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Junta targets Brotherhood PAGE 12

Local FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Kuwait’s my business

Got a business idea? It’s good to be Kuwaiti!

By John P Hayes

local@kuwaittimes.net

I

n most countries of the world, including the USA, there are more ideas for business start-ups than there are funds to support them, but that’s not true in Kuwait. Got an idea to launch a business? There’s money to help you get started! Yes, of course, only Kuwaitis qualify for this money, but countless Kuwaitis partner with expats to develop good businesses. As long as a qualified Kuwaiti files the loan application, the money is available. And given that the loan process is simple and relatively speedy, it’s astonishing that so few people take advantage of this opportunity. Where are all the entrepreneurial Kuwaitis and expats who should be asking for these funds?

Since the Handicraft and Small Enterprises Financing Portfolio was launched at the Industrial Bank of Kuwait a dozen years ago, only 593 projects have been funded. Had more qualified entrepreneurs requested money, more projects would have been funded.

As of March, 2013, the bank has invested about KD 65 million in small business ventures. While that is an astonishing amount, it’s only a portion of what the bank was willing to fund.

People may argue that Kuwaitis don’t need to borrow money to start a business, but that’s not always true. Visit me at GUST and I’ll introduce you to numerous entrepreneurial students, male and female, who could start businesses if they had the money. In the future, I’ll refer these students, and others, to Saad Al-Othman, an extremely helpful manager at IBK, who evaluates loan requests.

“We have high unemployment in Kuwait,” Al-Othman explained, “and the government has more employees than it has work for them to do, so the government established this fund to motivate Kuwaitis to leave the government sector and work in the private sector.” Makes perfect sense. Get people off the government’s payroll and onto their own payroll, and in the process create more jobs for Kuwaitis. To support this idea, the government’s requirements for an IBK loan are minimal. “Our job,” continued AlOthman, “is to impact the economy” and not to make it difficult to develop new businesses.

So how do you qualify for a loan? First, you’ve got to be an unemployed Kuwaiti with a company that’s licensed to conduct business in the sector of your choice. Second, you must have a specific location, either one that you own or you will rent. Third, you must be at least 21 and prove your knowledge of the business for which you want the loan, and convince the bank that a market exists for your business. Finally, you must contribute 20 percent of the loan amount.

Let’s say you need KD 100,000 to launch your new enterprise.

You’ll contribute KD 20,000 and the bank will provide KD 80,000. A

startup qualifies for a two-year grace period during which time you’re not obligated to make any payments to the bank. (Wow, having borrowed money from American banks, that’s a gift!). The bank’s profit is 2.5 percent annually, or in this case, 14,000 KD. (Another gift!). The bank wants its money back in five years, but will give you (yet another gift) two additional years! This is an extremely generous opportunity for entrepreneurs.

The fund supports businesses in many different sectors: food and beverage (who doesn’t want to own a restaurant in Kuwait?), car washes, carpentry, metal finishing, law firms, medical clinics, children’s nurseries, health clubs, communications services, factories, etc, all businesses that we need in Kuwait. Some sectors are favored over others, and franchises are especially favored because they come with operating systems in place. However, the marketplace dictates the bank’s decisions. Highly competitive businesses that require a huge investment in equipment may not get approved.

Bottom line: “If you can prove that there’s a market for your business idea,” says Al-Othman, “you have a good chance of getting a loan.”

And it doesn’t take “forever” to get the approval. Unlike many other requirements in Kuwait, this is a streamlined process. “In less than a month we make a decision,” said Al-Othman. “After the loan is approved, the paperwork takes about ten days to complete, and then we can start paying out money.”

At the end of my meeting with Al-Othman I only had one burning question: “How can I become a Kuwaiti? I’ve got a dozen good ideas for businesses to launch in Kuwait!”

Local Spotlight

Importance of prayer

By Muna Al-Fuzai

muna@kuwaittimes.net

A

ll religions focus on the importance of prayer as a key instrument for the mind and body. I know some may disagree with this, but even those who are not true believers in the effects of prayer would need to know that a recent study has shown that the practice of prayer aids coping among caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Results showed that trusting in God is an effective coping mechanism, and that internal religious activities helped them get through their care-giving duties.

The first question some would ask is why we pray and what is to pray for? The simple answer is this: Prayer is talking with Allah, God, the Creator. When we pray, it is the time when we open our heart to the Almighty. It is the time when we ask, call and plead to the one who can give us all. Conversation is a part of any vital and growing relationship. Lack of communication ends a relationship and the same applies to prayers.

Some people feel prayer is something that takes place in a certain place or with a certain posture. But none of these are requirements for true prayer. In fact, you can sound holy and not be doing anything other than talking to yourself. True

prayers are an act of honesty and sincerity in actions and feelings. I have seen lots of people who pray on time, but treat others badly. I think this contradicts with the objective of prayers which is to reform your ill behaviors. Also, I believe that we should take our time when doing our prayers. I don’t think we should do our rituals in a rush.

There are several reasons why we all need to pray. We give time to many people who are helpless as we are. Yet we can’t give time to the one who knows everything and capable to give us all?

Hearts are softened when we talk to Allah in our prayers. We realise how weak and small we are with many needs. The only one who can meet all our needs is Allah.

We should pray because we are in a battle and our life today is not easy at all.

We live our life fighting the devil in us and our actions. I believe prayers are our call to Allah for help to give us strength and power. Prayer makes a real and significant difference, and I believe in the importance of prayers.

Local FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

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Local FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

By Nawara Fattahova

H

ave you ever been chased by a debt collector? This is probably one of the most annoying jobs - hounding people to make them pay up the debts they have racked up. Noora, a female debt collector, has been chasing debtors for two years. During her stint as a debt collector in a company collecting debts on behalf of telecommunication companies, which ended a few years ago, she experienced both the good and the bad. Most of the debts she was chasing were from the 1990s, as there were no mobile prepaid services, and there was no limit on bills. Many people had numerous connections registered in their names and their debts reached thousands of dinars.

“I remember that one of the biggest debtors had a debt of KD 26,000 owed to a mobile telecommunication company. This company before transferring this debt to our office used almost all possible legal instruments to force him to pay up. They even had court verdicts to freeze his assets, including five of his vehicles - yet, he didn’t pay. I’m not sure if they ever collected this debt after I left,” Noora stated.

The debtors were used to defaulting on their debts. “As part of our work, we were connected to a system of the Ministries of Justice and Interior. We were authorized to get personal information, addresses and phone numbers of the debtors. Many-a-times, the debtors used to deny their identity, pretending to be somebody else, or claiming that it was wrong number. But we found their other contact numbers and reached them anyway. We at least left a message for the debtors, although we knew it was the debtors we were actually speaking to,” she added.

The collectors had to follow strict procedures. “Our first step was to call the debtor and inform him or her about their debt and the legal procedure that will be taken against them in case they didn’t pay up. The company was authorized to take legal action against them. Then we wrote warning letters, which were delivered to their homes. And sometimes we took appointments to call them later, after they received their salaries. Also in cases when the amount was big, we gave the debtor a chance to pay in instalments. If the debtor didn’t show a will to pay or was delaying the payment, we would then issue a payment order from the court, or a travel ban. And we always informed them of the legal action we took.

And if this didn’t help, we would get an order

from the court to freeze their assets or, finally, to arrest the person,” said Noora.

As a result, most debtors used to pay up, she said. “Also, as most debtors wanted to travel, they had to pay their debts at the airport to be able to do so. Besides our salary, we were also getting a percentage of the collected debt, which depended on the date of the debt. So when the debt was old, the percentage was higher, as the debt was more difficult to collect. For newer debts, the percentage was less. Also, some of the old debts were transferred from other companies and legal agencies after they failed to collect it, she pointed out. “I faced some unpleasant situations as some people were rude while answering, especially if they were relatives of the debtors.

But other debtors were nice to us. Once, a debtor sent me an invitation to the opening ceremony of the museum where he was

working,” concluded Noora.

Khalid is another debt collector who works in another area: advertising debts. He has been working in this field since 1992 and mostly deals with companies and ministries. “I work in one of the local dailies and I go personally to collect the debt based on the bill of the advertisement published in the daily. Some debtors give me the amount immediately and some give me an appointment to come later,” he noted.

Khalid does not face many problems with debtors, as he is a calm and patient person.

“Why should I fight? In the end, the debtor will pay. I rarely deal with individuals, as most debtors are companies - so I deal with the accountant only and not the manager. I know that sometimes the accountants delay in paying the debt, but I give them time. Sometimes I call them and they say the payment is ready, but when I meet them they say the office was closed as they forgot the key at home. They find excuses to delay paying,” he added.

Debt collection has improved, thanks to technological developments, and some debtcollecting companies are using methods such as sending warnings through text messages, not only to the

Local FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Ramadan fun

By Ben Garcia

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amadan is not only a time to fast and meditate. It is also the time for various fun activities which strengthen one’s body and mind. Since Ramadan falls in summer this year, there are many more activities you can avail of. Both adults and children alike can make their Ramadan

very fulfilling through Ramadan camps. Two of these are organized by the British Academy of Sports (BAS) and the Philippine Catsclaw Martial Arts Association-Kuwait.

“Though it’s basically a full-month schedule, you can enroll according to your availability. We know parents take their kids outside Kuwait during the summer, so we are flexible and design programs to accommodate everyone. So you can attend and pay only for one week or even two sessions,” said Lucian Aurelian Anisia, BAS Academy Director.

BAS organizes sports activities ranging from swimming to karate to gymnastics in the morning. “In the afternoon, a selection of bowling and ice skating will be included and we have lots and lots of fun activities,” Anisia told Kuwait Times.

Free T-shirts will be distributed for those registering for the whole month. They will also receive training kits and other stuff needed for the month-long training. “This is the first time we are holding such a Ramadan camp, so we are equally excited and very much dedicated to making this event successful,” he said.

After completing the course, participants will receive a certificate and CDs with their photographs. “Sports activities are very important to everyone. It enhances physical and life quality,” Anisia opined. BAS’ mission is to make sport and physical activity fun and accessible to an increasing number of children and to increase the quality and variety of sport options for children and young people in Kuwait. BAS takes pride in its excellent facilities and professionally qualified instructors who are mostly Europeans.

BAS offers regular sporting activities from football to basketball, volleyball swimming, gymnastics, karate, tennis, Thai boxing, Zumba, roller skating, aerobics and cricket. It also organizes international sport trips, kids camps and sports competitions. “You are all welcome to our academy,” Anisia said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Catsclaw Martial Arts Association-Kuwait, a non-affiliated, non-profit and nonpolitical association helps individuals build self-confidence, physical fitness and mental alertness through martial arts.

Master Mario Adones, the head of the Catsclaw group, said that it was founded to educate individuals on the importance of martial arts, especially in life-threatening circumstances. “We did not form this group for anything else but to motivate discipline and self-control. The association does not differentiate between members over their dialects, regions or religions. We are here to promote unity, equality and camaraderie among members,” Adones said.

The Philippine Catsclaw Martial Arts Association holds their regular activities every Friday at Al-Nasser Sporting Club from 8 am-12 noon. The group teaches various forms of self-defense techniques including Filipino modern arts -

Ramadan camps are training grounds for learning techniques, sports, martial combat Arnis (considered as the national martial arts of the Philippines), Mano-mano (hand to hand, which incorporates punches, elbows, knees, head butts, finger strikes, locks, blocks and boxing), Sikaran (all types of Filipino martial arts kicks) and Dumog (Filipino style of grappling, trapping and joint locking). “Filipino martial arts teaches techniques in self defense even if the opponent or enemies are holding deadly weapons. We also teach our members how to turn ordinary household items into lethal weapons to defend themselves or others,” he added.

Many other organizations are also holding Ramadan camps in Kuwait - from schools to religious centers to small groups of individuals and associations.

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Local FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

New renewable energy project in works KUWAIT: Despite holding substantial oil reserves, Kuwait is stepping up its efforts to develop alternative sources of energy. In mid-June the government announced it was inviting bids for the construction of Shagaya, a renewable energy park, as part of its plan to generate 15 percent of its electricity through non-oil sources by 2030.

Hydrocarbons account for more than 90 percent of Kuwait’s GDP and around 80 percent of government revenue. Oil production stands at about 3m barrels per day (bdp), with domestic consumption at around 476,000 bpd, according to the 2013 BP Statistic Review of World Energy. Local demand for oil has increased over the past decade, jumping 67 percent between 2002 and 2012. Domestic use is expected to continue to grow, with demand for power - which is generated largely by oil-burning plants - rising by 6-8 percent each year, the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has said.

The state has moved to increase its focus on renewable energy in the past few years, with Eyad Ali Al Falah, assis-

tant undersecretary for technical services at the MEW, telling Bloomberg in November 2011 that Kuwait was committed to meeting 10 percent of its domestic energy demand through renewable energy by 2020. More recently, government officials have stated that 15 percent by 2030 is the target.

The challenges Kuwait faces in rolling out new developments have prompted some analysts to describe the government’s clean energy targets as unrealistic. Indeed, other GCC governments have pushed back their goals, including Abu Dhabi, which in early 2012 moved its deadline for producing 7 percent of power from renewable sources from 2020 to 2030.

Feasibility issues and delays in widescale adoption of green technology have also slowed the development of renewable energy over the years. A number of solar facilities were constructed under the state’s first Renewable Energy Programme, which ran from 1975 to 1988, while the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

Gulf discusses moves against Hezbollah RIYADH: Senior Gulf Cooperation Council officials met in Riyadh yesterday to coordinate sanctions in the six-member states against Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah movement over its support for the Syria regime. The meeting was “to develop mechanisms to monitor movements, financial transactions and business operations of Hezbollah,” said Bahraini deputy interior minister Khaled Al-Absi. The GCC monarchies decided on June 10 to impose sanctions on Hezbollah, targeting residency permits and its financial and business activities in reprisal for the group’s armed intervention in Syria.

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry Undersecretary Lt Gen Ghazi Al-Omar said the conferees agreed on forming a special panel to submit proposals at the next meeting at this level, due within a month. The undersecretaries discussed impact of regional events on security and stability of the council states, he said, adding the talks also dealt with inter-GCC security and data cooperation, with proposals to be submitted to the 32nd ministerial meeting.

Absi told reporters two expert teams will be formed: one to “coordinate with central banks” and the second to review “legal, administrative and financial matters” linked to the sanctions. Last month’s measure was taken “after the discovery in GCC states of several terrorist cells linked to the group,” said Absi. However, he did not say how many Hezbollah suspects would be affected by the sanctions or their estimated assets and financial and commercial operations in the region. The sanctions would be implemented “in coordination... with ministers of commerce and the central banks of the GCC,” the council’s Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani has said.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar expelled 18 Lebanese citizens from the gas-rich Gulf state on June 20, a government source in Beirut told AFP. An estimated 360,000 Lebanese work in the Gulf, according to Lebanese daily An-Nahar, remitting some $4 billion annually. Lebanon has a population of just 4.1 million. A staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, of the Alawite sect of Shiite Islam, Hezbollah has backed him since protests erupted in March 2011, openly declaring its military involvement last month. The Sunni monarchies of the Gulf back the mostly Sunni rebels, and the GCC has warned that it might add Hezbollah to its list of terrorist groups. —Agencies

(KISR) explored the possibility of building wind farms across the state.

The program was abandoned in light of the high price of materials and an abundance of oil, but green technology has since become more costeffective. Solar panels in particular have become more efficient and less expensive, as pointed out in a 2013 study by Mohamed Hadi of the Kuwait Council of Ministers and two academics, Refaat Abdel-Razek and Walid Chakroun. The authors looked at the possibility of installing building-integrated photovoltaic modules on the roofs of Kuwaiti homes and found that the payback period was around seven years.

Today the most promising renewables project is the 100-sq-km Shagaya energy park, which is located west of Kuwait City and should have the capacity to generate 70 MW of energy once the first phase is completed in 2016.

Solar thermal energy will account for 50 MW, while the balance will be generated by wind and photovoltaic sources, according to international

media reports. The second and third phases are expected to have the capacity to generate an additional 930 MW and 1000 MW of power, respectively. The government expects the project to be completed by 2030.

While petroleum is likely to maintain its position as Kuwait’s primary source of energy, Shagaya marks an important first step. The park is also expected to be instrumental in attracting foreign investment to Kuwait.

Salem Al Hajrad, head of research at the KISR, told the international press that 37 companies have already prequalified to bid for the park’s development.

The Shagaya project will be wellplaced to tap into the rapidly advancing technology needed for renewable energy development. While government support will play a key part in driving the renewables segment forward, investor interest in Kuwait’s green energy program is already growing, suggesting efforts to diversify its economy and boost oil exports are on track. —Oxford Business Group

Amir congratulates new Egypt interim president Kuwait on side of Egyptian people: FM KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of congratulations yesterday to newly-sworn in interim president of Egypt Adly Mansour, wishing him success in fulfilling his constitutional duties as he steers his homeland through the transitional phase. In the cable, the Amir wished the interim president success in overcoming the challenge of this difficult phase of Egypt’s history, expressing full confidence that the Egyptian people will be able to overcome and build a safe and prosperous future.

Sheikh Sabah praised the positive historical role of the Egyptian armed forces, headed by Gen Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi, lauding the brotherly ties between the two countries, as well as the mutual desire to bolster cooperation. The Amir wished Mansour best of health and the people of Egypt prosperity. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent similar cables to the interim president on this occasion.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in an official statement said Kuwait affirmed it was standing on side of the “brotherly Egyptian people for realizing legitimate demands for security, stability and progress.” Kuwait, which has followed up with great concern rapid developments in the Arab Republic of Egypt, congratulates “the brothers in Egypt on the positive steps for bol-

CAIRO: Egypt’s chief justice Adly Mansour (center) is applauded at his swearing-in ceremony as the nation’s interim president yesterday. —AP stering foundations of democracy,” he stated.

Kuwait affirms its standing on side of the “option of the brotherly Egyptian people for realizing their legitimate demands for security and stability and progress, through serious dialogue for the sake of national interests, with participation of all segments of the Egyptian society to spare the people dangerous repercussions,” the foreign minister added. Kuwait affirms its confidence that Egypt, a nation of great history

and a civilization dating 7,000 years, is capable of passing through “this critical phase of its history”, he said.

The vital and historic role of the Egyptian armed forces affirms Egypt’s ability to resolve such crises, the minister affirmed, expressing hope that the nation would restore its leading and constructive role at the international and regional levels, “while we aspire to pursue work together for cementing the brotherly ties for a greater future for these relations”.

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Local FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

MoI officials reassure Indian expats KUWAIT: A meeting was held at the Indian Embassy yesterday in the presence of India’s Ambassador to Kuwait Satish Mehta, Assistant Director General of the Immigration Department Brig Talal Maarafi, Assistant Director General for Immigration Detectives Col Najeeb AlShatti, Director of Public Relations and Moral Guidance, Acting Director of Information Security Col Adel Al-Hashash and some Indian expats. Items of the iqama law and how to avoid violating them were discussed. All questions asked by those present were answered.

The officials acknowledged the importance of the awareness role the information security department is playing through its awareness leaflets and media messages. Col Maarafi said a violator can correct his status and get a legal iqama in the country. He said the immigration gen-

eral directorate supports every person who seeks to correct his iqama, adding that immigration officers have an opendoor policy for anyone who has a complaint.

Col Al-Shatti said immigration detectives receive all complaints regarding iqama violations. He said when one changes

his residence, he must change it on the civil ID too so that arrests on suspicion can be avoided. Col Hashash spoke about the efforts to educate expats and the measures taken to deliver awareness messages to all. He spoke about the continued cooperation with the immigration directorate to inform expats on any new develop-

Two ex-MPs among 47 new candidates One candidate withdraws

By B Izzak KUWAIT: Two former MPs, Jamal Al-Omar and Mohammad Al-Huwailah, were among 47 new candidates who registered to run in the July 27 election, raising the total number of hopefuls to 339 with just two days more for registrations.

Mishari Mohammad Al-Anjari however became the first candidate to withdraw from the race yesterday. Pulling out of the race is open until 10 days before the actual election day. Registration closes tomorrow. Huwailah, who joined the opposition in boycotting last December nullified polls, called on all Kuwaiti voters to take part in the election process in order to make it successful and achieve the aspirations of the people. He said that political instability in Kuwait has been the main cause behind the country’s slow-paced development process and the Kuwaiti people bear a huge responsibility in selecting members of the next Assembly.

Former MP Omar said after registering that the June 16 ruling of the constitutional court represents the majority of the Kuwaiti people and as a result participating in the election process has become a national duty. He said that Kuwait is not shielded against the influence of regional developments and “we require national unity to ward off such impacts”. He pointed out that Kuwaiti people are paying the price of this politi-

KUWAIT: Former MPs Jamal Al-Omar (left) and Mohammad Al-Huwailah register for the elections yesterday. —KUNA cal standoff. Omar stressed that the circumstances surrounding the next Assembly differ from those in the past house because there were some doubts about whether the single-vote law was in line with the constitution or not. The former pro-government lawmaker said there is no legal or constitutional justification for the opposition’s announced boycott of the polls because the boycott means breaching the constitution.

Meanwhile, new candidate Mohammad Al-Enezi appealed to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-

Ahmad Al-Sabah to issue a general amnesty against youth activists and former opposition MPs who are implicated in political cases, mostly on the accusation of insulting the Amir. Several youth activists are already serving various jail sentences while other activists and former MPs are also on trial for similar accusations. Enezi said that all people are liable to committing mistakes but its better if a pardon is issued for those activists and a new page is opened with them while forgetting the past.

KUWAIT: Ahmadi governorate municipality continued its surprise inspection campaigns to guarantee the food safety and make sure it is fit for human consumption. Director of the municipality branch Fahd Dughaim Al-Otaibi said that inspections in Egaila and Fahaheel resulted in the administrative closure of a restaurant, while a cafe and another restaurant are in the process of being closed. He said the 42 citations were issued. Meanwhile, head of the food and meat department Haya AlAjmi said the campaign included the destruction of 10 juice containers because they weren’t labeled. She said that an employee was asked to stop working until wounds on his hand heal. —By Hanan Al-Saadoun

ments immediately.

The Indian ambassador appealed to policemen to present their own IDs when they check the papers of expats. He also asked them to show the warrant when they raid any residential complex, to assure residents that they are actually police officers.

Candidate can’t see but stands for elections KUWAIT: Walid Khaled Al-Enezi, 46, a blind citizen, was among those who filed nomination papers yesterday for the upcoming polls, becoming the third to take such a grand step in the history of parliamentary elections in Kuwait. There is nothing called impossible and history has testified that many blind people have excelled in literature and decision making, said highspirited Enezi in remarks to KUNA as he showed up at the electoral commission to register for the polls despite his physical impairment.

Enezi said his blindness would not hinder him from a bid to occupy a seat in parliament, defend citizens’ issues and fight corruption, stressing that demands of citizens of special cases would top his priorities once he has been elected to serve in the National Assembly. The brave citizen, a former typist at the Ministry of Education who lost his sight at the age of 20, said political issues in the country can only be resolved through cooperation of all government and parliamentary parties.

Marzoug Al-Adwani was the first blind citizen to register for the parliamentary polls for the 1999 parliament. His nomination touched off controversies in legal quarters; however, he had won the case and proceeded with his nomination. The second blind pioneer was Hezaa Al-Otaibi who ran from the third constituency in the 2012 polls. Kuwait devotes special attention to citizens of special needs or physical impairment. These citizens are offered work opportunities and special facilities in private and public places. —KUNA

KUWAIT: A security campaign in Ahmadi resulted in the arrest of 90 violators in Zour, Wafra, animal pens and Khairan. A liquor factory was busted, 11 unlicensed baqalas were removed and 28 animal feed vendors were pushed away from the road.

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Libya facing up to Gaddafi regime’s sex crimes

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Identity crisis behind China’s Xinjiang unrest

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The inventor of computer mouse Engelbart dies

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CAIRO: Egypt’s chief justice Adly Mansour (center) speaks at his swearing in ceremony as nation’s interim president yesterday. The chief justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court was sworn in yesterday as the nation’s interim president, taking over hours after the military ousted the Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. — AP

Egyptian Interim leader sworn in Egypt ponders what’s next?; Prosecutor orders Brotherhood arrests CAIRO: The chief justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court was sworn yesterday as the nation’s interim president, taking over hours after the military ousted the Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Adly Mansour took the oath of office at the Nile-side Constitutional Court in a ceremony broadcast live on state television. According to military decree, Mansour will serve as Egypt’s interim leader until a new president is elected. A date for that vote has yet to be set. Dressed in a dark blue suit and blue tie, Mansour used his first remarks as interim leader to praise the massive street demonstrations that led to Morsi’s ouster. He also hailed the youth behind the protests that began on June 30. “The most glorious thing about June 30 is that it brought together everyone without discrimination or division,” he said. “I offer my greetings to the revolutionary people of Egypt.” “I look forward to parliamentary and presidential elections held with the genuine and authentic will of the people,” Mansour said.

“The youth had the initiative and the noblest thing about this glorious event is that it was an expression of the nation’s conscience and an embodiment of its hopes and ambitions. It was never a movement seeking to realize special demands or personal interests.” The revolution, he said, must continue, so “we stop producing tyrants.” Meanwhile, Egypt’s prosecutor has ordered the arrest of the Muslim Brotherhood’s leader, widening a crackdown against the Islamist movement after the army ousted the country’s first democratically elected president. But Egypt’s new interim leader, Adly Mansour, used his inauguration to hold out an olive branch to the Brotherhood.

“The Muslim Brotherhood are part of this people and are invited to participate in building the nation as nobody will be exclud-

ed, and if they respond to the invitation, they will be welcomed,” he said. Calm returned to Cairo yesterday after huge crowds had filled Tahrir Square, danced in the streets and held Egyptian flags aloft overnight to celebrate President Mohamed Morsi’s downfall after days of mass protests.

Morsi’s dramatic removal after a year in office marked another twist in the turmoil that has gripped the Arab world’s most populous country in the two years since the fall of Hosni Mubarak. The United Nations, the United States and other world powers did not condemn Morsi’s removal as a military coup. To do so might trigger sanctions. Army intervention was backed by millions of Egyptians, including liberal leaders and religious figures who expect new elections under a revised set of rules.

POLITICAL ISLAM The fall of the first elected leader to emerge from the Arab Spring revolutions raised questions about the future of political Islam, which only lately seemed triumphant. Deeply divided, Egypt’s 84 million people find themselves again a focus of concern in a region traumatized by the civil war in Syria. Straddling the Suez Canal and Israel’s biggest neighbor, Egypt’s stability is important for many powers. At least 14 people were killed and hundreds wounded in street clashes across Egypt on Wednesday, and television stations sympathetic to Morsi were taken off air.

Morsi himself is in military custody, army and Brotherhood sources say. The prosecutor’s office also ordered the arrest of the Brotherhood’s top leader, Mohamed Badie, and his deputy Khairat El-Shater, according to judicial and army sources. The two men have been charged with inciting violence against protesters

outside the Brotherhood’s headquarters in Cairo that was attacked on Saturday night. A senior Brotherhood politician, Essam El-Erian, said the movement would take a long view of the political setback. Writing on Facebook, he said “waves of sympathy” for the Brotherhood would rise gradually over time and that the country’s Islamist leaders were overthrown before they had a chance to succeed. “The end of the coup will end faster than you imagine,” he added. Outside the constitutional court where Mansour was sworn in, 25-year-old engineer Maysar El-Tawtansy summed up the mood among those who had voted for Morsi in the 2012 poll and opposed military intervention.

IT’S ABOUT EGYPT “We queued for hours at the election, and now our votes are void,” he said. “It’s not about the Brotherhood, it’s about Egypt.

We’ve gone back 30, 60 years. Now the military rules again. But freedom will prevail.” Army intervention was backed by millions of Egyptians, including liberal leaders and religious figures who expect new elections under a revised set of rules.

Underlining the military’s central role in the overthrow of Morsi, the air force staged several fly pasts in the smoggy skies above central Cairo yesterday to “celebrate the triumph of popular will”. But for the defeated Islamists, the clampdown revived memories of their sufferings under the old, military-backed regime led by Hosni Mubarak, himself toppled by a popular uprising in 2011. The clock started ticking for Morsi when millions took to the streets on Sunday to demand he resign. They accused his Brotherhood of hijacking the revolution, entrenching its power and failing to revive the economy.—Agencies

International FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

After 80-year wait, Brotherhood blows shot at power CAIRO: Having waited for over 80 years, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood secured power when Mohamed Morsi was elected president, but it can only blame itself after being ousted just 12 months later, analysts say.

Opponents of Morsi accused him of failing the 2011 revolution that toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak by concentrating power in the hands of his Muslim Brotherhood, while failing to deal with a spiraling economic crisis.

As the world debated whether the military move to end his rule on Wednesday amounted to a real coup, analysts agreed on one thing-Morsi and the Islamist movement brought about their own rapid decline by themselves. Morsi and the Brotherhood “utterly failed in (the) past year... Egyptians asked for military coup (and) they got one,” tweeted Salman Shaikh, analyst at the Brookings Doha Center.

The Brotherhood, after first looking on from the sidelines, later joined the 18-day popular uprising inspired by the Arab Spring that forced out strongman Mubarak on February 11, 2011. It then fielded a candidate for the country’s first democratic presidential election last year, with Morsi carrying its baton after the candidacy of the Brotherhood’s first-choice, Khairat ElShater, was rejected.

Morsi came out on top in the election, bringing the Islamist movement out of the shadows after it had endured decades of bans and repeated crackdowns

Military throws Egypt into A dangerous phase HONG KONG: Egypt is entering a dangerous period. The ousting of President Mohamed Morsi - the country’s first freelyelected leader - and the Muslim Brotherhood after just one year in power cements divisions and confirms the army’s role as kingmaker. A swift return to civilian democratic rule is critical but the path is fraught with social and economic risks.

The fact that so many of Egypt’s top political and religious figures support the army’s transitional plan underscores Morsi’s failure to deliver on his promise to build an inclusive Egypt. The shoddy Islamist-leaning constitution has been suspended. The president of the Supreme Constitutional Court, backed by a technocratic government, will rule until early presidential and parliamentary elections, for which no date has been set. But fresh elections may not result in a better outcome. It’s unclear if the Brotherhood will participate, or resort to violence. The danger is that moderate members of the long-repressed movement may be radicalized by the latest events. If the liberal opposition is unable to win over the Brotherhood’s supporters, Egypt could end up being ruled by the ultra-conservative Islamist Nour party, the country’s second biggest political group. In that event, democracy might not last long. Egypt’s financial position is also deeply uncertain. Foreign reserves are dangerously low and the pound continues to depreciate. The International Monetary Fund would find it hard to lend to the country while it is in transition. And the $1.3 billion that the Egyptian military receives from the United States each year may be suspended if the US administration formally defines Mursi’s removal as a coup.

Qatar, a key backer of the Brotherhood, could tip Egypt into disaster if it decided to withdraw some of the $8 billion in financial support it has provided in bonds and central bank deposits. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries could step in but may be reluctant to do so until it is clear who is in charge, according to Noah Capital Markets. Another big worry is the effect the Brotherhood’s marginalization will have on Egypt’s neighbors. Moderate Islamists now rule in Tunisia and the Brotherhood is one of the most important Syrian opposition groups in exile. If Egypt lives up to its reputation as a regional trendsetter, an Arab winter may lie ahead.

Egypt’s army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi on July 3 after just one year in power as the country’s first democratically-elected leader. Top army commander General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced on television that the Islamist president, who is backed by the Muslim Brotherhood, had failed to meet the demands of the people. Sisi suspended the country’s controversial constitution and announced a roadmap for a return to civilian rule.—Reuters

under Mubarak’s iron-fisted rule. Analyst Nathan Brown said: “The Morsi presidency is without a doubt one of the most colossal failures in the Brotherhood’s history.”

Even allies of the Brotherhood criticized Morsi and the Islamist movement for the way they tried to run the country. “The president procrastinated. His group... lost any real opportunities to build a national base that would have isolated the counter-revolution,” said Mohammed Mahsub, a senior leader of the Al-Wasat party. “The guidance bureau of the Brotherhood bares responsibility for the downfall,” added Mahsub.

Founded in 1928, the Brotherhood had a stated aim of creating an “Islamic generation” as the foundation of a state ruled by sharia, or Islamic law. Its long wait finally paid off at the 2012 presidential election, when Morsi defeated former air force chief Ahmed Shafiq in a runoff. After taking the oath of office on June 30 last year, he slowly began to impose himself on the political scene, eventually granting himself sweeping powers in November. That move prompted prominent opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei to accuse him of usurping authority and becoming a “new pharoah” and saw the first protests against his rule.

A month later, he aggravated the situation by ramming through a controversial constitution drafted by a panel that was dominated by Islamists and boycotted by liberals and Christians. Ultimately, however, Morsi

and the Brotherhood squandered their chance at the helm by failing to govern for all Egyptians, address the economic crisis and win over the trust of the powerful military.

“Yes, it is true that the Brotherhood did well in elections; that it was not able to govern fully but still saddled with responsibility for Egypt’s insurmountable problems,” the analyst Brown wrote on the New Republic website. “It is also undeniable that Morsi and the Brotherhood made almost every conceivable mistake... such as reaching too quickly for political power or failing to build coalitions with others. “They alienated potential allies, ignored rising discontent, focused more on consolidating their rule than on using what tools they did have, used rhetoric that was tone deaf at best and threatening at worst,” wrote Brown.

US intelligence firm Stratfor said, however, that the military also played a major role in the downfall of Morsi and the Brotherhood. “Morsi never really took control of the machinery of government, partly because he was politically weak, partly because the Muslim Brotherhood was not ready to govern, and partly because the military never quite let go,” it said in an analysis posted on its website. In the end, “the military did not want to see chaos... the military distrusted the Muslim Brotherhood and was happy to see it forced out of office.” — AFP

World urges Egypt to return to democracy Israel remains mute; Saudi, UAE praise army’s intervention LONDON: World powers called yesterday for a return to democracy in Egypt after the military ousted president Mohamed Morsi, but many took a pragmatic stance and stopped short of condemning the overthrow of the Islamist leader. The West walked a tightrope between concern at the situation and the need to acknowledge the popular anger that led to huge protests against Morsi, while Syria and some other Arab nations rejoiced at his ouster.

US President Barack Obama and many leaders shied away from calling the events a coup while urging a quick return to elected civilian government in Egypt, a pivotal US ally which receives $1.3 billion in annual American military aid. “We believe that ultimately the future of Egypt can only be determined by the Egyptian people,” Obama said in a statement after emergency talks with top aides. “Nevertheless, we are deeply concerned by the decision of the Egyptian armed forces to remove president Morsi and suspend the Egyptian constitution.”

UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged a return to civilian rule in Egypt, saying it “should be resumed as soon as possible”. Europe was divided on how to react to the departure of a second Egyptian president in the space of two years and yet another crisis on the other side of the Mediterranean. Britain, the former colonial power in Egypt, said that it was ready to work with the country’s interim rulers despite disapproving of any military role in the democratic process.

“We will always be clear that we don’t support military intervention but we will work with people in authority in Egypt. That is the practical reality of foreign policy,” foreign minister William Hague said. Hague said he had spoken to his Egyptian counterpart yesterday, who had promised that there would be early presidential elections. But Germany took a far stronger line with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle describing Morsi’s ouster as a “major setback for

democracy in Egypt” and calling for dialogue and compromise.

The European Union gave a more tepid response. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was “fully aware of the deep divisions in society” in Egypt, adding that “I urge all sides to rapidly return to the democratic process”, but making no condemnation of the army. Russia called on all Egyptian political forces to “exercise restraint” but again offered no condemnation. Russia has long had friendly ties with Egypt and was guarded after the 2011 ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak.

China, traditionally wary of intervention in the internal affairs of other nations, said it supported the “choice of the Egyptian people” and called for dialogue but did not elaborate. The Egyptian army toppled Morsi on Wednesday after a week of bloodshed that

killed nearly 50 people as millions took to the streets, demanding he step down after a turbulent year of rule.

Top judge Adly Mansour was sworn in yesterday as temporary president and Egypt’s army has confirmed it is holding Morsi and several of his top aides. Regional reaction to the overthrow of Morsi and the arrests of several of his Muslim Brotherhood aides was sharply divided. Turkey, where Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted party faced down mass protests last month, said the events in Egypt were undemocratic. “The power change in Egypt was not a result of the will of the people. The change was not in compliance with democracy and law,” Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said. But Syria’s embattled government reveled in the downfall of Morsi, hailing it as a “great achievement.”—AFP

CAIRO: An Egyptian man, bearing a toy tank on his head, holds a cross (right) and a copy of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, as people gather in Cairo’s landmark Tahrir square after a night of celebrations following the toppling of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. — AFP

International FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

BENGHAZI: Libyan emergency personnel inspect the wreckage of a military helicopter that crashed during an air show in the eastern city of Benghazi yesterday, killing two crew members and wounding a third. The accident occurred while a military parade was underway at the Benina airbase in Benghazi, Libya’s second city and cradle of the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi. — AFP

Young woman breaks taboo in Libya Libya facing up to Gaddafi regime’s sex crimes TRIPOLI: The young woman introduced as “The Revolutionary” was breaking a taboo in Libya by speaking out about how she and other women had been raped by Muammar Gaddafi’s men in the early months of the country’s uprising. “They arrested me publicly at Nasser University,” she said, recalling how guards in Tripoli came for her and two other young women who expressed support for the revolution that led to Gaddafi’s overthrow. “They told me, ‘We are only going to take you away for questioning, and then we will bring you back’.”

Instead, the young woman said, a local official told the men: “Take these girls to Mutassim and enjoy them tonight.” Mutassim was one of Gaddafi’s sons and a military commander in the capital; he was later captured and killed. The two unmarried women were taken away and never seen again. The Revolutionary, who was married and pregnant, was taken to a prison near Tripoli, where she was stripped and raped. She miscarried in prison, she said.

The three victims’ crime had been to criticize Gaddafi in a video clip broadcast on an international television channel. Many people, male and female, were raped as punishment for opposing Gaddafi’s government, but The Revolutionary is one of the few who agreed to talk about her suffering. In Libya, rape victims are often ostracized, and discussion of the crime remains taboo.

There are small signs of change, with the government promising action to help victims, but the issue remains so sensitive that aid groups sometimes hide their efforts to help victims to avoid causing an outcry.

The Revolutionary, a woman in her 20s, spoke on condition of anonymity from behind a black veil, only her eyes showing. With the pain of recollection, her voice gradually rose to a shrill pitch.

“They (our captors) wanted to insult us and to take away our dignity,” she said. “The youngest girl there was 14; the oldest was my mother’s age. The women were stripped and subjected to all kinds of torture.”

The torture included electrocution, she told a conference session attended by Reuters. She gave her account at a hotel in Tripoli as part of an event earlier this year organized by the Libya Initiative, a project that brings together various rights groups to promote healing and a just society in post-war Libya. “Imagine how many women put up with this. It should be recognized,” she said. “But the country is not paying attention to any of these criminals. Maybe they are outside now, standing guard at checkpoints.”

Campaigners say it is important to acknowledge the crimes committed during Gaddafi’s 42-year rule and the revolution that led to his downfall in 2011. They say the painful process is “necessary for stability and the construction of a society based on truth,

justice and democracy”. Souad Wheidi, an activist creating an archive of the sex crimes committed during the revolution, stood next to The Revolutionary as she addressed the conference, comforting her when the girl broke down as she reached the end of her story.

The activist has campaigned for government action and such efforts appear to be having an effect. Shortly after the Tripoli meeting, the Libyan prime minister proposed a new law to recognize rape and the need for resources to be allocated to victims as a matter of urgency. “At last, it is a major victory,” said Wheidi, who is confident the law will be passed. “It will bring huge psychological relief after years of stupid injustice against the many people, both male and female, who have been touched by this reality.”

FACING UP TO RAPE The victims of rape during Libya’s uprising may number in the hundreds, according to the International Criminal Court, which has collected evidence that forces loyal to Gaddafi used rape as a weapon to spread fear among the opposition. Of all the crimes committed during Gaddafi’s rule and the revolution, rape is perhaps the most difficult to address because so few are willing to testify about it.

There are good reasons for this; victims who speak out risk being shunned or even killed by their families. Human Rights Watch notes that even after the war, a number of centers in Libya continue to provide havens for women “for no other reason than that they had been raped, and were then ostracized for ‘staining their family’s honor’”. Victims are also reluctant to come forward because bringing a charge of rape to a Libyan court may be seen as an admission of having had unlawful sex. A rape claim can even result in the victim being prosecuted.

The prevailing, dismissive attitude to rape is reflected by a government ministry set up to support victims of the civil war; it has never offered any help to rape victims. The ministry said such aid was beyond its remit, which is to search for missing people and support families of those killed in the war. The head of Libya’s human rights commission, congress member Amina Al-Mghirbi, said a draft of a new law to help rape victims was “almost ready”.

She added: “It will be approved as soon as possible and contain compensation for treatment as well as settlements.”

In the absence of government support, a number of local groups have pursued their own initiatives. One project is led by Bahiya Kanoun, who escaped from Libya during the revolution after she was branded an enemy of Gaddafi for feeding information from the wives of military men to rebels in the east of the country. Kanoun began working in refugee camps set up in

Tunisia, where thousands of other Libyans fled during the fighting. Kanoun’s training in psychology and her Libyan origin put her in the rare position of being able to help rape victims. Clinics at the camps started calling her in regularly.

One of the privileges Libya can afford - thanks to pumping 1.6 million barrels of oil a day - is to send thousands of students to university abroad on higher education scholarships or business courses. Kanoun wants the government to place rape victims in these existing sponsorship programs - without revealing what happened to them to anyone, including their families. Part of the reason Kanoun, who comes from a prominent Libyan family, hopes to succeed is her credibility with the government. She briefly served as a deputy minister of social affairs before deciding she preferred to work independently.

To promote her ideas, Kanoun met Libya’s Minister of Higher Education with a colleague, Maria Nicoletta Gaida, who is president of Ara Pacis Initiative, an organization dedicated to conflict prevention and resolution that is backed by the Italian foreign ministry. Both women said the minister’s response was encouraging. But Gaida cautioned that the road from promises to implementation on a significant scale would be long. “We will have to see if his words translate into actions,” she said.

OVERCOMING TRADITION In Tripoli, it is still difficult to offer social services to women, much less advertise them. Another group, Phoenix Libya, is experimenting with ways to protect women from violence under the guise of other forms of assistance. It advertises economic support, like classes in English or marketing, and activities for children. But its underlying aim is to give help to women who either have been, or are, subject to abuse of one form or another - without agitating their husbands or fathers, who may even be the perpetrators.

“It’s difficult to build trust. There’s no culture of speaking out,” said Ibtihat Nayed, one of the founders. “We don’t advertise psychological or social support. We are trying to be discreet about that.” Women’s rights groups say the attitudes of ordinary men are a greater obstacle to helping women than government inertia in a country where many women have to answer to male relatives. Amnesty International, along with other international organizations involved in Libya during the eight-month civil war that ended Gaddafi’s 42-year rule, said it had not documented a single case of rape because victims would not speak out. “We think (multiple rapes) might have happened but do not have any evidence,” said Amnesty International. “Everyone said, this happened, but not in our town. It was in the town next door.”— Reuters

International FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Al Shebab fighters: divided but still deadly NAIROBI: For the past year, many celebrated that Somalia’s Shebab fighters were on the back foot, as African Union and government forces wrested town after town from the AlQaeda-linked gunmen. But despite recent infighting-including the recent killing of top leaders in a bloody purge-analysts warn the extremist group are far from defeated.

A brazen daylight attack last month on a fortified United Nations compound in Mogadishu, with a seven-man suicide commando blasting into the complex and killing 11 in a gun battle to the death, followed similar tactics used in an attack on a court house in April. “Despite significant infighting, AlShebab stepped up attacks... shaking the fragile sense of security in the capital by launching attacks,” the International Crisis Group (ICG) notes.

The complex attacks came even as top Shebab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane moved against fellow commanders who had criticized his leadership, killing two co-founders of the Islamist group. Those included US-wanted Ibrahim Haji Jama Mead, better known by his nickname Al-Afghani-or “the Afghan”-due to his training and fighting with Islamist guerrillas there. Afghani was a commander “highly popular with AlQaeda”, notes Stig Jarle Hansen, from Norway’s University of Life Sciences and author of a book on the Shebab.

The deaths show the splits in the long-running insurgency to topple the internationally-backed government-defended by 17,700 AU troops-but also signal Godane’s efforts to sweep away opposition to his command and cement his more radical leadership. Afghani was killed after he reportedly penned a letter circulated on extremist websites to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, criticizing Godane’s leadership. Afghani’s killing is “very important”, added Hansen, noting that Godane-with a $7 million US bounty on his head-faces tough challenges to lead the fractured and decentralized forces, and maintain the loyalty of veteran commanders.

‘AFGHAN-STYLE’ ATTACKS “One scenario if Godane fails (to unite forces) is that the Shebab turns into something like the (Ugandan-led rebel) Lord’s Resistance Army...an organization based around terror and the charisma of the leader,” Hansen said. “It can remain a shadow structure that is to be reckoned with also inside Kenya and Tanzania.” There are concerns Godane’s elimination of commanders with more nationalist agendas could see a rise in attacks such as the assault on the UN compound, tactics more commonly seen in Afghanistan.

How Al-Qaeda’s “central” leadership will react to Godane’s purges will also be important, Hansen added. Veteran Islamist leader Hassan Dahir Aweys, allied to the Shebab since 2010, also fled Godane’s purge after criticizing his rule, and has since been placed under arrest in the capital Mogadishu. “His capture does not spell the end for Al-Shebab,” wrote Somali analyst Abdihakim Ainte for the African Arguments site, hosted by Britain’s Royal African Society. “Quite the contrary, it may encourage hardliners to stage more deadly assaults in order to counter the view that Al-Shebab is on the back foot.”

The influential cleric and former army colonel is on both US and UN Security Council terrorism sanctions lists. But Aweys has long been critical of Godane and while his arrest is significant, the impact on the Shebab’s operational capacity is less important. Yet divisions amongst Somalia’s national army, cobbled together out of multiple militia forces, continue to be exploited by the Shebab. Mogadishu’s government is also struggling to impose authority over autonomous regions unused to central control after two decades of war. “Despite progress... Al-Shebab still remains the primary threat to the survival of the new Somali government”, South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies (ISS) warned in a recent report, adding that while it may not be in control but it could “make the country ungovernable.” Cash flows have dried up but funds are still raised inside Somalia through local taxes.

Key strongholds remaining include rural southern and central Somalia, while another faction has dug into remote and rugged mountains in the northern Puntland region. Still, the force is believed to be less capable of carrying out the major regional attacks as it did in the 2010 bombings in Uganda, killing 74 as people watched the World Cup. “We believe they are now more focused internally on Somalia and lack the capability for regional attacks, but we remain ever watchful,” said one Western security expert.—AFP

Bomb kills four girls at Afghan wedding Afghan female police officer shot dead KANDAHAR: A bomb attack killed four girls attending an Afghan wedding, officials said yesterday, blaming the attack on Taleban rebels intending to target government employees at the event. The children, aged between seven and 12, died when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated as they collected water from a river during celebrations in the southern province of Helmand.

“The children were at the wedding party and this morning they went to collect water when the IED exploded on a footpath,” provincial administration spokesman Omar Zwak said. “The Taleban may have planted the bomb to hit local government staff who were at the wedding, but it killed innocent children.” Senior police official Mohammad Ismail Hotak confirmed the incident outside the provincial capital Lashkar Gah and gave a similar account. “Four young girls were killed. The body of one of them has been totally shattered,” he said. Taleban rebels regularly use IEDs to target government officials, and NATO and Afghan soldiers, but civilians and children are also often killed and wounded by the attacks.

According to UN statistics, civilian deaths rose by 24 percent in the first half of 2013 compared to last year. The United Nations registered 2,499 civilian casualties between January and June, attributing 74 percent to anti-government forces and nine percent to pro-government forces. Children accounted for 21 per cent of all civilians killed and wounded and casualties caused by IEDs-the Taleban’s weapon of choice-had risen 41 per cent, it said.

OFFICER SHOT DEAD In another development, gunmen yesterday shot dead one of the most high-profile female police officers in Afghanistan, underlining the threat to women who take on public roles in the country.

Lieutenant Islam Bibi was a well-known face of female advancement, but admitted to receiving regular death threats from people

who disapproved of her career-including from her own brother.

“She was shot by unknown assailants when she was being driven to work by her son in the morning,” Helmand provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak said. “She was badly wounded and taken to hospital, and later died in emergency care. Her son was also injured.” Bibi, aged 37 and a mother of three, was seen as an example of how opportunities for women have improved in Afghanistan since the repressive Taleban regime was ousted in 2001. She was the most senior female officer serving in Helmand, a hotbed of the Islamist insurgency that was launched against the US-backed Kabul government after the fall of the Taleban. “My brother, father and sisters were all against me. In fact my brother tried to kill me three times,” Bibi told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper earlier this year.

“He came to see me brandishing his pistol trying to order me not to do it (serve in the police), though he didn’t actually open fire. The government eventually had to take his pistol away.”

Bibi, a former refugee in Iran, returned to Afghanistan in 2001 and joined the police force nine years ago, saying she signed up for the salary and for the love of her country. Women’s rights are a key focus of international efforts in Afghanistan, with foreign diplomats often pointing to more female school children and greater freedom for women as signs of progress. But donor nations have also raised fears that such advances are at risk as 100,000 NATO troops withdraw next year and Islamist groups lobby for more influence. Rights groups say the Elimination of Violence Against Women law passed

by President Hamid Karzai is a benchmark piece of legislation, though it is poorly implemented and could even be thrown out by parliament. “Gains on women’s rights would be safe-guarded and furthered by promoting and strengthening the implementation of the law,” Jan Kubis, the head of UN mission in Afghanistan, said on Wednesday. —Agencies

XINJIANG: Photo shows Muslim Uighurs in Turpan, Xinjiang Province. — AFP

Identity crisis behind China’s Xinjiang unrest BEIJING: Beijing’s propaganda portrays the vast and remote western region of Xinjiang as a harmonious land of colorful, mostly Muslim Uighur natives and hard-working migrants prospering under Communist Party rule. But two incidents last week, one of which left 35 people dead, are only the latest spasms of violence to call into question that idealized vision. China’s constitution proclaims that the country’s dozens of minority groups are an integral and equal part of the national tapestry, but analysts say a system of ethnic labeling-originally meant to promote minority rights-is fuelling unrest.

Xinjiang saw some of its worst inter-ethnic violence in years on July 5, 2009, when around 200 people were killed in clashes between Uighurs and China’s Han majority. The fourth anniversary of the incident comes on Friday, in the run-up to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Some form of Chinese rule in Xinjiang, where the culture has religious and linguistic similarities to the Turkicspeaking countries of Central Asia, dates back centuries.

Relations between the central government and peripheral regions were once more fluid, but since the Communist Party gained power in 1949 rigidity has become the rule, and all Chinese

must carry identity cards that prominently state their ethnicity. The country’s constitution emphasizes the need “to combat big-ethnic chauvinism, mainly Han chauvinism, and also to combat local-ethnic chauvinism”. “The state will do its utmost to promote the common prosperity of all ethnic groups,” it says.

While ethnic categorization was meant to foster minority rights and status, in places such as Xinjiang it now serves to harden parochial rather than national identity, analysts say. “They’ve shot themselves in the foot by having fixed ethnic identification,” said Reza Hasmath, an Oxford University lecturer in Chinese politics who studies Uighur issues. “By virtue of doing that, the party has actually solidified ethnic boundaries.” Xinjiang, a region more than four times the size of Japan, is rich in natural resources and government economic policies aimed at developing it have raised Uighur living standards. But millions of Han migrants dominate the economy, with high-status and high-paying jobs such as banking, technical services and public management, Hasmath said, and Uighurs cannot compete because of the dominance of Han social networks.

“Uighurs are not comparing themselves to other Uighurs, they’re comparing themselves to other Hans,” he said. —AFP

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International FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Japan nuclear rules to be ‘world’s best’ TOKYO: Japan will have one of the world’s best atomic power safety regimes, the new head of the industry’s watchdog pledged yesterday, but he said the full restart of the nation’s nuclear plants is some way off. Shunichi Tanaka, chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, said new and tougher technical standards will come into force on Monday, paving the way for nuclear operators to restart their reactors.

Utilities are gearing up to request that the authority review their facilities, most of which have sat idle since going offline for inspections in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis. “I think we have, as far as I know, the best standards or close to the best,” Tanaka told foreign journalists in Tokyo. But, he said, just meeting the new technical requirements will not be enough to get reactors switched back on.

“The actual resumption of nuclear

reactors will come only after operators and political leaders gain the understanding of the host communities,” Tanaka said. The new standards require equipment upgrades and more comprehensive measures to prevent or contain severe incidents like meltdowns or fires, as well as to protect against events such as earthquakes, tsunami and terrorist attacks.

Only two of Japan’s 50 nuclear reactors are operating, while the rest remained shuttered because of widespread public opposition to a once-trusted technology. Reactors at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant went into meltdown after cooling systems were swamped by a huge tsunami in March 2011. The worst nuclear accident in a generation forced tens of thousands of people who lived around the plant to evacuate their homes.

Some may never return. Pro-busi-

ness Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly expressed his wish to restart reactors, saying atomic energy is a crucial source of power for the world’s third largest economy.

Fukushima operator Tokyo Electric Power said this week it would be asking the regulatory authority to approve two reactors at Niigata, the world’s largest nuclear plant. Other operators are expected to follow suit.

Tanaka said he hoped the strict new standards would eventually foster a real safety culture among utilities, who sometimes opt for complying with only the bare legal minimum.”A culture of safety cannot be inculcated by regulations. But this set of new standards demands” measures significantly stricter than those of previous times, Tanaka said.

“I think a safety culture will grow” as the standards are implemented, he said. —AFP

Chinese general warns India against ‘new trouble’ BEIJING: An outspoken Chinese general known for his nationalist views warned India yesterday against stirring up “new trouble” in a long-running border dispute, just as New Delhi’s defense minister was set to visit Beijing. “The Indian side should not provoke new problems and increase military deployment at the border areas and stir up new trouble,” Major General Luo Yuan told reporters. Luo, the deputy-director general of the world military research department at a People’s Liberation Army academy, described himself at a briefing as a “reasonable hardliner”. He made waves last year with comments questioning the legitimacy of Japanese sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands, a chain that includes Okinawa and hosts numerous United States military bases. “India is the only country in the world that says that it is developing its military power because of China’s military threat,” said Luo, who was wearing a business suit. “So I believe that India should be very cautious in what it does and what it says.”

A high-altitude frontier dispute between the nuclear-armed giants in the Himalayas has simmered for decades but intensified in May over troop movements in the region. New Delhi alleged Chinese troops intruded nearly 20 kilometers into Indian-claimed territory. A three-week standoff ensued and was resolved after talks between local military leaders and a withdrawal of troops from both sides. The border situation was now generally “under control” following a visit to India in May by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Luo said. His comments came as Indian defense chief AK Antony was due to arrive in China late yesterday for three days of talks, the first such trip in seven years. Antony’s visit, on which he is accompanied by top Indian military commanders, coincides with a trip to China by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan, India’s nucleararmed neighbor and arch-rival, is a longstanding close ally of Beijing. Chinese officials describe their relationship with Islamabad as one between “all weather friends”. —AFP

Asylum seekers in Hong Kong face dire conditions HONG KONG: Hong Kong may be one of Asia’s wealthiest banking and luxury hubs, but the picture is very different for hundreds of asylum seekers forced into slum-like conditions as they scrape a living in the city, say campaigners. Those fleeing persecution and torture in their homelands are attracted to Hong Kong’s rule of law and visa-free entry for many nations, but can languish for years in a system mired in ambiguity. Many are forced to work illegally to make ends meet, rights groups say.

The Ping Che region of the territory near the border with mainland China is home to a sprawl of makeshift huts made of corrugated iron plates and brick that house more than 100 people seeking protection. In one unit, a small communal toilet is shared between 10 residents and runs into an open sewer. Some of these flimsy shacks house up to a dozen people, in stark contrast to the multi-million dollar luxury apartments to be found elsewhere in the city.

One asylum seeker from Bangladesh who identified himself as Ali was smuggled into Hong Kong through mainland China four years ago. “We are refugees, not beggars or criminals,” Ali said, saying only that he left Bangladesh because of “some political problems, because of political pressure.”

Hundreds of refugees live in dozens of compounds “in different states of disrepair and illegality” across the city’s rural New Territories district, said Cosmo Beatson, director of VisionFirst, an organization providing support to asylum seekers.

“We find, visiting these compounds that it’s quite inhuman, often illegal and a situation that is just not right for Hong Kong,” he said. Qualifying asylum seekers are given a rental allowance of HK$1,200 ($154) paid directly to their landlords. But the cheapest sub-divided rooms cost around HK$2,000, say campaigners, forcing them into the

squalid conditions found at Ping Che where they can avoid paying rental deposits. “You are forcing (asylum seekers into the underground working environment, where they have to interface with the underground economy,” said Beatson.

Like many of his counterparts, Ali has

scrap yards where they earn around US$20 to $30 for a 12-hour shift.

NO OBLIGATION There are currently more than 5,000 people seeking protection from persecution and torture from southeast Asia and Africa wait-

PARIS: A combination shows a file picture of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (left) and a still frame grab of former US agent of the National Security Agency, Edward Snowden. Assange urged European nations on July 3, 2013 not to bow to US pressure and to accept fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden into their countries. —AFP resorted to working illegally to make ends meet-which carries high risks. Two asylum seekers face 15 months in prison after they were arrested for working illegally at a junk yard in May. Even voluntary work is banned.

“This is ridiculous, nobody can accept this,” said Ali. “We are human, so we must survive, we have to complete our basic needs, so that’s why you go to work.” Many work at part-time jobs in shipping container and

ing for their cases to be heard in Hong Kong, say rights groups. The issue is a complicated one for the territory, where there are two main paths for application. One is overseen by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the other by the government. The UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention, of which mainland China is a signatory, has not been extended to Hong Kong, which says it therefore has no legal

obligation to grant asylum to refugee cases.

It refers these to the UNHCR, which then sends those cases elsewhere.

There are 91 refugees recognized by the UN agency in Hong Kong, it says. It can take “three to four years” for their claims to be processed by the UN, said pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok, often meaning a period of hardship and legal limbo. “What are they to do? The government is showing quite a lot of reluctance in giving further assistance to these refugees,” Kwok said.

However, the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) does apply to Hong Kong, which cannot return anyone who is believed to face the threat of torture back home. But it has no system to forward these cases to other countries. Only seven asylum seekers have been recognized by the Immigration Department under the convention since 2009. But there is some optimism after two recent rulings by the Court of Final Appeal saw the criteria expanded beyond “torture” alone.

Hong Kong now says it offers assistance that complies with human rights conventions and local laws and does not deport those who face torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment back home. “The HKSAR Government provides in-kind humanitarian assistance to torture and asylum claimants in Hong Kong to prevent them from falling into a state of destitution,” the government said in a statement.

In light of the two rulings, the government said it is planning to unify the screening mechanism for those seeking protection, which would increase the chances of having their claims recognized, according to Hong Kong-based human rights lawyer Mark Daly.

“The success rate has been so low under the torture claims system. But if it gets working in a fair and proper way then hopefully it will be better,” Daly said. —AFP

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International FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Mother-to-be Kate faces Diana comparisons LONDON: As Prince William’s wife Catherine prepares to give birth to a new heir to the throne, she faces renewed comparisons with her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, whom she never met. The former Kate Middleton only met her prince four years after Diana’s untimely death, but William gave her his mother’s sapphire ring on their engagement, saying “it was right to put the two together”. Despite the popularity of the young royals, Catherine, 31, has at times been compared unfavorably to the late princess, who seduced the public with her outspokenness and glamour.

One columnist even called her “Diana lite”. Diana’s human touch made her a potent symbol; she was described as the “people’s princess” and said she wanted to be “queen of people’s hearts”. Like her, Catherine, whose title is Duchess of Cambridge, pays informal visits to sick children and backs addiction charities; like Diana, she is a fashion trendsetter whose choices of dress often prompt a rush on stores. But the duchess has so far opted for a far quieter public persona. When she

issued a charity broadcast in April, celebrity magazine OK! - exaggerating just a littleurged readers to “hear Kate Middleton speak for the first time!”

Both women have endured one of the biggest challenges of being a modern royal: constant scrutiny from the press, including feverish speculation about possible pregnancies. Kate’s circumspection in part reflects lessons the establishment learned from Diana’s life, and her death aged 36 in a high-speed Paris car crash, pursued by photographers. The family are said to be determined to avoid any repeat of her very public struggles, which included a divorce from William’s father Prince Charles played out in the glare of the media.

But there is one part of Diana’s life the young couple are keen to emulate: her close relationship with her two children, defying royal tradition. Diana’s former private secretary, Patrick Jephson, said that she “certainly did break the mould in the sense that she took William on tour, she made sure that... she was able to get home in time to put (her children) to bed”. He recalled that “if we were overseas (she

Italy PM Letta under pressure to pay bills ROME: Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta came under pressure yesterday to start clearing a multi-billion-euro backlog of bills the state has racked up with companies as the price of preserving his uneasy coalition. The government owes companies tens of billions of euros in overdue payments, which if met would add an extra burden to the country’s already shaky finances.

But a government source said Letta conceded he would try to speed up the process during a meeting he called to ease coalition tensions, after the centrist Civic Choice movement threatened to withdraw support if economic reforms were not stepped up. Deputy Prime Minister Angelino Alfano, secretary of the centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, tweeted that his party had pushed during the meeting “to reduce public debt in order to lower taxes and immediately pay state debts to companies.” The coalition has faced difficulties from the moment of its inception in April, with relations between the PDL and Letta’s centre-left Democratic Party particularly strained. With Italy, the euro zone’s third largest economy, in its longest recession since World War Two, Letta can ill afford major splits. Its borrowing costs are creeping higher as the rising political tensions add to nerves on financial markets also looking anxiously at ministerial resignations in Portugal and an ultimatum served on Greece by its international lenders. But clearing the overdue bills might further antagonize investors, given Italy’s public debt of more than 130 percent of gross domestic product and a budget deficit that widened further in the first quarter.

CLIMATE OF SUSPICION The government source said the coalition partners will meet again in a fortnight to discuss the reform of an unpopular housing tax, IMU, which has been a rallying cry of the PDL. Scrapping IMU would leave a 4 billion euro ($5.19 billion) hole in an already strained budget. The government earlier suspended IMU payments due in June and promised to overhaul the property tax system by the end of August. For the moment, there is little expectation of a return to elections, not least because the result would almost certainly be another deadlocked parliament. Letta has pledged to ease the severe austerity policies pursued by predecessor Mario Monti’s government and cut a youth unemployment rate of around 40 percent, while respecting the tight spending limits imposed

by European Union budget rules. Economy Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni has announced plans for a review of public spending but admitted on Wednesday that major cuts would require tough political decisions and, in the short term, the room for maneuver was limited.

The climate of suspicion between the PD and PDL in particular has held up any more ambitious efforts to tackle the structural problems that have made Italy one of the world’s most sluggish economies for more than a decade. A bruising series of legal verdicts against Berlusconi, who is now fighting two prison sentences as well as a ban on public office and expulsion from parliament for tax fraud and sex offences, has added to the uncertainty. —Reuters

ensured) that she was able to get home in the right time zone to speak to them on the phone...”They were always with her in her heart wherever she was. And I daresay (with Catherine) it will be the same.”

Catherine will have her baby at St Mary’s hospital in London, where Diana had William in 1982, in what was then a radical choice not to give birth in a royal residence. The family will live in a 21-room apartment in Diana’s old home, Kensington Palace-which is undergoing a £1 million ($1.5 million, 1.2-million-euro) refit-where Catherine will add to her challenges that of parenting the third-in-line to the throne.

Given Catherine and William’s eightyear courtship, they seem unlikely to face the high-profile discord that plagued Diana’s marriage as her sons William and Harry grew up. Catherine was 28 when Prince William proposed in 2010, and was a “commoner”, which would have ruled out their marriage a generation earlier. Diana was just 19 when she became engaged in 1981 to Charles, who was 13 years older and on the hunt for an aristocratic bride

deemed suitable by his relatives.

Diana’s parents were a viscount and viscountess who divorced bitterly when she was eight; Catherine’s met working for an airline, started a party accessories business together, and remain happily married. Diana, besieged by the media, also made use of it: in candid interviews, she put across her side of the divorce and her tough relationship with the royal family, which she called “the firm”. Catherine looks set to steer a different course, and has joined a “firm” that has lost at least some of its stuffiness.

And despite her reserved exterior, there are glimpses of a sparky character: when a university friend said she was lucky to be going out with Prince William, she is said to have replied: “He’s lucky to have me.” “We have seen that she holds many of the attributes of a natural royal performer,” Jephson said. “She is a strongminded woman. She has her own ideas about how she should serve the title that she now holds, how she prepares herself for being queen-this is after all an apprenticeship for the main job.” —AFP

Latin America fumes over Bolivia incident Portugal, France denied air rights to Morales BUENOS AIRES: Latin American leaders slammed European governments on Wednesday for diverting Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane on rumors it was carrying a wanted former US spy agency contractor, and announced an emergency summit in a new diplomatic twist to the Edward Snowden saga.

Bolivia said Morales was returning from Moscow on Tuesday when France and Portugal abruptly banned his plane from entering their airspace due to suspicions that Snowden, wanted by Washington for leaking secrets, was onboard. Italy and Spain also banned the plane from their skies, it said.

The unusual treatment of the Bolivian military aircraft touched a sensitive nerve in the region, which has a history of US-backed coups. Regional leaders, particularly from the left, rallied behind Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president and a former union leader of the country’s coca farmers. “(These are) vestiges of a colonialism that we thought were long over. We believe this constitutes not only the humiliation of a sister nation but of all South America,” Argentine President Cristina Kirchner said in a speech in Buenos Aires.

Heads of state in the 12-nation South American bloc Unasur denounced the “unfriendly and unjustifiable acts.” The grouping issued a statement late on Wednesday saying the presidents of Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay and Surinam had agreed to attend a summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia. “Latin America demands an explanation,” tweeted Ecuadorean leader Rafael Correa. “If what happened to Evo does not merit a Unasur summit, I don’t know what does.”

Dilma Rousseff, president of regional economic powerhouse Brazil, issued a statement repudiating the European countries that denied Morales access to their airspace based on what she called the “fanciful” notion that Snowden might be on board. The Chilean

Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it “lamented” what happened to Morales and that more clarity was needed on the facts.

Much more blunt was the statement from Mexico’s Congress condemning what it called the “disgraceful and discriminatory” treatment Morales had received in Europe.

A spokesman at France’s Foreign Ministry blamed the flap on “an administrative mishap,” saying France never intended to ban Morales from its airspace and that there were delays in

diplomats or missiles, always require approval before they can enter foreign airspace, legal experts said. “Every state on the basis of state sovereignty has the right to deny overflight to state aircraft,” said John Mulligan, a research fellow at the International Aviation Law Institute at DePaul University in Chicago.

ANTI-US RHETORIC Bolivian officials were quick on Tuesday to accuse the United States of strong-arming the

EL ALTO: Bolivia’s President Evo Morales (right) and Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera sing the national anthem upon Morales’ arrival after an unplanned 14-hour layover in Vienna, at the airport in El Alto, Bolivia. —AP getting confirmation that the plane had flyover permits.

International agreements allow civilian airplanes to overfly countries without obtaining permission ahead of every flight. But state aircraft including Air Force One, the plane that carries the US president, must obtain clearance before they cross into foreign territory.

Government aircraft, whether carrying

Europeans into denying access to their air space in an “act of intimidation” against Morales for suggesting that while attending an energy conference in Moscow he would consider granting asylum to Snowden if requested. Morales said earlier this week no request had been made. The White House declined to comment on the assertion that it was behind the plane scandal. —Reuters

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International FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Slash-and-burn a way of life on Indonesia’s Sumatra PELALAWAN: The ground was still hot and smoke hung in the air when Saparina set out to plant her spinach in the ashen remains of rainforest on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, where raging fires triggered Southeast Asia’s worst smog crisis in years. The farmer waded through ankle-deep ash as she laid out her crops in fireblackened earth among charred tree stumps on land cleared by the illegal method of slashand-burn.

“I give thanks to God, now I can easily plant vegetables and oil palms,” said the 36-year-old, who only gave one name, her feet still dirty after planting the crops in her half-hectare plot of land in Riau province. While the blazes last month cloaked Singapore and Malaysia in toxic haze and provoked howls of outrage from environmental groups, many on Sumatra, from plantation workers to villagers like Saparina, are die-hard supporters of using fires to clear land.

It is the quickest and cheapest method of clearance for cultivation-far less expensive than using mechanical excavators or bulldozers-and the ash from fires is also a natural fertilizer. As the haze clears, authorities are turning their attention from firefighting to trying to catch the culprits. For many, the focus remains firmly

on big palm oil and pulp and paper firms.

Global demand in particular for palm oilused in everyday goods from soap, to lipstick to biscuits-is booming, and rapid expansion of plantations is behind much of Sumatra’s deforestation. Nevertheless, the common acceptance of slash-and-burn clearances among smallholders suggests that blame is widely spread, even if big companies often buy the palm oil fruit produced on the smaller, private farms. Small farmers clearing their own land, people paid to quietly flick a match onto a concession owned by a big company, and major companies themselves are all starting fires, activists say. This year’s fires pushed haze to record levels in Singapore, forcing residents to don facemasks and stay indoors. They also raised diplomatic temperatures, with both Singapore and Malaysia calling on Indonesia to do more to stop the problem. But many on Sumatra see little alternative.

“Burning is obligatory,” said Herman, the owner of a small palm oil plantation who declined to give his full name. “Who would want to cut huge trees with their own hands to clear land? The trees are enormous.” Once the fires start they often burn deep underground in

deposits of carbon-rich peat, and are notoriously difficult to put out. Firefighters have had to resort to sticking hoses deep into the ground to douse blazes that have spread across thousands of hectares.

“It takes only a flick of a cigarette butt to create a big fire, especially in the dry season,” Herman said. “The fire travels like water flowing beneath our feet-you have no idea where it might resurface and burn the land above.” The continued enthusiasm for slash-and-burn comes despite chronic health problems-nearly 20,000 people in Riau suffered breathing difficulties in June due to the haze, according to a local health official. Saparina, who insisted she does not start fires herself, conceded her children were “coughing at home” while she was out planting.

With the annual haze from forest fires on Sumatra the worst this year since 1997-98, Jakarta is under pressure to take action. Police have so far named 24 small farmers suspected of starting the fires. Authorities have not said that any of them are from a major plantation company but they are looking into possible links. Government officials have said some fires took place within the boundaries of conces-

sions owned by big companies and are investigating eight firms.

Many companies have insisted they have strict “zero burning” policies and that any fires in their concessions must have crept in from outside. But proving who really set the fires is a daunting task for police in a huge province where many plantation workers and residents seem to have a cigarette permanently dangling from their lips, 50 percent of the land is peat, and using fires to clear land is part of life.

Some now argue that the law banning land clearance by fire is unrealistic and should be replaced with government-regulated controlled burning. “I believe law enforcement alone does not work,” said Willem Rampangilei, the deputy minister for people’s welfare in the national government. “We tried to stop the tradition but it’s impossible.”

Environmental groups such as Greenpeace insist the government must enforce existing laws banning slash-and-burn more effectively.

“The continuing practice of clearing land with fire is just the tip of the iceberg of Indonesia’s flawed natural resources management,” said Yuyun Indradi, a forest campaigner with Greenpeace Indonesia. —AFP

Scientists create functional human liver from stem cells Proof-of-concept suggests organs could be grown in labs LONDON: Scientists have for the first time created a functional human liver from stem cells derived from skin and blood and say their success points to a future where much-needed livers and other transplant organs could be made in a laboratory. While it may take another 10 years before lab-grown livers could be used to treat patients, the Japanese scientists say they now have important proof of concept that paves the way for more ambitious organ-growing experiments.

“The promise of an off-the-shelf liver seems much closer than one could hope even a year ago,” said Dusko Illic, a stem cell expert at King’s College London who was not directly involved in the research but praised its success. He said however that while the technique looks “very promising” and represents a huge step forward, “there is much unknown and it will take years before it could be applied in regenerative medicine.”

Researchers around the world have been studying stem cells from various sources for more than a decade, hoping to capitalize on their ability to transform into a wide variety of other

kinds of cell to treat a range of health conditions.

There are two main forms of stem cells - embryonic stem cells, which are harvested from embryos, and reprogrammed “induced pluripotent stem cells” (iPS cells), often taken from skin or blood. Countries across the world have a critical shortage of donor organs for treating patients with liver, kidney, heart and other organ failure.

Scientists are keenly aware of the need to find other ways of obtaining organs for transplant.

The Japanese team, based at the Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, used iPS cells to make three different cell types that would normally combine in the natural formation of a human liver in a developing embryo - hepatic endoderm cells, mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells - and mixed them together to see if they would grow. They found the cells did grow and began to form threedimensional structures called “liver buds” - a collection of liver cells with the potential to develop into a full organ.

When they transplanted them into mice, the researchers found the human liver buds

Three million Europeans catch infections in hospital annually LONDON: On any given day, some 80,000 patients in Europe are fighting an infection they picked up in hospital, often while in intensive care, the EU’s disease monitoring agency said in a survey published yesterday. Although some of these infections can be treated easily, others - like the superbug MRSA and other drug-resistant bugs - can be fatal or affect patients’ health very seriously, taking several months of costly hospital care and medication to beat. A survey by the European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control (ECDC) found that on any given day, one in 18 patients in European hospitals has at least one hospital-acquired infection - amounting to around 3.2 million patients per year.

“Healthcare-associated infections pose a major public health problem and a threat to European patients,” said Marc Sprenger, director of the Stockholmbased ECDC. He said many of these infections could be prevented by well thought-out, sustained and multi-pronged prevention and control programs and he urged hospitals to step up the fight. “Such programs, as well as prudent use of antibiotics, will help all actors involved to protect the patients of European hospitals,” he said in a statement. —Reuters

matured, the human blood vessels connected to the mouse host’s blood vessels and they began to perform many of the functions of mature human liver cells. “To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the generation of a functional human organ from pluripotent stem cells,” the researchers wrote in the journal Nature.

Malcolm Allison, a stem cell expert at Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved in the research, said the study’s results offered “the distinct possibility of being able to create mini livers from the skin cells of a patient dying of liver failure” and transplant them to boost the failing organ. Takanori Takebe, who led the study, told a teleconference he was so encouraged by the success of this work that he plans similar research on other organs such as the pancreas and lungs.

A team of American researchers said in April they had created a rat kidney in a lab that was able to function like a natural one, but their method used a “scaffold” structure from a kidney to build a new organ. And in May last year, British researchers said they had turned skin cells into beating heart tissue that might one day be able to be used to treat heart failure. That livers and other organs may one day be made from iPS cells is an “exciting” prospect, said Matthew Smalley of Cardiff University’s European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute. “(This) study holds out real promise for a viable alternative approach to human organ transplants,” he said.

Chris Mason, a regenerative medicine expert at University College London said the greatest impact of iPS cell-liver buds might be in their use in improving drug development.

“Presently to study the metabolism and toxicology of potential new drugs, human cadaveric liver cells are used, “ he said. “Unfortunately these are only available in very limited quantities”. The suggestion from this new study is that mice transplanted with human iPS cell-liver buds might be used to test new drugs to see how the human liver would cope with them and whether they might have side-effects such as liver toxicity. —Reuters

Doug Engelbart

Inventor of computer mouse Engelbart dies SAN FRANCISCO: Douglas Engelbart, a technologist who conceived of the computer mouse and laid out a vision of an Internet decades before others brought those ideas to the mass market, died on Tuesday night. He was 88. His eldest daughter, Gerda, said by telephone that her father died of was kidney failure. Engelbart arrived at his crowning moment relatively early in his career, on a winter afternoon in 1968, when he delivered an hour-long presentation containing so many far-reaching ideas that it would be referred to decades later as the “mother of all demos.”

Speaking before an audience of 1,000 leading technologists in San Francisco, Engelbart, a computer scientist at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), showed off a cubic device with two rolling discs called an “X-Y position indicator for a display system.” It was the mouse’s public debut. Engelbart then summoned, in real-time, the image and voice of a colleague 30 miles away. That was the first videoconference.

And he explained a theory of how pages of information could be tied together using text-based links, an idea that would later form the bedrock of the Web’s architecture.

At a time when computing was largely pursued by government researchers or hobbyists with a countercultural bent, Engelbart never sought or enjoyed the explosive wealth that would later become synonymous with Silicon Valley success. For instance, he never received any royalties for the mouse, which SRI patented and later licensed to Apple.

He was intensely driven instead by a belief that computers could be used to augment human intellect. In talks and papers, he described with zeal and bravado a vision of a society in which groups of highly productive workers would spend many hours a day collectively manipulating information on shared computers. —Reuters

Business FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Emerging markets mania a ‘costly mistake’ Page 20

India ‘game-changer’ cheap food scheme triggers concerns Page 22

LONDON: A British Airways Airbus A380 lands at Heathrow Airport in London yesterday. British Airways is the first UK airline to take delivery of the A380 and the first longhaul flight will be to Los Angeles on September 24, 2013. — AFP

BA gets first Airbus A380 in fleet upgrade Analyst: Ageing fleet holds British Airways back LONDON: British Airways welcomed its first Airbus A380 jet, the world’s biggest commercial aircraft yesterday, part of a $15 billion upgrade to top-of-the-range planes that it hopes will give it a boost in the lucrative market for longhaul business travel. The emergence of the fuel-efficient double-decker through the grey clouds over Heathrow airport in west London was greeted by hundreds of British Airways (BA) staff and spectators, a boon to a group that has been weighed down by its ageing fleet.

The plane touched down on time and taxied into a hangar near Heathrow terminal five, met by cabin crew in uniform waving British flags. The first long-haul flight on the A380 will run to Los Angeles on Sept. 24, the British flag carrier said, slightly earlier than the originally planned October start. “These aircraft are the start of a new era for British Airways,” said Chief Executive Keith Williams, noting the airline hadn’t had any new long-haul aircraft for 17 years. “Over the next 15 months, we will take delivery of new aircraft at the rate of one a fortnight as we put ourselves at the forefront of modern aviation.”

BA’s ageing long-haul fleet has put it at a “cost and quality” disadvantage to rivals, especially deep pocketed Middle Eastern carriers such as Emirates, which run newer, more cost-effective planes that are also more comfortable and better equipped, according to Davy analyst Stephen Furlong. BA, part of International Airlines Group (IAG), received the first of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners last

month, making it the first airline in Europe to fly both new planes once commercial operations begin. The aircraft are the centrepiece of a ten-year, $15 billion upgrade to BA’s long-haul fleet, which will include retiring older and less fuel-efficient Boeing 747-400 jumbos.

IAG will need to wring all the profit it can from its new jets if operational problems at its Spanish carrier Iberia continue to wipe out progress at BA. IAG, Europe’s thirdbiggest airline group by market value, made an operating loss of 278 million euros ($361 million) in the first three months of this year, with Iberia causing 202 million of that as it suffered from competition from low-cost rivals and high-speed trains and labor disputes. BA broke even during the quarter, helped by business and first-class traffic.

NOISE AND CAPACITY BA has 12 A380s and 42 Dreamliners on order for delivery over the next ten years. The A380 is built for use between major international airports, while the Dreamliner is intended for less busy routes and uses lightweight technology. Sales of the A380 have been sluggish over the last five years, with Airbus announcing 262 orders, of which 105 are now in service.

Attention has turned to smaller, lighter planes like the Airbus A350 and the Dreamliner. However, Airbus Executive Vice President of Programs, Tom Williams, saw a change as global growth picks up. “With passenger num-

bers now rising and airlines adding capacity again we feel the A380 is the right plane for this time,” he said. BA’s A380s, which will carry 469 people, will go a small way to helping it cope with capacity constraints at Heathrow.

Business lobby groups have said Britain risks falling behind if it does not boost flights to emerging economies.

But plans for a third Heathrow runway were scrapped in 2010 when the government bowed to pressure from local residents and environmental groups. The arrival of the A380s will be welcomed by bosses at Heathrow who plan to name and shame airlines found guilty of breaking noise limits at the airport as it seeks to win more public support for expansion plans. Noise produced by airlines using Heathrow affects some 700,000 local residents, according to Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority, more than any other airport in Europe.

Airbus says the A380 makes half the noise of Boeing’s 747 - previously the world’s biggest jet - during take off, while Boeing says its Dreamliner is equivalent to the sounds of heavy traffic when standing at a roadside. Both manufacturers say their new planes burn at least 20 percent less fuel than similar, older models. BA’s A380 has a lower seat density than many of its competitors, as it looks to lure more passengers to first and business class seats, the most profitable part of its business. Its fleet modernization program also includes orders for six new Boeing 777300ERs, along with 18 Airbus A350 jets.— Reuters

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Business FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Emerging markets mania a ‘costly mistake’ LONDON: Investors who wrongly called time on US economic supremacy during the financial crisis are set to pay a hefty price for betting too much on the developing world, according to a top Goldman Sachs strategist. The US investment bank helped inspire a twenty-fold surge in financial investment in China, India, Russia and Brazil over the past decade, its chief economist popularizing the term BRICs in a 2001 research paper.

Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, in charge of shaping the portfolios of the bank’s rich private clients, has been arguing against that trend for four years, however, trying to persuade investors and colleagues they were safer sticking with the developed world. The past six months has substantially vindicated that view. China’s boom is finally wobbling under the weight of economic imbalances including an undervalued currency, and emerging stock markets are down 13 percent compared to an 11 percent rise in the US S&P 500 index over the same period.

“Many investors and market commentators have been too euphoric about China over the last decade and this euphoria is finally abating. Many just followed the herd into emerging markets and over-allocated to many of the key countries,” she says. “It

is easier to be part of the herd even if one is wrong, than stay apart from the herd and be right in the long run.” The net gains for US stock markets may just be a taste of the reassertion of western dominance that may emerge in the next few years, MossavarRahmani argues.

Structural advantages like abundant mineral wealth, positive demographics and, most importantly, inclusive, well-run political and economic institutions make the United States the best bet going forward, she says. “(Emerging market) investors are taking on so many risks compared with the US where the risk is largely cyclical rather than structural,” she says.

Many of the cyclical issues affecting the US such as high levels of debt, are also on their way to being resolved. “One thing that normally puts investors off from increasing their US holdings is the long term debt profile, but we think the magnitude of the work done to address this has been underappreciated by investors,” she says.

WEST IS BEST The idea that authoritarian countries are less effective than open economies like the US at incentivising entrepreneurship and innovation is long accepted in academia. Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson

laid out the case for doubting the emerging power of China and others in a book ‘Why Nations Fail’ last year, arguing poor institutions that entrench inequality will hamper a country’s path to prosperity. But this view was largely put aside by professional investors who allowed themselves to be swept up in a “mania” about the rewards up for grabs in emerging markets, especially China.

The widely held position, enhanced by the crisis of 2007-8, was that the developed world was entering a long decline and the best prospects for investors would be found in emerging markets, particularly in Asia. That prompted a boom in emerging market themed equity funds, which in Europe multiplied from 13 in 2002 to 67 in 2012 according to Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company that tracks the funds industry. Lipper data also shows the balance of money flowing into emerging market themed equity funds globally, including those focused on the BRICs, soared from 2.42 billion euros in 2008 to 51.23 billion euros in 2012. In contrast, equity funds overall lost 21.5 billion euros in 2012.

UNREST China’s efforts to rebalance its economy from an export dependent to consumer-led

Portugal bond rebound short-lived; Crisis lingers Investors look to ECB for reassurance after turmoil Fund bailout because raising money on regular markets became too pricey.

The resignation of two ministers this week, triggering prospects of a new election being fought over continued budget austerity, saw Portugal’s 10-year sovereign yields spike on Wednesday above 8 percent, to near the levels at which it was forced to seek the bailout two years ago. Yesterday’s yield rise was greater in shorter-dated bonds, suggesting investors are concerned about the country’s ability to service its debt and, tentatively, about the potential losses to the private sector should Portugal have to restructure.

“The market is very nervous. The rebound was very short-lived (and) the (July 4) US holiday is killing volumes,” one trader said. “They (investors) are worried about political risk in Portugal and a risk of a PSI-type event,” he added, referring to so-called private sector involvement that forced losses on holders of Greek debt last year. The difference between 10- and 2- year bond yields in Portugal has fallen more than 100 basis points in two days.

Traditionally, longer-dated bonds offer a comfortably higher return than short-dated ones to compensate investors for the risk of holding an asset over a longer period of time.

LISBON: A construction worker uses a shovel to unload a small truck in Lisbon yesterday. Portugal’s governing coalition parties are to hold urgent talks in a bid to resolve differences over crushing austerity policies that have pushed the government to the brink of collapse. —AP

SPANISH AUCTION The turmoil in Portugal has dented investor appetite for other lower-rated debt, but Spain easily sold bonds albeit at a higher cost to the sovereign. Madrid raised 4 billion euros - at the top end of the target. The new five-year bond attracted bids worth 1.7 times the amount on offer, while demand for a three-year bond was 3.5, higher than this year’s 2.56 average.

“The recent Portuguese-driven correction has enhanced the attractiveness of Spanish bonds and the auction was taken down very well,” said Nick Stamenkovic, bond strategist at RIA Capital Markets in Edinburgh. “The outlook in Portugal is very clouded. What’s interesting is that Italy and Spain have been relatively resilient.” Ten-year Spanish bond yields were up slightly at 4.76 percent and the Italian equivalent was 5.1 basis points higher at 4.57 percent. Analysts expect demand from domestic investors and the European Central Bank’s bond-buying program to insulate Italy and Spain for now.

Portugal does not immediately qualify for the program. —Reuters

LONDON: An early rebound in Portuguese bonds, driven by government attempts to defuse its political crisis, was short-lived yesterday as investors fretted over the country’s ability to end its international bail out. Twoyear Portuguese yields jumped 41 basis points to 5.9 percent as investors sold and five-year yields rose to the psychologically important 7 percent level. Ten-year yields rose 6 basis points to 7.59 percent. Financial market widely consider 7 percent to be unsustainably expensive if they remain for a period of time. Portugal is already subject to a European Union/International Monetary

model is likely to bring slower growth, more market volatility and greater potential for social unrest - a worrying trinity of red flags for foreign investors who have poured cash into China in recent years. Meanwhile, mass protests are causing political crisis in Brazil and investors are fretting about ponderous, economically stifling bureaucracy in India.

South Africa, sometimes called a fifth BRIC, is also struggling with a tide of labour unrest and infrastructure and social problems. Data from fund tracker EPFR Global shows investors pulled out a record $10 billion from emerging markets debt and equity funds in the week to June 28.

Mossavar-Rahmani argues investors should not base decisions so heavily on which countries post the most impressive economic growth numbers, a temptation to which she says many succumbed when overallocating money to China. Even when countries enjoy rapid economic growth, the increases in GDP do not equate to similar jumps in investment returns, she says, citing a study published in 2005 by the London Business School. “If you rank the world’s economies from fastest to slowest in terms of growth, the fastest-growing quintile actually generate the lowest investment return while the slowest third deliver the highest,” she said. —Reuters

UK bans short-selling in three Portuguese stocks LONDON: Britain’s financial market watchdog said yesterday it had imposed a temporary ban on the short-selling of three Portuguese companies to help Portugal’s market regulator cope with volatility in these shares. The ban follows similar action in Portugal, where market regulators have tried to calm volatility after the resignation of two government ministers brought the Portuguese government to the brink of collapse.

In London, the restriction applies to banks Banco Comercial Portugues, Banco Espirito Santo, and Sonae Industria SGPS, the Financial Conduct Authority said, and will be in force through to midnight yesterday. These shares had fallen more than 10 percent in the previous session. UK regulators took similar action in February, banning the short selling of certain Italian stocks such as Banco Popolare following volatility after an inconclusive election result. Short-selling means borrowing shares in a company and selling them in the market with the intention of buying them back later at a lower price.

UK regulatory sources said the latest ban was requested by Portuguese authorities, and brings the FCA in line with a ban placed by Commissao do Mercado de Valores Mobiliarios in Lisbon. The Portuguese regulator also banned short-selling of Banif , which doesn’t trade on any London-based platforms. Yesterday, shares in the four Portuguese companies bounced back to rise over 6 percent to the top of Portugal’s share index leader board.

Gerard Lane, equity strategist at Shore Capital, said that while bans often only provided short-term respite from selling pressure, it made sense to do this for banks.

“With regards to financials, if their ability to access funding depend on equity ratios, and short sellers squeeze that equity down and make access to funding more difficult, that can precipitate a crisis, so I can understand why those restrictions are in place,” Lane said. But Hendrik Klein, who runs Swiss high-frequency trading and fund management firm Da Vinci Invest AG, said it was questionable whether such short-selling bans had much of a positive impact for financial markets. “The immediate effect of these bans is illiquidity and bigger spreads,” said Klein. “If you’re banning short-selling, you’re not necessarily making the market more attractive.” —Reuters

Business FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Worries remain over Portugal debt Gold flat in thin trade LONDON: Gold slipped slightly yesterday as investors awaited the results of a European Central Bank meeting (ECB) later in the day and major US jobs data today that could impact monetary policy.

Volumes were expected to remain thin throughout the day as traders were reluctant to take big positions during the US Independence Day holiday. “When the US is on holiday nobody does anything. There has been some selling this morning, but I don’t expect much more happening,” Marex Spectron head of precious metals David Govett said.

“This afternoon probably there will be a bit of movement when Draghi holds his meeting ... and then tomorrow we see the US non-farm payrolls, where we expect to continue see the trend of slowly better data,” he added. Spot gold fell 0.2 percent

to $1,248.61 an ounce by 0941 GMT after gaining almost 1 percent on Wednesday.

Comex gold futures for August were down $3.20 to $1,248.70. Gold has jumped 7 percent since hitting its lowest price in almost three years at $1,180.71 last Friday, but many traders view the gains as a typical short-term rally that follows a significant decline.

Political turmoil in Portugal, where talks over the government’s future threatened to reignite the euro zone crisis, sparked some safe-haven gold buying which was appeared to be exhausted. There was a widespread consensus that the ECB would not touch rates or announce any new additional measures at its policy meeting later in the day. “Current worries over Portugal could strengthen the case for stronger forward guidance by the ECB to ensure that

interbank and funding concerns for the peripheral area do not intensify,” ANZ Research said. “Gold could come under pressure if this eventuates.”

Sentiment also was guarded ahead of today’s US non-farm payrolls report, which is expected to show the economy created 165,000 jobs last month. The data could affect when the Federal Reserve will begin tapering off its $85 billion monthly bond buying stimulus program. Gold posted its biggest quarterly loss on record in the April-June period, down 23 percent. Selling was exacerbated by comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke last month that the US economy was recovering strongly enough for the central bank to begin pulling back on its stimulus in the next few months. This would support a rise in interest rates, making gold less attractive.

Debt tensions ease before ECB meeting Euro shares, bond rise LONDON: European bond and stock markets rose yesterday as investors put concerns about political turmoil in Portugal to one side ahead of central bank meetings in Frankfurt and London, and today’s US jobs report. Portuguese bond yields steadied at 7.5 percent after opening at 7.7 percent, while Italian and Spanish bond markets were quiet following a sharp sell-off on Wednesday, when a deepening crisis threatened to derail Lisbon’s efforts to exit its bailout.

The market focus fell squarely on the European Central Bank, which economists expect to keep policy on hold later on. The same goes for the Bank of England which holds its first meeting under new governor Mark Carney. But they do expect to hear calming words to reassure investors rattled by Portugal’s troubles and the US Federal Reserve’s plans to begin winding down its stimulus.

“There is a consensus that the ECB will not touch rates or announce any new additional measures although personally I expect (President Mario) Draghi to be a little more dovish than at the last meeting,” said UniCredit interest rate strategist Luca Cazzulani. “Focus on Portugal is pretty high but there has been a limited spillover into Spain and Italy so far.” With US markets closed for the Independence Day holiday and investors also keeping positions tight ahead of US jobs data today, the risk was that any surprise moves by the central banks or in Portugal could have a heavily amplified market impact.

European shares were up 0.75 percent by mid-morning as markets in London, Frankfurt and Paris wiped off the previous session’s losses, though afternoon trading was expected to be choppy around the ECB’s 1230 GMT post-meeting news conference. Asian stocks made similar gains overnight, building on a positive finish on Wall Street. Investors were already positioning for today’s non farm payrolls data, one of the key measures of US economic

VIGO: Shipyard workers stand close to a burning garbage dumpster during a demonstration against the repayment of state aids for Spanish shipbuilders in Vigo, northwestern Spain yesterday. — AFP health for the Federal Reserve as it looks to the situations in Portugal and Greece scale back its $85-billion-a-month stimulus because it is a very psychologically driven market,” Rolf Bland, chief investment offiprogram. cer at VZ Vermogenszentrum in Zurich, said.” In Egypt, the overthrow by the army HEALING WORDS In the currency market, the euro hov- of President Mohamed Morsi drew a posiered just below $1.30 as traders awaited tive reaction from investors. The country’s the ECB’s message following the recent five-year debt insurance costs falling 80 market jitters, while the dollar sold off basis points and its sharply and its stock against the yen. Rising tensions in market gaining 6 percent.

With the threat of a disruption in supPortugal - where the resignation of two ministers within days saw bond yields plies from the Middle East seen as having jump back to crisis levels of 8 percent on eased after the events in Cairo, Brent oil Wednesday - coincide with fresh debt slipped to $105.30 a barrel from a twoworries in Athens, where the government week high. Other commodity markets saw faces an end-of-week deadline to prove to limited moves ahead of today’s US data. its lenders it can push through tough Gold edged up for a second session as reforms. The signs of stress on the euro Portugal and Egypt’s troubles prompted zone’s periphery risk sapping confidence safe-haven buying, while growth-attuned in the region a year after Draghi vowed to copper hovered near a two-week high. “If do “whatever it takes” to save the euro, we get a sense that US growth is not and analysts feel the Italian and his col- where people think it might be yet, that leagues may have to give a renewed show could undermine the dollar and be in general more supportive for commodity of commitment.

“I am expecting some healing words prices,” said Barclay’s commodities analyst from Draghi, which should calm fears over Sijin Cheng.— Reuters

PHYSICAL DEMAND Physical demand for gold was lukewarm despite the recent fall in prices, and premiums remained steady in main markets as refineries prepared to shut for house-keeping during the summer, traders said.

“Our coin dealers in Australia have seen a good response to this recent drop.

But it is not the same response as we got in April (when prices fell the most in 30 years),” said Bron Suchecki, manager of analysis and strategy at the Perth Mint.

The mint’s depository business has not seen significant liquidations but the inflows have dropped off, he said. Silver fell 0.5 percent to $19.59 an ounce.

Platinum was up 0.1 percent to $1,337.90 an ounce and palladium dropped 0.5 percent to $679 an ounce. — Reuters

Worries mount for German ‘Mittelstand’ as vote looms BERLIN: Christof Rosenberg has been trying for a year to find a skilled toolmaker for the specialist pipe company he runs with his two brothers in western Germany. Two recruits he brought in and trained failed to master the job.

Now he’s having to delay projects by up to six weeks and that’s hurting business at Aquatherm, the 450-strong firm Rosenberg’s father set up in his garage four decades ago.

“The market is completely devoid of well-qualified workers,” Rosenberg told Reuters from the company’s headquarters in Attendorn, an industrial town 90 kilometres east of Cologne.

Aquatherm, which makes plastic pipes for heating and air conditioning, is not alone among German “Mittelstand” companies - the small and medium-sized, often familyrun, manufacturing firms that form the backbone of Europe’s largest economy. A recent study by consulting firm Ernst & Young showed three of every four German Mittelstand firms are struggling to find suitable employees due to an acute shortage of skilled labor. And that’s not the only problem worrying the sector ahead of a federal election in September in which Chancellor Angela Merkel is seen likely to win a third term, in part due to the relative strength of the German economy.

Slowing growth, rising energy prices, tightening credit conditions and a pre-election debate about tax hikes are also unnerving firms across Germany, including those that have weathered years of crisis in Europe with hardly any damage. Reuters spoke with a dozen Mittelstand firms about their business prospects ahead of the vote.

Most said they had a higher headcount now than three years ago, considered their business situation to be satisfactory and planned to invest around the same amount as last year.

UNCERTAINTY But many admit to being worried by a deteriorating economic backdrop. The Ernst and Young survey showed nearly one in two firms is suffering due to the euro-zone crisis and nearly one third fear they may not survive if Europe does not pick up. “The business situation is mixed.

It’s not bad but it’s also not good - it’s just mediocre,” said Lutz Goebel, president of a German lobby group for family-run firms.

Political uncertainty ahead of the election on September 22 is adding to the Mittelstand’s concerns, although the centre-left opposition seems unlikely to wrest power from Merkel. Mittelstand firms worry the tax increases the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens are calling for such as hiking the top income tax rate to 49 percent from 42 percent, could find their way into legislation over the next four years if one of these parties ends up in a coalition with Merkel. —Reuters

22

Business FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Solid Q2 earnings seen for Saudi banks and petchems

Global firms cut China baby formula prices amid probe

Global economy weighing on petrochemicals

SHANGHAI: Two global food giants facing a Chinese government probe over alleged price-fixing of baby formula have said they are cutting prices in the world’s largest market for the product. A spokeswoman for France’s Danone said yesterday that its Dumex subsidiary would reduce baby formula prices in China, adding details would be announced later. A unit of Swiss-based Nestle, Wyeth Nutrition, said it had already slashed prices by as much as 20 percent after the government launched an investigation into several foreign firms.

Wyeth confirmed the investigation by China’s top economic planner, which had been reported by state media, and pledged in a statement “immediately” to cut prices on some formula products by six to 20 percent. The responses came after media reports Tuesday that the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) had launched a probe of foreign baby formula makers for high prices resulting from a monopoly-like situation.

Wyeth said it was “actively cooperating with the antimonopoly investigation” and promised not to raise prices on new formula products for a year. A spokeswoman for Wyeth’s parent Nestle confirmed the moves but declined further comment. A 2008 scandal involving tainted formula that killed six children and sickened more than 300,000 has prompted Chinese consumers to shun local brands and created huge demand for foreign products, both those sold through normal channels and those informally imported.

Buyers looking to supply Chinese consumers caused shortages of formula at retailers in several European countries and Australia earlier this year. The government has vowed to crack down on safety violators and called for strict monitoring of milk powder production in an attempt to restore public trust in domestic companies. But Shanghai mother Wan Leilei buys formula from Abbott Laboratories for her six-month-old son, saying she is undeterred by the higher price. “I, as well as most other Chinese, will spare no money when it comes to kids,” she said. “As long as I trust the brand... price changes, either up or down, do not affect my buying decisions that much.” —AFP

DUBAI: Solid second-quarter earnings among Saudi Arabian banks and petrochemical companies may give the country’s stock market a boost in the second half of this year, analysts believe. Those two sectors together account for over half of the market’s capitalization, so they are key for the performance of the bourse.

The market’s main index is up 11.9 percent year-to-date, far underperforming rises of over 30 percent by other Gulf markets such as Dubai and Kuwait.

Saudi bank shares have slightly outperformed other sectors; the banking index is up 15.2 percent year-to-date. But banks’ earnings growth has been dampened by low interest rate margins and, to a lesser extent, by payment problems at some of their construction company clients.

Late last year the government began imposing fees on companies that hired more foreign workers than locals, in an effort to reduce unemployment among Saudi nationals. Construction firms have been among the hardest hit by the policy as their hiring costs have increased. “Contractors are complaining of labor issues and this is affecting their ability to service debts,” said Asim Bukhtiar, head of research at Riyad Capital. Saudi banks may have to take loan loss provisions for their exposure to construction firms in their second-quarter earnings, which will be announced in the next few weeks.

However, other factors are working in favor of the banks. Bank lending to the

private sector surged 16.5 percent from a year earlier in May, the fastest pace since February 2009, after a 16.0 percent increase in the previous month, central bank data shows. Riyad Capital estimates the banking sector’s net income will rise 7 percent from a year earlier for the second quarter, with Bank Aljazira posting growth of 19 percent and Saudi British Bank a rise of 5 percent.

Profits may start to climb faster if, as many expect, US interest rates rise over the next year or two as the US Federal Reserve scales back its stimulus policy.

Because of Saudi Arabia’s currency peg to the dollar, Saudi lending rates would be likely to rise too, though with a lag; this could expand banks’ profit margins on their loans. Saudi Arabia’s NCB Capital estimated in a research note that a small increase of just 0.1 percentage point in net interest margins for the ten banks it monitored would boost their net income by 4.6 percent, leading to a 10.1 percent increase in 2013 earnings.

PETROCHEMICALS Meanwhile, export-focused petrochemical shares have been performing poorly mainly because of uncertainty about the global economy; the petrochemical sector’s index is up just 3.9 percent year-to-date. But many companies have succeeded in improving their profit margins while additions to production capacity in recent months should push up sales volumes, offsetting a drop in product prices during the second quarter.

“I’m expecting good numbers for second quarter because margins should be higher,” said Iyad Ghulam, petrochemical analyst at NCB Capital. “We’ve increased our price targets by an average of 6 percent and remain overweight in some companies. Upside is lower than before (because of a recent rally by the shares) but overall, sentiment is positive.”

Saudi Arabia provides ultra-cheap natural gas to its petrochemical firms, giving them a competitive edge against global firms. Investors have been concerned that this subsidy could be scaled back in 2013 but there has been no official statement to that effect, so analysts now believe companies will continue to enjoy that cost advantage for the time being. Concern about the global economy may continue to affect Saudi petrochemical stocks for some time. Kuwaitbased NBK Capital said it was neutral on the sector for that reason.

“China’s credit crunch as well as the potential tapering of the Fed’s quantitative easing program present some nearterm downside risk to major chemical product prices,” it said. Nevertheless, it forecast 5 percent quarter-on-quarter and 30 percent year-on-year growth in second-quarter earnings for six Saudi petrochemical firms which it covers.

Shares in Saudi Basic Industries Corp, the world’s largest chemical producer, closed at 92.25 riyals on Wednesday.

NBK Capital says fair value for the stock is 106.50 riyals, while NCB Capital has a price target of 121.50 riyals. —Reuters

India’s ‘game-changer’ cheap food scheme triggers concerns NEW DELHI: India’s ruling party said yesterday a vast new food scheme for the poor was a “gamechanger” to fight endemic malnutrition, but analysts expressed concern about the program’s implementation and cost. The cabinet issued an executive order late Wednesday introducing the National Food Security Bill, which is expected to be approved by the president later and be a vote-winning measure ahead of elections next year.

The populist program-which the government says will add 230 billion rupees ($3.8 billion) per year to the country’s existing 900-billion-rupee food subsidy bill-will offer subsidized grains to an estimated 810 million people. It has been pushed strongly by the head of the ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, who has insisted on honoring a 2009 election pledge despite concerns about the impact on government finances and food prices.

“It is going to be a gamechanger in terms of poverty eradication,” senior Congress leader

Tom Vadukkan said. “If basic needs like hunger are not met, you can’t talk about (economic) development.” Despite two decades of strong economic growth, India still struggles to feed its population adequately, with a major survey

last year showing that 42 percent of children under five were underweight.

The food measure, which will offer five kilograms per person per month for as little as one rupee per kilo, is considered key to the

JAMMU: Elderly people eat a meal at a home for the aged in Jammu, India yesterday. The Indian government has decided to come out with an ordinance to give the nation’s two-third population the right to 5 kilograms of food grain every month at a highly subsidized rate of 1-3 rupees per kilogram ($0.016-0.05).

If implemented, the country’s food security program will be the largest in the world. —AP

Congress-led coalition’s fortunes in the national elections due in 2014.

“If it wins us votes, then that is an after-thought,” Vadukkan, also a party spokesman, claimed.

“Naturally anything good that you do gains you popularity.” India’s opposition parties have rounded on the government for ramming through a controversial program without a parliamentary debate, but the executive order is only temporary and must be converted into law. It will be introduced later this month or in August in the next session of parliament, which has been stalled for much of the last two years due to repeated protests by the opposition.

“It is just a political gimmick in a hurry,” the leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rajnath Singh, told reporters yesterday. Critics of the food program say that India can ill-afford such a costly subsidy burden at a time of slowing economic growth and when credit ratings agencies are eyeing the country’s large deficit.

“India’s current macroeconomic position does not provide the

space to implement this policy,” Sonal Varma, an economist with Nomura Securities, told AFP. Economic growth is at a decadelow of 5.0 percent, the government is running large fiscal and current account deficits, and the rupee has slumped to a historic low against the dollar. Indians classed as below the poverty line already receive subsidized kerosene, cooking gas, fertilizers and wheat through what is the world’s biggest public distribution system. But the chaotic welfare programs are notoriously inefficient and riddled with corruption.

Many of the 360 million people who currently receive subsidized grains complain about the poor quality. A study by the national Planning Commission in 2005 showed that an estimated 58 percent of grains purchased by the government failed to meet their intended targets. Siddhartha Sanyal, chief India economist with Barclays Capital, said that implementation would be a “huge logistical problem, with coordination required from all states”. —AFP

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

THEY ARE THE 99!

99 Mystical Noor Stones carry all that is left of the wisdom and knowledge of the lost civilization of Baghdad. But the Noor Stones lie scattered across the globe now little more than a legend. One man has made it his life’s mission to seek out what was lost. His name is Dr. Ramzi Razem and he has searched fruitlessly for the Noor Stones all his life. Now, his luck is about to change - the first of the stones have been rediscovered and with them a special type of human who can unlock the gem’s mystical power. Ramzi brings these gem - bearers together to form a new force for good in the world. A force known as ... the 99!

THE FASCINATING STORY OF THE 99 On a visit to Barcelona, Buran Shirazi’s handbag is stolen by a teenager on a bicycle. Hadya leads Jabbar and Kabeera in pursuit of the thief...

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The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2013, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.the99.org

26

Opinion FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

No justice for Myanmar Muslims

By Todd Pitman

T

heir bones are scattered in blackened patches of earth across a hillside overlooking the wrecked Islamic boarding school they once called home.

Smashed fragments of skulls rest atop the dirt. A shattered jaw cradles half a set of teeth. And among the remains lie the sharpened bamboo staves attackers used to beat dozens of people to the ground before drowning their still-twitching bodies in gasoline and burning them alive. The mobs that March morning were Buddhists enraged by the killing of a monk. The victims were Muslims who had nothing to do with it - students and teachers from a prestigious Islamic school in central Myanmar who were so close to being saved.

In the last hours of their lives, police had been dispatched to rescue them from a burning compound surrounded by swarms of angry men. And when they emerged cowering, hands atop their heads, they only had to make it to four police trucks waiting on the road above. It wasn’t far to go - just one hill. What happened on the way is the story of one of Myanmar’s darkest days since this Southeast Asian country’s post-junta leaders promised the dawn of a new, democratic era two years ago - a day on which 36 Muslims, most teenagers, were slaughtered before the eyes of police and local officials who did almost nothing to stop it.

And what has happened since shows just how hollow the promise of change has been for a neglected religious minority that has received neither protection nor justice. The president of this predominantly Buddhist nation never came to Meikhtila to mourn the dead or comfort the living. Police investigators never roped this place off or collected the evidence of carnage. And despite video clips online that show mobs clubbing students to death and cheering as flames leap from corpses, not a single suspect has been convicted.

International rights groups say the lack of justice fuels impunity among Buddhist mobs and paves the way for more violence. It also reflects the reality that despite Myanmar’s bid to reform, power remains concentrated in the hands of an ethnic Burman, Buddhist elite that dominates all branches of government. “If the rule of law exists at all in Myanmar, it is something only Buddhists can enjoy,” says Thida, whose husband was slain in Meikhtila. “We know there is no such thing as justice for Muslims.”

The day before the massacre began like every other at the Himayathul Islamic Boarding School - with a call to prayer echoing through the darkness before dawn. It was Wednesday, March 20, and 120 drowsy students blinked their eyes, rising from a sea of mats spread across the floors of a vast two-story dormitory. Set behind the walls of a modest compound in a Muslim neighborhood of Meikhtila called Mingalar Zayone, Himayathul attracted students from across the region whose parents hoped they would one day become Islamic scholars or clerics.

The madrassa had a soccer pitch, a mosque and 10 teachers. It also had a reputation for discipline and insularity - the headmaster, a strict yet kind man with a wispy beard, only allowed students outside once a week.

Muslims made up about a third of Meikhtila’s 100,000 inhabitants, compared to just five percent of Myanmar’s population, and they lived peacefully with Buddhists.

The Muslims, though, were nervous after sectarian clashes in western Rakhine state in June and October last year killed hundreds and drove more than 140,000 from their homes. Both times, Himayathul shut down temporarily as a precaution.

The unrest was aimed at ethnic Rohingya Muslims, who are widely viewed as foreign interlopers from Bangladesh despite having lived in Myanmar for generations. The hatred has since morphed into a monk-led campaign against all Muslims, seen as “enemies” of Buddhist culture. When classes began on March 20, student gossip quickly turned to an argument on the other side of town between a Muslim gold merchant and a Buddhist client, which had prompted a crowd of hundreds to overrun the shop and set it ablaze. That afternoon, several Muslim men yanked a monk off a motorcycle and burned him to death. Buddhist mobs in turn torched Muslim businesses and 12 out of 13 of the city’s

mosques. At Himayathul, some teachers skipped courses. Then classes were canceled altogether. Students rushed to the dormitory’s second floor and gazed out of the windows, in shock. Black and gray columns of smoke were rising in the air. At dinner a couple of hours later, the sound of a teacher weeping filled the hall. His family home had been burned with his parents inside it.

Some students pushed their food away. As the sun slunk in a hazy sky, a Buddhist government administrator came to the gate of the madrassa and took the headmaster aside. “You need to get your students out of here,” he warned. “You need to hide. The mobs are coming - tonight.”

At sunset prayers, the headmaster told everyone to collect their valuables, their money, their ID cards - and prepare to leave. He asked them to remove their head caps, Islamic dress and anything that might identify them as Muslim. He never explained why. He didn’t have to. “If they try to destroy this place, we’ll do our best to stop them,” he said. “But whatever happens, we will not let you die.”

They crept deep into a swampy jungle of tall grass a block away called the Wat Hlan Taw after dark, and the

outside. Hundreds more were gathering on a road running across a huge embankment that shadowed the neighborhood’s western edge. The embankment had always been there, but now it seemed to seal them inside the bottom of a huge, oppressive bowl from which they could not escape. Koko could almost feel the blood draining from his cheeks. He felt weak, no longer human. “We’re trapped,” he thought, “like animals.”

Some students were frantically making calls for help - to parents, to police. Some were chanting loudly.

Others were scouring the property for anything they could use to defend themselves - wooden boards, rocks the gangs outside had thrown at them. By the time an opposition lawmaker, Win Htein, arrived around 7:30 am, dozens of helmeted riot police were on the scene.

The security forces, equipped with rifles and gray shields, had formed lines to keep the Buddhist hordes away from the Muslims.

Win Htein saw the head of police and the district commissioner standing nearby, and the bodies of two dead Muslims on the edge of the Wat Hlan Taw. Over the next 45 minutes, he watched in horror as mobs of men chased five more students out of the bush, one by

In this May 26, 2013 photo, a burnt-out vehicle sits among debris following sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Meikhtila, Myanmar. —AP tall reeds swallowed the school’s refugees whole. Most were students and teachers. But at least 10 women and their children were also among them, relatives or residents too terrified to stay in their own homes. They sat down in the mud. Nobody said a word. Soon, they heard the mob approaching - dozens, maybe hundreds of voices, a cacophony of menace and anger that grew louder by the second.

The voices were at the gate of their madrassa. And then they were inside, kicking in doors and smashing windows. In the darkness of the Wat Hlan Taw, a teacher named Shafee with a stomach ailment reached for his wife’s palm and squeezed it hard. “If they find us ...” he whispered nervously, “you know I won’t be able to run.”

“Don’t worry,” his wife, Thida, replied, cradling their 3year-old son in her arms. “We’ll be together, every step.

I’ll never leave you.”

As the long night wore on, the madrassa burned down. At 4 am., Buddhist prayer gongs rang out, and the mobs began shining flashlights into the Wat Hlan Taw. Some Buddhists fired rocks into the bush with homemade slingshots. “Come out, Kalars!” they shouted, using a derogatory word for Muslims. The Muslims ran to a neighboring compound, owned by a wealthy Muslim businessman. Some tore down a bamboo fence to get inside. The mobs were not far behind.

Thida heard a boy screaming behind her, a student who had been trying to call his mother on his cell phone. He had waited just a few seconds too long to run. As the first rays of dawn touched Mingalar Zayone, Koko, a quiet, heavy-set 21-year-old student, peered over the compound’s thin fence, and felt numb. Men clutching machetes and sticks were girding for a fight

one, and hacked or bludgeoned them to death in broad daylight. As stone-faced police officers stood idle just steps away, crowds cheered like eager spectators in a Roman gladiator show. “They must be wiped out!” one woman shouted. “Kill them all!” shouted another. “We must show Burmese courage!”

Win Htein felt nauseous. He wanted to vomit. In two decades of prison and torture under brutal military rule, he had never seen anything like this. When he tried to convince people in the crowds to spare the Muslims, the mobs began threatening him. One Buddhist man demanded bitterly: “Why are you trying to protect them? Are you a Muslim lover?” An officer advised Win Htein to leave.

Shortly after, a monk and four policemen offered to escort the trapped Muslims on foot to several police vehicles on top of the embankment. “We’ll protect you,” one officer said. “But the students must stop chanting.

They must put down their weapons” - their sticks and stones. As the teachers debated what to do, they realized their time had run out. The crowds were flinging long bamboo staves wrapped with burning fabric over the fence like giant matchsticks. The compound was on fire, belching orange flame and black smoke into the air.

The group emerged slowly with their hands behind their heads, like prisoners of war. Police led them down a narrow dirt track - a long line of desperate people, crouching in terror. Almost immediately, they were stoned by livid residents of a tiny Buddhist neighborhood who attempted to block their way. What followed was a gauntlet from hell, an obstacle course that came with its own set of macabre rules: Do not run, or they will chase you. Do not fall, or you may never get back up. Do

not stop, or you may die.

Police fired several rounds into the air, but the crowds attacked anyway. A teacher was knocked to the ground, and panicked students stepped over his body, sprawled face down in the dirt. Koko saw a friend hit across the forehead with a hoe. When he tried to stand again, five men with knives dragged him off. The mobs then attacked Koko with machetes from behind, slicing six palm sized gashes into his flesh of his back. Blood stained his yellow shirt. He fell and blacked out.

One officer, struck in the face by a rock, apparently by accident, shot a Buddhist man in the leg. The crack of gunfire woke Koko, who realized he had been left for dead and leapt to his feet to catch up with the group. As they moved inside the Buddhist neighborhood on the path to the trucks, police ordered the Muslims to squat down. Crowds taunted and slapped them. Several women forced them to bow their heads and press their hands together in prayer like Buddhists. And according to testimony gathered by Physicians for Human Rights, they also shoved pork, which is prohibited in Islam, into the mouths of the Muslims. One man swung a motorcycle exhaust pipe into a student’s head. Another hit him with a motorcycle chain. A third stabbed him in the chest. “Don’t kill them here,” yelled one monk. “Their ghosts will haunt this place. Kill them up on the road.”

The monks said the police should round up the women and children and let them go first. When Thida refused to let go of her husband, a Buddhist man shoved a palm in his face and forced them apart.

Another man she recognized tried to grab her 3-yearold. “He’s still breastfeeding. Leave him alone!” she shouted, pulling away. The man then grabbed her nineyear-old, but pushed him back in disgust when he wailed.

Police began escorting about 10 women and their children, one carrying a baby in a hat, up the hill toward the trucks. As they ascended, Buddhists still clearing the Wat Hlan Taw forced a thin 17-year-old student called Ayut Kahn out into an open patch of low grass. In a scene captured on video by at least two different unidentified people, the boy - a Meikhtila native with a stutter who loved soccer - is struck 24 times by nine people with long sticks and bloody machetes. Five blows are from a monk. “Look! Look!” one Buddhist bystander shouted from the top of the embankment as the student was murdered. “The police are heading down there, but they aren’t doing anything.”

The last time Thida saw her husband Shafee, he was struggling to climb to the hilltop road where she waited anxiously beside police. Two teachers were by his side, their arms locked in his. Mobs swarmed the steep embankment between them. Shafee’s face was pale. He had never looked this way - so exhausted, so drained, so helpless. Across the hillside, Thida could hear the cries of hate. “Kill the Kalar! Don’t leave any of them behind!”

“Clean them up! They are just dirty things!”

Somewhere below, several students tried to make a run for it. Crowds chased them. Somebody pummeled 14-year-old Abu Bakar across the cheek with a bamboo stick. Somebody else sliced the back of 20-year-old Naeem’s legs with daggers. Yet another clubbed Arif the teacher who had wept at dinner the night before to the ground. Police stood on both sides of the hill watching, unmoved. When a boy looked up, an officer slapped his head and shouted: “Keep your eyes down!”

A frantic monk waved a multi-colored Buddhist flag screaming for the killing to stop. “This is not the Buddhist way!” The crowd backed away briefly, but police left the wounded behind.

One video clip of the moments that followed shows seven Muslim men curled on the ground beneath a grove of rain trees. The faces of at least three are heavily covered in blood. A man in a green jacket swings a bamboo stave down on the wounded with all his might. The camera pans to another group of three other crumpled men. One is Shafee, who is lying face down, pulling his legs in toward his stomach. “Oh, you wanna’ fight back?” a voice says, laughing. A grainy video filmed shortly after shows flames leaping from a pile of 12 charred corpses in the same spot, and onlookers backing away from a smoky body rolling down the hill. Another video shows crowds cheering. —AP

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

www.kuwaittimes.net

Chinese singer Li Yugang performs and wears a creation by Chinese fashion designer Lawrence Xu during her Women's Fall Winter 2013 haute couture fashion collection in Paris, France, yesterday.— AP

Food FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

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hen the garden or the market offers up corn, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and peppers, try these creative ways to bring that seasonal bounty to the table.

Here are 20 fresh recipes for these five vegetables:

over a medium fire until golden and tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Husk the corn and pass the butter at the table.

Pasta: Sweet corn and shrimp “risotto” Saute 1 cup diced Spanish chorizo in 1 tablespoon butter, then add 1 cup each chopped green onion and red bell pepper; cook until tender. Add 4 cups diced zucchini and shelled shrimp. Add 5 cups corn kernels and then add 1 cup shrimp stock 1 cup at a time, finishing with 1\2 cup whipping cream and 3 tablespoons slivered basil.

Main dish: Green chile, corn and zucchini frittata Cook 1 chopped zucchini,1/2 cup chopped green onions and 1/3 to 1 cup chopped peeled green chili in 2 tablespoons butter. Add 1 cup corn kernels. Beat 6 eggs and stir in the vegetable mixture. Return the mixture to the skillet and cook over low heat until it begins to set. Scatter over another 1/3 cup cheese and broil until the top is puffed and brown.

Corn Salad: Quinoa salad with grilled corn, tomatoes and cilantro Cook 1 cup quinoa, cool and pat dry. Toss with kernels from 2 ears of grilled corn, 2 cups chopped tomatoes, 1 chopped serrano pepper and 1 cup chopped green onion. Make a vinaigrette with 3 tablespoons lime juice, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 minced garlic clove and 1 teaspoon ground cumin to dress the salad. Just before serving, fold in 2 cups chopped cilantro.

Appetizer: Grilled corn with lime butter Beat together 1 cup softened butter, 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno, 1 teaspoon each lime zest, lime juice, 1 tablespoon minced cilantro and 1 teaspoon salt. Form it into a log and chill until solid. Soak 8 ears of corn in their husks, then grill

about this: Cook 2 cups Arborio rice, then drain and pat dry.

While warm, dress with 3 tablespoons each olive oil and lemon juice and add 1 pound cooked small shrimp, 1\2 cup minced red onion, 1 cup diced tomato and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Fold in 1 cup torn arugula and 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts just before serving.

Main dish: Swordfish with tomatoes and fennel Saute 4 swordfish steaks with 1 clove thinly sliced garlic and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds in 3 tablespoons olive oil, about 5 minutes per side. Add 1 pound whole cherry tomatoes, cover and cook until the fish is done. Uncover, transfer the fish to a platter and raise the heat to high. Cook until the juices have reduced. Add 2 tablespoons slivered basil, spoon over the fish and serve.

Tomatoes Salad: Lentil salad with tomatoes, zucchini and arugula Salt 1\2 pound diced zucchini and drain for 30 minutes.

Cook 1 cup lentils until tender, then drain and pat dry. Rinse the zucchini and pat dry and add to the lentils along with 3 tablespoons minced chives, 1 minced clove garlic and 1 pound halved cherry tomatoes. Dress with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the juice of 1/2 lemon. Fold in 1 cup torn arugula leaves and 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts just before serving.

Appetizer: Crostini with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese Slice 4 pounds plum tomatoes in half lengthwise and place in a single layer in a baking dish with whole peeled cloves from a full head of garlic. Pour over olive oil to halfway up the pan and roast at 300 degrees until the tomatoes are golden on top, at least 2 hours. Smear fresh goat cheese on a toasted baguette slice and mash a roasted tomato on top.

Pasta: Rice salad with shrimp and arugula Really? You need a recipe for pasta with tomatoes? How

Zucchini Salad: Woven zucchini with fresh goat cheese Cut 4 zucchini in very thin lengthwise strips. Salt generously and set aside to soften. Rinse and pat dry. Whisk together 3

Food FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

tablespoons olive oil, 1 clove garlic, minced, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Cut 12 cherry tomatoes in half. Brush the zucchini with the dressing, then weave 3 strips crosswise and 3 strips lengthwise to make a raft. Top each raft with a dollop of fresh goat cheese and season with olive oil and slivered basil.

Appetizer: Zucchini fritters Shred 1 pound zucchini, salt and set aside to drain. Rinse and squeeze thoroughly dry with your hands. Combine with 1 teaspoon each cumin and coriander seeds, ground, a chopped green onion and 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour and a beaten egg. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoon mounds into hot olive oil and fry until brown on both sides.

Drain on paper towels and serve with Greek-style yogurt.

Pasta: Free-form zucchini lasagna with lemon-thyme cream Slice 1 pound zucchini lengthwise; grill on both sides. Cook 1 cup diced onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 minced clove garlic and 1\2 teaspoon thyme; add the zucchini and remove from the heat. Heat 1 cup cream with thyme sprigs, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Lightly coat a cooked pasta square with the cream and place it on a plate. Top with Ricotta and a few zucchini strips, then another creamy pasta square.

Dust with more Parmesan and serve.

Cut 3 eggplants in half lengthwise and remove and chop the flesh. Cook 1 chopped onion and 2 tablespoons minced garlic in 1\2 cup olive oil. Add 1 pound lamb stew meat, then the eggplant. Add 1 cup crushed tomatoes, 1\2 cup pine nuts and 1/2 cup chopped parsley. Spread 1 sliced onion and 2 1/3 cups crushed tomatoes in an oiled baking dish. Arrange the eggplant shells in the dish and spoon in the filling. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Dust with grated Pecorino and bake until browned.

Peppers Salad: Quick pickled peppers Cut a slit in each of 1 pound of shishito peppers. Simmer 2 cups rice vinegar with 3 lightly smashed cloves of garlic, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, 1 small onion sliced thin and 2 small dried chilies. Blanch the shishito peppers briefly, pat dry and put in a container. Cover with the

2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the onion and cook until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the sliced garlic and dried red pepper flakes, and cook an additional minute or two.

3. Rinse the eggplant and pat dry in a kitchen towel. Add to the olive oil and cook until it is tender, about 10 minutes.

Add the chopped tomatoes and the capers, and cook until any moisture cooks away, about 5 minutes. Simmer until it reaches a thick sauce consistency, about 5 minutes.

4. Cook the fusilli in a large pot of rapidly boiling salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and add to the skillet with the eggplant mixture along with one-half cup of the pasta cooking water. Continue cooking briefly and add the slivered basil.

5. Divide among 6 warmed pasta bowls and top with crumbled ricotta salata.

EACH SERVING, WITHOUT CHEESE Calories 419 Protein 12 grams Carbohydrates 67 grams Fiber 6 grams Fat 10 grams Saturated fat 2 grams Cholesterol 0 mg Sugar 7 grams Sodium 130 mg

Main dish: Zucchini tian Cook a sliced onion in 3 tablespoons olive oil with a minced garlic clove. Arrange in an oiled baking dish. Arrange 2 zucchini cut into rounds in overlapping rows on top of the onions.

Scatter 20 quartered cherry tomatoes and 3 tablespoons chopped pitted black olives on top. Crumble over 4 ounces fresh goat cheese, drizzle with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees until the zucchini has softened and the mixture is dry, about 1hour.

Eggplant Salad: Silken eggplant salad Remove the stems from 2 pounds Asian eggplants and steam the eggplants until tender. Cool to room temperature.

Whisk together 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon minced rosemary and 1\2 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Cut the eggplant into bite-sized pieces and toss with enough dressing to coat lightly. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper and serve.

vinegar mixture and let stand 8 hours.

Appetizer: Roasted peppers stuffed with goat cheese Stir together 1 cup ricotta, 2 tablespoons chopped capers, 1 tablespoon olive oil, a pinch crushed red pepper, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste and 1 tablespoon minced chives. Cut roasted peeled red and yellow peppers into strips about 2 inches wide. Place a scant tablespoon of ricotta filling at one end of the pepper and roll it up end to end, pressing gently to keep everything together. Drizzle lightly with more olive oil and serve.

Pasta: Spaghetti with wilted peppers Cut 1 onion and 4 slices of prosciutto into 1 inch strips and cook in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Cut 6 bell peppers into strips and add them. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are quite limp, about 45 minutes. Add 3 thinly sliced cloves of garlic and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley and continue cooking while 1 pound of spaghetti is boiling. Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet and mix well. Finish with grated Pecorino.

Appetizer: Grilled eggplant with walnut-cilantro pesto Combine 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon minced garlic and 1 cup olive oil; set aside. Puree 1 teaspoon minced garlic and 1 cup walnuts to a paste. Add 1 teaspoon paprika, then slowly beat in 1 cup olive oil. Stir in 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Slice 1 pound eggplant, brush with the flavored oil and grill until tender. Arrange on a platter and dress with the walnut mixture.

Pasta: Fusilli with spicy eggplant Dice an eggplant, salt and drain for at least 1 hour. Rinse and pat dry. Cook 1 cup diced onion, 4 cloves sliced garlic and 1\2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes in 1\2 cup olive oil. Add 1 cup chopped tomatoes, 3 tablespoons capers. Cook 1 pound fusilli and add to the skillet along with 1 cup pasta water and slivered basil and cook briefly. Serve with sliced or grated Ricotta salata.

Main dish: Eggplant stuffed with lamb and pine nuts

Main dish: Peperonata Cook 1 sliced onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet. Add 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, 5 chopped roasted, peeled and seeded bell peppers and cover and cook until tender. Puree 1 chopped jalapeno and 2 cloves of garlic, add 1 cup chopped basil leaves and 1\2 cup chopped parsley, and then 3 tablespoons olive oil to make a loose paste. Stir the sauce into the peppers and heat through.

FUSILLI WITH SPICY EGGPLANT 1 hour, 10 minutes. 6 servings 1 pound eggplant Salt 1\2 cup olive oil 1 cup diced onion 4 cloves garlic, sliced 1\2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes 1 cup chopped tomatoes 3 tablespoons capers Slivered basil leaves 1 pound fusilli Ricotta salata 1. Cut the eggplant into one-half- to three-fourths-inch cubes and place them in a colander. Salt liberally and put a heavy bowl on top to press down. Place in the sink or in another bowl and set aside for at least 1 hour.

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SPAGHETTI WITH WILTED PEPPERS 1 hour. 6 servings 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, sliced in 1\2 inch half-moons 4 slices prosciutto, cut in 1\2 inch ribbons 6 red and yellow bell peppers 1 teaspoon salt 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 pound spaghetti Grated Pecorino Romano Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the onion and prosciutto, and cook until the onions have softened but not browned, 6 to 7 minutes.

While the onions are cooking, clean the peppers: Cut off the tops and bottoms and remove the seeds and core. Cut into lengthwise quarters and trim away the ribs. Cut into one-fourth-inch crosswise strips. Add the peppers to the skillet with one-half teaspoon salt and reduce the heat to low.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are limp, about 45 minutes. The prosciutto will be frazzled and the onion caramelized. Add the garlic and parsley, and continue cooking while you prepare the pasta.

Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of rapidly boiling salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and add to the skillet with the peppers. Stir to mix well and divide among 6 warm pasta plates. Dust generously with grated Pecorino Romano and serve immediately.

EACH SERVING, WITHOUT CHEESE Calories 405 Protein 14 grams Carbohydrates 66 grams Fiber 5 grams Fat 9 grams Saturated fat 2 grams Cholesterol 8 mg Sugar 7 grams Sodium 386 mg — MCT

Tr a v e l FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Capri

England

Here comes the

summer sun!

Best places to travel this season

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arm days, long nights, garden barbecues, and ice-cream cones on the boardwalk... For many of us, summer is the best season of all, when everything moves outdoors, cities come alive with festivals, and freshwater lakes and backyard pools beckon. Our list of top summer destinations highlights the best spots to be at the height of the season, from northern capitals that truly flourish from June through Labor Day, to cool seaside and lakefront retreats that refresh and rejuvenate. Of course, nothing is more quintessentially North American come summertime than a canoe and camping trip - don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there, too.

Capri Italy’s most glamorous getaway, the island of Capri is one of the most picturesque islands around. With white-washed villas shrouded in bougainvillea, cliffs reaching up from the sea, and medieval alleyways winding through romantic villages, Capri’s charms are unwavering, even in the crowded summer months.

Accessible only by boat, the tiny island on the Bay of Naples, off the Amalfi Coast, attracts jetsetters and glitterati who flock to the Piazzetta, just as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis did when they helped popularize the island in the 1950 and ‘60s. The island is also home to mysterious natural wonders, like the massive rock formations of Faraglioni and Blue Grotto, an underground sea cave that continues to awe visitors with its brilliant, almost iridescent waters.

The Hamptons Long stretches of sand, seaside villages, sprawling vineyards, and grand estates... the Atlantic-facing Hamptons are simply spectacular come summer and the perfect antidote to bustling New York City, just 120 miles away (approximately). Whether busing in on the Hamptons Jitney or flying in by helicopter, droves of Manhattanites clear out of town

each Friday afternoon in anticipation of some sun, R&R, and mingling with the rich-andfamous who make the nightlife one of the best on the East Coast. Most visitors head to one of four areas: colonial Southampton, the old-money neck of the woods, with highpriced boutiques on chic Job Lane; elegant Bridgehampton, where you can sample wine from nearby vineyards and join the upper crust for the prestigious Hampton Classic Horse Show (Labor Day weekend) and Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge (mid-July-midAug); hip East Hampton, popular with the new-money arts and media crowd, including Martha Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, and Sean “Puffy” Combs (who all maintain homes here); and, finally, Montauk, favored by yachters and

fishermen for its boating community and abundant catch.

Greek Islands Scattered in the sparkling Aegean Sea, the Greek Islands are a much-fantasized-about summer hotspot, with Europeans and Americans alike flocking to their dazzling shores for hedonistic fun in the sun. All the islands have something different to offer but no self-respecting island hopper can skip two of Greece’s most beloved: Santorini and Mykonos. The volcanic isle of Santorini is renowned for its magnificent scenery of white-washed houses and blue-domed churches, the lot of it accented by beaches of dark-red and black volcanic sands; backpack-

Russia

ers and billionaires climb the steep winding road to the cliff-top town of Fira for postcardperfect views. On the island of Mykonos, meanwhile, homage is paid to Dionysus - the Greek god of revelry. While Mykonos also has immaculate white villages with winding cobblestone streets, it’s the nightlife that draws visitors here; beach bars turn up the music as the sun sets and, before you can say oopah dancing and drinking takes over the sand. The party continues into the wee hours, with waterfront bars and hidden alcoves pouring plenty of ouzo as dawn breaks.

London London is never more animated than in the height of summer, when fair weather brings out the best in Londoners, who endure an infamously gloomy weather forecast the rest of the year. Eating, drinking, and all around merry-making abound, with a slew of events ranging from outdoor theater and music shows to special exhibitions and oddball festivals. The royal city parks, including Hyde or Regent’s, overflow with sunbathers and picnickers, who come to enjoy the lush greenery and English garden splendor, like the magnificent Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens in Regent’s Park. Stick around after sunset for your own mid-summer night’s dream - twilight Shakespeare performances unfold, alfresco, in Regent’s Park (May-Sept) throughout the summer months.

Montreal Montreal’s joie de vivre is most visible in summer, when festivals and celebrations light up the town and droves of locals and visitors take to the streets to join the fun. Eleven days of non-stop musical entertainment, otherwise known as the Festival International de Jazz de MontrÈal, enlivens the city annually in early July; streets get closed down and over 350 free outdoor concerts delight the ears of music aficionados. Also in July, downtown

Tr a v e l FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Montreal hosts the world’s largest comedy festival, Just for Laughs, featuring some 1000 performances from top-name comics who are bound to keep you in stitches. Even if you happen to visit in between festivals, summer is simply a fine time to hang out at an outdoor cafÈ and people-watch under the warm sun.

National Parks Summer and the great outdoors go hand and hand, and the outdoors just don’t get much greater than in our national parks. The US counts 388 of them, and you could easily spend a weekend hiking any of them. Of course, two of the most spectacular ones - the Grand Canyon and Yosemite - offer more than hiking. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon is truly a sight to behold: A vast abyss of multi-hued canyon walls stretching some 277 miles long and as much as a mile deep, the Grand Canyon was sculpted over millions of years by the pulsating Colorado River. Another gem, Yosemite National Park is a preserve of breathtaking Sierra Nevada valley-and-mountain scenery, jutting granite rock formations, giant sequoia trees, and magnificent cascading waterfalls.

For hikers, bikers, or white-water rafters, or simply those who prefer to appreciate the views, these pristine land reserves are haven for nature-lovers.

England New England truly springs to life between the July 4 and Labor Day holidays, when a vibrant summer culture produces a mind-boggling array of special events in the region’s many maritime and mountain towns and historic cities. Out-of-towners snatch up beach houses on the Cape and cottages at inland lakes, and spend their vacations perusing antique shows, old-fashioned county fairs, arts-

London

and-crafts festivals, and, of course, traditional New England lobster fests and clam bakes.

Cultural types head off in search of top summer festivals, like the famed Tanglewood Music Festival in the Berkshires (July-Aug.), while outdoorsy folks soak up ocean scenery by hiking and biking the Outer Cape or by sailing windjammers in Camden and yachts in scenic Marblehead. Strolls through quaint towns like Stockbridge, immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s paintings, serve up quintessential Main Street U.S.A., while opportunities for scenic drives abound, like along Newport’s Ocean Drive. Or, if you’re looking to throw back a cold one or sip a martini at a beach bar, you can’t do better than P-Town (more formally known as

Provincetown), the Cape’s most happening summer nightlife scene.

Russia Notorious for its long, frigid winters, summer shines an entirely different light on Russia, particularly on its thriving cultural capitals of Moscow and St. Petersburg. While the sunny season is short (flurries can be seen as late as May or as early as September), Russians know how to make the most of it, hosting a magical mix of alfresco festivities and events. During the white nights of summer in these Russian cities, dusk is simultaneously greeted by dawn, and as such, you can gaze at the Kremlin and majestic Red Square or stroll the Nevsky

Prospekt well into the wee hours of the morning without the help of streetlights. St Petersburg commemorates the white nights phenomenon during the weeks surrounding the summer solstice, when the Stars of the White Nights Festival (mid-May-mid-July), an acclaimed celebration of music, dance, and opera, is held in the city’s famous Mariinsky Theatre. During this summertime time warp, when the sun virtually never sets, midnight and later are as good a time as any to plan a picnic or take a cruise along St. Petersburg’s Neva River - you may even get to see the aptly named Summer Palace, the home of Peter the Great in the mid-1700s, nearby.

—www.weather.com

Greek Islands

The Hamptons

National Parks

Montreal

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Health FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

The importance of strength training Cardiovascular exercise on machines such as treadmills and exercise bikes burns more calories than lifting weights, so is it just a waste of gym time to add strength training to your workout?

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esearch has shown that strengthening exercises are both safe and effective for women and men of all ages, including those who are not in perfect health. In fact, people with health concerns-including heart disease or arthritis-often benefit the most from an exercise program that includes lifting weights a few times each week.

Strength training, particularly in conjunction with regular aerobic exercise, can also have a profound impact on a person’s mental and emotional health.

Benefits of strength training There are numerous benefits to strength training regularly, particularly as you grow older. It can be very powerful in reducing the signs and symptoms of numerous diseases and chronic conditions, among them: arthritis diabetes osteoporosis obesity back pain depression Arthritis Relief Tufts University recently completed a strengthtraining program with older men and women with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis. The results of this sixteen-week program showed that strength training decreased pain by 43 percent, increased muscle strength and general physical performance, improved the clinical signs and symptoms of the disease, and decreased disability. The effectiveness of

strength training to ease the pain of osteoarthritis was just as potent, if not more potent, as medications. Similar effects of strength training have been seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Restoration of balance and reduction of falls As people age, poor balance and flexibility contribute to falls and broken bones. These fractures can result in significant disability and, in some cases, fatal complications. Strengthening exercises, when done properly and through the full range of motion, increase a person’s flexibility and balance, which decrease the likelihood and severity of falls.

One study in New Zealand in women 80 years of age and older showed a 40% reduction in falls with simple strength and balance training.

Strengthening of bone Post-menopausal women can lose 1-2 percent of their bone mass annually. Results from a study conducted at Tufts University, which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1994, showed that strength training increases bone density and reduces the risk for fractures among women aged 50-70.

Proper weight maintenance Strength training is crucial to weight control, because individuals who have more muscle mass have a higher metabolic rate. Muscle is active tissue that consumes calories while stored fat uses very little energy. Strength training can provide up to a 15% increase in metabolic rate, which is enormously helpful for weight loss and long-term weight control.

Improved glucose control More than 14 million Americans have type II diabetes-a staggering three-hundred percent increase over the past forty years-

and the numbers are steadily climbing. In addition to being at greater risk for heart and renal disease, diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness in older adults. Fortunately, studies now show that lifestyle changes such as strength training have a profound impact on helping older adults manage their diabetes. In a recent study of Hispanic men and women, 16 weeks of strength training produced dramatic improvements in glucose control that are comparable to taking diabetes medication. Additionally, the study volunteers were stronger, gained muscle, lost body fat, had less depression, and felt much more self-confident.

Healthy state ofmind Strength training provides similar improvements in depression as anti-depressant medications. Currently, it is not known if this is because people feel better when they are stronger or if strength training produces a helpful biochemical change in the brain. It is most likely a combination of the two. When older adults participate in strength training programs, their self-confidence and self-esteem improve, which has a strong impact on their overall quality of life.

Sleep improvement People who exercise regularly enjoy improved sleep quality. They fall asleep more quickly, sleep more deeply, awaken less often, and sleep longer. As with depression, the sleep benefits obtained as a result of strength training are comparable to treatment with medication but without the side effects or the expense.

Healthy heart tissue Strength training is important for cardiac health because heart disease risk is lower when the body is leaner. One study found

that cardiac patients gained not only strength and flexibility but also aerobic capacity when they did strength training three times a week as part of their rehabilitation program. This and other studies have prompted the American Heart Association to recommend strength training as a way to reduce risk of heart disease and as a therapy for patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Research and background about strength training Scientific research has shown that exercise can slow the physiological aging clock. While aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, or swimming, has many excellent health benefits-it maintains the heart and lungs and increases cardiovascular fitness and endurance-it does not make your muscles strong. Strength training does. Studies have shown that lifting weights two or three times a week increases strength by building muscle mass and bone density.

One 12-month study conducted on postmenopausal women at Tufts University demonstrated 1 percent gains in hip and spine bone density, 75 percent increases in strength and 13 percent increases in dynamic balance with just two days per week of progressive strength training.

The control group had losses in bone, strength, and balance. Strength training programs can also have a profound effect on reducing risk for falls, which translates to fewer fractures. www.cdc.gov

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Indian Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and actress Madhuri Dixit dance during a promotional event for the forthcoming Hindi Film ‘Chennai Express’ in Mumbai yesterday. (Right) Guests walk past a poster of 14th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards featuring Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan at The Venetian hotel in Macau yesterday. The annual IIFA Awards - India’s language film industry’s glitziest awards ceremony, which have been held overseas for the last 13 years, is one of the world’s most-watched annual entertainment ceremonies, broadcast to nearly 500 million viewers in 110 countries. —AFP

Clooney, Bullock to open Venice Film Festival with ‘Gravity’ T

he world premiere of Mexican film director Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity”, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, will open the 70th Venice International Film Festival next month. Festival organizers said the 3D thriller starring Bullock and Clooney as astronauts cast adrift in space after disaster strikes their shuttle

will kick off the festival on August 28.

Bullock plays Dr Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with Clooney as veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky spiraling through the blackness of space.

Cuaron may be best known for directing the 2004 film “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of

Azkaban” but he has also earned three Oscar nominations for the “Children of Men” in 2006 and “Y Tu Mama Tambien” in 2001.

The 70th Venice International Film Festival, organized by La Biennale di Venezia, will be held on the Lido of Venice from August 28 to September 7. Veteran Italian director Bernardo

Bertolucci, best known for his steamy 1972 movie “Last Tango in Paris”, will head the jury that decides the main awards at the annual cinema showcase, including the coveted Golden Lion prize for best picture. The line-up of the festival will be announced at the end of July in Rome. — Reuters

Film director probed for ruse at Taiwan naval base

A

celebrated Taiwanese director could face criminal charges over a ruse that let an award-winning Chinese cinematographer use false papers to visit a Taiwanese naval base to scout sights for a new feature film. Niu Chen-zer has apologized for his “negligence” in not paying attention to the law barring mainland Chinese from entering sensitive military establishments. In August, Niu is set to begin shooting “Military Paradise,” which tells the story of a group of Taiwanese soldiers stationed in the offshore island of Quemoy during the protracted 1958 Chinese bombing campaign against that isolated target.

“I might have gone overboard in order to make a better film,” Niu said on his Facebook page. Yesterday, the Defense Ministry said Niu risked endangering military security by violating the law against “unauthorized entry into military establishments,” and affirmed it will hand over the case to prosecutors to consider bringing charges. The ministry said it expected prosecutors to charge cinematographer Cao Yu as well. Violating the law carries a maximum five years in jail.

A Defense Ministry statement said it regretted the director had misused the military’s good intentions to support the movie industry. Atom Cinema, which is to produce “Military Paradise,” refused to comment on the fate of the feature film if Niu is charged.

China’s Huayi Brothers is a main financier of the $8.3 million movie. Cao visited the Tsoying Naval Base with a local film crew on June 1, carrying the identity card of a Taiwanese man, according to the Apple Daily newspaper.

Niu did not provide details on how Cao gained access to the base. The ministry said it had rejected a request for Cao to visit in May but he did so subsequently using false papers. Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949.

While relations have improved dramatically under the China-friendly government of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, China still threatens the use of force against the democratic island, and the Taiwanese military remains committed to maintaining strong defenses against a possible Chinese attack.

Cao twice won photography awards from Taiwan’s Golden Horse movie festival, where Chinese success has underscored the close cinematic ties between Taiwan and the mainland. It’s unclear if he was to be the main cinematographer for “Military Paradise,” which stars Taiwanese actor Ethan Juan.

“Military Paradise” was to be filmed on the base, and the military had agreed to assist the filmmakers, but spokesman Yan Chen-kuo told Taiwanese media the navy would back off its promise to provide sailors to assist in the filming. — AP

Dave Matthews performs at Darien Lake in Darien, NY on Wednesday.

—AP

‘Amazing Spider-Man 2,’ ‘RoboCop’ heading to Comic-Con with stars in tow

S

ony Pictures is bringing “The Amazing SpiderMan 2,” “RoboCop” and “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2” to Comic-Con this year.

All three panels will take place July 19 in Hall H. The “Spider-Man” panel will feature director Marc Webb; stars Andrew Garfield, Jamie Foxx and Dane DeHaan, and producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach.

Notably absent are Emma Stone and Paul Giamatti.

The highly anticipated sequel finds Peter Parker forced to protect high-school sweetheart Gwen Stacy (Stone) from new villain Electro (Foxx) as he uncovers clues about his past and reacquaints himself with old friend Harry Osborn (DeHaan). Spidey will swing back into theaters on May 2, 2014.

The “RoboCop” panel offers director Jose Padilha and stars Joel Kinnaman, Abbie Cornish and

Samuel L Jackson. Absentee stars include Michael Keaton and Gary Oldman. Set in 2028, “RoboCop” stars Kinnaman (“The Killing”) as Alex Murphy, a Detroit cop injured in the line of duty who the multinational conglomerate OmniCorp turns into a part-man, part-robot police officer. The remake is scheduled for release on Feb 7.

Those on the menu for the “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatball 2” panel include directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, as well as stars Anna Faris and Terry Crews. The animated sequel finds Flint Lockwood discovering that the invention he thought he destroyed in the original is still working and now creating food-animal hybrids called foodimals. It’s scheduled to hit theaters on Sept 27. —Reuters

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

‘Gates of Hell’

Amelie star s The witches at the dress is boon for young designer Norway’s darkest hour

F

File picture shows French actress and mistress of ceremonies at the Cannes Film Festival Audrey Tautou speaking during the opening of the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. —AP

“A

melie” star Audrey Tautou’s choice of Yiqing Yin for the Cannes film festival generated more interest in one night than the Chineseborn French designer has enjoyed in her whole career.

The fluttery, micro-pleated “Absinthe” dress in mint organza and silk chiffon worn by Tautou was praised as a “work of art” by fashion website Red Carpet Fashion Awards. For a designer only a few years out of college, the attention has been almost overwhelming. “We’ve never had as much press coverage after any show,” Yin told AFP at her atelier in Paris as she prepared for her latest couture show held on Wednesday.

“It’s made us known to the public at large and brought interest from new buyers in both couture and ready-towear,” she said. With her experimental style, Yin was not a natural choice for such a high-profile event. If Tautou’s decision to showcase the designer in her role as mistress of ceremonies at Cannes was unexpected, it was no less the welcome for it. A number of important industry figures have requested invitations for the show and the label is attracting media interest in China too. Born in Beijng in 1985, Yin left China at the age of four and she has said that clothes gave her “points of reference” as she moved from country to country.

She grew up in a family of antique dealers “surrounded by beautiful, old things”, and later studied at Paris’s National School of Decorative Arts. Her first collection “Exile” was shown at the 2010 fashion festival at Hyeres in the south of France and also put on display at the French Ministry of Culture. Often characterized as “dreamlike”, her latest collection contains “a lot of Calais lace cut up, made up again, almost pulled to pieces”. Yin says she chose marine animals as the theme because they prompted a sense of disgust in her which she “found interesting” to transform into “something beautiful and pure”.

With the label starting to sell couture dresses to Chinese and American customers, she acknowledges that they are not for everyone.

“To wear my creations you need to be thin and not to have any fear of being exposed,” she said. Since January 2012, her fashion house has taken part in the couture shows in Paris as a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. Only members of the organization are allowed to use the name “haute couture” to describe their work and each house must adhere to strict requirements governing practices such as the number of garments produced and the amount of work carried out by hand. The impact of the Tautou dress means Yin will soon be requiring more staff to cope with the label’s new found fame. “It’s two-and-a-half years since we started and we’ve sold dozens of couture dresses,” she said. “(Now) we are at a decisive moment: we have demand but we will have to be able to respond.” — AFP

our centuries ago in the remote Norwegian Arctic, a region known as the “Gates of Hell” for its harsh climes, dozens of women were prosecuted for witchcraft and killed. Centuries afterwards, a sense of collective guilt lingers, and the women wrongfully convicted for non-existent crimes are remembered at a memorial in the small town of Vardoe, perched on the edge of the Varanger peninsula in Norway’s extreme northeast.

One woman commemorated at the memorial-a 125-metre-long elevated structure built on stilts-was burned at the stake for allegedly having cast a fatal spell on a child and two goats. Another was executed after being accused of triggering a storm that caused 10 vessels to sink and 40 sailors to drown. Poised gingerly on the edge of the Barents Sea, the monument, inaugurated in 2011, looks like a wooden bridge to nowhere, as if to symbolize the pointlessness of the women’s deaths.

At the site is one of the last works from late Franco-American artist Louise Bourgeois-four eternal flames that blaze in a spartan hall, a fitting piece to mark a tragic period in history that left no family untouched. In the early 17th century, a mere 3,000 people lived in Finnmark, the northernmost county of Norway. From its modest population, 135 people were accused of witchcraft over just a few decades. Ninety-one, the vast majority of them women, were burned to death, if they had not already succumbed to torture.

Even half a dozen girls were prosecuted, but were luckier than most other defendants and all acquitted. “This heavy toll puts Finnmark top of Europe,” which was at the height of a frenzied witch hunt, said Liv Helene Willumsen, professor of history at the University of Tromsoe, also in northern Norway. “Proportionally it was worse (there) even than in certain parts of Germany or Scotland”. But why this persecutory zeal in a region so remote from

everything else? It is perhaps precisely the region’s geographical isolation that enabled the population, removed from reality and weeks of travel away from the local seat of power-which was in Copenhagen as Norway and Denmark formed a union at the time-to fall prey to superstitious ideas.

‘Unfinished chapter’ Egged on by a clerical and administrative elite steeped in the dogmas of demonology, the idea that women could make pacts with the Devil caught on, reinforced by the belief that the Arctic was a sort of antechamber of hell. “People truly thought that there was a secret army around them which was allied to the Devil,” said Willumsen. “Local courts were not controlled. You could be brought to court, made to confess and sentenced the same day.”

If torture was not successful in extracting the necessary confession, the court could order the “water ordeal” for a woman accused of witchcraft. This meant she was thrown into the sea, hands and feet tied. If she sank, she was innocent. If she floated, it was considered proof that she was indeed a witch. “Water was considered a pure element which could repel the impure,” said Willumsen. In Finnmark, all suspects floated. One woman, Ingeborg Krog, took the test in 1663 after asking herself to be subjected to the water ordeal, apparently convinced that it would clear her of the charges. She floated “like a cork”, explains a plaque dedicated to her at the memorial.

Despite the agonizing torture that then followed, the only confession her tormentors were able to extract was that she had fallen ill after eating a fish given to her by a relative of one of her accusers. Ingeborg eventually died under torture. Four hundred years later, the horrors have ended in Europe but are still happening elsewhere, say historians. “Witch hunts are an unfinished chapter of history,” said Rune Blix

The burning chair installation by the artist Louise Bourgeois is seen at Steilneset memorial in the Norwegian town of Vardoe on June 5, 2013. — AFP Hagen, another historian of the University of Tromsoe. “It continues at full tilt, not in the West, but especially in Africa and also in Asia and South America.”

Today, just like centuries ago, the alleged witches are usually scapegoats accused of causing illness, death, a shipwreck, a failed harvest, or any other misfortune. Some 50,000 people are believed to have paid with their lives in Europe during the medieval witch trials. But by comparison, the number of people killed for the same reason worldwide since World War II is estimated at between 70,000 and 80,000. “These are official figures and probably only the tip of the iceberg,” says Hagen. “The monument in Vardoe is also a reminder that the persecution is not over.” — AFP

Rapper 50 Cent charged with kicking ex-girlfriend

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Photo shows rapper Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson attends the ‘After Earth’ premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre, in New York. — AP

apper and actor 50 Cent was charged this week with attacking his ex-girlfriend and trashing her Los Angeles condo, city attorney Mike Feuer said Wednesday. The 37-year-old “In da Club” singer, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, was charged with domestic violence and four counts of vandalism in papers filed Monday. If convicted, he faces up to five years in jail and $46,000 in fines. A representative for Jackson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jackson had already left when officers arrived June 23 at a Toluca Lake condo belonging to a woman who had a baby with him, police said.

During an argument, the woman told police, Jackson began destroying her property before she locked herself into her bedroom. The woman said Jackson kicked open the bedroom door and kicked her, causing injury. Police

said they estimated about $7,100 in damage to the woman’s home. They observed many broken items in the ransacked and clothes-strewn condo, including chandeliers, furniture and a television. The woman told police she had been in a three-year relationship with Jackson.

“Regardless of perceived celebrity or notoriety, domestic violence is a serious crime and alleged perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by this office,” Feuer said. The Queens-reared rapper has referenced drug-dealing and violence in many songs, and is known for having survived nine gunshots in an attempted assassination. Jackson has also worked as an actor in recent years. He starred in an autobiographical account of his life as a drug dealer in “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” Jackson is due for arraignment July 22. — AP

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Gaultier claws back on top, Valentino dazzles “I

t’s all cinema, it’s all from film,” said Jean Paul Gaultier, summing up haute couture. Paris’ enfant terrible seemed to have a point, speaking on the last day of fall-winter shows that have seen spectators transported from apocalyptic opera houses to the circus and flung across the four corners of the globe.

Gaultier’s feline-infused couture collection - Wednesday’s highlight - took for inspiration Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini and “The Pink Panther.” The references merged with theatrical panache to produce once of his best shows in seasons.

But the cinema continued throughout Wednesday. In Valentino’s encyclopedic show, continents and eras were merged and had Baz Luhrmann in delight. “Haute couture, like cinema, is unreal. It’s theatre a romantic aspiration that’s more beautiful, more extraordinary than reality,” said the burlesque “Moulin Rouge” director who sat on the coveted front row.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

W

ith a delicious purr, Gaultier pounced back into top form with a feisty couture collection, proving that despite a couple of off seasons, he still has a lot of tricks up his embroidered sleeve.

This fall-winter’s muse was the female panther, which inspired a slew of fresh ideas, including plenty of new ways to wear leopard and how to dress in feathers to look like a cat. If it sounds eccentric, it was. Leopard print featured cheekily on tights below one stylish all-black crepe dress, and there were several incredible couture coats. At first glance they looked like fur but were made entirely of feathers, speckled like a big cat pelt and with white feathers at the edges to resemble skin. Gaultier, ever the showman, ensured the wackiness infused the show’s presentation as well. Forty-three looks filed by to the infectious theme of “The Pink Panther,” showcased on models who clawed as they walked. Guests looked on from stalls divided into lionesses, panthers, lynx and leopards. Sometimes they applauded, sometimes they simply laughed. But aside from all the fun, there was some serious couture at work here. Inspired by clown costumes, Gaultier showed flair with a new silhouette produced by dramatic 1980s-style ice-cream coneshaped chaps. It was fresh and engaging, and it seemed to say one of the big cats of Paris is back.

Models present creations by Jean Paul Gaultier during the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2013/2014 collection show in Paris. — AFP

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

VALENTINO

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s guests arrived at Valentino’s show, they glanced inquisitively at the zebra heads and gold-rimmed fisheye mirrors mounted on the walls of the “Hotel de Rothschild,” transforming the 19th century mansion into a vintage-style cabinet of curiosities. “Enchanting, encyclopedic couture,” the program notes promised revelers. When the first tight gown swept by with the image of orange rhinoceros on 3-D bed of myriad earth brown lacing, apparently inspired by a painting of Elizabeth I, it was clear the show would follow through on the promise. Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, in the process, seemed to have pulled off their most eccentric and imaginative show to date.

Oriental motifs and arabesque patterns fused with Scottish herringbone tweeds and Renaissance capes were thrown into the creative cauldron. This appeared alongside embroideries of lion’s heads, bees, beetles and dragonflies, often to luxurious effect. That’s not to say all the looks worked. Some were too austere, and on the more elaborate silhouettes the patterning at times came across as busy.

Valentino

Lifestyle FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Models present creations by Zuhair Murad during the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2013/2014 collection show, yesterday in Paris. — AFP photos

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

CHANGE OF NAME

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Pe t s FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Lauren Tillotson says hello to Fluffy, a therapy dog with The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog group, in front of the law library at Chapman University Law School for some stress relief. — MCT photos

Jasime Lee talks to Fluffy, a member of The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog group.

Therapy dogs ease stress for students P

urses, backpacks and textbooks are piled up on the floor, benches and any available surface, completely forgotten.

Instead, students fill their hands and laps with four-legged friends. The Orange County, Calif, chapter of The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs paid a visit to Chapman University School of Law’s Donald P Kennedy Hall just before finals, as a courtesy to the students.

Jayne Kacer, associate dean of student affairs for the law school, said the dogs help relieve the stress of taking final exams in the law school.

“Yes, it is stressful. But it is manageable, with things like therapy dogs and good preparation, of course,” said Kacer.

The law school is three years of study, with up to two weeks of finals each year for some students. The typical first-year law student will have around five exams, one every other day for the course of a one- to two-week period. Each exam is about three hours long.

“In many instances the final exam constitutes their entire grade for the course,” said Kacer. The school is taking extra steps to help students with the stress of the final exams. Days without classes or tests prior to finals are combined with free snacks, chair massages, pancakes cooked by professors - and the canines.

“During finals you have so much to do and you feel like you don’t have enough time to do it in,” said Alex Iorfino, who stopped and played with Shih Tzu therapy dog Nico. “With law finals, everything you did all semester comes down to three hours in an exam.” Although law students may not need therapy in the tradition sense, a break from stress might be needed, said Kacer.

Shari Stack from The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs Inc, said their dogs have been getting more calls for “de-stress days” at colleges. Therapy dogs do much more than help with pre-test stress. They’ve been brought to disaster sites, most recently to the aftermath of the Boston Marathon, Stack said.

The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs are recognized by the American Kennel Club and make up a nationwide network of 5,000 active handlers and dogs that volunteer time, always free of charge, to bring therapy on all fours, one tail wag at a time. They are emotional comfort dogs, not service dogs, and they have their own set regulations and skills. For a dog and handler to be certified for their therapy classification,

they must pass a combination test with basic obedience, situational contact and social responses in medical settings.

“The dogs need to respond properly to commands such as sit and stay and they need to come when called. The dogs can’t be jumpers, barkers, and they have to like to be touched, because they are going to be touched. A lot,” said Stack. The dogs will be poked, have their tails pulled, their paws petted, their noses

‘The dogs need to respond properly to commands such as sit and stay and they need to come when called.

The dogs can’t be jumpers, barkers, and they have to like to be touched, because they are going to be touched’ stroked and more by people meeting them.

There is also environmental sensory stimulation with loud noises. The dogs are approached with wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and intravenous medicine stands. “They can’t at all be flustered by that. You can’t have them bark or be afraid of these things, or especially not run at the IV line and get tangled up in it,” said Stack. Stack said that the dogs offer something beyond recreational time or a visit: unconditional love. The dogs give company to the lonely, self-esteem to the sad and a welcome distraction to the tired or overworked, said Stack. “The dogs will take people out of their realm of stress and to somewhere kinder,” said Stack. — MCT

Beverly Jacobsen’s dog, Pookie, says hello to Blaise Vanderhorst, a student at Chapman University.

Stars

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Aries (March 21-April 19) Balancing the checkbook and taking a grocery inventory this morning will give you an idea of how you can contribute to a fun gathering with friends this afternoon. You know just how to amazingly entertain and create a wonderful group meal. Playing the role of a facilitator can be rewarding. Are you in loveyou may be going against tradition and being too pushy for group approval. There must be something on your mind other than business for today. You could become carried away under this kind of pressure and make mistakes. Careful, eat wisely—exercise. If you are not involved in a relationship, tonight is a good time to begin one! You can appreciate feelings and movement. Perhaps love is in the air—dancing anyone?

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You are driven when it comes to fulfilling your ambitions and carving out a career. There is no lack of energy and nothing can stand in your way. Everything is poured into making the right moves and the correct decisions. Today, however, you will find lots of time on your hands and lots of invitations to go in different directions. You are outgoing, enthusiastic and diplomatic—everybody’s favorite. You have a natural instinct for making the correct move at the right time. Politics or some public career seems inevitable. There is a constant desire for unity and atonement. You may have a secret urge to put out to sea and visit other countries—you may be saving and plotting to do just that. This is a good time to take risks and to be unconventional.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You have trouble controlling yourself and tend to fluctuate between uninspired routine and passionate binges. Thinking through goals with close friends or loved ones may help you to create a new focus. At times your sense of responsibility and the way you go about organizing your life may seem too much like a reformatory. If you become so set in your ways, you may not be able to escape that desire to revolt and break away. If this happens, a whole new package of feelings may have to be discovered and understood. Maintain a focus and if you feel change is needed, implement those changes to your advantage—gradually. Think on these things and then grab opportunities to play. Laughter and play is a form of therapy.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Careful—you may tend to take paths at right angles to your real ambitions and self-interest today. This could result in trouble with authorities or older people. The answer here is to say the word no when it comes to extra projects that take away from own progress. Your struggle to succeed is aided when you show self-control or discipline and find that middle road. You may be guiding young people in artistic endeavors this afternoon. You have an ability to work with the imagination, reaching beyond the mundane to the future potential. Your enthusiasm for mystical and religious experiences makes you an excellent teacher in artistic and creative matters. Promote your own ability to visualize and bring some focus into play for your current goals.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Today could bring the unexpected or find you in an unusual mood. It may be that you feel like getting away from the routine and just doing something different. A break from the usual routine can bring new insights or breakthroughs. You could take a vacation from your responsibilities and explore a more social adventure. Speculative interests are strongly emphasized. Details are the important factor in making profitable decisions, however. Your mind is exceptional in its clarity. All that is mental comes to you without struggle or labor—ideas, thoughts and mental things of all kinds. The light in your eyes reveals the brightness of your mind to everyone who comes to know you. It is time to begin a new hobby and today just might be the day to begin.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You have a lot of energy and come across as quite successful and in control. Much can be accomplished today. The exchange of ideas becomes a focal point of your day. Learning and knowing a little about a variety of things and keeping informed satisfies your need for mental stimulation. This afternoon, neighbors and brothers or sisters may play a role in this and young people figure more prominently in your life. Self-expression is personified and lends itself to your particular ideas and thoughts. A good conversation with those you love is possible.

You can really communicate well and be understood by most anyone.

You may visit with an old friend this evening, perhaps with e-mail or a phone conversation, if not in person.

Libra (September 23-October 22) This is a time when you can expect a little boost, some sort of extra support or recognition from those around you. The lines of communication are open. You have a very analytical bent and your mind excels at making practical decisions. Your ideas run deeper than superficial issues; you could have an in-depth interest in psychology and even occult and mystical subjects. Your brilliant imagination and enchanting manner transport all who meet you beyond the mundane and into the extraordinary regions where you spend a lot of your time. If you are eating out this evening, pay your own way. Tonight is a great time to reflect and understand your own situation, just how you feel about yourself.

Emotions and the feelings of others are very clear—a nice time.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There could be a few challenges in the workplace today, but you learn and move forward and may even realize that without the challenges, the knowledge and capability that you have would probably not continue to grow. You are a natural architect and builder, able to use your mind to make decisions in matters of form and function. For you, the goal and the way to get to it are the same. You like to build each step and have each decision be an end in itself. Things must be done right.

You also have great skill with the law, whether manmade or that of nature; you can put all of this into words. You could teach others. You deal with your feelings for a romantic partner this evening. You may think about whether you could have a happy future together.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Making money is second nature and you are able to field ideas and bring forth growth and success. You may find yourself guiding others in ways to invest their money. You may not be able to initiate any plans but plans can be made. You become interested in working toward a safety cushion regarding finances for yourself as well. You are independent and value freedom and nonconformity. Your career will be anything but ordinary and leave it to you to find unusual ways of supporting yourself. You bring a lot of mental skill and understanding to whatever you do. You might consider teaching or guiding others to take a more independent approach to their lives or careers. Pay attention to nature tonight.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Y o u could find yourself mentally acute and in a problem-solving mood today. However, there is a real possibility that the decisions you make today and the solutions you find may have to be redone tomorrow. Correct choices and the best path for you may be at odds with your sense of values. You may not appreciate the easy way or clearcut option and may choose instead a more difficult path. Circumstances may appear to work against you and bring very sensitive issues to your attention. As you take on a mind-set to be patient, you will find answers become available. Self-sacrifice and an understanding attitude could have far-reaching effects. A little laughter this evening with a friend can be a great way to relax. Laughter is a great healer.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You are a great doer—accomplished. Opportunities come up today that will allow you to express your outgoing nature. You have extremely skillful ways of handling crowds and groups. You are a natural for working with or for the public. You would make an excellent public relations manager or customer relations worker with a large company.

Your career is never a problem—for you have the kind of drive that most people can only wish they had. Everything is working out well for you.

You love to work with young people and may consider working with children as a teacher, coach or in some volunteer position. You appreciate a heartfelt approach and are an enthusiast if there ever was one. You encourage emotions, feelings and creativity from all.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Do not take chances or risks just now. Be satisfied with the ordinary and usual. Novel ideas or insights could be more damaging than useful. Hectic emotional energy is present. Taking care of the normal flow of business is in order now. Look for opportunities to exercise today—you could have lots of restless energies. You have the ability to give words meaning or to put ideas into words and give others a feeling for what things mean. You also have a sharp and clear mind that is also clever and perhaps entertaining. You bring laughter to what would otherwise be a difficult situation. You can appreciate the difficulties of others and be understanding of the problems that may exist. You discriminate between superficiality and the reality beneath.

COUNTRY CODES 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 Republic 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 Somalia 00252 South Africa 0027 South Korea 0082 Spain 0034 Sri Lanka 0094 Sudan 00249 Suriname 00597 Swaziland 00268 Sweden 0046 Switzerland 0041 Syria 00963 Taiwan 00886 Tanzania 00255 Thailand 0066 Toga 00228 Tonga 00676 Tokelau 00690 Trinidad 001868 Tunisia 00216 Turkey 0090 Tuvalu 00688 Uganda 00256 Ukraine 00380 United Arab Emirates00976

Stars

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Word Search

Yesterdayʼs Solution

C R O S S W O R D 2 4 1

ACROSS 1. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

5. An alloy of mercury with another metal (usually silver) used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth.

12. Either extremity of something that has length.

15. A Tibetan or Mongolian priest of Lamaism.

16. A Brazilian river.

17. Brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply.

18. A negatively charged atom.

20. An informal term for a father.

21. The act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise.

22. In precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker.

24. Give a nickname to.

25. East Indian tree bearing a profusion of intense vermilion velvet-textured blooms and yielding a yellow dye.

26. Struck with fear, dread, or consternation.

28. A chain of connected ideas or passages or objects so arranged that each member is closely related to the preceding and following members (especially a series of patristic comments elucidating Christian dogma).

30. A narrow republic surrounded by Senegal in West Africa.

33. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

34. Be obliged to pay or repay.

35. An international organization created in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty for purposes of collective security.

42. Profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger.

44. Either of two large African antelopes of the genus Taurotragus having short spirally twisted horns in both sexes.

46. Food mixtures either arranged on a plate or tossed and served with a moist dressing.

47. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (19021984).

49. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

51. Someone who is morally reprehensible.

52. Relating to or of the nature of or having a mouth or mouthlike opening.

55. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret.

58. Type genus of the Anatidae.

61. A Russian artificial satellite.

64. The 26th letter of the Roman alphabet.

65. A town and port in northwestern Israel in the eastern Mediterranean.

69. A populous province in northeastern China.

71. United States physiologist (born in Germany) who did research on parthenogenesis (1859-1924).

72. Any high mountain.

73. Elder brother of Krishna.

77. A run that is the result of the batter's performance.

78. Towards the side away from the wind.

79. Imperfect development.

80. A metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters.

81. To make a mistake or be incorrect.

82. Guiding star.

83. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

Daily SuDoku

DOWN 1. Speaking a Slavic language.

2. A stick that people can lean on to help them walk.

3. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia).

4. African tree having an exceedingly thick trunk and fruit that resembles a gourd and has an edible pulp called monkey bread.

5. Before noon.

6. Genus of sticky herbs with yellow flowers open in morning or evening but closed in bright light.

7. American Revolutionary patriot.

8. Having leadership guidance.

9. Of or relating to the stomach and intestines.

10. A river that rises in northern Colombia and flows generally eastward to the Orinoco in central Venezuela.

11. Arboreal snake of central and southern Africa whose bite is often fatal.

12. A short composition for a solo instrument.

13. The seventh month of the civil year.

14. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

19. Medium-sized tree having glossy lanceolate leaves.

23. A feudal lord or baron in Scotland.

27. Formerly included in genus Cedrela.

29. A three-tone Chadic language.

31. Look forward to the probably occurrence of.

32. Electric underground railway.

36. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

37. (aeronautical) Pertaining to the tail section of a plane.

38. A soft silver-white ductile metallic element (liquid at normal temperatures).

39. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

40. An official language of the Republic of South Africa.

41. Tropical starchy tuberous root.

43. The wrist bone in line with the 4th and 5th fingers.

45. A Mid-Atlantic state.

48. A person who eats human flesh.

50. The academic world.

53. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

54. Inquire about.

56. The eleventh month of the civil year.

57. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

59. Islands in the Atlantic Ocean belonging to Portugal.

60. The food served and eaten at one time.

62. A draft horse harnessed alongside the shaft or pole of a vehicle.

63. The topmost one of two.

66. British filmmaker (born in Hungary) (1893-1956).

67. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

68. A promontory in northern Morocco opposite the Rock of Gibraltar.

70. The (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb.

74. Gone by.

75. A unit of length of thread or yarn.

76. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

Yesterdayʼs Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Sports FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Tigers pound Blue Jays TORONTO: Max Scherzer worked into the seventh inning to become the first pitcher in 27 years to get off to a 13-0 start, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night. Alex Avila hit a three-run homer and Victor Martinez belted a solo shot as Detroit beat Toronto for the eighth time in 10 meetings.

Scherzer (13-0) allowed two runs and seven hits, struck out eight and walked one in 6 1-3 innings. He is the first pitcher to begin the season with 13 wins and no losses since Roger Clemens won his first 14 decisions for the Boston Red Sox in 1986.

Both benches and bullpens emptied after Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter took exception to being hit by a high pitch from Todd Redmond in the sixth.

Colby Rasmus and Maicer Izturis each hit an RBI single for the Blue Jays. Josh Johnson (1-3) allowed six runs, one earned, and seven hits in five innings.

ROYALS 6, INDIANS 5 In Kansas City, Eric Hosmer hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, and the Royals rallied after losing outfielder Alex Gordon to a head injury.

Hosmer connected with two outs off Cody Allen (3-1), one inning after Gordon collided with the bullpen fence while tracking a fly ball. The Gold Glove outfielder remained down on the warning track for several minutes before slowly standing up and walking off the field.

Will Smith (1-1) pitched 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief for the Royals, and Greg Holland managed the ninth to help Kansas City snap a three-game skid against the Indians. Holland worked around an error by shortstop Alicdes Escobar for his 18th save.

Jason Kipnis ended up with a three-run, inside-the-park homer on the play that Gordon was injured, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. But the bullpen failed to hold the 3-1 lead that he provided, ultimately snapping Cleveland’s five-game winning streak. The start of the game was delayed 2 hours, 37 minutes by a stubborn rain cloud that refused to budge from over the stadium, even though there were clear skies not more than a mile away.

YANKEES 3, TWINS 2 In Minneapolis, CC Sabathia earned his 200th career win to stretch his winning streak over Minnesota to nearly six years, and Robinson Cano hit a tying two-run double for the Yankees.

Cano had the big swing in the three-run sixth against PJ Walters (2-5). Trevor Plouffe homered against Sabathia (9-6), but the burly left-hander finished seven innings with seven hits and three walks while striking out nine. Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his 28th save in 29 tries in his farewell season.

Sabathia is 11-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his last 12 starts against the Twins with a 2.01 ERA. He threw a season-high 121 pitches.

Minnesota has lost nine of 12. Walters was charged with three runs and four hits in fiveplus innings.

MARINERS 4, RANGERS 2 In Arlington, Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning, and Seattle won consecutive games in Texas for the first time in more than a year.

Michael Saunders walked on a full-count pitch with two out before Seager connected against Robbie Ross (4-2) for his third hit of the game. Seager’s 12th homer landed in the first row of seats in right field.

Charlie Furbush (2-4) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for the win, and Tom Wilhelmsen was perfect in the 10th for his 17th save.

The Mariners last won two straight in

Texas on May 29-30, 2012, when they took the last two of a three-game series. They’ll go for a sweep Thursday night.

The Rangers dropped to 30-14 at home against Seattle since the start of 2009. David Murphy and Ian Kinsler homered in the fifth inning against Felix Hernandez, giving Texas a 2-1 lead.

ORIOLES 4, WHITE SOX 2 In Chicago, Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, and then added a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth for Baltimore.

Scott Feldman pitched six solid innings in his debut for the Orioles, who held on to win for the fifth time in six games after the White Sox threatened against Jim Johnson.

Conor Gillaspie and Jeff Keppinger singled with one out in the ninth, putting men on first and second. Johnson struck out Gordon Beckham looking and retired pinch hitter Jordan Danks on a bouncer to the mound for his 29th save in 34 attempts.

Darren O’Day (4-0) pitched a scoreless seventh and Tommy Hunter worked the eighth before Johnson dodged that jam in the ninth. Matt Lindstrom (2-3) got the loss.

Feldman looked sharp after he was

sharp innings for his third consecutive win, helping the Cubs to their fifth victory in seven games.

Garza (4-1) allowed one run and four hits in his fourth consecutive quality start. The right-hander is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.90 ERA since yielding a season-high nine runs to the Cincinnati Reds on June 11.

With the Cubs well off the pace in the NL Central, Garza could be one of the top targets for contenders looking for pitching help ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Luis Valbuena homered for Chicago, and Kevin Gregg pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances. Brandon Moss went deep for the Athletics, who had won five of six.

Oakland right-hander Bartolo Colon (113) gave up two runs and nine hits in seven innings in his first loss since May 9. He was 80 with a 1.66 ERA in his previous nine starts.

CARDINALS 12, ANGELS 2 In Anaheim, Jon Jay had three RBIs, including a two-run homer off center fielder Mike Trout’s glove during St. Louis’ sevenrun second inning, and the Cardinals ended the Angels’ seven-game winning streak.

Matt Carpenter, batting leadoff in front of

Pirates win, Marlins roll PITTSBURGH: Jeff Locke ran his winning streak to eight games, Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates hung on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 Wednesday night.

Locke (8-1) was scored upon for the first time in four home starts but extended his unbeaten streak to 16 outings. Locke, who hasn’t lost since his first start of the season, allowed two earned runs on seven hits and three walks over 5 2-3 innings. The Pirates took the lead with a four-run fifth punctuated by Alvarez’s 21st home run. Andrew McCutchen reached base five times, scoring twice for the Pirates (52-31), who have the majors’ best record and had a nine-game winning streak snapped in the series opener Tuesday. Delmon Young and Domonic Brown each had three hits for the Phillies, who have lost four of six.

Brown’s two-run homer with two outs in the ninth pulled the Phillies within one, but Jason Grilli stuck out Young to seal his NL-best 28th save. John Lannan (1-3) was tagged for four runs on 11 hits and three walks in five innings.

MARLINS 6, BRAVES 3 In Atlanta, Ricky Nolasco tossed seven strong innings amid persistent trade rumors, Justin Ruggiano hit a three-run homer and Miami beat Atlanta. Marlins manager Mike Redmond said before the game that Nolasco has not been affected by trade speculation and the right-hander supported that claim by giving up only two runs on six hits. Nolasco (5-8) had no walks with seven strikeouts, giving him 1,001 for his career. The Braves led 2-0 before Ruggiano’s homer off Mike Minor (8-4) in the fifth.

Miami added a run in the sixth when Placido Polanco singled and scored on Adeiny Hechavarria’s double. Jeff Mathis added a two-run double in the eighth.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, METS 3 In New York, Randall Delgado outpitched Matt Harvey for his first major league win in more than a year and Arizona snapped a five-game skid with a victory over New York.

Cody Ross hit a three-run homer off Harvey to put Arizona ahead, and Delgado struck out a career-high nine in seven innings to give the NL West leaders their first victory by a starting pitcher since Wade Miley beat St. Louis on June 5.

Diamondbacks starters went 0-11 over the next 24 games until Delgado (1-2) held New York in check for his first win since June 6, 2012, with Atlanta at Miami. Harvey (7-2) was charged with nine hits and a season-high five runs in six-plus innings.

TORONTO: Omar Infante No. 4 of the Detroit Tigers jumps as Colby Rasmus No. 28 of the Toronto Blue Jays is forced out at second base during MLB game action. — AFP acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.

The right-hander allowed two runs and six hits.

ASTROS 4, RAYS 1 In Houston, Chris Carter hit a tiebreaking three-run shot in the seventh for his second homer of the game, leading Bud Norris and Houston to the victory.

Norris allowed one run and six hits in seven innings as the Astros snapped a five-game losing streak. It was the first win for Norris (67) since June 1.

Carter broke a 22-inning scoring drought for Houston with a drive off Roberto Hernandez (4-10) in the second. He connected on a full-count pitch from Jake McGee to make it 4-1 in the seventh.

Carter leads the Astros with 17 homers and his 44 RBIs are tied for the team lead.

Jose Veras allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth for his 17th save. Hernandez allowed four hits and three runs in six-plus innings.

INTERLEAGUE CUBS 3, ATHLETICS 1 In Oakland, Matt Garza pitched eight

Jay, also homered and drove in three runs to help keep the Cardinals two games behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central.

St. Louis right-hander Shelby Miller (9-6) pitched six innings and allowed five hits, including a two-run homer by Hank Conger in the second. Jerome Williams (5-4) was charged with seven runs, four hits and four walks in just 1 2-3 innings for Los Angeles.

RED SOX 2, PADRES 1 In Boston, Jonny Gomes led off the ninth inning with a pinch-hit home run, lifting the Red Sox to the victory. Mike Carp had two hits and scored a run for Boston, which improved to 7-1 on its nine-game homestand that concludes Thursday against the Padres.

Carlos Quentin went 3 for 4 with a double and two singles for the Padres. San Diego has scored just five runs in its fivegame losing streak. Gomes sent a 2-2 pitch from Luke Gregerson (4-4) into the first row of seats above the Green Monster for his second game-ending homer of the season. Koji Uehara (2-0) pitched one inning for the win. — AP

REDS 3, GIANTS 2 In Cincinnati, Shin-Soo Choo’s two-out single in the 11th inning drove in Todd Frazier from second base, lifting Cincinnati over San Francisco. Frazier walked to lead off the 11th against Javier Lopez (1-1) and went to second on Chris Heisey’s sacrifice.

After Devin Mesoraco was intentionally walked, Ryan Hanigan popped out before Choo gave the Reds three straight wins for the first time since June 10-12 against the Cubs.

JJ Hoover (2-5), Cincinnati’s seventh pitcher of the game, struck out four batters in two innings for the win. The spiraling Giants have lost nine of their last 10 games.

BREWERS 4, NATIONALS 1 In Washington, Kyle Lohse tossed eight sharp innings on short rest and Milwaukee shut down Bryce Harper and Co. for the second straight night in a win over Washington.

Lohse (4-6) allowed one run and four hits, and had a seasonhigh seven strikeouts against the eager-swinging Nationals, who barely avoided back-to-back shutouts and fell back to .500.

Harper, in his third game back from a knee injury, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and dropped a ball in left field for the second consecutive game.

Ross Detwiler (2-7), yet another Nationals pitcher longing for run support, was charged with four runs and eight hits in six innings, although two runs were unearned because of Harper’s error.

DODGERS 10, ROCKIES 8 In Denver, Hanley Ramirez had four hits, including a solo homer in the ninth, to help Los Angeles hold off Colorado in a game outfielder Yasiel Puig left early with a bruised left hip. Juan Uribe, Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp also homered for the Dodgers, who have won 10 of their last 11 games to climb back into the thick of the NL West race.

Zack Greinke (6-2) struggled on the mound but still earned his third straight win. He gave up five runs in five innings and tied a career high with seven walks.

Kenley Jansen recorded the final four outs to pick up his eighth save in 11 chances. Tyler Chatwood (4-2) surrendered six runs, five earned, and 11 hits in five innings. — AP

Sports FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Madrid shines in 2020 bid presentations LAUSANNE: With Spain’s crown prince stealing the show, Madrid made the biggest impact Wednesday among the three cities bidding for the 2020 Olympics and established itself as a serious contender in the race. Madrid, Istanbul and Tokyo made their pitches to IOC members, hoping to seize the momentum in the final two months before the vote.

This was the first time the cities had the chance to present their case directly to the electorate - and Madrid made the most of it, generating a buzz that could make the race tighter than ever.

Counted out by many a few months ago because of Spain’s severe financial troubles, Madrid hammered home the message that it offers a low-cost, no-risk bid.

And Crown Prince Felipe, a former Olympic sailor who was Spain’s flag-bearer at the 1992 Barcelona Games, charmed the members with his speech.

“If you’re grading performance, Madrid did the best in terms of the message and delivery of it,” senior Canadian IOC member Dick Pound said. “The star of the day was the prince.

It was his content, his delivery, his genuineness.

“Those who might have Madrid as a distant third would now be rethinking that.” Other members also cited the 45year-old prince’s appearance as the highlight of the day.

Britain’s Craig Reedie, who wrote a technical report evaluating the bids, said Madrid “lifted their game.”

While Madrid stood out Wednesday, members said, all

Chiefs, Crusaders meet in key Super Rugby match WELLINGTON: More than 20 All Blacks will be mobilized when the Chiefs face the Crusaders in a Super Rugby tussle for top spot in the New Zealand conference today.

The Crusaders have added five All Blacks, including interim New Zealand captain Kieran Read, to their lineup for the 19th-round match at Christchurch which they must win with a bonus point to challenge the pre-eminence of the Super Rugby champions. Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has named man-mountain Ben Tameifuna to anchor the scrum as they confront a Crusaders pack which includes seven current or former All Blacks. “Obviously we’ve chopped and changed a lot throughout the year to create competition and due to injuries some of that was forced on us,” Rennie said. “But now we’re pretty much looking to put our best side on the track, based on how we’re going to play and who we’re going to play.”

The Chiefs lead the conference by 10 points from the Crusaders and need only a point from their last two regular season matches to seal top place and take home advantage into the playoffs. The Crusaders need to take five points from Friday’s match on their home ground and from their last regular season match against the Wellington-based Hurricanes to have any chance to grabbing top spot. They also need wins in at least one of those matches to defend their current fifth placing on the overall championships ladder and to clinch their place in the top-six playoffs which begin on July 19. The Kieran Read Pretoria-based Bulls have already clinched first place in South Africa, establishing a 13-point lead over the Bloemfonteinbased Cheetahs with two regular season rounds remaining. The Bulls face the Durban-based Sharks tomorrow and the Cape Town Stormers in the last regular season match. Springboks flyhalf Morne Steyn will return to the Bulls’ lineup, which has lost center Wynand Olivier and prop Juandre Kruger to French clubs, adding a late wrinkle to their campaign. “We have had a lot of disruptions since the squad returned (from June test matches) and injuries to the likes of Pierre (Spies), Arno (Botha), Louis (Fouche) and the departures of Wynand and Juandre certainly did not make life easier for us,” coach Frans Ludeke said. “Fortunately we have always backed the depth of our squad and that is bearing fruit. “We will face a Sharks team that will be desperate, as they need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. But we also have goals to achieve and to get there, we need to keep on winning.” —AP

three cities made strong presentations and no candidate looms as a favorite heading into the vote on Sept. 7 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It was at a similar meeting in 2009 that Rio de Janeiro grabbed the momentum in the race for the 2016 Games, but members said there was probably no dramatic turn this time to decide the winner. “I think it’s less clear than before,” Reedie said. Istanbul’s presentation passed off with scant mention of the anti-government protests that swept the country last month, while Tokyo cited its financial strength and the Olympics as a symbol of Japan’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Istanbul is bidding for a fifth time overall and Tokyo is back for a second consecutive time. Madrid is bidding for a third time in a row after finishing third in the voting for the 2012 Olympics and second for the 2016 Games.

Spanish IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., who was part of those two bids and sits on the 2020 committee, said it was too early to judge the impact of the presentation.

“I don’t know about game changing,” he said. “I never thought we were behind, but I don’t think we’re ahead. We pushed with all we had today. But we have to take a breath today. We won nothing today - nada.” The meetings took place behind closed doors at the Beaulieu convention center. Each delegation had 45 minutes to make speeches and show videos, with another 45 minutes allotted for questions

and answers. Istanbul received no questions about the protests, and Madrid fielded no questions about the economy. Of the IOC’s 100 members, 86 attended the proceedings.

Among those absent were FIFA president and Swiss member Sepp Blatter and Britain’s Princess Anne.

Madrid has sought to position itself as the safe choice, despite Spain’s recession and 27 percent unemployment rate. Madrid brought Economy Minister Luis de Guindos to tell the IOC members that the economy was recovering and the games posed no financial risk.

Madrid stressed that it has 80 percent of the venues ready and would need only $1.9 billion for Olympic construction. “Madrid is not a bid based on dreams because we have already built it,” the crown prince said. “It is a bid in keeping with the times. We have shouldered the responsibility and reduced the risks so that you, the IOC, do not have to take any.”

Added bid leader Alejandro Blanco: “We are ready to stage the games now.” The Istanbul team included Turkey’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Ali Babacan, who made a reference to the right of peaceful protests in his remarks to the IOC. At a news conference afterward, Babacan said violent demonstrations can’t be tolerated and he blamed “illegal organizations” for some of the trouble that led to a heavy police crackdown.—AP

Smith gets recall for third Lions test SYDNEY: Flanker George Smith will make a sensational return to test rugby tomorrow after being named to start for Australia in the decisive third test against the British and Irish Lions.

Smith bowed out of international rugby in 2009 after making 110 appearances for Australia - including all three tests against the 2001 British Lions - but will now win his 111th cap against the tourists at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

Once one of the best openside flankers in the world, Smith stormed back into contention for this year’s Lions tour on the back of some brilliant performances for the ACT Brumbies.

He looked like being ruled out by a knee injury on the eve of the initial squad announcement but a remarkably quick recovery saw him called into the squad after Australia’s first test defeat.

Coach Robbie Deans said it had not been a difficult decision to make the change, which was the only one to his starting lineup from the side that beat the Lions 16-15 in the second test in Melbourne last weekend.

“Pretty straightforward really, it’s not a big decision to select George,” Deans told a news conference.

“He’s a great bloke to have around. He’s a quality bloke aside from the game and obviously he’s very experienced so he will bring a lot of composure to the group.

“He’s better than when he left to be frank. He’s played some remarkable rugby in Super Rugby and we’ll get the benefit of that experience.”

The 32-year-old’s surprise selection yesterday sees incumbent openside Michael Hooper dropped to the bench andLiam Gill missing out altogether - a tough call on a player whose late line-out steal played a major role in Australia winning the second test. Deans was keen to point out that Smith’s selection in no way reflected dissatisfaction with the other two open sides.

“Hoops has had the privilege of playing two tests against the Lions and he’ll get the advantage of playing a third one as well, and his involvement might be defining,” he said. “It’s not about which part you owned,

SYDNEY: Australian rugby team players Gearge Smith tosses the ball during a photo shoot in Sydney yesterday. Experienced flanker George Smith has been recalled to the Wallabies for the deciding Test against the British and Irish Lions. — AFP which piece you contribute, it’s about adding value to the group and that goes to the blokes who aren’t lucky enough to be pulling on the jersey as well.”

Loose forward Ben McCalman was named on the bench as cover for blindside flanker and number eight in the only other addition to the squad.

“Ben McCalman offers us a little bit more versatility, he’s a very good loose forward,” Deans added.“He’s coming back into his own, he’s in great shape, he offers us versatility and covers a lot of position, strong over the ball, real physical presence and all those are going to be key components this week.”

Deans has gambled on a 6-2 split in favour of the forwards on the bench with only backup scrumhalf Nick Phipps and uncapped fullback Jesse Mogg to cover the backline.

Even with three backs on the bench in the 23-21 first test defeat in Brisbane, the Wallabies were left shorthanded after three

backs went off injured with Hooper ending up playing in the centres.

Deans said his bench had everything he needed and dismissed concerns that centre Adam Ashley-Cooper was carrying an injury.

“He’s great. He’s 100 percent,” he said.

“We’ve got plans, don’t worry about that.

And they’re good ones. “Every decision you make is a gamble. We believe it offers us what we need in this game.”

Smith said his recall for the deciding test was the “ultimate”, adding that this would definitely be his final match in the gold jersey. “This just caps it off,” he said. “I retired in 2009 in Wales and played away from home with not too many friends and family there watching.

“This gives me the opportunity to play in front of them and to play in front of an Australian crowd on my home soil. “That will be fitting for my career to look back on and say, I’ve finished on a great occasion, a big moment.” —Reuters

Sports FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Pearson’s build-up back on track LAUSANNE: Australia’s Sally Pearson is finding her rhythm again after returning from a hamstring injury and is confident she is on track to defend her sprint hurdles title at the World Championships next month, the Olympic champion said.

The 26-year-old Queenslander suffered a hamstring tear in a 4x100m relay at the Asian Grand Prix Athletic Championship in Sri Lanka in May after missing the domestic season with the same injury. She made a winning return in the Czech Republic last month but lacked her usual speed between the barriers and was fourth in a strong 100 hurdles field at the IAAF Diamond League event in Birmingham on Sunday.

“I can definitely run faster than what I did in Birmingham. I feel like my rhythm is starting to come back so that’s a good thing, and anything around 12.6 would be nice,” Pearson said in an

Athletics Australia statement. “I haven’t come into this season with too many expectations, but we have made some changes to my programming with a few extra races added to prepare for the World Championships and I’m confident the time will start to come down.”

The Diamond League event in Lausanne late yesterday will be her third stop before the World Championships in Moscow in August and Pearson said she had tried to stay patient. “I’m surprised by how I am dealing with this situation, I thought I would be a lot more anxious than I am,” she said. “I’m really happy and relaxed and that’s probably because I have already done what I am trying to do this year.

“I’ve won the world title, I’ve won the Olympic title and all I want now is the world record but I know that I would be asking too much of myself after the year so

far. “I’m being as patient as I can be, and that’s not something that I am usually very good at. It would obviously be nice to go out into these races and win, but after two injuries and only two races I am doing quite well for where my season is at.”

Pearson narrowly missed the podium in Birmingham but predicted it would not be too long before he is back to her best. “I was less than one tenth of a second from the win in Birmingham and those girls have been running for two months,” she said. “After Sotteville (in France) on Monday I have a week to get some training in, then I will run again in Monaco before more training and a race in London. “There is still a few weeks to the World Championships after that and I think with good training and racing a suitable rhythm to get me onto the podium will come and it will be a matter of who is the best athlete on the day.” — Reuters

Simpson eyes Greenbrier Classic

IOWA: Tyson Gay (center) leads Justin Gatllin (left) and Charles Silmon during the senior men’s 100-meter dash final at the US Championships athletics meet in this file photo. — AP

Gay says he’s pain-free, ready to beat Bolt LAUSANNE: Tyson Gay is finally injury-free and says he has “no excuses” for not beating Usain Bolt. The fastest man in the world this year, Gay acknowledged his frustration Wednesday at dealing with hip, groin and hamstring pain while Bolt piled up world records and gold medals. “It just was maddening for so long,” said the American, who won sprint double gold at the 2007 world championships before Bolt started dominating the following year. “It’s finally over and done with,” Gay told reporters ahead of his headline appearance in the 100 at the Athletissima Diamond League meeting late yesterday. “I have no excuses, I have no pain. I feel good. I am over the mental part of being injured,” said the sprinter whose 31st birthday next month falls on the eve of the worlds opening in Moscow.

Now Gay wants Bolt, who skips Athletissima to run a 200 in Paris on Saturday, to arrive in Russia in the same great shape. Double Olympic silver medalist Yohan Blake is the actual world champion at 100 - after Bolt famously false-started in Daegu, South Korea - though the Jamaican No. 2 has had a hamstring injury since April.

“I hope Usain stays healthy and may the best man win,” Gay said.

“It’s no secret that this guy is a championship performer and you have to bring your ‘A’ game to beat him, or better than your ‘A’ game.” Gay showed his readiness by winning the 100 and 200 meters at the US championships last month, clocking world-leading times of 9.75 and 19.74 seconds, respectively. Confidence flows from his body after

standing up in Des Moines, Iowa, to the same intense program of heats, semifinals and finals which awaits in Moscow.

“I felt me doing the double was a hump I had to get over myself. I hadn’t done it in five years,” Gay said. Gay pointed to changes in his coaching set-up and approach, prioritizing his body over going flatout fast all the time. “It just is all to do with trying to stay healthy,” said Gay, adding he is working only with longtime coach Lance Baumann and not - for now - with Jon Drummond, who joined the sprinter’s team ahead of his 2007 season. The new approach involves “taking things slower” and picking spots to post fast times in practice. “I was running so fast I couldn’t finish the work out, just to prove a point there,” Gay said. “Now I’m trying to leave the race for the race.”

After seasons of Jamaican domination, at major events and on the Diamond League circuit, Americans can take center stage yesterday.Newly crowned American 200-meter champion Kimberlyn Duncan hopes her first individual race in Europe will help prepare her for the worlds. Duncan claimed her ticket to Moscow when beating Olympic champion Allyson Felix at the US nationals. “This is something brand new for me. I’m switching over from collegiate athletics to professional,” the 21-year-old Louisiana State University student told reporters, joking that she wants to “see what is going on” around the international circuit.—AP

WEST VIRGINIA: For two years in a row, the final nine holes at the Greenbrier Classic have cost Webb Simpson dearly and the American is hoping for a case of ‘third time lucky’ at this week’s edition in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

In 2011, Simpson was one ahead of the chasing pack after reaching the turn in the final round but he slid backwards to finish in a tie for ninth, two strokes out of a playoff for the title eventually won by American Scott Stallings. Twelve months ago, Simpson again squandered a one-shot lead on the back nine as he closed with a 73 to wind up joint seventh.

“That’s the difference,” the former US Open champion told reporters on Wednesday while preparing for Thursday’s opening round at The Greenbrier’s Old White Course. “Any time a player wins, they’re playing quality golf for 72 holes.

“You can’t really afford a bad nine when you win. I think it’s just me continuing to keep playing well, and hopefully I’m in that position on Sunday where I do have a chance to win.”

Simpson has not tasted victory on the PGA Tour since claiming his first major title at last year’s U.S. Open but he has come close this season, posting four top-10s in 16 starts on the US circuit. His best finish was a playoff loss at the RBC Heritage in April while he has displayed good form in his last two events, placing joint 32nd in difficult scoring conditions at the US Open and tying for fifth at the Travelers Championship.

“I played well there (at the Travelers), and I really played well at the US Open,” said Simpson, a three-times champion on the PGA Tour. “I just didn’t score the ball well so I’m looking forward to playing. I love this spot.”

Simpson was delighted to have been grouped with good friend and fellow American Bill Haas for the first two rounds at The Greenbrier, both players having competed for Wake Forest University during their college days.

“I can’t say enough nice things about Bill Haas,” said the 27year-old Simpson. “When I got out on tour in 2008, there was nobody nicer in terms of giving me advice, helping me out, whatever I needed.“You want to see your buddies play well but, at the end of the day, you want to beat them. He’s one of the few that actually roots for me.”—Reuters

Webb Simpson

Sports FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Vettel hopes for first victory on home soil

LOS ANGELES: In this Jan. 25, 2013 file photo, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard dunks during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz. — AP

Dwight Howard, yes, but how about Collins?

NEW YORK: The Los Angeles Lakers want Dwight Howard so badly they put up billboards urging him to stay in town, then got Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash to get on bended knee before him.

The Houston Rockets want Howard pretty badly themselves, promising the free agent everything but a Texas oil well and bringing in Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler to try to seal the deal. Around the NBA there’s a rush to lock up talent just a few days into the free agency period.

Indiana will keep power forward David West for another three years, Martell Webster agreed to a four-year deal to stay with Washington, and Minnesota filled a key need by agreeing to a deal with shooting guard Kevin Martin.

Interestingly enough, no one is talking much about Jason Collins, whose signing could be very important to the NBA for reasons that have nothing to do with basketball. The veteran center would be the first openly gay player to share a locker room in the league, should a team come forward with a free agent offer.

But for now Collins goes to the back of the line because of what he is, not who he is: a backup center just hoping to get a job. “It’s strictly basketball,” said TNT analyst and former Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr. “A team will sign a guy like him for basketball reasons, but it will more than likely happen late because you can always sign a guy at the league minimum.”

The good news for Collins is that he’s a 7-footer known as a smart and physical center who can play defense. His numbers last year for Boston and Washington were minuscule - averages of 1.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 10.1 minutes per game in 38 games - but he’s a role player who can fill a final position on a team that has specific needs. And at the veteran minimum of $1.4 million, he comes relatively cheap.

Kerr believes a team in the Eastern Conference may sign Collins just to have him on the roster in the playoffs to guard someone like Indiana’s Roy Hibbert on the inside. He said the Suns did the same thing when he was running the team by signing Collins’ brother, Jarron, on the theory they needed someone to guard San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in the playoffs.

“I think Jason probably fits in that mold somewhere,” Kerr said. “He’s well regarded around the league and I think he still has some life left in his legs. You can sign a guy for one game, one matchup, and it becomes worth it if it works.”

The question then becomes whether it’s worth it for a team to pursue Collins when factors other

than basketball come into play. Though his announcement in April that he was gay was widely acclaimed throughout the league, there’s a lot of attention that will come to any team he plays for simply because of the fanfare it received.

And there still is a question on how a gay player will be accepted by teammates in the locker room, no matter how publicly supportive they are.

There is still plenty of homophobia in the NBA, as evidenced in the playoffs when Hibbert uttered a gay slur - though he later reached out to Collins on Twitter to apologize. Kerr believes that Collins would not only fit into a locker room, but thrive in his role as a senior statesman in what would be his 13th year in the league.

“The key with Jason is you have a guy who’s a pro and who adds to the fabric of your team,” Kerr said. “I know that in talking with Doc Rivers last season that he was raving about Jason’s preparation and work ethic and effect on the younger guys. That’s the key with a guy like Jason. You might be getting him for just one play but also to help fortify the character of the team.”

A representative for Collins said he wasn’t available to talk about his chances of signing, in contrast to the media blitz he went on when he announced he was gay. But others who support him say it’s almost as important that he be signed by a team as it was for him to come out as a gay athlete.

“It’s very significant because it’s a big obstacle to overcome,” said Hudson Taylor, a former college wrestler and founder of Athlete Ally, an organization working to end homophobia in sports. “It would make it clear that a player’s sexual orientation doesn’t affect their viability as an athlete.”

That’s already the case in the WNBA, where Brittney Griner’s sexuality didn’t stop her from becoming the first pick of the Phoenix Mercury in this year’s draft. But while attitudes in society may be changing rapidly, there’s still a big difference in how gay female athletes are viewed as compared to gay male athletes. That Jason Collins is a trailblazer is undeniable. That he is a man of great courage is undisputed. But he waited until his season was over before announcing he was gay. He did it knowing there was a real possibility there would not be a job available and he wouldn’t be the gay player who finally broke down the locker room barrier.

He might not be. But you have to think there’s a team willing to take a chance on a player who has already taken a big chance himself. — AP

NUERBURGRING: The Formula One championship goes to this weekend’s German Grand Prix on a bankrupt circuit amid concern over tire safety and with three-time champion Sebastian Vettel seeking his first win on home soil.

The race at the Nuerburgring comes a week after a chaotic British GP in which five cars suffered tire blowouts, including that of leader Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

Pirelli moved quickly to address the problem, and a different type of tires will be used for Sunday’s race, hoping to address the problems and appease angry teams.

The German GP, which alternates between Hockenheim and Nuerburgring, arrives at the latter in the Eifel hills with the storied circuit officially bankrupt. The only reason the race is taking place is because F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone decided to accept a smaller fee for the right to stage it.

Ecclestone has indicated he will come to the race, although he faces possible bribery charges from Munich prosecutors. Ecclestone skipped last year’s race at Hockenheim.

Hamilton won the previous F1 race at the Nuerburgring in 2011. The British driver is still winless since switching to Mercedes this season.

Hamilton described the tire incidents in Silverstone as “unacceptable,” but the former world champion welcomed the reaction of Pirelli.

“I am satisfied, but only when we get there (Germany) will we have a better idea how it is for us,” Hamilton said. “Everyone is in the same boat, but I’m glad action has been taken.

“It’s still a concern. We’ll see how the weekend goes but I’m sure they’ve taken the right steps to make it safe.” In Germany, Pirelli will use a Kevlar belt - a fiber that is more resistant to punctures - instead of steel on its rear tires.

From this month’s Hungarian GP on July 28 onward, the Italian manufacturer will revert to the type of tires it used in 2012 combined with the current compounds from this season.

“I’m confident the right decisions will be taken because safety is a very important fac-

tor,” said Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, who won in Silverstone. “(Pirelli) will have everything under control for the Nuerburgring.” Pirelli said the teams contributed to the tire failures at Silverstone by mounting the tires the wrong way around - putting the less resilient inner wall on the outer edge - and having their tire pressures too low, increasing friction.

“Surprisingly, the Nuerburgring is one of the circuits that we have the least experience of, having only raced there once before in Formula One, but we’re certain that we have chosen the correct compromise between performance and durability by bringing the medium and soft compounds,” Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said.

While insisting that the steel-belted version is completely safe when used correctly, Hembery said the Kevlar-belted version is easier to manage - “we prefer to bring a less sophisticated tire.”

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who finished third in Silverstone, said he was sure there would be an improvement. “I know that various modifications have been applied and let’s hope that means all of us drivers can race in safe conditions,” Alonso said. “At the moment, we can’t make any predictions, because no one has tried them and we don’t know what and how many benefits they can bring, apart from trusting in the fact that it won’t be dangerous to race.” Vettel has never won in Germany; in fact he hasn’t won in Europe in 22 months.

At Silverstone, Vettel retired when leading in the closing stages due to a gearbox breakdown. But he still leads the championship after eight of 19 races and has three wins this season.

The German has 132 points but Alonso cut the gap in Britain and has 111. “We have to regain the lost points as soon as possible,” Vettel said.

Rosberg, who has won two of the past three races, said he wasn’t that concerned with the choice of tires. “With the car we have it doesn’t matter which tires we use because we have a very quick car in general so I am confident we can stay where we are, more or less,” Rosberg said. — AP

SILVERSTONE: Red Bull Racing’s German driver Sebastian Vettel drives at the Silverstone circuit in this file photo. — AFP

46

Sports FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Mandela the boxer inspires new generation SOWETO: In a sweaty township gym where Nelson Mandela once trained as a young boxer, athletes are still pumping iron today, inspired by the peace icon’s example as he fights for his life in hospital.

Things haven’t changed much since the early 1950s, when a youthful Mandela worked out on week nights at the Donaldson Orlando Community Centre, or the “D.O.” as it’s still affectionately known.

Spartan and slightly run down, the walls ooze with the intermingled history of sport, community life and the decades-long fight against apartheid oppression.

It was here that Mandela came to lose himself in sport to take his mind off liberation politics. Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s largest township just south of Johannesburg, the community centre was also where famous African songbirds like Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie first performed.

The 1976 riots against the imposition of the Afrikaans language in black schools were planned from the DO as Mandela and other leaders languished in apartheid jails.

“Here, look, these are the very same weights Madiba used for training,” proud

gym instructor Sinki Langa, 49, told a visiting AFP reporter, using Mandela’s clan name.

“They have lasted all these years,” he said as he added another set to a bar his fellow trainee Simon Mzizi, 30, was using to furiously bench-press, sweat dripping down his face. Nearby, other fitness enthusiasts worked out to the tune of soothing music which unusually for a gym included opera.

The DO-or Soweto YMCA as it is called todayopened its doors in 1948, the same year the apartheid white nationalist government came to power.

Built with funds donated by Colonel James Donaldson, a self-made entrepreneur and staunch supporter of the now governing African National Congress (ANC), the D.O. centre includes a hall, and several sparsely furnished smaller rooms like the one where Mandela sparred as a young man.

Today the gym is housed in an adjacent hall, which was the original building on the grounds erected in 1932. Mandela joined the D.O. in around 1950, often taking his oldest 10-year-old son Thembi with him.

In a letter to his daughter Zinzi, while on Robben Island where he spent 18 of his 27

years in jail, Mandela recalled his days at the gym. “The walls... of the DOCC are drenched with the sweet memories that will delight me for years,” he wrote in the letter, published in his 2010 book “Conversations with Myself”. “When we trained in the early 50s the club included amateur and professional boxers as well as wrestlers,” Mandela wrote to his daughter, who never received the letter because it was snatched by his goalers.

Training at the DO was tough and included sparring, weight-lifting, road-running and push-ups. “We used to train for four days, from Monday to Thursday and then break off,” Mandela told journalist Richard Stengel in the early 1990s, while writing his autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom”.

When he was handed a life sentence in 1964, Mandela kept up the harsh regime of his training to stay fit and healthy. “I was very fit, and in prison, I felt very fit indeed. So I used to train in prison... just as I did outside,” Mandela said in a transcript of his conversation with Stengel, given to AFP by the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. Mandela was eventually released from jail in 1990 and in 1994, he was elected South Africa’s first black

president. In “Long Walk to Freedom”, Mandela admitted he was “never an outstanding boxer”. “I did not enjoy the violence of boxing as much as the science of it,” the elderly statesman said. “It was a way of losing myself in something that was not the struggle,” Mandela wrote.

“Back in those days, boxing was very popular-it was part of that culture,” Shakes Tshabalala, 81, who has been involved with the centre from the start told AFP. Pugilism always played a big part in Mandela’s life and at his nearby house, today a museum, boxing-related items like the WBC World Championship belt donated by Sugar Ray Leonard are on display. Back at the centre, a new generation of youngsters are training. Although few of them box today, they draw their inspiration from Mandela’s example in healthy living. While the ailing 94year-old statesman is battling a recurring lung infection, the gym-goers firmly believe the liberation icon will return for one last round. “Mandela was a sportsman. This is why today he is still alive,” said gym instructor Langa. “I am worried about him, but I know he’ll win. He’s a fighter,” he said. —AFP

Sailing’s elite line up for the America’s Cup SAN FRANCISCO: International sailing’s elite gathers in San Francisco Bay on Sunday for the start of qualifying for the 34th America’s Cup, the sport’s most prestigious race and the oldest sporting trophy in the world.

Four teams will battle it out on the water for the historic silver pitcher from July 7 to September 21 against a backdrop of the former prison island Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The America’s Cup, first contested in 1851, has been held since 2010 by US billionaire Larry Ellison, the owner of Oracle Team USA, which sails in the colours of the Golden Gate Yacht Club.

“Billion Dollar Larry”, whose personal fortune is estimated at some $40 billion (30.6 billion euros, 26.3 billion pounds) beat the giant Swiss catamaran Alinghi 2-0 in Valencia, Spain, with a 30-metrelong (98-feet) rigid wing trimaran.

Three challengers-Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ), Italy’s Luna Rossa and Sweden’s Artemis-will try to take the Cup from Oracle, all of them with catamarans.

There are only three challengers because the budget required to take part in the competition is a staggering $100 million to $150 million.

With many countries feeling the eco-

SAN FRANCISCO: Dimitri Despierres, Structural and Mechanical Engineer for Team Oracle, inspects the wing of an AC-72 Racing Yacht at their base in San Francisco. —AFP

nomic pinch, French and South Korean teams, among others, have had to throw in the towel.

Before taking on Oracle, the challengers first have to win the Louis Vuitton Cup from July 7-30 on the same course.

Races in the Louis Vuitton are of the same type as those in the America’s Cup-”match racing”, with one boat competing against another. In the past, the Cup was virtually always contested with single-hull boats, with two exceptions: in 1988 and 2010, but now the more efficient but potentially dangerous multi-hull boats have taken their place.

The risks involved in sailing these high-tech AC72 boats, which “fly” over the water at more than 40 knots (75 kilometres/46 miles per hour) and three times the wind speed, was confirmed on June 9 when Artemis’ catamaran capsized.

The accident, which killed British double Olympic medallist Andrew Simpson when he was trapped under the overturned structure, cast a shadow over the Cup even before it began.

The Swedish team has said it would still take part in the competition with a second AC72 but it had not yet taken to the water a week before the first race between ETNZ and Luna Rossa.

Given the complexity of the boats, there are indications that Artemis will have to sit out the first races of the Louis Vuitton and will only join the other challengers from the end of July at the earliest.

Following the tragic capsize, stringent security measures have been adopted and the race programme revised to allow the Swedes to participate, much to the displeasure of ETNZ boss Grant Dalton, who has accused organisers of being too accommodating to Artemis. —AFP

Stuart Broad

Broad all fired up for Ashes LONDON: England seamer Stuart Broad tried to allay fears about his fitness yesterday ahead of next week’s Ashes opener against Australia saying “if the Test started today I’d be ready to go”.

Broad hasn’t bowled competitively since injuring his right shoulder diving to regain his ground while batting during England’s Champions Trophy final defeat by India at Edgbaston on June 23.

However, the 27-year-old had a cortisone injection Monday and had some bowling practice during the tea interval on Wednesday’s final day of England’s warm-up match against Essex at Chelmsford. Broad, the son of former England batsman Chris, played a key role in England regaining the Ashes in 2009 with an innings haul of five wickets for 37 runs in the hosts’ series-clinching win at The Oval before an abdominal muscle injury ruled him out of the last three Tests of the team’s triumphant 2010/11 Ashes campaign in Australia.

But Broad, speaking to reporters in London yesterday, insisted he was now fully fit and available for the start of England’s Ashes defence, which will begin at Trent Bridge-his Nottinghamshire home ground-on July 10.

“It’s really good actually,” Broad, speaking at a media event organised by Ashes sponsors Investec, said. “In the Champions Trophy final, I dived to make my ground and as a tall, gangly bloke I landed awkwardly and jarred my shoulder a little bit.

“If it was anything but my right shoulder, it wouldn’t have been much of an issue. There was just a bit of catching in the socket when my arm rotated which wasn’t healing as quickly as it could have done.

“We just put a cortisone in it on Monday to get rid of the extra fluid I suppose and it seems to have settled. I batted and bowled yesterday (Wednesday) and I am 100 percent fit.

“If the Test started today (Thursday), I’d be ready to go. I didn’t bowl flat out yesterday (Wednesday), that will be for tomorrow (Friday).” —AFP

47

Sports FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

Impey makes Tour history as Greipel defeats ‘Cav’

Photo of the day

MONTPELLIER: Andre Greipel of Germany celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race. — AP MONTPELLIER: Daryl Impey made Tour de France history yesterday by becoming the first African to take possession of the Tour de France yellow jersey.

Germany’s Andre Greipel, of Lotto, dominated a bunch sprint to win the sixth stage of the race, held over 176.5 km between Aix-enProvence and Montpellier, ahead of Slovakian Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and German Marcel Kittel (Argos).

Britain’s Mark Cavendish, who claimed his maiden win of the 100th edition and 24th of his career on Wednesday, finished fourth having crashed with 34 km to race and battled to rejoin the peloton.

“It was a very nervous stage but I knew if we kept it together we could win this stage,” said Greipel, one of several sprinters out to grab a share of the glory normally enjoyed by Cavendish. Impey, a South African who rides for Orica-GreenEdge, took over the race lead from Australian teammate Simon Gerrans.

“I’m really proud to be the first South African and the first African to wear the yellow jersey,” said Impey, who had been in second place overall since Orica-GreenEdge’s triumph in the team time trial on stage four. “Sometimes all the stars line up for you and this is definitely one of those moments. To wear the yellow jersey at the 100th edition of the Tour de France is just a dream come true.

“History has been made and I’m really excited. I’m sure a lot of people back in South Africa are really happy. “To be able to say I wore the yellow jersey for just one day is something I will treasure forever.”

Impey, whose career was revived when he joined Orica on their inception in 2011 following an aborted move to the now-defunct Pegasus team, leads Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen of Sky by 3secs with Gerrans third overall at 5.

Another Orica rider, Swiss Michael Albasini, is fourth on the same time while Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski, who is wearing the white jersey for the race’s best-placed rider aged 25 or under, is fifth at 6secs. Tour de France favourite Chris Froome (Sky), who was born in Africa but now represents Britain, is the best-placed of the overall victory contenders in seventh place at 8secs behind.

Friday’s seventh stage is a 205.5 km ride from Montpellier to Albi.

The race’s first mountain stages will be held in the Pyrenees on Saturday and Sunday. Impey added: “We’ve been really united since we took the yellow jersey and I think we can keep the yellow jersey for one more day. —AFP

Giggs appointed player-coach at United LONDON: Midfielder Ryan Giggs has been appointed playercoach at Manchester United, the English champions said yesterday. Giggs, 39, signed a one-year extension to his playing contract in March and will combine his new duties with being a member of the first-team squad.

“I’m delighted that Ryan has accepted the chance to become player-coach. His success and ability to adapt his game over a number of years gives him an unrivalled perspective on the modern game,” manager David Moyes said in a statement. “His career is an example to any aspiring young player and I’m sure that both he and the players will benefit from his new role.”

Former Welsh international Giggs, who made his senior debut for United in March 1991, is the most decorated player in English soccer with 13 Premier League winner’s medals, four FA Cup winner’s medals and two Champions League winner’s medals among his collection. —Reuters

Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia drives during the FIA World Rally Championship 2013 in Olbia, Italy.

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Lisicki and Bartoli in Wimbledon final LONDON: Sabine Lisicki advanced to her first Wimbledon final a couple of hours after Marion Bartoli reached her second.

Lisicki, a 2011 semifinalist at the All England Club, beat fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 9-7 Thursday on Centre Court, overpowering her opponent at the start and then hanging on at the end. “I just fought with all my heart,” Lisicki said. “I believed that I could still win no matter what the score was.”

Bartoli took control early and never let up in a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kirsten Flipkens. Bartoli also reached the Wimbledon final in 2007, losing to Venus Williams in straight sets.

Saturday’s final will be the second at Wimbledon in the 45-year Open era between two women who have never won a Grand Slam title. Lisicki may have the edge in that match with a 3-1 record against Bartoli, including a quarterfinal win at Wimbledon in 2011 in their last meeting.

Lisicki, who beat defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round, dictated play in the first set by winning 22 of her 30 points on serve and breaking once. But her serve deserted her after that. Once the second set started, Radwanska came alive and Lisicki crumpled. Lisicki lost all four of her service games, with the lowlight coming in the final game of the second set.

Leading 30-0, Lisicki lost four straight points, including two double-faults.

In the third, Lisicki was again broken early but finally held to make it 3-1 and then broke to get back on serve. Both players held serve until Lisicki got the deciding break in the 15th game when Radwanska hit a volley long.

A few minutes earlier, Radwanska had been two points from victory. The two were tied at 30-30 and later at deuce in the 12th game with Radwanska leading 6-5.

Lisicki said her big win over Serena Williams helped her yesterday. “I thought, ‘I’ve done it against Serena so you can do it today as well, just hang in there,’” Lisicki said. “It gave me so much confidence and I’m just so, so happy I was able to finish it.”

Bartoli wasted little time in her match, dancing and grunting her way to victory over the 20th-seeded Belgian who was playing in her first major semifinal.

“I played great. I executed very well. I hit lobs, passing shots, winners, returns, everything worked out perfectly,” said Bartoli, who won in 62 minutes. “When I fell on the grass after match point, it was just so emotional. I dreamed about that moment, about returning to the Wimbledon final.”

Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Wimbledon champion who now coaches France’s Fed

Cup team, was in the stands for the early match and had plenty of praise for Bartoli.

“She just played a great match, definitely the best match of the tournament for her,” Mauresmo said. “Marion put huge pressure on her right from the beginning, first of all returning very well, serving better, which she had to do today.”

Bartoli was pumped from the start on Centre Court, mixing two-handed backhands and forehands with little hops between points, as she usually does.

In the first set, she faced only one break point, nearly putting Flipkens back on serve in the third game. But despite a doublefault and a backhand into the net to eventually get behind 30-40, Bartoli dug herself out of the hole and finished the game with the first of her five aces. —AP

WIMBLEDON: France’s Marion Bartoli returns on her way to beating Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens in their women’s singles semi-final match on day ten of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships. —AFP

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013

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Lisicki, Bartoli in final PAGE 47

WIMBLEDON: Germany’s Sabine Lisicki reacts to winning a game during her women’s singles semi-final match against Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska. — AFP