16 May 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

Ex-officer ‘tricked’ 8 Filipinas into sex racket

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Last-gasp goal wins Europa League for Chelsea

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Speaker says all’s fine after meeting premier

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Ruling may hit economy KUWAIT: A ruling by Kuwait’s top court next month could end a period of relative political stability, jeopardising government plans to push ahead with longdelayed economic projects. One of the world’s richest countries per capita, Kuwait has struggled for years to get big infrastructure projects off the ground because of bureaucratic red tape and political turmoil. A parliamentary election in December was the fifth in six years. The election seemed to be a turning point, however, since an opposition boycott of the poll meant members of parliament seen as more willing to cooperate with the government were elected.

This stirred investor hopes that the state would ramp up spending under a KD 30 billion ($105 billion) development plan, which aims to draw private and foreign investment and diversify the oilreliant economy. That optimism, which has helped to fuel a more than 30 per-

cent rise in the stock market since the start of this year, could come to an end on June 16. The constitutional court is expected to rule on an emergency decree issued by HH the Amir last year, six weeks before the December poll, which changed the rules for voting and triggered some of the largest street protests in the country’s history.

If the court rules that the decree was not constitutional, parliament will need to be dissolved, triggering a snap election, and legislation passed by the assembly may also be made invalid sending Kuwait back to square one in economic policy terms, or close to it. “An annulment of the current parliament and the return of major political uncertainty would be negative for investor perceptions and the economy,” said Farouk Soussa, Middle East chief economist at Citigroup in Dubai.

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Max 40º Min 28º High Tide 04:03 & 14:05 Low Tide 08:53 & 21:37

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah receives HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the Amiri Airport yesterday. The Amir congratulated the Crown Prince on the successful surgery he underwent in Germany. — KUNA

KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Ali Al-Rashed said yesterday that he believes “things were moving in the right direction” after he discussed the latest political standoff with Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah. Rashed told reporters after the meeting that the government will not ask for the withdrawal of the two grillings submitted on Tuesday that triggered the first clash between the government and the Assembly seen as very loyal to the government. The government however boycotted the Assembly session yesterday for the second day in a row and Rashed said the government will not attend today’s special session too.

The speaker sounded positive about the future, hinting that the next parliamentary session on May 28 is likely to go ahead as usual. Rashed also denied reports that HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah might invoke article 106 of the constitution which stipulates the suspension of the Assembly for one month.

The speaker said he would explain the outcome of his talks with the prime minister to MPs during a meeting today.

The first standoff between the government and the Assembly, elected in December amid a total opposition boycott, was triggered by two requests filed by MPs to question the oil and interior ministers over a variety of alleged violations but the main focus has been on the payment of the $2.2 penalty to US Dow Chemical. MPs have strongly criticized the government’s behaviour in Continued on Page 13

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwait contributes $60m at Mali donor conference BRUSSELS: Kuwait’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anas Khalid AlSaleh, announced here yesterday that Kuwait will contribute $60 million for the development of Mali. “I have the honor as the special envoy of His Highness the Amir to represent the state of Kuwait at this conference to address the challenges the Republic of Mali is facing and assist Mali to chart its future,” he told a donors’ conference on Mali in Brussels.

“We are glad to announce that the State of Kuwait shall contribute $60 million, $10 million as a grant to Mali and the other $50 million as concessional loans,” he said.

“We shall continue to assist the devel-

opment of the infrastructure of the country. Kuwait has been a regular donor to program in Mali in areas including transport, energy, rural development, water supply and agriculture since October 1976 and we shall continue to do so,” stated stressd the Kuwaiti minister.

We are also aware that challenges faced by Mali are shared by its neighbors, he said and called for continued involvement in collective projects for the development of the Sahel region. “We look forward to addressing these issues and the challenges facing the African continet as a whole during the coming Afro-Arab summit which Kuwait shall host in November,” he added. — KUNA

Kuwaitis ‘extremely upset’ over Dow fine: Survey KUWAIT: A majority of Kuwaitis surveyed in a recent opinion poll expressed “extreme frustration” with the recent developments regarding the K-Dow deal and the huge financial loss that the state funds suffered as a result, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

The survey was carried out by Innova Consulting Company which was assigned

by Al-Qabas newspaper to survey public opinion about the payment of more than $2.2 million to US-based Dow Chemical as per the penalty clause in a joint venture contract that was canceled in 2008. A total of 2020 Kuwaitis of different age groups were asked about the row in the survey, and 97 percent of them expressed disappointment at the huge financial loss that the state suffered. Meanwhile, 91 percent felt that the government did not handle this issue in a professional manner.

The survey whose results were pub-

lished by Al-Qabas yesterday further shows that 85 percent of people surveyed were aware about the deal with Dow Chemical, and 84 percent said that they knew the punitive fine’s quantum. In the meantime, 33 percent of people blamed the government for the problem while 28 percent held the parliament responsible.

The Kuwaiti government had called off the deal to establish what was to be known as K-Dow Petrochemicals in late 2008 under pressure from the opposition in the parliament, prompting Dow Chemical to sue for damages as per a penalty clause in the contract.

The American company won last year an international court order stipulating that the Petrochemical Industries Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, pay a $2.16 billion fine for canceling the contract to establish the $7.4 billion joint venture. — Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: Represented by its IT, Traffic and security media directorates, the interior ministry (MOI) yesterday took part in the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day launched here under the title of “ICT and Improving Road Safety”.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday received a group of iconic women who expressed gratitude on the 8th anniversary of granting Kuwaiti women their political rights on May 16, 2005. — KUNA

Kuwait finds citizenships of 67K stateless residents Stateless residents remain around 100,000 KUWAIT: Kuwait has managed to find the original nationalities of 67,000 stateless residents living on its land, who were among the 93,000 registered with a government body whose job was to find a solution to the thorny subject, a senior state official said in a recent statement.

“We have retrieved the civil ID number, passport number and nationality of 67,000 individuals in coordination with state departments,” said Saleh Al-Fadhala, the president of the Central Apparatus for Illegal Residents, during an interview with Kuwait TV. Kuwait’s community of stateless residents, estimated at around 100,000, demands citizenship as well as civil and social rights they are deprived of, given their illegal residence status.

The government in the meantime argues some of them are Arabs or descendents of Arab people who deliberately destroyed their original passports after coming to Kuwait and now seek citizenship in the oil-rich country.

During his recent appearance, Al-Fadhala demonstrated documents he said proved his argument, including a supposed criminal record containing the passport number and date of

entry into Kuwait, as well as marriage and birth certificates in which the nationality is specified.

“Applying for citizenship in this case is considered an act of forgery,” Al-Fadhala said, insisting that the agency planned to “confront” the stateless residents with the information it has.

He further indicated that Kuwait was coordinating with the respective countries of the ‘fake’ stateless residents, adding that planned visits to Iraq and Syria in this regard are currently on hold pending the security situation there.

The Kuwaiti government established the Central Agency for Illegal Residents in 2010 with a five-year ultimatum to sort out the issue regarding the stateless residents’ community and identify those who meet conditions for naturalization, including residents whose Bedouin ancestors failed to register for citizenship following Kuwait’s independence more than fifty years ago. The agency adopted measures within a year to grant stateless residents several rights which included obtaining marriage, birth and death certificates, but the inability to ensure significant improvement in living conditions prompted several protests last year.

The government also adopted last year a new form of security IDs for the stateless residents which were to be used as their main form of identification. The cards contained color coded tags referring to the category under which a holder is recognized in state records; including those eligible for naturalization and others the government claims to have proof that they belong to other countries. For example, a bearer of a red-tagged card was classified under ‘people with criminal restrictions’ which renders naturalization applications automatically infructuous.

Last March, the parliament passed a bill doubling the number of people the government can naturalize each year to a maximum of 4000 after the cabinet agreed to give priority in granting citizenship to stateless residents who meet the required conditions.

Al-Fadhala told the Kuwait News Agency on Monday that a “new batch” of stateless residents “has been referred to the proper authorities for naturalization.” This group included relatives of Kuwaitis, people who lived in Kuwait since 1960 or earlier, as well as people with high academic qualifications. — Al-Jarida

Bid to steal ATM machine in Riqee

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

Kuwait marks World Telecom and IT Day KUWAIT: Kuwait Ministry of Communications marked yesterday the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day with a conference on the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in improving road safety.

“The safe usage of information and communications technology on roads helps reduce the huge human and material losses caused by road accidents,” Minister of Communications and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Salem Mutheeb Al-Utheina said. “The way we use new technologies determines its impact on us.” AlUtheina said the event is meant to show the role of ICT in upgrading efficiency of traffic management and improve road safety to save people’s lives. “According to the Report of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) released by UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon, 1.3 million people die each year in traffic related accidents and another 20-50 million people are injured mainly in developing countries around the world. As a result, governments and individuals suffer an estimated $518 billion in global economic loss,” the minister said. He pointed out that driver distraction and road-user behavior, which includes “text messaging” and interfacing with in-vehicle navigation or communication systems while driving, are among the leading contributors to road traffic fatalities and injuries.

Al-Utheina stressed the need for cross-sectoral collaboration to increase the safety of Kuwaiti roads. “The odds of road accidents rise by fourfold when drivers use cell phones and communication devices,” he said. The Minister pointed out that the International Communication Union (ITU) has been leading worldwide efforts in developing state-of-the-art ICT standards for Intelligent Transport Systems and driver safety that utilize a combination of computers, communications, positioning and automation technologies, including in-car radars for collision avoidance. “The ITU has also been developing standards for safe user interfaces and communication systems in vehicles as well as optimizing driving performance by eliminating unsafe technology-related distractions while driving,” he added. For her part, Head of Technical Cooperation and International Relations at the Kuwait Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) Manal Al-Mazyad said that the World Telecommunication and Information

Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated on 17 May each year starting from 2006. She added that the annual event marks the anniversary of the signature of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865 which led to the creation of the International Telecommunication Union.

“The day is celebrated with a different theme every year. The theme of this year is ‘ICTs and improving road safety’,” Al-Mazyad noted. The theme for World Telecommunication Day 1997 was “Telecommunications and Humanitarian Assistance”, for World Telecommunication Day 2005 it was “Time for Action”, for World Telecommunication Day 2006 it was “Promoting Global Cyber-security”, for World Telecommunication Day 2007 it was “Connecting the Youth, the Opportunities of ICT” and for World Telecommunication Day 2008 it was “Connecting persons with disabilities”.

Al-Mazyad unveiled that the CAIT is coordinating with the ministry of communications, ministry of interior and the three telecom operators on local market to mark the occasion with a series of activities including a wide-scale awareness campaign on the use of ICT to avoid road accidents. Meanwhile, the participating interior ministry officials highlighted the ministry’s efforts and initiatives to benefit from ICT in improving road safety. “The Ministry is eager to develop its road safety devices and programs,” said Colonel Tariq Al-Duwsari, of IT department at the Ministry of Interior.

He disclosed that the Traffic Department has already a wide array of the most sophisticated road safety devices including high-tech speed cameras, radars, operation room to control and monitor traffic on different Kuwaiti roads. Head of Operations Section at the Traffic Department Major Mohammad Al-Mansouri made a presentation about the traffic technological programs and devices used in Kuwait.

“The new road cameras and radars are helping to achieve discipline on roads and improving safety,” he said. Al-Mansouri pointed out that the Traffic Department has recently installed 30 new radars on highways. He unveiled that the road accident deaths rate declined in 2012, for the first time in years, to 457 fatalities compared with 498 a year earlier. “We urge drivers to cooperate with traffic police to help make Kuwait roads safer,” he said. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Criminal security personnel reviewed the tapes from a famous commercial bank that was opened recently in Riqee area to identify a thief who attempted to steal an ATM machine.

A security source informed that a bank official said that an unknown person entered from the main door, tied up the ATM machine, then

hooked it to a car, but the rope snapped due to the machine’s weight.

The official said the Egyptian guard saw what was going on and noted down the license plate number. The case was registered as an attempted theft.

50 expats held Vice detectives who carried out a campaign

in Amghara and Wafra arrested more than 50 expatriates in violation of Iqama law.

Maid kills herself A citizen told authorities that his Asian maid committed suicide by hanging herself in her room. Policemen went to the house and referred the body to the coroner. Investigations were on to determine the exact cause of death.

AOU honors outstanding students KUWAIT: Under the patronage and in the presence of the Director of Arab Open University, Dr Moudhi AlHumoud and the Kuwait Branch, Dr Nayef Abjad Al-Mutairi, the students’ affairs division of the university branch recently celebrated the end of its activities for the 2012-13 academic year by honoring the outstanding students who scored 3.67 points or more in all subjects, and also those who completed 32 credits. Students who participated in debates and different departmental

activities were also honored at the celebration held in the presence of Assistant Branch Director for Academic Affairs Dr Abdullah Ben Tiflah Al-Ajmi, Assistant Branch Director for Admin and Financial Affairs Jameelah Al-Fadhli, and head of students’ affairs Misfer Al-Omar.

The celebration ceremony was held yesterday at Qutaiba Al-Ghanim theater at 12 noon.

Speaking on the occasion, AlMutairi stressed the importance of honoring outstanding students in

order to encourage more of them take part in various academic activities. He also said that graduates had been academically and professionally well-prepared as per local job market needs. “AOU is a minaret of which we are all proud and thankful to the founder, Prince Talal Ben Abdulaziz, who is also Chief of the Board of trustees of the university, and to his future vision to make education accessible to all sections of the society”, said Al-Mutairi.

Speaking on behalf of the hon-

ored outstanding students, Moussa Ghaleb Al-Bossairi thanked AOU founder His Royal Highness Prince Talal Ben Abdulaziz and stressed that the importance of education and learning was clearly emphasized in the first Quran verse revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). “Today we reap what we have sown. Thanks to the sincere efforts of the teaching staff, our parents support and our hard work. We experience the taste of success”, he concluded.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

LOCAL

Energy drink kills citizen KUWAIT: A young citizen collapsed and died after drinking an energy drink. A security source said that the young man (21), who is a member of Kuwait National Squash team, drank three cans of the energy drink that caused having breathing difficulty leading to his death.

New exemptions in public sector retirement rules KUWAIT: The cabinet has rejected an appeal from Education Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf to exempt senior educators from the new retirement stipulations, a local daily reported yesterday, quoting a source with knowledge of the case.

As per the new decisions made during the cabinet’s weekly meeting last Wednesday, senior government officials are required to retire immediately after completing 30 years in office, while staff members who spend 35 years in office will automatically lose the opportunity to be promoted to senior posts. According to the insider, who spoke to Al-Rai on Tuesday, Minister Al-Hajraf made attempts to exclude senior MOE officials from the mandatory retirement clause, but to no avail.

“The decision comes at a bad time in which the MOE has already star ted implementing its education improvement strategy,” said the source who wished to remain unnamed because he was not authorized to reveal the subject publically.

After coming into effect, the new stipulations are expected to shake up the MOE’s leadership hierarchy, as recently appointed undersecretary Mariyam AlWutaid, Undersecretary Assistant for Public Education Mohammad Al-Kandari and many other ministry officials and school administrators will be affected, according to the source.

The new stipulations come as part of the government’s efforts to tackle the rising unemployment rate, which has reached 4.9 percent in Kuwait - a country where employment is considered a constitutional right of citizens. Minister of Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah said during a parliament session earlier this month that there are 19,400 Kuwaitis waiting for jobs in the public sector.

Meanwhile, Al-Rai reported that Al-Kandari had ordered an investigation into the claims of staff members that the tests they were required to pass in order to qualify for promotion contained questions on subjects that were different from what they were taught during their training course. The ministry has implemented a new promotion system which requires employees seeking promotion to supervisory posts to undergo a training course and then pass a written exam and an interview. Recent reports indicated that nearly 78 percent of employees who had applied for promotion had failed their written exams.

KUWAIT: Delegates pose for a photo after the fourth international conference on Arabic language and literature in Kuwait yesterday. — KUNA

Ex-marine officer ‘tricked’ 8 Filipinas into sex racket Maids detained, raped in Hawally apartments

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: A retired Kuwaiti marine officer lured eight Filipinas to flee their employers with promises of a better job. To the maids’ utter misfortune, the better-paying jobs turned out to include rape and prostitution racket run from an apar tment in Hawally.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mar Hassan, head of Embassy ’s Assistance to Nationals Unit (ATNU) said the ex-marine officer was assisted by two Filipina accomplices. “We received a call from a community leader regarding this case last Thursday. We were able to verify the authenticity of the report. Early on Friday, we coordinated with the police who responded quickly and we were able to rescue eight women,” Hassan said.

Police issued a warrant to break into two apar tments in Hawally on Friday based on an emergency call from the lawyer of the embassy of the Philippines, who stated that eight Filipina women were kept under lock, were raped and forced into prostitution inside the apartment.

Philippine’s Charge d’Affaires and current Consul General Atty Raul Dado was at the scene of the rescue operation last

Friday. According to Mar Hassan, apart from the eight rescued Filipinas, three other Filipinas were believed to be accomplices of the ex-marine officer.

“According to a whistleblower, who was among the rescued women, in the beginning there were only three Filipinas

KUWAIT: Mar Hassan, head of Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals Unit (ATNU), addresses a press conference.

detained in the apartment. During the rescue operation, another five women were found locked up on the third floor of the same building,” explained Hassan.

“Some of the women were crying when we found them. One of them was not sure about what was happening since she had just arrived at the Hawally apartment on Friday morning a few hours before the raid,” he explained further. All the women said they left their employers because they had been promised better paying jobs.

They were promised work in a cafe for a monthly retainer of KD150. But according to the woman who broke the sordid saga to the embassy, before the women were sold to other men they were raped by the owner of the Kuwaiti flat,” Mar said quoting the woman.

Allegedly, the three Filipinas (Schoun 20 visa holders) who were assisting the man in the illicit business, told the police that they were living in the flat which they used to make accessories for women.

One of them said they were employed to make accessories. Another one said she was the personal secretar y of the exmarine officer. A background check showed that all of the eight saved women and the three accomplices were runaway

maids who have been working illegally.

“They will remain in detention until their cases are investigated by the police,” Hassan said.

Only three of the women, however, filed cases against the Kuwaiti marine officer.

“Two of the raped women and the woman who brought forth the story about the trafficked women filed cases against the culprit. The three women believed to be accomplices did not want to file a case,” Hassan said. “The women who were newly recruited, and who said they were not raped, were unwilling to file any case against the ex-officer,” Hassan explained.

According to Hassan, the ex-marine officer faces charges of rape and illegal detention. The Philippines Embassy has employed an international human rights lawyer who will represent the embassy in this case. Hassan called upon the Filipina housemaids not to be easily swayed by promises of better jobs or salaries made by crooked people allegedly working as proxy recruiters. “Always consider legal channels before transferring or accepting jobs or before running away from your employers.

Make sure that you are protected,” he appealed to the housemaids reading this article.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

LOCAL

the column

kuwait digest

Two sides of the same coin!

The difference between education and knowledge

By Dr Ali Abdullah Jamal

I

t’s the same old story once more. Tension creators are starting to look so much like rationalists and the hawks more or less resemble the pigeons. The outcome of the 2012 annulled parliament was much like that of the 2012 annulmentfearing one.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. The difference between those two parliaments only lies in the candidate-voter relation. The annulled parliament had the advantage of having second, third and fourth chances while the latter, despite lasting so far, has only one chance.

The annulled parliament overused its supervisory tools by filing too many interpellations. The onevote parliament seems to have contracted the same infection now since its truce with the government ended though it should have lasted at least till the next parliamentary session. However, the honeymoon has come to an end rather suddenly.

The annulled parliament was ‘generous’ in wasting national wealth while the current one is sailing in the same boat, wasting whatever is left of it. Both parliaments asked for a cabinet reshuffle, which raises one important question about the relationship between accelerating the grilling motions on the one hand, and the fact that the date for the constitutional court verdict about the legality of the current parliament was drawing nearer Calling for scrapping the current parliament and, consequently, negating the much awaited constitutional court verdict would surely fortify the current voting system which is favored by most of the incumbent MPs, will lead to new elections under the same one-vote system. This scenario would also keep most boycotters out and ensure better odds to succeed for the current MPs. On the other hand, grilling motions are good topics for the media to be used for electoral reasons and to settle scores with tycoons when needed.

Finally, terrifying the people by resorting to lawmakers’ right to file grilling motions and taming MPs by promoting terms like ‘tension creators’ and ‘lack of cooperation’ is all mere drama.

Politicians use such tactics to remain relevant to the political scenario for as long as possible and deceive the public by new methods. It is nothing more than individual personal interests while the people eventually come out to be the biggest losers. — Al-Jarida

kuwait digest

The true loss

By Fouad Al-Obaid

fouad@kuwaittimes.net Twitter:@fouadalobaid

M

kuwait digest

Ethics of Interior Ministry

By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

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he Kuwaiti Citizenship Law contains a clause as per which foreigners can be naturalized as a reward for great services rendered to Kuwait.

While a few have truly earned the nationality as per this clause, favoritism and wasta (illegal mediation) played a huge role in allowing many people to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship using this clause. There are many people who made honest contributions to Kuwait before the oil boom, but were forgotten and died without being naturalized after Kuwait became a wealthy state. They did not even receive a permanent residence status granted to their children.

After almost 70 years since the oil exports began, we can safely say that almost no one who came to Kuwait for work was able to obtain permanent residency permit. These people include major investors whose careers included not a single instance of misconduct, educationists who spent their lives teaching us and our children, and employees who worked hard to manage vital facilities that we failed to manage.

If we have had at least a semi-modern interior ministry, it would have granted such people permanent residence status even without their requesting for it.

But given the lack of a database that can form a reliable source of information to assess the records and services of residents, such requests would be farfetched.

That does not mean they should lose hope, though. I happen to know a considerable number of people who spent at least two thirds of their lives in Kuwait and are still living here, in addition to others

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

A

feeling of frustration and even distress has currently gripped people in Kuwait as a result of what the country lost in the canceled K-Dow deal. A number of statements, threats and accusations are being hurled about in the wake of massive punitive fine that was paid. On the other hand, no one is talking about the nature of the project, whether it could have been successful or, as some people claim, was merely aimed at theft of public funds by using these to buy allegedly outdated factories as part of the deal.

I believe that discussion and debate should be focused on the project itself - its pros and cons. Was it truly a developmental project with economic, social and financial benefits? Or was it a scheme targeting Kuwait’s wealth at a time when the world was suffering due to economic recession?

The fine was one aspect which drove many people to review and understand why the project was canceled. Meanwhile, this contract was not the only developmental project that was canceled in Kuwait though the K-Dow issue elicited a lot more noise.

Kuwait lost a lot, both financially and on the development front, after the development project connected to the northern oil wells was stopped and the fourth refinery project was canceled.

We suffered, and will suffer even more, as a result of the delay in construction of new power plants and other mega economic projects which fell victim to an exaggerated hype around public funds protection policy.

A rather caustic quip that is commonly exchanged observers of public affairs in this country says that Kuwait witnesses many thefts but there are no thieves around. In other words, no one is ever punished in Kuwait. Maybe this statement is true, but what is truer is that there is nothing much lef t to be stolen now. The moment a project or idea is announced, accusations of profiteering emerge.

How can we allege that there are thieves when all the mega projects have been suspended, except perhaps for the Jaber causeway, on the pretext of protecting public funds? The Dow Chemical fine is costly and painful, but what is even more costly and painful is the rather overstated cause of protecting the public funds. It is this hype that is hindering work, and was the reason why we lost out on development and are losing any new initiative.—Al-Qabas

who were born in Kuwait and have been living here for more than 50 and sometimes even 60 years. These people are recognized by their customs and dialect that has become close to ours, as well as the true feeling of love they have for this country which you can sense from their speech or the sadness they feel in times of Kuwait’s misfortune.

In spite of all that, these people have to struggle every time they have to renew their visa or driver’s license, or when they perform data transfer operations for passports, sponsor’s name or address. What makes such transactions worse are the complicated procedures that some of them have to face when they are asked to certify their college decrees which they earned decades ago and on the basis of which they have been working for years.

People of Arab and other nationalities who are living among us today did not force themselves upon us. We welcomed them into Kuwait because of our desperate need to gain from their experience and efforts. Therefore, it is required that we take care of them, not only from a humanitarian standpoint, but also because they are giving us their best. They will do so as long as they can feel they have an assurance of stability and safety in Kuwait. If I were the Interior Minister, I would have established a department whose job would have been to take care of people who have spent at least 40 years in Kuwait and whose record was clear of any violations. Such an action can qualify Kuwait to be regarded as a country with a respectable humanitarian record. —Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Understanding democracy

any times you may have come across talk about a much hyped-knowledge economy that portrays a vision of the world where every person will have access to a desk and PC related job. This sort of economy relies on two factors; the access to cheap overseas labor to do the ‘actual work’, and the knowledge of its indigenous population to ‘create’ the devices, strategies, and blueprints for production. Personally, I believe that a healthy economy is one that is able to combine a varied skills set that incorporates tangible and intangible skills in a cosmopolitan workforce capable of delivering the goods and services that customers are seeking at competitive prices.

Regardless of what your view of the economy is, or what mix turns out to be the most sustainable form, I would like to highlight today our bizarre concept of education versus the more rewarding gift of knowledge. Today in Kuwait, after much effort, illiteracy is no longer a concern and a majority, if not all, nationals are literate. However, in the competitive environment of post-industrial 21st century, having a degree is nice as it may increase your chances of securing a job. However, it is your ability to timely extrapolate knowledge and apply it to solving challenges that will grant you a competitive advantage.

Numerous conversations with co-nationals bring it out clearly that in reality, while a majority received an education of some sort, they are not able to benefit much from it. Intellectually, the ability to understand complex notions and to make sense of them is something that many seem to have a hard time doing.

Despite graduating from a university, many end up working in fields that have little relevance to the ‘education’ they received. This results in such people not developing further and prevents their ‘educational’ core competence from growing to a level where they can innovate in their respective fields. What is troubling is that for a majority who were schooled in the ‘rote’ manner, education is a painful exercise with the sole objective of obtaining a graduation degree after which they could safely discard what they painstakingly memorized.

In the American University system, the graduation ceremony is called a ‘commencement’, or if you will, ‘the beginning’. That is appropriate since it is not the end once you walk to the stage to publicly receive your degree; rather, it is the beginning of life, the beginning of opportunities that rest upon your will to grasp. Though some people believe that one stops learning when formal ‘education’ is over, it would be wrong to believe such a notion, especially if you wish to remain both, competitive and viable, in an ever shifting economy. Such an economic paradigm requires multi-skilled professionals capable to swiftly adapt to the various challenges in both the private and public sector. Anything short of that will render you void and null in any merit-based economy that relies on skills and creativity to grow.

By Dr Shamlan Y Al-Essa

T

here is a wrong and distorted understanding ing love for all.

The advent of the political Islam groups, and the of the meaning of democracy among both, the executive and the legislative authorities, in our random naturalization policy resulted in religious country. So we were keen that the political science extremism as a trend since there was a failure in department of the Kuwait University should teach instilling among the people the principle of a civil the true principles of democracy in all its dimen- state and a lawfully run state.

The ruling authority struck alliances with tribes sions.

I introduced to my students studying “Political and political Islam groups to abort the notion of a development in the third world,” this analytical state- true democratic state. The new MPs are not aware ment: “The process of political development and that Kuwaiti people in the past had a flourishing modernization among liberal democracies built as trade, and the goodies came to them due to their per a multi-party system and constitutional liberties strong ties in the Indian subcontinent. Asian counas well as the freedom of ownership, work, thinking, tries and their people have humanitarian relations assembly, parliamentary experience, free economy, with us, and we do not accept this to be distorted dominance of lobbies and separation of authorities.” because of some extremist MPs who are not aware of the meaning of human The question I posed thereafter was this: Do you agree The advent of the political relations.

The danger in the state with the above observation Islam groups, and the random and society was not owing or not? Buttress your answer with details based on the naturalization policy resulted in to government’s hesitation democratic experience that religious extremism as a trend and fear of extremist tribal Kuwait is going through. since there was a failure in instill- MPs and Islamist groups.

Rather, this extremism was I deliberately mentioned the text of the question for ing among the people the princi- no longer religious and the reader to let him know ple of a civil state and a lawfully political in nature; instead it has become an even bigger that Kuwait University is seri- run state. presence as it is now a key ously trying to introduce citiattribute mark ing social zens to the idea of what democracy means, and what is to be understood by relations among the Kuwaitis.

We previously did not know tribal or sectarian the notion of citizenry and a state run as per law.

However, with great regret, we are surprised daily discrimination, but today, we are hearing and readby decisions and measures totally in contradiction ing about differences between Sunna and Shiites, with the principle of a lawfully run state. The infor- Bedouins and Hadar.

The dilemma is that each tribal and religious MP mation ministry’s move to ban the celebrations by the Sri Lankan Embassy, that were licensed to take has his own ambition, and each partisan religious place in the Sabahiya Park, was because some MPs extremist, whether Sunni or Shiite, thinks that he threatened the government. The question is on what alone is ruling as per what Allah ordained, and that only he has the divine mandate to establish the rule was the MPs’ rejection of the celebration built?

MP Khalid Al-Shulaimi responded to the state- of Shareeah.

This is fundamentalism, which is political in ment by the National Alliance, saying “Shareea for us is most important and supreme to your principles nature and has nothing to do with religion and and freedoms that call for deviation and promiscu- those who adopt it, no matter whether they are MPs, ity. We thank Allah that the Kuwaiti people are con- clergy men, or heads of religious parties. They all carservative in their religious outlook and values and ry the same traits of being arrogant and boastful.

They arrogate to themselves the right to speak in reject your low calls.”

It seems that the respected MP does not know the name of virtue and truth.

All such evils hit us because the state did not sepanything about Kuwait. Our country has all along its history remained free of religious extremism and its arate between the civil state and the religious state people are characterized as being centrist and exud- principle. — Al-Watan

In my view

Fish consumption, citizens and expats

By Labeed Abdal

labeed@kuwaittimes.net

T

he reports about increased level of mercury in Kuwaiti fish, and the fact that this was above the limit approved by the World Health Organization, only means that the factors causing this to happen still remain valid. We have a big population in Kuwaiti that consumes all kinds of food and the people only rely on the monitoring agencies, whether local or international.

The increased pollution levels must be urgently addressed and the situation resolved. The government, the parliament and the municipality council need to take proper measures in this regard.

People need to be able to consume the fish without any fear of it causing illness or disease as a result of the pollution and discharge of chemicals by military construction or uncontrolled chemical effluents from factories.

No one’s selfish actions should put the public at risk and heavy fines must be imposed to protect the marine environment, otherwise there can be a grave threat to health.

While everyone must be cautious about it, there should be a proactive environmental police to do on the spot monitoring and take preventive actions. A lot more needs to be done locally and internationally to protect the people and ensure that our future Kuwaiti generations inherit a purer land, sea and air.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwait Airways says it won’t bow to pressure Airline clarifies Al-Bous tender issue

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexey Solomatin visited Kuwait Times and discussed matter of mutual concern with Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan.

Egypt repatriates fugitive to Kuwait Hostess saves passenger’s life KUWAIT: Kuwaiti authorities received a suspect who was arrested recently in Egypt, while investigations were on to determine how he could have left the country illegally. Search was on for the suspect, a Kuwaiti man of Lebanese origin living in Surra, and a check of the border outlets record revealed he had not escaped from Kuwait.

However, as a precautionary measure, the local authorities contacted the Interpol and were soon notified by their Egyptian counterparts that the suspect has been found living in Cairo.

The man was arrested and repatriated to Kuwait to face charges of fraud.

Held for forgery Meanwhile, Al-Riqqa detectives arrested an Egyptian national in the area as he was wanted for forgery charges pressed in his home country.

The operation to arrest the fugitive went underway after Ahmadi police were notified by the Interpol office that he was present in the area. He was arrested in an ambush and taken to the proper authorities. He is currently being held for eventual repatriation to Egypt.

Hostess saves passenger’s life An airhostess at the Kuwait International Airport was hailed for intervening quickly to save a passenger who suffered an emergency medical condition. According to the police report, the incident took place early Tuesday morning when an Indian man fell to the ground after suffering a seizure in which his tongue blocked his air passage. A German air hostess, who was present at the time, stepped in and started thumping the man’s back till his tongue was freed, and thus ended up as his savior. The man was taken to the airport’s clinic where his condition was described as stable.

Man takes revenge A man was arrested in Qurain on Tuesday after investigations revealed

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Airways said it will not bow to any pressure or attempts at extortion to serve the personal interest of some individuals at the expense of people, and asked everyone to be truthful and responsible and focus on the country’s higher interests.

The statement issued by the KAC was in response to statements by MP Saad Al-Bous about suspicions of profiteering in the purchase and leasing of several aircrafts for the KAC. The company said that the statement included dangerous claims, charges and warnings to minister of communications and state minister for housing affairs Salem Al-Athena and KAC management about there being suspected profiteering in the KAC aircraft purchase contract. It said such allegations harmed the reputation of this national company’s management.

“As much as we respect the National Assembly members, and appreciate their national mission in all issues, we felt harmed and insulted by the statements of MP Saad Al-Bous, who preferred his own personal interest over the public’s, which raises many questions about his motives,” the statement said.

About the statements of MP Saad Al-Bous, the company said it would like to explain to the public that MP Saad Al-Bous submitted an offer as the General Manager of Jisr Al-Salam General Trading and Contracting Company to sell and lease several aircraft to the KAC and was told then that the offer will be studied along with other offers from other companies.

When his offer was reviewed by the authorized committee, it was found that the prices he quoted were so exaggerated that these were twice the prices set by manufacturing companies and other leasing companies. This would have been a violation of public funds to satiate personal gains. “This made us negotiate directly with the manufacturer without middlemen to reach the best offer possible to avoid any profiteering suspicion,” the statement said.

Comparing MP Saad Al-Bous offer with that of the company that was contracted for the lease, KAC said it clinched the deal at a price of $370,000 to lease the aircraft per month, while Al-Bous offered $1.87 million to lease the same type of aircraft which is A430.

The KAC also decided on a price of $680,000

for the A330 aircraft, while Al-Bous price for the same was $1.32 million. The A320 aircraft was offered for $300,000 by the contracted company while Al-Bous Company offered it at $605,000.

This means the price difference between the contracted company and that of MP Al-Bous was about one billion dollars per month, and several billions within one year.

Meanwhile, Director of Operations at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Essam AlZamil said the Civil Aviation approved the operation of 95 flights by carriers operating at the Kuwait Airport for this year’s summer holidays from July 1 till October 1, 2013.

Al-Zamil said that Middle East Airlines was the first with 66 extra flights, while Al-Arabiya has 27. Fly Dubai and Emirates have one extra flight each.

He said that Kuwait Airport was ready for the summer season to ensure smooth entry and exit of passengers by increasing the number of employees and counters. He said there will also be barriers to keep well wishers from obstructing passengers inside the arrival and departure halls.

he was involved in setting a patrol vehicle ablaze in Hawally. Coincidently, officers also apprehended the suspect’s brother, a fugitive wanted to serve a jail sentence. Detectives used traffic control cameras to identify the suspect who set a patrol vehicle on fire using an inflammable substance.

Officers issued a warrant to raid his apartment, but he was not there at the time. Instead, police found a man who identified himself as the suspect’s older brother, and later arrested him after learning about his criminal record.

Next day, they were able to arrest the fugitive who explained that the crime was his “revenge” after Interior Ministry staff refused his application to sponsor an Arab woman friend.

Armed robbery Investigations are on in search of three suspects who committed an armed robbery in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh recently. According to the police report, the suspects stole KD600 and cell phone credit recharge cards at knifepoint before driving away in a Japanese-made car. The shopkeeper informed his Kuwaiti employer about the incident who then reported it to the local police.

Theft A college student filed a case with Salmiya police after someone withdrew money from his bank account while he was in the middle of an exam.

In his statements to the police, the young man said that he received three separate text messages while he was taking a test stating that almost the entire savings in his bank account were withdrawn. The man headed to the nearest bank branch as soon as he finished his exam, and learned that the money was withdrawn through a company headquartered in Salmiya. He obtained information about the company and filed a case with the local police.

Kuwaiti ambassador praises Kuwait-Qatar coordination DOHA: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Qatar Ali Salman Al-Haifi praised yesterday Kuwait-Qatar coordination, namely setting up the sixth waqf forum, which highlighted issues that promote endowment work in various fields. The forum which concluded on Tuesday reflected keenness of the two countries on maintaining the Islamic endowment, which is one of the important pillars for social solidarity, Al-Haifi said in a statement yesterday.

The two-day forum, which dealt with emerging issues and Islamic legitimacy, was organized by Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, in coordination with Kuwait Awqaf authorities and the Islamic Research and Training Institute, an affiliate of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IRTI).

The forum focused two key issues, termination of the duration of charitable endowment and benefit from endowments in solving international disputes. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Haile Mariam Dsalin with his accompanying official delegation left Kuwait yesterday after an official two-day visit to the country in response to an invitation from HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Among the attendance of the Ethiopian PM departure at Kuwait International Airport were head of honorary mission, adviser at the Diwan of the PM, Sheikh Dr Salem Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ethiopian Ambassador to Kuwait and a number of officials in the country and in the PM’s Diwan. — KUNA

Illegal ads removed from Mubarakiya

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The shops and advertisements supervision department of Asima governorate municipality conducted a series of raids in Mubarakiya and other blocks in cooperation with the public relations department. The raids were carried out on the instructions of Acting Municipality Director General Mohammad Al-Otaibi in order to remove illegal advertisements from the streets and identify shops that were in violation of the Municipality Law. Shops and advertisements supervisor at Asima, Nasser Al-Otaibi, said the objective of the raids was to remove illegal advertisements, which were not only eyesores but also caused several accidents in the area because they blocked the drivers’ vision. He said 158 illegal ads were removed and 31 tickets were issued.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

LOCAL

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Republic of Poland Grezegoz Plszak hosted a reception at Radisson Blu Hotel on the occasion of National Day. Several officials, diplomats and media persons attended the reception. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Kuwait thanks UN for help in independence Ban lauds Kuwait’s regional leadership UNITED NATIONS: Kuwait largely owes its freedom, sovereignty and independence to the United Nations, affirmed the Kuwaiti representative at the international organization, and his remarks were reciprocated by the UN chief, praising Kuwait for assuming its role as a leading Gulf state.

Kuwaiti Permanent Representative Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi cited two relevant eventful dates, May 14, 1963, when the Gulf State joined the UN membership and late February 1991, when it was liberated from the Iraqi occupation, through implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions.

Ambassador Al-Otaibi made these remarks during a reception, attended by scores of UN officials led by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his Deputy Jan Eliasson, General Assembly President Vuc Jeremic, Ambassadors, diplomats and dignitaries to mark the 50th Anniversary of Kuwait joining the UN membership exactly 50 years ago.

The people of Kuwait will never forget this “historic and principled stand of the United Nations and the international community at large, in support for our country to regain its freedom and independence in 1991,” he said.

“On this historic occasion, 50 years ago, on this very day, 14th of May 1963, Kuwait became the 111th member of the United Nations. For Kuwait, the date has a great significance, because the past five decades carry in their folds memories that are deeply-rooted in our political history,” he noted.

Al-Otaibi quoted from the first address HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, then Foreign Minister, before the General Assembly on May 14, 1963, when he said “Kuwait ... does not look on independence and membership of the United Nations as ends in themselves. It considers them rather as a means of sharing in the responsibility of securing a better life for its people and for the people of other nations”.

He recalled that the UN role was not limited to the liberation of Kuwait, but it went further making sure all the remaining international obligations are implemented. Ambassador Al-Otaibi commended Ban’s role in closing many files resulting from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, “and in the near future, the few remaining files that are still pending with our neighbor Iraq, will also

be closed. Together, we will look forward towards the future, to enjoy a relationship based on mutual respect and common interests.”

He indicated that during the past five decades, Kuwait “remained committed to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. We strongly believed, and still believe that the UN, as an international multilateral mechanism, is the ultimate forum we resort to in seeking solutions to our global problems and challenges.”

He said Kuwait also deeply believes that the differences in race, color, religion, language and culture, despite their disparity, “must not deter, or hold us back from working together to achieve the goals we all share as an international community.”

“We all wish for a world where we can all enjoy peace, security and justice, and where all peoples live a dignified life in a clean environment. With unity, cooperation and respect towards each other, regardless of our diversity, we can certainly reach the aims and purposes we aspire to realize,” he stressed.

He concluded saying that Kuwait and the UN enjoy a “distinguished relationship” as Jeremic visited Kuwait twice this year, and Ban three times in less than 12 months. Ban congratulated Ambassador Al-Otaibi, the Kuwaiti people and Government on this special occasion to celebrate a half-century of “productive cooperation and engagement between the United Nations and Kuwait.” “Kuwait has faced great challenges that we all remember. During its darkest hours, the UN stood firm for Kuwait’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The Security Council responded with speed and unity to the illegal invasion and occupation of your country,” he recalled.

Ban welcomed the significant improvement in ties between Kuwait and Iraq. “I am eager to see these relations normalize and Iraq fulfill its outstanding obligations to Kuwait,” he urged, predicting that both countries “will continue to demonstrate goodwill and vision.”

Kuwait has already shown its “leadership in the region and beyond,” he noted, expressing gratitude to Kuwait for its “generous support” for the UN humanitarian relief operations.

He said Kuwait’s remarkably generous contribution of $300 million to help the Syrian people inside Syria and in neighboring countries set an example for other donors to follow. “This is in

keeping with Kuwait’s proud record of reaching out to people in need, a value that is enshrined in Islamic tradition,” he said. He thanked Kuwaiti NGOs and Red Crescent Societies for doing “valuable work in the region,” praised the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development as the world’s largest sovereign development fund, and expressed gratitude to his Humanitarian Envoy Dr Abdullah Al-Matouq (of Kuwait) for engaging key officials across the Gulf to reach the UN common goals. “Tonight I would like to propose that Kuwait strive to be number one in advancing peace, number one in promoting development, and number one in standing up for human rights,” he said. Jeremic told the audience that the past 50 years were the years of Kuwait’s “vibrant engagement” in the work of the United Nations in many fields and areas. The ceremony featured a photo exhibition of Kuwait’s acceptance as the 111th member of the UN on May 14, 1963, of Sheikh Sabah, then Foreign Minister, thanking the General Assembly for its approval, of the raising of the Kuwaiti flag, and of Sheikh Sabah addressing the Security Council when Kuwait was a non-permanent member in 197879.

It also featured a documentary film highlighting Kuwait’s diplomatic activities at the UN during the past 50 years, booklets summarizing Kuwait’s political, economic and social achievements during the half century, and traditional music performed by a Kuwaiti band. In remarks to KUNA, the new Iraqi Ambassador at the UN, Mohammad Ali Al-Hakim, congratulated Kuwait on this occasion. “We passed through difficult times with the State of Kuwait, regrettably.

Today, we are folding the chapters of the past. I am confident, the peoples of Kuwait and Iraq will overcome the dilemma which we had experienced in the 90s ..”

The Iraqi diplomat expressed confidence that peoples of the two neighboring countries would succeed in establishing bilateral ties, to be beefed up with joint enterprises and cooperation for economic development in the two countries. Egypt’s Ambassador to the UN Mutaz Ahmad Bin Khalil recalled on the occasion Arab states’ support for Kuwait when it was seeking membership at the international organization and the 1990 Iraqi aggression as well as effective action by the UN and the Arab League to “remove outcome of the aggression.” — KUNA

Kuwaiti dramatist anxious to present play at French theatre

Salma Al-Hajjaj, General Manager, Human Resources at Gulf Bank during her motivational speech entitled ‘Be The Change’.

Gulf Bank concludes platinum sponsorship of GUST spring job fair KUWAIT: Gulf Bank hailed the success of its platinum sponsorship of the Gulf University of Science and Technology (GUST) Spring Job Fair. The Job Fair took place at GUST’s Main Hall at its campus in Mishref whereby 35 companies participated.

Gulf Bank’s participation provided students with information about the Bank, and discussions about future employment opportunities for GUST students, expected graduates, and alumni seeking part-time and internship opportunities. During the event, Salma Al-Hajjaj, Gulf Bank’s General Manager of Human Resources presented a special one hour motivational speech entitled ‘Be the Change’ in the University’s auditorium, which was attended by over 120 students.

Gulf Bank created an internship competition during the Job Fair to promote its internship program to prospective candidates. The winner of the competition received a customized internship with Gulf Bank that focuses on their interests and future goals with the Bank. In addition Gulf Bank’s team engaged with attendees and students by conducting a fun Treasure Hunt, wherein the best and fastest team of 2 contestants won a mini iPad each.

Gulf Bank’s sponsorship of GUST’s Job Fair, is in-line with the Bank’s corporate social responsibility strategy that aims to support youth development.

KUWAIT: “It is a distinctive moment for Arab culture and its connections with the European culture,” says the internationallyrenowned Kuwaiti playwright, Suleiman Al-Bassam, describing significant implications of showing the play of his direction, “Rituals of Signs and Transformations” at theatre of “Comedie Francaise,” in the French capital.

In an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Bassam described his upbeat sentiments as “a blend of pride and deep responsibility,” after the French national theatre chose him to direct the play, also branding his selection as an award of honor for him as a Kuwaiti director.

Al-Bassam, currently at home, indicated at crucial timing of putting the work on stage, coinciding dramatic events in the Arab world and their effects on the relationship between the Arab and European cultures. The play is one of the best Arab theatrical works in the 20th century. Its creator, one of the greatest Arab writers, the Syrian Saadallah Wannous, wrote it during the last days of his life.

It will be premiered on 18th of this month and it will be shown 30 times till middle of July. The premier show will also mark celebration of including the first Arab theatrical work in the French theatre list of eternal works.

Al-Bassam added that he had presented seven theatrical works during the Marseille festival as capital of the European culture for 2013 early this month, noting that he had selected 60 French actors to work with him and play 23 roles

in the play.

The internationally famous Kuwaiti playwright expressed satisfaction at reactions and criticisms toward the works he presented in Marseille, however he added that the “harder test” will be in Paris where the play will be put under light by France’s major media and critics.

Wannous scripted the play in 1994, three years before passing away. It was inspired from dairies of the Syrian struggler, Fakhri AlBaroudi, “solidarity of natives of Damascus.” Moreover, the script raises basic questions about the relationship between freedoms and power.

The play tells story of a group of personalities that lived under Ottoman rule in Damascus in the 19th century and their struggle for freedom.

Al-Bassam said he believes major significance of the work is that it depicted the popular uprisings, recently witnessed across the Arab world. He also noted that he dealt with the work without effects of “orientalism,” and that he was keen on depicting historic events accurately, also stressing on seriousness and realism.

Al-Bassam touched on his efforts for formation of the Kuwaiti-international theatrical troupe, Sabab, in 2002, affirming that too many hurdles that appeared on the path of works of the group due to its adoption of seriousness. On his theatrical work, “wa dar Al-Falak,” the director noted that it depicted his method of thinking, one that is free from ideology or propaganda. — KUNA

KUWAIT: NBK Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Bank and Community Committee, Nasser Musaed Al-Sayer welcomes Bayt Lothan General Manager Sheikha Farah Al-Sabah.

NBK gold sponsor for Bayt Lothan KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) sponsors Bayt Lothan as part of its commitment toward corporate social responsibility. NBK Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Bank and Community Committee, Nasser Musaed Al-Sayer received Bayt Lothan General Manager Sheikha Farah Al-Sabah at NBK head office.

“This sponsorship is part of NBK’s ongoing drive to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities”, said Al-Sayer.

“NBK is proud to have contributed to the economic growth and development of our beloved country for the past six decades. We are also delighted to have the opportunity to pioneer corporate social responsibility in Kuwait through a variety of educational, environmental, health, professional and athletic programs.” Al-Sayer added “NBK has been at

the forefront of local corporate leadership, devoted to corporate social responsibility. It is a responsibility we take very seriously and in line with this responsibility, we integrate social growth and development as a fundamental part of the Bank’s mission and objectives.”

During the past years, NBK has promoted a range of philanthropic missions and social welfare programs as part of the humanitarian dimension of its corporate social responsibility (CSR). NBK continues to be a leader in CSR, standing as a model in serving all aspects of Kuwait’s community.

Bayt Lothan is a nonprofit organization whose primary objective is to nurture arts and crafts in Kuwait. It also provides creative people with an opportunity to exhibit and promote their designs and artistic works.

2013 Arab Media Forum chooses Kuwait journalist DUBAI: The Kuwaiti journalist Abdullah Boftain expressed admiration for representing Kuwait at conclusion of the 2013 Arab Media Forum (AMF) held in Dubai and said he was chosen for the media award among 11 competitors, said statement yesterday.

Boftain told KUNA in a statement he is nominated for an award among 11 well known Arab journalists such as Turki AlDakhil, Fares Awad, Rima Maktabi, Dina Abdel Rahman, Mohamed Krichen, Malak Jaafar, Fadila Souissi, Marwan Al-Hal, Mira Muhairi and Nofar Afli. The two-day AMF event was under patronage of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-

Maktoum, with participation of 3,000 Arab journalists, intellectuals and politicians. “ The nomination is a tribute to the Kuwaiti journalism,” he pointed out. Boftain is honored to participate for the second time in the forum to learn from his predecessors in this field and gaining expertise through meeting journalists and heads of various magazines.

The AMF ceremony was opened yesterday with the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Arab League Secretary-General Dr Nabil AlArabi, Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyib, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif. — KUNA

Kuwaiti journalist Abdullah Boftain

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

Russia blasts US over ‘crude, clumsy’ spying

Tunisia bans Salafist group’s annual meet Page 8

JERUSALEM: Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces as they mark Nakba Day yesterday. — AP

Palestinians mark 1948 nakba Protesters clash with Israeli forces in West Bank, Jerusalem

RAMALLAH: Tens of thousands of Palestinians marked the 65th anniversary of their mass displacement during the war over Israel’s 1948 creation, marching in the streets and in some parts of the West Bank clashing with Israeli security forces. Every May 15, Palestinians hold rallies to commemorate the “nakba,” or “catastrophe” - the term they use to describe the displacement, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the fighting. The dispute over the fate of those Palestinians and their descendants, now numbering several million people, remains at the core of the ArabIsraeli conflict.

Israel views the Palestinians’ return as demographic suicide and expects the displaced and their descendants to be taken in by a future Palestinian state. But intermittent IsraeliPalestinian attempts to agree on the terms of such a state have so far failed.

Across the West Bank yesterday, sirens wailed at noon for 65 seconds to commemorate the 65 years since the “nakba”. Thousands marched in Ramallah from the grave of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to the city center.

Many wore black in a sign of mourning, holding Palestinian flags and large keys symbolizing the homes they left behind. “The right of return will not die,” chanted the protesters.

Schools closed at midday and parents brought their children to the demonstration.

In Ramallah, 38-year-old Manwal Awad brought her 11-year-old twins to the protest. “Every year I bring them with me to inherit the story of our nakba, and to keep the dream of return,” she said. Rallies were elsewhere in the West Bank as well, and in

several places demonstrators throwing rocks clashed with Israeli security forces, who responded with tear gas, Israel’s military said. Near the volatile city of Hebron, a fire bomb hit at an Israeli military vehicle, causing it to overturn and injuring four soldiers, the military said. In east Jerusalem, Israeli police used water cannon and officers on horseback to disperse an “illegal march,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Fourteen protesters were arrested, as was a Palestinian suspected of attacking a Jewish man as he walked near the Old City, he said.

In Gaza, around a thousand people marched to the UN headquarters in Gaza City, where the demonstrators chanted: “We shall return. We will never give up or compromise over our land.” Militants in Gaza, which has been under the control of the militant Hamas group since 2007, fired a rocket into southern Israel that exploded in an open field causing no injuries, Israel’s military said.

In a televised speech on Tuesday night, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian cause earned international acceptance last year with the United Nations’ de facto recognition of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. “We won the support of the world,” Abbas said, adding that Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians are “condemned internationally.”

Last year, Abbas created a stir when he told Israeli media that he himself has no wish to live in Safed, the city of his birth, in northern Israel.

Although widely condemned by Palestinians, Abbas’ remarks were seen as a reflection of a decades-old

understanding among Palestinian officials that likely only a limited number of refugees would ever be able to return to their original homes in Israel as part of a compromise that would result in a future peace agreement.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has been trying to renew IsraeliPalestinian negotiations, which collapsed four years ago over the issue of Jewish settlements. Palestinians insist they will not resume talks unless the construction of settlements in territories they want for their future state ends first. Israel says negotiations should resume without preconditions and that settlements will be resolved through talks along with the other issues.

In efforts to jump-start the talks, Kerry has managed to persuade Arab leaders to reissue their 2002 peace proposal with new incentives, including a suggestion that final borders between Israel and a future Palestine could be modified from the 1967 lines through agreed land swaps. The 2002 initiative, which at the time was endorsed by the Arab League and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, offered Israel normalized relations in exchange for a full withdrawal from territories captured in 1967. However, it was overshadowed

by Israeli-Palestinian fighting and was greeted with skepticism by Israel.

Israel has been mostly quiet on the proposal so far.

Yesterday, the Palestinian statistics bureau in the West Bank issued a statement saying the number of Palestinians today has reached 11.5 million. Of those, 4.4 million live in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza; 1.4 million in Israel while the remainder live in the diaspora. — AP

BETUNIA: A Palestinian sets fire to a tyre during clashes between hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers outside the Ofer prison after a Nakba Day march near the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. — AFP

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THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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

Arab Israeli ‘nakba’ descendants return to village IQRIT, Israel: Sixty-five years after their ancestors were driven out during the Nakba, the “catastrophe” that befell Palestinians, Arab Israeli youths are returning to the village of Iqrit in the Upper Galilee. A small Catholic church is all that remains of the village their families fled in 1948 during the conflict that accompanied Israel’s declaration of independence. Palestinians and Arab Israelis yesterday marked what to them is the nakba - Arabic for “catastrophe” - of the creation of the Jewish state and exodus of 760,000 of them from their homes.

Some 160,000 remained in what became Israel, and now they and their descendants number 1.35 million, making up nearly 20 percent of the Jewish state’s population. In August, dozens of Arab Israeli youths descended from the villagers who left Iqrit, located in the Upper Galilee near the Lebanese border, and camped out in the Christian village’s church.

“Every year, we have a week-long summer camp during which we stay in Iqrit for a week and organise events about the Palestinian cause and identity,” said one of the organisers Walaa Sbeit, a musician born in the northern city Haifa.

“After the last one, we decided to stay here,” he told AFP from the makeshift camp comprised of mattresses, two portable toilets and two donkeys brought by the new residents. “We have been here for 10 months now and remain steadfast, despite the cold and the heat.”

Sbeit explained the camp works on a “shift system, because a lot of us are employees or students who have to go to work or school in different cities, but there is always someone here at the church”. “We have been harassed by the police and the Israel land authority,” he said. “They even issued a restraining order for our donkeys.” The parish priest, Father Suheil Khoury, a second-generation descendant of those who left Iqrit, said he had to hold mass on Saturday “because everyone has to work on Sunday”. “We celebrated Easter here, we also have weddings and bury the dead here.” However, previous attempts to return to the village have had little success. After the 1948 war, the Israeli army asked the inhabitants of Iqrit to leave their homes for two weeks, but the residents were never allowed to return. In 1951, the Israeli supreme court ruled the

villagers should be allowed to return to their homes, but the army demolished the houses at Christmas that year. “After the 1951 ruling in favour of the villagers, the military issued restraining orders against them and in the 1980s, villagers returned to court, where the state argued there were security reasons that wouldn’t allow the people of Iqrit to return,” said Suhad Bishara, director of the land and planning unit at Arab-Israeli rights group Adalah. “Following another appeal in the late 1990s, the state claimed that those security reasons were not valid after the peace agreements (with the Palestinians) but there were political reasons because of the negotiations with the Palestinians,” she said.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for years.

Israel’s supreme court rejected yet another appeal by the villagers to return to Iqrit in 2003. “Israel didn’t want to set a precedent in the right of return for Palestinians, which could set a dangerous precedent, and the court agreed to this and refused the appeals,” added Bishara.

Israel is opposed to the notion of the return of Palestinian refugees, who today number 5.3 million, saying it would

IQRIT: Former resident Labib Ashkar ‘Abu Maher’ of the village of Iqrit looks at images on May 13, 2013 during a tour of the church, the only remaining structure in the village. — AFP change the “Jewish character” of the state and should be applied to a future Palestinian state. Palestinian negotiators argue the right of return would “not create an existential crisis for Israel”. But

legal and political wrangling aside, the youth of Iqrit are already claiming a victory. “Before achieving the right of return, we have realised ourselves,” says Sbeit.

“We have found our soul here.” — AFP

Tunisia bans Salafist group’s annual meet Stage set for possible showdown

KIRKUK: Iraqis gather at the site of a bombing in this northern city yesterday. — AFP

Iraq bombings kill 25 BAGHDAD: Bombings in Iraq, including a series of blasts mainly targeting Shiite areas of Baghdad, killed at least 25 people and wounded 68 yesterday, security and medical officials said.

Car bombs hit Kadhimiyah and Sadr City in north Baghdad, Saidiyah in the south and Mashtal and Baghdad Jadida in the east, killing at least 10 people and wounding at least 45, while a roadside bomb in the Zafraniyah area killed two police, officials said.

AFP journalists heard the sound of explosions in central Baghdad, and saw a number of ambulances on the street.

A car bomb in Kirkuk was the deadliest single attack on Wednesday, killing eight people and wounding another eight. It was

followed by a roadside explosion targeting the Kirkuk police chief’s convoy and by a car bomb nearby, killing two people and wounding nine between them.

In Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle attacked a police checkpoint, killing one policeman and wounding four people. Attacks in the northern city of Mosul killed two policeman and wounded two more.

Yesterday violence came a day after attacks killed 16 people in Iraq, including 12 shot dead when gunmen attacked a row of alcohol shops in Baghdad. Violence in Iraq has fallen from its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common, killing more than 200 people in each of the first four months of this year. — AFP

Bahrain court jails 6 tweeters for a year DUBAI: A Bahraini court yesterday sentenced six tweeters charged with insulting King Hamad to one year in prison, the public prosecutor’s office announced. The six were charged by the lower criminal court with “misusing the right of free expression,” it said in a statement. They were accused of writing remarks “undermining the values and traditions of Bahrain’s society towards the king on Twitter,” according to the statement. Activists in Bahrain, scene of a Shiiteled uprising that began two years ago against the ruling Sunni monarchy, use Twitter as a platform to report what they describe as regime “violations” against them. “Free expression is a right adopted by law ... but must be practised objectively away from insults and undermining values,”

the statement read. Prominent activist Nabil Rajab, who heads the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was arrested last year on charges of insulting members of the Sunni community via Twitter. The avid tweeter was also accused of insulting the security forces in postings that he admitted came from his account on the microblogging website. He was cleared of the charges on Aug 23. A total of 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since the protests erupted in Feb 2011, according to the International Federation for Human Rights. Strategically located just across the Gulf from Iran, Bahrain is home base to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and is also a major offshore financial and services centre for its Arab neighbours in the oil-rich Gulf. — AFP

Rebels attack Aleppo prison BEIRUT: Syrian rebels attacked the main prison in the northern city of Aleppo Wednesday with a pair of car bombs in an attempt to free hundreds of regime opponents believed to be held in the facility, activists said. Meanwhile, an Internet blackout engulfed the country for the second time in a week. Aleppo emerged as one of the major fronts in the country’s civil war after a rebel offensive there in July, and the fighting since then has settled into a bloody stalemate. The city, Syria’s largest, holds strategic and symbolic value, and both sides have taken significant losses in the battle to expand the turf under their control.

Rebels detonated two car bombs simultaneously outside the walls of the central prison Wednesday morning before trying to storm the facility, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. That prompted fierce clashes between President Bashar Al-Assad’s troops and opposition fighters around the detention center, with at least 15 soldiers killed, Observatory director Rami AbdulRahman said. He had no immediate information on casualties among rebels.

The city’s central prison is believed to be holding some 4,000 inmates, including 250 jailed for reasons related to the 26-month-

old uprising against Assad’s regime, said Abdul-Rahman, who relies on reports from a network of informants based in Syria. For weeks, rebel fighters have been battling government troops in the area around the prison to try to seize the facility and free the prisoners. Earlier this month, the rebels overran the headquarters of the government’s anti-terrorism forces that is located near the jail.

Yesterday ’s Internet outage, which began around 10:00 a.m. local time, appeared similar to the May 7 blackout, Syrian residents and the US-based Renesys Corp. said. Renesys chief technology officer James Cowie said the cause was not immediately clear. “It’s entirely consistent with a technical fault at a central facility; it’s also completely consistent with a decision to use an Internet kill switch,” he said in a telephone interview. Preliminary data from Google Inc’s Transparency Report website also pointed to a nationwide blackout, with Syria’s online traffic share nose-diving to 0 percent yesterday morning.

Syrian government websites, including the SANA state news agency, appeared to be down, but SANA reported on its Twitter account a technical problem. It said maintenance units were working to restore the Internet as soon as possible. —AP

TUNIS: Tunisia has banned the congress of hardline Salafist group Ansar al-Sharia due to be held later this week, the ruling Islamist party’s leader said yesterday, setting the stage for a possible showdown. “The government has decided to prohibit this congress whose organisers have not obtained prior permission from the authorities as required by law,” Ennahda party chief Rached Ghannouchi told a news conference. “ The authorities must apply the law without distinction. We support the firmness of the government in applying the law for all,” said Ghannouchi, who also condemned the use of violence in the name of Islam.

He was speaking shortly after the Salafist group said tens of thousands of people would attend its annual congress on Sunday at the historic mosque in Kairouan, considered Islam’s fourth holiest city, and insisted it did not need permission. Salafists advocate an ultra-conservative brand of Sunni Islam, and Ansar al-Sharia is considered the most radical of the extremist groups that emerged in Tunisia after the January 2011 revolution that ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The group’s fugitive leader Abu Iyadh, a former Al-Qaeda combatant in Afghanistan, is accused of orchestrating numerous acts of violence, including a deadly attack on the US embassy last September that left four Islamists dead. He has made numerous inflammatory statements about the government, including last weekend when he threatened to wage war against it, saying that by targeting his followers it was attacking Islam. The government has hardened its position towards Muslim extremists in recent months, after the moderate Islamist party Ennahda was strongly criticised for being too lenient and failing to prevent a wave of violence around the country.

Ghannouchi insisted yesterday that violence perpetrated in the name of religion was “the worst kind” of violence, and had “no legitimacy, neither in terms of the law or in terms of Islam”.

“Dialogue is not possible with those who use

weapons and lay mines,” the veteran Ennahda leader added, referring to two groups of armed jihadists the army is hunting in a mountainous region along the border with Algeria.

Ghannouchi’s comments came in contrast to the party’s previous position towards Tunisia’s extremist groups, opposing the use of force and favouring talks. Thousands attended Ansar alSharia’s gathering in 2012, some in Afghan military garb, waving swords and chanting slogans that included: “We are all children of Osama (bin Laden).” One of the group’s leaders, Sami Essid, said earlier yesterday that he was expecting more than 40,000 people to attend this year’s annual congress. “On Sunday, we will God willing hold our congress and there will be more than

40,000 of us in Kairouan,” Essid, who also fought in Afghanistan, told AFP, adding: “We do not need any authorisation to organise our meeting.”

Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou, an independent in the ruling coalition, said last week he would bring to justice “anyone inciting to murder or hatred... or who pitches tents for preaching in,” in a clear reference to the radical Islamists. At the weekend, police fired tear gas in the capital and took steps elsewhere around the country to disperse Salafist groups trying to set up tents to preach in and distribute pamphlets. The interior ministry has already said political parties and associations are required to obtain permission for all public activity, and has made known its determination to enforce the law. — AFP

TUNIS: Tunisian Ennahda Islamist party’s leader Rached Ghannouchi arrives for a press conference yesterday. — AFP

IAEA, Iran talks fail again VIENNA: Nuclear talks between Iran and the UN atomic agency failed yet again yesterday, as a top US diplomat said she expected the IAEA to report Tehran to the UN Security Council soon. The IAEA announcement came just as EU foreign policy chief was due to meet Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator in Istanbul for the first time since failed six-party talks in April. “We could not finalise the structured approach document that has been under negotiation for a year and a half,” the International Atomic Energy Agency’s chief inspector told reporters.

“Our best efforts have not been successful so far,” Herman Nackaerts said, adding that no new date for

another meeting had been set. Iran’s envoy in the more than eight hours of “intensive” talks in Vienna, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, was characteristically more upbeat, saying that the next meeting would see a deal finalised. “The aim of this ... is to bridge the gaps towards a conclusion of the text by the next meeting,” he told a joint press briefing.

The IAEA was pressing Iranian officials to grant access to sites, documents and scientists involved in Tehran’s alleged efforts to develop atomic weapons, mostly before 2003 but possibly ongoing. Iran says the IAEA’s findings are based on faulty intelligence from foreign spy agencies such as the CIA and Israel’s

LONDON: Iranian activists, one wearing a mask depicting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, stage a protest against their government opposite Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s prime minister yesterday. The placards read in Farsi: ‘My vote is: regime change’, referring to the upcoming presidential elections in Iran, scheduled for June 14, 2013. — AP

Mossad - intelligence it complains it has not even been allowed to see.

Nine rounds of talks since the publication of a major IAEA report in Nov 2011 have produced no breakthrough.

Wendy Sherman, the head of the US delegation in parallel six-party talks with Iran, meanwhile indicated in Washington that patience was wearing thin over the lack of progress between Tehran and the IAEA. “At some point, the director general of the IAEA will have to return to the (UN) Security Council and say ‘I can go no further; there has been no response; you have to take further action’,” she told Senate Foreign Relations hearing. “Whether that will happen this June or whether that will happen in September, I’m not sure. But there will come a point at which all of the international community, all of the Security Council will have to confront that the IAEA is not able to move forward in finding out the dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program.”

Parallel diplomatic efforts meanwhile between Iran and six major powers - the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany - are focused more on Iran’s current activities, most notably uranium enrichment. Enriched uranium is at the heart of the international community’s concerns since it can be used not only for peaceful purposes such as power generation but also - when highly purified - in a nuclear bomb.

The latest round with the “P5+1” in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in early April ended with lead negotiator and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton saying the two sides remained “far apart” despite the

P5+1 having sweetened an earlier offer. Ashton was due to meet Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator in the talks, Saeed Jalili, for a working dinner in Istanbul yesterday evening. The UN Security Council has passed multiple resolutions calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment, imposing several rounds of sanctions on the Islamic republic.

Additional US and EU sanctions last year began to cause major economic problems by targeting the Gulf country’s vital oil sector and financial system.

Israel, the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear-armed state, meanwhile has refused to rule out military action on Iran - as has US President Barack Obama. Efforts to resolve the long-running dispute are complicated by the fact that Iran goes to the polls on June 14 to choose a successor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with Jalili himself among the hopefuls. “It is clear that no progress is possible before the election,” Mark Fitzpatrick, analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, told AFP. “Progress would require compromise on Iran’s part, which would provide ammunition for political mudslinging and claims of sellout,” he said. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi denied in Tehran on Tuesday that the election posed a barrier to progress. “If the P5+1 group prefer to wait (to resume the talks) after Iran’s election, that will be their decision. But from our point of view, the talks can continue normally,” Araqchi said. The next government, regardless of who is president, “will defend Iran’s principal positions and the rights of the nation,” Araqchi said. —AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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

Sudanese pack up to try their luck abroad KHARTOUM: In a cramped government office in Khartoum, engineer Ahmed Taha and dozens of other Sudanese, lured by local newspaper adverts for jobs in the Gulf, sit waiting to get a permit to leave the country and work abroad. “I’ve had enough of Sudan and will go to Saudi Arabia,” said Taha. “I am so tired of this country, the (economic) crisis, the corruption.” Taha, who has been working in an office accounts department for two years because he could not find a professional post, has just been hired as an engineer by a construction firm in Saudi Arabia - a move that will increase his salary sevenfold to 2,500 Saudi riyals ($670) a month. “I also want to find my wife a job as a teacher in Saudi Arabia because she makes only 600 (Sudanese) pounds ($95) a month here. We cannot live on our salaries.”

Like thousands of other Sudanese, Taha is escaping a country gripped by economic crisis since losing 75 percent of its oil production, its lifeline, when South Sudan seceded in July 2011. Analysts estimate unemployment is running at between 20 and 30 percent, although there is no official data. Annual inflation topped 41 percent in April and the Sudanese pound has more than halved in value against the dollar since South Sudan’s independence, making life unbearable for many.

Nearly 95,000 Sudanese, from labourers to teachers, nurses and engineers, left the country last year compared to only 10,032 in 2008, according to official data. Some analysts say the number is even higher because travel movements are hard to

monitor. Net migration contrasts with some other African countries, including South Sudan, that are seeing skilled professionals return home as the continent’s economic development and increasing foreign investment create career opportunities. For Sudan, struggling with a high budget deficit and a shortage of foreign currency needed to pay for imports, migration has economic benefits.

The World Bank estimates migrant workers remitted $1.13 billion to Sudan last year, up from $442 million in 2011. That helped to offset the country’s goods and services trade deficit, estimated at $6.7 billion by the International Monetary Fund.

The exodus of workers should also help reduce unemployment. A prolonged “brain drain” of professionals, however, would put further pressure on the country’s deteriorating public services, adding to the country’s economic problems. “We are suffering under the economic hardship,” said Omar El Fadli, who left Sudan in 1974 to study in Britain and then worked in France and the United States before coming back in 2005 to buy a restaurant in central Khartoum. “To be honest with you we have been trying to sell (the restaurant) for over two years ... It’s not profitable anymore.”

At the visa office in Khartoum, women in dark blue robes, representatives from government-approved employment agencies, are on hand to help applicants fill in the required paperwork. “We sort out the paperwork for doctors going to the Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia which is requesting

Casablanca’s infamous slum haunted by past SIDI MOUMEN, Morocco: “There’s no water, no work and no future. There’s nothing at all here,” says Hamid bitterly as he walks through the sprawling slum of Sidi Moumen in Casablanca made infamous 10 years ago. The grim prospect is nothing new to residents of the Moroccan city’s notorious shantytowns.

But it hangs heavily here because it was Sidi Moumen that produced the suicide bombers who struck on the evening of May 16, 2003 and shattered Morocco’s cherished image of stability. Marginalisation is seen by many as a key reason for the radicalisation of the 12 young men from this dirt-poor neighbourhood who blew themselves up at different locations around the city, killing 33 people.

Their targets included a hotel, an Italian restaurant, a Jewish community centre and cemetery, and the Belgian consulate.

“The changes we want are projects that create jobs for young people here... so they don’t go down the wrong path,” explains Hamid, 42, an unemployed father of twins, who shares his cramped, makeshift home with eight family members. The Rahamna area where he lives is a warren of narrow streets criss-crossed with washing lines and ramshackle houses made from breeze blocks and corrugated iron roofs. Cows and chickens forage in stinking piles of rubbish nearby.

Boubker Mazoz, president of a cultural centre he set up in 2007, speaks passionately about the need to integrate young people into society, to defuse the frustration and resentment many of them still feel. “In every neighbourhood you have the good and the bad. It just happened that this area was totally excluded from the map, with people left on

their own who were easily trapped by extremists,” he says. “We have to do something about it.”

There have been a number of attacks since, notably by another young Islamist from Sidi Moumen who blew himself up at an Internet cafe in 2007, and two years ago when a bomb tore through a crowded eatery in Marrakesh killing 17 people. But the 2003 attacks were the worst to date and traumatised Moroccans, sparking anguish in a country that depends on tourism and prides itself on its tolerant image. And they still loom large in the nation’s collective consciousness.

Last year, a Moroccan film called “God’s Horses” caused a sensation, telling the story of two brothers growing up in the neighbourhood, without anything to live for, who joined the bombers.

To prevent more youths from falling into the jihadist trap, the authorities launched a flurry of initiatives aimed at transforming Sidi Moumen, as well as a security crackdown that saw thousands of people arrested, and tightened their control of mosques around the country. “Between 2003 and 2009, many associations were created to promote the development of the neighbourhood,” said Hassan, 36, an unemployed community activist. “It looked like things were going in the right direction. But it turned out that most of the associations were like an image.

Nothing real. They simply took the money and did nothing. “In 2011, (King) Mohammed VI said ‘I don’t want to see people living in slums.’ But now we’re in 2013 and the slums are still growing... The promise of housing is just words.” — AFP

a large number of Sudanese doctors to work there,” says Hamda Kassem, one of the employment agency staff. While the Sudanese government allows labour agencies to arrange work contracts for doctors heading to the Gulf, a government-commissioned study published in January also expressed concern about the exodus of healthcare professionals.

More than 6,000 Sudanese doctors left for Saudi Arabia alone between 2009 and 2012, according to the government study, commissioned to assess the reasons for migration. Around another 1,000 doctors have gone to Libya since the ousting of ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, it says.

That is leaving health services in Sudan vulnerable as countries in the Gulf and elsewhere snap up the country’s leading specialists. Newspaper reports of patients dying in Sudan hospitals after being misdiagnosed by ill-qualified doctors are not uncommon. “There is a very bad effect on medical services,” the government study says. “The emigration to Saudi Arabia will result in the loss of specialists which will be felt directly ... in the provinces.”

Sudanese medical colleges pump out up to 4,000 doctors annually but some colleges use textbooks that are more than 10 years old and have no surgical equipment.

The study forecasts that emigration from Sudan will continue to increase in the next few years due to economic, social, security and political reasons. Sudan has for been plagued by insurgencies. Long confined to remote regions such as Darfur, rebels

Al-Bashir mean Sudan has avoided the uprisings seen in Egypt or Tunisia.

Sudanese professionals have a tradition of going overseas to gain experience and make money. In the 1960s and 70s, they flocked to the Gulf as those economies took off. Opportunities dried up after the 1991 Gulf war when President Bashir failed to back the UN-led military operation to end Saddam Hussein’s occupation of Kuwait. In retaliation, Gulf countries deported thousands of Sudanese once Kuwait was liberated.

With governments in the Gulf spending billions of dollars on roads, schools and universities again, Sudanese are back in demand although prospects in Saudi are dampened by a crackdown on illegal workers and policies to replace foreigners with locals. Sudanese are also looking further afield. At the Goethe Institute in Khartoum, run by the German government, there’s a waiting list of up to three months to enrol in German classes.

Ahmed Shamun is making a living from the rise in migration. Having worked in Abu Dhabi as an English translator for 13 years, he returned in 1993 and now runs an employment agency in Khartoum, fixing up Sudanese with jobs in the Gulf. Yet, he still laments the trend. “It’s not just doctors or engineers leaving, most of them are workers,” he said, sitting in his small office next to a travel agent selling air tickets to Saudi Arabia. “I don’t like it but what else can young people do? There are no jobs here.” —Reuters

Russia blasts US over ‘crude, clumsy’ spying Moscow summons American ambassador MOSCOW: Russia yesterday accused the United States of “crude and clumsy” spying on its territory after a suspected CIA agent was caught in Moscow seeking to recruit an agent while disguised in a blond wig. The foreign ministry issued an official protest to the US ambassador who it summoned to an early morning meeting, but signs also grew that neither side wanted the Cold War-style incident to develop into a full scale crisis.

The suspected agent was caught red-handed late Monday as he tried to recruit a Russian security agent with an advance of $100,000 for intelligence on the Northern Caucasus, according to the Russian FSB security service.

The man, who was carrying a “typical espionage arsenal” of money and disguises like wigs and spectacles, is said to have been working undercover as a low-ranking third secretary at the US embassy. “To say the least, we are surprised by the extremely crude and clumsy recruitment” that came after pledges by both sides to improve cooperation, said President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, quoted by ITAR-TASS. Ushakov also expressed surprise that it appeared vows by Putin and President Barack Obama for special services to work closer together had not filtered through to the CIA or the US embassy.

But Ushakov also announced that Russian national security chief Nikolai Patrushev would visit the United States from May 20-21, possibly car-

Nigeria troops launch new offensive against Islamists MAIDUGURI/YOLA, Nigeria: Nigeria launched a military campaign yesterday to flush Islamist militants out of their bases in remote border areas, after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the northeast. Nigerian troops deployed in large numbers, part of a plan to rout an insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamist group that has seized control of parts of the region. “The operations, which will involve massive deployment of men and resources, are aimed at asserting the nation’s territorial integrity,” Defence Headquarters said in a statement.

The campaign targets semi-desert areas of the three states in which Jonathan declared an emergency on Tuesday - Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, three of the poorest and most remote in the country. The Islamist insurgency has cost thousands of lives and destabilised Africa’s top energy producer since it began in 2009, but it has mostly happened far from economic centres such as Lagos. The capital Abuja was however bombed in 2011 and 2012. It has not affected southern oil fields that provide the bulk of government revenues in Africa’s second biggest economy.

Residents and Reuters reporters saw army trucks carrying soldiers enter Yola and Maiduguri to seek out militants from Boko Haram, whose rebellion has targeted the security forces, Christians and politicians in the mainly Muslim north. The troop deployment is likely to placate some of Jonathan’s critics, who

struck a central region last month, triggering fears they might attack Khartoum again like in 2008.

Few Western engineering firms operate in Sudan due to a US embargo in place since 1997, making the country reliant on mostly Chinese companies to build infrastructure and they tend to import their own workers. Sudanese government efforts to combat unemployment by hiring more young people for public sector jobs and starting infrastructure projects have been hampered by the budget crisis.

Young people complain that corruption also makes it hard to find work - jobs in the public sector, the biggest employer, often go to people with the right connections, known as wasta, they say.

“You cannot find a job without wasta,” said Hisham Hassan, who graduated in civil engineering from the Sudanese university of Atbara in 2008 but has yet to find work.

“I can’t afford to get married or anything,” he said after receiving his exit permit at the visa office. He has landed a job at a Saudi builder paying him a monthly salary of 3,000 riyals - in Qassim, one of the most conservative regions of Saudi Arabia. “It will be fine. I have no choice anyway,” he said.

Concerns about personal freedom in Sudan are also encouraging emigration.

Security agents have cracked down hard on small street protests organized mainly by students dreaming of an “Arab spring”.

Divisions in the weak opposition and the army’s support for President Omar Hassan

had accused him of not facing up to the gravity of the crisis, although some northern politicians have already voiced concerns over rising tensions. It is unlikely those tensions will boil over to the other parts of the country. The Islamists have a foothold across most of the north, but nothing like the power base they have established in these three states.

In Dec 2011, Jonathan declared a state of emergency over some local government areas, after a church bombing blamed on Boko Haram killed 37 people, but he lifted it in July 2012. Ayo Oritsejafor, head of the powerful Christian Association of Nigeria, said the move showed Jonathan’s plan to offer the rebels an amnesty had been misguided, saying “no reasonable agreement can be reached with terrorists.”

It is unclear whether greater military might can win a battle against an adversary that has proved a master at melting away under pressure, only to re-emerge again elsewhere. “The government is thinking it can crush them like Sra Lanka crushed the Tamil rebels,” Kole Shettima, chairman of the Centre for Democracy and Development, told Reuters. “But in Sra Lanka they pushed them to the water, whereas here they will just flee into the desert and come back.”

A Reuters reporter saw six trucks carrying soldiers enter Yola, the capital of Adamawa state. In the Borno state capital Maiduguri, the biggest city in the area and birthplace of the insurgency, residents also reported an influx of troops. The mood was tense in that city. Shops were mostly shut and there were few people on the streets. Schools were closed.

Maiduguri residents are used to living under military restrictions - a curfew kills activity at 6 p.m. every day - and soldiers patrolling the streets are a common sight. But residents said they saw soldiers in much greater numbers. “I have never seen soldiers on the move quite like this before.” said one man in Maiduguri, Ahmed Mari.

Jonathan’s orders followed growing evidence that a better equipped, better armed Boko Haram now controls territory around Lake Chad, where local officials have fled. “What we are facing is ... a rebellion and insurgency by terrorist groups which pose a very serious threat to ... territorial integrity,” Jonathan said in the address. “Already, some northern parts of Borno state have been taken over.” Officials say militants control at least 10 local government districts of Borno state - an arid region that once hosted one of West Africa’s oldest medieval Islamic empires - and are using porous borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger to smuggle in arms and mount increasingly bold attacks. Security sources say their strategy appears to be similar to that of the Al-Qaeda-linked militants who overran Mali late last year, before the French kicked them out in January: take over remote desert areas and establish a de facto rule there, then use that as a base from which to expand. —Reuters

rying a message on bilateral relations from Putin to Obama. He said: “I do not think that what has happened will influence this cooperation, all the more as its importance has been agreed at a high level.” The suspected agent, named as Ryan C Fogle, was handed back to the US embassy and ordered to leave the country after being declared persona non grata.

The Kommersant daily said that Fogle was likely to have been seeking intelligence about the Boston marathon bombers whose origins were in the Russian Northern Caucasus, despite pledges by security services to cooperate in the investigation. It said Fogle may have been trying to recruit an Russian anti-terror agent in Dagestan whose details US officials had obtained on a visit to the Caucasus in April that was facilitated by the Russian side.

The foreign ministry said that Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had issued a formal protest to US ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul, confirming that Fogle had to leave in the “shortest possible time”. An FSB agent interviewed by Russian state television said Moscow had already warned the United States against such behaviour but “they did not listen to us”. “Fogle arrived in Spring 2011.

Russia already had intelligence he was from the CIA and from the moment of his arrival he was put under the corresponding operative control” said the agent, whose voice was distorted and face kept in shadow to keep his identity secret. — AFP

MOSCOW: A man identified as Ryan C Fogle, the third secretary of the political section of Washington’s embassy in Moscow, is being questioned at the Federal Security Service after his arrest on Tuesday. —AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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

Trio of troubles threatening Obama’s second term WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama seemed to lose control of his secondterm agenda even before he was sworn in, when a school massacre led him to lift gun control to the fore. Now, as he tries to pivot from a stinging defeat on that issue and push forward on others, the president finds himself rocked by multiple controversies that are demoralizing his Democratic allies, emboldening his political foes and posing huge distractions for all.

It is unclear how long he will be dogged by inquiries into last year’s deadly attack in Libya, the US tax agency targeting of tea conservative party groups and now the seizure of Associated Press phone records in a leak investigation. But if nothing else, these episodes give new confidence and swagger to opposition Republicans who were discouraged by Obama’s re-election last November and their inability to block tax hikes as part of a Jan. 1 financial crisis deal.

Taken together, these matters will make it harder for the administration to focus on its priorities - racking up a few more accomplishments before next year’s national elections. “It’s a torrential downpour, and it’s happening at the worst possible time, because the window is closing” on opportunities to accomplish things before the 2014 campaigns, said Matt Bennett, who worked in the Clinton White House. From here on, he said, “it’s going to be very, very difficult.”

So far, there’s no evidence that Obama knew about - let alone was involved in the government actions in question. But

a president usually is held accountable for his administration’s actions, and Republicans now have material to fuel accusations and congressional hearings that they hope will embarrass him, erode his credibility and bolster their argument that his government is overreaching.

Even some of his Democratic allies are publicly expressing dismay at the AP phone records seizure.

Obama advisers on Tuesday cast the trio of controversies as matters that flare up in an institution as complex as the US government, and they questioned the impact of them. The one exception, advisers said, was the brewing scandal at the Internal Revenue Service, the federal tax collection agency, which they see as the issue most likely to strike a chord with Americans. The IRS has apologized for what it calls “inappropriate” targeting of conservative political groups, including tea party affiliates, that were seeking tax-exempt status in recent years.

A Treasury Department inspector general’s report released Tuesday concluded that ineffective management led to the targeting, and Attorney General Eric Holder said he had ordered a Justice Department investigation. But Holder distanced himself from the decision to subpoena the AP records, saying he had had no part in it, stepping aside because he had been interviewed in a government investigation into who provided information for a news story that disclosed details of a CIA operation in Yemen.

The press case sparked bipartisan out-

cry, with several Republican and Democratic officials questioning Holder’s department’s actions in the matter.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said the attorney general should resign over the issue, adding: “Freedom of the press is an essential right in a free society.” Sens Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, called on the Justice Department to explain the records seizure. And Rep Steny Hoyer, the House’s second-ranking Democratic leader, said, “This is activity that should not have happened and must be checked from happening again.”

As the press and tax issues boiled over Tuesday, many conservative activists stayed focused on the attack last September in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Republicans have spent the past eight months accusing the Obama administration of ignoring security needs before the attack, and of revising subsequent “talking points” to play down the role of Islamic terrorists in the assault, which occurred at the height of Obama’s re-election campaign.

Hillary Rodham Clinton - the secretary of state at the time, and a possible presidential candidate in 2016 - is the target of many Republican accusations. Despite the noisy controversies, White House advisers tamped down suggestions that Obama would make any sudden moves, such as firing top officials or shaking up his team. In a Tuesday night statement on the inspector general’s IRS report,

President Barack Obama said he expected those responsible to be held “accountable” though he did not specify what that should entail.

On all three matters, the White House Tuesday steered blame to other administration agencies. The disputed Benghazi talking points, advisers said, were chiefly the CIA’s work. In discussing the tax controversy, the White House has emphasized the agency’s independent status.

And Obama’s spokesman has deflected all questions about AP phone records to the Justice Department, saying that the president and his aides didn’t know about the case until they read press

reports Monday. Asked why Obama could not simply ask the attorney general about the Justice Department subpoenas, Jay Carney, the spokesman, said, “A great deal prevents the president from doing that. It would be wholly inappropriate for the president to involve himself in a criminal investigation that ... involves leaks of information from the administration.”

White House officials said Obama plans to press his second-term agenda as planned, but the contentious issues are complicating that effort. Amid new revelations about Benghazi and the tax agency, Obama’s attempts last Friday to highlight the implementation of key components of the health care law - his first term’s signature accomplishment were largely ignored. Republican consultant John Feehery says the tax agency and Benghazi controversies undercut the president’s argument for increasing the government’s role in health care and almost everything else. They undermine the notion, he said, “that government is trustworthy and can fix problems.”

However, the biggest item now before Congress - whether to rewrite the nation’s immigration laws and provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of people here illegally - may be barely touched by the hubbub. Many Republican leaders say the party must embrace immigration revisions to improve the party’s weak standing with Hispanic voters, a fast-growing constituency that went overwhelmingly for Obama in the election. — AP

Lawmakers outraged over another military sex case US anti-sexual assault coordinator accused of sex crimes

WASHINGTON: Courthouse dog Kiley stretches as she stands near Linda Avila (left) a witness in a homicide case, and handler Michelle Walker, Justice Services manager, in a hallway at the Pierce County Courthouse in Tacoma. — AP

Dogs give comfort and controversy in US court LOS ANGELES: The twins were 7, shy and scared. Talking was tough and describing what happened nearly impossible. So the prosecutor preparing them to testify against the father they said molested them borrowed a dog named Jeeter. “It was a last ditch effort to try to build rapport with my kids, who are terribly shy,” said Kelly Dempsey, the twins’ mother. “The prosecutor had no idea how to get through to them. ... He just believed down to the depths of his soul the girls had been wronged and he wanted so badly to find justice for them.” In Seattle 10 years ago, Jeeter became the first professionally trained dog to help a child testify, experts said. Dogs have been used with thousands of victims and witnesses since.

Today, there are 41 courthouse dogs working in 19 US states and several more being considered, but some challenges are working their way through the courts, driven by attorneys who claim the dogs are distractions or sympathy magnets. So far, all lower courts have upheld the use of dogs.

In 2003, Jeeter was going to drug court once a week with King County deputy prosecutor Ellen O’Neill-Stephens. The rest of the week, Jeeter belonged to her son Sean, 21, who has cerebral palsy. When her colleague asked to borrow Jeeter for the twins, the bonding was instant.

“Because of Jeeter and having him there, I don’t ever think about ‘Oh, it was scary walking in and seeing our dad after a while,’” said Erin, now a high school sophomore. “I don’t remember the bad, I only remember Jeeter. I think we escaped so much more normal than really we should have from such a bad situation because of Jeeter.” The AP normally doesn’t use names or photos of molestation victims, but the girls are allowing their first names and photos to be used because they want dogs to be available in courts. Their mother has a different last name.

Jeeter shadowed the girls. “I remember sitting in the chair. Between questions, he’d put his head in my lap and cuddle a little.

One time (during a practice court session), he came into the room dressed as Zorro,” Erin said. When there were questions about anatomy, the girls used Jeeter. “A good dog provides decreased anxiety for any victim, be it a child, adult or elderly. If it gives them the opportunity to focus and find their voice, how is that bad?” Dempsey asked.

There were no objections to Jeeter in the twins’ case, and demand for a dog was so high that in 2004, the district attorney’s office got a full-time service dog, Ellie.

Jeeter and Ellie were trained by Canine Companions for Independence, headquartered in Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco.

CCI has trained about 230 “facility dogs,” including courthouse dogs and those working at burn centers, hospices or schools. The dogs are mostly Labrador or

golden retrievers or mixes, said Jeanine Konopelski, CCI’s national director of marketing. Five years ago, O’Neill-Stephens was so sure that victims and witnesses would benefit from a good dog in court that she founded Courthouse Dogs Foundation in honor of her son. She retired in 2011 to devote full-time to it. O’Neill-Stephens and Courthouse Dogs Foundation Executive Director Celeste Walsen are also helping set up programs in Canada, Chile and Finland, and to standardize the training for courthouse dogs.

The next challenge to the dogs is scheduled mid-May in Washington state’s Supreme Court. The case involves a man convicted of burglarizing a Seattle apartment in 2008. Because the victim had the mental skills of a child, he was allowed to use Ellie when he testified. An appeals court upheld the use of the dog, so attorney Jan Trasen with the Washington Appellate Project took the case to the higher court. Trasen contends there is no precedent for using a dog in court. The state says it’s covered by a law that allows vulnerable witnesses to hold a Teddy bear or doll.

Trasen said you can’t compare the two, because “those items are all inanimate objects. They don’t move. They don’t look you in the eye. They don’t respond to the human voice. ... I have a dog, I love dogs. It’s actually for that very reason, I know how well people respond to them.”

A ruling is pending in a similar case argued before an appellate court in New York. Jurors in the twins’ case were unable to reach a verdict, so a mistrial was declared. Before a second trial could begin, the girls’ father pleaded guilty to third- and fourth-degree assault.

“He didn’t end up serving any time. He was held accountable in a way that other people deemed appropriate. But he was removed from the girls’ lives, so really, I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Dempsey said. In November, 2004, as the trial finished, the twins signed up to raise a puppy with CCI - to thank O’Neill-Stephens and Jeeter. They got Alou and took him to puppy classes, helped socialize him and taught him commands. “ We felt empowered because we could help somebody the way Jeeter helped us,” Dempsey said.

Alou was nearly 2 when he left for advanced training and placement, but nine months later the family got a call asking if they wanted Alou back. He was unable to take commands from a variety of handlers.

“It’s like he’d never been gone,” Jordan said.

“Mom opened the door and he came bounding out and jumped in the car and loved us.” “I think he was meant to be a service dog to Erin and Jordan,” Dempsey said. He’s 9 now and sleeps a lot. “But even today, he will seek out somebody feeling bad in the family and curl up at their feet,” she said. — AP

WASHINGTON: A US Army sergeant who worked as a sexual assault prevention coordinator at Fort Hood, Texas, has been accused of sex crimes, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, the second man in the military’s anti-sexual assault effort to be accused since last week.

News of the investigation sparked renewed anger and frustration over military’s inability to deal quickly with its sexual assault problem.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed disappointment over the “breakdown in discipline” implied by the allegations, and lawmakers voiced outrage. “This is sickening,” said Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat. “Twice now, in a matter of as many weeks, we’ve seen the very people charged with protecting victims of sexual assault being charged as perpetrators.”

Representative Buck McKeon, a Republican who heads the House Armed Services Committee, said he was “outraged and disgusted” by the reports and that the chain of command bore some responsibility regardless of whether it was “oblivious to or tolerant of criminal behavior.” The Army said a sergeant first class at Fort Hood, whose name was not released, was under investigation for allegations of pandering, abusive sexual contact, assault and maltreatment of subor-

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel dinates. The sergeant, a member of Hagel was notified of the allegathe Army ’s III Corps, had been tions on Tuesday morning by Army assigned as a sexual assault Secretary John McHugh.

Hagel urged McHugh to ensure response and prevention program coordinator with a battalion in the the allegations are investigated Corps, the Pentagon said. The Army quickly and dealt with appropriatesuspended the sergeant from all ly, he said. “I cannot convey strongduties after the allegations sur- ly enough his frustration, anger, faced, it said. No charges have been and disappointment over these filed against the soldier at this time. troubling allegations and the The investigation of the allegations breakdown in discipline and stanis being conducted by special dards they imply,” Little said in a agents from the Army’s Criminal statement. Little said the Army and Investigation Command, the the other military services were in Pentagon said.

Pentagon the process of implementing spokesman George Little said Hagel’s directive to re-train, re-cre-

US launches drone from aircraft carrier ABOARD THE USS GEORGE H W BUSH: A drone the size of a fighter jet took off from the deck of an American aircraft carrier for the first time Tuesday in a test flight that could eventually open the way for the US to launch unmanned aircraft from just about any place in the world. The X-47B is the first drone designed to take off and land on an aircraft carrier, meaning the US military would not need permission from other countries to use their bases. “As our access to overseas ports, forward operating locations and airspace is diminished around the world, the value of the aircraft carrier and the air wing becomes more and more important,” Rear Adm Ted Branch, commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic, said after the flight off the Virginia coast.

“So today is history.” The move to expand the capabilities of the nation’s drones comes amid growing criticism of America’s use of Predators and Reapers to gather intelligence and carry out lethal missile attacks against terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. Critics in the US and abroad have charged that drone strikes cause widespread civilian deaths and are conducted with inadequate oversight. Still, defense analysts say drones are the future of warfare.

The new Joint Strike Fighter jet “might be the last manned fighter the US ever builds. They’re so expensive, they’re so complex, and you put a human at risk every time it takes off from a carrier,” said James Lewis, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “This is the next generation of military technology - the unmanned vehicles, the unmanned submersibles, the unmanned aircraft. This will be the future of warfare, and it will be a warfare that is a little less risky for humans but maybe a little more effective when it comes to delivering weapons and effect.”

While the X-47B isn’t intended for operational use, it will help Navy officials develop future carrier-based drones. Those drones could begin operating by 2020, according to Rear Adm. Mat Winter, the Navy’s program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons. The X-47B is far bigger than the Predator, has three times the range and can be programmed to carry out missions with no human intervention, the Navy said. —AP

dential and re-screen all sexual assault prevention and response personnel and military recruiters.

The investigation of the sergeant came just a week after the head of the Air Force’s anti-sexual assault unit was arrested on charges of sexual battery after allegedly groping a woman in a parking lot in a restaurant district not far from the Pentagon. Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Krusinski, 41, was suspended from his duties in the sexual assault response office, and his case is being handled by civilian authorities in Arlington, Virginia, who declined an offer from the military to prosecute the case.

Krusinski’s arrest came a day before the Pentagon released its annual report on sexual assault in the military, a study that estimated the number of sex crimes involving military personnel soared by 37 percent to 26,000 in 2012, from 19,000 in 2011. The crimes ranged from rape to abusive sexual contact. The military’s problem with sexual assault has prompted some lawmakers to call for the crime to be removed from the military chain of command so it can be handled by experts. But senior military officers contend the crimes should be handled through the chain of command to ensure commanders are held accountable for discipline. — Reuters

US car use falls; Younger generation shifting gears NEW YORK: Americans are driving less than they used to because of higher gasoline prices, a weak economy and changing generational preferences, according to a report released Tuesday that found a sixtyyear “driving boom” had hit the brakes. The report, by advocacy organizations the US Public Interest Research Group and Frontier Group, said transportation policymakers and existing plans to expand the nation’s roads and highways have not taken the decline into account.

The researchers said car use is likely to decline further as members of the Millennial generation, now in their teens to early 30s, move into cities and rely more on public transportation, while car-loving baby boomers age out of their “peak driving” years. People aged 16 to 34 racked up 23 percent less mileage in 2009 than in 2001, the study said, demonstrating a greater decline in driving than for any other age group.

“This is a new direction - a real break, a real change, the study’s co-author, Phineas Baxandall, an analyst at the US PIRG, said in a briefing on Tuesday. “After 2004, on per capita basis, driving has gone down, and the number of vehicle-miles driven has also gone down each year since 2004.” This trend is reflected in vehicle ownership, which has decreased by 4 percent between the all-time high of 1.24 vehicles per driver in 2006 and now.

The percentage of driving-age Americans with licenses also fell to a 30year low of 86 percent in 2011 from an alltime high of 90 percent in 1992. Meanwhile, the average inflation-adjusted price of gasoline doubled between 2002 and 2011.

In the short term, the study said, higher fuel prices may lead people to skip long road trips or vacations; in the longer run, sticker shock at the gas station could encourage people to lower or avoid the expense of driving by living closer to work or buying more efficient cars. The researchers said

federal and certain state governments have nevertheless continued to allocate funds to large highway expansion projects based on “obsolete” forecasts “based on assumptions forged during the driving boom,” said coauthor Tony Dutzik, a policy analyst at the Frontier Group.

“We invest tens of billions of dollars in our transportation systems so it’s important that we’re doing so with a clear understanding of what we know and don’t know about the future,” Dutzik said.

The study noted that “the number of miles driven in the heaviest trucks has actually declined faster than overall vehicle travel in recent years, falling by 11 percent between 2007 and 2011.” It said there was “little evidence thus far for the proposition that reductions in household driving must coincide with an increase in heavy-duty truck traffic.”

Sean McAlinden, chief economist and vice president for research at the Michiganbased non-profit Center for Automotive Research, dismissed the report’s findings.

“Younger buyers under 30 are listing financial problems as their reason for not buying new cars,” McAlinden said. “If and when the economy recovers, will buy cars at the same rate as other generations.”

The reported declines in driving coincide with weakness in the US economy, which emerged from a brutal recession in June 2009 and was still in tepid recovery in 2011. However, driving did not pick up in line with the recovery, Dutzik said. “That suggests that the recovery of the economy might not necessarily lead to the kinds of increases in driving that we saw in past decades.”

The study noted that cycling, walking, light rail and other alternative methods of transportation have gained popularity in recent years: In 2011, Americans took nearly 10 percent more trips via public transportation than they had in 2005. —Reuters

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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

After ATM heist, India again in unwelcome spotlight MUMBAI: A breach of security at two payment card processing companies in India that led to heists at cash machines around the world has reopened questions on the risks of outsourcing sensitive financial services to the Asian nation.

Global banks that ship work to be processed in India, either in-house or to big IT services vendors, were already under pressure to step up oversight of back-office functions after a series of scandals last year. Last week, US prosecutors said a global criminal gang stole $45 million from two Middle Eastern banks by breaking into the two card processing companies based in India and raising the balances and withdrawal limits.

“India is exposed in two ways: The threat that the same theft could happen in India and the fact that the outsourcing industry will also get affected,” said Arpinder Singh, partner and national director for fraud investigation and dispute services at consultancy Ernst & Young. The episode is reopening debate on banks sending work requiring a high degree of confidentiality to offshore locations. “It is the weakest link,” said Shane Shook, an expert with US cyber-security

firm Cylance Inc who has helped financial firms conduct investigations into some major cyber crimes.

“I think the lesson is they need to pull back on what they’ve outsourced. When you’re giving a third party, the outsourced entity, the ability to access credit limits or cash limits of the consumers you’re managing the finances for, you’re giving up control that is your fundamental responsibility.” India’s $108 billion IT services industry is the world’s favoured destination for outsourcing. Over 40 percent of exports by the industry are support services for the global financial sector, ranging from investment bank backoffice functions to research, risk-management and processing of insurance claims.

Lured by a tech-savvy English-speaking population and wages that can be one-fifth those in the West, more than three-quarters of global banks have a direct or third-party offshore presence in India. Indian IT firms, led by outsourcers such as Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys, argue that security breaches are rare. “I think if you look at the nature of the work we do and how much we do, we’ve actually had very very few inci-

dents,” said Som Mittal, president of the National Association of Software and Services Companies, the industry lobby.

UNDERCURRENT OF HOSTILITY Still, any perception that data may be less safe in India is unwelcome for an industry that faces an undercurrent of hostility for taking away jobs in the West, home to most of its clients. “The threat (to security) is for real, that’s for sure,” said Parag Deodhar, chief risk officer at Bharti AXA General Insurance, the local joint venture of France’s AXA. “When people don’t take it seriously, it doesn’t help. People still take information security quite lightly, and they don’t address the weakest link, which is the people aspect.” There has been no suggestion that anyone employed at the two card processing firms, ElectraCard Services and EnStage, is involved.

EnStage, incorporated in California but with operations based in Bangalore, handled card payments for Bank of Muscat of Oman, sources have said. Bank of Muscat lost $40 million in a coordinated heist on Feb 19. ElectraCard Services, based in Pune, processed prepaid travel cards for

Colombia warns of plot to kill high-profile journalists Hit man in capital; 90 reporters under protection BOGOTA: Colombia’s government has warned of a plot by a criminal group to kill several high-profile journalists just weeks after the attempted assassination of an investigative reporter boosted concerns over threats to a free press in the violence-plagued Andean nation. President Juan Manuel Santos also announced that 90 journalists are being given protection by the government. He urged Attorney General Eduardo Montealegre to investigate attacks against journalists. “In this government, we’re totally committed to get to the very bottom of the problems that undermine this fundamental right to be well-informed that all Colombians have,” Santos said at an event to promote media rights.

Journalists and investigators have long been the target of attacks and threats in Colombia, allegedly carried out by corrupt politicians, drug lords, Marxist rebels and right-wing paramilitary leaders to silence coverage that may damage their interests. A hit man has entered the Colombian capital to kill columnist Leon Valencia, analyst Ariel Avila and reporter Gonzalo Guillen, according to Andres Villamizar, head of a government-run agency to protect high-profile targets.

“We won’t allow these plans to be carried out,” Villamizar said early on Tuesday on his Twitter account, pledging to step up security.

Before entering politics, Santos served as an editor at the country’s top newspaper, El Tiempo, once

owned by his family. He said he will strive to protect freedom of expression “because that’s where I was born, it’s at the heart of who I am.” Even though a US-backed military offensive has improved security in Colombia over the last decade, the new threats throw a spotlight once again on the dangers for reporters covering corruption and criminal gangs in Colombia.

This comes as the government seeks a peace accord with the biggest rebel group, the FARC. The threat likely stems from an investigation into links between paramilitary groups and politicians during last year ’s municipal elections, Valencia, a former Marxist rebel and columnist for the respected Semana magazine, told Reuters. The hit man was probably hired by a criminal group with links to politicians, Valencia said. “No doubt we’re afraid because the people involved are very powerful and have no limits,” Valencia said. “We will continue investigating, nothing will stop us.”

Paramilitary groups continue to operate across Colombia even after former President Alvaro Uribe negotiated their demobilization in 2008 and many handed in their weapons in exchange for light jail sentences.

Thousands have morphed into new drug-funded crime gangs and continue to kill and make threats if their operations are at risk. It was not immediately clear why Guillen would be targeted alongside Valencia and Avila.

CRIMINAL GROUPS Colombia has been rattled by a five-decade war involving various insurgent groups - including the Revolutionar y Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and paramilitary forces - that has killed more than 100,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes. The new generation of criminal gangs is now fighting with the FARC and paramilitary groups for control of drug-smuggling routes and illegal activities, while journalists, union workers and residents are often caught in the middle. The latest threat comes on the heels of an assassination attempt two weeks ago on Ricardo Calderon, an investigative journalist who narrowly survived an ambush that riddled his car with bullets as he returned to Bogota after reporting on irregularities in a military prison for Semana magazine.

Last week, eight journalists were given 24 hours to leave the city of Valledupar, in Cesar province, as they reported on government attempts to return stolen land to war victims.

Leaflets from a little-known group, the Anti-land Restitution Army, declared the reporters collaborators and hence targets for death. All the reporters and analysts threatened have worked on some of the most damning stories, including corruption in northern La Guajira province, the government’s intelligence agency wire tapping opponents, and right-wing paramilitary involvement in the nation’s Congress. — Reuters

US defends seizure of reporters’ phone logs WASHINGTON: The US administration pushed back Tuesday after being accused of undermining press freedom by seizing reporters’ phone records, claiming officials took the drastic steps to protect American lives. Amid a barrage of criticism, Attorney General Eric Holder said telephone logs were secretly taken from US news agency the Associated Press as part of a probe into a security breach which had put the American people at risk.

“I’ve been a prosecutor since 1976.

And I have to say that this is among, if not the most serious ... a ... very, very serious leak,” Holder said. “That’s not hyperbole. Puts the American people at risk. And trying to determine who is responsible for that, I think, required very aggressive action,” he declared. The comments came as President Barack Obama’s administration faced heavy criticism over the Justice Department’s decision to seize two months of phone records from the news operations of the Associated Press.

The investigators’ action is believed to be linked to a probe into a story on a

foiled terror plot, which they suspect contained leaked information. The AP said its story disclosed details of a CIA operation in Yemen that stopped an AlQaeda plot in 2012 to detonate a bomb on an airplane bound for the United States. Holder said he had recused himself from the probe because he was interviewed by the FBI about unauthorized disclosures in the matter. A Justice Department statement said that since Holder’s recusal in June 2012, the investigation “has been conducted by the FBI under the direction of the US Attorney and the supervision of the deputy attorney general.”

The White House, meanwhile, sought to deflect criticism that it was targeting the news media in its war on leaks.

Obama’s spokesman Jay Carney said the White House was not involved in the decision to seek AP records and the Justice Department operates independently. “It would be wholly inappropriate for the president to involve himself in a criminal investigation that... at least as reported, involves leaks of information from the administration,” Carney said.

WASHINGTON: Speaker of the House John Boehner (rear), listens while House Majority Leader Representative Eric Cantor, R-VA speaks after a meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill. Boehner, Cantor and other House Republican leaders spoke to the press about the IRS targeting conservative groups, the Justice Department acquiring journalist’s phone records and job creation. — AFP

The AP protested the seizure Monday in a letter to Holder saying “there can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection.”

In a reply to the AP, Deputy Attorney General James Cole said the probe into leaked “classified information” began last year and warned “such disclosures can risk lives and cause grave harm to the security of all Americans.” Cole said agency rules require that other steps be exhausted before the seizure of phone records, and the action was taken only after “conducting over 550 interviews and reviewing tens of thousands of documents.”

He said the subpoenas were “limited to a reasonable period of time and did not seek the content of any calls.” In a new response to Cole’s letter, the AP’s chief executive, Gary Pruitt, disputed this, insisted the inquiry had not been “narrowly drawn” and said that more than 100 journalists work in the locations targeted. “The White House had said there was no credible threat to the American people in May of 2012. The AP story suggested otherwise, and we felt that was important information and the public deserved to know it,” Pruitt said.

The revelation of the seizure brought a flurry of criticism of what critics called an unprecedented assault on press freedom. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, a leading member of Obama’s Democratic Party, told reporters: “I have trouble defending what the Justice Department did... it’s inexcusable.” Trevor Timm of the Freedom of the Press Foundation said: “It’s time to stop looking at all of these leak investigations and prosecutions as ancillary to press freedom; they are a direct attack on it. “This should be an important wake-up call for journalists.” Other analysts noted that the Obama administration had already gained a reputation for aggressively pursuing leaks of government secrets. “It’s surprising and concerning to me that they would sweep so broadly in the search of AP phone records,” David Pozen, a specialist in constitutional and national security law at Columbia University, said. —AFP

National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah PSC (RAKBANK), according to sources. RAKBANK suffered a $5 million coordinated heist at ATMs around the world on Dec 21 last year, the US indictment said.

Several industry watchers have said payment card fraud is a global problem and is not unique to India. Two previous cases of hacking into processors of pre-paid debit cards occurred at RBS WorldPay and Fidelity National Information Services Inc, both in the United States. The amounts involved however were less than the losses suffered by the Middle East banks.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has said many cases of cyber-crime involving credit cards and bank fraud never get publicised. “The notion that this will affect outsourcing to India is wrong. There is no relation. There have been bigger frauds at BPOs in the United States,” Ravi Sundaram, ElectraCard’s head of strategy and corporate services, told Reuters on Monday. Nevertheless the breach comes after a series of other events that have tarnished the IT industry in India. Last year, the New York state banking regulator accused Londonbased Standard Chartered of hiding $250

billion in transactions with Iran and not giving proper oversight to its back office operation in Chennai, India. Standard Chartered settled with the regulator. That had followed a backlash in Britain after customers of Royal Bank of Scotland and its Natwest unit were left locked out of their accounts for a week due to an inexperienced IT operator in Hyderabad, media reports said. A US Senate probe last year criticizing anti-money laundering controls at HSBC identified deficiencies in work done by its “offshore reviewers” in India, according to media reports.

While plenty of global companies are moving more functions to India, either to outsourcers or wholly-owned “captive” operations, some are moving work back home. Costs, however, remain an overriding factor. “Most banks in US are trying to cut costs because of recession. So they will try to outsource, not just to India but to any other country or any other company,” said Nishanth Chandran, co-founder and CEO of E-Billing Solutions, a Chennaibased company that helps merchants process payments. “For banks, it is completely a balance between security and costs.” — Reuters

India gang-rape suspect ‘critical’ after jail attack NEW DELHI: A defendant on trial over a fatal gang-rape in New Delhi last December is critically ill after being attacked in prison, his lawyer said yesterday, weeks after the main accused died in the same jail. Vinay Sharma was rushed to the state-run Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi on Tuesday with chest injuries after he was assaulted in Tihar Jail, lawyer A P Singh said, also alleging that his client’s food had been poisoned. “He was vomiting blood and running a very high fever. He was also suffering from chest pains. He is in a very critical condition,” Singh said.

The chest pains came after Sharma, 20, was “beaten up and thrashed” by fellow inmates at the maximum-security jail, the lawyer added. He said the vomiting had been caused by the “slow poisoning” of his food over a period of several weeks. “He was being given food mixed with poison since the start of this month. “He was first admitted to the clinic inside the jail but was later moved to a city hospital.

He was shifted again to another hospital when his condition worsened” on Tuesday, Singh said.

The head of the hospital refused to comment on the case, while there was no immediate reaction from authorities at Tihar. One of Sharma’s co-defendants, bus driver Ram Singh, was found hanged in his cell in the same prison in March. Although an inquest ruled he had committed suicide his lawyers allege that he was murdered. Sharma is one of four adults still on trial for the murder and gang-rape of a 23year-old student who was attacked on a bus on December 16. The victim died of her injuries in a Singapore hospital 13 days later. A fifth defendant, who is aged 17, is being tried in

NEW DELHI: Indian men smoke cigarettes as they walk past the entrance of the Lok Nayak hospital in New Delhi yesterday. A defendant on trial over a fatal gangrape in New Delhi last December is critically ill after being attacked in prison, his lawyer said. —AFP a juvenile court. The defendants have all entered not-guilty pleas and their lawyers have accused police of torturing the defendants to obtain confessions. Prosecutors say they have DNA evidence linking the defendants to the attack in which the student and a male companion were assaulted on a bus as it was driven around the city, having been picked up after a trip to the cinema. —AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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

Cyclone triggers mass evacuations in Bangladesh, Myanmar SITTWE: Hundreds of thousands of people in Bangladesh and Myanmar were ordered to evacuate yesterday as a cyclone bore down on coastal areas home to flood-prone refugee

camps for victims of sectarian unrest.

The United Nations has warned that more than eight million people could be at risk from Cyclone Mahasen, which is expected to make landfall

on Thursday or Friday somewhere near the border between the two countries.

Bangladesh told hundreds of thousands of people living in low-

SITTWE: Rohingya children stand in a pool of water near their relief tents at the Mansi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp. —AFP

lying areas to move to cyclone shelters, while Myanmar announced plans to relocate roughly 166,000 people on its northwest coast to safety. But in Myanmar’s state of Rakhine, many Muslim Rohingya made homeless by communal bloodshed last year said they were too scared to move, reflecting their deep mistrust of the authorities and of local Buddhists. “We could die here. We have no place to go,” said Yu Sut Taw, a Muslim man living in a camp on the outskirts of the state capital Sittwe, one of several in Rakhine which are home to a total of about 140,000 displaced persons.

AFP reporters who visited two camps yesterday saw few signs of a mass evacuation under way.

Buddhist-Muslim clashes in the region last year left about 200 people dead and whole neighborhoods burned to the ground. Illustrating the dangers facing some of those who have tried to flee, 58 Rohingya were missing after their boat capsized on Monday as they tried to escape to higher ground. The cyclone appeared to have lost some of its strength as it churned northwards through the Bay of Bengal, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a state-

ment late Tuesday.

But it may still bring “life-threatening conditions” for 8.2 million people in northeast India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, it warned. Around 30 million of Bangladesh’s 153 million people live along the coast, which is also home to ramshackle camps housing Rohingya refugees. “We have been using loudspeakers to alert both documented and undocumented Rohingya refugees of the dangers of the cyclone,” said Mohammed Kamruzzaman, a government magistrate in charge of a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazaar.

“We’ve also stockpiled dry food, kept medical teams and ambulances on standby and shifted the sick and pregnant women from the camps to hospitals.” Cyclone Mahasen was packing winds of up to 88 kilometers per hour at its centre and could unleash a storm surge of up to seven feet, said Shamsuddin Ahmed, deputy chief of Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have both been frequent victims of cyclones which have left hundreds of thousands of people dead in recent decades.

Cyclone Nargis, which devastated Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta in May 2008, killed about 140,000 people.

Experts say Bangladesh is better prepared to handle cyclones than authorities across the border in Rakhine, where the military was deployed to oversee the evacuation.

“Some people don’t want to leave.

We don’t want to see them die so we will move them under the law of protection from natural disasters,” said Aung Min, minister of the Myanmar president’s office. “We will continue to evacuate as many as possible until the last minute when the cyclone hits.”

He said about 27,000 Rohingya had already been moved but added that there was a lack of proper cyclone shelters. “We don’t have any cyclone shelter in Rakhine state. We see that we should have constructed cyclone shelters there.” Myanmar said the cyclone could delay President Thein Sein’s planned state visit to Washington-the first in almost half a century by a leader of the country formerly known as Burma, which is emerging from decades of military rule. Rights groups have criticized Myanmar for failing to provide permanent housing sooner for displaced Rohingya, after months of warnings of the danger posed to the camps by this year’s monsoon. —AFP

Taiwan freezes hiring of Filipinos, recalls envoy Taipei rejects Manila apology

TAIPEI: Taiwan yesterday suspended the hiring of Philippine workers and recalled its envoy to Manila in protest at the killing of a fisherman, rejecting an apology for the incident as inadequate. Philippine coastguards shot

apology and compensation, apprehend the killer and launch talks on the fishing industry.

“President Ma expressed his strong dissatisfaction over the Philippines’ lack of sufficient sincerity

handle” the case. “If the Philippine government cannot satisfy our side’s four demands by 6:00 pm (1000 GMT) today, our government will adopt a second wave of sanctions,” Lee said.

These would include a “red” travel

MANILA: Raymond Wang (right) Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines, talks on his mobile phone as he walks to his plane for departure to Taipei after being recalled yesterday. —AP dead the 65-year-old fisherman last week after they said his vessel strayed into Manila’s territorial waters, sparking outrage in Taiwan at a time of high tensions over regional maritime disputes. Taiwan said that the Philippines had apologized for the shooting. But President Ma Yingjeou insisted Manila offer a formal

and its shifting attitude,” spokeswoman Lee Chia-fei told reporters, adding that he would recall Taipei’s envoy to Manila. She said Antonio Basilio, the Philippines’ de facto ambassador who made the apology after meeting Foreign Minister David Lin late Tuesday, had also been asked to return to Manila to “help properly

alert urging Taiwanese not to visit the Philippines and the suspension of exchanges between high-level officials. There are currently 87,000 Philippine workers in Taiwan and labour authorities said nearly 2,000 new applications to work are submitted monthly. In Manila, President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Edwin

Four dead, 25 trapped as Indonesia mine collapses TIMIKA: Rescuers struggled yesterday to reach 25 workers trapped underground at a US-owned mine in remote eastern Indonesia after a tunnel caved in, with four others confirmed dead. They cleared debris blocking the tunnel at Freeport-McMoRan’s Grasberg gold and copper mine with saws and wheelbarrows, but cramped conditions prevented them from using heavy earth-moving equipment. Ten people were hauled out alive during overnight rescue efforts. But those still underground have been trapped for more than 24 hours since the accident early Tuesday high in the mountains of rugged Papua province.

The tunnel collapse is just the latest problem to hit the mine, where a major strike in 2011 crippled production. “Rescuers worked throughout the night and managed to evacuate 10 survivors and four fatalities by this morning,” said Freeport Indonesia, the local subsidiary of the US firm, in a statement. Police said all 14 were Indonesians. “A total of 25 workers are believed to be still trapped in the debris and rescue and recovery work is continuing,” said Freeport.

But the company added that rescue efforts by a Freeport team “have been hampered by the confined and restricted space within the tunnel”. Those rescued were taken to a company hospital and were all in a stable condition, said Freeport. The company previously said 37 people had been

trapped when the tunnel collapsed as workers took part in a training exercise, but yesterday revised that figure up to 39. The group of employees and contractors were in a classroom in an underground training facility, and not one of the mining areas, when the accident took place.

“This is a very sad day for us,” said Freeport Indonesia president Rozik B Soetjipto. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families and we will continue to do our best to evacuate the remaining workers.” Neither Freeport nor police have given any indication of what caused the accident. The firm has said it does not expect the accident to affect production.

It did not disclose the nationalities of all the workers involved in the accident, but the vast majority of the more than 24,000 employees at Grasberg are Indonesian. The 2011 strike by thousands of workers lasted three months and badly hit production. It was only ended when the firm agreed to a major pay rise. The industrial action sparked a wave of deadly clashes between police and gunmen around the mine, with at least 11 people, all Indonesians, killed. Earlier this month, some 1,100 workers employed by Freeport contractors staged a three-day strike over pay but it caused only minimal disruption to production. —AFP

Lacierda reiterated the president’s calls for calm, but declined further comment “with the objective of preventing further escalation while deliberations are ongoing”.

Basilio said yesterday the Philippines would send special envoy Amadeo Perez to reiterate his “deep regret and apology from the people of the Philippines” to the people of Taiwan and the fisherman’s family.

“The Filipino people and government understand the hurt and grief that the Taiwan people have felt at the death of the one of their fellow citizens,” he told a press conference at Taiwan’s foreign ministry. Perez, who arrived in Taiwan around noon, is chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office which represents the Philippines in Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic ties.

Manila recognises Beijing rather than Taipei as the government of China. But Taiwan’s Premier Jiang Yihuah said it was unacceptable that the apology came from the “people of the Philippines” rather than the government as it was the coastguard that was responsible for the shooting. “Philippine civil servants killed a person and damaged the boat, the Philippine government cannot avoid responsibility,” he said. Jiang said Perez would offer a donation from the Philippine people to the fisherman’s family and it was not clear “whether the Philippine government will be responsible for the compensation”.

He also demanded Manila clarify whether it was conducting a criminal or an administrative investigation and what kind of punishment it plans for those responsible-dismissal, imprisonment or a fine.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said it was set to begin a drill later aimed at defending its fishermen in waters near the Philippine island of Batan.

The shooting triggered public fury in Taiwan, and aggravated tensions that were already high over rival claims in the nearby South China Sea. China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims to parts of the strategic and resource-rich maritime region.—AFP

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak (right) announces his cabinet line-up as his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin (back left) looks on in Putrajaya yesterday. —AFP

Malaysian PM unveils ‘reconciliation’ cabinet KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s premier yesterday unveiled a cabinet line-up which he said would help national reconciliation after a racially divisive election, but which was noticeably light on Chinese faces.

Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, which has ruled multiracial Malaysia for 56 years, fended off the strongest opposition challenge ever in an election marked by anger over racially divisive policies. Najib was abandoned by voters from the economically powerful Chinese minority that makes up 25 percent of the country’s 28 million people, tarnishing his claims to multi-ethnic rule and sparking bitter comments from the prime minister afterward.

Barisan is controlled by Najib’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which represents Muslim Malays, Malaysia’s majority demographic. “Over the past months and years, divisions have opened up in Malaysian society. Now it is time for all of us, in government and beyond, to put the bitterness behind us,” Najib said in introducing his line-up. “Together we will act to bring about national reconciliation, secure Malaysia’s economic future and build a stronger, more harmonious society.”

However, for the first time in decades, the cabinet had no representation from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

The Chinese party had long been a stalwart in the ruling coalition but is increasingly seen by Chinese voters as not willing to stand up for the community and has suffered declining support. It was left with just seven seats in the 222-member parliament compared to 31 in 2004. Its president had vowed to accept no cabinet posts if its support further declined in the polls. The MCA’s decline has tracked growing resentment among the sizeable Chinese and Indian minorities over decades-old policies that favour Malays in business, education and other spheres.

After the election early this month, Najib ruefully blamed a “Chinese tsunami” of lost support for the government’s worst ever ballot-box showing, triggering outrage from many who saw the comments as racially provocative. The new cabinet has just one ethnic Chinese minister-the president of the local office of anti-graft group Transparency International-and one Chinese deputy minister. The previous cabinet had four ethnic Chinese ministers and several deputies. —AFP

Okinawa women demand apology over sex remark

TOKYO: Women on Japan’s island chain of Okinawa yesterday demanded an apology from an outspoken Japanese politician who suggested US troops there make use of its thriving sex industry. The comments from Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto earlier this week came as he also said “comfort women”-who most historians agree were pressed into sexual slavery for the Japanese imperial army during World War II-served a “necessary” role in keeping soldiers in line.

Twenty-five women’s groups in Okinawa issued a statement claiming to be a voice “from Okinawa, which still sits in the midst of unhealed scars from war and daily violence imposed by the military. “We strongly protest against the Hashimoto comment and demand an apology and retraction of the remark,” the statement said.

“Regardless of whether it is war-time or not, a view to use women as a tool (to let out sexual frustration) is intolerable,” said Masako Ishimine, a senior member of a local women’s body, quoted by the Okinawa Times.

“Does he mean women should simply take it because men work hard?” The outrage came on the day Okinawa marked the 41st anniversary of its reversion to Japan at the end of post-WWII US occupation and after comments on history that provoked ire in South Korea and China. Up to 200,000 women from Korea, China, the Philippines and

elsewhere were forcibly drafted into brothels catering to the Japanese military in territories occupied by Japan during WWII, according to many mainstream historians.

In the Philippines, Rechilda Extremadura, the executive director of Lila Pilipina, an advocacy group whose 104 members were comfort women described Hashimoto as callous. “No country has the right to violate women and make us victims so they can be fodder for war,” she said.

“Someone in his position should be more responsible with his remarks.” On its surrender at the end of the war, the whole of Japan was placed under US-led allied jurisdiction. But while control of the country was handed back to a home-grown civilian government in 1952, Okinawa remained effectively US territory until 1972.

In the years since the war it has morphed into a curious mix of subtropical vacation paradise and the strategic US “keystone of the Pacific” which today is home to around half of the 47,000 US troops in Japan as part of a security treaty. The weight of hosting those servicemen is keenly felt by the island chain’s 1.3 million people, who complain of the noise and risk of accidents posed by massed US military hardware.

Crimes associated with the testosterone-charged presence of thousands of young troops-including rapes and assaults-frequently test relations between US bases and

their host communities. Osaka mayor Hashimoto stepped into this fray in recent days with a suggestion that servicemen be allowed to patronize legal sex businesses there to give them an outlet for frustrations that might otherwise result in violence or crime. Okinawans reacted with revulsion, saying comments like this were symptomatic of mainlanders’ view of them.

Shoko Toguchi, a senior member of a women’s rights group, said Hashimoto “lacked the sense of human rights and was not able to feel the pain of Okinawa’s people”, Jiji Press reported. Okinawa governor Hirokazu Nakaima told public broadcaster NHK on Wednesday that more than four decades after rule reverted to Tokyo, the islands still had more than their fair share of US troops. “I take the side of respecting the Japan-US security treaty, but I still believe the entire nation should share the burden,” he said.

The anniversary also came just a week after Chinese state media published calls for a re-think of the sovereignty of the archipelago, with hints that Beijing was the rightful ruler. Beijing is aggressively pushing its case for ownership of disputed islands that are administratively part of Okinawa. The presence earlier this week of a foreign submarine-which media speculated was Chinese-off an Okinawan island further fanned fears over Beijing’s intent in the area. —AFP

NEWS

Oleksiy Pinko, a circus artiste, prepares to put his head into a lion’s mouth during the presentation of a new program in Ukraineís National Circus in Kiev yesterday. — AP

Ruling may hit economy Continued from Page 1 If the court rules in favour of HH th Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s decree, which changed the number of votes per citizen to one from four, the current parliament will be able to continue; this would make progress on investment more likely.

The court is widely seen as independent in Kuwait, which has the most democratic political system in the Gulf Arab region.

Analysts and diplomats think the ruling could go either way. “All Kuwaitis, we pride ourselves - even the opposition, even the government detractors - that our judiciary system is one of the best and the most independent in the Arab world,” said Abdullah Al-Shayji, chairman of the political science department at Kuwait University. In the past, constitutional court judges have issued some rulings in line with the government’s wishes, but they have also passed verdicts with the opposite effect.

Last June, for example, the court effectively dissolved a parliament dominated by the opposition, citing a technicality. But in September, it rejected a government request to change electoral boundaries, saying it did not have the authority to rule on the matter; it was this ruling that ultimately prompted the Amir to issue his emergency decree. In their upcoming ruling, the judges will assess whether the decree can be described as a “decree of necessity” and if it was issued in the correct way. The constitution lets the emir pass urgent decrees when parliament is not in session or dissolved.

The Amir said at the time that the voting rule changes aimed to ensure security and stability in Kuwait, following months of political stalemate between the cabinet and parliament. Opposition politicians, who boycotted the December election in protest at the decree, said changes to the voting system should be agreed by parliament.

Protesters alleged the new rules aimed to weaken the opposition, which was able to form effective parliamentary alliances under the old four-vote system in a country where political parties are banned.

The opposition boycott of the election meant that liberals, Shiites, neutral MPs and complete newcomers to parliamentary politics were elected to the assembly, initially working well with the Cabinet. They have passed some laws seen as helping the economy, such as a law aimed at simplifying the

issuance of company licences and plans for a fund to aid small and medium-sized firms.

“The authorities now seem more determined to put a shoulder to the wheel to get the economy going, including on the projects,” said Daniel Kaye, head of macroeconomic research at National Bank of Kuwait.

Under the new parliament, partly because of a more stable political environment, two major projects have inched towards implementation. The government signed a contract with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co last November to design and build a $2.6 billion causeway connecting the north and south of the country. In January, it signed a deal with a consortium led by France’s GDFSuez, and including Sumitomo Corp of Japan, to build the Az Zour gas-fired power and seawater treatment plant.

From the Cabinet’s point of view, the current parliament is by no means perfect; there are signs of some of the old tensions.

This week MPs submitted requests to interrogate the oil minister and interior minister over their performance, which could lead to a vote of no confidence in them. Members of the Cabinet then offered to resign and the government kept away from two parliament sessions, causing them to be cancelled.

The possibility that the court ruling could lead to a fresh election means that some MPs may want to be seen as holding the government to account, Kuwait University’s Shayji said. “There are now some problems between the parliament and the government, because of dissatisfaction with some of the ministers and a lack of cooperation on the part of some ministers,” said Saleh Ashour, a long-serving MP. “Everyone is waiting for the constitutional court ruling.”

Nor is the current parliament’s economic policy-making completely in line with the cabinet’s wishes. In April the Assembly passed a consumer debt relief law allowing the state to spend up to KD 744 million to buy loans taken out from banks before March 2008, write off the interest and reschedule repayments. Economists described the law as a populist measure forced on the government by MPs. While the state can afford the measure, with its 14 straight years of budget surpluses, bankers argued that the plan encouraged bad behaviour by consumers and could cost local banks money. — Reuters

SPEAKER SAYS ALL’S FINE AFTER...

Continued from Page 1 boycotting the sessions and said it was an attempt to escape questioning over the Dow payment.

All the Cabinet ministers placed their resignations under the authority of the prime minister on Tuesday, but Rashed said that the issue is now in the hands of the Amir and the prime minister. Under Kuwaiti law, the resignation becomes official after it is submitted to the Amir. But reports were rife yesterday that Oil Minister Hani Hussein has in fact submitted his resignation and most likely the resignation was accepted or about to be accepted. The reports were floated after it was reported that the Cabinet has decided to refer the issue of the scrapped Dow Chemical joint venture to the public prosecution.

Former opposition MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun

meanwhile strongly warned the government against a “fabricated” referral in a bid to protect those involved in the deal that cost Kuwait the huge penalty. Another former MP Mohammad Al-Dallal also warned against exploiting the reported resignation of the oil minister to make suspicious moves to control the vital oil industry.

In another development, the public prosecution has summoned 17 opposition activists for questioning over repeating the speech made by former opposition MP Musallam AlBarrak in October for which the criminal court sentenced him to five years in jail. In protest against the ruling, more than 60 activists and former MPs read highlights of Barrak speech as a sign of support and solidarity with the opposition leader. The public prosecution yesterday summoned 17 activists and was expected to summon the rest in the coming days.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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Issues

Amazon gets help to lure big business

By Alistair Barr s Amazon.com Inc seeks to transform itself into a leading provider of technology to the world’s largest corporations, it’s discovering that it needs help. The online retailer, which since 2006 has moved aggressively into the business of renting remote computing, storage and other IT services, is roping in thousands of consulting and technology partners, from Cap Gemini SA to BMC Software Inc , in a major push to woo big-spending corporate customers to its cloud computing division. Amazon Web Services (AWS), as the business is known, has been a hit with startups which need robust and inexpensive Web services that they can purchase as the need arises.

But big corporations and government agencies, often referred to as enterprise customers, represent a far larger opportunity: they spend more than $300 billion a year on data centers, Bernstein Research estimates. That market opportunity has helped Amazon’s stock price more than triple in the past five years as investors bet that the retailer’s cloud computing services will become an integral part of the way companies do business over the Internet.

Enterprises, however, are far more demanding than start-ups, requiring better service guarantees, closer tracking of expenses, special features for regulatory compliance and much more. Thus a network of middlemen who develop solutions that work on AWS servers has become central to Amazon’s strategy as it takes on established enterprise technology giants such as Oracle Corp and International Business Machines Corp and competes with newer cloud rivals Microsoft Corp and Google Inc. “Businesses want a full dish to eat, while Amazon serves up ingredients and asks users to get cooking,” said Matt McIlwain, a partner at Madrona Venture Group. “Enterprises are willing to pay to get the completed dish. Amazon recognizes this. That’s why they have created a network of partners.” Madrona, headed by long-time Amazon board member Tom Alberg, has invested in a number of start-ups that help enterprises to use AWS and other cloud services, including 2nd Watch, Apptio and Skytap.

AWS has more than 4,000 members in its partner network, up from fewer than 1,000 in the first quarter of 2012, according to Terry Wise, its head of global business development. “If AWS didn’t have this partner ecosystem, they would be struggling with enterprises,” said Kyle Hilgendorf, who set up Eli Lilly & Co’s cloud computing strategy before joining technology research firm Gartner as research director. “I get calls all the time from enterprises that want to use AWS. They say ‘we wish that they did X, Y or Z.’ They often go to an AWS partner to fix these problems.”

A study by Hilgendorf and his Gartner colleagues this year concluded that AWS meets 71 percent of what enterprises need to fully embrace public cloud computing.

“Partners understand enterprise customers better and can often paper over the cracks,” said Mat Ellis, chief executive of Cloudability, which helps big companies such as Adobe Systems track cloud spending.

One area where AWS falls short is so-called service-level agreements, or SLAs, which guarantee IT services will keep running. If service is interrupted, the provider has to compensate customers - and if it happens too often, they could become former customers. Consultants that work with AWS say its SLAs are not always adequate for the needs of large enterprises. The one for AWS’s popular “EC2” computing service, for example, guarantees downtime will not exceed about 22 minutes a month, according to calculations by Gartner and Cap Gemini.

Yet some enterprises require downtime to average no more than 5 minutes a month, said Joe Coyle, Cap Gemini’s chief technology officer in North America. To fix this, Cap Gemini weaves together AWS servers in different regions around the world to make sure that if one data center area goes down, the rest of the network keeps running. “We turn around and write a new contract with the client,” Coyle said. “The client would not even know they are on AWS if they didn’t ask.” Cap Gemini has nine enterprises using AWS in this way, including intercity bus carrier Greyhound Lines. Other companies, such as start-up 2nd Watch, are also developing their own approaches that guarantee less downtime than AWS itself. The AWS partners can also help enterprises keep existing systems and have them work with AWS, an increasingly popular strategy known as “AWS plus one”. Andy Jassy, head of AWS, said recently that enterprises can now use AWS and their own data centers at the same time. Software firms including BMC and CA Inc can help companies manage this through “a single pane of glass,” he said.— Reuters

A

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.

Obama under fire over civil liberties

By Joan Biskupic and David Ingram e may have been the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He may have written a book extolling constitutional values in a democracy. And he may have run for president on a civil liberties banner, pledging to reverse the legacy of George W Bush. But as US president for the last 4-1/2 years, Barack Obama has faced accusation after accusation of impinging on civil liberties, disappointing his liberal Democratic base and providing fodder for rival Republicans as he deals with the realities of office.

News in the past week of the federal seizure of phone records from the Associated Press news agency and the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative Tea Party groups, has intensified criticism already simmering over the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and aerial drone strikes abroad.

Asked at a news conference on Tuesday why the administration had not done more for civil liberties, Attorney General Eric Holder said: “I’m proud of what we have done” and emphasized the administration’s shift from Bush era harsh interrogation practices of terrorism suspects that had drawn international criticism.

When he took office in 2009, Obama promised to close the Guantanamo camp for foreign terrorism suspects, but it remains open with 166 detainees, many on hunger strikes in protest at indefinite detentions. Obama said last month he would revisit that pledge and blamed Congress for blocking his plan to close the camp, partly through restrictions on transfers of detainees. The administration has defended its aerial drone strikes abroad, which have included targeting a US-born terrorism suspect, as essential to the fight against AlQaeda and other militants in places such as Pakistan and Yemen. On Tuesday, Holder defended the seizure of journalists’ records, saying it was part of an investigation into a leak that he called “very, very serious”. A law enforcement official said the probe is related to information in a May 2012 AP story on a foiled Yemen-based Al-Qaeda plot. The phone records seizure was the latest in a series of crackdowns on leaks by the

H

Obama administration.

Obama has disappointed some because of his background, and because he followed the Bush presidency that had responded to the attacks of Sept 11, 2001, with what liberal critics saw as a trampling of civil liberties. “There were reasons to think he would be different,” said New York University law professor Barry Friedman, who teaches constitutional law and has written about public attitudes on the law. “He seemed to be inculcated with constitutional values, because of his background and because of what he said during the campaign.”

Friedman and other law professors acknowledge the Constitution is a text open to myriad interpretations and that, in situations such as the use of drones, a constant balancing of national security and individual liberties occurs. Obama is also contending with a polarized political scene and clashes with Republicans.

Harvard University law professor Laurence Tribe, a professor, mentor and longtime supporter of Obama, said his famous former student was facing the realities of being president. Tribe wrote in an email to Reuters that on campus, “Barack Obama could live in a world unclouded by bureaucratic and political obstacles. As President, however, Barack Obama needs to impose his basic beliefs and priorities on the vast bureaucracy. ... His failings, in my view, have much more to do with whatever he has permitted to take place under the supposed oversight of (individual Cabinet secretaries) than they have to do with his own constitutional understanding and commitments.” When Obama won his place as the first African American in the White House, many Americans applauded another advance in the country’s long civil rights movement. But while Obama has long presented himself as a progressive Democrat, he has not been known as a fiery civil libertarian. His wont has been to assert the need for dialogue and consensus-building. In his 2006 book, “The Audacity of Hope,” he wrote: “The scope of presidential power during wartime. The ethics surrounding end-of-life decisions. These weren’t easy issues; as much as I disagreed with Republican policies, I believed they were worthy of serious debate. No, what troubled me was the process - or lack of process - by

which the White House and its congressional allies disposed of opposing views.”

Obama’s administration has sometimes come under fire for its efforts to control the message, leading to allegations of manipulation. In the case of the IRS and Tea Party groups, Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley wrote to Steven Miller, acting IRS commissioner, on Tuesday asking for all records relating to the decision to reveal its mistakes at a meeting on Friday of an American Bar Association committee instead of to Congress.

Some analysts say that because of his background Obama has been held to higher expectations. “He was elected by a constituency that would expect him to be more sensitive to civil liberties,” said author Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Others say he is simply being judged by the standard all presidents should meet.

“I am certainly distressed by the latest revelations,” Steven Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said on Tuesday. “I also think, honestly, that the fact that he was a constitutional law professor is much less significant than that he is now president. Every president has a duty to understand, appreciate and protect our civil liberties.” Asked about Obama’s record on civil liberties compared to other presidents, Shapiro said the ACLU did not do comparative rankings of administrations and that, in any event, it would be too early to assess Obama. Critics and other observers agreed. “We’re living it right now,” said Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow of constitutional studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. Even as he asserts the administration may have “overreached” its constitutional authority, he said it was hard to predict how Obama’s tenure will rank with past administrations. “You never really know what’s going on behind the scenes until they leave office,” Sabato said, adding that Presidents John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson abused the IRS, for example, by ordering audits of political enemies. Sabato, who referred to other scandals including Watergate during Richard Nixon’s administration and the Iran-contra controversy during Ronald Reagan’s years, said: “Compared to prior presidents, we’re still in the minor-abuse league.” — Reuters

From girl with tattoo to woman with cause

By Sandy Cohen and David Germain n her bad girl days, Angelina Jolie’s body was a billboard for tattoos that said such things as “Billy Bob”. Now she’s sharing intimate details of her anatomy to help women at risk, going public with her preventive double mastectomy to greatly reduce her high odds of breast cancer. It’s the latest peak in Jolie’s turn-around from hedonist to humanitarian, party girl to inspirational poster girl. The way she went public with her medical story on her own terms, in her own time - with a New York Times op-ed piece Tuesday that caught the media fishbowl of Hollywood completely by surprise - reveals a woman who once seemed out of control to be one of Hollywood’s most forceful and compassionate stars, using her fame with surgical precision to promote matters dear to her.

“I’m in awe of her. She remains one of the most inspiring women that I’ve ever encountered,” said former Paramount Pictures boss Sherry Lansing, who heads the Sherry Lansing Foundation for cancer research. “By letting people know about her personal issue, she is touching countless women who have the same genetic mutations, and she is showing them that they have choices and they can be empowered and can take care of their own health. And by doing so, I believe she is going to save countless lives.”

Jolie’s come a long way from her wildchild days of 10 or 12 years ago. She was branded a home-wrecker when she took up with Billy Bob Thornton, who broke up with Laura Dern and married Jolie. Thornton and Jolie were a tabloid writer’s dream team, an odd couple who wore lockets with a drop of each other’s blood. Back in 2000, Jolie proudly showed off the newest of her 10 tattoos, the name “Billy Bob” etched across her left shoulder. The marriage ended three years later, and new home-wrecker accusa-

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tions arose after Brad Pitt left Jennifer Aniston for Jolie, his co-star in the 2005 assassin adventure “Mr and Mrs Smith.”

But since then, while paparazzi stalk them and entertainment reporters scramble to chase the latest rumor that Jolie and Pitt are finally going to wed, they have emerged as the ultimate Hollywood power couple. They switch off on film projects so one is free to mind their six children, they travel the world talking up good deeds.

“If she wasn’t one of the top actresses in Hollywood, she’d be one of the top publicists,” said Howard Bragman, vice chairman of Reputation.com. “It’s hard to think of a couple that has a better image in this town, both for their careers, family, humanitarian work. ... They’re very good at it, and one of the reasons is they have a very intimate circle that they trust, and they don’t go beyond that. It’s unusual in Hollywood circles, but they’re very strict about their personal life, about what gets out there.

When something gets out there, it’s usually planned to get out there.

It doesn’t leak. They don’t even have publicists.”

A special envoy on refugee issues for the United Nations, Jolie, 37, has become as much about causes as career.

She still makes big studio entertainment such as next year’s “Maleficent”, a twist on “Sleeping Beauty” in which she stars as the wicked sorceress who puts a curse on the fairy-tale princess. Yet Jolie puts her humanitarian interests on screen, too, making her directing

debut with 2011’s “In the Land of Blood and Honey”, a war drama about two lovers - a Bosnian Muslim woman and a BosnianSerbian man - caught up in the horrors of work and rape camps.

“There is no difference between the star Angelina Jolie and the woman Angelina Jolie. The choices she made even as a director are still strong,” said Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, where Jolie has been a frequent guest with films such as “Changeling” and “A Mighty Heart”.

As for Jolie’s op-ed piece about her mastectomy, “we all know that she didn’t do that for herself but as giving an example to all the women on this planet Earth who are suffering from the same disease,” Fremaux said. “We knew she was a great star, but she’s a great person, as well.”

Jolie wrote about her mother’s death from cancer at 56 and that she carries a gene herself that, according to doctors, left her with an 87 percent chance of breast cancer and 50 percent chance of ovarian cancer. She describes in detail the procedures she underwent from early February to late April to remove tissue and reconstruct her breasts with implants. She was treated at the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Beverly Hills. Dr Kristi Funk, who founded the center in 2007, read a short statement to reporters Tuesday, saying “we hope that the awareness she is raising around the world will save countless lives”.

The procedures reduced her risk of breast cancer to

less than 5 percent, Jolie wrote. “I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy.

But it is one I am very happy that I made,” Jolie wrote. “I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.” One of the most remarkable aspects of the story is how two of the most recognizable people in the world were able to make repeated incognito trips to Pink Lotus, where Jolie writes that Pitt was there for every minute of her surgeries. Jolie and Pitt are hounded by the press, so how they kept this a secret is anyone’s guess.

“It’s almost unspeakably amazing. In this world there is no privacy. David Petraeus couldn’t keep a secret,” said Hollywood publicist Michael Levine, who once represented Jolie’s father, Jon Voight. “It’s hard to imagine how they did it.” Announcing it in such a personal and classy way can only enhance Jolie’s stature in Hollywood. With family and philanthropic work, Jolie has eased back on film projects, with future prospects including a possible sequel to her action hit “Salt,” in which she played a sexy CIA agent on the run. Will the mastectomy have any effect on Jolie’s sex-symbol image? “I feel like she is the kind of person who will do whatever it takes to still look fantastic. I think she has a discipline that is unmatched,” said Dave Karger, chief correspondent for movie-ticket seller Fandango.com. “She will make sure that she looks just as great as she has in the past. “I don’t think that’s going to make much of a difference, and I think a lot of people are going to have more respect. This humanizes her in a way.

She’s not that perfect specimen sticking her leg out at the Oscars anymore. She’s a real human being with real health issues like any other human being.” A real human being, and no less of a woman, to hear Jolie tell it. “I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity,” Jolie wrote. —AP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

S P ORTS

Coach Schaaf leaves Bremen

Clarke in fitness race

Britain’s head coach quits

BERLIN: The Bundesliga’s longest serving coach Thomas Schaaf parted company with Werder Bremen yesterday after 14 years in charge, having only just managed to steer the club away from relegation this season.

Having joined Werder in 1972 as a youth player, Schaaf had spent more than 40 years at Bremen as a defender, then youth team, reserve team and assistant trainer before taking over as head coach in 1999. In a statement, the club said the 52-yearold has left “by mutual agreement” with immediate effect and while no replacement has been named, Schaaf will not be on the bench for Saturday’s final league match of the season against Nuremberg. “I have had an extraordinary time, associated with many positive experiences and great success,” said Schaaf in his final Bremen press conference, with his assistants Wolfgang Rolff and Matthias Hoenerbach to take charge on Saturday. “I want to thank all those who have accompanied me on this journey and to say thank you. “I wish Werder Bremen a successful future.” Bremen only secured their status in Germany’s top-flight last Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. “We have looked at things in the last few days and we’ve come to the conclusion that we want a fresh start,” said Bremen’s director of sport Thomas Eichin.

“We want to thank Thomas for everything he has brought to the club after more than 40 years as a player and coach for Werder Bremen.”—AFP

SYDNEY: Australia captain Michael Clarke says he’s confident his chronic back problem will cope with the rigors of back-to-back Ashes series starting in England on July 10. Clarke, who was diagnosed with a degenerative back condition at the age of 17, has been under an injury cloud since missing the fourth test of Australia’s tour of India in March.

The 32-year-old now faces a rigorous eight months of international cricket, starting with the Champions Trophy one-day tournament next month, followed immediately by the Ashes in England, and then a return Ashes series in Australia starting Nov. 21. “I’m confident it will be no different to how it has been throughout my career,” Clarke said yesterday. “I’ve managed to play 90-odd Test matches and only missed one through my career so that’s a big part of why preparation is so important for me. “I need to make sure I’m fit. I need to make sure I’m not carrying too much weight. I need to make sure I’m putting in the work to be fit in eight months or 12 months’ time.” Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris has been monitoring Clarke’s rehabilitation, which has included an intensive two-week boot camp on Clarke’s farm in rural Berrima, New South Wales state. “My preparation in regards to last year has been very similar to this year,” Clarke said. “It’s just been monitored extra closely by the Australian support staff to make sure I’m getting the strength I need in the areas I need it and to allow me to play not only one series to be well prepared to play the whole 12 months.”—AP

LONDON: Peter Eriksson has resigned as head coach of British Athletics after seven months in the job and will return to Canada for personal reasons, UK Athletics officials said yesterday. Eriksson was appointed on a five-year deal in October to replace Dutchman Charles van Commenee but asked to be released from his contract in order to return to Canada to be with his family. “Words cannot describe how disappointed I am to take this step,” said Eriksson, who was in charge of the British Paralympic team at the 2012 London Games.

“There is no bigger job in athletics anywhere in the world.

At present I have no plans but accept that if I am to take any other job in sport it will be a step down.

“Athletics in Great Britain receives the best possible support through the National Lottery and that, coupled with the performance structure here, means it is every coach’s dream to hold this position. “However no job is more important than family and children, and personal circumstances mean that mine need me to be back in Canada,” added the 60-year-old, who was born in Sweden but moved to Canada in 1987. Eriksson will continue as head coach until the end of June, overseeing the European Team Championships in Gateshead, northern England.—Reuters

Rays beat Red Sox ST. PETERSBURG: Matt Moore pitched six solid innings to remain unbeaten and tie for the major league lead in wins, sending the surging Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. Moore (7-0) yielded a three-run homer to David Ortiz in the first, then limited the struggling Red Sox to one hit over the next five innings.

The Rays overcame the early deficit with a five-run fifth off John Lackey (1-4). Jose Molina and Matt Joyce each drove in two runs in the inning, helping Tampa Bay extend its winning streak to a season-high six games.

Boston has lost six of seven, including three straight. Moore allowed three hits and struck out eight. The 23-year-old lefty matched Washington’s Jordan Zimmerman for the major league lead in victories, became the first Tampa Bay starter to begin a season 7-0 and tied a club record by winning his eighth straight decision dating to September.

Fernando Rodney struck out the side in the ninth to finish the combined three-hitter and earn his seventh save.

YANKEES 4, MARINERS 3 In New York, Robinson Cano hit a two-run double, Lyle Overbay delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and New York rallied past Seattle after Felix Hernandez left following a couple of odd twists.

Hernandez exited after six innings with a 3-1 lead, having outpitching CC Sabathia in the first matchup between the former Cy Young Award winners. Hernandez, however, tweaked his back in the sixth when he fielded a comebacker, pivoted and threw to second for a forceout.

The right-hander allowed one earned run in another strong outing at Yankee Stadium, and leads the AL with a 1.53 ERA. Sabathia, who had won his last eight starts against Seattle, struck out 10 in 6 1-3 innings while giving up 10 hits. Raul Ibanez hit a two-run homer for Seattle in his return to Yankee Stadium. New York star Curtis Granderson came off the disabled list and went 0 for 3 with a walk in his season debut.

Down 3-1, the Yankees rallied for three runs in the seventh to win for the seventh time in eight games. Charlie Furbush (0-2) gave up Cano’s tying double off the base of the wall in right-center. Shawn Kelley (2-0) got two outs and Mariano Rivera remained perfect in 16 save chances this season.

RANGERS 6, ATHLETICS 5 In Oakland, Adrian Beltre hit a tiebreaking home run in the 10th inning, Mitch Moreland followed with his second of the game and Joe Nathan made sure Texas held off Oakland.

Nathan gave up a run in the bottom of the 10th but escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam to snap Texas’ four-game losing streak to the Athletics.

Beltre sent a 3-0 pitch from Chris Resop (11) to center field with one out in the 10th for his ninth homer of the year. Moreland connected two batters later. He also hit a two-run shot in the fourth.

Nathan needed 31 pitches to nail down his 12th save in as many chances this season.

After a pair of one-out walks, Seth Smith doubled in a run. Nathan intentionally walked Brandon Moss before striking out Daric Barton. The closer then retired pinch-hitter Eric Sogard on a first-pitch groundout to end it. Tanner Scheppers (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Nelson Cruz’s second sacrifice fly of the game tied it in the eighth against Ryan Cook. A’s manager Bob Melvin was ejected for the third time this season.

ANGELS 6, ROYALS 2 In Anaheim, Albert Pujols, Howie Kendrick, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout all homered off Jeremy Guthrie, and Los Angeles handed the Kansas City right-hander his first loss in 19 starts. Hamilton, the Angels’ right fielder, made his fourth start at designated hitter after being removed from Monday night’s series-opening loss in the seventh inning because of lightheadedness.

Guthrie (5-1) yielded five runs and 11 hits

over seven innings. He held the franchise record for consecutive starts without a loss while winning his previous 10 decisions. It was his first loss since Aug. 3 last year, when Texas beat him 5-3 at Kansas City.

It was the first time in Guthrie’s 10-year career that he allowed four homers in a game.

Jason Vargas (2-3) gave up five hits in sevenplus innings and struck out seven. Both runs against the left-hander were knocked in by Billy Butler, who homered and had an RBI double.

TIGERS 6, ASTROS 2 In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera homered, Doug Fister pitched seven impressive innings and Andy Dirks gave the Tigers a lift for a second straight night in Detroit’s victory over Houston. Dirks hit a grand slam in Monday’s win over Houston, and a night later he capped a three-run fifth with a tiebreaking double. The Tigers added two more runs in the sixth, and Cabrera hit his eighth homer in the seventh, a solo shot that gave Detroit a 62 lead. Fister (5-1) allowed two runs and five hits. He struck out seven without a walk.

Lucas Harrell (3-4) gave up five runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. The Astros have lost six straight and 16 of 19.

WHITE SOX 4, TWINS 2 In Minneapolis, Adam Dunn and Dayan Viciedo hit consecutive homers to back another strong start from Jake Peavy in Chicago’s victory over Minnesota.

Peavy (5-1) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings and Tyler Flowers’ double in the eighth scored the go-ahead run for the White Sox. Addison Reed earned his 12th save. Kevin Correia (4-3) allowed four runs and nine hits in seven innings.

INTERLEAGUE BLUE JAYS 10, GIANTS 6 In Toronto, RA Dickey snapped a four-start winless streak, Melky Cabrera had four hits against his former team and Toronto beat San Francisco. Edwin Encarnacion drove in two runs and scored twice as the Blue Jays had a season-high 18 hits and won three straight games for the second time this season.

Dickey (3-5) struck out a season-high 10 in six innings, allowing two runs and six hits, to win for the first time since April 18 against the White Sox. Brandon Belt hit a solo homer and Pablo Sandoval added a three-run shot in the ninth but it wasn’t enough for the NL Westleading Giants, who had won three straight and 10 of 13. Cabrera went 4 for 5 with two RBIs. He reached on an error and hit an RBI single in Toronto’s six-run first inning. Before the game, Giants manager Bruce Bochy presented Cabrera with his 2012 World Series ring in a private ceremony in the weight room. The MVP of last year’s All-Star game, Cabrera was suspended 50 games Aug. 15 for a positive testosterone test, and was later left off San Francisco’s postseason roster. He signed a two-year, $16 million deal with Toronto in November. Barry Zito (3-2) allowed eight runs, five earned, and a season-high 12 hits in 5 2-3 innings.

PADRES 3, ORIOLES 2 In Baltimore, Chris Denorfia and Everth Cabrera hit two-out RBI singles off Jim Johnson in the ninth inning, and San Diego got a home run from Carlos Quentin in a victory over Baltimore.

After the Orioles took a 2-1 lead in the eighth, Johnson (1-3) entered with a franchise-record streak of 35 straight converted saves. He immediately gave up two consecutive singles before getting Jedd Gyorko to hit into a 6-4-3 double play. But Denorfia followed with a single up the middle and, after Johnson hit Nick Hundley with a pitch, Cabrera singled to center for a 3-2 lead.

Luke Gregerson (2-2) got the last out in the eighth and Huston Street earned his ninth save. The Padres were 0-18 when trailing after eight innings. Ryan Flaherty homered for the Orioles, who fell to 18-2 when leading after eight.—AP

ST. LOUIS: Marlon Byrd No. 6 of the New York Mets hits a two-run home run off of John Gast No. 64 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth inning. —AFP

Cardinals cruise past Mets ST. LOUIS: Carlos Beltran drove in four runs and rookie left-hander John Gast picked up a win in his major league debut, helping the St. Louis Cardinals cruise past the New York Mets 10-4 on Tuesday night. Gast (1-0) tossed five shutout innings before giving up four runs in the sixth. He surrendered six hits, struck out three and walked one in a 71-pitch effort to help the Cardinals win for the fifth time in six games and 11th in their last 13. Beltran slammed a three-run homer in the fifth inning, his team-high 10th, to give St. Louis a 9-0 lead. He also added a run-scoring hit in the third. Dillon Gee (2-5) gave up six runs - five earned - in four innings for the Mets, who lost their fifth straight.

ROCKIES 9, CUBS 4 In Chicago, Carlos Gonzalez homered twice and finished with a careerhigh five hits to lead the struggling Rockies to a victory over the Cubs.

Gonzalez was 5 for 5 and fell a triple shy of a cycle, and Eric Young Jr. also homered for the Rockies, who had lost five of their last six. Colorado increased its lead to 5-0 in the third when Gonzalez hit his eighth of the season deep into the right-field bleachers. His home run in the ninth put the Rockies up 8-3 and gave him nine multi-home run games in his career.

Jeff Francis (2-3), winless since April 5, gave up one run and three hits while striking out seven in six innings. He was 0-3 with an 8.25 ERA over his previous six outings. Carlos Villanueva (1-3) allowed six runs and 12 hits in five innings for the Cubs.

REDS 6, MARLINS 2 In Miami, Homer Bailey pitched a six-hitter to earn his first victory since April 5, and the Reds extended their winning streak to four games by beating the Marlins. Xavier Paul hit a threerun double for the Reds, who took advantage of consecutive basesloaded walks by Ricky Nolasco.

Brandon Phillips, who began the night tied for the NL lead in RBIs, drove in two runs.

Bailey (2-3), who threw a careerhigh 125 pitches, tied his major league best with 10 strikeouts and walked none in his fourth complete game. He retired the final eight batters, and his last pitch was a 97 mph fastball. The

right-hander, who has had spotty run support this season, lowered his ERA at night to 1.80. His ERA in three daytime starts is 7.16.

DIAMONDBACKS 2, BRAVES 0 In Phoenix, Patrick Corbin allowed three hits in seven innings and the Diamondbacks turned an infield double into two runs to beat the Braves.

Corbin (6-0) worked around five walks by inducing three double plays and struck out five to win his careerhigh sixth straight game. He is the first Diamondbacks pitcher to start 6-0 since Brandon Webb won nine straight in 2008. Corbin also helped keep Braves slugger Justin Upton in check after his impressive performance the night before and Heath Bell worked around an error in the ninth for his fifth save in the combined four-hitter. Julio Teheran (2-1) matched Corbin most of the way, but crossed signals with first baseman Freddie Freeman on Gerardo Parra’s infield double in third inning.

Didi Gregorius followed with a two-run single and made some stellar defensive plays behind Corbin to help Arizona end a three-game losing streak.

PIRATES 4, BREWERS 3 In Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen

homered leading off the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Pirates to a victory over the Brewers. McCutchen hit a 22 pitch from Mike Fiers (0-2) into the right-center field stands for his fifth home run of the season and the fourth game-ending shot of his career.

Pittsburgh’s Jose Tabata had three hits, Russell Martin hit two doubles and Neil Walker had two hits. Vin Mazzaro (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings to help the Pirates beat the Brewers for the just the second time in their last 12 meetings. Milwaukee had won five straight games at PNC Park. Ryan Braun had three hits, including a pair of doubles, for the Brewers.

DODGERS 2, NATIONALS 0 In Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw scattered five hits while striking out 11 in 8 2-3 innings, and Andre Ethier delivered a two-run single as the Dodgers beat the Nationals.

Kershaw (4-2) picked up his first win since April 28 but had to escape a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. He did so by striking out Tyler Moore.

The Dodgers scored their only runs in the third inning after Kershaw walked and Matt Kemp singled. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and

scored on Ethier’s single to center.

Nationals pitcher Dan Haren (4-4) was looking to secure his fourth consecutive win but a troublesome third inning turned out to be costly.

INTERLEAGUE PHILLIES 6, INDIANS 2 In Philadelphia, Jonathan Pettibone pitched neatly into the seventh, Kevin Frandsen and Domonic Brown hit solo homers and the Phillies beat the Indians. John Mayberry Jr. had three hits and three RBIs, including a goahead two-run double for the Phillies, who won their third straight game to get within two wins of .500.

Pettibone (3-0) allowed two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings, the longest of his five career starts. Three relievers got the next four outs and Jonathan Papelbon finished in a nonsave situation after Philadelphia tacked on two runs in the eighth.

The Phillies improved to 12-4 when Pettibone, Kyle Kendrick or John Lannan start. They’re 7-16 in games started by the $64.5 million trio of Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Cleveland’s Scott Kazmir (2-2) gave up four runs and six hits in five-plus innings.—AP

MLB results/standings NY Yankees 4, Seattle 3; Philadelphia 6, Cleveland 2; Pittsburgh 4, Milwaukee 3 (12 innings); San Diego 3, Baltimore 2; Toronto 10, San Francisco 6; Detroit 6, Houston 2; Cincinnati 6, Miami 2; Tampa Bay 5, Boston 3; Colorado 9, Chicago Cubs 4; Chicago White Sox 4, Minnesota 2; St. Louis 10, NY Mets 4; Arizona 2, Atlanta 0; LA Angels 6, Kansas City 2; Texas 6, Oakland 5 (10 innings); LA Dodgers 2, Washington 0.

National League American League Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB Atlanta 22 17 .564 NY Yankees 25 14 .641 Washington 21 18 .538 1 Baltimore 23 16 .590 2 Philadelphia 19 21 .475 3.5 Boston 22 17 .564 3 NY Mets 14 22 .389 6.5 Tampa Bay 20 18 .526 4.5 Miami 11 28 .282 11 Toronto 16 24 .400 9.5 Central Division Central Division St. Louis 25 13 .658 Detroit 22 15 .595 Cincinnati 23 16 .590 2.5 Cleveland 21 17 .553 1.5 Pittsburgh 22 17 .564 3.5 Kansas City 19 17 .528 2.5 Milwaukee 16 21 .432 8.5 Minnesota 18 18 .500 3.5 Chicago Cubs 16 23 .410 9.5 Chicago White Sox 16 21 .432 6 Western Division Western Division San Francisco 23 16 .590 Texas 25 14 .641 Arizona 22 18 .550 1.5 Oakland 20 21 .488 6 Colorado 21 18 .538 2 Seattle 18 21 .462 7 San Diego 17 21 .447 5.5 LA Angels 15 24 .385 10 LA Dodgers 16 22 .421 6.5 Houston 10 30 .250 15.5

Cubs need Wrigley, not other way around

ST. PETERSBURG: Infielder James Loney No. 21 of the Tampa Bay Rays dives into third base on a steal attempt against the Boston Red Sox during the game at Tropicana Field. —AFP

CHICAGO: If the Cubs were half as good at baseball as they are at artist’s renderings, the team would have left Wrigley Field behind long before now.

But it’s the aging ballpark that’s propped up the franchise for nearly a century now, not the other way around. Owner Tom Ricketts knows that like he knows his own name, and this, too: Winning the World Series is hard; making money off Wrigley Field is easy.

Keep that in mind over the coming months, as Ricketts negotiates final approval for a $500 million (at the moment) renovation project. The team’s charm offensive began Monday with the roll-out of WrigleyField.com.

“Yes, I support the restoration of Wrigley Field,” the online petition on the right-hand side of the page urges, “because it’s a win for the Chicago economy, the Lakeview community, Cubs fans and the team.” (Not mentioned: And a potentially really

big win for the already well-to-do Ricketts family.)

The Cubs stunk last year - what’s new? - yet Forbes ranked them as the most profitable organization in baseball. They’re no better this year, but that hardly matters. Ricketts knows what chewinggum magnate William Wrigley figured out soon after he gained control of the team and the stadium in 1921: Ballplayers may come and go, but the ballpark wasn’t going anywhere.

Wrigley decided his money was better spent on the destination than the journey, since even the best teams were bound to lose 60 times a season.

And as long as the ballpark was full of beer, sunshine and the opposite sex, the baseball came to matter less and less. In a town that always prided itself on making deals, that was the deal the Cubs finally struck with their fans: You can’t beat fun at the old ballpark - so long as you don’t waste too much time worrying about what was happening on the field.

After his family paid $845 million for the Cubs in 2009, Ricketts vowed to change that. He brought in Theo Epstein, the architect of Boston’s short-lived dynasty, to run the front office. Even measured against a century-and-counting of futility, the best thing you can say about his tenure is that the organization is making scant progress. So just in case things don’t work out on the baseball side, plowing money into Wrigley turns out to be a very good hedge bet.

And to be fair, there’s plenty to like in the plan.

First, Ricketts is using his own money. Next, fans get better views, wider concourses, more bathrooms, a GIANT digital scoreboard (more on that in a moment), and for those who can afford them, more luxury boxes. Ballplayers get an indoor batting cage, flat-screen TVs in a sleek new locker room, and a real soaking tub in the trainer’s room.

And the generations of rats who’ve watched lousy teams come and go get thrown out.—AP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

S P ORTS

Honda to return to F1 in 2015 with McLaren TOKYO: Honda will return to Formula One in 2015 as McLaren engine partners, replacing Mercedes, sources close to the company said yesterday.

Honda’s Chief Executive Takanobu Ito is set to make an official announcement as early as today, one of the sources added.

The Japanese automaker quit the sport at the end of 2008, handing over their team to then-principal Ross Brawn who went on to win both titles in 2009 with Mercedes-powered Brawn GP. One source said Honda hoped Formula One’s new engine regulations for 2014 would help develop technology for its mass volume road cars, adding: “ That incubator aspect of the sport makes Honda’s participation worthwhile.”

Formula One is set to introduce a new 1.6 litre V6 engine next year aided by high-power turbo technology with energy recovery systems.

The news about Honda’s return to Formula One was reported earlier yesterday in Japanese media including public broadcaster NHK and Asahi newspaper. “ There is nothing we can say at the moment,” Honda spokesman Shigeki Endo said.

McLaren are committed to using engines made by Mercedes, their former shareholders, next year but have not revealed their plans for beyond that date. A team spokesman had no comment on the reports. The link-up with McLaren, the second most successful

team in the sport after Ferrari in terms of race wins and drivers’ titles, would revive one of the greatest Formula One partnerships.

Honda had little success with their own team but powered McLaren to multiple championships with the late Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna and French four times champion Alain Prost between 1988 and 1992.

The partnership in 1988 was the most dominant in Formula One history, with Senna and Prost winning 15 of the 16 races.

The sources said Honda also hoped renewed participation in the sport will help boost vehicle sales, especially in Japan, Asia and Europe where Formula One is popular.

The two sources declined to be named as they were not authorised to speak about the matter. Honda made its Formula One debut at the 1964 German Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring. The company’s first grand prix win came just a year later at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City and they then withdrew after the 1968 season.

They returned to the spor t as an engine provider in 1983 and departed again in 1992. In 2000, Honda made a comeback with BAR, which then became the Honda team in 2006. The only success in that period was Jenson Button’s 2006 win in Hungary. Button, world champion in 2009, is now a McLaren driver along with Mexican Sergio Perez.—Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Dustin Brown No. 23 of the Los Angeles Kings is pursued by Patrick Marleau No. 12 of the San Jose Sharks for the puck in the second period of Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. —AFP

Kings and Penguins win conference semi openers

Antti Pihlstrom

Finns edge Latvia as US lose to Slovakia STOCKHOLM: Antti Pihlstrom’s overtime winner completed Finland’s comeback from a goal down against Latvia, allowing them to snatch a 3-2 victory in their group at the world ice hockey championships in Helsinki on Tuesday.

The victor y lifted the Finns above Russia in the Helsink i group and set them up for a quarter-final meeting at home to Slovakia today.

Beaten finalists in 2012, Slovakia left it late to progress from their group, booking their quarter-final spot by beating the United States 4-1 in their final pool match in Helsinki.

That result means the United States, who finished third in the Helsinki group, will face a tough quar ter-final test against defending champions Russia, who suffered two surprising defeats en route to second place in the Helsinki group.

In Stockholm, Martin Bieber had one goal and one assist as Switzerland beat Belarus 4-1 to round off their best performance in the group stages at the world championships.

The Swiss fired 40 shots at the Belarus goal en route to their seventh straight

victory as they secured victory in the Stockholm group.

Their reward is a quarter-final meeting with the Czech Republic, who hammered Norway 7-0 to secure fourth spot in the same group.

In the late game in the Swedish capital the Sedin brothers, Daniel and Henrik, both scored as Sweden saw off Denmark 4-2 and booked a quarter-final meeting at home to Canada on Thursday.

The Sedins were playing their first game of the tournament, having arrived over the weekend from NHL duty with the Vancouver Canucks. Sweden finished in third place in their group, behind Switzerland and Canada and ahead of the Czech Republic.

Christian Ehrhoff scored twice for Germany, including an overtime winner, as they beat France 3-2, but Slovakia’s win meant the Germans finished the group in fifth place, missing out on the quar ter-finals by one point. Co -host cities Stockholm and Helsinki will stage two quar ter-finals each on Thursday, before the focus switches to the Swedish capital for the semi-finals and final on Saturday and Sunday. —Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick put in a stellar performance to help the Kings to a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday in the opening game of their NHL Western Conference semifinals. In the day’s other playoff game, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 in the opener of their Eastern series.

L.A goalie Quick made 35 saves in his sixth career playoff shutout, negating the Sharks’ superior speed and passing. “We wanted to get off on a good foot, no matter how we had to do it,” Quick said after his 25th career playoff victory, one shy of Kelly Hrudey’s franchise record. “We got better during this game, but we’ve got some work to do.”

Slava Voynov and Mike Richards each had a goal and an assist in the Stanley Cup winners’ 11th straight victory at Staples Center since March, but the Kings’ win rested squarely on Quick, who delivered yet another dominant playoff performance.

Quick yielded just 10 goals in the six-game first round against St. Louis before frustrating the Sharks. “We didn’t have our best first period, and it could have got out of reach quickly if Quickie wasn’t back there making some big

saves,” said Richards, the Kings’ leading postseason scorer. “You could just tell he was seeing the puck well.”

The Sharks and Kings are meeting in the postseason for the second time in three years, accentuating their already strong California rivalry.

San Jose eliminated Los Angeles in 2011 on the way to the conference finals, but the Sharks’ years of steady excellence were surpassed by the up-and-down Kings when they raised California’s second Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh’s Paul Martin and Chris Kunitz scored power-play goals and Pascal Dupuis added his sixth goal of the playoffs to get the Penguins off to a winning start.

Evgeni Malkin extended his points streak to seven games with a goal and an assist for the Penguins while Tomas Vokoun stopped 35 shots to win his third straight game since replacing struggling starter Marc-Andre Fleury.

Colin Greening scored for the Senators.

Craig Anderson made 26 saves but Ottawa had no answer for Pittsburgh’s power play.

“Their power play is good,” Anderson said.

“We knew that going in and if we want to

have good chance to win a game we’re going to have to shoot down their special teams. It’s huge for them. If we’re able to kill those off, it’s a different game.”

The Senators had the NHL’s best penalty kill during the regular season and turned aside 16 of 19 penalties against Montreal in the first round. Yet they couldn’t stop the Penguins from going 2 for 4 on the power play to improve to 9 of 24 with the man advantage in the playoffs, the best of the eight teams remaining.

Game 2 is tomorrow and the Penguins appear to be hitting their stride after needing six games to get by the New York Islanders in the opening round.

“I love the way our team came out and played that game,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. “We’re not just counting on one guy to carry a load ... we were able to do a lot of good things.” The 36-year-old Vokoun made his 713th NHL start on Tuesday, but his first with the stakes this big. Despite admitting to some butterflies when told he would get the starting assignment for Game 1, Vokoun overcame some shaky moments early to settle down.—AP

Preview

Cold War rivals clash opens worlds quarters STOCKHOLM: The battle between old Cold War enemies Russia and the United States is scheduled to open the knockout stage of the world ice hockey championships today.

Despite an entertaining preliminary phase featuring several surprises, the quarter-final line-up has a familiar feel to it.

Reigning champions Russia, who suffered back-to-back defeats to France and Finland in the preliminary round, are desperate to rediscover the almost error-free hockey they produced last year in Helsinki, and quickly.

“We understand our problems and we’re doing everything we can to overcome all of them,” Russia’s skipper Ilya Nikulin told Sport Express daily. “In the match with the Americans we just need to give everything we have for the win. And we’re ready to do it.”

The United States, who won their last world title back in 1960, are hoping to repeat the “Miracle On Ice” they performed

at the 1980 Olympics when beating the Soviet Red Machine in winning gold.

But they are wary of a recent addition to the Russian line-up following his team’s elimination from the NHL play-offs.

“We know that Washington marksman (Alexander) O vechk in will come to strengthen Russia for the match with us,” said US captain Paul Stastny. “He’s one of the most dangerous forwards in the world and his arrival gives us a headache.

“But one way or another we need to play and we’ll do our best to win.” Russia have already beaten the US 5-3 in a preliminary match. The event’s co-hosts Finland, who won their last title in Bratislava two years ago, tackle last year’s runners-up Slovakia, who won their only world title in 2002 in Gothenberg, beating Russia 4-3 in the final.

Just like last year, Slovakia only clinched a quarter-final berth in their last preliminar y-round game, beating the US 4-1.

Finland beat the Slovaks 2-0 in their earlier preliminary round meeting.

Meanwhile, Switzerland, managed by Canadian Sean Simpson, who finished the preliminary round with a perfect seven wins, will take on the Czech Republic.

The Czechs, who won their latest world championship title in 2010, also clinched a knockout place in their last preliminary round match by thrashing Norway 7-0.

In the preliminaries the Swiss beat their quarter-final opponents 5-2. The other cohosts, eight-time champions Sweden, will look to banish the disappointments of recent years and become the first team to win the gold medal on home ice since the Soviet Union did so in 1986.

The Swedes have not won the world title since 2006 and face 2010 Olympics champions Canada, whose last worlds success came a year after Sweden’s. Canada beat the Swedes 3-0 in their preliminary round clash.—AFP

Nissan brings the reality of GT Academy Middle East to the region’s TV screens DUBAI: The next name to be added to the list of the region’s motorsport stars is about to be revealed as Nissan brings the international final of GT Academy Middle East to the TV screens of the GCC and Levant.

Viewers will be able to experience the challenges and rewards of competing in this unique competition as eight of the Middle East’s best racing game players go head-to-head for the ultimate prize - to move from ‘virtual to reality’ and become a race driver behind the wheel of a 370Z. The next chapter of the Middle East’s motorsport history unfolds from Sunday 19 May on MBC Action. “ The first year of GT Academy Middle East has been a resounding success with thousands of entrants vying to become the ultimate winner, realize their dream, and race Nissan 370Zs as a professional driv-

er,” said Samir Cherfan, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East.

“Through this globally respected and unique competition, Nissan has been discovering talent which has endured on a professional basis ever since, and now it is the turn of competitors from the Middle East to shine. All eight who have reached the final should be proud of what they have achieved, and we look forward to supporting the winner in their bid to secure a career in motorsport.” Just eight out of thousands of entrants attracted by the dream of converting their gaming console talents into real world racing skills made it to the final. The competition opened in November 2012 as entrants were offered the opportunity to record their best time using a specially designed stage of Gran Turismo at ‘live events’ or via online

channels. From here, the fastest 23 from eight countries were invited to Dubai, a round which also made GT Academy history worldwide as it witnessed the participation of the first female regional finalist.

After two grueling days of assessment, eight were chosen for the final round at ‘International Race Camp’, Silverstone, UK - the home of motorspor t. Now viewers across the Middle East have the opportunity to share in this experience, join in the spirit of the competition and get to know the winner as five hour-long episodes are to be shown at the following times: Five episodes of GT Academy Middle East will run on MBC Action star ting from May 19th, ever y Sunday for five weeks Arabia Standard Time. Original Airing, 11 PM Sunday

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

S P ORTS

Scrutiny on Woods now for different reasons PONTE VEDRA BEACH:Tiger Woods has faced more scrutiny that any other golfer from his generation. Maybe ever. Just not this variety.

Woods must long for the days when the golf world obsessed over his swing changes (all four of them) and questioned his coaches (all three of them). He was criticized for not playing enough tournaments and not giving the tournaments he did play enough notice that he was coming. Some complained he practiced so early in the morning that paying customers didn’t get a chance to see him. Others complained he didn’t sign enough autographs. Most of it was petty. But this is different. Now it’s his integrity on the golf course that’s being questioned.

Woods won The Players Championship on Sunday for his fourth victory this year. Making it even more memorable, Woods ended his public spat with Sergio Garcia by posing with the crystal trophy. They were tied with two holes to play, and Garcia hit three shots in the water.

That all seems like B-material compared with the buzz over the drop Woods took on the 14th hole of the final round.

He hit what he called a “pop-up hook” with a 3-wood from the tee, and the ball landed in the water left of the fairway. Consulting with Casey Wittenberg, he dropped it some 255

yards short of the green. Woods then hit a remarkable shot short of the green, pitched on and missed a 6foot putt to take double bogey.

The Internet has been alive with video showing the ball’s flight on the 14th, along with analysis dissecting what was and was not said by a TV analyst, and seemingly endless theories how the ball could possibly have crossed land where Woods took his drop.

The chatter won’t stop, even though there is nowhere to go with it. Consider this statement put out by Mark Russell, the tour’s vice president of competition: “Without definitive evidence, the point where Woods’ ball last crossed the lateral water hazard is determined through best judgment by Woods and his fellow competitor,” the statement said.

Woods conferred with Wittenberg, his playing partner. “I saw it perfectly off the tee,” Wittenberg said. “I told him exactly where I thought it crossed, and we all agreed. So he’s definitely great on that.”

And if video suggests otherwise?

Decision 26-1/17 says a penalty would not be appropriate because it comes down to an honest judgment.

Of course, this might not be that big of an issue except that Woods in his most recent tournament - the Masters - was guilty of taking an illegal drop on the 15th hole at Augusta

National. He eventually was docked two shots, but spared disqualification by the Masters because officials said they erred in not talking to Woods about the drop before he signed his scorecard. The rules back up that decision, though this one (Rule 33-7)

jacket at his place in The Bahamas and he apparently wears it every morning. Good for him.

Back to Sawgrass, where there was that Saturday incident with Garcia which was one case where Woods shared some responsibility.

Tiger Woods of the USA is subject to interpretation. It could have gone either way.

That debate rages on. Should he have withdrawn for his own benefit?

Did the Masters bail him out?

Meanwhile, Adam Scott has a green

The scene on the par-5 second hole was chaotic. Woods was so deep in the trees that it appeared it was his turn to hit. Garcia stood over his second shot for the longest time. There was a burst of cheers when Woods

pulled out his 5-wood. Garcia finished his swing and looked over at the crowd, clearly frustrated. Woods and Garcia don’t like each other and haven’t for the better par t of 13 years. That much can be established.

Garcia suggested in a TV interview during the storm delay that Woods pulled the club at just the right time to fire up the crowd and disrupt his swing. Woods said in a TV interview that evening, “ The marshals, they told me he already hit, so I pulled a club and was getting ready to play my shot.”

Sports Illustrated talked to the chief marshal for that section of the course, John Nor th, who said he stood over the ball to keep the gallery away from it and was 5 feet away when Woods played his shot.

“Nothing was said to us and we certainly said nothing to him,” North said. “I was disappointed to hear him make those remarks. We’re there to help the players and enhance the experience of the fans. He was saying what was good for him. It lacked character.”

To suggest Woods purposely tried to distract Garcia is a stretch. It was hard to even see Garcia from where he was in the trees. But it was silly to hang this on “the marshals,” unless he mistook any of the hundreds of people around him as marshals.

Woods’ mistake was not doing

what just about every other tour player would have done - look over to the other player to determine who was away. This would require eye contact, and there wasn’t much of that in the third round.

Garcia’s mistake was not doing what just about every other tour player would have done - say something to Woods, instead of calling him out on TV. The ball was back in Woods’ court at this point. Instead of telling Garcia he didn’t see him (if he didn’t) or apologizing (if he did) he threw out the line about the marshals and couldn’t resist taking a shot.

“Not real surprising that he’s complaining about something,” Woods said of Garcia. Both of them should have been put in time-out.

“It’s very unusual for an individual spat to get out,” Padraig Harrington said. “There’s no winners when that gets out there. I think when players have an issue, they find things. So if you don’t like somebody, you read things in, and you make more of a situation than there is.”

Lost in this mess is that Woods is playing golf at a very high level. He is four short of Sam Snead’s record for career wins. He is a month away from the next major, where he will be the heavy favorite again. Woods is motoring right along. But it sure is a bumpy ride at the moment.—AP

Cook: No lack of effort in NZ

Dale Steyn

Steyn eyes Champions Trophy MUMBAI: South Africa hope to give coach Gary Kirsten the perfect parting gift by winning next month’s Champions Trophy, and have no fears that his replacement, Russell Domingo, is up to the job of guiding the world’s best test team to further success, pace spearhead Dale Steyn has told Reuters.

The Champions Trophy in England and Wales will be the last tournament in charge for Kirsten, who stunned South African cricket last week by announcing he would not renew his contract as he wanted to spend more time with his young family.

Steyn, ranked the world’s best test bowler, said it would be fitting for Kirsten to win the Champions Trophy as he departs South Africa, given his last act as India coach was to steer his side to World Cup triumph in 2011.

“That would be very nice. It would be a lovely way for him to exit the side,” Steyn told Reuters late on Tuesday. “(In) similar fashion when he left India after he won the World Cup. “It wouldn’t be that bad if we say to him, ‘Yeah you can go home and you can take another trophy with you.’ That would be pretty cool.”

Kirsten is the most successful coach in test and limited overs cricket in recent years, having led India to a World Cup win in 2011 and guiding them, and subsequently the South African team, to the top of the test rankings.

Domingo was promoted from his position as assistant to replace Kirsten and Steyn felt the decision would work out fine. “Russell has been with us for a while now. He has been with the team since Gary arrived,” the 29-year old paceman told Reuters in an interview arranged by Evolution Sports Nutrition.

“I think he’s learned a lot working under Gary. Russell is also a great coach. He was working with the Warriors in South Africa ... he has already coached the South African side in Twenty20s. “So he’s no stranger to the set-up. I think he’s going to be just fine.”

South Africa’s inability to win a major tournament despite an abundance of talent saw them labelled chokers but the Proteas will have a good opportunity to ditch that tag at the June 6-23 Champions Trophy, which will be the last time the tournament follows the 50-over format.

“I am not going to come up with any excuses if we win it and I am not going to come up with any excuses if we don’t win it,” said Steyn, who has 332 test wickets from 65 matches. “I am preparing as well as I can. We have got the players to win it and probably we would have said the same thing in the build-up to every other tournament.

“What I can say is that the guys are excited and they are looking forward to participating in another one and it will be nice to win it.”

Steyn is one of those who believes the workload of playing all three formats of the game might lead to burnout.

“It’s definitely not (sustainable). It’s extremely difficult and I am talking about it in general and not just about me,” said the bowler, whose combination of raw pace and lethal swing can be a nightmare for any batsman. “Decisions will have to be made pretty soon I guess, maybe in the next couple of years or so. I will see how the body goes. I will never give up all three formats. “But I will decide what is important, what is worth playing and what is not worth playing.”—Reuters

Vote allegations show cricket’s deep problems

JOHANNESBURG: Players unions fear the International Cricket Council’s existing structure can’t be trusted to make independent and impartial decisions for the good of the modern global game due to the influence of India and its massive financial clout.

So the game historically associated with concepts of civility and fair play, of chivalry and honor, is now far removed from those values, with billions of dollars in television money and commercial deals at stake, India and its huge audience and market holding the key to the money, and the ICC and the majority of its 10 main member countries unwilling to shake that up.

The recent disputed vote that resulted in an Indian candidate winning a place on one of the ICC’s committees was just the catalyst that sparked outspoken and biting criticism of the ICC from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations and exposed the long-held frustrations and deep divisions in the world game.

However, it’s still doubtful that it will have any effect on addressing the perceived inequalities, international players group FICA told The Associated Press, because cricket’s governing body is not ready to change.

Any hopes that Indian Laxman Sivaramakrishnan’s “questionable” victory

over Australian Tim May in an election of the 10 test captains was the final straw, a landmark moment that would force the ICC to reform and follow recommendations made over a year ago for a more level playing field are likely misplaced, according to the player representatives.

“If history is anything to go by, (the ICC) will choose to do nothing of substance,” FICA legal adviser Ian Smith told The AP in email correspondence.

FICA - which represents players from seven of cricket’s 10 major countries, but not India - has demanded that the governing body investigates former India international Sivaramakrishnan’s victory over May for a place as a player representative on the ICC’s Cricket Committee amid allegations of vote fixing. Indirectly, FICA and some of its member players associations are challenging what they believe to be the ICC bowing down to India’s national board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India - by far its richest and most powerful member.

“This matter is symptomatic of a bigger picture of how many things work in international cricket. People are bullied into decisions which favor certain agendas,” South African Cricketers’ Association chief executive Tony Irish said.—AP

LONDON: England were not complacent or under-prepared during their disappointing tour of New Zealand this year, captain Alastair Cook said yesterday.

England, the world’s second-ranked side, were outplayed by their eighth-ranked hosts and only a courageous century by Matt Prior and a rearguard batting effort on the final day secured the draw in the third test that left the series level at 0-0.

“It was not a lack of effort or application,” Cook told a news conference before the first test against New Zealand at Lord’s starting today. “We had good preparation and it was not to do with a lack of attitude.” England went into the New Zealand tour on a high after winning a test series in India for the first time since 1985. “We did not play as well in New Zealand as we did in India,” said the 28-year-old lefthander. “But India was an outstanding achievement and it should not be brushed under the carpet. “We are in a serious industry and every

summer you have meetings outlining your plans. We are moving forward and trying to improve.”

Cook, who took over the captaincy from Andrew Strauss last year, will lead his country in a test at the home of cricket for the first time. “I am looking forward to tomorrow,” Cook said. “It will be an incredible honour for me to walk out as captain at Lord’s. You are always going to be under scrutiny and there is always pressure when you put on the England shirt.”

New Zealand have only won four tests out of 50 in England but twice claimed series victories, in 1986 and 1999. They outplayed Cook’s side on their home soil under the innovative captaincy of Brendon McCullum and look likely to field a four-pronged pace attack in what are forecast to be cold and cloudy conditions.

Cook said there was no danger of England underestimating their opponents or allowing their minds to wander towards the Champions Trophy in June or the Ashes series against

Australia.

“New Zealand are a tough side to beat,” he said. “You just have to stay in the present and that is a skill a lot of sportsmen have.

“I just want us to play some good cricket. It is always important to start well, especially in a two-test series.” Cook gave few clues as to which player in England’s 12-man squad will be left out of the team with fit-again Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn vying for the third pace-bowling spot.

“Finn has been coming out at good pace,” Cook said. “I watched him in the nets and I was glad I didn’t have to face him.”

Off-spinner Graeme Swann is also back in the squad after missing the series in New Zealand due to an elbow injury but Cook said he was not certain to play.

“It is always an option to leave the spinner out,” he said. “We have options. You always challenge yourself to improve and we have high standards.”—Reuters

Preview

England must improve to beat feisty New Zealand

LONDON: England have been left in no doubt about what will be required of them in the first test against New Zealand starting at Lord’s today.

The world’s second-ranked team struggled on their recent tour of New Zealand where they were outplayed in the three-test series, salvaging a 0-0 draw only by stubbornly batting out a gripping final day of the third match in Auckland.

With the five-match Ashes series against Australia starting in July, captain Alastair Cook and his team mates know they must focus fully on beating New Zealand under the enterprising leadership of Brendon McCullum.

“They under-performed in New Zealand but you don’t just discard somebody because they have had a bad time as a unit,” England chairman of selectors Geoff Miller said.

“You say right, not good enough, improve. That’s the message they have been given. “New Zealand are a good side but we didn’t play to the capabilities shown in the past.

“That has got to be rectified. We had one or two injuries to people you would class in your best side but it was very disappointing. They are capable of playing far better than that - and know that - and I’m quietly confident that they’ll show they are a better side.”

England arrived in New Zealand on a high after their first test series victory in India since 1985 but their batsmen failed to make enough runs to put the hosts under pressure. “It keeps your feet on the ground,” Miller said. “It makes you realise you can’t just go through the motions and expect to win the game because, on paper, you are supposedly superior.”

New Zealand, ranked eighth in the world, showed great resilience after a turbulent end to last year in which their captain Ross Taylor was sacked in acrimonious circumstances and they lost two tests in South Africa in January by an innings.

Peter Fulton made 347 runs in the series against England, including two centuries, and the pace attack of Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Trent Boult caused the batsmen problems with consistent swing and seam movement.

Southee has been suffering with a toe injury but coach Mike Hesson said he would be fit for Lord’s where the touring side are considering picking a four-man pace attack.

“Absolutely that’s an option,” Hesson said. “We’re not closed in our views in terms of what we play.

Whoever is left out will be a tough decision but we’ve got to pick the best side for the conditions.” “Tim’s fine,” Hesson said. “It was very much a precautionary response from us.

He’s had some treatment to his toe and we’re very comfortable he’ll be right for the first test.”

England will be without their leading middle -order batsman Kevin Pietersen through injury but 22-year-old Joe Root has been in prolific form this season, racking up 646 first-class runs including 179 for England Lions against New Zealand to enhance his burgeoning reputation. He and Jonny Bairstow will bat at numbers five and six for England who are likely to recall off-spinner Graeme Swann who missed the last series with an a elbow injury.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad, who showed signs of a return to form in New Zealand with 11 test wickets after struggling in India, said

LONDON: New Zealand’s Bruce Martin delivers a ball during a training session at Lord’s Cricket Ground on the eve of the first Cricket Test match against England. —AFP England were fully focused on improving their performance.

“We are very determined to put that right,” he said. “We have a huge summer ahead of us but there is nothing more important than the first hour on Thursday. We are very focused on just this week.” New Zealand will probably play Doug

Bracewell as a fourth pace bowler, leaving out spinner Bruce Martin, and Hesson said they were not afraid to make changes going into the two-test series. “It’s nice to have unchanged line-ups in a row but not if it’s the right 11 for the match....and that’ll be the only focus,” he said.—Reuters

IOC to oversee India return to Olympic fold LAUSANNE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday said it had held successful meetings with exiled member India, following its suspension over claims of corruption and political meddling. The Lausanne-based body said its representatives had held “fruitful” talks with India’s sports minister, Jitendra Singh, as well as members of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to discuss the country’s eventual return to the fold.

India’s IOC membership was suspended in December after Lalit Bhanot, who is facing corruption charges linked to the scandal-hit New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, was elected IOA secretary-general. The IOC said the South Asian

giant-a consistent under-performer at Olympic level despite its size and population-had “failed to comply with the Olympic Charter” and there had been government interference in the IOA election process. But according to the IOC, Wednesday’s meeting in Switzerland saw Singh give “strong guarantees and a clear commitment that the government of India will fully respect the principle of autonomy of the Olympic movement”.

“In addition, a mutual understanding was reached to establish close cooperation between all parties concerned.

“It was agreed in particular that the drafting of the new sports bill will be undertaken in close

cooperation with the IOA and the national federations and with prior consultation with the IOC to ensure that it will be fully compatible with the principles and rules of the Olympic Movement.”

The Indian sports minister said a “roadmap has been decided” to bring the country back in the Olympic fold. “Our meeting went off well and IOA, IOC and the Indian government are all on the same page,” he told India’s NDTV network.

“The IOC has agreed to work with the Indian government for the new proposed sports bill. This is a major achievement and we will be working towards the sports bill legislation with all stakeholders of the international body.”—AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

S P ORTS

America’s Cup officials say race will continue SAN FRANCISCO: The America’s Cup will go on as planned after the death of a sailor during a training run last week on San Francisco Bay, officials said Tuesday.

America’s Cup officials made the announcement at a news conference in San Francisco. Organizers met with the four entrants earlier in the day and said the decision to race was unanimous.

“There was no discussion to calling off the event,” said Tom Ehman, vice commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club, the official host of the 34th America’s Cup. Ehman also said they expected all four entrants to compete, including Artemis Racing and the Italian entry Luna Rossa. Patrizio Ber telli, Luna Rossa’s owner, had cast doubts on his team’s continued participation when he said he had safety concerns immediately after the death of Andrew “Bart” Simpson aboard Artemis’ 72-foot catamaran. Bertelli said he would leave it up to his team’s sailors to make the final decision.

Ehman and regatta chief Iain Murray said cup organizers spoke with the heads of all four teams early Tuesday and that the decision to go on with the races this summer was unanimous.

“We’ve every reason to believe that all four teams will be competing,” Murray said.

Ar temis has not returned phone calls or email since the death of Simpson last Thursday afternoon. One of Artemis’ two boats was badly damaged when it capsized and broke into pieces, trapping Simpson under the wreckage for more than 10 minutes.

The San Francisco Medical Examiner has not yet determined a cause of death. The San Francisco Police Depar tment is leading the official inquiry into the accident to determine if there was any criminal negligence.

Murray said at the news conference that they are unsure how badly damaged the Ar temis boat was and whether it could be repaired in time for the start of racing in July.

Ar temis issued a press release Monday from Nathan Outteridge, who was at the helm of the 72-foot catamaran when it capsized. Outteridge issued a brief statement calling inaccurate a

report in a New Zealand newspaper quoting his father as discussing a conversation with his son about the accident. The paper quotes the father as saying crew members heard a crack before the boat “folded like a taco.”

Outteridge said the article “is not correct and does not reflect the facts.”

America’s Cup officials also downplayed the announcement Monday that a German organization was pulling its sponsorship of a racing team in the America’s Cup youth regatta, which is scheduled for the first week of S eptember. Five teams of sailors between the ages of 19 and 24 are scheduled to race 45-foot catamarans.

Sailing Team Germany/Norddeutscher Regatta said the death of Simpson prompted it to pull out of the youth regatta. Cup spokesman Peter Rusch said the sailors sponsored by the Germans still want to race. Rusch said if they can’t find another sponsor, another team on a “wait list” will be added to the event in their place. The youth America’s Cup and the German decision to pull out have no effect on the main event.

Ehman and Murray said a six-member panel of experts has been appointed to examine the accident and to possibly recommend safety changes to the boats or the course, depending on the probe’s outcome. Both said it was still too early to discuss what caused the accident.

The Artemis boat was attempting to turn downwind when it capsized.

Though difficult, the maneuver was considered normal.

One hull snapped. Investigators will have to determine whether a structural problem caused the catamaran to flip, or if the capsize broke the boat. Last fall, Artemis said the front beam of the catamaran was damaged during structural tests, delaying the boat’s christening. O r a c l e R a c i n g wo n t h e l a s t America’s Cup in 2010 in Spain, and its owner, billionaire Larry Ellison, picked the San Francisco Bay to defend the cup. Three teams have signed up to challenge and are scheduled to begin racing one another in July to determine who will take on Oracle. The f i n a l s a g a i n s t O r a c l e b e gi n i n September.—AP

Pacers leave Knicks behind INDIANAPOLIS: George Hill scored 26 points and Paul George added 18 points and 14 rebounds Tuesday night, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 93-82 victory over the New York Knicks and a 3-1 lead in the second-round series.

Indiana needs one more win to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2004. Game 5 will be Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

NBA scoring champ Carmelo Anthony fouled out with 24 points. J.R. Smith had 19 on another dreadful night for the Knicks. The game followed a familiar pattern. New York’s shooting was off, Indiana had a huge rebounding edge and the Knicks couldn’t challenge in the second half. New York didn’t hang around long, either. Indiana closed the first quarter on a 9-2 run to break a 14-14 tie. New York never got closer than five the rest of the way.

SPURS 109, WARRIORS 91 In San Antonio, Tony Parker had 25 points and 10 assists, and San Antonio held Golden State’s starting backcourt to 13 points for a victory to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Kawhi Leonard added 17 points, Danny Green scored 16 and Tim Duncan had 14 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio.

Harrison Barnes scored 25 points, Jarrett Jack added 20 and Carl Landry 16 for Golden State. No other Warriors player had more than nine points.

The Spurs held Mark Jackson’s selfproclaimed “greatest shooting backcourt” in NBA history to 6-for-22 shooting. Stephen Curry finished with nine points, going 1 for 7 on 3-pointers, and Klay Thompson was held to four while not even attempting a 3.—AP

Photo of the day

Red Bull Parkour Athlete Mohammed Al Attar performs in Kuwait City. www.redbullcontentpool.com

I may miss French Open, admits injured Murray ROME: World number two Andy Murray admitted yesterday that he could miss the French Open after a long-term back injur y forced him to quit the Rome Masters.

“I’d be very surprised if I was playing in Paris,” a subdued Murray said after retiring from a second-round start at the Foro Italico, handing a 6-3, 6-7 (5/7) win to Spain’s Marcel Gronollers.

Murray, who was celebrating his 26th birthday yesterday, said that pain in his lower left back, which has bothered him since late 2011, has been flaring recently, bringing on the Rome pullout.

“I felt pain today, the same as in Madrid. I took a few days off after Madrid. I hit yesterday and played some points. But I was still sore today,” added Murray, with the French Open due to start on May 26. Murray said the back problem is the same one which required him to take a painkilling injection last spring in order to play Roland Garros in 2012 where he reached the quarter-finals.

“We will have to wait and see on Paris. I’ll try to make a decision after the next five days or so.

I need some days off for it to hopefully settle down,” added the world number two.

Murray, the US Open and Olympic champion, said he was loathe to take another injection since the one in 2012 still did not leave him feeling 100 per cent.

Having lost the first set to Granollers 6-3, he fought back from 4-1 down in the second set to win a tie-break. But after levelling the match on his second set point, he promptly went to the net to shake hands. Murray has not quit a match since May, 2007, in Hamburg when he suffered a wrist injury which took three

ITALY: Spanish tennis player Garbine Muguruza serves the ball to Russian player Maria Sharapova during their match at the WTA Rome Open tennis tournament. —AFP

months to heal.

Murray, ranked world number two behind Novak Djokovic, had been seen by the trainer for oncourt hip and back treatment after the third game of the second set.

The defeat marked the second straight year in Rome that Murray, a 2011 semi-finalist, has gone out early, following a thirdround exit a year ago.

He came to the court with a 20 margin over Granollers but never looked to be on his game.

Murray, who has never clinched a claycourt title, has won just three matches on the surface this season, alongside as many defeats. “(The back) has not been perfect for a long period, I want it to star t feeling good again.

Everyone goes into matches with niggles, but this is very frustrating,” added Murray.

“Some shots hurt more on clay because the movement is so exaggerated. There is not a lot of power on the ball so you have to generate power and pace yourself.

“I don’t want to go into details, but I’ve got a disc problem, it changes week to week. It’s been an issue for a while, but I want to make sure it goes away.

“I don’t want to be playing with it long-term, it’s not enjoyable at all.” Murray was joined on the sidelines on a cloudy day at the Foro Italico by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, with Polish underdog Jerzy Janowicz ripping off his shirt in celebration seconds after clinching a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) win over the eighth seed. Ukranian Alexandr Dolgopolov got a free trip into the third round when Madrid Masters finalist Stanislas Wawrinka quit before their meet-

ing with a thigh injury which also bothered him last week.

In women’s play, second seed Maria Sharapova, winner of the last two editions, started with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.

Former Roland Garros winner, and fifth seed, Li Na won a battle with Chinese countr ywoman Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-1 while Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur, the 2010 beaten finalist in Paris, beat China’s Peng Shuai 7-6 (7/5), 6-0.

Russian 12th seed Maria Kirilenko beat Varvara Lepchenko of the United States 6-3, 6-1. The 13th-seeded Roberta Vinci kept her home public happy as she beat compatriot Natassja Burnett 6-1, 6-4. Slovak 14th seed Dominika Cibulkova put out US qualifier Melanie Oudin 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.—AFP

All Blacks focus on World Cup

INDIANAPOLIS: JR Smith No. 8 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs. —AFP

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s All Blacks Sevens rugby team returned home yesterday having clinched their 11th World Series title in an increasingly competitive season that sets up the prospect of a tantalising World Cup next month.

Gordon Tietjens’ team clinched the final tour stop in London on Sunday with a crushing 47-12 victory over Australia to finish on 172 points, 41 ahead of secondplaced South Africa.

The vic tor y was made all the more sweeter for Tietjens, whose normally stable selections were rocked through injuries to experienced players like captain DJ Forbes and playmaker Tomasi Cama, forcing him to introduce several new players.

As a result, the win at Twickenham was only their second on the tour and the key to their series victory was consistency across all nine tournaments.

The team made seven finals and finished third in the other two tournaments in Wellington and Hong Kong. “We have done it with a lot of players out. A lot of new youngsters have come up and put their hand up,” Tietjens told the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) series website.

“It’s a confidence booster moving into

the World Cup,” he added of the June 28-30 tournament in Moscow. “We know how hard it is going to be, but we only take it one game, one tournament, at a time.

“That (the World Cup) is going to be totally different.

“It might be a totally different team but these guys have put their hands up and said they want to go to Moscow so I have a few problems ahead of me.”

Injur y and selec tion issues aside, Tietjens is also acutely aware that much the field has been levelled across the board during this season’s circuit and how close the World Cup tournament could be.

Kenya, under former England coach Mike Friday, came within a whisker of winning their first title in Wellington despite having two players sin-binned in the final against England. At the same tournament, sevens heavyweights Fiji failed to qualify for a world series Cup quarter-final for the first time and were then beaten by Canada in the final of the Bowl competition.

The Fijians rebounded during the series to win the showcase tournament in Hong Kong but were a distant third in the overall series after some poor performances since that victory in March.

While Fiji struggled, they did not suffer

the same ignominy Scotland had to face last weekend in London. Inventors of the shortened form of the game, the Scots were forced into an eight-team playoff against the likes of Zimbabwe, Georgia and Hong Kong to ensure their place on the circuit next year. The promotion-relegation playoff was introduced by the IRB this year in an attempt to improve the standard of play and broaden its depth as the sport prepares for its debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The bottom three sides after the penultimate Glasgow tournament - Scotland, Portugal and Spain - were forced into the playoff tournament with five qualifiers in London. The regular play on the world circuit paid off in the end, with all three retaining their places next season, though Scotland were beaten 20-19 by Hong Kong in pool play before they overcame Tonga and then Russia to ensure their place. “We rose to the occasion and we are back on the series,” Scotland captain Colin Gregor told the IRB website. “It is horrendous being down here so we need to make sure we start the season properly, so tough summer ahead of us with the World Cup and then September, October, we’re flying.”—Reuters

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

S P ORT S

Mourinho wants to save face with King’s Cup win

LINCOLN CITY: In this May 7, 2013, photo, Richard Swanson, of Seattle, walks along a road in Kelso. Swanson, who was trying to dribble a soccer ball to Brazil in time for the 2014 World Cup, died Tuesday after being hit by a pickup truck on the Oregon Coast.—AP

Man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed in accident LINCOLN CITY: A Seattle man trying to dribble a soccer ball 10,000 miles to Brazil in time for the 2014 World Cup died Tuesday after being hit by a pickup truck on the Oregon Coast.

Police in Lincoln City, Ore., said 42year-old Richard Swanson was hit at about 10 a.m. while walking south along U.S. Highway 101 near the city limits. He was declared dead at a hospital. The driver has not been charged.

Lt. Jerry Palmer said investigators found materials among Swanson’s belongings listing his website, breakawaybrazil.com.

Swanson set out on the trek to promote the One World Futbol Project, based in Berkeley, Calif., which donates durable blue soccer balls to people in developing countries.

“We are deeply saddened to learn about Richard’s death,” Lisa Tarver, chief operating officer of One World Futbol Project, said in a statement. “He was a very inspiring man who in a very short time walked his way into many lives. Our thoughts are with his family.” Police said Palmer’s soccer ball was recovered. Kristi Schwesinger, a Seattle interior designer and close friend of Swanson’s, said he had been a private investigator for many years, and switched to a new career as a graphic designer, but was laid off recently, and looking for an adventure.

“He was at a point in his life where he had raised his kids,” she said. “Both his boys (Devin and Raven) had graduated from high school. He had no mortgage.

He had sold his condo recently and was between jobs.

“And he loved the game of soccer,” she said. “He stumbled on this great organization, One World Futbol, and decided this would be his passion the next year.”

In an interview with The Daily News in

Longview, Wash., Swanson said he picked up soccer just five years ago and played on club teams and rooted for the Seattle Sounders. “I felt destined that I should go on this trip,” he said.

His website said he left Seattle on May 1, and the trip would take him on foot for more than a year through 11 countries before reaching Sao Paolo, Brazil, where the World Cup soccer tournament will be played. “It will be a trip of a lifetime where I will push myself further than I ever thought possible,” he wrote.

Swanson started out in flip-flops, and managed to spend 13 nights but switched to hiking sandals in Portland, Ore., Schwesinger said. He stayed two nights in Vancouver, Wash., with his son, Devin, but otherwise had been able to sleep on on the couches of one stranger after another who befriended him and helped him on his journey.

“It was all by word of mouth, Facebook, media contacts, friends and family who put the word out,” Schwesinger said.

Swanson spent Monday night in Lincoln City, where he was able to soak in a hot tub, and eat a gourmet breakfast, before he set off for Newport, not knowing where he would stay, she added. He posted photos and stories about his new friends on a Facebook page chronicling his journey.

Friends are talking about creating a foundation in Swanson’s memory, and sending his two sons to Brazil for the World Cup, Schwesinger said. “ The hardest thing is he was so young,” Schwesinger said. “Just today we were planning his surprise birthday party for Sunday. He was so young, so full of life, so excited by the journey he was on.

To be taken from us so soon is really heartbreaking.”—AP

MADRID: Jose Mourinho faces ending a season without a major trophy for the first time in a decade if his Real Madrid side fail to beat city rivals Atletico Madrid in the King’s Cup final at the Bernabeu tomorrow.

Since starting out in his first full season as a coach with Porto in the 2002/3 campaign, through spells with Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real, the Portuguese has amassed two Champions League trophies, a UEFA Cup, seven league titles and six national cups.

In what looks increasingly likely to be his last campaign with Real, however, the self-styled ‘Special One’ could be about to end his three-year reign in Spain with a less than impressive record.

He joined the world’s richest club by revenue from Inter in 2010, having led the Italians to an historic treble, culminating in their first European Cup victory in 45 years.

Mourinho’s Real won the King’s Cup by beating Barca 1-0 after extra time in 2011 and a recordbreaking La Liga title in 2012 but a third successive Champions League semi-final exit and Barca’s league triumph last weekend have left his third year looking pretty thin. A Spanish Super Cup victory over Barca back in September is his only silverware to date this season, which he himself dismissed as irrelevant, leaving the much-maligned King’s Cup as his last chance to sign off with a flourish.

However, a cup triumph would only paper over the cracks of a disintegrating campaign, with dressing-room divisions coming to the fore since the club’s defeat to Borussia Dor tmund two weeks ago. Mourinho’s public belittling of popular captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender Pepe, and his declarations of love towards English football have turned many dyed-in-the-wool Real fans against him.

The looked-down-upon King’s Cup was not the title he was

GERMANY: A combination of file pictures shows Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Atletico Madrid’s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (right). The Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be played tomorrow at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. —AFP brought in to win for them; they absence. Recent history dictates ning the Europa League and the against Atletico ending their 14- European Super Cup in 2010 and wanted a tenth European Cup. 2012, beating Fulham, Inter Milan, On the pitch, Mourinho’s main year derby misery.

Only last month a second-string Athletic Bilbao and Chelsea, concern is with the defence where Raphael Varane is out injured, but Real side, distracted in the middle though they lost the 2010 King’s Sergio Ramos and Marcelo look set of their Champions League semi- Cup final 2-0 to Sevilla.

Argentine Simeone, who helped to be available again after recover- final with Dortmund and without ing from their respective problems. Cristiano Ronaldo, still managed to Atletico to win their last Cup as a player in 1996, has a full squad to Despite their off-field problems, win 2-1 at the Calderon.

“We aren’t looking backwards,” choose from and in Brazilian striker Real head into the final as the overwhelming favourites as they have Atletico’s Uruguayan defender Diego Costa has the tournament’s not lost a Madrid derby with Diego Godin told repor ters. leading scorer with seven goals.

“Obviously the statistics of how Playing at the home of their neighAtletico since 1999.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico have many times they have beaten us bours has not proved to be a problittle to lose, having achieved their are there...but we are in a good run lem for Atletico in the past. Eight of objective for the season with a of form and have the same desire their nine Cup triumphs have come in the Bernabeu, three of which third-placed finish in La Liga assur- and chances to win as they do.”

Atletico have a good record in were against Real Madrid, in 1960, ing them of Champions League football again after a three-year finals over the last few years, win- 1961 and 1992.—Reuters

Ferdinand calls time on England career LONDON: England and Manchester United defender R io Ferdinand announced his retirement from international soccer yesterday.

The decision, in a statement on the United and Football Association websites, came nearly t wo years af ter Ferdinand last played for his country in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland on June 4, 2011. The FA said the central defender, who made his England senior debut against Cameroon at Wembley in 1997 and won 81 caps, had informed England coach Roy Hodgson of his decision.

“After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football,” the player declared.

“At the age of 34, I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let the younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career.”

Ferdinand represented England at ever y level from the under-17s

Rio Ferdinand

upwards, captained England and was a member of three World Cup squads.

However, manager Roy Hodgson left him out of his Euro 2012 squad for “footballing reasons” amid tensions with Chelsea defender John Terry, who was involved in a racism row with Ferdinand’s brother Anton. Ferdinand was named in England’s squad for two World Cup qualifiers last March after Terry had announced his international retirement but withdrew to safeguard his fitness for Manchester United. His decision to then take a long-haul flight to Qatar to work as a television pundit for al-Jazeera did not go down well with England supporters, who could be heard singing songs against the player during the 8-0 crushing of San Marino.

Hodgson paid tribute to a player who, despite not being included in any of his teams, until yesterday ’s announcement had not yet been ruled out of next year’s World Cup in Brazil by the England manager.

“To have captained his country, to play at three World Cups and indeed score in one of those, marks him out amongst a very special group of players,” Hodgson said in a statement.

“I appreciated the call from Rio to inform me of his decision, which clearly he had spent much time considering before reaching this point.”

Ferdinand joined Manchester United from Leeds United in 2002 for 30 million pounds ($45.77 million) and has been a key part of their defence ever since, helping them win the Premier League title again this season.

His club career has not been without controversy, with the defender suspended for missing a drugs test in 2003. “I have always been very proud to play for England,” Ferdinand said.

“I would like to wish Roy and the team all the best for future tournaments. A big thank you to all the fans, managers, coaching staff and players that I have worked alongside - the journey has been incredible.”—Reuters

SAO PAULO: Mexico’s Tijuana goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo grabs a ball during the 2013 Copa Libertadores football match against Brazil’s Palmeiras, held at Pacaembu stadium. —AFP

Tijuana upset Palmeiras BUENOS AIRES: Palmeiras goalkeeper Bruno’s blunder gifted Colombian forward Duvier Riascos the softest of goals to put Tijuana on course for an upset 2-1 victory in their Libertadores Cup tie in Brazil on Tuesday. Tijuana, a northern Mexican border town side punching well above their weight in South America’s elite club competition, advanced to the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate after they were held to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Caliente.

Things will not get any easier for the Mexican underdogs in the last eight, however, as the victory set up a showdown against Ronaldinho’s Atletico Mineiro, who are firm favourites to win the title for the first time.

For Palmeiras, the dream of winning the trophy for a second time after their 1999 victory is over and, having been relegated last year, they must make do with concentrating on fighting for promotion from Brazil’s second division. Bruno let Riascos’s weak shot slip through his grasp and into the net in the 27th minute of the last-16, second leg at the Pacaembu in Sao Paulo. “It was a grotesque mistake that shouldn’t have happened. It was my fault, the first goal was critical for the defeat,” Bruno told reporters.

In a match littered with fouls, Venezuelan referee Juan Soto also blundered when he sent Tijuana defender Richard Ruiz off for what he thought was a second yellow card offence before realising he had not previously booked the player and called him back.

Tijuana-born midfielder Fernando Arce increased the away side’s lead early in the second half before being harshly penalised when the ball hit his hand and Palmeiras pulled a goal back with Souza’s spot kick in the 61st minute. Paraguayan defender Pablo Aguilar was then sent off, leaving Tijuana a man short for the last seven minutes but that did not dampen the team coached by Argentine Antonio Mohamed’s joy at qualifying. The Mexicans, who won their first league title in December, are the second side founded this century to reach the last eight after Peru’s Real Garcilaso. Garcilaso, formed in 2009 two years after Tijuana, upset three times South American champions Nacional of Uruguay on penalties last week.—Reuters

Guangzhou defeat Mariners in Asian Champions League GOSFORD: Brazilian forward Muriqui scored in the second half yesterday to lead Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande to a 2-1 win over Australian club Central Coast Mariners in the round of 16 of the Asian Champions League.

Mitchell Duke put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute before Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios equalized midway through the first half.

The A-League side looked set for at least a draw but Muriqui beat goalkeeper Mat Ryan with 15 minutes left.

Though Mariners had several chances in the last 15 minutes, Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng was in position to preserve the victory for Marcello Lippi’s side.

Guangzhou, helped by an investment of more than $60 million, has won the last two Chinese titles and was narrowly defeated in the 2012 Asian Champions League quarterfinals. Mariners operate under a salary

cap of $2.48 million. The return match will be played at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou on May 22.

“There’s a huge difference between the budgets and the quality in the front part of the field,” Mariners coach Graham Arnold said. “But again I was very proud of the performance and we’ll go over there and give it our best shot.”

In Jeanju, South Korea, Masato Kudo and Tatsuya Masushima scored to lead Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol to a 2-0 win over Jeonbuk Motors.

Kashiwa, the only Japanese team left in this year’s competition, went in front through an early header from Kudo. Goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno made a series of fine saves to protect the lead before Masushima headed home the second with 16 minutes left to put the 2011 Japanese champions ahead for the second leg at Hitachi Stadium next Wednesday.—AP

Mourinho wants to save face with King’s Cup win

England must improve to beat feisty New Zealand

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

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Scrutiny on Woods now for different reasons Page 17

AMSTERDAM: Chelsea’s players celebrate with their trophy at the end of the UEFA Europa League final football match between Benfica and Chelsea. — AFP

Chelsea win Europa League AMSTERDAM: A 93rd-minute header from Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea a stunning 2-1 victory over Benfica in the Europa League final yesterday as the London club claimed the trophy for the first time in heart-stopping fashion.

The game in Amsterdam seemed destined for extra time after Fernando Torres’ superb 60th-minute opener for Chelsea was cancelled out by an Oscar Cardozo penalty, only for Ivanovic to net a dramatic winner with a looping header in stoppage time.

Moments later, Chelsea’s players greeted the final whistle with a jubilant mass embrace, as they became the first team to simultaneously hold the Champions League and Europa League titles.

They will relinquish their Champions League crown in 10 days, but more lasting is the statistic that they are only the fourth club to have claimed Europe’s three major trophies-

including the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup-after Ajax, Bayern Munich and Juventus.

Chelsea’s interim manager Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, joins Giovanni Trapattoni as one of only two coaches to have won the trophy with two different clubs, following his 2004 success with Valencia. The manner of defeat was cruel on Jorge Jesus’ enterprising side and means that Benfica have now lost seven consecutive European finals since claiming their last major continental crown in 1962.

Benfica’s previous game was a damaging 2-1 loss to Porto that may have ended their Portuguese title hopes, but they banished any fears about their mental state with an assured start to the game that bordered on insouciance at times.

Indeed, so authoritative were Benfica, and so lacklustre Chelsea, that only an apparent inability to shoot at the appropriate moment prevented Jesus’ side from taking the lead before

half-time. Cardozo headed an early chance over the bar, Eduardo Salvio saw a shot blocked, Rodrigo miscued twice during a frantic goal-mouth scramble, and Nicolas Gaitan twice fired over after neat approach play. With languid former Chelsea man Nemanja Matic orchestrating Benfica’s attacks from a deep position, the English side were struggling to find a foothold.

They did not test Benfica goalkeeper Artur until Oscar put an effort straight at him in the 27th minute, although the Brazilian was almost deceived by a swerving Frank Lampard shot that he palmed over the bar in unorthodox fashion seven minutes before half-time.

Cardozo had a header ruled out for offside early in the second half, and although the call was correct, it was extremely marginal. Salvio saw a header fielded by Petr Cech in the 59th minute, but within seconds, the ball was in the Benfica net.

Cech’s long throw down the centre was helped on by Juan

City see off Reading

Wigan go down Arsenal 4

Wigan 1

LONDON: Wigan manager Roberto Martinez refused to confirm his future lies with the FA Cup winners after his side’s 4-1 defeat at Arsenal confirmed their relegation from the Premier League.

Martinez’s team will be back in the Championship for the first time in eight years next season, but whether their highly-rated boss will be with them remains to be seen.

Wigan have become the first club to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season, but Martinez’s stock is still sky-high thanks to their epic upset against Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday. The Spaniard is one of the favorites to take over at Everton following David Moyes’ impending move to Manchester United.

And the prospect of life in the second tier may persuade Martinez that now is the time to move on after he rejected approaches from Aston Villa and Liverpool over the last two years.

But for now he is playing his cards close to his chest. “If I am honest with you it is so fresh that we have been

relegated and I don’t think it is the time (to talk about the future,” he said.

“Now is not the time for individuals. When you walk into the dressing room after this match it is heartbreaking. “In the summer, as always happens, there will be assessments and whatever happens will happen.”

It was understandable that Martinez was unwilling to focus on his own situation at such a delicate time for his club. Just three days previously he had secured the first major trophy in Wigan’s 81-year history. But that incredible Wembley triumph had left his players running on fumes and they collapsed in disastrous fashion in the second half at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Shaun Maloney’s superb free-kick in first half stoppage-time had given Wigan hope after Lukas Podolski’s early opener.

But Wigan’s sloppy defending, their Achilles heel all season, returned to haunt them again as Theo Walcott, Podolski and Aaron Ramsey were allowed to score far too easily. “I know from the outside you could see relegation was possible but I never thought for a second it would happen,” Martinez said.

“I was confident this team could win the last two games, so it is difficult to describe the feelings. It comes as a shock. “I don’t think you get many managers saying they are proud of their players when they get relegated.

Mata and Torres showed superb strength and composure to hold off Luisao and then round Artur, delaying to send the goalkeeper down before rolling the ball home.

It was a Chelsea smash-and-grab goal plucked straight from last season’s Champions League textbook, but the lead was to last only eight minutes.

Cesar Azpilicueta handled Salvio’s header just inside the Chelsea penalty area and Cardozo drilled his spot-kick into the middle of the goal to claim his seventh goal in this season’s competition. Cech had to produce a finger-tip save to prevent a halfvolleyed lob by Cardozo from dipping beneath the crossbar, before Lampard almost gave the game a fairytale late finish with a 25-yard pile-driver that hit the bar. Extra time seemed certain when the fourth official raised the board showing three minutes of injury time, only for Ivanovic to send a header arcing over Artur from Mata’s corner and break Benfica’s hearts. — AFP

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LONDON: Arsenal’s English striker Theo Walcott celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match against Wigan Athletic. — AFP “But we don’t deserve to be in the bottom three. You will never see a better group of players than these in the way they play and represent the club.

“The FA Cup is an achievement we will never lose as a club. It’s just a real shame it happens in the same season as relegation.”

While Wigan face a gruelling slog to return to the Premier League, Arsenal are within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season. An eighth successive season without silverware meant the pressure was on Arsene Wenger’s team to at least finish in the top four and they will achieve that aim with a win at Newcastle on Sunday.

Wenger is confident Arsenal, one point clear of fifth placed Tottenham,

will finish the job after keeping their composure with so much at stake against Wigan.

“It is all open, it depends on our result. Even third place is not out of sight if we win the game,” Wenger said. “I’m confident because we have experience and we played for a long time under massive pressure this season. We always found the solutions to the problems we faced.”

The only dark cloud for Wenger on an uplifting night was an injury to Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta that makes him a doubt for Sunday’s crunch clash.

“Arteta has a calf injury. It would be a big blow if he doesn’t play, so I don’t rule him out at the moment,” Wenger said. “Maybe we will have to push (Jack) Wilshere in if he doesn’t play.” — AFP

MANCHESTER: Caretaker Manchester City manager Brian Kidd says Roberto Mancini’s sacking has rocked the club. City overcame their FA Cup final defeat to Wigan Athletic by beating relegated Reading 2-0 at Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night to guarantee they finished second in the Premier League. Goals from Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko were enough for the hosts, who began life without Mancini with a win.

But Kidd, City’s assistant manager, said the Italian’s departure had been tough to take. He said: “I got to be honest, if you were to ask me after what has gone in the last 48 hours, it has all come as a shock to the staff.

“I would have just taken the result tonight.

If you had said before the game we would get three points to claim second place I would have accepted that the way the last 48 hours have gone. It is not about me. I have just come in and been asked to take the team for these two games.

“I am a Manchester lad and how can I say no? We are not greedy, but we don’t have to qualify for the Champions League now and that is the least we should have done this season.

“All credit to the players. They have had to have put up with a lot of stuff (since

Wembley) and it would have been a travesty if we had not finished second. We appreciate the fans, they would have been so disappointed on Saturday, but we have come back for them tonight.”

City fans sang Mancini’s name after their hero had been sacked a year to the day since bringing the title to the Etihad Stadium. And Kidd thanked the supporters for backing the players.

“I am really grateful to the fans for their support,” he added. “They must have been so disappointed at Wembley. But they really came out tonight and you could really hear them and I am really pleased for them.

“The backroom staff have been terrific, there has been a lot of support which has been really great for me and you could go through the whole team. Let’s be honest, we have a terrific squad.”

Royals could still finish bottom after defeat, but they had goalkeeper Alex McCarthy in excellent form once again as they look to take some positives from what has been a disappointing season.

Coach Nigel Adkins said he was impressed with McCarthy’s performances, but added he must improve some areas of his game.

“He made some excellent saves and he has demonstrated that now on a few times. We want to build and play from the back and one or two of his distribution choices weren’t the greatest, but others were. “We believe he can be a top four keeper and international level and if you can play out from the back he can do that. “I’m sure there will loss of speculation, but we are in a good position in respect of the finances and there is good stability here. We’re not looking to lose Alex and are looking to build for the future.” —AFP

Business

EU threatens trade duties against China’s Huawei Page 22 What it takes to make GCC an industrial hub Page 26

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

Saudi regulations target stock market speculators

Sony shares surges Page 23 Page 23

LISBON: A broker watches a computer screen that shows a picture of Portugal’s Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar while working in a trading room of a Portuguese bank. Yesterday, Portugal collected 1.75 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in a debt auction, with a sharp drop in interest rates providing further evidence that market confidence in the bailed-out country is returning. — AP

German economy feels winter chill in Q1 Euro-zone likely to remain in recession FRANKFURT: The German economy, Europe’s biggest, got off to an unexpectedly weak start to the year, as it battled freezing winter weather, sagging exports and weak investment, official data showed yesterday. And with growth of just 0.1 percent, the economy only narrowly escaped a recession, which is technically defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by an anemic 0.1 percent in the period from January to March, following a brief and sharp contraction of 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, the federal statistics office Destatis calculated in a preliminary estimate. The number fell short of analysts’ expectations for slightly stronger growth of 0.3 percent in the first quarter of this year. Destatis data showed that the Germany economy had expanded by a seasonally- and calendar-adjusted 3.1 percent in 2011 but by just 0.9 percent for 2012 as a whole. While Destatis did not provide a breakdown of the lat-

est different GDP components-to be published later this month-it said that the “extreme winter weather conditions played a role in this weak growth.”

“According to our calculations, the only positive impulses came from private households which increased their spending at the start of the year,” the statisticians said. “In investments, the negative trend we saw in 2012 continued and investment was down quarter-on-quarter,” they said.

And foreign trade had little effect on growth, with both imports and exports falling. Germany, unlike most of its eurozone neighbours, has been spared the worst of Europe’s long and debilitating sovereign debt crisis, even if growth shuddered to a standstill at the end of last year. But the government, the Bundesbank and leading economic think-tanks are all projecting a rebound this year.

Just last month, Economy Minister Philipp Roesler said Germany could “look to the future with optimism”, despite

recent disappointing economic data and falling confidence.

“2013 will be a good year,” Roesler had said, upgrading Berlin’s growth forecast for the current year to 0.5 percent from a previous prognosis of 0.4 percent.

At a regular news briefing in Berlin yesterday, a spokesman for the economy ministry said “the decisive thing is that we’ve passed through the economic trough.” In the face of such optimism, buoyed by recent better-than-expected industrial data, analysts were disappointed by the first-quarter GDP figures.

Growth was “anaemic”, said Newedge Strategy analyst Annalisa Piazza. “The outcome is softer than anticipated. In a nutshell, the German economy seems to have struggled to gain momentum in the first quarter despite signs of resilience in its industrial activity data,” she said. Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz said Germany “will have to rely on domestic demand for growth this year.”

“For exports, Germany’s traditional growth engine, the out-

China owner smashes his Maserati in protest BEIJING: A wealthy Chinese Maserati owner hired four sledgehammer-wielding men to smash up his $420,000 supercar in protest at poor customer service, reports said yesterday. The car owner, identified only by his surname Wang, had the group attack the Maserati Quattroporte at the opening of an auto show in the eastern city of Qingdao, in Shandong province, the Qingdao Morning Post said.

Video images showed the men going about their task with gusto, leaving the vehicle with a shattered windscreen and mirrors, the grille broken and dents to the bodywork, draped in a banner accusing the Italian manufacturer of poor decision-making. Wang bought the luxury car in 2011 for 2.6 million yuan, the report said-around 100 times the average income of Chinese urban residents last year.

But problems first arose when he took it back to the dealer for an unspecified repair, with staff charging him for new spare parts despite using used ones, the paper quoted Wang as saying. It later failed to fix a problem with a door and scratched the vehicle, he added.

“I hope foreign luxury car producers acknowledge clearly that Chinese consumers are entitled to get the service that is commensurate with the brand,” Wang said. China is the world’s largest auto market after overtaking the US in 2009. It is also a key market for luxury brands, with the country’s growing ranks of mega-rich splashing out on fancy cars to show off their wealth. But buyers enraged by bad service have carried out similar actions previously.

In 2011, a businessman also in Qingdao reportedly destroyed a three million yuan Lamborghini after failing to get problems with the engine and other car parts repaired properly. — AFP

look remains more clouded this year,” the expert warned. “Still, based on strong fundamentals, German growth should accelerate over the course of 2013 and reach trend rates in the second half. A strong Germany also boosts export chances for the euro-zone periphery,” Schulz said.

UniCredit analyst Andreas Rees believed that the GDP data “should be taken with a pinch of salt, or maybe even two.”

They were “distorted to the downside by unusually harsh weather conditions ... which cannot be taken into account by standard seasonal adjustment methods,” he said.

In the construction sector in particular, there was a “whopping gap” in orders and output. “This is very good news for overall economic activity in the second quarter, since a catching-up effect will kick in very soon,” Rees said. Goldman Sachs economist Dirk Schumacher was similarly confident that “the fundamental picture remains sound, and we forecast an acceleration in the second half of the year.” — AFP

KAC picks Airbus over Boeing

QINGDAO: This picture shows men using sledgehammers on a Maserati car outside the Qingdao International Convention Center which is now holding the 12th Qingdao International Auto Show. — AFP

KUWAIT: State owned Kuwait Airways Co has chosen Airbus over the Boeing Co on the purchase or lease of new airplanes, Kuwaiti Communications Minister Salem al-Othaina said yesterday. “KAC received two offers from Airbus and Boeing and the board of directors approved the offer from Airbus because it is lower in cost,” Othaina told the official KUNA news agency.

Othaina, who oversees the airline that is seeking to replace its ageing fleet, did not give details of how many aircraft would be bought or leased. But local daily Al-Watan reported on Sunday that the offer includes buying 25 aircraft at a cost of $3 billion (2.3 billion euros) and leasing another 13. KAC will reportedly purchase 10 Airbus A350-900 aircraft and 15 of the A320neo model, and delivery is due to start in 2019.

The daily said KAC chose Airbus because its offer was $280 million lower than Boeing’s. In addition to modernising its fleet, the loss-making company wants to make the airline profitable before offering a local or foreign investor a 40 percent stake. Kuwait Airways has posted losses in all but one of the past 21 years, amounting to more than $2.7 billion, which have been covered by the government. — AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

EU threatens trade duties against China’s Huawei, ZTE Both companies deny illegal subsidies BRUSSELS: The European Commission plans to send a formal warning to China that it is ready to levy trade duties against telecoms equipment makers Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp over what it says are illegal subsidies, people close to the matter said. EU trade chief Karel De Gucht is set to win support from the bloc’s executive yesterday to send the warning letter and show China’s new president, Xi Jinping, that Brussels is serious about countering what it says is state support.

“We want to send a warning to the Chinese, a letter of intent that if they don’t change their practices, there will be duties,” said one person involved, adding that De Gucht had the full backing of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. China’s foreign ministry, as well as Huawei, the world’s second-largest telecom equipment maker behind Sweden’s Ericsson, and fifth-biggest vendor ZTE say the companies’ operations conform with international trading regulations. “ We hope the EU can proceed from the standpoint of protecting the stable development of trade relations with China and not make promises to undertake protectionist measures or adopt restrictive measures,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a news conference.

The EU decision marks an intensification of efforts to guard against what Brussels says is dumping by China, the EU’s second-largest trading partner. From June, the Commission will also levy duties on billions of dollars of solar panels from China, EU officials have told Reuters.

Unlisted Huawei was a little-known telecom equipment firm less than a decade ago but now, along with its smaller rival ZTE, it holds almost a quarter of the European market.

That poses a security risk, the Commission says, because European industries ranging from

healthcare to water utilities are becoming reliant on cheaper Chinese wireless technology. An internal EU report last year recommended that the 27-member bloc should take action against Chinese telecoms equipment makers as their increasing dominance of mobile networks made them a threat to security as well as to homegrown companies.

Chinese telecom equipment makers receive export rebates from the Chinese government and are also able to sell their equipment at lower prices as China’s state-run policy banks usually provide loans for network infrastructure in emerging markets, industr y sources said.

However, Huawei and ZTE argue that European governments also provide some form of incentives for their own telecom equipment makers, they said.

Collecting evidence A Huawei spokeswoman in Brussels declined to comment on the move, but the company denies receiving unfair subsidies. It says its advantages are due to low-cost manufacturing and that its products are secure. ZTE said its operations conform with trading regulations of the World Trade Organization and local markets, and it is also committed to safeguarding the interests of China and Europe.

“We are confident that our practices are in line with regulations in China and other markets,” said ZTE spokesman David Dai Shu. Huawei derives more than a third of its revenues from Europe, Middle East and Africa, while ZTE gets around a quarter of its revenues from Europe, the Americas and Oceania markets, company data showed. No further breakdown was available.

“There is probably slightly more impact on Huawei as it has a larger market share in Europe

compared to ZTE. Some of ZTE’s projects in Europe aren’t making money anyway,” said Yang Haofan, a telecom analyst from Guotai Junan Securities. “As for European vendors, they face getting fewer contracts for their bids in China’s 4G market if the EU does go ahead with its sanctions,” Yang said in Shanghai by telephone.

De Gucht told Reuters in February that there were serious concerns about China’s growing presence in mobile telecoms networks, noting that the United States and Australia had effectively shut Huawei out of their markets over security concerns. Last year, Germany excluded Huawei from supplying the infrastructure for a national academic research network.

But European manufacturers Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent SA and Nokia Siemens Networks fear retaliation in China if they push to launch an anti-subsidy case, so the Commission has been collecting evidence on Huawei and ZTE with a view to launching a case on its own initiative.

Division among EU countries over the telecoms issue meant De Gucht has trodden cautiously. Britain and the Netherlands have embraced Huawei as a major job provider, while France and Italy have been backing De Gucht on going ahead with sanctions. Officials say they now have proof of Chinese subsidies. “This is a political decision tomorrow,” said another person briefed on the Commission’s thinking. “It’s basically saying, we have all the evidence we need, we don’t need to launch an investigation,” the person said. The Huawei spokeswoman noted that the company had offered several times to meet the European Commission but was rebuffed. “We are open to talking with stakeholders. Because there are allegations, there are misunderstandings and misperceptions, that’s why we are always keen to discuss with all the stakeholders,” Tina Tsai said. —Reuters

EU raids oil majors in probe BRUSSELS: The European Commission has carried out surprise inspections at several major oil companies over possible price fixing in breach of EU anti-trust rules. The Commission did not name any of the companies involved in Tuesday’s raids but British energy giant BP, Shell and Norway’s Statoil said that their offices had been visited. The Commission statement explained that even small distortions of the market could have a “huge impact on the prices of crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels purchases and sales, potentially harming final consumers”.

In a statement, BP confirmed it “is one of the companies that is subject to an investigation ... We are cooperating fully with the investigation and unable to comment further at this time.” A Shell spokesman said: “We can confirm that Shell companies are currently assisting the European Commission in an inquiry into trading activities.

Norwegian firm Statoil and Platts, the world’s leading oil price reporting agency, also both confirmed they were being investigated. “The suspected violations are related to the Platts’ Market-On-

off”, telling the Daily Mail that it “has been warning since 2005 about the activity of speculation in oil and fuel markets.” David Bizley, technical director of car services company RAC, said the claims were “worrying news for motorists” and vowed his company would campaign for greater transparency in the UK fuel market.

Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint called the reports “very concerning”, which if true, suggested “shocking behaviour” in the oil market. “When the allegations of price fixing in the gas market were made, Labour warned that opaque deals and relying on price reporting agencies left the market vulnerable to abuse. “These latest allegations of price fixing in the oil market raise very similar questions,” added the Labour MP. “Consumers need to know that the prices they pay for their energy or petrol are fair, transparent and not being manipulated by traders.”

Colleague Chris Leslie said any evidence of price fixing would be “a shocking scandal for our financial markets” while Conservative MP Robert Halfon repeated his calls for a full investigation into alleged cartels and market manip-

Close (MOC) price assessment process, used to report prices in particular for crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels, and may have been ongoing since 2002,” said Statoil, which is 67 percent owned by the Norwegian government.

The European Commission said officials “carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of several companies active in and providing services to the crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels sectors. “These inspections took place in two EU member states,” a statement said, adding that one country in the European Economic Area (EEA) — of which Norway is a member-was also involved.

“The Commission has concerns that the companies may have colluded... to manipulate the published prices for a number of oil and biofuel products,” it said.

Additionally, the firms “may have prevented others from participating in the price assessment process, with a view to distorting published prices.”

British motoring groups and politicians lined up to voice their anger at the allegations. The Automobile Association predicted that “the lid is about to be blown

AHMEDABAD: An Indian saleswoman (unseen) arranges gold bars at a jewelry store, on the occasion of Guru Pushya Nakshatra (Auspicious Venture Day). India’s central bank announced plans yesterday to launch inflationlinked bonds next month in a bid to break the country’s love affair with gold and narrow the country’s ballooning current account gap. —AFP

Abu Dhabi fund names infrastructure head DUBAI: The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, has hired a senior Deutsche Bank AG executive to head its division that handles global infrastructure investments. Sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf Arab region are stepping up spending on infrastructure assets such as water companies, toll roads and airports as they seek stable returns amid increased volatility in equity and debt investments.

ADIA said on Wednesday John McCarthy, previously head of infrastructure at Deutsche Bank’s asset and wealth management arm, will oversee its existing portfolio and originate new transactions.

McCarthy replaces Chris Koski who left the fund last year and who was the go-to person for bankers and funds pitching infrastructure-related investments to the Abu Dhabi fund. Among other Gulf sovereign funds eyeing infrastructure investments, Kuwait Investment Authority is leading a consor-

ulation. “Last year, in a debate that I pressed for, parliament voted unanimously for an investigation into the oil market,” he explained.

“These latest allegations underline why that must happen urgently.

“High oil prices are crushing families across Britain. Motorists are being taken for a very expensive ride.” Britain’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) ruled out a probe four months ago, concluding there was “very limited evidence” that pump prices were being manipulated. Former Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Matthew Oakeshott compared the allegations to the Libor scandal, which resulted in several banks paying out huge settlements over claims they manipulated the key interest rate.

Larry Neal, the president of Platts, rejected similar accusations in a letter to the Financial Times earlier this week. “Your comparison of PRA (price reporting agency) activity to Libor is a false one,” he said. “While PRAs do obtain information from ‘traders who may have a vested interest in moving the markets,’ the agencies do not have any such vested interest,” he added.

“In contrast, our role is providing market transparency.” —AFP

tium that is eyeing British water company Severn Trent.

Elsewhere, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) hired Deven Karnik, the most senior managing director of Morgan Stanley’s Asia infrastructure fund, to head its new infrastructure business, a banking source told Reuters in April. ADIA, which does not disclose its assets under management but which industry executives estimate controls between $400 billion and $600 billion, owns a 9.9 percent stake in Thames Water, Britain’s largest water and waste water firm. It was one of the parties in a consortium which acquired a 24.1 percent stake in Gassled, Norway’s gas transmission pipeline system, in 2011. In April, a consortium which included a unit of ADIA bought the longterm leases on two major ports from Australia’s New South Wales state government for $5.35 billion. —Reuters

US targets Iran rial in sanctions pressure WASHINGTON: The US is aiming to block gold sales to Iranians to boost pressure on the rial currency, as it steps up sanctions over the country’s alleged nuclear weapons program, officials said yesterday. Top officials of the US Treasury and State Department said in Congressional testimony that sanctions were having a deep impact on Tehran, interrupting oil exports at a cost of $3-5 billion a month and contracting the economy.

The next step, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said, was to increase pressure on the currency, which has lost half of its US dollar value in the past year. “We will continue to identify ways to isolate Iran from the international financial system,” Cohen told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “In particular, we are looking carefully at actions that could increase pressure on the value of the rial.” That includes trying to prevent sales of gold to the Iranian government and Iranian citizens, he said. “There’s a tremendous demand for gold among private Iranian citizens, which in some respects is an indication of the success of our sanctions,” Cohen said. “They are dumping their rials to buy gold as a way to try to preserve their wealth, that is I think an indication that they recognize that the value of their currency is declining.” From July 1, he said, under new US sanctions legislation, Washington is forbidding gold sales to Iranians by anyone, including gold-

sellers in neighboring Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. “We have been very clear with the governments of Turkey and the UAE and elsewhere as well as the private sector that’s involved in the gold trade, that as of July 1st all must stop, not just the trade to the government.”

Cohen told the committee that sanctions were having repercussions on the Iranian economy, putting pressure on the country’s leaders to give way to international pressure over its suspected nuclear program. He said the US Treasury estimates the economy contracted five to eight percent last year because of a 50 percent decline in oil export volumes since 2011.

He also said the rial had fallen to 36,000 to the dollar on the open market from 16,000 at the beginning of 2012, forcing the Iranian central bank to tighten foreign currency supplies and driving inflation to more than 30 percent. In separate testimony, US State Department Undersecretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman said that attempts to block Iran’s oil exports, its key source of foreign exchange, were biting. Fourteen of 20 importers of Iranian oil have ended their purchases, and the other sixChina, India, Turkey, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan-have significantly reduced their imports, she said. “We are continuing, of course, to press them for further significant reductions as is required under the law.” —AFP

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

.2770000 .4310000 .3680000 .3020000 .2780000 .2940000 .0040000 .0020000 .0771240 .7513970 .3930000 .0720000 .7366120 .0370000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2841000 .4338920 .3707360 .3043390 .2795430 .0497330 .0443660 .2963730 .0365940 .2291130 .0029600 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0773800 .7538810 .0000000 .0757800 .7382100 .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso

ASIAN COUNTRIES 2.809 5.237 2.911 2.265 3.280 231.290 36.952 3.672 6.979

.2880000 .4470000 .3760000 .3170000 .2920000 .3020000 .0069000 .0035000 .0778990 .7589480 .4110000 .0770000 .7440150 .0440000 .2862000 .4370990 .3734770 .3065880 .2816100 .0501010 .0446940 .2985640 .0368650 .2308060 .0028810 .0052870 .0022880 .0029190 .0036810 .0779520 .7594530 .4048090 .0763400 .7436660 .0069870

Thai Baht Malaysian ringgit Irani Riyal Irani Riyal

Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

9.673 94.221 0.271 0.273

740.69 78.59 76.02

743.000 78.500 76.400

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd GCC COUNTRIES 76.511 78.835 745.230 762.060 78.126

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 41.200 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.595 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.338 Tunisian Dinar 173.820 Jordanian Dinar 405.170 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.925 Syrian Lier 3.117 Morocco Dirham 34.021 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 286.800 Euro 372.410 Sterling Pound 438.230 Canadian dollar 282.840 Turkish lira 158.720 Swiss Franc 298.440 US Dollar Buying 285.600 GOLD 298.000 150.000 77.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

SELL DRAFT 299.45 285.97 306.21 376.06 284.60 444.81 2.98 3.675 5.263 2.245 3.313 2.896 77.55 757.78 40.62 405.45

Selling Rate 286.550 284.780 447.730 371.435 297.210 758.655 77.995 78.655 76.375 403.940 40.620 2.265 5.235 2.904 3.675 6.969 702.930 3.800 9.730 4.095 3.365 95.500

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

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

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 298.000 285.000 307.000 374.500 285.500 449.000 3.300 3.720 5.450 2.430 3.400 2.953 78.000 756.800 40.500 410.000

British Pound Czech Korune Danish Krone Euro Norwegian Krone Scottish Pound Swedish Krona Swiss Franc Australian Dollar New Zealand Dollar Uganda Shilling Canadian Dollar Colombian Peso US Dollars Bangladesh Taka Cape Vrde Escudo Chinese Yuan Eritrea-Nakfa

SELL CASH Europe 0.4311675 0.0062090 0.0459301 0.3672796 0.0454118 0.4291120 0.0394043 0.2953155 Australasia 0.2754572 0.2290480 0.0001142 America 0.2763333 0.0001456 0.2839500 Asia 0.0036286 0.0031744 0.0455905 0.0165400

SELLDRAFT 0.4401675 0.0182090 0.0509301 0.3747796 0.0506118 0.4366120 0.0444043 0.3023155 0.2874572 0.2390480 0.0001142 0.2853333 0.0001636 0.2861000 0.0036836 0.0034044 0.0505905 0.0196400

Guinea Franc Hg Kong Dollar Indian Rupee Indonesian Rupiah Jamaican Dollars Japanese Yen Kenyan Shilling Malaysian Ringgit Nepalese Rupee Pakistan Rupee Philippine Peso Sierra Leone Singapore Dollar Sri Lankan Rupee Thai Baht Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Ethiopeanbirr Ghanaian Cedi Iranian Riyal Iraqi Dinar Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Lebanese Pound Moroccan Dirhams Nigerian Naira Omani Riyal Qatar Riyal Saudi Riyal Sudanese Pounds Syrian Pound Tunisian Dinar UAE Dirhams Yemeni Riyal

0.0000444 0.0343160 0.0051727 0.0000244 0.0028600 0.0027338 0.0033582 0.0908389 0.0031166 0.0028798 0.0064905 0.0000731 0.2267879 0.0022204 0.0092650 Arab 0.7524592 0.0390086 0.0129242 0.1454715 0.0000796 0.0001728 0.3979604 1.0000000 0.0001756 0.0219005 0.0012190 0.7324971 0.0779704 0.0758000 0.0465443 0.0031207 0.1728462 0.0765080 0.0012916

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) 285.700 374.550 440.000 285.150 2.855 5.228 40.550 2.257 3.668 6.933 2.905 760.850 77.850 76.300

0.0000504 0.0374160 0.0052367 0.0000295 0.0038600 0.0029138 0.0035882 0.0978389 0.0033166 0.0029198 0.0069605 0.0000761 0.2327879 0.0022624 0.0098650 0.7609592 0.0410386 0.0194242 0.1472615 0.0000801 0.0002328 0.4054604 1.0000000 0.0001956 0.0450052 0.0018540 0.7434971 0.0787534 0.0764400 0.0470943 0.0033407 0.1788462 0.0779580 0.0013918

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Saudi regulations target stock market speculators Biggest Arab market dominated by retail traders

NEW YORK: Traders gather at the post of specialist Ronnie Howard (center) on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. —AP

Stock market rises back into record territory NEW YORK: The stock market marched back into record territory Tuesday as investors seized on the latest encouraging news about the economy. This time, it was a report on the health of small businesses.

Small business owners were slightly more optimistic in April, according to a survey released by the National Federation of Independent Business before the stock market opened. That helped push the Russell 2000, an index of small-company stocks, up 1.3 percent, ahead of other major indexes.

“Small businesses are in many ways the backbone of the economy ... to see that index move up was a positive surprise,” said Quincy Krosby, market strategist for Prudential Financial. “Overall, the market wants to move higher and it’s hard to fight that.” The Russell index is 16.1 percent higher since the start of the year, and is up more than the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, which includes larger, global companies. Small stocks are doing well partly because they are more focused on the US, which is recovering, and don’t get as much revenue from recession-plagued Europe as larger companies do.

The advance in small-company stocks is another sign of how optimistic investors have become. Smaller stocks are more risky than large ones, but also offer investors the prospect of greater returns in a rising market. Another closely watched stock market indicator has also been on a tear: transportation stocks. The Dow Jones transportation average rose 1.9 percent Tuesday and is up 21.8 percent this year, far more than other major indexes. Investors often see these stocks as an indicator of where the economy is headed. When companies make and ship more goods, the thinking goes, truckers, airlines and railways do more business.

The market rose from the opening of trading and climbed steadily throughout the day. It got support early after hedge fund manager David Tepper said that he is still bullish on stocks. Speaking on CNBC before the market opened, Tepper said that investors shouldn’t worry about the Fed tapering its stimulus program. The money manager has about $18 billion dollars under management, according to the broadcaster.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 123.57 points, or 0.8 percent, to 15,215.25.

The S&P 500 index rose 16.57 points, or 1 percent, to 1,650.34. Both closed at all-time highs after stalling on Monday. The Dow has gained for 18 straight Tuesdays. The only day with a longer streak of consecutive gains is Wednesday, with 24 back in 1968, according to Schaeffer’s Investment Research. May has been a strong month for the market. The S&P has risen eight of the past nine days, the Russell and Dow transportation average have risen seven. The prospect of continued stimulus from the Federal Reserve has also supported the market’s run-up.

For stock investors, the US economy is “not too hot, not too cold,” said Michael Sheldon, chief market strategist at RDM Financial. It’s weak enough that the Fed will continue its $85 billion-a-month economic stimulus program, but strong enough for companies to generate healthy earnings.

“There is a lot of momentum in the market right now,” Sheldon said. “It’s largely being fueled by the Federal Reserve and

modest growth in the US.” The US economy grew at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the first quarter. While hiring has picked up, the unemployment rate is still at 7.5 percent, above the 6.5 percent rate that the Fed is targeting. As a result, the central bank is expected to keep buying bonds to hold down long-term interest rates and encourage more borrowing and spending.

Earnings of companies in the S&P 500 index, meanwhile, increased about 5 percent in the first quarter, and are expected to grow even faster in the second half of the year, according to S&P Capital IQ. All 10 industry groups in the S&P 500 index rose Tuesday, led by a 1.7 percent increase in banks and insurers. Financial stocks are up the most in the past month, 6.1 percent.

Bank of America climbed to its highest in more than two years. The stock rose 36 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $13.34. JPMorgan rose 56 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $50.23. The Nasdaq composite index rose 23.82 points, or 0.7 percent, to 3,462.61. The Dow has risen 16.1 percent this year, the S&P 500 index 15.7 percent.

DUBAI: A drive for tighter regulation of Saudi Arabia’s stock market may help to break the hold of short-term speculators on share prices, making the market more attractive to local and foreign institutional investors. This week the Capital Market Authority, operating under a new chairman, announced a series of measures designed to reduce the volatility of shares, make them harder to manipulate and improve the quality of listed companies.

Authorities have tried in the past to lift the market’s tone, with limited success. Currently over 90 percent of daily trading on the Arab world’s biggest stock market, which has a capitalisation of about $400 billion, is conducted by retail investors rather than institutions, officials say. Because such investors often chase short-term gains in lowpriced shares that are easy to manipulate, prices can become very volatile and money is sucked away from blue-chip companies that deserve to be more highly valued. This hurts the market’s role as a stable source of funds for corporate investment.

The CMA’s initiatives this week suggest it is making its strongest effort in years to change that pattern, fund managers and analysts said. “The new management of CMA has started their work to enhance the market overall - expect a few more changes,” said Mohammad Omran, an independent financial analyst in Riyadh. “These initiatives will try to organise the practices in the market and move it away from illegal and speculative trading.”

If successful, the reforms could make the Saudi market more welcoming to foreign as well as local institutional investors. At present foreigners can invest only via a small number of exchange-traded funds and swap arrangements; Riyadh has for several years been preparing to permit direct investment, though it has not set a date for implementation.

Stock market reform also has political implications. After the Arab Spring uprisings elsewhere in

the region, the government is spending billions of dollars to ease social discontent by cutting unemployment and poverty. Stronger capital markets could stimulate the private sector and create jobs.

New chairman The move against speculation appears to have backing at the top of the government. King Abdullah appointed Mohammed bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh, previously an executive director at the World Bank, as chairman of the CMA in February.

Al-Sheikh has worked at US law firm Latham & Watkins in Riyadh; the firm said he had nearly two decades of experience representing sovereign wealth funds and government bodies in Saudi Arabia, and that his law practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and project finance.

Last week Al-Sheikh told reporters that with other government bodies, the CMA was developing a strategy to promote institutional trading on the stock market, and was disappointed by the current “high levels of speculation” in shares. “The CMA should put a limit on this manipulation to safeguard investors. We are currently trying to address this issue,” he said.

On Sunday, the CMA announced stocks would be limited to price swings of 10 percent on their first day of trade, as opposed to the unlimited movement allowed previously. A 10 percent daily limit is already applied after listing day. By slowing the ascent of newly listed stocks, the new rule may give institutional investors, which tend to have longer-term horizons, more time to buy into them.

“This is a step towards a more sophisticated market - the price of the IPO will hold more value,” said Tariq Alalaiwat, international sales manager at NCB Capital. “Usually, books are more inflated than they need to be, and people buy into lossmaking companies for a quick buck.” The new

Currencies: The yen weakened against the dollar.

One dollar bought 102.24 Japanese yen as of late Tuesday, up from 101.93 yen late Monday. The dollar surged above 100 yen last week for the first time in four years.

Japan’s currency has been falling as the country’s central bank floods the Japanese economy with cash in an effort to revive it from a two-decade slump. The euro edged down to $1.294 from $1.297.

Commodities: The strengthening dollar weighed on commodities. When the dollar rises, it makes dollar-denominated commodities like crude oil more expensive to investors using other currencies, like yen and euros.

That tends to decrease demand for those goods, driving their prices lower. The price of crude oil fell 96 cents, or 1 percent, to $94.21 a barrel. Oil has lost $2.41 a barrel over the past four days. On Tuesday, a leading global energy agency raised its forecast for US oil production and cut its forecast for worldwide demand. Gold fell $9.80, or 0.7 percent, to $1,424.50. Copper dropped the most among major commodities. The July contract fell 7.2 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $3.288 a pound. —AP

Lanka hype runs out over economy

NEW DELHI: In this photograph, an Indian security official looks on as Air India’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrives at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal T-3. —AFP NEW DELHI: State-run Air India yesterday resumed flights of its Dreamliner jets four months after global regulators grounded the Boeing planes following technical glitches in the passenger aircraft. All 50 Dreamliners operating globally were grounded in January after a fire aboard a parked Japan Airlines 787 in January and a smoking battery that forced the emergency landing of an All Nippon Airways 787 the same month.

The US Federal Aviation Administration approved Boeing’s new battery system design in April which allowed airlines around the world to begin modifying the Dreamliner planes. “We treat the Dreamliners as a game-changer for us as this aircraft will improve our revenues over the years,” debt-laden Air India chairman Rohit Nandan told a news conference in New Delhi.

Air India is betting big on the Dreamliner to take on the competition in the country’s fiercely competitive airline market where nimbler private sector rivals with newer planes have badly eroded its market share. The resumption of Dreamliner flights by Air India came a day after India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation gave the green light to resume operation of the planes. Nandan added that the carrier will replace its eight older Boeing B-777s with widebodied Dreamliners. Airline officials said the carrier aims to make the Dreamliners its workhorse in coming years. “We will either sell or lease them... We are already in discussion with Boeing to help us in this matter,” Nandan said, declining

to give details. “We resumed service with two flights today and we will start flying Dreamliners to London on May 22 which will be followed by flights to Frankfurt and Paris,” said G.P. Rao, a spokesman for the national carrier.

“Both the flights were overbooked,” Rao told AFP. Chicago-based Boeing has insisted its Dreamliners are safe. “We are confident that the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity,” Boeing’s senior vice president Dinesh Keskar said at the joint press conference with Nandan. Air India bought 27 Dreamliners as part of a multi-billion-dollar deal in 2005. It received the first plane last September and now has six, with the remaining 21 due to arrive by 2016.

Air India chairman Nandan announced at the news conference that Boeing will deliver the seventh plane later in the month. The Indian Dreamliners were initially due for delivery between 2008 and 2011 but a row over demands by Air India for compensation for the delay held up delivery.

Air India’s once-commanding market share shrank to 18 percent last year in the face of fierce competition from private carriers that have taken to the air since India liberalised its aviation sector in the 1990s. The Indian government in April 2012 cleared a $5.75 billion bailout package to help the carrier, which has accumulated debts of $8.3 billion, but warned the airline that it would have to fend for itself in the future. —AFP

Sony shares surges after US fund proposes spin-off TOKYO: Sony shares rocketed yesterday after a US hedge fund called for the partial sell-off of its entertainment unit, in a rare bid by a major foreign shareholder to penetrate Japan’s staid corporate culture. The Tokyo-listed stock closed 10.38 percent higher at 2,072 yen, capping a big turnaround since last year when it dropped below 1,000 yen for the first time since the era of the portable Walkman music player.

Billionaire Daniel Loeb, who says his firm Third Point is now Sony’s largest investor through direct and indirect holdings, proposed selling off as much as 20 percent of the Japanese giant’s entertainment arm, which includes profitable movie and music divisions. Loeb-an outspoken shareholder activist known for his aggressive style in trying to force change at targeted firms-said he supported chief executive Kazuo Hirai’s bid to shake up one of Japan Inc.’s best-known names. “Since taking the helm as chief executive officer (last year), your stated commitment to reinvigorating the company has given us hope that Sony is entering a new era,” Loeb said in a letter to Hirai dated May 14. But “for Sony to change, Sony must focus”. The call comes as foreign investors take a renewed

interest in Japan with Tokyo’s pledge to stoke the country’s long-stagnant economy helping to send the benchmark Nikkei 225 index soaring to more than five-year highs. Last week, Sony reported its first annual net profit in five years, although it was largely driven by a weakening of the yen-which boost the value of its repatriated foreign income-and a string of asset sales including unloading its Manhattan headquarters. Hirai has launched what he called an “urgent” restructuring plan, including thousands of job cuts, as Sony continued to pile up losses in its ailing television and consumer electronics units.

Sony and and domestic rivals Sharp and Panasonic have struggled in the low-margin television business against foreign rivals, while slowing demand overseas and potentially strategic mistakes-such as coming late to the lucrative smartphone market-also battered their finances. Still, Japan’s electronics giants have been wary about slicing up businesses that encompass a vast range of consumer products with everything from DVD players to washing machines. Loeb wants Sony to float part of its media division, which includes one of Hollywood’s biggest movie studios and a major music label with artists

Impact Share price movements since Sunday suggest some investors are worried by the CMA’s policy.

Small-capital and insurance stocks, which are often favoured by speculators, have dropped; AlAhlia Cooperative Insurance Co plunged its 10 percent limit on Monday and by the same amount on Tuesday. The sector’s index lost 12.3 percent in the last three days.

The overall stock market has not suffered much, however, suggesting other investors see benefits in the reforms. The main market index fell 1 percent between Sunday and yesterday.

Alalaiwat said that in the long term, retail investors would be forced to become more intelligent in their stock picks, rather than simply chasing shares that appeared to have entered an uptrend. “These new regulations will calm down the market and people will have to start picking stocks with fundamental value.” —Reuters

Air India’s Dreamliner takes to skies

Big movers in stocks: Sony’s US-listed shares jumped 10 percent after hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb called for the company to sell part of its entertainment business and use the money to shore up its struggling electronics business. The stock rose $1.87 to $20.76.

Treasurys: In government bond trading, the price of the 10-year Treasury note fell and its yield rose to 1.97 percent from 1.92 percent late Monday, as investors shifted money out of bonds and into riskier assets like stocks. It’s the highest level for the yield since midMarch. The yield on the note hit a low for the year of 1.63 percent on May 1. It began surging two days later after the government reported a strong increase in hiring over the past three months.

rule might end debacles such as the case of National Medical Care Co, which listed on March 13. It rocketed to an intra-day high of 200 riyals from its initial public offer price of 27 riyals, but ended its first day at 122 riyals and by March 31, had slid back to 72 riyals.

On Monday, the CMA said it was discussing with industry participants a proposal to calculate a stock’s closing price using the average in the last 15 minutes of trading, weighted by volume, instead of simply the last trade. This would make it harder for traders to manipulate the closing price. The CMA also proposed sanctioning listed firms if their accumulated losses exceeded 50 percent of their capital. The current regulation sets a threshold of 75 percent. Earlier this month, authorities signalled they were serious about such standards by ordering the delisting and liquidation of Saudi Integrated Telecom Co, a relatively small and new firm which had struggled with losses for months.

such as Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift, by distributing shares to those who already have holdings in the parent company. The offering would act as an incentive to bring up the unit’s lagging profit margins, he said, adding that the “under performance would be remedied by a more disciplined management approach to Sony Entertainment”.

While such action is common in the United States, it is rare for a foreign shareholder to have success in bringing about change at a Japanese firm, with many major corporations controlled by domestic institutional shareholders. “I think it’s unlikely Sony will act on Third Point’s request,” said Seiichi Suzuki, analyst at Tokai Tokyo Securities. “Generally speaking, shareholders and companies in Japan share similar values in terms of seeking long-term profits from their mainstay businesses over the short-term benefits of a jump in the share price.” Hirai is set to outline Sony’s plans going forward next week, but the firm has initially rebuffed Loeb. Sony said it would continue “constructive dialogue with our shareholders as we pursue our strategy”, but added that the “entertainment businesses are important contributors to Sony’s growth and are not for sale”. —AFP

TOKYO: Models display the new smartphone handsets of Japanese mobile communication giant NTT Docomo (L-R) Sharp's Aquos phone Zeta, Sony's Xperia A, Samsung's Galaxy S4 and Fujitsu's Arrows NX in Tokyo yesterday. NTT Docomo also announced the company had formed a business alliance with smartphone based free voice and messaging service provider Line to enhance the convenience of voice and messaging applications for Docomo's smartphones. —AFP

COLOMBO: After crushing Tamil rebels four years ago Sri Lanka expected to become South Asia’s tiger economy, but exuberance has given way to mediocre growth and fears of more trouble ahead.

The country was almost broke when troops defeated separatist Tamil Tigers in May 2009, but Colombo predicted that ending 37 years of bloodshed alone would jump-start the economy and make Sri Lanka the “Singapore of South Asia”.

“Sri Lanka had a sudden opportunity at the end of the war, but we failed to leverage that,” said opposition lawmaker Harsha de Silva. “Our policies were not conducive to attracting global investor attention.” De Silva, who is also an economist, said the government’s reliance on state enterprises and the renationalistion of several privatised ventures in 2011 was a “knockout punch” that discouraged investors.

The record 8.0 and 8.2 percent growth rates in the first two full years after the war gave way to a much slower 6.4 percent last year-slower than during some of the war years. The government has predicted growth of around seven percent for 2013, but sources in the International Monetary Fund say that is too optimistic.

The IMF, which bailed out Sri Lanka with a $2.6 billion rescue package when foreign reserves hit rock bottom at the end of the war, is warning of a looming debt crisis and rising inflation. On the eve of the celebrations marking the killing of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on May 18, 2009, ending a protracted guerrilla war, the IMF country’s representative, Koshy Mathai, cautioned Colombo on the economy.

He said Sri Lanka’s revenue collection was among the lowest in Asia, public investment was also among the lowest and national debt at 80 percent of GDP was far too high. Mathai has urged Sri Lanka to reform hugely loss-making state enterprises, including the electricity monopoly which raised tariffs by over 65 percent, a move that has sparked widespread protests from trade unions.

Charu Lata Hogg of the London-based Chatham House thinktank said most Sri Lankans had yet to enjoy the peace dividend. “Iniquitous development, sustained military expense... and an escalating price rise have together ensured that the life of the ordinary Sri Lankan has not improved,” she told AFP. Colombo is also under pressure from the West to probe alleged war crimes by its troops and to seal an autonomy deal with minority Tamils to ensure there is no sliding back to war.

Unhappy with the lack of progress on this front, the European Union has withdrawn tariff concessions from President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government. Weaker exports coupled with higher imports saw Sri Lanka face one of its most lopsided balance of payments in 2011 with the trade deficit hitting a record $10 billion. It prompted a devaluation and an interest rate hike.

The central bank admitted last week that all was not well and it was cutting its key lending rate by 50 basis points in a bid to revive growth. The end of the war saw a revival in tourism, with hotels more than doubling their rates as the number of visitors to the tropical Indian ocean island broke the one million barrier.

Murtaza Jafferjee, an analyst at Colombo-based JB Securities, said tourism was important, but its contribution to GDP was minor compared to the struggling manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

“Tourism is important... but it’s not going to save the economy,” he told AFP. Independent economist Channa Amaratunga said the global slowdown had also affected Sri Lanka. “There is a lot of infrastructure work in war-affected areas, but the private investment is not enough,” Amaratunga said.

“There were unrealistic expectations of 10 percent growth at the end of the war. It is more tempered now.” —AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Jet Airways has daily services to Kuwait, Abu Dhabi from Kochi MUMBAI: Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, will introduce daily services from Kochi to Kuwait via Abu Dhabi, effective from today. Jet Airways presently operates double daily flights between Mumbai and Kuwait. The airline will deploy a state-of-the-art Boeing 737800 Next Generation (NG) aircraft on this route, offering Premiere and Economy guests the best in-flight product and services along with awardwinning in-flight Entertainment (IFE), as also

meals that are regional favorites.

The introduction of the new daily service will further strengthen Jet Airways’ presence in the Gulf, where it has emerged as one of the leading carriers on this sector, catering to the large number of Indians in the Gulf. The new service from the city will complement the airline’s existing daily Gulf operations to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Muscat and Sharjah, as well as Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, from sev-

eral cities in India. Jet Airways presently operates over 50 flights between India and the Gulf.

Jet Airways flight 9W 576 will depart Kochi at 1755 hrs (Local Time), arrive Abu Dhabi 2030 hrs (LT ), depart at 2120 hrs (LT ) and arrive Kuwait at 2205 hrs (LT). On the return direction, flight 9W 575 will depart Kuwait at 2305 hrs LT; arrive Abu Dhabi at 0150 hrs (LT); depart at 0240 hrs and arrive in Kochi at 0810 hrs LT the following day.

Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, said Jet Airways is happy to provide a daily service from Kochi to Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, an indication of the strong demand on this sector. Jet Airways has established itself as a prestigious brand on account of the warmth of its service and quality of its inflight product and we are confident that this daily service would also prove equally popular with its guests.

Mashreq signs 25-year concession contract with East Port Said Authority KUWAIT: Citadel Capital, the leading investment company in Africa and the Middle East, announced yesterday that core platform company Mashreq Petroleum has signed a 25-year concession agreement with the East Port Said Port Authority. The agreement is extendable by up to five years based on a 90 percent achievement rate of operational targets and will allow Mashreq to build the first independent tank terminal in Egypt.

“Coming on the heels of Cabinet-level approval for the project, the concession agreement between Mashreq and the Port Said Port Authority clears the way for the fast-tracking of this critical project, which stands as a backup to Egypt’s national energy security,” said Mashreq Petroleum Chairman and Managing Director Dr Tamer Abubakr. Mashreq Petroleum is a core platform company of Citadel Capital established in 2004 to build and operate the first tank terminal and logistics hub of its kind in the region. The original contract for Mashreq was signed on December 10th, 2005 under law number 8 of 1997.

The EGP 3 billion facility will have capacity for up to 800,000 metric tons of product, including liquid bulk (fuel oil, gasoil, naphtha and jet fuel) and bunker fuels. Mashreq will have an annual storage capacity of 10 million metric tons per year and an annual bunkering capacity of 2-3 million tons with three berths that will accommodate tankers up to 120,000 DWT and four berths for bunkering barges. The project will be completed in several phases.

The facility will primarily serve the liquid bulk market in the Far East, the Middle East and the broader Mediterranean region.

Mashreq will also provide fuel bunkering services for ships transiting the Suez Canal, to capitalize on the unique location of the world’s busiest maritime route, with more than 20,000 vessels transiting annually.

Total traffic through the Canal represents 10 percent of global maritime transport and approximately 22 percent of container

trade worldwide.

Mashreq’s growth prospects in the storage market are based on both the fast-rising rate at which petroleum products are transiting the Suez Canal as well as the Middle East and Mediterranean regions’ status as deficit markets for diesel and gasoil. Transportation of petroleum products through the Canal reached an estimated 110 million tons in 2012, growing at a rate of around 19% annually over the previous eight years, while there remains a notable shortage in bunkering services in the region.

The concession is based on a buildoperate-transfer (BOT) system for 25 years, extendable by one year for every five years during which the project achieves at least 90 percent of its operational targets. In total this will result in a 30-year concession in addition to a three-year grace period for construction. This strategically vital fuel bunkering and storage facility in Port Said Port supports the Suez Canal as the world’s leading maritime trade route for both commodities and petroleum products. The project is expected to help attract global companies and large shipping lines to operate at the port and simultaneously help ease the nation’s shortage of refined products by facilitating imports. In cooperation with EGPC, the facility will be linked to the national petroleum pipeline grid at a junction point located 17 kilometers south of the project. Mashreq will also help stimulate the growth of additional sectors in East Port Said, including the planned establishment of new power generation facilities and an industrial zone. All necessary regulatory and governmental approvals have been obtained, including approved environmental impact assessment reports.

Mashreq has also completed the design of its tank farm. Energy is one of Citadel Capital’s five core industries of focus alongside transportation, agrifoods, mining and cement. Citadel Capital holds a 25 percent ownership stake in Mashreq.

Turkish central bank wins respect for offbeat policy DUBAI: When Turkey’s central bank cut interest rates last month, its decision aroused a mixture of approval, criticism and sheer confusion about exactly what the decision aimed to achieve. Some economists suggested the bank was trying to ease pressure for the lira currency to strengthen; others that it was worried about slow economic growth. Some argued it should have raised rates, not cut them. Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan complained the cuts were months too late.

The controversy was par for the course under the bank’s iconoclastic governor Erdem Basci, who over the past 2-1/2 years has given Turkey one of the most complex monetary policy mixes of any major economy.

The Turkish central bank (CBRT) has been criticised for being soft on inflation, for failing to curb excessive loan growth at Turkish commercial banks - and for being baffling. “Inflation is declining, but the merits of the CBRT’s policy framework have not been fully established,” the International Monetary Fund grumbled in an annual report last September. It said different parts of the Turkish economy were interpreting central bank policy differently, and urged the bank to “avoid the impression that objectives and tools are at times in conflict”.

However, the bank has won growing respect from financial markets and mainstream economists. As central bankers in sickly developed economies replace inflation-busting efforts with money-printing, Basci has the complex task of ensuring that the cheap funds flooding into Turkey find productive use and do not simply pump up prices or make banks indiscriminate in their lending.

He can claim that while Turkish bond and equity prices are at record highs, the lira, whose wild swings destabilised the economy in years past, has been steady against the US dollar since early 2012. In January, the London-based magazine The Banker recognised Basci as “Central Bank Governor of the Year”, saying the CBRT “had moved ahead of other emerging markets” in designing steps to cope with volatile international capital flows. As the CBRT gears up for its next policy-setting meeting this Thursday, its success or failure could sway the monetary policy approach of central banks in other fast-growing emerging markets which face similar challenges.

Controversial Turkish policy is largely the brainchild of Basci, a 46-year-old former academic who taught in Turkey and Britain before becoming CBRT deputy governor in 2003. In April

2011 Turkey’s president appointed him to a five-year term as governor. Instead of hiking interest rates to fight high inflation, as orthodoxy might suggest, the monetary policy committee chaired by Basci has kept rates low to support economic growth during successive crises elsewhere. By preventing appreciation of the lira, this has helped to fuel Turkey’s export boom.

To deter destabilising flows of speculative money into Turkey, Basci created a wide “corridor” between the rates at which the CBRT can borrow and lend in the overnight money market, and manipulated funding costs inside the corridor. He tried to rein in commercial bank lending growth and limit inflationary pressure not with traditional interest rate rises, which would have invited in more money, but by hiking the reserves which banks must store at the central bank. A refinement of the system allows some of the reserves to be held in foreign exchange and gold, adding to the complexity.

Basci’s policy is a radical response to the boom-bust cycles that plagued Turkey in past decades. It has removed some of the traditional certainties of central banking, such as the idea that a rise of inflation should be met by higher interest rates one reason the policy has proved so controversial. Some analysts detect another factor behind the criticism of Basci: the political and social changes that Turkey has undergone over the past decade under the rule of the moderately Islamist AK Party which, to the dismay of secular Turks, has relaxed the state’s control over the expression of religion.

Basci’s wife wears an Islamic headscarf, and many Turks believe this was a reason why the country’s then-president, the staunchly secular Ahmet Necdet Sezer, vetoed him as CBRT governor in 2006.

“Scepticism over Basci had to do a lot with social and sociological sensitivities,” said Osman Cevdet Akcay, chief economist at Yapi Kredi Research in Istanbul, who describes Basci as a “borderline genius”.

“The financial community did not give him the benefit of doubt when he took office.”

The soft-spoken, politically adept Basci has avoided getting into slanging matches with his critics, but he has defended his policy on the grounds that ensuring stability of the financial system has become a priority in an uncertain global environment.

“Nowadays, since we have fiscal prudence in Turkey, we are focused more on financial stability and how to minimise the sideeffects of extremely volatile international capital flows,” he told CNBC television in February. —Reuters

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Ryanair’s growth rate seen doubling by 2018 Fares on new routes set to reduce

MARIKANA: Striking Lonmin mine workers dance and sing as they gather at the Wonderkop stadium yesterday during an illegal strike. —AFP

Lonmin’s South African strike enters 2nd day MARIKANA: Labour strife in South Africa’s platinum belt intensified yesterday as a wildcat strike across Lonmin’s shafts entered a second day, raising fears that further violence could hit the country’s credit rating. Tensions have been running high over looming job cuts and wage talks in the sector, complicated by a turf war between rival unions that contributed to violent strikes at Lonmin and other platinum producers last year. Further outbreaks of violence could damage the export competitiveness of South Africa’s mining industry, with a possible credit downgrade for Africa’s biggest economy, analysts at ratings agency Moody’s said in Johannesburg yesterday.

At Lonmin’s Marikana mine 120km (70 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, several dozen strikers brandishing sticks and branches marched to a dusty football pitch yesterday, chanting slogans denouncing the security forces. Company spokeswoman Sue Vey told reporters that Lonmin had not been issued with any formal demands relating to the two-day walkout at all its 13 shafts. “It seems to be union rivalry,” she said.

The rivalry between the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) erupted early last year at rival Impala Platinum. The AMCU has recruited thousands of members from the 30-year-old NUM. Since the start of the unrest, violent strikes and protests have resulted in more than 50 deaths, including the killing of 34 striking Marikana miners by police last August.

An NUM spokesman said on Tuesday that the latest strike appeared to stem from anger over the killing of an AMCU member in a Rustenburg tavern on Saturday. Police kept a low profile yesterday, with only one mine security guard watching as the striking workers made their way to the football

pitch. “The police are shivering,” shouted the marchers, wearing the signature emerald green shirts of the AMCU. Ominous sign The challenge to NUM’s dominance of the sector has also rattled the African National Congress (ANC), the mining union’s ally in the struggle against apartheid, especially as the ruling party gears up for an election this time next year.

The previous day, strikers warned that those wanting to return to work would be treated like “rats”, an ominous sign of intimidation that has prevailed around Marikana since August. “We don’t want NUM,” one miner told Reuters, declining to give his name. The hostility between the factions on the ground was mirrored in a fractious radio debate yesterday, in which the two unions’ leaders traded insults and blamed each other for instigating the violence that undermined 2012 growth and triggered ratings downgrades early this year. “ Their introduction in the area was through violence,” NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said on the Talk Radio 702 show. “People were intimidated to join AMCU. They were threatened and others were killed. For them to sustain that membership, they must maintain instability, severe violence, otherwise people will come back to the NUM.” AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa countered by accusing senior ANC party deputy president and NUM founder Cyril Rampahosa of stoking the fire in a May Day speech in which he urged the NUM to fight back. Lonmin shares fell more than 3 percent, compounding Tuesday’s 7 percent decline, while the rand retreated to a three-week low against the dollar on fears that the unrest might spread across a sector that accounts for nearly half of South Africa’s foreign exchange earnings. —Reuters

LONDON: This file picture shows a branch of HSBC bank in London. —AFP

HSBC says will cut more costs by 2016 LONDON: Asia-focused bank HSBC announced yestedray that it will make another $2-3 billion (1.5-2.3 billion euros) of new cost savings, as the group seeks to boost profitability. The lender said in a statement that it will seek the additional sustainable savings between 2014 and 2016. Questioned about the impact on jobs, chief executive Stuart Gulliver told journalists that the bank would employ between 240,000 and 250,000 staff worldwide by 2016. That compares with the current level of 254,000.

HSBC had already revealed last week that it had slashed $4.0 billion from its annual costs, axing about 46,000 jobs since 2011 under its previous three-year restructuring plan. “We have transformed HSBC in the first phase of the execution of our

strategy,” Gulliver in yesterday’s statement.

“We have announced the closure or disposal of 52 non-strategic or underperforming businesses, achieved $4.0 billion of annualised sustainable cost savings and generated double-digit loan growth in 15 priority markets.

“HSBC is now simpler, easier to manage and ready to take advantage of growth opportunities.” HSBC had announced last week that first-quarter net profits more than doubled to $6.35 billion, aided by sliding bad debts, deep cost cutting and a solid performance in Britain and Hong Kong. Last year, however, HSBC had posted a 16.5-percent slump in net profits as it was hit by US money-laundering fines, mis-selling scandals, rising taxation and a vast accounting charge. —AFP

M&S’s make-or-break clothing strategy gets early thumbs-up LONDON: Fashion media and analysts broadly welcomed Marks & Spencer’s new clothing strategy and a preview of autumn/winter fashion ranges, giving the firm’s boss some respite from pressure over falling sales. Britain’s biggest clothing retailer said on Tuesday it would focus on better quality and styles in womenswear, deliver more compelling and clearer sub-brands, and make shopping easier in stores, as it tries to reverse nearly two years of declining sales.

Yesterday, shares in the 129-year-old firm, up 20 percent over the past year after periodic bouts of

bid speculation, rose up to 4 percent, hitting a five-year high of 438 pence.

However, bookmaker Ladbrokes still made Chief Executive Marc Bolland odds-on at 8/11 to have left his position by the end of the year. “The changes outlined contained a variety of enhancements based on detailed customer feedback that even the bears will find hard to completely ignore,” said analysts at N+1 Singer, arguing that investors should not underestimate the potential from the changes if they gained traction. —Reuters

DUBLIN: Ryanair aims to grow much faster than previously indicated over the next five years in a bid to exploit the weakness of mid-tier European rivals struggling with recession, the firm’s chief operating officer has told Reuters. Three decades after it launched the industry’s cheap flights revolution, the Irish airline hopes to raise passenger numbers by more than 8 percent annually in 2015-18, double last year’s growth and up from a forecast of 5 percent it gave in March. “What we have indicated to the market is pretty conservative, it is at the lowest level we would expect,” deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer Michael Cawley said in an interview. “It’s very likely to be much higher, edging up to 7 or 8 or even more.”

The bullish tone is firmly at odds with the economic troubles afflicting business and governments across Europe. Cawley said the debt problems faced by many of the continent’s less developed and tourism-heavy southern countries would play into Ryanair’s hands, forcing the privatisation of airports and liberalisation of labour markets to provide the cheaper regimes it demands before investing in a route. The airline is “quite optimistic” it can clinch a deal to boost passengers to Greece to 10 million passengers

per year from 1.5 million at present and said the government was actively trying to unwind historic agreements with airports.

“You can look at the countries on the periphery and say they are basket cases, but in fact the inverse of that is the case. They are underserved,” Cawley said. He said, for example, that the number of seats per head of population was around five times higher in Dublin, Ryanair’s home base, than in Athens, pointing to the room for expansion. Cawley said he saw huge potential in secondary airports in other parts of the Balkans and described Israel as a “fantastic opportunity”, principally as a tourist destination.

On a budget Ryanair’s no-frills model has attracted more international scheduled passengers than any other airline, and it hopes to boost its share of the European short-haul market from around 12 percent now to 20 percent within a decade. Agreeing to buy 175 Boeing planes in March, the airline said it would grow its fleet to 400 by 2018, flying 100 million passengers per year, substantially at the expense of Europe’s national legacy carriers.

But Cawley said numbers would only be that

low if a “very significant” number of planes were sold or returned to leasing companies and that a number of 420-430 planes was more likely.

Ryanair has a history of guiding the market down before beating expectations. It is due to release its full-year results next Monday, with analysts forecasting pre-tax profit of 633 million euros, according to a Reuters poll. Rapid expansion will come at a cost, however, with discounted tickets on new routes cancelling out price increases elsewhere, cutting average fare growth sharply from the 16 percent seen last year.

“Fares (on new routes) will reduce, undoubtedly, that is how we expand,” Cawley said. “That’s the only way to stimulate more people to travel. particularly in the economic environment we are in today.” “But (overall) we should see fares stable at least.” Non-ticket income from extras such as baggage and in-flight refreshments, which accounted for 21 percent of revenues last year, will show “considerable growth” in 2013, boosted by the surprisingly successful roll out of reserved seating on planes. It is more difficult to predict how they will perform over the next few years, but they will likely grow “a little bit ahead of passenger traffic,” Cawley said. —Reuters

Walmart checks Bangladesh factories NEW YORK: Wal-Mart Stores Inc stepped up Bangladesh factory inspections while US and European retailers pursued separate accords to try to prevent another disaster in a garment industry where more than 1,200 workers have died in the past six months.

Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, said it does not plan to sign a fire and building safety agreement backed by some of Europe’s biggest apparel brands because it believes its own safety inspection plans will get faster results.

Wednesday is the deadline for retailers to decide whether to join the consortium, led by labour groups such as Europe’s IndustriALL. Other U.S. retailers including Gap Inc said they would not join the European pact without changes in the way conflicts are resolved in the courts. US companies have been reluctant to join any industry accord that creates legally binding objectives.

“Walmart believes its safety plan meets or exceeds the IndustriALL proposal, and will get results more quickly,” the US retailer said in a statement on Tuesday.

Walmart has begun checking the 279 factories that supply its stores, and plans to inspect them all within six months. Its checks have already turned up two locations with safety problems and it asked the Bangladesh government to suspend production at those factories.

In Chittagong, about 250 kms (15 miles) from Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, workers at one factory that Walmart wants closed said they were unaware of any safety concerns and business was proceeding as usual.

Company officials at Stitch Tone Garments Ltd said they were no longer making clothes for Walmart, but did not say who they were currently supplying.

“We don’t know about the problems of our owners. We don’t know about the risk of building. We are working for our livelihood. If we stop the work, we cannot survive,” said one of the workers, Parvin Akter.

The minimum wage for Bangladesh’s garment workers is about $38 a month, although many factories pay more than that in order to attract workers in a tight labour market. Bangladesh ranked last in minimum wages for factory workers in 2010, according to World Bank data.

The April 24 collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar, near Dhaka, has focused attention on safety standards at Bangladesh factories that make clothing for the world’s major apparel brands and retailers. The death toll stood at 1,127 as rescue operations ended this week. But the companies that rely on Bangladesh for inexpensive apparel have yet to agree on how best to ensure safe working conditions. Walmart’s approach may be faster, but touches only a fraction of Bangladesh’s estimated 6,500 garment factories. The European-led accord will take months to implement, but covers a wider spectrum.

Trans-Atlantic split North American retailers discussed forging their own Bangladesh safety agreement as an alternative to Europe’s plan, though details were sparse. The National Retail Federation, one of the largest US retail trade associations, spoke on Tuesday with other trade groups and with its member companies about a possible accord among North American retailers. Details from those calls were not yet available. Despite the differences between US and European companies, the fact that the world’s biggest retailers were ready to act shows how the latest tragedy has begun to bring about change.

In Dhaka, the government has inspected and closed more than a dozen garment factories because of structural problems. Workers have also begun to demand greater safety and labour rights protections.

Earlier this week, worker unrest prompted authorities to shut more 300 garment factories for indefinite periods in the Ashulia industrial belt, on the outskirts of Dhaka, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of total exports.

Garments make up about 80 percent of Bangladesh’s exports, so the government is keen to ensure business continues as usual. With wages less than half of what workers make in China, Western retailers are just as eager to keep sourcing from Bangladesh. But some workers doubt that change will come any time soon. Mominur Rahman, who damaged his spine jumping from the third floor to escape the deadly fire that ripped through the Tazreen factory in November, said working conditions remain tough.

“We need to work collectively: workers, factory owners and the government, to see improvement,” he said through an interpreter at a workplace safety conference in Thailand last week. “The factory inspection system in Bangladesh needs to be increased and improved. I never saw a factory inspection at the Tazreen factory, not once. Same with the Savar tragedy, nothing will change immediately.” —Reuters

TOKYO: A woman walks by the electronic stock board of a securities firm yesterday. —AP

Asia shares gain, Tokyo jumps as yen tumbles HONG KONG: Asian shares were mostly higher yesterday, with the tumbling yen pushing Japanese stocks to a fresh multi-year high as improving confidence in the US economy boosted prospects for regional exporters.

Tokyo jumped 2.29 percent, climbing above the psychologically key 15,000-mark for the first time in more than five years to end at 15,096.03 as the greenback surged through the 102-yen level following record-setting gains on Wall Street.

“Renewed yen weakening should help Japan stocks to set fresh year highs, helped by fresh investor fund flows and faith in an accelerating global economy,” said SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities Hiroichi Nishi. Sydney fell 0.56 percent, or 29.3 points, to 5,191.7 after the government’s austere budget, unveiled late Tuesday, which pushed back its plans to return to a surplus by four years.

Seoul gained 0.12 percent, or 2.43 points to 1,971.26, Hong Kong climbed 0.50 percent, or 113.96 points, to 23,044.24 and Shanghai rose 0.35 percent, or 7.79 points, to 2,224.80.

US stocks surged to new all-time closing highs Tuesday on renewed optimism after a prominent hedge fund manager said the stock rally of 2013 still had room to go higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.82 percent to a record 15,215.25. The broad-based S&P 500 also reached a new high, adding 1.01 percent

to 1,650.36. Analysts said there was little fresh news to drive the gains, but pointed to bullish investor David Tepper, head of the Appaloosa Management hedge fund group, who told CNBC that the market could still go higher.

Recent economic data from the United States has pointed towards a steady recovery in the world’s largest economy. On Monday the US announced a slight improvement in consumer spending, with retail sales in April touching $419.0 billion, up from $418.7 billion the previous month, boosting the earnings outlook for Asian exporters.

The April jobs report in early May was also stronger than expected. The US economy added 165,000 new positions and February and March job growth numbers were revised sharply upwards. Inflation data, which is due today, will be the next key US release. The dollar was at 102.59 yen in Asian trade compared with 102.21 yen in New York late Tuesday-well above the mid-101 yen range a day earlier in Tokyo. The euro bought $1.2903 and 132.38 yen compared with $1.2935 and 132.29 yen in New York.

Oil was up in Asian trade, with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in June, gaining 11 cents to $94.32 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for June delivery adding 10 cents to $102.70. Gold was at $1,411.24 at 0935 GMT compared with $1,428.40 on Tuesday. —AFP

Bangladesh bosses, labour hail retailers’ safety pledge DHAKA: Bangladesh labour activists and garment-makers, relieved clients are staying put despite last month’s factory disaster, hailed yestedray a promise by top retailers to make the country’s factories safer. The pledge followed last month’s collapse of a nine-storey factory complex outside Dhaka that killed 1,127 people in one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. Labour activists have campaigned for years for a Western retailer-led drive to improve shocking safety conditions at factories where workers toil for long hours in sweatshop conditions for paltry pay.

The retailers’ commitment represents a “huge victory”, said Kalpona Akter, head of the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity. The agreement, backed by a Europe-based labour coalition called IndustriALL, is “going to benefit each and every garment worker”, he said. Top global brands including Benetton, Carrefour and Marks & Spencer joined clothing giants Inditex of Spain and H&M of Sweden on Tuesday in signing on for the deal to improve fire and building safety to avert future tragedies.

Italy’s Benetton, along with Spanish company Mango and British retailer Primark, had placed orders with plants in the collapsed Rana Plaza complex which was found to have seriously violated construction laws. “We welcome this agreement,” said Atiqul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association which represents

4,500 apparel factories.

“If they come forward and help repair, retro-fit or strengthen our factories it’s good for all of us. It’s a reflection of their long-term commitment to Bangladesh,” Islam told AFP. Bangladesh is the world’s second largest apparel maker and the $20 billion industry accounts for up to 80 percent of annual exports, but its factories have an appalling safety record. The agreement, due to be formally signed in coming days, commits retailers to have independent building and fire safety inspections and pay for repairs.

The full list of signatories has yet to be revealed. But US-based PVH, owner of the Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands, and Germany’s Tchibo were among the first to support it, according to anti-sweatshop network The Clean Clothes Campaign. US retail giant Walmart has said it will inspect all 279 of its Bangladesh suppliers for safety but has so far refused to sign on to the safety plan accepted by the European retailers.

Ahsan Mansur, former Middle East division head of the International Monetary Fund, told AFP the agreement is a win-win situation. “For the retailers, it was impossible to leave Bangladesh because they can’t build up another such huge manufacturing capacity elsewhere overnight,” he said. “This agreement won’t cost them much. They can still make clothing cheaper here while sending a message to consumers they’re doing something for the workers,” he added. —AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

BUSINESS

Cohn & Wolfe takes minority stake in BPG Partnership deepens global agency’s client portfolio KUWAIT: Cohn & Wolfe (www.cohnwolfe.com) announced it will take a minority stake in BPG | pr, one of the most respected PR agencies in the Middle East. The move strengthens and broadens Cohn & Wolfe’s offer to clients across the MENA region and follows on the heels of the agency’s AsiaPacific expansion in China, India and

work, while bringing Cohn & Wolfe clients deep expertise in the MENA region across lifestyle, FMCG, travel and tourism, healthcare, corporate and government.

BPG | Cohn & Wolfe provides PR and marketing services to leading global and regional brands including RollsRoyce Motor Cars, Visa International,

Dhabi, Baghdad, Doha, Jeddah and Kuwait as well as affiliates in Cairo and Muscat.

“The Middle East is one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest growing regions and is becoming increasingly important for our global clients.

When it came to finding an established, credible partner that understands the

our global network and international expertise,” she added.

Commenting on the new partnership, BPG Group Chief Executive Avi Bhojani said: “Engaging in this new relationship will add significant value and further impetus to what is already a successful and growing public relations business at BPG. “Cohn & Wolfe is recognised as one of the world’s most creative agencies with a strong commitment to digital and social media that will enable us to

Donna Imperato, CEO Cohn & Wolfe

Team BPG | Cohn & Wolfe Southeast Asia.

BPG | pr is part of the BPG Group (www.batespangulf.com) that has been creating and executing integrated solutions for its clients since it began operations in 1980 in Dubai. Since inception, the Group has helped build global brands out of local initiatives. The new agency, BPG | Cohn & Wolfe, will provide current BPG clients with access to an award-winning international net-

Omega, Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), Masafi, Jumbo Electronics, Oetker Collection, Ellucian, Rivoli, Mall of Qatar, Alshaya Group and Jashanmal. BPG | Cohn & Wolfe has a multinational, multilingual staff of 34 professionals from 13 countries. The network is one of the few public relations agencies established in the Middle East, with headquarters in Dubai and additional offices in Abu

complexities and opportunities of this market, and its demand for world class communications services, BPG | pr was best in class,” said Donna Imperato, CEO of Cohn & Wolfe.

“Cohn & Wolfe is looking forward to ensuring that the synergies between our two businesses offer our global clients stronger services in the MENA region while providing clients of BPG | pr with an opportunity to benefit from

share best global practice and bring new concepts to our clients in the region, while offering our local as well as regional clients access to a global network.”

The new partnership is also in line with BPG’s already successful strategy of forging alliances with best in class WPP businesses around the world. The new BPG | Cohn & Wolfe alliance adds to the group’s existing advertising brand BPG | Bates, digital business BPG | Possible and media business BPG | Maxus and world standard specialist healthcare business BPG | Healthworld.

Etihad Airways opens new route to Washington, DC KUWAIT: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has opened new routes between Kuwait and Washington, DC, the capital of the United States, offering Kuwait-based travellers greater access and convenient connections via its hub in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways commenced non-stop daily flights

Etihad Airways serves the Abu Dhabi Washington, DC, route with ultra-long range Airbus A340-500 aircraft, seating 240 passengers in a spacious three-class cabin - 12 in Diamond First, 28 in Pearl Business and 200 in Coral Economy Class.

“Washington has established itself as one of the world’s most popular destinations and we anticipate

to Washington, DC, on April 1. The new service was introduced to meet the strong demand for government and business travel, as well as the growing demand for leisure trips to the US capital, and onwards to key cities across North America.

tremendous demand for this new Etihad Airways service from our guests across the Arab Gulf region,” said James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways.

When travelling from Kuwait, the airline’s

Diamond First and Pearl Business Class guests can relax in style in the Etihad Airways signature lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport, where they can enjoy a wide range of exclusive services including soothing relaxation spaces, elegant fine dining areas, state-of-the-art business amenities, luxurious bathrooms with invigorating shower facilities, and family entertainment areas.

The airline has also opened a new prestigious premium lounge facility at Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC. Located next to the airline’s departure gate in Terminal A, the lounge provides premium passengers with unfettered and convenient direct access to the aircraft without having to go through a traditional departure gate. Washington, DC, is the fourth North American destination for Etihad Airways after New York, Chicago and Toronto.

Etihad Airways’ flights from Kuwait to Washington, DC operate daily, with flight EY306 departing Kuwait at 4:20 am, and arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 7:00 am. For the onward leg, flight EY131 departs Abu Dhabi at 10:00 am and arrives in Washington, D.C. at 5:00 pm the same day.

On the return, flight EY130 departs Washington at 10:15 pm and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7:45 pm the following day. On the return flight to Kuwait, flight EY307 departs Abu Dhabi at 8:50 pm and arrives at Kuwait International Airport at 9:30 pm.

Kuwait’s construction projects valued at $250.6bn KUWAIT: The value of Kuwait’s construction market and its influence on the strength of the GCC’s position as an international hub has been highlighted in a recent report. Currently valued at $250.6 billion, ongoing construction projectscontribute a growing proportion of the GCC’s $2.54 trillion spend on the industry, according to the report from Zawya commissioned by The Big 5 Kuwait 2013.

The commissioned report revealed that there are signs of a greater determination by Kuwaiti authorities to implement large infrastructure projects associated with the government’s four-year $108 billion National Development Plan. The plan includes a new $6 billion airport terminal, $7 billion metro, new refinery and hospitals.

Supported by the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry, The Big 5 Kuwait will take place at the Kuwait International Fair. The show anticipates significant participation frominternational companies looking to capitalise on the market’s potential.The Big 5 Kuwait will host exhibitors from over 20 countries, including Australia, Spain, Italy,Canada,Hong Kong, UAE and Kuwait,to showcase a huge breadth of new technologies and products from heavy machinery to fit-outs.

“The Big 5 Kuwait will bring international suppliers of construction productsto a market with significant potential in the GCC.With 30 years of success in Dubai and The Big 5 Saudi doubling in size since 2011, our history is an excellent indicator,” said Andy White, group event director for The Big 5.

“The show also aims to bring together industry experts and key decision makers to highlight opportunities in investing in a long-term sustainable infrastructure that can support and contribute to Kuwait’s national development plan.”

The exhibition will highlight the latest technologies such as the wind and solar CHP and PV system that harnessrenewable energy sources to deliver sustainable buildings. The Big 5 Kuwait will also introduce cost-effective integrated technology solutions for HVAC, lighting, security and access controls to reduce energy consumption

and drive down costs.

The Big 5 Kuwait will hold accredited workshops focused on providing practical applications and current knowledge on issues relating to building and infrastructure projects. With the major focus on project delivery and sustainability, local, regional and international private sector experts will deliver case studies and practical solutions to the most common design and construction challenges that companies face in Kuwait.

Andy White The Big 5 Kuwait conferences will provide practical guidance on how the design and construction industries can best deliver sustainable infrastructure and green buildings in Kuwait.The workshops will include a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) masterclass and highlight case studies from the Kuwait’s transport, healthcare, energy and education sectors. Industry experts will also discuss how companies canbe more efficient in Kuwait’s hot and harsh climate by discussing the key national issues and finding key solutions to excel as project managers. The Big 5 Kuwait will take place from September 16 - 18 from 11:00-19:00.

Amazon UK pays $3.7m tax on $6.5bn sales

LONDON: Amazon.com’s main UK unit paid $3.7 million of taxes on its 2012 income, it said on yesterday, despite group UK sales of $6.5 billion (4 billion pounds), prompting criticism from lawmakers and competitors. Amazon.co.uk Ltd added in its accounts, published through the UK companies register, that it received 2.5 million pounds in government grants during 2012 - just ahead of the 2.4 million it paid in corporation tax, the UK form of corporate income tax. Corporate tax avoidance has risen to the top of the political agenda in Europe following revelations in the past couple of years about how little big names like Apple Inc., Starbucks, Google and Microsoft pay in tax in markets where they reap billions of dollars in sales.

The companies say they follow the rules but UK Prime Minister David Cameron has called for international action on the shifting of profits, which can help firms cut tax bills. Amazon.co.uk reported a small corporate income tax bill because all sales to British customers are routed through a Luxembourg affiliate, Amazon EU Sarl, which

employs around 500 staff.

The British subsidiary, which employed 4,191 people at the end of 2012 and thousands more indirectly via contracting agencies, is deemed, for tax purposes, to be a service provider to the Luxembourg unit. It is funded by fees it receives from Amazon EU and since these only just cover operating costs, little is left over for the UK tax authority, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to tax.

Amazon EU pays little tax in Luxembourg because it pays hundreds of millions of euros each year in fees to a tax exempt affiliate, also registered in Luxembourg. Amazon was not immediately available for comment but has previously said it follows the tax rules in every country where it operates. John Hemming, a member of parliament with the Liberal Democrats, the junior party in Britain’s governing coalition, said the figures showed the inadequacy of existing rules to tackle the problem of profit shifting by major corporations. —Reuters

What it takes to make GCC an industrial hub

By Cyrille Fabre and Dr. Yasar Jarar

W

hile the GCC economy has largely rebounded from the global financial crisis, the manufacturing sector still hasn’t regained its full momentum. Manufacturing suffered in the 2009 downturn, with revenue for listed GCC manufacturers excluding petrochemicals dropping by 11 percent. But when manufacturing bounced back, gaining a healthy 15 percent in 2011, some key sectors were still underperforming. The reality is that metals, construction materials and machinery equipment have all failed to return to pre-recession levels.

Throughout the GCC, manufacturing remains relatively under-developed, especially when compared with other nations. Manufacturing’s share of the region’s GDP is 10 percent contrasted with 30 percent in China, 27 percent in Korea, 27 percent in Singapore, 17 percent in Germany, 19 percent in Japan, and 16 percent and 15 percent in Egypt and India respectively. It’s not only a relatively small sector, but it also remains heavily reliant on energy-intensive industries, which account for over two-thirds of the manufacturing GDP. State-owned enterprises generate the bulk of the manufacturing output.

Time for a new industrial model?

Given that starting point, the GCC governments’ goal of doubling manufacturing’s share of the GDP within 10 years is extremely ambitious. To achieve this objective, manufacturing GDP would need to grow at over 13 percent annually for ten years, similar to China’s extraordinary performance over the last decade.

To understand what it will take to develop the region’s manufacturing, we interviewed executives in

the GCC and overseas as well as government agencies.

We also analyzed market data and examined the performance of companies throughout the region.

Among the conclusions: reaching full potential for manufacturing requires a new industrial model.

Continuing to push the development of primary energy-intensive industries through large-scale investment

Yasar Jarrar by state-owned enterprises is necessary but won’t be sufficient. GCC governments need to implement new policies and practices that facilitate private sector development of large secondary industries such as machinery and equipment or aluminum end products.

In the new model, governments throughout the

region will need to play a major role as incubators of transformation. They must support growth by leading highly capital- and energy-intensive projects that couldn’t be accomplished otherwise, while at the same time enabling the private sector to capture opportunities in other sectors.

Access to critical resources To encourage this growth, governments need to ensure that private sector investors have access to six critical resources: energy, raw materials, capital, markets, technology and talent. Based on our research, we identified several key initiatives that could improve access to these resources and help turn the GCC into a manufacturing powerhouse.

Access to energy: As production increases, demand for domestic energy could more than double by 2030. Meeting that demand without reducing hydrocarbon exports is a major challenge. To overcome it, GCC governments will need to not only increase and diversify the region’s energy supply but also improve energy efficiency standards and reduce waste in domestic energy consumption.

Access to raw materials for downstream industries: Only about 20 per cent of the aluminum and 15 per cent of petrochemicals produced in the region are converted locally into end products such as aluminum window frames or plastic bottles. The development of downstream industries in the region is limited by a narrow range of upstream products and by relatively uncompetitive prices offered to local downstream companies. For instance, because of their large scale, Chinese plastic companies can buy petrochemical material from GCC producers at a lower price than GCC companies. GCC governments will need to encourage upstream producers to provide more

incentives, technical and marketing support to regional downstream players.

Access to capital for private manufacturers: Despite the abundance of liquidity in the region, obtaining loans can prove challenging for industrial companies, especially in the Lower Gulf (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman).

For example, the World Bank has given the GCC coun-

Cyrille Fabre tries a low ranking for “ease of getting credit” - the GCC countries range between 48 and 100 out of 183 countries. To improve access to capital, Lower Gulf countries should develop specific industrial financial schemes similar to the Saudi Industrial Development Fund.

Access to a regional market for GCC products: Replacing imports with locally produced goods is diffi-

cult because of the relatively small market size of individual GCC countries. For many products, investors need to target the broader regional market to justify setting up a factory. But trade barriers with Middle Eastern countries restrict exports. Our research determined two major actions that GCC governments can take to overcome this obstacle. First, implement policies that deliver the benefits of a more integrated market in the GCC and the broader region, similar to the Mercosur in South America. Second, develop local content programs that give some preference in public bids for “Made in GCC”products over imports.

Access to technology and talent: Facilitating access to energy, raw materials, capital and markets will enhance opportunities for local manufacturers.

However, local manufacturers also need the technology and capabilities to seize those opportunities. We identified three government initiatives that will boost the capabilities of local manufacturers. First, mandate that the procurement departments of major stateowned enterprises develop the capabilities of their local supplier base by providing technical support and long term procurement contracts. Second, attract foreign manufacturers to fill gaps in the existing supplier base. Allowing 100 per cent foreign ownership for these activities is a critical success factor. Third, beef up vocational training programs to help build a more skilled workforce for local companies.

These five steps will help GCC countries build a manufacturing industry that is strong and globally competitive. It will take time and careful management, but the prize is within grasp: a more diverse, resilient economy that makes “Made in the GCC” a common sight on products across the region.

—Cyrille Fabre and Dr Yasar Jarar are partners in Bain & Company’s Dubai office.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

technology

Google poised to show off latest devices, services Evolving product line-up unveils new features Napolitano says ATM heist sign of cyber crime scope WASHINGTON: A global network that stole $45 million from two Middle Eastern banks showed how easily financial crimes can be committed and coordinated in cyberspace, and underlined the need for cyber security legislation, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Tuesday.

“It demonstrates the kind and scope of financial crimes that are enabled in a network-connected world, particularly by those who have some skill although not necessarily the highest level of skill, quite frankly, but who can coordinate timing and the like,” Napolitano told the Reuters Cyber security Summit in Washington.

In a crime that came to light last week, hackers infiltrated two bank card processing companies, headquartered in India and the United States respectively, to raise the balances and withdrawal limits on accounts, then withdrew the money from ATMs in 27 countries belonging to Oman’s Bank Muscat and the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah PSC of the United Arab Emirates.

Napolitano, who declined to discuss details of the investigation, said the growing number of cyber attacks on banks has led to a closer relationship between the government and financial institutions to tackle potential threats.

“There is urgency and this is a big problem and legislation certainly would assist us in our efforts,” she said, referring to cyber security legislation that has been mired in a divided Congress.

Napolitano, responsible for keeping the United States safe from attacks ranging from cyber crime to what she termed “radicalized home grown plots” like last month’s Boston Marathon bombings, said she was most concerned about the “known unknown”.

“What I mean by that is particularly in the cyber world where we have imperfect information sharing, where we lack the kind of multi-lateral international reach one would desire, and where are at least known vulnerabilities,” she said.

One way to help tackle the vulnerabilities would be legislation that lays out a process to ensure a flow of information in real time so companies will know about possible cyber threats, Napolitano said. In turn, the government can also benefit from information passed about

specific types of attacks or intrusions seen by US companies.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives easily passed the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act on April 18, with some support from Democrats. The bill calls for sharing of information but it was opposed by the White House which said it did not include enough privacy and civil liberties protections.

The Senate is working on a number of cyber-related bills. Napolitano said she hoped the Senate and the House could agree on legislation to improve cyber sharing that is supported by the White House. She said there was a lot of work being done behind the scenes on the proposed laws.

While cyber legislation failed to get through the Senate last year, Napolitano said lawmakers had made some progress since then.

“One of the things that happened last year was the education of many members about this field. They didn’t know very much, to be truthful,” she said.

More congressional hearings on the issue are likely this summer, Napolitano said, but timing for action on the legislation is uncertain. “It’s Congress, and they have their own measure of time,” she added.

Napolitano also said international cooperation needed to be improved to properly address cyber threats, which she said were growing in sophistication.

“I don’t think yet we have the kind of international structure the world should have where cyber is concerned,” she said.

“That is yet to evolve and unfortunately may only evolve when there is a crisis of some sort.”

Napolitano also said the government was studying ways to use its purchasing power to induce software makers to sell more secure products.

“What we are looking at is what kind of incentives could be used to attract companies to use best practices, including in the software arena, and whether there could be procurement preferences,” she said. Napolitano, a former Democratic governor of Arizona, has been mentioned as a possible Presidential contender for 2016 but would not be drawn on the topic. “I have more than enough on my plate to think about,” she said. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: Google is expected to use its annual software developers’ conference to showcase the latest mobile devices running on its Android software, while also unveiling other features in its evolving product line-up.

The gathering, began yesterday morning in San Francisco, providing Google Inc. with an opportunity to flex its technological muscle in front of a sold-out audience of engineers and entrepreneurs who develop applications and other features that can make smart phones and tablets more appealing.

Reporters from around the world also were on hand, giving Google a chance to generate more hoopla about its latest innovations.

The company, which is based in Mountain View, California, made a big splash at last year’s conference by staging an elaborate production to highlight the potential of Google Glass - an Internet- connected device and camera that can be worn on a person’s face like a pair of spectacles. Google co-founder Sergey Brin wowed the crowd last year by taking to the stage and then engaging in a live video chat with a group of skydivers who were in a dirigible hovering above the convention. When they jumped, the skydivers’ descent to the rooftop was shown live through the Google Glass camera.

Some of the developers in attendance last year paid $1,500 apiece for a Google Glass prototype that was delivered to them last month.

Google hasn’t spelled out what its executives will discuss during this year’s opening keynote, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

PDT (1600 GMT ) and last for nearly three hours. Given that Google Glass is now being tested by the developers who bought the “Explorer” edition, the device might not be one of the featured attractions. It was a safe bet that the spotlight at some point yesterday shined on Android, which already has been activated on more than 750 million devices around the world. Google gives the mobile operating system away, making it easier for gadget makers to sell their devices at prices below Apple Inc.’s iPhone and iPad. Android has helped Google make more money because its search engine and other services, including maps, are usually built into the devices that rely on the software. That tie-in drives more visitors to Google, giving the company more opportunities to sell the advertising that generates most of its revenue.

Much of the speculation about the conference, dubbed “Google I/O,” has centered on a possible upgrade to the Nexus 7, a mini-tablet that debuted at last year’s event as an alternative to the similarly sized Kindle Fire made by Amazon.com Inc. and the larger iPad. A few months after the Nexus 7 came out, Apple released the iPad Mini to counter the threat posed by Google’s entrance into the market.

The next version of the Nexus 7 is expected to feature a much faster processor and a higher resolution display screen while maintaining the same $199 sales prices. If that turns out to be true, it could siphon even more sales from the iPad Mini, which starts at $329.

There’s also speculation that Google will unveil a music-streaming service that would allow Android users to listen to their favorite songs and artists for a monthly fee. Google has long been rumored to be in talks with music labels to work out the licensing rights for a service that would compete with Spotify, Internet radio provider Pandora Media Inc. and other outlets that stream digital music to Internet-connected computers, smart phones and tablets.

Another Google-designed phone under the Nexus brand is also a possibility. Google also could use the occasion to introduce a model made by its unprofitable Motorola Mobility subsidiary. A sneak peak at the next generation of Android, code named “Key Lime Pie,” could be in

NEW YORK: Google CEO Larry Page speaks at a news conference at the Google offices in New York. — AP

SAN FRANCISCO: An Android display at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco. Google is expected to use its annual software developers’ conference to showcase the latest mobile devices. — AP the offing, too. Other potential product intro- Facebook, which boasts 1.1 billion active users.

In an attempt to persuade more people to ductions include laptops running on Android or another Google operating system based on the use its social networking service more frequently, Google has promised to keep adding tools company’s Chrome web browser.

Google also may provide more insights into that aren’t available on Facebook.

On other fronts, Google is believed to be the popularity of Google Plus, a social networking alternative to Facebook that launched nearly working on a digital gaming center that two years ago. Google Plus had more than 135 unveiled yesterday. Getting into gaming would million active users at the end of last year, based give Google an opportunity to participate in on Google’s last public disclosure about activity one of the most popular activities on mobile on that network. That left Google Plus far behind devices. — AP

RIM unveils cheaper BlackBerry

My-HD inks partnership with GMA Network Philippines DUBAI: As part of its rapid growth strategy and following a series of high profile tie-ups with leading and popular satellite television networks in the Middle East and North Africa, My-HD, one of the leading satellite Pay-TV platforms in the MENA Region, announced the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement with GMA Network, the Philippines’ number 1 Terrestrial TV Network.

The launch of the MyGMA Pay TV package on My-HD signals a new phase in My-HD’s ambitious plans in the region, which is aimed at creating a unique viewing experience for audiences of all nationalities and ages.

On the partnership with GMA, My-HD CEO Cliff Nelson said, “With over 2.4 million Filipinos in the Middle East, this community is considerably one of the largest ones in the region and thus plays a significant role in the development of the local economy.

Through our agreement with GMA Network, we aim to offer

Filipino viewers their favorite programs on our one-stop HD platform.”

For GMA Network’s part, GMA Network Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia explained GMA Network’s decision to shift to a new carrier.

“While GMA has been in the MENA Region since 2006, we decided to explore growth opportunities which would provide more Filipinos now living in the Middle East a chance to enjoy their favorite GMA channels at a reduced price of $24 (from $32) whilst improving the overall quality and value of the service.

This opportunity was not possible with our former carrier. Our subscribers and followers in the Middle East can only expect bigger things from the Network with GMA’s new found partnership with My-HD in place,” he added.

Following the finalization of the exclusive rights to carry GMA’s popular overseas channels, My-HD has appointed SAWA

Media to lead its IPTV and cable distribution. Availability on cable operators in the UAE and Qatar are set for finalization.

The new “MyGMA” service on My-HD bundles for the first time GMA News T V, the number 1 News Channel in the Philippines, together with GMA Pinoy T V (number 1 Terrestrial TV channel) and GMA Life TV, as well as DZBBAM and DWLS-FM. With its strengthened programming and enlarged presence in the Middle East, the Network is confident that it will be able to maintain and even increase its subscriber base in the Middle East Region, which has the second largest population of Filipinos next to North America.

My-HD and GMA International - the business unit that manages the distribution and operations of GMA’s overseas channels - are embarking on massive promotional efforts to ensure the smooth transition of current subscribers.

Besides the MyGMA package,

subscribers can access over 20 HD channels through My-HD approved receivers which will be given out for FREE to all MyGMA subscribers across the Middle East.

My-HD Media will make the MyGMA package available to Satellite households on Arabsat through the frequency 10,770 MHz Vertical on BADR-5 satellite to further expand the reach of My-HD Media’s line-up of channels to over 170 million viewers in more than 80 countries across the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

The partnership between GMA and My-HD extends to Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen in the Middle East. The agreement also covers countries in North Africa namely Algeria, Chad, Djibouti Northern, Egypt, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Tunisia.

ORLANDO: Research In Motion unveiled a lower-cost BlackBerry aimed at consumers in emerging markets on Tuesday, stepping up its efforts to regain market share lost to Apple’s iPhone and Android devices powered by Google’s software.

The lower-cost gadget, called the Q5, is the company’s third smartphone to run the new BlackBerry 10 system. It will have a physical keyboard, something that sets RIM’s devices apart from Apple’s iPhone and most Android phones.

RIM CEO Thorsten Heins said the “slim, sleek” device will be available in red, black, white and pink. He announced the phone to a packed ballroom to open RIM’s annual three-day conference in Orlando, Florida.

The device will be available in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia (including the Asia Pacific region), and Latin America beginning in July. The Q5 isn’t expected to be released in North America for now. The company did not disclose prices for the new phone.

RIM’s higher-tier Q10 has been released in most markets, but delays have meant that US carriers aren’t likely to have it until June.

The US delays complicate RIM’s effort to hang on to customers tempted by Apple’s iPhone and a range of Android smart phones. Even as the BlackBerry has fallen behind rivals in recent years, many users have remained loyal because they prefer a physical keyboard over the touch screen found on other devices.

The Q5 differs only slightly from the Q10.

Both have 2GB of RAM, though the Q5 has only 8GB of flash memory compared to 16GB for the Q10. Both have 2 megapixel front-facing cameras, but the Q5’s rear-facing camera is only 5 megapixels, compared to the Q10 which has 8 megapixels and also records high-definition video.

Also, the Q5 has a 3.1-inch LCD display, while the Q10 is 3.1 inches and LED. RIM unveiled new BlackBerrys this year after delays allowed Apple and others to continue their global advance.

RIM’s iconic BlackBerry device, introduced in 1999, was the dominant smart phone for on-the-go business people and consumers for nearly a decade. But rivals came out with a new generation of phones that could do more than just email and messaging, starting with the iPhone in 2007 and followed by devices running Google’s Android system. Suddenly, the BlackBerry looked ancient. According to research firm IDC, shipments of BlackBerry phones plummeted from 46 percent of the US market in 2008 to 2 percent in 2012. Though RIM continues to do well in many overseas markets, the company faced numerous delays modernizing its operating system in an effort to compete with the iPhone and smart phones running Google’s Android operating system.

Heins, who became RIM’s CEO in January 2012, said the company has made a lot of progress in a short period of time. He restated BlackBerry’s committed to “mobile first” and took a subtle jab at industry predictions that he might not make it to this year’s conference as CEO because of the competitive mobile landscape.

“I’m happy to say they were wrong,” Heins said. “We are not only still here. We are firing on all cylinders as a company.” RIM’s stock fell 63 cents, or 3.8 percent, to $15.25 in afternoon trading Tuesday. RIM also said it will offer its once-popular BlackBerry Messenger service on iPhones and devices running Google’s Android software. Heins said iPhone and Android versions of the BlackBerry Messenger app will be available for free, subject to approval by Google Play and the Apple App Store. —AP

As online video thrives, TV companies push back WASHINGTON: The evolving TV and video industry faces uncertainty as it embraces new technology like wireless streaming, as traditional US broadcasters urged lawmakers Tuesday to help preserve their marketplace primacy.

In a wide-ranging hearing on the state of video, communications company executives debated the role of government in regulating the huge American market, with cable and broadcast groups stressing that legislative changes are not needed to fix a system they insist is working as it should.

“The system is not broken, (and) changing these laws is not in the public’s best interest,” Gordon Smith, president of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), told the Senate Subcommittee on

Communications, Technology and the Internet. Broadcast TV, he stressed, has remained a paramount form of programming distribution, especially for millions of elderly and poor households.

The pressure to accommodate increasing numbers of new platforms has surged in an ever-changing and highly competitive environment that now includes basic cable, satellite, Internet video and broadband wireless streaming, many of which want to muscle in on the spectrum currently licensed to traditional broadcasters.

The Obama administration has sought to line up a “voluntary” auction by broadcast companies to provide more spectrum to the surging market in wireless gadgets like iPads and other mobile devices. —AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

Hassan optics launches latest Bausch & Lomb PureVision2 for astigmatism KUWAIT: Hassan’s Optician Co held a reception dinner on Thursday, May 9 at Swiss Bell Hotel in Kuwait City, where it officially unveiled its latest eye health innovation of Bausch & Lomb PureVision2 for Astigmatism contact lenses to eye care practitioners and eyewear retailers.PureVision2 HD for Astigmatism lenses feature HD Optics, which provide clarity and meet the special vision correction needs of patients with astigmatism. It also incorporates Auto Align Design(tm), a unique stabilization system optimized to deliver consistently crisp, clear vision all day, every

2 million fewer US uninsured to gain health coverage WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare reform law will extend coverage to 2 million fewer uninsured Americans than expected only a few months ago, congressional researchers said on Tuesday. A new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said 25 million people who currently lack insurance will obtain coverage through subsidized marketplaces or an expanded Medicaid program over the coming decade, down from a February CBO estimate of 27 million people.

The office attributed the drop to a change in administration policy that will exempt 500,000 to 1 million more people from the law’s individual mandate, which levies a fine on those who fail to obtain health coverage beginning in 2014.

There are nearly 49 million uninsured people in the United States, according to the Census Bureau.

The number of uninsured expected to gain coverage under the law has been declining since last June, when the US Supreme Court allowed states to opt out of the Medicaid expansion.

The broader mandate exemption, and the accompanying reduction in revenue from fines, is one factor behind a $39 billion rise in the net cost of providing coverage under the law.

The law offers tax credits to help low-to-moderate income people pay premiums and rich subsidies to states that expand their Medicaid program for the poor. Coverage provisions are now expected to cost a net $1.36 trillion. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is due to take full effect on Jan 1. But the administration faces mounting political pressure from Republicans who want it repealed and Democrats who worry that implementation could fail just as the 2014 midterm congressional election campaign gets under way. The new online marketplaces, or exchanges, and Medicaid are expected to provide coverage to 37 million people overall by 2023, including employees of small businesses and consumers who switch from plans in the individual market. The total includes about 1 million fewer exchange beneficiaries, with a roughly equalsize gain in Medicaid recipients.

With fewer people expected to pay fines for remaining uninsured, the CBO said mandate revenues will fall by $7 billion, to $45 billion, compared with February’s estimates.

The agency also expects a $58 billion drop in excise tax revenue on private insurance plans and $10 billion less from penalties on employers, due in part to an expected increase in employment-based insurance. —Reuters

made from Silicone hydrogel,” said representatives of Hassan’s Opticianco. during the dinner. “For astigmatic contact lens wearers who experience symptoms such as fluctuating and blurr y vision, PureVision2 For Astigmatism contact lenses with High Definition Optics and Auto-Align Design(tm) may be a solution that will help reduce these symptoms,” said Dr. BehrouziHoma, OD, Bsc, Professional Relations Manager - Middle East.

According to Hassan’s Optician co.

Management: “Purevision 2 for Astigmatism completes the Bausch &

day with excellent stability and comfort.

The dinner featured an opening speech by Hassan’s Optician co., as well as a presentation by Dr. BehrouziHoma Bausch & Lomb Middle East professional relations manager, on the innovations that went into the making of its PureVision2 for Astigmatism contact lenses and BioTrue, the brand’s flagship bio-inspired contact lens multipurpose solution. “The launch of the PureVision2 for Astigmatism contact lenses comes as a secondar y stage to the launch of Bausch & Lomb’s PureVision2 Monthly replacement contact lenses, which are

Lomb portfolio particularly important is their ability to meet the needs of those who suffer from astigmatism. The feedback we received from eye care professionals for the PureVision2 For Astigmatism has been extremely positive”. Hassan’s Optician co. has long been considered Kuwait’s biggest optics specialist, with 40 stores located across the country, as well as locations in Oman, and a distributor license in the UAE. All of its operations are geared squarely to ensure its leadership role in the optics industry; from exceptional pre and post-sales service, exclusive collections of world-class

Indian medics do ‘perfect’ op on baby’s swollen head Case arouses sympathy around world NEW DELHI: Doctors carried out life-saving surgery yesterday on an Indian baby suffering from a rare disorder that caused her head to swell to nearly double its size, in a case that aroused sympathy worldwide. AFP was given access to film the surgery on 15month-old Roona Begum, during which doctors used a surgical drill to pierce her skull before draining fluid from her head in an operation lasting more than an hour.

The youngsters’ parents, who have spent the last month at the hospital on the outskirts of New Delhi, spoke of their joy and relief after the operation which doctors described as exemplary.

“The surgery went perfectly, much better than expected,” neurosurgeon Sandeep Vaishya said in an exclusive interview with AFP inside the theatre.

“It’s definitely a success but it’s too early to say what the quality of her future life will be like,” Vaishya added.

Roona was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that causes cerebrospinal fluid to build up on the brain.

She was found in an Indian village last month living with parents who are too poor to pay for treatment. Publication of pictures taken by an AFP photographer in the remote northeastern state of Tripura prompted a hospital, run by the private Fortis Healthcare group, to offer to treat Roona for free. Vaishya, who heads the hospital’s neurosurgery unit, made a series of swift incisions along the right side of her head and stomach during yesterday’s operation.

He then used a drill to pierce her skull before inserting a shunt, catheter and valve. Doctors were then able to drain the fluid out of her head and towards her

abdomen where it could be absorbed easily into the bloodstream. Her father 18-year-old Abdul Rahman, who was too nervous to speak to the doctors on the morning of the operation, said he was “hugely relieved” that the surgery was successful.

“My wife and I were both so worried this morning. But now when the doctor says everything

for Rahman, an illiterate laborer who earns 150 rupees ($2.75) a day.

Roona’s condition had caused her head to swell to a circumference of 94 centimeters (38 inches), putting pressure on her brain and making it impossible for her to sit upright or crawl.

On admission, Vaishya estimated her head weight amount-

bag and continued the process until the circumference had shrunk to about 60 centimeters, allowing him to perform yesterday’s surgery.

Roona regained consciousness soon after the surgery. The sight of her bruised and bandaged head provoked her mother, 25year-old Fatema Khatun, to sob inconsolably until Vaishya reas-

NEW DELHI: Fatima Khatun (left) and Abdul Rahman (right), the parents of Roona Begum, a 15-month old girl suffering from hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to swelling greet her after surgery at a hospital in Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi yesterday.—AFP went well, I feel hugely relieved.

It’s been a stressful wait,” Rahman told AFP. When Roona was born, local doctors told her parents to take her to a private hospital in a big city but the costs were too high

ed to half her total weight, leading him to believe that her body would struggle to absorb all the liquid if a shunt procedure were carried out immediately. So he decided to drain the fluid from her head into an external plastic

Google chief Page speaks out about vocal cord paralysis SAN FRANCISCO: Google co-founder and chief Larry Page ended the mystery about his soft, sometimes raspy voice with a personal online post Tuesday about being diagnosed with partially paralyzed vocal cords.

Medical details shared by Page on a public page at the Google+ social network explain the reason behind his puzzling absences from major company events in the last year and his tendency to speak in what seems a hoarse whisper.

Page last year also took a break from speaking for medical reasons, assuring workers at the Internet colossus that the condition was not overly serious.

His disclosure on Tuesday came just a day before the start of an annual Google gathering of software developers in San Francisco. His presence on the stage at the event was missed last year, prompting speculation about his health.

“Thankfully, after some initial recovery, I’m fully able to do all I need to at home and at work, though my voice is softer than before,” Page said.

“And giving long monologues is more tedious for me and probably the audience.”

Page is known to use a microphone while speaking at even small gatherings and in a soft

eyewear pieces and contact lenses, and a cutting-edge laboratory in Kuwait supported by distribution hubs across the country, Hassan Optics is one of the region’s strongest specialists. Also worth noting is the company’s ISO9001:2008 certificate, which is issued to businesses that adhere strict international operating standards. This dedication to quality has been part of Hassan’s Optician co. six decades of operating excellence, whether in its modern infrastructure or its constant attention to innovation in optics, eyewear, sunglasses or cosmetic and corrective contact lenses.

voice in quarterly earnings calls with financial analysts. He said he was first diagnosed with paralysis of his left vocal cord about 14 years ago after a severe cold left him hoarse. Doctors at the time were unable to pinpoint a cause but speculated that a virus damaged the vocal cord nerve, according to the 40-year-old Google chief executive.

“While this condition never really affected meother than having a slightly weaker voice than normal which some people think sounded a little funny-it naturally raised questions in my mind about my second vocal cord,” Page said.

“But, I was told that sequential paralysis of one vocal cord following another is extremely rare.”

Page’s voice became hoarse again after he weathered a cold in the middle of last year, and doctors told him that his second vocal cord was also partially paralyzed, according to his Google+ post. No cause for the condition was determined, according to Page. He told of suffering from an inflamed thyroid about a decade ago but noted that doctors never linked it to the vocal cord paralysis. “Vocal cord nerve issues can also affect your breathing, so my ability to exercise at peak aerobic capacity is somewhat reduced,” Page said.

“Sergey says I’m probably a better CEO because

I choose my words more carefully,” he continued, with a reference to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

“So surprisingly, overall I am feeling very lucky.”

Page is using some of his fortune to fund a Voice Health Institute research program headed by Dr. Steven Zeitels of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center.

Zeitels was in the spotlight about two years ago after performing vocal cord surgery on singer Adele, who went on to win a half-dozen Grammy awards. Page invited others afflicted with similar conditions to join in the effort by sharing information in an online survey linked to his Google+ post.

“Of all the things to lose, voice is probably the easiest to make up for,” said independent Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle.

“People work just fine after losing their voices, and Page works for a digital company at a time when text-to-voice technology is rather sophisticated.” Investors appeared to take the news in stride, with Google shares continuing their upward trend to close the Nasdaq trading day at $887.10 in a rise of more than tenfold from its public offering price in 2004 of $85. Google has been a superstar of the tech sector with a stunning stock rally since the start of this year. — AFP

sured her of the operation’s success. Vaishya told AFP the child would need further surgery to reduce the size of her head.

“While the shunt will keep the head from getting bigger, the head is still too large at the

moment. We will remodel her skull, move the bones and fix them with plates to reduce her head size so she can grow normally,” he said. The shunt surgery is the most common treatment for hydrocephalus, a condition that affects about one in every 500 children, according to the US government’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Vaishya said Roona would still need “extensive physiotherapy” to allow her to lead a fully functional life. “Her neck muscles are very underdeveloped, so she will need more nutrition and extensive physiotherapy to make her stronger. Her body will have to grow strong so she can learn to sit up and move about and live a normal life.” In an interview after his daughter was admitted to the hospital, Rahman said he had prayed constantly for a “miracle” to save his little girl.

“The day she was born, then itself the doctor said there were no guarantees she would survive,” he told AFP. “I figured we would do our best for as long as we could and Allah would help us with the rest.” The pictures of Roona prompted an outpouring of suppor t worldwide with prospective donors contacting AFP and other news organizations, enquiring how they could contribute to a fund for her and her family’s welfare.

Two Norwegian college students, Jonas Borchgrevink and Nathalie Krantz, started an online campaign that raised $52,000 to help her family and fund any future aftercare.

The students told AFP they have already established contact with a local media website in Tripura that will help send the money to the family.— AFP

Ultra-low salt intake may not boost health: US panel WASHINGTON: Americans at high risk for heart problems who have been told for years to sharply cut salt from their diet may not actually benefit from ultra-low sodium diets and could even face some harm, an independent panel of health experts said on Tuesday.

The influential Institute of Medicine, in a report to US health officials, reviewed the latest data on the link between salt intake and health. While blacks, diabetics and others more likely to have heart problems are urged to slash their salt intake, the IOM review showed there was limited evidence such a diet helped, and that too little salt might increase the risk of heart trouble.

“The evidence on both the benefit and harm is not strong enough to indicate that these subgroups should be treated differently from the general US population,” the panel wrote.

That suggests higher-risk populations may not need such a drastic reduction of salt in their diets and that other steps to curb heart disease risk may be needed.

Americans are still consuming far too

much salt, the IOM experts said. On average, U.S. adults eat about 1.5 teaspoons of salt over the course of the day, or about 3,400 milligrams.

Federal guidelines recommend that healthy people consume no more than 2,300 milligrams daily.

But the latest data calls into question whether individuals with higher risk factors for heart disease or stroke should limit their daily intake to 1,500 milligrams, as the government recommends.

Brian Strom, the panel’s chairman and a public health professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the newest studies back the known benefits of “reducing sodium from very high intake levels to moderate levels.” “But they also suggest that lowering sodium intake too much may actually increase a person’s risk of some health problems,” he said, including heart ailments.

Still, the studies are limited and in some cases flawed, so more research is needed, the IOM panel told the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which requested the report.— Reuters

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

Indonesia extends logging ban to protect rainforest JAKARTA: Indonesia has extended a logging ban to protect rainforests despite fierce industry pressure, the government said Wednesday, but green campaigners slammed the move as inadequate. Vast tracts of the sprawling Indonesian archipelago are covered in trees, including some of the world’s most bio-diverse tropical rainforest that is home to endangered animals such as orangutans, tigers and elephants.

But huge swathes have been chopped down by palm oil, mining and timber companies in Southeast Asia’s top economy, which has become the world’s third-biggest carbon emitter as a result.

Under a $1 billion conservation deal with Norway, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono two years ago signed the moratorium, which bans new logging permits for primary, or virgin, forestdefined as forest not logged in recent history.

Yesterday the government confirmed Yudhoyono had signed a two-year extension and the moratorium would remain in its original form.

“The extension on the moratorium of new permits will be in place for two years from when the presidential

instruction is issued,” said a statement from the cabinet secretariat.Yudhoyono signed the extension on Monday, it said.

The ban applies to new permits for primary forest and peatland with the exception of projects already approved by the forestry minister and others considered vital, such as for power production, it said.

But Greenpeace criticized the government for not taking the opportunity to strengthen the ban.

“That is what’s really needed if we want to save Indonesia’s remaining tigers and orangutans, which are under threat from relentless palm oil and pulp and paper expansion,” said the group’s forests campaigner Yuyun Indradi.

Indonesia, the world’s top producer of palm oil that is used in many everyday items from soap to biscuits, has faced fierce industry pressure over the ban. “The moratorium has already had negative effects on the economy, not just in the palm oil industry but the timber industry as well,” said Fadhil Hasan, from the Indonesian Palm Oil Association. The government says the moratorium has drastically reduced logging in a country with the world’s third

largest amount of tropical forest.

Senior forestry ministry official Hadi Daryanto said that between 2000 and 2010, Indonesia lost around 1.125 million hectares (2.8 million acres) of forest each year. But he said that at the end of 2011 this figure had been reduced to the equivalent of 450,000 hectares annually.

However, green groups say local authorities are using a murky web of local laws to open up new areas for exploitation despite the national ban, and much logging has continued illegally. A glaring example is a plan in the province of Aceh on Sumatra island, supported by Jakarta, which activists say could open up a million hectares of protec ted forest for exploitation despite the moratorium.

The plan, which is likely to be approved soon, is possible because it hinges on Aceh’s decision to overturn its own deforestation ban at the local level. “Countries like mine have a right to develop, but not at the expense of our priceless natural patrimony,” said Rudi Putra, an activist who started a petition against the Aceh plan that has gathered almost one million signatures. — AFP

An endangered Sumatran orangutan cradles her baby on a tree top nest in the forest of Bukit Lawang, part of the vast Leuser National Park, its rainforests occupying areas of the two provinces of North Sumatra and Aceh located in Indonesia’s Sumatra island. — AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip celebrates sweet life with Kuwait Grand Opening

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Announcements Speech competition t Berchmans 17th Extempore Speech Competition for Indian School students from class VII to XII will be conducted on Friday, 17th May 2013 at United Indian School, Jaleeb Al Shuyoukh. Competition will be conducted in 3 categories separately. Sub-Juniors (7th & 8th Stds.) Juniors (9th & 10th Stds.) and Seniors (11th & 12th Stds). Trophies and Certificates will be awarded to the I, II, and III prize winners of each category. Championship and Runner up Trophies will be awarded to the respective schools based on points earned by it’s students.

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AIP shaam-e ghazal he Association of Indian Professionals (AIP), Kuwait, forthcoming event has been scheduled for the evening of May 25, 2013 at 6 pm at the auditorium of Indian Community Senior School, Salmiya and is titled as AIP Shaam-e-Ghazal. We have invited Raghuram Krishnan, a Ghazal singer from Cochin, India to make this evening more melodious and vibrant.

He will be supported by few local musicians also. Ambassador of India, Satish C. Mehta will be the Chief Guest. Admission is by invitation and children below 10 years of age will not be allowed.

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The TIES Center’s ‘trip’ he TIES Center cordially invites those who are interested in its trip to the Historical, Vintage and Classic Car Museum, which is the first museum in Kuwait specializing in old cars on May 30th at 6:00 pm. Revisit past memories or learn something new. If you love cars then this is the trip for you. Even if you don’t love cars, come anyway; you will enjoy the trip.

For more information/registration, log onto: www.tiescenter.net.

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estle Toll House Cafe by Chip, a premium bakery cafe destination franchise concept, today announced the grand opening of its newest cafe in Kuwait at Grand Avenues on May 8, 2013.

According to a master franchise agreement, Royal Food services enjoys the privilege to open and develop cafes throughout Kuwait, UAE and Jordan where the first Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip in Kuwait was opened in The Village complex in Abu Al-Hasaniya area followed by Marina Crescent, Al Liwan mall in Egaila area, Sama Sulaibikhat in Sulaibkhat area, Fatwa building in Sharq area, and the Menus complex in Mahboula area. The location is the 11th of several locations planned to open within the coming years by Royal Food Services Co, a leading multi-unit franchise group in the Middle East. With this opening, the group will operate seven locations in Kuwait, two in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and two in Jordan. With more than 115 locations open worldwide, the Kuwait opening is part of a larger strategic plan to expand the brand’s presence internationally, as well as in key markets across the United States. Royal Foods Inc.

specifically has a master franchise agreement to open cafÈs in Kuwait, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

This location marks the15th Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip in the Middle East.

On this occasion, Sulaiman Al- Wazzan, chairman of Royal Food Services, franchisee of Nestle Toll House CafÈ

by Chip stated: “We are keen to offer our clients the best services and products they want. The opening of this seventh branch after the successful opening of the first one in the Village complex at Abu Al-Hasaniya area represents another opportunity for our clients to relive the experience of Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip”.

Al-Wazzan added, “Our development plan for Kuwait, UAE and Jordan is very aggressive and will position the brand in the marketplace for years to come by maintaining the highest standards of customer service and quality”. Maher Alaeddine, CEO at Royal Food Services announced that “the Company will open more branches in main malls at Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a part of its expansion plan. The company will also open new restaurant concepts in Kuwait during 2013”.

Crowds flocked to the Avenues mall, Phase 3, Soku District on the opening day to experience fresh-baked desserts, Nestle premium coffee and more. NTHC’s dessert bar consists of an variety of freshly baked cookies, the world’s largest coffee brand hot/iced coffee, super premium Ice Cream, brownies, muffins, cookie cups and cakes, and other delicious and colorful sweet bites, mostly incorporating ingredients from Nestle signature confections. The first cafe opened in Dubai by the Royal Food Services Company was in Dubai Festival Centre, the first of its kind for the Richardson, TX based chain, is well suited for tourists and residential customers in Dubai. This cafe profile allows the brand to customize the dessert experience based on the style of the shopping mall and the geographical location. The second store was opened in Dubai airport, Terminal 1 On June 2012.

On March 2012, another Nestle Toll House Cafe by Chip was launched in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan which opened the door for dessert fans to experience a variety of flavors and it’s followed by the second store in Rainbow Street - Jabal Amman on January 2013.

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Art & Music Exhibition showcases student talent at GUST

Photography exhibition he Embassy of India, Kuwait in association with National Council of Arts, Culture & Letters is organizing an exhibition of photographs of Islamic monuments of India by Benoy K Behl, Art - Historian & Photographer at Al-Edwani Hall, Dahiyat Abdullah Al-Salem. The exhibition is being inaugurated at 1900 hrs on 21 May, 2013. The exhibition shall be kept open till 27 May 2013 from 0900 hrs to 1230 hrs and 1700 hrs to 2100 hrs. All are cordially invited to the exhibition.

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My Experience in Kuwait he Aware Diwaniya on Tuesday, May 21 will be given by two German Expats, Jan Koeppen and Detmar Ruediger. They will talk about their experience in Kuwait as well as intercultural aspects including sharing their tips and advice on spending leisure time in Kuwait. Please join us at 7 pm at Aware Center, Villa 84, Street 50, Block 3, Surra. For more information please call 25335280 or visit www.aware.com.kw

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Catholicate College family get-together atholicate College Alumni Association (CCAA), Kuwait is holding its 2013 Family Get-together tomorrow Friday 17th May 2013 at Chachoos Auditorium from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm with cultural programs by talented children of alumni members and local artists. The Executive Committee of CCAA requests all Alumni Members to consider this as an invitation and attend the Family Get-together with their families. Former students of Catholicate College who have not yet become members but are interested to attend the Get-together are also welcome provided they confirm their attendance in advance.

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Raghav Juyal show on June 7 he Dancing Divas is organizing its 5th Annual Jubilation on the 7th of June 2013 at Cambridge School, Mangaf, between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The program will be attended by Raghav Juyal (Dance India Dance Fame) who will be judging the show as well as entertaining the audience with his dance performances. Another highlight of the show is the presence of Raja Sagoo (Comedy Circus Fame) who will be anchor for the event.

Raghav will also be conducting a dance workshop on the 8th of June at the Salmiya Model School.

Workshop will be for participants within the age group of 8 and 30 and will be open for registration till the 30th of May.

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he Gulf University for Science and Technology’s (GUST) Student Enrichment Services unit opened one of the most anticipated events at GUST last week. The annual Art and Music Exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Sabah Qaddoumi, Vice President of Academic Services, and Dr Fahed Al-Sumait, Dean of Student Affairs with attendance by members of the faculty, staff and students of the university as well as their family members. The students showcased their work from the current academic year and impressed the audience with the high caliber of their music and artistic talents.

Dr. Qaddoumi noted that this is a special event hosted annually that helps create bonds between the students

and the audience. He was proud of the students’ efforts and hard work that each year not only brings new outstanding talent, but hones and grows the talents’ of students who have participated in the past. He explained that GUST will continue to provide students with the tools and environment they need to thrive in and outside the classroom, as the university believes in helping a student become well-rounded and accomplished in everything they do. The art exhibit contained several different styles and media which filled a large hall. Participants were guided on a tour of the work by the Art director, Salwa Abou El Wafa, and also had the opportunity to meet several of the student artists. The concert was led by the Music Director,

Abla Abdel Al, and began with the national anthem followed by a group performance of traditional folk songs.

This year, two faculty musicians also participated in the musical event. Dr David Miller and Dr Thorzten Botz each played classical solo piano pieces by Chopin and Schubert, respectively. Student Sulaiman Abu Abdeh also played a classical piano solo before the student group played a collection of songs ending with the Kuwaiti National Anthem.

Dr. Quaddoumi thanked the Office of Student Life which sponsored the event, as well as the staff of the Student Enrichment Services who organized it: Mansour Ismatallah, Salwa Abou El Wafa and Abla Abdel Al. Plaques were then distributed to the participants to honor their talents.

Al-Bayan Bilingual School hosts commencement ceremony

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eading non-profit educational institution, Al-Bayan Bilingual School (BBS), hosted last week a ceremonial event to celebrate the achievement of 13 local teachers from nine private schools in Kuwait, who have recently earned a Master of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies and received Certificates in either Special Education for International Teachers or Educational Leadership from the Buffalo State, State University of New York (SUNY).

Set up under the umbrella of Fawzia Sultan Educational Company (FAWSEC) seven years ago, the Buffalo State SUNY Masters Program provides educators with professional development designed for individuals with unique professional and educational objectives not readily met by traditional master’s degree programs. The Buffalo SUNY masters program focuses on special needs and educational leadership, and it is the only program of its kind currently available in Kuwait.

Present at the ceremony were two visiting professors from New York who hosted and presided over the commencement; Henry Nicols, MS, Faculty of Buffalo SUNY who led the ceremony and Dr Susan Baum, Director of the International Education Program, from Buffalo SUNY who conferred the degrees on the graduating teachers.

During her congratulatory speech, Dr Martha Thomson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Al-Bayan Bilingual School and Fawzia Sultan International School said, “I am proud to be here today to recognize the prestigious accomplishment of our graduates who have proved once more that learning never ends. We believe that education is the greatest message and it is in the forefront of our responsibilities to deliver core values and teachings of quality education to our students, faculty members and the community as a whole.”

Lynda Abdul Raheem, Professional Development Coordinator at Fawzia Sultan

Educational Company and program sponsor said, “I’d like to thank the Fawzia Sultan Educational Company for developing and supporting this project in an effort to promote the professional development of its’ teachers and other teachers in the community. Our bottom line is about children.

Providing them with the best education possible and allowing each child to maximize their potential. These ladies and gentlemen have better equipment now to do that, and they all worked hard to get there.”

The ceremony was followed by a short reception for all attendees and guests of graduates. Founded in 1977, Bayan Bilingual School, is a not for profit English Arabic university preparatory institution dedicated to the development of students through academics and character education. Fawzia Sultan Educational Company (FAWSEC) is a not for profit organization established in the State of Kuwait and in

the United States of America which owns and manages the business operations of leading educational and healthcare institutions in the State of Kuwait. Among these institutions are Al-Bayan Bilingual School, a pioneer in the field of education since 1977; Fawzia Sultan International School, the first special needs school in Kuwait; and Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute, a cutting edge rehabilitation institute specializing in physical, psychological and behavioral health. The Buffalo State, State University of New York (SUNY) is accredited by the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Board of Regents, State University of New York. The National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredits the professional education programs.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy

TIES Center events

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IES Center cordially invites all those interested to the following events:

1-A diwaniya presentation entitled, “The Power of Water and Words,” by Sharifa Carlo on Tuesday May 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

Dr Masaru Emoto is a prominent Japanese researcher who has studied and documented the physical power of words.

His research uses water and crystal formation as stimulated by key words & phrases.

Shariffa Carlo will explore Dr Emoto’s research into words and the physical effects they have on the world around us as it relates to teachings in the Holy Quran and the traditions of the prophet Muhammad.

Shariffa Carlo is a Professor of English for Engineering at the Public Authority for Applied Education. She has a BA in English, a BS in International Relations, an MA in Composition & Rhetoric. Also she is ABD in Computer Applications of Linguistics. She has an Ijaza (traditional Islamic degree) in General Islamic Knowledge & has lectured world-wide from China to LA and many countries in between on Islamic & political topics as well as Computer Assisted Instruction, Robotic Artificial Intelligence, Rhetoric & other topics. She has published

countless articles & researches and has 2 published books. And her most treasured accomplishment is that of mother. If you are interested in the topic, Ties Center is the best place to visit on May 21, 2013 at 7:00pm.

2A class entitled, “Qur’an Quotes and Interpretation of Surat Al-Falaq - the daybreak,” partnered by Hasan and Nejoud will be held at the TIES Center. After reading specified Quranic verses aloud and explaining them very briefly, Nejoud and Hassan, will take turns in explaining the various connotations of some words and phrases to show the literary beauty and miracle of the Qur’an - among others. After that, attendees will be asked to participate in the ensuing discussion on the topic and other related issues together. The class will involve an open discussion in casual setting with the aim of reflecting and pondering over verses from the Noble Quran as well as learning how to recite some short surahs.

The class begins after tomorrow May 22 at 7:00 pm and will be held once a week, four times a month.

For more information, please call 25231015/6 or log onto: www.tiescenter.net.

Sebamed on Instagram

Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department.

All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. nnnnnnn

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e are glad to inform you that we launched our site on instagram.

Follow us on @sebamedkuwait and (hashtag)#sebamedkuwait and send us your shots involving all family members and be the lucky winner of a valuable prize from Sebamed products.

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

Viaggio into Graphic Art

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abrizio Nicoletti, Ambassador of Italy to Kuwait, will inaugurate the premiere exhibition on May 18 for various graphic art pieces entitled “Viaggio into Graphic Art”. Organised by “Sartoria Italia” with the partnership of Salhia Complex , the 6-day unique and exciting event will be open to the public on the May 18 until May 23, where the opening will commence at 7 pm, and the remaining five days from 10 am to 10 pm at Salhia Complex. The exhibition will showcase precious graphic art works from various artists such as Miro, Lichtenstien, De Chirico, Paladino and more. These art works are a result of a long and attentive research of Dr Claudio Bassi (Art Collector) which we have collaborated with in this magical adventure. Around 30 art pieces will take part in this event and the public interested in some of the piece, can discuss them with Dr Bassi who will attend personally the event. A warm and welcoming atmosphere will be

done with the collaboration of the creativity of MFlowers, Lazurd’s finest degustation and the setting design by P&E International.

From Sartoria Italia, the idea is to continue on their mission that started from 2009 with the first art event, proposing new expressions of art, creating a gathering where the connoisseurs can meet, and share their passion. Dr Claudio Bassi, was so happy to collaborate on this project giving us the opportunity to exhibit some pieces from his own private collection also. His accurate work in selecting from several private collections is what will give this event value. His idea is to continue to provide “Sartoria Italia” with a selected collection of Graphic Art to offer to the Kuwaiti market.

Salhia Complex his proud to continue their adventure in collaboration with “Sartoria Italia” offering to their selected clientele, events related with art and design.

These fields make the Salhia Complex famous around the GCC and more. Sartoria Italia will have available in the carnet collection the Pablo Picasso “La danza” 1957, which means “the dance”. With the collaboration of Toronto Co. the painting will be presenting with the animation under the note of the song “Take five” of the Legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet.

We called this event “Viaggio” ( which means journey in italian) because our intention is to carry on this journey through a full year of art exhibitions. The next event will be concentrated on paintings with a “performance” of a painter, which we will keep secret for now. On the reaction of our attendees, we will be orienting the successive event in the program trying to satisfy the request of art from the local connoisseurs. We hope to welcome you in our event.

AUK Arabic Literature Club hosts panel discussion

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, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA

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he Arabic Literature Club at AUK organized a panel discussion entitled “Genres of Literary Writing”. The event hosted four renowned guest speakers: Waleed AlMusallam, who talked about short story writing; Sulaiman Al-Yaseen, who talked about screenwriting; Adnan Farzat, who talked about journalistic writing; and Dr Moayed Hamzah, who talked about playwriting.

The discussion, which was moderated by Enjood Al-Hasawi, the President of the Arabic Literature Club, pointed out the differences between the types of literary writing, and the techniques used in each of them. The writers shared their writing experiences with students, and highlighted the social influences on each writing genre. The event concluded with a question and answer session, followed by an

awards ceremony in recognition of the guest speakers.

The Arabic Literature Club at the American University of Kuwait, currently led by Enjood Al-Hasawi, is a student organization interested in different aspects of the Arabic language and culture, such as Arabic poetry and literature.

The main purpose of the club is to reveal the Arab identity, and practice the Arabic language at AUK. Most of the club events currently focus on Arabic literature and poetry. The Arabic Club aims to hold more cultural events that will include Arabic music and the hosting of famous experts in the Arabic language to share their experience and thoughts with the students. All events hosted by the Arabic Club are being done in association with the Arabic Department at AUK.

United Indian School lifts IIS trophy

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nited Indian School won the IIS Cup Inter School Basketball Tournament organized by India International School, Mangaf. UIS were the winners in U- 10 boys category, Runner up in U - 10 girls category, Runner up in U - 12 girls category and secured third place in U - 12 boys category. UIS budding stars displayed a spectacular show and became the overall champions in this tournament.

The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa will be closed on Tuesday, 28 May 2013, for an official event. The Embassy will resume it’s normal working hours on Wednesday, 29 May 2013, from Sunday to Thursday. Please note that the Working hours will be from 8h00 to 16h00 & the Consular Section operation hours will be from 8h30 to 12h30, for any emergencies please contact: 94924895. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY GREECE The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has the pleasure to announce that visa applications must be submitted to Schengen Visa Application Centre (VFS office) located at 12th floor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad Al-Salem Street, AlQibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). For information please call 22281046 from 08:30 to 17:00 (Sunday to Thursday). Working hours: Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collection from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applications please visit the following website www.mfa.gr/kuwait. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF SOUTH KOREA The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kuwait will organize 2013 K-POP Contest on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 6:00 pm. The aim of the contest is to provide an opportunity to the participants to showcase their exciting talents to the audience. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the contest. Application forms can be downloaded from the Embassy’s website: http://kwt.mofa.go.kr (Select English from the menu at the top of the page then Bilateral Relations) or visit the “Korean Culture Diwaniya” Facebook Group. Interested applicants must send their application forms to Kuwait@mofa.go.kr by 24 May 2013.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

TV PROGRAMS

00:45 Your Worst Animal Nightmares 01:35 I’m Alive 02:25 Safari Vet School 02:50 Safari Vet School 03:15 Wildest Africa 04:05 Galapagos 04:55 Shamwari: A Wild Life 05:20 Cheetah Kingdom 05:45 SSPCA: On The Wildside 06:10 SSPCA: On The Wildside 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 The Really Wild Show 07:25 Groomer Has It 08:15 Dogs 101 09:10 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 10:05 Safari Vet School 10:30 Safari Vet School 11:00 Animal Cops Houston 11:55 Shamwari: A Wild Life 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:50 Safari Vet School 13:15 Safari Vet School 13:45 Animal Precinct 14:40 Safari Vet School 15:05 Safari Vet School 15:30 Cheetah Kingdom 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Dogs 101 17:25 World’s Ugliest Dog Competition 18:20 America’s Cutest...

19:15 Monkey Life 19:40 Bondi Vet 20:10 Shamwari: A Wild Life 20:35 Cheetah Kingdom 21:05 Safari Vet School 21:30 Safari Vet School 22:00 Biggest And Baddest 22:55 Untamed China With Nigel Marven 23:50 Animal Cops Houston

00:40 Come Dine With Me 01:30 Masterchef: The Professionals 02:15 Gok’s Fashion Fix 03:05 Coastal Kitchen 03:30 Cash In The Attic 04:15 Bargain Hunt 05:00 Holmes On Homes 05:45 Gok’s Fashion Fix 06:35 New Scandinavian Cooking 07:00 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 07:25 Food And Drink 07:50 New Scandinavian Cooking 08:15 Homes Under The Hammer 09:05 Bargain Hunt 09:50 Antiques Roadshow 10:40 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 11:25 Masterchef: The Professionals 12:10 Come Dine With Me 13:00 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 13:30 New Scandinavian Cooking 13:55 Bargain Hunt 14:40 Cash In The Attic 15:25 Antiques Roadshow 16:20 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 17:00 Homes Under The Hammer 17:55 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 18:20 The Roux Legacy 18:55 The Hairy Bikers USA 19:20 New Scandinavian Cooking 19:45 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

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00

BBC World News America BBC World News America Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday

03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 BBC World News 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 BBC World News 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:00 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 BBC World News 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 BBC World News 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 16:30 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 Hardtalk 18:00 Global With John Sopel 18:30 Global With John Sopel 19:00 Global With John Sopel 19:30 World Business Report 19:45 Sport Today 20:00 BBC World News 20:30 BBC Focus On Africa 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 21:30 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 Business Edition With Tanya Beckett 23:30 Hardtalk

00:45 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:00 03:30 03:55 04:20 04:45 05:00 05:25 05:45 06:00 06:25 06:50 07:15 07:40 08:05 08:30 08:55 09:20 09:45 10:10 10:35 11:00 11:25 11:50 12:15 12:40 13:00 13:25 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:10 15:35 16:00 16:25 16:50 17:15 17:40

Wacky Races Duck Dodgers Duck Dodgers Dastardly And Muttley Dastardly And Muttley Dexter’s Laboratory Wacky Races Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Tom & Jerry The Garfield Show Bananas In Pyjamas Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Ha Ha Hairies Bananas In Pyjamas Lazytown Krypto: The Super Dog Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Cartoonito Tales Ha Ha Hairies Lazytown Baby Looney Tunes Krypto: The Super Dog Cartoonito Tales Jelly Jamm Gerald McBoing Boing Lazytown Baby Looney Tunes Jelly Jamm Tom & Jerry Kids A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Moomins Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries The Looney Tunes Show The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo Taz-Mania Tiny Toon Adventures Moomins Tom And Jerry Tales What’s New Scooby Doo The Looney Tunes Show

18:05 18:30 18:55 19:20 19:45 20:10 20:35 21:00 21:25 21:50 22:15 23:05 23:30 23:55

The Garfield Show Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo Tom And Jerry Tales What’s New Scooby Doo Tiny Toon Adventures Puppy In My Pocket What’s New Scooby-Doo? Looney Tunes Dexter’s Laboratory Tom & Jerry Tales Pink Panther And Pals Pink Panther And Pals Moomins

00:30 Grim Adventures Of...

01:20 Johnny Test 02:10 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 02:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:00 The Amazing World Of Gumball 03:25 Regular Show 03:50 Ben 10: Omniverse 04:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 04:40 Powerpuff Girls 05:05 Evil Con Carne 05:30 Cow & Chicken 06:00 Casper’s Scare School 06:30 Angelo Rules 07:00 Dreamworks Dragons Riders Of Berk 07:25 Johnny Test 07:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:10 Evil Con Carne 08:55 Adventure Time 09:45 Regular Show 10:35 Angelo Rules 11:25 Ben 10: Alien Force 11:50 Ben 10: Alien Force 12:15 Hero 108 12:40 Hero 108 13:05 Mucha Lucha !

13:30 Angelo Rules 14:20 Evil Con Carne 15:10 The Amazing World Of Gumball 15:35 Adventure Time 16:00 Regular Show 16:30 Johnny Test 17:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 17:25 Dreamworks Dragons Riders Of Berk 17:50 Gormiti New 18:15 Young Justice 18:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:05 Total Drama Island 19:30 Total Drama Island 19:55 Mucha Lucha !

20:20 Ben 10: Omniverse 20:45 The Amazing World Of Gumball 21:10 Adventure Time 21:35 Regular Show 22:00 Ben 10 22:25 Ben 10 22:50 Mucha Lucha !

23:15 Mucha Lucha !

23:40 Powerpuff Girls

00:00 Amanpour 00:30 World Sport 01:00 Piers Morgan Live 02:00 CNN Newsroom Live From Hong Kong 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 04:00 Piers Morgan Live 05:00 Quest Means Business 06:00 The Situation Room 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Talk Asia 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 I Report For CNN 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 World One 12:30 Open Court 13:00 Amanpour 13:30 CNN Newscenter 14:00 Piers Morgan Live 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today

MONSTERS ON OSN ACTION HD

17:00 International Desk 18:00 Global Exchange 18:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 19:00 CNN Football Club 19:30 Open Court 20:00 International Desk 21:00 Quest Means Business 21:45 CNN Marketplace Europe 22:00 Amanpour 22:30 CNN Newscenter 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

00:15 01:10 02:05 03:00 03:55 04:20 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 11:50 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 21:30 22:25 23:20

You Have Been Warned James May’s Man Lab Mythbusters Mythbusters Border Security Auction Hunters Storage Hunters How Machines Work How Stuff’s Made Sons Of Guns Mythbusters Futurecar Gold Rush - Season 3 Specials Border Security Auction Hunters Auction Kings How Machines Work How It’s Made You Have Been Warned James May’s Man Lab Mythbusters Border Security Auction Hunters Auction Kings Fast N’ Loud Gold Rush Mythbusters Sons Of Guns How Machines Work How It’s Made Auction Hunters Storage Hunters Heroes Of Hell’s Highway Sons Of Guns Hellriders

00:05 How Tech Works 00:30 Sci-Fi Science 01:00 Trek Nation 02:45 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design 03:35 Bad Universe 04:25 Superships 05:15 The Gadget Show 05:40 How Tech Works 06:05 Prophets Of Science Fiction 07:00 James May’s 20th Century 07:25 James May’s 20th Century 07:50 Curiosity 08:40 The Gadget Show 09:05 How Tech Works 09:30 Da Vinci’s Machines 10:25 What’s That About?

11:20 Superships 12:10 Prophets Of Science Fiction 13:00 Curiosity 13:50 Sci-Fi Science 14:20 The Gadget Show 14:45 How Tech Works 15:10 James May’s 20th Century 15:35 James May’s 20th Century 16:00 Da Vinci’s Machines 16:55 What’s That About?

17:45 Superships 18:35 Meteorite Men 19:30 James May’s 20th Century 19:55 James May’s 20th Century 20:20 Finding Bigfoot 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 How Tech Works 22:00 James May’s 20th Century 22:25 James May’s 20th Century 22:50 Sport Science 23:40 The Gadget Show

00:00 Hannah Montana 00:20 Hannah Montana 00:45 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 01:05 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 01:30 Emperor’s New School 01:50 Emperor’s New School 02:15 Replacements 02:35 Replacements 03:00 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 03:20 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 03:45 Emperor’s New School 04:05 Emperor’s New School 04:30 Replacements 04:50 Replacements 05:15 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 05:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 06:00 Prankstars 06:25 Suite Life On Deck 06:45 Cory In The House 07:10 A.N.T Farm 07:35 Austin And Ally 07:55 Jessie 08:20 Good Luck Charlie 08:45 Doc McStuffins 09:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:30 A.N.T Farm 09:55 Jonas 10:15 So Random 10:40 Hannah Montana 11:05 Sonny With A Chance 11:25 Kim Possible 11:50 Shake It Up 12:15 Shake It Up 12:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 13:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 13:25 Austin And Ally 13:45 Jessie 14:10 A.N.T Farm 14:35 So Random 14:55 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 15:20 Good Luck Charlie 15:45 Jessie 16:10 Shake It Up 16:35 A.N.T. Farm 17:00 Austin And Ally 17:20 Suite Life On Deck 17:45 Suite Life On Deck 18:10 Cory In The House 18:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 18:55 That’s So Raven 19:20 A.N.T Farm 19:40 Good Luck Charlie 20:05 Jessie 20:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 20:50 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:15 So Random 21:40 Hannah Montana 22:00 Jonas 22:25 Sonny With A Chance 22:50 Sonny With A Chance 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:00 00:55 01:25 02:20 03:15 03:40 04:10 05:05 06:00 07:50 08:20 09:15 09:45 10:15 12:05 13:05 13:35 14:05 York 15:00 15:30 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:30 23:30

Scouted Style Star THS THS Style Star Extreme Close-Up THS E!es THS Style Star E! News Ice Loves Coco Ice Loves Coco THS E! News Chasing The Saturdays Chasing The Saturdays Kourtney & Kim Take New Style Star THS Extreme Close-Up Playing With Fire E! News THS Kourtney And Kim Take Miami Chasing The Saturdays Fashion Police E! News Chelsea Lately

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 00:55 Unwrapped 01:20 Unwrapped 01:45 Charly’s Cake Angels 02:10 Charly’s Cake Angels 02:35 Unique Sweets 03:00 Unique Sweets 03:25 Food Wars 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:15 Unique Eats 04:40 Chopped 05:30 Iron Chef America 06:10 Food Network Challenge 07:00 Guy’s Big Bite 07:25 Guy’s Big Bite 07:50 Reza’s African Kitchen 08:15 Kid In A Candy Store 08:40 Unique Sweets 09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:30 The Next Food Network Star 10:20 Extra Virgin 10:45 Extra Virgin 11:10 Cooking For Real 11:35 Food Crafters 12:00 Ultimate Recipe Showdown 12:50 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 13:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 14:05 Food Wars 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 Food Wars 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:40 Guy’s Big Bite 19:05 Reza’s African Kitchen 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Chopped 21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes 22:00 Food Network Challenge 22:50 Food Network Caters Your Wedding 23:40 Food Wars

00:30 01:20 02:05 02:55 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 23:40

Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Nightmare Next Door Nightmare Next Door I Almost Got Away With It Dr G: Medical Examiner A Haunting Nightmare Next Door Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

On The Case With Paula Zahn Murder Shift Disappeared Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol Street Patrol Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Real Emergency Calls Who On Earth Did I Marry?

Disappeared Murder Shift Forensic Detectives On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Nightmare Next Door Couples Who Kill On The Case With Paula Zahn I Escaped Death I Almost Got Away With It

00:45 Deadly Arts 01:40 Deadliest Journeys 02:05 The Best Job In The World 02:35 Bondi Rescue 03:00 Bondi Rescue 03:30 Danger Beach 03:55 The Ride: Alaska To Patagonia 04:25 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 05:20 Departures 06:15 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 06:40 Market Values 07:10 The Frankincense Trail 08:05 Deadly Arts 09:00 Deadliest Journeys 09:25 The Best Job In The World 09:55 Bondi Rescue 10:20 Bondi Rescue 10:50 Danger Beach 11:15 The Ride: Alaska To Patagonia 11:45 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 12:40 Long Way Down 13:35 Graham’s World 14:00 Market Values 14:30 The Frankincense Trail 15:25 Around The World For Free 16:20 Deadliest Journeys 16:45 The Best Job In The World

MORNING ON OSN CINEMA 17:15 Bondi Rescue 17:40 Bondi Rescue 18:10 Danger Beach 18:35 The Ride: Alaska To Patagonia 19:05 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 20:00 The Frankincense Trail 21:00 Graham’s World 21:30 Market Values 22:00 Departures 22:55 Graham’s World 23:20 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 23:50 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita

02:15 04:15 06:00 08:00 10:00 11:30 13:30 15:15 17:45 19:45 21:30 23:30

Alien Resurrection-18 Men In Black-PG15 True Justice: Blood Alley-PG15 Monsters-PG15 Superman vs. The Elite-PG15 Ip Man 2-PG15 Monsters-PG15 X-Men: First Class-PG15 Ip Man 2-PG15 A Dangerous Man-18 The Echo-18 The Godfather III-18

01:00 The Decoy Bride-PG15 02:45 The Descendants-PG15 04:45 We Bought A Zoo-PG 07:00 Madea’s Big Happy FamilyPG15 09:00 The Decoy Bride-PG15 11:00 Morning-PG15 13:00 Interview With A HitmanPG15 15:00 Underground: The Julian Assange Story-PG15 17:00 Just Crazy Enough-PG15 19:00 Young Adult-PG15 21:00 Shark Night-PG15 23:00 The Skin I Live In-R

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Weeds 02:00 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia 02:30 The Big C 03:00 Ben And Kate 03:30 The Simpsons 04:00 Seinfeld 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Emily’s Reasons Why Not 06:00 Arrested Development 06:30 Samantha Who? 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Seinfeld 08:30 Emily’s Reasons Why Not 09:00 Ben And Kate 09:30 Modern Family 10:00 The Mindy Project 10:30 Samantha Who? 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Arrested Development 12:30 Seinfeld 13:00 Emily’s Reasons Why Not 13:30 Samantha Who? 14:00 The Simpsons 14:30 The Mindy Project 15:00 Modern Family 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Arrested Development 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 New Girl 18:30 Friends 19:00 Community 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 The League 22:30 Eastbound & Down 23:00 The Big C 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 04:00 05:00 06:00

Eureka The Client List Castle Bones Castle Eureka

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 21:00 22:00

Emmerdale Coronation Street C.S.I. New York Bones Castle Touch Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show C.S.I. New York Eureka Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show C.S.I. New York Switched At Birth American Idol Suits The Hollow Crown

01:15 04:15 06:15 08:00 10:00 12:00 13:30 15:30 17:15 19:45 21:45 23:30

The Godfather II Alien Resurrection Men In Black True Justice: Blood Alley Monsters Superman vs. The Elite Ip Man 2 Monsters X-Men: First Class Ip Man 2 A Dangerous Man The Echo

00:00 Stripes-18 02:00 Vampire In Brooklyn-PG15 04:00 While You Were SleepingPG15 06:00 12 Dates Of Christmas-PG15 08:00 Wild Wild West-PG15 10:00 3 Holiday Tails-PG 12:00 While You Were SleepingPG15 14:00 Bushwhacked-PG 16:00 3 Holiday Tails-PG 18:00 The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad-PG 20:00 Grabbers-PG15 22:00 Stripes-18

01:15 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:45 13:00 PG15 14:30 16:15 19:30 21:00 23:00

The Company Men-PG15 The Silence Of The Lambs-18 13-PG15 Offline-PG15 TT: Closer To The Edge-PG15 Oscar And Lucinda-PG15 Taken Back: Finding HaleyTT: Closer To The Edge-PG15 Gandhi-PG B-Girl-PG15 Perfect Sense-18 Blind Revenge-18

01:00 Rabbit Hole-PG15 02:45 Footloose-PG15 04:45 Moneyball-PG15 07:00 Something Borrowed-PG15 09:00 Larry Crowne-PG15 10:45 Battleship-PG15 13:00 Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story-PG 15:00 Page Eight-PG15 17:00 Larry Crowne-PG15 18:45 Snow White And The Huntsman-PG15 21:00 That’s My Boy-R 23:00 The Inbetweeners-18

01:00 02:45 04:30 06:00 08:00 10:00 11:30 13:00 14:45 16:15 18:00 20:00 22:00 23:45

Olentzero And The Magic Log Battle For Terra Barnyard Winx Dragon Hunters Snowmen Return To Halloweentown Blue Elephant 2 Battle For Terra Horrid Henry Snowmen The Apple & The Worm Blue Elephant 2 Horrid Henry

00:00 Failure To Launch-PG15 02:00 According To Greta-PG15 04:00 Dead Lines-PG15

06:00 Flower Girl-PG15 08:00 Happy Feet Two-PG 10:00 Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules-PG 11:45 Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows-PG15 14:00 Every Jack Has A Jill-PG15 16:00 Happy Feet Two-PG 18:00 Tower Heist-PG15 20:00 Toast-PG15 22:00 Marley-PG15

00:30 03:30 04:30 06:30 07:00 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:30 13:00 21:00 21:30 22:00

HSBC Sevens World Series Ladies European Tour NRL Premiership ICC Cricket 360 HSBC Sevens World Series NRL Full Time AFL Premiership Highlights Trans World Sport ICC Cricket 360 Live Cricket ICC Cricket 360 Inside The PGA Tour Live PGA Tour

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:30 06:00 07:00 07:30 09:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

Inside The PGA Tour PGA European Tour Weekly NRL Full Time Futbol Mundial Rugby League Challenge Cup AFL Premiership Trans World Sport Futbol Mundial Rugby League Challenge Cup Premier League Darts Futbol Mundial Inside The PGA Tour PGA European Tour Weekly Live PGA European Tour Trans World Sport WWE NXT UFC Unleached Live Premier League Darts

00:30 01:00 02:00 03:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 14:00 14:30 18:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

ICC Cricket 360 World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool Pro 12 Top 14 Highlights ICC Cricket 360 Trans World Sport Golfing World Asian Tour Golf Show Total Rugby World Pool Masters World Cup Of Pool Golfing World Pro 12 Total Rugby Premier League Darts Top 14 Futbol Mundial Total Rugby Super Rugby Highlights AFL Premiership Highlights Trans World Sport

00:00 00:30 01:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 17:30 20:30 23:30

UIM F1H2O Nations Cup UIM Powerboat Champs NHL Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing NHL WWE SmackDown Ping Pong World US Bass Fishing NHL WWE Vintage Collection WWE Bottom Line Mass Participation Ironman UIM Aquabike Champs UFC TUF Finale Prizefighter NHL

01:15 A Patch Of Blue-PG 03:00 Shaft 04:45 Mr. Skeffington-FAM 07:00 North By Northwest-PG 09:15 The Hook-PG 10:50 Lost In A Harem-FAM 12:20 Dial M For Murder-PG 14:10 Mildred Pierce-PG 16:00 The Adventures Of Robin Hood-PG 17:45 Mr. Skeffington-FAM 20:00 Operation Crossbow-PG 22:00 The Champ-PG

Classifieds THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

Kuwait

SHARQIA-1 PHANTOM (DIG) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) SHARQIA-2 THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG-3D) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 5:30 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 1:00 AM 1:45 PM 4:30 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (16/05/2013 TO 22/05/2013) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360ยบ- 2 WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG)

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.1 IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D)

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 7:15 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-1 THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG)

1:45 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:15 PM

MUHALAB-2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM

AL-KOUT.2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-1 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 2:15 AM

BAIRAQ-1 STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D)

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 6:15 PM 9:00 PM 11:45 PM

FANAR-2 PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

2:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM

BAIRAQ-2 PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG)

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

PLAZA STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG)

5:30 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM

MARINA-1 STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:15 PM 12:05 AM

MARINA-2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-1 JAVA HEAT (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

AVENUES-2 WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) THE CALL (DIG)

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

360ยบ- 1 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

1:30 PM

LAILA IRON MAN 3 (DIG) NO WED THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) NO WED STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) NO WED

8:00 PM

AJIAL.1 EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM) EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM)

6:30 PM 9:30 PM

AJIAL.2 TADAKHA (DIG) (TELUGU) THU+FRI SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) NO THU+FRI SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) NO THU+FRI SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

5:30 PM

10:45 PM

6:45 PM

MATRIMONIAL Looking for brides working in Kuwait for Hindu Ezhava brothers 32 and 27 year old Mulam Chittra (stars) from Kottayam, Kerala. If interested please contact. Email: kuwaitmail2013@yahoo.com (C 4412) 11-5-2013 FOR SALE Nissan Infiniti G37 2009 model, 3.7 liter, excellent condition, automatic, original paint, 6 cylinder, 6 CD changer, mobile connectivity, rear view camera and scanner, sunroof, sand color, cruise control, GPS, as good as new. Has run 60,000 kms, Price KD 6,500/-. Contact: 99742340.

(C 4414) 13-5-2013

5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 9:45 PM

METRO-1 NERAM (DIG) (TAMIL) NERAM (DIG) (TAMIL)

6:30 PM 9:30 PM

METRO-2 TADAKHA (DIG) (TELUGU) THU+FRI EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM) NO THU+FRI TADAKHA (DIG) (TELUGU)

6:45 PM 6:45 PM 10:00 PM

Two Mitsubishi L300 long panel delivery vehicles white color, 2004 model, 225,000 km, price KD 1,300/- and 2007 model, 201,000 km, price KD 2,300/, fully maintained by Al-Mulla, ready for checking any time. Contact: 99852361 (C 4415) 12-5-2013 Jeep Mitsubishi (ASX) 2011, dark gray color, full options,

excellent condition, 68000km, price KD 3,300/-.

Contact: 66729295.

(C 4406)

SITUATION WANTED 9 years Kuwait experienced Indian house driver available from 9th of June onwards. Sponsor release money no need, preferred to work for a small family.

Contact: 90049716.

(C 4413) 13-5-2013 SITUATION VACANT Cook required for Kuwaiti home, knows local and international food, transferable residence, live-in full time, male only. Contact: 94088822. (C 4416) 14-5-2013

Prayer timings

112

Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:26 04:56 11:44 15:20 18:33 20:01

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines BBC QTR JZR JZR SAI THY GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR RBG MHK KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR ETH QTR THY DHX FDB BAW FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR UAE IRA IZG ABY QTR IRA FDB ETD SYR GFA MEA MSC UAE MSR THY KNE QTR ABY MEA AFG MSC MSR KNE MSC ALK UAE

Arrival Flights on Thursday 16/5/2013 Flt Route 43 DHAKA 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 441 LAHORE 764 SABIHA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 555 ALEXANDRIA 101 SHARJAH 382 DELHI 412 MANILA 206 ISLAMABAD 555 ALEXANDRIA 529 ASSIUT 503 LUXOR 620 ADDIS ABABA 138 DOHA 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 157 LONDON 53 DUBAI 362 COLOMBO 332 TRIVANDRUM 672 DUBAI 352 COCHIN 302 MUMBAI 284 DHAKA 241 AMMAN 165 DUBAI 855 DUBAI 605 ISFAHAN 4161 MASHAD 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 617 AHWAZ 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 341 DAMASCUS 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 403 ASSIUT 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 766 ISTANBUL 480 TAIF 140 DOHA 129 SHARJAH 402 BEIRUT 415 KABUL 405 SOHAG 618 ALEXANDRIA 474 JEDDAH 401 ALEXANDRIA 229 COLOMBO 859 DUBAI

Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:40 01:30 01:40 01:55 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:15 03:15 05:30 07:30 06:15 07:25 06:20 06:40 07:40 03:25 03:30 04:35 05:10 05:50 06:30 07:45 08:45 07:55 13:40 08:05 07:50 12:05 12:35 11:35 08:25 08:40 08:45 08:50 09:00 09:10 9:15 09:30 10:10 10:40 10:55 12:40 12:45 13:00 13:10 13:20 13:45 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:25 20:30 20:50 21:05 21:10 21:15

ETD ABY KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR JZR FDB ABY SVA KNE OMA KNE QTR RJA ETD UAE ABY GFA SVA UAL TAR QTR FDB NIA GFA AXB JAI RBG FDB OMA QTR GFA QTR JAI FDB AIC UAL DLH JAI KLM THY THY JZR JZR JZR

307 123 546 176 786 788 614 502 542 118 104 562 674 774 618 535 787 777 177 257 189 125 57 121 500 472 645 470 134 640 303 857 127 215 510 982 327 144 63 251 219 393 572 553 61 647 136 217 146 576 59 981 981 636 574 411 772 6512 239 513 185

ABU DHABI SHARJAH ALEXANDRIA GENEVA JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN BEIRUT CAIRO NEW YORK LONDON AMMAN DUBAI RIYADH DOHA CAIRO RIYADH JEDDAH DUBAI BEIRUT DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI SHARJAH JEDDAH JEDDAH MUSCAT JEDDAH DOHA AMMAN ABU DHABI DUBAI SHARJAH BAHRAIN RIYADH WASHINGTON DC DULLES TUNIS DOHA DUBAI ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA DUBAI MUSCAT DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA COCHIN DUBAI CHENNAI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT MUMBAI AMSTERDAM ISTANBUL ISTANBUL AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH DUBAI

21:30 14:50 14:15 17:45 18:30 15:00 19:35 18:00 18:15 16:00 18:45 14:40 19:25 19:25 19:10 16:10 16:15 17:50 17:30 14:30 20:10 16:25 13:50 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 15:05 15:45 15:55 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 18:00 18:25 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:15 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:00 21:35 21:45 22:00 22:05 22:20 22:25 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:40 23:45 22:20 22:30 23:20 22:40

Airlines AIC AXB JAI UAL DLH JZR BBC THY SAI THY UAE FDB RBG ETH MSR ETD QTR QTR FDB GFA THY JZR KAC JZR MHK BAW FDB JZR JZR KAC KAC ABY KAC IRA IZG UAE FDB IRA ETD QTR KAC SYR GFA KAC KAC MEA KAC JZR JZR KAC JZR JZR MSC MSR THY KNE UAE FDB QTR ABY

Departure Flights on Thursday 16/5/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 502 LUXOR 44 DHAKA 773 ISTANBUL 442 LAHORE 765 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 556 ALEXANDRIA 621 ADDIS ABABA 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 70 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 240 AMMAN 545 ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 101 ERBIL INTL. 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 671 DUBAI 561 AMMAN 126 SHARJAH 787 JEDDAH 606 MASHHAD 4162 MASHHAD 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 616 AHWAZ 302 ABU DHABI 133 DOHA 101 LONDON 342 DAMASCUS 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 786 RIYADH 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 124 BAHRAIN 406 SOHAG 611 CAIRO 767 ISTANBUL 481 TAIF 872 DUBAI 58 DUBAI 141 DOHA 122 SHARJAH

Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:25 00:30 01:30 01:30 02:20 02:30 02:40 03:45 03:50 03:55 04:15 04:15 04:20 04:25 05:15 06:30 07:00 07:10 07:10 07:20 07:25 07:30 08:25 08:25 08:50 09:10 09:25 09:25 09:30 09:35 09:40 09:45 09:50 09:55 10:10 10:15 10:25 10:25 11:10 11:25 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:25 12:50 13:00 13:20 13:30 13:40 14:00 14:10 14:10 14:15 14:30 14:55 15:05

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

KAC ABY KNE OMA KAC KAC JZR KNE SVA KAC RJA JZR JZR QTR ETD JZR ABY UAE GFA SVA JZR JZR UAL TAR QTR FDB GFA NIA AXB RBG JAI FDB ABY KAC KAC OMA KAC MEA AFG MSC MSR KAC KNE DHX MSC ETD ALK UAE QTR KAC GFA KAC FDB JAI QTR JZR KAC KAC KAC JZR

673 124 473 646 617 773 188 471 505 613 641 238 512 135 304 538 128 858 216 511 184 266 982 328 145 64 220 252 394 554 571 62 120 331 343 648 351 403 415 404 619 543 475 171 402 308 230 860 137 301 218 205 60 575 147 554 411 283 415 528

DUBAI SHARJAH JEDDAH MUSCAT DOHA RIYADH DUBAI JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN AMMAN AMMAN SHARM EL SHEIKH DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO SHARJAH DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI BEIRUT BAHRAIN TUNIS DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH TRIVANDRUM CHENNAI MUSCAT KOCHI BEIRUT JEDDAH ASSIUT ALEXANDRIA CAIRO JEDDAH BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD DUBAI KOCHI DOHA ALEXANDRIA BANGKOK DHAKA KUALA LUMPUR ASSIUT

15:05 15:30 15:30 15:40 15:45 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:00 16:35 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:40 18:50 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:00 20:15 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:50 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:30 21:45 21:50 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:15 23:20 23:40 23:45 23:50 23:55

34

stars CROSSWORD 191

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) This day could try your patience. Little things like traffic jams and friends’ idiosyncrasies may get on your nerves. Once you get to work, this day will turn into a very productive one. There is a great infusion of enthusiasm for your ego as well as your body today. Physical exercise will enable you to overcome any irritability or perhaps, restlessness that this time brings; focus. You work to gain more control over your destiny. Your path of greatest happiness now, is through the enhancement and acknowledgment of your personal image, moneymaking abilities, health, work achievement and social life. Life is a learning experience and very few of us have all the answers at one time. One day at a time; enjoy each moment.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You should find a constructive manner in which to release the tremendous passion that you feel inside today. This is a good time to throw yourself into your work, though you should check the desire to hurry . . . Time can be your friend. It is best to listen to those around you before making an important decision today. You enjoy working with others and would make a good manager. It is easy for you to work with those in authority or those more experienced than yourself. You will enjoy some involvement in athletics, exercise or the out-ofdoors this afternoon. You have a natural ability to express yourself and may find requests for your advice or input regarding the achievements in athletics. You are proud of and enjoy having a good body.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. (computer science) A computer that is running software that allows users to leave messages and access information of general interest.

4. (biology) Reproduction by the union or fusion of games of the same size and structure.

11. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

15. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

16. (astronomy) "the nebular hypothesis of the origin of the solar system".

17. Long-bodied long-tailed tropical American wildcat.

18. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

19. Of or pertaining to France or the people of France.

21. A woman's sleeveless undergarment.

23. The range within which a voice can be heard.

25. An epic in Latin by Virgil.

26. A genus of tropical American plants have sword-shaped leaves and a fleshy compound fruits composed of the fruits of several flowers (such as pineapples).

27. Gibberish resembling the sounds of a baby.

30. Edible bulb of an onion plant.

32. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

35. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series).

39. Wrap us in a cerecloth, as of a corpse.

42. An organ in its earliest stage of development.

45. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

47. A young woman making her debut into society.

49. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934).

50. A person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university).

52. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

53. (British) A former administrative district of England.

54. Relating to or being a member of an ethnic group.

57. Lower in esteem.

60. (Babylonian) God of wisdom and agriculture and patron of scribes and schools.

62. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

64. (psychology) An urge to withdraw or avoid a situation or an object.

69. Situated in a particular spot or position.

72. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

73. Belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself).

74. Small family of usually tropical butterflies.

76. Being one more than six.

77. A unit of length of thread or yarn.

78. Order of mammals having few or no teeth including.

79. The compass point midway between northeast and east.

DOWN 1. Cry plaintively.

2. A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk.

3. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

4. The area of a baseball field that is enclosed by 3 bases and home plate.

5. Characterized by absence of emotional agitation.

6. Excessively fat.

7. A weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel).

8. Type genus of the Alcedinidae.

9. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

10. A period of time containing 365 (or 366) days.

11. Of or relating to or characteristic of the prehistoric Aegean civilization.

12. United States songwriter noted for his protest songs (born in 1941).

13. Any of several tall tropical palms native to southeastern Asia having egg-shaped nuts.

14. A science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement.

20. A river in central Italy rising in the Apennines and flowing through Florence and Pisa to the Ligurian Sea. 22. A light touch or stroke.

24. An Indian side dish of yogurt and chopped cucumbers and spices.

28. Of or relating to or involving an area.

29. Found along western Atlantic coast.

31. A silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group.

33. A Mid-Atlantic state.

34. A piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep.

36. A member of an American Indian peoples of NE South America and the Lesser Antilles.

37. 100 agorot equal 1 shekel.

38. The brightest star in Cygnus.

40. Pompous or pretentious talk or writing.

41. The state prevailing during the absence of war.

43. An independent agency of the United States government responsible for aviation and spaceflight.

44. City in northeast Pakistan.

46. Be earlier in time.

48. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

51. (physics) Of or pertaining to a meson.

55. Not out.

56. Small lynx of North America.

58. Be in contradiction with.

59. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

61. English monk and scholar (672-735).

63. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

65. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

66. The central area of a church.

67. (Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man. 68. A member of an Iroquoian people formerly living on the south shore of Lake Erie in northern Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania and western New York.

70. Of a light yellowish-brown color n 1.

71. A successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball).

75. A colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

Take full advantage of your position today. It is an excellent time to solicit the help of others, though it is important that you truly know the needs of your company or business before asking. There is much reflection now about your past work. It looks as though this time will bring rewards. If you are up for advancement, now is the time.

There could be personal accomplishments this afternoon that will help you in your place of business. This may mean a lecture or some public speaking. At home, it would be best to let others have their way. Demanding what you want could cause ill feelings among friends or family. Make sure you make yourself clear while communicating today in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) This is a great time to work and play with others. There are requests for your helpful ideas and perhaps the ways you handle difficult situations. Your administrative abilities are in high focus. There could be some temporary changes in your plans; perhaps you will be coming to a turning point in your life. Now is the time to make any changes you have been putting off for so long. This afternoon you may have some time to think about your next vacation. It could be that two small vacations may be better than one large vacation. This way you will have an opportunity to learn more about the people in your family as well as to enjoy a different atmosphere. A fear of leaving home or job will finally fade away. Now all you need to do is ask, where?

Leo (July 23-August 22) Your interest in professional success is great and you may inspire coworkers and friends to great accomplishments as well. Others value you for your ability to make practical decisions concerning group issues. You seem to welcome the opportunity to share your knowledge. You find many ways to strengthen your career. Your organizational abilities and sense of responsibility will be a good guide. Your career could assume a much more determined and solid foundation. Sympathy for friends and family is great now and many turn to you for help. You may be of great help to someone today without even realizing it. You are very fortunate in being able to grow and progress throughout your life without major difficulties.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You exhibit good practical job-related thoughts. You are intelligent and thorough when communicating with superiors and with customers. Circumstances today will help you bring out your standards of working and make it easier to make your dreams a reality. You may find yourself examining and testing certain ideas. Deep and penetrating analysis, particularly with a group or in relation to some sort of experiment or project may be in order. Others could seek you out for your psychological insight. This could be a good time to make changes in your environment. You are at your most elegant tonight, particularly in social situations. You are family-orientated but learn quickly about keeping a balance.

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Libra (September 23-October 22) You are always alert to any changes that are needed in the workplace and can be quite creative in your problem-solving abilities. Your disposition is warm and pleasant. You are willing to help others. Your self-confidence is good. Try and see the big picture in a romantic relationship now. It is easy to let your fantasies overtake your good judgment, although you may enjoy the experience of your dreams. Impulsive actions can be detrimental so be aware of this possibility. There will be ample opportunities for outdoor activities with your friends this afternoon—however, you will be wise to eliminate any chance taking; you could be presented with dares. Tonight you are ready for love and a little personal pleasure.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) The middle of the week may find you dragging your feet. This is not a great day to make plans or decisions. It could be hard to figure out the right move. Stay upto-date on changes in your field of business and find ways to polish your skills. Walk outside during the lunch break or take a short trip. Perhaps purchasing a small surprise gift for a loved one will be a fun side activity. Harmony is what you strive to achieve in your life and the lack of it can be emotionally unsettling. Close personal ties to other people are a focal point for your feelings—marriage and other partnerships could be a key arena for this. This afternoon you will find that your inner resources are accented and any problem will have an easy solution with your creative mind.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) There is a more dynamic and outgoing quality to your way of life now. You may feel the urge to work extra hard today on a competitive project. Soon you will be taking on a leadership role. This may be very important to the next step in your career and you are right to feel it is important to show higher-ups how you handle a team of people. A personal project will distract you and help you with the transition on your route home. You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others and are in a good position to communicate with the needs of those that are less fortunate. This could mean a handicapped person or a friend that is in the hospital. You offer much support and help in this situation. Family life is good.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) CAPRICORN Working to build your finances or to hold on to what you have is a key interest today. Power is building up for you in family, home, ownership, property and community interests and will continue to build throughout this month. Soon you will be planning a social affair. You attract very strong-minded people and your invitation list should consist of people that are lighthearted and easy-going as well. Your love relationship is becoming the supportive and strong relationship for which you had always longed. You receive signals that encourage you and you, in turn, encourage your loved one. Making plans for a vacation or a short trip may be beneficial toward the last week of this month. Smile—the world is moving with you and vice versa.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You should expend great zest in your moneymaking efforts but show caution as to what type of activities you engage in now. Mostly, though, you should avoid the desire to obtain material status symbols at this time. You tend to be extremely hard working.

Independence, as well as anything unusual or different is valued. Tonight may be the night you will direct a play or perform in a dance recital. Nothing is ordinary for you. This may be a difficult time to relax, so it may be best to look for ways to distract yourself from any intense situation for now. You enjoy those close personal ties that you have and will find a little phone conversation reviving and poignant. If you get a chance to step outside before dark, you will enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Haplessness, hopelessness and what seems to be an impossible situation will be subjects to chuckle over as you look back in a few days. Your efforts are sincere and you exhibit the ability to rise above most any difficult situation. This day may just be a distraction from your regular duties; however, it is very important that your attitude is positive and upbeat.

There is a feeling that you are appreciated for your talents in the workplace. This afternoon you are receptive, powerful and determined in what work you need to accomplish. Look for openings that may lead to advancement. Family takes precedence this afternoon and you enjoy involving yourself with the happenings of each person’s day. Always allow time for closeness.

Enjoy an evening walk.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

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22434853

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22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

T

he former couple - who announced their split in November 2011 - have yet to finalize their divorce as they are still in negotiations over a settlement, and the actress is reportedly asking for an eight-figure sum due to Ashton’s involvement in a venture capital fund worth $100 million. The ‘Two and a Half Men’ star announced his new technology start-up investment firm A-Grade, which is a partnership with Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary and billionaire Ron Burkle, earlier this month with an estimated value of $100 million and Demi believes she is entitled to a piece of the actor’s newfound fortune. However, Ashton - who owns 20 per cent of the company - insists his profits from the company aren’t commu-

nal as he made his millions after their split. A source told the New York Post newspaper: “Ashton and Demi are still not divorced and no settlement has been agreed, even though they have been in negotiations for over a year. Ashton made a lot of money after they married, but he doesn’t believe he owes her as much as she is asking for.”

T

he 37-year-old actress - who made the drastic decision to have both her breasts removed after she was identified as carrying the BRCA1 cancer gene, which gave her an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer - is planning to marry her 49-year-old fiance “sooner rather than later”, after putting their wedding on hold so she could focus on recovering from the grueling surgery and Brad could wrap up his latest movie. A source close to the couple told the MailOnline website: “Angie is keen on a wedding and the kids are clamoring for a marriage and keep asking Brad and Angie when it’s happening. “Brad has been caught up in production turmoil with his new film ‘World War Z’, so there’s been no wedding planning as a result, but Angie has said it will happen sooner rather than later. “They are all for all intents and purposes married, but it’s become clear that it’s important to them to make it official.”

The couple, who got engaged in 2011, previously admitted their six children, Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, Zahara, eight, Shiloh, six, and fouryear-old twins Knox and Vivienne were putting them under pressure to make their union official.

T

he Latina bombshell - who began dating choreographer Casper Smart in October 2011 shortly after her third marriage fell apart - is hopeful for a fairytale ending and will “probably” walk down the aisle with her beau in the future. Probed as to whether she wanted to marry again, she giggled: “I don’t know ... probably, maybe! I like [being married], I like the idea of it, I always have. As a girl you never really give up on that fairytale completely.” Jennifer - who has five-year-old twins Max and Emme with her third husband Marc Anthony - is so smitten with Casper, 25, that the 43-year-old singer doesn’t care about their age gap and chooses to ignore the stigma about older women dating younger men. She said: “There’s more of a stigma to it, you know? But I’m not really one to follow rules or stay within a box.” The star also revealed backup dancer Casper - who has choreographed the video for her new single ‘Live It Up’ - is the perfect partner because the pair share a creative connection which fuels both their careers.

T T

he 30-year-old country singer - who married Canadian ice-hockey star Mike Fisher in July 2010 - says she has a tough time forming new relationships and wishes she had a softer personality. The ‘Blown Away’ hitmaker told the June issue of Marie Claire magazine: “I don’t feel old

enough to have kids. I know I am mature. But being responsible for another human? “I’m not a mushy person at all. We were never a huggy family.

Or a ‘let’s talk it out’ family. Technically I have siblings but they are quite a bit older than me - I was the accident - so I have the only-child syndrome going on. “I’m a little more selfish, a little more independent, a little closed. I do wish I were softer.

I wish I were able to form relationships better. But hey, I mean...I’m not a sociopath.” The former ‘American Idol’ star, who rose to fame after winning the reality TV show in 2005, also feels very “awkward” and her husband often makes fun of her for it.

he ‘Can’t Fight The Moonlight’ hitmaker - whose relationship with Brandi has been strained, due to her affair with her now husband Eddie Cibrian while he was still married to the ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ star - made the kind gesture suggesting she wants to burying the hatchet. Brandi, who has two sons, Mason, nine, and Jake, five, with Eddie, thanked the 30-year-old singer on Twitter, writing: “I thanked @leannrimes on twitter4 my flowers (Sic).” But the 40-year-old blonde author, who lashed out at LeAnn in her autobiography ‘Drinking and Tweeting: And Other Brandi Blunders’ for trying to mother her children, insisted they are not on speaking terms yet. She added: “Our relationship is that we still dont even say hi at baseball. I dont have her number-thats it (Sic).” LeAnn previously admitted that she is unsure if she and Brandi will ever be friends because of her affair with Eddie. She said: “There’s still a lot of adjustments to make. It could be five months from now or in two years.

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

lifestyle

A woman works on a costume at the ‘Art for Art’ costume workshop, producing costumes notably for the Vienna State Opera and various international operas and theatres in Vienna. — AFP photos

I

n a few bright rooms near the Vienna Opera, an army of workers wield needle and thread, transform black felt almost magically into golden armor, and gleefully create blood splatter on fresh white shirts. Every season, the Art for Art costume workshop churns out hundreds of garments for Vienna’s leading opera, ballet and theatre companies. And its reputation has stretched farther afield too, with fashion designer Valentino, the New York Metropolitan Opera, and even the football World Cup making use of its services.

From hats to shoes and everything in between, the company creates almost every piece from scratch.

“People always say ‘so what, you just need to sew it.’ But until we get to the sewing, a lot of work needs to be done,” says Art for Art director Annette Beaufays. Using craftsmanship that is largely disappearing today-including dressmaking, shoemaking and millinery-the workshop prides itself on its eye for detail and the beauty of its creations.

Feather-light tutus, gravity-defying headdresses and baroque gowns worthy of a royal court make up its 250,000-piece collection, alongside glittering jewelry and period shoes. But creating for the stage is no easy feat. Given the frequent cast changes, every costume requires a moveable seam so that it can be used for more than one person. More importantly, singers and dancers need to be able to move freely in their costumes, whether performing an aria or a pirouette.

“Ballet, of course, is a high-performance sport. And singing too. They’re like top tennis players when they get going,” says Beaufays. Even something as simple as a string of pearls is specially crafted: a high streetbought version may snap with one wrong move and send beads flying across the stage. While the ideas come from the costume designer, it is up to the workshop to turn them into reality. “The costume designer will draw something but won’t always know how to translate it. So we read the drawings and try and understand what it’s about.”

‘WE HELP TO TELL THE STORY’ With ribbons and fabrics ordered from around the world and sometimes even specially woven, costumes do not come cheap, costing up to one million euros ($1.3 million) for a single production. For the ballet “Don Quixote” in 2011, the workshop spent four and a half months just selecting fabrics before it even got down to cutting, sewing and beading.

And the work goes far beyond assembling pieces of silk, tulle or rubber. “We help to tell the story in an opera,” says Heike Schulte, the head of the arts and crafts department. The walls and floors of her workshop are splattered with paint as clothes and shoes stand by, waiting to be muddied and dirtied to make them look more realistic. “If somebody is shot, in battle for example, and walks on in the next scene covered in

blood, that’s us,” says Schulte. “We dye the ribbons for the seamstresses, we paint the hats, we turn green shoes into black ones and vice-versa.”

They also transform simple black felt into shining golden armour: at once lighter and less noisy than if they were made of metal-another trick that the layman never sees but that the theatre could not do without.

Every year, Art for Art works on about 50 productions and demand is such that it has repeatedly turned down assignments from the New York Metropolitan Opera.

The workshop’s client list also includes the Madrid Opera, the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris and in 2009, it collaborated with Italian designer Valentino on the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert.

It also created costumes for the opening ceremony of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and for Michael Haneke’s award-winning film “The Piano Teacher.” “Our motto is ‘everything is possible.’ So we’ll do anything, we’ll go anywhere,” says Beaufays. “If somebody told us to make costumes in Tibet, we’d do that too. It’s not a problem at all.” The important thing is to create a highquality product that audiences will enjoy. “I think if somebody spends a lot of money on an opera ticket, they’re entitled to see a handsome production on stage,” says Beaufays. — AFP

I Dr Kristi Funk turns away after briefly addressing the media outside the Pink Lotus Breast center in Beverly Hills, California, where Angelina Jolie had her double mastectomy. — AFP

A

ngelina Jolie has found another way to be a star. Already a UN ambassador on refugee issues and an Oscar winner, Jolie is receiving accolades from health activists, doctors and fans for her revelation that she had had her breasts removed to reduce her cancer risk. The 37-yearold actress underwent a double mastectomy to minimize the risk that she might develop breast cancer as a result of inheriting a “faulty gene,” and chose to publicize her surgery as an example to other women and mothers. Her partner and fellow star actor Brad Pitt led a worldwide choir of praise, declaring her heroic, followed by her doctors, fellow stars and thousands of supporters, who took to social media to praise her openness.

“We hope that the awareness she is raising around the world will save countless lives,” Jolie’s surgeon Dr Kristi Funk of the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Los Angeles wrote on a blog, praising her patient’s “bold choices.” Jolie’s mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer at the age of 56 and passed on the “faulty” gene, BRCA1, that put the actress at higher risk. Her doctors estimated she had an 87 percent risk of developing breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, prompting Jolie-who has six children-to take action to reduce the chances that she might die at a young age.

Revealing the procedure in an article in The New York Times, Jolie said her chances of developing breast cancer are now just five percentalthough she still runs a relatively high risk of contracting ovarian cancer. “I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex,” she wrote. “I can tell my children they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer,” said Jolie.

She and Pitt, a Hollywood power couple dubbed “Brangelina” in the tabloids, have three adopted and three biological children.

Cancer campaigners cheered Jolie but warned women against rushing out to be tested for the gene mutation that threatened her life. Not only is the BRCA1 mutation rare in the overall female population, they said, but it is also expensive to test for at a US laboratory that controversially

claims patent rights to the gene.

Funk said Pitt “was on hand to greet her as soon as she came around from the anesthetic, as he was during each of the operations.

The main surgery was on Saturday, February 16, and went smoothly, she wrote. Two days later, good news: “The pathology returned and I called Angelina to confirm our biggest hope: all of the breast tissue was benign. “On day four after her mastectomies, I was pleased to find her not only in good spirits with bountiful energy, but with two walls in her house covered with freshly assembled storyboards for the next project she is directing.

“All the while she spoke, six drains dangled from her chest, three on each side, fastened to an elastic belt around her waist,” she said.

The final operation was carried out on April 27, reconstructing the Oscar-winners’ breasts with implants, which Funk said “went extremely well, bringing an end to her surgical journey.” “Breast and ovarian cancers take lives every day,” Funk added, yet “knowledge and action can help prevent the premature loss of those who love us, and whom we deeply love in return.” Jolie also described a several-stage surgical process, the main one of which is an operation that can take up to eight hours as the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place.

The final phase of the process involved reconstruction of the breasts with implants, she said, adding: “There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years and the results can be beautiful.” Jolie thanked Pitt for his support, saying the couple had “managed to find moments to laugh together,” and said she now has only small scars that her children can see without alarm.

“They know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can,” wrote the actress, who took home the best supporting actress Oscar in 2000 for “Girl, Interrupted.”—AFP

Materials and tools for the production of costumes are seen at the ‘Art for Art’ costume workshop in Vienna.

A woman working at the painting atelier for costumes at the ‘Art for Art’ costume workshop, shows a shirt with before (left part) and after (right part) painting to simulate a blood stain on a play, on costumes used notably for the Vienna State Opera and various international operas and theatres. — AFP

n her bad girl days, Angelina Jolie’s body was a billboard for tattoos that said such things as “Billy Bob.” Now she’s sharing intimate details of her anatomy to help women at risk, going public with her preventive double mastectomy to greatly reduce her high odds of breast cancer. It’s the latest peak in Jolie’s turn-around from hedonist to humanitarian, party girl to inspirational poster girl.

The way she went public with her medical story on her own terms, in her own time - with a New York Times op-ed piece Tuesday that caught the media fishbowl of Hollywood completely by surprise - reveals a woman who once seemed out of control to be one of Hollywood’s most forceful and compassionate stars, using her fame with surgical precision to promote matters dear to her.

“I’m in awe of her. She remains one of the most inspiring women that I’ve ever encountered,” said former Paramount Pictures boss Sherry Lansing, who heads the Sherry Lansing Foundation for cancer research. “By letting people know about her personal issue, she is touching countless women who have the same genetic mutations, and she is showing them that they have choices and they can be empowered and can take care of their own health. And by doing so, I believe she is going to save countless lives.”

Jolie’s come a long way from her wild-child days of 10 or 12 years ago. She was branded a home-wrecker when she took up with Billy Bob Thornton, who broke up with Laura Dern and married Jolie. Thornton and Jolie were a tabloid writer’s dream team, an odd couple who wore lockets with a drop of each other’s blood. Back in 2000, Jolie proudly showed off the newest of her 10 tattoos, the name “Billy Bob” etched across her left shoulder. The marriage ended three years later, and new home-wrecker accusations arose after Brad Pitt left Jennifer Aniston for Jolie, his co-star in the 2005 assassin adventure “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

But since then, while paparazzi stalk them and entertainment reporters scramble to chase the latest rumor that Jolie and Pitt are finally going to wed, they have emerged as the ultimate Hollywood power couple. They switch off on film projects so one is free to mind their six children, they travel the world talking up good deeds. “If she wasn’t one of the top actresses in Hollywood, she’d be one of the top publicists,” said Howard Bragman, vice chairman of Reputation.com. “It’s hard to think of a couple that has a better image in this town, both for their careers, family, humanitarian work. ... They’re very good at it, and one of the reasons is they have a very intimate circle that they trust, and they don’t go beyond that.

It’s unusual in Hollywood circles, but they’re very strict about their personal life, about what gets out there.

When something gets out there, it’s usually planned to get out there. It doesn’t leak. They don’t even have publicists.” A special envoy on refugee issues for the United Nations, Jolie, 37, has become as much about causes as career. She still makes big studio entertainment such as next year’s “Maleficent,” a twist on “Sleeping Beauty” in which she stars as the wicked sorceress who puts a curse on the fairy-tale princess. —AP

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1968 oil painting by German artist Gerhard Richter sold for some $37 million at Sotheby’s contemporary art auction on Tuesday, a new record for a work by a living artist. The sale took in $293,587,000, at the low end of the pre-sale estimate of $284 million to $383 million, with 83 percent of the 64 lots on offer finding buyers.

It featured some big numbers with five works selling for more than $20 million. But results were uneven as offerings by such contemporary stars such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jeff Koons either underperformed or failed to sell. Barnett Newman’s “Onement VI,” a vibrant blue work from 1953 being sold

by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, fetched the top price $43,845,000 including commission. It set a record for the artist, beating the high estimate of $40 million.

But it was the 81-year-old Richter’s “Domplatz, Mailand (Cathedral Square, Milan),” offered by the Hyatt Hotels Corp., which broke the record already held by Richter for a work at auction by a living artist. It sold for $37,125,000, near the middle of the $30 million to $40 million estimate. Tobias Meyer, head of Sotheby’s contemporary art department who also served as auctioneer, called the price “a major accomplishment.”

The work, which Sotheby’s sold about 15 years ago for about $3.5 million, was bought by collector Don Bryant, founder of Napa’s Bryant Family Vineyard. He pumped his fist in the air as the hammer came down with his winning bid. “This just knocks me over,” he said of the work, which depicts a cityscape rendered in a style that suggests a blurred photograph, after the sale. “I just love it ... . I just love art,” Bryant, founder and chairman emeritus of St Louis employee benefits firm the Bryant Group, told Reuters.

But the auction also had some big hiccups, notably Francis Bacon’s “Study for Portrait of P.L.,” which carried an estimate of $30 million and $40 million but failed to attract even a glimmer of interest. One of Koons’ signature “readymades,” a sculpture featuring four Hoover vacuum cleaners estimated at $10 million to $15 million, went down when bidding fell shy of the reserve - the secret minimum price at which a consigner agrees to sell a work.

Other highlights included Yves Klein’s “Sponge Sculpture Blue, SE 168,” which sold for $22 million, and Clyfford Still’s “PH-21,” which fetched $20.9 million, both works selling for prices in line with their estimates. Jackson Pollock’s “Blue Unconscious” went for $20.9 million, a bargain considering the $20 million to $30 million estimate (estimates do not include commission, which runs just over 12 percent). The auctions continue on Wednesday with Christie’s sale of post-war and contemporary art.— Reuters

Sotheby’s employees pose with Gerhard Richter’s 1968 oil on canvas painting ‘Domplatz, Mailand’ in London. — AP

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

lifestyle Cannes set to ditch austerity with ‘Great Gatsby’ launch

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he Cannes film festival may get some of its swagger back on Wednesday when it opens with Baz Luhrmann’s lavish 3D period drama “ The Great Gatsby”, an opportunity to shed the caution of recent years overshadowed by broader economic gloom. Leonardo DiCaprio and his British co-star Carey Mulligan will walk the red carpet on the French Riviera to promote the $105 million adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel which has already opened in North America.

Over 12 days of world premieres, champagne parties and sun-and celebrity worship, Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Ryan Gosling, Emma Watson and Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan are among the big names in town promoting their latest pictures. Festival veterans are eager to see if Luhrmann can top his opening in 2001, viewed as the last truly extravagant launch on the palm-lined Croisette waterfront, when he filled the red carpet with can-can girls to promote his movie “Moulin Rouge”.

“For a few years the mood at Cannes was a bit more subdued but the economy has picked up a bit and business is good so people are expecting a big opening,” said Wendy Mitchell, editor of trade magazine Screen International. “The Great Gatsby” was seen as a surprise choice for Cannes, given that the prestigious opening slot is traditionally reserved for a world premiere and all the media buzz and excitement that can bring. But “The Great Gatsby” has already screened to mixed reviews in North America, where it opened to a larger-than-expected $51 million at the box office for distributor Warner Bros, a unit of Time Warner Inc. Some industry insiders said the concession was indicative of increasingly cosy ties between Tinseltown and the French festival that champions eclectic, low-budget movies as well as big-budget blockbusters produced on the US west coast. A decade ago relatively few US studios ventured to the annual cinema showcase, but festival director Thierry Fremaux has strengthened ties with Hollywood and the event is now the prime industry marketplace where titles are bought and sold.

Members of the jury (from left) Christoph Waltz, Vidya Balan, Daniel Auteuil, Nicole Kidman, president Steven Spielberg, and Ang Lee pose during a photo call for the jury at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France yesterday. — AP

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ehind the scenes at the Cannes Film Festival, which begins its annual 12-day extravaganza yesterday: MUSHY PEAS? Steven Spielberg’s career in movies was celebrated in food on Tuesday night as the Riviera resort’s top restaurant hosted the head of the festival jury and his colleagues. At the Palme d’Or restaurant in the Hotel Martinez-where for normal mortals a steak for two costs 280 euros ($361) - the jury’s three-course dinner referenced key moments in Spielberg’s 40 years behind the camera.

The English translation of the menu, though, looks as if it was provided by E.T.: “The quail in predator stuffed with a stuffing rolls of tuna fish in the zests of citrus fruits, shaves of asparagus from Grasse and pulp of peas.” COSTA FORTUNE: Spielberg’s lifestyle in Cannes has left festival organizers stunned and relieved in equal measure. According to press reports, he flew in aboard a private jet, brought in a massive yacht-complete with “infinity pool” and outdoor movie screen-and rented out a luxury villa to provide accommodation for his family, friends and business people.

But Spielberg himself is picking up the tab for it all, including for the security. “We just tell him when and where he has to be each morning, and he takes care of the rest,” the festival’s director, Thierry Fremaux, told the French daily Liberation. “Yes, it obviously makes some savings for us.” EMBARGO ROW: British newspapers have challenged Warner Brothers by breaking the European embargo on reviews of “The Great Gatsby” ahead of its showing in Cannes.

The Daily Mail, Independent, Daily Telegraph and Guardian all refused to play ball, as the movie has already been seen by millions in North America, where it opened five days earlier. As in the US, British reviewers gave Baz Luhrmann’s movie mixed reviews.

The Guardian called it “fantastically unthinking and heavy-handed.” The Mail however praised it as an improvement on the 1974 version and hailed Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as enigmatic bootlegger Jay Gatsby as “superb”. — AFP

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Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan (left) and British actress Carey Mulligan pose during a photocall for the film ‘The Great Gatsby’ ahead of the opening of the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.— AFP

Treat or turkey? Cannes braces for ‘Great Gatsby’

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az Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” was to open the Cannes Film Festival yesterday, with critics divided on whether it amounts to an inspired take on F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic or a cinematic flop. A host of stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling, Michael Douglas, Carey Mulligan and Matt Damon are expected on the red carpet during the glitzy 12-day festival on the French Riviera.

Steven Spielberg will also bring his star power to Cannes as head of the jury which also includes Nicole Kidman and Ang Lee. Luhrmann’s “Gatsby” adaptation targets a younger generation who have never seen the 1974 version, which starred Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in the leading roles of the Jazz Age tale. Three-D effects and a score produced by rapper Jay-Z and tracks from Beyonce and will.i.am provide the core of Luhrmann’s eye-catching, youth-friendly pitch. It gets its European premiere in Cannes after opening in North America last week.

The New York Times described it as “eminently enjoyable” and film website Indiewire hailed a “guilty pleasure, a swirling audacious piece of cinema”.

But others panned the film as superficial and brash. “Once his (Luhrmann’s) agenda of swooping camera movements and gleaming roadsters and anachronistic music takes full hold, there’s nothing left to fall back on...,” said The Wrap. “The Great Gatsby is an immortal American tragedy, but the

story’s impact gets completely buried in Luhrmann’s flash and dazzle,” it added.

Rolling Stone was even more blunt calling the $100 million movie a “crushing disappointment”. Aside from the “staggering beauty of the costumes, nothing works. The actors are buried in the art direction, along with feeling”, it said. “The film looks as stiff and lifeless as a posh store window.” Despite the doubts, “Gatsby” took $51.1 million at the weekend’s US box office, reportedly exceeding distributor Warner Brothers’ expectations of between $35 million and $40 million.

The film, which is not in competition at Cannes, came in second behind the blockbuster “Iron Man 3”. Figures showed the film had proved popular with older audiences too. Viewers over 25 made up 69 percent of the opening weekend’s audience, according to Warner Bros. The opening day proceedings at Cannes are due to begin at 1915 (1715 GMT) with the opening ceremony hosted by “Amelie” star Audrey Tautou followed by “Gatsby.” Tautou said on Tuesday she discovered she had been chosen as the maitresse de ceremonies by text message.—AFP

Indian actress and member of the Feature Film Jury Vidya Balan poses during a photocall of the Feature Film Jury ahead of the opening of the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. — AFP

HOLLYWOOD MUSCLE In Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby”, DiCaprio stars in the title role, a millionaire pining for a lost love during the height of the “Roaring Twenties”. Tobey Maguire and Joel Edgerton also appear and rapper Jay-Z produced the soundtrack. DiCaprio’s performance and the glamorous costumes have been widely praised by critics, but some said the movie failed to grasp the vision of the 1925 book that exposes the emptiness of excess while others disliked its “lurid overabundance”.

“It’s best to accept before buying the popcorn that this is not a literary adaptation but a 3-D blockbuster with Gatsby as a superhero,” wrote critic Kate Muir in Britain’s Times. After the opening night the focus will shift to hundreds of other films screening at Cannes, including 20 movies from 10 countries competing for the coveted Palme D’Or award presented on the final day, May 26.

The list includes five US movies - the highest number in six years - from directors Steven Soderbergh, Jim Jarmusch, Alexander Payne, the Coen brothers, and James Gray.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg is heading a star-studded jury to decide the prizes along with Australian actress Nicole Kidman and two of 2013’s Oscar winners, Taiwan-born director Ang Lee and Austrian actor Christoph Waltz. — Reuters

that’s good news for producers Paramount, Skydance Pictures and Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, since the production budget was $190 million and there’s been a major marketing push behind the film. Chris Pine returns as Capt.

Kirk, and is rejoined by Zach Quinto (Spock), Zoe Saldana (Lt. Uhura), Karl Urban (Bones), John Cho (Sulu), Anton Yelchin (Chekov) and Simon Pegg (Scotty). British actor Benedict Cumberbatch comes aboard as the baddie Khan. Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, along with Damon Lindelof, wrote the screenplay.

“The anticipation for this film has been strong and steady for months,” BoxOffice.com Editor-inChief Phil Contrino told TheWrap. The film’s hardcore fans have are energized, and January’s announcement that Abrams would be directing Disney’s “Star Wars VII” further stoked their anticipation. Contrino agrees that the film’s base is expanding, but thinks “Into Darkness” also will get a boost from some older fans. “The buzz around the last film was so strong that I think this one will be bring in a lot of the fans of the older films,” he said. The 11 previous movies in the series have grossed more than $1.8 billion globally since “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” launched the franchise in 1979.

Those movies hewed closed to the mythology (“Beam me up, Scotty”) of the culturally iconic 1960s TV show created by Gene Rodenberry. The

last film and “Into Darkness” both make nods to the classic series, but forsake overt references for more action. Some of that is Abrams’ putting his stamp on the franchise, but some of the focus and the marketing has been tweaked to make the movie more appealing to foreign audiences. For all of its success domestically, the series has not been a moneymaker overseas.

Determined to reverse that trend and turn “Into Darkness” into a global hit, Paramount hosted focus groups in foreign markets, who told the studios they were more interested in the action than “Trekkie stuff,” and the studio adjusted the film and the marketing. They also sent the filmmakers and cast members on a number of trips abroad to build anticipation, and added British stars Cumberbatch and Alice Eve to the cast to pique interest in that market. The strategy worked, at least last weekend.

“Star Trek Into Darkness” brought in $31.7 million from seven territories, led by the more than $13 million from the UK, in its foreign debut. — Reuters

Actress Zoe Saldana arrives at the premiere of Paramount Pictures’ ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. — AFP photos

Jessica Szohr poses on arrival for the Los Angeles premiere of the movie ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ in Hollywood, California.

rojections for “Star Trek Into Darkness” have surged in the past week, putting JJ Abrams’ space epic sequel on track to take in more than $100 million at the box office over its extended debut weekend. Paramount Pictures docked “Star Trek Into Darkness” in 336 Imax 3D theaters yesterday, one day ahead of its nationwide rollout in more than 3,800 locations.

The sci-fi adventure should easily knock Disney’s Marvel superhero sequel “Iron Man 3,” which is coming off a $72 million second week, out of the weekend’s top box-office spot. Other studios are steering clear: there are no other wide releases this week. Expectations have risen since Paramount last week announced Imax sellouts shows in New York, LA, San Francisco and several other major markets, and moved the wide release date up a day, from Friday to Thursday.

On Tuesday, tickets for “Star Trek Into Darkness” accounted for 71 percent of online ticket broker Fandango’s sales, and rival Movietickets.com reports more than 300 sellouts. The reviews have been very strong; it has an 88 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Paramount and director Abrams successfully re-launched the franchise with “Star Trek” in 2009 by broadening its appeal well beyond its Trekkie base, running up more than $255 million domestically in the process.

The sequel is expected to do even better, and

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

lifestyle

World’s youngest CEO talks business

By Sajeev K Peter

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eet Sreelakshmi, the Indian girl who became the world’s youngest CEO and the youngest web designer at the age of eight. Today at 15, she looks like any other schoolgirl of her age. In her T-shirt and jeans, she appears quite casual and childlike. But her appearance belies her maturity and experience. When she begins to talk, she is businesslike and professional, no more kidding.

Sreelakshmi Suresh, who arrived in Kuwait last week, spoke to Kuwait Times briefly and outlined her ambition. “If you are determined, nothing can stop you from realizing your goal,” she said confidently. She attended a few Indian community events where she was honored for her exceptional achievements at a tender age. She interacted with Sreelakshmi answers a question during the interview.

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his season, Steve Madden showcases a wide range of trend-right styles that appeal to the man who is fashion-conscious and creative. From vibrant suede drivers and transformable slip-ons to studded loafers and rugged sneakers, Steve Madden’s spring 2013 collection is all about style that’s confident, cool and casual. The 80s East End punk era influenced Steve Madden’s most exciting embellishment of the season- STUDS! The CRANNKK sneaker rocks out with its heavily studded all over look making it the perfect statement piece. For a night on the town, step out in the PANIKK dress shoe with a studded cap toe and heel for an elevated downtown rocker look.

For Spring 2013, bright lights in the big city inspire a whole spectrum of pop accents including the grittier cement greys of urban city streets. The FELIX loafer is offered in suede and features a casual espadrille bottom. The ASPIRE pops in smooth suedes, boasting a laceless rubber sole ready to make a statement. Steve Madden man is all about looking effortlessly on trend the M-GRENSON slip-on can go from day-to-night with its structured top and rubber sole.

The PSY loafer can dress up even the most casual jeans with textured leather and stitching that excites while the WYOTT driver makes the hit list for its super soft leather construction and flexible bottom.

Dress down a suit with a pair of fashion hi-top GRECKO sneakers, or switch it up with denim and a pair of black textured GINDLE slip-ons. For daytime casual, the GALAXXY grey fabric slip-on is not only skate- board friendly, but also just right for weekends at the beach!

The Steve Madden guy also appreciates traditional fashion and loves to feel and look good in his shoes. The RUMSFORD is the ideal brogue penny loafer with a classic burnished square toe, stacked heel and metal embellishment.

For a slightly more refined option, the TAKOVR loafer provides a more streamlined look with an elongated toe and classic stitch detail. The MACCHO shows off a tall, sleek silhouette that works for any confident, ambitious guy working or networking in the big city. The BRIXTON gives off an urban vibe with its buckle feature and round toe while keeping the style upscale and on trend.

For the dynamic woman sculptural wedges, hip-haute fashion kicks, studs galore and pop brights round out the Spring 2013 Steve Madden collection.

Beautiful dress heels and sparkling smoking flats are guaranteed showstoppers for that special event while its range of stylish downtown city boots remains a top selling category for trans-seasonal wear.

Simplicity-meets-sophistication this season with feminine high heels and delicate ankle straps becoming the focus for the dress category. There’s no better way to attract true love than with the REALOVE that features an elegant single strap band and closed heel counter. The

students at ICSK Khaitan, Salmiya Indian Model School, United Indian School Abbassiya when she narrated her success story and revealed the secret behind it. “It is important for you to set your goals high. Then don’t look back until you reach there,” she explains her motto.

When she was studying in the 3rd grade, she was entrusted with the job of developing and designing a website for her school. The site www.presentationhss.com was launched on January 15, 2006 by former Kerala minister Binoy Viswom when she was only eight years old. Over the last seven years, she has created about 100 websites. The recipient of more than 40 national and International awards for her excellence in web designing, the Association of American Webmasters conferred her with its membership along with their coveted award the Gold Web Award. Thus she became the only member of the Association of American Webmasters under the age of 18.

“I want to become a computer engineer and pursue my research and study in the field of information technology,” she said who is in the 11th grade now.

At the age of 10, she started her own web designing company eDesign Technologies (www.edesign.co.in). She is the CEO of the company, the youngest CEO of the world.

She also runs another firm Online Pixel offering online education to the needy. “I work on my web projects only after finishing my school studies,” she explained. She said parents are her primary motivation while her friends and relatives also support her. She used to draw pictures using MS Paint program in Computer even when she was only four years old.

“Even when she was a small child, she showed extraordinary interest in computer applications. We told her to focus on something fruitful instead of drawing and painting using computers. That is how she started to learn web designing,” Sreelaksmi’s father Advocate Suresh Menon said. Her mother Viju Suresh is a teacher.

DYV INE T-strap sandal provides Studio 54 retro flair with all over suede upper, over lasted platform front, and an alluring gold metal covered block heel. Run around town with the B-ARIA handbag; its soft constructed roomy silhouette, unique top-zip flapped closure and versatile cross-body strap make this one perfect carryall for day or night. The 80s garage band era inspired the most exciting trend of the season- STUDS! TWYNKLE fashion hi-top court sneaker offered in faux snakeskin or punchy suede hues and emblazoned with aggressive spiked studs are sure to make heads turn.

The Spring 2013 collection exudes a whole spectrum of colors including bold electric blues, fiery reds and eye-catching skyline metallic hues. The EXTERNAL is the ideal platform wedge that boasts enough coverage and height to stand out above any crowd. For a dressier style, the DYSERT sandal amps up the glam quotient with a gold metal cover high heel and vibrant suede strappy upper. The BMIKA emerges as the essential bag of the season made in mint embossed snakeskin material and features a flapped closure and gold metal rand detail - contemporary yet classic for the young uptown sophisticate.

Glitz and glam is top of mind each season for Steve Madden because every young woman needs a little sparkle in her wardrobe. Our CONNCORD smoking slipper impresses with an all over crystallized upper in either fuchsia multi-color or leopard print and works for day or evening wear. The DYVINAL is the most talked about shoe this spring, this rhinestone-covered stunner is sure to leave many shoe-struck. The B-JOSIE suede fringe cross body bag with decorative rhinestones offers a nice balance of casual, functional style with a bit of sparkle for a fabulous weekend shopping trip in the city. The SKYLUR pushes the limit with its sleek architectural shape, studded trimmed heel and feminine ankle strap.

The XTRIME T-strap wedge towers just the same, and boasts a sleeker profile featuring a refined gold metal rand at the base.

City-meets-country is a mash-up of rugged outback and the edgy grit of city life. Booties become a trans-seasonal basic and range stylistically from rustic and vintage-y to tough, biker looks. The FLANKK-M ankle grazing bootie is offered in cognac matte finished leather, aerated shaft and buckle strapped instep. If that’s not tough enough, the PRAQUE’s western silhouette keeps it real - offering an edgy studded toe and stacked square heel. You will fall in love with the B-MAXXY northsouth satchel for its depth and cross body functionality - offered in city black and updated in turquoise for a fresh pop of color.

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Sreelakshmi has addressed several conferences of top Indian organizations such as Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Jaycees, Lions Club International and Rotary Club International. She has been conferred with the ‘Best Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012 by the government of Kerala. She also received the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement in 2008, the highest award in India for children, instituted by the government of India. The award was presented to her by Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

rom the unique methodologies of Megan Hunt to the operative missions of Annie Walker - subscribers are in for a treat this June, with plenty of new series and seasons making their premiere on OSN, the leading pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa. Tune in for the premier of new miniseries Hatfields and McCoys and Defiance, plus new seasons of Raising Hope, CSI New York, Body of Proof, and Covert Affairs, to name a few.

Bringing to life the true American story of a legendary family feud, one that spanned decades and nearly launched a war between Kentucky and West Virginia, Hatfield and McCoys is a multi-award winning and gripping miniseries set to premiere on 31 May (11pm KSA) exclusively on OSN First HD. The series stars big names like Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton and Tom Berenger chronicling the clash of clans that inspired passion, vengeance, courage and sacrifice.

June will also see the premiere of new sci-fi series, Defiance.

Defiance introduces an exotically transformed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden - and tumultuous - arrival of seven unique alien races. In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse,

Sreelakshmi receives India’s National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement in 2008 from Sonia Gandhi.

newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist. With all the core ingredients - a great cast, strong writing and an exciting backdrop on which to tell a thrilling story about people trying to live together in spite of their differences, Defiance will have you hooked from the start. Stay tuned from 30th June at 10pm KSA only on OSN First HD. For those who enjoy crime-solving mysteries and investigations, suspense and forensics, there’s plenty to look forward to on OSN First HD. The hugely popular CSI: New York (15th June, 8pm KSA) returns with Season 9; Covert Affairs (3rd June, 8pm KSA) and Body of Proof (1st June, 7pm KSA) are also back with an all new Season 3. Comedy lovers can enjoy brand new series How to Live with your Parents (for the rest of your Life) which premiers on 15th June at 7.30pm KSA and tune in for more tales from Raising Hope in Season 3 which will see Melanie Griffith returning from 4th June, 6.30pm KSA - only on OSN Comedy HD.

World’s youngest CEO talks business

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THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013

A workman stands on the remains of a 16.5-metre-tall inflatable rubber duck art installation as it lies deflated in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor yesterday. — AFP

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he giant inflatable rubber duck which has attracted tens of thousands of visitors since it sailed into Hong Kong two weeks ago was reduced to a sad deflated disc yesterday in the city’s harbor. Duck mania has gripped Hong Kong since its arrival, with locals and tourists flocking to catch a glimpse of the 16.5-metre-tall artwork, conceived by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman.

But those who made the trip to Victoria Harbor to see it on Wednesday morning were left disappointed as the wind had firmly been taken out of the duck’s sails leaving it looking like a floating fried egg. Organizers said that the duck had been deflated on Tuesday evening as part of scheduled maintenance

work and that it would be towed to a shipyard for thorough checking.

“We scheduled a body check for these two days. If everything is fine we can inflate it as soon as possible and the public can appreciate it again,” said Andrew Yeung, advertising and promotions manager for waterfront shopping mall Harbor City, which is organizing the duck exhibit. Yeung added that the deflation had been announced on the Harbor City Facebook page on Tuesday night and also on signs around the piers.

“I know people are disappointed but we need to do the checking the overall condition. We don’t want to upset everyone.” Yeung said he did not know when the duck would be re-

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Nancy Clapper, of Columbus, takes a picture of the rare corpse flower as research assistant George Keeney helps lead a group, at the Ohio State University Biological Sciences greenhouse in Columbus. — AP

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large rainforest plant known as a corpse flower because of its awful smell has bloomed again at an Ohio State University greenhouse, and there’s more excitement because another corpse flower there is expected to open soon, a spokeswoman said. A 6-foot titan arum, nicknamed Woody after former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes, opened Tuesday to reveal its bold, reddish-purple color and release its rotting-flesh smell a little over two years after it first flowered.

A second corpse flower opened briefly at the greenhouse last May, and a third is expected to open for the first time in seven to 10 days, spokeswoman Sandi Rutkowski said. The greenhouse extends visiting hours during such blooms, but people who want to catch a peek or a whiff have to do so quickly because the rare blooms sometimes last only a day or less. Some of the plants never bloom, and there’s no guarantee that those that bloom will do so again.

“I think we’re pinching ourselves,” Rutkowski said. She said having three or four blooms within three years is a credit to good luck and to the skill of the Columbus greenhouse’s program manager, Joan Leonard. “It is luck, but it’s also due in large part to Joan’s incredible skills at getting things to grow, at nurturing them, sort of knowing what to do when,” Rutkowski said. The corpse flower is native to Indonesia’s Sumatra island, according to the university. — AP

inflated. On a grey morning in Hong Kong tearful 45-year-old clerk Mirinna Chan reflected the feelings of visitors to the pier.

“The sky looks like it is crying for me-I took time off from work just to see the duck, now it is just a blob,” she told AFP. “It’s really our childhood dream, because when we bathed as children, we would have one or two of the rubber ducks next to us.”

Hong Kong has taken the bright yellow inflatable bird to its heart since it arrived on May 2 to cheering crowds, with stalls and shops throughout the city selling replicas and restaurants creating special duck dishes. “The duck represents happiness for us,” 30-year-old office assistant Lee Chun-shing said. “It was the highlight of this place, but now the highlight is deflated, of

kateboarders soar out of the concrete bowl beneath London’s Southbank Centre, as they have done for the past 40 years, while spectators drink beer and hiphop beats stoke up the party atmosphere. But this is no party-it’s a protest. These knights of the pavement are jousting with authorities to save one of the world’s most iconic skateparks from being converted into a stretch of chain stores and cafes.

“It’s world renowned. People literally come all the way from America or Europe just to see this place,” says Henry Edwards-Wood, 25, a professional skateboard cinematographer and spokesman for the “Long Live Southbank” campaign. To support their campaign skateboarders held a three-day “jam” over the May bank holiday weekend and have launched an online petition which has gathered more than 28,000 names from across the globe.

And this clash between counterculture and consumerism is also going legal. Lawyers acting for the Long Live Southbank campaign have filed an application to protect it as a community space in the way that Britain’s famed village greens are sacred. “This is a big tourist attraction for people who come to London. Who’s going to come here to see a Starbucks or another Wagamamas?” said EdwardsWood, as skateboarders in hoodies and backwards baseball caps whizzed past.

The dingy “undercroft” where the skateboarders are based sits beneath the brutalist Southbank Centre on the River Thames, home to renowned arts venues such as the Hayward Art Gallery, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Purcell

course everyone is disappointed,” he said. One man commenting on the Harbor City Facebook page said: “Kids were crying when they deflate the duck.” Most visitors resorted to having their pictures taken with smaller rubber ducks on show nearby.

Since 2007 the duck has travelled to 13 different cities in nine countries ranging from Brazil to Australia in its journey around the world. Hofman said he hopes the duck, which is due to stay in Hong Kong until June 9, will act as a “catalyst” for connecting people to public art.— AFP

Room. In the 1970s it became the birthplace of skateboarding in Britain and has since won a name as a mecca for skaters around the globe, featuring in numerous videos and in the best-selling computer game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4.

It has also provided a refuge for BMXers and graffiti artists. Earlier this year, however, the Southbank Centre unveiled plans for a new Festival Wing which would involve the destruction of the undercroft and the building of a new skatepark under a nearby bridge. The £120 million ($186 million, 142 million euro) facelift includes new space for performances and exhibitions and has special arts facilities for young people. Southbank Centre Director Mike McCart says the spot now colonised by the skateboarders is a prime location for cafes and restaurants-the rent from which would fund the plan.

“If we’re unable to use commercial retail in this location it would fundamentally undermine the project as a whole,” he said. McCart said the proposed new site under the Hungerford Bridge about 200 meters (yards) along the river would be the same size and area as the current spot. “We’ve kept it absolutely raw, so it’s a found space very similar to the ones the skaters inherited in the Seventies.” The leader of Lambeth council, Lib Peck, said they would “like to see skateboarding kept on the South Bank”. “We are confident that a satisfactory solution can be found,” Peck said. But the Southbank skaters are not giving up without a fight.

At the jam on the first weekend of May, hundreds of tourists and passersby lined up behind the fences that surround the skating area to watch a skateboard contest, while

A BMX rider performs tricks in an area beneath the Southbank Centre in London. — AFP photos

music blared over a sound system. Volunteers sold black and white “Long Live Southbank” T-shirts and cupcakes to raise money for the campaign. Skaters gave beginners lessons to children and adults alike-making sure their pupils put on the safety helmets that they themselves refuse to wear. As night fell it got nostalgic with classic skate movies shown on a big screen and photos of Southbank from the 1970s to the present day taped to a wall.

Nick Jensen, a professional skateboarder who has frequented Southbank for years, said it was a “mecca for skateboarding”. “It’s like threatening to take a part of your upbringing or part of who you are away,” he said of the closure plan. Their campaign has won heavyweight support at home and abroad. British lawmaker and former culture minister Ben Bradshaw said he was “really sad” at the plan to close the “iconic cultural landmark in London” while respected broadcaster and journalist Libby Purves wrote in The Times newspaper that to replace the skate spot to build more shops and cafes would be “cultural vandalism.” Mark Gonzales, an American professional skateboarder and artist named the most influential skateboarder of all time by Thrasher magazine, the industry bible, called for the preservation of the spot. “It’s a place where skaters from all around the world can go and they can meet other skaters from other countries,” he said in a video statement for the campaign.—AFP