIN CHENNAI AMMAN DUBAI DHAKA FRANKFURT

15:30 15:40 16:10 16:25 16:30 16:35 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:20 17:45 17:50 17:55 18:05 18:10 18:15 18:20 18:30 18:45 19:00 19:15 19:20 19:35 19:35 19:50 19:55 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:20 20:25 20:30 20:35 20:45 20:55 21:05 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:50 22:00 22:00 22:05 22:25 22:30 22:45 23:05 23:45 23:55

Airlines AIC UAL KAC AXB JAI DLH SAI ETH THY FDB UAE ETD RBG MSR QTR QTR JZR GFA KAC THY FDB BAW IRA IRA JZR JZR KAC KAC KAC ABY UAE FDB ETD QTR IZG GFA KAC KAC JZR MSC MEA JZR KAC MSR JZR SYR UAE FDB KAC KNE KAC

Departure Flights on Thursday 21/3/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 283 DHAKA 390 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 637 FRANKFURT 442 LAHORE 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 3556 ALEXANDRIA 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 545 ALEXANDRIA 771 ISTANBUL 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 606 MASHHAD 616 AHWAZ 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 101 LONDON 787 JEDDAH 671 DUBAI 122 SHARJAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 133 DOHA 4162 MASHHAD 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 776 JEDDAH 406 SOHAG 405 BEIRUT 786 RIYADH 785 JEDDAH 611 CAIRO 176 DUBAI 342 DAMASCUS 872 DUBAI 58 DUBAI 673 DUBAI 473 JEDDAH 561 AMMAN

Time 0:05 0:10 0:10 0:15 1:05 1:20 2:30 2:45 2:55 3:45 3:50 4:00 4:05 4:10 4:50 6:05 6:55 7:00 7:30 7:35 8:25 8:45 8:50 8:55 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:25 9:40 9:45 9:55 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:35 10:40 11:30 11:50 12:15 12:35 12:55 12:55 13:00 13:45 13:50 13:55 14:15 14:30 15:05 15:10 15:40

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

KAC SVA KNE JZR KAC QTR KAC OMA JZR KNE ETD JZR QTR UAE RJA GFA UAL JZR SVA ABY JZR QTR RBG JZR NIA FDB MSC FDB KAC KAC OMA JAI AXB ABY KAC MSC MSR KAC DHX ALK MEA ETD QTR GFA KAC FDB UAE DHX KAC QTR JZR KAC KAC

617 505 471 188 501 141 773 646 238 475 304 538 135 858 641 216 982 184 511 128 266 145 3554 134 252 64 404 62 351 331 648 571 394 120 343 402 619 543 171 230 403 308 137 222 301 60 860 373 205 147 528 411 415

DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH DUBAI BEIRUT DOHA RIYADH MUSCAT AMMAN JEDDAH ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA DUBAI AMMAN BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI RIYADH SHARJAH BEIRUT DOHA ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DUBAI ASSIUT DUBAI KOCHI TRIVANDRUM MUSCAT MUMBAI KOZHIKODE SHARJAH CHENNAI ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA CAIRO BAHRAIN COLOMBO BEIRUT ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN MUMBAI DUBAI DUBAI BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DOHA ASSIUT BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR

15:45 16:00 16:00 16:05 16:10 16:15 16:25 16:40 17:15 17:25 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:55 18:15 18:25 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:00 19:05 19:10 19:25 20:00 20:40 20:45 20:55 20:55 21:10 21:15 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:40 21:50 21:55 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:50 23:00 23:00 23:10 23:50 23:55 23:55

34

stars CROSSWORD 135

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) You feel that you have to fight for what you want or believe in, and you are very clear, decisive, and convincing right now, but you also tend to stir up more controversy or competitive feelings than is really necessary. Take it down a tone or two and Breathe! Your romantic connection is likely to be very strong and getting stronger. All of your emotional connections should gain strength and zest regardless of what type they are. Your spirit is flowing freely which makes you very attractive to almost everyone you come into contact with. Close friends, family members, and your love interests should be easy for you to connect with in very positive ways.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Good information from reliable channels should be all you need to shore you up and keep things in repair. Clearing and cleaning away the cobwebs from your information sources will make sure that when the lines falter, you’ll still be in contact. Telling small truths now will cement contacts you can rely on later. At this time you are able to be very clear and concise with other people, bringing out your desires and differences between yourself and others in a way that is unlikely to offend or stir up bad feelings. Because you appear confident, others are inclined to believe both what you say and do and join you for the adventure.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. Type genus of the family Myacidae.

4. Genus of tall smooth herbs of forested mountains of Europe and Asia minor.

11. The head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate.

15. An unabridged dictionary constructed on historical principles.

16. A habitual liar (after a New Testament character who was struck dead for lying).

17. Dense growth of hairs covering the body or parts of it (as on the human head).

18. A boy or man.

19. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance.

21. An ancient Greek city in Boeotia destroyed

by Alexander the Great in 336 BC. 23. A toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium.

25. A metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters.

28. A member of the military police who polices soldiers and guards prisoners.

30. A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element.

31. Counting the number of white and red blood cells and the number of platelets in 1 cubic millimeter of blood.

32. Russian physicist (1895-1971).

36. Angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object).

38. Form metals with a swage.

41. Any small branched yellow-flowered North American herb of the genus Krigia.

42. Injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration or mutilation.

44. Flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes.

46. A hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers.

47. Represent as less significant or important.

50. The edible white meat a coconut.

54. Provide with clothes or put clothes on.

55. An unsteady uneven gait.

56. Unarmed feather palms of central and northern South America.

58. A hard gray lustrous metallic element that is highly corrosion-resistant.

59. Port city in northwestern Belgium and industrial center.

60. Wearing or provided with clothing.

62. Wasting of the body during a chronic disease.

65. A sudden minor shock or meaningless interruption.

68. A region of central Europe rich in deposits of coal and iron ore.

71. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

72. Highly seasoned fatty sausage of pork and beef usually dried.

74. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

75. The 21st letter of the Greek alphabet.

76. An intense and irresistible love for yourself and concern for your own needs.

78. A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion.

79. An enclosed space.

80. Common wild European cyclamen with pink flowers.

81. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. Periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles.

2. Not only so, but.

3. Combined or joined to increase in size or quantity or scope.

4. Type genus of the Camelidae.

5. Type genus of the Anatidae.

6. 4-wheeled motor vehicle.

7. Squash bugs.

8. Someone to who a license is granted.

9. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

10. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

11. (India) Flat pancake-like bread cooked on a griddle.

12. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

13. Small short-eared burrowing mammal of rocky uplands of Asia and western North America.

14. Using speech rather than writing.

20. A writing implement with a point from which ink flows.

22. The cry made by sheep.

24. Framework for holding objects.

26. A long thin fluffy scarf of feathers or fur.

27. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity.

29. A written statement of the grounds of complaint made to court law asking for the grievance to be redressed.

33. Growing old.

34. A stately court dance in the 17th century.

35. (Hinduism or Buddhism) A sacred word or syllable repeated in prayer or meditation.

37. Dye with a color.

39. Turn white.

40. Great merriment.

43. Distance measured in miles.

45. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary.

48. Thick dark syrup produced by boiling down juice from sugar cane.

49. Any of various North American trees or shrubs having showy white flowers and edible blue-black or purplish fruit.

51. Of or relating to near the ear.

52. A town in southeastern New Mexico on the Pecos River near the Mexican border.

53. A member of the Siouan people formerly inhabiting the Black Hills of western South Dakota.

57. A German city near Leipzig.

61. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

63. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

64. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

66. Young sheep.

67. A coniferous tree.

69. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

70. God of love and erotic desire.

73. Gone by.

77. A state in midwestern United States.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

You probably seek comfort security and privacy in a much stronger fashion today and this could force you, or at least compel you to push others to satisfy those needs. Be a little more self-reliant toady so you don’t alienate anyone by making them feel as though they are there only to serve you. Romance and flirtations are likely now. You are feeling warm, expressive, and frisky. Loving feelings flow between you and the people you meet, especially those with sexual interest. Friendships are also strengthened at this time so be sure to let them know how much you appreciate them.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You feel that you’ve been fighting for a deeper understanding of what you want or believe in. You are now sure to become clear, decisive, and self directed about where you want to be in this respect. This is a great time for setting goals and beginning the journey towards reaching them. Issues now are your home, personal life, and closest emotional relationships. You feel more quiet and reflective, and you feel a need to be closer to home and to loved ones. You can draw a lot of strength and satisfaction from your family and loved ones now. You are more emotional and introspective than usual.

Leo (July 23-August 22) The keys to getting your way likely lie in your ability to strongly project your own personality in such a way that it overpowers others. This can make you the dominant, alpha player in your surrounds, but you may pay the price of resentment by others who feel pushed out of the way. Your feelings are running high during this period.

You may find yourself so emotionally charged that it is difficult not to tell everyone how you feel about everything. Letting your feelings flow is fine as long as you are careful who you let them flow to. Unmanaged compassion may lead you to aide some who don’t really need or merit your help.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Take a look around you today, you may appreciate and discover the beauty in your life and in those around you. At the same time, everything could take on added value and importance. Be careful that you don’t overspend or indulge too much just now. Enjoy. Disputes between your head and heart can raise issues that consume a lot of time but don’t actually resolve anything today. If you cant clarify things quickly, drop the matter and move on. Your emotional security and a sense of belonging and nurturing, these issues are felt instinctively now. You crave an intimate connection that will last.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) You are in harmony with the people in your immediate environment. There is a sense of ease and of flowing with, rather than fighting against or resisting, what is going on around you. Enjoy their company and do something fun and interactive together. You don’t want to follow anybody else’s lead at this time, but fortunately you are able find ways to be yourself and even be a little more confident than you normally are. You are not interested in fleeting excitement or small thrills, it’s all about the big win and the love of someone special.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A great day to take the initiative or to begin a project that you have been considering. Go for it today, don’t just think about it! If you tend to be a relaxed, easy-going person, you will simply feel more energy and drive than usual. If not then be careful you don’t get too wound up. It is best to keep to yourself today rather than try to cooperate or coordinate your efforts with anyone you are close to at this time. You are inclined to be aggressive and maybe cranky now especially if you don’t get your way. So the best plan is avoid anything or anyone that might just trip your trigger today.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Ask and you shall receive. ‘Tis the season, while it lasts (for a day or so), so if you want it, go for it. Part of it is about intuitively knowing just what to ask for, what’s really available, and who’s in the mood for giving. Go with your feelings and you’ll be surprised at what’s at your command. It can seem too easy to simply push your way through, but right now you’ll find that can be a losing strategy in any of your relationships. The more you shove, the more resistance you’ll get. Back off for awhile is going to be the best strategy and the problem will more than likely fade away.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) The small inner voice within you is shouting at a feverish pitch to give you some intuitive knowledge now. Are you listening to the message? This weekend could bring you some problems if you don’t heed your own best spiritual instincts. A feeling that anything is possible if you set your sights high enough is what it’s all about today.

You are full of optimism, faith, and may feel the need to take chances at the deepest emotional levels. This is a time of exploring your feelings, a restlessness for new emotional experience and adventure.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) This is a time when those around you can give you support and acknowledgement. You feel at peace with others due to open communication. The support you need is there, you may just have to ask for it, but taking no risks will result in nothing gained. Communication with your romantic interest should be excellent at this time. Lively conversations, lighthearted chatting, and verbal flirting should lead to more intimate moments. More serious discussions about your bond could bring forth profound revelations that strengthen your tie tremendously.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Employment and career opportunities are good for you today. Life is comfortable and you are likely to find yourself drawn to return to some area of expertise you’ve forgotten or overlooked. If you revisit this area, you are likely to find that you can develop a healthy, positive professional direction based on forgotten passions. Quiet messages without a lot of drama will relay the how you feel in a love relationship more than being extravagant and showing off. What you mean will be just what is said and what is understood if you focus. Don’t try to say it all at once, but put it out a piece at a time so you don’t scare your hearts desire into running for the nearest door.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Faiha

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

36

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Watts: Surgery wouldn’t give me right to work

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aomi Watts doesn’t think she’d have the “right” to good acting roles if she had cosmetic surgery. The 44-year-old actress hasn’t completely ruled out going under the surgeon’s knife in the future, but she thinks it is important for her career to retain “expression” in her face and worries if she did undergo a procedure, she’d end up looking “freakish”. She told Australia’s Good Health magazine “Never say never - and I certainly don’t judge anyone who does it. But most of the characters I play are going through some kind of emotional turmoil, so my job requires me to have expression. “If my face was froze, what right do I have to play that part? All the women who haven’t done anything to their faces are still able to play great roles. “And some of the ones who have done something have messed it up - they look freakish.” The ‘Impossible’ actress - who has sons Sasha, five, and Kai, four, with partner Liev Schreiber - admits being a working mother can be a “struggle” but she wouldn’t change her life for the world. She said: “There’s so much going on and [I’m] trying to balance being a mum with a career. It’s great that I’ve got both things but there are times when it’s a struggle.

Sleep is often something I’m deprived of. But I feel so rich inside - I feel blessed to be a mother. “For me, it’s been a way of fulfilling a long-buried childhood dream. I had always wanted to be a mother but when I was desperately searching for work in LA after I moved there from Australia, any thoughts of family were very distant indeed and it seemed that it might never happen for me.”

Lewis awarded freedom of London D

amian Lewis has been granted the freedom of the City of London. The ‘Homeland’ star was presented with the honor in recognition of his acting achievements and as he was handed over the accolade at the Guildhall in the UK capital. As he collected a certificate on behalf of the city, Damian said: “It’s the most extraordinary honor to be offered the Freedom of the City of London - the city that I have grown up in, and love, more than any other. I’m very, very proud to be associated with it.” The 42-year-old actor - who was born in north west London area St. John’s Wood - was accompanied by his actress wife Helen McCrory and explained his unique ties to the city to the gathered guests. He added: “Four previous lord mayors were related to me - my great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather and a great-uncle, and my grandfather. “They started out as girdlers. They’d probably be making Spanx now if they were around today! “I feel like a Londoner through and through actually. London is the greatest city in the world, I think.” The freedom of the City of London accolade is believed to have started in 1237 and meant the recipient were free to carry out their chosen trade. The ancient tradition continues now to recognize individuals who have achieved great things in their chosen field.

In 2012, Damian won the Best Actor in a Television Series Drama Emmy Award for and the Golden Globe for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Marine-turnedCongressman Nicholas Brody in acclaimed CIA series ‘Homeland’.

MacFarlane and Clarke split

S Grammer and ex-wife fight over bed West wants to call his baby North

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he ‘Stronger’ hitmaker and girlfriend Kim Kardashian will welcome their first child into the world in July and the rapper wants to show his sense of humor by naming the tot North West. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Kanye’s ego is something else, so he’s quite serious about the title. “He also has a sense of humor though and knows how his self-indulgence is seen by the general public. It’s half tongue-in-cheek, half what Kanye probably feels is true.” Meanwhile, pregnant Kim has admitted she has begun to “slow down” following her recent health scare, which saw her briefly hospitalized after falling ill on a flight from Paris to Los Angeles. She told ‘Extra’: “I got sick. It’s hard when a lot is changing in your body and you get sick and you are travelling and so much is going on. It’s tough. “[I’m] trying to take it easy on the travelling a little bit. It’s not easy being pregnant, I have to tell you.” However, the 32-year-old beauty isn’t quite ready to give up her high-heeled shoes for more comfortable footwear just yet. She added: “I’m trying to wear flats a little more. But not now.”

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elsey Grammer is fighting with his ex-wife over a bed. The ‘Cheers’ star was left fuming when his former wife Camille Grammer sent removal men to his house to take their old marital bed back so Kelsey and his new wife Kayte Walsh can’t sleep in it together. Kelsey - who has children Mason, 11, and Jude, eight, with Camille - launched into a angry rant when Camille’s personal assistant and a crew of movers arrived armed with the couple’s divorce settlement, which stated she was entitled to the Michael Taylordesigned bed. Camille told New York Post’s Page Six: “It was in the settlement that I got the bed. He got everything he wanted, the whole book collection. But he was living somewhere else. He didn’t want the bedroom furniture. “He never liked the bed. He gave it up.

It was really his oversight.” Discussing Kayte, she scoffed: “Wouldn’t she want her own furniture?” Kelsey recently moved back into his Holmby Hills mansion in Los Angeles with his eight-month old baby Faith and new spouse Kayte living in a more modest $6.5 million home for the last few months as he was unable to sell the lavish family mansion. The warring couple split in 2011, but only reached a settlement about custody of their children and splitting their financial assets in December.

Victoria Beckham bought a supermarket

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he fashion designer has purchased a Spar convenience store in Battersea, which is within walking distance of her offices in south west London, because she needs more space to house the ever expanding workforce of her fashion empire. A source said: “Victoria’s range is going from strength to strength, and expanding at a phenomenal rate. “Quite simply, she desperately needs more space. “She’s been looking at disused warehouses and shops for some time and heard the Spar newsagent around the corner had come on the market. “Whilst it’s not the most glamorous of operating spaces, it is functional and, once renovated, will provide a perfect base.

“Obviously she hasn’t bought it as her inaugural flagship store but she will be using it primarily as extra work space for her rapidly growing team.” While the brunette beauty who has kids Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, 10, Cruz, eight, and 20-month-old Harper with soccer star husband David Beckham - is worth millions, the 38-year-old star is said to have negotiated a “great deal” on the building. The source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Victoria is a canny businesswoman and has negotiated a great deal for herself.”

Despite her wealth, it’s not the first time the Spice Girls star has managed to get money off at a supermarket. In 2011, she asked her bodyguard to get her a 25 per cent discount card from Ralph’s in Los Angeles. Speaking at the time, a member of staff at the store explained: “We loved having Victoria in the store. All the staff were going crazy when she left. “She was really nice and very down to earth. We were shocked when she asked for a 25 per cent discount card but it’s nice to see she’s just as normal as everyone else, though. “We were all falling around with laughter as she could afford to buy everything in this shop in one fell swoop.” —Bang Showbiz

eth MacFarlane has broken up with girlfriend Emilia Clarke. The ‘Family Guy’ creator has reportedly called time on his romance with the ‘Game of Thrones’ beauty, and the split is being blamed on the couple’s work commitments on different continents putting a strain on their relationship. A source told E! News: “They are no longer dating. It was really a location challenge. She has been in Europe shooting ‘Game of Thrones’ and he is based in California, so it was hard to make it work despite the distance. They have remained friends.” The 39-year-old ‘Ted’ director went public with the actress last September when they appeared together at HBO’s Emmy Awards after-party in West Hollywood. The couple are rumored to have dated for around six months before splitting. Emilia, 25, will soon be moving to New York City to appear on Broadway in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. Meanwhile Seth - who had a controversial turn hosting the Oscars last month which was criticized for its risqué nature by some - is currently adapting a new TV show, ‘Dads’, as well as directing Western comedy ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ and a follow-up to last year’s hit teddy bear caper ‘Ted’.

Dame Judi Dench takes memory pills

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ame Judi Dench takes pills to help her remember scripts. The 78-year-old actress admits her memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be, so she relies on a supplement recommended to her by a university professor in order to help boost her recall skills. Asked how she remembers her lines, she told Channel 4 News: “I don’t know how I retain it. “I take that wonderful thing called Eye Q every morning because the Master of Magdalen College [Cambridge] told me about it ages ago and he said, ‘Oh you should take that for your memory, it’s wonderful’ and I’ve taken it ever since. “It is of course more difficult to remember, to retain something, but it’s really a question of retaining the story.” Eye Q is an over-thecounter fish oil supplement which contains high doses of Omega 3 and Omega 6. Last year, the ‘Skyfall’ actress revealed she relied on her daughter Finty to read scripts to her because she is suffering from macular degeneration - an age-related condition which affects the retinas and can no longer see clearly. She said: “I can’t read scripts anymore because of the trouble with my eyes. And so somebody comes in and reads them to me, like telling me a story. It’s usually my daughter or my agent or a friend and actually, I like that, because I sit there and imagine the story in my mind. “I’ve got what my mother had, macular degeneration, which you get when you get old.”

Tulisa hitches ride with LA paparazzi

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ulisa got a lift from a paparazzi photographer who had been following her around Los Angeles. The ‘Young’ singer - who is eager to pursue an acting career following her rumored axe as a judge on talent show ‘The X Factor’ - is currently in the city for movie auditions and decided to carpool with a snapper who was capturing her trip on Tuesday so she could get to an important meeting. The 24-year-old star posted a snap of herself in the back seat of a car on photo sharing website, Instagram, with the lucky shutter-bug appearing to chauffeur the singer to her meeting. The photographer’s long-lens camera can be spotted sitting on the dashboard and a laptop computer is also seen next to him. She captioned the picture: So seeing as the paps are following me all day I’ve decided to get a lift off one to my next meeting lol!! (sic)” Tulisa then joked: “Riding with the enemy! LOL. (sic)” The former N-Dubz star recently revealed she is hoping to move into acting and has lined up a role in a big budget sequel. She said: “I enjoy acting, so I’m off to Los Angeles tomorrow to do that and I have meetings, auditions and agents lined up. I’ve got a movie planned for the end of the year so I’ll be filming in LA then. It’s 95 per cent confirmed but all I can tell you is it’s a sequel.”

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THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

LIFESTYLE M o v i e s

&

M u s i c

Boyle on ‘Trance’ and keeping sane during London Olympics

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fter Danny Boyle’s prominent role at last year’s London Summer Olympics, the British filmmaker is back in the spotlight with his first film since 2010’s “127 Hours.” “Trance,” which had its world premiere in London on Tuesday, stars James McAvoy as Simon, a man who teams with a criminal (Vincent Cassel) to steal a painting. Simon suffers a blow to the head, which causes him to forget where he hid the painting.

Part caper, part psychological thriller, “Trance” is another radical departure from Boyle’s previous work, which has ranged from the story of a Mumbai teen’s rise from the slums in Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire,” to a man trapped under a boulder in “127 Hours,” to the 1996 drug drama “Trainspotting.” On Tuesday, Boyle confirmed he was planning a sequel to “Trainspotting,” which he hoped would see the original cast reunite for a 2016 release.

“We’d love to be able to produce something that used the idea of it, not just as a sequel, but something that spoke to people about time passing,” the director told Reuters Television at the London premiere of “Trance.” Despite his range as a filmmaker, Boyle feels his films are not all that different from one another. “The truth is, they’re all the same,” he told Reuters in Los Angeles over the weekend. “Basically it’s always about a guy who faces insurmountable odds and overcomes them. And that’s where you get a lift at the end of the movies.”

“Trance” will be released in the United Kingdom on March 27, and in the United States on April 5. Boyle, 56, planned to shoot the film in New York before he was asked to be the artistic

director for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Instead, he shot “Trance” in the British capital at night while working on the Olympics ceremony during the day.

Leveraging Oscar at Olympics Boyle said he had turned down the offer of a knighthood from Queen

British director Danny Boyle poses for pictures on the red carpet as he arrives to attend the world premiere of his latest film “Trance” in central London. —AFP Elizabeth for his role in the Summer Games because the event was the work of thousands of people. “I thought anything that picked me out like that wouldn’t be appropriate to the spirit in which we’d gone into it. ...

It felt like it wouldn’t be appropriate compared to that kind of communal

effort really,” he told Reuters Television on Tuesday.

In an upcoming book about his Olympics experience, Boyle talks of chaos behind the scenes and arguments with organizers over pennypinching on costumes and musical instruments, and a dispute over a sponsorship deal with Dow Chemical Co. The memoir “Danny Boyle: Creating Wonder” will be published in April. According to excerpts that ran in Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper last weekend, Boyle came close to walking away from the Olympics over a decision by Britain’s Defence Ministry to deploy ground-to-air missiles on buildings close to the Olympic stadium in a crowded area of East London.

“There’s so many people who are so paranoid and so corporate,” Boyle told Reuters. “They want to head for safety first and you have to make sure they don’t distort the show.” Boyle said he had to trot out his Oscar credentials in order to protect his vision.

“I did bash people over the head with the Academy Award (win for directing ‘Slumdog’),” he continued. “I was shameless. You wouldn’t have recognized me in some of those meetings because I was not a very nice guy.”

Ultimately, Boyle’s vision - which included a much-talked about skit involving Queen Elizabeth and Daniel Craig as James Bond - prevailed and was the most-viewed Olympic opening ceremony in both the United States and Britain. “‘Trance’ kept us sane,” Boyle said of his schedule at that time. “It seems curious saying that about a film that’s sort of about insanity in a way. But it was crucial to our sanity during the Olympics that we were able to do this film.” —Reuters

Review

‘Admission’ a huge waste of Fey and Rudd W

hat should be a hilarious, long-overdue pairing of two hugely likable, superstar comedians ends up being a major disappointment with “Admission.” As much film and television work as they do individually, Tina Fey and Paul Rudd surprisingly never have worked together. In theory, her smart, zingy persona should mesh beautifully with his easygoing goofiness - or their shared dynamic should bounce, or snap, or have some sort of life to it.

Instead, Paul Weitz’s direction of Karen Croner’s script is tonally erratic: too fast in spots and too much of a slog in others.

It certainly doesn’t help that the characters, based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s novel, feel like types without much nuance. Even reliable comic veterans like Fey and Rudd can’t find much that’s new or fresh in these people, and as a result they have zero chemistry with each other. That’s shocking, I realize. Fey, as a Princeton University admissions officer, is always uptight, precise and emotionally closed-off. Rudd, as the do-gooder founder of an alternative New England high school, is always free spirited, adventurous and open-minded. Even in the fantasy world of romantic comedies where opposites attract and sparks fly, these two have no business being together; they never change each other, and that’s supposed to be the source of comedy.

(Note: Spoiler alert in next paragraph.) You may actually find yourself hoping that they’ll stay apart.

(Spoiler alert! They don’t.) Nonetheless, they end up falling for each other in the unlikeliest of scenarios.

Fey’s Portia Nathan has been analyzing and rejecting prospective Princetonians for 16 years now, and as evidenced by her tidy office and the verbatim speech she gives when visiting the nation’s top high schools, she has it down to a science. Ironically, though, she hates children - babies, to be specific - and shares a quiet, safe life with her condescending English professor boyfriend (Michael Sheen, stuck in a one-note, one-joke role).

When the dean of admissions (Wallace Shawn) announces he’s retiring, Portia finds that she and a rival colleague (Gloria Reuben) are the top candidates

to replace him. To distinguish herself, Portia agrees to visit the crunchy-granola New Quest school at the urging of its creator, Rudd’s John Pressman, who happens to have been a classmate of hers at Dartmouth.

Turns out, John has a particular student in mind for Portia to meet: the slightly odd but obviously brilliant Jeremiah (Nat Wolff ), whom John believes is the child Portia gave up for adoption back when they were in college. (The fact that he remembers so many details from this period so vividly and that he’d track her down to act on them is creepy, but whatever.)

And Jeremiah just happens to want to go to Princeton.

At the same time, Portia’s longtime boyfriend unceremoniously walks out on her for another woman (in the kind of scene that only happens in the movies) so now she’s free to be with John, who ... isn’t exactly right for her, either. “Admission” awkwardly grasps for serious feelings within all these wacky deceptions and manipulations and forces heavy, third-act emotions on us that it hasn’t earned. Some of the few moments of heft come courtesy of a radiant Lily Tomlin as Portia’s mother, a maverick feminist and intellectual who has forged her own notion of what it means to be both a woman and a parent, and urges her daughter to do the same. Merely the idea of Tomlin playing Fey’s mom is exciting, but watching these two strong, groundbreaking comedians share the screen is one of the film’s few real joys.

And seeing the college application process behind the scenes - the lobbying, the favors, the weedingout - is actually kinda fascinating if this is indeed how it all goes down. Given the cynicism that exists in that conference room over those long days of deliberation, as well as some of the more questionable practices that occur, it’s sort of amazing that an actual school would lend its actual name to the film, much a place of Ivy League prestige. So maybe there were some surprises here after all. “Admission,” a Focus Features release, is rated PG-13 for language and some sexual material. Running time: 100 minutes.

One and a half stars out of four. —AP

Black Forest, India’s Best Environmental film, 2012, takes the viewers to Kerala’s best touristic spots and gives them a good treat of environmentalism.

Nature at its best in Black Forest India’s best environmental film of the year offers ‘woodexploration’

By Sunil Cherian

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ribal huts, a one-teacher school, a bungalow with a windmill, a tribal dance - of course - and an adventurous journey of 3 children all against the backdrop of lavish green nature together make ‘Black Forest’, India’s national award winning environmental film and best children’s film in Kerala state awards. After the award was declared early this week, director Joshy Mathew’s brothers in Kuwait had a family gathering. “Winning a national award is truly a happy thing”, said Somu Mathew at his residence in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh who produced his brother’s last movie.

The happy thing about Black Forest is that it offers a few promises: Chethan the boy actor as the tribal youth in search of his father, terrifically acted by Dineshan, is on top of that list. Next in line is cameraman Suresh Rajan, a graduate from Satyajith Ray Film Institute, Calcutta, who gracefully captures - his camera movements are as if not to hurt nature - the breathtaking locales Indian film never ventured ever. Locations include Kerala’s Peerumed, Vantipperiyar, Gavi, Sathram, Ramakkalmedu, Paruthippara, Thekkadi and Kuttikkanam. “We used soap and salt on our legs as we went out for shooting not to be attacked by leeches”, Somu Mathew who was part of the crew said.

The happier aspect of the movie is the story that gives enough room for a bunch of child-friendly themes and adventures. The tribal family and the city kids, comple-

mentary to each other in finding meanings in their lives, the narrative techniques of storytelling and enactments, myths and traditions, the scientific curiosities and environmental concerns are explored much to our exhilaration. The eco-friendliness and the touristic faces give an added glory to the movie.

The title Black Forest is a pun. It is tribal forest on one hand the yummy chocolate cake on the other. The film often reminds you can’t have the cake and eat it too.

The story poses as the villain in the otherwise wellmade Black Forest. In the attempt to incorporate those award-winning formulas, the script by fresh-faces Sudip and Geethika trudges and traipses along as the movie ‘progresses’. The humorous scenes, like decayed leaves, are big letdown. Manoj K Jayan is a miscast. His changed character as the friendly Luke uncle is the saving grace.

Meera Nandan remains a makeup as the tribal woman.

However, the film set, makeup and Mohan Sitara’s music are refreshing. The music director has sung a tribal song in the film. The crew - including the director’s son Sudip and his wife - has shown a revitalizing effort - and that is seen. The visual beauty of the movie will be with you for quite some time. There never has been the silver screen so green.

Added to the list of promises is debut producer Baby Mathew Somatheeram who has green signaled such an environment-child-tradition-friendly film. At the cost of 60 lakhs (KD 30,000), Black Forest is an economically friendly movie too.

Child actors Chethan, Akash and Parvathy in Black Forest.

China’s homegrown hit films getting lost overseas

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he surprise hit in Chinese theaters last year was a low-budget, wacky road-trip comedy that even beat out global blockbuster “Avatar” to become the country’s highest-grossing film ever. But “Lost in Thailand” disappeared overseas. The film that earned 1.26 billion yuan ($200 million) in China earned a paltry $57,000 during its US theatrical release, joining other homegrown hits that have flopped internationally. It is the latest sign that while the country has become a box-office superpower, it faces a harder task fulfilling its leaders’ hopes that its studios will be able to rival Hollywood for global influence.

Action-comedy “Let the Bullets Fly,” starring Chow Yun-fat, grossed $111 million at home but $63,000 in the United States, while action-fantasy “Painted Skin: The Resurrection,” starring Donnie Yen, earned $113 million domestically but $50,400 in the US, according to Hollywood.com. Chinese movies’ overseas box office receipts fell 48 percent last year, alarming regulators, who also worried about Hollywood movies taking more than half of ticket revenue, which totaled 17 billion yuan ($2.7 billion), for the first time in nine years. Tong Gang, head of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, urged filmmakers to “better express Chinese images and stories in line with the international film mainstream” and step up their marketing and publicity, according to state media.

China’s film industry has been reaching out to Hollywood in search of co-production deals that would help studios make movies that both Chinese and global audiences like. They’re hoping to make the next “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” a 2000 US-China-Hong Kong-Taiwan co-production that became a global blockbuster. But film distributors say selling China’s movies to the world is hampered by subject matter that doesn’t travel well, different storytelling methods and the sheer size of its own market. Lim Teck, managing director of Singaporean producer and distributor Clover Films, said China has become so lucrative that local studios don’t need to think about other markets. “China has become so big and so powerful.

Basically a lot of movies nowadays are very China-centric,” Lim said at a panel discussion at the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, a major trade show. “They’re produced primarily for the China local market, which is nothing wrong because the market is so big, but with that in mind it sort of undermines the (appeal to the) rest of Asia,” Lim said. Doris Pfardrescher, president of distributor Well Go USA, said the kinds of movies that are popular in China today - romances, comedies and fantasy flicks - don’t necessarily appeal to audiences in other countries. “For the US market, what primarily does well are your martial arts action films. ... Usually they have simplified stories. It’s all about visual effect. They’re just easier to consume as far as with the fanboys,” she said, adding that China is

making fewer and fewer such movies. “The films that are being made now, the Chinese films, are these romantic comedies that just don’t do well for us.”“Lost in Thailand” follows two businessmen who encounter a tourist while searching for their boss. While it has been applauded for depicting modern middle-class life in China, critics say its humor doesn’t appeal outside China. In an interview, director Xu Zheng said, “I didn’t even think of the foreign market when I was making the film, because the budget was limited.” Had he known it would have been released in other countries, “I might have changed

Actor and pilot Harrison Ford speaks with the General Aviation Caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. —AFP some things in my script.”

China’s censorship system has also been blamed for limiting the kinds of films made, as filmmakers stay away from edgy subjects like in contemporary thrillers in favor of safer storylines. Film distributors said there are also subtle differences in storytelling, especially with historical and cultural touchstones that differ among audiences.

“There are a lot of things you need to explain and tell to the Western audience (that) would be considered boring” to a Chinese audience, said Jeffrey Chan, CEO of Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop.

Action movies aside, “you need social, historical, cultural background. Then the way you tell it to a Chinese audience and the way you tell it to a non-Chinese audience will be very different,” Chan said. Pfardrescher added that for “a lot of Chinese films that I see there is this assumption that Americans know maybe the history or the political humor or something, but unfortunately we don’t. We don’t understand. We don’t know. So it doesn’t translate. “The only way to do that is to make a lot longer movie to explain it all, but it would be very boring for Chinese audiences.”—AP

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

lifestyle F A S H I O N

Eva Mendes eyes fashion opportunities

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va Mendes will be doing the red-carpet circuit again with her new film, “ The Place Beyond the Pines,” co-starring Ryan Gosling, coming out later this month. But while she lands more often than not in the fashion “do” column, Mendes says she knows she’s made a few mistakes along the way, including one look she calls “Princess Jasmine gone wrong.” Still, she has style credibility - and is making the most of it. She’s working on her own clothing line for New York & Company and is hoping to have it in stores for the fall. She’s also been tapped to represent Vogue eyewear. Mendes, 38, talked about spreading her wings in an interview with The Associated Press:

AP: Do you ever look back at any of your red carpet moments and think, “What was I thinking?”

Mendes: I really am the first one to laugh at myself and point out what a horrible fashion choice I made or point out an unflattering photo. About six years ago I went to the ‘Ghostrider’ premiere in New York City and it was cold and snowing - I don’t know why I’m sharing that, I think I’m trying to justify - and I had my dress on but I had to finish my hair and makeup in the back of an SUV. It was a beautiful dress, but the way I put everything together, it was a Princess Jasmine gone wrong. The strapless, purple dress with necklaces and a hair in a really high braid. It’s not a good look.

obsessed with looking smart. I also went through a stage in junior high where I would wear non-prescription reading glasses and then I got called out one day, so I stopped that because I felt like a phony.

So, as of two years ago, I just started needing them. I love them. (Wearing glasses) adds an instant quirk and elegance.

AP: Do you feel any pressure to look “done up” whenever you leave the house?

Mendes: No, that’s a pressure I would never put on myself because I wouldn’t want other women to feel that pressure. We all have our good days and our bad days.

We all have our days when we feel great and want to look great, and then we have our days where we just want to be in our sweats or our jeans or our sweats equivalent and throw our hair up in a bun or a cap. For me, I like to throw my hair up in a scarf because it’s an easy way to not deal with bad hair and it adds a little bit of elegance. So, usually when you see my hair up in some kind of scarf it’s really not going for a look, it’s going for function because I didn’t have time to wash my hair or style it.

AP: Are you someone who follows trends?

Mendes: No. In fact, the worst thing a sales person can tell me when I’m in a shop is, ‘Oh, that’s been a hot seller.’ ... Most of what I wear is vintage ... I like little boutiques. I feel stressed in department stores. Or, oh my God, I can’t go to Target. I’m just overwhelmed.

It’s like the Super Bowl of stores. I like thrift shops more than vintage stores because at vintage stores just calling it ‘vintage’ kind of ups the price (laughs).

AP: Is this something you always wanted to do?

Mendes: Not really. It crept up on me slowly.

Then I realized this is where my passion lies. I think one of the great things about being an actress nowadays is we can wear so many hats. If you’re creative in one area it usually seeps into another, like my home. I feel like my home is a set in a way - a lived-in set. I love to production design my own home.

AP: You’re the face of an eyewear campaign. Do you wear glasses?

Mendes: I started to need reading glasses like two years ago, but the funny thing is I used to want glasses so bad when I was little that I actually used to stare into the sun to damage my eyesight. My mom would catch me and be like, ‘What are you doing?’ I was

AP: Does the look of your home change based on what’s going on in your life?

Mendes: All the time. It’s so fun. I love listening to music, rearranging my furniture, playing with materials. Flower arrangements. I make flower arrangements for every room in the house. That’s really peaceful for me. — AP

Models present creations by Japanese designers during the Fall/Winter 20132014 during the Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo. —AP/AFP photos

AP: What’s the clothing line you’re working on?

Mendes: It’s with New York & Company. I’m working on it right now for the fall line and working with vintage-inspired prints and cuts but not making it retro in any way. I come from a family where the women are more voluptuous so I like to cater to that.

Tokyo Fashion Week

Max launches the 2013 Spring Collection KUWAIT: Max, the Middle East’s largest value fashion brand has unveiled its latest Spring Collection, available in all Max stores across the region. There’s nothing more important for a fashionista than sporting the latest trends ahead of the crowds. Monochrome, cobalt, fuchsia, greens and neon are all set to be dominating the catwalks this season.

For women, bold vertical and horizontal stripes, chequerboard patterns and polka dots emerged in all shapes and sizes on Spring 2013 catwalks. Whether shown in classic black and white or multi-colored, it is clear that 60s inspired geometric prints are here to stay. So make a bold statement with the Graphic 60s inspired pieces at Max. Men’s key items for the season include striped tees, patterned plaid shirts, distressed denim, colored chinos, hooded shirts, photographic and graphic city tees and rolled micro gingham city

shorts. The Aztec and tribal trend is getting hotter this season with geometric prints appearing on printed patch pockets and panels.

Children will see fun colors such as carrot orange, citrus yellows, zingy greens and nautical blue hues as well as the classic pastel florals, neon and aztec. Key items for the season include gorgeous a-line woven tops with cute trim details and bows in a variety of patterns and colors that literally melt the heart!

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Dancing Ladies orchids as displays above mirrored contours.

A sea of purple Cineraria meet Cymbidium Orchids (left, known as the corsage orchid).

Surreal surprises along with blooming orchids at

Atlanta Botanical Garden R

ain sprinkles from some of the umbrellas hanging from the ceiling of the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Orchid Center atrium. Bowler hats are aloft as well, only they don’t produce a drizzle.

Through a door into the Orchid Display House, gaudy high heels serve as planters, dangling like ripe fruit from the branches of “shoe trees.” At the entry to the Fuqua Conservatory, things are more than a little off kilter. Visitors are greeted by a gallery of orchids set off by funhouse-style mirrors that make the people and the plants alternately tall, skinny, rippled and distorted in other ways.

do we spark something so people want to come run and see (‘Orchid Daze’) and get to see the collection once they’re here? What’s the hook to help bring the collection into new focus?” So as much work as the event team put into locating just the right colored and sized shoes for the “shoe trees,” and then figuring out how to waterproof them and make them drain, it’s not really about the stilettos but the jewel-toned ladyslipper orchids (paphiopedilum and phragmipedium) that they showcase.

Still, Fromme is clearly proud of the way the hot-cha-cha-cha shoes hang from the trees, like Dali’s classic clocks melting from bare branches. “I spent a lot of time online looking for women’s shoes,” Fromme allowed. “Then we had a lot of discussion about what orchid color went well with what shoe and which shoes called too much attention to themselves as fancy. I learned way too much about women’s shoes doing this.”

“Orchid Daze” flowering displays. And in more recent shows, they’ve dispensed with the “objet” and treated the orchids themselves like “d’art.” The surrealist theme turned loose the imaginations of the creative team led by Botanical Garden designer Tres Fromme and Orchid Center manager Becky Brinkman.

“Becky and I always wanted to include ever yday objects and pair them with orchids, but it never fit any of the show themes we were working on,” Fromme explained. “Then we realized, surrealism would pull this all together and allow us to go artistically crazy without necessarily needing a reason.” In fact, the more the “Orchid Daze” team researched surrealismspecifically the images and the thoughts of Dali, Rene Magritte, Jean Arp and Giorgio de Chirico-the more creatively emboldened they felt.

To better make the connection for visitors, they blew up famous paintings by that quartet, covering windows and doors with the murals, and they posted explanatory quotes by the artists. So, for instance, guests are greeted by one of Dali’s famed melting landscapes across the Fuqua Conservatory front facade.

Once inside, they find a quote by the Spanish surrealist above one of the funhouse -mirrored walls: “Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision.”

The next room, the Orchid Center atrium, pushes that notion. Walk in and it’s like entering a composite of Magritte paintings, from the hovering umbrellas and bowlers

Orchid daze: Surreal beauty Through April 14 at Atlanta Botanical Garden. 9 am to 5 pm Tuesdays-Sundays. $18.95; $12.95 ages 3 to 12.

1345 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta. 404-8765859, atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

Mirrors of many shapes as featured in the Salvador Dali themed Conservator Lobby as part of the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s ‘Orchid Daze: Surreal Beauty,’ show of fanciful flowers and playful objects. — MCT photos

Orchid Daze special events • Guided exhibition tours, 1 pm Saturdays.

• Orchid Market Weekends, March 9-10, April 13-14, offer orchids from local growers and supplies for sale, as well as advice and orchid art.

• Orchid Care Clinics, 10 am to noon March 9, April 13: Bring up to two orchids for expert advice, $5, with repotting materials available.

• Atlanta Orchid Society Show, 9 am to 5 pm March 9-10: Hundreds of orchids on display and for sale as well as supplies. —MCT

A sea of purple Cineraria meet Cymbidium Orchids (top, know as the corsage orchid).

What in the name of Salvador Dali is going on here? Well, it is Salvador Dali-and some of his partners in artistic illusiongoing on here, as the Botanical Garden presents “Orchid Daze: Surreal Beauty” through April 14. Organizers of the annual show always take interesting artistic liberties to try to best frame views of the flowers. That’s important because “Orchid Daze” is the garden’s biggest draw in that quiet time between its holiday lights show and springtime, presenting a rare burst of blazing color amid the grays and browns of the 30 acres of wintering grounds.

In prior years, they have “planted” garden antiques and art glass among the

Bowler hats, umbrellas and upside down orchids are features. to the huge banner of clouds that forms a backdrop for dendrobium orchids hanging upside-down from the ceiling and pastelhued cymbidiums reaching skyward from low beds.

Those beds are puddle-shaped, mimicking the biomorphic forms in an Arp painting displayed on the door into the next area, the Orchid Display House. The curving beds are edged in fake turf, another realitytweaking touch and something so

Tres Fromme checks on some Cattleyas in the conservator lobby.

A Rene Magritte mural covers the door leading to the Orchid Atrium. unapologetically artificial, it’s safe to say, you’d otherwise never find it at the Midtown green spot.

“We think people won’t be expecting to see orchids in quite these manners,” Fromme said. “That’s one reason we do ‘Orchid Daze.’ We have an amazing collection of orchids all year (including 300 genera-or classes-and 2,000 species), but how

Lady Slipper orchids rest in high heels on a tree coated with stockings fabric in the Giorgio de Chirico themed Orchid Display House as part of the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s ‘Orchid Daze: Surreal Beauty,’ show .

Umbrellas and upside down Dendrobium Nobiles orchids are seen.

Surreal surprises along with blooming orchids at Atlanta Botanical Garden

39

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Diana dresses

raise over £850,000 at London sale T

An assistant poses with a Catherine Walker evening gown worn by Britain’s Princess Diana for the State visit to India in 1992.

A Catherine Walker evening gown worn by Britain’s Princess Diana during a State Visit to Australia in 1985.

A Zandra Rhodes cocktail dress worn by Britain’s Princess Diana to the Birthright benefit concert in 1987.

en dresses owned by Princess Diana, including the one worn when she danced with actor John Travolta at a White House dinner, sold for £862,800 at a London auction on Tuesday. The most iconic item-the strapless dark blue velvet gown worn at a 1985 dinner thrown by US president Ronald Reagan in honor of the Prince and Princess of Wales-raised £240,000 (281,000 euros, $363.000). It was immortalized in the photographs of Diana dancing with Travolta to the song “You Should be Dancing” from his film “Saturday Night Fever”.

The dress was bought “by a British gentleman who said he wanted to buy it as a surprise to cheer up his wife”, explained auctioneer Kerry Taylor. The garments, created by some of Diana’s favourite designers including Zandra Rhodes, Catherine Walker, Bruce Oldfield and Victor Edelstein, share an extraordinary history. Some were worn by the princess during official trips to Austria, Australia, Brazil, India, South Korea and the United States, said the auction house.

They were then acquired by Florida businesswoman Maureen Rorech at a 1997 sale to raise money for humanitarian charities supported by the princess, two months before she was killed in a Paris car crash. Rorech put 14 of the dresses up for sale at a Canada auction in 2011 after declaring bankruptcy, but only four sold as the “reserve prices were ridiculously high”, said a spokesman for Kerry Taylor.

All of the remaining items sold on Tuesday at prices ranging from £24,000 to £240,000.

Two were bought by an “impor tant ” British museum, revealed Taylor. “It’s important for the generations to come,” she added.

“Diana was the people’s princess, so the people should be able to see these dresses. This is our heritage, our history.” —AFP

A picture shows a Catherine Walker pink sequined ivory crepe gown worn by Britain’s Princess Diana during a visit to Brazil in 1991.

A Catherine Walker evening gown worn by Britain’s Princess Dianafor a State Visit to Austria in 1989.

A picture shows a Victor Edelstein evening gown worn by Britain’s Princess Diana for the State Dinner at the White House in 1985, when Princess Diana danced with John Travolta.

Famed French cave paintings on exhibit in Chicago S

tunning reproductions of the famed cave paintings of Lascaux are being displayed for the first time outside of France at an exhibit in Chicago opened yesterday. Meticulously copied to the millimeter, these full-sized replicas are one of the only way to see these images, since the cave was closed to the public in 1963 in order to preserve the ancient masterpieces. The dimly lit gallery allows visitors to imagine they are walking through the cave as they stand beneath rugged panels and marvel at how cave dwellers used the contours of the stone walls to add perspective and depth to the images. “With a global treasure like Lascaux you can’t egotistically keep it to yourself,” said French Senator Bernard Cazeau, president of the Conseil General of Dordogne, which organized the travelling exhibit.

“Plenty of people are unable to come to

Details from a copy of the more than 17,000 year old Crossed Bison Panel from the famed cave paintings of Lascaux. —AFP photos Dordogne to see our museum and so-thanks to new technology-I thought we could bring Lascaux to the world,” he told AFP. “Certainly some who see the exhibit will want to discover more about Lascaux.” The museum in Lascaux currently only displays about half of sprawling cave’s nearly 2,000 paintings, but it

is working on expanding to a full reproduction, to open in 2016. Discovered in 1940 by four boys exploring a deep depression caused by a falling tree near Montignac, the Lascaux caves have been described as the Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art.

More than a million people flocked to

southwestern France to explore Lascaux before it was closed to the public and 10 million have visited the reproduction which opened in 1983. The paintings are believed to be more than 17,000 years old and their meaning and purpose remain a mystery despite 70 years of study. Some believe the paintings are spiritual in nature and depict visions seen by the artists while they were in a trance-like state. Others think the artwork

either tells the story of past hunting success or was part of a ritual to bring success on the hunt.

Another theory is that the animals could represent a prehistoric star chart.

The cave was likely a cultural center of some kind that drew tribes from far away for important rituals, said Robert Martin, curator for anthropology at the Field Museum, which is mounting the exhibit in Chicago. While

reindeer was the dominant food source for the nomadic hunters who lived in the region at the time, they do not figure among the more than hundreds of animals covering the walls.

There was also only one clear image of a person found among the paintings, believed to be a shaman because of the drawing’s placement deep in a shaft at the center of the cave’s sanctuary.

The artistic complexities of the Paleolithic paintings show that these “cave men” were far more complex than many people would imagine, even though they were living about 7,000 years before the domestication of plants and animals, Martin added. “For most people in America this is probably the only way they’ll ever see something close to the original,” Martin said during a media preview of the exhibit.

Scenes from the Stone Age features five panels: the Great Cow, Swimming Stags Frieze, Crossed Bison, and Shaft Scene. It also includes rare stone-age artifacts from the Field Museum’s collections and videos which offer a remarkable virtual tour of the cave and explanations of how Paleolithic people lived. The exhibit will run at the Field Museum through September 8. The next stops on the tour are Houston, Texas and Montreal, Canada. — AFP