19 May 2013

CR IP TI ON BS SU

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

1,258 traffic violators deported in one month

Pope, Merkel talk about a ‘strong’ Europe

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150 FILS

2 40 PAGES

RAJAB 9, 1434 AH

Bomb explodes near 3 embassies in Tripoli

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www.kuwaittimes.net

Serena extends winning streak to reach Rome final

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US blasts Moscow over Syria weapons Peace plans hit by diplomatic rifts

FAIRFIELD: Emergency workers arrive at the scene of a train collision in Fairfield, Conn. Two Metro North commuter trains serving New York City collided during Friday’s evening rush hour, sending 60 people to the hospital, including five with critical injuries. — AP (See Page 10)

Max 40º Min 25º High Tide 06:59 & 17:45 Low Tide 12:22

BEIRUT: The United States chided Russia for sending missiles to the Syrian government as plans for a peace conference promoted by Washington and Moscow were hit by diplomatic rifts over its scope and purpose.

Sectarian bloodshed in neighboring, a hacking attack on a Western newspaper by sympathizers of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and defiant comments by a rebel commander filmed eating a slain soldier’s flesh were all reminders of how the two-year-old civil war is metastasizing.

But the divisions among world powers that have prevented a coordinated resolution were also again on display, just 10 days after Russia and the United States agreed to bury differences and push for an urgent international conference to end the war. The most senior US military officer, General Martin Dempsey, described Russia’s recent delivery of anti-ship missiles to Assad as “ill-timed and very unfortunate” and risked prolonging a war which has already killed more than 80,000 Syrians and which the UN said had driven 1.5 million abroad.

While not responding directly to US assertions that it had sent Yakhont missiles, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said Russia would honor contracts to supply Syria, which has been a customer for Moscow’s weaponry since the Cold War. “It’s at the very least an unfortunate decision that will embolden the regime and prolong the suffering,” Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters.

With a range of 300 km, the Yakhont could prove a threat to warships in the Mediterranean, should, for example, Western powers abandon their deep reserve and intervene to offer air support to the rebels, as they did in Libya two years ago. No date has yet been agreed for the international meeting, which appears to face growing obstacles. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met Putin in Russia on Friday and said the conference should take place as soon as possible.

But highlighting the diplomatic conundrum it poses, France spelled out explicitly on Friday that it would oppose any meeting if Assad’s regional ally Iran were invited - contrary to the Russian position that Tehran should be part of a solution. The rebels and key Arab and Western backers will meet in Amman on Continued on Page 13

North Korea fires 3 missiles SEOUL: North Korea yesterday launched three shortrange missiles into the Sea of Japan, apparently as part of a military drill, South Korea’s defense ministry said. US and South Korean forces had been on heightened alert for a medium-range ballistic missile test in recent weeks amid tensions triggered by North Korea’s nuclear test in February.

“North Korea launched two guided missiles in the morning and another one in the afternoon,” a defense ministry spokesman said. “The missiles landed in the East Sea (Sea of Japan),” he said. South Korea was maintaining intense surveillance of the North and keeping a high-level of readiness to deal with any risky developments, he added. North Korea sometimes launches short-range missiles for tests or as part of military drills.

“A more detailed analysis will be needed but the missiles launched may be a modified anti-ship missile or the

KN-02 surface-to-surface missile derived from the Soviet era SS-21 that has a range of about 120 kilometers,” a Seoul official told Yonhap news agency. Seoul criticized the launches, calling them “serious” provocations. “The international community will levy much tougher sanctions against North Korea for its continued absurd provocation,” Min Hyun-Joo, spokeswoman of the ruling Saenuri Party, was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

“No compensations or benefits will be allowed if North Korea fails to show changes in its policy toward the right direction,” she added. The launches followed a joint South Korea-US naval exercise this week, slammed

by North Korea as a “wanton” provocation and rehearsal for war. A US defense official said last week that two North Korean Musudan medium-range missiles that had been primed for firing as tensions flared in the run-up to the North’s national celebrations on April 15 had been

Cybersecurity experts fear the ‘unknowns’ WASHINGTON: Cybersecurity professionals know a myriad of ways hackers can try to wreak havoc on critical infrastructure or infiltrate corporations to steal or spy, but it is the fear of the unknown that some say keeps them up at night. US security officials and private sector experts wonder what kinds of time-bombs can be - or have been embedded by malware into computer networks, just waiting to explode.

Cyber espionage is already “the greatest transfer of wealth in history,” National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander, the top US general in charge of cybersecurity said in Washington this week. “Disruptive and destructive attacks on our country will get worse,” he said. “Mark my words, it will get worse.” Stealing software or money like the $45 million lifted from two Middle Eastern banks in a daring global plot revealed this month - might pale next to an attack that could, for example, switch off the lights in a major US city.

That was the fear in New Orleans in February when a power outage struck the Super Bowl, the National Football

League’s championship game, witnessed by tens of millions of viewers.

The outage was blamed on an electrical relay device not a cyber attack. “The known unknown is what I worry about,” US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano told the Summit.

“For example, we don’t have the identity of all the adversaries who are trying to either commit crimes or acts over the cyber networks. The things we know about, we can deal with. It’s the known unknown,” she added. The military is a big target, something that Rear Admiral William Leigher, who is in charge of “information dominance” with the US Navy, takes on board. “Our networks see thousands of intrusion attempts every day...staying up with the threat, making sure that our defensive systems are up to par is probably one of the things that gets most of my attention,” Leigher said.

To be sure, the United States has not suffered the kind of destructive cyber attack that damaged some 30,000 computers at Saudi Arabia’s oil company, Saudi Aramco, last year.

Continued on Page 13

moved from their launch site.

Musudan missiles have an estimated range of 2,500 to 4,000 kilometers, enough to reach South Korea and Japan and potentially US military bases on the Pacific island of Guam. US and South Korean officials had been worried that any test of the medium-range missiles would trigger a fresh surge in tensions, which escalated after the North carried out a nuclear test in February.

UN sanctions imposed after the test triggered a cycle of escalating military tensions on the Korean peninsula that are only now beginning to subside. An aide to the Japanese prime minister returned home from a controversial trip to North Korea yesterday, fuelling speculation that Pyongyang may be trying to thaw icy relations with Japan. At the height of the tensions, Pyongyang threatened pre-emptive nuclear strikes on the United States and South Korea. — AFP

ANKARA: Riot police detain a demonstrator as they clash with demonstrators in Ankara yesterday. Public outrage over two car bombs that killed 51 people and wounded over 100 near the border with Syria continues a week after the bloody incident. — AP

Google’s wearable Glass gadget: Cool or creepy?

CALIFORNIA: An attendee tries Google Glass during the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco, California. — AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: Google staged four discussions expounding on the finer points of its “Glass” wearable computer during this week’s developer conference.

Missing from the agenda, however, was a session on etiquette when using the recording-capable gadget, which some attendees faithfully wore everywhere including to the crowded bathrooms.

Google Glass, a cross between a mobile computer and eyeglasses that can both record video and surf the Internet, is now available to a select few but is already among the year’s most buzz-worthy new gadgets. The device has geeks all aflutter but is unnerving everyone from lawmakers to casino operators worried about the potential for hitherto unimagined privacy and policy violations.

“I had a friend and we’re sitting at dinner and about 30 minutes into it she said, ‘You know those things freak me out,’” said Allen Firstenberg, a technology consultant at the Google developers conference. He has been wearing Glass for about a week but offered to take them off for the comfort of his dinner companion. On another occasion, Firstenberg admitted to walking into a bathroom wearing his Glass without realizing it. “Most of the day I totally forget it’s there,” he said.

Many believe wearable computers represent the next big shift in technology, just as smartphones Continued on Page 13

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

LOCAL

1,258 traffic violators deported in a month 1,005 vehicles taken to scrap yard: Official KUWAIT: Kuwait deported more than 1,200 foreigners since the government launched crackdowns against serious traffic violations a month ago, a local newspaper reported yesterday quoting a senior Interior Ministry official.

In the meantime, Undersecretary Assistant for Traffic Affairs Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali insisted that ‘administrative deportation’ penalties were only handed out to expatriates whose records showed repeated ‘grave’ traffic violations. This was as per the directions issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah.

In a detailed statement to Al-Anba newspaper published yesterday, Maj Gen Al-Ali said that 1,258 expatriates were deported in the four weeks since the General Traffic Department launched its operations. Maj Gen Al-Ali told the same newspaper late last month that more than 200 people were deported in the first two to three days of the campaign. “[Minister Al-Sabah] gave instructions under which a decision to deport an expatriate driver was not made unless the record showed that he has committed similar multiple violations as the one he was arrested for,” Maj Gen Al-Ali said, further explaining that all deportation decisions were taken in case of drivers “with up to four repeated violations.”

The violations which the traffic department classified as ‘grave’ included driving without a license, jumping the red traffic light, carrying passengers illegally and breaking the speed limit by 40 kilometers per hour. Maj Gen Al-Ali further revealed that among the thousands of vehicles impounded during the ongoing crackdowns, 1005 were taken to the scrap to be destroyed.

“These vehicles were of 1985 model or earlier, and failed the validity tests, thus becoming unfit for driving in Kuwait,” the senior official said, adding that such cars are usually used for reckless driving, drifting and other activities that involve performing dangerous stunts.

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Al-Ali revealed that several forged driver’s licenses were discovered during the campaigns, and added that legal action will be taken against those having such licenses “and those who issued them.” In this regard, he urged anyone who obtained a driver’s license illegally to either “destroy it” or “hand it over to the General Traffic Department in which case he or she will be reconsidered as a witness instead of partner in the crime.”

According to a report published last month, there are at least 1.6 million registered vehicles in Kuwait; a country in which foreigners are required to meet certain conditions to obtain a driver’s license which include a university degree, a minimum of KD400 monthly pay and being a resident in Kuwait for at least two years. Kuwait is home to around 2.6 million expatriates who make up nearly two thirds of the state’s total population of 3.8 million, according to official statistics. In the meantime, Maj Gen Al-Ali refuted allegations speculating that the recent crackdowns were targeting expatriates, indicating that appropriate legal procedures were taken against hundreds of Kuwaitis during the campaigns.

These speculations were mostly based on the government’s announced plans to tackle the country’s demographic imbalance, a claim that has been refuted by state officials. Last March, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi announced a plan to deport 100,000 foreigners annually as part of the Gulf state’s efforts to restore the demographic balance.

Details of the plan, by which the government looks to deport a million foreigners in ten years, are yet to be revealed, but Al-Rashidi had later hinted that individuals to be targeted were chiefly going to be ‘marginal labor forces’ or workers who usually accept menial labor and often live without valid visas.

This plan, along with the traffic department’s mass deportations, have garnered wide criticism from unionists and right groups in Kuwait and abroad who called upon the government to instead cancel the sponsorship system as being the ‘best solution’ to address demographic imbalance.

Last month, the parliament passed a draft law to establish the Labor Public Authority, a state body to be tasked with handling foreigners’ employment duties and providing the legal framework to eventually replace the sponsorship system.

Under this law, the authority will directly supervise the labor force in the private and oil sectors, including the process of visa issuance and transfer.

A report published by Al-Qabas yesterday listed details of the authority’s establishment law, which specified that “the authority alone can recruit expatriate labor forces in the private and oil sector as per the employer’s request.”

The sponsorship or ‘kafala’ system is said to contain loopholes often exploited by visa traffickers to release work permits in the name of fake companies or nonexistent job openings and then sell these to unskilled labor forces looking for a chance to work in the oil-rich Gulf region.

—Al-Anba & Al-Qabas

Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali

275 held in Capital, Farwaniya raids KUWAIT: A total of 275 people were arrested during crackdowns in Al-Farwaniya and Capital governorates on Friday, targeting illegal residents, fugitives and lawbreakers, the Interior Ministry announced yesterday.

The arrests came during a campaign carried out in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh when 135 people were arrested, including 47 for violating residency laws, 15 with expired visas, two people who were earlier reported missing and 37 who failed to produce identifications.

Simultaneously, another operation carried out at the Mubarakiya Market and the Fahad Al-Salem street netted 140 people, including 25 violators of residency law, as well as four fugitives including a man wanted on rape charges.

KUWAIT: Officers training school at National Guard carried out an exercise at Al-Zaqla area in order to strengthen the tactical ability of the officers during battles.

Commander of National Guard Schools Brig Nader Sheehan Hujail said that the exercise was held under real battle situation to measure officers’ ability to find solutions to problems in battlefields under hostile weather conditions and in rough terrains. He said the exercise helped the officers to better communicate with each other and enable them to use wireless equipments in more professional manner. He said the participants showed advanced levels of knowledge after the exercise.

Kuwait, Jordanian lawmakers discuss cooperation AMMAN: The Kuwait-Jordan Parliamentary Friendship Committee held talks here yesterday with Jordanian Parliament Speaker Saad Hayel Srour over strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in the parliamentary domain.

The meeting, also attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Dr. Hamad Al-Duaij, also touched upon several key issues of common concern. During the meeting, MP

Hamad Harshani lauded the deeply-rooted relations between Kuwait and the Hashemite Kingdom, thanks to the roles of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Jordanian King Abdullah II. “Kuwaiti-Jordanian relations are flourishing and growing steadily to serve the higher interests of the two nations,” Harshani said.

The Kuwait MP handed the Jordanian Parliament Speaker Srour a letter from Kuwait National Assembly Speaker Ali Fahad Al-Rashed including an invitation to visit Kuwait.

For his part, Srour expressed great appreciation of the State of Kuwait political and economic support to Jordan. He also voiced eagerness to develop parliamentary cooper-

ation with Kuwait National Assembly.

He spoke highly about Kuwaiti investors and investments in Jordan, stressing that they have an important role in promoting economic development and attracting foreign investors to Jordan.

In addition to Harshani, the Kuwaiti delegation comprises MPs Dr. Mishari Al-Husseini and Essam Al-Dabbous. —KUNA

NBK sponsors Kuwait Architectural Student Association KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) sponsors Kuwait Architecture Student Association (KASA) established by the students of the Department of Architecture, College of Architecture, Kuwait University.

KASA organized yesterday its annual exhibition that showcases the graduating work of the students of the Department of Architecture for the years 2011 -2013. The NBK Public Relations Manager design of NBK’s new Abdul Mohsen Al-Rushaid Headquarters Project as well takes part in this exhibition. “NBK’s sponsorship and support to KASA comes in line with the bank’s customary and ongoing spirit of corporate citizenship as well as the vital role it plays in supporting all students, youths and educational initiatives,” said NBK Public Relations Manager, Abdul Mohsen AlRushaid. Al-Rushaid added “NBK has always considered supporting youth an essential part of its social and philanthropic outreach which comes in line with the bank’s commitment to encourage a merit-based educational system that promotes the best and the brightest the country has to offer and rewards students for their hard work and excellence.” NBK Annually promotes a range of philanthropic missions and social welfare programs as part of the humanitarian dimensions of its corporate social responsibility. KASA helps in advancing the interests of architectural students vocationally, academically, socially and culturally. It aims at presenting a clear view of architects activities through providing lection, seminars, meeting and visiting different projects or participating in exhibitions, circulars, magazines and conventions.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

LOCAL

MoH bans sleeve Gastrectomy ‘Doctors not adhering to global standards’

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health recently issued a ministerial decree stopping the sleeve gastrectomy surgeries and other weight-loss surgeries till a new law governing such medical procedures was formulated in the next three months at the maximum.

Although no serious incidents happened as a result of these surgeries, yet according to the Minister of Health, many doctors were not respecting the international standards and rules in performing these surgeries. The decree will become applicable starting June 1, 2013 and will cover the sleeve gastrectomy, lap-band, gastric bypass, and other weight-loss surgeries. It will be

valid for both the public and private sector hospitals and medical centers. This decree was criticized by surgeons. Dr. Mousa Khorsid, President of the Kuwait Surgeons Union described the decree as unstudied and unjustified, and said this may harm Kuwait’s reputation in this field as the experts here may appear as non-professional or untrustworthy. Dr. Ahmad Al-Murad, Consultant at the Amiri Hospital, felt that these surgeries were very important for the patients and should not stop. Instead strict laws should be put in place to regulate these. “One of the main points is the surgeon’s qualifications and specialization.

Many doctors doing obesity related surgeries are general surgeons or have specialized in other fields such as nerves, liver, cancer or other spe-

cializations and this is not correct. I personally know some of these surgeons,” he told the Kuwait Times yesterday.

The weight criterion is another subject dealt with in the planned law. “Many surgeons, and especially those working in the private sector, only care about money. They even agree to do obesity related surgeries for patients who do not meet the weight condition followed internationally. So they are below the level that is set worldwide. The new law will define the weight criteria to be followed,” added Dr. Al-Murad. Political pressure on the Minister of Health was behind issuing the ministry decree. “Most doctors realize the importance of these surgeries and are against the decree stopping these, but the minister is under

pressure and we have to understand his opinion if he sees benefit for the patients in this decree.

Also, one of the reasons is using equipment not approved by the Food and Drug Association (FDA), which is useless,” he concluded.

On her part, Awatif, a nurse working in one of the private hospitals and also a patient who underwent sleeve gastrectomy surgery, defends the importance of this surgery. “Many people have benefit from these surgeries and I am an example. I was suffering from hypertension, diabetes and back pain. I was totally against the obesity related surgeries and thought these were cosmetic in nature, but after the doctor advised me to undergo these, I live completely differently and have a healthier life now. I am 50 now and

have stopped taking the pills I was taking and I am happy with the results,” she pointed out.

According to her, honesty depends on the doctor. “Our surgeon only does the surgeries if it is extremely necessary for the patient. The decision is based on medical and health grounds only. For those, who are just lazy or do not meet certain weight requirement, he refuses to do it.

He first tries other options of losing weight such as diet, practicing sports and others,” noted Awatif. “If they stopped these surgeries permanently or for a long time, then I think the patients will seek out doctors outside Kuwait and that will be wrong, as the patient needs follow-up checks and tests that may last six to seven months after the surgery,” she concluded.

Minister vows to continue oil sector reorganization Fallout from K-Dow ignominy KUWAIT: Oil Minister Hani Husain vowed to continue government ’s policies aimed at improving the administrative structure in the oil sector “to make it capable of living up to the current and future challenges,” and counseled in a recent statement for ‘patience’ as far as the fallout of the Dow Chemical compensation row was concerned.

“The K-Dow issue is currently being looked at by the Public Prosecution, and we have to wait for the court to make its ruling,” Minister Husain told Al-Jarida newspaper on Friday.

The government took a decision on Thursday to launch a new investigation into the decision to cancel the par tnership deal with Dow Chemical. The decision also involved suspending a number of senior oil sector officials indefinitely. Unnamed oil ministry insiders quoted by Al-Jarida indicated in the meantime that the recent changes were part of minister Husain’s efforts to “protect the oil sector from profiteering allegations” as Kuwait plans to spend nearly KD80 billion on oil industries in the coming few years.

The recent changes saw longtime Kuwait Petroleum Corporation official Nezar Al-Adasani appointed as CEO of the state-owned firm, as well as the Supreme Petroleum Council members being replaced. Meanwhile, CEO and Managing Director of the Kuwait Oil Company Sami Al-Rushaid announced his retirement in accordance with a Cabinet decision to refer officials with at least 35 years of experience to retirement. The move officially ended the

tenures of six other officials including Petrochemical Industries Company CEO Maha Husain.

But it seemed that the government’s steps could do little to defuse tensions which started between the executive and legislative authorities after Dow Chemical announced more than a week ago that they received $2.2 billion from Kuwait in compensation for canceling a joint venture’s deal in late 2008.

Three MPs had filed to grill the oil minister last week over the Dow payment, and have since refused calls to put their plans on hold to allow for the government ’s probe to go through. “The interpellation is due as [lawmakers] look to identify the key people responsible for approving the K-Dow deal, allowing the penalty clause to be activated and paying the heavy fine,” said MP Nasser Al-Merri who filed the grilling motion along with MPs Yaqoub AlSane’a and Saadoun Al-Otaibi.

He made this statement at a press conference last week in which they demanded that minister Husain either take the podium for debate or resign.

Al-Merri’s statements were quoted in an AlQabas report which also quoted MP Nawaf AlFuzai who said that steps to refer the oil sector officials for questioning regarding their involvement in the K-Dow deal “are insufficient”. He hinted that Minister of Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah could also be grilled on allegations that a committee he chaired to probe the issue was responsible for

payment of the fine.

The Kuwaiti government had called off the deal to establish what was to be known as KDow Petrochemicals 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-based company won last year an international court order stipulating that the PIC, a wholly owned subsidiary of KPC, pays a $2.16 billion fine for canceling the contract to establish the $7.4 billion joint venture project.

In the meantime, a leading oppositionist undermined the government’s recent steps and alleged that the decisions were “the newest chapter in the drama that Kuwait is living through.”

“There are efforts to close the file about the fine completely as part of preparations for new political development,” former MP Musallam AlBarrak told Al-Rai newspaper. He fur ther explained that the new probe ordered by the government “is likely going to end up with the Public Prosecution shelving the case, thus closing the issue.” Former minister Mohammad AlOlaim, who was responsible for the oil portfolio in the cabinet that signed the K-Dow deal, said during an interview with Al-Rai TV on Thursday that he was in favor of demands calling for referring all members of that cabinet, himself included, to the Court of Ministers for investigations. Al-Olaim had resigned from the cabinet shortly before the deal was canceled. - Al-Jarida, Al-Qabas & Al-Rai

KUWAIT: Undersecretary of National Guard General Nasser Abdullah Al-Day received the Undersecretary of Ministry of Awqaf Dr Adel Al-Faleh and the accompanying delegation in a visit aimed at the growth of Kuwaiti youths through coordination and cooperation and exchange of experience between the two parties.

Online publishing law soon KUWAIT: Kuwait plans to introduce a new law to control online publishing and social networks. The new law would be separate from the audiovisual law which pertains to newspapers and television broadcasting, a local newspaper reported yesterday quoting sources with knowledge of the subject.

Such a step would probably replace the controversial audiovisual and online publishing draft law which the government put on hold last month, soon after introducing it as it elicited widespread criticism both within and outside Kuwait.

The sources who spoke to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity did not provide details of the planned law, but explained

that ‘the Information Ministry is set to start preparing its articles in the upcoming few days.’

The insider expected that the new law would be better received compared to its predecessor ‘since it introduces regulations only for areas previously unregulated’ such as news websites and social networking websites.

Last month, the cabinet approved a draft legislation which proposed a tenyear jail term for religion related offences and a fine of over $1 million for offending the ruler. It was later put on hold by the prime minister to allow further consultation. — Al-Rai

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

LOCAL

kuwait digest

Letter to Badrya

The fine is not the main problem

How to improve work skills badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij Good day Ms Badrya, Upon reading your article about the state of affairs regarding air conditioners’ duct cleaning and how it can be improved, I have a few points to share.

Over here in my country, we attend training courses to equip ourselves with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to meet the challenges at any workplace.

It is through teamwork spirit, over a certain period of time, that you will be able to see evidence of gradual improvement. With our small population, the time taken for information to flow both ways between the people and the policy makers is rather less. The amount of investment put into improving the communication network and the related infrastructure needs time and resources. Only time can tell the outcome. If one remains patient, things would happen in the way you may like them to. Initially, when any technology is new, there will be plenty of adjustment. People need time for it to work. Any whistle blowing mechanisms can only aggravate matters. I do hope you agree on this issue.

Over to you now for more good news to come.

Regards, Ricky

T

kuwait digest

Deportation not an answer

In my view

Time for law to take its course

By Abdallah Abbas Bwair

local@kuwaittimes.net

S

eeing the massive security presence in public these days makes us feel more safe and secure; a feeling we have been missing for a long time ever since the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait to be specific. The security presence is hopefully going to expose many lawbreakers, including fugitives wanted for civil or criminal cases, as well as marginal labor forces with expired visas who bring more harm to Kuwait than good.

In the meantime, we are seeing the traffic police unusually proactive after Major General Abdulfattah Al-Ali was promoted as undersecretary assistant in the Ministry of Interior. I would like to congratulate Kuwait for having this senior official in the government, given his sincere efforts to enforce the law regardless of positions and favoritism, and keeping Kuwait’s interest as a top priority.

The security presence is hopefully going to expose many lawbreakers, including fugitives wanted for civil or criminal cases, as well as marginal labor forces with expired visas who bring more harm to Kuwait than good.

Kuwait’s traffic sector is not a new field for Maj Gen Al-Ali; nor is his attitude towards law enforcement. Before his recent appointment as General Director of the Traffic Department, Maj Gen Al-Ali worked for years in the same department as well as in the General Security Department. He was credited for a successful stint as director of the Ahmadi Security Department where his efforts resulted in impounding of thousands of vehicles used by reckless drivers. As director of Al-Farwaniya Security Department, he had launched crackdowns that resulted in arrest of hundreds of fugitives and lawbreakers.

During his tenure as the head of the Farwaniya Security Department, Maj Gen Al-Ali successfully faced off unlicensed demonstrations when some protestors put Kuwait’s stability at risk. His transfer to the traffic department is surely going to boost the efforts there and improve the quality of work.

He will help find solutions to many pending problems including traffic jams and reckless driving.

His efforts to enforce the law, including sending teams of officers in civilian clothes to detect traffic violations, have received much appreciation in Kuwait, further proving that he is the right man in the right place. We hope to see more officials like Maj Gen Al-Ali in the state departments so that Kuwait can once again become an oasis for safety and security, and the land of peace.

By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

I

t appears that some people within the government believe that they can earn their supervisors’ appreciation by showing a rather excessive sense of law enforcement, especially against expatriates.

They behave as if making foreigners feel that they are constantly pursued will bring down the crime rate and will be in the public’s best interest.

These people ignore many incidents in which it was discovered that a lawbreaking foreigner had support from a Kuwaiti national.

In this context came the unfortunate announcement of Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi about a plan to deport one hundred thousand expatriates every year. She should have known better, being a lawyer by profession, that the plan is impractical, at least from an administrative standpoint. This is not to mention the injustice involved.

Instead, Al-Rashidi should have announced a plan to send at least a hundred Kuwaiti visa traffickers every year to jail. It is a shame that these criminals have been committing crimes for so long that we have ended up with a huge demographic imbalance problem today.

This brings me to the Interior Ministry’s decision to deport any expatriate driver who was to commit a grave violation. A decision which forces a person to lose his job and other obligations while risking the stability of entire families is not only inhuman, but also extremely stupid, given the serious repercussions that it leaves in its wake. Expatriate residents, or at least most of them, came to Kuwait to work and earn a decent living. The employers too wanted the same and hence opened the doors for them.

Therefore it is neither humane nor logical to leave expatriates wondering and fearful about their fate and the fate of their children should they commit a traffic violation which could happen unintentionally.

Instead, the state is supposed to enforce hefty fine which will sure that traffic violators learn their lesson.

The main problem is not in the number of foreigners living in Kuwait or the violations they commit, but in the corruption spreading in the sponsorship system. I personally came close to exposing part of this world when I offered KD2,000 to a person who approached me for donations for a mosque project in Pakistan, but on the condition that he give me the name of his employer or the one who helped him come to Kuwait. Of course he declined my offer, likely because he knew that his loss will be bigger than that amount I offered if he was to expose a trade secret of the game in the labor market.

It is no secret that people with influence benefit from licenses they have for inactive companies, or in some cases for a 20x20 meters office to obtain hundreds if not thousands of visas illegally. In the meantime, a measure forcing companies to deposit workers’ salaried in banks proved to be a failure as the money deposited could easily be withdrawn the following day. Indiscriminately deporting laborers is going to create many problems and lead to an increase in wages. If you take the job of workers who load and unload containers at the port, you can find that most of them are employed by sponsors who are not working in the ports business. Can you imagine the real crisis that will happen if these workers were to be deported? — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

New cooperative law and justice

By Dr Shamlan Al-Essa

S

ome people are seriously trying to thwart all they have the responsibility of supervision and legisattempts being made by the National lating into law what is in the interest of the country.

Assembly and the government to usher in true Their decision to change the voting system did not reforms. There are some individuals and political come out of nothing; rather it came as a result of groups who have no idea of how to respect ‘law’. cooperatives’ misuse of citizens’ money. This money Among these is the cooperative societies’ union. was being squandered in corruption, influence pedWe accept and appreciate the cooperatives’ deci- dling and appeasing various tribes. Such aberrations sion to reject the decision of the National Assembly’s had become widespread. Also, political Islam groups health committee approving the new cooperative were using societies’ funds, be it the Muslim law. The cooperatives’ opposition to the law owes Brotherhood, the Salaf movement or others who itself to their rejection of the one vote system in the found in societies an opportunity to become famous cooperative elections. They had also rejected the and have “cousins” benefit at the expense of people’s committee’s proposal for a candidate being a mem- money. ber of the society and having a university certificate.

The main goal behind the establishment of coopThe opponents wondered erative societies in the 1960s about the incongruity of a was to serve the area’s peoThe health committee at the ple by providing them with system in which the candidate for the National National Assembly is formed of food and consumer items at Assembly is expected only to MPs who are elected by the peo- a reasonable price. This be able to read and write brings in the interest of the while the candidate of the ple and they have the responsi- shareholders who purchase cooperative management is bility of supervision and legislat- and consume these goods. expected to be a university ing into law what is in the interest Coops used to rake in an graduate. of the country. Their decision to annual profit reaching 10 to We accept, as we said, the 12 percent, but now it is just change the voting system did not four percent plus? Why? cooperatives’ right to express their opposition to the issue come out of nothing; rather it Because, corruption, and raise the matter through came as a result of cooperatives’ influence, theft and the the media. They are free to misuse of citizens’ money. political Islam groups using resort to legal means to prescooperatives to attract the surize the decision makers youth through religious lecand force MPs to change their view, but to threaten tures is widespread. Are the cooperatives expected to resort to sit-ins and shutting down cooperative to run night schools and collect donations for charisocieties is something we reject. This is illegal and ty or Jihad activities in Syria, Iraq or any other area of cannot be accepted by any sane person by any the world? stretch of logic.

The decision of the health committee of the Cooperative societies are not the private property National Assembly was a correct one as it was aimed of the cooperatives union. They are elected by the at reviewing all those establishments where corruppeople to run the society honestly and honorably. tion is rampant. The cooperative societies topped Cooperatives’ members are elected by the general that list. Finally, we find the government’s silence on assembly and they are the people who own a stake the issue of cooperatives’ union issuing such in the society in every area. There are thousands of provocative statements as shutting down these facilshare owners among the citizens. So, by what right ities rather strange. or authority can a society be closed without consultOur question to the government officials is this: ing them or the social affairs and labor ministry (the are we in a state run as per law, or are things so government), which owns the lands and the facilities much out of control that everyone can take the law in the cooperative societies? into his own hands and declare that he will close the The health committee at the National Assembly is cooperatives just because their tribal interests were formed of MPs who are elected by the people and being affected by a decision? — Al-Watan

he government has finally joined the demagogic voices that express frustration over the loss of $2.2 billion in fines to Dow Chemical. I made the above statement because people continue to talk about the fine instead of the project itself, and about the announced payment instead of it became due.

The fine was not paid without a reason. It was paid as compensation to the US-based company that sought damages for a cancelled partnership contract. This means that had the project been implemented in line with the recommendations of the technical experts concerned, Kuwait would not have needed to pay anything. I am not trying to justify the contract clause that mandated such a huge penalty; my question is, why are people focusing on the terms of the contract and not on the reason of its cancellation?

Everyone, including the government, is unfortunately involved in the process of misleading and falsification of facts. The main problem is neither the penalty clause nor in the decision to cancel the deal, despite the latter being the main reason why the fine was paid. The problem is not in the K-Dow deal either. It is a lot bigger than that. It is wrong to assume that paying the fine or holding certain parties accountable is going to end the problem. The main problem is in the unjustified exaggeration relating to the monitoring of development projects. It is in the commercial competition, which created a lot of hatred and fighting for a stake in development projects. Yes, we need to put mechanisms in place to protect public funds.

However, such protection mechanisms should be monitored so they do not transform into tools that hinder development or resolve trade-related disputes - as is happening today.

The penalty clause could have been discussed earlier with Dow Chemical in order for the company to accept a reduced value. Such a move may or may not have helped, but the penalty clause in itself is not the main problem anyway. The main issue is whether the K-Dow project was feasible or not. If it was profitable and developmental, as it seemed during the negotiations, then a $2 billion penalty clause is not the error, but the cancelation order is. — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Inspired by dreams, haunted by illusions

By Nabila Al-Anjari

P

eople had dreamt many a dream based on promises made by the government in recent years, only to wake up to the shocking reality that all those sugarcoated statements made by the state officials were nothing but empty promises. The strange part is that we hardly ever learn any lesson and as keep falling for the same trick over and over again. Since the beginning of modern tourism in the 1970s, we have been hearing about plans to turn Kuwait into a ‘touristic hub’ of the region.

This dream seemed to be turning into a reality with the establishment of the Touristic Enterprises Company, the construction of the Kuwait Towers, and the Kuwait National Museum, the Sadu House, as well as a number of public and leisure parks. But the government felt that it has achieved its goals with these projects, and subsequently failed to come up with strategies necessary to achieve the desired touristic and economic payoff.

Instead of going forward with developing the tourism sector, the government simply went into a deep slumber.

Today, even as the finals exams in schools and colleges are around the corner, the main focus of most people is travel preparation. Conversations about bookings, ticket prices, touristic destinations and other travel-related issues have become a main topic of discussions in dewaniyas and other public gatherings, as well as in the media. It is not a secret that the Kuwaiti people have become known for their love of travel; something that has become synonymous with the summer season in Kuwait. Travel has also become common among expatriates, who travel in different seasons as per the community they belong to. For example, most Indian nationals who make up for a 750,000 strong community in Kuwait, prefer to travel during the winter due to the heavy rains and bad weather conditions during the summer in their home country. Meanwhile, members of the Egyptian community who make up for at least 600,000 people - a majority of whom work in the public sector - prefer to escape Kuwait’s summer and spend it at home. Year after year, this trend has turned Kuwait into what seems to be a ‘work camp’ in which everyone looks for the best opportunity to ‘escape’ from it.

In the meantime, Kuwait loses billions of dinars every year as thousands of vacationers crowd ports and borders every summer. According to official statistics, Kuwaitis’ travel spending has increased by 37 percent in the last two years. The spending rate has seen a gradual increase since 2009 when it reached KD1.7 billion. It reached KD1.8 billion, KD2.3 billion and KD2.5 billion in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. There is no doubt that traveling has a lot of advantages, especially after a long period of dealing with work pressure, but we should also not ignore the security, cultural and economic risks that Kuwaitis face while traveling to countries with different customs and cultures.

Several economies in countries worldwide rely heavily, if not completely, on tourism, which is something we see some countries in the region are heavily investing into, unlike us. For example, Dubai has transformed into a favorite destination for businessmen and investors who enjoy services and regulations provided by the government, and continues to do so even more to achieve more development. Most recently, Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced Dubai’s tourism development vision for 2020, as per which he said, Dubai will be ready to receive “20 million tourists and earn 300 million Dirhams every year.”

Improving tourism no longer remains a luxury; it has become an urgent requirement to diversify the state’s sources of income, attract foreign investors and take steps forward towards turning Kuwait into an international commercial and financial hub. This can be achieved through a clear vision and serious efforts. So, can we finally make this dream become a reality, or are we going to be forever haunted by an illusion? — Al-Qabas

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwaiti inmate dies in central prison Scores wounded in road accidents

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti inmate died in the central jail while another inmate was rushed to a hospital in a critical state, security sources revealed. It seemed that both were taking drugs in their cell together.

Security officer of the prison reported yesterday morning about the death of the Kuwaiti inmate in prison. He was 38. The medical report indicated that the deceased was already dead when he was brought to the hospital, and his lips and eyes had turned blue. The inmate was in ward 2 of the central jail and was undergoing a life sentence on charges of consuming and trading in drugs. A case was filed.

A car accident in Al-Istiqlal Street opposite Continental Hotel resulted in neck pain for a 40-year-old Kuwaiti woman, who was taken to Al-Amiri Hospital.

A car accident on the coastal road opposite Burger King at Mahboula resulted in multiple injuries for a 26-

year-old Egyptian woman. She was taken to Al-Adan Hospital.

A car accident at the Fifth Ring Road opposite AlOmariya resulted in a fractured right knee for a 32- yearold Bengali expat. He was taken to Al-Sabah Hospital.

A car accident opposite the skating hall resulted in multiple injuries for a 16-year-old Kuwaiti girl and nosebleed for a 10-year-old Indian girl. Both were taken to AlAmiri Hospital.

A car accident opposite Recreation City resulted in multiple injuries for a 24-year-old non-Kuwaiti man, who was taken to Al-Jahra Hospital.

A car accident at Al-Surra opposite the security office resulted in multiple injuries for a 28-year-old Egyptian man, who was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

As a 54-year-old Bengali expat was crossing the road at Al-Jabriya when a passing car hit him, causing multiple injuries all over his body. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

A fire broke out in a vehicle at Al-Salam area opposite McDonald’s, causing second-degree burns to the right hand of a 44-year-old Indian expat, who was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

A 16-year-old Kuwaiti boy fell down in Green Island and broke his right leg. He was taken to Al-Amiri Hospital.

A 25-year-old non-Kuwaiti had a nasty fall at AlMangaf near Fingerprints and broke his two legs. He was taken to Al-Adan Hospital.

A four-year-old Egyptian boy fell down at Al-Marina Crescent and broke his right arm. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

A 16-year-old Palestinian boy fell down at the English playground in Salmiya and broke his left arm. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

A fight at Amghara scrapyard left a 41-year-old Sri Lankan man with an injured left leg, and he was then taken to Al-Jahra Hospital.

Kuwait’s Marine Fire dept rescues 35 from yacht Vessel stuck in rocks off Kobbar

By Hanna Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Personnel from the Marine Fire Rescue Center safely brought out a yacht and 35 people aboard it after it was caught amidst rocks north of the Kobbar Islands, all within one hour of receiving the first distress call from the vessel.

The fire rescue boat responded in double quick time and its efforts helped extricate 35 members of the Kuwaiti family from their predicament. The Marine Center received a call for help. The Shuaiba

Marine fire center rushed the boats “Mubasher” and “Monjed” to the site, supported by Salimiya Marine fire center personnel on board the boat “Monqeth 2.”

They received the call for help at 10:40 pm Friday night, indicating that their 70-feet-long vessel was stuck among the rocks north of Kobbar Island.

As the fire rescue men reached the site, they found that the yacht was leased by a Kuwaiti family comprising 35 persons. They were shifted to the fire department’s boat with 16 people on boat

News

in brief

MOH lifts ban on 205 medical jobs KUWAIT: The Civil Service Commission has lifted ban on 205 medical jobs for non-Kuwaitis at the Ministry of Health for its budget 2012/2013. The jobs which are now open range from doctors, pharmacists, technicians and nurses. Number of jobs available for doctors are 74 jobs, nurses 90, technicians 38 and three for pharmacists.

University in Shadadiyah KUWAIT: Traffic control is needed to prevent any expected traffic jams prior to the opening of Kuwait University in Shadadiyah area, said the Municipality here yesterday. Municipality official Nazar Al-Sayegh said that preventative measures must be planned prior to the opening of the Shadadhiyah University which would replace the University Faculties areas such as Kaifan, Shuwaik, Khaldiya, and Al-Udailya. He noted that the traffic jams that might occur on the sixth ring road and in areas where infrastructure repairs or constructions are taking place. Al-Sayegh also noted that despite KU’s plans to allocated 50,000 parking spaces for students and faculty members of soon to be opened university, the problem would resurface in the 2030 when the expected numbers of students might exceed the capacity of the parking lot. The official called on all state institutions to look into the matter before any sort of problem would occur.

Kuwait’s Saudi embassy website JEDDAH: Kuwaitis, Saudis and citizens of other countries can as of now log into newly-established website of the Kuwaiti Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for queries or information. In a statement on the occasion of launching the website, accessible via www. kuwaitembassy.sa, Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Kingdom, Sheikh Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, stated that the step was intended to facilitate bureaucratic and paper procedures for the nationals, Saudis, expatriates and peoples of other countries. The embassy is also reachable round the clock via the “hot line:” 0500554256.

Kuwait Writers association fest KUWAIT: Kuwait Writers Association has held its cultural festival luring a number of visitors who hailed the activity for sake of enhancing cultural education at the national level. The visitors, interviewed by KUNA, praised the activity for the association cultural season (2012-2013), namely diversity of the themes addressed in lectures by eminent figures. Abdullah Murad said, in remarks to KUNA, the event attracted officials, well-known literary and cultural personalities, namely Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hoseini.

“Mubasher” and 16 more on boat “Monjed.” Three people were carried by coast guards.

As for the yacht, it was dealt with by the fire boat “Monqeth 2” that ensured it was afloat once again, and escorted it to the yacht club. The accident handling was supervised by General Director of fire department, Yousuf Al-Ansari, and his deputy, Brig.

Khalid Al-Mikrad and Colonel Tareq Al-Sabti. The effort was led by Shuiba fire center director Major Bader Al-Kadam and Marine fire center director, Major Hamad Bodastour Salimar.

UN compensation approval K U WA I T: Ku w a i t i s s t i l l w a i t i n g to receive from Iraq $11.2 billion in compensation that was approved by the United Nations for the damages sustained by the Kuwaiti oil sector during the 1990-91 Iraqi Invasion, a local daily reported yesterday, quoting official state figures.

According to the compensation statistics released by a state authority, Kuwait had sought a total of $177.4 billion in compensation. However, only $41 billion

was approved, out of which $29.8 billion has been received so far by Kuwait, while Iraq is yet to pay $11.2 billion.

The statistics quoted by Al-Qabas yesterday indicated that Kuwait received all compensations under the category of individuals, cases of injury and death, and other demands exceeding $100,000.

The report further showed that out of $114.1 billion that the Kuwaiti government had initially asked for, only $8.2 billion had been approved and received.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

LOCAL

Kuwait, Grenada establish diplomatic relations UNITED NATIONS: Kuwait and Grenada have decided to establish diplomatic relations in line with joint desire to promote friendly ties and cooperate in political, economic and cultural sectors.

A joint statement in this respect was signed here by the Permanent Delegate of Kuwait at the UN, Ambassador Mansour Ayyad AlOtaibi and Grenada’s Foreign Minister Nickolas Steele.

Governments of the two countries have taken the move for service of the two states’ national interests and in affirmation of the two sides’ abidance by objectives and principles of the UN for safeguarding international peace and security.

In a statement to KUNA and Kuwait Television after signing the joint statement, Ambassador AlOtaibi expressed satisfaction for establishing these ties, noting that the step was in line with Kuwait’s policy of openness with states of the globe, namely small countries in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Kuwait has recently established diplomatic relations with around nine countries, several in these two regions. Kuwait

and Grenada have maintained coordination at some levels since the 70s, and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has had projects in this country for a long time.

Noting Kuwait’s desire to cooperate with Grenada in the economic and investment sectors, Ambassador Al-Otaibi indicated that the Gulf state desires to coordinate with this country regarding various crucial issues of global ramifications, tackled by the UN. Kuwait and Grenada cooperate as members in several organizations, namely the Non-Aligned Movement, the 77-Group+China, addressing various questions of common interest such as sustainable development and climatic change. Ambassador Al-Otaibi expressed desire to take further steps to consolidate the ties with Grenada, such as naming a non-resident Kuwaiti ambassador to the country and establishing an embassy for it in the Gulf country. He added that Minister Steele informed him that his country desires to have diplomatic representation in Kuwait, indeed, and looks forward to charge the diplomatic mission in Kuwait

with Grenada’s interests in all Gulf and Arab states.

After the signing ceremony, Steele told KUNA and Kuwait TV that establishing relations between the

He recalled that the relationship between the two countries, through the Kuwaiti Fund, dates from many decades ago. He indicated that it was “appropriate that we also for-

THE UNITED NATIONS: Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi and Grenada’s Foreign Minister Nickolas Steele. —KUNA two countries “is actually important to our country and to me personally,” adding that when Grenada opens an embassy or Trade Mission in Kuwait, it will be the first in the region.

malize the relations between the two countries so that we can go from strong to stronger, not just from the assistance that we have received from the Kuwaiti Fund, but

in getting the governments and peoples together. I truly hope and expect from our signing of the Joint Communique today that we will have more technical and cultural exchanges, trade, and technical assistance from Kuwait in our petroleum exploration.”

He expressed his country’s desire to open an embassy or a Trade Mission in the region, but “we have our challenges in terms of budgetary constraints,” adding that “my hope and expectation is that in signing the Joint communiquÈ today, we can push forward with our relations and quite possibly have that Mission open in Kuwait as soon as possible, and it will be Grenada’s first embassy or Mission in the region.” Grenada is an island country at the southern end of the Caribbean Sea. It is known as the “Island of Spice” because of the production of nutmeg and mace crops of which Grenada is one of the world’s largest exporters. Its economy is based on tourism. Its size is 344 square kilometers, with an estimated population of 110,000. Its capital is St George. —KUNA

Officers injured in central Jail melee Teen driver held with loaded firearms

Firemen’s efforts lauded

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: General Director of Fire Department Lt General Yousuf Abdullah Al-Ansari along with his Deputies Brig Khalid Al-Tarkait and Brig Khalid Al-Mikrad received in his

office the General Director of Handicaps authority Dr Jassam AlTanmer and his Deputy Essam Ben Haider.

The meeting discussed ways of cooperation between the two parties.

They felt that the job of the firemen is

risky and prone by dangers. Some of the officials have sustained injuries during operations resulting in physical disability to them. Dr Al-Tanmar hailed the great efforts being made by firemen to protect the lives and property of the society.

KUWAIT: Six police officers were injured in a quarrel with prisoners inside the Central Jail late Thursday night. According to the police report, an operation to apprehend inmates in possession of contrabands triggered the fighting. The security team reportedly entered cell number 10 as part of a surprise operation based on information that four prisoners, including a Saudi and three stateless residents, were in possession of contrabands. The four showed resistance and used sharp edged objects to attack the officers. A lieutenant colonel and a first lieutenant were wounded in the incident. Police managed to overpower the inmates and then seized the contrabands which reportedly included a cell phone and SIM cards.

Passports stolen Authorities in Thailand arrested an Iraqi national who reportedly used Kuwaiti passports stolen from tourists to dupe people in cases reported recently in the Asian country.

Several hotels and individuals had filed scam cases in Thailand against Kuwaiti nationals, before investigations revealed that those accused parties had actually reported their passports stolen before these crimes took place. Undersecretary of Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry Khalid Al-Jarrallah told Al-Rai newspaper that coordination between Kuwaiti and Thai authorities helped arrest the suspect who reportedly

carried out these crimes while impersonating Kuwaiti nationals.

Asian nationals while one man managed to escape. The detainees were referred to the proper authorities for further action.

Teen driver held A teenager was arrested for driving without a license and possessing loaded firearms even as his brother is being questioned on suspicions of trying to cover up the crime. The 17-year-old was arrested when traffic patrol officers pulled him over and then found he was under the legal age of driving. The juvenile’s brother soon arrived after he was called to collect the teenager’s belongings from the car.

However, police grew suspicious about a plastic bag that the older brother took out of the car, and inspected it to find two loaded pistols. The two were referred to the proper authorities to face charges.

Mom reunited A toddler was reunited with his mother hours after a pedestrian who saw him sleeping near a street in the area and informed officers at the Al-Nugra’s police station. The four-year-old was brought to the police station on Thursday morning by a Kuwaiti woman who said that she had found him wandering alone. A few hours afterwards, police were approached by a woman reporting her boy missing. The woman explained that the child managed to sneak out of her sister’s house where she had left him to attend to some business. Both, the mother and son, was reunited.

Salmiya crackdown Nearly a hundred people were arrested for visa-related violations during a recent security crackdown which also netted nine women on suspicions of being drunk. The operation that took place in Salmiya saw the police secure the area’s entrances. They were able to arrest around one hundred Asian nationals who failed to produce valid visas, in addition to nine Kuwaiti women for intoxication. Furthermore, police raided a place used to make homebrewed alcoholic drinks, and arrested an unspecified number of

Two nabbed in fight A man was hospitalized with a stab wound following a fight reported in Kuwait City recently. Police and paramedics rushed to a shopping mall in the area where a fight was reported happening. They headed to the parking lot where the fighting was on and apprehended three people who were involved in the quarrel. One man was taken to the Amiri Hospital with a stab wound on his shoulder, while two others were taken to the police station for investigations. A case was filed.

NBK celebrates its 61st anniversary KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) celebrates this year its 61st anniversary.

On 19 May, 1952, the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, issued the famous Amiri Decree promulgating the incorporation of the National Bank of Kuwait as the first national bank and the first shareholding company in Kuwait and the Gulf.

The commemoration of this inspiring and monumental anniversary comes as a culmination of a remarkable story of success, by means of which NBK has been transformed from a small bank that occupies the area of

three shops and a handful of employees relying on traditional and manual banking tools to one of the largest and most profitable banks in the region.

Today, NBK has the largest local and

overseas banking network encompassing more than 173 branches, representative offices and subsidiaries strategically located within the main international and regional financial centers. .

NBK was also recently named among the ‘World’s 50 Safest Banks’ for the seventh consecutive time, illustrating the success of the bank’s conservative strategy, prudent risk management dedication excellent customer service. NBK enjoys the highest credit ratings among all the banks in the Middle East and North Africa region by international rating agencies Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings.

Al-Arabi magazine shows the way Chief editor traces evolution and growth of Al-Arabi KUWAIT: Chief Editor of Kuwait’s top magazine Dr Sulaiman Al-Askari said the magazine has become a leading publication in the Arab world.

It has reaped many awards of appreciation and lured a large number of readers due to continuous renew of its contents and expansion of its sisterly issues, namely “Al-Arabi Al-Saghir” for children and “Al-Arabi for Sciences,” he added.

Dr Al-Askari, in an interview, affirmed his keenness on enriching the editions with new subjects and furnishing the readers, namely the children, with the sisterly editions namely the monthly “Al-Arabi Al-Saghir,” as well as the annual book that documents researches presented at the magazine annual seminar. The Editor-in-Chief, who has been in charge of the magazine staff since 1999, urged talented young Kuwaitis to join his team and work as editors, literary or scientific writers with aim of enriching it with new thoughts and works.

Al-Arabi is a monthly Arabic magazine that focuses mainly on culture, literature, art, politics, society, and economics of Kuwait and the Arab world. The first edition was published in December 1958. It encourages public participation, and makes use of photography and freelance work. Its first edition was published in December 1958. Since its establishment, the magazine has witnessed steady modernization in topics and sections, in line with the technological advancement of the day.

Today’s editions include an article written by the Editor-in-Chief, a specific topic in which many different writers share ideas, works of a select poet and literature papers tackling recent issues. Turning to current literary-cultural status in Kuwait, the renowned intellectual personality and veteran writer said Kuwait used to be in the past an example in the Gulf region in the realms of culture and arts, adding that the Kuwaiti cultural experience was being examined by neighboring and regional states to learn from its strides and falls, namely lingering setbacks caused by the 1990 “Saddami invasion” of the country.

Delving further into this issue, Al-Askari said he sensed drop of interest by the educational institutions in culture, literature and arts, stating that education and activities in these fields “open up new intellectual horizons for students, to be creative and adopt free methods of thinking.” Negligence of such an approach hinders establishment of an advanced society at all levels, he warned. Although a large number of young Kuwaiti innovators in culture and arts have recently come to the

surface, their emergence “has not developed into a general phenomenon” and their number has remained below the figure of distinguished figures in the field that appeared in the 50s and the 90s, he said, calling for devoting special care to the new generation of intellectual creators and “revive the glories we had experience” in these fields in the past.”

Mentioning some of the presently famous creators, Al-Askari named the dramatist, Suleiman Al-Bassam, who studied in Britain and whose productions enabled him to gain international fame, however he could not put some of his works on stage in Kuwait! Al-Bassam is putting on stage the play of his direction, “Rituals of Signs and Transformations” at theatre of “Comedie Francaise,” in the French capital the first foreigner to be given the green light to display at the top French theatre.

He also mentioned as another example the novelist, Saud AlSanousi, who has recently won the International prize for Arabic Fictions.

“Such persons are a national wealth that must be sponsored and encouraged,” he stressed. As to Al-Gurain Cultural Festival which he founded in 1994 while serving as the Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Dr. Al-Askari noted that the festival was one of the important cultural achievements in Kuwait, noting that encouragement for its establishment by HH the late Amir Sheikh Jaber AlAhmad Al-Sabah. “We have been proud of the festival because it has presented Kuwait after the liberation as a major Arab cultural hub and effective contributor to promotion of the Arab arts and cultures,” he added. The annual Al-Gurain Festival attracts local and Arab literary and artistic personalities, he boasted. However, Al-Askari called for greater care and support to maintain the high status of the annual cultural event. Culture, he elaborated, is an effective tool that contributes to maintaining relations among states, also stressing on its role for building foundations of states.

As to the Alam Al-Maarefah magazine, which he headed when he was the chairman of the National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters, he affirmed that the monthly edition “has effectively contributed to the culture in the Arab world.” He called for continuous efforts to keep publishing it and recalled a conversation with the late advisor of the magazine, Dr Fuad Zakaria, before his demise, during which he told him that the magazine was the most significant “scientific project he had overseen throughout his life.” —KUNA

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

Argentina ‘Dirty War’ dictator Videla dies

France becomes 14th country to legalize gay marriage Page 9

Page 9

ALEPPO: Syrian rebel fighter Tawfiq Hassan, 23, a former butcher, poses for a picture, after returning from fighting against Syrian army forces in Aleppo, at a rebel headquarters in Marea on the outskirts of Aleppo city, Syria. Lack of unity among rebel fighters has characterized the armed conflict from the start, and there were new signs yesterday that infighting is on the rise. — AP

Rebel groups clash in northern Syria Wave of tit-for-tat kidnappings in Aleppo BEIRUT: A wave of tit-for-tat kidnappings between rival Islamic militant groups in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo risks sparking large-scale internal fighting between rebels after clashes killed at least four militants, activists said yesterday. The director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdul-Rahman, said a coalition of rebel groups known as the Judicial Council had accused another armed opposition faction, the Ghurabaa Al-Sham, of plundering factories in Aleppo’s industrial neighborhood.

Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and a former commercial center, is split between rebel and government control.

Any internal fighting between rebels in the city would play into the hands of the regime, which is trying to tarnish the image of the opposition by saying it is dominated by extremists linked to Al-Qaeda network.

Aleppo, a city of 3 million that was once a bastion of support for President Bashar Assad, has

been engulfed in heavy fighting since rebels launched an assault there in July and captured several neighborhoods. Over the past few weeks, regime forces have been pursuing an offensive in the city, mainly focused on pushing the rebels from around the international airport and a nearby military air base.

Abdul-Rahman said tensions among rebel factions have been rising in opposition-held areas, mostly on the eastern side of the city.

The two groups, the Judicial Council and the Ghurabaa Al-Sham, clashed on Tuesday near Aleppo in fighting that left four members of the Judicial Council dead, Abldul-Rahman said. He added that the Judicial Council is now holding dozens of members of Ghurabaa alSham captive. Aleppo-based activist Mohammed Saeed said Ghurabaa al-Sham withdrew its fighters from several neighborhoods, including the industrial area, and that it had released all of the Judicial Council members it had been holding captive.

“The situation is very tense in Aleppo,” said Abdul-Rahman, who relies on a network of activists around the country. He said that Ghurabaa Al-Sham has warned it will bring some of its members from outside the city to fight against the Judicial Council if its members are not freed. Saeed said Ghurabaa AlSham released all Judicial Council members it was holding while the other group refused to set free Ghuarbaa al-Sham members and is still holding them.

He added that the Judicial Council is an umbrella organization that includes the Tawheed Brigade, Al-Sham Liberals and the AlQaeda-affiliated Jabhat Al-Nusra - one of the most effective forces among the mosaic of rebel brigades fighting to topple Assad in Syria’s civil war. “There are fears that fighting (between rebels) might erupt in Aleppo,” Saeed said by telephone. In other parts of Syria, the Observatory reported that rebels captured several villages late Friday in the cen-

tral province of Hama after weeks of fighting with government troops. It said the villages were inhabited by members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

It said the Alawite villages - Tleisiyeh, Zaghba, Shaata and Balil - are all on the eastern side of the central province. The Observatory said residents fled the area captured by rebels. The uprising against Assad’s rule that began in March 2011 quickly became an outlet for long-suppressed grievances, mostly by poor Sunnis from marginalized areas. It has since escalated into an outright civil war that killed more than 70,000 people according to the United Nations. The conflict has grown increasingly sectarian, both in action and rhetoric.

Earlier this month, activists reported that troops and pro-government Alawite gunmen killed more than 100 people in Sunnis areas in the coastal city of Banias and the nearby town of Bayda. The violence in Banias and Bayda

Merkel, Pope talk about ‘strong’ Europe VATICAN CITY: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, mindful of the weight of Christian voters in September elections, made a quick trip to Rome yesterday for a private meeting with Pope Francis, focusing on how Europe’s struggling economy should be at the service of the people.

Merkel spoke privately for 45 minutes with the pope at the Apostolic Palace, after exchanging cordial greetings in Germany.

Her Christian Democrat party depends heavily on support from Protestant and Catholic voters, and the chat and photo opportunity could be a welcome campaign boost for a leader largely identified by Europe’s economically suffering citi-

zens as a champion of debt reduction even at the cost of painful austerity across much of the continent. On Thursday, Francis blasted what he called a “cult of money” in a global financial system that ends up tyrannizing, not helping, the world’s poor. Asked whether they had also talked about the pope’s recent criticism, Merkel said that they spoke about the regulation of the financial markets. “The regulation of the financial markets is our central problem, our central task,” said Merkel, who met with reporters on the Vatican grounds. “We are moving ahead, but we are not yet where we want to be, where we could say that a derailment of the guard rails of social mar-

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis gestures with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a private audience at the Vatican yesterday. — AFP

ket won’t happen again.”

Merkel added: “It ought to be like this: the economy is there to serve the people. In the last few years, this hasn’t been the case at all everywhere.” Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal and especially Greece, have seen governments concentrate on debt reduction while slashing state spending. With growth stymied, unemployment, especially among young people, has soared.

Businesses, many of them family-run in southern Europe, have failed as bank lending dried up.

The chancellor also said the pope had stressed that the world needs a strong and just Europe and described the overall conversation has encouraging. Merkel is currently campaigning for re-election in September’s general elections. Half of Germany’s population is Catholic. In Bavaria especially, there is a strong conservative and Catholic tradition.

According to a Vatican statement, Francis and Merkel concentrated on topics of “common interest, including the socio-political, economic and religious situation in Europe and in the world.” “In particular, they spoke about safeguarding human rights, about the persecutions faced by Christians, about religious freedom and of international collaboration to promote peace,” the Vatican said.

Francis, who is Argentine, has picked up on campaigns by the two previous popes, the Polish John Paul II and German Benedict XVI, to reinvigorate what the Catholic church sees as flagging religious enthusiasm on a continent with Christian roots, including dwindling number of churchgoers in much of Western Europe. The Vatican also uses papal visits with major leaders to seek allies in its lobbying on behalf of Christians who face discrimination and in some cases physical violence in parts of the world. —AP

bears a close resemblance to two reported mass killings last year in Houla and Qubeir, Sunni villages surrounded by Alawite towns.

Many of the rebels trying to overthrow Assad today say they want to replace his government with an Islamic state.

The Syrian National Coalition, the main umbrella opposition group warned in a statement that government forces are currently imposing a siege and communications blackout on the towns of Halfaya and Aqrab in Hama. “Civilians in those areas are now cut off from contact with the outside world, and lives are in extreme danger,” the coalition said in a statement. The Observatory and the Local Coordination Committees, another activist group, repor ted intense clashes around the town of Qusair near the Lebanon border. Syrian opposition groups say members of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group are taking part in the fighting along with Assad’s forces. — AP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

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Gunmen kill Yemeni intelligence officer Yemen general denounces ‘sabotage’ of air force

RAFAH BORDER: Egyptian security forces chant in protest of the abduction of four colleagues at the country’s main crossing point into the Gaza Strip in Rafah, Egypt.

Dozens of disgruntled border policemen forced the closure of the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza yesterday to protest the abduction of four border policemen working at the Rafah crossing. — AP

Muslims, Christians clash in Alexandria CAIRO: Egyptian security officials say clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria left one man dead of a hear t attack.

Officials say the clashes in the city’s ElDekheila suburb erupted when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman. Residents of the area fired birdshot and threw Molotov cocktails at one another during the Friday night fighting.

Police say Christian resident Sherif Sedky died of a heart attack during the clashes. Police forces were beefed up around the local church yesterday in case of further violence. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population. Sectarian violence has been on the rise in Egypt over the past two years.

In another development, demonstrators calling for Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Morsi to resign and demanding early elections clashed with riot police in Cairo late Friday. Hundreds of people had marched on Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday for the protest, called by a number of opposition groups. The demonstrators, most of them teenagers, threw molotov cocktails at the police who replied with volleys of tear gas cannisters, but there were no reports of casualties. The clashes took place near Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the

symbolic heart of the opposition movement that brought down President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. Earlier Friday, marches had begun in various parts of the capital with the aim of converging on Tahrir Square.

At the head of one march people were carrying two large banners, one reading “an early presidential election” and the other “a unifying constitution for Egypt”.

Marchers from the Tamarod (rebellion) campaign, which claims to have garnered more than two million signatures demanding that Morsi resign, collected more names from people along the route. Before the clashes, state media said security had been beefed up around the interior ministry, close to Tahrir Square, as it has been the scene of violent confrontations in the past. The protest was called by groups including the Al-Dustur party of former UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei and the April 6 movement that spearheaded the 2011 uprising to oust then president Mubarak. The opposition accuses Morsi of governing only in the interests of his Muslim Brotherhood, while he insists he is the “president of all Egyptians”. Since Morsi was elected last June, Egypt has continued to suffer from a serious political and economic crisis, and there have often been frequent clashes, sometimes deadly, between his opponents and supporters.—Agencies

ADEN: Suspected Al-Qaeda gunmen shot dead a Yemeni intelligence officer in a drive-by attack in the southern city of Mukalla, capital of the southeastern Hadramawt province, a police source said yesterday. Two men riding a motorbike shot Colonel Abdullah Al-Ribaki on Friday evening in a residential area of Mukalla, the source said, adding: “Al-Qaeda is behind this killing.”

Another local official said that Ribaki had been a target for the network, which recently posted notices in Mukalla threatening to step up their fight against intelligence officers and police. AlQaeda militants were driven out of most of their strongholds in Yemen’s south last June in an allout offensive by government forces aided by local “resistance committees”. Militants from AlQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had taken advantage of the weakness of Yemen’s central government during a 2011 uprising against now-ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh. AQAP fighters seized large swathes of territory across the south, including most of Abyan province, which they controlled for a year.

‘SABOTAGE’ OF AIR FORCE Yemen’s air force has been the target of “sabotage”, the country’s military aviation chief said in a televised interview, days after a fighter jet crashed in the capital Sanaa. “The air force is the target of systematic sabotage,” General Rashed Al-Janad told the private channel Al-Saida in the interview broadcast late on Friday. He said the Sukhoi SU-22 that crashed in Sanaa last Monday, killing the pilot, was caused by “shots hitting the aircraft” as it prepared to land at a base next to the capital’s airport.

“The black box of the aircraft was hit” in the attack, he said without giving further details. He

SANAA: Supporters of Yemen’s former President Ali Abdullah Saleh shout slogans during the anniversary of an assassination attempt on Saleh in Sanaa, Yemen. Saleh, along with other senior figures were injured in a bomb attack at his presidential compound in Sanaa on June 3, 2011. — AP

quoted witnesses as saying the jet had exploded 50 meters above the ground. The air force said it would open an investigation into the crash, the second time a Sukhoi jet has crashed over the capital since the start of the year. On February 19, a Yemeni air force jet crashed into a residential area of Sanaa, killing 12 people, including the pilot.

Janad said an Antonov M26 that came down north of Sanaa in November 2012 “had also been hit by shots that caused a fire in one of its engines”. He added that two other military aircraft, including a helicopter, had been fired on last November near Sanaa, although they had not been hit. On Wednesday, an army helicopter carrying Transport Minister Ahmad bin Dagher had

to make an emergency landing in the central Bayda province after it was shot at three times, Janad said in the interview, adding that security forces had arrested 12 men over the attack.

But Janad said these acts of “sabotage” took on a new dimension with the explosion on May 6 of two refuelling vehicles at AlAnad air base in southern Yemen, the largest in the country. “The aim was to blow up the base’s fuel store, but the fire was quickly brought under control,” he said.

Janad replaced a half-brother of ousted president Ali Abdallah Saleh as Yemen’s air force chief a year ago, as part of a restructuring of the armed forces. The general said those who had been affected by the restructuring may be behind the acts of sabotage

targeting the air force.

Meanwhile, President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi urged vigilance from the air force. “We are fighting forces who do not want the best for Yemen, or security and stability in the country,” he said in a visit to the air force’s headquarters yesterday. Without giving further details, Hadi said these forces were “working to shake the unity of the army, but they will not succeed in their aims and they will be eradicated,” official news agency Saba quoted him as saying. Supporters of Saleh, who have been accused of hampering Yemen’s political transition, were removed from top military and security posts after he left power in February 2012 following a year of widespread protests. — Agencies

Tuareg and Arab groups battle in northern Mali BAMAKO: Fighting has broken out in northern Mali between Tuareg separatists and local Arab-led gunmen, only days after the African country won a $4.2 billion aid pledge to help it recover from a conflict with Islamists affiliated to Al-Qaeda. Rebel and military sources both confirmed the clashes, although they differed over precisely which groups were involved. The violence highlights how pockets of fighters who escaped a four-month French-led offensive against the Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the north are undermining efforts to restore state authority ahead of a presidential election set for July 28.

France said this week the ‘terrorists’ had been defeated.

The MNLA, a Tuareg rebel group, said its forces were attacked in the town of Anefis by a column of Islamist fighters on Friday. Its Paris-based spokesman, Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, said fighting continued yesterday morning, with two of the group’s fighters and at least seven Islamists killed so far. The MNLA said it was fighting MUJWA, an Islamist group that occupied the town of Gao for months until earlier this year and has launched a series of guerrilla-style counter-attacks on the town since it was retaken in the French offensive.

A Malian army officer, who asked not to be named, confirmed there had been heavy fighting, likely stemming from long-standing rivalries between Tuareg and Arab communities that make up northern Mali’s array of armed groups.

However he said the clashes were between the MNLA and the MAA, a group made up of Malian Arabs based north of Timbuktu. It was not possible to independently confirm the information. In a sign of the outside world’s concern about stability in Mali, interna-

This image grab taken from a video shows French Jihadist Gilles Le Guen, known as ‘Abdel Jelil’, delivering a message to warn France, the US and the UN against a military intervention in northern Mali. French jihadist Gilles Le Guen was charged on May 17, 2013, according to judiciary sources. — AFP tional donors promised 3.25 billion euros ($4.22 billion) on Wednesday to help the country recover and prevent a resurgence by the Islamist rebels.

French President Francois Hollande dismissed comparisons between Mali and Afghanistan, which provided safe haven to Al-Qaeda when it was preparing the Sept. 11 attacks and is still fighting a Taleban insurgency 12 years later.

“In Mali, the terrorists have been beaten. I don’t say there are none left, I don’t say there is no risk, but there is no longer any fighting,” Hollande said. The Tuareg MNLA launched a rebellion in January last year, citing years of marginalization by the government as justification for carving out an independent

desert state from Mali’s north. It initially fought alongside a mix of Al-Qaedalinked Islamist forces seeking to impose Islamic law on Mali’s north, and the uneasy coalition swept aside government troops in March 2012.

The MNLA was later sidelined by the better armed Islamists, but has now taken advantage of the French offensive to re-occupy several northern towns it had lost to them. Having watered down independence claims, it is demanding talks with the government over a degree of autonomy. French forces are reducing their numbers and are due to hand over security responsibilities to a United Nations peacekeeping mission that will be rolled out in July.— Reuters

Morocco to harness wind in energy hunt TARFAYA: Morocco is ploughing ahead with a program to boost wind energy production, particularly in the southern Tar faya region, where Africa’s largest wind farm is set to open in 2014. The kingdom, which has no hydrocarbon reserves of its own, hopes to cover 42 percent of its energy needs with renewable sources by 2020, and has launched a plan to produce 4,000 megawatts.

Half of this will come from solar energy: at the beginning of May, the first of five solar power plants near Ouarzazate was officially launched, and the site is set to be operational

from 2015. Wind power will supply the remaining 2,000 MW, and Morocco’s wind-blown southern coast, where many of the new farms will be built, already resembles a huge building site.

At Tarfaya, which will be home to the continent’s biggest wind farm, the project led by the French company GDF Suez, in partnership with local company Nareva Holding, is only just beginning. “Building started at the end of December 2012. But the first section, which will produce 50 MW, will be in service in January,” Francis Schang, a manager at Siemens which

is carrying out the work said. “It’s a high-speed project,” he added. By December 2014, if all goes to plan, 131 turbines, each 80 meters tall, will dot the desert landscape.

Together they will produce 300 MW, enough to meet the energy needs of several hundred people, Schang said. At a cost of nearly 500 million euros ($640 million), the Tarfaya wind farm, stretching over nearly 20 kilometers, will allow Morocco to “avoid CO2 emissions equal to the amount absorbed by 150 million trees,” Boutaina Sefiani, the head of the project, said. —AFP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

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Rome protest turns up heat on new Italian PM Honeymoon over for Letta after less than a month ROME: Thousands of people protested in Rome yesterday against austerity policies and high unemployment, urging new Prime Minister Enrico Letta to focus on creating jobs to help pull the country out of recession. “We hope that this government will finally start listening to us because we are losing our patience,” said Enzo Bernardis, who joined the sea of protesters waving red flags and calling for more workers’ rights and better contracts.

Less than a month in power, Letta is trying to hold together an uneasy coalition between his centre-left Democratic party and the centre-right People of Freedom, led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Confidence in the government, cobbled together after incon-

clusive elections, is already falling, with one poll on Friday by the SWG institute showing its approval rating had dropped to 34 percent from 43 percent at the start of the month. “We can’t wait anymore” and “We need money to live” were among slogans on banners held up by the crowds.

Letta promised to make jobs his top priority when he came to power in April after two months of political deadlock.

But several protesters complained he was not sticking to his vow, focusing instead on a property tax reform outlined this week. Union leaders said he needed to shift away from the austerity agenda pursued by former Prime Minister Mario Monti, who introduced a range of spending cuts, tax hikes and

pension reform to shore up strained public finances.

“We need to start over with more investment. If we don’t restart with public and private investments, there will no new jobs,” said Maurizio Landini, secretary-general of the left-wing metalworkers union Fiom. Italy is stuck in its longest recession since quarterly records began in 1970, and jobless rates are close to record highs, with youth unemployment at around 38 percent. Other protesters were pessimistic that Letta’s fragile government would be able to take effective action. “This government will last a very short time,” said demonstrator Marco Silvani. What we need is a new leftist party that fights for the rights of the people,” he said. — Reuters

ROME: Demonstrators applaud during the left-wing Italian metalworkers’ union FIOM rally in downtown Rome Piazza San Giovanni yesterday. — AFP

France becomes 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage Hollande signs gay marriage bill into law

NEW YORK: Hofstra University students gather near the house where another student and an armed intruder were killed during an overnight house break-in next to the campus in Uniondale, NY. — AP

College student, intruder die in New York break-in UNIONDALE: A Hofstra University junior sharing an off-campus house with her twin sister and several other college students was shot and killed during an early morning break-in Friday that also left the armed intruder dead, police said. The shooting at a private house only steps from the Long Island campus cast a pall over the university community gearing up for commencement ceremonies this weekend. Hofstra’s president said in a statement that the ceremonies would go on as scheduled.

It wasn’t clear who fired the fatal shots or how many rounds were fired, but authorities said police were involved in the shooting, which happened about 2:30 am. A weapon was found inside the house, police said. Nassau County police and Hofstra University identified the slain student as Andrea Rebello, 21, of Tarrytown, NY. Her sister, Jessica, was also in the house at the time of the break-in but was not injured, police said. The gunman was not immediately identified.

“It’s my daughter, my baby daughter,” a crying Fernando Rebello told The Journal News outside his home Friday afternoon.

“She was so beautiful. I’m so confused. “I don’t know what to do,” he said, declining to discuss the incident further. The two sisters, another woman and another man were inside the two-story rental house when the gunman, wearing a ski mask, forced his way in, according to Nassau County Inspector Kenneth Lack. The intruder allowed the third unidentified woman to leave, and she called 911. Police provided no other details on the man who was in the house at the time of the break-in, except to say he was not injured. A law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation told The

Associated Press that the woman called 911 from near an ATM. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. “Today is the last day of finals and this should be a happy day on campus; but it’s not,” said Hofstra freshman Scott Aharoni of Great Neck, as he passed through the area rife with yellow crimescene tape early Friday morning. “It’s really sad.”

Victoria Dehel, who lives four houses away, said she heard what sounded like fighting. At first she ignored it, figuring it was from rowdy students coming home from a bar. Suddenly, “This girl was shrieking,” followed by loud bangs just seconds later. “It didn’t sound good at all,” Dehel said.

“I turned to my boyfriend and I said, ‘I think someone just got murdered.’ It was awful.”

The university sent a text alert to notify students and staff. “While our hearts are laden with grief, this weekend’s commencement ceremonies will go on as scheduled,” Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz said in a statement. “The accomplishments of our graduates must be recognized, and together our community will heal and find the strength to move forward.”

Andrea Rebello and her sister were 2010 graduates of Sleepy Hollow High School, according to principal Carol ConklinSpillane. Andrea was a public relations major at Hofstra. “They were smart happy beautiful young women,” Conklin-Spillane said. “I speak about them together because they were very much a matched pair. They were best friends by choice.”

Andrea Rebello quoted Benjamin Franklin and Bob Marley in a yearbook photo from the school. —AP

Residents flee as Nigerian troops pound Boko haram KANO: Residents of an insurgent stronghold in northeast Nigeria fled their homes yesterday as military fighter jets and helicopters carried out heavy air strikes on Boko Haram Islamist camps. Nigeria launched a massive offensive against Boko Haram this week, deploying several thousand troops across three states where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency after the Islamists seized territory and chased out the government.

Dozens of insurgents have been killed in the fighting, the military has said, without offering a specific figure. A security source who requested anonymity said that a helicopter was hit by Boko Haram gunfire, but “managed to rush back to base without sustaining any casualty.”

Nigeria’s offensive is targeting all three states put under emergency decree, including Adamawa and Yobe, but the Boko Haram’s traditional base of Borno is expected to see the most intense fighting.

In Marte district of Borno state, some residents have started fleeing east towards the Cameroon border, less than 25 kilometers away. “It has been scary in the past three days,” said Buba Yawuri, whose home is in the town of Kwalaram in Marte but who has fled to the border town Gomboru Ngala. “Fighter jets and helicopters kept hovering in the sky and we kept hearing huge explosions from afar,” he said.

He said that as the air assaults began, the security forces told all residents to stay

indoors, cutting off his family’s access to food and water. “I couldn’t hold on any longer. I took the bush path,” and reached Gomboru Ngala yesterday, he said. Shafi’u Breima, a resident of Gomboru Ngala said that the border town is receiving a continuous flow of people arriving from Marte and neighboring areas. The phone network in Borno state has all but collapsed since the emergency measures were imposed but residents in Gomboru Ngala use phone services from Cameroon and have been sporadically reachable.

The remote, thinly populated region has porous borders where criminal groups and weapons have flowed freely for years.

The military has sealed previously unguarded crossings to block Boko Haram fighters from fleeing during the offensive.

“Border posts have all been manned by security agents to prevent escape or infiltrations by insurgents,” a military statement said. Reports of Boko Haram’s presence in Cameroon first emerged in February, following the kidnap there of a French family visiting a game park near the Nigerian border.

The abduction was claimed by Boko Haram and the family was released in April. The latest military campaign could prove to be the biggest ever against Boko Haram and is believed to be the first time Nigeria has carried out air strikes within its own territory in more than 25 years. Aerial support was believed to have been used against rioters in the north in the early 1980s. —AFP

PARIS: France yesterday became the 14th country to legalize samesex marriage after President Francois Hollande signed the measure into law following months of bitter political debate. Hollande acted a day after the Constitutional Council threw out a legal challenge by the right-wing opposition, which had been the last obstacle to passing the bill into law. The legislation also legalises gay adoption.

But while gay rights groups hailed the move, opponents of the measures have vowed to fight on.

Hollande made “marriage for all” a central plank of his presidential election campaign last year. On Friday, he tried to turn the page on months of bitter opposition to the measures, arguing it was “time to respect the law and the Republic”.

And he warned that he would tolerate no resistance. “I will ensure that the law applies across the whole territory, in full, and I will not accept any disruption of these marriages,” said the president.

The Socialist mayor of the southern French city of Montpellier will officiate the municipality’s first gay marriage on May 29, her office said yesterday, in what is also expected to be the country’s first. Marriages in France must be civil ceremonies performed in town halls, most of which take several weeks to process applications. Couples can then hold a religious ceremony. The

issue of gay marriage and adoption has provoked months of acrimonious debate and hundreds of protests that have occasionally spilled over into violence and is unlikely to drop off the political agenda.

Although the Constitutional Council approved the bill on Friday, the International Day Against Homophobia, its opponents have vowed to fight on.

They have called a major protest rally scheduled for May 26 in Parisand previous protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people.

In April, the main right-wing opposition UMP party of former presi-

dent Nicolas Sarkozy challenged the measures on constitutional grounds immediately after deputies passed the bill in parliament. But Friday’s statement by the Constitutional Council said samesex marriage “did not run contrary to any constitutional principles,” and that it did not infringe on “basic rights or liberties or national sovereignty”. Reacting to the ruling Friday, UMP party chief JeanFrancois Cope told TF1 television: “It is a decision that I regret, but that I respect.” But late on Friday, between 200 and 300 protesters gathered in central Paris to

CAEN: French president Francois Hollande delivers a speech at the city hall in Caen, northwestern France. — AFP

denounce the ruling backing the bill and calling on Hollande to resign. One police officer was injured after a flammable liquid was thrown in his face.

Earlier, a group of bare-chested men wearing white masks staged their own protest against gay marriage on one of the bridges over the Seine. They call themselves the “Hommen”-a riposte to the barebreasted feminist protesters known as the “Femmen”. Gay rights groups hailed the decision as a watershed.

“Now it’s celebration time,” said spokesman Nicolas Gougain of the LGBT association representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. But gay rights watchdog SOS Homophobie added: “Our country has taken a great step forward today although it’s regrettable that it was taken in a climate of bad faith and homophobic violence.” The issue of gay marriage has divided France, which is officially secular but overwhelmingly Catholic. Protests against the bill drew hundreds of thousands, with a handful of hard-core protesters clashing with police. Last year, the proposals seemed to enjoy solid majority backing among French voters. But as the opposition campaign got into gear, more recent polls indicated a shift of opinion to the extent that the electorate is now fairly evenly split on both gay marriage and adoption. — AFP

Argentina ‘Dirty War’ dictator Videla dies BUENOS AIRES: General Jorge Videla, Argentina’s dictator at the height of its “Dirty War” against leftist activists, died Friday in prison while serving time for crimes against humanity.

He was 87. Videla launched a ferocious crackdown on leftists and suspected supporters when he took power in 1976. As many as 30,000 people were kidnapped and “disappeared” by the military, and suspected regime opponents were swept into secret prisons, tortured and murdered.

In his last public appearance Tuesday, an unrepentant Videla, who left office in 1981, told a court that his subordinates acted under his orders and assumed “full military responsibility for the actions of the army in the war against terrorism.” The prison doctor on duty found Videla in the morning “sitting on the toilet in his cell,” according to the official prison report. He had no vital signs. “It is important that he died of natural causes in a regular prison,” said Human Rights Secretary Martin Fresneda. “ There was justice, not revenge, and he leaves as the person that was responsible for the

main horrors that the Argentine people endured.” The federal judge with jurisdiction over the prison ordered an autopsy to dispel any doubts that Videla might note have died of a natural cause. In 2010, Videla was sentenced to life behind bars for the disappearance of 31 prisoners, and to another 50 years’ jail in 2012 for the theft of children born to female prisoners.

Earlier, in 1985, he was convicted of abuses committed under his regime, but pardoned five years later by then president Carlos Menem. That pardon was declared unconstitutional in 2006 as Argentina reopened one of the darkest chapters in its history with trials of former military officials. A wiry officer with a brush mustache, an intense gaze and a passionate hatred of communism, Videla showed little remorse for the systematic abuses. “Let’s say there were seven thousand or eight thousand people who had to die to win the war against subversion,” Videla said recently in a prison interview, according to journalist Ceferino Reato. “We couldn’t execute them by firing squad. Neither could we take them to court,” he was quoted as saying.

BUENOS AIRES: Former Argentine dictator Jorge Videla (center) is escorted by police into the San Isidro court building in Buenos Aires in this file photo. Jorge Rafael Videla passed away in Argentina on May 17, 2013 at the age of 87. — AFP

Military leaders agreed that secretly disposing of their prisoners “was a price to pay to win the war,” Videla said, according to Reato in his book “Final Disposition.” “For that reason, so as not to provoke protests inside and outside the country, the decision was reached that these people should be disappeared.” Videla later said he had been misquoted, but the journalist insists the general reviewed his handwritten notes and approved them before publication. The former dictator died at 0825 (1125 GMT) in the Marcos Paz prison southwest of Buenos Aires, where he spent his final days in a spartan cell with a wooden cross on the wall.

Videla “dies condemned by justice and repudiated by society,” said Nora Cortinas, of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo rights group.

Adolfo Perez Esquivel, the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner who drew international attention to the junta’s abuses, said Videla “never repented of the crimes and he is taking a lot of information with him.” Videla was head of the army in 1976 when the military overthrew Isabel Peron, the third wife of the late populist strongman Juan Peron.

Argentina’s economy at the time was in tailspin, the government was rife with corruption and paralyzed by partisan gridlock, and leftists guerrillas and right-wing death squads were running rampant. The junta suspended the constitution, outlawed political parties and imposed censorship on TV and radio in what it called a “process of national reorganization.” It also sent police and soldiers against leftist guerrillas, a crackdown that quickly broadened to include relatives, labor organizers, politicians, clergy, students, journalists, artists and intellectuals.

The regime’s trademark became the unmarked Ford Falcon sedans that agents used to drive their captives to some 500 detention centers. Victims included French nuns Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet, Catholic bishop Enrique Angelelli, Swedish student Dagmar Hagelin, the union leadership at Ford and Mercedes Benz, and even members of Argentina’s diplomatic corps. Argentina’s dictators joined like-minded juntas in Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay under “Operation Condor,” sharing intelligence and helping capture each other’s political enemies.

Videla was known for delivering strident speeches, but always seemed uncomfortable in public, wringing his hands as a nervous tick played across his cheeks. Although aligned with the United States, Videla clashed with US president Jimmy Carter over the regime’s human rights abuses and for refusing to join a USbacked grain embargo against the Soviet Union.

In 1981, Videla handed over power to General Roberto Viola to begin the slow transition to democracy. The junta lasted until 1983, one year after a failed invasion of the Falkland Islands in a humiliating defeat by British forces. — AFP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

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Obama agenda seems to be weathering controversies WASHINGTON: Despite Democratic fears, predictions of the demise of President Barack Obama’s agenda appear exaggerated after a week of cascading controversies, political triage by the administration and party leaders in Congress and lack of evidence to date of wrongdoing close to the Oval Office.

“Absolutely not,” Steven Miller, the recently resigned acting head of the Internal Revenue Service, responded Friday when asked if he had any contact with the White House about targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status for special treatment.

The president’s re-election campaign?” persisted Rep Devin Nunes, R-Calif. “No,” said Miller. The hearing took place at the end of a week in which Republicans repeatedly assailed Obama and were attacked by Democrats in turn - yet sweeping immigration legislation advanced methodically toward bipartisan approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The measure “has strong support of its own in the Senate,” said Sen Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a member of the panel.

Across the Capitol, a bipartisan House group reported agreement in principle toward a compromise on the issue, which looms as Obama’s best chance for a signature second-term domestic achievement. “I continue to believe that the

House needs to deal with this,” said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who is not directly involved in the talks. The president’s nominee to become energy secretary, Ernest Moniz, won Senate confirmation, 97-0. And there were signs that Republicans might allow confirmation of Sri Srinivasan to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, sometimes a stepping stone to the Supreme Court.

Separately, a House committee approved legislation to prevent a spike in interest rates on student loans on July 1.

It moves in the direction of a White House-backed proposal for future rate changes to be based on private markets.

Even so, Rep Fred Upton, R-Mich, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said, “It’s been a bad week for the administration.” Several Democratic lawmakers and aides agreed, and expressed concern about the impact on Obama’s agenda - even though much of it has been stymied by Republicans for months already.

At the same time, Rep Dave Camp, RMich, voiced optimism that the IRS controversy would boost the push for an overhaul of the tax code, rather than derail it. “It may make a case for a simpler tax code, where the IRS has less discretion,” he said. Long-term budget issues, the main flash point of divided govern-

ment since 2011, have receded as projected deficits fall in the wake of an improving economy and recently enacted spending cuts and tax increases.

Even before Obama began grappling with the IRS, the fallout from last year’s deadly attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, and from the Justice Department’s secret seizure of Associated Press phone records, the two parties were at odds over steps to replace $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts. In particular, Obama’s call for higher taxes is a nonstarter with Republicans.

Other high-profile legislation and presidential appointees face difficulties that predate the current controversies.

Months ago, Obama scaled back requested gun safety legislation to center on expanded background checks for firearms purchasers. That was derailed in the Senate, has even less chance in the House and is unlikely to reach the president’s desk. Republicans oppose other recommendations from the president’s State of the Union address, including automatic increases in the minimum wage, a pre-kindergarten program funded by higher cigarette taxes and more federal money for highways and bridge repair. In a clash that long predates the IRS controversy, Senate Republicans seem intent on blocking Obama’s nomination of Tom Perez as labor secretary.

Gina McCarthy’s nomination to head the Environmental Protection Agency is also on hold, at least temporarily, and Democrats expect Republican opposition awaits Penny Pritzger, Obama’s choice for commerce secretary.

Rhetorically, the two parties fell into two camps when it came to the White House troubles. Democrats tended to describe them as controversies, Republicans often used less flattering terms.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Sen Roger Wicker, R-Miss., accused the administration of fostering a “culture of intimidation.” He referred to the IRS, the handling of the Benghazi attack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ “fundraising among the industry people she regulates on behalf of the president’s health care law.”

Two days later, Camp, a 23-year veteran lawmaker, opened the IRS hearing by calling the agency’s actions part of a “culture of cover-ups and intimidation in this administration.” He offered no other examples.

Rep Trey Radel, a first-term Florida Republican, said in an interview, “What we’re looking at now is a breach of trust” from the White House. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California offered a scathing response when asked if the controversies would hamper Obama’s ability to win legislation

from the Republican-controlled House.

“Well, the last two years there was nothing that went through this Congress, and it was no AP, IRS or any other (thing) that we were dealing with.”

“They just want to do nothing. And their timetable is never,” she said of GOP lawmakers. Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave no ground on Benghazi, a dispute that increasingly centered on talking points written for administration officials to use on television after the attack last September in which US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed. “It’s obvious it’s an attempt to embarrass President Obama and embarrass Hillary Clinton,” he said of Republican criticism that first flared during last year’s election campaign. On a third front, Sen Chuck Schumer, D-NY, resurrected legislation that would requiring a judge to approve subpoenas for news media communications records when investigating news leaks said to threaten the national security. It was a response to the FBI’s secret, successful pursuit of Associated Press phone records in a current probe. While Democrats counterattacked on Benghazi and parried on leaks, they bashed the IRS’ treatment of conservative groups as improper if not illegal - and warned Republicans not to overplay their hand.— AP

60 injured in Connecticut commuter train collision Probe into cause of derailment

GUADALAJARA: Members of Les Souffleurs Poetic Commandos group (right) whisper poems to people during a performance at the “Corona” market in Guadalajara, Mexico. Les Souffleurs arrived in Guadalajara to participate in a cultural festival in which France is the guest of honour. — AFP

Mexico violence claims hundreds of US lives MEXICO CITY: When Malcolm X’s grandson was beaten to death in a seedy Mexico City bar last week his name joined the hundreds of US citizens who have been murdered in this country in recent years. Excluding terror attacks and US soldiers killed in action, Mexico has seen more homicides of Americans than any other part of the world in the past decade, according to an AFP analysis of US State Department figures.

At least 648 American citizens were murdered in Mexico between October 2002 and December 2012 - the latest available data-representing more than 40 percent of the almost 1,600 victims worldwide over the same period. The closest country in terms of body count is the Philippines, with 84 homicides, followed by Honduras and the Dominican Republic with 77 each.

There were also many more citizens of the United States murdered in Mexico than were killed in “terrorist action” around the world, with 300 deaths listed in that category since October 2002. Malcolm Shabazz, the 29year-old grandson of civil rights leader Malcolm X, was found lying on the street in front of The Palace Club on May 9, with fatal blows to the head after he contested a $1,200 bar bill. Two waiters were arrested this week on murder charges. Mexico has more American visitors than any other nation-more than 20 million traveled to the southern neighbor last year, according to US government figures. And one million reside in this country. While Americans have been killed in random criminal acts such as robberies, some have been caught in the crossfire of Mexico’s raging drug war, which has left more than 70,000 people dead since 2006. In one of the most high profile cases, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata was killed when suspected Zetas drug cartel members shot at his car in the central state of San Luis Potosi in February 2011.

And in September 2010, cartel gunmen fatally shot David Hartley, 37, as he jet-skied with his wife, Tiffany, on a lake straddling the Texas-Tamaulipas border.

But some of the dead have included Mexicans with dual citizenship linked to gangs. Last year, a dozen US citizens were killed in the state of Baja California and several held Mexican nationality, according to prosecutors. “These deaths are linked to organized crime,” Victor

Adrian Ramirez, spokesman for the state prosecutor’s office said.

Two brothers who were found shot dead in a house in the border city of Mexicali had been using their dual citizenship to smuggle US firearms into Mexico and bring drugs north of the border, Ramirez said. The cities that have recorded the most homicides of Americans lie in border regions where drug cartels battle for control of lucrative narco-trafficking routes to the United States. The State Department has a travel warning against visiting most border states.

The homicides of US citizens also mirrored the rise in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past six years.

Of the 648 murders of Americans in the past decade, 511 occurred between 2006 and 2012. They rose steadily from 33 in 2007 to a peak of 113 in 2011, before dropping to 71 last year. Tijuana saw the most homicides of US citizens in the past 10 years, with 130 deaths reported in the city that lies just across the border from San Diego, California, and was once a popular tourist draw.

Ciudad Juarez, once the world’s murder capital, recorded 120 deaths and Nuevo Laredo reported 42. “If you look at how the drug war erupted and where it’s been the hottest in the past six years, your top three cities reflect that,” Scott Stewart, a former State Department special agent said. In Ciudad Juarez, for instance, the Los Aztecas gang is allied with the Barrio Azteca group that operates across the border in the Texan city of El Paso. “You have American gangsters working with Mexican gangsters hand in glove there,” said Stewart, a lead analyst at US-based intelligence consultancy Stratfor.

But a State Department official cautioned against “drawing too many conclusions” from the database, noting that it was not a statistically complete account of US citizen deaths as not all are necessarily reported to consulates.

The US official, who requested anonymity, declined to speculate as to why Mexico leads the list. The database shows just the date, location and type of death.

Overall, 8,392 Americans were reported dead worldwide in categories ranging from road accidents to suicide, drowning and “terrorist action” since October 2002. Mexico accounted for 2,344 of all deaths, or 28 percent.—AFP

FAIRFIELD: A commuter train traveling eastbound from New York City derailed near the Connecticut suburb of Fair field during the evening rush hour on Friday and collided with a westbound commuter train, injuring up to 60 people, three critically, officials said.

The collision of the two Metro North trains forced Amtrak to shut down service indefinitely between New York and Boston, the national railroad said. Three people were critically injured and 60 people were transported to area hospitals, police said.

“It’s pretty devastating damage to a number of cars,” Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy told a news conference. “These cars came into contact (and the impact) ripped open the siding of one of the cars. There is extensive damage in the front and the wheels.” The accident occurred shortly after 6 pm EDT (2200 GMT ), authorities said. “All of a sudden the train started to shake a little bit... like something was bumping into it,” passenger Rowana Shepherd told CBS television. “One entire compartment from the other train was completely ripped open. The whole side was gone and people were lying in between the trains.”

The eastbound train was headed to New Haven, Connecticut, when it derailed and collided with the westbound train that was running to New York’s Grand Central Station, said Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which runs the commuter railroad.

FAIRFIELD: Injured passengers are removed from the scene of a train collision, Friday, May 17, 2013 in Fairfield, Conn. — AP “The head end of both trains, the front end of both trains, collided and received sustained damage.

But it was not a full head-on collision,” Donovan said.

Metro North is a commuter railroad serving the northern suburbs of New York City. It is operated by the MTA, a New York State agency.

Fairfield is about 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. The number of injured could rise because hospital officials were told to prepare to receive up to 180 patients total.

Metro North trains can carry up to 300 passengers when full.

Thirty-three people were transported to St Vincent’s Medical Center and 27 to Bridgeport Hospital, police said. Bridgeport Hospital had two patients with critical injuries, and the others could be described as “walking wounded” with a variety of lesser injuries, spokeswoman Anita Shrum said.

One person had serious head and neck injuries at St Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and the others had minor injuries, spokeswoman Dianne Auger said.

The cause of the derailment was not immediately known. The

National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators to Connecticut to look into the accident.

Malloy said the collision would have a big impact on the vital rail corridor between Boston and New York City for days. The Westport and Fairfield stations will be closed to commuter rail and Amtrak service at least through the weekend as workers repair the damage and investigators probe the derailment, he said, adding that there was no reason to believe that it was anything but an accident. — Reuters

US war hero ‘Stonewall’ Jackson still venerated GUINEA STATION: It has been 150 years since Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson died, and visitors are still bringing flowers-and lemons-to shrines that honor the memory of the Confederate army general. Jackson was one of the most successful generals in the 1861-1865 US civil war, and according to legend he sucked on lemons as he entered battle.

“Jackson is a hero to some, but strange enough to appeal to a lot of people,” said Beth Parnicza, park historian at the Stonewall Jackson Shrine at Guinea Station, situated 70 miles southeast of Washington. As Americans flock to battlefields and museums to mark the sesquicentennial of the seminal conflict, Jackson’s life and accidental shooting has attracted renewed

interest. Pilgrims brought roses and small Confederate flags to the Chancellorsville battlefield, 60 miles southeast of the US capital, on May 2 - the day that Jackson was shot there 150 years ago.

He had just led a daring flank attack through thick woods on a much larger Union force and was scouting ahead of his lines after sundown.

Confederate soldiers opened fire when they mistook him and his entourage for the enemy. The battle was a stunning Confederate victor y.

Jackson survived the shooting, though doctors amputated an arm. “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm,” said his commander, Robert E Lee. Medics took Jackson to Guinea Station, at the time a busy supply depot, to

This lithograph dated circa 1890, shows Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson who rallied Confederate soldiers to victory in the US Civil War’s First Battle of Bull Run.— AFP

recover, but he died of pneumonia on May 10 in a simple wood building now preserved as a museum.

Jackson was born in 1824 in the backwoods of what is now West Virginia. Orphaned at a young age, he had little formal education, but with luck and determination managed to enter the West Point militar y academy. The dour Jackson preferred study over socializing, and made few friends. Years later he faced many of those schoolmates on the battlefield as enemies.

After service in the 1846-1848 war with Mexico, Jackson joined the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington in 1851 to teach artillery tactics.

The future military hero was considered an oddball. He’d sometimes raise one arm to compensate for a supposed body imbalance, eat stale bread to manage his stomach dyspepsia, and wore wet bandages believing it was a cure for most illnesses. At VMI he earned a reputation as a martinet, and his students nicknamed him “Tom Fool.” Deeply religious, he also avoided alcohol, was honest to a fault, and was tender to young children.

In 1861 the southern states, fearing the recently-elected Abraham Lincoln would end slavery, began to form the Confederate States of America. Slavery was essential to the south’s agricultural economy and southerners vowed to resist any threat to their “peculiar institution.”

When Virginia seceded and war broke out, Jackson joined the rebel army. Jackson earned the “Stonewall” sobriquet for his steady role in the Confederate victory at Manassas in July 1861.

In the next two years he proved to be an aggressive warrior, key to pivotal rebel victories. “ The doings of this officer are too vividly impressed upon the public mind... to particularize his thousand and one deeds of daring, all of which ... were strongly marked by dash, energy, and sk ill,” read a December 1862 profile of Jackson in the Illustrated London News. Jackson was “humorless, socially awkward, a control freak, autocratic, rude, secretive and discouraged initiative,” said historian Frank O’Reilly, a civil war expert at the Chancellorsville battlefield. “And yet, he was adored by his men.” —AFP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

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

Groups stay divided on B’desh safety overhauls NEW YORK: The nation’s largest retail industry organization fired back Friday, outlining reasons why a legally binding global pact to make Bangladesh clothing factories safer would expose merchants to undue legal exposure. The move came as US retailers face increasing pressure from a large coalition of religious groups and investors to work together to develop a plan. “It is a very complex set of issues and there is no simple solution,” said Bill Thorne, a spokesman for the retail trade group, in a media call with reporters Friday. “ There is not one answer.” The National Retail Federation is leading a coalition of North American

retail and apparel groups to develop an alternative broader proposal that would go beyond Bangladesh.

More than 30 international brands, including Swedish retailer H&M, Italian clothing maker Benetton, and French retailer Carrefour, have signed on to the 5-year, legally binding contract that requires them to help pay for fire safety and building improvements in Bangladesh. But only two US companies have committed so far: PVH Corp, the New York-based parent company of Tommy Hilfiger, and Abercrombie & Fitch of New Albany, Ohio.

As part of the global pact, companies

would be required to pay up to $500,000 annually to run the program. They would also be required to underwrite repairs to make the factories they use safe. A board made up of labor and retail representatives would oversee dispute resolutions that would be enforceable in the courts of the country where the company is based. Based on the number of companies now participating, the plan will cover more than 1,000 of the 5,000 garment factories in Bangladesh, according to IndustriALL Global Union, a Geneva based-labor union that was involved in the negotiations.

The widening divide among foreign

retailers and US merchants on how to best resolve the issue of making clothing factories safer in Bangladesh comes as public pressure builds following a building collapse on April 24 that killed more than 1,110 workers there. The tragedy, the deadliest incident in the history of the garment industry, came just months after a fire in another garment factory in Bangladesh in November killed 112 workers.

On Wednesday, as more European retailers were signing on to meet a deadline that evening, the National Retail Federation, which has 9,000 members, issued a scathing statement, saying the

plan was a “one-size-fits-all” approach promoted by special interests. It also said the global agreement seeks major funding by private businesses without providing accountability for how the money is spent.

On Friday, the retail trade group made available for the media an international labor lawyer who rebuked the global pact and said that it is too vague for retailers to sign. At the heart of the criticism: the contract would expose retailers to legal liability for the failure of factories to comply with the set standards even though merchants don’t own the facilities. —AP

Afghan lawmakers block law on women’s rights Bill will encourage disobedience among women: Lawmaker

NEW DELHI: Indian workers tie Indian and Chinese national flags onto poles in front of The Indian Secretariat yesterday. — AFP

All issues ‘on the table’ on China PM’s visit: India NEW DELHI: India says all issues will be “on the table”, including a recent border spat and a festering trade imbalance, during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to the South Asian giant which starts today. At the same time New Delhi thinks “very highly” of Li’s decision to make India his first overseas stop since taking charge as premier, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said yesterday.

After arriving just after midday (0950 GMT) today, Li will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and later will be a guest at a dinner hosted by the Indian leader at his residence, officials said. Such high-level exchanges are aimed at “enhancing trust”, Akbaruddin added. Ties between the neighbours have been dogged by mutual suspicion that lingers long after a 1962 border war high in the Himalayas.

India’s joint foreign secretary for East Asia, Gautam Bambawale, said “everything is on the table” for discussion, including the border dispute and improving the nations’ trade balance, which is tilted heavily in Beijing’s favour. “The two prime ministers will talk about these subjects,” Bambawale said. The border dispute with New Delhi flared last month into a three-week standoff after India alleged that Chinese troops intruded nearly 20 kilometres (12 miles) into Indian-claimed territory, highlighting longstanding tensions. The Line of Actual Control between the nuclear-armed neigh-

bours has never been formally demarcated although they have signed accords to maintain peace in the Himalayan area.

The world’s two most populous countries have in recent years seen ties improve and trade boom, and both sides sought to stay low-key over the latest row. Beijing said Chinese troops “never trespassed the line”. Separately, sources said yesterday that India would push for efforts to avoid such alleged occurrences in future, according to the Press Trust of India.

On Monday, the two leaders, accompanied by high-level delegations, will hold wide-ranging talks on key international, regional and bilateral issues. On the economic front, Bambawale said India will press for more trade access to China. In 2012, bilateral trade was $66.5 billion-down from $74 billion in 2011 and a setback to the neighbours achieving their $100-billion goal by 2015. India also faces an increasing trade deficit with China that totaled $29 billion in 2012, according to Chinese figures. In addition, New Delhi will seek assurances that a Chinese plan to build three more hydropower dams across the mighty crossborder Brahmaputra river-known in China as the Yarlung Tsangpo-will not affect India’s downstream water flow. After New Delhi, Li will travel Tuesday to Indian financial hub Mumbai and then to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany as Beijing seeks to address security and economic disputes. — AFP

Lanka Tamils defy ban COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s main opposition Tamil party yesterday defied a military ban and staged a commemoration of their war dead as the government celebrated the fourth anniversary of defeating Tamil Tiger rebels. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said it staged the remembrance in the northern town of Vavuniya for those who died in the final battle which also killed Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his entire top leadership.

“We had a meeting to commemorate all those who died in the conflict,” TNA lawmaker Suresh Premachandran told AFP from Vavuniya, 260 kilometres (162 miles) north of Colombo. The event came as Sri Lankan troops held a parades in the capital to mark the victory over Tamil Tiger rebels and an end to 37 years of ethnic bloodshed.

The state -run Daily News said the Vavuniya meeting was illegal and warned anyone commemorating the defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

would be jailed. Witnesses said the TNA-led ceremony ended peacefully amid a heavy police presence in the area, a front-line town near the former war zone in the island’s north.

In the capital Colombo, President Mahinda Rajapakse viewed the military parade showcasing heavy weapons used against the Tigers who were known for their ferocious suicide bomb attacks. “We will not allow a single inch of the land that you won by the sacrifice of your life to be taken away,” Rajapakse said. “There will be no room for separation.”

A naval craft taking part in the celebrations capsized and a search was on for an officer who was reported missing after the accident, a military official said, adding that the other four crew members had been rescued. The military offensive which crushed the Tigers had triggered allegations of war crimes with rights groups saying that up to 40,000 civilians perished in the last months of fighting alone. — AFP

COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan Air Force paratrooper performs during the victory Day parade yesterday. — AFP

KABUL: Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation yesterday aimed at strengthening provisions for women’s freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience. The fierce opposition highlights how tenuous women’s rights remain a dozen years after the ouster of the hard-line Taleban regime, whose strict interpretation of Islam once kept Afghan women virtual prisoners in their homes.

Khalil Ahmad Shaheedzada, a conservative lawmaker for Herat province, said the legislation was withdrawn shortly after being introduced in parliament because of an uproar by religious parties who said parts of the law are un-Islamic.

“Whatever is against Islamic law, we don’t even need to speak about it,” Shaheedzada said.

The Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women has been in effect since 2009, but only by presidential decree. It is being brought before parliament now because lawmaker Fawzia Kofi, a women’s rights activist, wants to cement it with a parliamentary vote to prevent its potential reversal by any future president who might be tempted to repeal it to satisfy hard-line religious parties.

The law criminalizes, among other things, child marriage and forced marriage, and bans “baad,” the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes. It also

makes domestic violence a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and specifies that rape victims should not face criminal charges for fornication or adultery. Kofi, who plans to run for president in next year’s elections, said she was disappointed because among those who oppose upgrading the law from presidential decree to legislation passed by parliament are women.

Afghanistan’s parliament has more than 60 female lawmakers, mostly due to constitutional provisions reserving certain seats for women. There has been spotty enforcement of the law as it stands.

A United Nations analysis in late 2011 found only a small percentage of reported crimes against women were pursued by the Afghan government. Between March 2010 and March 2011 - the first full Afghan year the decree was in effect - prosecutors filed criminal charges in only 155 cases, or 7 percent of the total number of crimes reported.

The child marriage ban and the idea of protecting female rape victims from prosecution were particularly heated subjects in yesterday’s parliamentary debate, said Nasirullah Sadiqizada Neli, a conservative lawmaker from Daykundi province. Neli suggested that removing the custom - common in Afghanistan - of prosecuting raped women for adultery would lead to social chaos, with women freely engaging in extramarital sex safe in

KABUL: In this photo, an Afghan woman peers through the eye slit of her burqa. — AP the knowledge they could claim rape if caught.

Lawmaker Shaheedzada also claimed that the law might encourage disobedience among girls and women, saying it reflected Western values not applicable in Afghanistan.

“Even now in Afghanistan, women are running from their husbands.

Girls are running from home,” Shaheedzada said. “Such laws give them these ideas.” Freedoms for women are one of the most visible and symbolic - changes in Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led campaign that toppled the Taleban regime. While in power, the Taleban

imposed a strict interpretation of Islam that put severe curbs on the freedom of women. For five years, the regime banned women from working and going to school, or even leaving home without a male relative.

In public, all women were forced wear a head-to-toe burqa, which covers even the face with a mesh panel. Violators were publicly flogged or executed. Since the USled invasion in 2001, women’s freedoms have improved vastly, but Afghanistan remains a deeply conservative culture, especially in rural areas. — AFP

It’s OK for women to cry at work: Sandberg

KANDAHAR: A bereaved Afghan cries after he learns of the death of a relative in a hospital in Kandahar late May 17, 2013, after twin suicide bomb attacks. — AFP

Bombs kill 9 inside Afghan complex KABUL: Two bombs hidden in a motorcycle and a car exploded inside an elite gated community linked to the family of Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday evening, killing at least nine people and wounding more than 70 near the southern city of Kandahar, an official said. The blasts happened inside Aino Mina, a housing complex on the northern outskirts of the city that was developed in part by Mahmood Karzai, the president’s younger brother.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but striking inside a powerful symbol of wealth and influence would be a publicity coup for the Taleban insurgency. Both the car bomb and the motorcycle were remotely detonated within minutes of each other while parked next to a restaurant area where families were dining, Kandahar government spokesman Javeed Faisal said. He had earlier said there was only one blast.

Three police were among the dead, Faisal said, adding that an investigation is underway into how the explosives-laden vehicle slipped past the community’s heavy security. Many of the dozens of wounded brought to Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar were in critical condition, Dr. Samad Ahmadi said. Aino Mina is home to thousands of Afghan government officials, businessmen and other wealthy citizens who pay some $90,000 for a three-bedroom house on grounds featuring parks, a jogging track, a football field and its own mosque. Residents have special identification badges, and cars are typically searched before entering the gates.

Mahmood Karzai was one of the main investors into the project, promoted as a triumph of modernity in Kandahar, which is the spiritual birthplace of the Taleban insurgency. The Taleban imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law when it led Afghanistan for five years, before they were ousted in the US-led invasion that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the US by Al-Qaeda, which was based in the country at the time.

The Karzai clan itself is from Kandahar and another brother of the president, Ahmed Wali Karzai, was a powerful political figure there before being gunned down in 2011 by a bodyguard. President Karzai’s office quickly condemned the attack, noting it was the second terrorist strike in a residential area in two days. —AFP

NEW DELHI: Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said in an interview published yesterday says it’s ok for women to cry at work, share emotions and be honest about their femininity. Sandberg shot to global fame after her the publication of her best-selling book “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead” which talks about women’s career struggles and advises women to “lean in” to reach their potential.

It has drawn bouquets from admirers for articulating a new modern feminist vision and brickbats from critics who say her lofty position has made her out-of-touch with the gruelling personal cost of combining career and family. In an interview with India’s Mint business daily, the 43-year-old admitted: “I cry at work,” adding women are not “one type of person Monday through Friday” and “then a different person in the nights and weekend.” “I think we are all of us emotional beings and it’s okay for us to share that emotion at work,” said Facebook’s number two, who was named in Time magazine’s 2013 list as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Studies have shown women are more prone than men to cry at work because males are schooled not to cry in public and it can hurt their career progression.

Sandberg, who is married with two young children, said on the subject of her book “the messages of believing in yourself and sitting at the table, getting compensated fairly, those can happen at any point in your career.”

It is necessary to talk about gender-related issues honestly in the workplace, and a need for employers to say: “I am here to support you”, she added in the interview. The question of whether women can “have it all” in terms of pursuing careers and raising families is “very problematic”, added Sandberg, who got $26.2 million in salary, bonus and shares last year from the US social networking giant. Men never face such questions because society assumes they can have both professions and children, she said in the interview. A huge percentage of women globally have both children and work fulltime, but to do so they must get the “support they need at the workplace and at home,” Sandberg said. — AFP

AMRITSAR: Indian disabled youth Vishal is seen holding a puppy while sitting in his hand-cranked tricycle as he receives a cup of water yesterday. Vishal earns some 100 rupees ($1.83) a day by begging. Data released in 2012 from the Planning Commission, an influential government body that formulates national five-year economic plans, suggested overall poverty levels in India fell from 37.2 percent in 200405 to 29.8 percent in 2009-10. — AFP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

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

Aide to Japanese PM returns from N Korea TOKYO: An aide to the Japanese premier returned home from a controversial trip to North Korea yesterday, reportedly saying he had demanded Pyongyang’s act swiftly on its kidnapping of Japanese nationals. Isao Iijima, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said he told senior North Korean officials that Tokyo wanted Japanese civilians kidnapped by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s to be immediately returned, according to Jiji Press, without citing sources.

Iijima also said - when reporting

back to Chief Cabinet Secretar y Yoshihide Suga at a Tokyo hotel - that he demanded Pyongyang come clean on the truth about the abduction, and for it to hand over those responsible for the kidnappings, Jiji said. Iijima’s trip fuelled speculation that the North may be trying to thaw icy relations with Japan at a time when ties with the United States and South Korea have gone into deep freeze after nuclear and missile tests.

South Korea dubbed the trip “unhelpful” to international efforts to forge a united front against

Pyongyang, while the United States expressed its surprise. The US, along with its two Asian allies, has increased pressure on Pyongyang to drop its nuclear ambitions and to join the international community.

The North’s state media this week showed footage of Iijima holding talks on Thursday with Kim Yong-Nam, North’s Korea’s ceremonial head of state, according to NHK and other Japanese media. Iijima was a senior aide to Japan’s former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, and is known to have played a role in organising his

trips to Pyongyang in 2002 and 2004 for talks with then-Nor th Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. Abe accompanied Koizumi on the 2002 visit. When Koizumi visited Pyongyang in 2002, Nor th Korea admitted its agents kidnapped Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in Japanese language and customs. Some of those snatched were allowed to return to Japan along with children who were born in the North, but Pyongyang said the rest of them had died.

However, many in Japan believe

Philippines rubbishes Taiwan ‘murder’ claims Manila insists forces fired in self-defence MANILA: The Philippines yesterday rejected Taiwan’s allegations that Filipino coastguards had intentionally murdered a Taiwanese fisherman whose death has triggered a major diplomatic spat. The 65year-old fisherman was shot dead by Philippine coastguards who said his vessel intruded into Philippine waters. Chen Wenchi, head of the Taiwan team investigating the May 9 incident, said most of the bullets had hit the fishing boat’s cockpit where its crew hid.

“By combining the evidence, it clearly shows that the Philippine law enforcers were intentionally shooting the Guang Ta Hsin 28 crew members, which indicates their intent of murder,” Chen told a news conference in Manila. The shooting, which Manila insists occurred inside Philippine territorial waters but which Taipei counters happened within its exclusive economic zone, has led to Taiwanese sanctions against its neighbour.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Ricky Carandang rejected the murder allegations. “There is an investigation ongoing so any premature statements that tend to confuse the issues and inflame passions should be avoided,” Carandang told AFP. De Lima in a separate statement also urged everyone to refrain from making statements “that would further fuel or aggravate the prevailing tension between

the Philippines and Taiwan”.

Chen’s comments echoed those made

by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in Taipei on Friday. “If (Philippine) civil servants used automatic weapons to fire at unarmed and unprovocative fishing boats, this was not carrying out their job duties. This is coldblooded murder,” Ma said. Aquino made a “personal” apology on Wednesday over the “unintended” death arising from the patrol’s duty of protecting Philippine waters against illegal fishing.

Manila insisted its forces fired in selfdefence to disable the boat’s engine and prevent it ramming the patrol craft. Taiwan has rejected the apology. It recalled its de facto envoy, banned the hiring of new Philippine workers and staged a military drill in waters off the northern Philippines earlier this week.

The Philippines officially recognises Beijing over Taipei but maintains trade ties with the island, which employs about 87,000 Filipinos. Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday urged Taiwan to ensure the safety of Filipino workers following repor ts of attacks by angr y Taiwanese. “We heard and we read in the papers that they have been hit by bats and four have been hospitalised,” Binay told reporters, according to an official transcript released by his office. “ We are appealing to the Taiwanese people to spare our overseas Filipino workers from

MANILA: Taiwan Ministry of Justice of Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs, Chen Wen-chi, (center) gestures during a press conference at the Taiwan Economic and Cultural office yesterday. —AFP conflict,” he added.

Taiwanese media repor ted that a Filipino was treated in hospital after being attacked by a gang of youths. “We’ve seen reports that their leaders have assured the safety of our people there. We expect them

to act on these reports (of attacks),” Aquino spokeswoman Abigail Valte said. Nearly 10 million Filipinos live or work abroad, and the tens of billions of dollars in earnings that they send home every year help prop up the Philippine economy. — AFP

Myanmar prez frees political prisoners ahead of US visit

YANGON: In this photo, Tay Za (foreground left) attends an opening ceremony of a branch office of his bank. — AP

Myanmar sanctions list languishes YANGON: If you’re American and want to do business in Myanmar, there’s a list of people and companies you have to steer clear of by law. But it leaves off a former minister’s son US officials suspected of brokering arms deals with North Korea, and high-rolling relatives of the man who led the repressive military government for 19 years. The Obama administration didn’t add anyone to the US government’s Myanmar sanctions list over 31/2 years, despite recommendations from the US Embassy in Yangon to blacklist hundreds of top officials and their business cronies, as well as military and private companies, according to an Associated Press examination of hundreds of pages of government documents, and more than a dozen interviews with officials and business leaders in Myanmar and Washington.

The reason: Washington was seeking to win the confidence of Myanmar’s top leadership and encourage them to stick to the path of democratic reform. The result: The list is full of gaps. The administration has said it wants US companies to set a “gold standard” for investment and foster a fairer, more transparent way of doing business in Myanmar. But the last powerful tool it has to punish the bad guys and encourage the good ones has fallen way out of date, even though legislation instructs the government to keep the list current. That risks reinforcing a corrupt economic system that has concentrated wealth in the hands of politically-connected businessmen.

Human rights activists accuse the Obama administration of moving too fast to reward the reformist government of Thein Sein, who on Monday will become the first president of Myanmar to visit the White House in 47 years - a trip during which he’ll also woo US business leaders.

The US has suspended broad restrictions

on investment and trade with Myanmar. It still forbids imports of ruby and jade from Myanmar and doing business with militaryowned companies. But the restriction with the greatest impact for investors is against dealings with individuals and companies on the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals list, which identifies those linked to sanctioned governments, terrorists and drug traffickers.

The European Union lifted its sanctions last month, although like the US, it retains an arms embargo. That leaves America’s sanctions list as the most important international restriction on doing business in Myanmar. While not binding elsewhere, the list affects government and business thinking as far afield as Singapore and London.

Decades of quiet deal-making have nurtured a small business elite that has profited, sometimes brutally and most often dishonestly, from relationships with Myanmar’s military leaders and a flood of Chinese money.

With little information available about who owns what in Myanmar, it can be difficult to determine whom a potential business partner is affiliated with. Americans who violate the sanctions could face fines or prison time, though a letter of warning is more likely for those who acted in good faith.

“The list in no way lists all the individuals who would be objectionable to doing business with. And there are individuals on there for purely political and unvalidated reasons,” said Rachel Calvert at the consulting company IHS, who helps advise US companies on investing in Myanmar. U.S. companies, for example, are still free to invest with the wife, eight children and grandson of former military leader Than Shwe - all of whom were sanctioned by the European Union in the past.—AP

YANGON: Myanmar’s president has pardoned at least 20 political prisoners just ahead of a historic visit to the United States that will highlight the two sides’ improved relations brought about by the former pariah nation’s democratic reforms. State media reported yesterday that 23 prisoners were freed, though it did not call them political offenders. Ye Aung, a member of the government’s political prisoner scrutiny committee, said at least 20 political detainees were freed Friday.

President Thein Sein will visit the White House tomorrow, the first state visit by a Myanmar leader in almost 47 years. The US applied sanctions against Myanmar’s previous military regime for its poor human rights record. Thein Sein has implemented several reforms since his election in 2010, including freeing hundreds of political prisoners. The US in turn eased most sanctions. In November, Barack Obama became the first US president to visit Myanmar.

It has become a pattern for prison amnesties to coincide with high-profile international or regional meetings as a way of highlighting the Myanmar government’s benevolent policies. Thein Sein pardoned 93 prisoners, including at least 59 political detainees, in April, a day after the European Union lifted sanctions against the Southeast Asian nation. The release of political detainees in Myanmar has been a key concern of the United States, and Washington wants all of the country’s political prisoners freed.

A group campaigning for democracy in Myanmar - which is also known by its old name, Burma - accuses Thein Sein’s government of using political prisoners for public relations purposes. “Thein Sein seems to have judged, sadly apparently correctly, that the Obama administration is particularly gullible and likely to respond positively to this kind of manipulative use of political prisoner releases,” Burma Campaign UK said in a statement.

The group also expressed concern that Thein Sein’s democratic reforms were incomplete. “Thein Sein has also left almost every repressive law used to jail political prisoners in place,” the statement said. “Almost all the releases of political prisoners have only been released conditionally, meaning that if they engage in political activities which the government does not like they can be put back in jail and have to serve a new prison term and their old prison term.” President’s office director Maj. Zaw Htay’s responded on his Facebook page to such criticism. He said Thein Sein doesn’t use political prisoners as tools, and that his interest is just to have an allinclusive process.

One of those freed Friday was Nay Myo Zin, a former prisoner who had been amnestied before but who was recently ordered to serve the remainder of his original sentence after he was arrested for participating in a farmers’ protest against land confiscation. Nay Myo Zin, a former army captain, had been serving a 10-year sentence when he was amnestied in 2012.

Ye Aung, a former prisoner himself, said many of those freed Friday had been identified by his committee as political detainees, and he looked forward to the release of all such prisoners. “According to our list there are still 160 political prisoners remaining in prison. We are still scrutinizing the list and there could be more,” he said. The government had routinely denied the existence of political prisoners, saying all people sentenced to jail had been convicted legitimately of breaking the nation’s laws. But Thein Sein’s administration recently conceded that there are political detainees, and formed the committee with government officials and former political prisoners to tally and report who remains imprisoned. — AP

YANGON: Hay Mar Lwin, a political prisoner who was released from Insein prison, shows her certificate of release to journalists. — AP

the North is still holding some and Pyongyang’s perceived refusal to come clean has derailed efforts to normalise ties. Abe told reporters yesterday “the abduction issue is what has to be resolved under the Abe administration. My mission won’t be completed unless all the victims return to their families who would give them big hugs,” Jiji Press said.

North Korea yesterday launched three short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan, apparently as part of a military drill, South Korea’s defence ministry said. — AFP

News

in brief

3 new suicides at Foxconn factory BEIJING: Three Foxconn workers have committed suicide at a factory in China in the past three weeks, a labour rights group said yesterday. All three jumped to their deaths at a plant in the central city of Zhengzhou run by the Taiwanese electronics giant.A 30-year-old married man killed himself on Tuesday following the similar deaths of a 23-year-old woman on April 27 and a 24-year-old man three days earlier, media reports said. “The reasons for these building jumpings are unclear,” the New Yorkbased China Labor Watch rights group said in a statement. Foxconn, which assembles products for Apple, Sony and Nokia, has come under the spotlight after suicides and labour unrest at its Chinese plants since 2010. In 2010, at least 13 Foxconn employees in China died in apparent suicides, which activists blamed on tough working conditions, prompting calls for better treatment of staff.

Although Foxconn denied the accusations, it raised wages by nearly 70 percent at its China plants in 2010.It has also taken steps such as improving working conditions and enforcing age restrictions to address concerns raised by an independent audit of conditions mandated by Apple. Foxconn is the world’s largest maker of computer components and employs up to 1.1 million workers in China.

Man arrested over plane bomb threats BEIJING: Chinese police have arrested a man who allegedly made bomb threats which caused delays or diversions to Shanghai, news reports said yesterday. Eleven flights were affected in total, though the suspect is not alleged to be behind all the threats.

The planes were travelling from Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the Beijing News reported. One flight from Guangzhou on Friday had to be diverted to Fuzhou following an anonymous call to the airports after takeoff. Passengers were evacuated and the plane and baggage searched. In three of the 11 cases the planes had already arrived at their destination. The threats involved Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Spring Airlines. A suspect surnamed Ji was arrested and had confessed, Chinese civil aviation information site Carno.com said. His motive was not known.Five flights operated by three Chinese airlines had already been hit by bomb threats on Wednesday, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Two similar alerts had occurred in February and two in October, the Beijing News said. According to Wu Xiaojun, a magistrate in Beijing, these threats are most often impulsive acts by angry men in their twenties or thirties. Making false bomb threats in punishable by up 15 years in prison in serious cases.

China rains kill 55, leave 14 missing BEIJING: Chinese authorities say rainstorms that battered southern China this week have killed 55 people and left 14 others missing. The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs website says at least nine provinces have had storms and some flooding and landslides since Tuesday. It says Guangdong province has been hit the hardest, with 36 deaths and 10 missing people, followed by Jiangxi province, where six people are reported dead and four more missing. Guangdong’s weather service forecasts more heavy rain along with thunder, strong wind gusts and hail in the coming days and warns of flooding and mudslides.

Brit could face death in Indonesia JAKARTA: A British woman could face the death penalty in Indonesia after being arrested for allegedly smuggling crystal methamphetamine into the country from China, an official said yesterday. The woman, identified only by her initials AR, was arrested at a hotel in the city of Surabaya, East Java province, last month with 1.47 kilograms (three pounds, four ounces) of the drug, the national narcotics agency said.

“Because she smuggled drugs weighing more than five grams, she could face the death penalty,” agency spokesman Sumirat Dwiyanto told AFP. He declined to give further details about the woman, who is being held in Jakarta, or when she was likely to be charged. A British embassy spokesman confirmed the news: “We are aware of the arrest of a British national... We are providing consular assistance.”

The case comes just months after British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford was sentenced to death for attempting to smuggle $2.4 million of cocaine into the resort island of Bali.

In the latest case, AR, who lives in China, admitted after her arrest on April 29, that a Nigerian had asked her to bring the drugs to Indonesia, the agency said. The Nigerian was still at large, it added. The woman also identified two other people she had been planning to pass the drugs to in Surabaya and Jakarta, and they were also detained, the agency said. It did not say what their nationalities were. They are also being held in Jakarta. Foreigners are regularly charged with drugs offences in Indonesia, which has some of the toughest antinarcotics laws in the world, but most are caught in Bali.

Sandiford, 56, was sentenced to death in January after being caught with cocaine as she arrived at Bali airport, in a shock verdict after prosecutors recommended 15 years in jail.

She lost a first appeal against the sentence last month, and has since lodged a last-ditch appeal to Indonesia’s top court. Death row convicts in Indonesia rarely manage to get their sentences lifted. Most spend years in jail before being taken to an isolated location at night and executed by firing squad. — AFP

NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

TRIPOLI: Libyan security forces and residents gather in a street housing the Algerian, Greek and Saudi embassies, where a bomb exploded yesterday in Tripoli, Libya. — AFP

Bomb explodes near 3 embassies in Tripoli TRIPOLI: A bomb exploded yesterday in a Tripoli street housing the Algerian, Greek and Saudi embassies, lightly damaging a car, hours after a soldier was wounded in a bombing in Libya’s second city Benghazi. A security source said the homemade bomb, locally known as “gelatina”, had been placed near a car on a street in the central district of Dahra where the three embassies are located.

The car, parked outside the Greek embassy, was slightly damaged and there were no reports of casualties.

On April 23, a car bomb detonated outside the French embassy in the upmarket Gargaresh area of Tripoli,

causing extensive damage and wounding two embassy guards and several local residents. Meanwhile a pre-dawn drive-by bomb attack in the eastern city of Benghazi yesterday slightly wounded a soldier.

“A bomb was thrown from a car at an army checkpoint at the Dubail crossroads in the centre of Benghazi,” a security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The attack was carried out at around 2 am,” the official said, adding that the identity of the assailants was not known.

Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 uprising against former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has seen a spate of attacks on security forces and Western inter-

ests in recent months.

The latest bombings highlight the inability of authorities to establish effective security in Libya, which has been awash since the uprising with weapons used by former rebels and other groups who helped topple Gaddafi’s regime. The attacks, which are not claimed, are usually blamed on radical Islamists, such as the group which raided the US consulate in Benghazi last September 11 killing four Americans including ambassador Chris Stevens. On Friday, a bomb apparently targeting troops guarding an empty Benghazi school building caused damage but no casualties.— AFP

Saudi woman climbs Everest KATMANDU: Mountaineering officials say 64 climbers, including a Saudi Arabian woman, have successfully scaled Mount Everest from Nepal’s side of the mountain. Tilak Padney of Nepal’s Mountaineering Department says 35 foreigners accompanied by 29 Nepalese Sherpa guides reached the 8,850-meter peak yesterday morning after

climbing all night from the highest camp on South Col. All were reported to be safe. Among them was Raha Moharrak, who became the first Saudi Arabian woman to scale the world’s highest peak. Everest can be climbed from either Nepal or Tibet. May is the most popular month for Everest climbs because of more favorable weather. — AP

US blasts Moscow over Syria weapons Continued from Page 1 Wednesday to discuss how to approach a conference. But it is also far from clear that Assad’s opponents can forge a united front or agree to meet the president’s representatives.

After months of diplomatic stalemate, Washington and Moscow have been pushed to convene the conference by the rising death toll and atrocities, signs of escalation across Syria’s frontiers and suspicions that chemical arms may have been used.

Three weeks ago, Israeli air strikes near Damascus that were said to target Iranian weapons heading for Lebanon drove home the risk of the Syrian conflict spreading further afield. As much was true of bombings last week across the border in Turkey.

On Friday, dozens of Iraqis were killed in bombings which fuelled fears that the increasingly sectarian war in Syria, where Sunni Islamists are a part of the rebellion and Assad’s Alawite minority is backed by Shiite Iran, could plunge Iraq back into its own bloody civil conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Two bombs exploded outside a Sunni mosque in the city of Baquba as worshippers left Friday prayers, killing at least 43 people in one of the deadliest attacks of recent months. Several other bombings claimed lives around the country - with 19 killed near a commercial complex in the west of Baghdad. Attacks on Sunni and Shiite mosques, security forces and tribal leaders have mounted since troops from the Shiite-led Iraqi government raided a Sunni protest camp near Kirkuk a month ago. London’s Financial Times became the latest Western media outlet to be targeted by online activists who support Assad.

Stories on the FT’s website had their headlines replaced by “Hacked By Syrian Electronic Army” and messages on its Twitter feed read: “Do you want to know the reality of the Syrian ‘Rebels?’” followed by a link to a video that purports to show members of the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front rebel group executing blindfold-

ed and kneeling Syrian soldiers. The video could not be independently verified. Following another of many Internet videos that have caused concern over deepening communal hatreds, a rebel commander who was filmed apparently cutting out and biting into the heart or other organ of a dead solder made a statement on Friday. “I am ready to be held accountable for my actions, on condition that Bashar and his shabbiha (militias) are tried for crimes they committed against our women and children,” the man known as Abu Sakkar said in a new video posting.

“I send this message to the world: if the bloodshed in Syria does not stop, every Syrian will become Abu Sakkar.” Asked by the unseen interviewer why he mutilated the body, he said the soldier’s phone contained video clips of him raping women, burning bodies and cutting off the limbs of captives.

A Western diplomat at the United Nations in New York said the target date for the peace conference was June 10-15, but it depended on the readiness of the Syrian parties. An alternative plan would be to hold an international conference and then have the Syrians meet at a later date when they are prepared.

The Russian arms transfer could intensify a push by some US lawmakers for the United States to deepen its role in Syria, particularly after President Barack Obama’s government acknowledged preliminary intelligence that Assad’s forces likely used chemical weapons - something Obama has called a “red line”.

“We can watch from the sidelines as the scales are tipped in Assad’s favor, or protect US national interests by supporting the armed opposition striving to build a new Syrian future,” said Senate foreign relations committee chairman Robert Menendez. But many US officials fear Western weapons could fall into the wrong hands. Obama said Thursday he would consider both diplomatic and military options to pressure Assad, but insisted US action alone would not be enough to resolve the conflict. — Reuters

Google’s wearable Glass gadget: cool...

Continued from Page 1 evolved from personal computers. Apple and Samsung are said to be working on other forms of wearable technology. The test version of Glass looks like a clear pair of eyeglasses with a hefty slab along the right side. Since it began shipping to a couple thousand carefully selected early adopters who paid about $1,500 for the device, it has inspired a bit of ridicule - from a parody on “Saturday Night Live” to a popular blog poking fun at its users.

Other industry experts take a more serious tack, pointing out the potential for misuse because Glass can record video far less conspicuously than a handheld device. Glass also has won many fans. Google and some early users maintain that privacy fears are overblown. As with traditional video cameras, a tiny light blinks on to let people know when it is recording.

Several Glass wearers at the developers conference said they whip the device off in inappropriate situations, such as in gym locker rooms or work meetings. Michael Evans, a Web developer from Washington, DC, attending the Google conference, said he removed his Glass when he went to the movies, even though the device would be ill-suited for recording a feature-length film. “I just figured I don’t want to be the first guy kicked out of the movies,” he said.

NO GLASS ALLOWED A stamp-sized electronic screen mounted on the left side of a pair of eyeglass frames, Glass can record video, access email, provide turn-by-turn driving directions and retrieve info from the Web by connecting wirelessly to a user’s cell phone. Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt dismissed concerns about the brave new world of wearable computers during a talk at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in April.

“Criticisms are inevitably from people who are afraid of change or who have not figured out that there will be an adaptation of society to it,” he said. Schmidt acknowledged that there are certain places where Glass will not be appropriate but that he believed new rules of social etiquette will coalesce over time. Firstenberg said it will take time for all sides to get comfortable with the new technology. “I don’t think we should go into the conversation assuming that Glass is bad,” he said.

Indeed, previous technology innovations such as mobile phones and wireless headsets that initially raised concerns are now subject to tacit rules of etiquette, such as not talking loudly on the bus and turning a ringer off in a meeting. Still, some have decided to leave nothing to chance. Casino operator Caesar’s Entertainment recently announced that Glass is not permitted while gambling or when in showrooms, though guests can wear it in other areas.

In March, Seattle’s Five Point Cafe made headlines for becoming the first bar to ban Glass. “Respect our customers privacy as we’d expect them to respect yours,” says a statement on the café’s website. The California Highway Patrol says there is no law that explicitly forbids a driver from wearing Glass while driving in the state. But according to Officer Elon Steers, if a driver appears to be distracted as a result of the device, an officer can take enforcement action.

PRIVACY TRACK RECORD Lawmakers are beginning to consider Glass. On Thursday, eight members of the US Congress sent a letter to Google Chief Executive Larry Page, asking for details about how Glass handles various privacy issues, including whether it is capable of facial recognition.

According to Google, there are no facial recognition technologies built into the device and it has no plans to do so “unless we have strong privacy protections in place.” During one of this week’s conference sessions - an open discussion about Glass - members of the Glass team answered a question about privacy by noting that social implications and etiquette have been a big area of focus during the development of the product, which is still a test version. Some of the Glassphobia may stem from Google’s own track record on privacy.

In 2010, Google revealed that its fleet of Street View cars, which criss-cross the globe taking panoramic photos for the Google Maps product, also had captured personal information such as emails and web pages that were transmitted over unencrypted home wireless networks. “The fact that it’s Google offering the service, as opposed to say Brookstone, raises privacy issues,” said Marc Rotenberg, the executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit privacy advocacy group, citing Google’s history and its scale in Internet advertising.

Rotenberg says his main concern centers on the stream of data collected by the devices - everything from audio and video to a user’s location data - going to Google’s data centers.

Ryan Calo, a University of Washington law professor who specializes in privacy and technology, said Glass is not very different from other technologies available today, whether it is a smartphone or “spy” pens that secretly record audio. But Glass is on people’s faces, so it feels different.

“The face is a really intimate place and to have a piece of technology on it is unsettling,” Calo said. “Much as a drone is unsettling because we have some ideas of war.” For all the hand-wringing, some early adopters are sold. Ryan Warner, who recently graduated from college and who has developed a recipe app for Glass with Evans, said he was surprised by the reaction he got when he went to a bar. “I was like, ‘I don’t know if I should have it on or not.’ I was kind of in that phase,” he said, “and the bouncer was like, ‘Oh, my god, is that Google Glass?’ He was excited.” — Reuters

Cybersecurity experts fear the ‘unknowns’ Continued from Page 1 But experts said they were worried about the increasingly sophisticated cyber capabilities of countries such as China, Russia and Iran. “This new growing trend of nation states engaged in cyber attacks that are designed to be destructive to parts of the US economy is very, very concerning,” said Mike Rogers, chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee.

“The ferociousness of these attacks is increasing and it’s something that we better get a handle on,” Rogers added. Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of Crowdstrike, a security technology specialist firm that works with governments and private companies, said he is most concerned about Iran, particularly if there is a spike in tensions in the Middle East.

He is watching the attacks that have taken down the websites of more than a dozen U.S. banks in the past nine months. There are no signs that hackers have managed to destroy or modify crucial financial data, but that is the fear. “Attacks that focus on modifying data in the stealth way, sabotage, integrity attacks - those are the ones that are most insidious and those are the ones we really should worry about,” Alperovitch said.

The migration of ever more elements of the economy to the digital world opens the door to malfeasance.

“We keep hooking more and more stuff up to the Internet, so the attack surface keeps growing,” said Michael Daniel, cybersecurity policy coordinator at the White House. “Pretty soon your coffee maker and your refrigerator is going to be an attack vector because it’s going to be hooked up to the Internet. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: Attendees wear Google Glass while posing for a group photo during the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. — AFP

14

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

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Washington Watch

Bad week, but ‘not that bad’

By Dr James J Zogby e have, of late, been inundated with press accounts declaring that the Obama Administration is in real trouble. Headlines scream: “Obama struggles”, “White House dysfunction”, or, worse still, asking “Has Obama Lost Washington?” One would get the sense that the Administration is unraveling. There can be no doubt that this has been a bad week, but it’s not as disastrous as the president’s critics would have it. To understand the dynamic that set in motion this avalanche of bad press, two metaphors are helpful. The first comes from former Senator Eugene McCarthy who was fond of comparing Washington’s political press to crows on a high wire. “When one lands” he would say, “they all land. And when one takes off, they all take off”. It is an apt description for the “feeding frenzies” that can occur in our political world when reporters and politicos, like sharks, smell blood in the water (the other metaphor)and move in to devour their wounded prey.

In the toxic environment that is Washington, stories grow and become larger than themselves, and in the ensuing hysteria, all sense of proportion can be lost. Such has been the case with the Congressional hearings into the way the White House handled the deaths of four US officials in Benghazi. The story has been exaggerated to such an extent that a recent poll shows 41% of Republicans now say that Benghazi is the “biggest scandal in US history”, and former Vice President Cheney claiming that Benghazi is “one of the worse incidents, frankly, that I can recall”.

That there is less to this entire affair than meets the eye doesn’t matter. Nor does it matter that this Benghazi “scandal” pales in comparison to the lies that dragged the US into the Iraq war. What matters to the press is the perception that they have created for themselves-that this is a “big story” revealing “dark truths” about the Obama Administration and its failures. Add to this other recent allegations about the Internal Revenue Service targeting some Tea Party and “patriot” groups for special scrutiny, and the Department of Justice using its Bush-era anti-terrorism powers to investigate reporters who received “leaked” information about a CIA operation in Yemen, and you have Republicans hyperventilating in excitement and the media in a frenzy. I might suggest that we first take a deep breath and make an effort to put the events of the past week in some perspective, but I know it wouldn’t do any good. There is blood in the water and in deeply partisan Washington, the struggle for advantage and power always trumps reality.

Even if I wanted to ascribe the best of intentions to the Republicans who are pushing the Benghazi story, I find it difficult to do so. If they were truly concerned about “lies” that were told by government officials, the failure of an Administration to protect American lives, and the need for responsible government officials to be transparent and accountable for their actions, the place for Congress to begin would be with the Iraq war or with the Bush Administration’s systematic use of torture, rendition, and other practices that violate our own and international laws.

But, of course, this entire enterprise of “getting to the bottom of Benghazi” has nothing to do with truth, lives, or accountability. The Obama Administration’s release of interagency communications, if anything, establishes nothing more than the somewhat banal practice of language vetting that, while annoying at times, has become rather standard practice. No, in the end, this is not about truth or governance. It is, in fact, nothing more than a continuation of the five year long effort to weaken and distract the president, in order to gain advantage over Democrats, and,in this instance, to wage a preemptive strike against former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s presidential aspirations (should she have any).

As for the IRS and Department of Justice stories, they are problems, to be sure, but problems that do not implicate the president. If anything, these revelations have given the president the opportunity to demonstrate his determination to respond quickly and decisively. He immediately condemned both as abuses of power and acted to remove the head of the IRS who was responsible.

All this, the pundits say, could not have come at a worse time for the president. As conventional wisdom has it, the administration has a limited window of opportunity remaining in which to push through its second term agenda: immigration reform, responsible gun control measures, a new budget that continues to grow the economy while reining in deficits, and facing down foreign policy challenges, especially those raging across the Middle East. In this view, by next year the country will be in the throes of Congressional elections with “every man for himself” and Democrats running in close contests wanting to dissociate themselves from a weakened White House. In this environment, Republicans hope that Democrats will be less inclined to support the president’s agenda if it doesn’t fit their reelection calculations. Following these November, 2014 contests, the President truly becomes a lame duck as the country heads toward the 2016 presidential elections. This is the conventional wisdom, and it is what has Republicans gleefully putting forth, and the press echoing and amplifying, the notion that the president is “finished”.

Two observations are in order. The first is that while Obama has had a bad week, it pales in comparison with his predecessors’ second term woes. Clinton had to deal with a trumped-up impeachment process and Bush faced national scorn for his disastrous handing of hurricane Katrina and the unraveling of his Iraq war. These were, by any measure, far more serious challenges. Clinton not only survived impeachment, but was buoyed by a robust economy. And Bush, with his “smoke and mirrors” “surge” operation in Iraq, was able to rebound a bit until the economic collapse of 2008.

It will not be easy, but what President Obama will now do is work to regain control of the story being told in the daily press accounts emanating from Washington. The still recovering economy will help, but it won’t be dramatic enough to turn the tide. Nor can he count on Congress to support him with passage of key elements of his agenda. With or without “scandal”, partisanship will continue to win out, with Republicans loathe to give the White House any meaningful victories. The president will need to reestablish control by executive decisions in areas of domestic or foreign policy where he can demonstrate leadership by acting independently and decisively. Should he succeed, the shenanigans in Congress will be reduced to a sideshow. And the nation’s press, a la McCarthy’s metaphor, will follow the story he is creating. All in all, it may have been a bad week, but it is one the White House can survive.

W

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.

Pakistan’s fragile democracy shows new strength here is good news from Pakistan. No, really. The country often referred to as “the most dangerous place on earth” is a caldron of violence, religious extremism and nuclear danger. But on Saturday, Pakistan passed a major democratic milestone. Its national parliamentary elections represented the first time since its 1947 founding that voters would get to replace an elected civilian government with another one.

Typically, civilian prime ministers selected by the people are eventually ousted by the military, which has ruled the country for roughly half of Pakistan’s history.

One of those was Nawaz Sharif, elected in 1997 but overthrown in 1999 by Gen Pervez Musharraf. The general, who was forced to resign in 2008, is now under house arrest on charges related to his detention of judges. Sharif, meanwhile, is poised to become prime minister again after the decisive victory of his Pakistan Muslim League party.

Not all of the election news is good. More than 100 people died in bombings carried out by the Pakistani Taliban, which hoped to scare citizens away from the polls. Some parties, including the outgoing Pakistan People’s Party, were limited in

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their campaigning by the threat of violence. But voters gained from a great expansion in the freedom of the news media to cover and comment on political events.

No one can really envy the prospective prime minister, whose country is awash in nightmarish problems - desperate poverty, a stagnant economy, pervasive corruption, rampant illiteracy, large geographic areas that are beyond government control and a fierce Islamic insurgency. It neighbors on Afghanistan, which has been wracked for years by internal war, and India, with whom it has fought multiple wars.

Whether Sharif can make progress on these issues is anyone’s guess. A businessman, he pushed measures to open up the economy in his previous term, and he has promised to make growth his top priority. Pakistan’s stock market climbed on news of his victory.

He needs American support to get new loans from the International Monetary Fund, which may incline him to cooperate with Washington on some issues. His election may herald a thaw with India, something he pursued the last time around. That was a major source of his conflict with the mili-

tary - which, thankfully, seems to have outgrown its habit of interfering with civilian rule. Sharif has called for expanded trade with Pakistan’s giant neighbor and made a point of inviting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit.

Relations with the United States, never easy, are bound to remain tense and frustrating. Sharif has been critical of the US war on terror, including its strikes inside Pakistan. “Sharif ran a campaign that deliberately ignored the Pakistani Taliban, and tacitly has sent the message the cooperation with the US should be limited,” Anthony Cordesman, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told The Wall Street Journal.

The US drone war is deeply unpopular in Pakistan, making it unlikely any Pakistani government will enthusiastically cooperate. The best hope is that Sharif and his people will grow so disgusted with the ongoing violence of Islamic extremists that the government will realize the urgency of defeating them. None of Pakistan’s many problems is going to be solved right away. But establishing a durable democracy can only help.— MCT

Understanding Nieto’s approach to cartels

By Scott Stewart exican President Enrique Pena Nieto’s approach to combating Mexican drug cartels has been a much-discussed topic since well before he was elected. Indeed, in June 2011 - more than a year before the July 2012 Mexican presidential election-I wrote an analysis discussing rumors that, if elected, Pena Nieto was going to attempt to reach some sort of accommodation with Mexico’s drug cartels in order to bring down the level of violence.

Such rumors were certainly understandable, given the arrangement that had existed for many years between some senior members of Pena Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party and some powerful cartel figures during the Institutional Revolutionary Party’s long reign in Mexico prior to the election of Vicente Fox of the National Action Party in 2000.

However, as we argued in 2011 and repeated in March 2013, much has changed in Mexico since 2000, and the new reality in Mexico means that it would be impossible for the Pena Nieto administration to reach any sort of deal with the cartels even if it made an attempt. But the rumors of the Pena Nieto government reaching an accommodation with some cartel figures such as Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera have persisted, even as the Mexican government arrests key operatives in Guzman’s network, such as Ines Coronel Barreras, Guzman’s father-in-law, who was arrested May 1 in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Indeed, on April 27, Washington Post reporter Dana Priest published a detailed article outlining how US authorities were fearful that the Mexican government was restructuring its security relationship with the US government so that it could more easily reach an unofficial truce with cartel leaders. Yet four days later, Coronel-a significant cartel figure-was arrested in a joint operation between the Mexicans and Americans. Clearly, there is some confusion on the US side about the approach the Pena Nieto government is taking, but conversations with both US and Mexican officials reveal that these changes in Mexico’s approach do not appear to be as drastic as some have feared. There will need to be adjustments on both sides of the border while organizational changes are underway in Mexico, but this does not mean that bilateral US-Mexico cooperation will decline in the long term.

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OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Despite the violence that has wracked Mexico over the past decade, the Mexican economy is booming. Arguably, the economy would be doing even better if potential investors were not concerned about cartel violence and street crime-and if such criminal activity did not have such a significant impact on businesses operating in Mexico.

Because of this, the Pena Nieto administra-

tion believes that it is critical to reduce the overall level of violence in the country. Essentially it wants to transform the cartel issue into a law enforcement problem, something handled by the Interior Ministry and the national police, rather than a national security problem handled by the Mexican military and the Center for Research and National Security (Mexico’s national-level intelligence agency).

In many ways the Pena Nieto administration wants to follow the model of the government of Colombia, which has never been able to stop trafficking in its territory but was able to defeat the powerful Medellin and Cali cartels and relegate their successor organizations to a law enforcement problem. The Mexicans also believe that if they can attenuate cartel violence, they will be able to free up law enforcement forces to tackle common crime instead of focusing nearly all their resources on containing the cartel wars. Although the cartels have not yet been taken down to the point of being a law enforcement problem, the Pena Nieto administration wants to continue to signal this shift in approach by moving the focus of its efforts against the cartels to the Interior Ministry.

Unlike former Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who was seen leading the charge against the cartels during his administration, Pena Nieto wants to maintain some distance from the struggle against the cartels (at least publicly). Pena Nieto seeks to portray the cartels as a secondary issue that does not demand his personal leadership and attention.

He can then publicly focus his efforts on issues he deems critically important to Mexico’s future, like education reform, banking reform, energy reform and fostering the Mexican economy. This is the most significant difference between the Calderon and Pena Nieto administrations. Of course it is one thing to say that the cartels have become a secondary issue, and it is quite another to make it happen. The Mexican government still faces some real challenges in reducing the threat posed by the cartels.

However, it is becoming

clear that the Pena Nieto administration seeks to implement a holistic approach in an attempt to address the problems at the root of the violence that in some ways is quite reminiscent of counterinsurgency policy. The Mexicans view these underlying economic, cultural and sociological problems as issues that cannot be solved with force alone. Mexican officials in the current government say that the approach the Calderon administration took to fighting the cartels was wrong in that it sought to solve the problem of cartel violence by simply killing or arresting cartel figures.

They claim that Calderon’s approach did nothing to treat the underlying causes of the violence and that the cartels were able to recruit gunmen faster than the government could kill or capture them. (In some ways this is parallel to the US government’s approach in Yemen, where increases in missile strikes from unmanned aerial vehicles have increased, rather than reduced, the number of jihadists there.) In Mexico, when the cartels experienced trouble in recruiting enough gunmen, they were able to readily import them from Central America.

However-and this is very significant-this holistic approach does not mean that the Pena Nieto administration wants to totally abandon kinetic operations against the cartels. An important pillar of any counterinsurgency campaign is providing security for the population. But rather than provoke random firefights with cartel gunmen by sending military patrols into cartel hot spots, the Pena Nieto team wants to be more targeted and intentional in its application of force.

It seeks to take out the networks that hire and supply the gunmen, not just the gunmen themselves, and this will require all the tools in its counternarcotics portfolionot only force, but also things like intelligence, financial action (to target cartel finances), public health, institution building and anticorruption efforts.

The theory is that by providing security, stability and economic opportunity the government can undercut the cartels’ ability to recruit youth who currently see little other options in life

but to join the cartels.

To truly succeed, especially in the most lawless areas, the Mexican government is going to have to begin to build institutions-and public trust in those institutions-from the ground up.

The officials we have talked to hold Juarez up as an example they hope to follow in other locations, though they say they learned a lot of lessons in Juarez that will allow them to streamline their efforts elsewhere. Obviously, before they can begin building, they recognize that they will have to seize, consolidate and hold territory, and this is the role they envision for the newly created gendarmerie, or paramilitary police.

The gendarmerie is important to this rebuilding effort because the military is incapable of serving in an investigative law enforcement role. They are deployed to pursue active shooters and target members of the cartels, but much of the crime affecting Mexico’s citizens and companies falls outside the military’s purview. The military also has a tendency to be heavy-handed, and reports of human rights abuses are quite common.

Transforming from a national security to a law enforcement approach requires the formation of an effective police force that is able to conduct community policing while pursuing car thieves, extortionists, kidnappers and street gangs in addition to cartel gunmen. Certainly the US government was very involved in the Calderon administration’s kinetic approach to the cartel problem, as shown by the very heavy collaboration between the two governments.

The collaboration was so heavy, in fact, that some incoming Pena Nieto administration figures were shocked by how integrated the Americans had become.

The US officials who told Dana Priest they were uncomfortable with the new Mexican government’s approach to cartel violence were undoubtedly among those deeply involved in this process-perhaps so deeply involved that they could not recognize that in the big picture, their approach was failing to reduce the violence in Mexico. Indeed, from the Mexican perspective, the US efforts have been focused on reducing the flow of narcotics into the United States regardless of the impact of those efforts on Mexico’s security environment. However, as seen by the May 1 arrest of Coronel, which a Mexican official described as a classic joint operation involving the US Drug Enforcement Administration and Mexican Federal Police, the Mexican authorities do intend to continue to work very closely with their American counterparts. But that cooperation must occur within the new framework established for the anti-cartel efforts.

That means that plans for cooperation must be presented through the Mexican Interior Ministry so that the efforts can be centrally coordinated. Much of the current peer-to-peer cooperation can continue, but within that structure.— Stratfor

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

S P ORTS

Ferguson criticises City for Mancini sacking LONDON: Manchester United’s outgoing manager Alex Ferguson has criticised neighbors Manchester City for sacking Roberto Mancini.

The Italian boss was sacked on Monday having failed to retain the Premier League title he won last season and after losing the FA Cup final to Wigan Athletic.

Mancini took out a full-page advertisement in the Manchester Evening News on Saturday, thanking fans for their support during his time in charge.

The former Inter Milan manager said in the ad: “Manchester City Supporters 3 unforgettable years, you will always be in my heart, ciao, Roberto Mancini.”

Ferguson, who will retire following today’s game at West Bromwich Albion, rallied behind his former rival and questioned the logic behind sacking a manager who won the Premier League and FA Cup during his three years in charge. “It was quite amazing. He has won the FA Cup, been in the final, second in the league and won the league and it’s not good enough?” he told reporters.—Reuters

Larsen new BWF president

Shields eyes higher honors

KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton’s world governing body (BWF) will create a separate commission to deal with match-fixing problems, Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen said after being elected president yesterday.

Denmark’s 1996 Olympic men’s singles gold medallist Hoyer Larsen beat Indonesian Justian Suhandinata to claim the role after an election at the BWF headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The 47-year-old, the only European to win a badminton gold at the Olympics, will replace South Korea’s Kang Young-joong who vacated the post after eight years at the helm. “Badminton has been in my heart for my whole life and therefore I cherish this opportunity,” Hoyer Larsen told reporters. “I am really looking forward to work with the staff and my council members in order to deliver for the future... so that we are fulfilling the task that had been set by Dr. Kang.”

Hoyer Larsen will have four years to revive the sport, which came under fire at last year’s London Olympics when four women’s doubles pairs from South Korea, China and Indonesia deliberately played to lose their matches in order to get a more favourable draw. The players were kicked out of the Games but not before it created the biggest scandal in badminton’s history as an Olympic sport. “Match-fixing or match throwing is, of course, a concern,” Hoyer Larsen said, after polling 145 votes to Suhandinata’s 120 during the election.—Reuters

WELLINGTON: Wellington Hurricanes loose forward Brad Shields has had the misfortune of being lumbered with quite possibly the worst acronym a New Zealand rugby player can receive.

ABIW. All Black In Waiting. A term that brings with it accolades and attention, but even more in expectation. Not that the circumspect 22-yearold, who has admitted to nerves when speaking to groups of people, accepts that characterisation or is taking anything for granted before he joins All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s first training camp of the year on Sunday.

The blindside flanker was asked to attend the same camp last year after just a handful of games mostly off the bench at Super Rugby level but did not make Hansen’s first All Blacks 30-man squad for the series against Ireland.

A seemingly innocuous twisted knee against the Waikato Chiefs last July then ended his first season as a fully professional rugby player. “I twisted it and as the kneecap popped out it chipped some cartilage off,” Shields told Reuters at Wellington Regional Stadium after his side’s 17-12 loss to the Chiefs on Friday. —Reuters

Braves roll over Dodgers

CLEVELAND: Kyle Seager No. 15 of the Seattle Mariners reacts to flying out to center field in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians. —AFP

Indians dump Mariners CLEVELAND: Jason Kipnis’ three-run homer in the 10th inning gave the Cleveland Indians a 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Kipnis’ home run came on an 0-1 pitch from Lucas Luetge and capped a two-out rally that began with a walk and an infield hit. The Indians have won 15 of 19 and are 10-2 at Progressive Field since April 30. Vinnie Pestano (1-0), activated from the disabled list before the game, worked around a one-out walk in the 10th. Drew Stubbs, who homered in the fifth, drew a walk off Luetge (0-1). Stubbs broke for second with a 1-2 count on Michael Bourn, and Luetge threw to first baseman Justin Smoak, but Stubbs beat the throw to shortstop Brendan Ryan. Bourn hit a slow roller past the mound and second baseman Dustin Ackley’s throw to first was late.

Kipnis followed with his seventh homer.

YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 0 In New York, Hiroki Kuroda pitched two-hit ball for eight dominant innings and New York again beat Mark Buehrle and Toronto.

Austin Romine and Brett Gardner had runscoring hits, Robinson Cano hit an RBI grounder and Jayson Nix had two sacrifice flies in dropping Buehrle to 1-10 in 15 starts against the Yankees. The left-hander hasn’t beaten New York since April 10, 2004, when he was with the Chicago White Sox. The AL East-leading Yankees defeated last-place Toronto for the fifth straight time this season in New York and for the seventh time in eight games overall. Kuroda (6-2) struck out five and walked one in cooling off a club that had scored 33 runs in its previous three games and had won a season-high four in a row.

Kuroda won for the fourth time in five starts and is 2-0 in three starts against the Blue Jays this year - matching up each time against Buehrle allowing four runs in 21 1-3 innings.

RAYS 12, ORIOLES 10 In Baltimore, Kelly Johnson hit a three-run homer and an RBI single, and Tampa Bay held on for a victory over slumping Baltimore. Johnson and Yunel Escobar had three hits apiece in Tampa Bay’s highest scoring game of the season. Escobar also drove in three runs and Desmond Jennings added two hits and two RBIs. The Orioles surrendered a season-high 17 hits for the second straight game and gave up their most runs in any game this season.

Baltimore has allowed 27 runs and 52 hits while losing four of its last five games. Chris Dickerson hit a three-run homer in Baltimore’s six-run eighth inning, but the Orioles’ rally stalled from there. Jeremy Hellickson (2-2) was charged with eight runs and 10 hits in 7 2-3 innings, but still managed to get the win. Joel Peralta got four outs for his first save. Johnson drove a full-count pitch from Jason Hammel (5-2) over the wall in right in the third, capping Tampa Bay’s four-run outburst with his sixth homer.

TIGERS 2, RANGERS 1 In Arlington, Miguel Cabrera went 3 for 4

with a go-ahead double in the sixth inning to back Rick Porcello and lift Detroit over Texas in a matchup of division leaders.

Jim Leyland earned his 1,699th win as a major league manager as the Tigers remained tied with Cleveland atop the AL Central.

Porcello (2-2) allowed one run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings with six strikeouts and a walk as the Tigers rebounded from a 10-4 loss to Texas on Thursday night in which ace Justin Verlander was knocked out in the third inning.

Jose Valverde got three groundouts around a one-out walk to Geovany Soto in the ninth, getting his fourth save in five chances this season.

Rookie Nick Tepesch (3-4) gave up two runs, six hits and three walks in five innings.

RED SOX 3, TWINS 2 In Minneapolis, Jonny Gomes hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to lift Boston to another comeback victory. The Red Sox have won three straight after losing 10 of their previous 14 games, while the Twins have lost three in a row after winning six of nine.

Twins reliever Josh Roenicke (1-1) gave up a single and a walk to open the 10th. After a sacrifice bunt, Stephen Drew was intentionally walked to load the bases. Then Gomes sent a drive to center field, where Aaron Hicks caught the ball but double-clutched on his throw and didn’t have a chance to get the speedy Dustin Pedroia. Alex Wilson (1-0) picked up the victory by getting the last out of the ninth and Koji Uehara threw a perfect 10th for his first save.

WHITE SOX 3, ANGELS 0 In Anaheim, Chris Sale stifled Los Angeles’ bats for the second time in six days, scattering three hits over 7 2-3 innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts and Chicago extended its winning streak to a season-high four games.

Alex Rios and Adam Dunn homered for the White Sox. Sale (5-2) threw 79 of his 113 pitches for strikes in another competitive duel with fellow lefty C.J. Wilson, whom he beat 3-0 last Sunday night at Chicago. Sale extended his scoreless streak to 23 innings.

Addison Reed pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances. Wilson (3-3) lost his third straight start, allowing two runs and six hits over seven innings in his longest outing of the season.

ATHLETICS 2, ROYALS 1 In Oakland, Adam Rosales hit a go-ahead home run leading off the eighth inning, Josh Donaldson also connected and reigning AL West champion Oakland earned just its third victory in the last 11 games.

Sean Doolittle (3-0) pitched the eighth for the win in relief of Jarrod Parker. Oakland finally got to James Shields (2-4) in the late innings, nearly 10 months after he pitched a three-hit shutout here last July 31 for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The right-hander matched his season high with nine strikeouts.—AP

ATLANTA: Justin Upton gave Atlanta the lead with a sixth-inning grand slam and the Braves finally unveiled their full-strength lineup, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 on Friday night.

Upton drove in five runs hitting behind Jason Heyward, who had two hits with a RBI in his first game back after having his appendix removed April 22. It was the first time this season the Braves had Heyward in the lineup along with catcher Brian McCann, who missed the first 30 games while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.

Scott Van Slyke hit two homers for the Dodgers, who led 4-2 before Upton’s third career grand slam.

Los Angeles had won four of its previous five coming in - its best stretch since early April.

Paul Maholm (5-4) allowed eight hits and four runs - two earned - in six innings, and Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 12th save. Hyun-Jin Ryu overcame a career-high five walks to give up only two runs in five innings, but Dodgers relievers Matt Guerrier and Poco Rodriguez (0-2) quickly blew the 4-2 lead in the sixth.

DIAMONDBACKS 9, MARLINS 2 In Miami, Paul Goldschmidt homered twice, tied his career high with four hits and drove in four runs to lead Arizona over Miami. Eric Chavez homered and also had four hits, and Gerardo Parra and Martin Prado had three hits apiece for Arizona, which had 16 hits in all and won its third straight game. Trevor Cahill (3-4) won for the third time in four decisions following an 0-3 start, allowing one run, five hits and four walks in eight innings. He walked his first two batters in the third before retiring 13 in a row, 10 on groundballs. Kevin Slowey (14) gave up six runs and seven hits in three innings for the Marlins.

NATIONALS 6, PADRES 5 In San Diego, Adam LaRoche hit two towering home runs and Chad Tracy’s solo shot in the 10th inning lifted Washington over San Diego.

Tracy’s seventh career pinch-hit home run negated a blown save from closer Rafael Soriano, who gave up two runs with two outs in the ninth.

The Padres tied the game with three straight singles. Chase Headley’s RBI made it 5-4 and Yonder Alonso pushed him to third with another single. Kyle Blanks evened the score with another single, which sent the game into extra innings.

It was Soriano’s second blown save in 14 chances. Drew Storen got his first save of the season in the 10th. Tracy’s home run came off Padres closer Huston Street (0-3), who has allowed six home runs in 17 1-3 innings. He gave up two in 39 innings last season.

METS 3, CUBS 2 In Chicago, Matt Harvey won his fifth straight decision, allowing five hits in 7 1-3 innings and sin-

INTERLEAGUE PIRATES 5, ASTROS 4 In Pittsburgh, Jimmy Paredes dropped Russell Martin’s bases-loaded fly ball when he collided

two-run shot and Tony Cingrani allowed three runs and five hits in five innings for the Reds. Sean Marshall (0-1) took the loss.

CARDINALS 7, BREWERS 6 St. Louis, David Freese hit a grand slam for his first homer of the season during a five-run first inning for St. Louis, and the Cardinals held on to beat Milwaukee.

The Brewers made it close on a pair of three-run homers by Aramis Ramirez off Jaime Garcia before losing for the 13th time in 15 games. The bottom four spots in the lineup were a combined 0 for 15.

The Cardinals had five hits and a walk while batting around against Wily Peralta (3-4) in the first, but the right-hander was still in the game when Garcia (5-2) was chased in the sixth.

Milwaukee got one hit in 3 2-3 innings against three relievers, with Edward Mujica working the ninth for his 12th save in 12 chances.

ROCKIES 10, GIANTS 9 In Denver, Jordan Pacheco hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the fifth inning and Carlos Gonzalez added a solo homer, helping Colorado hold on for a win over San Francisco that snapped a 10-game skid against the Giants.

Pacheco laced his first homer of the season to left on a hanging slider from Madison Bumgarner (4-2), who failed to protect an early four-run lead.

Jorge De La Rosa (5-3) entered the game without giving up a run at Coors Field in 12 innings. He was hit hard, surrendering five runs in five innings, only to settle down enough to earn the win. In the ninth, Rafael Betancourt struck out the side for his 10th save in as many chances.

ATLANTA: Craig Kimbrel No. 46 of the Atlanta Braves throws a ninth-inning pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field.—AFP

PHILLIES 5, REDS 3 In Philadelphia, Domonic Brown drove in the tiebreaking run on an infield grounder in the eighth and Philadelphia snapped Cincinnati’s sixgame winning streak. Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer and Cliff Lee threw seven sharp innings for the Phillies, who won for the fourth time in five games. Lee gave up two runs and six hits, striking out seven. Justin De Fratus (2-0) got two batters out in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his eighth save in eight tries.

Joey Votto hit a solo homer, Jay Bruce added a

gling in the go-ahead run in the seventh to lead New York over Chicago.

Daniel Murphy and David Wright homered for the Mets, and right fielder Marlon Byrd preserved the lead by throwing out a runner at the plate in the eighth inning. The Mets won consecutive games for the first time since May 1 and 3.

Harvey (5-0) won his first four starts, then failed to get a decision in his next four. Edwin Jackson (16), coming off a victory at Washington on May 11, gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings for the Cubs.

with second baseman Jake Elmore with two outs in the ninth, the second missed catch by a Houston right fielder, and Pittsburgh rallied past the Astros.

Down 4-1, Pittsburgh started its comeback in the sixth when Chris Carter dropped Andrew McCutchen’s fly ball for a three-base error and Garrett Jones followed with a double.

Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the eighth and Justin Wilson (4-0) worked the tenth inning to pick up the win for the Pirates. Edgar Gonzalez (0-1) took the loss.—AP

Penguins edge Senators PITTSBURGH: Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby scored his second career playoff hat trick to give the Penguins a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Friday and a 2-0 lead in the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals.

Brenden Morrow added his first playoff goal in more than five years

and Tomas Vokoun made 19 saves and the Penguins rode their superstar captain to their fourth straight victory.

Crosby beat Craig Anderson three times in the game’s first 22 minutes, sending the goalie to the bench. Kyle Turris, Colin Greening and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for

the Senators, but couldn’t stop Ottawa from falling into a deep hole against the Eastern Conference’s top seed. The Senators have never won a playoff series after dropping the first two games.

Game 3 is today in Ottawa.

Crosby became the fifth player in franchise history to record 100

MLB results/standings NY Mets 3, Chicago Cubs 2; Tampa Bay 12, Baltimore 10; Cleveland 6, Seattle 3 (10 innings); NY Yankees 5, Toronto 0; Philadelphia 5, Cincinnati 3; Pittsburgh 5, Houston 4; Arizona 9, Miami 2; Atlanta 8, LA Dodgers 5; Detroit 2, Texas 1; Boston 3, Minnesota 2 (10 innings); St. Louis 7, Milwaukee 6; Colorado 10, San Francisco 9; Chicago White Sox 3, LA Angels 0; Oakland 2, Kansas City 1; Washington 6, San Diego 5 (10 innings).

NY Yankees Boston Baltimore Tampa Bay Toronto Cleveland Detroit Kansas City Chicago W Sox Minnesota Texas Oakland Seattle LA Angels Houston

American League Eastern Division W L PCT 26 16 .619 25 17 .595 23 18 .561 21 20 .512 17 25 .405 Central Division 23 17 .575 23 17 .575 20 18 .526 19 21 .475 18 20 .474 Western Division 27 15 .643 21 22 .488 20 22 .476 15 27 .357 11 31 .262

GB 1 2.5 4.5 9

Atlanta Washington Philadelphia NY Mets Miami

2 4 4

St. Louis Cincinnati Pittsburgh Chicago Cubs Milwaukee

6.5 7 12 16

Arizona San Francisco Colorado San Diego LA Dodgers

National League Eastern Division 23 18 .561 23 19 .548 20 22 .476 16 23 .410 11 31 .262 Central Division 27 14 .659 25 17 .595 25 17 .595 17 24 .415 16 24 .400 Western Division 24 18 .571 24 18 .571 22 20 .524 18 23 .439 17 23 .425

0.5 3.5 6 12.5 2.5 2.5 10 10.5 2 5.5 6

PITTSBURGH: Craig Anderson No. 41 of the Ottawa Senators makes a save on Brenden Morrow No. 10 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.—AFP

playoff points, and did so in spectacular fashion. He score the opener 3:16 into the game, collecting a pass at the blue line, darting up the line, splitting two Senators and then ripping a shot under the goalie’s pads. Turris tied the game with the first soft goal Vokoun has allowed since taking over for MarcAndre Fleury in Game 5 of the firstround series. Turris collected the puck near the left post and shot it off Vokoun and into the net.

Crosby one-upped Turris a few minutes later, zipping down the left side once again. This time, Crosby appeared to be looking to pass, but at the last second and without even peeking directly at Anderson, he flipped a wrist shot near the goal line that smacked off the goalie’s pad and into the net.

Crosby didn’t need any fancy stickwork to record his first postseason hat trick since 2009. Instead he powered a slap shot over Anderson’s glove from the left circle to push Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-1.

Anderson skated to the bench, replaced by Robin Lehner.

Greening responded almost immediately after the switch, beating Vokoun with a sizzling wrist shot 40 seconds later to get the Senators within one. Morrow restored the two-goal lead by redirecting Paul Martin’s blast from just outside the crease. It was Morrow’s first postseason score since 2008, while playing for Dallas.—AP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

S P ORTS

Restore wrestling, give others fair shot NEW YORK: Wrestling is heeding the harshest of wakeup calls. Now it’s time for the International Olympic Committee to do the right thing. Put this most historic of sports back on the program for the 2020 Summer Games.

Assuming the governing body, known as FILA, follows through on major steps Friday - simplifying the rules, settling on a new leader, pressing forward with ways to make the sport more hip and exciting for fans - there’s no reason for wrestling to compete with seven other sports vying to get on the Olympic program. Besides, those other sports - squash, karate, roller sport, wushu, sport climbing, wakeboarding and a combined baseball-softball bid - all deserve a fair shot at the one available spot, which they may not get because of the justifiable outcry over wrestling’s exclusion.

“Maybe we can share a venue with wrestling,” joked Andrew Shelley, the CEO of World Squash. All quips aside, this would be a good time for the IOC to reexamine its rules that allow a maximum of 28 federations into the Summer Games, an arbitrary guideline that was supposed to hold down the size, scope

and cost of the Olympics (how’s that working out?) but turned into one of the biggest stumbles of outgoing President Jacques Rogge’s regime.

In the eyes of the IOC, aquatics is considered to be one sport because swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo and open water are governed by a single federation. But it’s actually five sports.

Yet the related - but distinctly different - disciplines within martial arts are ruled by separate organizations, which explains how judo and taekwondo are Olympic sports, karate and wushu are not.

Most of the focus at the moment is on wrestling’s bid to remain on the program past the 2016 Rio Games after the IOC stunningly gave it the boot in February, throwing it into the pool of wannabe sports for 2020.

From a purely athletic standpoint, it was a decision that made absolutely no sense. There’s history: Wrestling is one of the few sports that can say it’s been part of the Olympics since ancient Greece.

There’s universality: While Russia and the United States are two of the biggest pow-

erhouses, the competition in London drew 71 nations - 29 of which claimed medals. Yet the IOC, ticked at FILA’s resistance to doing anything progressive and clear arrogance that its place in the Olympics was secure, gave wrestling the heave -ho while keeping the obscure sport of modern pentathlon, which tests the skills needed by a 19th-century cavalry officer. “Wrestling failed to keep its sport properly modern,” conceded Stan Dziedzic, a FILA vice president and 1976 Olympic medalist. “We did a very poor job there.”

Even so, the decision sparked outrage around the globe. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to do what he could to overturn it. The U.S. and Iran, two nations that rarely agree on anything, became wrestling allies.

Supporters took their campaign to social media, unleashing countless tweets (hash tag: SaveOlympicWrestling) and setting up a Facebook page that has grown to more than 92,000 backers.

Dziedzic told The Associated Press that the governing body reached agreement on several points ahead of Saturday’s special meeting in Moscow,

most notably getting former President Raphael Martinetti to drop his bid to regain the job. Acting President Nenad Lalovic is the only candidate who’ll be considered when FILA votes on a successor, considered a key step in repairing relations with the IOC. The federation also is expected to approve some significant rules changes, such as switching from three two-minute periods to two threeminute periods, having the winner determined by total points rather than who wins the most periods (which led to a wrestler with fewer points sometimes winning the match), and eliminating the reviled overtime rule used in freestyle, known as “The Clinch,” which put one wrestler at a severe disadvantage.

More important will be the changes to come. For now, FILA won’t be acting on radical proposals to change the look of the sport, from replacing uniforms known as singlets with tight-fitting T-shirts and shorts (a change that likely would make more youngsters comfortable about trying the sport) to jazzing up meets with loud music and flashy lights, more in line with a professional boxing or mixed martials arts event. “None of us is qualified to

do that,” Dziedzic said. “The object is to hire a professional public relations firm to help us improve the pageantry and drama in our presentation at events.”

A bit troubling is that FILA isn’t ready to act on one of its most pressing problems: getting more women and athletes involved in running the spor t. But Dziedzic said the federation is committed to revamping its constitution over the next year to come in compliance with IOC guidelines, as well as moving toward more gender equity on the mat. That will likely mean six women’s freestyle events at the next Olympics, while the number of men’s divisions is reduced from seven to six in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.

“We had heated discussions around the governance issue,” Dziedzic said in a phone call from Moscow. “That won’t be completely solved here.”

The 15-member IOC board will decide if wrestling has done enough to remain on the road to re-inclusion when it meets May 29-31 in St. Petersburg, Russia. At that point, three of the eight sports are likely to be forwarded to the full IOC assembly, which meets in September at Buenos Aires to pick one of them. —AP

Bradley stays in charge

MOBILE: Jessica Korda hits her tee shot on the 16th hole during round two of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic at the Crossings Course at the Robert Trent Jones Trail at Magnolia Grove. —AFP

Jessica leads LPGA Classic MOBILE: Jessica Korda shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Hall of Famer Karrie Webb after the second round of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic.

Korda had seven birdies in her second straight bogey-free round to reach 13 under on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove complex.

“I’m hitting the ball good and I’m having a lot of fun out there,” said Korda, coming off a two-week break to rest a wrist injury. “I feel really comfortable out here. This is definitely one of the stops I wanted to come back to and I hope we can keep this event as long as possible because I really like it.”

The daughter of former tennis players Petr Korda and Regina Raichrtova, the 20-year-old Korda won the 2012 Women’s Australian Open for her lone LPGA Tour title.

“Right now it’s Friday, so I think really the tournament starts back nine on Sunday,” Korda said. “So right now, it’s great to have the lead and I feel good.” Webb also had a bogey-free round, birdieing the last three holes for a 63. The 38-year-old Webb won the last of her 38 LPGA Tour titles in 2011. The Australian played alongside Korda and Brittany Lincicome the first two rounds.

“When you’re playing with Jess and Brittany, if I hit a really good one I’m 20 yards behind them,” Webb said. “In certain parts of the golf course where they can carry parts that I can’t, I’m 40 yards behind them, so I’m the little short one out there trying to keep up with the big girls.”

Korda birdied three of the four par-5 holes. “I reached every single one today, so that’s been really nice,” Korda said. “Yeah, we give Webby a hard time. She did outdrive me on the first hole today and she’s like, ‘What’s going on?’ And I’m like, ‘Did you work out last night?’ ... We were just keeping it kind of light out there and having a good time.”

Chella Choi was two strokes back at 11 under after a 66. “Today and yesterday my putting was really good,” Choi said. “My confidence is better.”

Sydnee Michaels had a course-record 62 to join Pornanong Phatlum and Thidapa Suwannapura at 10 under.

“It feels so good to finally have a good round because I’ve been struggling the last few weeks and going through some swing changes,” Michaels said. “The week off last week I just said, ‘You know what, I’m just going to go back to what feels good.’

So I hit a lot of balls and just kind of got back to where I was feeling good over the ball again. So, it feels so good to finally have a good round.”

Phatlum shot a 65, and Suwannapura had a 67.

Lisa McCloskey shot a 68 to reach 7 under after she and her mother, Maria, were involved in a multicar accident on their way home after the first round.

The tour rookie and former University of Southern California player had an array of scrapes from the airbags and a sore thumb and only got about 30 minutes of sleep.

“I think I came out here with no expectations, just-make-the-cut kind of thing,” McCloskey said. “I probably would have been happy with even par or a couple over. But I don’t know, the putter was really working for me on the front nine, and then the back nine things kind of slowed down. I think I kind of got a little bit tired, but I finished with two really good pars, so I’m happy.”

Defending champion Stacy Lewis was 4 under after her second straight 70. She had a double bogey in the par-3 14th after hitting in the water.

“I made too many mistakes and you can’t do it when people are shooting lights out,” said the second-ranked Lewis, the winner this year in consecutive events in Singapore and Phoenix. Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 75. Lincicome also missed the cut, shooting 75-70.—AP

Hall of Famer Venturi dies CALIFORNIA: Former US Open champion and television broadcaster Ken Venturi, a 14-times winner on the PGA Tour, died on Friday at the age of 82 following various health complications.

Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame just 11 days ago, Venturi had been in hospital for the last two months for a spinal infection, pneumonia and an intestinal infection, the PGA Tour said in a statement. Venturi’s son, Matt, said his father had died in a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, where he had been living for several years. The highlight of Venturi’s playing career came in the 1964 US Open at Congressional Country Club where he overcame 100-degree temperatures and severe dehydration to win his only major championship. He was forced to quit competitive golf because of carpal tunnel syndrome in 1967. The following year, he joined CBS television as an analyst and enjoyed a lengthy career as one of the most insightful and respected figures in the game.

“He played on the Ryder Cup in 1965, he captained the U.S. Presidents Cup in 2000,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said last October after Venturi was voted into the

World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2013. “But to fans around the United States and around the world, he was the conduit of what PGA Tour level golf was to those fans for an incredible 35-year broadcast career which spanned many, many careers on the PGA Tour.

“Ken Venturi was a fixture to the game of golf for fans everywhere in terms of his ability to analyse the game and excite fans about the play they were watching.”

Venturi, a San Francisco native who learned to play golf at Harding Park, described his induction into the Hall of Fame as “just an honour” when speaking on a conference call from Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. “ The greatest reward in life is to be remembered and I thank the World Golf Hall of Fame for remembering me,” Venturi said. “I was taught by Byron Nelson and I asked him one time, ‘How could I ever repay you for all you’ve done for me?’ He said, ‘Ken, be good to the game and give back.’

“And that’s what I’ve tried to do because I’ve said many times, the world will never remember you for what you take from it, but only what you leave behind.”—Reuters

IRVING: Former champion Keegan Bradley maintained a three-shot lead in Friday’s second round of the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas after grinding his way to a one-under-par 69 in increasingly tricky conditions.

Three ahead of the chasing pack overnight after opening with a blistering course record 60, Bradley had to contend with strengthening winds and firming greens at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas en route to an 11-under total of 129.

American journeyman Tom Gillis (63) and South Korean Bae Sang-moon (66) were tied for second but China’s 14-year-old Guan Tianlang made an early exit, missing his first PGA Tour cut in three career starts after battling to a 77.

A day after tying the tournament record of 60 held jointly by Sam Snead (1957) and Arron Oberholser (2006), Bradley mixed four birdies with three bogeys to preserve his place at the top of the leaderboard. Though he dropped his final shot of the day at the par-four last where his tee shot sailed well right and he failed to get up and down from left of the green, he was delighted with his score. “I’m really happy shooting 69,” Bradley, winner here in 2011 before going on to claim his first major title at the PGA Championship just three months later, told reporters.

“I’m almost more proud of this round than yesterday because I didn’t feel comfortable all day. I was a little uncomfortable and then I settled it and hit some really good shots.”

Gillis, bidding for his first PGA Tour title after spending much of his golfing career competing on the lower tier circuits, was also in an upbeat mood after rocketing into contention.

“I’m pleased obviously,” the 44-year-old said after a red-hot round tarnished slightly by a threeputt bogey on his final hole, the par-four ninth. “I made a bunch of putts.

“At the last I hit it pretty close, to about eight

IRVING: Keegan Bradley hits a shot out of a sand trap during the 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons Resort. —AFP feet or nine feet so I was a little disappointed with that but overall it was good, really good.

“I just gave it a little too much speed,” Gillis said of his first putt on the ninth green. “I probably lost concentration on the comebacker, so I guess that happens.”

While Gillis was among several players in the morning wave who took advantage of calmer weather and preferred lies on a layout softened by rain earlier in the week, Chinese sensation Guan plummeted down the leaderboard.

Guan, who made his second consecutive PGA Tour cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last month, followed his opening 70 with a 77 to finish

well outside the cutline of level-par 140.

Competing this week on a sponsor’s exemption, Guan carded five bogeys, two birdies and two double-bogeys, the last of them coming on his final hole, the ninth, where his tee shot ended up in water. “I won’t make the cut every time, but I think I learned more,” Guan said. The Chinese teenager has been one of the biggest talking points in golf since he became the youngest player to make the cut in a major championship at the Masters five weeks ago. Also failing to advance were former major winners Yang Yong-eun of South Korea, South African Trevor Immelman and Americans Ben Curtis and Lee Janzen.—Reuters

Group photo of guests and KSSC officials.

Gulf Youth Hostels visit Kuwait Shooting Complex

By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: A delegation of officials of Gulf Youth Hostels visited Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex. The visit was supervised by KSSC Secretary General Obaid Al-Osaimi, as a full program was prepared for the visit.

The guests are in Kuwait to participate in the meeting of heads of youth hostels in GCC countries representing Saudi

Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.

The guests were welcomed at the club by Assistant Treasurer Adnan Al-Ibrahim, who gave them a brief on the establishment of Kuwait Shooting Sport Club and the most notable achievements

by Kuwait’s shooters including the two Olympic medals in Sydney 2000 and London 2012.

Director of Kuwait Committee of Youth Hostels Ahmad Ayesh said KSSC is the first site visited

within the touristic variety program at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex, which is something we are proud off.

Assistant treasurer Adnan AlIbrahim invited guests to a tour of the club, then they were allowed to shoot at clay targets in the sporting range. The guest also had a look at the Air Pistol and Rifle 10M range, and practiced shooting thereafter a brief explanation of safety measures and

Guests are being instructed on the use of air rifles

rules from coach Abdallah Barakat.

The guests were impressed with what they saw, adding that this is considered a pride for all GCC countries, not only Kuwait.

Secretary General of UAE society for youth hostels Salim bin Suleiman said the visit to KSSC gave us a new motivation as we discovered shooting sport can be practiced by any one, contrary to other sports. Mementos were exchanged at the end of the visit.

Ahmad Ayesh hands Adnan Al-Ibrahim a memento

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

S P ORTS

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps planning comeback NEW YORK: Is Michael Phelps planning a comeback? A report Friday night from WBBH, an NBC television affiliate in Fort Myers, Fla., said Phelps will return to swimming with an eye toward competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The three-paragraph story on the station’s Web site was posted by news anchor Peter Busch, who is the son of Frank Busch, director of the U.S. national swim team.

“The greatest Olympian of all time isn’t hanging up his swimsuit, after all,” the report said, without citing any sources.

Phelps went on Twitter to downplay the report, but he didn’t specifically deny it either. “Why do I keep getting texts about coming back?” he wrote. “Do (people) really believe everything they hear or read? There are (too) many (people) in the world that think they have a ‘story.’” Busch followed with a tweet that said he felt “very confident with my info. Guess we’ll see.”

Phelps has said repeatedly his swimming career was over after winning 18 gold medals and 22 medals overall, both totals far more than any other Olympian. He retired at the age of 27 immediately after last summer’s London Games.

There was no other immediate comment from the Phelps camp. A message was left with one of his longtime agents, Drew Johnson. Officials at USA Swimming also didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Just last weekend, longtime rival Ryan Lochte was clearly skeptical that Phelps would stick with his decision to retire from a sport he dominated for the past decade, especially when so many swimmers are competing well into their 30s.

“I can’t really talk about it,” Lochte said, breaking into a sly grin during a Grand Prix meet in Charlotte, N.C. “Who knows?”

In an interview last December with The

Associated Press, after beating out LeBron James for male athlete of the year, Phelps stressed repeatedly that he had no plans to return to competitive swimming. He said London, where he captured four gold medals and two silvers, was the perfect way to close his career.

“I wanted to leave that way,” he said. “I’m sure I could come back in another four years, but why? I’ve done everything I wanted to do. There’s no point in me coming back. Everybody is like, ‘You’re going to come back.’ And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not.’ I’ve done everything I wanted to do in this sport. I don’t know a lot of people who can say that.”

After the Olympics, Phelps turned his attention to golf, filming a show with famed instructor Hank Haney for the Golf Channel, signing an endorsement deal with Ping and indicating a desire to see how far he could progress with a new sport. He

even joked that the only way he would compete in Rio would be if he qualified in golf, which is rejoining the Olympic program in 2016.

Last week, Phelps participated in an event prior to the Tour Championship at the TPC Sawgrass in Florida. He also cheered his hometown Baltimore Ravens on their way to the Super Bowl, attending the title game at New Orleans with a large group of family and friends.

Phelps apparently spent Friday swimming at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn. Lifeguard Stephen Timmes posted a picture on Instagram that showed Phelps, looking extremely fit if not in top condition, smiling and posing poolside.

“Lifeguarded for and swam with Michael Phelps at work today,” Timmes wrote. “I love my job.” If Phelps does come back, he would have to wait at least nine months to swim in a sanctioned event under the

world anti-doping policy, meaning there’s no chance of competing at this summer’s world championships in Barcelona even if he could somehow get into condition.

That would peg his return to competition at sometime early next year, leaving plenty of time to get in peak shape and begin gearing up for the 2015 worlds in Russia and, of course, the next Olympics.

The timing of the report was intriguing.

Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman, took a sabbatical from the deck after London but was set to work with a group including three-time Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt during high-altitude workouts at the national training center in Colorado Springs, leading up to the national championships in Indianapolis next month. Bowman also is coaching the U.S. men’s team in Barcelona.

There was no word on whether Phelps might be among the swimmers taking part in the Colorado workouts.—AP

Several Wallabies injured as Waratahs defeat Brumbies

CHINA: Mary Saxa of the US competes in the women’s pole vault event at the Diamond League athletics meeting in Shanghai. —AFP

Jamaicans sweep sprints at Diamond League meet SHANGHAI: Jamaica dominated the sprints at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai yesterday, with Shelly-Ann FraserPryce winning the women’s 100 meters and Warren Weir capturing gold in the men’s 200.

Jason Richardson of the United States won the 110 hurdles, edging countryman Ryan Wilson and China’s Xie Wenjun at the line.

Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympic winner, ran 10.93 seconds to beat Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare and defending world champion Carmelita Jeter, who pulled up at the finish with an apparent leg injury.

Jeter fell to the track after the race and lay on her back for several seconds before being carried off on a stretcher. Meet organizers said the American would undergo tests to determine the nature of the injury. Fraser-Pryce jumped out to a quick start and held on as Okagbare finished in 11 seconds flat.

The Jamaican is off to a strong start this season, following on from winning the 200 in the season-opening Diamond League meet last week in Doha, Qatar.

Weir, the bronze medalist at the London Olympics, timed 20.18 seconds to hold off American Justin Gatlin and Jason Young of Jamaica in the final few strides.

The field was weakened by the with-

drawal of 2012 Olympic silver medalist Yohan Blake due to injur y. Two-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt is also taking a break from the 200 to focus on the 100.

Gatlin, a former Olympic champion, followed up his win in the 100 in Doha last week with another strong performance in Shanghai. He returned to sprinting last year after serving a four-year ban for doping. In the 110 hurdles, Richardson timed 13.23 seconds to beat Wilson in 13.25 and Xie in 13.28. London Olympic champion Aries Merritt pulled up before the first hurdle after having felt leg cramp during his warm-up.

Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada extended his dominance in the 400, comfortably beating American Leshawn Merritt in a time of 44.02 to match Jeremy Wariner ’s Shanghai Diamond League meet record. Asbel Kiprop of Kenya outsprinted Mekonnen Gebremedhin down the final stretch to win the men’s 1,500, lunging across the finish line in 3:32.39, just four-tenths of a second ahead of the Ethiopian. Yelena Isinbayeva won the women’s pole vault in Shanghai for the fifth time with a leap of 4.70 meters. China’s Li Jinzhe was the surprise winner in the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.34 meters, beating Russia’s Aleksandr Menkov and Olympic champion Greg Rutherford of Britain.—AP

SYDNEY: Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau fractured his forearm and several other Wallabies were injured as the New South Wales Waratahs beat Super Rugby leaders ACT Brumbies 28-22 at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium yesterday.

On the eve of the announcement of the preliminary squad for three tests against the British and Irish Lions, likely selections Polota-Nau, flanker George Smith (knee) as well as centres Christian Lealiifano (leg), Rob Horne (eye) and Pat McCabe (leg) left the field injured.

There was better news for the watching Wallabies coach Robbie Deans in the performance of Waratahs playmaker Berrick Barnes, who came off the bench at halftime to score a fine individual try, set up another and kick seven points.

The victory, sealed by winger Peter Betham’s try six minutes from time, kept the Waratahs in the hunt for a spot in the Super Rugby playoffs and delighted skipper Dave Dennis.

“We were probably off in a few areas but still won the match, that’s something we’ve been working on,” the flanker said in a pitchside interview. “It was always going to be physical so you were always going to get those sort of injuries.”

Smith, who had been expected to be recalled for the Lions series, led the Brumbies back row who dominated the breakdown before his departure, which had prevented the Waratahs from getting the quick ball their new attacking style required.

The Brumbies started the brighter and number eight Ben Mowen did his Wallabies chances no harm by crashing over the line to score the first try of the match after 22 minutes.

Centre Tevita Kuridrani then charged down Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell’s defensive kick three minutes before halftime to send the visitors into the break 13-6 up.

Barnes, who had played less than a half of rugby this season because of injuries, came on as a halftime replacement for Horne, though, and had an

immediate impact. Five minutes after the break, he drew two defenders and drilled a brilliant pass to flanker Michael Hooper, who turned on the afterburners to score in the corner. Barnes converted to square up the scores at 13-13 and then put the home side ahead with a penalty before Brumbies

fullback Jesse Mogg converted three penalties in 10 minutes to give his side a 22-16 lead with 17 minutes to play. Two minutes later, though, Barnes glided through the Brumbies defence and crashed over the line under two tacklers to put the Waratahs within a point of the lead.—Reuters

Crusaders down Blues CHRISTCHURCH: The Canterbury Crusaders outmuscled the Auckland Blues 23-3 yesterday to leapfrog their arch-rivals and claim second spot in the New Zealand Super 15 conference.

The Crusaders scored two tries to nil, gaining momentum as the match wore on in front of a sell-out crowd to continue the Blues’ dismal record in Christchurch, where they have not won since 2004. Over the years, matches between the two best-performed New Zealand teams in Super rugby history-the Blues holding three titles and the Crusaders a record seven-have developed into fierce derbies between the North and South Islands. However, both sides this season are trailing defending champions the Waikato Chiefs for the coveted New Zealand conference top spot which guarantees a play-off berth, adding extra edge to the encounter.

Blues coach John Kirwan predicted Test-match intensity before the game and it lived up to the billing in the first half, played at a furious pace as both sides looked to pass the ball in attack and displayed committed defence.

But the Crusaders stamped their authority on the match in the second half, shrugging off some patchy performances early in their campaign to again show they can lift as the business end of the season approaches. “Every game is a big one, a must win,” said halfback Andy Ellis, who celebrated his 100th appearance for the team.

“You’ve got to build momentum going into the end of the season and everyone’s really excited about getting up every week. The boys really fronted up tonight.” The Blues started brightly, forcing a turnover in the first minute and taking the ball through 14 phases before the Crusaders defenders dragged Frank Halai into touch.

They attacked down the flanks but it was the Crusaders who drew first blood with a penalty to Tom Taylor after 22 minutes.

Crusaders centre Ryan Crotty then charged down a clearing kick from the Blues and darted over the line for a try, with Taylor adding the conversion. They almost had a second at half-time but Blues lock Calum Retallick illegally swatted down a pass to Luke Romano as he shaped for a run at the line, earning a yellow card for his efforts and gifting the Crusaders another penalty. The Crusaders made the most of their one-man advantage after the restart when Owen Franks scored a converted try through a driving maul from the line-out, with the South Islanders adding another penalty shortly after to make it 23-3. The Blues thought they had a try when Halai crossed in the 62nd minute but the referee ruled he had been held up after television replays proved inconclusive.

From there, the steam went out of the Blues challenge and the Crusaders comfortable closed out the match.—AFP

Marquez clinches MotoGP FRANCE: World championship leader Marc Marquez, riding a Honda, took his second pole position in MotoGP when he clocked the best time in the second qualifying session of the French Grand Prix in Le Mans yesterday.

The 20-year-old Spanish rookie, who became the youngest MotoGP winner when he won the Grand Prix of the Americas last month, clocked one minute 32.187 seconds and beat compatriot Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha by 0.030 of a second.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso was third, 0.416 off the pace. “I’m very happy. I had the confidence,” Marquez said. Dani Pedrosa crashed but was back on his bike to take the sixth fastest time behind Britain’s Cal Crutchlow and German Stefan Bradl, who were fourth and fifth respectively. Nine-times world champion Valentino Rossi, looking to clinch his 80th career MotoGP, could manage eighth place only.—Reuters

LE MANS: Spanish rider Marc Marquez drives his Honda during the qualifying session at Le Mans’ circuit, western France on the eve of the French motorcycling Grand Prix. Marquez clocked the pole position in 1’33.187. —AFP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

S P ORTS

Southee treble rocks England LONDON: Tim Southee bowled New Zealand back into contention in the first Test against England with a dramatic burst late on the third day at Lord’s yesterday. At stumps, England were 180 for six in their second innings-a lead of 205 runs.

England were in the process of building a sound position at 159 for two when paceman Southee wrested back the initiative with three wickets for four runs in 17 balls.

In all, England lost four wickets for 12 runs to throw the first of this two-Test series wide open, although their lead was now almost as much as New Zealand’s meagre first innings 207.

Jonathan Trott (56) and Joe Root (71) shared a third-wicket stand of 123 before the latter’s exit sparked England’s slump.

They had steadied the ship after England captain Alastair Cook, caught in the slips off Trent Boult and fellow opener Nick Compton, bowled by Neil Wagner, had both fallen with the total on 36.

Shortly after tea, Root was nearly run out when he dabbed the ball onto the offside and set off for a single. Trott, however, wasn’t interested and Root, from half-way down the pitch, had to turn back.

A direct hit by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum would have seen the Yorkshireman run out but the diving Root just did enough as wicket-keeper BJ Watling tried to make the best of a bad return with a despairing effort of his own.

Watling injured his knee in the process and was replaced behind the stumps by McCullum, who had given up keeping in Tests because of knee and back problems.

Root, in only his fifth Test and first in England, punched Wagner through the

covers for four to complete a 78-ball fifty featuring six boundaries.

But in sight of beating the Test-best 73 he made against India on debut in Nagpur in December, the 22-year-old, promoted up the order because Ian Bell was suffering with flu, inside edged Southee on to his stumps. Root’s Yorkshire colleague Jonny Bairstow, topscorer in England’s first innings with 41, was then yorked off his foot by Southee for five.

Matt Prior, so often England’s saviour with the bat, completed a pair when he pulled Southee straight to square leg before Trott’s painstaking innings ended when he was bowled by a sharply turning off-break from part-time spinner Kane Williamson.

Southee had close figures of three for 34 in 14 overs. Nightwatchman Steven Finn was six not out and Ian Bell nought not out at stumps. Before lunch, England dismissed New Zealand for 207 in reply to their first innings 232 — a lead of 25 runs. James Anderson, who on Friday had become only the fourth England bowler to take 300 Test wickets, finished with five wickets for 47 runs in 24 overs.

It was the 30-year-old Lancashire swing bowler’s 13th five-wicket or better innings return in an 81 Test-career that started at Lord’s a decade ago.

Having taken three wickets on Friday, including that of New Zealand top scorer Ross Taylor (66), Anderson returned Saturday figures of two for 15 in nine overs.

He was well supported by Finn (four for 63) although it was Stuart Broad, the third member of England’s seam trio, who had dangerman McCullum caught behind for two. Williamson, 44 not out overnight, marked his first Test in England with 60 before he was caught behind off Anderson.—AFP

LONDON: England’s Steven Finn plays a shot during the third day of the first International Test cricket match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s cricket ground.—AFP

SCOREBOARD LONDON, United Kingdom: Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s yesterday: England 1st Innings 232 (T Southee 458, N Wagner 3-70) New Zealand 1st Innings (overnight: 153-4) P. Fulton c Swann b Anderson 2 H. Rutherford c Cook b Anderson 4 K. Williamson c Prior b Anderson 60 R. Taylor lbw b Anderson 66 D. Brownlie lbw b Finn 23 B. McCullum c Prior b Broad 2 BJ Watling c Prior b Finn 17 T. Southee c Root b Finn 12 B. Martin b Anderson 0 N. Wagner not out 6 T. Boult c Anderson b Finn 0 Extras (b4, lb8, nb3) 15 Total (all out, 69 overs, 336 mins) 207 Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Rutherford), 2-7 (Fulton), 3-100 (Taylor), 4-147 (Brownlie), 5-155 (McCullum), 6-177 ( Williamson), 7-194 (Southee), 8-195 (Martin), 9-207 (Watling), 10-207 (Boult) Bowling: Anderson 24-11-47-5; Broad 214-64-1 (2nb); Finn 15-3-63-4 (1nb);

Swann 8-0-19-0; Trott 1-0-2-0.

England 2nd Innings A. Cook c Brownlie b Boult 21 N. Compton b Wagner 15 J. Trott b Williamson 56 J. Root b Southee 71 J. Bairstow b Southee 5 M. Prior c sub (Guptill) b Southee 0 S. Finn not out 6 I. Bell not out 0 Extras (b3, w1, nb2) 6 Total (6 wkts, 59 overs, 279 mins) 180 Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Cook), 2-36 (Compton), 3-159 (Root), 4-167 (Bairstow), 5-171 (Prior), 6-171 (Trott) To bat: S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson Bowling: Boult 12-3-42-1; Southee 14-334-3; Wagner 13-2-44-1 (1nb, 1w); Martin 13-2-40-0 (1nb); Williamson 7-1-171.

Match position: England lead by 205 runs with four second innings wickets standing.

Photo of the day

Alex Sorgente performs during the X Games in Barcelona, Spain. www.redbullcontentpool.com

Serena in Italian Open final ROME: A week out from the French Open, Serena Williams is only one victory away from winning her fourth consecutive title this year.

The top-ranked American overcame an early break of her serve to ease past Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 yesterday and reached the Italian Open final, extending her career-best winning run to 23 matches. Williams is coming off consecutive titles in Miami; Charleston, South Carolina; and Madrid last week.

In today’s final, Williams will face third-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who kept her concentration through two rain delays to beat seventh-seeded Sara Errani 6-0, 7-5.

In the men’s semifinals, six-time champion Rafael Nadal faces sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych and Roger Federer meets 36th-ranked Benoit Paire of France. Williams’ only title at this clay-court event came in 2002, when she beat Justine Henin in the final. That was also the year she won her only French Open title. Last year in Paris, Williams lost in the opening round of a major for the first time, falling to 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano of France.

Roland Garros starts next Sunday.

“I love the clay. I haven’t had many wins at Roland Garros but I do love it. I love to slide,” Williams said. “My goal is just to win a match there this year.”

Williams has twice won 21 in a row before, although both of those runs came a decade ago, in 2002 and 2003. Martina Navratilova established the longest women’s win run in the Open Era at 74 matches in 1984. At 31, Williams is back at the top of her game after missing 11 months in 2010 and 2011 with a right foot injury and a pulmonary embolism.

The 64th-ranked Halep entered with an impressive run herself, having beaten former top-10 player Daniela Hantuchova to qualify then 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round. That was followed in succession with wins over fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanksa, 13th-

seeded Roberta Vinci and two-time Rome winner Jelena Jankovic.

Solid off both sides and an agile mover, the 2008 French Open girls champion took a set off Williams in their only previous meeting in the second round of Wimbledon two years ago. Halep tested Williams again at the start of this match, angling baseline shots to the corners to force the 15-time Grand Slam winner into errors.

Halep broke to take a 2-1 lead in the first set, but Williams broke right back and cruised from there as she gained the measure of her opponent and began to win the longer rallies.

Williams went directly to the practice court after

winning. “I was unhappy with some things today,” she said. “I want to do well here as well as (in Paris).”

It’s Azarenka’s first final since beating Williams for the title in February at Doha, Qatar. That followed her Australian Open victory. Since then, Azarenka has been slowed by right ankle and left foot injuries.

Errani reached last year’s French Open final and was the first Italian semifinalist in this tournament since Raffaella Reggi won the 1985 event in Taranto.

Azarenka did well to take the Foro Italico crowd out of the match early on, and never trailed in the second set.—AP

ITALY: US Serena Williams returns the ball to Simona Halep from Romania during their Roma WTA Masters semi-final tennis match. —AFP

Djokovic falls in Rome ROME: Czech Tomas Berdych snapped a run of 11 consecutive defeats by world number one Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters before Rafa Nadal was stretched to the limit against David Ferrer on Friday.

Berdych clawed his way back from a 6-2 5-2 deficit to stun the Serbian top seed 2-6 7-5 6-4 and set up a semi-final meeting with Nadal, who for the second week running outlasted compatriot Ferrer in a fierce claycourt scrap.

Nadal won 6-4 4-6 6-2 for his ninth consecutive victory over Ferrer who hit the Mallorcan with every weapon in his locker but still came up short as he did in Madrid last week.

“It was an extremely tough match, David always takes you to the limit,”

Nadal, looking for his sixth title in eight tournaments since returning from injury, told reporters.

“I am extremely happy. I think I made a huge effort both in the second set when I was 4-0 down and in the third to get past a fantastic opponent.”

Frenchman Benoit Paire dropped just one game against Marcel Granollers of Spain to reach his first Masters Series semi-final where he will play second seed Roger Federer. The Swiss overcame Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz 6-4 7-6.

After easing through the first set, Federer survived a scare when he was broken in the opening game of the second, but after clawing his way back to 5-5, he took the tiebreak for the loss of just two points.

In the women’s event top world

number Serena Williams pulverised Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2 6-0 to reach the last four but there will be no re-run of last week’s Madrid final after Maria Sharapova was forced to withdraw from her quarter-final against Sara Errani because of illness.

Berdych had not tasted victory over Djokovic since the 2010 Wimbledon semi-finals and was on the brink of a 12th straight loss to the Serbian before an amazing transformation. The cleanhitting world number six won five games in a row to level the match and then dominated the deciding set to leave Djokovic with food for thought before the French Open.

“It’s a special victory. I was on 11 defeats in a row (against Djokovic) and it had to stop,” Berdych, who did not

even create a break point until the top seed served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, told reporters. Djokovic, who also lost early in the Madrid Open last week, said he had let Berdych back into the match.

“It was a very weird match,” he told reporters. “I lost concentration and I started to play too defensively and did not convert my opportunities and I lost this match on my own. “I need to make sure that I don’t have highs and lows.

I’m sure that I will be ready for Paris.”

Fifteen-times grand slam champion Williams is enjoying the longest winning streak of her illustrious career, her rout of Suarez-Navarro stretching her run to 22. “I guess this is the best period in my career but I don’t really think about it,” the American said. —Reuters

Orb favored to take Preakness BALTIMORE: Orb is ready for his whirl at history. The Kentucky Derby winner was in a playful mood the day before the Preakness, making faces for photographers between nibbles of grass outside his stall at Pimlico Race Course.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the way he’s doing,” trainer Shug McGaughey said at his final prePreakness media briefing Friday morning. “I can’t see any adversity. I would have to think it would take a pretty darn good horse to beat him if he goes over and runs his race.”

If he can defeat eight rivals in the 1 3-16-mile Preakness late yesterday, it would set up a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes in three weeks. Orb is the even-money favorite, and there’s a growing feeling that this 3-year-old bay colt may be special enough to give thoroughbred racing its first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978.

“We’d sure love to have that opportunity,” a relaxed and confident-sounding McGaughey said. “Probably the racing world would love to see it, too.”

Orb extended his winning streak to five with a thrilling victory in the Derby two weeks ago, when jockey Joel Rosario patiently guided the colt from 17th to first in the final half mile over a sloppy track.

In the Preakness, Orb will break from the No. 1 post, a spot that has seen only one winner - Tabasco Cat in 1994 - since 1961.

“Who knows how this race is going to go, but I don’t think it will be a problem,” Rosario said of the inside post.

“He’s a horse that comes from behind, so I really don’t think it will affect him.

I’m just excited to go into this with a horse who has a chance to win.” A chance? While rival trainers aren’t conceding the race, most agree Orb is the best of the bunch.

“Orb, he’s a freak. Right now, everybody should be rooting for Orb, except for the connections of the other horses in the race,” trainer Bob Baffert said and he’s got a horse in the race, 12-1 choice Govenor Charlie. “Anybody who’s not rooting for Orb, there’s something mentally wrong with them.”

Baffert has been there before. Three of his five Preakness winners had also won the Derby, but were unable to complete the Triple Crown with a win in the Belmont. He says the Preakness is the least stressful of the three races.

“There is absolutely no pressure, believe it or not because you’ve just won the Derby,” he said. “You’re flying high and everybody’s excited. You don’t think about it. The next one (the Belmont) is the pressure.” Getting to the next one may sound easy. It isn’t.

Six of the past eight Derby winners did not win the Preakness, and McGaughey is well aware of the pitfalls.

“There are a lot of ways you can lose. Freaky things can happen,” he said. “You hope he doesn’t get in any trouble, you hope he handles the track, you hope he handles the kickback of the dirt, you hope he handles the day.”

Among the challengers are Goldencents, who did not take to the slop at Churchill Downs and finished 17th after winning the Santa Anita

Derby in April.

“Orb’s not like a one-race hit. All year long he’s been super impressive,” said Goldencents trainer Doug O’Neill, who won the Derby and Preakness last year with I’ll Have Another, only to scratch the colt the day before the Belmont because of a tendon injury.

“But we’ve seen Goldencents do some brilliant things in the afternoon. If he does, I think he can beat him.”

It might be Itsmyluckyday’s lucky day. He’s another highly regarded colt who did not handle the sloppy track and finished 15th in the Derby.

“He’s given me every sign that he’s ready for the war; he’s ready for the race; he’s ready for the battle,” trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., said. “Let’s just get it on.”

Or it could be Departing, one of the three horses in the race who did not run in the Derby. Orb knows Departing well - the two were pals growing up at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., and ran around together in the same field. The gelding has won four of five starts, and comes into the Preakness off a win in the Illinois Derby.—AP

BALTIMORE: Exercise rider Jennifer Patterson takes Kentucky Derby winner Orb over the track in preparation for the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. —AFP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

S P ORT S

Real and Mourinho contemplate ‘disastrous’ season MADRID: Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho were sifting through the debris of what the Portuguese coach termed a “disastrous” 2012-13 campaign after Friday’s King’s Cup final defeat left the world’s richest club without a major trophy for the season.

The 2-1 reverse to Atletico Madrid at their own Bernabeu stadium meant Mourinho, widely expected to move on at the end of this term, finished a season without significant silverware for the first time in his otherwise glittering career.

It represents a huge setback for the self-appointed “special one”, as well as for Real president Florentino Perez, who lured Mourinho from Inter Milan at great expense in 2010 and has constantly referred to him as “the world’s best coach”. Obsessed with winning the 10th European crown that has eluded Real

since 2002, Perez has splurged more than 400 million euros ($513 million) on players since returning to lead the club in 2009, including a record 94 million on Cristiano Ronaldo.

That investment has so far yielded one King’s Cup in 2011 in Mourinho’s first season and a La Liga title last term with a record points haul of 100, a meagre haul for a club as ambitious and as wealthy as Real. The nine-times kings of Europe have fallen in the semi-finals of the Champions League in each of Mourinho’s three campaigns and surrendered their La Liga title to Barcelona last weekend, a fourth for their arch rivals in five years.

Friday’s extra time defeat to Atletico was made even more painful — and damaging for the club’s image — by the dismissal of Mourinho from the bench for furiously protesting a decision by the

referee and a red card for Ronaldo for kicking out at Atletico captain Gabi and catching him in the face.

Mourinho, who has done little to quash speculation he is on his way back to Chelsea, spent a large part of his postmatch press conference defending his record at Real while claiming that Atletico had not deserved to win the match. “What for many would be a good season is my worst,” he told reporters.

“We have been close but that does not exist in football.”

Always outspoken and often controversial, Mourinho has alienated some Real fans in recent months with his treatment of club captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who has been benched since returning from a broken hand.

Dressing room divisions burst into the open in the last few weeks, with Mourinho’s Portuguese compatriot Pepe

earning the coach’s wrath after a public defence of Casillas.

The central defender was left out of the squad entirely on Friday, while Mourinho again selected Diego Lopez for the goalkeeping slot.

Before recent games at the Bernabeu, a large section of the crowd have cheered Casillas when his name has been read out among the list of substitutes while roundly whistling Mourinho.

All this leaves Perez in a tricky position and a number of reports have suggested he is lining up Paris St Germain’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti as a replacement for Mourinho.

Perez rarely speaks in public - his call for unity on his last appearance was ignored by Mourinho - and has appointed club director Emilio Butragueno, a former player, as Real’s spokesman.

Questioned about the future in a

post-match T V interview on Friday, Butragueno said it was not the right time to discuss it.

“The Madrid family is sad, all of us,” he said. “But now is the time to applaud our players and our fans, who supported us until the end.”

Mourinho, who has a contract until June 2016, said he would sit down with Perez after Real’s final two La Liga matches to decide whether he will continue. If he does stay, he will be in charge of a divided dressing room and a club where a significant section of the home support have lost faith in him.

Atletico’s fans gleefully mocked their Real counterpar ts at the Bernabeu on Friday with their ironic chants of “Mourinho stay! Mourinho stay!” but a change of coach may now be inevitable after the events of recent weeks.—Reuters

Wenger relieved to control Euro fight

ITALY: Italian Vincenzo Nibali celebrates on the podium the pink jersey after the 180 kms14th stage of the 96th Giro d’Italia going from Cervere to Bardonecchia Jafferau. —AFP

Nibali extends Giro lead ROME: Italian Vincenzo Nibali extended his lead over Australia’s Cadel Evans as Mauro Santambrogio won a shortened 14th stage of the Giro d’Italia to claim his maiden win on the race yesterday.

Nibali, of the Astana team, had launched a decisive attack in the final kilometres and came over the finish line in second place after giving his fellow Italian the nod to take the stage win unhindered.

“I can’t believe it, I came to the Giro to win a stage and have done it,” said Santambrogio, who rides for the modest Vini Fantni team. Given the “horrible” weather conditions, it will be one he remembers.

“The whole day the weather was horrible. It was freezing cold but thankfully the team rallied behind me.” Evans, the 2011 Tour de France champion, who started the day 41sec behind Nibali, crossed the finish line 33sec behind and is now 1:26 behind Nibali after the Italian collected a 12-second time bonus.

“It was not my best day,” said Evans, who believes his victory bid is now compromised. “I just couldn’t react when the attack from Nibali came. I think that has something to do with the last couple of days.

“I hope this is my worst day in the mountains; otherwise to fight for the win will be difficult.” Yesterday’s stage in the high Italian Alps was due to finish in Sestriere, but was shortened by organisers due to fears over cold and wet conditions on the final descent.

As snow and rain fell at high altitude, the finish line was lowered to 1908 metres at Jafferau, where BMC leader Evans and

Colombian Rigoberto Uran (Team Sky) fell off the pace in a final kilometre which proved just too steep for the duo.

Nibali’s hopes of a maiden Giro win were boosted earlier this week when main rival Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) and defending champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) pulled out due to illness.

After his late attack, the Sicilian now has a lead of over one minute on Evans, and 2:46 on Uran, who has taken the mantle of Sky’s team leader after Wiggins’s retirement from the race.

“It was very cold... a very difficult stage,” said the Italian, who finished third in last year’s Tour de France behind Wiggins and Chris Froome.

“When I attacked, I saw Mauro react and we went off together. All I thought about was taking as much time as possible.”

After the race was shortened by 12km, from 180km to 168km, a four-man group broke from the peloton and went on to build a lead of nearly eight and a half minutes. They held a four-minute lead at the foot of the final climb, a 7.3km ascent with an average gradient of nine percent.

However they were reeled in one by one as the battle for the stage win and for the pickings in the overall race took hold.

Sunday’s 15th stage, due to finish on the summit of the legendary Galibier climb in France, has also been altered due to poor weather conditions.

The finish line will now be moved from the Galibier’s altitude of 2642 metres to 2301 metres, at the site of a statue commemorating fallen Italian champion Marco Pantani.—AFP

Ferguson set for final goodbye at West Brom LONDON: English football will witness the end of an era today when Alex Ferguson takes charge of Manchester United for the 1,500th and final time in their last game of the season at West Bromwich Albion. Having waved goodbye to Old Trafford in an emotional 2-1 win over Swansea City last weekend, Ferguson will close the door on his managerial career at The Hawthorns — 26 years, six months and 11 days since his first game at the United helm, a 2-0 loss at Oxford United on November 8, 1986.

It promises to be a day rich in nostalgia for Ferguson, who will be succeeded by Everton manager David Moyes on July 1.

In his final pre-game press conference, he cast his mind back to the very beginning of his journey as a manager, with Scottish minnows East Sterling in 1974. “I have had 39 years as a manager,” said the 71-year-old.

“On that day in 1974 when I started at East Stirling, I had eight players and no goalkeeper. Today I have six goalkeepers and about 100 players. “I remember the old chairman, Willie Muirhead. He was a great chain smoker.

When I asked him for a list of players, he started to shake. His cigarette was going 100 miles an hour. “I had to remind him a couple of days later. He gave me a list of eight players and no goalkeeper. I said: ‘You know it is advisable to start with a keeper-are you aware of that?’”

Ferguson will retire with 49 trophies to his name, 38 of which he has amassed during a record-breaking stint at United in which he established himself as one of the most successful coaches in the history of professional sport. However, for all the inevitable emphasis on his past, Ferguson has pledged that his final team selection will be forward-thinking.

The Scot says he intends to field Phil Jones and Jonny Evans at centre-back, while he has also promised to honour a vow made to sec-

ond-choice goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard that he would start the game.

“I stand by that. Anders will be in goal,” Ferguson said. “I will play one or two younger players, and I want to play Jonny Evans and Phil Jones at centre-half because they are the future. Nemanja (Vidic) and Rio (Ferdinand) will just have to make do with a place on the bench.”

Paul Scholes could make one last appearance for United, having announced his retirement last week.

The 38-year-old is only the third player to have made more than 700 appearances for the club, after Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs, and turned out for the 717th time in United’s colours against Swansea. Ferguson must also decide whether or not to hand a start to Wayne Rooney, having left him out of the squad for the Swansea game after the unsettled striker submitted a transfer request.

United have taken 35 points from a possible 39 against West Brom since the Midlands club were promoted to the top flight in 2002, but manager Steve Clarke wants his side to finish the season on a high. Despite a run of just one win in eight games, West Brom are guaranteed to finish no lower than ninth, which will be their best performance in the Premier League era.

“We must have done something right in the early part of the season in that we never looked close to being dragged into the relegation tussle and there were a lot of teams involved this season and we were nowhere near it. And we’ve finished in the top half of the table again,” Clarke said.

French forward Marc-Antoine Fortune returns from suspension for West Brom, but right-back Steven Reid is an injury doubt after picking up a knock in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Norwich City.—AFP

NEWCASTLE: Arsene Wenger insists he would have been happy to see Arsenal’s Champions League hopes go to the final day when his side appeared out of the race for a top four finish earlier this season. Wenger ’s side trailed Tottenham by seven points in March, but now play their final fixture at Newcastle on Sunday knowing victory will guarantee they finish at least four th and secure a spot in the Champions League qualification rounds.

Should Chelsea fail to beat Everton, they could yet finish third, possibly via a play-off if the two clubs finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored.

The uncertainty ensures there will be some nerves at St James’ Park. But Gunners boss Wenger said: “I know for a long time that for us, when we were seven points behind, we would all be happy that it goes to the last day.

“We are in a position where nobody expected us to be. We have our destiny in our hands, our fate in our hands and that’s what you fight for in the game.

“It is a game that we will now want to win but at least we fought back to be in a position where we master our own fate.”

Asked about the prospect of a play-off with Chelsea, he added: “I would fancy that. A playoff exists only if win our game, so let’s win the game and see what happens.

“The biggest task is to win the game and not speculate too much on what happens after because the first compulsory thing we face is to win the game on Sunday.”

Wenger also revealed he is close to signing Auxerre for ward Yaya Sanogo. “ We are advanced with him, but it is not done,” he said.

“I am very confident. “He is a young striker who is promising, and has a big talent.” Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta is set to miss the game with a calf problem suffered against Wigan in midweek, while Wenger remains unsure whether Jack Wislhere is ready to complete a full 90 minutes, with the England mid-

Arsene Wenger fielder due to have an ankle operation at the end of the season.

However, French striker Olivier Giroud returns for the Gunners after serving a threematch suspension. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has challenged his players to end a turbulent season on a high by playing a part in frustrating Arsenal’s Champions League hopes.

Pardew’s side have conceded nine goals in their last two home games, and were humbled 7-3 at the Emirates Stadium in December.

They only sealed their Premier League future with victory last weekend at QPR, but could finish as high as 10th if they inflict the Gunners’ first defeat on Tyneside since 2006.

“It’s very important to go out by putting in a good performance for our fans,” Pardew said.

“The last couple of home games have been

tough for us, and there’s something riding on the game for Arsenal which I think is good for us.”

Pardew was forced to clarify his comments after suggesting tongue in cheek this week that he didn’t mind if his side suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Wenger’s men.

“I’ve had a few Tottenham fans remind me about that comment, but it was made purely out of relief after the victory at QPR, and was definitely tongue in cheek,” he added.

Steve Harper, the 38-year-old goalkeeper who will leave in the summer, plays his 199th and final game for Newcastle as he brings the curtain down on a near two-decade spell at the club. “He’s been a great servant of this club and an absolutely superb professional,” Pardew said.—AFP

Rodgers salutes retiring Carragher LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits there is no way that Jamie Carragher will bow out quietly when he plays his final game before retirement against QPR yesterday.

Carragher, 35, has spent his whole career at Anfield, winning the Champions League, two FA Cups and three League Cups, and the Merseyside-born star will fittingly bow out as captain for his 737th and last appearance for the Reds.

The former England defender started the season behind Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in Rodgers’ plans. But in recent months he has played his way back into the team and has finished the season in impressive form.

And Rodgers claims Carragher has been training as hard as ever despite the imminent end to his career. “He’s in the final week of his career, going into the game against QPR at 35 years of age,” Rodgers said.

Brendan Rodgers

“He knows he’s retiring, but after training on Thursday he was still in the gymnasium, preparing himself with the same commitment that he has shown his entire career.

“He could have had a lazy day. He could have had a bit of lunch and then shot home, but he was in the gym preparing his body and doing his core work, his flexibility and preparing himself to the maximum to be his best.

“And that says it all about him; that at the end of his career, he is still preparing as if it was his first game. “He knows the intensity and the passion and the quality that is needed because he has been there.” Luis Suarez is suspended and defenders Martin Skrtel,

Daniel Agger and Martin Kelly are all set to miss out through illness and injury, while Raheem Sterling, Joe Allen and captain Steven Gerrard are also absent.

The Reds have lost just once in their last 12 matches and Rodgers is confident he will be able to make greater strides next term with several signings likely in the close-season.

The January arrivals of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have already made a major difference and Rodgers, whose team are certain to finish seventh, is optimistic about closing the gap at the top of the table.

“Ultimately we want to be challenging for trophies and being consistent at the top of the league,” he said. “This season was always going to be the season for building our base in order to achieve those objectives. As the season has gone on, we’ve become better.

“The scouts are leaving no stone unturned in terms of the work they are carrying out in order to get us the players we need to improve.”

Meanwhile, QPR’s trip to Anfield will draw a line under a disastrous campaign for the west Londoners, with relegation to the Championship inevitable long before it was finally confirmed.

Boss Harry Redknapp has already committed himself to the club and is hoping to stage a major overhaul of the squad before their promotion bid begins in August.

“We need to change things here to give ourselves a chance of trying to mount a challenge for next season because it won’t be easy,” he said. “ We need a group who will be good enough to compete at the top of the Championship. We certainly weren’t good enough to compete in the Premier League.

“I’d like the changes to be extensive because the club needs changing. The team that’s here hasn’t been good enough and would struggle to get out of the Championship next season.

“I’m confident we can mount a challenge next season, but it won’t be easy. The Championship is full of big clubs - clubs bigger than QPR, like Leeds United.”

French striker Loic Remy is available for selection despite being arrested on suspicion of rape earlier in the week. A QPR spokesperson said: “The club can confirm he’s training and will be available for selection.”—AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings) English Premier League Man City v Norwich Abu Dhabi Sports HD Swansea v Fulham Abu Dhabi Sports HD Liverpool v QPR Abu Dhabi Sports HD Southampton v Stoke City Abu Dhabi Sports HD Wigan v Aston Abu Dhabi Sports HD Ham United v Reading Abu Dhabi Sports HD Albion v Man United Abu Dhabi Sports HD Tottenham v Sunderland Abu Dhabi Sports HD Newcastle v Arsenal Abu Dhabi Sports HD Chelsea v Everton Abu Dhabi Sports HD

18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00

Spanish League Levante v Rayo Al Jazeera Sport +2 Deportivo v Espanyol Al Jazeera Sport +2 Zaragoza v Bilbao Al Jazeera Sport +8 Barcelona v Valladolid Al Jazeera Sport +2

13:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Italian League Bologna v Genoa Al Jazeera Sport +2 Atalanta v Chievo Al Jazeera Sport +1 Inter v Udinese Al Jazeera Sport +4 Roma v Napoli Al Jazeera Sport +9 Siena v Milan Al Jazeera Sport +1 Cagliari v Lazio Al Jazeera Sport +10 Pescara v Fiorentina Al Jazeera Sport +9

16:00 16:00 21:45 21:45 21:45 21:45 21:45

Michael Phelps planning comeback

Jessica leads LPGA Classic

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SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

Real and Mourinho contemplate ‘disastrous’ season Page 19

GERMANY: Bayern Munich’s striker Mario Gomez plays the ball during the German First Division Bundesliga football match against Borussia Moenchengladbach. — AFP

Bayern win thriller on final day BERLIN: Bayern Munich came from two goals down to seal a 43 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach, while their Champions League final opponents, Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim on the final day of the Bundesliga yesterday.

Champions Bayern dug deep for their 29th league victory in 34 matches as Franck Ribery scored twice, then set up Arjen Robben for the winner after Gladbach had scored three goals in the opening 10 minutes.

“The first ten minutes didn’t go as we had imagined,” admitted coach Jupp Heynckes after his 1011th and final Bundesliga game, with Pep Guardiola to take charge of Bayern next month.

“I had the feeling the team were still at last Saturday’s party to celebrate the league title. “But the team slowly got the game under control and we played like we’re used to in the second half. I realised my team wanted to win for me.”

Bayern finish the season with 25 Bundesliga records, including most wins, most points (91), fewest goals conceded (18) and the biggest points lead over the side in second (25).

Fielding the side likely to start the Champions League final

at Wembley next Saturday, and despite previously conceding only four goals away all season, Bayern leaked three goals in the first action-packed 10 minutes.

Borussia raced into the lead as Austrian defender Martin Stranzl headed home, then 66 seconds later striker Mike Hanke, on his last appearance for Borussia, added Gladbach’s second after a mistake by Bayern centre-back Dante.

Munich’s Javi Martinez pulled one back when he converted Ribery’s pass on seven minutes, but Bayern went 3-1 down when Norway’s Havard Nordtveit rolled his shot past Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. With Heynckes fuming on the sidelines, Ribery pulled a second back with a crisp shot to make it 32 on 18 minutes.

He then saved Bayern’s blushes by equalising on 53 minutes, before his cross found Robben at the far post, with the Dutch winger tapping home to give Bayern the lead for the first time just before the hour mark.

Hoffenheim now face a promotion/relegation play-off against second division Kaiserslautern to stay in the Bundesliga

after they stunned Dortmund as winger Sejad Salihovic netted two penalties in the last 13 minutes to leave them 16th.

Borussia captain and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller was sent off on 81 minutes for the foul which led to the second spot-kick.

Despite a string of chances to add to Robert Lewandowski’s first-half goal, Dortmund conceded an equaliser when centreback Mats Hummels fouled Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland in the area, giving away a penalty and then limping out of the game.

Salihovic netted the spot kick on 77 minutes but then Weidenfeller fouled Sven Schipplock and was sent off four minutes later. As Dortmund had made three substitutions, winger Kevin Grosskreutz had to step in as emergency goalkeeper.

Salihovic netted his second spot kick to Hoffenheim’s delight and although Dortmund had the ball in the net from Marcel Schmelzer’s shot in added time, the referee ruled it out for offside.

“For an hour, we played outstanding football, but were not consistent enough in front of goal,” said Dortmund coach

Preview

Villas-Boas fears Euro woe for Spurs LONDON: Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham go into the final game of the season against Sunderland bracing themselves for yet more Champions League disappointment today.

After appearing secure in the top four when they were seven points clear of Arsenal in March, Villas-Boas’s side welcome Sunderland to White Hart Lane knowing even a victory may not be enough to clinch a place in Europe’s premier club competition.

Lying fifth, a point behind Arsenal, Spurs could again be left frustrated 12 months after being denied entry to the Champions League despite finishing fourth when Chelsea claimed the final spot as holders of the trophy.

To add to their frustration, a win against Sunderland will mean they end the season with 72 points, the club’s highest ever Premier League tally.

“In the past it would have been enough to make it,” said Villas-Boas. “It would have been enough apart from the 2007/08 season when the fourth-placed team (Liverpool) finished with 76 points. “I think what it represents, if we don’t achieve it, is one more sign that you have to push up to get closer to that group.

“Whenever that group is competing for titles, the reference of points will be higher and you have to improve and you have to get more points the next time.

“Our step at the moment is to be into the Champions League, probably not title contenders but we hope to be competitive next season if we manage to do things properly in the summer.

“You have to strengthen for next season to get

a higher tally of points.” If Tottenham are to improve their challenge next season, they will have to strengthen and Villas-Boas admitted he is an admirer of David Villa, the Barcelona striker who has been linked with the north London club.

“He is one of the world’s best strikers,” VillasBoas said. “You can see that speculation is growing but at the moment we are focused on trying to get fourth spot.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio is already looking ahead to pre-season after insisting there can be no repeat of his team’s narrow escape from relegation.

The Wearside club were only guaranteed an eighth consecutive campaign in the top flight by Wigan’s midweek defeat at Arsenal, which condemned the Latics to the Championship.

Sunderland have taken eight points in the six games since Di Canio took charge at the end of March to help them keep out of the bottom three, and the former West Ham forward said: “We’re safe, but there are no celebrations. The hard work starts now.

“We have a chance to build something for the future with the players we’ve got, and others that will join in the summer, but it won’t be easy.

It’s a new start. We’ll have the players back in for a couple of days next week before their holidays, then we start looking towards pre-season.

“That first month together as a squad before the season starts is crucial. You’re with each other morning, afternoon, morning, afternoon and you really get to know each other.

“It’s a crucial time for a manager when shaping the squad.” Sunderland, who have won once in 29

Andre Villas-Boas years at White Hart Lane, are without suspended duo Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner.

Skipper Lee Cattermole and defenders Wes Brown and Titus Bramble are all sidelined through injury.

Di Canio, who has threatened to cut his players’ summer holidays short if they fail to perform in their final match of the season, is unlikely to blood any of the young Sunderland players he has named on the bench in recent weeks. —AFP

Jurgen Klopp. “We now draw a thick line under the Bundesliga season and see now if all the players are fit for the final.”

Schalke 04 secured their Champions League play-off place with a 2-1 win at Freiburg as an own-goal by Julian Schuster for the visitors secured the Royal Blues’ win.

Freiburg will be joined in the Europa League next season by Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished sixth after they drew 2-2 at home to 10-man VfL Wolfsburg, who had Japan defender Makoto Hasebe sent off. Hasebe brought down compatriot Takashi Inui on 36 minutes and was shown a straight red.

South Korea’s Ji Dong-Won guaranteed Augsburg’s Bundesliga place next season with his side’s final goal in their 31 win at home to relegated Greuther Fuerth.

Fortuna Dusseldorf, who lost 3-0 at Hanover thanks to Mame Diouf and Didier Ya Konan’s goals, are relegated alongside Fuer th. Stefan Kiessling finished as the Bundesliga top-scorer with 25 goals as he sealed thirdplaced Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 win at Hamburg with the 90th-minute winner. — AFP

Valencia edge closer to Champions League MADRID: Valencia took another significant step towards securing Champions League qualification for next season with a 1-0 win at Getafe.

Jeremy Mathieu got the only goal of a disappointing game a minute before half-time as Ernesto Valverde’s men made it three wins in a row. Roberto Soldado and Sofiane Feghouli missed good chances to double Valencia’s advantage after the break, but Los Che held on to move three points clear of Real Sociedad in fourth with the Basques travelling to face Sevilla late yesterday.

Valencia’s free-scoring form of late has been propelled by Soldado as the Spanish international had scored seven times in his previous five outings, but he missed a great opportunity to get his side off to a flying start when he headed over from Andres Guardado’s pinpoint cross after just 10 minutes.

The game then became a scrappy affair with the best chances coming via set-pieces for the majority of the first-half as Federico Fernandez headed over for Getafe and Pedro Leon also fired over with a decent opening inside the area for the hosts.

However, Valencia did manage to take the lead a minute before half-time as a cleverly worked free-kick saw Ever Banega feed Mathieu on the edge of the area and he curled home his first goal of the season. Soldado then spurned another great opportunity three minutes into the second period as Miguel Angel Moya stood up well to block the striker’s effort.

It mattered little, though, as Getafe posed barely any real threat in front of goal in the second period as Valencia held out to register a third consecutive clean sheet.

And Feghouli should have added to their advantage in stoppage time as he fired wastefully over when clean through on goal.

Meanwhile, Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova is hoping the target of matching Real Madrid’s league record 100 points will keep his players motivated when the host Valladolid today.

The Catalans sealed their fourth title in five years last weekend, but can reach a century of points should they win their remaining three games and Vilanova wants to finish the campaign strongly. “We have taken 91 points, which is a lot. We know we have the opportunity to get 100 and we will play the three games to win them,” he told a press conference yesterday.

“We can’t just let it go, that is the only thing I wouldn’t like. We owe it to the fans and we need to finish the year well.”

Barca have endured an up and down season with the joy of the title tempered by their humiliation to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League, but Vilanova once again stressed that he believes his first season in charge has been an overall success. “The fans are happy with the league. We have led from the first game to the last.

“It was important to recapture the league.

The cycle which they said was ending, in the end has ended with a league, so for Barca I want to say that is has been a good season.”

Victor Valdes has been passed fit to return against Valladolid in what could be his penultimate game as a Barca player at the Camp Nou with speculation linking the Spanish international with a move away at the end of the season after he said he wouldn’t be renewing his contract which ends in 2014. — AFP

Business

SMEs Fund capital must serve national economy Page 22 Europe banks hesitate to join rush for share capital Page 23

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

Singapore cost of living sees pawnshops thrive Page 25 Page 25

S & P warns India could face junk status

NEW YORK: Andrea DeWerd attends the NYC Uncubed tech recruiting event on Friday in New York City. 1,100 people were expected to attend the unconventional employment event featuring 50 New York City based startups offering skills classes and ping pong. — AFP

Oil price probe widens US senator wants Justice Dept help LONDON/WASHINGTON: A European probe into possible oil price manipulation expanded with the investigation of a small niche trading house in the Netherlands, while a key US senator called for the Justice Department to join the investigation.

Dutch trading house Argos Energies, a mid-sized trading company that deals in physical oil products and owns storage facilities, was visited by inspectors from the European Commission on Tuesday, a source familiar with the investigation said late Friday.

The visit occurred on the same day that authorities raided the London bureau of pricing agency Platts, and the offices of Statoil, Royal Dutch Shell and BP in the biggest cross-border action since the probe into rigging of Libor benchmark interest rates. In Washington, the chairman of the Senate’s energy committee asked the Justice Department to investigate whether alleged price manipulation has boosted fuel prices for US consumers.

“Efforts to manipulate the European oil indices, if proven, may have already impacted US consumers and businesses,

because of the interrelationships among world oil markets and hedging practices,” Senator Ron Wyden, the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, wrote in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Federal Trade Commission have both declined to comment on any role or coordination with EU authorities in the probe. US politicians including Wyden often call for enquiries into issues that affect gasoline prices, although regulators are not obligated to take action.

A spokesman for the Justice Department would not comment on whether the agency would undertake a probe, but said it was reviewing Wyden’s letter. Authorities have sharpened scrutiny of financial benchmarks around the world since slapping large fines on some of the world’s biggest banks for rigging interest rate benchmarks.

Over the past year many observers have noted the resemblance between the Libor self-reported benchmark and the journalist assessment-based methodology used to set most of

the world’s oil prices, but this week’s investigation is the first indication that EU authorities are taking a harder look at the system. The source said that inspectors were still on the premises of Argos Energies on Friday and that it was also the last day of the inspection at the company. Argos Energies declined to comment.

Platts said trading in the oil market has not been significantly affected by the investigation. “Market participation and liquidity are unchanged,” Platts editorial director Dan Tanz said. Meanwhile Neste Oil, a Finnish refinery, said it had received a request from the European Commission to provide information, although it said it was not under inspection. “We will naturally cooperate with this request and provide the information requested to assist the European Commission in its investigation,” Matti Lehmus, executive vice president, Oil Products and Renewables said in a statement.

Hungary’s Pannonia Ethanol, a recent entrant to Europe’s market, was the first company to identify itself as having complained to Brussels over access to the Platts market-on-close

(MOC) system - a daily half-hour “window” of trading during which the agency determines prices through a series of bids, offers and trades.

European oil major Total, which last year wrote to regulators to question the way oil prices were determined, said it was not involved with the current investigation and has not been visited. “No, we haven’t sent any letter,” Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie told reporters on the sidelines of the group’s annual meeting, when asked whether it had complained to the EU. “I’ve learnt about this through the press and news agencies. I’d be very surprised if some of the cited companies were involved in price manipulation.”

The investigation is focused on whether there was collusion to distort prices of crude, refined oil products and ethanol traded during the MOC window.

Platts, a unit of McGraw-Hill, provides clients with price benchmarks set by reporters for opaque energy markets. Its assessments are used to close physical and derivative deals worth billions in a $2.5 trillion market. — Reuters

Falling US deficit renews austerity WASHINGTON: Austerity or growth? Europe’s struggling economies have faced the question without fully answering it in recent years, but the United States is on track to do both.

Projections unveiled this week by the Congressional Budget Office indicate the US deficit will shrink more than 40 percent during fiscal 2013, returning to its lowest level in five years.

The figures would likely be viewed with envy in European capitals as they reflect an outlook based on a US economy that continues to grow-in stark contrast to a eurozone that has been in recession for six consecutive quarters.

The cocktail of US growth and a recovery in its accounts is, paradoxically, the result of endless political wrangling over the federal budget, though the improvement in the nation’s prospects may also be ephemeral.

US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, alluding to the deep, automatic sequester cuts that began in March despite White House opposition, conceded Friday that “bad policy is driving down the deficit more quickly than anyone intended.”

The “harsh consequences,” stemming from those reductions are “something we should replace with balanced spending and revenue

measures over the medium and long-term,” Lew told Bloomberg Television.

US tax revenues were boosted by a hike in personal tax rates in January, while public spending has been kept in check largely because of the automatic cuts that started in March, much to the chagrin of the Obama administration.

The government received a further boost in early May with the real estate lender Fannie Mae, saved from bankruptcy by a bailout in 2008, would pay back close to $60 billion to public coffers.

Barry Bosworth, a former presidential advisor and now expert on fiscal and monetary policy at the Brookings think tank in Washington, said the United States finds itself in a much better place than envisaged.

“The tax increases and the sequestration, that was a lot to absorb and there were worries that it could push the economy back down,” he said, remarking that an improving private sector “will be enough to offset the fiscal restraints”.

But doubling down on cuts would backfire, according to Bosworth. “It would a big mistake to go further, the economy was more resilient but it doesn’t mean you can do that again,” he said. The epicenter of the 2008 cri-

sis-the US property market-has picked up pace again, with the number of building permits for new homes surging in April to more than 35 percent more than 12 months ago.

According to Joel Naroff, president at Naroff Economic Advisors, falling deficits are good news for the US economy, especially given the perennial row between Republicans and Democrats on whether to cut or increase taxes.

“It will ease the pressure on budget cuts” which could have harmed economic recovery, Naroff said. “A lower deficit will remove the argument that we need to cut spending further,” he added. Despite the recent good news, the US economy is not immune to catching a cold; unemployment is still high at 7.5 percent in April-many Americans have completely given up their search for work.

The International Monetary Fund and the Federal Reserve have also cited concern at the sequester, with estimates that it could shave up to 0.5 percent off US gross domestic product this year.

“It doesn’t mean that all of a sudden things are great and that the economy is doing well,” said Gregory Daco, of IHS Global Insight. “The revision is mostly due to one time events,” he added. — AFP

SHANGHAI: Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras delivers his speech at a Greece-China Business gala dinner in Shanghai, China yesterday. Samaras is in China seeking investment and trade deals to help revive his country’s recession-battered economy. — AP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

BUSINESS

SMEs Fund capital must serve national economy Projects are tools for creating job opportunities KUWAIT: The National Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Fund’s capital of KD 2 billion remains an important part of public funds that must be used in feasible economic activities with the capacity to repay public funding, said participants at a seminar on SMEs Fund yesterday.

Participants at the (SMEs, Development Cornerstone), organized by the Arab Planning Institute (API) and Kuwait Forum for Small and Medium Enterprises, stressed the need to hire any funding form of projects that would add value to the national economy.

The participants also called on strengthening the possibilities of diversifying the economic base in Kuwait, emphasizing that the projects are tools for creating job opportunities for the expected flooding of citizens to the labor market in the coming years, which will lessen the need to bring in foreign labor and strengthen the role of national employment.

The activities and projects to be funded must be studied first in terms of being sufficient and sustainable, the participants added, calling on the Fund management to avoid financing refined projects in the national economy.

The participants also pointed out the importance of the completion of the executive regulation list of the SMEs Fund, issued at the beginning of this year, as it facilitates the process of applying financing mechanisms as fast as possible.

The Fund’s Board of Directors and the International Committee of Advisors must be composed of specialized national competencies away from quotas and political loyalties, as these members’ interests must be aligned with all the projects intended to be financed, they noted.

They stressed the significance of clarifying the bond between the Fund and the bodies that have supported and financed small projects during the past years such as Kuwait Small Projects,

its lobbying.

Mudgal was named by the New Delhi government in January to investigate if the chain broke any Indian laws, and he questioned top store executives including its Asia chief executive Scott Price as part of his inquiry.

Walmart announced in March it expected to suffer financial losses amid its own internal probe into corruption scandals involving foreign subsidiaries from Mexico, India, Brazil to China.

Last year, the Indian government allowed foreign supermarkets to establish 51-percent joint ventures in the country as part of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s drive to seek outside investment to perk up a sharply slowing economy.

While Walmart had said in 2012 it wants to launch its first store in India within two years, it is yet to make a proposal to the government for opening retail stores. Until the law was changed, the $447-billion retail chain, the largest in the world, could only set up cashand-carry outlets. —AFP

Gulf Bank announces winners of Al Danah daily draws KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its Al Danah daily draws on May 12th 2013, announcing the names of its winners for the week of May 12th to May 16th. The Al Danah daily draws include draws each working day for two prizes of KD 1000 per winner.

The winners were: (Sunday 12/5): Ibrahim Mohammad Ahmad Al-Awadi, Hamza Abbas Fahad Taqi (Monday 13/5): Mohammed Saoud Abdulaziz Al-Hasan, Abdullah Mefleh AlAzmi (Tuesday 14/5): Baha’a Tawfeeq Qasem Al-Qasem, Maryam Fadhel Ali Al- Bloushi. ( Wednesday 15/5): Khaznah Naser Murshed Melfi, Faisal Awad Ali Lafi (Thursday 16/5): Esaa Esmaeel Moktar Abdullah, Badriya Marzouk Dawoud Al-Bader.

Gulf Bank’s Al Danah 2013 draw lineup includes daily draws (2 winners per working day each receive KD 1000), as well as three draw prizes per quarter. Al Danah’s 2nd

Quarterly draw will be held on 27 June (KD250,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000), 3rd Quarter - 26 September (KD500,000, KD125,000, and KD25,000) and the final draw held on 9 January, 2014 announcing winners of KD50,000, KD250,000 and the Al Danah Millionaire.

Gulf Bank’s Al Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and simultaneously encourages them to save money. Chances increase the more money is deposited and the longer it is kept in the account.

Al Danah also offers a number of unique services including the Al Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helps account holders deposit their money at their convenience; as well as the Al Danah calculator to help customers calculate their chances of becoming an Al Danah winner.

To be part of the Al Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches.

MANILA: Jacinto Ng Sr., left, chair of Asia United Bank, rings the bell during a ceremony for the bank’s IPO (Initial Public Offering) listing in the Philippine Stocks Exchange at the financial district of Makati city, east of Manila, Philippines Friday, May 17, 2013. It was the third IPO listing this year for the PSE which reached a record high 7,000 level two days ago. At right is PSE Chair Jose Pardo. In the center is Anita Ng. —AP

Buybacks are a big factor behind stock market boom

India Walmart lobby case ‘closed’: Report NEW DELHI: India’s investigation into whether Walmart may have bribed Indian officials to gain wider access to the country’s vast market has been “closed” due to lack of evidence, a report said yesterday.

The one-man committee of retired justice Mukul Mudgal probing the matter is likely to submit a report to the government next week saying there was no “adequate” evidence to suggest Walmart was involved in any unlawful activity in India, the Business Standard reported, quoting unnamed sources.

There was no immediate comment available from Walmart or the Indian government.

Walmart said in a routine disclosure report to the US Senate last year that it spent $25 million over four years on issues related to “enhanced market access for investment in India”.

The report stirred a ruckus in India with opposition lawmakers who oppose the chain’s entry, saying it will hurt local “mom and pop” stores, demanding an inquiry into whether Walmart made any illegal payments as part of

Industrial Bank of Kuwait as well as others that were tasked to support such projects by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA).

The participants called on governmental bodies concerned such as the Municipality, Public Authority for Industry (PAI), the Public Authority for Agriculture and the general authority for restructuring labor market to coordinate with the Fund to ensure facilitating and simplifying feasible project.

Small and Medium Enterprises are to include industrial, business, farming, handicraft, service, intellectual activities or any economic project which directly contributes to developing and diversifying the national income sources and meets the needs of local or foreign market as well as providing job opportunities to citizens and developing value of free work in them and the self-ability in any of the fields mentioned above. —KUNA

NEW YORK: It’s the narcissist rally. Sure, there are plenty of forces pushing stocks higher record corporate earnings, small investors finally buying again, signs the US economy may be strengthening, central banks flooding the financial system with money.

But you may want to spare a thought, and a healthy dose of worry, for what is one of the biggest, and least appreciated, reasons for the rally: buybacks. Flush with cash and a world of opportunity at their doorstep, companies have decided there’s nothing more attractive than themselves. So, they’re offering big money to buy back their own stock. This year, big U.S. companies have given the go-ahead for $286 billion of buybacks, up 88 percent from the same period last year, according to Birinyi Associates, a market research firm. If the pace continues for the rest of the year, the tally will exceed the record set in 2007.

Every manner of company is caught up in the buying binge, including home-improvement chains, makers of farm equipment and jet engines, airlines, sellers of soft drinks and of hard liquor alike. Not one to miss a hot trend, Apple recently authorized as much as $50 billion of buybacks.

Investors like buybacks because they suggest companies think their stock is cheap.

They also help reduce the number of shares outstanding, which automatically increases earnings per share. And higher earnings per share often, though not always, lead to rising stock prices.

But buybacks are also crucial to the rally for a reason that’s not widely known. Companies are one of the few big stock purchasers nowadays. Nearly every other big player in the stock market has been selling more than they’ve been buying.

Pension funds have been selling. Local and state governments have been selling.

Investment brokerages have been selling. And, yes, until recently, even Main Street investors.

You can see this in the data released by the Federal Reserve each quarter, and it’s a sea of red - save for corporate buying, that is, buybacks plus purchases of other companies. In

total, US companies, not counting banks and other financial firms, have bought more than $1 trillion of stock in the five years through 2012, net of stocks they’ve issued.

Buybacks also appear to be moving some stocks more than they did a few years ago.

That’s because stocks are trading less frequently now. On Wall Street, it’s referred to a “drying up” of liquidity. And like in any market, a purchase or sale when fewer people are trading can push prices up and down much more.

DirecTV bought $1.4 billion of its stock in the first quarter, or 7.8 percent of all trades, according to data from Birinyi Associates. It rose 12.8 percent in the same period, two points more than the Standard and Poor’s 500.

IBM bought $2.6 billion of its shares in the first quarter, or 5.6 percent of what was traded. It rose 11.8 percent.

Stocks move up for all sorts of reasons, so the exact impact of buybacks on prices of individual stocks is unclear. In any event, the total amount of buybacks doesn’t appear to be enough to have a big effect on the whole market. If companies in the S&P 500 follow through on their plans this year, the buybacks will amount to just 1 percent of total trading, estimates Robert Leiphart, an analyst at Birinyi.

Still, companies that do buy back their own stock are seeing prices soar, and almost immediately. On Friday, Northrup Grumman jumped 4 percent after announcing it had authorized $4 billion of buybacks. The military contractor said it expects buybacks will cut its shares outstanding by a quarter by the end of 2015.

Another big share buyer, Home Depot, rose 5.7 percent on Feb. 26 after it announced a $17 billion buyback program. The S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent that day. If the retailer spends all the authorized in its plan, it will remove 18 percent of the shares outstanding at current prices, which will make the impact of a next round of purchases even more powerful.

Stocks of companies that have authorized the 10 biggest buybacks so far this year have risen 2.2 points more than the S&P 500 in the week after their announcements, according to

Birinyi.

Funds riding the Narcissus trade suggest the lift in prices can last for months, too. The PowerShares Buyback Achievers and the TrimTabs Float Shrink funds, two exchangetraded funds, are both up 23 percent so far this year. By contrast, the S&P 500 is up 17 percent.

Instead of getting excited, though, some on Wall Street are worried. Gregory Milano, CEO of consultancy Fortuna Advisors, has run studies showing that companies buying back their own stock the most tend not to spend enough opening new factories or investing in R&D or building their business for the long term, ultimately hurting their investors.

Andrew Smithers, who runs a London-based investment consultancy, thinks buybacks have pushed stocks more than 40 percent higher than they’re worth. In his book “The Great Deformation,” former US budget director David Stockman says Corporate America is drunk on buybacks and that they’ve helped push stocks up too far, too.

Another problem is that buybacks can give investors a false sense of strength of the true earnings power of a company. Forty percent of the increase in the earnings per share of S&P 500 companies in the past 12 months came from reducing the number of shares through buybacks, estimates Barry Knapp, chief US stock strategist at Barclays Capital.

Even if you’re worried, it’s not clear what you should do in the face of this massive corporate buying, which shows no signs of easing. Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, notes that S&P 500 companies have plenty of cash to keep buying - a record $1 trillion, not counting money set aside in reserves as required by regulators.

The dilemma facing buyback skeptics who are thinking of selling is the same one facing those worried the rise in the market has come mostly from the Federal Reserve efforts to stimulate the economy. “Don’t fight the Fed,” the old Wall Street saw goes. To which should perhaps be added, “Don’t buck the buybacks.” —AP

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 2.781 5.233 2.912 2.270 3.271 229.640 36.980 3.676 6.970

.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

9.643 94.221 0.271 0.273

740.69 78.59 76.02

743.000 78.500 76.400

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd GCC COUNTRIES 76.577 78.903 745.880 762.720 78.194

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 40.700 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.455 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.340 Tunisian Dinar 174.180 Jordanian Dinar 405.520 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.927 Syrian Lier 3.120 Morocco Dirham 33.771 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 287.050 Euro 372.300 Sterling Pound 439.470 Canadian dollar 281.970 Turkish lira 158.720 Swiss Franc 297.920 US Dollar Buying 285.850 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 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 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

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

BUSINESS

London firm launches Islamic insurance platform SYDNEY: London-based firm Cobalt has developed a sharia-compliant insurance platform that uses a syndication model to help spread risk across a panel of underwriters, a novel format that could boost capacity in the sector. Under the platform, Cobalt allows multiple insurers to pool their capacity and each can subscribe to the desired level of risk though individual Islamic windows, said chief executive Richard Bishop. “We are syndicating the risk across a panel of insurers. What we are about is developing an Islamic alternative in London for Islamic insurance,” Bishop said.

Cobalt aims to address capacity constraints in the takaful (Islamic insurance) industry, which is based on the concept of mutuality; where a company over-

sees a segregated pool of funds contributed by all policy holders. In their investments, takaful firms must follow religious guidelines such as a ban on interest and pure speculation. Global takaful contributions were expected to reach $12.4 billion in 2012, according to a report by consultants Ernst & Young last April.

The platform allows each insurer to have a takaful window, where policyholder funds are segregated from conventional funds, without affecting their rating levels and helping price the risk competitively, said Bishop. “It is essential to our offering that all security is of at least an A rating in order to satisfy the requirements of both buyers and their financiers,” he said. The risk is

priced by a lead insurer and other firms must then subscribe under similar terms, a similar approach to the subscription model used in London’s insurance market.

CAPACITY Cobalt, formed in 2012 with capital from Capita insurance services and the Bank of London and The Middle East, hopes its platform can address gaps in both the Islamic insurance and reinsurance sectors. The firm has secured underwriting capacity from XL Group to insure property risks with capacity of up to $300 million.

Cobalt would seek to underwrite large transactions of no less than $30 million in value while it is also seeking

to expand capacity into the construction sector, Bishop said.

In the long term, further capacity could be added for other risks including trade finance, Islamic finance institutions, energy and aviation, he added.

Operators in the takaful sector, which has its core markets in the Gulf and southeast Asia, have been limited in their ability to take on large commercial risks partly due to a lack of scale. “Once you get beyond small commercial risk, takaful doesn’t work. We have created a multiple-insurer platform to provide the sort of capacity the industry needs,” Bishop said. Reinsurance options are also scarce, with some takaful firms forced to reinsure through conventional lines, a practice allowed under the con-

cept of darura, or extreme necessity.

Industry scholars, however, are increasingly challenging whether the darura concept is still applicable in today’s market and are encouraging alternatives.

Several pricing models can be used under the platform such as mudaraba and wakala, the latter can incorporate an incentive fee which is the preferred format, Bishop said. Under the mudaraba model, a firm acts as a managing partner for a policyholder’s money, working under a profit-sharing contract with any losses borne by participants. In wakala, the firm operates under an agency agreement, managing funds on behalf of policyholders in exchange for a management fee, which can also include a performance fee. —Reuters

Europe banks hesitate to join rush for share capital Bankers often see issues as sign of failure

ROME: Demonstrators hold banners and flags during the left-wing Italian metalworkers’ union FIOM rally in downtown Rome yesterday. —AFP

Bank documents portray Cyprus as Russia’s favorite haven NICOSIA: When the Cyprus bank run began earlier this year, Russians set much of the pace. Documents seen by Reuters show that as the Mediterranean island headed towards financial meltdown in March, most notable among companies transferring money from the country’s two main banks were Russians and East Europeans. At least 3.6 billion euros ($4.67 billion) was removed in two weeks by big depositors, according to the documents.

Though many companies listed initially appear obscure, a Reuters analysis shows a significant proportion are vehicles for foreign investors more at home in Moscow or Kiev than Nicosia. The lists give an insight into the March crisis and how the tax haven, with a population of just 1.1 million, had amassed bank deposits that peaked at 72 billion euros more than four times the island’s GDP. Prepared in April by private sector lenders Bank of Cyprus and Laiki Bank, and passed to lawmakers by the island’s central bank, the documents list 5,323 transactions, most previously undisclosed. They detail transfers of 100,000 euros or more from Bank of Cyprus and Laiki Bank in the two weeks before Cyprus closed its banks on March 16 as it desperately negotiated an international rescue.

Reuters analysed 129 companies that each transferred 5 million euros or more over the two-week period, collectively accounting for 1.9 billion euros. Of those companies, 95 could be traced.

Out of that group, 34 have links to Russia, five have links to Ukraine and two to Kazakhstan. The remainder comprise companies from Cyprus and other countries including tax havens such as the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and the Dutch Antilles. By value, more than half the transactions were made in dollars. “This list verifies as well-founded Cyprus’ reputation as an offshore economy used as a conduit for people, particularly Russians, to hold large sums of money, often to avoid paying tax and without too much scrutiny,” said Michael McIntyre, professor of law and a tax expert at Wayne State University in the United States.

While the transfers appear mostly related to moving money out of Cyprus, Reuters could not establish where the funds went. It is possible some transfers were between banks within Cyprus. Deposits that did flow out of the country had to be funded by emergency liquidity assistance from the European Central Bank, according to analysts. In effect, the ECB was paying for depositors, many of them Russian, to remove money from Cyprus before those depositors could be compelled to contribute to the international rescue of the island.

acquired a stake in VKontakte, a fast-growing social network known as the “Russian Facebook”, told Reuters: “Our group has several dozen legal entities, and some of them have accounts at Bank of Cyprus, but we don’t use those as primary accounts. “Anybody serious who works on financial markets wouldn’t have left any significant amounts in the Cyprus banks. Very simple reason: Look at the share price chart of the Bank of Cyprus. It went to zero many months before the freeze happened.”

He could not confirm the transaction listed in the Cypriot documents and said his companies did not keep big deposits in Cyprus. A spokeswoman for UCP said the transaction “must be a mistake or incorrect information”.

On March 16, the Cyprus government shut banks amid discussions over imposing losses on depositors as the price for an international rescue. On the day before, a company called Trellas Enterprises moved 2 billion roubles ($63.85 million) out of Bank of Cyprus.

Trellas Enterprises is majority-owned by Maxim Nogotkov, an entrepreneur who controls Svyaznoy, one of the biggest retailers of cell phones in Russia. Nogotkov, 36, is listed by Forbes as having a net worth of $1.3 billion.

Nogotkov confirmed that he controlled his mobile phone and banking interests in Russia through Trellas, but declined to comment on the transfer recorded in the bank list. “We never comment on financial transfers or mergers and acquisitions activity,” Nogotkov said by telephone.

Asked whether he was considering restructuring his business interests in light of Cyprus’ financial meltdown, Nogotkov said: “Not actively. We don’t have any urgent decisions to restructure (the business).” Another company illustrating the Russia connection is O1 Properties Limited, which moved 10.1 million euros out of Bank of Cyprus. The company is controlled by Boris Mints, a Russian politician turned businessman, and this year bought the White Square business centre in Moscow for $1 billion.

In the 1990s Mints was a state official handling issues relating to property and local authorities. From 2004 until 2012 he was chairman of the board of Otkritie Financial Corporation, which describes itself as Russia’s largest independent financial group by assets.

He is now president of the firm. Mints was not available for comment. A spokesman for O1 Properties said: “O1 Properties keeps an account at the Bank of Cyprus to use it for regular business activities. We didn’t know that Cyprus banks (would) shut. O1 Properties suffered losses. We do not comment (on the) total loss.”

BIGGEST TRANSFER As debts threatened to overwhelm Cyprus early this year, money began to flow out of the country in fluctuating amounts. In January 1.7 billion euros left the island and a further 900 million in February, according to Central Bank of Cyprus figures. The run accelerated in March as Cyprus found it had few friends among international institutions suffering bail-out fatigue. Many of the biggest transfers were by firms linked to Russia. One of the largest was listed under the name of UCP Industrial Holdings, which is recorded as moving 80.2 million euros out of the Bank of Cyprus on March 7.

UCP Industrial Holdings is part of United Capital Partners, a $3.5 billion Russian investment firm led by Ilya Sherbovich, a former head of investment at Deutsche Bank Russia and now a board director of the oil giant Rosneft. Sherbovich, whose UCP fund recently

EXPENSIVE WORDS The troika of the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund insisted on tough terms for providing billions to stop Cyprus going bust. As talks progressed, speculation began to spread that any package for Cyprus would include levying money from bank depositors - an unprecedented move that came to be known as a bail in, rather than a bail out.

The impact of what politicians and officials said - and did not say - is reflected in the pattern of fund outflows. On March 4, depositors withdrew 261 million euros from the two banks, according to the transfer lists. Late that day, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the Eurogroup of finance ministers in the euro zone, was asked whether the rescue of Cyprus would affect bank depositors. He did not give a clear answer. —Reuters

LONDON: A wave of investor demand that has allowed Deutsche Bank and two other lenders to raise six billion euros ($7.7 billion) in new share capital in the past month is unlikely to prompt other European banks to go to their shareholders for more cash. More than four years after the financial crisis began, many are hesitating to take the plunge with further equity issues that are often unpopular with existing shareholders, while in Britain high politics have thrown up additional complications.

Many banks across the continent must still raise funds to get into shape for Basel III capital requirements that come into force in 2019, aiming to prevent a repeat of the 2008-09 disaster when taxpayers had to bail out a string of lenders. With global stock markets hitting record highs, powered by huge injections of liquidity from central banks, now would seem a good time to do this by selling new shares. Deutsche, Alpha Bank of Greece and Russia’s VTB have raised the combined six billion euros ($7.8 billion), while Commerzbank detailed terms on Tuesday for its 2.5 billion euro share offering. Greece’s Piraeus is also raising cash.

Investment bankers have hailed the sales as a testament to demand for bank stocks including even higher risk investments such as Alpha, a bailed-out bank in a bailed-out country which is ranked as “junk” by the three biggest credit rating agencies. But the banks are often less enthusiastic. “You raise capital either because someone is forcing you to, or because it makes business sense,” said Jaime Ramos Martin, European equities portfolio manager at Standard Life Investments.

Many banks see no business sense in issuing equity, believing regulators will give them time to build up capital gradually from their profits or by issuing “cocos”, bonds that are converted into shares if a bank’s position worsens. Executives from a number of banks who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said they did not plan or need to raise capital. As one banker put it, the successful recent issues means others “may consider, but most don’t necessarily need to raise or don’t want to raise”.

CHEQUERED PAST The financial crisis, which went global when Lehman Brothers investment bank collapsed in the autumn of 2008, wiped out the capital buffers of even the world’s strongest banks. Weaker banks had to turn to their governments for tens of billions in bailout funding while stronger ones went to the markets. In Europe, the 46 banks in the benchmark EuroStoxx 600 banks index tapped private investors for more than 100 billion euros in ordinary equity since the autumn of 2008, according to figures compiled by Reuters. The outcome has been mixed, with massive gains by some and heavy losses by others.

Investors who put close to 1.5 billion euros into Belgian bank KBC last year have done spectacularly well. Those who bought shares last October have seen their investment rise 55 percent, based on the May 13 closing price, while those who subscribed in December are up 41 percent. Backers of Spanish bank Santander’s 7.2 billion euro capital increase in December 2008 are now up 19 percent. However, those who took part in National Bank of Greece’s 1.25 billion euro issue in July 2009 are nursing losses of 44 percent, and investors who bought into a 499 million euros placement by Bank of Ireland in June 2010 are down 88 percent.

Investment bankers involved in the current wave of equity issues say there is money to be made for investors who are flush with cash and seeking yield.

The stock of almost all European banks is still trading well below book value - their net assets divided by the number of shares. Many of the early capital increases were triggered by the demands of European Union stress tests, where banks’ finances were subjected to crisis scenarios to see if they had enough capital or needed to raise more. This has made many banks view raising equity as a last resort and a sign of defeat.

But forecasts from analysts at Deutsche Bank - one of those lenders to have recently bitten the bullet appear to belie the assumption that taking on more equity prevents banks from delivering a good return to shareholders. “Markets don’t punish banks for raising capital if they genuinely need it,” said Deutsche analyst Matt Spick. “Rather, markets punish banks that consistently run with less capital than the market would like them to have, rightly or wrongly.” Under the Basel III rules, banks will be judged on their common equity tier 1 capital ratios - a measure of highquality capital compared with risk-weighted assets.

Out of 41 European lenders, Deutsche analysts expect 14 to have capital ratios above 11 percent next year and forecast their average return on total equity will be 11.7 percent then. At the remaining 27 banks which are expected to have ratios below 11 percent next year, they predict return on total equity will be only 8.1 percent. “There is no evidence that earning a decent return for shareholders is hampered by having a strong capital base,” said Spick. The probable reason was that banks already achieving high profitability were able to build up a strong capital base, he added.

THE 2013 SHOW Banks came into 2013 riding a wave that pushed

the EuroStoxx 600 banks index up 23 percent in 2012 and a further 8 percent so far this year. Despite this, most large share issues have been made at a discount to the market price. Deutsche Bank was an exception.

It priced its 3 billion euro placement at the previous day’s closing price of 32.90 euros and made the whole issue in less than 24 hours. The bank’s shares rose 6 percent on the day the order book was filled.

“The Deutsche Bank share price reaction should make people feel less scared about whether more capital raisings come along, because demand looks strong relative to supply at the moment, said,” Paras Anand, head of European equities at Fidelity Worldwide Investment. Before the Deutsche issue, investors had been questioning the bank’s capital adequacy, something it was aware of, sources familiar with the process said. The sales pitch was based on the idea that Deutsche would “re-rate” after its perceived capital problems had been solved and the bank’s shares would higher.

There are also commercial advantages for institutions active in investment banking to have new capital, particularly one with a large US operation facing demands for higher capital there. “There is clearly new business to be gained from having this additional capital,” said Martin. “It means they can now take more risk

Greece’s depression and last year’s radical writedown in the value of their holdings of Greek government bonds. This has left the top four lenders with a 27.5 billion euro capital shortfall. Under a rescue funded by Greece’s EU/IMF bailout, the four will fall under state control unless they can raise at least 10 percent of their capital needs privately. Alpha announced on May 1 it had raised 457 million euros, meeting the 10 percent target.

Piraeus had already ensured it could keep management control when France’s Societe Generale and Millennium BCP of Portugal effectively paid it to take over their Greek operations.

However, Piraeus is continuing to canvas investors for new equity. In Italy, a number of small banks have capital holes that need filling before they come under European Central Bank supervision next year, most notably Carige, which needs 800 million euros. But large Italian banks have raised more than 26 billion euros of new equity since summer 2008 and show no signs of an imminent return to the equity markets.

In Britain, the Bank of England has identified a 25 billion pound ($38 billion) capital hole across the country’s banks, but the problem here is as much political as financial. The two big banks most in

WASHINGTON: In this April 23, 2010 file picture German Deputy Finance Minister Joerg Asmussen, right, and Axel Weber, then governor of the central bank of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbank, brief reporters on their work at the IMF-World Bank meetings in Washington. Engineering a financial bailout for Cyprus in March 2013 was such a chaotic process that top European officials say it is time to rethink how the region manages its crisis — and who should be involved. —AP and so on. There are more profits for the taking here.”

Investors anticipating the issue had already set aside money for Deutsche before it happened.

“Deutsche Bank was seen as the right amount at the right time,” said one investment banker. “There are very few that would work as well as Deutsche Bank.”

German rival Commerzbank announced on Tuesday that it was pricing its issue at a discount of 55 percent to Monday’s closing price. The offer, which runs until May 28, is open to current shareholders who can buy 20 new shares for every 21 shares they hold now.

NEXT WAVE At the other end of the euro zone from Germany - geographically and economically - Greek banks have been canvassing private investors for fresh funds as they try to avoid falling under state control.

They have been hammered by loan losses during

need of capital, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, were bailed out during the crisis at huge cost to the British taxpayer. RBS Chief Executive Stephen Hester said on Tuesday it would take another 18 months to improve the bank’s capital position enough to keep regulators happy.

But the two banks’ largest shareholder, the government, wants to sell the stakes - not pump in yet more public cash in an exercise that would be a political non-starter in the run up to parliamentar y elections in 2015. One investment banker said the appetite for bank equity didn’t mean a rush of activity would follow, as the market waits for the state to start selling its stakes.

“People are talking in the market a lot about the UK banks, there’s a lot of political dialogue ... the discount, the timing, the elections,” he said. “It’s a fascinating debate.” —Reuters

Mid-sized Italian banks face big bang for want of bucks GENOA: A deepening recession and banking stress tests could find Italy’s mid-sized lenders short of billions of euros, putting the state on the hook for a new wave of cash calls and triggering an overhaul of how they do business.

Even ahead of the European stress tests, expected to take place when or shortly before the European Central Bank (ECB) takes over direct supervision of euro zone banks next year, Italy’s smaller banks are under pressure to boost their balance sheets after a Bank of Italy audit of problematic loans and to meet stricter Basel 3 capital rules. Bad loans in Italy have been climbing at an annual rate of 20 percent in recent months.

In the port city of Genoa, birthplace of modern banking in the 15th century, regional market leader Carige is raising 800 million euros ($1 billion), equivalent to two thirds of its market value, by selling assets to boost its capital. With a core tier one ratio of 6.7 percent, Carige’s ability to absorb losses is among the weakest in Italy.

“Initially, we thought we would have more time to come into line with the new Basel 3 rules,” said Ennio La Monica, the bank’s chief executive,

in an interview from his top floor office. “But there was an acceleration in September with the drafting of the list of banks that would fall under EU banking supervision.”

“This problem is common to a number of other small banks. We had to speed up and try to do everything this year,” said La Monica.

Disposals and other actions undertaken by the bank should boost its core Tier 1 to 10 percent, he added. Italian banks’ efforts to shore up their capital base, especially among the 25 or so lenders expected to come under ECB supervision, is in turn deepening the country’s economic recession, as they cut back on lending.

A harsher credit crunch could emerge if the ECB stress tests expose more capital holes, potentially prolonging Italy’s nearly two-yearlong recession and raising its debt burden, already at 2 trillion euros, the second-largest in the EU after Germany, which has a much bigger economy and a much lower ratio of debt to GDP. With bad debts mounting, analysts expect the Frankfurt-based central bank to take a harsh look at the quality of banks’ loans, requiring them to set aside more capital. —Reuters

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

BUSINESS

KSE ends last week in the green zone BAYAN WEEKLY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the green zone. The price index ended last week with an increase amounted to 1.71%, and the weighted index advanced by 0.35% compared to the closings of the week before. In addition KSX-15 index increased by 0.11%. Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover decreased by 21.53%, compared to the preceding week, reaching KD 86.97 million, whereas trading volume average was 1.13 billion shares, recording increase of 11.67%.

The Price Index reached 8,000 point psychological level, among an unstable performance resulted from the different directions of traders.

The market witnessed quick profit collection operations, lightened its gains at some point and dragged it to the red zone in one session at another point. However, the purchasing activity was present during most of the time, which enabled the three indices to realize gains by the end of the week.

In addition, the market witnessed last week random purchasing operations on some leading stocks in Banking sector, which had a positive impact on the Weighted Index and KSX-15 Index, where both closed the week in the green zone. Moreover, the market witnessed in one of its daily sessions, a strong correction action, caused the market to shed greatly, whereas the Price Index decreased by approximately 50 point, due to selling operations executed on many small-cap stocks, with concentration on stocks that recorded significant price increases lately.

However, the market was able to realize gains in the last session of the week, as a result to the return of the positive purchasing and speculative operations that included many stocks, and enabled the Price Index

2.83% increase. The Real Estate sector came in third as its index achieved 2.79% growth, ending the week at 1,541.12 points. The Industrials sector was the least growing as its index closed at 1,143.86 points with a 0.28% increase. On the other hand, the Insurance sector was last week’s only loser as its index declined by 2.63% to end the week’s activity at 1,115.95 points.

to compensate its previous session loss, getting close to 8,000 point level, which is expected to reach by the coming weeks.

For the annual performance, the price index ended last week recording 33.16% annual gain compared to its

closing in 2012, while the weighted index increased by 11.05%, and the KSX-15 recorded 7.68% increase.

By the end of the week, the price index closed at 7,902.18 points, up by 1.71% from the week before closing, whereas the weighted index registered

a 0.35% weekly gain after closing at 463.80 points. Moreover, the KSX-15 index closed at 1,086.63 points, increasing with 0.11%.

Sectors’ Indices All of KSE’s sectors ended last week

Bill clears House for wider SEC economic analyses WASHINGTON: Legislation cleared the House on Friday that would place stricter requirements on the federal agency overseeing Wall Street to assess the costs and benefits of its regulations before they are issued.

The bill passed on a 235-161 vote mostly on party lines. It was the latest salvo against the Securities and Exchange Commission by House Republicans, who opposed the 2010 financial overhaul legislation expanding the SEC’s powers and have resisted increasing its budget. Congress enacted the regulatory overhaul in response to the 2008 financial crisis with an eye to preventing another meltdown.

Friday’s bill isn’t expected to get a vote in the Senate. It would require the SEC to refrain from adopting rules unless it determines that the benefits of the rules outweigh the costs.

The agency currently conducts cost-benefit analyses of regulations prior to issuing them.

But the bill would make the process more extensive and detailed.

In addition, the SEC would be required to review all its existing rules to determine if they impose excessive costs or administrative burdens on the companies regulated by the agency.

Democratic lawmakers said that would force the agency to review every rule put into effect since its creation during the Great Depression, with no additional funding for SEC staff.

The bill seeks to hinder the SEC’s ability to write new rules under the 2010 financial overhaul and to shield Wall Street from regulation,

the Democrats charged.

The legislation “is aimed squarely at undermining Wall Street’s cop on the block,” Rep. Maxine Waters of California, the senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, said on the House floor before the vote. “This is dangerous; it is irresponsible.

This is about protecting Wall Street.”

In addition to tying up SEC staff resources, the requirement for more extensive and detailed cost-benefit analyses would put the agency at greater risk of being sued over each rule it adopts, the Democrats said. They said that while they support cost-benefit analyses by federal agencies, they object to imposing excessive requirements on the SEC. The White House registered its opposition to the bill on Wednesday, saying it would add “burdensome and disruptive new procedures (that) would impede the ability of the SEC to protect investors, maintain orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.”

SEC Chairman Mary Jo White told the financial services panel in a hearing Thursday that she is “a firm supporter of rigorous economic analysis,” which the agency has been conducting. “I do have concerns about this bill in terms of our being able to carry out our rulemaking function expeditiously, and to provide market participants with certainty,” she testified.

But Republicans insisted the change was needed to help curb runaway regulations written in Washington that hurt ordinary Americans by raising costs for businesses.

“What it is really about is kitchen-table eco-

nomics,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

The Republicans have long targeted the SEC by proposing legislation to weaken various provisions of the financial overhaul law.

Their opposition has been galvanized in recent days with the revelations that the Internal Revenue Service gave tougher treatment to tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.

At Thursday’s hearing, committee Republicans seized on the episode to tell White that if the SEC adopted a rule requiring public companies to disclose political donations, as consumer and liberal groups have urged, it would be engaging in a similar abuse of power as the IRS. The SEC is an independent regulatory agency. The IRS is a division of the Treasury Department, which is part of the Obama administration. Among other things, the bill would require the SEC to adopt rules only after a “reasoned determination” that their benefits would outweigh their costs, to identify and assess possible alternatives to proposed rules, to gauge the potential impact of rules on investors and small business, and to periodically review existing rules to determine if they are overly burdensome, outdated or weak.

A large coalition of consumer, union and liberal groups said in a letter to House lawmakers that the bill “is transparently intended to create roadblocks in the way of passing any investor protection rule.” —AP

in the green zone except for one sector.

Last week’s highest gainer was the Consumer Goods sector, achieving 4.74% growth rate as its index closed at 1,157.71 points. Whereas, in the second place, the Technology sector’s index closed at 1,201.80 points recording

Sectors’ Activity The Real Estate sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 2.11 billion shares changing hands, representing 37.31% of the total market trading volume. The Financial Services sector was second in terms of trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 35.62% of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 2.02 billion shares.

On the other hand, the Real Estate sector’s stocks were the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD 158.67 million or 36.49% of last week’s total market trading value. The Financial Services sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of KD 147.67 million represented 33.96% of the total market trading value.

Workers on illegal strike at chrome mine in S Africa JOHANNESBURG: Operations at a chrome mine in South Africa owned by chemicals group LANXESS have been suspended since Thursday after workers started an illegal strike over bonus payments, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Saturday.

The dispute at the mine in Rustenburg, 120 km (70 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, adds to growing labour tensions around South Africa’s platinum belt, which are set to intensify over looming job cuts and wage talks in the sector.

“The strike is still ongoing, although we are trying to persuade workers to go back,” said Mxhasi Sithethi, the union’s regional co-ordinator for Rustenburg. “ The company issued a court injunction yesterday calling the workers to go back to work, but the employees reacted angrily.” Sithethi said the situation around the mine had been tense on Friday, although there were no reports of violence. The union will be in talks with the workers and the company ’s management on Monday to find a solution to the dispute.

The company could not be reached for comment. Rustenburg, the centre of South Africa’s platinum belt and home to 80 percent of known global platinum reserves, has over the past year become the flashpoint of violent labour strife and a turf war between the NUM and the more militant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

More than 50 people were killed in labour-related violence last year amid a wave of wildcat strikes that hit production in the platinum and gold sectors, and there are concerns that there could be more unrest after Anglo American Platinum announced plans to cut 6,000 mining jobs around Rustenburg.

That is less than half the 14,000 initially targeted by the world’s top producer of the precious metal as it seeks to restore profits, but unions have still vowed to fight the lay-offs. However, a protest strike called for Friday by at least two AMCU officials failed to materialise.

Upcoming wage talks in South Africa’s mining sector are also expected to be difficult given inflation, rising worker militancy, shrinking company margins and sharply falling commodity prices. The platinum price lost nearly 20 percent in the last two years.

AMCU’s leader on Friday threatened to bring Africa’s biggest economy to a standstill, ramping up the rhetoric in the 18-month labour crisis, while the rand fell to a four-year low against the dollar this week on concerns about further disruptions to an already struggling economy.

The growing tensions have put pressure on President Jacob Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC), which was criticised for its handling of last year’s turmoil and faces accusations that it is neglecting the poor 19 years after the end of apartheid. —Reuters

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

BUSINESS

BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé MUNICH: At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013, two tradition-steeped car manufacturers - the BMW Group and Pininfarina - will be straddling the automotive past and future as they unveil the result of their debut cooperation to the global public on 24 May: the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé.

Together they have created the embodiment of sheer elegance. The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso CoupÈ is the sequel to a new approach introduced at last year’s Concorso in the shape of the BMW Zagato Coupé.

Always in search of opportunities for further development, the BMW Group consciously pursues creative exchange with other design studios. It enables two design approaches to merge into a new and exciting initiative that encourages fresh creative impulses. Thus the close collaboration with the Pininfarina design team has led to a new automotive personality brimming with character and ready to join the high-end luxury class: typically BMW and bearing the refined imprint of Pininfarina. The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé adds a new dimension to the BMW claim to elegance and exclusivity.

This elaborate creation is a one-off that captivates the observer at first glance with its Italian exclusivity and modern

finesse. Generous surface design and taut contours highlight an elegant vehicle body, while hallmark BMW proportions - a long wheelbase, stretched bonnet, short

overhangs and a set-back greenhouse with smoothly sloping roofline - imbue the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso CoupÈ with authoritative dynamics even before

a wheel has been turned. Enhancing the powerful impact of the side profile are convex taperings that add a dynamic elegance. The exterior symbolises the mod-

ern harmony between power and elegance encapsulated by the V12 engine under the bonnet.

On the inside, the BMW Gran Lusso CoupÈ shows this consummate blend of contemporary elegance and luxury. Here the melding of exclusivity, comfort and sportiness makes for a unique interior experience. The fluid underlying geometry of the cabin and the classical BMW driver focus are lent a thoroughly new touch through the influence of Pininfarina.

S & P warns India could face junk status Announcement surprise finance ministry

WUHAN: This file photo taken on October 8, 2012 shows a visitor walking out from the entrance to the telecommunications equipment firm Huawei Technologies in Wuhan, central China’s Huwei province. —AFP

EU cites telecoms Huawei and ZTE for trade violations NEW YORK: Europe’s top trade official for the first time late on Friday officially cited Chinese mobile telecommunications equipment makers Huawei and ZTE Corp for violating anti-dumping and anti-subsidy guidelines.

European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said he was prepared to launch a formal investigation into anti-competitive behavior by these Chinese companies in order to protect a “strategic” sector of Europe’s economy.

“Huawei and ZTE are dumping their products on the European market,” De Gucht told Reuters in an exclusive interview before engaging with US businesses as part of his preparations for negotiating a Transatlantic free trade pact with the United States. Those talks are expected to begin in July.

An investigation now into sales practices of Chinese telecoms equipment companies would open up a new front in a multibillioneuro trade offensive against a critical partner.

The EU is China’s most important trading partner, while for the EU, China is second only to the United States. Chinese exports of goods to the 27-member bloc totaled 290 billion euros ($372 billion) last year, with 144 billion euros going the other way.

Cheap capital for these Chinese companies “creates a distorted playing field and that is what this is about,” De Gucht said, referring to Huawei and ZTE, respectively the world’s No. 2 and No. 5 telecom equipment makers. Huawei denied it had broken any rules.

“In Europe and in all markets, Huawei always plays fair and we win business and trust from our customers through our innovative technology and quality service, rather than via pricing or subsidies,” the company said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters.

Separately, the official China Daily quoted Huawei’s Western Europe president Tao Jingwen as saying that the firm’s rivals were blaming the company for their own failures.

“Some European companies have blamed Chinese companies for their losses, but sometimes they were caused by their own laziness,” Tao said in a report carried before the publication of De Gucht’s remarks.

ZTE could not be reached immediately for comment, but the company has also in the past denied benefiting from illegal state support.

De Gucht’s office on Wednesday said an investigation was prepared but put on hold.

At the time no companies were officially named. The pause is to allow further negotiations with China in hopes for a resolution.

“We have already had three rounds of negotiations on that, but without any satisfactory outcome,” he said. “I think it is better for the whole world economy and trade that these two big trading partners come to an amicable solution on what is in fact a very strategic and crucial sector. But you need two to tango and we have the necessary resolve to go for it if necessary,” he said.

China responded on Thursday, threaten-

ing the EU with retaliation. European telecom equipment makers have not made any complaints for fear of Chinese reprisals.

Therefore if the EU makes the case, it does so for the first time on its own initiative, known as ex-officio. European manufacturer Ericsson is the global leader with a 35 percent market share. It said it opposed the Commission’s move.

“I don’t want to elaborate on what could be the sanctions... Everybody knows. The Chinese know our procedures as well as we do. They are very well aware of what is in our toolbox,” De Gucht said.

China exports network equipment, base stations and connections used by telecom providers to transmit voice and data messages worth more than 1 billion euros a year to the EU, giving it almost a quarter of the market.

Meanwhile, De Gucht would not comment on whether he will go ahead with imposing punitive import duties on 21 billion euros worth of imported Chinese solar panels. The European Commission agreed to his proposal for a 47 percent tariff, which he can formally declare on June 6 if it is published in the EU’s Official Journal.

While Europe battles with China over trade, given 18 out of 31 ongoing trade investigations are with Beijing, De Gucht said he is eager for talks to start with Washington on a trade pact focused on making each other’s regulations more compatible.

“The most important part of that agreement, because it would be a real gamechanger, is the regulatory (component),” he said.

The EU and the United States account for nearly half of the world’s economic output and 30 percent of trade, with goods and services worth $2.7 billion traded bilaterally every day. Those figures were released in February when the two sides announced they would launch bilateral trade talks.

However US President Barack Obama’s pick for the US Trade Representative cabinet post, Mike Froman, has yet to be confirmed.

Froman is the White House chief international economic affairs advisor, a job he has held since Obama took office in 2009.

Ahead of the talks France has already pushed to exclude from negotiation the movie and television industries. France has long defended a “cultural exception” in trade affairs in what it sees is a need to protect European arts from Hollywood-driven market forces.

According to the latest data from the Motion Picture Association of America, U.S. film and television services exports in 2010 were $13.5 billion, down 2 percent from 2009 but up 6 percent over 2006.

De Gucht said the EU would not put on the table “a cut to the subsidies for European film producers.” Instead, for the first time, he is arguing the audiovisual sector should be included so European businesses could benefit from developments in the digital media sphere. —Reuters

NEW DELHI: India faces at least “a one-in-three” chance of losing its prized sovereign grade rating, global ratings agency Standard and Poor’s has warned, amid new threats to economic growth and reforms.

The announcement surprised the finance ministry which had been pitching for a ratings upgrade, saying the government has taken strong steps to improve India’s public finances, promote investment and revive growth.

India’s BBB-minus investment rating is already the lowest among its BRICS peers Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, and cutting it to “junk status” would push up the country’s hefty borrowing costs as it would signal higher risk.

“There is at least a one-in-three chance that we will lower the ratings in the next 12 months,” S&P said late Friday, adding “risks to India’s growth from stalled reforms in parliament still tilt the credit risks to the downside.”

The warning from S&P, which cut the outlook on India’s BBB-minus rating to negative from stable last year, came after parliament adjourned

early amid opposition uproar over corruption scandals.

The shutdown stalled the economic reform drive by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s minority government, hobbled by a string of graft controversies with two cabinet ministers entangled in scandals quitting late last week.

The government has opened up the retail and aviation sectors to wider foreign investment and partly freed fuel prices. But it has been striving to pass other bills to open the the insurance and pension sectors to more overseas investment and streamline industrial land acquisition to spur economic growth.

Leading business group, the Confederation of Indian Industry, called S&P’s economic outlook “harsh” and said the government was making efforts to rein in the ballooning current account deficit-the broadest measure of trade.

Meanwhile, the chief economic advisor to the finance ministry, Raghuram Rajan, described S&P’s comments as “disappointing”.

But with the 2014 elections looming, analysts

say Singh is fast running out of time to complete his legislative reform agenda.

“The big worry is they may have nothing to show in their report card,” said Parsa Venkateshwar Rao, a columnist for the DNA daily.

S&P said it may also cut India’s ratings if it decides Asia’s third-largest economy will not revert to higher seven to eight percent growth levels notched up earlier in this decade.

India’s growth right was bumping along at 5.0 percent for the last financial year to March 2013, the lowest level in a decade, but the government expects it to pick up to six percent this year and is targeting seven percent in 2014.

S&P credit analyst Takahira Ogawa said, “We have indicated compared to one year ago, there is some easing of the pressure towards the downgrade of the rating.”

But despite government efforts to cut red tape in implementing long-delayed infrastructure and power projects, its “success in raising investment growth remains uncertain”, he added. —AFP

Qatar Airways announces codeshare flights with Bangkok Airways BANGKOK: Qatar Airways yesterday announced a new codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways to destinations across Thailand and the capital cities of neighbouring Cambodia and Myanmar.

Effective May 15, the agreement sees Qatar Airways’ QR flight code on services beyond the Thai capital wiith Bangkok Airways to a raft of destinations giving passengers more convenient and greater access to markets.

The domestic Thai codeshare destinations to and from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport are Samui, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Trat, Sukhothai, Lampang, Krabi. In addition, Qatar Airways will also codeshare with Bangkok Airways on flights from Bangkok to Phnom Penh and Yangon, the capital cities of Cambodia and Myanmar respectively.

Customers can now make bookings through their local travel agent, any Qatar Airways office or through the airline’s website www.qatarairways.com Passengers travelling from many of Qatar Airways’ key markets in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East to and from southeast Asia can take advantage of the new codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways for greater access to more markets.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways’ hub in Doha is strategically well placed to connect East and West, and through this new partnership with Bangkok Airways we are able to cater to passengers who wish to seamlessly connect onwards to further destinations in countries where the airline already has an established presence - in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.

“This new codeshare with Bangkok Airways gives our passengers greater and easier access to more points across Thailand which is one of our most popular destinations in Asia.”

Qatar Airways currently operates non-stop flights between Doha and Bangkok four-times-daily and also serves Phuket in Thailand daily from the Qatari capital. In addition, Qatar Airways serves both Phnom Penh and Yangon daily from Doha.

Bangkok Air ways Senior Vice President Network Management Peter Wiesner added: “This new partnership will offer better flight connectivity for passengers travelling on long-haul routes with Qatar Airways to Bangkok for their onward journey within Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.

“Moreover, Thailand’s key destinations, namely Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai always have great potential which attract a large number of tourists. Therefore, we believe this partnership will offer a unique service for Qatar Airways’ passengers and will strengthen Bangkok Airways’ extensive network as well as boosting tourism in Thailand and Asia.”

Qatar Airways is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines currently operating a modern fleet of 124 aircraft to 126 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America from its strategically located hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.

The airline has an aggressive growth strategy, with four new routes already launched this year - Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Chicago (USA).

SINGAPORE: This photograph taken on April 18, 2013 shows employees arranging jewellery at a newly opened Moneymax outlet, locally owned by jewellery firm Soo Kee Group at the Woodlands SMRT train station in Singapore. As more residents seek more funds for basic needs, Singapore’s pawnshop industry has seen phenomenal growth at a time when prices are rising but a slowing economy has led to stagnated wage growth for middleand lower-income families. —AFP

Singapore cost of living sees pawnshops thrive SINGAPORE: Singaporean housewife Siti Khadijah Abdul Rahman accumulated a few thousand dollars’ worth of gold accessories over the past two decades, but now a rising cost of living is forcing her to pawn them.

With a stretched household budget that must also cater to school expenses for her two teenage children, the 49 year-old is pawning her gold to relieve pressure on her security guard husband, who earns Sg$1,500 ($1,211) a month.

“Pawning is better than going to friends or family when you have budget problems,” said Abdul Rahman. “When I have money, I will claim it back.”

She is one of a rapidly increasing number of people opting to take short-term pawnshop loans to try to keep up with rising prices, in what the Economist Intelligence Unit has ranked the world’s sixth most expensive city to live in.

Singapore’s pawnshop industry has seen phenomenal growth at a time when rising prices and a slowing economy are putting pressure on the household budgets of middle- and lower- income families.

Loans surged to Sg$7.1 billion in 2012, up 43 percent on-year, according to industry registry data.

Singapore has one of the highest con-

centrations of millionaires relative to its population, but the city-state’s per capita income of more than Sg$65,000 in 2012 masks a sharp income gap between the richest and poorest.

The three major pawnshop chainswhich make up the bulk of the nearly 200 pawnshops across the island nation of 5.3 million people-have sought to take the shame out of using personal property as collateral for short term loans.

“You look around you, this is probably one of the most expensive places in the world,” said Derek Da Cunha, a local sociopolitical observer.

“Without the stigma (of borrowing), pawnshops have become more respectable and we have working professionals using it as a means to get short-term loans to cope with their expenses.”

Families like Abdul Rahman’s in the bottom 10 percent of Singapore households had to weather a 1.2 percent dip in income adjusted for inflation last year, statistics department data showed.

Healthcare costs rose 3.9 percent onyear in 2012 according to government data. A consumer group said the average price of a bowl of noodles with fishballs, a staple dish, was 20 percent higher in 2012 from a year ago at Sg$3. —AFP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

BUSINESS

Citadel Capital discusses emerging market opportunities WASHINGTON: Hisham El-Khazindar, CoFounder and Managing Director of Citadel Capital, took part in a panel on emerging market opportunities and trends at the IFC-EMPEA annual gathering in Washington DC, outlining the strong upside potential for sustainable, highgrowth investments in Africa and the Middle East.

Citadel Capital), the leading investment company in Africa and the Middle East with US$ 9.5 billion in investments under control, took part in the 15th annual IFC Global Private Equity Conference held in association with EMPEA in Washington, DC on 14-16 May. Citadel Capital Co-Founder and Managing Director, Hisham El-Khazindar participated in a panel discussion entitled “A Macro Perspective: Emerging Markets Opportunities and Trends,” which featured global industry leaders with significant emerging market expertise and insights into the challenges and constraints of emerging market private equity.

“In many instances a crisis situation can create opportunity,” said El-Khazindar.

“Across Egypt, East Africa and North Africa, we see excellent investment opportunities in sometimes challenging countries that are in need of management expertise and capital.”

In the midst of challenging economic and political conditions in Egypt, Citadel

Capital’s platform company, Mashreq, singed a 25-year concession agreement to build a unique EGP 3 billion tank farm on the Suez Canal that will serve the global shipping market and be a backup Egypt’s national energy security policy.

“In Egypt, the Arab Spring and has brought about a new set of political and economic challenges that have presented some key investment opportunities. For example, the energy sector in Egypt is in dire need of new investment to upgrade existing power plants and power transmission networks as well as investments in new power generation and refining capacity to meet increased local demand for electricity and petroleum products,” said El-Khazindar. “Given Egypt’s constrained financial and organizational resources, much of this infrastructure development should be driven by the local and international private sector, in the form of public private partnerships,” he added.

Citadel Capital’s Egyptian Refining Company (ERC), a $3.7 billion greenfield petroleum refining upgrade project in the Greater Cairo Area will reduce Egypt’s present-day diesel imports by more than half, eliminate approximately 93,000 tons of sulfur emissions annually, and produce over 4.2 million tons of refined products and high-quality oil derivatives per year including 3 million tons of jet fuel and

Euro V diesel (the cleanest-burning diesel fuel in the world).

“In East Africa a growing consumer base, natural resource discoveries and improved governance are driving growth and creating unique opportunities in several sectors.

We see opportunity to create value in sectors such as infrastructure that will serve as a catalyst for Africa’s growth. The insufficient amount and quality of infrastructure is currently a major impediment to developing trade, creating jobs and improving competitiveness on the continent,” said El-Khazindar.

“According to recent statistics from the African Development Bank, Africa needs US$93 billion annually until 2020 for infrastructure development. As urbanization increases, consumer markets grow and more countries on the continent develop broader ties to the global economy, the need for infrastructure investments, particularly those related to energy and transportation, will multiply,” adds ElKhazindar.

Egypt has been Citadel Capital’s center of gravity since inception. In 2006 the firm began investing directly in subSaharan Africa and has historically striven to broaden investor interest in African opportunities particularly those that move away from pure commodities and towards infrastructure, manufacturing

Hisham El-Khazindar and value-added exports.

Among the firm’s notable African investments is Rift Valley Railways (RVR), which holds a concession to operate the national railways of Kenya and Uganda, linking the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa to the interiors of Kenya and Uganda, including the Ugandan capital of Kampala. For the past two years, Citadel Capital has been working with the RVR

management and its local partners to implement a three-point turnaround program with investments of US$ 287 million. RVR is helping open doors to intraAfrican trade by bringing transport costs down by as much as 35% - a savings that should have a substantial impact on businesses and consumers alike.

“Investments like RVR that can be a part of Africa’s growth story are not businesses that lend themselves to short holding periods. As an investment company we are now focusing on taking a much longer 10-15 year view on opportunities versus the traditional 3-5 year private equity industry view,” said ElKhazindar. “The bottom line: Long term confidence in these markets has to translate into long-term investment strategies.”

Citadel Capital is currently transforming its business model from a private equity firm to an investment company to create long-term value for its shareholders by focusing on a smaller number of high-potential, unique platform companies in five core industries; energy, transportation, agrifoods, mining and cement, which are underpinned by outstanding economic fundamentals. The firm aims to add value by building sustainable businesses in industries that will be the engines of growth and economic development in its core footprint, Africa and the Middle East.

Mercedes-Benz Kuwait nominated for Best Mobile website at Mobies KUWAIT: Mercedes-Benz Kuwait has been nominated for the Best Mobile Website award at this year’s The Mobile Show Middle East. A.R. Albisher and Z. Alkazemi Co. - the exclusive general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait - launched the mobile enabled web portal earlier this year using the latest technology to connect with its customers and offer them the best services available on the go.

The Mobile Show Middle East, better known as the ‘Mobies’, is a prestigious annual exhibition that celebrates the best in mobile phone technologies and innovations from across the Middle East. The exhibition will be held from 14-15 May at the Dubai International Convention Centre, capped by an awards ceremony to crown the top achievers in mobile creations.

Michael Ruehle, General Manager, Abdul Rahman Albisher & Zaid

Alkazemi Co. said: “A highly connected market, nearly a third of all Kuwait has a Facebook account and more than six million pictures with the hashtag #kuwait have been shared on Instagram. With 60 million tweets

made in March 2012 alone, Kuwait represents over 8% of all tweets in the Arab world. Mercedes-Benz Kuwait’s growing online presence goes a step further in connecting with this new internet savvy generation of Kuwaiti

fans of the three pointed star, conveniently opening two way online communications to provide and discuss the latest news and key developments at A.R. Albisher and Z. Alkazemi Co.” The most important feature of the Mercedes-Benz Kuwait portal, www.mbkuwait.com, is that it’s accessible through a variety of platforms mainly iOS, Android and Windows so customers can navigate with a variety of different mobile phones just as easily. The portal is also built to grow - specifically to include additional information, events and services exclusive for the Kuwaiti market.

“Mercedes-Benz is worldrenowned for its edge on technology, and our nomination at the Mobies is testament to our efforts to set new standards of customer service by offering the very best, whether it be digital, over the phone or in our showrooms,” added Ruehle.

Etihad Airways opens new route to Washington for Kuwait passengers ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has opened new routes between Kuwait and Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, offering Kuwaitbased travellers with greater access and convenient connections via its hub in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways commenced non-stop daily flights to Washington, D.C., 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.

Etihad Airways serves the Abu Dhabi Washington, D.C., 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 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, D.C., is the fourth North American destination for Etihad Airways after New York, Chicago and Toronto.

Etihad Airways’ flights from Kuwait to Washington, D.C. operate daily, with flight EY306 departing Kuwait at 4:20am, and arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 7:00am. For the onward leg, flight EY131 departs Abu Dhabi at 10:00am and arrives in Washington, D.C. at 5:00pm the same day.

On the return, flight EY130 departs Washington at 10:15pm and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7:45pm the following day. On the return flight to Kuwait, flight EY307 departs Abu Dhabi at 8:50pm and arrives at Kuwait International Airport at 9:30pm.

How to use CSR to attract talent KUWAIT: Have you incorporated corporate social responsibility (CSR) into your business strategy but you’re still wondering about why employees aren’t knocking down your door?

Don’t be surprised; this in fact, is a question that many employers ask themselves. Here the HR experts at Bayt.com, the Middle East’s #1 Jobsite, will help you find ways to use CSR to attract and engage talent.

In the grand scheme of things, CSR is still an emerging field, which means that everything from strategy to implementation - is still being tested. What we know, however, is that CSR initiatives reveal the true values of a company.

CSR humanizes your business in ways that other facets of your work cannot; it depicts it as a contributor to society rather than an entity concerned solely with maximizing profits.

Engaging employees in CSR starts at the very beginning A good idea would be to communicate your CSR efforts at all stages of the recruitment process to benefit from its full potential.

1. Attracting talent While you’re fighting to get top talent for your company, make sure to include reference to your CSR efforts everywhere - from your job descriptions and job ads, to interviews, benefits packages, and job offers.

2. Becoming an employer of choice According to the Bayt.com “Employee Motivation in the MENA” survey, January 2013, the majority of MENA companies (59%) are engaged in CSR activities. Being an employer of choice is a reputation you build in your industry to attract top talent. Think about what a potential employee considers before agreeing to join your company. Do you actively serve your community? Does your mission interest and attract the people you most want to recruit?

Employees feel a greater sense of pride and purpose working for an employer that is publicly committed to altruism, particularly when the causes the company is committed to are in-line with theirs, and benefit the

greater community in a tangible manner.

3. Retaining talent Regular CSR communication and initiatives are important to preserve the level of engagement and secure employee buy-in. Employees feel proud of and remain loyal to companies which involve their workforce in CSR initiatives. These activities are not only good for the local community, but also form great opportunities to build teams, boost morale, and enable people to make a difference.

4. Engaging employees This can be done by communicating CSR efforts to employees, seeking their input about where the company should direct its CSR effor ts, celebrating successes with employees along the way and educating employees by offering customized workshops, trainings and educational activities.

After all, what professionals want most is to simply work for a company with values they too believe in. —Bayt.com

Forbes ranks Lulu 3rd most impactful company in Arab world ABU DHABI: Lulu Hypermarket Group has been ranked 3rd in the prestigious “Forbes TOP 100 companies” making an Impact in the Arab world.

Lulu is the only Indian company to be featured in the top 10. At a glittering ceremony held at Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development presented the award to Yusuff Ali MA, Managing Director of Lulu Group which was attended by goverment officials, business-

men and people from all walks of life.

National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia bagged the first position while UAE’s Al Futtaim Group secured the second position. The list covers companies operating in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Lebanon. The main criteria used for ranking are financial results, CSR programmes, global presence, number of subsidiaries, employee strength, and the assessments of independent auditors and Forbes research team.

Nadeem Shafi

Ernst & Young launches new training courses across MENA DUBAI: Ernst & Young has launched new training courses which provide business communities across MENA with a one-stopshop for their training needs. The initiative aims to help businesses improve their performance, reshape their business and sustain their future through a wide range of courses that optimize team skills, and create awareness around new or changing trends in specific industries. All of the courses are run and delivered by the Ernst & Young MENA Training Center which serves as the training hub in the MENA region and are centralized on the recently launched website (www.eytrainingcenter.com).

Nadeem Shafi, MENA Leader, Financial Accounting Advisory Services, Ernst & Young, said: “In today’s testing business environment, high-quality training is a crucial element of innovative talent management, to improve performance and ensure that businesses can respond to challenges.

As organizations are looking to identify and implement employee cost reduction initiatives, they also need to find ways of retaining and developing their top talent.”

The three types of training courses offered are general open-house training, sector-based training and customized/tailored business-specific training solutions.

The open-house training includes technical

and management development content such as courses on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), finance and accounting related courses, professional qualifications (e.g., CPA, ACCA, AAT, FIA, CIMA, CMA, APRM, PRM, CIA and PMP etc.), specialist courses on business process improvement, business valuations, financial and business modelling, risk management, anti-money laundering, competency-based human resources and people development courses as well as many others. The sectorbased training helps businesses to identify the specific new skills and experience needed for their industry.

“The courses are tailor made to the specific needs of each business. Every company has its own priorities, driven by the industry in which it operates, its competitive situation, the products and services it offers, its go-to-market strategies, and the culture of its management and organization,” said Nadeem.

The courses are delivered and conducted by skilled trainers through a range of approaches to suit different learning methods and to cater to busy professionals. These include eLearning enabled classroom sessions, remote learning sessions for individuals, webinars and seminars/group sessions with case studies and discussion topics.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

technology

A new focus on 16th century world view Google, Apple, Facebook looking at mapping apps WASHINGTON: As online titans compete to deliver instant maps to smartphones, the Library of Congress in Washington is focusing attention on an antique “cosmology” printed in 1507 that serves as America’s birth certificate. The black-andwhite map created by Martin Waldseemuller, a French cleric, was the first time the name America had appeared on any map. Waldseemuller was prescient enough to show the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean at a time when no one else in Europe thought they were there.

The map, purchased a decade ago at a cost of $10 million, is the centerpiece of an exhibit at the Library of Congress running through June 22 that features a collection of artifacts from Waldseemuller and his colleagues. It includes later maps that lose faith in Waldseemuller’s vision of America. In a 1516 world map, the Americas are called “ Terra Ultra Incognita” - a faraway unknown country.

Still, the Library of Congress had pursued

Waldseemuller’s mammoth map for more than a century.

It shows two continents across the ocean from Europe, with a skinny isthmus between them, an embryonic Florida peninsula, a western mountain range on the northern continent, and on the southern continent, a clearly lettered name: “America.” These maps are essential for the same reason a smartphone is better with satellite images of Earth, according to Ralph Ehrenberg, chief of the library’s geography and map division: people want to know where they came from.

Waldseemuller’s maps came at a time of geographic exploration, technological advance, societal ferment and expanding communication - a time much like our own, Ehrenberg said in an interview. The new way of communication in 1507 was printing with mechanical type, he said, while “now we have Google Earth, which is a new way of looking at the world today.”

Last week, Google unveiled a map application that the search engine giant said will customize the known world for every user. This competes with Apple’s iMap app and possibly with Facebook, which is creating a map app of its own, as reported by USA Today. “We have a universal need to know where we are on the globe and where we are in the world; it’s one of the things that transcends time and space,” said John Hessler, a library map curator and Waldseemuller expert.

OUT OF GEOGRAPHIC COMFORT ZONE That geographic comfort zone was unsettled in Waldseemuller’s day. His best-known maps were made between 1492, when Christopher Columbus arrived at what he thought was Asia, and 1543, when astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus rocked the Renaissance with his theory that Earth revolved around the Sun, instead of the other way around.

Waldseemuller chose the name America

to honor Florentine navigator Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the east coast of what is now known as South America.

Because other known continents had feminine endings in Latin - Africa, Asia and Europa - he feminized Amerigo to America, said John Hessler, a curator in the library’s geography and map division.

Also on this map, six years before Vasco de Balboa encountered it and 15 years after Columbus’ seminal voyage, is an ocean east of Asia, now known as the Pacific. So how did Waldseemuller know?

He talked about new Portuguese sailing charts, and according to one theory, may have heard the Chinese claim that they had already discovered the Americas.

Hessler discounted this. “He knows it’s a really radical geography,” Hessler said. A map notation reassures viewers that his was an unusual and forward-looking world view.

Mariners, clerics, scholars and noble folk were the only map consumers in Waldseemuller’s time, and maps were

rare because they had to be laboriously printed. Waldseemuller wrote that there were 1,000 copies of his 1507 map; the Library of Congress has the only one known to survive.

Digital technology, satellite navigation and easy data availability now has made maps ubiquitous, said Joseph Kerski, a geographer at Environmental Systems Research Institute in Broomfield, Colorado.

“We’re at a moment in time now where all of a sudden everything we know, everything we touch is being geoenabled,” Kerski said by telephone. Still, the role of maps is essentially unchanged. While most of Earth’s terrain has already been explored, Kerski said, mapping continues into such diverse areas as social networks and microbial activity in soil.

“We may not be exploring new lands per se, but we’re still exploring and maps are still powerful, just as they always have been,” the geographer said. — Reuters

‘Sonic’ video games coming to Nintendo Microsoft expected to unveil new Xbox console

HONG KONG: This picture shows people looking at an electric taxi on a street in Hong Kong. — AFP

Hong Kong launches first electric taxis HONG KONG: Hong Kong saw its first electric taxis hit the streets yesterday in a step towards reducing the city’s high levels of roadside pollution. The 45 bright red cars were launched by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD, which is partly backed by US investment titan Warren Buffett. Called the BYD e6, the five-door crossover sedans are powered by iron phosphate batteries and take two hours to charge, a statement from BYD said, adding that they can then travel for 300 kilometers. The cars have been rented by the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, which is testing them over the next six months. “ The idea of being environmentally friendly is a global trend and the electric car is one good example,” said Wong Chung Keung, president and chairman of the association. “An electric car saves the cost of fuel and will allow our taxi drivers to earn

more,” he added, saying that a normal taxi would cost HK$0.8 (10 US cents) to run per kilometer (0.6 miles) while an electric car would cost HK$0.2-HK$0.3.

He called for more charging stations around the city to encourage taxi drivers to go electric-BYD said it is setting up 47 chargers in nine charging locations near car parks.

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang was quoted in a BYD statement as welcoming the electric car and saying he was committed to “promoting environmental sustainability by laying the foundation for Hong Kong to become a zero emissions city”. The government announced revisions to its air quality objectives for the first time in 25 years in January 2012, after University of Hong Kong research showed pollutionrelated illnesses killed more than 3,000 residents a year. — AFP

Yahoo Japan suspects 22 million IDs stolen TOKYO: Yahoo Japan Corp has said it suspects up to 22 million user IDs may have been stolen during an unauthorized attempt to access the administrative system of its Yahoo! Japan portal. “We don’t know if the file (of 22 million user IDs) was leaded or not, but we can’t deny the possibility given the volume of traffic between our server and external” terminals, the company said in a statement late Friday.

The information did not include passwords and the kind of data necessary to verify a user’s identity or reset passwords, it said, adding that the company had updated its security measures to prevent a repeat of the incident. Yahoo Japan is 35.5 percent held by Japan’s mobile phone operator SoftBank, and 34.7 percent held by US Internet giant Yahoo! Inc. Its popular portal Yahoo! Japan holds

the top search engine position in Japan with a more than 50 percent market share, compared with around 40 percent for rival Google. In 2011, Sony said information such as usernames, passwords and birth dates of more than 100 million people may have been compromised after hackers struck the PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment services.

Japan acknowledges that its preventive measures against cyber attacks remain underdeveloped, with the national police agency having announced this month it would launch a team to analyze and combat cyberattacks. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said last month that information related to the International Space Station may have been leaked during an unauthorized attempt to access its system. — AFP

VIRGINIA: A dog and ferret smell each other during the 5th annual BlogPaws 2013 conference May 16, 2013 in Tysons Corner, Virginia. BlogPaws organized the conference for pet bloggers and their pets to gather and meet, attend workshops and view products. — AFP

LOS ANGELES: Sonic the Hedgehog is rolling with Nintendo. Sega says it will exclusively release the next three games starring the popular blue critter on Nintendo platforms. The first title will be called “Sonic Lost World” and is set for release on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS later this year. “With ‘Sonic Lost World,’ we’re going to introduce new gameplay and enemies, which is always fun,” said John Cheng, president and chief operating officer of Sega of America Inc. “In terms of Sonic and his friends, he’ll have his same friends there, and I think there’ll be some new ones as well. It’s not a reiteration. It’s going to be all new.”

The original fast-paced side-scrolling “Sonic the Hedgehog” debuted in 1991. The twirling, ring-hoarding hedgehog became Sega’s mascot and a video-game icon rivaling the likes of Mario and Pac-Man. While his recent interactive exploits haven’t achieved the same level of success as previous “Sonic” outings, the character has remained a presence in pop culture, appearing in cartoons, downloadable games and the Disney film “Wreck-It Ralph.” “The onetime rivalry between Mario and Sonic has grown into a friendship that has never been closer,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime in a statement.

“These announcements in conjunction with Sega demonstrate the commitment we have to bringing great games to the Wii U platform, and set the stage for our upcoming announcements at E3.” Sonic has competed against Nintendo Co.’s mustachioed spokesman Mario since 2007 in the “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games” mini-game

This image shows Sonic (left) and sidekick, Tails, in the 2006 video game “Sonic the Hedgehog,” for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. — AP series. Cheng said the characters would be back for more match-ups in “Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.” Over the past 22 years, Sonic and his friends have starred in dozens of games, including the hallmark 1992 sequel “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” 1997 3-D racer “Sonic R,” 2002 hand-held adventure “Sonic Advance” and 2011 anniversary mash-up “Sonic Generations.” Sega says more than 75 million games and smartphone apps featuring Sonic have been sold worldwide. After the publisher

stopped producing its own game consoles in 2001, Sega began releasing “Sonic” games for other systems, including Sony Corp.’s PlayStation and Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox. Microsoft is expected to unveil a new Xbox console at an event in Seattle next week, following Sony’s tease of the forthcoming PlayStation 4 earlier this year in New York. Last fall, Nintendo launched the next generation of gaming consoles with the Wii U, which comes with a tabletlike controller called the GamePad. — AP

Companies launch cyber ‘war’ games to prepare for hackers CALIFORNIA: Clusters of corporate techies hunched over their laptops one recent evening in Mountain View, Calif., feverishly trying to figure out how RK Industries hacked into and stole critical information from its rival, EntraDyn. It’s a common occurrence, but in this case the firms were fictitious, and the event a simulated exercise put on by security firm Symantec - featured rock music, a buffet and an open bar for the participants.

Even so, it had a serious purpose: Increasingly under Internet attack, more and more businesses are

using “cyberwar games” to learn how to spot and counter the tricky tactics used by hackers. “It keeps you on your toes,” said Michael Scheck, an information security investigations manager at Cisco Systems, which hosts its own war games and takes part in others. In the fast-evolving combat with computer-savvy antagonists, he said, “you have to play cat and mouse.”

Getting bested by the bad guys can be expensive. A study sponsored by Hewlett-Packard last year concluded the average cost of a cyberattack on a US company was

Meteoroid impact triggers bright flash on the moon CAPE CANAVERAL: An automated telescope monitoring the moon has captured images of an 88-pound rock slamming into the lunar surface, creating a bright flash of light, NASA scientists said on Friday. The explosion on March 17 was the biggest seen since NASA began watching the moon for meteoroid impacts about eight years ago. So far, more than 300 strikes have been recorded. “It exploded in a flash nearly 10 times as bright as anything we’ve ever seen before,” Bill Cooke, with NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, said in a statement.

A NASA satellite orbiting the moon is now on a hunt for the newly formed crater, which scientists estimate could be as wide as 66 feet (20 meters). The flash was so bright that anyone looking at the moon at the moment of impact could have seen it without a telescope, NASA said. After reviewing digital recordings made by one of the program’s telescopes, scientists determined the space rock was about 1 foot (0.3 meters) in diameter, and traveling about 56,000 mph (90,123 kph)

when it slammed into the moon and exploded with the force of five tons of TNT. That same night, cameras detected an unusually high number of meteors blasting through Earth’s atmosphere as well. Most meteors burn up well before reaching the ground. But not always. In February, an asteroid estimated to be about 66 feet in diameter exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, damaging buildings and shattering glass, leaving more than 1,500 injured. It was the largest object to strike Earth since 1908.

“The Russian fireball was many orders of magnitude larger and possessed 100,000 times more energy,” than the lunar impact, Cooke wrote in an email to Reuters.

He believes the lunar impact and the March 17 meteor shower on Earth are related, the result of both bodies traveling together through a region of space sprinkled with small rocks and dust. “We’ll be keeping an eye out for signs of a repeat performance next year when the Earth-moon system passes through the same region of space,” Cooke said. — Reuters

$591,780 - and rising. In response, companies are sending their employees to so-called cyberranges and other venues to engage in make-believe hacking scenarios.

In a survey of about 1,400 businesses last year, management consultant McKinsey & Co said it found that 3 percent of them had conducted “cyberwar games to help ensure they are ready to manage a cyberattack.”

McKinsey wouldn’t identify the respondents, but noted that “most were in high tech and financial services.” Although several of those attending Symantec’s event at the Computer History Museum didn’t want their employers identified, companies represented there included Intel Corp subsidiary Wind River Systems, Tesla Motors Inc. and Google Inc. Many firms also routinely test their ability to withstand attacks, including utility Pacific Gas & Electric.

Using employees he calls “my ninjas” who periodically attempt to hack into the utility, James Sample, its chief information security officer, said “we do mock-up scenarios” to assess the company’s vulnerability to cyberattacks. Firms find the war games especially helpful, where they compete against other companies to see who can best respond to hypothetical cyber incursions.

Mountain View-based Symantec, which sells widely used Norton antivirus software, puts on these “cyber readiness challenges” worldwide. It contends the games help participants think like hackers, so they can better recognize and respond to their corporations’ vulnerabilities. “Every day you hear about new attacks,” said Samir Kapuria, Symantec’s vice president of business strategy and security intelligence.

“What we try to do is take that knowledge of what’s happening to companies and organizations around the world, and weave that into the scenarios.” That way, he added, they can “hone their skills so

the first time they are up against something, it’s actually something they’ve practiced.” In Symantec’s virtual contest, which was akin to a video game, participants were given hints that helped them hack into the fictional RK Industries and figure out what RK stole from EntraDyn. “Think of it as a giant scavenger hunt, where you are given a riddle or clue about how to find something,” said Josh Chin, executive director of Southern California-based Net Force, who placed third in the competition.

Besides teaching him how to better guard his client’s data, he said, such exercises offer a way to “show how good you are” when pitted against other security experts.

During an earlier challenge Symantec hosted for its own employees, one grandstanding prankster even surreptitiously hacked into the game’s scoreboard, according to spokeswoman Pamela Reese. She said she wasn’t sure what the person was up to, but figured it was “either to improve their score or mess around with players’ names.”

Cisco’s Scheck said his company also has taken part in war games put on by the US Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, some of which had the businesses work together to blunt cyberattacks. That’s been helpful, he said, because to counter sophisticated and organized hackers, “corporations are realizing they need to share more information with each other to make life more difficult for their adversaries.” Finding skilled workers for that fight is another priority.

In March, Cisco, Workday, McAfee, PG&E and other companies sponsored a cyberwar game in Pomona for college students, during which several of the firms recruited the players for their security departments, according to Daniel Manson, a computer information systems professor who helped organize the event. —MCT

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

AIDS science at 30 ‘Cure’ now part of lexicon

BEIJING: Chinese former vice health minister Huang Jiefu, right, speaks during a press conference on the China’s human organ transplant system at the Health Ministry office in Beijing Friday. — AP

Cultural attitudes impede organ donations in China BEIJING: China is phasing out its reliance on executed prisoners for donated organs, but an architect of the country’s transplant system said Friday that ingrained cultural attitudes are impeding the rise of donations among the general population.

Almost all donated organs in China used to come from executed prisoners. A growing proportion now come from ordinary people, but the government is seeking to eliminate prisoner donations altogether.

However, former vice health minister Huang Jiefu said Friday that there was little hope of changing a requirement that family members give consent before organs are donated, even if a person had expressed a desire to donate.

“China is a Confucian society. It’s strongly hierarchical and the family’s concerns usually trump those of the individual,” said Huang, presently a leader of the national legislature’s top advisory body. An objection from even one family member can block a donation, he said.

Chinese have traditionally held that a person’s body should be interred intact, and while such attitudes are gradually changing, they remain strong among older Chinese.

At the same time, China is cutting down on its reliance on executed prisoners for organs - a practice that Huang called “profit-driven, unethical and violating human rights.”

Critics have long claimed that standard

safeguards were often ignored in the case of obtaining organs from prisoners who may have been pressured to donate.

The use of prisoners’ organs was also seen as causing an artificial shortfall in the number of organs available by impeding the promotion of donating among the public as a whole.

China suffers from an acute shortage of available organs and Huang said only about 10,000 of the 300,000 Chinese suffering from liver disease will be able to receive transplants. He hopes to raise that number to 100,000 over time. Another 1 million people suffer from kidney ailments, but many can be sustained for lengthy periods on dialysis machines.

China considers the number of annual executions a secret, but most observers estimate the number at 6,000-8,000. It isn’t known what proportion of those executed agree to donate their organs.

However, 5,009 liver and kidney transplants performed last year used organs from executed prisoners, out of a total of 7,882 such operations, according to the Health Ministry. By contrast, 2,960 of 2,997 liver transplants performed in 2005 used organs from executed prisoners. Huang reiterated a projection that reliance on prisoners will be eliminated within about two years of the launch of the nationwide donor network in February. — AP

New case of SARS-like virus in Saudi Arabia RIYADH: A new case of the deadly coronavirus has been detected in Saudi Arabia where 15 people have already died after contracting it, the health ministr y announced yesterday on its Internet website.

“One new case of novel coronavirus recorded in the Eastern Region” where most of the kingdom’s cases have been registered, said the ministry, which this week created a special web page dedicated to the outbreak. “One case of coronavirus has been recorded in the Eastern Region, and he is now under the medical healthcare receiving the proper treatment,” the web page in English reported.

The latest case takes to 31 the number of officially recorded cases of the virus in the oil-rich Gulf kingdom since September. Fifteen of those have died.

On Wednesday, the Geneva-based World Health Organization reported that two Saudi health workers have contract-

ed the deadly coronavirus from patientsthe first evidence of transmission in a hospital setting. “ This is the first time health care workers have been diagnosed with nCoV (novel coronavirus) infection after exposure to patients,” the WHO said in a statement.

Since last September, the WHO says it has been informed of a global total of 40 laboratory confirmed cases of the virus, including 20 deaths. While the virus has been deadliest in Saudi Arabia, cases have also been reported in Jordan, Qatar, Germany, Britain and France, where two patients are now in hospital in the northern city of Lille. The virus is a cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which triggered a scare 10 years ago when it erupted in east Asia, leaping to humans from animal hosts and eventually killing some 800 people. — AFP

New Xbox more than a game console SAN FRANCISCO/SEATTLE: Microsoft Corp is set to make a splash this week with the eagerly awaited unveiling of its new Xbox game console, eight years after the last version, as it seeks a larger share of the $65 billion a year global computer gaming industry.

But the small device faces some big competition from the PlayStation 4 by Sony Corp and the Wii U by Nintendo Co Ltd in a shifting market.Gamers are gravitating to online play - suggesting the hey-day of console games are over while Microsoft wants its sleek new toy to finally cross the bridge to the mainstream and become the family’s entertainment center.

“Core gamers are very hungry for a new machine but the difference between 2005 and now is that the stakes are so much higher,” said Ryan McCaffrey, executive editor at entertainment website IGN.com, harking back to Microsoft’s last Xbox release. “The entire Xbox experiment from Microsoft was for it to be the center piece of your living room.”

To that end, industry-watchers are expecting a raft of improvements from the new Xbox, when Microsoft unveils it at its Redmond, Washington, headquarters on Tuesday, from closer integration with the TV and link-ups with mobile devices to access to new and even exclusive content.

Console gaming still takes the lion’s share of a growing gaming market about 42 percent of the $65 billion world market, according to Microsoft. But playing games on smartphones and tablets, or as an offshoot to online social net-

works, is gaining ground fast. Console sales have been in decline for the last four years, chiefly because of aging devices, but the first of the new generation of machines has not reignited the sector. Nintendo’s Wii U, launched in November, had sold only 3.45 million units through the end of March, well below the company’s initial forecast of 5.5 million. Hopes for Sony’s PS4, teased in March, are low key. “The next wave crest isn’t as high as the previous one,” said Lewis Ward, research manager at International Data Corp, who calculates that about 250 million Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii units were sold between 2005 and 2012.

“I do think that consoles as a product category have peaked and the next gen devices won’t match those totals,” he said.

The Xbox itself is not a key financial factor for the world’s largest software maker. Its Entertainment & Devices unit is set to break $10 billion in sales for the first time this year, but that’s half the sales of its Windows unit, and a lot less profitable, averaging less than 15 percent margin compared to 60 percent or higher for Windows or Office.

The company has more than 46 million members who subscribe to its online gaming and digital entertainment service Xbox Live, but that’s still a fraction of the people who pay for its software.

However, the Xbox is still a key weapon in Microsoft’s strategic battle with Google Inc, Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc and others for a central place in consumers’ lives. — Reuters

PARIS: Big names in medicine are set to give an upbeat assessment of the war on AIDS on Tuesday, 30 years after French researchers identified the virus that causes the disease.

Scientists will pay tribute to the astonishing success of AIDS drugs and highlight steps being taken towards a cure-a goal once deemed all but out of reach.

Entitled “Imagine the Future,” the three-day conference builds on the 30th anniversary on Monday of the isolation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV ). The Nobel-winning achievement, by a team led by Luc Montagnier of France’s Pasteur Institute, unmasked a killer.

Then began the drive to treat the disease and halt its spread. “The discovery of HIV in 1983 and the proof that it was the cause of AIDS in 1984 were the first major scientific breakthroughs that provided a specific target for blood-screening tests and opened the doorway to the development of antiretroviral medications,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Introduced in 1996, after many years of frantic drug research, antiretrovirals are saving the lives of millions of people infected with HIV and helping to contain the virus’ spread, Fauci said in an email. By suppressing viral levels, antiretrovirals can prevent HIV being transmitted by pregnant women to their unborn children, and by infected people to their sexual partners.

But there have also been setbacks, particularly in the quest for a vaccine.

Only last month, US authorities halted the latest clinical trial-launched in 2009 — after the prototype formula failed to prevent infection.

Finding antibodies that are able to identify the slippery, mutating virus has proven to be almost as hard as the proverbial search for a needle in a haystack.

“Vaccine research continues to suffer from setbacks-but pursue a vaccine we must if we are to truly see the end of AIDS,” said Adeeba Kamarulzaman, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Malaya, who will cochair a global conference on AIDS science in Kuala Lumpur in June.

Counter-intuitively, the main hope nowadays seems to rest on a cure. Three years ago, Francoise Barre-Sinoussi-a 2008 Nobel co-recipient with Montagnier-mapped a strategy for attacking HIV’s “reservoir.”

This is the cellular bolthole where the virus lurks after being pounded with antiretrovirals.

Once the drugs are stopped, the virus re emerges and spreads once more through the bloodstream. “The great challenge will be to fully understand where the virus hides, how it manages to stay hidden so effectively and how to

lure it out of its hiding place. We’ve learnt a lot about this in the past few years,” said Sharon Lewin, a professor at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

‘Functional cure’- Lewin is part of a team cautiously experimenting with an anti-cancer drug to flush out the virus that destroys the immune system and exposes infected people to pneumonia, TB, and other opportunistic diseases.

In trials on 20 patients, the cancer drug awoke the dormant virus in 90 percent of volunteers. The ultimate goal is to kill the newlyexposed virus, leaving the cell it hid in to die eventually of old age.

“We do have drugs that seem to wake up the virus but these are only the first steps in ultimately clearing it out completely,” said Lewin.

Two other small studies using antiretrovirals at a very early stage of infection, before viral levels build up, have excited hopes of a “functional cure.” One involved a baby in Mississippi, apparently cleared of the virus after being given aggressive antiretroviral treatment within 30 hours of birth. “It is certainly a very exciting finding, but this is only a single case and additional studies are needed to determine whether the circumstances of this particular case can be replicated among other HIV-exposed children,”

said Fauci. The other is a small French study of 14 HIV patients, known as the VISCONTI cohort, given drugs very soon-within 10 weeks-after infection. Treatment normally starts only once the immune system becomes compromised, sometimes years after infection.

The VISCONTI group stopped taking the daily drugs after about three years, and have remained healthy.

And crucially, none of the individuals are among that rare group of people fewer than one percent of the population-who seem able to naturally stave off HIV and are known as “natural” or “elite controllers.” AIDS has killed 30 million people. An estimated 34 million people are infected with HIV worldwide, and about 1.8 million die every year. A year after the Montagnier team’s historic publication in Science on May 20, 1983, a team led by Robert Gallo of the United States published similar findings-triggering an acrimonious debate with research funding and prestige at stake.

It turned out that Gallo had worked on a viral sample originally sent to him by Montagnier.

Credit for isolating HIV thus went to the French team, but Gallo was recognized for determining that the virus caused AIDS, something the Montagnier study was not clear on. — AFP

PARIS, France: Activists of Act Up gay organisation stand by a “Wall of homophobs” displaying portraits of national and international public personnalities on May 17, 2013 in Paris, as part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Words on the wall read “AIDS. Homophobia kills”. —AFP

US health reforms penalize some Indians SAN FRANCISCO: When Liz DeRouen needs any kind of health care services, from diabetes counseling to a dental cleaning, she checks into a government-funded clinic in Northern California’s wine country that covers all her medical needs. Her care and the medical services for her children and grandchildren are paid for as part of the government’s treaty obligations to American Indian tribes dating back nearly a century. But under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, DeRouen and tens of thousands of others who identify as Native American will face a new reality. They will have to buy their own health insurance policies or pay a $695 fine from the Internal Revenue Service unless they can prove that they are “Indian enough” to claim one of the few exemptions allowed under the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that all Americans carry insurance.

“I’m no less Indian than I was yesterday, and just because the definition of who is Indian got changed in the law doesn’t mean that it’s fair for people to be penalized,” said DeRouen, a former tribal administrator for the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians who lost her membership amid a leadership dispute in 2009. “If I suddenly have to pay for my own health insurance to avoid the fine, I won’t be able to afford it.”

The Affordable Care Act takes a narrow view of who is considered American Indian and can avoid the tax penalty, which will reach a minimum of $695 when fully phased in.

It limits the definition to those who

can document their membership in one of about 560 tribes recognized by the US Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Yet more than 100 tribes nationwide are recognized only by states and not the federal government.

Many tribes do not allow their members to enroll before they are 18, meaning some school-age children whose parents are American Indian might not be considered “Indian” under the definition in the act.

Other tribal governments have complicated blood-quantum requirements or rules that all members must live on the reservation, even though nearly two-thirds of American Indians and Alaska Natives now live in metropolitan areas, partly a legacy of federal relocation and adoption programs.

The definition of Indian in the Affordable Care Act is roiling emotions on reservations and in native enclaves across the country, but US Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Erin Shields said the agency is powerless to change it without an act of Congress. The problem is so new that the federal government is still seeking to establish how many people might be affected, although Indian health advocacy groups estimate it could be up to 480,000.

In California alone, about 21,000 people who currently receive free health care through Indian clinics are not recognized as Native American by the federal government and would have to pay the penalty, according to the nonprofit California Rural Indian Health Board.

“We have and will continue to

FORT PIERCE: A bulldozer is used to push sand from a discharge pipe into place during a federally funded shore protection project by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock on Friday in Fort Pierce, Florida. As cities along the East Coast prepare for the start of the hurricane season, officials say the area encompassing Fort Pierce beach has been in dire need of repair since Hurricane Sandy last year made worse an area already suffering significantly from erosion. — AFP

encourage a robust dialogue with American Indian and Alaska Native communities about this matter, and welcome their input and ideas for solutions,” Shields said in a statement to The Associated Press.

“Under the law, it would require a legislative rather than regulatory change to address this matter. And as we consider approaches to the best possible solution, we are eager to work with Congress.”

The IRS is working with the definition but has not yet decided how the agency will verify who qualifies as Indian or assess the penalty on tax returns, agency spokesman Eric Smith said. The IRS and U.S. Treasury have scheduled a May 29 public hearing on their proposed rules establishing who qualifies for an exemption from the insurance coverage requirement.

Republican Rep. Tom Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma and one of just two federal legislators who are members of a federally recognized tribe, said he was aware of the concerns and would ensure that care for native people was not compromised as the health overhaul rolls out. He declined to comment about whether he would sponsor a bill to address the issue.

“This could lead to some tribal citizens being required to purchase insurance or face penalties even though they are covered by IHS,” he said in a statement to The Associated Press, referring to the federal Indian Health Service. “I am watching the situation closely to ensure that those individuals already benefiting from care through IHS continue to receive it.”

The 2010 Census found that nearly one-third of the 6.2 million people who self-identify as American Indian or Alaska Native lack health insurance and that 28 percent live in poverty.

The Indian Health Service, a division of US Health and Human Services, oversees a network of clinics that are required to serve all patients of Indian ancestry, even if they cannot document their federal tribal status.

One of those is the clinic in Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco, where DeRouen, 49, has been seen since she was a little girl. Molin Malicay, who directs the Sonoma County Indian Health Project, estimates DeRouen is among roughly 2,000 of his patients who would face the penalty. “In the clinics in Central and Northern California, we see many of us Indians who are not considered Indians in the eyes of the federal government because the government itself terminated their tribes,” Malicay said.

“We’re trying to get some of

these people covered for care under Medicaid, but there is still so much confusion in the pamphlets and videos about who is Indian (that) it makes it hard to give advice.”

Several members of the main tribal advisory group to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a recent conference call with the agency that the definition contained in the Affordable Care Act raises concerns that the US could renege on its obligation to provide all people of Indian ancestry with free health care. Budget cuts already are set to reduce basic federal health programs for Indians by up to 8 percent.

Some tribal elders who favor tighter restrictions on who gets to identify as Native American see it another way. Mychal Eaglefeathers, a 34-year-old member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation in southeastern Montana, said several elders he spoke with believe that allowing only members of federally recognized tribes to avoid the individual insurance mandate was a positive step, especially as the already strapped Indian Health Service clinics are forced to slash services. “Especially the elders I’ve talked to say as long as you’re recognized, fine. But if you’re not federally recognized, people shouldn’t get nothing,” he said.

Valerie Davidson, a senior director at the Anchorage-based Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, estimates that about one-third of the 140,000 Alaska Native population would have to pay the health care penalty. That includes her nieces and nephews from the largely Yup’ik Eskimo region, comprised of tiny villages only accessible by plane or boat.

She raises the possibility that native people would have to get extra documentation to prove they qualify. People have historically been able to use their federal tribal blood-quantum cards to get IHS health services, but that alone is no longer enough to qualify for the tax exemption under the Affordable Care Act, she said.

In addition, many Alaska Natives who were born after December 1971 are prohibited from enrolling in their families’ tribal corporations, even if all four grandparents are Alaska Native, she added.

“Are America’s first people really being forced yet again to prove our Indian-ness?” she said through tears on a recent conference call with federal agencies. “Every single day in our own communities we have to fight to demonstrate that we are still here, that we do still exist. We should be believed that what your parents and grandparents say you are, you are.” — AP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

H E A LT H & S C I E N C E

NASA: New pump resolves big space station leak CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: An impromptu spacewalk over the weekend seems to have fixed a big ammonia leak at the International Space Station, NASA said.

The “gusher” erupted a week ago, prompting the hastiest repair job ever by residents of the orbiting lab. Spacewalking astronauts replaced a suspect ammonia pump on Saturday, just two days after the trouble arose. NASA is now calling the old, removed pump “Mr Leaky,” said flight controller Anthony Vareha. “Right now, we’re feeling pretty good. We definitely got the big leak,” Vareha said in a NASA broadcast from Mission Control in Houston.

Vareha said engineers don’t know whether the pump replacement also took care of a smaller leak that has plagued the system for years. It will take at least a couple months of monitoring to know the full status.

Ammonia is used as a coolant in the space station’s radiator system. The leak forced one of the station’s seven power channels to go offline.

NASA hopes to resume normal operations early next week, following computer software updates. One of the spacewalkers, NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn, is now back on Earth.

He returned this week aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, ending a five-month mission. The other spacewalker, Christopher Cassidy, a recent arrival, spent Thursday chatting with three of the actors and a writer-producer of the newest Star

Rising consumer demands aids organic industry sway

NASA’s US astronaut Karen Nyberg is seen inside of the space capsule as she takes part in preflight training at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome on Friday. NASA’s US astronaut Karen Nyberg, Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and European Space Agency (ESA) Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano are scheduled to blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur cosmodrome on May 29. — AFP Trek movie, “Star Trek into Darkness.” The film was beamed up to the space station a few days before its US opening in theaters Thursday.

Cassidy watched the first half-hour of the movie while he was exercising Thursday morn-

ing and offered a stellar review. “I was riveted as you’re racing through the woods and jumping off cliffs,” he told the actors. “I won’t spoil the rest of the movie for anybody who hasn’t seen it. But pretty cool scenes.” —AP

WASHINGTON: The organic food industry is gaining influence on Capitol Hill, prompted by its entry into traditional farm states and by increasing consumer demand. That’s not going over well with everyone in Congress. Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a latenight House Agriculture Committee debate on farm legislation that for decades has propped up traditional crops and largely ignored organics. When Rep Kurt Schrader, a former organic farmer, offered an amendment to make it easier for organic companies to organize industry-wide promotional campaigns, there was swift backlash from some farm-state Republicans.

One lawmaker said he didn’t want to see the industry get a free ride and a second complained about organics’ “continued assault on agriculture.” “That’s one of the things that has caught me and raises my concerns, is that industry’s lack of respect for traditional agriculture,” said

Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. He was referring to some organic companies’ efforts to reduce the number of genetically modified crops in the marketplace.

At the same time, Scott acknowledged that he and his wife buy organic foods.

Growing consumer interest in organics has proved tough for some Republicans on the committee to ignore. Eight Republicans, most of them newer members of the committee, joined with all of the committee’s Democrats in supporting the amendment, which was adopted 2917. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, a Missouri Republican who owns a farm equipment business and a corn and soybean farm, said she supported the amendment not only because helping organics is good for agriculture but because many of her constituents eat organic foods. “Organics are a niche market in agriculture with a growing market share, so it makes sense for me to allow farmers to invest some of their own funds to promote their products,” she said. —AP

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Indonesia holds table-top event to promote tourism

SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

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hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! Let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Announcements 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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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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By Sajeev K Peter

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ndonesian Embassy, Kuwait in collaboration with the Indonesian ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy hosted a table-top event at J W Marriott Hotel on the occasion the country’s participation in Kuwait Travel Mart. Indonesian Ambassador Ferry Adamhar addressed the tourism officials from Indonesia, ambassadors from foreign missions in Kuwait, travel agency officials and other guests.

Fikdanel Thaufik, Garuda Indonesia General Manager, Saudi Arabia and Middle East, spoke on the occasion.

Representatives from four Indonesian travel companies attended the sessions. Over 38 Kuwait travel companies joined the event and exchanged views with the Indonesia travel companies.

A video was shown on the occasion demonstrating Indonesia’s rich tourism potential in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara (Komodo Island). Another video that profiled Garuda Indonesia

Airways and outlined its plan to buy 10 of the newest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to strengthen its armada.

A raffle draw was held and two grand prizes were given away to two from Kuwaiti companies.

The grand prizes were round-trip tickets from Abu Dhabi-Jakarta-Bali on Garuda Indonesia. Many more souvenirs were given away by the Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia to the guests. To add more festivities to the event, tradi-

tional dancers from Indra Group danceNandak Ganjen dance from Betawi, Jakarta, a dance about a group of young ladies - performed to the delight of the guests.

—Photos by Joseph Shagra

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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IMAX

IMAX film program SUNDAY ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups Tornado Alley 3D10:30am, 6:30pm, 9:30pm To The Arctic 3D 11:30am, 8:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 12:30pm, 5:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 7:30pm

Kuwait fire department holds open day

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Under the patronage of Fire Department Director Lt. General Yousuf AlAnsari the marine fire had its open day under the slogan “your safety...by wearing it” at Marine Fire Center in Ras Al-Ardh to educate citizens and expat about their diving safety this summer season.

Fire center director Colonel Taraq Al-Sabti said the Marine Fire Dept. is getting ready for the summer season, due to the increasing number of those who go fishing and leisure trips in the sea and the dangers which they might face if they ignore safety equipments like fire extinguishers, safety jackets, and to be sure of the safety and readiness of their boats and be sure of the weather before getting into the sea.

NBK welcomes students from Abdullateef Al Dayeen School

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Dr Nuna Goel presents trophy to the winners at the British School of Kuwait, Salwa, during the basketball championship for boys and girls organized by Indian Youth Society, Friday, May 17, 2013.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

ational Bank of Kuwait (NBK) hosted a group of students from Abdullateef Al Dayeen Primary School. The students toured the bank’s head office to learn firsthand about the banking industry and the day-to-day work environment at the bank various departments.

NBK Public Relations team received the visiting group of students and treated them to a familiarization tour of the various departments, including the main banking hall. Students showed great interest with the broad-spectrum of NBK financial and banking products and services and were particularly inquisitive about the multi-benefit Al -Azraq and Al-Shabab Al-Watani accounts, exclusively designed for high schools, colleagues and university students.

Commenting on the conclusion of the visit, the students expressed their sincere thanks for NBK and the opportunity they have been given to gain a better understanding of the banking job and get a personal insight about NBK and the career field in general.

Organizing frequent visits for students and providing regular support for educational institutions in Kuwait has always been a major component of NBK’s social responsibility and strong commitment towards the greater community in general and the young generation in particular.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

W H AT ’ S O N

Embassy

Sebamed on Instagram

Fabio Canavaro, Captain of the Italian World Cup winning team met players and officials from the Premier Goal Academy in association with Everton F.C. at Go Sport in Kuwait. Go Sport are sponsoring all the matches and training footballers along with the latest coaching equipment at P.G.A. Everton, supporting Kuwait’s No.1 Community Football Coaching Program, under the patronage of the British Ambassador, Frank Baker. The P.G.A. summer program will commence Friday 24th May at Bayan, running six nights a week from 5.30-8.30pm until July 3rd.

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.

Your destination in Abu Halifa for tastiest Italian cuisine

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riomilane, as reflected in its name, offers you Italian dining at its finest. With its distinct European decor, its relaxed Mediterranean ambience and scrumptious fusion dishes that blend the best of Roman, Sicilian, Greek flavours, with an emphasis on the tastes of the Gulf, the restaurant delivers an exquisite dining experience.

Styled uniquely on European lines by a specially appointed Russian designer, the interior of Oriomilane is refreshingly distinct. The ambience reflects a genuine Italian ristorante - sophisticated, trendy and vibrant, while at the same time retaining a relaxed, informal and laid-back atmosphere that attracts customers of all ages and from all walks of life.

Oriomilane promises you a journey into the heart of Milan that will entice your senses and refresh you with its relaxing and comforting surroundings. The restaurant’s eclectic fusion fare is rooted in its ethnic ingredients and unusual combinations that emphasize flavours and subtlety. The ingredients are sourced directly from Italy and carefully crafted by the professional and innovative chefs at Oriomilane into dishes that reproduce the genuine flavours and tastes of Italy, expertly tailored to cater to discerning local palates.

Dishes like panettone and saffron risotto are considered a culinary symbol of Milan and saffron risotto has special significance to the city. Legend has it that, in 1574, the young assistant of Master Valerio of Flanders was so passionate about saffron that he used it in every dye to add beauty effects to the cathedral his master was building. At Valerio’s daughter’s wedding, the assistant coaxed the chef to add saffron to the

Information

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

main risotto dish to give it a lovely golden yellow colour that became an immediate sensation and set the tradition of ‘risottgiald’, which forever became linked to this magnificent city. Prior to using saffron, the most common seasoning for risotto was butter, with gold leaf used as a decoration. In continuation of this 400 year old tradition, at Oriomilane, you will find the delectable saffron featured in many of our signature dishes.

The perfectionist approach of our chefs in doing their work is nothing less than a testimony of their soul and adds a flavour to our dishes, which instantly touches your heart, and relishes your soul.

The restaurant blends warm and welcoming dÈcor, unrivalled service, and, a finesse and balance of varied ingredients to produce dishes of unmatched quality, serving all of this with a hospitality that is a matter of

pride for us.

Oriomilane is located in Abu Halifa, at the iconic Dome Mall that features a distinctive architectural style and a unique central dome canopy. The Dome Mall, with its high-end shopping arcades, bowling rings, electronic games and an eclectic selection of classy restaurants and cafes, is the latest gathering spot for families and friends in Kuwait. Also situated adjacent to Kuwait Magic, another landmark in the area, Oriomilane is easily accessible from Fahaheel and its suburbs, as well as from Kuwait City along the Coast Road. The restaurant has easy access and ample car parking space.

Come join us for an excursion to Italy that you have always longed for, while relishing our signature Italian fusion dishes that are not only immensely flavourful but also brilliantly creative.

AUK Cooperation Club organizes Umrah trip

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 Cooperation Club at the American University of Kuwait started its activities this semester with a trip to Mecca Al-Mukarramah, supported and sponsored by ArRawafid Estate Company. The students were accompanied by AUK Associate Professor of Management, Dr Aly Mansour, and AUK Safety and Security Coordinator, Nawaf Al-Banai.

In the orientation preceding the trip,

Dr. Mansour spoke to the students about the need for such spiritual trips that would charge them with internal energy. He also praised the Cooperation Club for its active role in conducting activities within the moral and noble values of Islam.

Amongst the activities conducted during the Umrah trip was the distribution of meals to the needy, spiritual lessons promoting devotion and the need

to invest time and energy in worthy causes, as well as a competition to learn Surat “Luqman” (the 31st chapter of the Holy Quran). The Umrah trip participants enjoyed the trip and commended its management and success. This trip is considered the beginning of a series of activities that the Cooperation Club is planning to organize in the future, in line with the Club’s mission to define Islam in terms of creed, acts of worship,

conduct, and morals.

The Cooperation Club is an independent, missionary student organization that aims to raise awareness of Islamic principles, morals, acts of worship and values among the students of the American University of Kuwait through creative projects and programs, as well as, cultural and social activities.

New and exclusive gymnasium brings more benefits to guests at The Regency

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oday more and more business executives see the need to incorporate health and fitness into their busy travel schedules. Recent industry reports have highlighted how hotel guests now prioritize hotels with superior fitness facilities. With this in mind The Regency is delighted to announce the opening of a new and expanded gymnasium to provide its inhouse guests with more opportunities to stay healthy.

Located on the top floor of the five-storey hotel this beautifully designed 200 square metre facility will feature a range of the latest equipment by Precor so whether a guest is looking to improve his or her cardio-vascular performance, burn calories or tone muscles there will be plenty of choice, not forgetting free weights for those who seek to perfect the body beautiful.

Open 24 hours a day, the facility will be segregated to allow men and women complete privacy while working out. Each section is flanked by adjoining mar-

ble washrooms with luxurious amenities. The sweeping reception desk with its golden marble backdrop will form the impressive entry, pastel walls, tall mirrors and spotlights will enhance the guests’ work out experience.

General Manager, Mr. Aurelio Giraudo spoke of his pride in creating yet another high-end facility for The Regency’s esteemed guests: “We recognize our inhouse guests require top-of-the-line exercise facilities and we are therefore delighted to provide them with a brand new and expanded gymnasium, exclusively for their use. To retain exclusivity memberships will not be extended to outside guests. This is just one a number of enhancements we shall be seeing over the next months designed to offer our guests an all-round, international five-star experience”.

The Regency gym will be overseen by qualified male and female personal trainers to ensure optimum benefit and personal safety.

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.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 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

THE WARD 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

WANDERLUST ON OSN CINEMA 17:15 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

00:00 The Ward-18 02:00 Beneath The Darkness-PG15 04:00 Ice Road Terror-PG15 06:00 Killer Mountain-PG15 08:00 True Justice: One Shot, One Life-PG15 10:00 The Presence-PG15 12:00 The Stool Pigeon-PG15 14:00 True Justice: One Shot, One Life-PG15 16:00 Green Lantern-PG15 18:00 The Stool Pigeon-PG15 20:00 Amphibious-18 22:00 AVP: Alien vs Predator-PG15

01:15 Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer-PG 03:00 The People vs George LucasPG15 05:00 Princess Lillifee-FAM 07:00 Second Chances-PG15 09:00 Judy Moody And The Not Bummer Summer-PG 11:00 Espions-PG15 13:00 What’s Wrong With VirginiaPG15 15:00 A Dog Named Duke-PG15 17:00 The Artist-PG 19:00 Return-PG15 21:00 Wanderlust-R 23:00 Werewolf: The Beast Among Us-18

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 SUNDAY, MAY 19, 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)

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 5:30 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 1:00 AM

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)

1:45 PM 4:30 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

SHARQIA-3 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG)

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 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

MUHALAB-3 IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D)

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

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

FANAR-2 PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) FANAR-3 JAVA HEAT (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) AURANGZEB (DIG) (HINDI) JAVA HEAT (DIG) WELCOME TO THE PUNCH (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) 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 MARINA-2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

2:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM 1:00 AM 1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (16/05/2013 TO 22/05/2013) PHANTOM (DIG) PHANTOM (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-3 IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG-3D) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG-3D) IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:15 PM 6:45 PM 9:30 PM 12:15 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) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

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) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

AVENUES-3 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360ยบ- 1 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:30 PM 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) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

360ยบ- 3 JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

1:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:15 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) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 7:15 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 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)

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM

SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG)

12:45 AM

AL-KOUT.3 THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) JAVA HEAT (DIG) NO SUN+ TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:15 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

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

BAIRAQ-3 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) THE CALL (DIG)

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 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

LAILA IRON MAN 3 (DIG) NO WED THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) NO WED STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) NO WED AJIAL.1 EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM) EMMANUEL (DIG) (MALAYALAM) 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 8:00 PM 10:45 PM

6:30 PM 9:30 PM 6:45 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM

AJIAL.3 NERAM (DIG) (TAMIL) NERAM (DIG) (TAMIL)

7:00 PM 10:00 PM

AJIAL.4 AURANGZEB (DIG) (HINDI) AURANGZEB (DIG) (HINDI)

6:45 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

FOR SALE Leaving Kuwait permanently after retirement. All households including fridge, electrical items, jogging machine, furniture etc or full flat on sale. Contact: 99798432. (C 4418) 19-5-2013 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 MATRIMONIAL I am an American Muslim man looking for a Muslim woman from ages of 23 to 33. Please only Muslim woman reply. My email is: ibngrant2000@hotmail.co m (C 4417) 18-5-2013

Prayer timings Fajr: Shorook Duhr: Asr: Maghrib: Isha:

03:23 04:54 11:44 15:20 18:35 20:03

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines BBC QTR RJA THY JZR JZR KAC ETH GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR QTR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC THY CLX DHX FDB BAW FDB UAE ABY JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR QTR FDB IRA ETD IRC GFA MEA UAE MSR THY QTR FDB IRC SVA KNE OMA ETD

Arrival Flights on Sunday 19/5/2013 Flt Route 43 DHAKA 148 DOHA 642 AMMAN 764 SABIHA 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 544 CAIRO 620 ADDIS ABABA 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 382 DELHI 206 ISLAMABAD 332 TRIVANDRUM 412 MANILA 770 ISTANBUL 792 LUXEMBOURG 170 BAHRAIN 69 DUBAI 157 LONDON 53 DUBAI 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 555 ALEXANDRIA 742 DAMMAM 284 DHAKA 672 DUBAI 774 RIYADH 165 DUBAI 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI 6666 AHWAZ 213 BAHRAIN 404 BEIRUT 871 DUBAI 610 CAIRO 766 ISTANBUL 140 DOHA 57 DUBAI 6507 SHIRAZ 500 JEDDAH 472 JEDDAH 645 MUSCAT 307 ABU DHABI

Time 00:05 00:15 01:10 01:40 00:40 00:20 04:10 01:45 01:55 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:15 03:30 07:50 08:05 07:30 07:25 07:55 06:15 04:35 04:55 05:10 05:50 06:30 07:45 08:25 08:50 06:20 13:30 12:05 13:40 13:45 11:35 09:00 09:15 09:20 09:30 10:10 10:40 10:55 12:45 13:00 13:10 13:45 13:50 14:25 14:30 14:35 14:40 21:30

QTR GFA QTR QTR JAI FDB AIC UAL DLH JAI PIA KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JZR JZR JZR QTR RJA ETD SYR UAE ABY GFA SVA UAL QTR FDB GFA AXB MSR JAI AFG OMA FDB ABY MEA KLM ALK UAE JZR JZR JZR JZR THY

136 217 6130 146 576 59 981 981 636 574 205 102 172 166 542 502 674 562 786 514 618 185 787 177 134 640 303 341 857 127 215 510 982 144 63 219 393 606 572 415 647 61 129 402 417 229 859 777 135 239 481 772

DOHA BAHRAIN DOHA DOHA COCHIN DUBAI CHENNAI BAHRAIN FRANKFURT MUMBAI LAHORE NEW YORK FRANKFURT PARIS CAIRO BEIRUT DUBAI AMMAN JEDDAH TEHRAN DOHA DUBAI RIYADH DUBAI DOHA AMMAN ABU DHABI DAMASCUS DUBAI SHARJAH BAHRAIN RIYADH WASHINGTON DC DULLES DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE LUXOR MUMBAI KABUL MUSCAT DUBAI SHARJAH BEIRUT AMSTERDAM COLOMBO DUBAI JEDDAH BAHRAIN AMMAN SABIHA ISTANBUL

21:35 21:45 21:45 22:00 22:05 22:20 22:25 22:40 23:10 23:20 23:40 19:35 21:15 18:40 18:15 18:50 19:25 20:45 18:30 20:50 19:10 22:40 16:15 17:30 15:45 15:55 16:35 16:45 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:25 18:25 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:30 19:35 19:45 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:15 21:05 21:10 21:15 17:50 23:00 22:30 20:10 23:45

Airlines AIC AXB JAI UAL DLH BBC THY THY ETH UAE FDB MSR ETD QTR QTR JZR FDB RJA GFA THY JZR CLX BAW FDB KAC KAC KAC ABY UAE FDB ETD IRA KAC QTR KAC KAC IRC GFA KAC MEA JZR JZR KAC JZR KAC JZR MSR THY UAE FDB

Departure Flights on Sunday 19/5/2013 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 490 MANGALORE 573 MUMBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 44 CHITTAGONG 773 ISTANBUL 765 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 70 DUBAI 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 164 DUBAI 792 GIALAM 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 171 FRANKFURT 117 NEW YORK 671 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 602 SHIRAZ 773 RIYADH 133 DOHA 741 DAMMAM 501 BEIRUT 6667 AHWAZ 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 480 ISTANBUL 103 LONDON 786 RIYADH 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 767 ISTANBUL 872 DUBAI 58 DUBAI

Time 00:05 00:15 00:20 00:25 00:30 01:30 02:20 02:40 02:45 03:45 03:50 04:15 04:20 04:25 05:15 05:35 06:30 06:35 07:00 07:10 07:25 08:15 08:25 08:25 08:55 09:05 09:25 09:30 09:50 09:55 10:15 10:20 10:20 10:25 10:30 11:10 11:10 11:25 11:30 11:55 12:25 12:30 12:30 12:50 13:00 13:20 14:00 14:10 14:15 14:30

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

QTR KAC IRC KAC KNE OMA KAC SVA KAC RJA JZR QTR ETD JZR SYR ABY UAE GFA SVA JZR UAL JZR QTR FDB GFA JZR AXB MSR JAI FDB ABY AFG OMA MEA DHX KLM ETD ALK UAE KAC QTR KAC GFA FDB KAC JAI KAC QTR QTR KAC KAC KAC

141 673 6508 561 473 646 617 503 513 641 238 135 304 538 342 128 858 216 511 184 982 266 145 64 220 134 394 619 571 62 120 415 648 403 171 417 308 230 860 343 137 301 218 60 205 575 351 6131 147 411 283 415

DOHA DUBAI SHIRAZ AMMAN JEDDAH MUSCAT DOHA MADINAH IMAM KHOMEINI AMMAN AMMAN DOHA ABU DHABI CAIRO LATAKIA SHARJAH DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI BAHRAIN BEIRUT DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE ALEXANDRIA MUMBAI DUBAI SHARJAH JEDDAH MUSCAT BEIRUT BAHRAIN DAMMAM ABU DHABI COLOMBO DUBAI CHENNAI DOHA MUMBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI ISLAMABAD KOCHI KOCHI DOHA DOHA BANGKOK DHAKA KUALA LUMPUR

14:55 15:05 15:25 15:30 15:30 15:40 15:45 15:45 16:20 16:55 17:05 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:15 18:20 18:20 18:30 18:40 18:40 19:25 19:35 19:50 20:05 20:15 20:30 20:35 20:40 20:45 20:45 20:55 21:15 21:50 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:15 23:15 23:40 23:45 23:50

34

stars CROSSWORD 194

STAR TRACK Aries (March 21-April 19) After the chores this morning you look for ways to enjoy your work-free day.

You seek deep, meaningful experiences that are photographic moments to ponder. A friend or relative may give you an update of his or her life or drama just to hear your reaction and comments. You enjoy probing and understanding the inner, intimate and philosophical side of life and others like to know your opinion. You can be very helpful without really realizing it. Today is anything but stressful as you enjoy your friends in some group play or competition. You usually attract positive people into your life. Your circle of friends just keeps enlarging and brings about a great deal of pleasure. You could find that you are appreciated more than you thought.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You find it easy to work with others and you tend to pour a lot of interest into those around you. This may not mean you are working, but it could mean you have involved yourself with some neighborhood cleanup program or some other community works. Your home and surroundings reflect your ability to express yourself in light. With your powerful spirit, you enjoy your strong emotions and have an active social life as well.

You are very skilled at working with psychology and the hidden recesses of the mind and may be quite helpful. You would make an excellent psychologist and teacher. You may feel the need to care for others perhaps on a public rather than private level. A volunteer service may be in order now.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

ACROSS 1. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

4. Shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight.

12. Black tropical American cuckoo.

15. A metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters.

16. Of or on or relating to the seashore.

17. (British) Informal term for information.

18. Consider or hold as true.

20. Full of flavor.

21. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

22. English economist noted for his studies of international trade and finance (born in 1907).

25. Using speech rather than writing.

27. A unit of elastance equal to the reciprocal of a farad.

31. Tall grass of New Zealand grown for plumelike flower heads.

33. Drug (trade name Isordil) used to treat angina pectoris and congestive heart failure.

36. An insignia worn to indicate years of service.

40. A column of light (as from a beacon).

41. South American armadillo with three bands of bony plates.

42. Someone who races the luge.

43. Type genus of the Anatidae.

45. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

48. An Indian side dish of yogurt and chopped cucumbers and spices.

49. A high-crowned black cap (usually made of felt or sheepskin) worn by men in Turkey and Iran and the Caucasus.

51. A small cake leavened with yeast.

53. Brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply.

54. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet.

56. (Bible) The archangel who was the messenger of God. 58. An ache localized in the back.

62. English essayist (1775-1834).

63. English economist (born in Austria) noted for work on the optimum allocation of resources (1899-1992).

64. Fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh.

66. An amino acid that is found in the central nervous system.

70. Electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field.

71. Situated at an apex.

73. The principal evil jinni in Islamic mythology.

74. A state of southwestern India.

75. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

77. God of fire.

78. The part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands.

79. The great hall in ancient Persian palaces.

80. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

DOWN 1. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

2. A cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment).

3. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

4. A rare chronic progressive encephalitis caused

by the measles virus and occurring primarily in children and young adults.

5. Made warm or hot.

6. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

7. State categorically.

8. The title of the ancient Egyptian kings.

9. A genus of the cactus family with scarlet flowers.

10. (Greek mythology) Goddess of discord.

11. Having leadership guidance.

12. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

13. A desert in southern Israel.

14. Complacently or inanely foolish.

19. The younger brother of Edwy who became king of Northumbria when it renounced Edwy.

23. A heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances.

24. A deficiency of red blood cells.

26. Plant cultivated for its enlarged fleshy turnipshaped edible stem.

28. (Hindu) A manner of sitting (as in the practice of Yoga).

29. Of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch.

30. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

32. Syndrome resulting from a serious acute (sometimes fatal) infection associated with the presence of staphylococcus.

34. A medicinal drug used to evoke vomiting (especially in cases of drug overdose or poisoning).

35. The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable.

37. A Hindu goddess who releases from sin or disease.

38. Tie again or anew.

39. A village of huts for native Africans in southern Africa.

44. English explorer who with Sir Richard Burton was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika.

46. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

47. Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain.

50. A member of an Indian people formerly living along the Gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas.

52. A large bundle bound for storage or transport.

55. A histamine blocker (trade name Pepcid) used to treat peptic ulcers and gastritis and esophageal reflux.

57. A motley assortment of things.

59. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934).

60. Type genus of Cycadaceae.

61. A member of a seafaring group of North American Indians who lived on the Pacific coast of British Columbia and southwestern Alaska.

65. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

67. Primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves.

68. European twining plant whose flowers are used chiefly to flavor malt liquors.

69. The largest continent with 60% of the earth's population.

72. Liveliness and energy.

76. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

Yours is the most practical of environments. You can manipulate every idea or situation and put it to good use. Others value you for your ability to make practical decisions and you may receive compliments along those lines today. There will be opportunities to do some creative word play with friends or relatives in coming up with some new job opportunities or in giving recommendations to someone that would like a new job idea. Later today, you might decide to walk up or drive over to the nearest golf course, amusement club or park to meet your friends. You could be a bit restless this afternoon and may desire some fun time away from home. Be careful in the choices you make. If you cannot remain objective, remain detached.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You resist change and resent others prying into your personal affairs. You prefer things unchanged but you also know that people, including yourself, need to learn and grow. Self-analysis is an activity that you have learned to enjoy as you have seen yourself achieve more and more accomplishments and attained goals than ever before. You may decide it is time for new goals. Make sure you continue to insert a few short-term goals with the long-range goals. The short-term goals help to build up confidence. You will help a friend this afternoon with some job they have taken upon themselves. You find a creative environment in which to enjoy friends this evening.

Perhaps a comedy club or a dinner playhouse is in the works.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You and your family may decide there is time to take a trip. This revelation may find one or two of you really shuffling around in order to leave at an early hour.

You develop a knack for organizing things and people, as a sense of practicality takes hold.

A new piece of exercise equipment could be purchased today. This afternoon you will be able to spend some relaxing and enjoyable time with loved ones. You may feel unusually affectionate and physical this evening. Perhaps you will enjoy a camping trip before the weather becomes too hot and find the stars overwhelmingly beautiful as you sit beside your sweetheart. Whether you are with family, friends or with your sweetheart, this evening will be pleasant.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You are apt to spend a great deal of time with co-workers and people apart from work this day. Some type of competitive sports or team effort among co-workers is available. You have unwavering support from family members for whatever future plans are in question. Everything conspires to reveal you at your most elegant, particularly in social situations. Innocent flirtations, a movie or theater matinee, or perhaps a stroll through an art gallery is favorably indicated. Watch your budget, but have fun. Chances are also good that you and your partner may be able to work through some things that have been going on under the surface. The mellow feeling this evening is perfect for easing any type of difficult relationship.

Word Search

Libra (September 23-October 22) You are so business oriented; you and your friends could get-together when you are not in a work situation and agree to invest in some project. Plan together and set up the process toward a lucrative venture. A temporary program for this project would be best.

The success, if it were to be kept short-term, is probable and most positive. You are feeling good. This will rub off on the folks around you and you will all have a good time; no matter what the activity. This is the right time to throw a party. This time brings positive thinking, mental stability, good feelings, relaxation and opportunity. This is a good time to make long-range plans, take advantage of further education, take a long-distance trip or take up philosophy or religious studies.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Real insight into your own inner workings or psychology could surface today and in a manageable form. You may be in the mood for deep and penetrating conversations or thoughts. You may be very eloquent or forceful in speaking or communicating. People will understand just what you mean. A new job idea could be to hire teachers or instructors that would train other business employees in a number of technical subjects. This might include software programs, technical style and sales techniques. Find ways in which to nourish another person’s self-esteem today. In turn, you will find your own self-esteem improves. Teach a child to respect his or her own ability to create positive results from his or her actions. Tonight, you enjoy a loved one.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Your timing should be perfect today—those around you will find you to be most intuitive. Communicating with neighbors, friends and family is the focus today. You could find yourself writing letters and making phone calls. Conflicts can be settled through your intelligent comprehension. You can be most persuasive. You have needs and you sense the needs of others; fitting the two together makes everything work well. This is perhaps a good time to catch up on your reading as you have a real appreciation for ideas and views of others. Selling property, collecting money and involving yourself in some sports activity are all favored this afternoon. There are excellent interactions with loved ones tonight.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) CAPRICORN Creative endeavors promote lots of attention and monetary rewards. This may mean you are showing off your talent in an art show or fair of some sort.

You could show great sales ability and meet someone new in the process. This is a good day for ideas. You may receive some recognition or special attention regarding your particular skills and abilities. Friends enjoy your company today as much as you enjoy their friendship. You could be out enjoying some sports-related activity with your friends later today. This evening is a good time to spend with a loved one. Emotions are up and you may even find yourself pondering a bit on the meaning of life. You feel at one with your situation. Generally, this could be a potentially satisfying time.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Elevate your intake of healthy foods and supplements in order to stay alert and clear. You will want to feel good about yourself and the way you do things—this addition to your diet will certainly help. This is the time of the year to get outside and enjoy nature. Create some fun opportunities to do just that—open air and having fun with loved ones can lift everyone’s spirit. Work, health and diet results provide a lot of satisfaction as a new life phase begins. You could be most persuasive with others and expressive in your speech. An exciting relationship is worth your time today. General good feeling and a sense of support and harmony make this a happy time. You may decide to cook up a new recipe this evening.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You may wonder about the motivations of a friend today. Do not close your mind to your friend’s quirks or way of doing things. You should try your best to communicate your needs and desires to friends and relatives so as to avoid misunderstandings. You create positive results from a negative situation today. You enjoy and value your own life situation at this time. A friend will bring you memorable moments of laughter and good conversation.

Sympathy and understanding are emotional qualities that take on greater importance. It’s wisdom, not knowledge, that counts most. Sports or some competitive activity with family or friends is best engaged in now. Help an elderly person learn some gentle exercises in order to keep tone in the muscles.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku

Yesterday’s Solution

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

Al-Madeena

22418714

Al-Shuhada

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Faiha

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Kaizen center

25716707

Rawda

22517733

Adaliya

22517144

Al-Jahra

25610011

Khaldiya

24848075

Al-Salmiya

25616368

Kaifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salem

22549134

Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Qadsiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Gar

22531908

Shaab

22518752

Qibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla

22451082

Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Omariya

24719048

N Khaitan

24710044

Fintas

23900322

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

T

he ‘Grown Woman’ singer - who welcomed her first child, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, into the world in January 2012 - is said to be expecting again with her rapper husband Jay-Z. E! News claims “multiple sources” close to the star told them Beyonce, 31, is pregnant with the couple’s second child. Speculation about Beyonce’s pregnancy first started following her attendance at the star-studded Met Ball earlier this month. The pop superstar is said to have “carefully” hidden her baby bump in a high-waisted Givenchy gown. She was then forced to cancel world tour performance in Antwerp, Belgium, after doctors advised her to rest “as a result of dehydration and exhaustion”. Beyonce recently admitted she would love to give her 16-month-old

daughter a sibling, because she enjoyed such a close relationship with her younger sister Solange Knowles, 26, when they were growing up. She said: “I would like more children.

I think my daughter needs some company. I definitely love being a big sister.” When pressed on when she may have another child, she added: “At some point, when it’s supposed to happen.”

T

he 39-year-old model raises kids Leni, nine, Henry, seven, Johan, six and Lou, three, with former husband Seal, and despite her busy schedule, she tries to be around to spend quality time with them whenever possible. She said: “I keep weekends open and wrap my workday at a reasonable hour so I’m home for dinner and bedtime stories.” The busy working mother - who started dating her bodyguard Martin Kristen after splitting from Seal last year - also revealed her key to looking great is water.

She added: “I drink a ton of water all day. Honestly, staying hydrated is the best beauty tip. And I have an amazing team that gets me glammed up every time I hit the red carpet.” Heidi recently admitted she pays her kids to drink the healthy smoothies she makes for them. She said: “I’ve never really done a real diet. My New Year’s resolution for 2013 was to start every day with a fresh juice. We make an effort every morning - we peel pineapples, apples, lemons, bananas, kiwis, ginger and berries and we make delicious smoothies. “Some of my kids don’t love it so I decided I would pay them a dollar if they finish their drink. All of the money goes into their piggy banks, they have collected a bunch of money since January 1. What’s good for them is good for me as well.”

T

T

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he 49-year-old actor - who has children Lily-Rose, 13 and Jack, 11, with former partner Vanessa Paradis - is said to be head-over-heels in love with his ‘Rum Diaries’ co-star and has even mentioned marriage. A source said: “Johnny is totally head over heels. He says that she is his soul mate and he plans to spend the rest of his life with her. “Things are very serious between these two. He’s told her that he wants to get married which is obviously a shock to anyone who knows Johnny.” After Johnny mentioned marriage, Amber, 27, is keen to start a family of her own with the hunky star. The insider added to America’s OK! magazine: “Amber sees how devoted he is to his kids and it melts her heart. Now she’s fallen so hard for him, she’s all about starting a family with him.” It was recently claimed Johnny showered Amber with gifts in a bid to win her over.

A source said recently: “Johnny and Amber began dating pretty soon after he split with Vanessa. “At first, Amber was a little apprehensive, because she didn’t want to be seen as the mistress. But Johnny won her over with his generosity and he was constantly giving her gifts. “On a weekly basis, Johnny would send her fresh flowers wherever she was. He also bought her tons of custom-designed jewels that would cost him up tens of thousands of dollars. “He made Amber feel giddy by showing how much he felt for her and, in the end, she slowly fell in love with him.”

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im, 32, is expecting the couple’s first child in July and while Kanye, 35, has a European tour planned for later this year, he will take his girlfriend and baby on the road with him. A source close to the couple told Us Weekly: “Yes, it’s true.

This was always the plan.” Meanwhile, Kim can’t wait for the birth of their baby and thinks she is completely prepared for motherhood thanks to the example provided by her mother Kris Jenner and sister Kourtney, who has two children, Mason, three, and Penelope, 10 months, with her boyfriend Scott Disick. She said: “My mom is a strong and ambitious career woman that despite her busy schedule and the millions of things she has going on, she still

he ‘Can’t Be Tamed’ singer was spotted leaving a Hollywood recording studio within minutes of Justin, 19, and they are believed to be working on a collaboration. A photographer from X17online.com said: “There aren’t that many recording booths at this studio, they must be doing something together. Justin and Miley left within minutes of each other - it’s too coincidental. There’s gotta be a collaboration in the works.”

Miley recently worked with gangster-rapper-turned-reggae artist Snoop Lion on the song ‘Ashtrays and Heartbreaks’. He said: “Miley Cyrus was always a great singer to me and I knew she was a fan so it was great for us to collaborate. “It’s what she’s going through and what I’m going through, she makes great music.” The 20-year-old singer is so determined to make her new album a success, she admitted she has pushed her all of her relationships aside to focus on her music. She said: “All I do is focus on my music.

The only place I ever am is at the studio. “I mean it’s literally like my friends, my relationships with everyone around me have honestly changed since I’ve been working on my record because it’s the only thing that I’ve wanted to give 120 per cent to and I think it’s the only time in my life that I’ve pushed everything aside, everyone aside, anything that, you know, really mattered and just became about the music.”

manages to put family first and continues to look out for us every day. Motherhood is a gift and I know after watching my mom do it, it’s not easy especially when trying to balance a career. I can’t wait to follow in her footsteps and make her proud like I am of her. “Kourtney, my sister, best friend, and mentor has also taught me so much about motherhood from being the most incredible mom to Mason and Penelope. She is super woman with her ability to effortlessly balance work with taking care of two amazing kids and I am so lucky to have her as my guide and confidant as I too become a mother.”

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he ‘Modern Family’ star is currently in the custody of her 34-year-old sister Shanelle Grey after being removed from her mother Chrisoula ‘Chrystal’ Workman’s care in October amid allegations of abuse and Ariel says her sister is “the most amazing woman”. She told People magazine: “My sister is the most amazing woman I’ve ever met in my life. If I could be half the woman she is ... she’s kind of who I want to be like. “[Shanelle] supports me in everything I do, and so does my brother-in-law David. Both are kind of like my biggest supporters.” While Ariel, 15, is grateful for her sister, she also praised her castmates, who she calls her “family”. She said: “Our chemistry has been there since we first met, and it’s really made us come off as a family on the show, and in real life, because we are.” Previously Ariel admitted she has never been happier and feels like a “normal” teenager since moving in with her sister. She said: “My life is definitely more normal-and that’ll help me grow up

he former ‘Dancing With The Stars’ contestant - who was born a girl named Chastity and began gender reassignment treatment in 2008 - is currently single and still looking for the right person. He told People: “I’m dating, but I’m just dating around. I haven’t met the right one yet, so I’m looking.” Chaz, 44, recently lost 60 pounds and is now feeling confident. He told People: “Physically, my body feels just so much better. I’m in a lot less discomfort when I exercise and am doing physical stuff. All of my numbers are all normal now, which is great-my blood pressure, my cholesterol. I just have a lot more confidence, and that feels really cool. I really like what I see in the mirror. “I really feel very satisfied and comfortable with the way I eat now, which is amazing and for me, kind of a miracle. I never thought I’d be that kind of a person.” While Chaz lost an incredible 60 pounds, he didn’t have a target weight in mind. He added: “To me, it was never really about a number. It was just about getting healthy and feeling and looking better. So I’m just kind of letting my body dictate. I’ve been eating the same way now for months and months and that hasn’t changed. I’m going to have to eat this way for the rest of my life.”

like I’m supposed to. “Sunday we have family dinner.

It’s just a different experience for me because I have more of a family life. I’m really happy.” Chrisoula lost custody of Ariel following an investigation by child services last year, during which they found evidence of emotional abuse.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

lifestyle G o s s i p

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he 32-year-old actress, whose father is director Ron Howard, was left hurt by “vicious” comments aimed at her when she attended a red carpet event just days after giving birth to her son Theo, now six, in February 2007 and ever since she avoids Google searching her name. She told RadarOnline.com: “People are so vicious. I now know to stay away from stuff that I used to see on the internet. I don’t go online and read stories about myself anymore. “People were picking on me when I did the ‘Spiderman 3’ press tour literally just 14 days after I gave birth. I can’t be in that headspace. I just don’t look myself up. I had a baby, that isn’t going to change, so I ignore things so I can be in my own little bubble.” Bryce - who also has 16-month-old daughter Beatrice with her husband Seth Gabel - says her main priority in life is to be the best mother she can be and she describes her mum Cheryl as a wonderful role model. As a tribute to her mother, the flame-haired beauty has recorded an audiobook of Cheryl’s novel ‘In the Face of Jinn’ and hopes the effort she put into the project will make her mum “proud”. She added: “It isn’t anything she ever says to me. It’s that she is brilliant and steady and a rock for our family.

[Recording the book] was not easy! I worked with the same dialect coach I used on ‘The Help’ but I did all the characters and I am so proud of the book. “Doing it was so meaningful and has given so much to both of us. My mother is an exceptional woman of integrity and it was such a big deal for her to accomplish the book. I hope I make her proud.”

hile the 26-year-old actress and Charlie Sheen’s former wife are both currently being treated at the Betty Ford Clinic, Lindsay is shunning Brooke, 35, because she thinks she is a “drug addict”. A source told RadarOnline: “It’s creeping Lindsay out that Brooke seeks her out nightly at the meetings in an attempt to strike up a friendship.

Brooke is extremely eager to become besties with Lindsay while in rehab, and has told Lindsay how much they have in common. “Brooke’s publicist was Lohan’s one-time rep, Steve Honig and Brooke has even played the Charlie Sheen card, pointing out that Charlie helped Lindsay pay off debts to the IRS, so they both have a close relationship to him. “But Lindsay has said that Brooke is a drug addict, and wants nothing to do with her. Lindsay has told her treatment team to keep Brooke out of her group sessions.” Meanwhile, Brooke is reportedly happy with all of the extra attention she has received since entering rehab and is hoping it will build her profile. The source added: “She isn’t fazed by all of the negative publicity she has been getting since losing custody of Bob and Max to Denise Richards. In fact, she loves it, and thinks it will help her chances of landing a role as an actress on a television sitcom.”

Demi Lovato gets a new tattoo

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he 20-year-old star celebrated the release of her fourth album ‘Demi’ by having lyrics from her track ‘Warrior’ inked onto her back, courtesy of New York-based tattoo artist Bang Bang. Demi posted a photo of the italic writing, which reads ‘now I’m a warrior’, on her Twitter account, adding the caption: “Thanks @BangBang! Album release day!!! #DEMI (sic)” It’s been a busy week for Bang Bang as he also tattooed British model Cara Delevigne, inking a lion onto her index finger. His work was recommended to the British model by her best friend Rita Ora and Rihanna who have both gone under his needle. On the song ‘Warrior’, Demi - who went to rehab in 2010 to be treated for an eating disorder, selfharm issues and bipolar sings about having “thicker skin” and having “shame” and “scars” and she has admitted Demi has 12 other tattoos and admitted she regrets many of them and has even considered having laser treatment to remove them.

She said: “I’ve thought about it before because, you know, when I get older I don’t know if I want to have rock and roll on my middle finger. “I’m young and I can rock it now and when I get older I can worry about it later.” Speaking of one inking, a tattoo of her friend’s lips on her wrist, she added: “It was just a spur of the moment, stupid decision.”

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he 32-year-old socialite has a cameo role in upcoming drama film ‘The Bling Ring’ - based on true events of when a group of fame-obsessed teenagers tracked the whereabouts of celebrities and robbed their homes, including her own. Even though she accepted a part in Sofia Coppola’s movie, the blonde beauty admits she’s still coming to terms with the devastating events - which took place between 2008 and 2009 - and can’t bring herself to watch the finished film. She said: “It’s [the robbery] still hard for me to deal with.

I haven’t seen the film yet, but I’ll see it at the premiere. I’m going to have to close my eyes for fear of seeing what they really did. It still horrifies me.” Paris was the gang’s first target and they made off with millions of dollars of items and treasured possessions. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said: “They came to my house five times, stole millions of dollars of my things: Birkin bags, family heirlooms, jewellery that was in my family for years, and then they sold it on Venice Beach like a yard sale. “I didn’t get a cent back in insurance money, and I will never be able to replace those things.” Other celebrities who were burgled include Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, Audrina Patridge and Orlando Bloom. The film - which stars Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga, and Leslie Mann - was shot at Paris’ property in Calabasas, California and Sofia personally asked Paris if she could use her home as a shoot location for authenticity. ‘Bling Ring’ is to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival and is set for official release on June 14.

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lthough the 32-year-old actress is branching out into other ventures, such as her lifestyle book ‘The Honest Life’, she’ll always return to her main creative passion and since becoming a mother to Honor, five, and Haven, three, she’s become “fearless” when choosing roles. Jessica - who is married to Cash Warren - said: “I’m still so passionate about acting and have that as a creative outlet, and it’s a big part of who I am; I’ll never stop acting.” She added: “[Having my kids] was the best time of my life. I love it- I feel more fearless as an actress after becoming a mother, which is quite liberating. I’m ready to take on heavier roles, where before I was nitpicky and afraid of so many things.”

In 2012, Jessica launched her business ‘ The Honest Company’ - an ecofriendly business which specialises in organically-produced nappies, baby wipes and bath products - and she admits the launch did push her acting aside. Speaking to Washingtonian magazine, she said: “It’s my time, and where I was in my life, this business was a priority and a passion of mine over going to auditions and trying to get roles. I’m still doing movies; I’m about to start another at the end of this month. “I don’t have that filter anymore. I think as you go into a new, different phase, things do change, and that’s influenced who I am and my choices. It happened organically. — Banghowbiz

he ‘End Of Watch’ actress - who shot to fame on TV show ‘Ugly Betty’ - is reportedly planning to star in telenovela project ‘Pedro & Maria, a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The series synopsis states: “Pedro and Maria are two opposites cut from the same cloth caught in the trap of forbidden love. He is a second generation Dominican from the mean streets of Washington Heights. She is a Puerto Rican whose parents made millions as real estate developers. It’s a clash of the haves and the have-nots, of Main St vs Wall St, set against a volatile cultural backdrop that fiercely believes neither side should mix with the other.” Although America found fame as the titular character in ‘Ugly Betty’ - earning an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for her performance - she has previously admitted she nearly quit acting to follow her academic dream until one of her professors gave her some helpful encouragement. The star - who graduated from the University of Southern California earlier this week - said: “I always wanted to go to college and get my education although I always wanted to be an actor. I never knew how those two things would work with each other and this was revealed to me in my first year of college here.” She sought advice from Professor David Andrus, who used America’s 2002 movie ‘Real Women Have Curves’ - in which she plays a high school graduate torn between supporting her family and pursuing a university degree - to explain to her she could do both. She said: “What my professor really wanted me to understand was that my passion for acting and what I loved doing in the world had the power to be a tool. In that moment I realised that I didn’t have to give up what I love. I could find a way to link it to other things that I cared about.”

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

lifestyle

Krista Siegfrids (right) of Finland celebrates with other contestants making it through to the final after the vote counting following the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmo Arena in Malmo, Sweden.

The stage for the Eurovision Song Contest is seen. — AP/AFP photos

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n ethno-inspired flute and drum tune from Denmark is the bookmakers’ favorite to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, which also features a bizarre opera pop number from Romania and an Armenian rock song written by the guitarist of Black Sabbath. Yes, it’s that time of the year again. The televised pan-European extravaganza, known for its kitschy shows, bad taste and bizarre offerings, was still expected to be seen by about 125 million television viewers worldwide yesterday. This year’s contest is being hosted in Malmo, southern Sweden, following the victory of the Nordic country’s contestant Loreen last year.

According to bookmakers, the hippie-chic Emmelie De Forest of Denmark is the favorite to win, driving the song “Only Teardrops” with her deep, Shakira-like voice. Her main challenge comes from the clean-cut techno pop tune “I Feed You My Love”

by Norway’s Margaret Berger, who rose to fame at home after becoming the runner-up in Norway’s version of Pop Idol in 2004. “I will be nervous before going on stage,” De Forest said Friday. “I think we have a really good song that can take us far, but let’s see, anything can happen.” Finland’s Krista Siegfrid provided this year’s controversy, ending her bouncy

bubble-gum pop number “Marry Me” with a girl-ongirl kiss that some have interpreted as a stance promoting gay marriage. While the show will not raise eyebrows in most parts of Western Europe - where Eurovision has long been a bastion of gay culture the act may jar sensitivies in parts of eastern and southern Europe.

“The fact is that Finland is the only country in the Nordic countries where gay marriage is not allowed, and I think that’s wrong,” Siegfrid told The Associated Press. “It’s 2013 now and... I can kiss anyone I want to. It shouldn’t be a problem.” This year’s competition also sees the return to the international stage of two seasoned European stars. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” singer Bonnie Tyler is representing Britain with “Believe In Me” while Anouk, whose song “Nobody’s Wife” was a big hit in Europe in the 1990s, is singing the song “Birds” for The Netherlands.

Among the more notable performances is the Ukraine’s Zlata Ognevich with her song “Gravity.”

Ognevich is carried onto the stage by the tallest man in the US - Ukrainian-born Igor Vovkovinskiy.

Vovkovinskiy - who stands 7 feet 8 inches (234 cms) wobbles onstage in a fur and feathers, placing the

fairy-like Ognevich on a rock where she stands for the rest of the performance. There is also Armenian rock group Dorians, whose gloomy song “Lonely Planet” has been written by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

Romania’s Cezar, who resembles a Dracula reborn as a high-pitched vocalist, is apparently a reputable opera singer, but is attempting a crossover opera pop number with techno beats and pyrotechnics. Three muscular male dancers in red body paint are delivered out of a large red cape. Two semifinals this week have whittled down the contestants from 40 to 26. The winner is picked by juries and television viewers across the continent, and the winning nation will stage next year’s event. — AP

Dancers perform during the opening sequence.

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Moldova’s Aliona Moon performs.

Azerbaijan’s Farid Mammadov performs ‘Hold Me’.

lashy skirts, fake tans, fur and feathers: It’s the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. The televised extravaganza, with an audience of 125 million worldwide, is now in its 58th year. Once again without fail, it has produced a mix of bubblegum pop songs, somber ballads, bagpipes, accordions and bizarrely kitsch musical productions. The winner, chosen from 40 countries, is picked by juries and television viewers across the continent. Contests this week have whittled the field down to 26 acts for Saturday’s final. A look at some of this year’s notable performances:

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female dancer in her group. It didn’t raise eyebrows in the campy competition that is Eurovision, but the move upset some people in Europe, where it was interpreted as a stand for gay marriage.

CEZAR-ROMANIA Dracula reborn with a techno beat and pyrotechnics: that’s Cezar. The contra-tenor famed for international opera productions is attempting a crossover opera-pop number with “It’s My Life.” The result: A man with a powerful voice amid a bizarre spectacle.

ZLATA OGNEVICH-UKRAINE Ognevich hits a hippie theme with butterflies, forests and mists. For an unknown reason, she is carried onto the stage by the tallest man in the US-Ukrainian-born Igor Vovkovinskiy, who measures 7 feet, 8 inches (2.13 meters). Her traditional, up-tempo Eurovision pop tune displays little originality.

KRISTA SIEGFRID-FINLAND The blonde whirlwind from Finland caused a stir by kissing a

BONNIE TYLER-BRITAIN Despite last year’s fiasco for Britain’s 76-year-old Engelbert Humperdinck, the island nation once again places its hopes on a seasoned performer. This time it’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart” star Bonnie Tyler. The 61-year-old 1980s singer has sold more than 20 million records but this time delivers the sleepy ballad “Believe In Me.”

earning him the nickname “Deadly Dutt”. He was convicted in 2006 of possessing guns supplied by gangsters who staged the 1993 bomb attacks that killed 257 people but was freed on bail after serving 18 months in prison. In March, the Supreme Court upheld Dutt’s conviction.

He was cleared in 2007 of more serious conspiracy charges in the blasts, believed staged by Muslim underworld leaders in revenge for religious riots in which mainly Muslims died after the razing of an ancient mosque by Hindu zealots. Dutt, whose mother was Muslim and father Hindu, was found guilty of possession of an automatic rifle and a pistol which he insisted were only meant to protect his family in Mumbai’s charged atmosphere following the mosque’s destruction. After the Supreme Court upheld his conviction, the father-of-three wept and declared himself “a shattered man”. - AFP

EMMELIE DE FOREST-DENMARK This year’s favorite according to the bookies. Denmark’s answer to Shakira, minus the body gyrations. Borrowing Loreen of Sweden’s winning concept from last year, she performs barefoot but has dropped the mystique in favor of an earthy, innocent look.

ANOUK-NETHERLANDS Sixteen years after her rock anthem hit “Nobody’s Wife,” Anouk returns to the international stage with the somber “Birds.”

Dressed entirely in black, she stands center stage, relying on her voice and a soft string orchestra.

Margaret Berger of Norway performs her song ‘I Feed You My Love’.

ollywood superstar Sanjay Dutt, who is in jail for arms possession, is being held in a cell built for militants where he cannot see daylight and wants to be transferred, a report said yesterday. Dutt, 53, surrendered on Thursday to serve out the remaining threeand-a-half years of a five-year term in a case linked to deadly 1993 Mumbai bombings. Dutt’s lawyer, Rizwan Merchant, has demanded the transfer of the actor whom he said was being kept in the cell once occupied

by Mumbai attacks gunman Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, according to the Indian Express daily newspaper.

Pakistani-born Kasab was executed last November, nearly four years after 166 people died in a three-day rampage that traumatised India. The steel bunker specially built for Kasab at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail had no ventilation and the actor could not even tell if it was day or night, the lawyer said. “He (Dutt) is not a terrorist” and should not be kept in such a cell, the lawyer was quoted as saying.

There was no immediate comment available from the jail. The actor, whose parents were two of India’s biggest stars, shot to fame in the 1980s in a string of action movies in which he performed his own stunts,

MARGARET BERGER-NORWAY This clean-cut performance is the bookies’ second favorite.

With a high-pitch voice and a heavy techno beat, Berger produces a traditional Eurovision pop tune. — AP

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ersace is happy to announce the opening of its Kuwait boutique at Prestige, The Avenues Mall, with the new store concept conceived by Donatella Versace in collaboration with English architect Jamie Fobert. The 230 square meter store mixes the opulence and traditions of Italian architecture with the dynamism and energy of Versace today. Marble mosaic, brass and Perspex create a modern and luxurious environment for Versace’s men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories.

Past meets future in the boutique with its mosaic floor, inspired by 9th century Byzantine churches, contrasted with Perspex walls and shelving which appear to float above it. The circles of the mosaic floor are echoed in the curved walls, which add energy and the unexpected. Brass fittings throughout consolidate the ultimate mood of luxury.

The boutique carries the complete range of Versace men ad

women ready-to-wear and accessories including this season’s key bags, shoes, belts, watches, sunglasses, and fragrances. “I love the new Versace store concept. In his designs, Jamie Fobert has created a space where the new Versace comes alive. To me, the store is like a continuing dialogue, between our past and future, between Jamie Fobert and me, and between Versace and our customers,” says Donatella Versace “The new Versace concept recaptures the opulent beauty of Gianni Versace’s first stores, but layered onto this is an optimism for the future of Versace in the new century. There is a tension between the futuristic element of the Perspex and the deeply historic floor. Surrounding this centerpiece are soft, curving walls and shelves in rough plaster. The overall effect is undeniably opulent yet completely contemporary,” says Jamie Fobert.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

lifestyle

Puerto Rican actor Benicio Del Toro (left) waves yesterday while posing with French actor Mathieu Amalric during a photocall for the film “Jimmy P. Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian” presented in Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes.

Chinese actor Wang Baoqiang (left) puts on a show for his wife Ma Rong in Cannes. —AP/AFP photos

French director Rebecca Zlotowski (right) and actress Lea Seydoux laugh yesterday while posing.

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scar winner Benicio Del Toro stars in French Cannes contender “Jimmy P. - Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian”, the true story of a traumatised Native American returning home from World War II that premiered yesterday. The Puerto Rico-born Del Toro adopts the haunted gaze and staccato dialect of Jimmy Picard, a Blackfoot Indian plagued by his past in what reviewers called a stand-out performance. The picture by French director Arnaud Desplechin, presenting his fifth film in the Cannes competition, is based on the 1951 book “Reality and Dream” by anthropologist and Freudian psychoanalyst Georges Devereux, played in the film by Mathieu Amalric (“Munich”).

Jimmy returns from the fighting in France to his sister’s Montana ranch with a brain trauma from a skull fracture and complains of crippling headaches and recurring nightmares.

But when he is finally examined at Winter Hospital for veterans in Topeka, Kansas in 1948, the doctors say his injuries have healed and can find no physical explanation for his ailments.

Realising the problem may be psychological, the hospital’s director notes that his white doctors have little understanding of the inner lives of American Indians.

Enter Devereux, a Hungarian Jew who has arrived in the US by way of Paris and done extensive research on Native Americans while training in psychotherapy. The two fish out of water in the American Midwest strike up an unlikely friendship and reviewers called their bond as played by Del Toro and Amalric a highlight of the film.

Desplechin renders many of Jimmy’s nightmares on screen as vivid waking dreams as they root out the childhood catastrophes and injuries of adulthood behind his suffering. Del Toro, who captured an Academy Award for his role in “Traffic” in 2001 and won Cannes’ best actor prize in 2008 for “Che”, said he was attracted to the one-of-a-kind story. “I read a lot of scripts-it was so original that it popped up, it popped up, I don’t know how else to explain it,” he told reporters. “It (glowed) in the dark.”

He said the European telling of a quintessentially American tale was also a strong draw. “There’s a big story there that is still unresolved and so you have to go from that approach,

(From left) Actors Flora Lau, Kun Chen and Carina Lau pose for photographers during a photo call for the film Bends yesterday. knowing the history of the Native Americans. That’s fundamental to understand the character,” he said. Amalric said he underwent analysis himself to prepare for the part. “It’s a role like deep-sea diving and you meet all these eels and beautiful fish as you go deeper,” he said.

Misty Upham, a native Blackfoot who plays Jimmy’s first love Jane, said she believed the film’s cast members were the first Native Americans to appear in competition in Cannes. She said it took the medical profession a long time to catch up to the needs of America’s indigenous population.

“When they first started doing psychotherapy with Native Americans, it was really hard for people to understand that we

believe in spirits, we believe in ghosts, we believe in shapeshifting, we believe in medicine and curses,” she said. “We’re a very spiritual people so what somebody else would call delusional, to us it’s normal. So that’s why they have to create a new way to understand what is going on in their minds without confusing the spirituality.” Film magazine Screen Daily called the picture “an impressively nuanced and intriguingly un-showy drama”. “Jimmy P.” is one of 20 films vying for the festival’s coveted Palme d’Or top prize, to be awarded on May 26.

— AFP A guest, wearing a dress made of biscuit trays, arrives in Cannes.

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Latin American Exhibition is unique in every way

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acienda Azul” an exhibition showcasing a collection of ravishing furniture and accessories of Mexican and Guatemalan origin, taking place at Beit Lothan from the May 19-21 in the presence of Luis Alberto Mexican ambassador and his entourage, and the presence of Naser Al-Sayer accompanied by family members, friends and visitors to the exhibition, in addition to a group of journalists and a select group of staff and banks community.

Eye popping vibrant Latin colors, talavera tile and warm woods, wrought iron details, step into Hacienda Azul...welcome to paradise! You are to be sailing in the world of imagination a far away land, Mexico, where the colors are playing wonderful Latin tunes, so unique, the statues, decorates the spaces in an unprecedented ways that are pleasures to the eyes.

The philosophy of the Latin decor, is derived from the flagrant nature, from the color of the sun, the golden yellow, and even from the colors of the mountains, the sea and the geography of the country’s wood.

This versified nature has greatly influenced the architectural style. Also the fact that the families are interdependent and the Latin’s love of art impact on the tools used at home while cooking and in the Mexicans and Guatemalan general life.

During the exhibition “Hacienda Azul” Suad Al-Sayer and Luluwa Al-Sayer commented: “ We have been impressed by the fragrances of perfumes, which are characterized by the Mexican and Guatemalan decor and are well in harmony of colors, making it a unique and wonder-

decades-old rivalry between a Bollywood wannabe and a brutal police chief shines a light on Mumbai’s dark side, in Indian director Anurag Kashyap’s fast-moving psychological thriller “Ugly” about the kidnapping of a young girl. Enthusiastically received at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday, the aptly titled film was inspired by real events in a city blighted by child trafficking and prostitution.

A suicidal woman sets the scene in an upmarket apartment as she contemplates a concoction of pills and alcohol; she eyes a scarf hanging from a ceiling fan before putting a gun in her month. About to pull the trigger, she is interrupted by her young daughter, full of life. Fast forward and a police inspector mocks and toys with the girl’s father and his producer friend as they try to report her abduction from his car.

“They are divorced, that’s the problem-divorce,” he tells the actor. Turning to the producer, he reels off the names of some of Bollywood’s biggest stars. “I suppose it’s you who decides (to cast them),” he sneers, surrounded by sniggering subordinates. But his menacing tone turns to panic when he realises that the girl is the step-daughter of his police commissioner.

Kashyap says he drew on the “insecurity” he experienced after he separated from his first wife and daughter to write the film. For years he discussed the script with anyone who would listen but was constantly told it could never be made.

When he finally got the go-ahead, Kashyap was wary of showing the screenplay to anyone. As a result all the actors had to sign up blind for the film. “I refused to share the script with anyone. I said I’m making the film and if you want to come with me and do it.... “I had this feeling that if they read the script they would not allow me to make it so for the first time I reached out to my actors, friends and said ‘you trust me’ and everyone came on board.”

It is the second consecutive visit to Cannes for the 40-yearold director. His five-hour gangster epic “Gangs Of Wasseypur” was warmly received at Cannes last year. “Ugly” is being screened this year as part of the Directors Fortnight, a sidebar to the main competition. He is also known for his 2004 Hindilanguage film “Black Friday” about the 1993 Bombay bombings. In addition to “Ugly”, Kashyap is one of four up-and-coming Indian directors whose work will be showcased in Cannes

today. “Bombay Talkies”, one film comprising four short stories by the four directors, will be shown at a gala screening today to celebrate a century of Indian cinema.

India is Cannes’ third guest country following Egypt and Brazil. The other directors whose short films are to be shown today are Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar.

Amit Kumar’s “Monsoon Shootout” will also be shown out of competition and Ritesh Batra’s “The Lunchbox” as part of the Critics Week. — AFP

Chinese mogul partners with French film tycoon

(Left) Luluwa Al-Sayer and Suad Al-Sayer ful style, and we want to convey that joyful to look designs to our fellow women in Kuwait, whom are long known to have excellent taste in selecting furniture and home decorations, and we thank the Mexican Ambassador Luis Alberto whom will be honoring the opening of the exhibition, and Naser Al-Sayer and family, friends and distinguished visitors of this exhibition”.

Indian Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap poses during a promotional event for his forthcoming film ‘Ugly’ in Mumbai.

C

hinese mogul Bruno Wu’s Seven Stars Entertainment has partnered with French mogul Pierre-Ange Le Pogam to form Angel Storm, a new joint venture that will develop and produce European-Chinese co-productions. Le Pogam and Wu have already picked the venture’s first two films, “Shanghai” and “Triangle,” which both will produce. Le Pogam’s Stone Angels will handle distribution rights in France, while Seven Stars will distribute in China. “Pierre-Ange is a very versatile filmmaker and executive, whether he’s dealing with a mainstream commercial title or an art house film, he understands the global business, and we both share a love for movies,” Wu said in a statement. “I believe Angel Storm will deliver franchise actioners to international audiences everywhere.”

Wu has set up a variety of partnerships over the past couple of years, from his joint venture with Avi Arad to his film fund cofinanced by the government of the Binhai New Area. This deal lands him a major partner in Europe while awarding Le Pogam an inside track at distribution in China. Le Pogam is a veteran of the European film scene, a co-founder of EuropaCorp, the company behind hits like the “Taken” and ‘Transporter” franchises.

His Stone Angels produced the Grace Kelly biopic “Grace of

Monaco,” which Wu executive-produced. Seven Stars, which formed last year, has three movies premiering at Cannes this year - James Gray’s “The Immigrant,” Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Only God Forgives” and Guillaume Canet’s “Blood Ties.”

“Oblivion” star Olga Kurylenko, Luke Bracey of “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and Bill Smitrovich of “Iron Man” have all joined the cast of spy thriller “November Man,” Das Films and Irish Dreamtime announced on Friday.

Pierce Brosnan will star in the film as a former CIA agent who must combat his former pupil (Bracey) to find a woman (Kurylenko) central to an international plot. “Pierce and I couldn’t be happier with the cast we’ve put together on a project that’s been a true labor of love,” producer Beau St. Clair said.

“We’re excited to reintroduce Pierce to the spy game, especially with such great talent surrounding him.”—Reuters

Denmark favorite to win Eurovision Song Contest

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SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013

The winners and their families are pictured having a great time by the beach in Kuwait during the 25th Raft Race competition.

— Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

By Ben Garcia

T

oyota Al-Sayer once again bagged the championship title at the 25th Raft Race competition, which was held at the Aqua Park yesterday. Toyota Al-Sayer has won the title for the 15th consecutive year in the 25-year history of the race.

Aqua Park Director Mohammad Al-Enezi and Aqua Park Board Chairman Ibrahim Al-Haroon, along with the sponsors, presented the trophies. While speaking to reporters after receiving the title trophy and the special jubilee cup, which is awarded by Aqua Park to the overall wining team, Kahled Al-Enezi said his team deserved the crown, since they had been undergoing intense training with the sole purpose of taking home the title.

“Toyota Al-Sayer has been very supportive to all our team members so we have the attitude and tradition of winners as always. We are very happy and proud to bag the championship once again,” he told Kuwait Times.

According to Al-Enezi, the team won because it trained sincerely. “We have added a lot of new blood this year, too. I think I could attribute the success of our team to our long history of winning - besides experience and technique, which we applied in the race. We also got the title because we have the right design that works well with the flow of the waves and wind. Design [of the boat] is very important in the raft race,” he stated. Toyota Al-Sayer also took home the “Best in Design” award for their boat. Second place went to the Sea Sports Club Team, which was described by Al-Enezi as “all armed with experience as well”. The Yokohama Team and ABB earned the third and fourth place, respectively. The race categories included Welded-Men and Welded-Mixed.

The Welded-Women category, however, was eventually cancelled due to poor participation.

Besides raft race, other activities were held at the Aqua Park, including beach volleyball and live music performances, which greatly added to the fiesta-like atmosphere there. Other teams participating in the event were from Kuwait Agriculture Company, Future Kid Entrainment Center, Fantasy World, Casper, ABB,

Cartoon Network and Sea Sports Club. Among their sponsors were Sebamed, Sultan Center, Coca Cola and the Al-Sayer Group. At the closing ceremony, all teams and sponsors received their trophies and plaques of appreciation for their valuable support and contributions to the success of this year’s event. For the tenth year running, Aqua Park has organized the prestigious annual event, which is popular among Kuwaitis as well as other nationalities. Previously, Raft Race was hosted

by Messilah Beach Hotel, but now Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Spa host it.

Men’s Welded Winners 1. Toyota 2. Kuwait Sea Sports Club 3. Kuwait Sea Sports Club Mixed Welded Winners 1. Al-Sayer 2. Kuwait Sea Sports Club 3. Yokohama Al-Sayer