1 Apr 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

Egypt satirist Youssef grilled, freed on bail

Mandela spends fourth day in hospital, treated for pneumonia

NO: 15765

150 FILS

8 40 PAGES

JAMADA ALAWWAL 20, 1434 AH

9

‘Green’-tinted SUVs at Seoul Motor Show

23

www.kuwaittimes.net

Oxford gain revenge by eclipsing Cambridge

16

Workers’ union blasts govt policies on expats Opposition in bid to regroup • Tweeter jailed for two years

Max 35º Min 18º High Tide 03:29 & 14:27 Low Tide 09:05 & 21:55

By B Izzak conspiracy theories

Debate with us

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

A

s of late, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour has been very active in making suggestions and issuing rules and regulations that aim to better organize labour affairs in Kuwait.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour has been in a state of chaos. This chaos has been ongoing since the 90s. One day the ministry comes with one rule and a day later it abolishes it only to place a new rule which later turns out to be unsuccessful.

Most of the ministry’s proposals are not in favour of expats. I have a feeling that the ministry looks at expats as rivals and not as Kuwait’s workforce. Such kinds of attitudes have encouraged our nation to underestimate the role of expats.

Recently, the ministry is headed by Thekra Rasheedi, an educated lawyer who had met and worked with women in her constituency. We thought that she would put an end to the suffering of expats. We thought she would stop the regulations that complicate their lives. On the contrary, in just two months in the job, Thekra came up with a set of rules which need years of thorough study and debates with different society members. She even said that the proposals will soon turn into action.

A few years ago when the Ministry of Information wanted to make amendments to the 2006 Press and Publications Law, they invited all the newspapers, various journalists and scientists from various fields to participate in the discussion of the new rules. Back then it was Mr Khorafi, the Speaker of the House who invited the media and various groups from society to provide feedback on the proposals. The Ministry of Information knew very well that the changes would affect the people who are familiar with the subject matter and who have the experience.

Changing the rules and regulations that are applicable to the labour force in Kuwait is far bigger than the changes to the press law. Such amendments will lead to a huge change in the private sector. Before taking action, I think the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour should invite prominent business leaders and owners of different-sized companies (read existing companies) and discuss with them the pluses and minuses of a possible change that might affect their business and Kuwait’s economy overall. Such changes can affect the running of the country. Those who should participate need to represent various businesses ranging from a garage, bakery, SMEs, banks and investment funds to real estate. In fact, I think that the whole of Kuwait should take part.

Before taking a step forward to ban employment of certain nationalities or putting a limit on the duration of employment, the ministry should study jointly with the private sector the impact these changes might have. Government employees should not be the sole decision-makers because they go to an office and do not have the same concerns as the private sector.

KUWAIT: Protesters rally near the US Embassy in Bayan late yesterday demanding the freedom of Fayez Al-Kandari and Fawzi Al-Odah - two Kuwaitis held at the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Sydney flyover launches tie-up SYDNEY: Two Airbus A380s made a dramatic tandem flight over the Sydney Harbour Bridge Sunday to launch the new Qantas-Emirates partnership, hailed by the Australian carrier as a “seismic shift” in aviation. The tie-up, approved last week by Australia’s competition watchdog, allows the two airlines to combine operations for an initial period of five years, including coordinating ticket prices and schedules. It will also see Qantas switch its hub for European flights from Singapore to Emirates’ Dubai base as it attempts to turn around its struggling international business.

“Dubai is the best hub for Qantas in the 21st century,” the company’s chief executive Alan Joyce said after watching the flyover by superjumbos from both airlines at 1,500 feet (450 m) over Sydney’s famous landmark. “It is eight hours’ flying time from 75 percent of the world’s population.” Joyce said the deal was one of the most important strategic initiatives Qantas would ever make, offering benefits to customers in terms of network and frequent flyer benefits and cutting flight times to top European destinations. “This is one of the biggest days in Qantas’s 92-year history. That’s because this partnership will play a critical role for us into the future,” Joyce said.

“This joint network with Emirates is a key part of tackling the structural challenges that Qantas International is faced with. But more than that... it is a seismic shift in global aviation.” — AFP (See Page 21)

Saudis say Internet apps breaking rules RIYADH: Saudi Arabia warned yesterday of “suitable measures” if providers of Internet messenger applications such as WhatsApp fail to comply with its rules, days after the industry said authorities wanted to control such traffic. “Some telecom applications over the Internet protocol currently do not meet the regulatory conditions” in the kingdom, said the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) in a statement carried by the official SPA state news agency. These applications include WhatsApp, Skype and Viber, and allow text and audio communication over the Internet.

The commission has told service providers in Saudi

KUWAIT: Kuwait Trade Union Federation yesterday strongly blasted what it called the “unilateral” government approach in dealing with the issue of expatriate workers in the country and warned that Kuwait could become a target for international criticism over such policies. In a statement signed by Secretary of the Federation Fares Al-Sawwagh, the union said that the government has been adopting “random” policies toward expatriate workers without even consulting the Chamber of Commerce and the Workers Federation.

Sawwagh specifically criticized statements by Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Thekra Al-Rasheedi that Kuwait planned to reduce expatriates by 100,000 every year over the next 10 years. The number of expatriates at present is 2.6 million against 1.2 million Kuwaitis, according to official figures. The statement also criticized proposals that are being floated every now and then about withdrawing driving licences from certain expatriates or introducing a cap over their period of stay in the country and sometimes talking about introducing certain quotas for expat nationalities.

“These measures only indicate a lack of government policies and as if expatriates were the only defect in the labour market,” the statement said. The statement comes after a series of measures taken or on the way to be decided against expatriates in Kuwait during the past few months. These include a change in driving licence rules adopted last week under which expatriates who obtain their Kuwaiti driving licences for being drivers or sales representatives will lose the licenses if they change their profession. The change came after a debate in the Assembly in which expatriates were blamed for traffic jams in Kuwait.

Several years ago, Kuwait introduced stringent conditions for expatriates to be able to obtain a driver’s license including a university degree, a minimum salary of KD 400 monthly and at least a two-year stay in the country. Certain professions are exempt from the conditions. The health ministry also said it plans to ban expatriates from seeking medical treatment at public clinics in the morning so Kuwaiti patients will not have to wait for too long for treatment. The Union warned that Kuwait may be criticized for such measures at the Arab labour meeting in mid-April and at international labour meetings in June this year.

Continued on Page 13

Arabia to work with the developers of such applications to “quickly meet the regulatory conditions,” but it did not specify how they violate the rules in the ultraconservative country. “The commission will take suitable measures regarding these applications and services if those conditions are not met,” it said, in a veiled threat to ban the programs.

Industry sources said this week that the authorities had asked telecom operators to furnish a means of control that would allow censorship in the absolute monarchy. One source said the providers had been given a week to comply.

Continued on Page 13

SYDNEY: A gull flies near a Qantas (top) and Emirates A380 as they fly in formation over Sydney Harbour yesterday. The airlines have announced a partnership deal. — AP

Karzai meets Qatar emir DOHA: Afghan President Hamid Karzai held talks yesterday with the emir of Qatar during a visit to discuss opening a Taleban office in the Gulf state, in preparation for a possible peace deal with the militants. Karzai discussed “issues of mutual interest” with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, state news agency QNA said, without giving details of the low-profile meeting in Doha.

QNA later said the talks examined “the perspectives for peace in Afghanistan” but did not elaborate. The Afghan president previously opposed a Taleban office in Qatar due to fears his government would be frozen out of any future peace deal involving the Islamic extremists and the United States.

The militants refuse to have direct contact with Karzai, saying he is a puppet of the United States, which supported his rise to power after the military operation to oust the Taleban from Kabul in 2001. But with US-led NATO combat troops due to withdraw from Afghanistan

by the end of 2014, Karzai recently backed the proposed office in Doha and his office said he would raise the plan yesterday. Any future peace talks still face numerous hurdles before they begin, including confusion over who would represent the Taliban and Karzai’s insistence that his appointees should be at the centre of negotiations.

“We will discuss the peace process, of course, and the opening of an office for the Taleban in Qatar,” presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi told AFP before Karzai’s visit, which ended yesterday evening. “If we want to have talks to bring peace to Afghanistan, the main side must be the Afghan government’s representatives - the High Peace Council, which has members from all the country’s ethnic and political backgrounds,” Faizi added.

Negotiating with the hardline Taleban regime that harboured Al-Qaeda before the 9/11 attacks was for Continued on Page 13

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

LOCAL

Loan increase ‘no solution’ to problem Long waiting period for housing

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Citizens are still complaining about the long waiting period for getting a house, which can stretch for as long as 20 years. The government recently increased the housing loan limit from KD 70,000 to KD 100,000. The government also agreed to provide house loans to single Kuwaiti women, under certain conditions, up to the value of KD 70,000.

People still do not see this move as a solution to the housing problem. The price of land is high, and building materials are also expensive. “In Kuwait, financial incentives offered by the government are automatically followed by hikes in the prices of commodities. The increased loan limit may affect the prices of building materials, which shouldn’t be the case because the prices of these materials are determined by the international market. But there is no control on these prices. I think that KD 100,000 is enough to build a prestigious house, but not a huge one. People complain that it’s not enough, as they aim to build a castle or a three-storied building with a basement. People are afraid that their kids won’t get a house, as rents are very high and waiting for a government-

built house is long. That’s why they have the intention to build huge houses,” said 28-year-old Salim, who is getting married soon and is planning to build a house.

According to economist and analyst Dr. Hajjaj Bukhadoor, the housing problem stems from bad management and low quality of service. “The housing culture in Kuwait is based on wrong values, which don’t allow the services to be provided as expected. Good values are closely related to good services, which also include housing services,” he told the Kuwait times.

“The Kuwaitis got used to living in comfortable houses sprawled over large areas. Instead, there should be focus on providing services involving vertical expansion, which can also be attractive for the citizens. For instance, building a three-storied building instead of a house spread over a large area. Furthermore, people are used to living in big houses, which are bigger than what they actually need. So they have three halls while they need only one and have 10 rooms while needing only four, and so on,” he added.

Bukhadoor also blamed the Municipality for their bad building conditions. “These conditions increase the cost for citizens, as these were set

about 50 years ago, based on the building technology of that time. These conditions should be changed in line with the latest building technology. Also, the loan should meet the requirements of the Municipality in order to get around the problem of inflation with regard to building material,” he explained.

He also proposed that the government build temporary houses, such as small flats for new families, from the budget allocated for ‘Rent Allowance’, which is for those citizens who don’t have a house and are waiting for a governmental house. “Such a step would help address the problem of everincreasing rents, which is affecting both the Kuwaitis and the expats,” concluded Bukhadoor.

A source from a bank criticized the law that mandates real estate mortgaging to be provided by the Islamic banks only. “The increase in housing loan limit to KD 100,000 may make a big difference and encourage loan activity.

Currently, only three banks (Islamic) provide property mortgaging services.

The situation would be much better if the Central Bank allowed the rest of the banks to provide this service, which will make it easier for citizens as well as the banks and will rejuvenate the economy,” the source said.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday at Seif Palace Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, Director of the Amir’s Office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, Head of Amiri Protocol Sheikh Khaled Al-Abdulla Al-Sabah, Undersecretary for Information and Culture Affairs Yousef Hamad Al-Roomi, Undersecretary of Financial, Administrative and Employees Affairs Abdalazeez Soud Ishaq. HH the Amir honored them with Kuwait’s Medal of the First Degree in appreciation for their services and efforts, wishing them further success and best of luck. — KUNA

No Family Fund without delinquents’ fund KUWAIT: Well-informed banking sources stressed that writing off the interests on citizens’ bank loans would have a negative impact on banks as it would result in increasing liquidity to a large extent, especially in view of lack of investment and development projects.

Further, the sources predicted that in case the loan interests were dropped, banks would refuse receiving more deposits to avoid liquidity abundance that cannot be invested. The sources also added that some local banks had already started indirectly rejecting deposits by reducing returns on deposits to near zero due to their inability to invest the funds.

According to Kuwait Central Bank statistics, cash liquidity increased by 34.4 percent to reach KD 6.591 billion in January, 2013 compared to KD 4.904 billion by the end of 2012. Statistics also showed that gov-

ernment and private sector deposits increased by 19 percent to reach KD 33.708 billion in January.

Moreover, the sources stressed that local banks had great expectations and aspirations that the new parliament would pass all development projects referred to it for approval so that the cash liquidity could be utilized and the local credit market could be revived.

“The parliament’s proclivity to write off citizens’ loans interests serves the opposite as it turned the issue from a technical one to a political one with an aim of garnering more political gains,” explained the sources. Meanwhile, MP Nawwaf Al-Fuzai expressed dissatisfaction with the Family Fund, noting that it was not just and was way below what was expected.

“The law is incomplete and we insist on including the delinquents’ fund in it,” he stressed.

Amir heads Cabinet meeting to discuss Arab Summit KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah headed an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, at Seif Palace yesterday, aimed at discussing the outcomes of the 24th Arab Summit, held last week in Doha.

The meeting was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Ali Fahad Al-Rashid, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah.

Following the meeting, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah stated that HH the Amir had briefed the Cabinet on the summit’s outcomes.

HH the Amir presented to the ministers the most important issues that were on the agenda, including Arab issues

like finding a solution to the Middle East crisis, the repercussions of the unfortunate situation in Syria and the need to support the efforts of Syria’s neighboring countries and other Arab states in providing urgent and necessary humanitarian aid to displaced Syrians.

The Cabinet was informed of Kuwait’s hosting of the upcoming Arab Summit, due in March 2014.

Also, HH the Amir expressed his appreciation over the warm hospitality of Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

He also praised the Qatari people for their good organisation of the event.

For their part, HH the crown prince, the parliament speaker and HH the premier expressed their gratitude and appreciation over HH the Amir’s efforts, along with other Arab leaders, in serving the best interests of their nations and people. — KUNA

KUWAIT: A delegation of Kuwaiti journalists recently returned after their annual Umrah trip. Kuwait Journalists Association organizes this pilgrimage every year for members and their families, said KJA treasurer, Adnan Al-Rashid.

Gifted Classes ideal environment to graduate scientists The classes organized by Sabah AlAhmed Center for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC) provide an ideal and integrated environment conducive to prepare future scientists who will help Kuwait attain a position of pride among the comity of nations in the domain of technology and science, SACGC general manager Dr. Omar AlBannai said.

He said the first batch of students of the center would graduate from high school in 2020. These students will then continue their studies at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.

Addressing a meeting with students’ parents, which was also attended by MOE’s assistant undersecretary for public education Mohammed AlKandari, psychology advisor Dr. Jassem Hajiyya, nutrition consultant Heba Bin Salamah and SACGC’s evaluation and guidance manager Ateka Al-Saeed, AlBannai elaborated upon the programs chalked for the gifted students.

“It is a comprehensive program designed to develop the mental skills of the children while, at the same time, focusing on the psychological, hygienic and social aspects,” he said. AlBannai said he visited many countries

to study similar programs. “Various programs only focused on certain categories or certain seasons,” he added, noting that the SACGC’s program was uniquely designed by specialists and experts and it will start with fourth grade students when the next school year begins.

“Our classes have been scientifically and meticulously designed upon direct orders from HH the Amir,” he underlined. On his part, MOE’s assistant undersecretary for public education Mohammed Al-Kandari said that the center’s experience was the outcome of two years of study and coop-

eration between MOE’s technical supervision personnel, Kuwait University and experts from international universities.

Speaking on the same occasion, SACGC’s evaluation manager Ateka AlSaeed said that the gifted classes for fourth grade students began last September in two schools within the capital educational area.

She added that 15 boys and an equal number of girls were selected for the two classes after passing a special test for all third graders in the area, followed by further individual tests to form the SACGC nucleus.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

LOCAL

UK-Kuwait business council to be established this year

KUWAIT: Ambassador of the Holy See-Vatican-to Kuwait Archbishop Petar Rajic leading the celebration of Easter Sunday at the Holy Family Cathedral yesterday. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Christians celebrate Easter in Kuwait Different traditions

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Easter was celebrated in Kuwait in different ways as followers of Christ here belong to various branches of Christian denominations.

Before the start of the day, at 4:30am, Baptists and Evangelicals flocked to the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait to celebrate the resurrection of Christ in a ceremony dubbed as Sunrise Service. Various satellite churches all over Kuwait celebrated the occasion.

The Catholics celebrated Mass in several dialects including Hindi, Tagalog, Arabic and English.

Prominent among these celebrations were those held at the Holy Family Cathedral and churches in Ahmadi and Salmiya.

Easter Mass at the Holy Family Cathedral yesterday was led by Papal Nuncio (Ambassador of the Holy SeeVatican-to Kuwait) Archbishop Petar Rajic. In his message to the faithful, the head of Filipino Language Christian Congregation (FLCC), Pastor Jun Nones, said the resurrection of Christ is a blessed hope for humanity.

“Even other religious organizations are waiting for the promise of Christ that he will come again. His

death and resurrection is the blessed hope for humanity. That God is true to His promise; that God will rise up from the dead after three days and that he will come again is not a myth, but a blessed truth,” he said. Easter Sunday is celebrated by Christians all over the world every year to commemorate the resurrection of Christ more than 2000 years ago.

“It is a tradition in my family to come together and celebrate Easter every year. It is a blessed Sunday and one feels great to be in the house of the Lord celebrating with other

brothers. We are thankful in Kuwait because we can celebrate and practice our religious obligations, unlike in some other Muslim countries where these are not allowed. We are thankful because in Kuwait, we are free,” a Christian family told Kuwait Times outside the Evangelical Church in Kuwait City after attending Sunrise Service.

In some countries, Easter is seen as the happiest day of the year. One priest said it is happier than Christmas. “Happier than Christmas because it is basically the fulfillment

of his Grace and promise to mankind.

Our debt has been paid in full.

Christmas was where he was born, but Easter Sunday is where he fulfilled his great promise to buy out our sins in exchange of His death,” the priest mentioned.

Easter is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. The last week of Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains the days of the Easter Triduum, including Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday), commemorating the Last Supper and its preceding foot washing, as well as Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

Easter is followed by a 50-day period called Eastertide or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday. Easter customs vary across the Christian world, but attending sunrise services, exclaiming the Paschal greeting, clipping the church and decorating Easter eggs which is a symbol of the empty tomb, are common motifs. Additional customs include egg hunting, the Easter Bunny, and Easter parades, which are observed by Christians as well as some non-Christians.

KUWAIT: A new UK-Kuwait Business Council is expected to start operations later this year that will see 16 UK-Kuwait Chief Executives come together to further develop trade links.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s Trade Envoy, Lord Marland, arrived in Kuwait this week for the second time this year 2013 in efforts to discuss and finalize the establishment of the business council.

In his visit, Lord Marland met a number of Kuwaiti officials from different governmental departments, businessmen and relevant organizations’ representatives for the establishment of the UK-Kuwait Business Council that will see eight chief executives from both sides sitting on the board.

Cameron’s trade representative held key meetings with the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anas Khalid Al-Saleh and Mohammed Alshaya - the Gulf retail franchise owner of UK high street brands such as Debenhams, Topshop and LaSenza who will serve as the Chairman of the Council.

The three-day trade trip follows His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s historic state visit to Windsor in November, where the main priority was reinforcing Kuwait’s 230-year relationship with the UK and encouraging continuing business par tnerships between both nations.

“Our plan is to meet twice a year at a very senior level - once in Kuwait, once in London - to increase bi-lateral trade and evaluate ways in which we can cooperate

together as friends and work together business-to-business - to further develop trade links,” affirmed Lord Marland during an interview conducted by World Report, an international press agency based in London, currently producing a market intelligence feature on Kuwait-UK business and trade relations.

Bilateral relations are historically rich, dating back more than 200 years, and it has led to both countries evolving into trustworthy commercial and diplomatic partners. Trade and investment between both nations exceeds £2 billion a year and Kuwait is the UK’s third-largest trading partner in the Gulf. Furthermore, during the February 2011 visit of the British business delegation led by PM David Cameron, the two sides established a new Kuwait-UK Trade & Investment Task Force, the main goal of which is to double bilateral trade and investment up to £4 billion by 2015.

Lord Marland also met the Minister of Communications, Salem Mutheyeb Ahmed Al-Otheina, the board of Kuwait Airways and the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), as part of discussions on the GCC country’s privatization program. The main objective of these meetings was to discuss how the UK kick-started its privatization program, the pitfalls and benefits the UK learnt and how such knowledge can help Kuwait’s privatization efforts.

The UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy also voiced his support for a closer collaboration between Kuwait and the UK, which will help to boost the mutually beneficial exchange of talent, ideas and capital.

KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Ali Fahed Al-Rashed received yesterday Assistant Secretary General of the parliament’s National Guards Affairs Brig Bassam Hashim Al-Refaee and Director of the operations Department Col Nasser Fayez AlMutairi. Al-Rashid decorated them with their new ranks according to an Amiri decree. The ceremony was attended by deputy Speaker Mubarak Al-Khrenej and Secretary General of the National Assembly Allam Al-Kanderi.

Photography... for a cause KUWAIT: A photography competition aimed at the protection of the environment in Kuwait, organized by Kuwait Times, is being held from March 13 until April 15. Adnan Saad, Marketing Director of the Kuwait Times, said the competition is held annually and environmental protection was chosen as the theme of the competition this year. The competition is open for all ages and aims at providing participants with an opportunity to capture on their cameras what they see as negative aspects and unacceptable practices that pollute the environment, in addition to presenting the positive steps taken to protect and preserve the environment.

The competition also aims at motivating photographers and promoting photography as a hobby in Kuwait, in order to develop technical skills and documents that can help preserve the rich environment of Kuwait even as showcasing the skills of the participants. Both citizens and expats are taking part in the competition. Each participant can submit five photos (maximum size 30x40 cm). The works will have to be participants’ own, and if proven otherwise, the prize will be

cancelled. Photos with written texts and signals or those manipulated in an exaggerated way will not be acceptable. The decision of the arbitration committee will be considered final and cannot be contested. All photos presented in the competition will be considered the property of the organizers and they have the right to use those in ways they find suitable, without needing to consult the photographer.Participants do not necessarily have to be professionals or have professional cameras. One can submit photos taken on mobile phones or any other normal camera. The important thing is that there should be innovative photography themed around the environment.

Prizes will be distributed during an event that will coincide with the international day for earth at Holiday Inn in Salmiya, which is hosting the competition.

Also Ashraf and company agents of Nikon will participate in this event and present valuable prizes. The winners will be invited to attend this ceremony and the winning picture will be chosen by a special committee.

Chance to learn more about nature KUWAIT: The student environmental art competition “Kuwait Beautiful & Green,” being held under the patronage of Chevron and cosponsored by Crowne Plaza hotel, is well underway.

Adnan Saad said the competition, which was first held in 1994, was aimed at giving students a chance to learn more about nature

and the greening of Kuwait.

“Many Arabic and foreign schools representing more than 6,500 students are participating,” he said.

The drawing sheets are being donated by Kuwait Times to all schools interested in the event. The judges’ committee will consist of expert artists who will judge the art work

according to the students’ age, uniqueness of the creation, amount of effort exerted and creativity.

Awards and prizes will be distributed to the winners at a special display of the art work by the sponsors and competition committee members. This will be followed by a reception at Crowne Plaza hotel.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

LOCAL kuwait digest

kuwait digest

A senseless tug-of-war

From jail to the palace

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

By Mohammed M. Hasanen, PhD

t appears that we are in love with a state of complete paralysis that results when we have people on both sides of a rope pulling it simultaneously. Whenever a group tries to climb upwards, others pull it back to the bottom. The government, whose responsibility it is to guide the people, is too busy to ensure that no party dominates the scene, which is perhaps the reason why we have failed to take a step forward for decades.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah is concerned about the country’s young people and the need to enable them to participate in nation building. As part of that, he recently instructed his cabinet to remove all obstacles to enable this younger generation to play an active role in the society. Instead, his cabinet, or the Interior Ministry in specific, intends to ‘solve’ the traffic problem by increasing the minimum age for obtaining a driver’s license from 18 to 21. The wise heads in the Interior Ministry think that the traffic problem can be resolved through such a stipulation.

That is not going to happen. It will only lead to an increase in the number of people driving without a license, as well as add to the army of family drivers employed by people who will then be depending on them to ferry around their family members or make them run errands on their behalf. Perhaps the ‘experts’ in the Interior Ministry know something that we do not, but frankly, whatever happened to the idea of encouraging the young people? Is this the Ministry’s way to help them contribute towards the society, something for which HH the Amir has issued directions?

The traffic problem in Kuwait is social, more than it is technical. We have people with a lot of time to waste which they choose to spend by aimlessly wandering in the malls. Also, we have a government which is adamantly against public transportation, especially when it comes to ferrying students to school and back.

Even our students do not have to show much skill to pass their classes, which is why not much education is taking place. Consequently, they end up on the streets.

On top of all that, gas is very cheap, and we are pretty well to do. There is every reason that people will drive around town aimlessly, especially when the state lacks proper cultural hotspots, sports facilities or places for entertainment.

Therefore, the solution to the traffic problem needs to be approached from a social standpoint, which means that it is not going to be an easy one, and will take time. But if the Interior Ministry is looking for a quick solution, then it must send a recommendation to the cabinet to lift the government subsidy on gas. A quick and bold step is needed for such an experiment, and increasing the price of fuel will force people to use their cars more economically. Something like this could also convince people that it is good to spend more time at home with their family and children. — Al-Qabas

espite the visibly imminent economic and political turbulence in Egypt after the collapse of the Mubarak regime, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) leaders took the risk and sought to govern. To be able to run for election, the MB established Freedom & Justice political party with most MB members coming onboard. It is not clear whether the party has a political agenda or vision other than the old MB slogan: “Islam is the solution.”

Largely due to their ability to manipulate the masses, offer welfare and charity to the poor and deploy religious language, they have won 40% of the seats in the parliament. Eight months ago, Dr. Mohamed Morsi, one of the MB leaders, became Egypt’s first elected president since the 2011 Revolution. The Freedom & Justice party’s election campaign had called for a “renaissance project.” Following the election, it soon became apparent that the project is just a bunch of ideas and not any coherent program.

Many promises concerning the economy and security remain unfulfilled.

After two years of political instability and the failure of the MB to make any significant progress, Egyptians are rapidly losing their patience, and gradually their trust also, in the MB. During the last few weeks, Egypt has witnessed violent demonstrations in many cities and around the presidential palace to express their frustration and anger.

Buildings and vehicles have been burnt, and more than 70 people have been killed. Some argue that violence and instability are to be expected after revolutions and will gradually recede. Others contend that it is too early to evaluate the MB’s performance in government and that they should be given more time. Each of these views makes sense at first glance. However, unprecedented strategic and political mistakes have been made in such a breathtakingly short period. The regime, as a result, may be on a trajectory to collapse in the near future.

Some of these mistakes and contradictory decisions were due to the vagueness of the MB’s organization and ideology. Others were due to its lack of political experience and transparency.

The MB was formed in 1928 with a simple and evocative two-fold strategy: teaching and preaching, and providing welfare services for the poor. The main objective of this strategy was to create generations of good Muslims who would be in a position to effect social change as the MB sees fit. Although this strategy is a long-term approach to reforming Egyptian society, the oppressive nature of the regimes had tested the patience of the MB leaders, prompting them to adopt violence at some points in their march to power. They established a secret organization and assassinated some judges and politicians in the 1940s. Following that period, Egypt suffered a vicious circle of violence and counter violence until the 1970s, when the MB changed its tactics and chose to act as an organized opposition.

It is true that the MB represented a real and effective opposition during the Sadaat and Mubarak regimes. However, after winning the parliamentary and presidential elections following the 2011 Revolution, their behavior has changed. Their decisions have belied an increasing impatience to control the state at all levels and consolidate their power. Soon after assuming power, the MB started to place thousands of its members, most of them unqualified, in bureaucratic positions. With the MB’s strategy of isolating and/or defaming the opposition leaders, the political arena is rapidly becoming a battleground. Some believe that they feel insecure, and for them the only way to avoid repetition of their awful experience in 1950s and 1960s is to control as many positions as they can. As this becomes more apparent, their popularity is decreasing sharply.

Historically, the MB leaders have insisted for years that they are not looking to overthrow the regime in Egypt and their only goal is to ensure governance that follows God’s Word. Ironically, MB leaders were jailed for years because they tried to topple and replace the three former regimes. Having remained in jail for a long time, and with a slim possibility of ever coming to power under the autocratic regimes, they did not develop detailed and coherent alternatives. Additionally, the shortage of required managerial skills and political experience is obvious since the MB leaders sit on the front benches of the treasury. They have no qualified cadres who can handle the complicated and chronic problems that Egypt is facing in the wake of the Revolution. In the same vein, the MB’s political structure is too rigid to adapt to rapidly changing requirements. All decisions are made at the top- the Guidance Office - and all members are expected to comply, almost without any discussion.

This lack of flexibility makes the MB leaders unable to act as politicians or statesmen. The governmental and even the presidential decisions are complicating the situation instead of solving the problems. The MB leaders’ political speeches, including the presidential ones, are confusing and full of political and even historical errors. To worsen the situation, the MB refuses to use other qualified people from outside their group. Moreover, the downright weird speeches of many other Islamic groups’ leaders offer rich material for satirists, especially for the younger generations. This is increasing the friction between these leaders and the opposition. The MB’s media machine has launched a cruel campaign against the liberals. This campaign has increased the MB’s isolation and divided the society. As a result, the incumbent government has lost its credibility in the eyes of the Egyptians. The economy continues to decline, the tourism industry is crumbling, and, most importantly, the security measures are easing.

In this heady environment, some voices are calling for creating militias to provide security for their groups. Many are beginning to ask the chilling question: Is this the beginning of a civil war? And more important: Is the state in Egypt falling?

Before it is too late and the golden opportunity offered by the last elections is squandered, the MB should do some serious soul-searching by carefully examining their experience in government and changing their track accordingly.

I

D

kuwait digest

The freedom of choice

By Ali Mahmoud Khajah

I

n a clever and clearly political maneuver, some MPs proposed a bill to scrap the ban on co-education at the university level. The fact that the idea of such a proposal came out of nowhere, without any context or any statements in the run-up to such a move, makes one believe that the call for removing the ban was not spontaneous.

I believe that the goal of making such a suggestion was to win the support of various civil movements that boycotted the December parliament as a protest against the necessity decree. The objective was to polarize those for and against the one-vote necessity decree groups that were either for or against co-education.

However, and regardless of the fact that we consider it a political maneuver rather than a serious step, it is mandatory to explain something that could have slipped many people’s minds: we failed in conveying our demands as to how proper education should be imparted.

In short, what we need is more freedom of choice rather than imposing certain trends in education, be it in the public sector educational facilities or private. When coeducation was banned at Kuwait University in 1996 and then at the private universities in 1999, the protest was based on the fact that the state must stop acting as a guardian of students or their parents. Such restrictions are unconstitutional and against all the basic rights stipulated therein, namely freedom.

More clearly, I emphatically reiterate that I reject the ban on co-education not because I stand for co-educa-

tion but because I am against putting any limits on freedom of choice. Any kind of a move, that makes the state become the guardian of people, must also be rejected, as those proposing the bill want to force the parents to accept co-education. This would be a repetition and not reversal of what happened in 1996 and 1999.

I personally believe that co-education is the ideal form of university education. Nevertheless, this does not mean I want to impose it on everybody. As a matter of fact, a wealthy state with abundant revenues must diversify education options for its subjects, and leave them free to choose whatever they deem best for themselves. If lawmakers really care about education, they should more importantly push towards building a new public university that avoids all the mistakes of Kuwait University. The new university must adopt co-education system to provide a choice to the people.

We suffered when our freedoms were suppressed during previous parliaments and it looks the new one is following in the same steps. We must reject such moves.

Finally, I stress that the ban on co-education has been misinterpreted and is being used to completely isolate students based on gender.

That is not what the law stipulated. The law stressed that special seating arrangements should be made separately for female and male students within the same auditoriums, but it seems that no one, including the minister himself, reads the law anymore. —- Al-Jarida

kuwait digest

Indicator of happiness

By Lama Fareed Al-Othman

L

ast week the world celebrated the International Day of Happiness, first mooted last year following a proposal made by the state of Bhutan. Happiness index of countries is measured on the basis of welfare measures and certain pre-defined ‘happiness GNP’ indicators. Some studies show that rich countries are happier than poor ones. But wealth does not increase happiness and any rise in per capita income does not necessarily elevate happiness levels.

Locally, the Al-Nuwair non-profit initiative was launched to coincide with the International Day of Happiness. It is actually a great initiative that aims at spreading positive thinking through various programs, workshops and training. It also aims at publishing international researches focusing on the enlightenment approaches, including a Harvard University paper proving that positive thinking was a matter of choice and decision.

There are many wrong ideas about happiness. Many people believe that shopping, conspicuous consumption, promotions and gifts may provide some happiness, but it would be a short-term happiness. Regardless of how happy you may seem, sustaining the feeling of happiness is something that is dependent on our capability to think positively and make positive thinking a way of life. That is a good indicator of happiness.

Linguistic programming experts stress that two powers control what makes anyone happy or miserable - the powers of pain and joy. These powers control all what we say, do or feel. They are the motives to avoid pain and to seek joy. It is man’s realization of his capability to control both powers and thus change any particular behavior or develop it, instead of leaving them to control his behavior that leads to positive thinking and avoiding negativity. Some may find happiness in helping others or acquiring an education while others find joy in doing drugs that others associate with pain and fear. This is called mental programming, and it ought to be positively invested to link joy to things that would develop our lives and link pain to negative behaviors we wish to change. It is our interpretation of joy and pain that links our way of thinking and thus makes them as possible motives for our behavior.

Both powers are closely related to our packages of concepts and beliefs, the questions these packages answer and our social background that greatly helps form how a person views himself through the eyes of others. Accordingly, people who are critical are often considered as rebels while those who conform are valued and respected. In such environments, an individual would work hard to avoid the pain of being a social outcast and instead seek the joy of respect and appreciation. This is a clear example that can be traced in all social establishments, be these homes, schools, mosques, work places, state organizations and NGOs. Children brought up in environments that encourage independent, positive and creative thinking usually grow up with self-esteem and confidence in their capability to determine their destiny. In contrast, those brought up amidst a restrictive paradigm grow up into stereotypes that waste so much of their energy and fail to have any ideas of their own.

A totally obedient mind, namely those intimidated and tamed, can never think positively or independently.

Books on self development, positive thinking and how to achieve happiness abound the markets nowadays and are attracting a large readership. They all revolve around one main theme, which is: our decisions, life and destinies are not determined by external factors. It is our intrinsic vision of incidents, objects and values that determined whether we will be happy or not. — Al-Jarida

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah pictured during field visit.

Praise for DGCA’s efforts to implement airport project KUWAIT: Head of Government Performance Follow-up body Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah was briefed during a visit to Kuwait National Airport on the efforts exerted by the Directorate General of

Civil Aviation (DGCA)’s to implement the airport’s new development project.

The field visit comes as part of the apparatus’ terms in following up the project and the government’s vital facilities in the country.

Sheikh Ahmad was received by President of DGCA Fawaz Al-Farah, Civil Aviation’s Deputy Director General for Airport Affairs Adel Al-Awadhi and Deputy Director-General for Planning and Project Management Khalid Al-

Shayji. Al-Farah responded to all the questions and comments made by Sheikh Ahmad, who stressed the need to follow up the implementation of all major development projects approved recently by the Council of Ministers,

Opposition launches push to reinvigorate its campaign No divergences over principles KUWAIT: Kuwait ’s opposition has launched a new push to reinvigorate its campaign amid indications that the latest strains to emerge could seriously erode its unity and purpose. “ The opposition is holding together and there are no divergences over the principles announced earlier,” Ahmad Al-Saadoon, former parliament Speaker, said following a meeting of the opposition on Saturday evening.

“Whoever believes that the opposition will be disintegrated is totally wrong. We will hold a meeting next Thursday to coordinate efforts for a unified field action plan. Our alliance remains committed to an elected parliamentary government and to the boycott of the legislative elections if they are not held based on the 2006 electoral law,” he said, quoted by Kuwaiti media.

However, assurances given by Al Saadoon about the unity and cohesion of the opposition did not conceal the widening cracks in the alliance of political

groups stemming from a wide spectrum.

The latest fissures were related to the stance on the next parliamentary elections following the expected announcement of the Constitutional Court ruling on the “one voter, one vote” decree.

“Even if the decree is consolidated by the Constitutional Court, we should continue to boycott the elections and reinvigorate the street against it,” some opposition figures said on Saturday evening.

However, another trend within the opposition said that continuing to boycott the elections would eventually reduce their influence.

“If we pull out of the elections, the field will be wide open for the government and its supporters,” the group was reported as saying by local Arabic daily Alem Al Youm.

“They will be able to amend the laws and the citizens will blame the opposition for not assuming its responsibilities and allowing others to win in the parliamentary elections. The people are saying that

the opposition, by abstaining, has allowed the formation of the current parliament,” they said.

The decree last summer slashed the number of candidates a voter could elect from four to one.

The government argued that it was in line with international standards and to address legal loopholes.

However, the opposition said that it aimed to curb its influence and vowed to have it reversed through street pressure, legal cases and the boycott of the elections.

The elections were held on December 1 and their success left the opposition licking its wounds as it pondered its options amid growing divergences.

The opposition cracks were likely to be widened after Islamist members, who dominated the parliament elected in February 2012 and dissolved four months later, insisted on their own views.

“We cannot accept that some brothers

announce individual positions on crucial topics before the approval of the majority because that would be political recklessness that prejudices the majority,” former MP Mohammad Al Hayef said, quoted by Al Rai daily yesterday. “ The priority of the opposition for amending the constitution should be Article Two because we want the application of Sharia. If we are serious about making changes, they should be related to Islamic principles as this is a popular demand. We are waiting for the other components of the opposition to express their views on this issue so that we can take up the other matters,” the Islamist exMP said.

Article II of the Kuwaiti constitution stipulates that “the religion of the State is Islam, and the Islamic Sharia shall be a main source of legislation”.

Islamists in Kuwait have been pushing for making Sharia Law the sole source of legislation in the country.

Plantation event at Avenues Mall

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Public Authority for Environment organized a plantation event titled “The third environment month” at the Avenues Mall, where a large number of plants were displayed.

These plants help protect the natural environment of Kuwait and make it secure for us and our coming generations. Environment affairs administration at the Kuwait municipality participated in the plantation event which was inaugurated by Dr. Salah Al-Dhahi, General Direc tor of Kuwait Public Authority for

Environment.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Hashim, Assistant Secretary General for Human and Environment Affairs at GCC, Mr. Salah Al-Saif, Engineer Rajaa Al-Saffar and Hadran Al-Jaber besides a large number of citizens at the Avenues Mall were present during the event.

Jazeera Airways posts remarkable traffic growth

KUWAIT: Jamican officials pictured during their visit to Kuwait yesterday.

Kuwait, Jamaica discuss prospects of boosting trade cooperation KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh underscored here yesterday Kuwait’s keenness to raise the level of trade with Jamaica and strengthen bilateral relations at all levels for the benefit of the two peoples.

The minister said during reception of visiting Jamaican delegation headed by the Minister of Industry and Commerce Anthony Hylton and a number of businessmen and Ambassador of Jamaica to

Kuwait that the two sides looked into the possibility of encouraging and facilitating services provided to businessmen and the private sector between the two sides.

He indicated that the two sides would sign an economic agreement tomorrow, adding that Kuwait would soon receive another delegation from Jamaica to become acquainted with investment opportunities in Kuwait. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Jazeera Air ways, the Kuwaiti leading private low-fare airline, reported yesterday a remarkable growth in the number of passengers boarding its flights as well as its market share in the key routes in January 2013.

The award-winning airline issued Saturday its January 2013 Operational Performance Report which showed that the airline has carried increasing number of passengers on key routes that include the destinations of Amman, Beirut, Bahrain, Assiut, Dubai, Jeddah, Luxor, and Sohag.

The monthly report, based on official statistics from Kuwait’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA), revealed that Jazeera Airways was the leading airline serving popular expat destinations of Amman, Assiut, Luxor, and Sohag.

The airline grabbed a 39 percent market share on the Kuwait-Amman route, a 6.4 percent up compared with that of January 2012. The number of passengers on this route witnessed a 27.5 percent hike in January 2013 versus January 2012.

The data also showed that the Jazeera Airways was the leading airline on the Kuwait-Assiut route with a 63 percent market share, on the Kuwait-Luxor route with a 72 percent market share, and on the Kuwait-Sohag route with a 50 per-

cent market share.

The airline’s market share increased by 17.6 percent on the Kuwait-Assiut route; by 1.9 percent on the Kuwait-Luxor route; and by 15.4 percent on the Kuwait-Sohag route in January 2012 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.

Passengers on routes serving Assiut, Luxor and Sohag increased by 42.1 percent, 27.4 percent and 33.9 percent respectively from January 2012.

The airline was also the leading Kuwaiti airline on routes serving high demand cities of Beirut with a 39 percent market share, Bahrain with an 11 percent market share, Dubai with a 17 percent market share, and Alexandria with a 21 percent market share.

The number of passengers also jumped on routes serving Beirut, Bahrain and Dubai.

Passengers on the Kuwait-Beirut route swelled by 6.8 percent from January 2012, while passengers on the KuwaitBahrain and Kuwait-Dubai routes went up by 17.3 percent and 8.3 percent respectively from January 2012. On the Kuwait-Jeddah route, Jazeera Airways’ market share inflated by 2.3 percent from January 2012 to a 17 percent market share in January 2013, accompanied by a 17.9 percent increase in passengers compared to January 2012.— KUNA

including Kuwait National Airport’s new project.

At the end of the visit, Sheikh Ahmad praised the efforts of DGCA’s officials and employees, wishing them more success and prosperity. —KUNA

Hike in cap on women housing loans KUWAIT: Sources at the Savings and Credit Bank revealed that the bank is all set to seek increased budgetary allocations in order to meet the rising demand for loans extended to citizens who are entitled to loans for real estate, marriage and housing.

Sources said that the bank might request for an additional KD 3.4 million in its budget, an amount sufficient to last a decade.

Sources said that officials requested for increasing the bank’s budget after a hike in the cap on women housing loans and maintenance loans for private residences.

Salah Al Mudhaf, the director of the bank, said since last Sunday, after the cap on women housing loan was raised from KD 45,000 to KD 70,000, the bank has been receiving hundreds of applications from women. Pointing out that various banks’ branches have witnessed similar rising demand, Al Mudhaf said increasing the loan amount, for which citizens have been made eligible, will not lead to any financial deficit. He said the cabinet took this decision after consultations with banks’ managements and ascertaining their ability to provide such loans.

Interpol delegation starts visit to Kuwait KUWAIT: A delegation from the international police organization, Interpol, started yesterday an official visit to Kuwait.

In a statement to KUNA, the Assistant Director of the Interpol’s Middle East and North Africa regional office Abdulaziz Obaidallah said the visit was within the framework of the Interpol General Secretariat’s periodical visits to the national and regional Interpol offices to check their abidance by the organization’s standards.

Obaidallah applauded the Kuwaiti Interpol’s professional and effective cooperation with the international organization. He also spoke highly about the impressive performance of police officers working for the Interpol office in Kuwait.

For his part, Acting Chief of the Interpol in Kuwait Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Al-Helal underlined their eagerness to keep a pace with the latest technology and techniques in fighting crimes at the local and international levels.

To achieve this goal, the Kuwait-based Interpol bureau staff participates in all relevant training courses, workshops, conferences and forums, Al-Helal told KUNA. He noted that the Interpol in Kuwait worked under full supervision of the judiciary and in total abidance by Kuwait and international standards.

The Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization, with 190 member countries.

The Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) forms the link between national police and Interpol’s international law enforcement community. It is typically a division of the national police agency or investigation service and serves as the contact point for all Interpol activities in the field.

The NCB is the designated contact point for the General Secretariat, Regional Bureaus and any other country requiring assistance with overseas investigations and the location and apprehension of fugitives.

Highly trained police officers at the NCB contribute to Interpol’s criminal databases and cooperate with other countries on cross-border investigations, operations and arrests. — KUNA

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

LOCAL

Teen on way to meet her boyfriend raped ‘Wedding shooters’ in custody KUWAIT: Three men reportedly accosted, kidnapped and then raped a teenaged girl who was on her way to meet her boyfriend past midnight. According to the girl’s testimony, the 16-year-old snuck out of her Saad Al-Abdullah house around 2 am after setting up a rendezvous with her boyfriend and was walking towards a supermarket where the two were supposed to meet. While on the way, she was accosted by three men who forced her into their car and drove to the Subbiya desert where they sexually assaulted her before leaving her in the parking lot of a Taima supermarket around 7 am. Police later rushed to the scene after emergency calls mentioned a ‘halfnaked woman’ seen running away from someone. The girl told the police about her ordeal and explained that she was actually running away from an old man who tried to take advantage of her at the same place where the three rapists had left her. The girl was escorted to the Saad Al-Abdullah police station where she gave descriptions of the three kidnappers as well as of the old man.

‘Missing’ girl Police are trying to apprehend a young man accused of providing

shelter to a young woman who was reported missing for a month till she was found on Saturday.

Patrol officers had detained a girl who tried to escape when she saw their vehicle approaching her near a park in Hawally. The officers used a fingerprint scan to identify the girl, who did not carry any identification papers, and found that her family had reported her missing a month before. The 19-year-old said that she had been living with her boyfriend at his Abu Hlaifa apartment after leaving her family ’s house. She added that her boyfriend kicked her out when she refused to have sex with him. The girl was taken to the Abu Hlaifa police station where a missing report was filed. Arrangements were on to ensure she was reunited with her family.

UAE student held United Arab Emirates authorities are carrying out investigations into a case involving a Kuwaiti student who faces multiple charges of swindling pressed by colleagues in a UAE university. According to investigations, the man led his victims to believe that he was a member of the ruling family and son of a former minister who, in turn, is a senior ruling family member. He

was able to trick a number of students until the case was reported and led to his arrest.

Fugitive nabbed Salmiya detectives nabbed a fugitive wanted in multiple fake cheque cases valued at KD76,000 in total. The Kuwaiti man was identified as the prime suspect in several cases filed by electronics and furniture companies who received fake cheques in exchange for items he repor tedly bought through scam. Investigations revealed that the man used forged documents to claim ownership of an impor t/expor t company in order to buy furniture as well as smartphones and tablets that he subsequently sold at low prices.

The man was detained after he was caught in an ambush while making his way out of a Salmiya restaurant on Friday, and was referred to the proper authorities for further action.

Man stabbed A man was hospitalized with stab wounds following a fight reported recently outside a Sharq mall. An ambulance arrived at the scene and helped transfer the injured youngster to the Amiri Hospital swiftly. Meanwhile, police,

accompanied by paramedics, reached the scene and apprehended the stabber. The two had reportedly met to settle old disputes. A case was filed at the Sharq police station.

Meanwhile, Jahra police launched search for three suspects who reportedly stormed into their friend’s house in Taima and assaulted him brutally, before leaving him in an unconscious state. After recovering at the Jahra Hospital, the 23-year-old man said that the suspects used cleavers and brass knuckles to attack him over a joke that they did not take lightly. A case was filed.

Dhahar arrest Two people were arrested on Saturday for being in possession of a firearm that they used to fire celebratory shots during a wedding in Dhahar. Patrol officers had called for backup when they noticed two people firing shots outside a house before driving away. They were arrested after they left their car at a police roadblock and tried to escape on foot.

Police recovered an AK47 rifle from the suspects’ car which they had used to fire the celebratory shots.

The two remain in custody pending legal procedures.

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Dive Team installed a naval floodlight at the site of a sunken ship, off the shores of Jlaiah south of Kuwait. The device, which operates on solar power, was installed in cooperation with the Naval Transportation Department of the Ministry of Communications.

Dow announces marine conservation successes KUWAIT: Dow Chemical, in partnership with The en.v Initiative (en.v) and implementing partner K’S PATH (Kuwait Society for Protection of Animals and Their Habitat), yesterday announced significant achievements of the Dow Marine Conservation Program (DMCP) during the first quarter of this year. Kick starting in its second edition earlier in 2013, The DMCP hosted two educational sessions at the Kuwait National English School (KNES) in January and organized a clean-up launch at the Sulaibakhat Mangrove beach in February. The DMCP was an active participant at the Kuwait University’s College of Engineering and Petroleum Open Day and also organized a beach clean-up during the month of March,with the participation of a number of educational institutions in Kuwait.

DMCP started the year strong by organizing its first two educational sessions in Jan 2013 at the Kuwait National English School (KNES) and attracted over 400 students from elementary school through to grade six. These sessions introduced students to Kuwait’s marine habitat, the impact of waste on wildlife and ways to adapt and implement responsible waste management, through the use of field photography, interactive demonstrations and audience engagement, withthe help of 13 student volunteers. This subsequently led to KNES’s participation at the DMCPlaunch clean-up alongside a dynamic group of student volunteers from the Bayan Bilingual School(BBS).

“The Dow Marine Conservation Program continues to build upon its previous successes through a number

of eventful activities and initiatives this year,” stated Jamel Attal, Managing Director, Dow Chemical in Kuwait. “At Dow, we believe in the importance of sustainable practices and we’re pleased to witness this program flourish and grow, while successfully attracting the attention of the local Kuwaiti community and encouraging them to play an active role in preserving Kuwait’s marine ecosystems.” In February,Dow’s Marine Conservation Program (DMCP) held its clean-up launch at the Sulaibikhat Mangrove beach. The cleanup was attended by 69 volunteers, including students and staff from the Kuwait National English School (KNES) and the Bayan Bilingual School (BBS), along with members and volunteers from K’S PATH and representatives from Dow and en.v. All volunteerscollected approximately 1,700 kgs of terrestrial marine waste, filling more than 200 waste bags across1,500 sq m beach.

“We’ve hit the ground running this year with successful initiatives such as the DMCP and are thrilled with the continued support and interest that we’ve received from members of the Kuwaiti community to date,” stated Zahed Sultan, Managing Director of the The en.v Initiative. “We are excited to be taking part in an initiative that is encouraging community membersto make a meaningful difference by adapting and implementing sustainable practices and playing an active role in preserving Kuwait’s rich coastal habitats.” The DMCP was also present atthe Kuwait University’s College of Engineering and Petroleum Open Day, where they played an active role in informing students about the importance of marine

conservation and encouraged sign-ups.

The DMCP booth displayed a mock beach set-up, Dow branded photo-collages from clean-ups and the DMCP banner. The DMCP received 60 sign-ups; 90% of which were from Kuwaiti nationals. In March, students from grade eight to junior college from theAmerican University of Kuwait (AUK) and Al Bayan Bilingual School (BBS) participated in activities organized by the DMCP, with more than 30+ volunteers, who took part in a beach clean-up held at the Sulaibikhat mangrove beach. The volunteers managed to collect approximately 400 kgs of waste.

“The DMCP has managed to demonstrate a significant role in protecting the coastal environments in Kuwait in such a short time. We are very excited with our progress so far and are looking forward to plan more educational sessions and clean-ups,” said Ayeshah Al Humaidhi, Executive Director of K’S PATH. The partners are planningmore educational visits and beach clean-ups for the second quarter of the year, engaging a variety of educational institutions and volunteers from different backgrounds. Since its launch in April 2011, Dow’s Marine Conservation Program has collected over 11 tonnes of waste from over 85,500 sq.m. of Kuwait’s shoreline, engaged close to 512 volunteers and educated over 2400 students.

The program’s concentrated efforts continue in order to protect and restore the rich marine ecosystem of beaches along Kuwait’s bay. These areas are abundant in marine life and coral reefs and serve as natural nesting grounds for turtles and migratory birds.

Sustainable development ‘stands at a crossroads’ KUWAIT: International lawmakers stressed the need to focus on women, youth and democratic policies in order to achieve sustainable development adding that the aim requires a global cooperation driven by developed countries.

The call came in the closing statement, or the Quito Deceleration, of the Inter-Parliamentar y Union Assembly’s 128th meeting, which ended at the capital of Ecuador on Friday in the attendance of lawmakers from 120 countries.

Sustainable development now stands at a crossroads as production and consumption - two of the fundamental components of economic prosperity - are unsustainable. Growth is no longer a solution to challenges of a social, economic or environmental nature and has become only a part of the solution, read the statement.

If the world intended to develop as a global society able

to conform to principles like peace and cooperation, while living in harmony with nature, it should focus on comparisons that aim to achieve good living standards.

A large growth rate does not necessarily mean further development and happiness for humankind, but to the contrary. Balanced social policies and limited growth rates are what together achieve good living standards.

Providing jobs and salaries in developing countries should go hand-in-hand with policies that aim for these relaxed living standards.

Good living standards should include components that do not depend on unlimited material consumption such as education, health, culture, entertainment, the right to practice religion, human rights, emotional satisfaction and patriotic belonging, which all aid in achieving human satisfaction and development without any large impacts on the environment. — KUNA

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

Hindu leader closer to prime ministerial run

Egyptian satirist freed on bail Page 8

VATICAN: Pope Francis waves to faithful after celebrating his first Easter Mass in St Peter’s Square yesterday. — AP

Pope prays for peace in Syria Christians in Mideast celebrate Easter JERUSALEM: Catholics and Protestants flocked to churches to celebrate Easter yesterday in the Holy Land and across the broader Middle East, praying, singing and rejoicing as a new pope pleaded for peace in the region. Some Mideast Christian communities are in flux, while others feel isolated from their Muslimmajority societies. In places like Iraq, they have sometimes been the victims of bloody sectarian attacks.

At St Joseph Chaldean Church in Baghdad, some 200 worshippers attended an Easter mass that the Rev Saad Sirop led behind concrete blast walls and a tight security cordon. Churches have been under tighter security since a 2010 attack killed dozens. “We pray for love and peace to spread through the world,” said worshipper Fatin Yousef, 49, who arrived immaculately dressed for the holiday. She wore a black skirt, low-heeled pumps and a striped shirt and her hair tumbled in salon-created curls. It was the first Easter since the election of Pope Francis and she and others expressed hope in their new spiritual leader. “We hope Pope Francis will help make it better for Christians in Iraq,” she said. The pope spoke of the Middle East in his first Easter message, pleading for Israelis and Palestinians to resume negotiations to “end a conflict that has lasted all too long.” He also called for peace in Iraq and in Syria. “How much blood has been shed! And how much suffering must

there still be before a political solution to the crisis will be found?” Francis asked. In Jerusalem, Catholics worshipped in the church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on a hill where tradition holds that Jesus was crucified, briefly entombed and then resurrected. The cavernous, maze-like structure is home to different churches belonging to rival sects that are crammed into different nooks and even the roof.

Clergy in white and gold robes led the service held around the Edicule, the small chamber at the core of the church marking the site of Jesus’ tomb. Many foreign visitors were among the worshippers. “It’s very special,” said Arthur Stanton, a visitor from Australia. “It represents the reason why we were put on this planet, and the salvation that has come to us through Jesus.” Protestants held Easter ceremonies outside Jerusalem’s walled Old City at the Garden Tomb, a small, enclosed green area that some identify as the site of Jesus’ burial. Another service was held at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Jesus’ traditional birthplace.

Catholics and Protestants, who follow the new, Gregorian calendar, celebrate Easter on Sunday. Orthodox Christians, who follow the old, Julian calendar, will mark it in May. There are no precise numbers on how many Christians there are in the Middle East. Census figures showing the size of religious and ethnic groups are hard to obtain. Christian populations are

thought to be shrinking or at least growing more slowly than their Muslim compatriots in much of the Middle East, largely due to emigration as they leave for better opportunities and to join families abroad. Some feel more uncomfortable amid growing Muslim majorities that they see as becoming more outwardly pious and politically Islamist over the decades.

The situation for some Mideast Christians is in flux. In Syria, Christians, who make up some 10 percent of the country’s 23 million people, have mostly stayed on the sidelines of the two-year civil war. While outraged by the regime of Bashar Assad’s brutal efforts to quash the opposition, they are equally frightened by the Islamist rhetoric of many rebels and their heavy reliance on extremist fighters. Christians make up some 10 percent of Egypt’s 85 million people. Human rights groups say the police under former authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak rarely took the needed steps to prevent flare-ups of violence against Christians, a situation that persisted since he was overthrown in 2011. The rise of Islamists in Egypt has emboldened extremists to target churches and Coptic property, leading to a spike in attacks and sometimes unprecedented steps like the evacuation of entire Christian populations from villages. In Libya, most Christians are Egyptian laborers who are working in the oil-rich country. — AP

‘Last hurrah’ for Estrada MANILA: In typically colourful fashion, graft-tainted former Philippine president Joseph Estrada launched his campaign for mayor of Manila yesterday in what he described as his “last hurrah” in politics. The one-time movie actor, who turns 76 on April 19, said he wanted to end his political career as the mayor of a city where he was born and in whose sprawling slums he remains hugely popular. “I was born in Manila, I first became a famous actor in Manila, so my career has come full circle,” Estrada told AFP in an interview before addressing thousands of supporters donning shirts in his trademark orange.

“But this is my last hurrah in politics. I just want to clean up Manila and put its affairs in order before retiring,” he said. Estrada said his first priority was to bring urban renewal in the capital city of 1.6 million people, many of whom live in slums plagued by petty crime. He said he also planned to fight rising criminality and end alleged corruption at city hall. The self-confessed former womaniser and heavy drinker said he could “still jog a kilometre thrice a

week” and was healthy enough for the day-to day-rigours of running one of the country’s busiest city halls.

“My public service to the people has no boundary,” he said. “The poor did not leave me and supported me all the way. I am returning the favour.” If he won, Estrada said he would continue his programmes for the poor that were halted when an uprising ousted him as president in 2001, halfway through his six-year term. Following a marathon trial, he was convicted in 2007 of corruption for plunder and taking kickbacks worth tens of millions of dollars while president. He was however quickly pardoned by his successor Gloria Arroyo.

Estrada consistently maintained that his ousting was a conspiracy involving the influential Catholic church and the elite who feared his populist ideas. He ran again for the presidency in 2010, coming in second behind Benigno Aquino in a field of 10 candidates-proving that he remains among the country’s most popular politicians despite his conviction. — AFP

Page 11

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

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

Thousands march in Rabat to protest govt policies ‘Morocco is witnessing social regression’

CAIRO: Egyptian popular television satirist Bassem Youssef, who has come to be known as Egypt’s Jon Stewart, waves to his supporters as he enters Egypt’s state prosecutors office to face accusations of insulting Islam and the country’s Islamist leader yesterday.— AP

Egyptian satirist freed on bail CAIRO: Egyptian prosecutors questioned Egypt’s most prominent television satirist yesterday over allegations that he insulted President Mohamed Morsi, a case regarded by his critics as new proof of a crackdown on dissent. Bassem Youssef turned himself in after the prosecutor general issued an arrest warrant for him on Saturday. He was released on bail of 15,000 Egyptian pounds ($2,200). Youssef rose to fame with a satirical online show after the uprising that swept autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011. His programme, which has been compared to the Daily Show of US satirist Jon Stewart, is now broadcast on television.

The comedian is accused of insulting Islam and undermining the standing of Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood politician freely elected last June. The prosecutor general issued the warrant after at least four legal complaints filed by Morsi supporters. Arriving at the prosecutor general’s office, Youssef was wearing an oversized version of a graduation hat modelled on one donned by the president when he was awarded an honorar y degree i n Pak i s ta n e a r l i e r i n March. He had sported the hat on his widely-watched show, one of many satirical jabs at Morsi. Last year, he poked fun at Morsi’s repeated use of the word “love” by singing a love song to a heart-shaped pillow with the president’s face printed on it.

Fears for free speech The investigation has raised fears for freedom of expression in the postMubarak Egypt. “It is an escalation in an attempt to restrict space for critical

expression,” said Heba Morayef, Egypt director at Human Rights Watch. It is the most high-profile of a series of similar cases brought on accusations of insulting Morsi. Two dozen such cases were brought in the first 200 days of his rule four times as many as during Mubarak’s 30 years in power, according to human rights lawyer Gamal Eid. Prominent liberal politician Mohamed ElBaradei said it was the kind of action only seen under “fascist regimes”. “It is the continuation of the failed and ugly moves to thwart the revolution,” he wrote on Twitter. Morsi has hardened his tone in response to recent violent protests against him and the Brotherhood. After promising a week ago to take steps to protect the nation, Morsi vowed on Tuesday to “break the neck” of anyone who threw a petrol bomb. The unrest is frustrating efforts to revive the economy.

Youssef was questioned after the prosecutor general issued five arrest warrants for prominent political activists accused of inciting violence against the Muslim Brotherhood, the group that propelled Morsi to power in last year’s election.

The prosecutor’s office recently summoned several other prominent media figures for questioning over accusations that they insulted the Islamist president.

Opposition figures say that the prosecutor, Talaat Ibrahim, is biased towards Morsi, who appointed him last November, and they want him removed from office. A court ruled last week that Ibrahim’s appointment was illegal and that he must step down. Ibrahim, who denies any bias, plans to appeal against the ruling. — Reuters

RABAT: Thousands of people marched through the Moroccan capital yesterday to protest against unemployment and the cost of living, ahead of plans by the Islamist-led government to push for social and economic reforms. Protesters marched for “our rights and freedoms” in an action called by two trade unions, chanting slogans against government policies, corruption and the high cost of living, an AFP photographer said.

“Morocco is witnessing social regression,” chanted protesters, including activists from the February 20 pro-reform movement, which was born of the Arab Spring protests sweeping the region in 2011. They also accused Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane of pushing the country into a “ravine.” Police said 3,000 marchers took part in the peaceful protest that wound its way to the parliament building in central Rabat. Other estimates said they numbered between 5,000 and 10,000. The MAP news agency said members of opposition parties as well a human rights activists and civil society figures were also on the streets, alongside activists of the February 20 movement. The agency quoted unidentified union leaders as saying the march was “a sort of warning” to Benkirane’s government,

RABAT: Moroccan union members chant for the fall of the government while holding a banner reading in Arabic “Solidarity: national march of protest.” as thousands of labor union activists marched through Morocco’s capital Rabat yesterday. — AP

which is expected in the coming months to implement sweeping reforms as Morocco grapples with

economic hardships. Morocco is facing slower growth and the budget deficit reached over six

percent of GDP in 2011, against a backdrop of 30 percent youth unemployment. — AFP

3 jihadists, 1 Malian killed in Timbuktu BAMAKO: Malian troops backed by French forces yesterday clashed with Islamist fighters who had infiltrated the northern city of Timbuktu, leaving three jihadists and one Malian soldier dead, an army officer said.

“Jihadists have infiltrated the centre of Timbuktu... Our men are currently fighting them with the support of a unit of our French partners,” the Malian officer told AFP by telephone. According to provisional information, three Malian soldiers were also wounded in the fighting that was still continuing into the late afternoon. The Islamist fighters who had controlled the fabled Saharan city before French and Malian soldiers recaptured it in January have been able to blend into the population to launch attacks, infiltrating it by foot or bicycle.

The officer said fighting began

when the Islamist rebels opened fire on two sides of the centre of the city, targeting a hotel serving as the temporary residence for the region’s governor as well as a Malian military base.

A Malian security source said the governor and two foreign journalists had been among the people evacuated from the targeted hotel. On Saturday, a suicide bomber blew himself up when he tried to force his way through a military barricade at the western entrance to Timbuktu, wounding a soldier manning the checkpoint. Mali has been the target of a series of attacks claimed by Islamist insurgents since France launched a military intervention in January against Al-Qaedalinked groups that had seized the north of the country.

The French-led operation has forced the extremists from the cities they seized in the chaotic aftermath of Mali’s military coup in March 2012. But French and African forces have faced continuing suicide blasts and guerrilla attacks in reclaimed territory. On March 21, a suicide bomber blew up a car near the Timbuktu airport, launching an overnight assault on the city.

The blast killed one Malian soldier. Around

10 Islamist fighters were killed in the ensuing fighting with French and Malian forces, a French army spokesman said. The attack was claimed by the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), one of three Islamist groups that had seized the north.

MUJAO said it had “opened a new front in Timbuktu”, which had not come under attack since French-led forces entered the city on January 28 — unlike Gao, which has been hit by a string of suicide bombings and guerrilla attacks. A landmine blast killed two Malian soldiers near Gao on Saturday.

The same day, Mali’s interim leader Dioncounda Traore appointed Mohamed Salia Sokona-a former government minister and retired ambassador-to head a new commission tasked with fostering reconciliation in the conflict-torn west African nation. Aside from its chairman and two vice-chairmen-who were also named-the commission will have another 30 members. France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is due to visit Bamako on April 5, yesterday welcomed the first appointments made to the Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission (DRC), calling it “an important step toward political reconciliation”. — AFP

Residents flee Aleppo clashes BEIRUT: Fierce fighting between Syrian rebels and regime forces has sparked an exodus of residents from the Sheikh Maqsud district of the northern city of Aleppo, a watchdog group said yesterday. “The Sheikh Maqsud neighbourhood has seen a major exodus after shells hit the area, destroying several homes,” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. “Hundreds of cars carrying families were seen leaving the neighbourhood.” Battles have been raging in the strategic, predominantly Kurdish neighbourhood since Friday, as regime troops try to prevent rebels from advancing into the district.

Sheikh Maqsud sits atop a hill, with vantage points over all of Aleppo. Its capture would be a key victory for the rebels, allowing them to target districts still in regime hands. Since fighting erupted in the neighbourhood, 43 people have been killed in fighting, including 15 civilians and five soldiers, the Observatory said. On Saturday, the Observatory and Syrian state media reported that rebels had killed a pro-regime Sunni cleric in Sheikh Maqsud, dragging his body through the streets afterwards.

Sheikh Hassan Seifeddin “was killed overnight Friday by rebel fighters in the east of the area and his body was dragged through the streets,” the Observatory said. State news agency SANA reported that Seifeddin was “assassinated by terrorists who mutilated his body afterwards,” while official television station Al-Ikhbariya said he had been “slaughtered” and beheaded.

Elsewhere, SANA said “armed terrorists groups” has “set fire to three oil wells in the province of Deir Ezzor, after a dispute between them on sharing stolen oil.” The agency also reported claims that rebels forces were responsible for a “massacre” of at least 10 people in the town of Tal Kalakh in southern Syria, an accusation denied by opposition activists.

“Last night, terrorists committed a new massacre against peaceful citizens in the city of Tal Kalakh in the Homs countryside, storming the Burj neighbourhood and killing a number of citizens, including women and children,” SANA reported. Activists pointed the finger of blame at government forces. “ The bodies of 11 people, including eight women, were recovered after they were executed during a raid by regime forces in the Burj neighbourhood of Tal Kalakh today, according to activists in the area,” the Observatory said. In Damascus

province, a car bomb exploded at a rebel checkpoint, killing at least five rebel fighters, the group added.

At least 53 people were killed in violence across the country yesterday, according to a preliminary toll from the Observatory. Speaking in front of some 250,000 people from around the world in the Vatican, Pope Francis prayed for “dear Syria, for its people torn by conflict and for the many refugees who await help and comfort. “How much blood has been shed! And how much suffering must there still be before a political solution to the crisis will be found?” he asked. — AFP

AMMAN: Jordan’s King abdullah II (left) and his Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah wait for Palestinian president’s arrival before a meeting at the Royal Palace yesterday. —AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

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

Kenya calm after vote ruling Western states congratulate ICC-indicted Kenyatta

NAIROBI: A Nairobi resident reads a newspaper with the headline of Kenyan fourth president Uhuru Kenyatta’s win. —AFP

Spanish princess in eye of graft scandal storm MADRID: Spanish King Juan Carlos’s youngest daughter, Princess Cristina, is in the front line of a legal storm engulfing her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, who is under investigation for allegedly embezzling millions of euros in public money. The 47-yearold has not been named as a suspect in the corruption probe opened at the end of 2011 by a judge on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. But the graft allegations facing her husband have cast a growing shadow of suspicion over her role in the affair.

Urdangarin and his former partner Diego Torres are suspected of syphoning off money paid by regional governments to stage sports and tourism events to the non-profit Noos Institute, which Urdangarin chaired from 2004 to 2006.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing and have not been charged with any crime.

Urdangarin, a former Olympic handball player, sought to distance his wife and the rest of the royal family from his business dealings when he was questioned in court last month by the judge leading the investigation.

But last week Torres provided the judge with emails that were leaked to the press which appear to show that Urdangarin regularly consulted his wife-a member of the board of the Noos Institute-about the body’s affairs. Carlos Garcia Revenga, the longtime personal secretary to Princes Cristina and her older sister Princess Elena, was questioned by the judge last month after Torres submitted another batch of emails that suggested he was actively involved in the Noos Institute’s dealings.

Princess Cristina, who works as the director of social welfare programmes at Barcelona-based financial services group La Caixa’s charitable foundation, has kept a low profile since the scandal broke. The easy smile she was known for has been replaced by a serious expression during her the rare outings. “ The deterioration in Princess Cristina’s image has no turning back, at least for a long time,” Emilio de Diego, a history professor at Madrid’s Complutense University, told AFP. “Princess Cristina has always been the wayward daughter of the family, I think

some of the monarch’s mistakes when it comes to family matters began there, by tolerating that she work at a private firm like La Caixa and collect a salary without renouncing her status as a princess,” he added.

The corruption case has also burst the public image of Urdangarin as the ideal son-in-law which he had enjoyed since married Princess Cristina in a lavish ceremony in Barcelona on October 4, 1997. A fan of various sports, especially sailing, Princess Cristina-the seventh in line to the Spanish throne-met Urdangarin at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta where he was competing with Spain’s handball team, which won a bronze medal.

“She likes muscular men who are athletic, tall and sexy,” said Andrew Morton, the author of a biography on Princess Diana who recently published a book on Princess Cristina and three other female members of Spain’s royal family. “She is enormously competitive and obstinate,” he added.

In 2009 Princess Cristina and her husband, along with their four children, moved from Barcelona to Washington where Urdangarin took up a job as an executive director of the US subsidiary of Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica. The couple, who were given the title of Duke and Duchess of Palma when they wed, were living in the United States when the allegations of corruption at the Noos Institute first broke in Spain.

“All we want to do is live a normal life and you won’t let us,” she said when approached by a reporter from Spanish television station Telecinco at a Washington supermarket in February 2012, just before her husband was questioned in court in Palma for the first time. In August 2012 the couple and their four children returned to Barcelona, where they own a mansion in the exclusive Pedralbes area that reportedly cost around six million euros ($8.0 million). “It is possible that Princess Cristina did not know anything about all of this, but the increase in his personal fortune, all of that could not be ignored by a spouse who is very close to her husband,” said Pilar Eyre, who wrote a top-selling biography of the princess’ mother, Queen Sofia.— AFP

NAIROBI: Kenyan police deployed forces yesterday in the capital and the lakeside city of Kisumu to contain the continuing threat of violence after five people were killed in riots Saturday, officials said, but the country remained mostly peaceful after a court upheld Uhuru Kenyatta’s election as president. Rowdy youths in Nairobi’s slums were still trying to protest the Supreme Court’s ruling against Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s challenge to the validity of Kenyatta’s win, Nairobi police officials said yesterday.

At least three people rioting in Nairobi’s Dandora slum were shot dead by police on Saturday, police said, bringing to five the number of people killed in postelection violence since the court’s verdict was given on Saturday. Two people were killed and five seriously injured Saturday in riots in Kisumu, Odinga’s hometown, said Ole Metito, police chief for Nyanza province. The incidents on Saturday threatened to disrupt the peace across most of Kenya, which five years ago degenerated into deadly violence stemming from a disputed election. But police said the heavy presence of forces yesterday in trouble spots - especially slum areas where many of Odinga’s supporters live -was likely to deter protesters still angry over Kenyatta’s court victory.

An unexploded bomb was discovered inside a minibus at a Nairobi bus stop yesterday, police said. “There is tension obviously, but with the deployment of officers we have done we don’t

anticipate anything,” said Moses Ombati, the deputy police chief for Nairobi. Although Odinga accepted the court’s decision, some of his supporters reacted angrily to his loss, taking to the streets and engaging the police in running battles. “There was chaos in places where people were throwing stones. Now we have officers monitoring the general situation,” Metito said.

Kenyatta, who is to be sworn in on April 9, said late Saturday that he would be a president for all Kenyans and urged them to move past the election and build a nation “at peace with itself.” He repeated the same message during a Easter Sunday church service. The March 4 election was described by many as the most complicated in Kenya’s history. It pitted Kenyatta against Odinga, whose disputed loss in the 2007 election triggered postelection violence that killed more than 1,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. Kenyatta faces criminal charges at the International Criminal Court for allegedly encouraging that violence, the reason many Western governments have said they may have limited contact with Kenya’s new president. His win may complicate Kenya’s relationship with the US, which had warned of “consequences” in the event of Kenyatta’s victory. The White House on Saturday congratulated him and urged Kenyans “to peacefully accept the results of the election.”

Kenyatta, who has promised to cooperate with the ICC, will become the second sitting

African president to face charges at The Hague.

William Ruto, his running mate, who is set to become Kenya’s deputy president, faces similar charges. Both men deny any wrongdoing. Unlike after the 2007 election, which degenerated into tribe-on-tribe violence, Kenya has been largely peaceful following these elections.

Odinga charged the presidential election was “tainted” by irregularities. Odinga’s lawyers alleged in court that the electoral commission boosted Kenyatta’s numbers at some polling stations, helping him to avoid a runoff election with Odinga. According to official figures, Kenyatta avoided a runoff by about 8,000 votes out of 12.3 million cast. The Supreme Court decided that Kenyatta was validly elected and that the election was conducted in compliance with the constitution. The judges are expected to release a detailed judgment in two weeks. Odinga said he accepted this verdict even though he regretted that some of the evidence produced by his lawyers had been disregarded.

“Casting doubt on the judgment of the court could lead to higher political and economic uncertainty, and make it more difficult for our country to move forward,” he said Saturday after the verdict. “We must soldier on in our resolve to reform our politics and institutions. Respect for the supremacy of the constitution in resolving disputes between fellow citizens is the surest foundation of our democratic society. “ —AP

Mandela spends 4th day in hospital JOHANNESBURG: Nelson Mandela remained in hospital for a fourth day yesterday after South African officials said he was making steady progress following treatment for a recurrence of pneumonia. The frail 94-year-old, one of the towering figures of modern history, was admitted late Wednesday for his third hospitalisation in four months. Doctors drained a build-up of fluid, known as a pleural effusion or “water on the lungs”, that had developed from the lung infection. “This has resulted in him now being able to breathe without difficulty,” President Jacob Zuma’s office said in a statement on Saturday.

Yesterday morning, Zuma’s spokesman said he didnt have another update on the anti-apartheid icon’s health, as he awaited a report from the doctors. “I have said he is responding (to treatment), making steady progress,” said Mac Maharaj. It was unclear how long South Africa’s first black president would remain hospitalised. Mandela’s recent health troubles have triggered an outpouring of prayers but have also seen South Africans come to terms with the mortality of the revered Nobel Peace Prize winner. Yesterday Christians celebrated Easter Sunday offering prayers for Mandela.

“Yes, we are concerned that he is ailing, and he is getting worse, naturally we should be concerned. I think this is the question in the back of many of our minds, when is the end?

Is he going to die?” Father Sebastian Rossouw, an assistant parish priest at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto township told parishioners.

“We should rather celebrate what he stood for, and what he continues to stand for, that he has been an icon

of peace, an icon of service.” The Regina Mundi church was once a pivotal centre in the resistance against apartheid, offering shelter to activists. The former president is idolised at home, where he is seen as the architect of South Africa’s peaceful transition from white minorityruled police state to hope-filled democracy.

Nearly 20 years after he came to power in 1994, Mandela remains a

unifying symbol in a country still riven by racial tensions and deep inequality. It is the second time this month that Mandela has been admitted to hospital, after spending a night for check-ups on March 9. That followed a nearly three-week hospital stay in December for another lung infection and gallstone surgery, his longest since he walked free from jail in 1990.

He was diagnosed with early-

SOWETO: A child plays ball in front of a giant portrait of former president Nelson Mandela in a park in Soweto yesterday. — AP

stage tuberculosis in 1988 during his 27-year jail term and has long had problems with his lungs. He has also had treatment for prostate cancer and has suffered stomach ailments.

Keertan Dheda, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Cape Town, said a pleural effusion was the accumulation of water between the lining covering the lung and that of the chest wall. Having the fluid tapped was a minor procedure, he said. “One can drain the fluid with a needle and a catheter and in some cases that’s all that’s needed,” he said.

Other cases required the fluid to be chemically broken down if it had formed pockets or a small operation if infected.

“The older you are, the longer pneumonia takes to get better,” said Dheda, adding that mortality was also higher. “It takes a bit longer, everything is a bit slower and a bit more complicated the older you get.”

French pulmonologist JeanChristophe Renaud said Mandela had a good constitution and could recover well. “But at 94, everything is serious, especially taking into account his previous medical history.”

While Mandela’s legacy continues to loom large, he has long since exited the political stage and for the country’s youthful population he is a figure from another era who served as president for just one term. He has not appeared in public since July 2010.

Labour unrest, high-profile crimes, grinding poverty and corruption scandals have effectively ended the honeymoon enjoyed after Mandela ushered in the “Rainbow Nation”, but his decades-long struggle against apartheid still resonates. — AFP

German oppn parties warn each other

STOCKHOLM: A file picture shows Spanish Princess Cristina (left) and her husband Inaki Urdangarin arriving at the wedding banquet of newly-wed Swedish royal couple at the Royal Palace of Stockholm after the wedding ceremony. — AFP

BERLIN: Germany’s two main opposition parties traded warnings yesterday against getting into bed with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives after September’s election if they fail to win their own left-of-centre majority. The leaders of the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens party issued unusually shrill messages to each others’ supporters about the risk their votes might end up going to a party that could join forces in a coalition with Merkel.

The SPD and Greens want to form a centre-left government after September’s election but opinion polls show they will fall short of the needed margin. Surveys show Merkel’s best chances of serving a third term could be to lure either the SPD or the Greens into a coalition with her Christian Democrats (CDU). SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel, alarmed about flirtations between the Greens and CDU, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that Greens voters should be aware that the pro-environmental party could end in bed with the CDU if the SPD and Greens failed to achieve a majority on Sept 22.

“That can’t be ruled out and Greens voters

should know about that,” said Gabriel. The Greens, he said, had turned into Germany’s “new liberal party” as they were chasing voters who had earlier backed the CDU and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP). “There is a lot of overlap between the CDU and the Greens now,” Gabriel said, trying to deter hard-core Greens voters who have traditionally viewed the conservatives as the party’s arch political enemy.

‘Hot air merchant’ Greens co-chairman Cem Oezdemir, one of the party’s most eloquent proponents of an opening to the CDU, quickly shot back. “Gabriel is a hot air merchant,” Oezdemir told Die Welt newspaper. “He knows that we want to defeat the centre-right government together with the SPD. But it’s not enough to rely only on SPD-Greens voters. If we were to do that, the SPD would quickly end up turning to Merkel for another ‘grand coalition’.”

Opinion polls show neither Merkel’s ruling centre-right coalition nor the centre-left opposition command enough support to win a majority to lead Europe’s biggest economy. An Emnid poll in

Bild am Sonntag showed Merkel’s conservatives at 39 percent and their Free Democrat allies at five percent for a combined 44 percent. The SPD was at 26 percent and the Greens at 15 percent for a total of 41 percent.

The SPD and Greens governed together in a coalition from 1998 to 2005. After that the SPD joined forces with Merkel as junior partners in an awkward “grand coalition” until 2009. The Greens’ support in polls has doubled in recent years to levels around 15 percent thanks in part to fears about nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, but also their growing appeal to conservative and rural voters.

The Greens, once famous for their unpredictable and self-destructive party congress battles, have become a serious and united party eager to return to power. At the state level, the Greens ruled in a harmonious coalition with the CDU in Hamburg for three years until 2011, earning them national respectability as a fiscally responsible party. They have also ruled the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg with the SPD as their junior coalition partners since 2012. —Reuters

Italian president at centre of storm as deadlock continues ROME: Italy ’s 87-year-old President Giorgio Napolitano will face the greatest test of his career during his final weeks in office as he tries to end the standoff preventing a new government being formed more than a month after elections. Following widespread reports he may resign to open the way for a new vote, Napolitano pledged to remain in office at the Quirinale palace until his term ends on May 15, averting the immediate threat of further turmoil. He named 10 “wise men” including European Affairs Minister Enzo Moavero and senior politicians from the main centre-left and centre-right blocs to propose a series of urgent measures that could be backed by all parties.

Details will be announced tomorrow but are expected to include cutting the cost of the bloated political system and replacing the widely criticised electoral law to avoid a repeat of the deadlock in future elections. “It would be a disaster to go back to an election without have reformed the electoral law,” Valerio Onida, former head of the Constitutional court who is part of the advisory group, told La Repubblica

newspaper. With financial markets already concerned about instability in the euro zone’s third-largest economy, the prospect of Napolitano leaving raised alarm and moves to escape the impasse received a cautious welcome from commentators yesterday.

“It was the right decision, it will avoid sending a dangerous signal to the markets and will show Italian institutions are solid and functioning,” Enrico Letta, deputy head of the centre-left Democratic Party told Reuters.

However, there were few illusions that summoning the “wise men”, in line with a long tradition in Italian politics, offered more than a slim hope of overcoming the deep divisions that have prevented the parties from coming to an agreement. “Political history shows, alas, that whenever someone wants not to decide something, what happens? They set up a nice commission,” Daniela Santanche, a member of parliament close to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, told La Stampa.

She said there was no alternative to Berlusconi’s demand to share power in a coalition with the centre-

left formation led by Pier Luigi Bersani, which has repeatedly said it cannot deal with the scandalplagued billionaire. “Otherwise we go to elections, which we’re sure of winning. There won’t be any strange third ways,” she said.

Instability Napolitano, member of a student anti-fascist group during World War Two and a former communist, won wide respect in Italy and Europe for his handling of the 2011 political and financial market crisis which brought down the last Berlusconi government.

Newspapers reported yesterday that European Central Bank President Mario Draghi called Napolitano to express concern his resignation would leave Italy without leadership at a time of mounting tension in financial markets.

However, Napolitano has acknowledged he has only limited power to force the parties to find a way out of political situation he said was “frozen between irreconcilable positions”. The three main blocs in parliament - Bersani’s centre-left, Berlusconi’s centre-

right alliance and Beppe Grillo’s anti-establishment 5Star Movement - have all clung to demands that have prevented any government being formed.

Bersani, who won control of the lower house but fell short of the Senate majority that would allow him to govern, rules out a “grand coalition” with Berlusconi while Grillo refuses a pact with parties he blames for Italy’s social and economic crisis. Berlusconi and Grillo have both said they would not back a repeat of the kind of technocrat government led by Prime Minister Mario Monti, who will remain in office until a new government arrives. The deeply divided parliament, along with regional representatives, will soon face the task of electing Napolitano’s successor, who will have to oversee the birth of a new government or guide Italy into new elections.

Berlusconi, facing a verdict in his trial on charges of paying for sex with a minor as well as a decision on his appeal against a four-year sentence for tax fraud, has demanded the next president come from his side.

He has already threatened to take protests to the streets if he does not get his way.—Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

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

Veterans fight changes to disability payments WASHINGTON: Veterans groups are rallying to fight any proposal to change disability payments as the federal government attempts to address its long-term debt problem. They say they’ve sacrificed already. Government benefits are adjusted according to inflation, and President Barack Obama has endorsed using a slightly different measure of inflation to calculate Social Security benefits. Benefits would still grow but at a slower rate.

Advocates for the nation’s 22 million veterans fear that the alternative inflation measure would also apply to disability payments to nearly 4 million veterans as well as pension payments for an additional 500,000 low-income veterans and surviving families. “I think veterans have already paid their fair share to support this nation,” said the American Legion’s Louis Celli. “They’ve paid it in lower wages while serving, they’ve paid it through their wounds and sacrifices on the battlefield and they’re paying it now as they try to recover from those wounds.”

Economists generally agree that projected long-term debt increases stemming largely from the growth in federal health care programs pose a threat to the country’s economic competitiveness.

Addressing the threat means difficult

decisions for lawmakers and pain for many constituents in the decades ahead.

But the veterans’ groups point out that their members bore the burden of a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the past month, they’ve held news conferences on Capitol Hill and raised the issue in meetings with lawmakers and their staffs. They’ll be closely watching the unveiling of the president’s budget next month to see whether he continues to recommend the change.

Obama and others support changing the benefit calculations to a variation of the Consumer Price Index, a measure called “chained CPI.” The conventional CPI measures changes in retail prices of a constant marketbasket of goods and services. Chained CPI considers changes in the quantity of goods purchased as well as the prices of those goods. If the price of steak goes up, for example, many consumers will buy more chicken, a cheaper alternative to steak, rather than buying less steak or going without meat.

Supporters argue that chained CPI is a truer indication of inflation because it measures changes in consumer behavior. It also tends to be less than the conventional CPI, which would impact how cost-of-living raises are computed.

Under the current inflation update,

monthly disability and pension payments increased 1.7 percent this year.

Under chained CPI, those payments would have increased 1.4 percent.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that moving to chained CPI would trim the deficit by nearly $340 billion over the next decade. About twothirds of the deficit closing would come from less spending and the other third would come from additional revenue because of adjustments that tax brackets would undergo. Isabel Sawhill, a senior fellow in economic studies at The Brookings Institution, a Washingtonbased think tank, said she understands why veterans, senior citizens and others have come out against the change, but she believes it’s necessary.

“We are in an era where benefits are going to be reduced and revenues are going to rise. There’s just no way around that. We’re on an unsustainable fiscal course,” Sawhill said. “Dealing with it is going to be painful, and the American public has not yet accepted that. As long as every group keeps saying, ‘I need a carve-out, I need an exception,’ this is not going to work.” Sawhill argued that making changes now will actually make it easier for veterans in the long run.

“The longer we wait to make these changes, the worse the hole we’ll be in

and the more draconian the cuts will have to be,” she said. That’s not the way Sen Bernie Sanders sees it. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs said he recently warned Obama that every veterans group he knows of has come out strongly against changing the benefit calculations for disability benefits and pensions by using chained CPI. “I don’t believe the American people want to see our budget balanced on the backs of disabled veterans. It’s especially absurd for the White House, which has been quite generous in terms of funding for the VA,” said Sanders, I-Vt. “Why they now want to do this, I just don’t understand.” Sanders succeeded in getting the Senate to approve an amendment last week against changing how the cost-ofliving increases are calculated, but the vote was largely symbolic. Lawmakers would still have a decision to make if moving to chained CPI were to be included as part of a bargain on taxes and spending. Sanders’ counterpart on the House side, Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, appears at least open to the idea of going to chained CPI. “My first priority is ensuring that America’s more than 20 million veterans receive the care and benefits they have

earned, but with a national debt fast approaching $17 trillion, Washington’s fiscal irresponsibility may threaten the very provision of veterans’ benefits,” Miller said. “Achieving a balanced budget and reducing our national debt will help us keep the promises America has made to those who have worn the uniform, and I am committed to working with Democrats and Republicans to do just that.”

Marshall Archer, 30, a former Marine Corps corporal who served two stints in Iraq, has a unique perspective about the impact of slowing the growth of veterans’ benefits. He collects disability payments to compensate him for damaged knees and shoulders as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. He also works as a veterans’ liaison for the city of Portland, Maine, helping some 200 low-income veterans find housing.

Archer notes that on a personal level, the reduction in future disability payments would also be accompanied down the road by a smaller Social Security check when he retires. That means he would take a double hit to his income. “We all volunteered to serve, so we all volunteered to sacrifice,” he said. “I don’t believe that you should ever ask those who have already volunteered to sacrifice to then sacrifice again.” — AP

FBI ‘flying saucers’ memo bureau’s most viewed Memo claims ‘3 feet tall bodies’ found in saucers

MEXICO CITY: A giant 5-meter tall figure representing Judas burns in the atrium of the Santa Rosa Xochiac church yesterday. The Burning of Judas is an Easter ritual in many communities, where an effigy of Judas Iscariot is hung on Good Friday, then burned on Easter Sunday.— AP

US airship crash recalled 80 years on LAKEHURST: History buffs will gather this week near the New Jersey coast to commemorate a major airship disaster. No, not that one. Newsreel footage and radio announcer Herbert Morrison’s plaintive cry, “Oh, the humanity!” made the 1937 explosion of the Hindenburg at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station probably the best-known crash of an airship. But just four years earlier, a US Navy airship seemingly jinxed from the start and later celebrated in song crashed only about 40 miles away, claiming more than twice as many lives.

The USS Akron, a 785-foot dirigible, was in its third year of flight when a violent storm sent it plunging tail-first into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after midnight on April 4, 1933. “No broadcasters, no photographers, no big balls of fire, so who knew?” said Nick Rakoncza, a member of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society. “Everybody thinks that the Hindenburg was the world’s greatest (airship) disaster. It was not.”

A ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the crash, the deadliest airship disaster on record, is being held Thursday at a veterans park where there is a tiny plaque dedicated to the victims. Below it is a small piece of metal from the airship. Few in the area seemed to know about the disaster, let alone the memorial plaque; even a Navy officer ent on an underwater mission to explore the wreckage many years later had not heard of the Akron.

“It’s almost a forgotten accident,” said Rick Zitarosa, historian for the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society. “The Akron deserves to be remembered.” The Akron crashed off the community of Barnegat Light just a few

hours after taking off from Lakehurst, killing 73 of the 76 men aboard, largely because the ship had no life vests and only one rubber raft, according to Navy records and the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society. They had been moved to another airship and were never replaced.

Lt. Cmdr. Herbert Wiley, Moody Erwin and Richard Deal were pulled from the frigid waters by a German tanker that had been nearby. Erwin and Deal had been hanging on a fuel tank. Wiley was clinging to a board, according to an account he gave to a newspaper the next day. In a newsreel interview, Wiley, standing next to the other survivors, said he was in the control car just before the crash. He said crew members could not see the ocean until they were about 300 feet above the water.

“The order was given to stand by for a crash,” Wiley said. “The ship hit the water within 30 seconds of that order and most of us, I believe, we catapulted into the water.”

Among the casualties was Rear Adm. William Moffett, the first chief of the Bureau of Navy Aeronautics. When the wreckage was found, Zitarosa said, the airship had collapsed to about 25 feet in height. It had originally stood at about 150 feet. “It was a catastrophic disintegration of the ship once it hit the water,” Zitarosa said. Part of the wreckage was lifted from the sea a few weeks after the accident. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio, had been awarded a Navy contract in 1928 to build the Akron and a second rigid airship, the Macon. Construction of the Akron by the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp. was completed in 1931. It was plagued by problems from the start. — AP

Freezing weather wipes out German flea circus BERLIN: An entire troupe of performing fleas has fallen victim to the freezing temperatures currently gripping Germany. Flea circus director Robert Birk says he was shocked to find all of his 300 fleas dead inside their transport box Wednesday morning.

The circus immediately scrambled to find and train a new batch so it could fulfill its engagements at an open-air fair in the

western town of Mechernich-Kommern.

Michael Faber, who organizes the fair, told The Associated Press that an insect expert at a nearby university was able to provide 50 fleas in time for the first show yesterday. Faber says he hopes they ’ll “get through this without any more fatalities.”Birk said it was the first time his circus had lost all of its fleas to the cold in one go. — AP

ALBUQUERQUE: A single-page FBI memo relaying a vague and unconfirmed report of flying saucers found in New Mexico in 1950 has become the most popular file in the bureau’s electronic reading room. The memo, dated March 22, 1950, was sent by FBI Washington, DC, field office chief Guy Hottel to then-Director J Edgar Hoover. According to the FBI, the document was first made public in the late 1970s and more recently has been available in the “Vault,” an electronic reading room launched by the agency in 2011, where it has become the most popular item, viewed nearly 1 million times. The Vault contains around 6,700 public documents.

Vaguely written, the memo describes a story told by an unnamed third party who claims an

Air Force investigator reported that three flying saucers were recovered in New Mexico, though the memo doesn’t say exactly where in the state.

The FBI indexed the report for its files but did not investigate further; the name of an “informant” reporting some of the information is blacked out in the memo.

The memo offers several bizarre details.

Inside each saucer, “each one was occupied by three bodies of human shape but only 3 feet tall, dressed in metallic cloth of a very fine texture,” according to the report. “Each body was bandaged in a manner similar to the blackout suits used by speed fliers and test pilots.”

The saucers were found in New Mexico because the government had a high-powered radar set up in the area and it is believed the

radar interfered with the controlling mechanism of the UFOs, according to the informant.

The FBI filed the typed page neatly away 63 years ago at its headquarters and “no further evaluation was attempted.” The memo does not appear to be related to the 1947 case in Roswell, NM, when Air Force officials said they recovered a UFO, only later to recant and say it was a research balloon.

“For a few years after the Roswell incident, Director (J Edgar) Hoover did order his agents at the request of the Air Force - to verify any UFO sightings,” the FBI said Thursday. “That practice ended in July 1950, four months after the Hottel memo. Suggesting that our Washington Field Office didn’t think enough of that flying saucer story to look into it.” — AP

US couple deny abuse of Russian teenager COLLEGEVILLE: A couple from the Philadelphia area say they are shocked and hurt by accusations of mistreatment by an adopted son who left and went back to Russia. Alexander Abnosov, 18, who was renamed Joshua Salotti when he and another youth were adopted five years ago, told Russian state-controlled media that his adoptive family treated him badly and that he lived on the streets of Philadelphia and stole just to survive.

Russia’s Channel 1 and Rossiya television reported this week that Abnosov had returned to the Volga river city of Cheboksary, where his 72-year-old grandmother lives. He complained to Rossiya that he fled home because of conflicts with his adoptive mother, who was “nagging at small things,” and said he stayed on the streets for about three months. “My reaction to that, it’s very hurtful because we poured our lives into these boys,” Abnosov’s adoptive father, an emotional Steve Salotti, told a Philadelphia TV station.

The Kremlin has stoked anger in recent months over the treatment of Russian children adopted by Americans in order to justify its controversial ban on US adoptions. The ban came in retaliation for a new US law targeting alleged Russian human-rights violators.

Steve and Jackie Salotti of suburban Collegeville told WPVI-TV that they adopted the two 13 year-old boys in 2008 after raising three children of their own, and tried to raise them as typical American children, with fishing trips, barbecues, pets and Christmas presents. All went well, they said, until Josh turned 18 and went on a trip back to Russia, where he was introduced to drugs and alcohol. They said they noticed a change in his behavior and established house rules including no drugs or alcohol, drug testing, no disrespectful talk to them or to teachers, counseling and a curfew.

Their other adopted son agreed to abide by the rules, the couple said, but Josh eventually left and went back to Russia, where he made public accusations of mistreatment. “With the press pounding on the door and Russia putting these programs on the television, I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” Steve Salotti said. The couple hired a lawyer to help them handle what is expected to become an international political firestorm between the US and Russia.

Family attorney Charles Mandracchia said it was “outrageous” that his clients were “being made out as villains.” “Why the Russian government or the American government would allow this to happen is beyond me,” he said. “Russia’s going to do what Russia’s going to do,” Jackie Salotti told the TV station. — AP

BARINAS: Venezuelan acting president Nicolas Maduro (left) speaks during an interview with AFP following a campaign rally in the state of Barinas, Venezuela ahead of the presidential election on April 14. — AFP

Chavez heir Maduro vows probe into leader’s death BARINAS: Venezuela’s acting president Nicolas Maduro told AFP yesterday that his mentor Hugo Chavez had fought for his life “until the last second” and called for a probe into the leader’s death. “Until the last second of his life he believed that he would live and he wanted to live,” Maduro told AFP in an exclusive interview. A visibly emotional Maduro recalled how he had visited Chavez in the military hospital on March 5 intending to discuss matters of state with the ailing leader, who had not appeared in public since December.

“I was carrying a red folder with all of these pending decisions. I thought I would spend the day discussing various topics. So there I was with the folder. And there he was, probably thinking the same thing.” “He always wanted to live. He had this gigantic optimism and faith in life,” Maduro said.

Hours later, the government announced the death of Chavez, a larger-than-life presence who governed oil-rich Venezuela for 14 years and came to embody a resurgent Latin American left. Until the end the government kept a tight lid on information about Chavez’s health, never disclosing the

type or location of his cancer and insisting he was still carrying out his official duties.

From December until his death this month, Chavez-once a ubiquitous presence on state TV and radio-was neither seen nor heard from in public, heightening tensions in the weeks leading up to his passing.

Maduro reiterated his intention to launch an investigation into Chavez’s death.

Hours before Chavez passed away, Maduro, then vice president, had hinted that “historic enemies” had been behind the leftist leader’s death, a veiled reference to the United States. “It’s a very delicate subject,” Maduro told AFP. “I personally believe there has to be a thorough investigation. You know that some world powers have tested weapons for spreading viruses or cancer, and I believe Comandante Chavez was infected,” he said. “It’s a personal conviction. I have many reasons and a lot of information which leads me to believe it.” Venezuelans will elect a successor to Chavez on April 14, with Maduro carrying the late leader’s mantle and facing off against Henrique Capriles, the opposition candidate who lost to Chavez in October. — AFP

Texas district attorney, wife found dead at home

MUNICH: In this file picture a flea pulls a little cart at a flea circus performing at the Munich Oktoberfest festival. — AP

KAUFMAN: A central Texas prosecutor and his wife were found killed in their house two months after one of his assistants was gunned down near their office, authorities said.

Investigators found the bodies of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, on Saturday, Kaufman County sheriff’s Lt Justin Lewis said. Police, FBI agents, Texas Rangers and deputies were part of the investigation.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was shot to death in a parking lot a block from his office on Jan. 31. No arrests have been made in

his death. Lewis declined to say how the couple died or whether authorities believe their deaths are linked to Hasse’s. He wouldn’t provide further details. Kaufman County is 33 miles southeast of Dallas. Kaufman Police Chief Chris Aulbaugh told The Dallas Morning News that the McLellands had been shot in their home and although investigators didn’t know if their deaths were related to Hasse’s killing, they couldn’t discount it. “It is a shock,” Aulbaugh told the newspaper. “It was a shock with Mark Hasse, and now you can just imagine the double shock and until we know what happened, I really can’t

confirm that it’s related but you always have to assume until it’s proven otherwise.”

Sam Rosander, who lives in the same unincorporated area of Kaufman County as the McLellands, told The Associated Press on Saturday that sheriff’s deputies were parked in the district attorney’s driveway for about a month after Hasse was killed. Aulbaugh said recently that the FBI was checking to see if Hasse’s killing could be related to the March 19 killing of Colorado Department of Corrections head Tom Clements, who was gunned down after answering the doorbell at his home. — AP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

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

Mob attacks Lanka Tamil party COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party yesterday accused a pro-government mob of attacking them in the island’s north as racial tensions rose after Buddhist extremists smashed a Muslimowned business. The opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said their meeting in the town of Kilinochchi on Saturday was disrupted by a stone throwing mob which had also attacked their vehicles and damaged a building while police looked on.

“Although there were police officers at that place... they took no effort to quell this attack,” the TNA said in a statement. TNA legislators have been provided with policemen as their bodyguards.

The latest violence came two days after a mob targeted a Muslim-owned clothing store and warehouse just outside Colombo, raising religious tensions in a countr y emerging from nearly four decades of ethnic war. Militar y spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya

denied security forces were involved in Saturday’s attack against the TNA and said police “successfully dispersed the crowd within about an hour, thus preventing the situation from escalating”.

The attack at Kilinochchi, 330 kilometres (206 miles) north of Colombo, came despite increased security after Thursday’s violence.

The main Muslim party in the ruling coalition said the unprovoked attack was a “sequel” to an ongoing hate campaign

against minority Muslims and other religious minorities. Muslims, who constitute about 10 percent of the country’s 20 million population, are the second largest minority after the mainly Hindu ethnic Tamils. Seventy percent of the population are Sinhalese, most of whom are Buddhists. The United Nations estimates that Sri Lanka’s ethnic civil war claimed at least 100,000 lives between 1972 and 2009, when Tamil separatist rebels were

crushed in a major military offensive by government forces. The Muslim owners of the clothing store, which was stoned and torched on Thursday night, said the attack had “shocked and disturbed us a great deal and instilled fear in the minds of our staff members in carrying out their day to day work”. Police said four Sinhalese Buddhist men had been arrested in connection with the attack and they were looking for more suspects. — AFP

India’s Hindu leader closer to prime ministerial run Modi nominated to BJP parliamentary board

COOCH BEHAR: Families live on railway land in Cooch Behar, West Bengal. — MCT

Nonprofit plants seeds of hope in India RURAL WEST BENGAL: Mamata Barui hopes her garden can save her. When the 16-year-old is not cleaning, cooking or otherwise caring for her four younger siblings, she waters and weeds patches of garlic, radishes and green chilies. She harvests bay leaves and tends pumpkins, beans and bottle gourds that grow near her family’s cow shed. Mamata’s garden produces all the vegetables her family eats. She hopes the surplus will generate enough cash to stop her parents from marrying her off. “I feel afraid,” she said. “They say, ‘You’re not doing anything tangible.’ If I can sell whatever I grow, they might think of delaying my marriage.”

Mamata got that idea - and her gardening skills - from a weekly girls group she helps lead. The group is part of a pilot project of the Seattle-based nonprofit Landesa, a new twist on that organization’s decadeslong effort to use access to land as a way of pulling people out of poverty in India, China, Africa and elsewhere. The project, underwritten by the Nike Foundation and a private donor, is part of a new girls’ empowerment program run by the Indian government. In 299 villages in far northeast India, Landesa’s program has taught roughly 7,800 girls how to garden in hopes of increasing their economic value to their families.

The idea is that if they are considered assets rather than extra mouths to feed, the girls might complete their educations and break out of the poverty cycle. Even if they do not, they will know how to grow food on even small plots of land, improving their nutrition and that of their future children.

The gardening skills also come with extensive lessons in women’s rights, which Landesa hopes will encourage girls to fight back against child marriage, as well as rape, prostitution and other forms of abuse.

If India decides to go ahead with Landesa’s gardening project, it is expected to roll out nationally with the rest of the girls’ empowerment program next year.

Girls are “the next generation, in terms of land rights,” said Gregory Rake, who directs Landesa’s work in India. “Mamata knows somebody else will ultimately make a decision over her life, but at least now she knows there is a different way.” Although child marriage is illegal in India, almost half of girls under age 18 are married. They typically stop going to school and often have children at young ages, which compromises the health of the girls and their babies.

The US State Department says India is a destination for child-sex tourism, and UNICEF estimates 1.2 million Indian children are prostitutes or enslaved. Landesa faced opposition to the girls project in one predominantly Muslim community, just as it faced resistance in some parts of India to educational programs that discuss women’s legal right to inherit land. The nonprofit does not force communities to accept its programs.

In general, Landesa wins the ear of officials in India and elsewhere who want to give land to destitute families to help alleviate poverty. Governments often ask Landesa for help in identifying landless families, which can be difficult because many are not registered. Landesa also helps to change land laws and to match families with land. In some cases, the land is government-controlled - for example, old colonial land in India. In others, it belongs to landowners who agree to sell it at market rates. And Landesa helps poor people register the land, so it cannot be stolen by companies or developers.

Although the nonprofit has a low profile in its hometown of Seattle, many consider Landesa the world’s premier nonprofit group advocating for land rights. The group estimates its efforts have led to more than 100 million families having secure rights to land. Roy Prosterman, a University of Washington law professor, started Landesa’s work in the ‘60s. Originally called the Rural Development Institute, it sprang from

Prosterman’s belief that stealing land from the rich to give to the poor was a recipe for violence.

He made a case for buying land at market rates and giving it to poor people. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) hired him to try it out in South Vietnam, where his program distributed land to a million families during the Vietnam War. Prosterman expanded his efforts in different forms to other areas, including China, Africa and India. That kind of high-level policy work is unusual among anti-poverty nonprofits, said Scott Jackson, CEO of Global Impact, a grant-making nonprofit in Washington, DC. Most groups start with specific programs, then add policy work. Landesa is the opposite, giving it a much longer-term horizon before change is accomplished, he said.

“It might take 10 years to change policy in a state in India on land reform, but when they do, millions of families benefit,” Jackson said. Global Impact recently added Landesa to the roster of nonprofits to which it contributes.

Landesa’s largest funders last year were the Omidyar Network; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and the Skoll Foundation. (Among Landesa’s other funders is the Seattle International Foundation.

That foundation also provides a grant to The Seattle Times to support coverage of international stories, including this one.)

Bulbuli Barman notices major changes in her daughters, Chandana and Santana, since they began attending girls group meetings in 2011.

“Earlier, they were very shy,” she said, sitting on her dirt porch wearing lavender flipflops and wrapped in a large red shawl with gold-threaded embroidery.

Now, the girls “communicate with others and have become very free,” their mother said. Chandana, who is 14, does most of the gardening and, like Mamata, produces most of the family’s vegetables peas and bottle gourds and leafy vegetables. The girls’ father, Kashinath, figures the produce saves the family about $109 a year, or 7 percent of their annual income, because they rarely have to buy vegetables. The savings covers school fees and tutoring for the girls and their younger brother, Koushik.

Their father never gardened on the land before because, as a field worker, he did not realize such a small plot could make such a big difference. None of it would have been possible without the tennis-court-sized plot of land the Barmans were given by the West Bengal government through a Landesadesigned program four years ago.

Until then, they lived on a small plot that flooded during monsoons, forcing Bulbuli and her children to sleep on a neighbor’s porch. Their earth-dug oven filled with water, which meant they went hungry for about two months every year. Although their old home was only a 15-minute walk from where they live now, neighbors rarely dropped by to tell Bulbuli when there was field work. And she worried about leaving the children alone that deep in the woods, anyway. Their new, less-isolated land allows Bulbuli to work regularly, sometimes threshing rice across a wooden stump for eight hours a day before coming home to milk cows, cook and clean. The land does not flood, and the Barmans keep their cows in the bamboo and jute-stick hut in which they lived on the old, flooding property.

They built a new room to sleep in and a separate room for cooking. Santana, who is 12, sometimes visits the old plot. “I don’t like it at all,” she said, but she likes to touch the trees they planted around it.

The Barman children and their neighbors talk and play in the field outside their house, the youngest girls turning cartwheels while the boys wheel old bicycle tires with sticks. Bulbuli is surprised to hear people still let their daughters marry young.

“The day has changed,” she said. But her modern thinking may not be as widespread as she believes. — MCT

NEW DELHI: The main opposition Hindu nationalist party yesterday elevated Narendra Modi, a deeply divisive figure in Indian politics, to the party’s top decision-making bodies, with his supporters believing he could become prime minister in national elections next year.

However, Rajnath Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party president, did not name Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate, apparently because of opposition from some allies.

Smriti Irani, a BJP vice president, said the party would make a decision on the issue later. It is not known when the party will announce its candidate.

The elections are due in May 2014. Yesterday, Modi was made a member of the BJP’s parliamentary board and the central election committee, which will select candidates and lead the election campaign.

Modi, 62, currently heads the BJP government in western Gujarat state. For more than a decade, he has worked relentlessly to market the idea of Gujarat state as a business-friendly state and become a hero to a generation of businessmen. Modi says he has transformed his state, bringing it industries, jobs, electricity and water in a country where power outages and joblessness are epidemic.

However, Modi is accused by rights groups and survivors of not doing enough to stop the violence and even stoking it when maraud-

ing mobs of Hindus killed and burned their way through Muslim neighborhoods in Gujarat state in 2001, leaving more than 1,100 people dead. He was never charged with a crime.

The riots began in Februar y 2002 when a train filled with Hindu pilgrims was attacked by a Muslim mob in a small Gujarat town. A fire erupted - it remains unclear whether it was arson - and 60 Hindus burned to death. In retaliation, Muslims were attacked across the state. Since that bloodletting, Modi has ruled over a state sharply divided along religious lines.

In 2005, the US State Department denied a visa to Modi under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which bars people responsible for violations of religious freedom from getting a visa.

The Congress party, which has led India’s national government for the past nine years, has seen its position dramatically weakened in recent years, its reputation battered by clumsy political maneuvering, weak leadership and a seemingly endless stream of corruption scandals.

The BJP is expected to pose a strong challenge to the Congress party in the 2014 elections. Kapil Sibal, a Congress party leader and telecommunications minister, said yesterday that the elevation of a controversial leader would pose a serious challenge to the BJP in the run-up to the elections. — AP

AHMEDABAD: In this file photo, India’s Gujarat state Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi looks on during his fast in Ahmedabad, India. — AP

2 dead in Pakistan convoy attack BANNU: Taleban militants attacked the election motorcade of a secularist-backed politician with a roadside bomb yesterday, wounding him and killing two of his supporters, police and the militant group said. It was the latest attack by militants against figures associated with the Awami National Party.

Both the ANP and the Taleban have strong support among ethnic Pashtuns who dominate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province in which the blast took place. It comes the day after a man armed with guns and grenades killed a school principal and ANP member in Karachi, a southern port city with a large Pashtun migrant community.

Taleban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan

claimed responsibility for the attack on Malik Adnan Wazir. “We have targeted Adnan Wazir’s convoy for his support for the secular system and the secular party,” he said in a phone call from an undisclosed location.

The blast struck Wazir’s convoy as he was campaigning in the Wali Noor area for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial legislature, said senior police officer Iqbal Khattak. The vote, scheduled for May 11, is a landmark in Pakistan’s history. The country has experienced multiple coups in past decades and the elections are expected to be the first time that a civilian government will pass power to another.

Two vehicles in the convoy were destroyed, wounding eight people including the candidate,

said police officer Hidayatulah Khan. He said two of the eight died at the hospital while Wazir himself is in stable condition. Abbas Ali Khan, a witness and relative of Wazir, told the The Associated Press that Wazir’s personal vehicle was destroyed, but that the candidate had been transferred to another vehicle that suffered only partial damage at an earlier campaign stop. He said that tribal elders Malik Maqbool Khan and Malik Mumtaz who were traveling in Wazir’s vehicle both died.

Taleban militants in recent years have targeted several ANP leaders, including one senior politician, Bashir Bilour, who died in a suicide attack in December 2012 in the provincial capital Peshawar. — AP

Trial begins in India Swiss gang-rape case

KANDAHAR: Afghan laborers work in a traditional wool shop in a street yesterday.

Some nine million Afghans or 36 percent of the population are living in “absolute poverty” while another 37 percent live barely above the poverty line, according to a UN report. — AFP

NEW DELHI: The trial of six men accused in the shocking gang-rape and robbery of a 39-yearold Swiss cyclist holidaying in India began on Saturday, police said. The six were detained soon after the attack two weeks ago in a remote, forested area in Datia district in central Madhya Pradesh state where the woman was camping with her husband. The trial opened with two prosecution witnesses recording statements and identifying possessions stolen from the Swiss couple that were recovered by police, the Press Trust of India reported.

The Swiss couple were not present during the proceedings and the court is likely to ask them to appear before it, the news agency said.

Judge Jitendra Kumar Sharma said the next hearing will be held in April when another prosecution witness, who helped the victim, will testify.

The Swiss woman was allegedly gang-raped on March 15. Her 30-year-old husband was tied up as the woman was assaulted and the pair were also robbed, according to police. Only four of the six were charged with gang-rape because testimony from the victim said two of them were “only present at the crime scene”, according to M.L. Dhody, a Datia police officer.

The other two accused are charged with assault and robbery. Five of the suspects are farmers in their twenties while the sixth is 19, police said. The incident came three months after the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a bus in Delhi, which sparked nationwide outrage.

The public anger prompted parliament to toughen sex offence laws including doubling the minimum prison sentence for gang-rape to 20 years. The Swiss couple were cycling through northern India. The accused allegedly saw the pair pitching their tent and attacked them. The Press Trust of India said at least one of them was armed with a shotgun. — AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

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

North Korea calls its nukes country’s ‘life’ Meeting sets ‘new strategic line’

LHASA: In this photo, rescuers march to an area to search through rock and debris at a gold mine after a mudslide in Gyama village, in Maizhokunggar County of Lhasa, Tibet. — AP

Slim chance of life after Tibet mudslide 3,500 rescuers searching for survivors BEIJING: Hopes were fading yesterday that Chinese search and rescue teams would find survivors, two days after a huge landslide crashed down a Tibetan mountain and buried more than 80 mine workers.

Around 3,500 rescuers were searching for survivors and 300 pieces of large machiner y had been mobilised, state media reported yesterday, with workers battling snow and altitude sickness. Nine bodies were recovered yesterday, bringing the total to eleven after two were found Saturday, the Xinhua news agency said.

That would leave 72 miners unaccounted for under two million cubic metres of earth.

The disaster struck when a huge section of land tumbled onto a mine workers’ camp in Maizhokunggar county, east of the Tibetan capital Lhasa, at 6:00 am on Friday (2200 GMT Thursday).

The first body was found at 5:35 pm Saturday. Yang Dongliang, head of the State Administration of Work Safety, said an inquiry into the landslide’s cause had started with the arrival of experts from the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Xinhua said many rescuers had dug with their “bare hands” because damage to narrow local roads had kept much of the largescale rescue machinery from reaching the site. Mountainous regions of Tibet are prone to landslides, which can be exacerbated by heavy mining activity, and the chance of further landslides heightened safety concerns. “There are cracks on the mountaintop and secondary disasters are possible,” said Jiang Yi, an armed police officer taking part in the rescue, according to Xinhua.

In addition to rescuers and machinery, a total of 10 sniffer dogs and 20 life detectors had been mobilised, Xinhua said. The disaster zone is 4,600 metres (15,000 feet) above

sea level and altitude sickness was a challenge, with more medical personnel being sent to the scene. “We have treated rescuers who suffered altitude sickness or a fever due to the snowy weather,” Li Suzhi, president of the General Hospital of Tibetan Military Command, was quoted by the news agency as saying.

The victims worked for a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation, a state-owned company and the nation’s biggest gold miner by output.

According to the Chinese government, the mine produces copper as well as other metals. Almost all those buried were Han Chinese, the national ethnic majority, with only two ethnic Tibetans, Xinhua said Saturday. Most were migrant workers from the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan.

One of those trapped, 19-year-old He Yuan from Guizhou, recently went to the mine to earn money to support his family including his sick father. He planned to marry his girlfriend when he turned 22, Xinhua reported. “He Yuan is the only son of my sister,” it quoted one of his uncles, Yuan Song, as saying. “How can she survive without him?”

Newly-installed president Xi Jinping, who returned yesterday from Russia and Africa, and new Premier Li Keqiang ordered “top efforts” to rescue victims. In recent years China has discovered huge mineral resources in Tibet, including tens of millions of tonnes of copper, lead and zinc, and billions of tonnes of iron ore. The Tibetan landslide came on the same day as a gas blast in a northeast China coal mine killed 28 people. State media said 13 others were rescued after the accident at Babao Coal Mine in the city of Baishan in Jilin province. — AFP

JAKARTA: Indonesian Christians carry a giant Easter egg with messages from people for Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after an Easter service outside the presidential palace yesterday.— AFP

Indonesians mark Easter outdoors JAKARTA: More than 200 Indonesian Christians yesterday held an Easter service in front of the presidential palace, demanding the government stop church closures in the world’s most populous Muslim country.

Amid hooting cars and other traffic noise, men, women and toddlers sang hymns and said prayers in a two-hour service that also served as a protest against the lack of protection for religious minorities.

The worshippers came from three areas on the outskirts of Jakarta where local government officials shut churches, citing community opposition or the lack of proper building permits.

Rights activists have said local governments are using the permit issue as an excuse to kowtow to religious hardliners, with churches and Islamic minorities bearing the brunt of attacks. They say mosque building permits are rarely challenged.

“We are here to show the president and the world that law enforcement, constitutional supremacy and protection of minority groups are not as sweet as the president had claimed,” said Bona Sigalingging, a

spokesman for Yasmin Indonesia Christian church. “We urge President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to stop staying silent and uncaring of the rampant violations of freedom of religion in Indonesia,” the congregation said in a statement.

Ninety percent of Indonesia’s 240 million people identify themselves as Muslim but the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Among those worshipping near the palace yesterday were members of the Taman Sari Batak Christian Protestant church, whose building was pulled down by the Bekasi district administration on March 21.

“The Easter celebration this year, including Good Friday, touched our hearts more than before because now our church is in ruins,” Panahatan Siregar of the Taman Sari church told AFP. Rights group Setara Institute of Peace and Democracy says cases of intolerance are on the rise, with 543 reported in 2011 compared to 491 in 2009. More than 300 incidents were recorded in the first half of 2012. — AFP

SEOUL: A top North Korean decision-making body issued a pointed warning yesterday, saying that nuclear weapons are “the nation’s life” and will not be traded even for “billions of dollars.” The comments came in a statement released after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party. The meeting, which set a “new strategic line” calling for building both a stronger economy and nuclear arsenal, comes amid a series of near-daily threats from Pyongyang in recent weeks, including a vow to launch nuclear strikes on the United States and a warning Saturday that the Korean Peninsula was in a “state of war.”

Pyongyang is angry over annual US-South Korean military drills and a new round of UN sanctions that followed its Feb 12 nuclear test, the country’s third. Analysts see a fullscale North Korean attack as unlikely and say the threats are more likely efforts to provoke softer policies toward Pyongyang from a new government in Seoul, to win diplomatic talks with Washington that could get the North more aid, and to solidify the young North Korean leader’s image and military credentials at home. North Korea made reference to those outside views in the statement it released through the official Korean Central News Agency following the plenar y meeting.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons are a “treasure” not to be traded for “billions of dollars,” the statement said. They “are neither a political bargaining chip nor a thing for economic dealings to be presented to the place of dialogue or be put on the table of negotiations aimed at forcing (Pyongyang) to disarm itself,” it said. North Korea’s “nuclear armed forces represent the nation’s life, which can never be abandoned as long as the imperialists and nuclear threats exist on earth,” the statement said.North Korea has

called the US nuclear arsenal a threat to its existence since the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula still technically at war. Pyongyang justifies its own nuclear pursuit in large part on that perceived US threat. While analysts call North Korea’s threats largely brinkmanship, there is some fear that a localized skirmish might escalate. Seoul has vowed to respond harshly should North Korea provoke its military. Naval skirmishes in disputed Yellow Sea waters off the Korean coast have led to bloody battles several times over the years. Attacks blamed on Pyongyang in 2010 killed 50 South Koreans.

The plenar y statement also called for strengthening the moribund economy, which Kim has put an emphasis on in his public state-

ments since taking power after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in late 2011. The United Nations says two-thirds of the country’s 24 million people face regular food shortages. The statement called for diversified foreign trade and investment, and a focus on agriculture, light industry and a “self-reliant nuclear power industry,” including a light water reactor. There was also a call for “the development of space science and technology,” including more satellite launches. North Korea put a satellite into orbit on a long-range rocket in December.

The United Nations called the launch a cover for a banned test of ballistic missile technology and increased sanctions on the North.

The central committee is a top decision-making body of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party. The committee is tasked with organiz-

ing and guiding the party’s major projects, and its plenary meeting is usually convened once a year, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry. South Korean media said the last plenary session was held in 2010 and that this was the first time Kim Jong Un had presided over the meeting.

The White House says the United States is taking North Korea’s threats seriously, but has also noted Pyongyang’s history of “bellicose rhetoric.” On Thursday, US military officials revealed that two B-2 stealth bombers dropped dummy munitions on an uninhabited South Korean island as part of annual defense drills that Pyongyang sees as rehearsals for invasion. Hours later, Kim ordered his generals to put rockets on standby and threatened to strike American targets if provoked. — AP

PAJU: South Korean Army soldiers patrol along a barbed-wire fence near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea yesterday. — AP

Doomed US Navy ship removed from Philippine reef MANILA: Workers in the southwestern Philippines have removed the last major part of a US Navy minesweeper from a protected coral reef where it ran aground in January, and the damage will be assessed to determine the fine Washington will pay, officials said yesterday. A crane lifted the 250-ton stern of the dismantled USS Guardian on Saturday from the reef, where it accidentally got stuck Jan. 17, officials said.

The reef, designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural arm, is located in the Tubbataha National Marine Park in the Sulu Sea, about 644 kilometers (400 miles) southwest of Manila. The doomed ship’s parts will be transported to a Navy facility in Sasebo, Japan, to determine which ones can be reused and which will be junked, Philippine coast guard Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista said.

Workers were cleaning debris at the site, where American and Filipino experts this week will begin a final assessment of the reef damage, to be paid for by Washington. An initial estimate showed about 4,000 square meters (4,780 square yards) of coral reef was damaged by the ship grounding, according to Tubbataha Reef park superintendent Angelique Songco.

The ship’s removal was done carefully and it’s unlikely the initial damage estimate will change significantly, Songco said. She said the fine would be about 24,000 pesos ($600) per square meter, so the US could be facing a fine of more than $2 million.

Songco said her agency did not have plans to pursue charges against US authorities over the incident.

Asked if the Philippine government would press charges against US Navy officials, Philippine Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr, a spokesman for President Benigno Aquino III, did not reply directly, but said, “There must be accountability and we will enforce our existing laws.”

The warship’s removal closes an embarrassing episode as Washington reasserts its presence in Asia amid China’s rise. The Navy and the US ambassador to Manila, Harry K. Thomas, have both apologized for the grounding and promised to cooperate with America’s longtime Asian ally.

“As we have stated in the past, we regret this incident and the United States is prepared to pay compensation for the damage to the reef,” the US Embassy said in a statement, adding that it was cooperating with a Philippine government investigation of the incident. A separate US government investigation on the cause of the grounding has not yet been completed, the embassy said.

Aquino has said that the US Navy must explain how the ship got off course, and that the Navy will face fines for damaging the environment. The Guardian was en route to Indonesia after making a rest and refueling stop in Subic Bay, a former American naval base west of Manila, when it ran aground before dawn Jan. 17. It strayed more than 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) into an offshore area off-limits to navigation before hitting the reef, Songco said.

Philippine officials are considering asking the International Maritime Organization, the UN agency responsible for improving maritime safety, to declare the Tubbataha park a “particularly sensitive sea area” so steps can be taken to further protect the area from future shipping accidents, she said. — AP

Religious ‘radicals’ driving Myanmar unrest BANGKOK: Two years after a repressive junta ceded power, Myanmar is grappling with a surge in religious extremism that experts trace to anti-Muslim “provocateurs” including radical Buddhist monks. At least 43 people have been killed while mosques and Muslim homes have been destroyed over the past fortnight in central Myanmar, in a wave of violence that witnesses say seems to have been well organised. “It is clear that there are some agents provocateurs with radical antiMuslim agendas at work in the countryincluding influential Buddhist monks preaching intolerance and hatred of Muslims,” said Jim Della-Giacoma, a Myanmar expert with the International Crisis Group think-tank.

“Also, the systematic and methodical way in which Muslim neighbourhoods were razed to the ground is highly suggestive of some degree of advance planning by radical elements,” he added. Monks-once at the forefront of the pro-democracy movement and viewed with reverence in this devout Buddhist-majority nation-have been linked to the unrest. Some members of the clergy have been involved in the violence, while others are spearheading a move to shun shops owned by Muslims and only visit stores run by Buddhists, identified by stickers showing the number “969”, which has become a symbol of their campaign. “When the profit goes to the enemy’s hand, our nationality, language and religion are all harmed,” said Wirathu, a monk from Mandalay whose anti-Muslim remarks have come under recent scrutiny.

“They will take girls with this money. They will force them to convert religion. All children born to them will be a danger to the country. They will destroy the language as well as the religion,” he said in a speech put online. More moderate voices among civil society activists and religious leaders are calling for the country to defuse violence that has cast a shadow over the Buddhist-majori-

ty nation’s political reforms. “We need to fight this incitement by a group of bad people,” said Thet Swe Win, a human rights activist who co-organised a recent “Pray for Myanmar” peace event in Yangon. “We must prevent racial and religious disputes,” he added. The apparent spark for the recent violence was an argument in a gold shop in the town of Meiktila on March 20 that escalated into a full-scale riot. Since then armed gangs have roamed from town to town in central Myanmar razing mosques and Muslim homes.

It follows Buddhist-Muslim clashes in the western state of Rakhine last year that left at least 180 people dead, mostly minority Muslim Rohingya who are viewed by many Burmese as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

A wave of hate has swept across social media websites targeting the Rohingya, who have long been denied citizenship by Myanmar’s government, which like many Burmeserefers to them as “Bengalis”. Recently, however, the violence has also targeted Muslims with Myanmar citizenship, some of whose families came to the country more than a century ago from India, Bangladesh or China.

Speaking to AFP, monk Wirathu denied that he was against all Muslims, and said the “969” movement was unrelated to the recent unrest. “We just targeted Bengalis who are terrorising ethnic Rakhine (Buddhists),” the 45-year-old said. “We are just preaching to prevent Bengalis entering the country and to stop them insulting our nationalities, language and religion,” he added. In an effort to stem the violence, the government has declared a state of emergency and deployed troops in the worst-hit areas. The United Nations’ human rights envoy to the country, Tomas Ojea Quintana, has said the reluctance of security forces to crack down on the unrest suggests a possible state link to the fighting-comments rejected by Myanmar. — AFP

YANGON: This picture shows Buddhist monk Wirathu speaking to media representatives following a multi-confessional dialogue initiative at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon. — AFP

NEWS

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

Rime ice coats the buildings and antennas on top of Mt Washington Saturday in New Hampshire. Rime ice is formed when super-cooled water droplets blown by the prevailing winds freeze when they hit stationary objects. — AP

Palestinian leader clamps down on critics HUSSAN, West Bank: Mahmoud Abbas’ government in the West Bank is getting tougher with critics, interrogating, prosecuting and even jailing several journalists and bloggers in recent months for allegedly “defaming” the Western-backed Palestinian leader. Rights activists say the legal hassles are meant to silence dissent and that the campaign is intensifying despite promises to the contrary by Abbas. Targets of the crackdown include supporters of Abbas’ political rival - the Islamic militant Hamas - and political independents who have written about alleged nepotism and abuse of power in Abbas’ Palestinian Authority.

Abbas’ aides insist the Palestinian leader opposes any curb on expression. They blame overzealous prosecutors and security officials, but government critics say Abbas could easily halt the clampdown. “It’s a good cop, bad cop routine. The bad cops are the security services, and the good cop is the benevolent president,” said Diana Buttu, a former Palestinian Authority insider. They want to send a chilling message, she said, “and it works.”

Abbas’ foreign backers, who view him as key to delivering any future peace deal with Israel and maintaining quiet in the West Bank, have said little in public about the issue. Instead, during a visit to the West Bank in late March, President Barack Obama showered Abbas and his security forces with praise for their efforts to prevent militant attacks on Israel. The new tactic of taking journalists and bloggers to court has invited speculation about timing and motive.

Some say Abbas and his inner circle are lashing out at critics because they feel increasingly vulnerable politically. Others suggest the 78-year-old Abbas is either an old-school Arab politician not used to criticism or an out-of-touch leader getting

bad advice. “It’s a weak authority and that’s why it’s doing this,” said Shahwan Jabareen, who heads the human rights group Al-Haq. “They fear the criticism is growing - that they will lose the (Palestinian) authority - and they are trying to keep it by acting like this.”

Such insecurities are rooted in the political split of 2007, when Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from Abbas. Since then, Hamas has been going after sympathizers of Abbas’ Fatah movement in Gaza, while Abbas’ security forces have tried to dismantle the Hamas infrastructure in the West Bank to prevent a similar takeover there.

Reconciliation efforts have failed, and both sides are entrenched in their respective territories. The split has prevented new elections, meaning Abbas has already overstayed his term as president by four years, weakening his claim to lead. His troubles are compounded by a cash crisis in his foreign aid-dependent government and lack of progress toward his main objective of negotiating terms of a Palestinian state with Israel.

There have been waves of crackdowns on political rivals, particularly Hamas, since the Palestinian Authority was established two decades ago, as part of interim peace deals with Israel. However, Palestinian journalists say they are increasingly being targeted. “I think it is getting worse, although we are getting very rosy promises” from the president’s office, said Nabhan Khraishi, a spokesman for the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, a union with hundreds of members.

Ahead of Obama’s March 21 meeting with Abbas, 18 Palestinian journalists were told that they would not be allowed to enter the president’s compound to cover the event. Veteran reporters were among those denied accreditation

apparently for being perceived as politically hostile to the Palestinian Authority. Khraishi said that in talks with the journalists’ union, political advisers and security officials blamed each other for banning an unprecedented number of journalists from covering Obama. Tayeb Abdel Rahim, an Abbas adviser who dealt with the issue, did not return phone messages yesterday.

Two recent court rulings have drawn more attention to the clampdown on free speech. On Thursday, an appeals court in the West Bank upheld a one-year prison term for Mamdooh Hamamreh for “defaming” Abbas. Hamamreh allegedly posted a photo montage on his Facebook page in September 2010 that showed Abbas next to that of a TV villain. A caption read: “They’re alike in all ways.” The villain in the TV drama collaborated with French colonial rule in Syria.

Hamamreh, a Hamas activist in his college years, denies having posted the photos. He said he spent 53 days in interrogation, missing the birth of his son and was banned from seeing his lawyer for the first 20 days. After his release on bail, his trial and an appeal dragged on for more than two years. Abbas pardoned him hours after the appeals court decision Thursday, and Hamamreh was released later that day. Nimer Hamad, an Abbas adviser, said the Palestinian leader hadn’t pushed for Hamamreh to be prosecuted. “This young man did not deserve such a sentence,” Hamad said. “The freedom and right of expression is guaranteed to all people and the president is keen on protecting freedom of expression.”

Hamamreh said he believes the main point was to deter him and others from speaking out, and that he will stay clear of any potential trouble in his work. “I now censor myself regarding anything I say,” the 29-year-old said Saturday, surrounded by

Karzai meets Qatar emir Continued from Page 1 many years anathema to countries in the UN-backed coalition against the militants. But the search for a political settlement became a priority as the insurgency raged on, with Taleban leaders able to fuel violence from safe havens across the border in Pakistan. Kabul has repeatedly stressed that it will only start talks if the militants break all links with Al-Qaeda and give up violence, and Faizi said any Taleban office in Qatar must be subject to strict conditions. “It can only be an address where the armed opposition sit and talk to the Afghanistan government,” he said. “This office cannot be used for any other purposes.”

Karzai met Qatari investors on Saturday evening and encouraged them to invest in the country as it works to secure stability before NATO-led combat forces withdraw next year. “The future of Afghanistan is guaranteed because our relations have expanded with America and

other countries such as China, India and Russia,” he said according to an emailed statement. The United Nations last week welcomed news that Karzai would visit Qatar, and issued another call for the Taleban to come to the negotiating table.

But a Qatar office could mean little if the Taleban continue to refuse to negotiate with Karzai or with the government-appointed High Peace Council. “The opening of the Taleban office in Qatar is not related to Karzai, it is a matter between the Taleban and the Qatar government,” Taleban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP. “Our representatives who are already in Qatar won’t see or talk to him.” The Islamist militants broke off tentative contacts with the US in Qatar a year ago after the failure of attempts to agree on a prisoner exchange as a confidence-building measure. Neighbouring Pakistan, which backed the Taleban’s 1996-2001 rule over Afghanistan and is seen as key to any workable peace deal, has expressed support for a Taleban office in Doha. — AFP

Workers’ union blasts govt policies...

Continued from Page 1 In another development, the so-called majority bloc of lawmakers in the scrapped Assembly, which forms the core of the opposition, stressed that the bloc and the opposition are strong and cohesive following reports of internal disputes within the opposition factions. The announcement came following a marathon meeting that lasted until after midnight on Saturday and decided that another meeting will be held on Thursday to bring all factions of the opposition together in order to coordinate new protest activities.

Prominent opposition leader Ahmad Al-Saadoun said after the meeting that those who think that the opposition is dying are dreaming, adding that the majority bloc meeting, attended by around 30 former

MPs, is a proof the bloc is alive and healthy. Saadoun said it was decided to hold a gathering titled “A Nation Protests” on Wednesday in which the opposition factions are taking place. In recent weeks, various signals of internal disputes within the opposition factions emerged, especially when two separate opposition alliances were formed and a number of former MPs appeared ready to form a third faction.

The criminal court yesterday sentenced opposition tweeter Hamed Al-Khaledi for writing remarks on his Twitter account deemed offensive to HH the Amir. The jail term will be implemented immediately. Defense lawyer Jasser Al-Jadaei said that he will challenge the ruling in the appeals court. Several opposition tweeters and former MPs have been handed various jail terms in the past few months for similar charges.

HUSSAN: Palestinian journalist Mamdooh Hamamreh adjusts his glasses during an interview on Saturday in this West Bank village near Bethlehem. — AP well-wishers at his family home in the village of Hussan, near Bethlehem. “It’s the one thing they (the authorities) succeeded in doing, which is intimidation.” On the same day as Hamamreh’s verdict, another court in the northern town of Salfit sentenced a blogger, Anas Ismail, to six months for “liking” three Facebook posts critical of the Ministry of Telecommunications and the minister himself.

Ismail, 30, said he was jailed for 17 days of interrogation in February and convicted and sentenced Thursday for “insulting a minister.” The judge allowed him to appeal immediately, meaning he is

staying out of prison for now. He later posted on his Facebook page: “For a ‘tag,’ you get one year.

For a ‘like,’ you get six months, for a ‘share’ you get a suspended sentence. A comment invites the biggest disaster.”

A Palestinian advocacy group, MADA, said it counted 238 violations of the rights of Palestinian journalists last year, including detentions, travel bans and the closing of media outlets. MADA said that of those, 70 percent, or 164, were committed

by Israel and the rest in equal measure by the two rival Palestinian governments. — AP

New bird flu strain kills two BEIJING: Two people in China have died after being infected with H7N9 avian influenza - a sub-type that had not previously been transmitted to humans - the government said yesterday. An 87-year-old man in Shanghai fell ill on Feb 19 and died on March 4, while a man aged 27 in the city got sick on Feb 27 and died on March 10, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said on its website. A 35-year-old woman in the eastern province of Anhui became ill on March 9 and is in critical condition, it said.

All three initially suffered fever and coughs but later developed severe pneumonia and problems with breathing, according to the

announcement. The three cases were confirmed Saturday to be infections with the H7N9 sub-strain after the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Preservation had separated it from body samples the day before, the commission said. The route of infection remained unknown although nothing unusual was detected among 88 people close to the victims, the commission said. The H7N9 strain had not been transmitted to humans before, it added.

In a separate release, the commission said there are currently no vaccines against H7N9. It also explained that the delay in announcing the results was because it took time to

determine the cause of the illnesses.

China is considered one of the nations most at risk from bird flu because it has the world’s biggest poultry population and many chickens in rural areas are kept close to humans. China has in the past been accused of covering up the extent of bird flu outbreaks, exacerbating fears when new cases are reported. The World Health Organisation says more than 360 confirmed human deaths from the H5N1 strain of avian influenza have been reported to it globally from 2003 until March 12 this year. It says other sub-types have infected humans, including H7N7 and H9N2, and some of these infections led to deaths. — AFP

Saudis say Internet apps breaking rules Continued form Page 1 An industry source said telecom operators were behind the move, accusing them of asking the commission to impose censorship because of the “damage” caused by free applications.

In the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, most Skype applications and Viber calls are blocked, but WhatsApp messenger remains accessible. The two Gulf neighbours in 2010 threatened to ban BlackBerry instant messaging and demanded that the company install local servers to censor the service. Instant messaging services on BlackBerry remain uninterrupted, but it is not clear how far the Canadian smartphone manufacturer went to comply.

The kingdom appears to making a greater push for greater control over cyberspace as Internet and smart phone usage soars, in part due to strict laws that limit

opportunities for people to mix. Mobile penetration was 188 percent by the end of 2012, CITC data shows. Saudi now has 15.8 million Internet subscribers and the average user watches three times as many online videos per day as counterparts in the United States, according to YouTube.

On Saturday, the English-language Arab News daily said Saudi Arabia may try to end anonymity for Twitter users in the country by limiting access to the site to people who register their identification documents, although it was unclear how such restrictions could be enforced. Telecom operators can block content and access to particular sites, but this becomes more difficult if a user already has the application installed on a device. For example, Skype and other foreignbased VoIP providers are widely used in the neighbouring UAE, despite an official ban, with residents downloading the software via virtual private networks or while abroad. Once installed, these can be used inside the UAE. — Agencies

14

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

ANALYSIS

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher

YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief

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

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

Issues

Tensions rise in CAR after coup

By Patrick Fort ising religious tensions in the Central African Republic could be a ticking time-bomb after a coup that left the chronically unstable nation with a Muslim strongman, despite his promises of secular rule. “We are sitting on a bomb. An evil sorcerer could blow up the whole house. I don’t want us to underestimate the problem,” said Dieudonne Nzapalainga, the Catholic archbishop of Bangui.

Michel Djotodia, the self-proclaimed president, became the first Muslim leader of the country after seizing power in a bloody March 24 coup that ousted president Francois Bozize, creating days of chaos and looting.

“The Central African Republic is a secular state,” Djotodia said on Friday. “It is true that I am Muslim, but I must serve my country, all Central Africans.” However he said that “some people with bad intentions want to lead the country into inter-religious conflict.” Since Djotodia and his Seleka rebel coalition began an offensive in December, Bozize’s regime often accused them of Michel Djotodia “preaching Wahhabism” - an ultra- conser vative Islam often followed by fundamentalists - or of being “Muslim terrorists”.

During the crisis Bozize’s supporters set up socalled self-defence committees which erected roadblocks around the capital Bangui and often lashed out at Muslims whom they associated with the rebels. At the same time the rebels leaned on the Muslim community which carried out fundraising for them. Looters also ransacked Christian property after the coup, sparing Muslims and heightening tensions. One resident of Bangui said that images of Muslims chanting “Allah Akbar” (God is Greatest) when Djotodia arrived at the Bangui mosque for Friday prayers had “shocked” some Christians. “We are no longer at home. They pillage our goods which are then sold by the Muslims who export them to the north (Chad and Sudan),” he said on condition of anonymity. A woman from the Benz-Vi suburb added, referring to the Muslims: “They say, ‘It’s our turn now. We will make you pay’.”

The country of nearly five million people is mostly Christian, with about 15 percent Muslims who are concentrated in the north where the rebellion started.

The different religions have always coexisted peacefully and leaders from both sides have urged people not to confuse the fact that there is a Muslim leader, with the “Islamisation” of the country. “The new authorities are not there for a religious goal but a political goal. They must present their political agenda to convince the population,” said Pastor Nicolas Guere Koyame, leader of the Alliance of Evangelists in Central Africa.

Imam Oumar Kobline Layama, president of the Islamic Community of Central Africa, said the rebels should not play into the hands of those “who want to turn this change into a religious problem”. “We must not destroy this cohabitation that we have had for more than 50 years,” he said. “I ask Muslims not to say: ‘today it’s our turn’. There is no ‘turn’, we are all Central Africans. The leaders of Seleka must keep to the principles of Islam. Islam does not encourage division or theft or looting,” he said. The archbishop Nzapalainga also called for people not to mix up religion and politics. “The reason for the crisis is not religious but political. But along the way, words and actions toward the Christian community have given the impression this is a religious crisis,” he said. However, sources in the political, military and diplomatic community say the Islam practiced by Seleka is of less concern than the absence of the state and the security vacuum which, combined with high poverty rates, could make it easier for radical groups to take hold. — AFP

R

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

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

US strategy takes crisis into new territory

By Giles Hewitt oaring tensions on the Korean peninsula have seen dire North Korean threats met with an unusually assertive US response that analysts warn could take a familiar game into dangerous territory. By publicly highlighting its recent deployment of nuclear-capable B-52 and stealth bombers over South Korea, Washington has, at times, almost appeared to be purposefully goading an already apoplectic Pyongyang. “There certainly seems to be an element of ‘let’s show we’re taking the gloves off this time’ about the US stance,” said Paul Carroll, program director at the Ploughshares Fund, a US-based security policy think-tank.

And the North has responded in kind, declaring on Saturday that it was now in a “state of war” with South Korea. Security crises on the Korean peninsula have come and gone over the decades and have tended to follow a similar pattern of white-knuckle brinkmanship that threatens but finally pulls back from catastrophic conflict. North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il-Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong-Il were both considered skilled practitioners of this high-stakes game of who-blinks-first diplomacy.

And they ensured Pyongyang had enough form to lend its threats credibility, having engineered provocations that ranged from blowing up a South Korean civilian airliner in 1987 to shelling a South Korean island in 2010. The current crisis, with Pyongyang lashing out at a combination of UN sanctions and South Korea-US military exercises, diverges from precedent in terms of the context and the main characters involved. It follows the two landmark events that triggered the UN sanctions and re-drew the strategic bal-

S

ance on the peninsula: The North’s successful long-range rocket launch in December and its third - and largest nuclear test in February.

Both may have emboldened North Korea to overplay its hand, while at the same time prompting Washington to decide there was already too much at stake to consider folding. “Rhetorical salvoes are one thing, while rocket launches and nuclear tests are quite another,” said Carroll.

In addition, both North and South Korea have new, untested leaders with a strong domestic motivation to prove their mettle in any showdown. Bruce Klingner, a Korea exper t at the conser vative Heritage Foundation in Washington, believes the danger of “miscalculation” is especially high from North Korea’s young supremo Kim Jong-Un. Kim was not only emboldened by the successful rocket and nuclear tests, but “also by the knowledge that Seoul and Washington have never struck back in any significant way after previous deadly attacks”.

This time around, however, South Korea has signalled it would respond with interest, and the message sent by the B-52 and stealth bomber flights is that it has the US firmly in its corner. Peter Hayes, who heads the Nautilus Institute, an Asia-focused think tank, points out that the B-52 deployment carried a particular - and potentially dangerous - resonance. After a bloody border incident in 1976 left two American soldiers dead, the United States spent weeks sending flights of B-52 bombers up the Korean peninsula, veering off just before they entered the North’s air space. Then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger commented that he had “never seen the North Koreans so scared”.

Hayes warned that replaying the B-52 threat could

prove to be “strategically stupid” by reviving the North’s historic and deep-rooted fear of a US nuclear strike. “The B-52 deployment also declares loudly and clearly that they have forced the US to play the game of nuclear war with North Korea,” Hayes said. “It tells them it has reached the hallowed status of a nuclear-armed state that matters enough to force a simulated nuclear-military response,” he added.

The possible end-game scenarios to the current crisis are numerous, but none point to an obvious path for defusing the situation peacefully. Most analysts rule out the prospect of a full-scale war on the grounds that North Korea knows it would lose, just as it knows that launching any sort of nuclear strike would be suicidal. But after threatening everything from an artillery assault to nuclear Armageddon, there is also a sense that Kim Jong-Un has pushed himself into a corner and must do something to avoid a damaging loss of face and credibility.

A provocative missile test fired into the sea over Japan is one option with a relatively low risk of further escalation. Several analysts had originally predicted a limited artillery strike similar to the 2010 shelling of Yeonpyeong island, but the US and South Korean vows of a tough response have called into question just how “limited” such a move would prove to be. Scott Snyder, a senior fellow for Korea studies with the Council on Foreign Relations, suggested that the United States, having delivered its message loud and clear, should now provide Kim with a way out. “There is a need for the United States and South Korea to offer some clear diplomatic gestures of reassurance toward the North that can help the North Koreans climb down, calm down, and change course,” Snyder said. — AFP

Was Shakespeare a ruthless businessman?

By Jill Lawless oarder, moneylender, tax dodger it’s not how we usually think of William Shakespeare. But we should, according to a group of academics who say the Bard was a ruthless businessman who grew wealthy dealing in grain during a time of famine.

Researchers from Aberystwyth University in Wales argue that we can’t fully understand Shakespeare unless we study his often-overlooked business savvy.

“Shakespeare the grain-hoarder has been redacted from history so that Shakespeare the creative genius could be born,” the researchers say in a paper due to be delivered at the Hay literary festival in Wales in May. Jayne Archer, a lecturer in medieval and Renaissance literature at Aberystwyth, said that oversight is the product of “a willful ignorance on behalf of critics and scholars who I think - perhaps through snobbery - cannot countenance the idea of a creative genius also being motivated by self-interest.” Archer and her colleagues Howard Thomas and Richard Marggraf Turley combed through historical archives to uncover details of the playwright’s parallel life as a grain merchant and property owner in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon whose practices sometimes brought him into conflict with the law.

“Over a 15-year period he purchased and stored grain, malt and barley for resale at inflated prices to his neighbors and local tradesmen,” they wrote, adding that Shakespeare “pursued those who could not (or would not) pay him in full for these staples and used the profits to further his own money-lending activities.” He was pursued by the authorities for tax evasion, and in 1598 was prosecuted for hoarding grain during a time of shortage.

The charge sheet against Shakespeare was not entirely unknown, though it may come as shock to some literature lovers.

But the authors argue that modern read-

H

ers and scholars are out of touch with the harsh realities the writer and his contemporaries faced. He lived and wrote in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, during a period known as the “Little Ice Age”, when unusual cold and heavy rain

caused poor harvests and food shortages. “I think now we have a rather rarefied idea of writers and artists as people who are disconnected from the everyday concerns of their contemporaries,” Archer said. “But for most writers for most of his-

This March 9, 2009 file photo shows a then newly discovered portrait of William Shakespeare presented by the Shakespeare Birthplace trust in central London.—AP

tory, hunger has been a major concern and it has been as creatively energizing as any other force.” She argues that knowledge of the era’s food insecurity can cast new light on Shakespeare’s plays, including “Coriolanus,” which is set in an ancient Rome wracked by famine.

The food protests in the play can be seen to echo the real-life 1607 uprising of peasants in the English Midlands, where Shakespeare lived.

Shakespeare scholar Jonathan Bate told the Sunday Times newspaper that Archer and her colleagues had done valuable work, saying their research had “given new force to an old argument about the contemporaneity of the protests over grain-hoarding in ‘Coriolanus’.” Archer said famine also informs “King Lear”, in which an ageing monarch’s unjust distribution of his land among his three daughters sparks war.

“In the play there is a very subtle depiction of how dividing up land also involves impacts on the distribution of food,” Archer said.

Archer said the idea of Shakespeare as a hardheaded businessman may not fit with romantic notions of the sensitive artist, but we shouldn’t judge him too harshly. Hoarding grain was his way of ensuring that his family and neighbors would not go hungry if a harvest failed.

“Remembering Shakespeare as a man of hunger makes him much more human, much more understandable, much more complex,” she said. “He would not have thought of himself first and foremost as a writer. Possibly as an actor - but first and foremost as a good father, a good husband and a good citizen to the people of Stratford.”

She said the playwright’s funeral monument in Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church reflected this. The original monument erected after his death in 1616 showed Shakespeare holding a sack of grain. In the 18th century, it was replaced with a more “writerly ” memorial depicting Shakespeare with a tasseled cushion and a quill pen.— AP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

S P ORTS

Cancellara powers to victory

Saudi to allow women’s sports clubs — paper

Alvarado wins Rios bout

OUDENAARDE: Fabian Cancellara wiped out last year’s bad memories when he powered his way to his second victory in the Tour of Flanders cycle race yesterday. A year ago, on the same 256 kms of exhausting hills and cobbled sections, the Swiss former Olympic and world time-trial champion hit the tarmac as he rode over a bottle 60 kms from the finish line in Oudenaarde.

He fractured his collarbone, forcing him to miss the “Ronde” and the Paris-Roubaix the following weekend. Twelve months later, Cancellara timed his move to perfection, striking 14 kms from the finish line to shake off his only rival on the day, Slovakia’s Peter Sagan, and snatch the laurels three years after his previous victory in the Belgian classic. “It’s just amazing. One year ago, I was on the ground and now I’m back and I won Flanders as a big favourite. It was not easy. I’m just happy, really happy,” said the Swiss, now his country’s best-ever one-day rider with two Ronde, two ParisRoubaix and one Milan-San Remo wins under his belt. —Reuters

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is to license women’s sports clubs for the first time, Al-Watan daily reported, in a major step for an ultra-religious country where clerics have warned against female exercise.

Last year the conservative Islamic kingdom, where women must have permission from a male relative to take many big decisions, sent women athletes to the Olympics for the first time after pressure from international rights groups. Until now, women’s exercise facilities, including gyms, have had to be licensed by the Health Ministry and designated as “health centres”. Last April Watan, owned by a Saudi prince, reported the government had set up a ministerial committee to allow women’s sports clubs. The General Presidency of Youth Welfare, which functions like a sports ministry, only regulates men’s clubs. In 2009 a member of the country’s highest council of clerics said girls should not play sports lest they “lose their virginity” by tearing their hymens. State-run girls’ schools do not have exercise classes.

Watan said the Interior Ministry had decided to allow women’s sports clubs after reviewing a study that showed flaws in the existing system. In August two Saudi women, a judoka and a sprinter, became the first to compete for their country in the Olympics. At least one had trained abroad.—Reuters

LAS VEGAS: Mike Alvarado boxed his way to a narrow but unanimous decision over Brandon Rios on Saturday to take the interim WBO light welterweight title and reverse the outcome of their slugfest five months ago.Alvarado came on strong in the late rounds to win 115-113 on two scorecards and 114-113 on the other, avenging his seventh-round loss to his fellow Hispanic American in October. The ringside punch totals were almost as close as the scoring, with Alvarado credited with landing 261 punches to 241 for Rios. It wasn’t as dramatic as the first fight, when Rios stopped Alvarado after being rocked himself a round earlier. But the fight was still thrilling at times, fought at a high level. It also occasionally brutal, as evidenced by the cut on Alvarado’s forehead and his swollen face. He was taken to a hospital for a precautionary brain scan after the fight, and Rios also was taken to the hospital. “Brandon gave me a shot to redeem myself,” Alvarado said. “I’ll give him a shot for the trilogy.” —AP

Teaforthree National win no solace for McNamara CARDIFF: Teafor three winning the Grand National next Saturday would be of little consolation for paralysed Irish amateur jockey JT McNamara, the horse’s trainer Rebecca Curtis told BBC Wales.

McNamara, 37, rode the Welshtrained horse to glory in the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last year but any chance he had of renewing his acquaintance with Teaforthree at Aintree was erased when he broke two vertebrae at this year’s Festival.

Since then he has lain in a Bristol hospital initially in an induced coma but now he is fully conscious and while paralysed he is according to Adrian McGoldrick the chief medical officer of the Irish Turf Club in a very positive frame of mind.

Curtis, who is aiming to deliver Wales only their second win in the world’s greatest steeplechase with Kirkland landing the 1905 edition, said that victory for her horse would not be at the forefront of McNamara’s mind.

“To be honest, for JT, it will be the last thing on his mind,” she told BBC Wales.

“For him to be where he is, whether he watches the National or not, it’s just more upsetting for him to be in that situation. It’s absolutely heartbreaking for him,” added the 32-year-old.

Curtis, who would become the third woman after Jenny Pitman and Venetia Williams to train the winner of the National, said she found it hard to sum up her feelings over what had happened to McNamara, a four-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival.

“You can’t even speak words what I feel for him and his family. It’s just an awful situation to be in,” said Curtis. “It couldn’t have happened to a nicer, hardworking man. It’s just horrendous really.”

Curtis, who has been a trainer for five years near the port of Fishguard after a four year spell learning the trade in California which she found boring, said that her 16/1 chance for the National is in flying form just a week away from the race.

“Teaforthree’s really fit and well, he did a really good piece of work last Wednesday. We couldn’t be happier, but it’s just one of those races where you need to have so much luck in running,” said Curtis, who has nearly 30 horses.

“Even with the best jumper, you can have fallers in front of you and around you. There’s a lot of hard luck stories in the National where a horse is going well and brought down by other runners. “I just think you have to be very lucky. All we can do is get him there fit and well.”—AFP

AAW and Nike Store launch first multi-category Nike concept store at The Avenues KUWAIT: Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co. (AAW ) yesterday announced further investment in its Nike Store franchise in Kuwait with the launch of its first Nike multi-category store based on the latest EVO concept design at SoKu, The Avenues.

The store occupies more than 330 square meters and includes the widest range of spor ts fashion footwear, equipment, apparel and accessories in Kuwait to date.

This is the sixth Nike store in the country and represents a wider investment and a stronger relationship between the local franchisee, AAW, and Nike Store. The latest store is the first concept in the Middle East with the recent EVO layout concept to carr y men, women, and kids’ sportswear collections displaying more than 400 products under a single roof in its key categories: Football, Running, Basketball, Spor tswear, Action Spor ts, Athletic Training, and Women’s Training.

Head of Retail Operations at AAW, Malik Saad said: “Since we launched our first Nike Store in 360 Mall in 2010, we’ve seen a continued increase in demand for Nike’s quality products, driving us to open five more stores

across Kuwait in the 3 years that followed, the latest of which is The Avenues Nike Store that was launched today.

“In the last 20 years, Nike has continuously provided the best product innovations suited for a wide-range of athletic performances. With our first multicategory concept store at The Avenues, we hope to create a one-stop-shop for athletes, sports fanatics and sports fashion lovers and bring them closer to revolutionary and highly-innovative sporting goods to meet all their needs.”

The Nike store at The Avenues sits alongside five other multi-category stores across Kuwait. They include Nike Souq Sharq, Nike at Kuwait International Airport, Nike Discovery Mall, Nike 360 Mall, and the first Nike flagship store in Kuwait at Bidaa.

Nike Store is now open at SoKu, The Avenues and will be the first to introduce the luxurious EVO store design that provides an enhanced and shopper-friendly environment within a boutique-inspired space. It will also be part of “ The Frequent Buyer Program” offered by Nike stores across Kuwait, which provides a 50% off the sixth pair of purchased athletic footwear.

SAN JOSE: Goalkeeper Antti Niemi No. 31 of the San Jose Sharks smothers the puck making a glove hand save against the Phoenix Coyotes in the third period at HP Pavilion.—AFP

Penguins blank Islanders PITTSBURGH: The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame an injury to Sidney Crosby on Saturday for their 15th straight victory, beating the New York Islanders 2-0 in Jarome Iginla’s debut behind third-period goals from Matt Cooke and James Neal. Tomas Vokoun made 35 saves as Pittsburgh moved within two wins of the NHL record of 17 straight victories set by Mario Lemieux and the 1992-93 Penguins. Crosby skated off the ice with a towel covering his mouth after a slap shot by teammate Brooks Orpik deflected off a stick and hit the NHL scoring leader in the face just 1:28 into the game. Crosby, who immediately fell to the ice and tossed his stick in the air, did not return.

Crosby, with 15 goals and 56 points, holds a 10-point lead over Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos in the NHL scoring race. Another head injury for Crosby has to concern the Penguins. The team captain has missed considerable time the past two years because concussions. He was sidelined the final 41 games in 2011 and the Stanley Cup finals, and skipped most of the 2012 regular season as symptoms lingered.

Pittsburgh went 15-0-0 in March, the first perfect month in league history. The Penguins also won a franchise best 12th straight at home.

Oilers 4, Canucks 0 In Edmonton, Taylor Hall had a hat trick and Edmonton scored early and often to make it three victories in a row for the first time this season. Hall’s third goal also set an Oilers record for the fastest hat trick to start a game at 7:53, beating 12:38 set by Wayne Gretzky in 1986. Devan Dubnyk made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season and Ladislav Smid also scored for the Oilers (14-13-7), who are 6-2-2 in their past 10 games.

The Oilers are in a four-team tie just one point back of eighth seed St. Louis in the Western Conference playoff race. The Canucks (19-10-6) had their six-game winning streak ended.

Hurricanes 3, Jets 1 In Winnipeg, Justin Peters made 34 saves to help Carolina keep its playoff hopes alive with a victory over Southeast Division-leading Winnipeg. Alex Semin and Eric Staal each had a goal and an assist, and Jussi Jokinen also scored for Carolina. The Hurricanes snapped a seven-game winless streak to improve to 16-15-2 and move within four points of the Jets. Olli Jokinen scored for Winnipeg. The Jets dropped to 18-16-2. The Hurricanes scored barely over a minute into the game when Semin snapped one after Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec blocked Staal’s wrap-around attempt.

Jokinen’s wrister at 9:41, a second after the end of Carolina’s first power play, made it 2-0. Jokinen put Winnipeg on the board at 1:26 of the second off a neat backward pass from Evander Kane as he passed the Carolina net.

Avalanche 1, Predators 0 In Denver, Tyson Barrie scored at 50 seconds of overtime and Colorado beat Nashville. Semyon Varlamov stopped 34 shots for his third shutout of the season and the 11th of his career. Pekka Rinne had 23 saves for Nashville, which has lost two straight. Barrie scored when he came down the right side and knocked in Greg Zanon’s rebound past Rinne. It was Barrie’s second goal of the season and ended a four-game skid for the Avalanche. PA Parenteau had his team-leading 21st assist on the play.

Flyers 3, Bruins 1 In Philadelphia, Mike Knuble and Matt Read scored, Ilya Bryzgalov made 33 saves and Philadelphia snapped a four-game losing streak with

a victory over Boston.

Ruslan Fedotenko added an empty-net goal for the Flyers, who began the day 14th in the Eastern Conference but only six points out of the eighth and final playoff spot. Boston, meanwhile, entered with the third-most points in the conference (46). Nathan Horton scored for the Bruins, who dropped to 2-4-1 in their past seven games. They had won four in a row against the Flyers.

Maple Leafs 4, Senators 0 In Ottawa, Nazem Kadri had a hat trick and James Reimer made 31 saves and Toronto won its third straight game and extended its point streak to eight games. Joffrey Lupul also scored and added three assists for the Leafs, while Kadri also picked up an assist. Ben Bishop made 19 saves for the Senators, who were coming off a 3-0 shutout over the New York Rangers on Thursday.

The Leafs led 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 after the second before Kadri scored twice in the opening five minutes of the third period to complete his hat trick.

Capitals 4, Sabres 3 In Buffalo, Alex Ovechkin scored once in regulation and again in a shootout to help Washington rally for the win and take sole possession of 11th place, a point ahead of Buffalo in the tightly contested Eastern Conference standings. Matt Hendricks also scored for Washington in the shootout, while Capitals goalie Braden Holtby stopped both of Buffalo’s shootout attempts. Mike Green capped a two-goal third-period rally and forced overtime by scoring with 40 seconds left. Troy Brouwer had a goal and assist for Washington, which bounced back from a 3-2 loss to the Islanders on Tuesday to improve to 4-1 in its past five. Ville Leino scored twice and Christian Ehrhoff also scored for the Sabres, who are 0-1-2 in their past three.

Canadiens 3, Rangers 0 In Montreal, Michael Ryder and Tomas Plekanec scored in the first period and Carey Price made 34 saves for Montreal moved three points ahead of Boston for first place in the Northeast Division.

Brendan Gallagher also scored, while P.K. Subban had three assists for the Canadiens, who swept their three games with New York this season, outscoring the Rangers 9-1.

The Rangers, the NHL’s lowest-scoring team, were

coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Ottawa on Thursday night. Once again, they failed to score for goalie Martin Biron, who has seen his team shut out in his past four starts in Montreal since 2011. Price, who was pulled from a 6-5 win in Boston on Wednesday, got his third shutout of the season and 19th of his career.

Panthers 3, Devils 2 In Sunrise, Dmitry Kulikov scored his first goal of the season at 1:43 of overtime and Florida won its second straight at home for the first time this season.

Kulikov’s shot from the right circle beat Martin Brodeur on the far side. Shawn Matthias scored two goals for the Panthers and Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves. Steve Bernier scored two goals and Brodeur stopped 27 shots for the Devils, losers of three straight.

Wild 4, Kings 3 In St. Paul, Mikko Koivu scored in a shootout and Minnesota bounced back for a win after having its seven-game win streak ended a night earlier in Dallas. Koivu also had two assists in regulation. Matt Cullen also had a goal, Zach Parise had a goal and an assist and Niklas Backstrom stopped 28 shots for the Wild. Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter had power-play goals, and Justin Williams also scored for the Kings, who blew a two-goal lead and fell to 2-1 on their five-game road trip. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick made 25 saves. Backstrom won his eighth consecutive start and his 19th game of the season a night after sitting out for the first time in 13 games.

Sharks 3, Coyotes 2 In San Jose, Logan Couture scored the lone goal in the shootout to lead San Jose to its fourth straight win. Marc-Edouard Vlasic celebrated his 26th birthday by scoring the game-tying goal with 5 minutes left in the third period. Joe Pavelski also scored for the Sharks, extending his streak to four straight games with a goal. Antti Niemi made 27 saves as San Jose extended its longest winning streak since opening the season with seven consecutive wins. Niemi stopped Antoine Vermette in overtime and turned aside all three shootout attempts.

Boyd Gordon and Radim Vrbata scored for the Coyotes, who have lost eight of their past nine games to plummet in the Western Conference standings. Jason LaBarbera made 32 saves to lose his seventh straight decision to San Jose.—AP

NHL results/standings Philadelphia 3, Boston 1; Pittsburgh 2, NY Islanders 0; Carolina 3, Winnipeg 1; Colorado 1, Nashville 0 (OT); Washington 4, Buffalo 3 (SO); Montreal 3, NY Rangers 0; Toronto 4, Ottawa 0; Florida 3, New Jersey 2 (OT); Minnesota 4, Los Angeles 3 (SO); San Jose 3, Phoenix 2 (SO); Edmonton 4, Vancouver 0.

Pittsburgh New Jersey NY Rangers NY Islanders Philadelphia Montreal Boston Ottawa Toronto Buffalo Winnipeg Carolina Washington Tampa Bay Florida

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF 28 8 0 123 15 11 9 88 16 15 3 78 16 16 3 100 14 17 3 90 Northeast Division 22 7 5 107 21 8 4 95 19 10 6 89 20 12 4 112 13 16 6 94 Southeast Division 18 16 2 89 16 15 2 92 16 17 1 98 15 18 1 110 11 19 6 88

GA PTS 84 56 97 39 84 35 112 35 104 31 83 75 76 100 111

49 46 44 44 32

106 97 96 103 125

38 34 33 31 28

Western Conference Central Division Chicago 25 5 3 109 73 53 Detroit 17 12 5 90 85 39 St. Louis 17 14 2 94 93 36 Nashville 14 14 7 87 96 35 Columbus 14 14 7 85 96 35 Northwest Division Minnesota 21 11 2 97 86 44 Vancouver 19 10 6 92 90 44 Edmonton 14 13 7 87 95 35 Calgary 13 16 4 93 114 30 Colorado 12 18 4 84 108 28 Pacific Division Anaheim 23 7 4 106 88 50 Los Angeles 19 12 3 100 86 41 San Jose 17 11 6 85 84 40 Dallas 16 14 3 92 100 35 Phoenix 14 15 6 94 101 34 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

S P ORTS

Georgia women rally to beat Stanford 61-59 SPOKANE: Andy Landers looked down at the stat sheet on the table in front of him. The numbers were almost exactly what the longtime Georgia coach anticipated. Yes, even the final score: Georgia 61, Stanford 59.

Jasmine Hassell scored six of her 13 points in the final 3 minutes and fourthseeded Georgia beat top-seeded Stanford 61-59 on Saturday night to reach the NCAA women’s regional finals for the first time since 2004.

Georgia overcame three major scoring droughts, including falling behind 90, to oust the No. 1 seed from the Spokane Regional and end Stanford’s hopes of reaching the Final Four for the sixth straight year. Jasmine James led Georgia (28-6) with 16 points, including a pair of free throws with 23.5 seconds left that gave the Lady Bulldogs a 60-56 lead. It’s the 11th trip to the regional finals in Landers long tenure at Georgia.

“As we came down the stretch, our players, I think figured out that they could make some plays and really did a nice job,” Landers said. “I think the thing that’s so good about the comeback and

going ahead is that each one of those five players did something that was really significant as we did that. And they did something really significant on each end of the floor.”

Chiney Ogwumike led Stanford (33-3) with 26 points, but was held to eight points in the second half. She also had 12 rebounds.

Tiaria Griffin scored 13 points, and Shacobia Barbee added nine as the Lady Bulldogs turned in another superb defensive effort to stymie Stanford and ruin any hopes of a Pac-12 showdown with No. 2 seed California in the regional final.

Georgia will play for a trip to the Final Four on Monday night against the second-seeded Golden Bears. Georgia has not made the Final Four since 1999.

Georgia reached the round of 16 in 2005-07 and 2010-11, only to get ousted at that stage each time, including a 7336 loss to Stanford in 2010.

Saturday night wasn’t so much about getting even with the Cardinal, as it was about getting Georgia back to where it believes they belong.

“To finally make the next step and go to the Elite 8 and now to be going into another game to try to compete to go to the Final Four is definitely back to where Georgia basketball needs to be, trying to compete for a national championship,” James said.

Whether it was the scoring droughts or the trouble slowing down Ogwumike in the first half, there was plenty of evidence that made Georgia’s late rally hard to fathom. Georgia overcame a 5-minute scoreless drought to start the game, another 5 minutes with just two free throws late in the first half and another 7-minute lapse in the second half with just one basket that allowed Stanford to build a 42-34 lead with 11:50 remaining.

Still, the Lady Bulldogs were hanging around because Stanford made just 3 of 20 shots to start the second half. After Ogwumike scored 18 in the first half, Georgia made an adjustment to force more help on the Stanford star. It worked because Ogwumike’s supporting cast struggled.

Amber Orrange added 17 points for Stanford, but was only 7 of 24 from the

field. The Cardinal shot 29 percent in the second half and struggled to find open looks for Ogwumike. Second-leading scorer Joslyn Tinkle struggled with foul trouble in the first half and went more than 35 minutes of game time without scoring. She finished with five points.

“I think the reason that I’m not going ballistic right now is like we’re 33-3,” Ogwumike said. “ That was a huge achievement for our program.”

Then it was time for Hassell to show up in the final 8 minutes. Her basket pulled the Lady Bulldogs even at 42, and the lead went back and forth with neither team leading by more than four points. Orrange dropped in a 16-footer for a 50-46 Stanford lead with 4:22 remaining, before Georgia’s closing surge.

Barbee converted a three-point play and after Ogwumike followed Orrange’s miss with a basket, Anne Marie Armstrong knocked down a 3-pointer for a 52-all tie. Orrange hit a 3, but Hassell hit consecutive shots and Georgia was back in front 56-55 with 1:45 left.

Mikaela Ruef missed in close twice and was fouled on the third attempt with 1:21 left. Ruef, a 53 percent free throw shooter on the season, split the pair for the fifth tie of the game, but Hassell answered right away for Georgia for a 58-56 lead with 1:02 left. Tinkle then lost control of a pass underneath.

Georgia ran the clock before Griffin missed a 3. Barbee got the offensive rebound and James was fouled with 23.5 seconds left. She hit the pair for a four-point lead.

Stanford struggled to get a good look, but Tinkle finally hit a 3 with 5.1 seconds left. Georgia threw long to James on the inbound pass and the Lady Bulldogs were able to run off all but the final 0.8 seconds before Barbee was fouled. She split her free throws for the final margin and Georgia ran off the floor celebrating the upset.

“The great thing about it is, we’re really good defensively and we rarely have droughts. So if we can just hang in there until somebody hits a shot, we’re going to be OK,” Landers said. “That’s what I think happened tonight.”—AP

Lakers see off Kings

LONDON: The Oxford University boat crew (left) pull ahead in the closing stages of the race to beat the Cambridge University crew (right) during the annual boat race on the River Thames.—AFP

Oxford win 159th Boat Race LONDON: Favorites Oxford surged to victory over Cambridge in the 159th Boat Race yesterday, a year after the 2012 event had been controversially disrupted by a protestor.

Amid tightened security on the River Thames, Oxford powered home to win the 4.2-mile (6.8-kilometre) race by a length and a half, trimming Cambridge’s overall lead in the event to 81-77.

“It was fun, tough, but that was what we expected,” said Oxford cox Oskar Zorrilla.

“We had a plan and we stuck to it ruthlessly.”

Last year’s race, won by Cambridge, had to be restarted after Australian Trenton Oldfield swam into the path of the two boats in a protest against elitism and government cuts.

He was released from prison in December after serving seven weeks of a six-month sentence for causing a public nuisance. In response to the incident, race organisers drafted in Royal Marines to patrol the river in inflatable boats and ensure the event was not disrupted again.

Oxford University Boat Club president Alex Davidson won the toss and chose to start the race from the Surrey station, which had yielded the contest’s two previous winners.

The race began beneath grey skies and amid wintry conditions on the river in the south-west London district of Putney.

Race umpire Matthew Pinsent, a fourtime Olympic champion, set the boats off and Oxford were quickly into the lead.

The two crews’ oars touched as the teams approached the Craven Cottage stadium of Premier League football club Fulham, but Oxford emerged with their lead intact.

With the urgent promptings of the two crews’ coxes broadcast to television viewers, including the odd impromptu swear word, Cambridge doggedly tried to keep pace as Oxford’s dark blues sliced through the murky water.

At the Chiswick Steps, scene of Oldfield’s protest, Oxford moved clear and were able to position themselves directly in front of the light blue boat.

Cambridge responded bravely, but there was no catching Oxford, who crossed the finishing line in Mortlake in front of thousands of cheering fans in a time of 17 minutes and 27 seconds.

“Oxford put together a really fantastic race,” said Cambridge University Boat Club president George Nash. “Eventually they put in one too many moves, they asked too many questions, and we were just unable to come up with the goods.”

Oxford and Cambridge, Britain’s two oldest universities, contested their first race in 1829 and have competed against each other every year since 1856, barring years interrupted by war.—AFP

SACRAMENTO: Kobe Br yant scored 19 points and tied a season high with 14 assists despite a nagging left foot injury, and the Los Angeles Lakers kept pace for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot by outlasting the Sacramento Kings 103-98 on Saturday night.

Bryant added nine rebounds and facilitated the Lakers’ offense for 47 minutes, 37 seconds after Steve Nash exited early in the first quarter with a recurring right hamstring injury. Bryant also passed Lakers great Wilt Chamberlain (31,419 points) for fourth on the NBA’s career scoring list, after star ting four points shy of the mark.

Dwight Howard added 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Steve Blake scored 15 points for the Lakers (38-36), who stayed even with Utah (38-36) for the eighth and final playoff spot. Los Angeles hosts 10th-place Dallas (36-37) in a critical tilt Tuesday night.

Tyreke Evans had 21 points and nine rebounds, and DeMarcus Cousins added 19 points and 11 rebounds in Sacramento’s latest loss. The Lakers won the season series 3-1.

Mavericks 100, Bulls 98 In Chicago, Dirk Nowitzki hit a 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left and Dallas rallied to beat Chicago. The Mavericks trailed by 12 in the four th quar ter, but Nowitzk i scored Dallas’ last eight points in a closing 15-1 run over the final 31/2 minutes of the game. He finished with a season-high 35 points.

After Jimmy Butler missed two free throws with 15.9 seconds remaining, Nowitzki connected on the winning 3 with Luol Deng running at him. Chicago’s Nate Robinson then missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have tied it.

Robinson scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth in Chicago’s first game since ending the Miami Heat’s 27-game winning streak.

Rockets 98, Clippers 81 In Houston, Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons and Francisco Garcia scored 15 points apiece to lead Houston over Los Angeles.

Houston was playing without shooting guard and leading scorer James Harden, who missed his third game of the season with a right ankle sprain. Garcia had his best game as a Rocket, hitting 3 of 5 shots from beyond the arc as a spark off the bench to help Houston snap a two-game losing streak. Point guard Chris Paul was the only Clippers starter to play in the final quarter, finishing with 19 points, seven assists and three steals.

BRAZIL: Jamaican runner Usain Bolt waves a flag of Brazilian football club Flamengo at the end of a race in Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. —AP

Bolt bags 150m race at Copacabana beach RIO DE JANEIRO: Usain Bolt started his season by winning a 150-meter race on a track set up at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro yesterday.

Bolt cruised to victory in 14.42 seconds, falling short of the world-best mark of 14.35 he set on the streets of Manchester in 2009. Brazilian sprinter Bruno Lins was second in 14.91, ahead of Ecuador’s Alex Quinones and Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey.

After the race held under scorching heat on a four-lane track built on Copacabana beach in the city set to host the 2016 Olympics, Bolt said he was satisfied with his performance.

“It was my first sprint race, definitely a good start for the season,” Bolt said. “I’m looking forward to coming down here in 2016.”

Bolt celebrated by dancing with a few

Brazilian dancers after the run, which was an official event supervised by the IAAF. There were huge lines as fans tried to get near the track to see the Jamaican star from up close.

Bolt, the first man to successfully defend the 100 and 200 titles at the London Olympics, was in Rio for four days, visiting social projects and participating in promotional events. He also played a volleying match using feet at the beach on Saturday.

Earlier Sunday, double-amputee Alan Oliveira of Brazil beat American runner Jerome Singleton at the Copacabana track. Oliveira had been initially expected to race against Oscar Pistorius, who withdrew after being charged with the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Oliveira beat the South African in the 200 at the London Paralympics.—AP

Thunder 109, Bucks 99 In Milwaukee, Kevin Durant scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook had a triple-double, and Ok lahoma City beat Milwaukee. Durant shot 10 of 19 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line in becoming the seventh player this season to score 30 points against the Bucks.

Durant is on pace to join Larry Bird in 1986-87 as the only players to average more than 28 points while shooting over 50 percent from the field, 90 percent from the line and 40 percent from 3-point range. Westbrook had 23 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds. Kevin Mar tin added 17 points. Ersan Ilyasova had 29 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee. Epke Udoh had his first career doubledouble with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Jazz 116, Nets 107 In Salt Lake City, Randy Foye scored 26 points, tying a career high with eight 3-pointers, and Utah beat Brooklyn to keep Deron

Williams winless against his former team. The victory was the fourth straight for Utah (38-36), which entered the night eighth in the Western Conference by virtue of its tiebreaker over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Williams played better than he did in his first trip back in January 2012, but couldn’t match the 3point shooting of Utah. Foye made 8 of 9 and the Jazz 10 of 17 as a team. Brook Lopez led Brooklyn (42-31) with 27 points. Williams had 21 on 6-of-14 shooting, with 11 assists. Utah outscored Brooklyn 31-20 in the third quarter after trailing by two at half.

Hawks 97, Magic 88 In Atlanta, Ivan Johnson scored a season-high 21 points off the bench, and Devin Harris had 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as Atlanta pulled away to beat Orlando.

The Hawks used their 27th different starting lineup in a game between short-handed teams, but the result was familiar. Atlanta (4133) has beaten Orlando 10 straight times and is now fifth in the Eastern Conference playoff race, a half-game ahead of Chicago.

Johnson, who received extended playing time largely because Hawks center Al Horford missed his second straight game with a stomach illness, added 10 rebounds.

Beno Udrih, filling in for injured point guard Jameer Nelson, led Orlando with 20 points, and center Nikola Vucevic returned to the lineup with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Grizzlies 99, Timberwolves 86 In Minneapolis, Marc Gasol scored 21 points and Memphis pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Minnesota. Mike Conley scored 19, Zach Randolph 14 and Darrell Arthur had 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter for the Grizzlies, who ended a five-game road losing streak with their 11th straight victory over Minnesota.

Ricky Rubio just missed his second career triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Derrick Williams added 19 points for the Timberwolves, who were playing without center Nikola Pekovic. He missed the game after spraining his left ankle Friday late in a victor y over Oklahoma City after scoring 22 points and adding 15 rebounds.

Warriors 125, Trail Blazers 98 In Oak land, Stephen Curr y scored 39 points and Golden State moved one step closer toward ending its five -year playoff drought by beating Portland.

Carl Landry had a season-high 25 points and 10 rebounds coming off the bench, while David Lee had 13 points for the Warriors, who maintained their 11/2-game lead over Houston for sixth place in the Western Conference. Golden State lowered its magic number for clinching a playoff berth to five.

Meyers Leonard led the Trail Blazers with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Damian Lillard scored 16 points for Portland and tied the NBA’s single-season rookie record for 3-pointers, but was nowhere as effective as he was in his first trip back home. The Oakland native shot just 4 of 11 from the floor and committed three turnovers.

Pacers 112, Suns 104 In Phoenix, Paul George scored 25 points to lead all five Indiana starters in double figures and the Pacers won their fourth straight.

Roy Hibbert scored 20, Lance Stephenson 16, George Hill 15 and David West 14 for the Pacers. The Pacers’ seventh victory in eight games lifted them a half-game

SACRAMENTO: Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (left) is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Jodie Meeks (right) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game.—AP

NBA results/standings Dallas 100, Chicago 98; Atlanta 97, Orlando 88; Philadelphia 100, Charlotte 92; Houston 98, LA Clippers 81; Memphis 99, Minnesota 86; Oklahoma City 109, Milwaukee 99; Utah 116, Brooklyn 107; Golden State 125, Portland 98; Indiana 112, Phoenix 104; LA Lakers 103, Sacramento 98.

Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Northwest Division W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 54 20 .730 NY Knicks 45 26 .634 Denver 50 24 .676 4 Brooklyn 42 31 .575 4 Utah 38 36 .514 16 Boston 38 34 .528 7.5 Portland 33 40 .452 20.5 Philadelphia 30 43 .411 16 Minnesota 26 46 .361 27 Toronto 27 45 .375 18.5 Pacific Division Central Division LA Clippers 49 25 .662 Indiana 47 27 .635 Golden State 42 32 .568 7 Chicago 39 32 .549 6.5 LA Lakers 38 36 .514 11 Milwaukee 35 37 .486 11 Sacramento 27 47 .365 22 Detroit 24 49 .329 22.5 Phoenix 23 51 .311 26 Cleveland 22 49 .310 23.5 Southwest Division Southeast Division San Antonio 55 17 .764 Miami 57 15 .792 Memphis 49 24 .671 6.5 Atlanta 41 33 .554 17 Houston 40 33 .548 15.5 Washington 26 46 .361 31 Dallas 36 37 .493 19.5 Orlando 19 55 .257 39 New Orleans 25 48 .342 30.5 Charlotte 17 56 .233 40.5

ahead of idle New York for second in the Eastern Conference.

Goran Dragic, who sat out the previous two games for rest, had 21 points and nine assists for the Suns before fouling out with 1:10 to play. Phoenix has lost six in a row. Indiana made 34 of 46 free throws, its season high in makes and attempts.

76ers 100, Bobcats 92 In Philadelphia, Jrue Holiday scored 10 straight points down the stretch, Evan Turner finished with

22 and Philadelphia beat Charlotte.

After going 1 for 9 in the first three quarters, Holiday got 11 of his 14 points in the fourth to help the Sixers win for the seventh time in 11 games. Spencer Hawes had 19 points and Thaddeus Young and Damien Wilkins each scored 15 for Philadelphia. Michael KiddGilchrist had 21 for Charlotte, which has the worst record in the NBA. Gerald Henderson, who had 35 and 34 in his previous two games, finished with 19.—AP

PHOENIX: Indiana Pacers forward David West (right) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley (left) during the second half of an NBA basketball game.—AP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

S P ORTS

Hend soars to victory THAILAND: Big-hitting Australian Scott Hend capitalised on Prayad Marksaeng’s spectacular final-round meltdown to lift the Chiangmai Golf Classic yesterday.

Thailand’s Prayad blew a five-shot lead and the chance to win his second tournament at home this month as Hend carded a sparkling eight-under-par 64 for a total of 20-under-par 268 to win his third Asian Tour title by three strokes.

South Africa’s Bryce Easton, playing his first Asian Tour event, also shot a 64 for a 17-under 271 to take second place while Prayad finished a shot further behind on third with a final-round two-over-par 74 at the Alpine Golf

Resort-Chiangmai. “To be honest, I didn’t think I had a chance to win,” the 40-year-old Hend said after picking up his winner ’s cheque of $135,000. “I played with Prayad the first two rounds and he was hitting the ball great and putting great.

“Obviously he played great yesterday again and I thought he would continue with the way he was playing. I was just looking for a solid top-five finish. Obviously it all fell together and I played quite well.

“Unfortunately for the other guys, they didn’t quite keep the pace going which was good for me.” Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who needed a win to have a chance of qualifying

for the Masters, finished tied 10th after a 72 while South Africa’s Ernie Els finished tied 14th. Having led the event after each of the first three rounds, Prayad’s day went from bad to worse as he followed up a bogey on third with a double bogey on the seventh after driving into the water. Two further bogeys allowed Hend to take advantage.

“My irons were no good. The second shots were always reaching the fringe on almost every hole,” the 47-year-old, who won the Thailand Open earlier this month, said. “My feeling was okay when I started the final round. I’m not angry now although I had a chance to win.”—Reuters

Cink, Haas top Houston Open

Adam Ashley-Cooper in action in this file photo.

Waratahs thrash Western Force SYDNEY: Adam Ashley-Cooper celebrated his 100th Super Rugby game with a try that helped the New South Wales Waratahs to a 23-19 win over the Western Force in a turgid encounter in Sydney yesterday.

The versatile Cooper, who had made 78 appearances for the Canberra-based ACT Brumbies before moving to New South Wales in 2012, scored in the 46th minute of the match that was stop-start with neither side able to develop any continuity.

Both teams were also heavily penalised, particularly at the breakdown, by referee Steve Walsh, which lead to Waratahs scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin slotting six penalties, while Force flyhalf Sias Ebersohn kicked four.

“It was tough, we made it hard on ourselves,” Waratahs captain Dave Dennis said in a pitchside interview. “We didn’t perform how we wanted to in some areas.”

“There wasn’t a lot between us ... but we have got the points and it worked out well.”

The Force actually started with purpose, stringing phases together and driving down the field to go out to a 6-0 lead courtesy of two penalties from Ebersohn.

The Waratahs, however, slowly built

back into the game with McKibbin slotting two penalties as the home side began to throw the ball wider and build phases themselves. Force prop Salesi Ma’afu was then sinbinned for a high tackle on Waratahs’ hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau about 20 minutes into the first half, which allowed McKibbin to slot three more penalties.

Ebersohn managed to reduce the gap just before the break to go into halftime trailing 15-9. McKibbin slotted his fourth penalty of the game just a minute after the restart before Ashley-Cooper finished off a break from Israel Folau to give the home side a seemingly-comfortable 23-9 lead.

Force fullback Alfie Mafi, however, dragged his side back into the game when the Perth-based side managed to string more than three phases together and Ebersohn converted and added his fourth penalty to make the last 20 minutes close.

Waratahs prop Benn Robinson, who was also celebrating his 100th Super Rugby game, however fittingly provided the coup de grace when he snaffled the ball at a turnover after the fulltime hooter sounded and the Waratahs kicked the ball into touch.—Reuters

Brumbies, Chiefs, Sharks still top in Super Rugby WELLINGTON: The gap between the haves and have-nots in Super Rugby, between the winners and the strugglers, grew starker after the weekend’s seventh round.

The ACT Brumbies, with a penalty after the final siren, and the Hamiltonbased Chiefs, in a ferocious derby with the Auckland-based Blues, won again to preserve their leads in the Australian and New Zealand conferences respectively while the Durban-based Sharks stayed atop the South African conference without playing.

The fourth-place Queensland Reds, fifth-place Crusaders, sixth-place Cheetahs and seventh-place Hurricanes were also winners as all teams in the top half of the competition moved up.

Those below all stumbled further. The eighth-place Blues fell to the Chiefs, the ninth-place Bulls were edged by the Brumbies, the 10th-place Stormers were held out by the understrength Crusaders, the 13th-place Rebels lost to the Cheetahs, and the 14th-place Southern Kings went down to the Hurricanes.

Yesterday, the New South Waratahs beat the Western Force 23-19 in a match involving teams outside the top 10.

At the very bottom of the competition, the Dunedin-based Highlanders strongly favored to prosper after attracting a bevy of star players in the offseason - remained without a win after five games, probably already out of playoffs contention. The leading teams found the means to win even in the most difficult circumstances. The Brumbies seemed headed at best for a draw until flyhalf Christian Leali’ifano drilled a penalty in stoppage time to give them a 23-20 win over the Bulls.

The Bulls had scored only two minutes from fulltime to tie the score at 2020, then reclaimed possession from the kickoff and looked likely to play out time.

But scrumhalf Nic White won a contentious penalty and Leali’ifano nailed the winning goal from 42 meters, improving the Brumbies’ record to 5-1 and leaving the Bulls 3-3 in mid-table.

The Brumbies were coming off their first loss of the season, to the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend, and coach Jake White was pleased his team was able to avoid a second defeat.

“What I’m really proud about is that this team has shown we can win the tight ones,” White said. “It’s such a tough comp, sometimes you have to grind wins out like that. It’s a massive learning curve for everyone. You have to make sure you

adapt your game according to who you’re playing against.” But angry Bulls coach Frans Ludeke believed the Brumbies’ last penalty was wrongly awarded, as they were “clearly offside, we’ve looked at it.” “That’s life, we don’t want to give it (the penalty) energy. They can’t take away our effort,” Ludeke said.

The Chiefs also showed the characteristics of a champion team when they held off a stiff challenge from the Blues to win 23-16 in one of New Zealand’s most celebrated derbies. Though they enjoyed more than 70 percent of territory in the first half, the Chiefs led by only 9-6 on penalties at halftime.

Second-half tries to giant prop Ben Tameifuna and center Richard Kahui gave the Chiefs breathing space, before the Blues closed with a late try and conversion to grab a consolation bonus point.

“The attitude was fantastic,” Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said. “We had a lot of setbacks in the first half with tries disallowed and the sin-binning (of center Bundee Aki) but the boys showed a lot of composure to get through to halftime.

“We controlled the first 20 of the second half well, played at the right end of the field and put a lot of pressure on.

From an intensity point of view, it’s building. It certainly wasn’t perfect but this was two teams going pretty hard at each other.”

The seven-time champion Crusaders defended their line courageously through the last five minutes to hold on to a 19-14 win over the Stormers. The Christchurch-based Crusaders were playing without their injured captain Keiran Read and backline stars Dan Carter, whose wife gave birth to their first child on Friday, and Israel Dagg, who was a late withdrawal with a hamstring strain.

They lost prop Owen Franks early in the match but were still able to come from 11-0 down to lead 13-11 at halftime.

The Stormers attacked the Crusaders’ line relentlessly through the final minutes of the match but could not cross.

“We were under the pump early and we knew that we just had to suck it in and keep sticking at our game, just hold a bit of ball,” stand-in captain George Whitelock said. “We slowly wore them down and in the second half we were in control for most of it.”

The Reds posted their first-ever win in Dunedin when they beat the Highlanders 34-33 on Friday, clinging to their one-point margin for the last eight minutes after the home team mounted a strong late comeback. —AP

HOUSTON: Former FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas and 2009 British Open winner Stewart Cink moved into the joint lead at the Houston Open on Saturday but 18 others are within four shots of the Americans after three rounds.

Haas carded a five-under 67 and Cink entered the clubhouse after a 68, leaving the two at 11under par for the tournament, one clear of countrymen Ben Crane (67), D.A. Points (71), Jason Kokrak (71) and overnight leader Steve Wheatcroft (72). Nine other players are within two of the lead including major champions Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa (65), Argentine Angel Cabrera (69) and American Keegan Bradley (67) plus former world number one Englishman Lee Westwood (67).

Americans Bud Cauley (65), Billy Horschel (67), Kevin Chappell (67) and Cameron Tringale (69) plus Swede Henrik Stenson (68) also are at nineunder.

A 67 moved Phil Mickelson to six-under for the week, just five shots off the pace. Cink is searching for a seventh PGA Tour title and his first since claiming the Open Championship.

The 39-year-old’s form over the past few seasons has been lacking with just two top 10s since 2011 but after a round including five birdies and just one bogey, he claimed he was not surprised by his lofty position on the leaderboard.

“I have been striking the ball real well and this course is a good ball strikers’ course because there is almost always

HUMBLE: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a bunker shot on the eighth hole during the final round of the Shell Houston Open. —AFP

one side of the course that is unplayable and you have to eliminate that side,” Cink told reporters. “If you are in control off the tee and in control with your approaches you’re going to be able to eliminate that most of the way.

“I could see something like this coming, I’m just excited to have a chance at a win and to be teeing off late yesterday.” Cink is well aware of the tightly packed leaderboard.

“It’s almost like we’re starting again in a sprint so you can’t force anything,” he said. “You have to allow it to happen and

come out with an accepting attitude.” Haas is hoping to add the Houston title to his family trophy case for the second time after father Jay won the event back in 1987. It would be his fifth tour title and first since the 2012 Northern Trust Open. “It would be great to win. I don’t remember Dad winning (Haas was five) but it was great to win at the Bob Hope (2010) to share that title and certainly winning here at the Houston Open would be just as special,” Haas said.

“Anytime to win out here you have to play well and you have to make a lot of putts. “There is

going to be four or five tee shots and some putts you don’t feel good over but hopefully you can handle them under the gun.”

Former world number one Rory McIlroy had appeared to find some form after four birdies in his opening 12 holes, but closed with three bogeys to shoot 71 and sit at two-under, ni ne b a c k i n a t i e for 48t h.

Wheatcroft, a Monday qualifier without status on tour, made an impor tant up and down for bogey on the 18th to be just one back af ter he ner vously shanked a greenside bunker shot.—Reuters

Choi triumphs in Jakarta JAKARTA: South Korea’s Choi Ho-sung survived a nervous three-hour storm delay on his last hole before winning the Indonesia PGA Championship by two strokes yesterday.

The 40-year-old, who was one shot behind the overnight leader, returned to the Emeralda Golf Club course after the long wait and birdied the last for a round of five-under-par 67 and a 72-hole total of 19-under 269.

Juvic Pagunsan (66) of Philippines, Kaname Yokoo (70) of Japan and South Korean Song Young-han (68) finished on 17-under 271, tied for the second place.

“I can’t believe it,” the long-haired Choi said after clinching the $1 million tournament in Jakarta, co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour.

“I thought we might not be able to finish. I really didn’t want to have to do it all over again tomorrow.” Excessive heat and humidity had forced Choi to pull out of this month’s Thailand Open after the first round but he adapted much better to the similar taxing conditions in Jakarta.

“I was better prepared,” he said. “This time I had enough towels and ice, and I used an umbrella around the course.”

Trailing overnight leader Yokoo by a shot, Choi grabbed the lead with an eagle on the opening hole but came under pressure after dropping a shot on the 15th.

But two successive birdies on the last two holes ensured he picked up the winner’s cheque of $180,000. Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand finished with a four-under-par 68 for a share of the seventh place.—Reuters

INDONESIA: South Korea’s Choi Ho-sung holds up his trophy after winning Indonesia PGA Championship golf tournament at Emeralda Golf Club.—AP

Williams places faith in family fortunes LONDON: Frank Williams is a bold and enterprising man who built one of Formula One’s greatest teams out of nothing.

In his earliest days, and during some of his most difficult periods of challenging cash flow problems, he even resorted to running his business out of a traditional red telephone call box.

Or so the old stories go.

He used his charm and wit to succeed, as he has done through four decades of struggles and triumphs that have often seen the team declared as the epitome of British courage and quality.

He also demonstrated great courage and an indefatigable spirit, overcoming car crash injuries that left him in a wheelchair to continue leading his team all over the world.

This week, in the wake of the death of his wife Virginia, he made another typically bold step by announcing that his daughter Claire had been promoted to become deputy team principal in a

move that “created a clear succession path”.

In other words, Frank-one of the toughest characters in one of the most ‘macho’ of all the elite global sports-had decided to hand over, in due course, to a woman.

Claire Williams, 36, became the second woman to take a major role in running a modern Formula One team. Last season, Monisha Kaltenborn was promoted to team principal at Sauber.

In the cut-throat world of F1’s movers and shakers, they will need to be as skilled in the politics of their business as they are in management of their own people.

The F1 paddock’s inner circle of powerful forces is not known as the “Piranha Club” for nothing. Williams has retained her role as commercial director, leading the team’s marketing, communications and sponsorship activities, a job she has developed successfully after working her way up.

“I have grown up in the sport and have learnt

the ropes from one of Formula One’s legendary team principals. As a result I feel well equipped for this new challenge,” she said.

“I understand the commitment that every person within the team gives each day to see our car out on the track and I am determined to see us back at the top.”

Frank Williams, 70, added: “Over the past decade, Claire has worked tirelessly for Williams.

Her knowledge of the sport and passion for the team is unquestionable and I’m proud to say that during her time here she has proven herself to be one of our most valuable assets.

“This appointment also had my wife’s blessing.

I know she would have been incredibly proud to have seen Claire taking on this position by my side.” Her promotion could prove to be timely as the team fight to overcome a poor start to the season in which they failed to score a point in the opening races in Australian and Malaysia. —AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

S P ORTS

Darker side to glamour of global sport LONDON: Unprecedented levels of skill, intensity and endurance have transformed global sport into spectacular mass entertainment and handsomely rewarded its leading exponents.

Now that the euphoria of last year’s acclaimed London Olympics has dissipated, however, a spate of troubling stories in the first quarter of 2013 show an altogether darker and more disturbing side to a glamorous, multibillion-dollar industry.

In January, American cyclist Lance Armstrong admitted in a television interview that he had doped before each of his record seven Tour de France victories.

His confession after years of denial followed the United States AntiDoping Agency’s (USADA) decision to strip him of the title and accuse him of being at the centre of the “most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”.

A report from Australia’s top criminal intelligence unit linked doping in sport with money-laundering and match-fixing after a year-long investigation. Six leading rugby league clubs, from one of the country’s four football codes in a sports-obsessed nation, confirmed they were under scrutiny.

And Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, on trial in Madrid for allegedly running a doping ring in cycling, said in his opening testimony that he also had clients in soccer, tennis, athletics and boxing.

Fuentes, who said outside the court this month that he might be willing to co-operate with anti-doping authorities, is appearing in court almost seven years after steroids and blood bags were seized in an investigation code-named Operation Puerto.

“The same people who are trafficking in steroids and encouraging athletes to cheat by doping are the ones who are engaged in illegal betting,” said World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA) director general David Howman. “This is essentially moneylaundering, bribery and corruption in relation to match-fixing and spot-fixing.” At a WADA media symposium in London in February, Howman said at

least 25 percent of international sport was controlled by the underworld.

“The black markets supply a lot of pharmaceutical products before they are out on the white market,” he said.

“That’s run by the criminal underworld, so a lot of the pharmaceutical stuff comes out in that way.”

Rob Koehler, the director of education and programme development at WADA, told an anti-doping conference in London this month the drugs problem in sport reflected the problems of society as a whole. “We are always trying to push the limit,” he said. “Adults are cheating. Students are cheating, in fact they think they are smart if they don’t get caught.”

Koehler said one percent of the population as a whole was rich while the middle class was shrinking and the lower class growing. The position was similar in sport.

“Top athletes are making millions, some athletes make a modest living, most barely get by,” he said. “But what some athletes used to make in their career they are now making in one year.” Doping’s black heartland has traditionally been in the speed and strength sports of track and field, weightlifting and cycling.

But it has also become increasingly apparent that the nature of ball sports, which rely on a unique set of skills peculiar to their disciplines, has changed.

Baseball, with its explosion of home runs in the 1990s, is an obvious example and this year slugger Barry Bonds, the record holder for home runs, and pitcher Roger Clemens, a seven-times Cy Young winner, were not elected to the Hall of Fame.

The pair, appearing on the ballot for the first time after waiting five years following their retirements, were linked with performance-enhancing drugs in the Mitchell report which detailed widespread doping in the sport.

Baseball is similar in nature to Twenty20 cricket, where strength as well as technique is necessary to repeatedly clear the boundaries.

Rugby union players, who used to be a mixture of the big and the powerful and the small and the speedy, are now uniformly bulked up.

Tennis, as the five-set marathons now common in the men’s game demonstrate, demands sustained power and endurance to an extent once unimaginable.

Even golfers, as the modern breed of players headed by Tiger Woods demonstrates, are now athletes working out in the gym as well as frequenting the driving range.

In England, the Football Association reacted to concerns expressed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about the possible use of EPO by announcing it would bring in testing for the blood booster, which was introduced into cycling in the 1990s.

“We have had some players come to us at Arsenal from other clubs abroad and their red blood cell count has been abnormally high. That kind of thing makes you wonder,” Wenger said.

Wenger also called for blood testing in soccer, adding: “I don’t think we do enough. It is very difficult for me to believe that you have 740 players in the World Cup and you come out with zero problems.” Roger Federer, a 17times grand-slam tennis champion, also called for the introduction of biological passports, pioneered in cycling and subsequently introduced in athletics, which track changes in a competitor’s blood profile which could be caused only by doping.

“A blood passport will be necessary as some substances can’t be discovered right now but might in the future, and that risk of discovery can chase cheats away,” the Swiss said.

“But there also should be more blood tests and out-of-competition controls in tennis.” WADA and its president John Fahey, whose six-year term ends this year, have never been busier and he told the London symposium there was no sign the bad news would end any time soon.

“As long as there is sporting competition there will be athletes who choose to cheat, and consequently a need to lead the fight against this global threat to sport’s integrity,” Fahey said.

“And, if the last eight months are anything to go by, that need is increasing in its urgency rather than receding.”—Reuters

Photo of the day

Junior (France), Wing (Korea), and Cico (Italy) pose for a portrait in front of a wall by famous Italian street artist Blu in Modena, Italy. www.redbullcontentpool.com

Perera stars in Sri Lanka win PALLEKELE: Kusal Perera smashed a brisk 64 to set up Sri Lanka’s 17-run victory over Bangladesh in a one-off Twenty20 international in Pallekele yesterday.

The opener, who was named man of the match, hit four sixes and five fours in his 44-ball knock as Sri Lanka posted a challenging 198-5 before restricting Bangladesh to 181-7.

Mohammad Ashraful top-scored for Bangladesh with a 27-ball 43 while seamers Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera each bagged two wickets for Sri Lanka.

“I am happy about my first win as captain,” said Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal. “Kusal Perera gave us the start and we continued after that. We put up a good total and that is why we won.”

Bangladesh suffered a setback after reaching 68-2 in the eighth over as Ashraful was given out leg-before. He hit seamer Thisara Perera for two successive sixes and then a four in the same over.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (39) and Mohammad Mahmudullah (31) kept Bangladesh’s hopes alive with a 50run stand for the fifth wicket before both fell in the 15th over to leave their team struggling at 137-6.

Bangladesh were let down by their bowling in the later stages of the innings as they gave away 75 in the last five overs. They also conceded 19 runs in wides.

“We gave 20 runs more and that made the difference,” said Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim. Sri Lanka’s Jeevan Mendis and Angelo Mathews put on 66 for the fifth wicket off just 5.5 overs to help their side set a stiff target.

Mendis hit three sixes, including two in an over from left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, and two fours in his 17-ball 37 while Mathews contributed an unbeaten 30 off 27 deliveries.

Sri Lanka plundered 32 off the last 13 balls, with Thisara Perera making a seven-ball 22 not out with two sixes and as many fours.

The hosts made a brisk start after being put in to bat as they raced to 52 in the opening five overs, with Kusal Perera playing attacking shots against both pace and spin.

Perera hit seamer Shahadat Hossain for two fours and a six in the first over of the match before smashing two more sixes, one each off spinners Sohag Gazi and Razzak.

He completed his maiden T20 half-century in the eighth over with two runs to mid-wicket off Mahmudullah.

Shahadat conceded 54 runs in four overs, including 24 in his last.—AFP

PALLEKELE: Sri Lankan Twenty20 cricket captain Dinesh Chandimal poses with the trophy after their victory during the Twenty20 International match against Bangladesh. —AFP

SCOREBOARD KEY BISCAYNE: Andy Murray, of Britain, holds the trophy after defeating David Ferrer of Spain in the Sony Open Tennis Tournament.—AP

Murray snatches Miami title MIAMI: Britain’s Andy Murray defeated Spain’s David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 in a gruelling Sony Open final yesterday to move above Roger Federer to second in the world rankings.

Murray was far from at his best against a dogged Ferrer but won the tie-break comfortably 7-1 after surviving a scare when the Spaniard had match point at 6-5 up, with Murray serving, in the third.

Murray’s forehand landed close to

the line and he faced a challenge from Ferrer but the ball was shown in and the Scot won the next two points to force the tie-break.

The match was littered with errors, particularly in the third set when neither player could hold serve in the first six games.

But it was an enthralling duel in the mid-day heat at Key Biscayne with neither player flinching as they scrapped to the end.

“It was such a tough match, it could have gone either way, both of us were struggling physically at the end,” said Murray whose victory was his second at Miami following his triumph in 2009.

“It’s so tough against him. He has a great attitude, he’s a great fighter. I am sure we will have more tough matches in the future,” added the Scot. The victor y was Murray ’s ninth in a Masters 1000 series event.—Reuters

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: Complete scoreboard of the one-off Twenty20 international between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Pallekele yesterday: Sri Lanka: Shamsur Rahman lbw b Mathews 0 K. Perera c Rahim b Mahmudullah 64 Jahurul Islam b Mathews 11 D. Munaweera b Gazi 5 Mushfiqur Rahim c Eranga b Senanayake 39 D. Chandimal c Jahurul b Razzak 9 Nasir Hossain c A. Perera b T. Perera 8 L. Thirimanne run out 5 Mohammad Mahmudullah run out 31 A. Mathews not out 30 Mominul Haque not out 26 J. Mendis b Rubel 37 Sohag Gazi c Mathews b Malinga 9 T. Perera not out 22 Abdur Razzak not out6 Extras (lb7, w19) 26 Extras (lb3, w5) 8 Total (for five wickets; 20 overs) 198 181 Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Munaweera), 2-77 (Chandimal), 3-86 Total (for seven wickets; 20 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Shamsur), 2-27 (Jahurul), 3-68 (Ashraful), 4(Thirimanne), 4-100 (K. Perera), 5-166 (Mendis).

Bowling: Shahadat 4-0-54-0 (w1), Rubel 4-0-40-1 (w8), Gazi 4-0- 85 (Nasir), 5-135 (Rahim), 6-137 (Mahmudullah), 7-156 (Gazi).

Bowling: Mathews 4-0-37-2, Eranga 4-0-37-0 (w2), Malinga 4-030-1 (w2), Razzak 4-0-39-1 (w6), Mahmudullah 4-0-28-1 (w2) 27-1, Senanayake 4-0-29-1, T. Perera 2-0-25-2 (w3), Mendis 1-06-0, A. Perera 1-0-17-0.

Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful lbw b T. Perera 43 Result: Sri Lanka win by 17 runs.

Pakistan drops Younis from Champions Trophy squad

GUANGZHOU: The Chinese team poses with their trophies after winning the final match at the World Team Classic Table Tennis games in Guangzhou, east China’s Guangdong province yesterday. China beat Japan 3-0.—AFP

KARACHI: Pakistan yesterday omitted out-of-form Younis Khan from a 30-man initial squad for the eightnation Champions Trophy after the middle order batsman flopped in recent one-day matches.

The 35-year-old Younis managed just 116 runs in the series against South Africa earlier this month which Pakistan lost 3-2 and has not managed to score a century since November 2008.

Pakistan is in group B of the event to be held in England from June 3-23. The other teams in their group are arch-rivals India, the West I ndies and South Africa.

Defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lank a and England form group A. All teams had April 6 as the cut off date to announce their initial squad to be trimmed to 15 in May.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said the Pakistani squad was a “mix of youth and experience”.

“Younis’s name was not considered after he did not show the form in the last few matches,” he told AFP. Pakistani media reported last week that Younis was contemplating retirement from one-day cricket after giving up Twenty20 following the team’s 2009 World Twenty20 victory in England under his captaincy.

But sources close to Younis denied he was retiring from oneday cricket. He was also dropped from the team for a series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates last August before he regained his place against India in December.

Younis has so far scored 7014 runs in 253 one-day internationals

after making his debut 13 years ago.

Also overlooked was allrounder Abdul Razzaq, who hasn’t played a one-day since November 2011.

Pakistan face the West Indies in their opening match on June 7 before clashing with South Africa (June 10) and arch-rivals India on June 15.

Probables: Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Sohail Tanvir, Hammad Azam, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Asad Ali, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Imran Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan.—AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

S P ORT S

Own-goal keeps Sociedad in driving seat for fourth place

FRANCE: Marseille’s Senegalese forward Modou Sougou (left) vies with Nice’s Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina (right) during the French League football match. —AFP

Marseille defeat Nice PARIS: Marseille shrugged aside having their supporters banned from attending their Ligue 1 clash with Nice yesterday to prevail 1-0 and boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. The three points moved Marseille into second place, a point ahead of Lyon, who can retake second spot later should they draw or beat struggling Sochaux at home.

Victory still leaves them seven points adrift of leaders Paris Saint Germain, who beat defending champions Montpellier 1-0 on Friday, but four points clear of fourth-placed St Etienne, who drew 2-2 with relegation-threatened Troyes on Saturday.

The top three clubs qualify for the Champions League, the top two for the

group stages and the third for the final qualifying round. French international striker Andre-Pierre Gignac scored the only goal of the Marseille game, striking in the 15th minute with his 10th goal of the season after being set up by Mathieu Valbuena.

The match had had a lively introduction as Marseille’s combative sporting director Jose Anigo had a blazing row with Nice director-general Julien Fournier, who used to be part of the Marseille board.

The players also sparked controversy as in the pre-match warm-up they wore shirts emblazoned with ‘Marseille supporters present’ in protest at the ban on their fans being allowed to come to the match.—AFP

Celtic held by St Mirren GLASGOW: A controversial Paul McGowan penalty 10 minutes from time helped St Mirren claim a 1-1 draw against ten man Celtic yesterday in their Premier League clash.

Kris Commons had headed the Hoops into a sixth minute lead but St Mirren responded brightly and had an effort from Gary Teale disallowed in the 27th minute for a foul on keeper Fraser Forster.

The home side then felt they should have had a penalty in first half stoppage time when Celtic’s Georgios Samaras appeared to use his arm to control Teale’s corner in the box.

Celtic lost goalscorer Commons to injury before they were reduced to tenmen in the 55th minute when Kenyan international Victor Wanyama saw a straight red for a clumsy high challenge on McGowan.

Time looked to be running out for St Mirren, who hadn’t scored against the Hoops in the league in over 13 hours of play. However, they were awarded an 81st minute penalty although Emilio Izaguirre’s challenge on Esmael Goncalves appeared to be outside the box.

McGowan drilled the ball past Forster to continue the party atmosphere for St Mirren, who are still celebrating their League Cup win, as Celtic failed to secure a win for their third straight away match.

Celtic could still clinch the title next Saturday with a win at home to Hibernian if Motherwell lose their match against St Mirren.

Neil Lennon, whose side increased their lead at the top to 13 points, slammed referee Bobby Madden’s performance. “That is the most appalling refereeing performance I have seen for a long time,” he fumed.

“His decisions were just baffling today.

Under the circumstances I am pretty pleased we got a point out of the game.”

His St Mirren counterpart Danny Lennon preferred to concentrate on his side’s performance. “I’d rather concentrate on the quality of football we played today than how the referee did,” he said.

“It is part and parcel of the game that decisions are either against you or with you. “There were a few key moments and talking points but we’re absolutely

delighted to get something out the game as it was the least we deserved.”

The Hoops took an early lead with a superb header from Commons. Efe Ambrose swung a ball in from the right and Commons, one of the smallest men on the pitch, rose above Teale to bullet a header past Craig Samson from 10 yards.

The goal seemed to spur St Mirren into action with John McGinn releasing Paul Dummett down the left and the onloan Newcastle United player’s shot clipped the out rushing Fraser Forster on its way by the post. Beram Kayal then nodded a Marc McAusland header off the line after he connected with a Gary Teale corner.

Steven Thompson then missed a great opportunity to haul St Mirren level when he got across Kelvin Wilson to meet a Teale cross from the right but the striker could only glance his header wide.

Commons fired over before the Scotland international was stretchered off on the stroke of half time as a result of his own team-mate Kayal landing on his ankle.

The half ended in controversy as the home fans were screaming for a penalty when Samaras appeared to control a Teale corner with his upper arm. St Mirren players immediately surrounded Madden but he waved away their protests.

In the 55th minute Wanyama, who was just back from suspension, was shown a straight red card after a clumsy challenge on Paul McGowan.

With time running out St Mirren were awarded a controversial penalty as Goncalves went down under a challenge from Izaguirre on the edge of the box.

McGowan converted the spot kick as St Mirren managed to avoid defeat against the Hoops in a league match for the first time since March 2010.—AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

FA Cup Chelsea v Man United Al-Jazeera Sport +5

14:30

FRANCE: Spanish matador David Mora falls on a charge of Spanish bull Cebada Gago during the spring feria in Arles, southern France. —AFP

MADRID: An own-goal by Javi Lopez earned Real Sociedad a deser ved 2-2 draw at Espanyol yesterday to leave them clear in fourth place and on course for the Champions League next season.

The covering Espanyol defender booted Antoine Griezmann’s attempted layoff past his own keeper for the equaliser in the 76th minute as Sociedad extended their run to 19 games with only one defeat. The club from San Sebastian are fourth with 48 points and nine games left, one ahead of fifth-placed Malaga who won 3-1 at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Barcelona are top with 75 points after a 2-2 draw at lowly Celta Vigo on Saturday, when second-placed Real Madrid, with 62 points, were held 1-1 at Real Zaragoza.

Atletico Madrid, with 60 points, can go second if they beat Valencia at home in Sunday’s late game. Espanyol took the lead af ter nine minutes when Simao crossed low for former Spain striker Sergio Garcia to dink in a close-range shot.

Sociedad patiently worked their way back into the game and levelled when David Zurutuza volleyed a long-range lob into the empty net from a weak punched clearance.

A wonderful piece of skill from Sergio Garcia won him space on the left and he crossed for Christian Stuani to volley Espanyol back in front again before the break.

The visitors dominated the second period and were well worth the equaliser when Lopez stuck out a foot to block Griezmann’s cross and slotted the ball inside his own near post.

In the midday kickoff, Kike Sola scored twice as Osasuna came from behind to win 3-1 at Real Valladolid. At the foot of the standings, Deportivo La Coruna fired their survival hopes with a 3-2 comeback victory at fellow strugglers Real Mallorca, earning their first away win of the campaign.

Silvio, Carlos Marchena and Riki netted the goals that put Depor 3-1 up midway through the second half, but a scrappy late strike from Emilio Nsue ensured a nail-biting finale at the Iberostar stadium.

Depor remain bottom with 23 points, but are now just four behind 17th-placed Zaragoza and safety. Mallorca are in 19th with 24 points, behind Celta on goal difference.—Reuters

Javi Lopez

Spanish League results/standings Valladolid 1 (Ruben Gonzalez 11-og) Osasuna 3 (Echaide 50, 60, De las Cuevas 69); Real Mallorca 2 (Victor 19, Nsue 86) Deportivo La Coruna 3 (Silvio 27, Marchena 48, Riki 60); Espanyol 2 (Sergio Garcia 9, Stuani 38) Real Sociedad 2 (Zurutuza 23, Lopez Rodriguez 76-og).

Spanish League table after yesterday’s first late match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Barcelona

29

24 3

2 90 33 75

Sevilla

29

11 5

13 43 41 38

Real Madrid

29

19 5

5 72 28 62

Espanyol

29

9

9

11 35 39 36

Atletico

28

19 3

6 50 24 60

Valladolid

29

9

8

12 37 41 35

Real Sociedad

29

13 9

7 51 37 48

Bilbao

28

9

5

14 32 51 32

Malaga

29

13 8

8 41 28 47

Osasuna

29

8

7

14 26 33 31

Valencia

28

13 6

9 41 40 45

Granada

28

7

7

14 26 39 28

Real Betis

28

13 4

11 39 42 43

Zaragoza

29

7

6

16 26 43 27

Getafe

28

12 6

10 38 44 42

Celta Vigo

29

6

6

17 29 43 24

Rayo Vallecano

29

13 2

14 38 49 41

Mallorca

29

6

6

17 32 58 24

Levante

29

11 7

11 34 41 40

Deportivo

29

5

8

16 35 61 23

Nuremberg fight back for draw BERLIN: A stunning Timmy Simons volley helped Nuremberg fight back for a 2-2 draw at VfL Wolfsburg as the sides turned their midtable clash into a feast of attacking football yesterday.

Bottom club Greuther Fuerth continued to play the role of generous hosts as they lost 3-2 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the other game, leaving them winless in their own stadium in their debut Bundesliga season.

Promoted Frankfurt’s win kept them in the hunt for a Champions League place, leaving them fifth and level on 42 points with four th-placed Schalke 04.

Bayern Munich, who flattened Hamburg SV 9-2 on Saturday, top the table with 72 points and a commanding 20-point lead over defending champions Borussia Dor tmund. Bayer Leverkusen are third, a further four points behind.

Wolfsburg playmaker Diego, who had a pen thrown at him by visiting fans as he took a corner in the first half, got the match off to a flying start when he curled in a free kick from the edge of the area after two minutes.

They extended the lead with a brilliant Ivica Olic effor t, the Croat curling a left-foot shot into the top corner from outside the area in the 27th minute to score for the fourth game in a row.

Patrick Helmes hit the post for Wolfsburg at the end of the first half and Nuremberg took advantage of the let off as they turned the game around after the break.

Belgian midfielder Simons upstaged Olic’s effort in the 61st minute when he met a poor clearance out of defence on the run and, without breaking stride, scored with a dipping, outswinging volley from 25 metres. Per Nilsson got in front of his marker to turn in a free kick five minutes later and extend Nuremberg’s unbeaten league run to eight games.

Nuremberg are 11th with 35 points and Wolfsburg one place below them with 32, eight points clear of Augsburg in the relegation playoff spot.

Fuerth, who have taken only four points at home, briefly looked as if they might break their duck when Nikola Djurdic

GERMANY: Frankfurt’s midfielder Alexander Meier (right) and Fuerth’s defender Mergim Mavraj challange for a ball during German First Division Bundesliga football match. —AFP

headed them in front after two minutes.

But Japanese midfielder Takashi Inui levelled 10 minutes later and two goals in a 10minute spell from Stefan Aigner

and Alexander Meier set up Eintracht for three points.

Serca Sararer pulled one back for the hosts who were given non-stop backing from the hardcore fans behind the goal

despite slumping to another defeat.

They have 15 points from 27 games, five adrift of Hoffenheim and nine behind Augsburg in the relegation playoff spot.—Reuters

German League results/standings Furth 2 (Djurdjic 2, Sararer 72) Eintr. Frankfurt 3 (Inui 13, Aigner 59, Meier 68); VfL Wolfsburg 2 (Ribas 3, Olic 27) Nuremberg 2 (Simons 61, Nilsson 66).

German Bundesliga table after yesterday’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Bayern Munich Dortmund Leverkusen Schalke Eintr. Frankfurt Mainz SC Freiburg M’gladbach Hamburg

27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27

23 3 15 7 14 6 12 6 12 6 10 9 10 9 9 11 11 5

1 5 7 9 9 8 8 7 11

78 62 50 46 42 34 35 35 32

13 32 35 43 39 30 33 37 43

72 52 48 42 42 39 39 38 38

Hanover 27 Nuremberg 27 VfL Wolfsburg 27 VfB Stuttgart 27 Werder Bremen 27 Dusseldorf 27 FC Augsburg 27 Hoffenheim 27 Furth 27

11 4 8 11 8 8 9 5 8 7 7 8 5 9 5 5 2 9

12 8 11 13 12 12 13 17 16

49 31 32 29 43 33 23 30 18

46 34 42 46 52 40 40 52 45

37 35 32 32 31 29 24 20 15

Murray snatches Miami title

Bolt bags 150m race at Copacabana beach

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

18

16

Own-goal keeps Sociedad in driving seat for fourth place Page 19

BIRMINGHAM: Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (left) vies for the ball with Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke during the English Premier League soccer match. — AP

Liverpool win leaves Villa in peril Aston Villa 1

Liverpool 2

BIRMINGHAM: Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 at Aston Villa yesterday in an entertaining game that kept Paul Lambert’s side entrenched in the Premier League relegation zone.

Christian Benteke put Villa ahead with a crisp strike in the first half but Jordan Henderson equalised early in the second period before Steven Gerrard claimed Liverpool’s winner from the penalty spot.

Defeat left Villa third from bottom in the English top flight, but although they only trail fourth-bottom Wigan Athletic on goal difference, Roberto Martinez’s side have a game in hand. Villa had been bidding for a third successive win, but instead their momentum deserted them ahead of a run of games that includes daunting trips to Stoke City and leaders Manchester United.

“Everybody who was here today would say we were playing well enough and don’t look like a team down at the bottom,” Villa manager Lambert told Sky Sports.

“If we keep going like we’re going, we’ll win

more games than we don’t.” Liverpool, meanwhile, closed to within five points of the European places, although the three teams immediately above them - Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton all have a game in hand.

“Our character was outstanding today,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. “We played reasonably well in the first half, but we made a mistake and got punished by Benteke. We created chances in the first half.

“In the second half we upped the tempo in our game, we were excellent going forward, and defensively we were very solid. It’s a terrific win for us.”

Rodgers made four changes to the team beaten 3-1 by Southampton in Liverpool’s previous outing, with Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Lucas Leiva and Henderson coming into the side.

Joe Bennett was the only new face in the Villa line-up, but the left-back nearly crafted the opening goal in the fourth minute at Villa Park with an inviting centre that narrowly eluded Benteke.

Another cross from a Villa full-back, this time Matthew Lowton, almost yielded a goal in the 16th minute, but Reina produced a point-blank save to thwart Gabriel Agbonlahor.

It was Liverpool, though, who made most of the early running. Glen Johnson saw a deflected shot gathered by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan, while Luis Suarez poked a shot over, dragged an effort wide, and had two attempts at goal repelled

by Guzan.

Villa’s opener, in the 31st minute, came against

the run of play. After Ashley Westwood’s searching ball towards the Liverpool box was knocked down

by Agbonlahor, Benteke dispatched a meaty strike that brushed Reina’s right glove en route to the bottom-left corner.

Liverpool were quickly back on the attack and Guzan twice came to the hosts’ rescue in the minutes leading up to half-time.

The American blocked a meek shot from Suarez after Barry Bannan had inadvertently given the Uruguayan a clear run on goal, before pushing away a swerving strike from Gerrard.

Villa have been dogged by an inability to protect leads in the league this season and their fragility cost them once again as Liverpool turned the game around within 15 minutes of kick-off in the second half.

The visitors needed just two minutes to draw level, as Philippe Coutinho released Henderson with a beautifully judged pass and the former Sunderland player deftly chipped the advancing Guzan.

Coutinho rolled a shot inches wide from Suarez’s pass and Johnson struck the post before Gerrard levelled on the hour with an inch-perfect penalty after Nathan Baker slid in on Suarez.

Back came Villa, and after Andreas Weimann ballooned Yacouba Sylla’s cut-back over the bar, Gerrard produced a captain’s clearance to head Benteke’s goal-bound header off his own goal-line.

Benteke thought he had snatched an equaliser in injury time, but his close-range half-volley was correctly ruled out for offside.— AFP

Di Canio in line for Sunderland job LONDON: Controversial Italian Paolo Di Canio is set to be appointed the new manager of Premier League side Sunderland, according to reports in the British media yesterday.

Sunderland are seeking a replacement for Martin O’Neill, who was dismissed by the club’s American owner Ellis Short after a 10 defeat at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

The result left Sunderland just a point above the relegation zone.Di Canio, 44, left third-tier Swindon Town in February, having guided the club to promotion from League Two in his first managerial role.

Famed in Britain for a fiery temperament displayed during spells as a player at Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United and Charlton Athletic, Di Canio was reported to have travelled to Sunderland for talks late yesterday.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and his Aston Villa counterpart Paul Lambert have both criticised Sunderland’s decision to dismiss 61-year-old O’Neill.

“I was very surprised. Whenever someone of the status of Martin O’Neill loses his job, then we all have to be on the back foot,” said Rodgers, after his side’s 2-1 win at Villa Park.

“This is a guy who has been in the game for many years, has many years’ experience, went into

Sunderland’s sacked Northern Irish manager Martin O’Neill Sunderland and picked them up off and anger by media pundits and fortheir knees. mer colleagues.

“OK, they are going through a difFormer Crystal Palace and ficult time, but he is still a top-class Reading manager Steve Coppell manager. “There are some times pointed the finger at the short-term when the club just has to be stable approach adopted by club owners in and guys like Martin O’Neill losing the English top flight. his job, it’s a sad day.”

“For me, I can only think there Lambert, who captained Celtic was a personal confrontation after under O’Neill during his playing the game as Martin, in his interviews career, said: “I only knew late last after the game, looked calm, collectnight and I was shocked like every- ed and inspired for the challenge body else at what had happened. ahead,” Coppell told BBC Radio Five “Nobody is safe. I had the privi- Live. lege of working under him for five “We are in the realms, I’m afraid, years and it was fantastic.” O’Neill’s of spoilt-brat reactions because it is dismissal was greeted with surprise their (the owner’s) toy.” Former

England striker Alan Shearer said he was surprised by the timing of O’Neill’s departure.

“It’s bizarre. They have gone down the route that Reading have (sacking Brian McDermott),” he said on BBC television programme Match of the Day. “They are on a terrible run of form but it is the timing of it I find hard.” Stan Collymore, who played under O’Neill as a striker at Leicester City, said the Northern Irishman may have struggled without his former assistant John Robertson, with whom he had worked at his previous clubs.

“John Robertson was the conduit between player and manager,” Collymore told talkSPORT radio station. “He would watch training, perhaps go in a couple of times to see the manager, who probably wouldn’t even come out until the last 10, 15 minutes of the session, where everything got much livelier.

“Because it was unusual for the gaffer (manager) to come out and oversee training - like Sir Alex Ferguson or like David Moyes - and what John Robertson would do would be to report back.

“Who’s looking sharp, who’s not looking so sharp, and I think in terms of this season, Martin O’Neill just hasn’t looked himself. “He hasn’t had that sounding board with John Robertson.” — AFP

EPL results/standings Aston Villa 1 (Benteke 31) Liverpool 2 (Henderson 47, Gerrard 60-pen).

Playing today Fulham v QPR English Premier League table after yesterday’s match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man Utd Man City Tottenham Chelsea Arsenal Everton Liverpool West Brom Swansea Fulham West Ham

30 30 31 30 30 30 31 31 31 29 30

25 2 3 70 31 77 18 8 4 55 26 62 17 6 8 53 38 57 16 7 7 59 32 55 15 8 7 59 33 53 13 12 5 47 35 51 13 9 9 59 40 48 13 5 13 41 41 44 10 10 11 41 40 40 9 9 11 40 44 36 10 6 14 35 44 36

Southampton 31 8 10 13 44 53 34 Stoke 31 7 13 11 27 36 34 Norwich 31 7 13 11 28 47 34 Newcastle 31 9 6 16 41 56 33 Sunderland 31 7 10 14 33 43 31 Wigan 30 8 6 16 36 56 30 Aston Villa 31 7 9 15 32 58 30 QPR 30 4 11 15 26 48 23 Reading 31 5 8 18 36 61 23 Note: Top four clubs qualify for the Champions League, bottom three clubs are relegated.

Preview

No rest for FA Cup foes Man United, Chelsea LONDON: Manchester United and Chelsea face a challenging 48-hour turnaround ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final replay at Stamford Bridge today.

Both sides were in Premier League action on Saturday, giving them little time to prepare for an encounter that carries with it the tantalising prize of a semi-final date with Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.

United manager Alex Ferguson made several changes for his side’s 1-0 win at Sunderland, with Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs among the players omitted from the squad altogether.

Despite United’s reputation for endurance in the major competitions, centre-back Jonny Evans admits it is something of a novelty to play two games in such quick succession.

“I have never really been in this situation before, so it will be new to probably most of us,” said the Northern Ireland international.

“It’s just all about tonight (Saturday). We will probably go back and get a good recovery session in and make sure we have done everything we can physically to make sure we are right for the game on Monday.”

Ferguson is desperate to see United end their nine-year wait for FA Cup glory, having seen his side beaten 1-0 by Chelsea in 2007 in their last appearance in the final.

The Scot will also be keenly aware that, with four FA Cup triumphs in the last six seasons, Chelsea are intruding upon United’s territory as the most successful side in the history of the game’s oldest cup competition. However, his decision to shuffle his pack against Sunderland owed as much to his team’s dominant position in the Premier League table as it did to his desire to add a sixth FA Cup winner’s medal to his collection.

United’s win at the Stadium of Light enabled them to preserve their 15-point lead at the top of the standings and a 20th English title now appears a formality.

Life is not quite so rosy for Ferguson’s

opposite number, Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez. Last season’s European champions remain in contention for honours in both the FA Cup and the Europa League, but Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Southampton jeopardised their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Benitez defended his decision to leave Eden Hazard, Ashley Cole and David Luiz on the bench at St Mary’s. “We had to manage the squad,” he said. “We don’t have too many options in some positions, so we had to use the players we had.

“It would have been different if we’d done better in the first half, because in the second we had the chances to win.”

Benitez also rejected suggestions he had purposefully rested Gary Cahill and Juan Mata. “Cahill and Mata couldn’t play. I wasn’t ‘resting’ them,” he said. “If you don’t have one or two players, you have to manage the squad. Mata could be back on Monday, but Cahill, I don’t think so.”

Despite United’s record-breaking dominance in the league, which has now seen them amass 54 points from a possible 50, Benitez will take heart from his side’s performance in the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on March 10.

Then, United quickly assembled a 2-0 lead, only to wilt in the face of Chelsea’s stirring comeback in the second half.

Since that game, United have produced two laboured 1-0 victories, over Reading and Sunderland, but Ferguson confirmed that he will look to recall his big guns for the trip to west London.

“There will be changes at Chelsea,” he said. “We will have to wait and see how Wayne is. He was a bit tired after getting back from the England match (in Montenegro).

“We will have Ryan Giggs and Javier Hernandez available and there were a couple of others who I did not take to Sunderland.” — AFP

Rolls-Royce takes personalization to new heights ’

Business

Page 23 WTO braces for leadership race

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

Page 25 IMF team to arrive in Egypt for loan talks

KAMCO announces financial results for 2012 Page 26

Page 22

SYDNEY: An Emirates A380 aircraft (top-left) and a Qantas A380 aircraft (top-right) flying over Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce (left) and Emirates president Tim Clark (right), as they stand on the steps of the Sydney Opera House yesterday. (Inset) Emirates (right) and Qantas (left) airline hostesses at a press conference. — AFP

Sydney flyover launches Qantas-Emirates tie-up Australian carrier sees ‘seismic shift’ in aviation SYDNEY: Two Airbus A380s made a dramatic tandem flight over the Sydney Harbor Bridge yesterday to launch the new Qantas-Emirates partnership, hailed by the Australian carrier as a “seismic shift” in aviation. The tie -up, approved last week by Australia’s competition watchdog, allows the two airlines to combine operations for an initial period of five years, including coordinating ticket prices and schedules.

It will also see Qantas switch its hub for European flights from Singapore to Emirates’ Dubai base as it attempts to turn around its struggling international business. “Dubai is the

best hub for Qantas in the 21st century,” the company’s chief executive Alan Joyce said after watching the flyover by superjumbos from both airlines at 1,500 feet (450 metres) over Sydney’s famous landmark.

“It is eight hours’ flying time from 75 percent of the world’s population.” At a press conference with the president of Emirates Tim Clark, Joyce said the partnership would offer huge benefits to customers in terms of network and frequent flyer benefits, cutting flight times to top European destinations. “This is one of the biggest days in Qantas’s 92-year history. That’s because this partnership will play a

critical role for us into the future,” Joyce said.

“This joint network with Emirates is a key part of tackling the structural challenges that Qantas International is faced with. But more than that... it is a seismic shift in global aviation.” Clark said the stitching together of the airlines’ services had created a “game-changing partnership” providing “one of the most formidable aviation networks in the world today”. Qantas said the feat by the two superjumbos is thought to be the first time anywhere in the world that two commercial airline A380s have flown in formation.

Pilots from both airlines completed dozens

of special simulator training sessions, with Emirates pilots travelling Down Under this month to train in Qantas’s A380 simulator.

The alliance is seen as vital to the sustainability of Qantas, which last year posted its first annual deficit since privatization in 1995 due to tougher competition and high fuel costs for its international arm. With services to Asia no longer tied to onward links to Europe, Qantas has said that it is also considering new direct destinations from Australia, including Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Delhi and TokyoHaneda.

Australia’s Transport Minister Anthony

All eyes on ECB after Cyprus bailout FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank will hold off from cutting rates or announcing any other policy moves at its meeting next week so as to keep up pressure on governments to solve the euro-zone’s crisis, analysts said. The ECB has never hesitated to act as firefighter in the longrunning crisis, which seemed to have abated until political gridlock in Italy and the crisis in Cyprus sent shockwaves through financial markets once again.

Throughout the crisis, the central bank has slashed its key interest rates, pumped more than 1.0 trillion euros ($1.3 trillion) into the banking system to avert a credit crunch and sought to tame borrowing costs in worst-hit countries by buying up their sovereign bonds. The moves appeared to pay off, allowing the markets to enjoy an extended period of calm, at least until recently when elections in Italy ended in a political stalemate and Cyprus’s parliament rejected the terms of a tough bailout deal with its international creditors.

But while all eyes will be on ECB chief Mario Draghi to calm the markets once again when he holds his regular monthly news conference on Thursday, ECB watchers say the central bank looks likely to keep its gunpowder dry for the time being. “The ball remains in the court of national governments and parliaments,” said Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz.

“The failure in Italy to form a government, but also the potentially dangerous precedents enforced by creditor countries in Cyprus are mostly to blame for the increased downside risks to the economy,” he argued. “By allowing market uncertainty for a bit longer, the ECB may raise the pressure on governments in core countries and the periphery to behave,” Schulz said.

Analysts are almost unanimous that additional rate cuts are not on the cards. The ECB has held its benchmark refi rate steady at an all-time low of 0.75 percent since July. “A refi rate cut cannot be ruled out entirely at Thursday’s meeting. Still, we believe no more change to the key rates is likely as the governing council appears to regard a rate cut as a less effective tool,” said Commerzbank economist Michael Schubert.

Albanese said he believed the arrangement would benefit Qantas and Emirates, but also passengers.

“We know that the impact of this will be significant, the impact in terms of opening up opportunities for Australian businesses and recreational travellers to reach destinations with one stop across Europe and across northern Africa,” he said, adding there would also be benefits for Australian tourism. The first Qantas flights departing from Sydney and Melbourne to London via the international hub of Dubai are due to leave later yesterday. —AFP

Egypt falls to 16-week low MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

The giant euro sign in front of the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt am Main. — AFP “First of all, in their view, the level of the key rate is not the main problem but the fact that lending rates in the periphery do not reflect the low policy rate,” Schubert said.

Furthermore, the latest decline in sentiment indicators across the 17-country area “is likely to be owing to the political trends in Italy and Cyprus, and these can hardly be tackled through lower rates,” the expert argued.

At the last meeting in February, Draghi conceded that a rate cut had in fact been discussed, but “the prevailing consensus was to leave rates unchanged.” Newedge Strategy analyst Annalisa Piazza predicted the ECB chief would use similar wording again this time. “However, we suspect the current economic scenario has not deteriorated enough to convince more governing council members to support the idea of a cut,” she said. Schulz argued that a rate cut was also unlikely because it would take one of the ECB’s other key rates, on its deposit facility, into negative territory, since it currently stands at zero percent. “This would take the ECB into unchar-

tered territory and should thus be an emergency measure only,” he said.

The deposit rate is the rate which the ECB pays out to banks for parking their money with it. Pushing the deposit rate into negative territory is potentially risky because while it could spur banks to lend money rather than paying a penalty to the ECB, it would also reduce profitability and force banks to raise lending rates they charge customers to make up the difference. Commerzbank’s Schubert pointed out that both Draghi and other governing council members have suggested that a negative deposit rate could bring with it “severe consequences”.

“In a nutshell, we don’t expect any changes in policy,” said Piazza at Newedge Strategy. “A sudden move would be seen as a sign of panic” and would only serve to erode confidence still further, she said. But UniCredit analysts, in a weekly investors note, said it would nevertheless remain “up to the ECB rhetoric to calm the nervousness”. — AFP

DUBAI: Selling pressure from foreign investors dragged Egypt’s bourse down to a near 16week low yesterday as the country’s economic situation worsens, while Gulf markets were mixed.

Egypt’s government has hit a breaking point in its ability to pay for imports of oil, wheat and other basic commodities, forcing it to call in diplomatic favors.

The country will receive payment facilities from American and European suppliers of wheat, an Egyptian newspaper on Saturday quoted minister of supplies Bassem Ouda as saying. Critical finances and political woes have hit investor sentiment and brought on a credit rating downgrade from Moody’s earlier in March.Most stocks declined. Orascom Construction Industries and Commercial International Bank lost 2.5 and 3 percent respectively. Non-Arab foreigners were net sellers, according to bourse data. Shares in National Societe Generale Bank declined 1.9 percent to 30.10 Egyptian pounds ($4.42) - its lowest since August 2012. The stock has fallen for four sessions since the Egyptian government said it would levy a 10 percent tax on capital gains made from selling shares to Qatar National Bank (QNB).

The exchange executed the sale of NSGB shares to QNB, representing a 97.1 percent stake in the Egyptian lender. NSGB will be delisted from the bourse on April 7 QNB bought a 77.2 percent stake from NSGB’s parent firm Societe Generale, and acquired the rest from the market at 38.65 pounds per share. QNB’s shares slipped 0.3 percent on Doha’s exchange, underperforming the benchmark’s 0.1 percent retreat.

Cairo’s bourse fell 1.6 percent to 5,099 points, its lowest close since Dec 11. “The mar-

ket broke the support at 5,100 on low volumes and the next support is near 4,900 points” said Mohabeldeen Agena, head of technical analysis at Cairo’s Beltone Financial. “We might see a minor rebound from current levels, which is an opportunity to sell.”In Saudi Arabia, the index slipped 0.5 percent, extending declines from a 10-month high as investors booked gains in large-cap stocks.

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) lost 1 percent, dragging the petrochemical sector down by 0.8 percent. The banking index shed 0.5 percent.

In Kuwait, investors bought stocks to boost share prices at the end of the first quarter but the index was little changed. This trading tactic, known by many brokers as “window dressing”, is especially rife in Kuwait, with investors seeking to temporarily bolster portfolio performance.

Small-caps dominated trade. Gulf Investment House and Investors Holding Group climbed 5.5 and 2.2 percent respectively.

Selling pressure on stocks also eased as many companies filed earnings on the final day of the reporting period. Shares in firms that failed to do so will be suspended from trading today.

Logistics operator Agility rose 1.7 percent to a three-year high. The firm said its fourth-quarter net profit more than doubled. Elsewhere, UAE markets were mixed with Dubai’s bourse falling 0.9 percent to a fresh two-month low as investors booked profits from an early-year surge. Emaar Properties and Air Arabia declined 1.7 and 3.1 percent respectively.

Abu Dhabi’s benchmark gained 0.3 percent.

Shares in Ras Al-Khaimah Ceramics surge 14.7 percent after the company proposed a 20 percent cash dividend. — Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

BUSINESS

IMF team to arrive in Egypt for loan talks

Turkey: Political stability, strong economy and great investments opportunities

By Hayder Tawfik

First days of April ‘critical’ CAIRO: An IMF delegation will arrive in Egypt tomorrow for talks with the government on a $4.8 billion loan, a government spokesman said yesterday, as Cairo seeks to conclude a deal vital to easing a deep economic crisis.

Spokesman Alaa El Hadidi added that Egypt would not seek any emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund and faced no “crisis” in funding the import of essential commodities.

The most populous Arab country has been seek-

ing a loan from the Fund to ease economic strains after two years of political upheaval. Reserves of foreign currency have fallen to critically low levels, threatening Egypt’s ability to buy in supplies of wheat, of which it is the world’s biggest importer, and fuel.

President Mohamed Morsi’s government initialled a deal with the IMF last November but postponed final ratification in December in the face of unrest triggered by a political row over the extent of

CAIRO: Egyptians eat foul, or fava beans, at an open-air cart restaurant in Cairo yesterday. The unrest in Egypt has badly hurt the economy, with foreign investors and tourists largely staying away, and a diesel crisis that has crippled life for millions. —AP

Dana Gas collects $73.7m from Egypt, Kurdistan DUBAI: Dana Gas has collected a total of $73.7 million in receivables from its operations in Egypt and the Kurdistan region of Iraq in 2013, the United Arab Emirates-based company said yesterday.

Delays getting paid for supplies of natural gas to Egypt and Kurdistan forced the company to restructure its debt late last year, after it failed to pay a $920 million Islamic bond on maturity in October. The overdue payments collected so far this year are equal to about 12.5 percent of the $589 million total outstanding receivables still owed to Dana at the end of 2012.

“We are pleased to see that our strategy and efforts for addressing our receivables position in Egypt and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is yielding results,” Rashid Al Jarwan, acting chief executive officer of Dana Gas, said in a statement. Dana collected around $163 million receivables from Egypt last year. But receivables from gas supplied in Egypt still rose from $228 million at the end of 2011 to around $236 million at the end of 2012, according to Dana’s latest results. Egypt paid Dana $41.3 million in January for gas supplied but not paid for, largely due to political upheaval in the North African country since 2011. Talks with Egyptian authorities for the swift repayment of the rest are ongoing, Dana said in the statement to the Abu Dhabi stock exchange. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) debts to Dana for fuel supplied stood at around $353 million at the end of 2012, up from around $240 million at the end of 2011. — Reuters

his powers. Hadidi, seeking to allay public concerns over power cuts and long queues at petrol stations, ruled out an emergency loan, as suggested by the IMF. He added that the country was still able to buy essential imports. “(The supply) of wheat and loaves of bread is safe,” he told reporters. He added that indications of a higher harvest this year meant Egypt would use locally-grown wheat in the place of wheat that would otherwise have been imported.

He played down as “speculation” repeated media reports that Egypt was seeking aid from Arab states Libya and Iraq. “Egypt seeks to boost investment from these countries and an opening of their labor markets (for Egyptians),” Hadidi said. The IMF said last week a technical delegation would visit Cairo in the “first days of April”. Masood Ahmed, director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia department, visited Cairo on March 17, saying the Fund would continue talks aimed at agreeing possible financial aid. Any deal with the IMF is likely to require Egypt to commit to austerity measures, a very sensitive issue at a time when Morsi is facing protests over his management of the country.

Shortages of subsidized diesel have paralyzed transport in parts of Egypt, as the Egyptian pound has lost 9 percent of its value against the dollar since late last year. The government is working on an economic program where it plans to cut back on subsidies of fuel. Last year it eliminated subsidies on 95octane gasoline, the highest grade available, and it raised fuel prices in many sectors last month.

Morsi’s cabinet has said it plans to implement a subsidized fuel rationing system at the beginning of July, though local media reports have said the plan, already delayed several times, could be pushed back to January. The unrest of the past two years has driven away tourists whose spending accounted for around a tenth of GDP before the uprising.

Hadidi said the number of tourists in February was 845,000, a 12 percent increase compared with a year earlier. — Reuters

Morocco’s unions protest government, economy RABAT: Thousands of members of two of Morocco’s largest labor unions marched through the capital yesterday to protest the Islamist-led government’s planned economic and labor reforms and its failure to stem unemployment and inflation.

Described as a “national march of protest” pushing for greater freedoms and rights, the few thousand demonstrators, brightly attired in yellow baseball caps and smocks, were smaller in number than past anti-government demonstrations by this North African nation’s labor movement.

The protesters were particularly irate over government plans to reform laws dealing with labor unions, including docking the pay of strikers and measures that the government says would increase transparency in union finances.

Chanting, the “people want the fall of the government” and calling for the departure of Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, the activists marched through the colonial-era streets of downtown Rabat in a light rain.

Benkirane’s moderate Islamist party won the most seats in elections following pro-democracy uprisings in 2011, and he took the helm of the government promising to fight corruption and address the North African country’s huge gap between the rich and the poor. His fractious

coalition has achieved little, however, and is currently embroiled in the sensitive process of reforming the massive subsidies and pension systems. “The government has done nothing so far, not for the economy, not for social reforms and not even for the fight against corruption,” said Bouchra Sandeel, a teacher from Marrakech marching in the demonstration.

She expressed fear that efforts to reform the subsidies on fuel and food staples would hit the poor hardest in this country of 32 million. Talib Ait Ahmed, a cannery worker from the southern coast city of Agadir, said he was protesting for a better life for workers in the face of the rising food prices and widespread unemployment. Ait Ahmed acknowledged that the government faces constraints, but complained that the prime minister wasn’t doing anything to improve economic mobility and expand the small middle class.

“He’s not reacting. He sees the problem but hasn’t taken it in hand yet,” Ait Ahmed said.

Despite some reforms following the 2011 Arab Spring demonstrations, true power in Morocco lies with the monarchy and those close to it. Benkirane has repeatedly blamed “remnants” of the previous government in the bureaucracy and administration for blocking his reform efforts. — AP

KUWAIT: Over the last decade the Turkish government decided to go it alone after trying very hard with the European Union for a membership. Objections from mainly France and Germany on the ground of human rights violation and the old historical arguments about the Turkish treatments of the minority Armenians during the great wars made Turkey literally to abandon its case and go it alone. It centered its focus on the economy as the engine for growth and prosperity. It has succeeded with great admirations. Turkey’s roaring economy has been the envy of most Western European and Eastern ones too. It has become a monster economy. It is no longer a small volatile and exposed to the world around it.

Foreign investors continue pouring money into a country that spans Europe, Asia and the Middle East in one of the most energy rich, massive young population, strong purchasing power and above all most volatile regions of the world. Turkey has a secular government that has been stable for a long time and its security not only guaranteed by its military power but also by being a member of NATO. It seems that the years of high inflation and big current account deficits are behind. Most international financial institutions have recognized the government’s successful economic and monetary policies.

There are still worries, but in a region of geopolitical instability it has become a great destination for foreign investors. In my opinion it is one of a safest investment places in a very volatile regions of the world.

Turkey weathered the global financial crisis better than most. It has a young and educated workforce, modern infrastructure, a large domestic market, multiple free trade agreements and a liberal and reformist investment climate that encourages and reward investors with growth.

Turkey is classified as an emerging markets same as Russia but I would rather to have my money on Turkey rather than Russia. The Erdogan government has made considerable advancement in fighting corruption during the last decade. Corruption was an inherited problem from the previous governments that was mostly lead by the army. It still exists but to a lesser degree and the government trying hard to eliminate it. One thing for sure is that the new laws protect foreign investments. The advice for foreign investors is to do their due diligence properly and take their time before deciding on any investment in Turkey. It is just like any other investment with more of risks.

Turkey’s economy still relies on Europe mainly Germany, Russia and the UK but its massive exposure to its neighbors and the region has helped her a lot in weathering the global financial crises. In 2012, its stock market had the best return in comparison to the Euro zone including Germany. It has very competitive currency and this has helped her in stimulating its exports of textiles, chemicals, foodstuff and transportations equipments. It has become Iraq’s biggest trading partner with annual trade of more than US$5billion. On average the economy has been growing over 8% over the last 10 years and it is expected to carry on growing around the 7% for the next few years. Apart from China, Turkey has become one of the biggest recipients of Foreign Direct Investment over the last decade. In 2011 Turkey received over $16billion and as for last year the number has jumped to over $20billion. Indeed very impressive numbers.

Should investors ignore the Arab Spring and the rise of Islamists in Turkey?

Turkey is becoming a melting pot, culturally. It is as complex as its beautiful mosaics. It is the link between the East and the West as ever.

For decades an economic backwater, it is now the economic success that was achieved by an Islamist-leaning government that has managed successfully to mix the conservative religious devotion of the masses with the economic interests of the secular elite. There is little chance its people would risk all the prosperity, political stability and its relation with the West for something else. Let’s not forget that the Arab Spring and the rise of Islamists governments have not delivered anything yet.

However, for any Turkey observer, it seems that the society is getting more conservative. This is not bad if justice, equality, freedom of speech and prosperity accompany it for all. Political Islam is very popular in Turkey and the government support is on the rise. The government has to make sure that its policies continue to deliver economic growth and prosperity and must at all costs avoid any economic hardship that might give the chance to the fundamentalists using the poor against the government and banking on their hidden agenda. Foreign investors should feel comfortable when investing in Turkey. The ruling party’s economic success is reflected in its popularity among the voters and this must be reassuring for foreign investors even after Erdogan’s current term finishes.

— Hayder Tawfik - Executive Vice President of Asset Management, at Dimah Capital.

EXCHANGE RATES Irani Riyal - cash

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

.2770000 .4300000 .3620000 .2970000 .2770000 .2940000 .0040000 .0020000 .0772190 .7523200 .3930000 .0720000 .7375180 .0370000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2843000 GB Pound/KD .4323210 Euro .3644300 Swiss francs .2993260 Canadian dollars .2793690 Danish Kroner .0488760 Swedish Kroner .0435620 Australian dlr .2962260 Hong Kong dlr .0366200 Singapore dlr .2291820 Japanese yen .0030170 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0774340 Bahraini dinars .7544120 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0758340 Omani riyals .7387290 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - transfer

ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.987 5.283 2.906 2.251 3.313 229.280 36.787 3.614 7.009 9.730 0.271

.2880000 .4450000 .3780000 .3160000 .2920000 .3010000 .0068000 .0035000 .0779950 .7598810 .4110000 .0770000 .7449300 .0440000 .2864000 .4355140 .3671220 .3015370 .2814330 .0492370 .0438840 .2984140 .0368910 .2308750 .0030400 .0053060 .0022660 .0029210 .0036790 .0780060 .7599840 .4050920 .0763940 .7441860 .0070670

0.273

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

GCC COUNTRIES 76.150 78.463 741.720 758.470 77.758

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 41.450 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 41.410 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.332 Tunisian Dinar 182.160 Jordanian Dinar 403.260 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.916 Syrian Lier 3.102 Morocco Dirham 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 GOLD 298.000 150.000 77.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL DRAFT 303.06 284.35 305.68 370.57 284.90 436.56 3.09 3.646 5.257 2.214 3.295 2.902 77.64 758.58 41.26 405.87 741.47 78.67 76.17

Selling Rate 285.450 283.970 433.915 368.445 301.170 755.735 77.695 78.355 76.085 402.390 41.313 2.248 5.256 2.897 3.630 6.956 700.225 4.010 9.820 4.035 3.375 92.020

Bahrain Exchange Company CURRENCY

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

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

SELL CASH 307.000 282.000 308.000 369.000 286.000 437.000 3.300 3.730 5.400 2.450 3.450 2.978 78.300 757.500 41.800 411.000 740.000 78.500 76.500

British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Scottish Pound Swedish Krona Swiss Franc

BUY Europe 0.4268270 0.0061791 0.0450534 0.3612250 0.0448014 0.4239250 0.0397117 0.2961094

SELL 0.4358270 0.0181791 0.0500534 0.3687250 0.0500014 0.4314250 0.0447117 0.3031094

Australasia 0.2873975 0.2311150 0.0001118

0.2993975 0.2411150 0.0001118

Canadian Dollar Colombian Peso US Dollars

America 0.2737882 0.0001487 0.2833500

0.2827882 0.0001667 0.2855000

Bangladesh Taka Cape Vrde Escudo Chinese Yuan Eritrea-Nakfa

Asia 0.0035929 0.0031674 0.0448937 0.0165000

0.0036479 0.0033974 0.0498937 0.0196000

Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Uganda Shilling

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

0.0000443 0.0342386 0.0051973 0.0000244 0.0028529 0.0029487 0.0032693 0.0885039 0.0031361 0.0028708 0.0065404 0.0000729 0.2261171 0.0019485 0.0093503

0.0000503 0.0373386 0.0052622 0.0000296 0.0038529 0.0031287 0.0034993 0.0955039 0.0033361 0.0029108 0.0070104 0.0000759 0.2321171 0.0022505 0.0099503

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

Arab 0.7508679 0.0393044 0.0129885 0.1486163 0.0000794 0.0001737 0.3971117 1.0000000 0.0001751 0.0215101 0.0012143 0.7305483 0.0777645 0.0756000 0.0480051 0.0031859 0.1791086 0.0763038 0.0012880

0.7593679 0.0413344 0.0194885 0.1504063 0.0000799 0.0002337 0.4046117 1.0000000 0.0001951 0.0455101 0.0018493 0.7415483 0.0785475 O.0762400 0.0485551 0.0034059 0.1851086 0.0777538 0.0013880

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) 285.300 368.700 435.800 282.700 3.035 5.262 41.335 2.248 3.619 6.965 2.899 759.550 77.700 76.200

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

BUSINESS

Rolls-Royce takes personalization to new heights Concierge service for customers in Kuwait KUWAIT: Rolls-Royce has taken the personalized experience of Rolls-Royce ownership to a whole new level by providing its customers in Kuwait with complimentary assistance in managing their day-to-day tasks through a par tnership with Kuwait Concierge.

Ali Alghanim & Sons, the sole dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Kuwait, has announced the deal which will see all its RollsRoyce customers provided with a Diamond Membership that will allow them to avail of a host of services including: unlimited personal assistance via tele phone, messenger requests and a free shop and ship account for overseas purchases.

Kuwait Concierge is an innovative lifestyle and personal assistance service provider that runs errands on behalf of its customers and provides assistance in managing their daily tasks on a personal level. Operating as a personal concierge service, the company can fulfil a host of dif-

ferent ser vices ranging from hotel, travel and restaurant bookings to traffic fine payments, car registrations, vehicle servicing, courier deliveries and airport transportation.

“Rolls-Royce ownership is not just about having a vehicle in your possession, it is a lifestyle choice that reflects your taste and social standing,” said Yousef Al-Qatami, General Manager of Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive.

“We want to provide our customers with the comfort, luxury and convenience to focus on the things they prefer to do rather than being distracted by the day-to-day administrative tasks of everyday life that can waste hundreds of valuable hours.”

The announcement comes following a milestone year for Rolls-Royce in Kuwait, as it recorded its highest sales growth ever in the country, and enjoyed a 36 percent increase in its sales, placing it amongst the top three best performing markets in the region.

The impressive sales are attributed to an unprecedented 47 percent increase in sales of the Rolls-Royce Ghost over the previous year, once of the highest increases in the region, in addition to the launch of the eagerly-awaited Phantom Series II, which has been thoughtfully updated with contemporary yet timeless design enhancements that outline the cutting-edge technologies which significantly improve the car’s drive experience, ease-of-use and connectivity. “Ali Alghanim & Sons’ focus on customer satisfaction and targeted marketing activities runs in line with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ pursuit of excellence and quality through every aspect of the brand, and this partnership with Kuwait Concierge Service is an extension of this. We look forward to another strong year for Rolls-Royce in Kuwait and are committed to developing even more innovative initiatives like this one,” added Yousef AlQatami.

US business, labor get deal on worker program

SEOUL: Visitors strolling the alleys of the Seoul Motor Show during a press preview in Goyang,north of Seoul. (Below) A South Korean model posing with Lexus’s New Generation IS. — AFP

‘Green’-tinted SUVs at Seoul Motor Show GOYANG, South Korea: Gas-guzzling SUVs, eco-friendly electric cars and the odd brave attempt to marry the selling points of both are taking centre stage at the biennial Seoul Motor Show. Carmakers including Hyundai, Toyota, GM, BMW, Volkswagen and Ford are taking part in the 10-day event, with nine models making their global debut as Seoul seeks to catch up with better-known Asian auto shows in Tokyo and Beijing.

Sports utility vehicles, including Toyota’s fourth-generation RAV4, are still the fore, despite their heavy

frames and high fuel consumptionlong seen as challenges to luring drivers in Asia’s congested cities.

French carmaker Renault gave an Asian debut to its new QM3 crossover-a downsized mix of SUV and passenger car-at an elaborate celebration event. The colourful orange vehicle, first unveiled at the recent Geneva Motor Show, will hit the market in the second half of this year, said Francois Provost, chief executive of Renault’s South Korean unit.

Renault Samsung Motors is hoping the model will mark a “new

beginning” for the firm, which has struggled with sagging sales in recent years, Provost said. The company also flagged plans to start production of its electric sedan, SM3 Z.E., at its plant in the southern city of Busan this year.

The SM3 Z.E. covers around 120 kilometres (75 miles) on a single charge with a top speed of 135 kilometres per hour. US automaker General Motors gave an Asian premier to the all-electric version of its Chevrolet Spark, heralding it as a “new benchmark” for urban electric vehicles. Production of the electrically-powered hatchback began at the firm’s plant in the southern city of Changwon earlier in March. The car’s 20-kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity in 20 minutes, and its electric motor is capable of powering the car from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in about 9.0 seconds.

South Korea’s top carmaker Hyundai Motor showed off its hydro fuel-cell Tucson SUV model which started production in February at its plant in the southern city of Ulsan.

The car, which generates electricity using hydrogen and oxygen from the air, can travel much longer distances than battery-powered vehicles. “We have achieved the feat of commercial production of hydrogen fuel cell cars for the first time in the world, ahead of nations

like Germany, Japan and the US,” Hyundai Motor CEO Kim ChoongHo said.

Hyundai, which plans to sell 1,000 units globally by 2015, claims it is at least two years ahead of competitors like Honda or Toyota, who are developing their own hydro fuel-cell cars.

Infiniti, the luxur y brand of Nissan, gave pride of place to its new electric sedan, LE Concept, best known for its wireless battery recharging system. Although leading brands are developing electric models, the market for them still faces challenges, said one expert.

“Hybrid cars have firmly established themselves in the market, but electric cars still have a long, long way to go,” Kim Pil-Su, an auto expert at South Korea’s Daelim University, told a forum on the sidelines of the auto show.

A lack of infrastructure, including recharging stations, high prices and “misguided” marketing campaigns have resulted in the electric car industr y losing its initial momentum, he said.

To make electric cars more appealing to consumers it’s better to first market them as a second car for downtown driving or short-distance trips, instead of a car to entirely replace gas-fuelled cars,” Kim said. The Seoul show is open to the public from March 29 through April 7.— AFP

Discounts abound as India’s car market tanks NEW DELHI: Indian car buyers are being bombarded with “buy now, pay later” offers after once-booming sales skidded to a 12-year low, highlighting the struggle to stimulate consumer demand in a sagging economy. “Go ahead, pinch yourself,” says an ad for German giant Volkswagen’s $13,400 Vento sedan, giving buyers a chance to trade in their old car, make a one rupee (two-cent) down payment and start paying for the new one a year later.

Other offers dangled include interest-free repayments and up to 20 percent discounts to lure buyers back into showrooms and reduce unsold vehicle pile-ups in Asia’s third-largest car market. “The slowdown has forced automakers

to cut prices and offer massive discounts to move the metal,” Ammar Master, India manager at global industry forecaster LMC Automotive, said. Passenger car sales fell 26 percent from a year earlier in February alone, the worst performance since 2000, and are projected to record their first full-year dive in the financial year to March 31 in a decade, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Sugato Sen, SIAM deputy director general, blames India’s sharp economic slowdown in which growth is expected to be just five percent this year-the weakest in 10 years.

“If people don’t have to buy a car, they aren’t buying, they’re holding back on discretionary

spending,” he said. The downturn in India’s car market comes as sales in China, the world’s biggest market, have been gaining tractionhighlighting the divergence between the two billion-plus population nations.

China “keeps running out of (manufacturing) capacity in contrast to India where manufacturers right now are facing an excess capacity situation,” said Deepesh Rathore, India managing director of industry forecaster IHS Automotive. India’s car numbers are a sharp turnaround from scorching growth in years up to 2010-11 when sales expanded by 20-30 percent annually, prompting foreign automakers to drive into the nation to offset weakness in developed markets. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Big business and labor have struck a deal on a new low-skilled worker program, removing the biggest hurdle to completion of sweeping immigration reform legislation that will provide a pathway to US citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants, labor and Senate officials said Saturday.

The agreement was reached in a phone call late Friday night with AFL-CIO labor federation President Richard Trumka, US Chamber of Commerce head Tom Donohue, and Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who’s been mediating the dispute. The deal resolves disagreements over wages for the new workers and which industries would be included. Those disputes had led talks to break down a week ago, throwing into doubt whether Schumer and seven other senators crafting a comprehensive bipartisan immigration bill would be able to complete their work as planned.

The deal must still be signed off on by the other senators working with Schumer, including Republicans John McCain of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida, but that’s expected to happen. With the agreement in place, the senators are expected to unveil their legislation the week of April 8. Their measure would secure the border, crack down on employers, improve legal immigration and create a 13year pathway to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants already here.

It’s a major second-term priority of President Barack Obama’s and would usher in the most dramatic changes to the faltering US immigration system in more than two decades. In a deeply divided Congress, immigration reform has emerged as the issue mostly likely to result in bipartisan, compromise legislation that can be passed by both the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-led House of Representatives. In last year’s Republican presidential primary, candidates took a tough stance on illegal

immigration. In the November election, President Barack Obama ended up receiving about 70 percent of the Latino vote, pushing him to victory in several key swing states. With Latinos making up a rapidly growing segment of the electorate, many Republicans have become more receptive to immigration reform.

The AFL-CIO, the largest US trade union federation, and the Chamber of Commerce, an influential pro-business lobbying group, longtime antagonists over temporary worker programs, had been fighting over wages for tens of thousands of low-skilled workers who would be brought into the United States under the new program to fill jobs in construction, hotels and resorts, nursing homes and restaurants, and other industries.

Under the agreement, a new “W” visa program would go into effect beginning April 1, 2015, according to another official involved with the talks who also spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement. In year one of the program, 20,000 workers would be allowed in; in year two, 35,000; in year three, 55,000; and in year four, 75,000. Ultimately the program would be capped at 200,000 workers a year, but the number of visas would fluctuate, depending on unemployment rates, job openings, employer demand and data collected by a new federal bureau pushed by the labor movement as an objective monitor of the market.

A “safety valve” would allow employers to exceed the cap if they can show need and pay premium wages, but any additional workers brought in would be subtracted from the following year’s cap, the official said.

The workers could move from employer to employer and would be able to petition for permanent residency and ultimately seek US citizenship. Neither is possible for temporary workers now. — AP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

BUSINESS

Gazprom slams Ukraine gas buys from Europe MOSCOW: Ukraine is using a “fraudulent scheme” to carry out reverse shipments of Russian gas from the European market, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said late on Saturday, further raising tensions in a price dispute with Kiev. Ukraine, a transit route for more than half of Russian gas shipped to the European Union, wants to pay less for gas from Russia because it says a 2009 deal with Moscow set an exorbitant price, and aims to buy more gas from Europe.

The two ex-Soviet neighbors have a record of pricing disputes which have resulted in interruptions of Russian gas supplies to Europe. “ There are no de facto and physical reverse supplies planned, but what is planned is to use Gazprom’s gas through some virtual reverse,” the monopoly’s head told Rossiya-24 state-run TV. “This is reminis-

cent of some fraudulent schemes and one needs to deal with it.”

Spokespersons for Ukraine’s deputy prime minister on energy issues Yuri Boiko and Fuel Minister Eduard Stavitsky were not available for comment yesterday. Miller said the scheme was enforced using technical manipulations at gas-measuring stations.

Reiterating Gazprom’s position, he said buying gas from Europe at spot prices will not be economically viable for Ukraine, which currently buys Russian gas at a fixed price of $430 per 1,000 cubic metres.

“There is no required gas volumes available there (in Europe) in principle, at least not the volumes which Ukraine needs,” Miller said. “Secondly, gas prices at all European spot platforms are higher than those on Gazprom’s long-term contracts.” Spot prices have been on the rise in Europe due to

unseasonably cold weather in the past few weeks. The March average UK spot gas price is around 85.6 pence a therm, some 10 pence below the Russian price. Ukraine began importing a small volume of gas from Europe last year and wants to import up to 8 billion cubic metres of gas a year from central Europe to replace expensive Russian supplies.

Moscow has demanded concessions as a condition for reviewing the price agreement, such as Ukraine joining a Russia-led trade bloc or giving up control of its pipeline network.

Moscow has already made it clear it was unhappy with Ukraine reducing imports from Russia and sent Kiev a $7 billion bill in January for what it says are volumes of gas Ukraine was obliged to buy under the “take or pay” contract.— Reuters

Crude futures stay stronger GLOBAL WEEKLY MARKETS REPORT KUWAIT: US crude futures ended the week up with stronger Wall Street equities and a weaker US dollar supporting dollar-denominated oil prices. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil settled at $97.23 a barrel, rising by $3.52 for the week. In London, Brent crude, settled at $110.02, up by $2.36. NYMEX RBOB gasoline settled at $3.1054 a gallon, for the week, the contract rose by 0.43 cents.

NYMEX heating oil closed up at $2.9152.

For the week, it rose 0.31 cents.

US oil demand in January was 369,000 bpd more than previously estimated, and up 366,000 bpd from a year earlier, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said. January oil demand was revised up 2.02 percent to 18.646 million bpd from EIA’s earlier estimate of 18.277 million bpd.

The revised demand was up 2 percent from the 18.280 million bpd posted for the month in 2012.

OPEC crude oil output is on course to reach its lowest since October 2011 this month as unrest in Libya, pipeline leaks in Nigeria and Iraqi export disruptions weigh on supplies, a Reuters survey found. Supply from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is set to average 30.18 million barrels per day (bpd), down from 30.42 million bpd in February.

The survey indicates top OPEC exporter Saudi Arabia is still keeping a lid on output.

OPEC’s March output will be the lowest since October 2011 when the group produced 29.81 million bpd. OPEC output is the closest it has been to its supply target of 30 million bpd since it took effect in January 2012. US crude stocks jumped 3.26 million barrels in the week to March 22, the EIA said. Analysts had forecast a 700,000-barrel crude build. Stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, crude storage hub rose 439,000 barrels to 49.47 million barrels. Crude imports rose 841,000 barrels per day to 8.11 million bpd. Distillate stockpiles, which include heating oil and diesel, slumped 4.51 million barrels, compared with forecasts for a draw of 800,000 barrels.

Gasoline inventories fell 1.6 million barrels against forecasts for a 1 million barrel draw.

Refinery utilization jumped 2.2 percentage points to 85.7 percent of capacity. Analysts had forecast rates rising 0.4 percentage point. With chilly weather forecasts for at least the next week, US natural gas futures managed to settled up. On the New York Mercantile Exchange settled up at $4.024 per million British thermal units (mmbtu).

The EIA gas storage report showed total domestic gas inventories fell by 95 billion cubic feet (bcf ) to 1.781 trillion cubic feet (tcf ). Most traders viewed the decline as supportive for prices, noting stocks usually build slightly that week and the draw came in well above the Reuters poll estimate of 87 bcf. Most traders expect stocks to fall below the five-year norm in next week’s EIA report, with early draw estimates ranging from 45 to 97 bcf versus a 43-bcf build in the same week last year and a five-year average increase for that week of 4 bcf.

The Japanese currency slid versus the US dollar this quarter on prospects lingering deflation will prompt Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda to boost stimulus measures at a policy meeting next week. The euro fell on worries that losses suffered by Cypriot depositors may unnerve investors in other euro-zone debt and on Italian political woes.

US The US gross domestic product advanced at a 0.4 percent annual rate between October and December. The reading was the third for the fourth quarter of 2012 and was revised upward from last month’s reading of 0.1 percent growth. The most significant revision to overall fourthquarter GDP came from business fixed investments, which rose 13.2 percent, largely because of stronger construction spending. Orders for long-lasting US-made goods surged last month and home prices posted their biggest YoY gain in six and a half years in January. Durable goods orders jumped 5.7 percent in February as demand for transportation equipment rebounded.

The rise in orders reversed January’s 3.8 percent plunge and handily beat economists’ expectations. Shipments of core capital goods actually increased 1.9 percent, leading some economists to bump up their forecasts for first-quarter economic growth.

US consumer sentiment jumped in the second half of March by a record amount as Americans discounted the effects of government spending cuts and saw more healing in the labor market. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s final reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment came in at 78.6, up from 77.6 the month before. That was well above the median forecast of 72.5 among economists polled by Reuters and a record upward revision from a preliminary reading of 71.8 in mid-March. Sales of new US single-family homes fell more than expected in February after hefty gains the previous month. The Commerce Department said on Tuesday sales dropped 4.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 411,000 units.

Last month’s decline followed a 13.1 percent jump in Januar y. Economists polled by Reuters had expected sales to fall to 422,000-unit rate last month. Compared with February 2012, sales were up 12.3 percent, indicating the housing market recovery was on course. US consumer spending rose in February and sentiment among Americans perked up this month.

Consumer spending increased 0.7 percent last month after a 0.4 percent rise in January, the Commerce Department said.

Europe Confidence in the euro-zone’s economy worsened in March, falling after four straight months of gains. Economic sentiment in the 17 countries using the euro decreased by a worse-than-expected 1.1 points to 90.0. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a decline to 90.4. The euro-zone’s measure of the business cycle also reflected this worry, posting a fall in March of 0.14 points to -0.86.

German unemployment unexpectedly climbed in March in seasonally adjusted terms but the jobless rate remained close to a post-reunification low. Labor Office data showed the number of people out of a job increased by 13,000 to 2.935 million in March. The consensus forecast in a Reuters poll of 29 economists had been for unemployment to fall by 4,000.

The unemployment rate held steady at 6.9 percent, where it has stood since October 2012. The unadjusted jobless total remained above the 3 million mark for a third consecutive month. German retail sales rose unexpectedly for a second straight month in February, but fell sharply on an annual basis, raising doubts about whether domestic demand will buoy growth in Europe’s largest economy this year. The notoriously volatile indicator increased a real 0.4 percent from January after a rise of 3.0 percent that month, revised downward from an originally reported 3.1 percent.

That beat economists’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.0 percent drop in real terms. Consumer morale in Germany was stable heading into April but developments in crisis-stricken Cyprus could to hit confidence going forward, market research group GfK said. The forward-looking consumer sentiment indicator held steady at 5.9 going into April, helped by an improvement in economic expectations, though consumers became slightly less willing to splash out on goods and were also a bit more downbeat about their future earnings.

Britain’s economy contracted at the end of 2012 in line with the previous estimate as industrial production posted its biggest quarterly fall since early 2009. The Office for National Statistics said Britain’s gross domestic product dropped 0.3 percent on the quarter in the October-December period.

On the output side, the contraction was spurred by a 2.1 percent decline in industrial production, which was the biggest fall since the first quarter of 2009. Compared to a year ago, GDP grew 0.2 percent, slightly less than estimated earlier. Britain’s current account deficit came in at GBP14.037 billion ($21.3 billion) in the fourth quarter, overshooting forecasts. For the full year, the gap between what Britain earns from trade and foreign investment and money flowing out of the country almost tripled to a shortfall of GBP57.679 billion or 3.7 percent of GDP - the highest share of output since 1989.

British consumer morale held steady for a third straight month in March, remaining 5 points higher than at the same time last year, a survey by market researchers GfK NOP showed. GfK’s headline consumer confidence index came in at -26, unchanged from the previous two months and largely in line with analysts’ expectations for a reading of -27.

Japan Japan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent in February.

That compared with 4.2 percent in January and the same median forecast made by economists. The jobs-to-applicants ratio was steady at 0.85 in February, the same level seen in the previous month. The number of new job offers rose 1.5 percent in February from the previous month and increased 4.7 percent from a year ago. Japanese industrial output unexpectedly fell 0.1 percent in February from the previous month. The fall compared with a median market forecast for a 2.6 percent increase, according to the data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Manufacturers surveyed by the ministry expect output to rise 1.0 percent in March and increase 0.6 percent in April.

Emerging markets China Chinese industrial firms’ profits continued steady rises in the first two months of the year. Profits at major industrial firms, or those with annual revenues of more than CNY20 million ($3.19 million), rose 17.2 percent YoY to reach CNY709.2 billion, the National Bureau of Statistics said. In breakdown, state-run businesses outperformed other firms, with combined profits up 18.9 percent YoY in January and February. Private companies and overseas-funded enterprises saw profits up 16.9 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively, during that period.

Revenues from primary businesses at those companies climbed 13.1 percent YoY to CNY13.7tn in the first two months.

India India’s current account deficit widened to a record high 6.7 percent of GDP in the December quarter, driven by heavy oil and gold imports and muted exports. The current account deficit was $32.63 billion in the three months through December, compared with $22.3 billion in the September quarter and $20.16 billion in the December quarter of 2011. Economists had generally expected the deficit to be equivalent to just over 6 percent of GDP. For April-December, the current account deficit was $71.7 billion, or 5.4 percent of GDP. The fiscal deficit during the April-February period was INR5.07tn ($93.23 billion), or 97.4 percent of the budgeted full fiscal year 2012/13 target.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

BUSINESS

The 4Qs: The DNA of transformational leadership INSEAD weekly analysis When told of the French peasantry’s rioting over scarce bread, the French Queen Marie Antoinette allegedly responded, “Let them eat cake.” This kind of specious, one-dimensional reasoning survives today the world over.

Government leaders work in complex, technology-rich, fast-paced environments and economies, struggling to deal with previously non-existent challenges.

Contemporary governance calls for a varied and versatile cognitive approach to problems, and this problem-solving framework should be based on four “intelligences”. When harnessed and utilized in a balanced fashion, only these intelligences provide an individual with the holistic and dynamic mind capable of analyzing and addressing the world’s problems.

A recent study into effective transformational leadership in the public sector sheds light on the nature, inter-relationship, and relative importance of these intelligences. The authors show that high per forming leaders simultaneously employ four key leadership intelligences, referred to as the 4Qs, to achieve effective transformational change: cognitive intelligence (IQ); emotional intelligence (EQ); political intelligence (PQ); and moral intelligence (MQ). Much like DNA’s four constituent nucleic acids create the substance that works as the framework for

human life, these 4Q’s come together to inform every aspect of leadership.

IQ is a leader’s ability to acquire knowledge, reflecting a leader’s rationalization abilities; EQ is a leader’s ability to understand and manage both his or her own emotions, and those of others; PQ is a leader’s ability to navigate a way forward through diverse stakeholders’ agendas; and MQ is a leader’s ability to understand his or her own value system and draw on this to determine moral boundaries as a behavioral guide. These intelligences are the DNA of effective leadership- the unconscious or conscious controls on the actions we take in response to external demands.

The study tested this concept on elite leaders (Ministers, Undersecretaries and C-level executives) in the UK, Australia, and the Gulf region. It was applied on four critical levels of leadership according to work domains: Deliver y; General Management; Strategic; and Governance.

Work domains reflect different clusters of work practices, ranging from relatively simple tasks and activities that require rational thinking and teamwork at the “delivery” level, through to the complex positioning of concepts and subtle influencing of stakeholders at the “governance” level.

Think of a visa processor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the former

case, and the foreign minister himself in the latter. Leaders working at different levels and in separate work domains require different combinations of the 4Qs. Variations in the combination of intelligences required in each work domain reflect differences in the nature of the challenges confronting the leaders. These combinations change according to seniority and the strategic and operational considerations faced. While a high level of IQ appears necessary at each level, the degree to which leaders are required to utilize their PQ would appear to increase as they rise through the organizational hierarchy. In contrast, leaders appear to draw most on their EQ at the General Management level, and less so at the Strategic and Governance levels.

High performing strategic leaders must possess the ability to analyze and to skillfully handle conflicting agendas (i.e.

IQ and PQ). Being a team player is important but not critical at this level. In government especially, a high degree of PQ and EQ allows civil ser vants to best understand the interests and reactions of all the involved parties - the most important being the citizenry.

Looking at this more closely, it could be said that IQ, EQ and PQ are “value free” intelligences. A leader with high cognitive, emotional, and political quotients can apply these for good or bad aims.

Moral intelligence, on the other hand, by definition is “value led” and provides a checking function or conscience.

This checking function should not be seen as a restraint, but instead as an asset allowing a manager to focus on the longterm credibility or success of an organization, sometimes, at the expense of shortterm gains. Fred Kiel, an expert in the field, addressed the issue of MQ in his book Moral Intelligence 2.0. In it the author shows that leaders with high MQ provide a greater return to shareholders than leaders with less MQ. According to Kiel, moral intelligence means the ability to lead with integrity, responsibility, forgiveness, and compassion. Integrity yields trust, responsibility inspires, forgiveness promotes innovation, and compassion breeds organizational loyalty.

A lack of MQ is recognizable in recent years in the collapse of a number of major organizations led by leaders who were intellectually intelligent (IQ), people oriented (EQ), and politically smart (PQ) and yet failed to deliver sustainable value. This can, in part, be attributed to a lack of moral intelligence. There are many leaders on Wall Street and other financial centres, as well as in government organizations around the world, with a demonstrably low level of MQ. Bernie Madoff, for instance, was no doubt a smart man, a smooth talker, and an expert at navigat-

ing a landscape of regulators, investors, and journalists over the course of several decades. But an enormous lack of moral intelligence ultimately revealed the unsustainable foundation of his empire.

Without moral perspective, the ups and downs of governing will continue to elicit ill-conceived policies. The failure of social, political, and business leadership preceding the financial crisis, reminds us of the urgent need to revise current leadership models for both business and government organizations.

While one can debate whether IQ is inherited or developed over time, the evidence suggests that EQ, PQ and MQ can all be cultivated through a life or career. A leadership model emphasizing the nurturing of these intelligences is timely and will fill serious gaps by instilling in the next generation a balanced and informed mental framework for addressing policy problems. In a world where the political, social, and economic landscape changes rapidly and without warning, all leaders particularly in the public sector - must possess the fundamental building blocks that ensure sustainable results.

— Dr Ali Qassim Jawad, (INSEAD scholar) Prof Andrew Kakabadse (Professor of International Management Development at Cranfield University), Mohammed Omar Abdulla (Undersecretary of Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi).

WTO braces for leadership race Nine candidates vie for key post

HONG KONG: A group of dock workers (front centre) resting on makeshift beds as their co-workers (back) gather during a sit-in strike demanding better wages at the Kwai Chung container terminal in Hong Kong. Over 100 workers at a Hong Kong container port operated by a firm owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing were on strike for a fourth day yesterday as they staged a sit-in to demand higher wages.—AFP

Venezuela move seen as currency devaluation CARACAS: A Venezuelan government foreign currency auction for local importers has triggered a de facto currency devaluation, the second in less than 50 days, analysts said.

Venezuela has had strict currency exchange controls since 2003 in an attempt to halt capital flight. Individuals and businesses could obtained limited amounts of foreign currency through the government at an official rate. But the hunger for dollars and euros persisted, fueling a black market with a much higher exchange rate that by law cannot be published.

The government scrapped a program that exchanged currency at a rate of 5.3 bolivars per dollars because officials said it allowed for “speculation,” and dollars wound up on the black market.

Instead, it launched a new plan known as SICAD through which it auctioned $200 million on Wednesday to a group of chosen companies. The government said that 383 companies participated, but did not name them.

Neither did they reveal the sale price of the dollar. Critics say the auction was a veiled devaluation, and an attempt by the government of acting President Nicolas Maduro to ease a demand for basic goods everything from food to office and hospital supplies-in this import-dependent country ahead of the April 14 presidential election.

“The government did not announce the results of the foreign currency auction because clearly we are facing a new currency devaluation,” claimed economist Jose Guerra.

He estimated that the dollars went for around 12 bolivars per dollar, much higher than official rate of 6.3 bolivars per dollar. “ This is another devaluation,” Caracas Chamber of Commerce chief Victor

Maldonado told the privately-owned Globovision TV. “This also will mean that the costs and prices of the companies will have to be adjusted.”

That would lead to higher prices, fueling inflation. Finance Minister Jorge Giordani promised to find a way for individuals to also obtain foreign currency through the SICAD program, which he said offers “transparency” in the exchange rate system.

In February, Venezuela devalued the Bolivar by 32 percent against the US dollar, its fifth currency devaluation in a decade.

Investment bank Barclays Capital said in a note that by not announcing the rate the dollars sold at auction, the government was “avoiding the political cost of the announcement of a second devaluation” in less than two months, and with a presidential election looming.

Econometrica head Angel Garcia Banchs said the SICAD program will be used “to carry out more devaluations throughout the course of the year,” which will to finance government expenses and help with US dollar debts run up by the state-run oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela.

But Guerra, a former top official at the Central Bank, said SICAD will be insufficient to satisfy the demand of foreign currency in Venezuela. One effect of a devaluation is to make a country’s exports cheaper and thus more enticing to buyers, while another is to cut the deficit, which in Venezuela last year was estimated to be nearly 10 percent of GDP. The economy grew 5.5 percent in 2012 and inflation was 20 percent, down seven points from 2011 but still the highest official inflation rate in Latin America.—AFP

NICOSIA: Employees of the Bank of Cyprus shout slogans as they holds banners reading in Greek “shame” during a protest at Cyprus central bank in Nicosia, Cyprus.—AP

GENEVA: The World Trade Organization is bracing for the start of the race to lead the body that polices the rules of global commerce, a unique contest in the often-opaque sphere of international diplomacy. From today, the 158 WTO member states will start cutting a field of nine candidates for the post of director general, whose main task is to revive long-stalled talks on boosting international trade.

After two four-year terms for Frenchman Pascal Lamy-a former European Union trade chief-emerging nations aim to stake their claim on the top job which is vacant on September 1.

Roberto Azevedo, currently Brazil’s ambassador to the WTO, is seen as a favorite in diplomatic circles.

But another strong challenger is Indonesia’s former trade minister Mari Pangestu, whose country is due to host the WTO’s next summit at the end of this year-and who is one of three women in the race, a first for the organization.

The others are: Mexico’s Herminio Blanco Mendoza, Anabel Gonzalez of Costa Rica, South Korean Taeho Bark, Tim Groser of New Zealand, Jordan’s Ahmad Hindawi, Alan Kyerematen of

Ghana and Kenya’s Amina Mohamed.

Unlike similar organizations such as the various arms of the United Nations, whose chiefs are nominated, the WTO elects its leader based on a consensus system, meaning any member can block the process. In January the candidates set out their stall at the WTO’s general council, which groups the member states, making 10minute presentations before being quizzed by delegations.

Since then, they have been on the global campaign trail. The current chairman of the general council, Pakistan’s ambassador Shahid Bashir, will Tuesday begin a week of meetings with representatives of all the member states to gauge their capitals’ views.

He will work in a trio with his Canadian counterpart Jonathan Fried, who heads the WTO’s disputes settlement body, and Sweden’s Joakim Reiter, in charge of its trade policy review division. The goal is to establish which candidates have the widest support, in an attempt to reduce the field from nine, a record number for a WTO leadership race. The four least-popular candidates will be expected to withdraw by April 9,

after which Bashir’s team is set to meet again to assess who is in and out of favor, paving the way for three more to pull out. That will lead to a head-to-head contest, which Bashir says he expects to be complete by May 31.

Created in 1995, the WTO aims to advance global trade negotiations in a drive to spur growth by opening markets and removing trade barriers, including subsidies, excessive taxes and regulations. Its so-called Doha Round of talks was launched in 2001, with the stated goal of harnessing global commerce to development in poorer nations, but has faltered in the face of obstacles set in particular by China, the EU, India and the United States.

The momentum has moved to regional and bilateral deals, such as a planned trans-Atlantic trade pact between the US and EU, or the TransPacific Partnership being negotiated by players including the US, Canada, Chile, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. Supporters of a WTOwide deal warn that regional and bilateral accords create a “spaghetti bowl” of sometimes conflicting trade rules and thereby fail to serve global commerce. — AFP

China’s urbanization drive leaves migrant workers out in the cold BEIJING/SHANGHAI: Twenty minutes’ drive from Shanghai’s glitzy financial district, dozens of migrant workers are preparing to abandon homes in old shipping containers, as one of the more unusual solutions to China’s housing shortage faces the wrecking ball.

Cheap but crowded neighborhoods are being cleared across China as part of a stepped-up “urbanization” campaign by China’s new leaders. The country aims to spend an estimated $6 trillion on infrastructure, including housing, as a projected 400 million people become urban residents over the next decade. But in an ironic twist, the clearance of so-called “villages within cities” removes cheap housing stock for the very people targeted to fuel that migration, without

providing sufficient replacement units. The land is sold by municipalities to developers who generally erect expensive apartment towers.

That throws into question how the government can achieve its ambitious goal. “On the one hand, the law doesn’t allow former farmers to expand housing for migrant workers, on the other hand local governments don’t have the money to build affordable housing either,” said Li Ping, senior attorney for Landesa Rural Development Institute in Beijing.

About 130 million Chinese migrants live in tiny, sub-divided rooms rented out by former farmers whose villages have been swallowed by sprawl, according to government surveys. Policies to provide government-built housing while razing these

shabby “villages within cities” result in a net loss of housing units, according to urban planners and academics, while choking off the private rental market that for decades has enabled China’s massive urban migration.

The dilemma poses harsh choices for those who have made lives in the cities on the slimmest of margins, such as the migrants in the converted shipping containers in Shanghai.

“They can’t just come and ask me to move. I have so many products here that I sell. So much stuff worth at least tens of thousands of yuan,” said Li Yanxin, a migrant from nearby Anhui Province who runs a small convenience store out of his container. His profits - and therefore his ability to pay for his teenager’s education depend on the low rent he found in

the container village.

Local officials put muscle behind a policy of clearing such sites, often declaring these dwellings illegal by noting non-agricultural land allocated to villagers cannot be used for commercial purposes. Land reclassified as “urban” can be sold at a huge profit.

“Not everyone can live in a high rise.

Especially those of us who work in the recycling business,” Zhang Baofa, who rented out the used shipping containers in one of the more creative solutions to Shanghai’s shortage of cheap housing. Local officials, embarrassed by photos of the container village circulating on the Internet, have vowed to remove the site within days. On Thursday, after four years of operation, they declared Li’s store to be unregistered. — Reuters

Gas quakes anger Dutch farmers MIDDELSTUM, Netherlands: Farmers living atop Europe’s largest gas field in the isolated northern Netherlands are angry at increasingly frequent earthquakes caused by extraction.

Freezing winds and a glimmer of cold light pass through the three-foot by two-inch (one metre by five centimetre) crack in Martha and Jan Bos’s stable in Middelstum, a few miles (kilometres) from the Netherlands’ most northern point.

Their farmhouse, built in the early 20th century, has around 15 large cracks and part of the floor inside the entrance has dropped around three inches.

“We’ve been living here for 25 years and for the last five years we’ve had regular earthquakes,” Martha Bos, 48, told AFP. Her husband Jan, wearing traditional wooden clogs, is tending to the sheep: “We don’t want to leave, we’ve built our lives here but we’re really very afraid of a big earthquake,” she said. Their home in the northern province of Groningen is built on top of the biggest gas field in the EU, which gives the Netherlands-the world’s 10th-biggest gas producer-two-thirds of its gas, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

In February of this year alone, four earthquakes above magnitude 2 have hit the region.

The relatively low magnitude is nevertheless felt more because the quakes happen just two miles

(three kilometres) beneath the ground, experts say. The earthquakes are a “natural” result of huge pockets of air left underground by massive gas extraction.

But the earthquakes have become increasingly frequent after the Netherlands more than doubled its gas production since 2000, hitting 50 billion cubic metres annually, according to a report published earlier this year by Jan de Jong, the inspector general of the State Mines Surveillance (SoDM) service.

There were 110 earthquakes here between 1991 and 2000, SoDM figures say, but the frequency has risen more than six-fold to hit 500 between 2000 and 2013.

The Dutch Oil Company (NAM), a joint enterprise between energy giants Shell and Exxon, which is in charge of the extraction admits that the earthquakes are linked to its activities and has set up a 100-million-euro (130-million-dollar) compensation fund. “That’s good, but it’s not enough,” said Corina Jansen, who heads the 1,000-member Groninger Bodem Beweging (Groningen Earth Movement), set up because of “the tumult created by the earthquakes.

“Some damage is paid for but besides the fact that the procedure taks a long time, old cases of cracks or land subsidence are not covered,” Jansen said.

“People have had it up to here and if necessary

we won’t be afraid to go to the courts to defend everyone’s safety,” she said. The SoDM’s De Jong wrote that if gas extraction carries on at its current rate, there’s a one in 50 chance that an earthquake of 4.5 magnitude or higher will hit the area in the next 12 months.

“It’s not only fear, but also the uncertainty and anger at not being listened to by the government,” said Marijke Bronskema, who lives in the nearby village of Usquert, among the flat fertile fields of the northern Netherlands. Almost every window or doorframe of her one-storey house has been weakened by a network of cracks about six inches long.

“We’re supposed to sell the house because my husband just lost his job, and we had just renovated everything, but who would want to buy a house where you’re regularly hit by earthquakes?” she said, accusing the government of not listening. The Dutch government has reaped around 250 billion euros from its gas fields since the 1960s, according to Finance Ministry figures.

In 2011, the state raked 12 billion euros of gas cash into its coffers, representing around 8 percent of state revenues, and that is set to hit 14 billion euros when 2012 figures are released. Without the gas, the Netherlands’ deficit would have been around 6.2 percent in 2011, or around the same as that of crisis-hit Cyprus.— AFP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

BUSINESS

KAMCO announces financial results for 2012 KUWAIT: KIPCO Asset Management Company KAMCO, announced its financial results for the year ending on 31 December 2012.

KAMCO posted a net loss of KD 11.6 million (earnings per share of -48.9fils); compared to a net Loss of KD 6.0 million in 2011 (earnings per share of -25.8fils).

The losses incurred in 2012 are primarily attributable to the financial restructuring of KAMCO’s balance sheet. The restructuring resulted in a reduction of assets by KD70 million to KD77 million in 2012 from KD147 million in 2011. This was achieved through distributions and investment exits with debt falling by KD22 million to KD40 million at December 2012 from KD62 million at December 2011. The year saw KAMCO optimizing its capital structure and focus on its core activities of asset management and advisory services.

Operational Revenues (excluding the

Faisal Sarkhou revenues/losses related to available for sale assets, associates and subsidiaries) grew significantly in 2012, resulting in operational profits in 2012 as against operational losses in 2011 - a significant

Burgan Bank announces Yawmi account winners KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the five lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000.

The lucky winners for the daily draws took home a cash-prize of KD 5000 each, and they are: 1. Zinab Ali Khaled Sajad Ahmad 2. Majeda Nasser Mansour Alsarraf 3. Rajab Ahmed Restum Diyab 4. Abdulwahab Mureef Salah Alrashidi 5. Badreyah Ahmad Nour Aldeen Alaasi With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account.

Customers are also required to deposit KD100 only or its equivalent in other currencies to enter the daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD10. The newly designed Yawmi

account has been launched to provide a highly innovative offering along with a higher frequency and incentive of winning for everyone. Today, the Yawmi account is a well understood product, where its popularity can be seen from the number of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances to becoming a daily winner. The more customers deposit, the higher the chances they receive of winning the draw.

Opening a Yawmi account is simple, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and receive all the details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on the Yawmi account or any of the bank’s products and services.

Al-Tijari announces winners of Najma Account daily draw KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al-Najma Account Daily draw yesterday. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industr y represented by Abdulaziz Ashkanani.

The winners of the Najma daily draw are :Hamedah Jumah Juwher Shehab — KD 7000, Deemah Musaed Helal Al-Khaldi — KD 7000, Fatma Ismaiel Yaqoub Mataqi— KD 7000, Ahmed Ibrahim Khalail— KD 7000, Abdullah Mohammed Akbar Mohammed — KD 7000.

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account. Customers of the bank can now

enjoy a KD7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year worth KD100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and on June 19 which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD 25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD50.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

Warba Bank employees receive CRM certificates KUWAIT: As a part of Warba Bank’s commitment to develop its employee’s skills, six of the bank’s employees received Customer Relationship Management (CRM) certification in collaboration with the Institute of Banking Studies. Given the importance of this program that was offered by the Institute of Banking Studies, six top employees having a direct relationship to deal with Warba’s customers (front liner) participated in the month-long program proving their professionalism in dealing with customers. This initiative is part of the bank’s vision to give its employees the necessary and specialized trainings and courses in order to deliver outstanding customer service and serve the bank’s customers and orientations.

On this occasion, Anas Yousef AlAteeqi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Warba Bank, said: Warba Bank believes that investing it it’s the development of staff is a real investment.

We collaborated with the Institute of Banking Studies to enroll the banks staff in the program of Customer Relationship Management. This shows the extent of our commitment to continue development and our ongoing interest in providing the expertise and scholarship for our staff which will form their career professionally. He added: “This achievement demonstrates our full trust in the Institute of Banking Studies and its ability to provide the best global levels of training. I am pleased to extend my sincere congratulations to all employees on their success in this program, and wish them further success in the future.”

The Customer Relationship Management program focuses on the perception of participants to the concept of development, and the importance and dimensions of customer service as one of the areas of excellence in the banking business. It also develops the participants’ understanding of the methods of identifying and satisfying customer needs. It further helps the participants’ to understand the selling basics, in addition to familiarizing them with the problems of

sales and complications related to the sale. It deepens their knowledge of customer purchasing behavior, and provides them with the skills and behavior and other methods to service the client.

Al- Ateeqi said: “We take pride in our employees and we believe that they will utilize their experience and skills to develop the bank’s operations, and work on providing superior services to our customers.” He added that employees are the foundation upon which the bank is built and they will

Anas Yousef Al-Ateeqi

keep providing the best products and services of Islamic Banking within highest standards of quality.

Al-Ateeqi stressed Warba Bank will keep participating in specialized workshops and courses both locally and globally in a variety of training curricula to deliver high levels of professionalism and skill to keep up with the Bank’s strategic orientations.

Al-Ateeqi concluded saying: “Warba Bank places a lot of importance on its cooperation with the Institute of Banking Studies. Referring to the professional development and refining the skills of staff is at the forefront of the bank, which will reflect positively on the level of service offered by the bank to its customers.”

improvement, considering the stale capital market conditions that faced the financial and investments sector.

It is also worthy to note that total Assets Under Management (AUM) grew to KD2.41 billion ($ 8.4 billion) in 2012, compared to KD2.17 billion ($7.6 billion) in 2011, posting a growth of 11 percent.

On this occasion, Faisal Sarkhou, Acting CEO at KAMCO, said, “Despite the restructuring based losses we incurred for 2012, our operating performance growth for this year was very positive and we expect it to continue in 2013.

Our operating revenues increased significantly as we participated actively in key capital markets transactions. During this year KAMCO raised over KD200 million in three bond issuances for clients, one of which was the largest corporate bond in Kuwait’s history with the longest tenure seen.

KAMCO also advised on a number of restructuring

and advisory transactions, including one of the largest successful education sector transactions in Kuwait and the GCC. For 2013, we aim to continue focusing on our core activities and to launch a number of new products and services to our clients as the Kuwaiti economy begins to rebound.”

Sarkhou continued, “A new chapter is being written for KAMCO, which will establish us as a market leader in asset management and advisory services in Kuwait and the region in the near future.”

Established in 1998 with the mission to become a local and regional player, KAMCO is one of the leading, Kuwait basedinvestment company based in Kuwait.

A subsidiary of United Gulf Bank (UGB) - the investment banking subsidiary of Kuwait Projects (Holding) Company (KIPCO) - KAMCO was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) in 2003.

Jazeera launches summer schedule Flights to Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh from March 31 KUWAIT: Award-winning Jazeera Airways yesterday announced the return of seasonal scheduled flights for summer between Kuwait and Istanbul, and Kuwait and Sharm El Sheikh. Flights to the Turkish capital began yesterday, while flights to the popular Egyptian summer destination will start on April 4.

On the Kuwait-Istanbul, Jazeera Airways will be serving passengers with two weekly flights, on Sundays and Friday. Flights departing from Kuwait take-off at 12:30pm local time, and flights departing from Istanbul take-off at 4:50pm local time.

The airline will also serve the Kuwait-Sharm El Sheikh route with two weekly flights, on Thursdays and Saturday, departing at 5:15pm local time from Kuwait and at 7:45pm local time from Sharm El Sheikh.

Jazeera Airways Vice President of Sales, Rafik Boghdady, said, “Our schedule is ideal for families and friends who want to spend a full weekend or more on the Red Sea, or for a week at the history-filled and vibrant city of Istanbul.”

The airline serves Istanbul and Sharm El Sheikh during the summer season extending between the last week of March and the first week of November of 2013.

Jazeera Airways serves from Kuwait 19 popular destinations in the Middle East, including high-demand business, leisure, family, and weekend destinations such as Dubai, Bahrain, Beirut, Alexandria, Amman, Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor, Assiut, Sohag, Mashhad, Jeddah, Riyadh, Cairo and Al Najaf. Jazeera Airways operates seven fully owned Airbus A320s with a two-class cabin comprising of a Business Class and an Economy Class. Business Class travelers get both an upgraded experience and exclusivity, starting with exclusive check-in lines, business lounge access, up to 60 kilograms in free baggage allowance, and an exclusive on-board cabin. The airline’s Economy Class offers travelers free baggage allowance of 40 kilograms and free on-board meals with a changing menu every month.

Jazeera Airways is an IATA-member airline and operates one of the youngest Airbus A320

fleets across the Middle East.

Established in 2005, Jazeera Airways Group is a Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed company. The company has 12 fully-owned Airbus A320s in operation, distributed between its airline business, Jazeera Airways (seven aircraft), and its fully-owned leasing business, Sahaab Aircraft Leasing (five aircraft). Sahaab has assets placed with Virgin America, SriLankan Airlines, and Jazeera Airways.

In 2012 the airline carried 1.1 million passengers in total across its network that includes today high-demand business, leisure, family, and weekend destinations such as Dubai, Bahrain, Beirut, Alexandria, Amman, Damascus, Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, Assiut, Luxor, Mashhad, Sohag, Jeddah, Riyadh, Cairo and Al-Najaf.

Jazeera Airways is an IATA member airline and operates one of the youngest Airbus A320 fleet in the Middle East.

The GCC is looking East

By Camille Accad KUWAIT: The economic center of the world is quickly shifting eastwards. Emerging Asia has been the source of most of growth in the world’s economy in the last decade and this is leading to structural changes. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Asia, excluding Japan, has averaged 7.3 percent annually since 2000, while the GDP of developed economies (G3) - consisting of the US, EU and Japan - grew by a mere 1.5 percent annually.

As a result, the share of G3 in the world’s GDP fell from 71.8 percent to 52.9 percent in that period, while emerging Asia’s doubled from 10.8 percent to 21.5 percent. This transformation took place gradually. In the 80’s, G3 economies were growing at an average of 3.1 percent annually, in the 90’s it came down to 2.5 percent, and in the 2000’s to 1.3 percent.

In contrast, emerging Asia accelerated, from an average of 6.5 percent annually in the 80’s, to 7.2 percent in the 90’s, and to 7.5 percent in the 2000s.

These changes impact every aspect of the economy. The Gulf cooperation council (GCC) is the leading energy-exporting region in the world. Since the discovery of oil early in the 20th century, G3 economies were the main destination of the region’s exports. In 1990, the US, EU and Japan were buying 45 percent of all GCC exports, while Asia made up only about 15 percent. In only 23 years the situation has reversed: G3 now only buys 23 percent of the region’s exports, while Asia gets 43 percent.

This phenomenon is the result of multiple factors: a) the shift in the global economic structure: the US, Europe and Japan have gradually turned towards a more services-oriented economic model which is less energy intensive, while manufacturing has massively migrated to Asia; b) The US has increased its reliance on domestic energy supplies by developing new technology in the extraction of natural gas; c) The construction of infrastructures needed in Asia required heavy use of fuel and; d) Hundreds of millions of consumers have moved into the middle class, increasing the demand for cars, air transport, air conditioning, lightning, etc. Emerging Asia

has been the main driver of growth in oil production and it is now the main trade partner for the Gulf’s economies.

The shift in trend is not a temporary one.

The share of GCC’s exports heading east will grow larger. Even in the event of a deceleration in Chinese growth, demand for oil will remain high in ASEAN economies (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines) which will receive a part of the middle-level manufacturing activity that will abandon China as the country moves up the value chain, but also from countries in early stages of development, such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, which will receive the most basic activities such as textile.

Domestic demand in emerging Asia is going to be a key driver of energy demand from the Gulf for years to come. Asia needs energy to develop its infrastructure and to provide for its growing private consumption.

Infrastructure investments will increase in the next decade as the numerous projects in the pipeline in ASEAN are launched. Philippines is launching a set of public-private partnerships to build expressways, railways and dams.

Thailand is currently undertaking the development of transport ‘corridors’, mostly in the

form of expressways and railways. The consumer sector is also rising fast, and as growth in the middle class builds up, demand for energy will remain resilient. Emerging Asia houses more than half of the world’s population, and given the expected urban population growth and rising income (Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia will increase minimum wages in 2013), the consumption of energy per capita will increase.

Demographics, rising income, infrastructure needs, and the manufacturing-based economic model will reinforce the trend of turning towards the east. The Gulf will benefit from this growing demand, particularly as the richer economies falter, and the relationship between the two regions will only strengthen in the next decade. This process is not one way: imports from emerging Asia have become a much larger part of total GCC imports (37.4 percent) than those coming from the G3 (21.5 percent). Emerging Asia and the Gulf are today heavily inter-dependent, and this new “silk road” is creating many business opportunities ahead.

—Camille Accad, economist at KCIC, an investment firm specializing in Emerging Asia investments.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

technology

Chatwin’s notebooks continue to shape the virtual word LONDON: Bruce Chatwin has a lot to answer for. Specifically, he’s responsible for a forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the Italian stock market. It all goes back to something he wrote in his book The Songlines. He had arrived in Australia and was setting up a work space in a caravan. “With the obsessive neatness that goes with the beginning of a project,” he wrote, “I made three neat stacks of my ‘Paris’ notebooks. In France, these notebooks are known as carnets moleskines: ‘moleskine’, in this case, being its black oilcloth binding.

Each time I went to Paris, I would buy a fresh supply from a papeterie in the Rue de l’Ancienne-Comedie.”

Chatwin goes on to relate how the notebooks were made by a small firm in Tours, the owner of which had died and whose heirs had sold the business. So he assumed that the source of his beloved notebooks had dried up. What he didn’t know was that the business

had been bought by a Milanese stationer who eventually began producing the notebooks again. And what he could not have known was that the business would one day be floated on the stock market (3 April, to be precise). The IPO could value the company at up to €560m (£473m).

Regular users of its products will find the information in the pre-IPO filings interesting. The price of a Moleskine notebook, for example, is at least double that of comparable products, which is why the company enjoys an operating margin - 41.7% - that would impress even the boys and girls at Apple. The explanation, of course, is that the basic ingredient of a Moleskine notebook paper - is dirt cheap. (And it shows - as fountain-pen users discover very quickly.)

The reason Moleskine gets away with charging so much for such an indifferent artefact is that is it not so much sell-

toting Moleskine notebooks, now most of them have iPads. And - shock, horror!

- they appear to be using them as notebooks! Sacre Bleu! as Hemingway (or was it Gertrude Stein?) used to say.

Worse still, some of the note-taking apps on this infernal device appear to be mimicking the Moleskine genre.

Penultimate, for example, even has the temerity to reproduce the squared paper that is one of the Moleskine’s specialities, not to mention the soft covers of the smaller Moleskine notebooks.

And it enables one to have squared, lined and plain paper in the same virtual notebook!

Then there’s the enigmatically named Paper app, which allows one to open an unlimited number of virtual notebooks, each of them with a virtual elastic band in classic Moleskine style.

And so it goes on. I’ve lost count of the number of note-taking apps that, in one way or another, draw their inspira-

ing a product as an ethos. Call it the Chatwin syndrome: the delusion that possessing the kind of notebook that Hemingway, Oscar Wilde or Picasso might have used bestows elan, panache and other desirable qualities upon the proud owner. And - who k nows? maybe they’re right.

But before you rush out to buy the stock next month, consider this. There is another chic, expensive product out there which is likewise seen as conferring exalted status upon its proud owner. I refer to the Apple iPad. Granted, it is a lot more expensive than a Moleskine notebook. But on the other hand, when was the last time you saw a notebook that could allow you to watch YouTube videos, listen to Rolling Stones records, do your email and play Angry Birds?

What brings this to mind is the realisation that whereas everywhere I used to go in the course of what is laughingly called my work I met people who were

tion from the ancient paper notebooks that so entranced Chatwin. They all have the advantages of virtuality - the ability to expand a notebook on demand, for example, or to have different kinds of page-template in the same notebook. But they also have the disadvantages of a computing device, namely that - unless you’re David Hockney scribbling, writing or drawing on a glass slab is much more difficult than doing the same things on paper.

Maybe that is why the killer note-taking iPad app avoids all this skeuomorphic stuff and goes straight to what digital technology does best. SoundNote just puts up a lined page on which one can type notes, say, the discussion in a meeting. But it also provides a “record” button that creates an audio file which is synchronised with the notes. It’s the one app I use all the time. And it does something that no Moleskine will ever be able to do. — MCT

Tech giants plan to launch smartwatches this year Components have gotten small enough

CLEVELAND: This undated handout photo received on March 26, 2013 from US space agency NASA shows Marcel Viel from the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology consulting about the next test run with Mark Plant (2nd L), a student at Ohio State University, as Colin Creager (R) from NASA tests soil readiness using a tool called a cone penetrometer, which measures the density of the packed soil bed, at NASA’s Glenn Research Center’s Simulated Lunar Operations facility in Cleveland. A self-sustaining mechanised colony that mines and exports resources from the Moon could be a reality within a generation, helping to meet demand for materials key to innovation on Earth. —AFP

US Patent Office denies ‘iPad Mini’ trademark WASHINGTON: The US Patent and Trademark Office has denied Apple’s application for a trademark to safeguard its widely popular iPad mini tablet, saying the case to own the phrase was too weak.

Apple, however, has until July 24 to better explain how the iPad mini is different and unique from the larger-sized iPad to counter the rejection seen as largely a formality. The iPad mini mark “merely describes a feature or characteristic of applicant’s good,” said the rejection letter dated Jan 24 but that has only emerged in recent days.

“In this case, both the individual components and the composite result are descriptive of applicant’s goods and do not create a unique, incongruous or non-descriptive meaning in relation to the goods being small handheld mobile devices comprising tablet computers capable of providing Internet access.” It was referring to the com-

ponents of the device’s name: “I,” “pad” and “mini.” Unless Apple demonstrates to the USPTO that the “iPad mini” is a distinctive aim, it will be forbidden to “claim exclusive rights to terms or designs that others may need to use to describe or show their goods or services in the marketplace,” the letter said. The USPTO reviewer also criticized Apple for failing to submit a sample tablet computer with its application and providing product website pages instead.

The application “fails to include a picture or a sufficient textual description of the goods in sufficiently close proximity to the necessary ordering information/a weblink for ordering the goods, and thus, appears to be mere advertising material,” the letter said. Launched in November, the touchscreen device measures just 7.9 inches (20 centimeters) and weighs less than half the original iPad, at 0.68 pounds (308 grams). — AFP

NEW SOUTH WALES: An undated handout photo received from University of New South Wales (UNSW) shows Aaron Bonanno, an undergraduate engineering student at the UNSW in Sydney working on developing renewable energy systems for offEarth mining. —AFP

WASHINGTON: Amid much speculation on the future of the “smartwatch,” the consensus is growing: the time is right. In recent weeks, reports have surfaced about plans for smar twatches from tech giants Apple, Samsung and Google, with launches possible later this year. “I think we have reached a tipping point,” said Avi Greengart, analyst on consumer devices at the research firm Current Analysis.

Greengart said 2013 may be the year for the smartwatch because “the components have gotten small enough and cheap enough” and a large number of consumers now have smartphones that can connect to a wearable device.

The idea of the connected watch has been around for at least a decade: Microsoft had one in 2003. And some devices are already on the market including from Sony, the crowdfunded maker Pebble and Italianbased firm i’m.

Up to now, smartwatches have been able to connect to phones wirelessly to give users signals about new messages, and allow some limited Web access.

But analysts say once they gain traction, app developers can come up with new functions, possibly drawing on health and fitness monitoring devices now in use.

The likely entry of new heavyweight players like Apple “can catalyze the market,” Greengart said, while noting that any new device has to prove its utility to consumers.

“This is a market that needs to be created.”

Even though Apple has maintained its customary silence on the subject, that has not stopped speculation on the Internet, including a likely design of a curved glass “iWatch.”

ABI Research predicts that smartwatches and other wearable computing devices will

“explode in popularity over the next year” and grow to 485 million annual device shipments by 2018.

“The furor about wearable technologies, particularly smart watches and smart glasses is unsurprising,” said ABI analyst Josh Flood.

“Apple’s curved glass-based watch could prove to be a revelation in the wearable technologies market. The major question is whether the digital time piece will act as a

complimentary device to the company’s iPhone smartphones or as a standalone produc t with other func tionalities like health or activity tracking capabilities.” Citi analyst Oliver Chen said the smartwatch segment, which now includes devices from Fossil and Movado, could easily evolve into a $6 billion annual business with “higher than average” profit margins. “A successful smartwatch likely needs to create a completely new market and not compete on fashion or

luxury brand prestige,” Chen said.

Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps noted that “the body is the next frontier for personal computing,” and that “it seems like only a matter of time before Apple enters the market directly.”

Epps said that this market could grow because “consumers love their smartphones, and there is some appeal in having an additional touchpoint,” which could allow a user to check messages or use other smartphone apps from the wrist.

But she noted that there are several other potential types of competing wearable computing devices, including Google Glass and other “smart” eyeglasses.

“I’m not convinced the smartwatch is the killer form factor,” Epps said. Danielle Levitas, analyst at the research firm IDC, said there is an opportunity for smartwatches and other wearable devices because consumers want to be connec ted without pulling out a phone, which might be impolite in some situations. “It’s less rude to glance at your wrist than to take your phone from your back pocket,” she said.

But it will take some time for the market to sort out what consumers want. “You could have a device with all the smarts embedded, or a device with lower costs that connects to a smartphone,” Levitas said. Pricing of a fully autonomous watch could be $300 or more, she noted, plus data charges, but a smartphone-linked device may cost as little as $100.

Levitas said manufacturers will have to find the right size of display-large enough to be useful without being cumbersome.

“It’s going to be harder for women than men,” she said. “If it’s big enough to be useful, it may look totally dorky. This may only appeal to certain segments.” —AFP

Web piracy: Should users lie about their birthdays, phone numbers?

NEW YORK: Say you’ve come across a discount online retailer promising a steal on hand-stitched espadrilles for spring. You start setting up an account by offering your email address — but before you can finish, there’s a ping on your phone. A text message. You read it and respond, then return to the website, enter your birth date, click “F” for female, agree to the company’s terms of service and carry on browsing.

But wait: What did you just agree to? Did you mean to reveal information as vital as your date of birth and email address?

Most of us face such decisions daily. We are hurried and distracted and don’t pay close attention to what we are doing.

Often, we turn over our data in exchange for a deal we can’t refuse.

Alessandro Acquisti, a behavioral economist at Carnegie Mellon University in PittsburghBSE 0.90 %, studies how we make these choices. In a series of provocative experiments, he has shown that despite how much we say we value our privacy - and we do, again and again - we

tend to act inconsistently. Acquisti is something of a pioneer in this emerging field of research. His experiments can take time. The last one, revealing how Facebook users had tightened their privacy settings, took seven years. They can also be imaginative: He has been known to dispatch graduate students to a suburban mall in the name of science. And they are often unsettling: A 2011 study showed that it was possible to deduce portions of a person’s Social Security number from nothing but a photograph posted online. He is now studying how online social networks can enable employers to illegally discriminate in hiring. Acquisti, 40, sees himself not as a nag, but as an observer holding up a mirror to the flaws we cannot always see ourselves. “Should people be worried? I don’t know,” he said with a shrug in his office at Carnegie Mellon. “My role is not telling people what to do. My role is showing why we do certain things and what may be certain consequences. Everyone will have to decide for themselves.”

Those who follow his work say it has important policy implications as regulators in Washington, Brussels and elsewhere scrutinize the ways that companies leverage the personal data they collect from users. The Federal Trade Commission last year settled with Facebook, resolving charges that it had deceived users with changes to its privacy settings. State regulators recently fined Google for harvesting emails and passwords of unsuspecting users during its Street View mapping project. Last year, the White House proposed a privacy bill of rights to give consumers greater control over how their personal data is used.

Acquisti has been at the forefront, testifying in Congress and conferring with the FTC. David C. Vladeck, who until recently headed the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said Acquisti’s research on facial recognition spurred the commission to issue a report on the subject last year. “No question it’s been influential,” Vladeck said of Acquisti’s work.

Why historical Spamhaus internet attack was good LONDON: It’s been a few days since the worst denial-of-service attack in the internet’s three-decade history. A 300-gigabit-per-second torrent of traffic flooded the networks of Spamhaus, and the Internet’s major switches in London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. It was like a million cars trying to get on to Mumbai’s Sealink at the same time. Some called it the attack that “almost broke the Internet”.

Can the Internet really be brought down by a single group of individuals? Is it that fragile? The short answer to the question is: Yes and No. Let’s start with the No. The Internet evolved from a network designed to be robust enough to survive multiple nuclear strikes. The Internet adapts to attacks and outages, reroutes traffic, and survives just about anything you throw at it. Fact.

Yet much has changed from that early

vision of that robust, adaptive network. In the early Internet, most traffic was text, and it wasn’t sensitive to “latency” - small delays. It didn’t matter if that text was delayed a few moments or even minutes.

Now, a huge chunk of traffic on the Internet is video and audio. A lot of the audio, and some of the video, is in real time. If you’re on a phone call with someone in another country, the call is probably being routed over the Internet, and you need a guarantee of “zero latency” - no delays.

And then there’s a range of critical services on the Internet. Take financial transactions, including stock trades. Automated systems respond in microseconds to bids or market changes. Many traders like to be physically closer to stock exchanges, because they value that one microsecond edge that gives them.

Delay a company’s financial transactions by a few seconds, or minutes, and you’re talking

about a hit of millions of dollars on your target company.

So, while it is very, very difficult to “break the Internet”, for many of the services running on it today, even slowing it down is life threatening. (Difficult, but not impossible. There are a few physical weak links, mainly around the undersea cables. The interception and arrest of divers trying to cut a critical cable near Egypt suggests a well-funded operation.)

So how did the perpetrators slow down the Internet so severely?

They used a DDoS or “distributed denial of service” attack. They flooded their target organization’s servers with so much traffic that they slowed down to a crawl. That’s like flooding an organization with so many junkmail letters that it can’t sort out the real mail.

In the process, the “collateral damage” includes the post offices along the way,

which slow down badly - affecting every organization those post offices service.

How do you prevent such an attack?

Through a two-pronged approach. One is to trace out the sources and shut them down.

To make this difficult, attackers use third-party servers as staging platforms, and further “spoof” Internet addresses to make them difficult to trace and shut down in real time.

Cybercrime forces do have means to trace such traffic, but it’s complicated by the lack of real-time collaboration between the cyberforces of different countries.

The second is the better way out: redesign parts of the Internet to be more robust so that it can ignore or adapt to such an attack.

After a major DDoS attack in 2000 which crippled servers run by Amazon, Yahoo and others, the Internet Society, which includes engineers who invented the Internet, pub-

lished a “best current practice” (BCP) paper called BCP38, which described ways to beat many types of DDoS attacks.

Unfortunately, these best practices were not implemented by service providers, because they needed individual investment for the greater common good - the security of the Internet. Sort of like people won’t spend money on green homes to save the environment, unless there’s a law demanding they do it.

The Spamhaus attack may become a milestone after which major service providers may be encouraged (or mandated, by governments, and Internet oversight bodies) to implement BCP38 recommendations, and also overall strengthen their networks by adding additional paths, reducing single points of failure. Spamhaus 2013 may, therefore, have been a good thing for the future of the Internet. —MCT

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

US launches new batch of graphic anti-smoking ads NEW YORK: Government health officials launched the second round of a graphic ad campaign that is designed to get smokers off tobacco, saying they believe the last effort convinced tens of

thousands to quit. The ads feature sad, real-life stories: There is Terrie, a North Carolina woman who lost her voice box.

Bill, a diabetic smoker from Michigan who lost his leg. And Aden, a 7-year-old

This combination of images provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows posters from their anti-smoking advertising campaign launched on March 28, 2013. — AP

boy from New York, who has asthma attacks from secondhand smoke. “Most smokers want to quit. These ads encourage them to try,” said Dr Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC campaign cost $48 million and includes TV, radio and online spots as well as print ads and billboards.

The spending comes as the agency is facing a tough budget squeeze, but officials say the ads should more than pay for themselves by averting future medical costs to society. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States. It’s responsible for the majority of the nation’s lung cancer deaths and is a deadly factor in heart attacks and a variety of other illnesses. Last year’s similar $54 million campaign was the agency’s first and largest national advertising effort. The government deemed it a success: That campaign triggered an increase of 200,000 calls to quit lines. The CDC believes that likely prompted tens of thousands of smokers to quit based on calculations that a certain percentage of callers do actually stop. Like last year, the current 16-week campaign spotlights real people who were hurt and disfigured by smoking. Terrie Hall, a 52year-old throat cancer survivor makes a repeat performance. She had her voice box removed about a dozen years ago.

In last year’s ad there’s a photo of her as a youthful high school cheerleader.

Then she is seen more recently putting on a wig, inserting false teeth and covering the hole in her neck with a scarf. It was, by far, the campaign’s most popular spot, as judged by YouTube viewings and Web clicks. In a new ad, Hall addresses the camera, speaking with the buzzing sound of her electrolarynx.

She advises smokers to make a video of themselves now, reading a children’s book or singing a lullaby. “I wish I had.

The only voice my grandson’s ever

heard is this one,” her electric voice growls.

One difference from last year: The new campaign tilts more toward the impact smokers have on others. One ad features a Kentucky high school student who suffers asthma attacks from being around cigarette smoke. Another has a Louisiana woman who was 16 when her mother died from smokingrelated causes. The return of the campaign is already being applauded by some anti-smoking advocates, who say tobacco companies spend more on tobacco product promotion in a week than the CDC spends in a year.

After decades of decline, the adult smoking rate has stalled at roughly 20 percent in recent years. Advocates say the campaign provides a necessary jolt to a weary public that has been listening to government warnings about the dangers of smoking for nearly 50 years.

“There is an urgent need to continue this campaign,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for TobaccoFree Kids, in a statement.

It would seem like a bad time for the CDC to be buying air time - the agency is facing roughly $300 million in budget cuts as part of the government’s sequestration cuts in federal spending.

However, the ad money comes not from the CDC’s regular budget but from a special $1 billion public health fund set up years ago through the Affordable Care Act. The fund has set aside more than $80 million for CDC smoking prevention work. Frieden argues that the ads are extremely cost-effective spending about $50 million a year to save potentially tens of thousands of lives. “We’re trying to figure out how to have more impact with less resources,” he said. The ads direct people to call 1800-QUIT-NOW. PlowShare Group, of Stamford, Connecticut, is again the advertising company that put the ads together. — AP

India court to deliver Novartis judgment

Fighting Mother Nature: Springtime allergies

S

pring can be a wonderful time of year, with new greens and flowers beginning to flourish and the weather being perfect for outdoor activities, but for some people, those who suffer from springtime allergies, spring can be the worst time of the year. Increased pollen in the air can lead to nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, skin rashes, headaches and fatigue, which can leave suffers miserable. Often referred to as hay fever, springtime allergies are seasonal and occur as a result of your body’s reaction to certain types of allergens that irritate the nasal cavities and airways causing an allergic reaction. Spring time allergies are worst from January to April, when the pollination of trees, plants, grasses and flowers are at their highest and because pollen can travel long distances, even a person living in area with limited greenery, may find themselves suffering from these allergies.

Whilst peak periods for allergies may vary, pollen levels tend to be highest during the early hours of the morning, usually between 5 am and 9 am.

What are allergies and why do we get them?

Allergies are how the body responds to foreign substances. When a foreign substance (an allergen) enters the body, antibodies are produced, as a response and a protection mechanism against these invading substances. These antibodies combine with the allergens, creating a chemical reaction which leads to the release of histamine; the chemical which causes your eyes to water and itchy, and your nose to get stuffy, itchy and runny.

The severity of allergic reactions can differ between individuals, varying from very mild and irritating to severe and life-threatening. Mild allergic reactions can include watery eyes, sneezing, a runny nose, rashes or nasal congestion. More moderate to severe reactions can include difficulty in breathing, abnormal sleep, impairment of daily activities and severe asthmatic episodes.

Springtime Allergies in Kuwait Even when allergies are mild they can have an extremely large impact on your daily life. Allergies can reduce productivity and the ability to concentrate, negatively impacting work or school performance. Allergy sufferers may also experience irritability, self-consciousness and loss of motivation. Eight

in ten adults and children with allergic rhinitis say congestion affects them during the night, making it difficult to fall asleep or causing them to wake even after they do manage to drop off. In Kuwait, the prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis among school children are estimated to be 22.2 percent.

Those most affected by allergies are children mainly because they spend more time outdoors and are therefore exposed to these allergens on a more regular basis.

Coping with seasonal allergies Coping with springtime allergies doesn’t have to be a nightmare if you just make sure to take a few simple precautions. Check the pollen count each day - enjoy outdoor activities when the pollen counts are low and consider an indoor activity if the pollen count is high. Avoid going out during the early hours of the morning when pollen counts are the highest. Shower and wash hair every day to prevent pollen from collecting on your body. Avoid freshly cut grass or other pollen breeding grounds and use a pollen-filtering mask while working in the yard. Choose to dry laundry indoors rather than outside, at least during the spring months. Pollen can collect on fabric hanging from a clothesline, exacerbating allergies. If you have pets, make sure to wash them regularly, as they spend a lot of time outdoors, and pollen is bound to collect in their fur.

Finally and most importantly, visit a physician for proper diagnosis, your doctor will be able to advise you as to the best courses of medical action to help you manage your allergies.

For those who suffer from severe allergies, medicine may be the only option. There is no cure for allergies, but there are several options available that can reduce allergic reactions. Medications available include antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroids. New therapies in development prevent the onset of symptoms by targeting the underlying cause of allergies; these treatments introduce specific antibodies that diminish the immune system’s reaction to allergens, ultimately changing the natural course of the allergic disease.

In general if you follow these simple rules, you will be able to survive the spring months with minimal discomfort and perhaps learn to enjoy your outdoor activities a lot more than you used to!

NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court is to rule today on a landmark patent case involving Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG that focuses on demands by major companies that their investments be protected, against Indian companies that say they should be allowed to continue producing cheaper generic versions of many lifesaving medicines. A decision in the seven-year legal battle is keenly awaited by the two most interested parties- big pharma companies and health aid groups - with both sides saying the outcome will set a precedent with far-reaching consequences for the future availability of the drugs.

“Across the world, people rely on India for supplies of affordable versions of expensive patented medicines,” said Leena Menghaney of Doctors Without Borders. “This case will have fundamental consequences.” The case goes back to 2006 when Novartis’ application for a fresh patent in India for its cancer drug imatinib mesylate was rejected by the Indian patent office. The patent authority cited a legal provision in India’s 2005 patent law aimed at preventing companies from getting fresh patents for making only minor changes to existing medicines - a practice known as “evergreening”.

The drugmaker has argued that its leukemia drug Gleevec, known in Europe and India as Glivec, was a newer, more easily absorbed version that qualified for a fresh patent. The company filed an appeal, but India’s patent appeals office turned it down in 2009 on the grounds the company was unable to show significant increase in efficacy of the drug. Novartis then approached the Supreme Court in Aug 2009, which heard arguments seeking to challenge the interpretation and application of India’s patent law in the case.

Gleevec, used in treating chronic myeloid leukemia and some other cancers, costs a patient about $2,600 a month. Its generic version was available in India for around $175 per month. “The difference in price was huge. The generic version makes it affordable to so many more poor people, not just in India, but across the world,” said Y K Sapru, of the Mumbai-based Cancer Patients Aid Association. The case once again pits big pharmaceutical companies against health activists and aid

groups with both sections arguing that the judgment would be an important milestone for the future of the pharmaceutical industry worldwide.

“The Novartis verdict is important because it will determine whether India gets to limit patents to genuine new drugs, or whether drug companies get to “evergreen” their patents until eternity, simply by re-patenting a slightly modified version of a known substance,” said Ellen ‘t Hoen, a pharmaceutical law and policy consultant. Western pharmaceutical companies have warned that a rejection of Novartis’ application would discourage investment in research and innovation, and would hobble drugmakers’ efforts to refine and improve their products.

The international drug majors have been pushing for stronger patent protection in India to regulate the country’s $26 billion generic drug industry, which they say often flouts intellectual property rights. In a statement sent to AP late last year, Novartis said patent protection was important to ensure effective protection for innovation. “Knowing we can rely on patents in India benefits government, industr y and patients because research-based organizations will know if investing in the development of better medicines for India is a viable long-term option,” the company said.

Groups such as Doctors Without Borders say cheaply made Indian generics are a lifesaver for millions of patients in poor countries who cannot afford to pay Western prices to treat diseases such as cancer, malaria and HIV. India, which has emerged as the world’s pharmacy for the poor, has come under intense scrutiny from pharmaceutical giants who say India’s 2005 Patent Act fails to guarantee the rights of investors who finance drug research and development. The country’s recent decision to allow a local manufacturer to produce a generic version of Bayer’s patented cancer drug Nexavar, to make the drug available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, has also not gone down well with Western pharmaceutical companies. Health and aid groups were clearly nervous before the top court rules on the Novartis case. “Generic com-

panies depend on the freedom to operate. If there are too many intellectual property-related challenges, then the companies very quickly withdraw from making that drug,” said Menghaney. The groups fear that a ruling in favor of Novartis would lead to a proliferation of patents - some based on a minor tweaking of formulation and dosages - on dozens of other generic medicines that Indian companies have been producing and supplying to needy nations at far lower costs than those charged by Western drug manufacturers.— AP

MUMBAI: In this Dec 21, 2012 photo, an Indian activist from a health group holds a placard while participating in a protest against Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG outside their office.— AP

Haya Al Habeeb Gastroenterology Center hosts Dr Simon Travis KUWAIT: Haya Al Habeeb Gastroenterology Center, under the guidance of Dr Ahmad Al-Fadly, Consultant Gastroentology and Hepatology/Head of Gastroentology and Hepatology at Mubarak AlKabeer Hospital recently hosted a 2 day visit for one of the world’s most renowned and acclaimed gastroenterologist Dr Simon Travis. The visit aimed at exchanging experiences in the management of IBD as experts are finding differences in the phenotyes of IBD between different countries. During the visit, Simon co-consulted on as many as 20 cases of Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis with Haya Al Habeeb Experts.

During the visit, Dr Travis, currently the Head of Gastroenterology Unit in Oxford and President of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization as well as Dr Al Fadly shared their views for patients receiving expert advice and a series of checkups. On this occasion, Fadly said, “We are pleased to host Dr Simon Travis in Kuwait to provide an in-depth view on Crohn’s

Dr Ahmad Al-Fadly

Dr Simon Travis

Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Crohn’s is a chronic disease that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal and lasts a lifetime and over the past few years there is clear evidence that the disease has been witnessing an upward trend globally and in Kuwait. In most cases, Crohn’s disease affects the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum.

However, in Kuwait, the number of people affected by the Crohn’s disease in Kuwait is now 1,0001,400 proving it to be a major health concern.” General Crohn’s

symptoms include cramps, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and diarrhea. For some of the more severe cases, patients can suffer from passing of the blood in stool, paleness, fever, pain in the joints, as well as problems in the skin. During his second visit to Kuwait, Travis also noted that: “I am proud to be able to come back to Kuwait and help patients better understand the disease in a constructive manner. IBD is the result of a combination of environmental factors coupled with genetic predisposition. Crohn’s disease progresses

overtime and unlike ulcerative colitis, it can affect both the small and large intestines. The causes of IBD have been the lead subject of research for years which we hope will materialize into new techniques for detection and a renewed therapeutic approach that the patients desperately seek. It is important that patients undergo early diagnosis processes in order to manage their lives more effectively.”

Dr Al Fadly added that in actual fact there is no permanent cure to the disease, and it is one that lasts a lifetime; however, early diagnosis can reduce the intensity and frequency of the symptoms, and could give the patient an opportunity for a normal life. “By keeping their suffering untold, patients can go into severe progression of the disease, as well as emotional pressure of having to figure it out on their own.

By consulting a medical professional, patients can get the required guidance to keep their lives as uninterrupted and as painless as possible,” said Al Fadly.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

GUST student chosen as Global Teen Leader SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

W

hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Announcements 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 Al-Shuyoukh 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

F

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.

T

IMAX

G

ulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) sophomore student in Computer Science and founder of Kuwait’s EQUAIT initiative, Faisal Al-Fuhaid, was invited to attend the Three Dot Dash organization’s Just PeaceSummit in the US and become a Global Teen Leader. Around a decade ago, Nile Rodgers, an accomplished musician who has collaborated with the likes of Madonna, Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Duran Duran, founded the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF), which aimed to develop a global family by aiding and starting up programs to educate people about mutual respect, understanding and the appreciation of cultural diversity. Seven years later, WAFF hosted the first ever Three Dot Dash “Just Peace” summit, inspired by

the late 13-year-old poet and peace activist Mattie Stepanek. Three Dot Dash is a year-long leadership and mentoring program that teaches global teen leaders how to effectively “tell their stories” during the Just Peace Summit using various forms of media, current technology and distribution methods to gain media attention and public support for their causes. Three Dot Dash creates a sustainable worldwide network of individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations to support GTLs and foster public participation around the globe.

The main requirements of the program was that the nominee had to be between the ages of 13 and 19 (hence the term Global TEEN Leader) and they were assigned a mentor for 12 months

after the summit in order to assess their progress as a leader project-wise and personally. The nominee also had to be involved in a community project which targets one or more basic human needs, including but not limited to: education, food, water shelter, education and health. In Faisal’s case, it was his Equait project (www.equait.org), aimed at promoting social equality and respect towards all Kuwaiti residents from all walks of life.

His honesty, passion and humbleyet-determined attitude are the things that set him apart from his fellow GTLs, “I am the type of person that always gives his all towards something that I’m passionate about and I always remember to keep my feet firmly on the ground, which is a philosophy my par-

ents implemented in me since my childhood. I owe a lot to my parents for raising me well and pointing me in the right direction, and being selected for the Three Dot Dash Just Peace Summit goes to show that it was worth it in the long-term.” “That week in New York will go down as one of the best weeks of my life. Even though we were only there for a week, our projects, achievements, personalities and our passion to help change the world for the better are what made us more than just colleagues, it made us family.”

GUST is proud of Faisal’s grand chievement and wishes him luck in his role as Global Teen Leader, for he is one of the exceptional students at GUST and the university does all it can to foster and hone these talents in its students.

Gulf Insurance holds blood drive

G

ulf Insurance organized a blood drive for its employees at the company’s headquarters during March 2013. The day-long event was held in cooperation with the Central Blood Bank.

The blood drive comes as part of Gulf Insurance’s corporate social responsibility activities. A large number of the company staff responded to the humanitarian call and participated in the campaign and save lives.

Representatives of the Central Blood Bank expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation for Gulf Insurance’s participation in this activity and praised its leading role in societal services through humanitarian, health, sports and environmental activities.

Gulf Insurance constantly seeks opportunities to participate in activities of interest to all segments of the Kuwaiti community, whether athletes, people with disabilities or elderly citizens. The company also promotes and sponsors social and youth initiatives.

** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Tornado Alley 3D 10:30am, 6:30pm, 9:30pm To The Arctic 3D 11:30am, 8:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 12:30pm, 5:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 7:30pm Monday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 8:30pm Tornado Alley 3D 11:30am, 5:30pm, 7:30pm To The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 9:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 6:30pm Tuesday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Tornado Alley 3D 10:30am, 6:30pm, 8:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 11:30am, 9:30pm To The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 7:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 5:30pm

Embark upon a grand tour with Four Seasons Hotels Thailand

Wednesday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups To The Arctic 3D 10:30am Tornado Alley 3D 11:30am, 6:30pm, 9:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 12:30pm, 7:30pm Journey to Mecca 5:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 8:30pm Thursday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 5:30pm, 8:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 11:30am Tornado Alley 3D 12:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm To The Arctic 3D 6:30pm Friday: Fires of Kuwait Tornado Alley 3D To The Arctic 3D Flight of Butterflies 3D Born to be Wild 3D

2:30pm 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 8:30pm 4:30pm, 7:30pm 6:30pm 9:30pm

Saturday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 1:30pm, 8:30pm Tornado Alley 3D 11:30am, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm To The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 6:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 3:30pm Journey to Mecca 4:30pm Notes: All films are in Arabic. For English, headsets are available upon request.

“Fires of Kuwait” is in English. Arabic headsets are available upon request.

Film schedule is subject to changes without notice.

F

our Seasons Hotels Thailand presents its own take on the “Grand Tour,” that traditional educational journey and intellectual adventure, once a rite of passage for elite travellers of a certain means. In addition to the opportunities to discover the culture, flavours and history of Thailand, Four Seasons Hotels Thailand gives guests the opportunity to create their own unforgettable adventure with an unrivalled level of luxury and comfort.

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of Asia’s most dynamic city with a stay at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok; the serenity of lush green rice fields, rich Lanna culture and ancient Buddhist temples with a stay at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai; an idyllic island paradise in the shade of statuesque coconut palms at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui; and learn

the centuries-old elephant-driving skills of the mahout at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle.

Each Tour of Thailand package includes Four Seasons Gift Card to be used during this stay, or at any other future stay at a Four Seasons hotel or resort around the world. Whether guests choose to put it towards learning the secrets of Thai cuisine at the Cooking School at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, a homemade Samui Coconut Scrub at the Spa at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, the city’s most popular Sunday Brunch at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, or a sunrise elephant trek at Four Seasons Tented Camp, it’s sure to enhance the Grand Tour and add yet another unforgettable discovery to one’s very own Tour of Thailand.

ASSE elections 2013-14 Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

A

merican Society of Safety Engineers, Kuwait Chapter in line with its bylaws conducted the annual elections for the elect positions (President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer) for the term 2013-2014. The election was organized recently and the following are the details of the elected officers. President Ahmad Al-Attar; Vice President Mohammad Riaz Shareef; Secretary-CH Rama Krushna Chary; Treasurer-Dan

Mangalam. All the four candidates were elected unopposed. These elected members will work in close co-ordination with present executive committee and take over with effective from July 2013. This process is being adopted in the Chapter since the year 2004 to ensure smooth transition to the Chapter year provides some sort of understanding of Chapter operations for the incoming Committee. ASSE Kuwait Chapter congratulates the newly elected members.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Aquapark opens ‘2013 Summer Season’

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

A

quapark inaugurated its 2013 Summer Season last Thursday in an event attended by a large number of visitors who came to enjoy special programs held as part of the opening ceremony. In a statement

released as part of the event, Operations Manager Ibrahim Ashkenani promised “plenty of surprises” for this year’s season which opens following comprehensive maintenance operations at all parts of the facility.

Moreover, Ashkenani announced that activities will be covered every Friday live on Kuwait TV. In the meantime, Ashkenani pointed out that access to the facility on Tuesdays is restricted to female visitors only.

—Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

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

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). nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA On the occasion of Easter Sunday and Family Day, the South African Embassy will be closed from Sunday, March 31 to Monday, April 1, 2013. The Embassy will resume it’s normal working hours on Tuesday, 2 April 2013, from Sunday to Thursday. Please note that the working hours will be from 8:00 to 16:00 & the Consular Section operation hours will from 8:30 to 12:30. 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

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

TV PROGRAMS 22:15 Tom & Jerry Tales 23:05 Pink Panther And Pals 23:55 Moomins 03:15 Wildest Islands 04:05 Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan 04:55 Last Chance Highway 05:45 Wildest Africa 06:35 Wildlife SOS International 07:00 The Really Wild Show 07:25 Bad Dog 08:15 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 09:10 Earthquake: Panda Rescue 10:05 Wildest Islands 11:00 Animal Cops Philadelphia 11:55 Shamwari: A Wild Life 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 Vet On The Loose 13:15 Vet On The Loose 13:45 Animal Precinct 14:40 Wildest Islands 15:30 Dark Days In Monkey City 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 17:25 Crocodile Hunter 18:20 America’s Cutest...

19:15 Monkey Life 19:40 Bondi Vet 20:10 Shamwari: A Wild Life 20:35 Dark Days In Monkey City 21:05 Wildest Islands 22:00 Baboons With Bill Bailey 22:55 My Cat From Hell 23:50 Animal Cops Miami

03:05 Masterchef: The Professionals 06:15 Design Rules 07:30 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 08:15 Homes Under The Hammer 09:05 Bargain Hunt 09:50 Antiques Roadshow 10:40 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 11:25 Come Dine With Me: Supersize 13:00 Come Dine With Me 13:50 Gok’s Fashion Fix 14:40 Bargain Hunt 15:25 Antiques Roadshow 16:15 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:00 Homes Under The Hammer 17:55 The Good Cook 18:20 A Taste Of Greenland 19:15 French Food At Home 19:40 Come Dine With Me 20:35 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 22:15 Bargain Hunt 23:00 Homes Under The Hammer 23:55 Cash In The Attic

03:00 03:20 03:45 04:10 04:35 05:00 05:25 06:00 06:25 06:50 07:15 07:40 08:05 08:30 08:55 09:45 10:10 10:35 11:00 11:25 11:50 12:40 13:00 14:45 15:35 16:25 17:15 18:55 19:45 20:35 21:25

What’s New Scooby-Doo? Taz-Mania The Looney Tunes Show Tom & Jerry Tales Dexter’s Laboratory Bananas In Pyjamas Jelly Jamm Ha Ha Hairies Bananas In Pyjamas Lazytown Krypto: The Super Dog Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Cartoonito Tales Lazy Town Baby Looney Tunes Krypto: The Super Dog Cartoonito Tales Jelly Jamm Gerald McBoing Boing Lazy Town Jelly Jamm Jetsons Meet The Flintstones The Addams Family The Jetsons The Flintstones Jetsons Meet The Flintstones The Addams Family The Jetsons The Flintstones The Addams Family

03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 The Powerpuff Girls 04:40 Generator Rex 05:05 Ben 10 05:55 Angelo Rules 06:00 Casper’s Scare School 06:30 Angelo Rules 07:00 Dreamworks Dragons: Riders Of Berk 07:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 16:35 Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated 17:00 Ben 10 Omniverse 17:25 Dreamworks Dragons: Riders Of Berk 17:50 The Amazing World Of Gumball 18:15 Adventure Time 18:40 Regular Show 19:05 Total Drama Action 19:55 Starwars: The Clone Wars 20:20 Ben 10: Omniverse 20:45 Hero 108 21:10 Young Justice 21:35 Green Lantern: The Animated Series 22:00 Ben 10 22:50 Mucha Lucha !

03:00 Backstory 03:30 Talk Asia 04:00 Fareed Zakaria GPS 05:00 CNN Newsroom 06:00 I Report For CNN 06:30 News Special 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Inside Africa 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 News Special 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 World One 12:30 African Voices 13:00 Backstory 13:30 CNN Newscenter 14:00 Fareed Zakaria GPS 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 19:00 World Sport 19:30 African Voices 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

03:25 07:00 08:45 09:10 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 11:50 12:20 12:45 13:40 14:35 15:05 15:30 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00

Sons Of Guns Mythbusters Crash Course Crash Course Border Security Auction Kings Baggage Battles How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Crash Course Crash Course World’s Top 5 Dirty Great Machines Border Security Auction Kings Baggage Battles Moonshiners Dual Survival Mythbusters Sons Of Guns How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Auction Kings Baggage Battles

21:30 Gold Rush 22:25 Jungle Gold 23:20 Jungle Gold

03:10 Things That Move 03:35 Da Vinci’s Machines 04:25 Tech Toys 360 05:15 Food Factory 06:05 Bad Universe 07:00 Meteorite Men 07:50 Oddities 08:40 The Gadget Show 09:05 How Tech Works 09:30 Scrapheap Challenge 10:25 Science Of The Movies 11:15 Building The Future 12:05 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 13:00 Weird Or What?

13:50 Wallace & Gromit’s World Of Invention 14:20 The Gadget Show 14:45 How Tech Works 15:10 Tech Toys 360 16:00 Smash Lab 16:55 Science Of The Movies 17:45 The Kustomizer 18:35 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 19:30 X-Machines 20:20 Engineering Thrills 21:10 Gadget Show - World Tour 21:35 How Tech Works 22:00 X-Machines 22:50 Stuck With Hackett 23:15 Stuck With Hackett 23:40 Gadget Show - World Tour

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 12:30 13:20 13:45 14:35 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:00 18:20 19:10 20:00 20:25 21:15 21:40 22:05 22:30 22:55 23:45

A Kind Of Magic Replacements Emperor’s New School A Kind Of Magic Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Doc McStuffins Suite Life On Deck A.N.T Farm Jessie Good Luck Charlie Austin And Ally Shake It Up Cinderella II Wizards Of Waverly Place Jessie A.N.T. Farm Austin And Ally Good Luck Charlie Jessie Shake It Up A.N.T. Farm Cinderella II Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana Jessie Wizards Of Waverly Place Phil Of The Future Hannah Montana Jonas Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Hannah Montana

06:00 Kid vs Kat 06:10 American Dragon 06:35 Iron Man Armored Adventures 07:00 Pokemon: BW Rival Destinies 07:25 Phineas And Ferb 07:50 Phineas And Ferb 08:00 Phineas And Ferb 08:15 Almost Naked Animals 08:40 Slugterra 09:05 Scaredy Squirrel 09:30 Zeke & Luther 09:55 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja 10:20 Lab Rats 10:45 Lab Rats 11:10 Lab Rats 11:35 Crash & Bernstein 12:00 Crash & Bernstein 12:25 Kickin It

THE WINNING SEASON ON OSN CINEMA

12:50 13:20 13:45 14:10 14:35 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:15 16:40 17:05 17:30 17:40 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:15 19:40 20:05 20:30 20:55 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 KSA

Pair Of Kings Lab Rats Pair Of Kings Phineas And Ferb Mr. Young Zeke & Luther Crash & Bernstein Crash & Bernstein Lab Rats Kickin It Pair Of Kings Phineas And Ferb Phineas And Ferb Mr. Young Zeke & Luther Crash & Bernstein Crash & Bernstein Lab Rats Kickin It Zeke & Luther I’m In The Band Rated A For Awesome Rekkit Rabbit Phineas And Ferb Scaredy Squirrel Programmes Start At 6:00am

03:15 04:10 05:05 05:30 06:00 07:50 08:20 09:15 09:45 10:15 12:05 12:35 13:05 14:05 York 15:00 15:30 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00

E! Investigates E!es Extreme Close-Up Extreme Close-Up THS Style Star E! News Married To Jonas Married To Jonas THS Ice Loves Coco Ice Loves Coco Giuliana & Bill Kourtney & Kim Take New Style Star E!es Extreme Close-Up Fashion Police E! News E!es Ice Loves Coco Ice Loves Coco Chasing The Saturdays Chasing The Saturdays Kourtney And Kim Take Miami THS

03:25 Unique Eats 03:50 Food Crafters 04:15 Charly’s Cake Angels 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Unwrapped 06:35 Unwrapped 07:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 07:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 07:50 Unique Eats 08:15 Andy Bates Street Feasts 08:40 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:30 The Next Iron Chef 10:45 Extra Virgin 11:10 Everyday Italian 11:35 Unwrapped 12:00 Iron Chef America 12:50 Reza’s African Kitchen 13:15 Barefoot Contessa 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Extra Virgin 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:20 Guy’s Big Bite 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Reza’s African Kitchen 18:40 Guy’s Big Bite 19:05 Tyler’s Ultimate 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Iron Chef America 22:00 Reza’s African Kitchen 22:25 Reza’s African Kitchen 22:50 Andy Bates Street Feasts 23:15 Andy Bates Street Feasts 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

03:25 Unique Eats 03:50 Food Crafters 04:15 Charly’s Cake Angels 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Unwrapped 06:35 Unwrapped 07:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 07:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 07:50 Unique Eats 08:15 Andy Bates Street Feasts 08:40 Andy Bates American Street Feasts 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:30 The Next Iron Chef 10:45 Extra Virgin 11:10 Everyday Italian 11:35 Unwrapped 12:00 Iron Chef America 12:50 Reza’s African Kitchen 13:15 Barefoot Contessa 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Extra Virgin 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:20 Guy’s Big Bite 15:45 Chopped 16:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Reza’s African Kitchen 18:40 Guy’s Big Bite 19:05 Tyler’s Ultimate 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Iron Chef America 22:00 Reza’s African Kitchen 22:25 Reza’s African Kitchen 22:50 Andy Bates Street Feasts 23:15 Andy Bates Street Feasts 23:40 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

03:45 04:30 05:20 06:10 07:00 07:50 08:15 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:20 11:10 12:00 12:50 13:15 13:40 14:30 15:20 15:45 16:10 17:00 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 22:50 23:15 23:40

Scorned: Crimes Of Passion The Haunted Dr G: Medical Examiner Disappeared 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 Deadly Sins Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Who On Earth Did I Marry?

I Almost Got Away With It

04:50 06:35 08:15 09:40 10:40 12:20 14:05 15:50 17:25 19:00 20:35 22:00 23:25 23:40

The Taking Of Pelham 123 Hotel Oklahoma Shadows And Fog Lights! Action! Music!

Masquerade The Wilby Conspiracy Follow That Dream Timestalkers Stagecoach The Calendar Girl Murders Zelig Track Of Thunder Mgm’s Big Screen Firestarter

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS ON OSN ACTION HD 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30 05:45 06:00 06:30 07:00 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:30 08:45 09:00 09:30 09:45 10:00 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:30

Newsday India Business Report BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News BBC World News World Business Report BBC World News BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News BBC World News GMT With George Alagiah GMT With George Alagiah BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today Impact With Mishal Husain Impact With Mishal Husain

03:00 New Orleans 03:30 Kununurra To Darwin 03:55 Antibalas 04:25 The Ice Men 05:20 Puerto Rico 06:15 The Kimchi Chronicles Conclude 06:40 Maybe Baby 07:10 The Oldest Vine 07:35 The Oldest Vine 08:05 Mazar-I-Sharif 09:00 Gone to save the planet, 3 09:25 Gone to save the planet, 4 09:55 UK 10:20 New Orleans 10:50 Kununurra To Darwin 11:15 Antibalas 11:45 The Ice Men 12:40 Jamaica (aka Reggae Marathon) 13:35 Best of 14:00 Swept Away 14:30 Wine And Renegades 14:55 Women In Wine 15:25 Herat/bamiyan 16:20 Gone to save the planet, 4 16:45 Gone to save the planet, 5 17:15 India 17:40 Wild West 18:10 Vic Fires 18:35 Ben Harper 19:05 The Many Faces of North America 20:00 Wine And Renegades 20:30 Women In Wine 21:00 Best of 21:30 Swept Away 22:00 Brazil 22:55 Istanbul 23:20 Rocco Goes To Camp 23:50 Food Magic

03:45 Croc Ganglands 04:40 Shark Men 05:35 Africa’s Deadliest 06:30 Monster Fish 07:25 Ultimate Animal Countdown 08:20 Croc Ganglands 09:15 Orca Killing School 10:10 World’s Weirdest 11:05 Wild Case Files 12:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 13:00 Hooked 14:00 Ultimate Animal Countdown 15:00 Crocodile King 16:00 Built For The Kill 17:00 World’s Weirdest 18:00 Predator CSI 19:00 Hooked 20:00 Ultimate Animal Countdown

21:00 Crocodile King 22:00 Built For The Kill 23:00 World’s Weirdest

04:00 06:00 07:45 09:45 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Man Inside-PG15 True Justice: Dead Drop-PG15 Dad Savage-PG15 X-Men: First Class-PG15 Red Faction: Origins-PG15 Dad Savage-PG15 Batman: Year One-PG15 Red Faction: Origins-PG15 Seventh Moon-18 Open Graves-18

03:00 PG15 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

The People vs George LucasElevator Girl-PG15 The Winning Season-PG15 Ghost Machine-PG15 The National Tree-PG15 Dangerous Flowers-PG15 Ties That Bind-PG15 Return-PG15 On The Inside-PG15 Powder Blue-18 American Reunion-18

03:00 Hot In Cleveland 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Hope & Faith 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:30 Hope & Faith 09:00 Hot In Cleveland 09:30 Two And A Half Men 10:00 The Office 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 13:00 Hope & Faith 14:30 The Office 15:00 Two And A Half Men 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Hot In Cleveland 18:30 Malibu Country 19:00 How I Met Your Mother 20:00 The Cleveland Show 20:30 The Cleveland Show 21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 21:30 The Colbert Report Global Edition 22:00 The Ricky Gervais Show 22:30 Unsupervised 23:00 Girls 23:30 Veep

04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 17:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 23:00

Six Feet Under Castle Good Morning America Fairly Legal The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle Fairly Legal The Ellen DeGeneres Show Alphas Revenge Once Upon A Time Six Feet Under

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00

Greek Necessary Roughness Grimm Switched At Birth Emmerdale Coronation Street White Collar Scandal Eureka Necessary Roughness Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show White Collar Switched At Birth Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show White Collar Alphas Revenge

04:00 06:00 08:00 09:45 11:45 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Alien The Man Inside True Justice: Dead Drop Dad Savage X-Men: First Class Red Faction: Origins Dad Savage Batman: Year One Red Faction: Origins Seventh Moon

04:00 Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult-PG15 06:00 Summer School-PG15 08:00 Elf-PG 10:00 Good Boy!-PG 12:00 Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult-PG15 14:00 Robots-PG 16:00 Good Boy!-PG 18:00 It’s Kind Of A Funny StoryPG15 20:00 Detroit Rock City-18 22:00 A Few Best Men-PG15

03:30 06:45 09:00 10:30 12:00 13:30 15:15 17:15 19:00 21:00 PG15 23:00

Nixon-18 Moneyball-PG15 Yona Yona Penguin-PG Backwash-PG15 Mutum-PG15 Loosies-PG15 Backwash-PG15 Nomads-PG15 The Imposter-PG15 Planet Of The Apes (1968)The Presidio-PG15

03:00 Hop-PG 05:00 Monte Carlo-PG15 07:00 B-Girl-PG15 09:00 Waiting For Forever-PG15 10:45 Bobby Jones: Stroke Of Genius-PG 13:00 Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon-PG15 15:30 Henry’s Crime-PG15 17:30 Waiting For Forever-PG15 19:15 Young Adult-PG15 21:00 Horrible Bosses-18 22:45 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-R

04:15 The Happy Cricket 2 06:00 Free Birds 08:00 Winner & The Golden Child: Part I 10:00 Hey Arnold! The Movie 11:15 Sammy’s Adventure: The Secret Passage 12:45 Free Birds 14:15 Dolphin Tale 16:15 Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays 18:00 Hey Arnold! The Movie 20:00 Blue Elephant 2 22:00 Free Birds 23:30 Marco Antonio

04:00 I Don’t Know How She Does It-PG15 06:00 Spy Kids: All The Time In The World-PG 08:00 Dead Lines-PG15 10:00 I Don’t Know How She Does It-PG15 12:00 Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows-PG15 14:15 The American President-PG15 16:15 Dead Lines-PG15 18:00 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island-PG 20:00 Summer Coda-PG15 22:00 The Trip-PG15

06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 ICC Cricket 360 07:30 Futbol Mundial

08:00 Live NRL Premiership 10:00 University Boat Race 11:00 Live NRL Premiership 13:00 ICC Cricket 360 13:30 PGA European Tour 18:00 PGA Tour Highlights 19:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 20:00 Super Rugby Highlights 21:00 University Boat Race 22:00 ICC Cricket 360 22:30 NRL Premiership

07:00 14:30 17:00 19:00 20:15 22:15 23:15

PGA Tour AFL Premiership NRL Premiership AFL Premiership Highlights Live Super League Super Rugby Highlights NHL

07:00 08:00 08:30 09:30 10:30 11:30 13:30 14:30 15:30 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:30

Golfing World Top 14 Highlights University Boat Race World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool Pro 12 Golfing World University Boat Race Trans World Sport Top 14 Highlights World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool Pro 12 Trans World Sport Top 14 Highlights World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool

07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 22:00

WWE Bottom Line WWE Experience Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing NHL UAE National Race Day Series WWE NXT WWE SmackDown Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Prelims UFC

03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 22:30 23:30

Grave Trade Storage Wars Unlocked The Korean War In Colour Ancient Aliens The Real Face Of Jesus?

Jesus: The Lost 40 Days Ancient Aliens Grave Trade Mountain Men Jesus: The Lost 40 Days Grave Trade Mountain Men American Restoration Mud Men Pawn Stars Storage Wars Ancient Aliens Pawn Stars The Men Who Built America The Men Who Built America

03:20 04:15 05:10 06:05 06:30 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:25 10:55 11:55 12:50 13:20 13:50 14:45 15:40 16:35 17:30

Jerseylicious Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

Open House Open House Videofashion News Videofashion News Videofashion Daily Open House Big Boutique In The City Top 10 Top 10 Giuliana & Bill Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Videofashion News Videofashion Collections Chicagolicious How Do I Look?

How Do I Look?

Chicagolicious Chicagolicious

Classifieds MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (28/03/2013 TO 03/04/2013) SHARQIA-1 KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-2 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 1:30 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) 3:30 PM THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 5:45 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 7:45 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 10:00 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 12:15 AM SHARQIA-3 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) MUHALAB-1 TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) MUHALAB-2 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) SIDE EFFECTS (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

MUHALAB-3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 2:00 PM THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 4:00 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 6:00 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) 8:15 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 10:30 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 12:45 AM FANAR-1 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) FANAR-2 KON-TIKI (DIG) THE TALL MAN (DIG) THE TALL MAN (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) FANAR-3 HIMMATWALA (DIG) (HINDI) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) HIMMATWALA (DIG) (HINDI) HIMMATWALA (DIG) (HINDI) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED MARINA-1 KON-TIKI (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

1:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:45 AM

1:00 PM

KON-TIKI (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG)

3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

MARINA-2 AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) SNITCH (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

1:30 PM 1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 2:00 PM THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 4:00 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) 6:00 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 8:15 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 10:30 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 12:45 AM AVENUES-1 THE TALL MAN (DIG) THE TALL MAN (DIG) THE TALL MAN (DIG) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG) THE TALL MAN (DIG) THE TALL MAN (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-2 HIMMATWALA (DIG) (HINDI) HIMMATWALA (DIG) (HINDI) HIMMATWALA (DIG) (HINDI) HIMMATWALA (DIG) (HINDI) LOVE AND HONOR (DIG)

12:30 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 1:45 PM THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 3:45 PM THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 5:45 PM THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 7:45 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) 10:00 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) 12:15 AM 360ยบ- 1 G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 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 6:00 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

1:15 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360ยบ- 3 THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

AL-KOUT.1 G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D)

1:00 PM

NO FRI+SAT THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 1:30 PM FRI+SAT THE CROODS (DIG-3D) 3:30 PM JACK THE GIANT SLAYER (DIG-3D) 5:30 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 7:45 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 10:00 PM G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) 12:15 AM AL-KOUT.2 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) THE TALL MAN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) THE TALL MAN (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 KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) AL HAFLA (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-1 G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) THE CROODS (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG-3D)

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-2 IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) IN THEIR SKIN (DIG) OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG)

1:45 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

BAIRAQ-3 KON-TIKI (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) TRUTH OR DARE (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG) KON-TIKI (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

PLAZA JAFFA (DIG) (TELUGU) NO THU+ TUE+WED AL HAFLA (DIG) THU+ TUE+WED G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG) G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG) LAILA THE CROODS (DIG) NO WED OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (DIG) NO WED G.I. JOE: RETALIATION (DIG) NO WED AJIAL.1 RED WINE (DIG) (MALAYALAM) RED WINE (DIG) (MALAYALAM) AJIAL.2 RANGREZZ (DIG) (HINDI) THU RANGREZZ (DIG) (HINDI) THU

5:30 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM

6:00 PM

MATRIMONIAL B.D.S Doctor, Christian girl, born and brought up in Kuwait seeking proposal from professionally qualified boys. 30 years, fair, height 150cm. Contact email: proposal.dentist@yahoo.com (C 4361) 1-4-2013 SITUATION WANTED British male consultant engineer work in petrol chemical and manufacturing industries in leading companies in Europe and UK. 20 years experience, seeking job in Kuwait. Mob: 50936694, 25742132.

1-4-2013

CHANGE OF NAME

8:00 PM 10:30 PM

6:30 PM 9:30 PM

6:45 PM 10:00 PM

I, Mohammed Abdul Kader, Shahira Manzil Chnnoth P O Velloor, Kannur Dist, Kerala, Passport No: K2083947, hereby changed my name as Abdul Kader Chekkintakath.

(C 4360) 30-3-2013 I, Joshina John, holder of Indian Passport No. F1283793 issued at Cochin on 23-12-2004 hereby change by name as JOSHI-

NA JOHN. (C 4357) 28-9-2013 I, Apolinario Antonio Esteves, Passport No: E5346712, issued in Kuwait on 03-06-2003, embraced Islam. Change my name to Khalid Antonio Esteves.

Address India: H.No: 995, Zuari - Fursa Vaddo, Velha Goa, Ilhas - Goa - 403108.

Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is

1889988 Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

TUITION French Native Teacher gives private tuition according to your needs. Contact: 50956987. (C 4359) 28-3-2013

112

Prayer timings Fajr:

04:18

Shorook

05:38

Duhr:

11:52

Asr:

15:23

Maghrib:

18:06

Isha:

19:24

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines QTR JZR JZR THY ETH GFA AFG UAE ETD FDB RBG MSR QTR THY DHX FDB KAC BAW KAC JZR FDB KAC UAE QTR ABY QTR FDB ETD KAC KAC GFA IRC MEA MSC JZR JZR KAC UAE MSR THY GFA KAC QTR FDB MPH KAC SVA JZR KNE OMA

Arrival Flights on Monday 1/4/2013 Flt Route 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 764 SABIHA 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 416 JEDDAH 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 555 ALEXANDRIA 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 206 ISLAMABAD 503 LUXOR 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 855 DUBAI 6138 DOHA 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 344 CHENNAI 352 COCHIN 213 BAHRAIN 6521 LAMERD 404 BEIRUT 403 ASSIUT 165 DUBAI 561 SOHAG 1284 DHAKA 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 766 ISTANBUL 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 93 AMSTERDAM 546 ALEXANDRIA 500 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 472 JEDDAH 645 MUSCAT

Time 00:15 00:20 00:40 01:40 01:45 01:55 02:15 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:15 03:15 03:30 04:35 05:10 05:50 06:15 06:30 07:25 07:40 07:45 07:50 08:25 08:30 08:50 09:00 09:15 09:30 09:35 09:55 10:40 10:50 10:55 11:35 11:35 12:00 12:05 12:45 13:00 13:10 13:40 13:40 13:45 13:50 13:55 14:15 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:40

KAC RJA KAC JZR QTR ETD FDB UAE ABY SVA GFA UAL JZR JZR KAC QTR KAC KAC FDB KAC MSC KAC KAC KAC JAI FDB OMA ABY MEA MSR AXB MSC ALK UAE ETD QTR GFA QTR DHX FDB AIC JZR UAL JZR TAR JZR DLH PIA JAI KLM THY

788 640 118 535 134 303 71 857 127 510 215 982 177 777 542 144 786 104 63 618 405 674 774 742 572 61 647 129 402 618 489 401 229 859 307 136 217 146 372 59 975 239 981 185 327 135 636 205 574 411 772

JEDDAH AMMAN NEW YORK CAIRO DOHA ABU DHABI DUBAI DUBAI SHARJAH RIYADH BAHRAIN WASHINGTON DC DULLES DUBAI JEDDAH CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH LONDON DUBAI DOHA SOHAG DUBAI RIYADH DAMMAM MUMBAI DUBAI MUSCAT SHARJAH BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA COCHIN ALEXANDRIA COLOMBO DUBAI ABU DHABI DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN DUBAI CHENNAI AMMAN BAHRAIN DUBAI TUNIS BAHRAIN FRANKFURT LAHORE MUMBAI AMSTERDAM ISTANBUL

15:00 15:55 16:00 16:10 16:15 16:35 16:50 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:50 18:15 18:25 18:30 18:45 18:55 19:10 19:15 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:30 20:35 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:35 21:45 22:00 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:40 22:40 22:55 23:00 23:10 23:15 23:20 23:40 23:45

Airlines AIC JAI UAL DLH PIA AFG JZR THY ETH AFG UAE FDB RBG MSR ETD QTR QTR JZR FDB GFA THY KAC JZR BAW FDB JZR JZR KAC ABY KAC UAE FDB QTR QTR ETD GFA KAC KAC IRC MEA JZR KAC MSC KAC JZR MSR THY UAE

Departure Flights on Monday 1/4/2013 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 206 PESHAWAR 406 KABUL 502 LUXOR 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 416 KABUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 556 ALEXANDRIA 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 6139 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 6522 LAMERD 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 103 LONDON 406 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 767 ISTANBUL 872 DUBAI

Time 00:05 00:20 00:25 00:30 00:55 01:05 01:30 02:20 02:45 03:15 03:45 03:50 03:55 04:15 04:20 04:25 05:15 05:35 06:30 07:00 07:10 07:20 07:25 08:25 08:25 08:50 09:10 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:50 09:55 10:00 10:00 10:15 11:25 11:30 11:45 11:50 11:55 12:25 12:30 12:35 13:00 13:20 14:00 14:10 14:15

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

GFA FDB QTR KAC MPH KNE OMA KAC SVA KAC KAC RJA JZR QTR ETD FDB JZR ABY UAE SVA GFA JZR JZR UAL QTR FDB JZR MSC JAI FDB ABY KAC OMA KAC MEA MSR DHX MSC ETD ALK UAE QTR KAC GFA DHX FDB KAC QTR KAC TAR KAC

220 58 141 673 93 473 646 617 501 773 741 641 238 135 304 72 538 128 858 511 216 184 266 982 145 64 134 404 571 62 120 331 648 351 403 619 171 402 308 230 860 137 301 218 373 60 205 147 411 328 283

BAHRAIN DUBAI DOHA DUBAI AL MAKTOUM JEDDAH MUSCAT DOHA JEDDAH RIYADH DAMMAM AMMAN AMMAN DOHA ABU DHABI DUBAI CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI RIYADH BAHRAIN DUBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ASSIUT MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH TRIVANDRUM MUSCAT KOCHI BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI ISLAMABAD DOHA BANGKOK DUBAI DHAKA

14:25 14:30 14:55 15:05 15:25 15:30 15:40 15:45 15:45 16:00 16:30 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:40 19:25 19:35 20:05 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:50 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:30 21:50 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:40 23:45 23:45

34

stars CROSSWORD 146

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) Your mental processes are speeded up now. You grasp new concepts very easily, but you tend to be impatient with slower minds or the usual, predictable routine. Nervous restlessness, impulsive or erratic behavior or speech, rushing and coming to a conclusion too quickly are likely at this time. Conversations with your partner are critical now. This is a time for you to really listen and learn from others. If there is some matter you are concerned with, now is an excellent time to consult a professional or even a good friend that can give helpful feedback. You need other peoples’ ideas and opinions now, don’t be afraid to ask for them.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Life direction, long-range goals, or career aims come into focus now.

You gain clarity or a stronger sense of purpose, which energizes your efforts to get ahead or move toward what you really want. Recognition or support from your superiors or others who are in a position to assist you is likely now, especially if you take some initiative.

This is a very good time to let people know you care about them: send a card, write or email a note of appreciation or even a love letter! You are very congenial and cooperative now and more interested in the similarities than in the differences between yourself and those special others in your life.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A federal agency that supervises carriers that transport goods and people between states.

4. Any ameba of the genus Endamoeba.

12. The compass point that is one point south of due east.

15. The corporate executive responsible for the operations of the firm.

16. Of or relating to a pastor.

17. (British) A waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric.

18. A tonic or restorative (especially a drink of liquor).

20. Second brightest star in Perseus.

21. A master's degree in business.

22. 4-wheeled motor vehicle.

24. Cut the head of.

26. 1/1000 gram.

27. Large whale with a large cavity in the head containing spermaceti and oil.

30. Clean with one's bill, of birds.

33. An object or statement produced before a court of law and referred to while giving evidence.

36. Income from capital investment paid in a series of regular payments.

37. God of war and sky.

38. Variety of silica containing microcrystalline quartz.

40. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet.

43. Any competition.

44. The state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed.

46. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series).

47. A Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria.

50. (astronomy) The angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing.

51. A stock exchange in New York.

52. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent metallic element.

53. Bred for many generation from member of a recognized breed or strain.

56. When dried yields a hard substance used e.g. in golf balls.

59. Suggestive of the supernatural.

60. A gonadotropic hormone that is secreted by the anterior pituitary.

61. Long pinkish sour leafstalks usually eaten cooked and sweetened.

63. A sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid.

68. Suitable for formal occasions.

71. The basic unit of electric current adopted under the System International d'Unites.

72. A B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.

74. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

75. The cry made by sheep.

76. The strength of a electrical current measured in amperes.

78. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

79. The local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England.

80. Crowned with or as if with laurel symbolizing victory.

81. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. A ballistic missile that is capable of traveling from one continent to another.

2. Large edible mackerel of temperate United States coastal Atlantic waters.

3. An outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down.

4. A large table centerpiece with branching holders for fruit or sweets or flowers.

5. A lawman concerned with narcotics violations.

6. An honorary degree in science.

7. Tending to soothe or tranquilize.

8. The molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams.

9. A cgs unit of work or energy.

10. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

11. Of or relating to alleles.

12. Social insect living in organized colonies.

13. A small cake leavened with yeast.

14. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

19. (astronomy) A relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit.

23. A salt or ester of acetic acid.

25. A blind god.

28. Aggressive boldness or unmitigated effrontery.

29. An expression of greeting.

31. Small genus of mediterranean shrubs.

32. Hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth.

34. A person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow.

35. Not subject to change or variation especially in behavior.

39. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

41. A metabolic acid found in yeast and liver cells.

42. A member of an American Indian peoples of NE South America and the Lesser Antilles.

45. Praise, glorify, or honor.

48. Of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn.

49. A rare heavy polyvalent metallic element that resembles manganese chemically and is used in some alloys.

54. United States baseball player (born 1925).

55. (Old Testament) Wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau.

57. Of or relating to the palm of the hand or to the area at the base of the thumb.

58. An investigator who is employed to find missing persons or missing goods.

62. Combined or joined to increase in size or quantity or scope.

64. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque.

65. Petty quarrel.

66. A narrow elongated opening or fissure between two symmetrical parts.

67. Chevrotain somewhat larger than the kanchil.

69. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

70. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the top of an extinct volcano.

73. A strong emotion.

77. A brittle gray crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors.

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

Time for quick housework to restore order, for a smoother operation inside and out. Reestablishment of a routine lets each path run unobstructed, problems won’t appear to begin with, so take the short, but tedious, time it takes to do it.

Don’t slack in the things you’ve been putting off today. You are very congenial and cooperative now and more interested in the similarities than in the differences between yourself and your romantic or love relationships. This is a very good time to let people know you care about them. Take the time to send a card, email a note of appreciation or even a love letter!

Cancer (June 21-July 22) What is said and what is felt may not at all be the same today, so watch out for inner contradictions coming from those around you. Putting pen to paper may mean a rewrite down the line, so be careful what you sign, and intentions and reality may not be on the same page. A better time for winding things up than diving in. Quiet reflection and attention to your inner world, your family, and the foundation that supports all of your outside activities, is called for today. This is a time to spend more on you than on anyone else. Figure out what makes you happy and this will make your relationships happier to.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Sometimes you can see just as well with a flashlight as with a floodlight, especially if you are examining something small. The simplest solutions are often the most ingenious, and it’s the household gadget that makes most inventors rich. Small and clever is the order of the day, and it has staying power. A shift in moods and attitudes occurs at this time that will continue to affect you deeply for a few days. You may be emotionally sensitive now, but often it is difficult for you to clearly express what you are feeling. Try not to take things that are said or done too seriously as you may be hurt more than any one intends for you to be.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) There can be certain turn of events in friendships as you try to make heads or tails of unusual twists in someone’s character. At times we feel as though we know someone completely until a wrench is thrown in the works and that person does the totally unexpected. Dealing with a close friend on this basis makes it hard for you to understand their true nature. Today you may need to initiate discussion to better understand their motives. Reflect on the yearning you feel for security and stability now, as this suggests the kind of compromises you may be willing to make to accomplish these objectives. If you can make a plan and find a way to realistically follow through you may just get everything your little heart desires.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) This is the time you should be really getting things together and it should be starting to pay off. However, avoid excess and going over the top right now, as you may feel you can do more and maybe eat more than you really should. At work, you may feel a little overbooked as tasks multiply and time is short to complete them. You could become more emotionally at this time, especially about people with a strong attachment from your past. You care more passionately and respond instinctively and emotionally to whatever happens to you at this time. Also, you are energized and invigorated now and eager to be involved in projects that benefit your children, family, or home.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Agreements now will be a benchmark for cooperation down the road. If you know you’re going to win, you needn’t show it, and all kinds of competition and conflict is avoided. That goes for the rest of the world too, a win-win is definitely the way to go. Romance blooms in many ways, and for you today it is likely to blossom in a very primal, lusty manner. Physical needs should be allowed to take the forefront. The more spiritual aspects of love will have there moments, but today a wild, uninhibited frolic is in order. Have fun!

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You are optimistic, hopeful, and forward-looking at this time. You can see connections and possibilities you may have overlooked before. Now is a time for communicating your enthusiasm, sharing your plans and dreams and also being more receptive to others’ thoughts and point of view. Contracts, negotiations, and business dealings of all kinds are favored now. Lighthearted fun is the order of the day at the moment. Spend some extra time in the company of your friends and family, but keep it light. Avoid addressing serious issues. A family gathering, or possibly a fun filled night with your friends or mate will elevate your spirits tremendously.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You only have to trust your intuition to know how the people you’re meeting from time to time will affect your fate. Just now you’re open to the possibilities of mixing your Karma with those who cross your path and who may in fact be your soul mates. Don’t however think that a fireworks display will be the signal for these meetings when in fact it may be a rather quiet and simple experience. A confidence that no matter what happens today, it will all work out for the best. Having some faith in yourself and others is exactly what will make that come true. Any long term plans with your partner that will benefit you both in the near future is best worked out together today, rather than as a surprise.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

Good taste is timeless, and relying on the good old ways will pave your way to success. Rely on moves you have perfected, the simpler the better, and your style will be a magnet to what/ whomever you want to come your way. Refined elegance beats bluster every time, so come on like the class act you are. Your sexual or romantic relationships have a deep, compelling, urgent quality today. Your inner feelings and needs for love and closeness emerge very strongly. You may find yourself looking for a little romance today or at least enjoying some emotional release.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you’re feeling lazy and want to take a short cut professionally there’s no way you’re going to make the big bucks. By the same token you’ll be complaining that you don’t have enough money to do all the things you dream of. That requires responsibility and commitment to a far more rigorous career path. The choice is yours. Right now you may say the things you usually only think because you speak your mind without much thought, tact, or consideration of consequences., especially to people you disagree with. Unless you slow down a bit, this time period can be quite a headache and cause problems that last beyond the day. Verbal battles, disputes, and heated debates are very likely at this time.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 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

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Sabhan

24742838

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Al-Helaly

22434853

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Al-Faiha

22545051

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Hawally

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

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

lifestyle

Archaeologist Sven Schuette, shows a fund on an archeological site.

Funds of an archaeological site.

A restoration employee works on an archeological site. — AFP photos

Cologne revives forgotten Jewish heritage piece by piece

A

fter long being sidelined for Roman excavations, an archaeological dig in western Germany has unearthed myriad traces of daily life in one of Europe’s oldest and biggest Jewish communities. From ceramic dishes and tools to toys, animal bones and jewellery, some 250,000 artefacts have so far shed light on various periods in 2,000 years of the city of Cologne’s history.

And they include many piecing together Cologne’s little-known but rich Jewish history. But plans to display the findings, discovered since 2007 by head archaeologist Sven Schuette’s team at the 10,000 square-meter (32,800 square-foot) city centre dig, in a new museum have proved divisive.

Just over 400 kilometers (260 miles) away, Berlin already hosts a large Jewish museum, and critics argue that Cologne cannot afford a new cultural project when its coffers are already in the red. “For a very long time, archaeologists quite simply ignored the Jewish past of Cologne,” Schuette told AFP. “Anything that wasn’t of Roman origin wasn’t excavated, since the Middle Ages were of little matter and Jews weren’t supposed to have played any role,” he lamented.

From the 10th to 12th centuries, Cologne,

today Germany’s fourth-largest city, was one of Europe’s biggest cities, even ahead of Paris and London, with about 50,000 inhabitants.

Its prosperous Jewish community numbered nearly 1,000 at its height. On Hebrewinscribed fragments of slate, aspects of daily life from the Middle Ages have intriguingly come to light via school children’s teachings, rules and regulations, a bawdy knight’s tale and even a bakery’s customer list. The history of the city’s Jewish quarter spans 1,000 years, from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages, and far from being closed-off, it was open and adjoined the Roman governor’s imposing palace and later the city hall.

“Excavations show that the Jews in Cologne for a very long time were on good terms with the Christians, that their cohabitation saw long phases of peace and harmony,” Schuette said. He pointed to the synagogue’s gothic-style and richly decorated altar having been constructed by craftsmen, possibly French, who had been working on the nearby cathedral building site.

But two events finally sounded the death knell for the Jewish quarter-a crusader massacre in 1096, followed by its eventual annihilation in 1349 when the Christians made the

Archaeologist Sven Schuette explains details on an archaeological site.

Jews the scapegoat for a black plague epidemic.

Archaeologists hope to see their treasures on display in the new museum by 2017. “It

won’t be a so-called ghetto museum limited to presenting religious artefacts but a museum tracing this quarter’s daily life, its integration in to the Christian city, with the positive

Beatles album sells for $290,500 at auction

A Simmons says music can save a child’s life

rare, signed copy of The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” has been sold for a record $290,500 at auction, The Hollywood Reporter said. The entertainment magazine reported on its website that the album, signed by all four members of the famous band, was purchased Saturday through Dallas-based Heritage Auctions by an

K

iss frontman Gene Simmons made a surprise appearance at a Sioux Falls benefit concert Saturday, where he spoke of music’s power to positively shape children’s lives. Simmons’s appearance came on the final day of a week of concerts to benefit the music academy for Sioux Falls Boys & Girls Clubs members. “This is about kids. We’ve had our chance. We’ve got to give them a chance. Anything that gets them off the street is a good thing,” Simmons said. Music, Simmons said, is self-empowering. “It doesn’t matter if you become a star. If you don’t believe in yourself and get up on stage, everybody is watching. You can feel the power ... and it helps you get through life, especially when you’re impressionable.” He said getting involved in music - whether it’s learning to play an instrument or sing karaoke improves social skills, too. Motley Crue singer Vince Neil was also at Saturday’s show, and he, too, expounded on the positive benefits of music. “Say you finish your first song, it could be ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb,’ it doesn’t matter, but at least it’s something you’ve played,” Neil said. “And I think for kids, they could go into a whole other direction because they accomplished something.”

Neil said he was 10 when he first started taking guitar lessons. “I was terrible,” he said laughing. “That’s why I’m not a guitarist. I went into the other direction.”

J

Mia Wasikowska was a ‘boring’ child

unnamed buyer from the Midwest. Earlier estimates suggested the album would sell for about $30,000, the publication said. The Beatles are believed to have signed the cover around June 1967 when the album was released. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the previous record for a signed Beatles album cover was $150,000, which was paid for a copy of “Meet the Beatles.”

Smith has bulked up to improve his morale

T

he ‘Doctor Who’ actor - who plays the titular Time Lord in the BBC One sci-fi series - has been hitting the gym hard in a bid to improve his physique which has led to him feeling a lot happier about life in London. He said: “Since I’ve been back in London, I’ve been going to the gym three times a week. It makes me feel much better about my life, I have to say. It’s just good for my mind.” While Matt has improved his body shape, he insists he still has a long way to go before he gets anywhere near looking like toned actor Ryan Gosling, who is directing Matt’s forthcoming fantasy film ‘How to Catch a Monster’. He added to the Radio Times magazine: “I haven’t seen his abs yet. He totally wins, he totally wins, mate.” — Agencies

Lopez diva demands cost her a gig ennifer Lopez’s diva demands have cost her a gig in front of 60 million viewers. The singer was wanted for the opening ceremony of India’s Premier League cricket tournament, but her “idiotic” list meant reportedly “priced herself out” of the show. The Sun newspaper said she wanted dozens of hotel rooms for her massive entourage - including assistants, stylists and a chef - and a private jet. A source claimed: “The demands were outrageous. She effectively priced herself out of the event. It was idiotic because the audience for this event is huge.” A

and negative aspects,” Schuette said. But the project has its detractors and opponents, he said, adding that an empty suitcase had been placed within the site recently, sparking a phoney bomb alert. “And elsewhere someone engraved a swastika,” he added. Meanwhile the opposition conser vative Christian Democrats (CDU) on the local council have attacked the plan over its cost and condemned as “madness” spending more than 50 million euros ($64 million) when the city is already deeply in debt.

“Cologne cannot allow itself to build a new museum,” leading local CDU politician Volker Meertz said, also questioning how it would stand out from the Jewish museum in the German capital.

Some 2,800 people have signed a broadbased petition against the museum. “The protest is populist. It’s not baiting the farright but it could be a platform for the farright and political die -hards,” Abraham Lehrer, a leading member of Cologne’s Jewish community, said. “Social expenditure is being cut independently of the museum’s construction. If it isn’t built, nothing will change,” he told the week ly Juedische Allgemeine Zeitung. — AFP

spokesman for the ‘On the Floor’ hitmaker insisted she turned down an offer to play the show because she was busy recording an album.

Despite the reports, one thing Jennifer won’t be putting a value on is her close friends after she described their companionship as “priceless” earlier this month, She said: “Oh my God, my girlfriends are everything to me. They celebrate with you, they cry with you, they hold you when you need to be held. They laugh with you. They’re mean with you! They’re just always there, and it’s just a priceless thing to have.”

T

he 23-year-old actress insists she never set herself apart from the crowd when she was younger and was always happy to fit in with her peers.

She said: “Growing up I was pretty boring, I was more of a follower than a leader; I didn’t like showing off”. And Mia - who began her film career aged just 15 - only fell into acting when she suffered an injury that called a halt to her main passion, dance. She added to Italy’s IO Donna magazine: “I was very shy and spent all my time dancing. I used to dance up to 35 hours a week; it was the place where I found passion, friendship and experiences. Acting replaced dancing when I had to quit for a foot injury”. And the ‘Jane Eyre’ star also admitted she has an uncool hobby - knitting. She said: “I love knitting.

Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have said that, it’s not good for my image”.

37

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

LIFESTYLE

The Ukranian craft of psyanky uses a wax-resist method to turn dyed eggs into eggs resembling elegant jewels too precious to touch.

A wax-resist method to turn dyed eggs into eggs resembling elegant jewels too precious to touch.

Easter eggs get fancy with Ukrainian ‘pysanky’ technique he Easter bunny would be envious if he could see the fancy eggs at Marcy Avery’s home in Yorktown, Va. Instead of eggs plainly dyed in pinks, greens and yellows, the eggs resemble elegant jewels too precious to touch.

They are created with a hot wax and dye technique called pysanky, an Ukrainian craft that uses a wax-

T

resist method similar to batik.

Designs are not painted on, but instead are written with beeswax and then revealed through a dye and wax-melting process. “It’s a fun way for my friends to have a creative get-together,” says Marcy, who has an art degree from Virginia Tech, retired from public school teaching and now offers art lessons in her home studio.

“Since it’s Easter season, pysanky eggs were the perfect choice to get our creative juices flowing.” Marcy learned the art form during extra community college classes, and then wrote a high school curriculum that required students to replicate native crafts of various cultures, using similar tools, techniques and indigenous designs, she says. Pysanky was one of those crafts.

Teri Cheslak of Yorktown and daughter Caroline, a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, were in Marcy’s workshop.

“In recent years, I’ve had fun dyeing eggs with onion skins and making botanical impressions on eggs with flowers and ferns,” says Teri. “We had

collected some wax resist and hand painted eggs during our years stationed in Europe, and I loved them.

So when my friend Marcy offered to teach us pysanky, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Materials for the pysanky process include inexpensive white eggs (porous shells absorb dyes better and result in intense colors), powdered aniline dye mixed with white vinegar and distilled water, tool called kistka (a copper funnel attached to a handle; wax is scooped into the funnel, heated and then drawn on the egg), beeswax, candle, tissues to remove melted wax from the egg, No. 2 pencils to light draw designs on the eggs, drying rack and oil-based vanish or polyurethane to seal the eggs.

“Basically, liquid hot wax is applied to the egg with the kistka,” says Marcy. “The wax seals the egg color and resists the remaining dyes. The egg is dipped into dyes, from lightest to darkest colors. After removing the egg from each dye bath, more hot wax is applied to the egg to seal in the newest color. This

Marcy Avery and Teri Cheslak show off pysanky eggs they have created. —MCT photos process is repeated until the final dye bath, after which the wax is removed revealing the multi-color design.

“Depending on the complexity of the design, each egg may take two to four hours or longer for the initial waxing and dyeing process.

Charles & Keith

Inspirational seminar in Kuwait by Jack Canfield

signature label

harles & Keith Signature Label Spring 2013 collection allures a fresh air of sophistication and an expression of pure aesthetic pleasure. Aristocratic superiority is tastefully evoked with the embedding of classic embroidery and rich jewel tones onto suede and satins. The appreciation for craftsmanship lends a lyrical element in intriguing ways.

Gemstone hues of fiery red, emerald, fuchsia with gold, archetypal needlework, intense shimmery and studded stilettos make for a head-

C

f more success and personal fulfillment is what you’re seeking, Jack Canfield can help you get from where you are to where you want to be. Jack has taken all the most successful techniques for self-improvement and combined them with unique insights he gained while building an $80 million business from nothing.

Jack Canfield will distill his knowledge at the concentrated genius of THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES seminar that is organized

by Vigor-Events & Al-Gas Events today at Hilton Kuwait.

After attending this program, you will be able to apply these clear, direct and indisputably effective principles to your own life. Finances, work, health, relationships, sport or creativity - all can be vastly improved by using Jack Canfield’s powerful lifetools. It doesn’t matter if your goals are to be the top sales person in your company, become a leading architect, lose weight, become a better parent, increase confidence, buy your dream home or make millions of dollars - Jack can help you develop a clear, personal plan of action that will completely transform your life into exactly what you want it to be.

As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre - and

I

watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of over 100 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise, Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success.

Jack Canfield, an American motivational speaker and author is the Founder and Chairman of Canfield Training Group and Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprise in Santa Barbara, California.

Jack has appeared in over 600 Radio Shows and 200 Television shows including Oprah, 20/20, Larry King, Eye to Eye, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, Today Show, Fox and Friends, CBS, NBC, CNN and BBC.. Jack has also appeared in the DVD, “The Secret”, and shared his insights on the “Law of Attraction” and tips for achieving success in personal and professional life.

Jack Canfield seminar is one of The Knowledge Club(tm) series of valuable and unique seminars that will be organized in Kuwait by Vigor & Al Gas Events, The Knowledge Club(tm) is a unique and exceptional opportunity for companies and organizations to bridge between marketing and HR, brand and culture, inside and outside in order to better promote the company brand.

The egg must then be varnished.”

Caroline, 24, chose intricate, geometric designs, closer to authentic Ukranian motifs, in a palette of turquoise, blue, green, black and white. She starts a master’s program in art therapy at Eastern Virginia Medical School this fall, and hopes

someday to use the pysanky art form in her practice.

“As you move from lightest to the darkest dye bath, you have to visualize your finished egg and remember what colors will be next to each other when the wax is melted off,” she says. While the process sounds intense and complicated, it actually becomes easier and quicker once you get the hang of the steps, assures Marcy.

“There were 10 of us working on eggs in Marcy’s studio, yet there was little talking,” says Teri. “Marcy has music playing softly, and there was a real feeling of calm, people were enjoying this method of expression.” The added beauty of pysanky is that it can be displayed year-round because the designs do not have to be seasonal. The eggs can also be hung as Christmas or Easter ornaments, grouped in a decorative glass bowl or basket. They are especially eye catching when displayed on brass and glass candlesticks of all sizes and shapes.

“Even if you doubt your art ability, you can create these lovely pieces,” says Marcy. — MCT

turning collection. Opulent luxury is expressed with the glory of luxe leather and the richness of suede. The Grand Soiree Collection’s emphasis on the feminine line works in highly dressy styles, elevating glamour to a whole new level in heeled platform sandals, peep toes and pumps.

Celebrating craftsmanship with lighthearted elements, the Natura Collection is pervaded by a desire to enter into the air of freedom. Start the journey to the bucolic and spirited highland in earthy camel, brown, mustard and white platform heels, wedges and peep toes, adding a touch of grace with delicate suede, soft leather and meticulously crafted weaves.

Versatile music producer Phil Ramone dies at 79 hil Ramone, a versatile music producer who won 14 Grammy Awards and worked with a glittering roster of stars like Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and Paul Simon, died in Manhattan on Saturday, the New York Times reported. He was 79. Ramone’s son, Matthew, confirmed the death to the newspaper but did not release a cause. Born in South Africa, Ramone was raised in Brooklyn, New York. In the late 1950s he co-founded an independent studio called A&R Recording in New York. His first Grammy was for his sound engineering on the 1964 jazz-bossa nova album “Getz/Gilberto” by Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto.

He went on to win a total of 14 Grammy Awards, including album of the year honors for producing Paul Simon’s top-selling 1975 release “Still Crazy After All These Years” and Ray Charles’ 2004 duets album “Genius Loves Company.” Tony Bennett, whose series of “duets” albums were produced by Ramone, said in a statement that Ramone was a “very gifted musician and producer.”

“It was a joy to have him work with me in the recording studio on so many projects, as he had a wonderful sense of humor and a deep love of music,” Bennett said.

P

Neil Portnow, president and chief executive of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, said in a statement Ramone had made “countless significant contributions” to the music industry. “Our industry has lost an immense talent and a true visionary and genius, and The Academy has lost a very dear and close friend,” he said. “Everyone who encountered Phil came away a better person for it, professionally or personally.”

Ramone was an early advocate of the compact disc. He playeda key role in the introduction of the CD when the 1978 BillyJoel album “52nd Street,” which Ramone had produced, wasre-released in 1982 as the first commercially available album onCD. He showed a passion for all forms of entertainment, applying his musical talents to projects in film, theater and television. He worked as a music supervisor on the popular 1983 film “Flashdance” and the 1985 dance movie “White Nights.”

The Times reported that, although some media sources had said he was 72, public records and his family confirmed that Ramone was 79. Ramone was not associated with the punk band The Ramones, whose members all adopted pseudonyms using the surname Ramone. —Reuters

Notable musicians who worked with Phil Ramone list of some of the notable musicians who worked with Phil Ramone and the collaborations that A they produced: Tony Bennett: albums in 2005 “The Art of Romance,” in 2006 “Duets: An American Classic,” in 2011 “Duets II” Ray Charles: his final album, 2004’s “Genius Loves Company” Chicago: the 1978 album “Hot Streets” Bob Dylan: the 1975 album “Blood on the Tracks” Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto: the 1964 album “Getz/Gilberto” Billy Joel: his 1977 breakthrough album “ The Stranger” and six later albums, including “Just the Way You Are” Quincy Jones: on the 1969 album “Smackwater Jack” Paul Simon: the 1975 album “Still Crazy After All These Years” Frank Sinatra: the 1993 album “Duets” Barbra Streisand: the 1967 live album “A Happening in Central Park,” and the 1976 song “Evergreen” (Love Theme from “A Star Is Born”)—AP

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Do-it-yourself F

or many children, Easter is all about the hunt. They love searching for hidden eggs and snooping for the ultimate Easter jackpot: a basket filled with jelly beans, marshmallow Peeps and chocolate rabbits so large that they make a child’s eyes go wide.

My mother used to make homemade Easter candy. She would make chocolate lollipops in the shape of eggs, bunnies and chicks and my favorite, chocolate-dipped peanut butter eggs.

Now that I’m a mother, I wanted to do the same for my daughter. As a toddler, she doesn’t understand the holiday’s religious mean-

Make your own Easter basket with classic molds and a variety of flavored candy melts. ing, let alone know about the Easter bunny.

But I figured it wasn’t too early to continue my family’s tradition of making homemade Easter treats.

My mother is an excellent cook, but she’s no Martha Stewart. I figured if she could do it, it couldn’t be that hard. My mother used the candy melts sold at local craft stores, such as Michael’s and A.C. Moore. The candy melts don’t require tempering, a method to stabilize chocolate for candy-making by heating and cooling it. Candy melts can be melted in a double boiler or easier still, a microwave.

Her peanut butter eggs were just a variation on an easy Midwestern treat called a buckeye — a chocolate-covered peanut butter ball.

I thought this would be easy, but my problems started when I decided to be more ambitious than my mother. I would make homemade marshmallow Peeps, create fruit gelees as a stand-in for jelly beans, and would temper the chocolate for the lollipops and massive Easter bunnies.

My first round of candy making left me humbled. The raspberry fruit gelees didn’t set. I burned the first batch of marshmallows.

And I soon learned how infuriating it is to temper chocolate, heating and cooling it to exact temperatures to create shiny, crisp candies.

The only recipe that worked on the first try was chocolate peanut butter eggs. My kitchen failures led me to reach out to some candy-making experts: Beth Somers, head of the test kitchen for Wilton, the Illinois-based maker of cake and candy molds and supplies,

Easter candy

Color your peeps: You can use either precolored sanding sugar or make your own. To make your own Technicolor peeps, pour 2 cups granulated sugar into a gallon-size ziptop bag. Add a couple drops of your preferred food coloring, seal well, and shake violently, using your hands to gently press the bag and make sure the granules are evenly coated. Use this sugar for dusting the baking sheet or pan and coating the shaped Peeps.

(Barber recommends using gel food coloring.

Brands such as AmeriColor can be purchased online. I got good results with liquid food coloring.)

Yield: about 2 dozen peeps

and Casey Barber, author of “Classic Snacks Made From Scratch.”

Somers explained why those candy melts are easier to use than tempering chocolate and offered a few tips on how to more easily fill the molds. Barber explained how to make homemade marshmallows, the basis for Peeps. Back in the kitchen, I found more success. My mango gelees set. I didn’t burn the marshmallows. I used candy melts instead of trying to temper the chocolate. Instead of piping the marshmallows into the standard Peep-shaped chicks, I used chick- and bunnyshaped cookie cutters. Much easier. And I learned a valuable lesson: My mother’s methods may not make her Martha Stewart, but she knows best.

Peanut butter Easter eggs This recipe comes from Dorette Snover, owner of C’est si Bon! Cooking School in Chapel Hill. She wrote: “Growing up in Berks County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, meant making these delicious-and synonymous with springtime-Easter treats. Many old-time recipes are a bit sketchy as to exact amounts of each ingredient, so let your palate be your guide.”

1 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy 1 sticks butter, softened 1 pound powdered sugar teaspoon vanilla extract 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (not chocolate chips) cup toasted chopped peanuts Mix peanut butter and softened butter in a medium mixing bowl using a hand mixer or in a standing mixer. Cream until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. It should come together to form a stiff dough. Knead if necessary to achieve a firmer consistency. Use hands to mold dough into egg shapes and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.

Refrigerate overnight uncovered, allowing to dry slightly.

Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water and stir until melted. (If you don’t have a double boiler, place the chocolate in a small glass or metal bowl and set on top of a small pan of simmering water.) Dip peanut butter eggs in the chocolate using two forks, return to wax paperlined cookie sheets. Sprinkle dipped eggs with chopped peanuts. Let harden and then wrap in brightly colored foil or place in festive cupcake liners.

Yield: 16-18 eggs MANGO GELEES The original recipe calls for 1 cup unsweetened fruit puree. Author Hedy Goldsmith likes to use passion fruit, mango and guava. One note: I had no luck with making this with raspberry puree. Raspberries have little natural pectin, so I would stick with Goldsmith’s fruit suggestions. Adapted From “Baking Out Loud: Fun Desserts with Big Flavors,” by Hedy Goldsmith (Clarkson Potter, 2012).

2 mangos 2 cups sugar, plus more for dusting and serving 2 (3-ounce) pouches liquid pectin Line bottom of an 8-inch-square baking dish with parchment paper or plastic wrap.

Peel mangos and cut away fruit. Puree the fruit in a food mill or a food processor. You will need 1 cup of fruit puree.

Combine fruit puree and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar is dissolved.

Increase the heat to high and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil for 3 minutes. (You may have

Peanut Butter Easter Eggs can be made with smooth or crunchy peanut butter. —MCT photos to lower the heat to keep the fruit syrup from boiling over.) Remove from heat and whisk in pectin. Stir until well blended, and then pour into prepared baking dish. Set aside at room temperature until completely cool and firm.

The time will vary depending upon the fruit used.

RUN a small knife around the edge of the baking dish, invert the gelee onto a work surface, and peel off the parchment paper or plastic wrap. Using a large knife, cut the gelee crosswise into eight 1-inch-wide strips. Cut each strip into eight squares. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

TOSS with extra sugar just before eating; otherwise leave the gelees alone until eating.

The sugar melts if they are tossed too far ahead of time.

Yield: 64 1-inch gelees HOMEMADE PEEPS From “Classic Snacks Made From Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats,” by Casey Barber (Ulysses Press, 2013).

1 (ounce) envelope powdered unflavored gelatin cup water, divided 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 cups for coating cup light corn syrup teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ounce milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips, a scant \ cup Vegetable shortening (for bunnies) Line a large rimmed baking sheet with waxed paper and shake a thin, even layer of granulated sugar across the waxed paper.

Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over \ cup water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Don’t bother to whisk; the gelatin will absorb the liquid on its own.

Stir the sugar with the corn syrup and remaining cup water in a high-sided saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and the liquid no longer feels grainy. Clip a candy thermometer to the saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Stir constantly to prevent burning. When the sugar syrup reaches 245 degrees on the thermometer, remove it from the heat and move fast. Pour the hot syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Using the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk at a low speed for 30 seconds. Gradually increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 6 minutes, adding the vanilla during the last

minute. The liquid will turn from syrupy and frothy to a light, fluffy, and shiny white marshmallow mixture that forms soft peaks when the mixer is stopped and the whisk is lifted.

Form the chicks: Fill the pastry or a gallonsize zip-top bag with marshmallow. Working on the sugar-dusted baking sheet, make chicks by piping fat teardrop shapes about 1

Homemade Peeps make colorful Easter treats.

Make chocolate lollipops with classic molds for Easter. inch across to form the fat bodies. Pipe a circular blob on top of each body, then quickly move your hand back toward the tail and flick the goo forward to make the head and the beak. (If peeps are spreading rather than setting, wait a few minutes and try again.)

Sprinkle finished peeps with sugar and let sit on sheet for 6 to 8 hours to set.

Make the eyes: Once the peeps are set, melt the chocolate over low heat in a small saucepan, stirring constantly, just until smooth. Dip a toothpick into the melted chocolate and dot eyes on both sides of each Peep’s head.

Make bunny peeps: Instead of sprinkling a rimmed baking sheet with sugar, grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square glass baking dish with vegetable shortening and dust with granulated sugar, shaking the dish to coat evenly. Use a spatula to spread the marshmallow goo into the prepared dish.

Dust the top with granulated sugar. Let sit overnight, then remove the set marshmallows in a single block onto a clean cutting board. Spray a bunny-shaped cookie cutter with vegetable spray. Cut out bunnies and roll in additional sugar to coat sides. Dot on eyes as directed above for chicks.

MAKE YOUR OWN CHOCOLATES Beth Somers, the test kitchen manager at Wilton, offered this advice: Candy melts are a confectionary coating and easier to work with than tempering chocolate. “They set up perfectly without any tempering.” She recommends melting them in the microwave at 50 percent power in 30second increments. They also can be melted in the top of a double boiler or in a small bowl set on top of a small saucepan of simmering water.

Place the candy melts in a disposable decorating bag, filling it halfway and twisting the bag shut. Then place the bag in the microwave and knead the melts after 30-second intervals until fully melted. Cut off the tip and pipe the chocolate directly into the molds. “For ease, convenience and cleanliness, it’s wonderful,” she said.

Use a candy funnel or a regular kitchen funnel when filling larger molds. Squeeze bottles, sold at most craft stores, can also be used. Place the chocolate in the bottle and microwave, then use the bottle to fill your molds.

Once your work is done, any remaining candy melts will harden; the hardened pieces are easy to break up inside the bottle, empty into a plastic bag and save for the next project. Candy melts are available in an array of flavors and colors.

Wilton always offers dark cocoa, light cocoa and white. The company occasionally offers limited-edition flavors. This spring, those include marshmallow and dark cocoa raspberry. The melts also are available in pastel and primary colors, and in speckled white. — MCT

Make marshmallow chicks with your peeps at Easter P

eeps, Casey Barber says, are like the “cilantro of the sweets world.” You love those spongy yellow marshmallow birds or you hate them. Regardless, around Easter, you can’t avoid them.

What you can do is turn them into a fun family activity with vast creative potential, says Barber, a food writer and author of “Classic Snacks Made From Scratch” (Ulysses Press, $17.95), which includes a recipe for DIY Peep-like creatures. The recipe here is for classic marshmallow chicks, but you can substitute lemon extract for vanilla extract to add a refreshing spring tang, Barber says. Or use grape or some other fruit juice instead of water when dissolving the gelatin to give a different color or flavor.

Kids might have trouble piping out the iconic bird

Homemade peeps, which are nothing more than homemade marshmallows, a simple combination of sugar, water, gelatin, corn syrup and flavoring. —MCT photos

shape from a pastry bag, so consider instead spreading the marshmallow mixture into a greased, sugar-dusted baking dish, letting it sit overnight and then using lightly greased cookie cutters to stamp out different shapes, Barber suggests. If you don’t want to use melted chocolate to create “the tiny blank stare,” decorate the marshmallow creations with tubes of frosting.

Imaginations can run wild in Peepland. But some rules are fixed. For example, don’t skirt the candy thermometer, lest your Peeps look more like a puddle.

MARSHMALLOW CHICKS Makes: About 24 candies Note: Adapted from “Classic Snacks Made From Scratch” by Casey Barber.

Ingredients: 1 envelope (ounce) powdered unflavored gelatin cup water 1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for baking sheet cup light corn syrup teaspoon vanilla Colored sugars, optional 1 ounce chocolate chips 1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper; sprinkle with a thin, even layer of granulated sugar. Pour \ cup water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted; sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the water. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment.

2. Combine the remaining { cup water with 1 cup sugar and corn syrup; cook until the syrup reaches 245 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.

3. With the mixer running on low, carefully pour the hot syrup down the inside of the bowl so it doesn’t splash against the whisk. Slowly increase the mixer speed to high; beat until the marshmallow lightens in color, about 5-6 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. The liquid will turn from syrupy and frothy to a light, fluffy and shiny white marsh-

Peeps are marshmallow candies that are shaped into chicks, bunnies, and other animals. mallow mixture; it should form soft peaks when the mixer is stopped and the whisk is lifted.

4. Fill a pastry bag with marshmallow (or use a large zip-close bag with a small hole cut from one corner). To form the bodies, pipe fat teardrop shapes about 1 inch across and 2 inches long onto the baking sheet, forming a tail at the end. Pipe a circular blob on top of each body, then quickly move your hand back toward the tail and flick the goo forward to make the head and beak. If the chicks are spreading rather than setting, wait a few minutes before piping more to allow the marshmallow to become more firm.

5. Sprinkle the finished chicks with colored sugar, if you like; let rest to set, 6-8 hours. For the eyes, melt the chocolate over low heat in a small saucepan; dip a toothpick into the chocolate and dot eyes onto the chicks’ heads.

Note: You can buy colored sugars at cooking supply stores and in some supermarkets; or make them yourself: Shake granulated sugar in a plastic bag with a little food coloring. — MCT

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Parents at Play: Easter Baskets

If you’re putting together an Easter basket for the kiddies, stuffed animals and toys are absolute must-haves. — MCT photos

H

ere are some of our favorites for this time of year.

YooHoos Aurora expands their stuffed-toy line this year to include an Easter Egg Assortment, which features the original YooHoos dressed as colorful, decorated eggs. Each YooHoo makes a fun sound or plays an Easter tune when squeezed.

Ages 4+, Reatil $9, http://www.auroragift.com.

Easter Lambs Also from Aurora are several varieties of stuffed lambs, perfect for this time of year. The Jesus Loves Me lambs come in pink or blue, have silky soft “wool” plush, and embroidered eyes, making them safe for even the youngest children. Each 9-inch lamb comes with a matching festive bow around its neck that matches the design in its ears. Retails for around $13. There are also the Blessings lambs, who are pure white with a white bow. These 8-inch lambs are supersoft and cuddly and have an embroidered smile and eyes.

Ages 1+, retail $9. www.auroragift.com. Use code YooHoo13 for free shipping on orders over $50.

If you’re little one is a reluctant reader, Story Buddies make reading extra fun and engaging by waking up and responding when certain phrases from their books are read out loud.

Abigail the Bunny Interactive Story Buddy All of the Story Buddies are a great way for parents and kids to read together. If you’re little one is a reluctant reader, Story Buddies make reading extra fun and engaging by waking up and responding when certain phrases from their books are read out loud. Abigail comes with one book and four more are available for purchase.

Ages 4 and up. $35.95. www.hallmark.com Egg Squawkin’ Hen This year Hallmark introduces a new version of their popular Egg Squawkin’ Hen, who sings a silly version of “Whoomp, There It Is.” Press the button on her wing to make her dance (and make your kids laugh) and bob up and down while singing and laying an egg with every “SQUAWK!” (Of course, you’ll need to load her up with eggs before playing). Available in all Hallmark stores for $30.95 or $15.95 with card purchase.

Cards and more Speaking of cards ... Hallmark has a huge variety of Easter-themed cards (including the new singing chick cards). And there’s something for everyone, whether you’re buying it for someone young or old, or you want to make the recipient laugh or reflect. With email, Facebook, Twitter, and more, handwritten cards are too often overlooked. But they’re a great way to keep in touch with distant family and friends and to teach kids the incredible power that a personalized drawing or a few written words have to affect someone thousands of miles away.

Calico Critters These adorable animals from International Playthings will bring a smile to just about every kid’s face. Fuzzy, velvety soft, and dressed to kill, Calico Critters come in families _ and they’re great for helping kids learn about socialization and togetherness. They also make imaginative play fun for the whole family, encouraging mom, dad, and the kids to put on plays for each other and go on adventures together. One cute Easter set for Easter is Connor and Kerri’s Carriage Ride, which comes with mommy, two children bunnies, carriage, rattle, animal clothing, and more.

Oddly, it doesn’t come with a daddy bunny. www.intplay.com/ Chicken & Egg Stackers Also from International Playthings, this 8piece set of brightly colored eggs let even the littlest babies celebrate Easter by stacking and nesting. They’re also good for learning about colors and matching. And they’re fun for mom and dad too. — MCT

Do-it-yourself Easter candy: Fill a basket with delicious, homemade treats

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013

38

View of Volker Kraft’s Easter egg tree in Saalfeld, Germany. Every year the man decorates his tree with more than 10,000 eggs.

Egg artist prepares for show E

lizabeth Vernon’s canvas is calcium.

Vernon is an egg artist who decoupages Victorian designs onto delicate eggshells. Her gleaming varnished creations bear floral motifs, women’s portraits, nursery-rhyme characters, insect images-any vintage design that strikes her fancy. This time of year, much of her free

been an Easter-season tradition in Akron for about 40 years.

It was started in the early 1970s at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens by some members of its Women’s Auxiliary Board who just wanted an opportunity to display the Easter eggs they’d decorated, said Stan Hywet volunteer Jim Urban, who managed the show for about 10 years. Those women brought in some of their egg-decorator friends, and soon the board recognized the value in selling eggs as well as displaying them. The show and sale was open for a week back then, Urban said, and typically attracted more than 3,000 people.

The show was held for about a quarter-

century at Stan Hywet until the historical estate dropped it in 1998, citing reasons that included declining attendance and limited exhibit space. That’s when a group of egg artists, or “eggers,” banded together to save the show, said Denise DiGeronimo, the group’s treasurer. Under the leadership of the late Gwen Howe, they formed the Ohio Egg Artists Guild and have organized the show ever since.

Over the years, the show has moved among several locations and contracted in length from a week to two days. This year’s show is the first at First United Methodist.

Vernon is one of a dozen or more eggers who displayed and sold their artwork at

Decoupage eggs created by Elizabeth Vernon with Victorian era holiday and fairy tale designs.

Decoupage eggs created by Elizabeth Vernon using Victorian era images. time is spent snipping paper images, adhering them carefully to eggshells and engaging in the painstaking process of repeatedly coating the eggs with decoupage medium. It’s all in preparation for her one annual showcase: The Elegant Egg, an annual egg show and sale that will be open at First United Methodist Church near the University of Akron. The show has

Decoupage eggs created by Elizabeth Vernon are displayed.

Elizabeth Vernon with many of the decoupage eggs she created at the Hower House.

the two-day event. Show director Suzanne Gibson said the artists’ work includes handpainted eggs; eggs car ved in filigree designs, zentangle patterns and other motifs; and eggs decorated with the Ukrainian pysanky wax-and-dye process, some in traditional designs and others unconventionally.

Vernon’s connection to the show goes back to childhood, when visiting the show was an annual tradition. “It was a huge, fun thing to do in Akron,” she said. The inveterate crafter wanted to be part of the show, so she came up with her own decorating niche in the form of Victorian-theme decoupage. It was a logical choice, given that she sells antiques, collects old paper ephemera and has a passion for Victoriana.

A longtime volunteer at the University of Akron’s Victorian house museum, Hower House, she runs its gift shop and was even married there.

The Akron resident taught herself the Japanese paper-cutting technique of washi, which she uses to prepare her designs to be adhered to the eggs. The technique involves snipping slits around the perimeter of the design and manipulating the paper so it can be molded to the egg.

Getting the flat image to look right when it’s laid on the egg’s curved surface can be tricky, she said. She has to make

adjustments such as overlapping bits of paper without distorting the image.

Once the design is glued in place, the egg is coated with about 10 layers of decoupage medium _ a time-consuming process that requires sanding between each coat. Finally the egg is varnished to give it gloss. Early on she used an oil-based varnish, not realizing the varnish would soak through the layers all the way to the paper. She was disappointed when the varnish created darkened stains and thought the eggs were ruined, but that accident had a happy ending: Eventually the spots evened out, and the eggs developed a yellowish patina that gave them an antique look.

Now, however, she sticks with polyurethane, which doesn’t yellow.

Vernon looks all year for vintage papers to decorate her eggs. She’ll scour shows and shops for picture postcards, children’s book illustrations, Victorian calling cards, old advertisements and other paper items that catch her eye. A number of eggs she decorated for this year’s show are covered in paper designs that are reproductions of 19th century French fabrics.

She photocopies the papers, which allows her to preserve them as well as reduce or enlarge them to fit her eggs. “I wouldn’t destroy the original,” she said. The eggs she decorates range in size from palm-size goose eggs to tiny pigeon eggs only an inch or so long, which she bought at an estate sale. The pigeon eggs’ shells were so thin that they would collapse when they were wetted with glue, so she discovered she needed to give them two or three coats of shellac before she could start decorating them.

She also decorates quail eggs, chicken eggs, smaller pullet eggs, sometimes jumbo ostrich eggs and maybe peacock eggs”any eggs I can find,” she said. Vernon buys her eggs from farmers and prefers eggs

from free-range poultry, because their diet results in eggs with thicker shells. She needs eggs that can stand up to the pressure she puts on them when she’s trying to get a paper design to lie flat, she explained.

She blows the centers out of some eggs; others she buys already emptied. Tinier eggs are left intact, so eventually their centers dry out. Typically she starts work on the eggs around Christmas and keeps working until the egg show, producing 100 to 200 eggs that she’ll offer for sale for about $10 to $40 each. Then she sets the craft aside and moves on to something else. “By the time you’re done with 100 or 200, it’s pretty much out of your system till next year,” she said with a smile. Which is her favorite egg? She couldn’t choose one.

“They’re kind of all my favorites,” she said.

“Every year my new favorite is the next picture that excites me.” — MCT

Elizabeth Vernon holds pigeon eggs she decoupaged with images of French floral fabric.